In 1968 I headed down a path that began with low-rent existentialism and took me all the way to Communism.

The elites showered applause on a young radical in 1970, but the kudos prompted only resentment.

A misguided search for meaning led a young radical to the Communist Party in 1972.

Is seeing believing? Or does believing lead to seeing?

Exodus 13: "When in time to come your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall say to him, 'By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.'"

Fighting communism, and my own impetuousness.

Learning about the politics of big business, and what "an honest day's work" might come to mean.

Moving from the politics of corporate America to the politics of academic America, and trying to publish so as not to perish.

With opportunity in academia and media came great challenges and great satisfaction.

Finding my way home after weird times in Washington.

Battling against ideologies that mistranslate the Bible, kill neighborhoods, and hurt students. Not so often battling against my own pride.

Reporters on an ideological warpath mercifully cut short my yearning for the Inner Ring.

The death and life of compassionate conservatism: While a treasured idea became a mess in Washington, it flourished at a small school in Austin.

Exposing scandal takes perseverance and fortitude, but seeing our corruption leads to seeing God’s grace.

To go or not to go? That was the question—but deciding wasn't scientific.