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Opposites Don’t Attract, They Stand in Opposition

A “Longitudinal” View of the Leader’s Life and Work  

Deny. Deflect. Dismiss. Defame. Deride. Calling something a “conspiracy theory” is nothing new. Politicians, news organizations, indeed, all people try to point others away from TRUTH. Watch our Truth in Two video to find out why (full text below). Be wary when politicians and newsrooms cry “Conspiracy!” It may just be true. Subscribe to “Truth in … Read more

Hearing, caring for all points of view, Even if we disagree. Working in a pluralistic culture, many voices need to be heard. Hearing is not the same as believing, so how does one honor another’s point of view? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text & links below). The public university should … Read more

The First Testament gives my life formation. Genesis to Malachi is relevant for all times, people, places, & cultures. Why is The First Testament (Old Testament) so important? Watch our Truth in Two to find out! [Full Text below] If Jesus utilized the First Testament as His source of instruction, so should Christians. Find out … Read more

You want to change a culture? Teach a generation. “Ideas Change People, People Change a Culture” is our Comenius tagline. Watch our Truth in Two to find out how (full text below). Teaching leaders to teach leaders to teach a generation is a biblical concept (2 Timothy 2:2). Find out more about becoming a Christian … Read more

Reading changes students. From the inside, out. Transformational learning takes place when students read literature. Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below). Teaching-learning is not for information, but for transformation. Find out more about becoming a Christian APOLOGIST. I would be glad to talk with you about the work of … Read more

A person can live 40 days without food, 3 days without water, 5 minutes without air . . . . . . but not one second without hope. Is there hope in hard times? Why is hope important to you? Where do you find your hope? Watch our Truth in Two to find out why … Read more

Our wrongdoing . . . . . . is our own doing. And how do we know what is “wrong”? Did you ever wonder “by what standard” does anyone live? Watch our Truth in Two to understand where Hollywood & Christianity agree (full text below). The only way out of our wrongdoing is if someone … Read more

Insert your own subjects of study. These comments were sent to all my students in public university as I assessed their final portfolios. I teach “Reading, Writing & Inquiry” at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI). From now on, you will have much more confidence in your ability to write. Yes, each class will … Read more

  “Emerge” is our response to “Emergency.”   Christians have met emergencies for 2000 years. Why would Christians lead the way in HEALTH CARE? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text and AFTERWORD below). Find out more about becoming a Christian APOLOGIST. I would be glad to talk with you about the … Read more

Distance does not mean disconnect. There are other ways to knock on a door. When we can’t see others across town, across the nation, what do we do? We reach out with the technical tools available to us today. Watch our Truth in Two to find out why distance does not mean disconnect (full text … Read more

How we tend to our elders . . . says a lot about who we are. Are we committed to support those older than us? What does the Bible say about caring for those who cannot care for themselves? Watch our Truth in Two (minutes) to discover answers to those questions (full text below). Protecting … Read more

What stopped contagion before the microscope? The same thing we do with a microscope: isolation. “Quarantine” is nothing new. Separating diseased people from the rest of the population is an ancient practice beginning with God’s Law to Israel in Leviticus 13. Has anything changed? Find out by watching our Truth in Two video (full text … Read more

A funeral. A stump. An expectation.   “If a man dies, will he live again?” The question has haunted humans ever since Genesis 3. Job, perhaps the earliest written First Testament book, has the answer. Find out what Job knew, what Jesus proved, by watching this week’s “Truth in Two” (full text below). Is there … Read more

If you see a need . . . . . . Meet a need. Professional athletes are stepping out and stepping up. They may not be playing games but they are still paying claims. Find out how by watching our Truth in Two (full text below). Biblical truths are always in play. Find out more … Read more

Creating community at the check out. How do we create community at the grocery store? Watch our Truth in Two to discover one approach (full text below). To everyone out there, I echo the sentiment, “Have a BLESSED day!” Find out more about becoming a Christian APOLOGIST. I would be glad to talk with you … Read more

Both are true. Live what you already know is true. We are all equal, made in God’s image. We all complement each other’s work. Why do I think it necessary to coin a new word? Watch our 2 minute Truth in Two to find out why (full text below). Encourage each other with equal treatment … Read more

Attucks: The School that Opened a City Watch the documentary (here). Black History month is important for many reasons. We should never forget our history and we should always seek ways to overcome it. Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below). Overcoming injustice means coming over to secure justice for … Read more

