Theology

Theology
Mark Eckel

Dice Roll or Divine Plan

There are only two choices. Give me a minute to explain. “Humanly speaking,” “not necessarily,” and “it does not automatically follow” are phrases we use to admit our best plans, policies, and practices are ultimately outside our control. Our individual, limited viewpoint – we are all fallen, fallible, finite – leaves us with only two

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Theology
Mark Eckel

Biblical Grace: The Change We Don’t Want

Weather is constantly changing. But we don’t like change. Give Me a Minute to explain why. In her letters Flannery O’Connor stated, “All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and change is painful” O’Connor’s ideas track with biblical truth. Grace is an undeserved, God-given gift, rescuing us from sin; but we like

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Theology
Mark Eckel

Physics Depends on Metaphysics

The natural world comes from The Supernatural God. Give me a minute to explain. Did you know it takes all of your over 600 muscles plus your brain to make your body run? The human body plan explained by exercise scientists is fascinating! Did you know that the stealth fighter-bomber design was patterned after the

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Theology
Mark Eckel

While You Still Have Time

If you were shown a miracle, would you believe? Give Me a Minute to explain. The story is told of the deaths of two men, one rich, one poor. The rich man, who thought his life was a result of his work, found himself in torment, separated from God. The poor man, who believed that

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Theology
Mark Eckel

Synthesis not Separation

Why is the idea of “warp and woof” important for everyday life? Give Me a Minute to explain. I agree with Augustine who said, “We love Truth when it suits us, but hate Truth when it accuses us” and with Os Guinness who said, “If we do not have integration with truth in the whole

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Theology
Mark Eckel

Four Points for Pro-Life

In celebration of life for mother and child with the Pro-Life Movement. Give Me a Minute as I consider four points for life. Everyone has a theology, an operating system for life. I believe all views should have at least four points to consider, about when life begins. All should be: (1) Considerate of the

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Recent Posts

Dice Roll or Divine Plan

There are only two choices. Give me a minute to explain. “Humanly speaking,” “not necessarily,” and “it does not automatically follow” are phrases we use to admit our best plans, policies, and practices are ultimately outside our control. Our individual, limited viewpoint – we are all fallen, fallible, finite – leaves us with only two

Read More »

Fahrenheit 451, Libraries & Free Speech

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

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I am a Stone in the Shoe

What’s my job as a professor? Give me a minute to explain. My job, as a professor, is to hold a mirror up to myself and my students, asking each one of us to be honest about our beliefs. We may not agree with each other. But to appreciate others’ points of view, without necessarily

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Who Owns You?

Are you a YouTube commercial, advertising your beliefs? Give me a minute to explain. Sports teams and race car drivers wear the names of advertisers on their uniforms. And I wonder what kind of advertisements are seen on us? How have we been influenced by groups, organizations, institutions, or communities? How do our views of

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Prayer Before Study

Before I open a book, this is what I do. Give me a minute to explain. Thomas Aquinas wrote “A Prayer Before Study” where he prayed, “Grant to me keenness of mind, capacity to remember, skill in learning, subtlety to interpret, and eloquence in speech. May you guide the beginning of my work, direct its

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Biblical Grace: The Change We Don’t Want

Weather is constantly changing. But we don’t like change. Give Me a Minute to explain why. In her letters Flannery O’Connor stated, “All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and change is painful” O’Connor’s ideas track with biblical truth. Grace is an undeserved, God-given gift, rescuing us from sin; but we like

Read More »