The Hoggatteer Experience - THE HOGGATTEER REVOLUTION

CWTI: A Few Souvenirs

10/16/2022

I wish my family could experience the things that I got to do at the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute in July of this year. They cannot imagine the rich experiences of traveling to places you only dreamed about, read about, and watched limited videos of for years. The feeling that you are touching and experiencing history when you are on location is unlike anything that can be reproduced in a classroom.

All can do is bring home souvenirs. It doesn't come close to the experience, but that's just how it goes. Kind donors actually provide the funds for teachers from across the country to travel to Virginia to have this opportunity, but they also provide a gift card to help with purchases while on the property.

I got myself a t-shirt, as well as a couple for the kids. A cooling towel helped on the hottest day, and I had to get a hat for my daughter; she performs for the University of Oklahoma in the Pride marching band, so the hat, which says "Walk to the beat of your own drum" seemed to make sense. My son has a loose collection of keychains, so I picked up a heavy one that has the flags of the American Revolution on it. Both kids appreciate lapel pins from places we visit, so they received some of those, as well.

At the time, I found a Patrick Henry coaster that says "Give me liberty or give me death," figuring I needed to remember my part in giving the famous figure's speech in the Capitol earlier in the week.

I learned about the little doll man forming the letters of the alphabet from my roommate SAM, so I picked up a small one while I was at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Finally, I picked up an actual clay pipe to remind me of the archaeological digs in Jamestowne and Williamsburg.

Going to the American Revolution Museum, I found a wooden nickel to add to my own little collection, and another t-shirt, sporting my favorite line from the Patrick Henry speech: "If this be treason, make the most of it!"

With all of this, the photos that I took and the memories of the people with whom I connected are the richest treasures I came home with. Of all the trips I have taken during my teaching career, several of the people I met at Colonial Williamsburg have truly become my history family.

Finally, I thank our hosts and our master teacher for the gifts of SWAG from earlier in the week, but also for the items below: a children's book about historic trades, a copy of Henry's speech (Did I mention that I gave a portion of the speech in the Capitol building?), a Teacher Institute lapel pin, and of course, the brick fragment uprooted from Martha Washington's first husband's property.

Don't Wait for the Sunset

10/15/2022

As I waited for my son to finish soccer practice with his team, the light was shining just right over this nearby field, and it hit me: too many people lament missing the sunrise, and too many are still waiting for the sunset, and they forget that there is beauty in the present. Our world has much to offer us. Celebrate life.

CWTI: Siege and Surrender

10/14/2022

Here we were - in the real location where the world turned upside down. Washington stood out there and lit the first cannon. Lafayette and Hamilton took two significant redoubts. Cornwallis surrendered.

On the day we arrived at that location, the weather that threatened to poop on our party finally arrived. The folks in charge have standing orders not to allow us outside when lightning is near, so we weren't allowed to get out of our bus. That explains the weak photos of the redoubt below.

In my opinion, the storm was not anywhere close to severe, and lightning was not close enough to merit kidnapping us on the bus. There were even small children crawling around with great joy around the redoubt that we could only see through the bus windows, and even then not directly or in context.

The Dale House (left) is where the official surrender was signed. I liked the name of that place, but I sure would have enjoyed a closer look at it without a bus window standing in my way (Recognize the theme to my mood?). I was the guy sitting in the front seat with our Colonial Williamsburg liaison, and I did my very best to try to persuade her to let me get off the bus, but I couldn't press too much. Besides, she had been so nice to me all week, and it wasn't her policy.

The sound of the sprinkling rain added to the somber and the victory of this location. Besides the selfie of my own disappointment below, you'll see some shots of the Surrender Field. It's pretty easy to picture Washington and his army standing proudly in columns as the round-shouldered British soldiers march between them to pile up their arms. My short video may give you an idea for the feeling and the mood of being there on a rainy day. Our guide for this time had just recovered from COVID, so her breathing was still very labored.

CWTI: Yorktown Battlefield National Park

10/13/2022

There were a couple of really cool experiences at the Yorktown Battlefield National Park - moments when a history buff might feel a tingle.

I had looked forward to this day all week - the day when we would visit the famed location of the Washington's siege on the British fort at Yorktown, the place where Alexander Hamilton finally took a major leadership role in a military operation, along with the French hero of the Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette. They all walked here.

Inside the museum, we could see a map of the area, lit to explain how things happened on that day. A ship sat in the opening room of the museum, and it was a thrill to walk on it and see the displays within.

