Where do you go to find Christian teaching you can trust?
Institutionalized, Part 2 Give me a minute to explain. Last week I spoke about institutionalized thinking. I said our biggest problems are often not a single law or regulation, but rather the institutionalized mindset that prevents sensible changes from occurring. Since I’m a professor, “institutional mindset” is a concern when it comes to curricula. Administrative
I am tired of rigid thinking. Give me a minute to explain. Our biggest public problems are often not just a single law or regulation, but rather the institutionalized mindset that prevents sensible changes from happening. You and I know a thing or two about “institutionalization.” Institutions are important. I esteem them as necessary structures for
My job on earth. Give me a minute to explain. Bill Murray stars in the movie Vincent. Murray plays a world-weary character who befriends a young boy. At the end of the film the young man praises Murray’s character for his friendly care. St. Vincent teaches us that listening and loving are the best responses
When I was in high school my nickname was Padre. I was always preaching. During football season, my teammates would mock me, until they needed someone to block the middle linebacker. I wood-burned the name Padre into my lacrosse stick. But it wasn’t until I was introduced to Francis Schaeffer that my preaching was
Academics need partners. Give me a minute to explain. The academic life is not for everyone, but I love it. It is good to be with other like-minded professors at conferences or on campus. There are two groups of likeminded Christian profs I would like to mention. The Consortium of Christian Study Centers is dedicated
Atheists believe in miracles? Give me a minute to explain. A number of Christian apologists are pointing out that atheists believe in at least six miracles: (Number one) something must come from nothing, (Number two) reason originates from non-reason, (Number three) life appears from non-life, (Number four) the personal arises from non-personal, (Number five) order
At Thanksgiving, be thankful where you live. Give me a minute to explain. During the year 2025 through July 4th 2026, America is celebrating its 250th birthday. It is important to notice that no nation, no people, no family, no person can move forward without acknowledging – consciously or unconsciously – what and who has
How is liberty maintained? Give me a minute to explain. Jon Meacham’s book, American Gospel: God, the Founding Father, and the Making of a Nation should be required reading for all Americans. Meacham suggests that the distinctive feature of America’s founding is etched on the Liberty Bell. Found there is the line from Leviticus 25:10,
A.I. will solve all our problems. That statement is a problem. Give me a minute to explain. More and more information comes out weekly about artificial intelligence, and not all of it is good. It seems that AI can misdiagnose a problem creating “hallucinations,” meaning, AI is making stuff up. In one case, professors staffed
My words were a warning, a warning I never wanted to witness. I was asked to address the Liberty University research week awards ceremony last semester. My comments were based on the famed science fiction writer Ray Bradbury who encouraged the maintenance of libraries and protection of free speech. In part, I said, “Every generation
This speech was delivered during the 2025 Research Week Awards Ceremony (30 April 2025). Many thanks for the kind invitation from Jeremy McGinness, Associate Dean, Research, Instruction, and Collections. Further thanks is owed to Dr. John Eller whose three-volume biography of Ray Bradbury I mined for background information. In addition, I thank The Ray Bradbury
What to say and how to say it. Give me a minute to explain my approach to social media. Here are seven of my approaches to social media. (1) I will *never* apologize for communicating a biblical mindset. (2) I will seek to begin with Scriptural doctrine applied to life. (3) My starting point will
My job on earth. Give me a minute to explain. Bill Murray stars in the movie Vincent. Murray plays a world-weary character who befriends a young boy. At the end of the film the young man praises Murray’s character for his friendly care. St. Vincent teaches us that listening and loving are the best responses
Atheists believe in miracles? Give me a minute to explain. A number of Christian apologists are pointing out that atheists believe in at least six miracles: (Number one) something must come from nothing, (Number two) reason originates from non-reason, (Number three) life appears from non-life, (Number four) the personal arises from non-personal, (Number five) order
To understand the natural world There is need of a supernatural lens. Give me a minute to explain. In the movie Fallen Denzel Washington plays a detective, trying to catch a criminal. But this is no ordinary criminal. The evil entity in this movie is a supernatural force which is attempting to invade Denzel Washington’s
The Word of God is just that. Give me a minute to explain. Theology is not built by human thought. The self-authenticating Voice is the Word of God. He discloses to humanity what The Eternal Trinity desires to communicate with humans. I am not building an outline based on my views of God. The Almighty
What do you do with time? Give me a minute to give an answer. I abide by Ecclesiastes 9.10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it will all your might.” Some of my work-ethic is my Germanic heritage but much of my drive comes from an inner compulsion of The Spirit to “work for
