Author Archives: Rick D. Williams

About Rick D. Williams

Teaching and writing have been my life's work for over two decades as a journalist and educator. My degrees in History were earned at Illinois State University, and I've done additional graduate work at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Urbana Theological Seminary. Over the years I’ve led conference workshops and authored articles and book chapters on topics ranging from religious education and international student ministry to state and local history.

A Historic Take on “Back to School” (part 2)

This story first appeared in the online magazine Smile Politely on September 9, 2020. The past couple of weeks have seen the most unusual, unique, and creative “back to school” season in the history of local education. As school administrators, … Continue reading

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A Historic Take on “Back to School” (part 1)

This story first appeared in the online magazine Smile Politely on August 11, 2020 With the start of a new academic year just weeks away, local school districts are scrambling to develop plans for COVID-era instruction. These are indeed unprecedented … Continue reading

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Christian Vision for Cultural Engagement

In his 2010 book, To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, James Davison Hunter called upon Christians to become “a faithful presence” in the world.  “Faithful presence” involves being an example … Continue reading

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“Truth Be Told” – understanding how the Gospel resonates with and redeems our imagination, senses, intellect, and emotions

This is the final part of a six-week program, “Worldview as the L.E.N.S. of Life,” given at Life Community Church in Mahomet, Illinois A healthy Biblical Worldview embraces the diverse ways God has gifted us to understand and navigate the … Continue reading

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“How Do You Feel About That?”–understanding the world through feelings and emotions

This is the fifth part of a six-week program, “Worldview as the L.E.N.S. of Life,” given at Life Community Church in Mahomet, Illinois Feelings are perhaps the most direct, immediate, visceral of all the ways we interact with the world. … Continue reading

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Historic Sites of Champaign County (Revisited) Part Two

  Picking up the story of last summer’s history adventures, following the 1976 “Historic Sites of Champaign Couinty” guidebook.  See my last post for an overview of the project and for “highlights” of sites #1-17 (beginning north of Urbana and … Continue reading

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Historic Sites in Champaign Co. (revisited)

  To commemorate America’s Bicentennial in 1976, the Champaign Co. Bicentennial Committee published a 50-page pamphlet titled “Historic Sites in Champaign County.” The book is a guide to 78 specific locations throughout the county, with a picture and brief description … Continue reading

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“What’s on Your Mind?” – understanding the world through reason, logic & intellect

This is the fourth part of a six-week program, “Worldview as the L.E.N.S. of Life,” given at Life Community Church in Mahomet, Illinois Classical philosophers in the Greco-Roman world, Asia, and Medieval Europe would all agree that the ability to … Continue reading

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“Making Sense of Things” – understanding the world through senses and experience

This is the third part of a six-week program, “Worldview as the L.E.N.S. of Life,” given at Life Community Church in Mahomet, Illinois A major shift in worldview during the Classical Age in the West can be traced to a … Continue reading

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Three More Questions

This post originated as the Commencement Speech I delivered May 19 to the Graduating Class of 2018 at Judah Christian High School, where I teach.  These graduating Seniors were in my Worldviews class. I am honored to have one last … Continue reading

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