Washington insisted on being the one who lit the first cannon to begin the siege against Cornwallis' British fortress. The defensive measures are depicted below, as well as a diorama that shows how things might have looked. The dramatic, successful attacks led by Hamilton and Lafayette are illustrated in miniature, as well.

Somewhere among the gun smoke and cannon fire, the surrender flag was displayed, and this final decisive battle of the war was over. Fighting continued for years, but the war, it is agreed, effectively ended at Yorktown. The dramatic surrender ceremony is also modeled in diorama form, with the British Redcoats marching and laying down their arms between columns of American Patriots. This scene, depicted in art and film is one that is difficult to watch when proper empathic emotion is in place by the viewer or reader who understands the real meaning of what happened in this place.

Most thrilling, however, was the opportunity to see George Washington's actual marquee tent, used as headquarters in battle. What a rare chance to see this national treasure!

Even more exciting was the chance to stand inside it. Yes, there is a glass area that extends into this tent, in which museum visitors may stand and imagine when the structure was actually in use nearby.

There, outside the gift shop, is a cannon turned green from age. It looks like many others that could be displayed at museums across the region. But in its side is a significant dent inflicted by a Patriot or French cannon ball during the siege. General Lafayette's path, in a later tour of the new United States, crossed with this cannon, and he was able to identify it by its distinctive dent. Apparently, he became emotional at seeing his old foe again, and the memories of the battle were dredged up in a very significant way. Another national treasure, this is, still standing after all these years.

CWTI: Yorktown, VIrginia

10/12/2022

It's a shame that I didn't get to explore Yorktown, Virginia, outside of the confinement of our chartered bus when I visited in July. From what I could tell, this place is wonderfully manicured and just plain pretty to behold. I would have loved getting to stretch my legs here for at least a day. Instead, the bus just kept driving - on the way from the treasures of the American Revolution Museum to the Yorktown Battlefield National Park where treasures awaited. It's all like being in a candy store for a history buff!

Bible BreakDown: Luke 1:11-13

10/11/2022

Too often, we rush and we fail to slow down and consider the common sense of a Bible passage - in context.

Like a learner in a reading class, let's break down
a passage to see if we can comprehend it better.

Luke 1 (NASB):

11 Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.

Some Questions:

What is an angel?
Why would a person be troubled and fearful at the sight of the Lord's angel?
For what has Zechariah been praying? When did he pray for this?
Why is the unborn child assigned a name (John) from heaven?
How is an elderly, infertile couple expected to and able to conceive and give birth to a baby?

Let's Think:
Either Zechariah prayed for a baby years ago, or knowing that his wife is barren, he prayed for a baby recently, perhaps accompanied by incense on the alter. In both scenarios, this is a demonstration of tremendous faith. Either he has waited a long time for his persistent prayers, or he has continued to pray against the science of conceiving a child while his wife was younger.

Now, an angel (a messenger from the Lord) stands before this priest, announcing that Zechariah's prayer has been heard. Most of us would be startled at the sight, as well. What form the angel takes is left to our imaginations, but many times in the Old Testament, we notice that angels look like men. It may not be the form that frightens Zechariah. It could be the recognition that this is someone not from earth, or it could be, simply, that the angel appears suddenly where no one was a second earlier.

The angel identifies which prayer is being answered - the apparent prayer for a son - and informs or commands Zechariah that the boy's name will be John. The reader is left to wonder why there must be an assigned name: why aren't Zechariah and Elizabeth allowed to name him themselves? Regardless, this child flies in the face of mathematical probability, considering the couple's advanced years and Elizabeth's formerly-stated infertility, leaving us to notice that a superior God works outside of the boundaries of science and math.

CWTI: Teach Using Art

10/10/2022

Anyone who has visited my classroom has seen that I often use art to establish academic rigor with students. One idea that a teacher may use is to "jigsaw" (literally) the art, giving only a piece of the complete work to a group of students for analysis.

When I saw this piece at the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown, Virginia, the complete painting shown below, I remembered using is in recent years to being a particular lesson. Then I started taking the painting apart in my mind. I wondered if the entire painting would be better utilized by taking it apart, for real, in a classroom setting. I took a series of photos of this painting, each centered on a different section of the action depicted, imagining providing each group a different piece of that action.