Scripture is its own jurisdiction. Give me a minute to explain. The word “biblical” is an authority all its own. The Bible stands alone and does not acknowledge critique of its authority. Accept it or reject it, it makes no difference. There is no human arbiter, no human interpreter whose jurisdiction is imposed upon The
I am tired of rigid thinking. Give me a minute to explain. Our biggest public problems are often not just a single law or regulation, but rather the institutionalized mindset that prevents sensible changes from happening. You and I know a thing or two about “institutionalization.” Institutions are important. I esteem them as necessary structures for
When I was in high school my nickname was Padre. I was always preaching. During football season, my teammates would mock me, until they needed someone to block the middle linebacker. I wood-burned the name Padre into my lacrosse stick. But it wasn’t until I was introduced to Francis Schaeffer that my preaching was
Can A.I. become ‘god’? Give me a minute to explain. Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, meets an evil Entity in Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. The hero calls it, “An anti-god that thinks it’s God.” “The Entity” – notice the capitalization – of the sinister agent known as “AI” (artificial intelligence) is given a
Why do I own so many books? Give me a minute to explain. 5,000 books. That is the approximate number of volumes I own. Stating this fact is not a matter of arrogance but one of humility. Every time I open a book I discover again how much I do not know. Often as I
I am an honest, transparent unicorn. Give me a minute to explain. Being honest sometimes gets me in trouble. I see the raised eyebrows or the eyes that go wide when I make certain statements or question what is culturally accepted. I don’t always think the way others do. I tend to come at things
Everyone should have a mission statement. Give me a minute to explain. Recently, I was able to help someone online with their personal mission statement. As I said in my Personal Faith Statement, I have been given the responsibility to “guard the good deposit given to me with the help of the Holy Spirit” according to 2
Institutionalized, Part 2 Give me a minute to explain. Last week I spoke about institutionalized thinking. I said our biggest problems are often not a single law or regulation, but rather the institutionalized mindset that prevents sensible changes from occurring. Since I’m a professor, “institutional mindset” is a concern when it comes to curricula. Administrative
Academics need partners. Give me a minute to explain. The academic life is not for everyone, but I love it. It is good to be with other like-minded professors at conferences or on campus. There are two groups of likeminded Christian profs I would like to mention. The Consortium of Christian Study Centers is dedicated
Why be in a hurry? Give me a minute to explain. A young leader, a recent president of Liberty’s student government, spent a couple of hours with me last semester. He wanted to discuss his new student life position. He has been tasked to consider an approach with students about their use of technology. I
I would never be the same. Give me a minute to explain. When I first started teaching in 1983, “classroom discipline” was much different than it is now. A young seventh grade boy was – in my estimation – quite recalcitrant in class. I arranged as “discipline” that he come to my house early on
What will A.I. take from us? Give me a minute to explain. [And don’t miss the Afterword!] It happened to the 19th C. whalers who were providing oil for lamps. The discovery of crude oil powering electric lights put them out of a job. You can fill in the blanks here with other jobs. Change
What happens when you break a pattern? Give me a minute to explain. Something sweet happened at the end of my last class last semester. Saying goodbye to my “academic children” is always hard. I was expressing such sentiments, trying to control my emotions. Thinking it was finally time to go I said my final
What does it take to defeat a bully? Give me a minute to explain. I have been following the writing and speaking of Victor Davis Hanson for twenty-five years. Hanson is a historian, classicist, and fellow at the Hoover Institute. He is famous for reflecting on our present circumstances in light of past people, places,
What is your mission? Give me a minute to answer. “Mission is God” This was the answer given by a military friend when I asked the question, “What is the most important order when in combat?” The answer, “Mission is God.” I think of that remark often. When I consider what you or I or anyone does,
What is keeping you from your mission? Give me a minute to consider. Most of our choices we make are between “good” and “good.” Distraction is the greatest enemy of any mission. Back in 2010 I wrote about distraction, specifically focused on technology. It was then I was developing the line, “we are changing technology
NOTE: Earlier this week I published the first in a new series of one-minute videos titled, “Give Me a Minute.” The initial entry is “Status Viator.” The present outline here is a practical example of what I meant in the video Status Viator: My Christian Walk and its Influence on What I Am Made
Having one’s name changed can mean changes in his future. Find out why name changes matter by watching our Truth in Two. Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), teaching at
To preserve any kind of future, You plant what you want to harvest. To find out how, watch our Truth in Two (full text below). Don’t miss the “Afterword”! Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people
