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If you give thanks for one thing, make it this:

Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below).

Subscribe to 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 Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

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The movie Braveheart is a fictional account of the historic Scot, William Wallace. Wallace is legendary as a freedom fighter against English rule in the 13^th and 14^th centuries. The Hollywood version of the story notwithstanding, the theme of the movie for all people is the same. Having been betrayed and led to his execution, Mel Gibson, playing the part of William Wallace, is told to ask for “mercy” in order to relieve his suffering. The crowd is crying out on his behalf, “Mercy! Mercy!” When Gibson gains control of his ability to speak, the executioner quiets the people, saying, “The prisoner wishes to say a word.” All expect him to ask for mercy, to give in to the pain of his execution. Instead, to the astonishment of the quieted crowd, Gibson cries the one word that everyone wants, in one long yell, “Freedom!”

Freedom. It is what the citizens of Hong Kong long for. It is what the peoples of Afghanistan have fought for. It is the cry of every woman who is held in sexual slavery by abusers and human traffickers. It is the wish of every person on the planet who lives under the boot of some local or national tyrant.

Freedom is a precious commodity. Freedom is won with blood. Freedom is kept through vigilance. But freedom can be taken for granted. Freedom can devolve into license, a desire to do whatever one wants without responsibility. Freedom can be easily replaced by authorities who care more for their status and bank account than for the people they are to serve.

During this Thanksgiving week, I implore everyone hearing my voice, reading my words, to say the word “freedom” during your celebration. I would ask that you recount for those around your dinner table a story about someone who has died so that others might live in freedom. And when you go around the table to declare what you are thankful for, I wish that you would finish by mustering your brave-hearts to utter that word in unison. Freedom. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, thankful every day that I am free.

Thank a veteran on Veteran’s Day.

Watch our Truth in Two (full text below).

Subscribe to 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 Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappygoat.com

FULL TEXT

Ahead of Veterans Day I want to make a declaration: I love my country just as anyone who may take pride in their land of birth. I stand in respect when our national anthem is sung. By doing so I give honor to those who died in service of America. I get a lump in my throat when I hear The Star-Spangled Banner sung. Tears fill my eyes when I see the flag saluted by those in uniform, when I see the flag at half-staff to remember someone’s death, or when I see a folded flag handed to the spouse whose mate gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

The American flag is important, the colors and construction are significant. That field of blue symbolizes vigilance, fairness, perseverance. The red focuses on valor and resilience. The white imagines purity and goodness. 50 stars – one for each state – are combined, representing e pluribus unum “out of the many, one.” Thirteen stripes remember the original thirteen colonies whose stand against injustice from an authoritarian leader began the nation’s history.

That flag was fought for, by the one laid to rest in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. His sacrifice stands as representation for the sacrifice of tens of thousands; warriors who have given me my freedom. My freedom comes with responsibility. Liberty lives through sacrifice. I never take my inalienable rights for granted and I never forget those who have sacrificed to make liberty possible.

I am acquainted with enough military history to know of the great sacrifices of our armed forces. Men and women have bled and died on foreign soil so that our enemies could be stopped there, before they come here. The American soldier can be the best friend to the oppressed and the worst nightmare to the oppressor. “These colors don’t run” is the best way to express the red, white, and blue. And we are grateful. The few have given the many the safety of military security, standing against America’s enemies so we can sleep peacefully in our beds. And we are grateful.

For all its faults, we live in the most peaceful, prosperous nation in human history. When I look around the world and see the wonderful cultural heritage of many nations, I revel in the beautiful backgrounds and marvelous people groups around the globe. People from those countries still want to come here, to America. Why? This country is seen as the land of opportunity, where dreams can become reality.

And it is in that same spirit that I can say I am proud to be an American. Land of the brave. Home of the free. A Republic, if we can keep it. The future of this nation for our children and grandchildren is up to us. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally grateful to all our veterans, every day.

Segments of this Truth in Two taken from my Ode to America, 2 July 2020

Why would the powerful want to placate the population?

Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below). 

Subscribe to 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 Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappygoat.com

FULL TEXT

The movie Gladiator gives snapshots of social life during the Roman Empire. Whether in Rome or around its territories, Roman leaders would organize games for the entertainment of the local population. It is recorded that ahead of gladiatorial fights, bread would be tossed into the crowds. Feeding hunger for food and hunger for entertainment, Roman governors and emperors would use the games to pacify the populace. Governance of a nation would be so much easier if leaders gave people what they wanted, satisfying their bellies and their bloodlust. The Roman poet Juvenal blamed the Roman people for giving up their civic duty for what he called “free bread and circus games.” The phrase “bread and circuses” became a way to explain how governments placate any population, taking the public’s mind off public policy decisions.

“Bread and circuses” is an ongoing economic ploy in American politics: give people what they want, to divert their attention away from government actions. Sure, leaders bear responsibility for their governing practices. But beware. Proverbs 28 is clear,

“To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know what poverty will come upon him.”

The problem with cheap food and entertainment is that government money will run out and someone will always pay. Government checks that pay more than a full-time job, keep people happy. Government forgiving student loans with taxpayer dollars, keep people happy. Government financial loopholes for corporations, keep people happy. Cheap subscriptions to streaming services via Prime, Netflix, or Hulu, keep people entertained. Cultural celebrities and sporting events popping first into news feeds keep people entertained. Appeasing people with bread and circuses did not just exist in the Roman empire; the practice of pacifying the population continues in America today.