One group may notice people pulling on ropes, imagining a large animal being controlled on the other end. Another group will see men shouting or directing action, commanding compliance. It may be conjectured that something dangerous is happening just outside of the frame, another group will say, noting the expressions and posture of the characters in the picture. Still another will notice a black man in the midst of the crowd. Some may notice women, others will see children, and still others will find a dog.

"What does it all mean?" I might ask. In fact, I may not introduce that main part, posted above, at the top of these thoughts. Students may not see anything of the toppling statue of King George III until after a discussion of the other parts. Only after that final piece is mulled over will I reveal the entire piece intact. It is an intriguing piece at that, leading us to even more contemporary events of other statues being destroyed by mobs.

How about this for a strategy? It's one way to make a mark before ever giving new information about the situation being presented, and students will respond to it with exuberance and energy.

CWTI: American Revolution Museum (Outside)

10/9/2022

The outside portion of the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown, Virginia, is a living history area that is plumb full of things to see. An 18th Century military camp is the first thing that catches the eye. If one too quickly scans the area, one will discount is as "a bunch of tents". In fact there is much more to see, when one peels back the flaps to peer inside. Stocked with supplies and the accoutrements of the day, there is recreated history here, sans soldiers. If only we could hear the conversations and smell the campfires!

We can imagine the activity surrounding General Washington's tent, reproduced here with furniture and trunks that must have been in the real thing. We imagine the excitement of decoding a masked message from a spy. We imagine the gruesome conditions that must have accompanied the surgeon's tools.

We also see a local cabin, complete with representations of 18th Century lifestyle, including a spilling wheel, drying herbs, a cat appropriately named Rochambeau. We also notice the slave cabin and a barn that sports curing tobacco leaves overhead.

If we're not careful, we will see only the romanticized version of this place. We might fail to see the ugliness that comes along with it - enslavement, blood, and tears, as well as the sweat of anticipation as the soldiers blow through this location on their ways to the British fort and redoubts, nearby, in hopes of turning the world upside down in a decisive battle with British forces that will decide the future fate of the Revolution.

CWTI: American Revolution Museum (Inside)

10/8/2022

It is a new day as we awaken to see that black, chartered bus awaiting our boarding. This bus, after a full week at Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg, will connect us, finally, to the third vertex of Virginia's historic triangle. This is to be the day that we attend to the activities in Yorktown. It is to be one more highlight of our week.

Instead of a guided tour, most of the participants would rather have had more time in the American Revolution Museum. The tour was a basic retelling of the events of the Revolution, and there was little to offer outside of the facts that most of us already knew.

I was here to see and do things that I could not see and do at home in Missouri. I could read a book or study countless on the subject of the Revolutionary era from home. While at Yorktown, I wanted to see real artifacts and stand in the footprints of the soldiers who fought.

I was interested in the statue of Patrick Henry (above), which with the assistance of the right imagination appears to be changing a lightbulb. I was interested in the nearly-life-sized portrait of King George, with a period-adorned interpreter to inform me about it. I wanted to see the portraits of Phillis Wheatley and Ayuba Suleiman Diallo.

Thankfully, I was able to edge my way to the outskirts of the tour, where I could take a few pictures of items that caught my eye. Still, without the time to stop and read, many artifacts and displays eluded my attention. I was honored to see the silver I Love Liberty spoons, the DW-etched wooden canteen, the medicine chest, and the dispatch book clearly marked with letters about the repealed Stamp Act.

I enjoyed the romanticism of the Liberty Tree, with its orange and yellow glowing lanterns displaying phrases and thoughts from the Revolution. I admired the modern museum representations of a history long past, projected images of national coats of arms lighting the floor.

In a while, the tour was over, and there was little bit of time to explore the museum, as well as the outside displays (Come back tomorrow for pictures.) and shopping in the excellence gift store, so most of us fast-walked through as much as we could.

One area focused on Thomas Jefferson, this being one more brush with the Declaration-writer and third president that I've had short of visiting his house at nearby Monticello. Here is a broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence said to be older than the one on display in the District of Columbia.

Of course, I had to pause and speak with George for a little while. The General and I have become quite close since he invited me to his Mount Vernon mansion a few years ago, and it has truly been too long since we conversed. I appreciated this visit, where he shoed me his inaugural button, his silver star, and the epaulettes that previously adorned his shoulders.

There was, of course, much more to see, and I could have used another three hours to appreciate it fully. Still, there were things to see and do outside at the museum, and knowing that this was Yorktown and what occurred here two and half centuries ago dictated that I needed to walk on the soil where it happened. There would have been soldiers and encampments all over this place, perhaps entrenchments, as well as dead British and American fighters lying on this land. I had to get outside before the bus took off...and I shall take you there with me, right here, tomorrow.

