John Edwards – Google

A dear friend of 40 years died ten years ago. He was an extraordinary minister. Greatly beloved. His favorite poet was Robert Frost, and his favorite poem was "Mending Wall". His ministry was always reaching across walls to build community. Mine is "Tuft of Flowers". We feel the presence of other people when together -- or alone. Frost is remarkable in many ways. "Fire and Ice" refers to greenhouse gases and global warming. "Version" refers to the Rutherford experiment in nuclear physics.

The reason we study ancient history is for the insights it offers about the influence of character on human history. This series reduces the history of the rise and decline of the Roman Empire as it gathered, applied, and misused its power and wealth. The major figures are Pompei (intrigue), Crassus (greed), and Caesar (ambition) who compete amid the chaos caused by individual ambition (financial, military, & political), entitlement, greed, and intrigue. Secondary characters are the Senate, Brutus, and Cleopatra who are acting blindly. It's an amazing distillation that anyone who lives in a democracy ought to view -- if they want to preserve it.