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally committed to my civic duty of saying what I see.

Halloween dress up should really mean

“Come as you are.”

Why do I say that? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text below).

Subscribe to 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 Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

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FULL TEXT

He served in the British Navy during World War II. Before the war, William Golding was a humanist, assured that people are perfectible, that humans can bring into being some future utopia. In Golding’s words, [quote], “All you had to do was to remove certain inequities and provide practical sociological solutions, and man would have a perfect paradise on earth” [end quote].

After the war, Golding wrote a novel, the theme of which was about what he called “the defects of human nature.” William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies tells the story of military schoolboys left to themselves on a desert island after a nuclear holocaust. Apart from any adult supervision, the boys devolve into a state of savagery, falling from modern to primitive. Split into two groups the boys vie for power. One group, fighting an island beast, erects a pig’s head on a pole which is soon surrounded by flies. The title of the novel, Lord of the Flies, reveals the true nature of the beast – the monster is not the pig but the boys themselves.

Monster costumes around Halloween are related to Lord of the Flies. The word “insect” comes from the original word for “bug,” later, boogeyman. Movie titles with the words “ghost,” “specter,” “goblin,” or “scarecrow” come from a fear of some beast, some Lord of the Flies. But as Golding and his novel teach us, the real monster, the real beast, is us.

We may be haunted by supernatural entities – which do indeed, exist – but our first problem is the problem of our nature. Just like the boys on the island, left to ourselves, we will always be the monster. So, dressing up for Halloween as our favorite monster might be easiest if we just go as ourselves.

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, who believes everyone should read Lord of the Flies.

Membership is demanded in the church of toleration.

Excommunication awaits those who don’t believe.

Find out why worship is not confined to a mosque, temple, or cathedral by watching our Truth in Two (text below).

Subscribe to 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 Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

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“Tolerance” is a doctrine. In theology or education or everyday life, “doctrine” is ever present. Everyone has doctrine since everyone has beliefs. We subscribe to a teaching, dogma, or creed to explain what we believe. Our commitment to that set of teachings limits our acceptance of contrary or adversarial claims. It does not matter if you are a feminist, committed to LGBTQ+, Baptist preacher, or conservative talk show host; you have doctrine.

Everyone everywhere has doctrine. But in our current cultural moment, identity, ethnic, sexual, and gender politics demand our belief in the doctrine of tolerance.

I will use the metaphors of religious ideas and icons to communicate the cultural doctrine of “tolerance.”

First toleration demands “understanding,” then “acceptance,” then “allegiance,” then “obeisance,” then “conformity,” and ultimately “evangelism.” The ordered steps down the cathedral aisle do not matter as much as the baptismal outcome. Hollywood’s hymnal sings both obvious and subtle references to accepted and rejected points of view.

Celebrities must bow before the altar of imposed speech codes. News outlets preach from their pulpits against the latest outrage. The plight of those suffering worldwide is reported only if their death reinforces the common book of party prayer.

Catechismal teaching reinforces the moment-by-moment commitment to membership in the church of toleration. Excommunication is swift for any who would sin against accepted authority. Reputational ruin comes to anyone daring to cross the received cultural commandments.

Toleration’s heaven accepts the culturally righteous who are the tolerant saints wearing white robes of social purity. Toleration’s hell awaits anyone who has rejected salvation offered by the cultural gods of the day.

Let me be perfectly clear. I am tolerant, kind, generous, respectful and gracious to people, no matter who they are or what they believe. But I will always speak out against ideas – the doctrine of tolerance included – which stand against the doctrines of God’s Word.

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, intentionally repeating Jesus’ words, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Do you have a “third place?”

And who joins you there?

Find out why these questions are important by watching our Truth in Two (full text below).

Subscribe to 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 Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappy Goat

FULL TEXT

Bars count. Coffee shops count. A gun range counts. Even a park bench counts.

Each of these places is a “third place.” A third place is a location other than home or work. It is a spot where you congregate with others who have similar interests, cares, or passions. Ray Oldenburg made the phrase “third place” common place in his book The Great Good Place.

Oh, and for all my church-going friends, churches are not a third place. Deep, personal conversations are had around books and brews – which has actually become the name of one such third place. It’s like me going to a jazz club: I want to be with people who enjoy jazz as much as I do. There, we have camaraderie amongst friends because we have the same interests.

I was reminded of the importance of place when I read Elizabeth C. Corey’s article “Breakfast at Kim’s” in First Things journal, linked in this Truth in Two. Corey was interviewing folks for her research on the importance of a local hangout at an eatery called “Kim’s” in Waco, Texas. Asked why he had been coming to Kim’s for over fifty years, a patron named Max, found the question to hard to answer. But after he had thought a while, Max paused, then said the main draw to his third place was being known. Everyone from the waitresses to the busboys to the owner is a friend.

I have talked about this article to many of my friends. People want to be known. They want to feel human. Folks want connection, they want incarnation, they want someone like them sitting on the stool next to them. If this sounds vaguely biblical, you’re right. Jesus came to “make the Father known” according to the apostle John. And for us, Paul’s words ring true “We are letters, known and read of all men.”

So hit me up if you want to hear some good jazz. We’ll enjoy a third place together.

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

Breakfast at Kim’s, First Things, May 2021.