Want to know more about the Colonial Williamsburg Teachers Institute? There's a page for that!

Apply the Word: Excuses for Being Tardy

10/7/2022

Time is a versatile thing. Just think about it: time flies; time marches on; time heals all wounds; time runs out; and time will tell.

We waste time; we spend time; we mark time; we kill time; and sometimes we do time.

Time passes us by; time is on our side; and we can’t save time in a bottle.

Too often we’re waiting for a free moment; someday, we’ll get around to it; we put off until tomorrow what could be done today. One of these days is an important phrase in our vocabulary. In fact, many of us would wait until tomorrow to start procrastinating if we could!

One Spanish proverb reminds us, Manana is often the busiest day of the week.

And in this area, we may find some words of wisdom from, of all people, Joan Baez, who said, You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you’re going to live. Now. I doubt Ms. Baez had eternal salvation in mind when she made that statement, but when it comes to deciding how you’re going to live eternally, now is certainly the time for making some important choices.

In the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus speaks to us on the topic of punctuality. In the parable given, Christ warns of being tardy. Let’s read verses 1-12 of Matthew 25:

Then the kingdom of Heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”

But the prudent answered, saying, “No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

And later the other virgins also came, saying, “Lord, lord, open up for us.”

But he answered and said, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”

Look at what Jesus has to say in verse 13: Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

While punctuality may seem to be a minor part of the education of our youth, it sure seems to be important to our Savior. Our time should obviously be spent in preparation for the day of judgment.

David B. Norris made the statement, How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money. Money mistakes can be corrected, but time is gone forever.

There is a warning here for anyone who has not obeyed the gospel. It is a warning that you may not have another opportunity to do so. In chapter 24, Christ makes this all too clear. In verse 36, He makes the claim, Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. This is a strong statement and should be more than enough to convince us of the importance of making preparations now. This should be more than enough to convince us to obey the gospel tonight. And this should be more than enough to convince us to stay ready for the coming of the Son of Man.

CWTI: Shoemakers

10/6/2022

There are some tailors on-site at Colonial Williamsburg, and visitors can even pick up some replica pieces to wear for themselves (for a price). Don't call them costumes, though: they take that implication quite personally. And these aren't characters: they are interpreters.

One important trade that lends itself to both clothing and necessary survival gear is that of shoemaker. The trade-interpreters in this building are happy to answer questions about their handmade products.

Did You See Jupiter?

10/5/2022

At 9:51, on the evening of Monday, September 26, I aimed my iPhone into the night sky and snapped a photo of the fifth planet in our solar system. This gas giant hovered in just the right spot, through a hole in the tree canopy of the forest in which I live. Just to the left of our roof line, was our largest planet, Jupiter. I was pleased with the colors that came out when I enlarged the image (below left). On the right is a photo from a friend with a more powerful camera. She was able to capture the grand planet along with 4 of its 80 moons.

Photo Credit: AMY CHAMBERS

CWTI: Throwin' Bricks

10/4/2022

I had been looking forward to the brickmaking experience for a couple of years. I don't know what there is that is so satisfying about watching someone grab a hunk of wet clay and throwing it into a wooden mold. It is more gratifying to me than watching a potter make a vessel on a spinning wheel.

I told our host-guide that when we got to the brickmakers, I wanted to make a brick. She wasn't sure that it would be an opportunity offered, but if the possibility arose, she knew to put me in. Once there, of course, the chance was not offered, and at that moment it was all right, seeing as it was the hottest, most miserable day (One only has to look at the pictures here to see the heat's effect on the workers in that area.). Still, I got to watch for a little while and get a greater appreciation for the skills involved.

The next day, however, there was a surprise waiting for me, as our leader handed me a piece of a clay brick. A normal person might not think that would be a big deal, but this fragment came from the archaeological dig site of Martha Washington's first husband, John Custis. There is nothing to say that it was from an original structure built on the site, but I think it is safe to claim that this brick was thrown into the mold and then kiln-baked by enslaved individuals in the 18th or 19th Centuries. It will forever remind me of my experience at Colonial Williamsburg, but it will also help me appreciate the ugly history that brought this nation to fruition and continues to affect our culture.

Accuracy and Impact of the Bible: God Speaks

10/3/2022

The following is a lesson in a historical and faithful study
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!

