In the mid-1100s, William Marshal was a young man trying to make his way in England. He came from a low-ranking family and had multiple older brothers, so William had no fortune coming to him.[1] His father didn’t seem to really care about him all that much. Once, at age six, William was held hostag
After 20 years as a college professor at Texas A&M, Irwin Horwitz had enough. He was teaching a Strategic Management class in 2015, but the students that semester were unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Professor Horwitz said he witnessed apathy, entitlement, disrespect, disruptiveness, dishones
In the early 1600s, the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, sat on China’s throne. The kingdom had problems inside and out. But the biggest threat of all was the emperor himself, who probably accelerated the collapse of the Ming dynasty.[1]He was isolated, miserly, controlling with unpredictable mood swin
In 1959, America was singing Frank Sinatra’s hit song, High Hopes. It was featured on the silver screen, nominated for a Grammy, and won the Oscar for Best Original Song.[1]) But Frank had his sights set on more than Oscar gold. He wanted a place in the Kennedy circle – American royalty.[2]So, in 19
In 1914, Henry Ford shocked the world. His assembly line had already revolutionized manufacturing. But his new idea was about men, not machines. He announced that he would be doubling his workers’ pay to $5 a day, while cutting the work day from nine hours to eight.Headlines and editorials around th
One of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles was at Chickamauga creek in September of 1863. The Union forces were led by Major General William Rosecrans. But Old Rosy made a terrible mistake a few days into the battle. A confusing order he gave opened up a division wide gap in the Union line just as the
In 1982, Byron Preiss published a very unusual book. If you’re a child of the 80’s and 90’s like me, you remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books. Preiss took the idea to another level. His book, The Secret, contained not just a story, but a set of clues that corresponded to the real world.You s
In the early 1940’s, the Philadelphia Phillies finished four straight seasons they in last place. Their 1941 record was 43 wins, 111 losses.[1] But a young player debuted with them who would not only help his team, he’d leave an indelible mark on baseball history.He wasn’t stronger or faster than th
Sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can change everything. In 1937, a high school student named Judy Turner cut class to have a Coke s at a soda fountain on Sunset Boulevard. While there, a fellow at the counter noticed her. He asked the manager to introduce him to Judy. Judy was understandab
William Durant came from humble beginnings. His first job was piling lumber.[1] But he became a powerful business leader who built and bought many companies. In 1904, he took control of the Buick Motor Company. In 1908, he founded General Motors.[2] In 1909 he bought Cadillac. In 1918, against every
John B. Goodenough was determined to keep finding answers. You may not know his name – and yes, that really is his name – but you know his work. He’s the father of the lithium-ion battery that powers your cell phone, and just about every other consumer electronic device.[1] That alone would’ve secur
What’s the longest you’ve ever stayed awake? Some of you are night owls, but most adults don’t look forward to losing a night’s sleep. When you’re young, it’s fun to try to stay up all night.Randy Gardner set out on such an adventure back in 1963. He wanted to win at his local science fair, so he de
In 1990, a wealthy developer in Seoul, South Korea named Joon Lee had plans to build a block of apartment buildings.[1] After construction started, he realized there was more money in retail than in residence. He abandoned the approved blueprints and changed the entire layout of the building. What h
Charles VI became king of France in 1380. He’s described as “a handsome, well-built, tall, and fair.”[1]When he came into his own as king, he got rid of his corrupt uncles, who were draining France’s coffers. He and his army were outnumbered 3 to 1 but won a key victory over the Flemish army.[2] The
Nomadic indian tribes called it “The mountain that moves.” They wouldn’t camp beneath its peak.[1] English speakers in Alberta, Canada called it Turtle Mountain. Its layers of limestone are deposited nearly vertical, which geologists classify as “the ultimate in mountain instability.”[2]A major thru
The year was 1788, the middle of the Austro-Turkish War. The Ottomans marched into the city of Karánsebes ready to fight. But when they arrived they found the Austrian forces already destroyed.Here’s what happened: After encamping to defend the city, the Austrian army sent out cavalrymen to scout ac
If you had to escape a fire, what would you go back to save? In 1666, tens of thousands of people had to make the decision during the Great Fire of London. Today happens to be the anniversary of the fire’s start. It raged from September 2nd till the 5th.[1] It started in the King’s baker’s shop. Som
For millennia, doctors could not get into a beating heart. They wished they could deliver medicine directly into it, wished they could open up blockages, and better diagnose trouble in this all-important organ, but there seemed to be no way in. Most were convinced it was too dangerous to go poking a
In 1698, Scotland was in bad shape. The Nine Years War had reached her shores. The country had the coldest decade in 750 years.[1] A man named William Paterson had a bold plan: Scotland should establish a colony on the Isthmus of Darien – what we now know as Panama. They would become the world’s gre
Every year in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, there is a race called the Barkley Marathon. It is widely known as the toughest in the world. It’s been dubbed “a satanic running adventure.”[1]It was started in 1986 by Gary Cantrell.[2] Everything about the Barkley Marathon is a trial. The applicati
For more than 25 years, Michael Cicconetti was judge for a relatively small Ohio county. But he regularly gained national attention. In 2005, he was elected president of the American Judges Association.[1] The media once said he had “the wit of Judge Judy and the wisdom of Solomon.”[2]It was his sen
From time to time we take a look at one of the 60 or so “one another” commands in Bible. They’re given to Christians so we can know how to properly relate to each other in the church and so we can be built up, others can be built up, and our church can thrive in the love of God.Today we have a tende
It’s back-to-school week for many families. Most high schoolers and college students will get to class and be handed a syllabus. A good syllabus gives a basic roadmap of what you’ll be covering in the next semester, important texts you’ll need to consult, and what’s expected of you.Mark 13 has those
In 1952, America was in the midst of significant political change. For the first time in 20 years, a Republican was elected president. Dwight D. Eisenhower won in a landslide. As he stepped into leadership, he faced dangerous enemies on multiple fronts. One front was a cold war as Ike would have to
