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.

Three More Questions

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Rick D. Williams

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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“Once Upon a Time”: understanding the world through the imagination

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Rick D. Williams

This is the second part of a six-week program, “Worldview as the L.E.N.S. of Life,” given at Life Community Church in Mahomet, Illinois Before we had science, philosophy, theology, or Oprah to help us understand ourselves and the world around … Continue reading →

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What’s Your Story? Worldview as the L.E.N.S. of Life

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Rick D. Williams

“Whether we realize it or not, all of us possess a worldview. We make one of two basic assumptions. We view the universe as an accident or we assume an intelligence beyond the universe who gives the universe order, and … Continue reading →

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Enter the Invaders!

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Rick D. Williams

In 1975, Marvel Editor Roy Thomas took an ambitious step to more clearly connect and integrate Captain America’s “Golden Age” and “Marvel Age” storylines. “I’ve been waiting 30 years to do this one,” Thomas wrote in a commentary piece. “After … Continue reading →

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Captain America Among the “Marvels”

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Rick D. Williams

Captain America’s origins as the “Living Legend of WW II” began in the pages of Golden Age Captain America Comics and several other Timely titles published during the war years (see earlier posts for details).  But for most Cap fans … Continue reading →

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Captain America in the Golden Age of Comics

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Rick D. Williams

Steve Rogers’ early adventures as Captain America unfold in relative sequence throughout 1941 in the pages of Captain America Comics. Since the U.S. is not yet involved in the war, Cap & Bucky go into action mostly against Nazi spies, … Continue reading →

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Marvel Milestones (part 4): from Silver to Bronze

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Rick D. Williams

Imagine a time when nearly all the heroes of the Marvel Universe could appear in five small panels across a single page! The image below is from the Nick Fury story in Strange Tales #156 (May 1967), by Jim Steranko. … Continue reading →

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Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Rick D. Williams

In the summer of 1941 Private Steve Rogers reported for duty at Camp Lehigh, where he got to know camp mascot “Bucky” Barnes and learned to deal with the routine abuse of Sargent Michael Duffy. He’s called to Washington D.C. … Continue reading →

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Worldviews: Five Themes for the Journey

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Rick D. Williams

“This is a philosophical story we are in, and we will confront opposite philosophies at each fork of [the] road . . . .  Time and history do not matter now.  The same philosophies, the same alternatives, the same choices … Continue reading →

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Marvel Milestones (part 3): The Silver Age Begins

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Rick D. Williams

DC kicked off a superhero revival in the late 50s with new versions of its classic heroes, and followed that success with the Justice League of America, a team comprised of their most popular heroes. Goodman’s Marvel Comics, responded with … Continue reading →

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