The Bible Self-Identifies

If God inspires the words in our Book of Books, would He also allow us to be missing parts of it? If we have the whole of Scripture, it is no wonder that we are instructed not to add to it or take away from it, but what of latter day revelations?

Chapter 18 of Neil Lightfoot's book, How We Got the Bible, approaches the Bible's claims about itself. We understand that this chapter contains claims that any self-respecting atheist who denies the Bible will also deny Its claims about Itself. Still, with a look forward to evidence that does address the unbeliever's debate points, we pause in Chapter 18 to recognize the reasons why we desire to increase our faith.

We must realize, here at the beginning of our study, that we believe the entirety of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is inspired by God through His Spirit, but what does that mean?

God's Communication Has Changed

In the first days, God spoke directly to people. Some examples:

Genesis 2: Adam (conversation)
Genesis 4: Cain (conversation)
Genesis 6: Noah (conversation)
Genesis 12: Abraham (conversation)
Genesis 15: Abraham (vision)
Genesis 28: Jacob (dream)

Exodus 3: Moses (burning bush)
Exodus 20: Moses (10 Commandments)
1 Samuel 3: Samuel (conversation)
Luke 1: Zechariah (Angel Gabriel)
Luke 1: Mary (Angel Gabriel)
Acts 9: Saul/Paul (conversation)

Today, God speaks to us through His inspired Word.
Chapter 18 of our How We Got the Bible offers the following passages for our consideration:

The Teachings of Christ:
Inspiration of the Old Testament:
Inspired by the Spirit of God:
Jesus and the Law of Moses:
Authority of the Apostles:
The Church Acknowledges Paul's Authority:
Apostles Speak the Word of God:

Mark 13:31
2 Timothy 3:16f
2 Peter 1:19-21
Matthew 5:27-48
Matthew 16:19 (cf. 18:18); John 20:23
1 Corinthians 14:37
1 Thessalonians 2:13

What is Inspiration?

When we use the word inspiration, two definitions come to mind. One is a common use for the word - that we are encouraged or motivated by something. It brings with it a meaning of pushing one's self forward because of something that has been said or done. The other definition may be similar, but is one of different origin.

When we claim that the Bible is inspired, it is important for us to understand that the source of the inspiration is the very Spirit of God. That Spirit, according to claims made in the Bible itself, inspired - gave particular knowledge and encouragement to approximately 40 men to record words directly "dictated" by the God's intentions.

Communication Technology Changes

PAST
Written Letters
Pony Express
Telegraph

PRESENT
Telephone
Email / Text Messaging
Smart Phone / FaceTime

FUTURE
Holographic Interface
Instantaneous Transportation
Telepathy / Medical Implants

Does God Communicate with Us Outside of the Bible?

origins of the text
extrabiblical history
the faith of martyrs
logic

archeology
geography
geology

chemistry
astronomy
biology

physics
mathematics
and more

Much of the archaeological evidence has been revealed in the past 50 years. Is it a coincidence that the tablets, cylinders, stelae, steps, engravings, relief carvings, and murals were done on materials that would withstand the passing of time AND that modern technology is just recently bringing these items into the light and confirming that they are authentic? Might the dual timing a part of the Providence of God at a time when people are more skeptical of faith and in need of more physical evidence?

Art Appreciation

Analyze the artwork (right). Look for the details.

What do you notice?
What do you think is happening?
What caused the scene in the painting?
What might happen after the scene shown?
What does this piece make you wonder?

George Washington and Providence

On many occasions, George Washington claimed that Providence was responsible for his success - whether in attack, in retreat, or in the throes of battle.

See the publication below (transcribed at right). What do you notice about George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation?

Below are some other quotes from our first president:

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

Faith and the Founders

George wasn't the only one who cited Deity and expressed his belief in the Providence of the Almighty God in his writings. Others, too, called for the repentance of the nation. If you would like to learn more about the founders of our nation and their opinions about God and His Providence, try the Apologetics Press series, "America's Most Pressing Concern", by Dave Miller. The first video in the series is here (right).

Speaking of George Washington

It may come as a surprise to many to know that George Washington was twice "baptized". According to his mother's Bible, he was christened by sprinkling when was not quite two years old. This was done in the orthodox Episcopal manner, and when he reached the age of 33, he took an oath to conform to the doctrine of the Church of England.

During Washington's life, Baptists and Methodists were becoming more and more evangelical. During this period George commented to the chaplain of the Continental Army, John Gano, "I have been investigating Scripture, and I believe immersion to be the baptism taught in the Word of God, and I demand it at your hands. I do not wish any parade made or the Army called out, but simply a quiet demonstration of the ordinance." Then, in the presence of forty-two witnesses, George Washington was immersed in the Potomac River.

It is interesting to note that John Gano was a Baptist minister. His son, also named John, became a preacher in the early days of the Restoration Movement, and his son, R. M. Gano, became a highly successful and popular preacher. He was an early leader in the church in Dallas and is said to have baptized thousands of converts in his long ministry.

The Big Questions

Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions. The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class.

How did we we get the Bible?
Is the Bible accurate and dependable?

Application Question

How important is it?

Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living? Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity.

So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true? Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity? Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God?

Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees? Is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith? If so, then why did God provide so much evidence?

Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time.

CWTI: A Date with the Printer

10/2/2022

Photo from a fellow CWTI attendee

I knew that one of the places I had to visit at Colonial Williamsburg was the printer's shop. There was a lot to learn from the demonstration. As I have taught, the upper case letters were the letters kept in the upper part of the printer's case, while the lower case letters were sorted into the lower part. We still use these terms today to teach capital and lower-case letters.

As I type onto a keyboard and watch my paragraphs instantly flash onto the computer monitor, it makes me appreciate the work it took to set type, one letter at a time by hand. The tedious work would continue as the broadside was inked and printed, once page at a time on the aptly-titled press before being hung overhead for drying.

Being an old "newspaper man" myself, I suppose there is always going to be some ink in my blood. Forty years ago, I published my own crude, weekly newspaper, the Tuttlite. This paper served the citizens of my then-hometown of Tuttle, Oklahoma. I remember breaking the news and scooping the more-established publication in town, and according to the competing editor, had I continued to publish, he would have gone out of business in the town. He later hired me to do freelance work for his paper, but that never worked out for me.

The Tuttlite was a very distant cousin to the broadsides being produced in colonial days. Even forty years ago, I had the advantages of using a typewriter and gluing everything together for photographing and plating at the printer. Even the process of the 1980s was archaic compared to today's newspapering. Seeing some of the original processes really puts the timeline into perspective.

Anthem

The Hoggatteer Revolution
is an extensive,
award-winning, inimitable,
digital platform
for Encouraging
and Developing
the Arts, Sciences, and honest Christianity
in the beautiful, friendly
LAND OF THE FREE
AND THE HOME
OF THE BRAVE

This site is described as
"a fantastic site... chockablock full of interesting ideas,
hilarious anecdotes,
and useful resources."

...to like, bookmark, pin,
tweet, and share
about the site...
and check in regularly
for new material,
posted often before
DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT!

History in Residence

Elementary Schools:
Bring Mr. Hoggatt
into your classroom
for a week
of engaging
and rigorous
history programming
with your students.

LEARN MORE

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GigSalad Member Since 2022

Book Mr. Hoggatt Securely
for Your Event
at GigSalad.com.

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Preacher, starting 2025

Project TRAILS, starting 2025

Student Teacher Supervisor, since 2022

Master Teacher, since 2021

Recruited Lincoln Presidential Foundation Curriculum Writer, 2022

Retiree, 32 years serving Joplin and Oklahoma City Schools, 2022

Selected Participant for 2020-2022

Selected Honoree/Celebrant, 2022

Outstanding Achievement, 2022

Classroom Grant, 2018-2022

2021 Missouri History Teacher of the Year and National History Teacher of the Year Nominee

Recognized in Joplin Globe, February 2021

Teacher Institute Participant, 2019

Summer Residency Participant, 2018

"The Bus Stops Here" Grant, November 2018

Summer Residency, 2018

Recognized 2017

Since 2017

MSTA Media Award, KOAM-TV's "Manners Matter", Featuring Our Class, May 2017

Third Place, 2016 Film Festival

Recognized 2016

Slide Certified, 2012

2009 Outstanding Class Website

2005 Nominee

2005 Joplin Teacher of the Year and Missouri Teacher of the Year nominee

2004 Recipient

2002 Excellent Education Program

2001 Nominee

1996 Outstanding Classroom Video

Grant Recipient, 1993

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Checks & Balances

Links to external sites
on the internet are for convenience only.

No endorsement or approval of any content, products, or services is intended.

Opinions on sites are not necessarily shared
by Mr. Hoggatt
(In fact, sometimes
Mr. Hoggatt doesn't agree with anyone.)

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