Can we just be friends? The bonds of friendship bridge deep divides. What happens when we seriously disagree? Is it possible we can find commonness in our humanity? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text below). We, made in God’s image, should mirror His image to each other. Find out more about … Read more

Agreeing to disagree, agreeably. A Black liberal, a White conservative, both Christians. You mean people can strongly hold opposing views without rancor? Yes. In fact, Cornel West and Robert George visit college campuses to say so. Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text, citation, afterword below). Find out more about becoming … Read more

“In unity, we will fight for life.” State Senator Katrina Jackson (D – LA) “This is not a party issue, this is an issue unifying America.” With everything that separates us in America, life should bring us together. Find out why in this week’s Truth in Two (full text below). Find out more about becoming … Read more

In the days of ancient Rome . . . Unwanted babies were left on the doorsteps of Christian homes. The same thing happens today: Christians will always care for unwanted children. Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below). Abortion kills, adoption gives life. Choose life. Find out more about becoming … Read more

THESE TWO STORIES. You won’t soon forget. See what the world would have lost had these two young men been aborted. We support all life, children inside the uterus into the wide world. Find out why. Watch our Truth in Two minute video (full text below). Pro-lifers support life from conception through every dimension, each … Read more

Marching in the streets, or . . . . . . Giving from your wallet? How do you protest? The meaning of the word matters. Positive protest should be our first action; and negative protest must be based on a primary standard. Find out why HOW we protest matters (full text below). If you only … Read more

Creation sings . . . to its Creator. Science is catching up. Researchers are discovering what has happened throughout time. Black holes, fish schools, all created things praise God in their own way. Listen to our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below). Join the chorus of creation in this new year: … Read more

I stink at waiting. I know you do too. We all wait: we have desires and longings. The real issue is WHAT we are waiting for. Why is WAITING central to being a Christian? Find out why by watching our Truth in Two video (full text below). EVERYONE is WAITING, waiting for Jesus, “the desire … Read more

All around the world. They stood. Why do people stand at the beginning of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”? Watch our Truth in Two to find out we are asking the wrong question (full text below). In this new year, this new decade, may our standing reflect our standing with Jesus. Find out more about becoming a … Read more

Building the Brooklyn Bridge . . . . . . took PATIENCE. How long does CHANGE take? Are we willing to wait? The Brooklyn Bridge stands not only as a feat of human creation, but as a statement about what is going on under the surface of a person. Watch our Truth in Two to … Read more

Why do we do what we do? Watch our 30 second video: Consider a one-time gift via our Facebook promotion (here) OR Consider becoming a regular, giving patron (here). The students, faculty, and university we serve, THANKS YOU! Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel … Read more

“The Ivory Tower” The phrase can have a negative connotation. But “ivory towers” and those who work in university settings are important. University “scholarship” should be the same everywhere for everyone. But is “Christian scholarship” different and if so, how? Listen to this week’s Truth in Two to find out one perspective (full text below). … Read more

“Inspiration” can come in ways you never expected. “Inspiration” is all around us. What is “inspiration?” How do I get “inspiration?” Where does “inspiration” come from? Watch this week’s Truth in Two to be “inspired” (full text below). If I can get you to learn without you knowing it, that, to me, is “inspirational.” Find … Read more

What’s YOUR “North”? It depends on what direction you’re going. Liz Williams explains “North” in this week’s Truth in Two (full text below). May you find “North” in “Truth,” God’s Truth. Find out more about becoming a Christian APOLOGIST. I would be glad to talk with you about the work of RATIO CHRISTI (here). Subscribe … Read more

The Love Molecule Created in us to care for others. Why would I lay down my life for my son and my daughter? How is our physical person designed to automatically connect to our children? The science is pretty clear. Watch our Truth in Two video to find out why! (full text below) Science shows … Read more

“Open-minded” does not exist. Everyone is “closed-minded” to something. “Broadminded,” however, means one entertains others and their ideas. We may disagree with each other but being hospitable, means we listen. Watch how we welcome people and their beliefs, without giving up our own (full text below). We should be hospitable to all, caring about them … Read more

Jesus is a man’s man: strength under control. Meekness does not mean weakness. Raised as a carpenter, Jesus was strong in body and mind. How should we prepare for the tough questions that confront us? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text below). Christian apologists are prepared, gentle in response. Find out … Read more

We stand with those who stand for FREEDOM. Cries for justice know no boundary lines. Freedom loving people want what we in America have: to think and speak without restraint. But how do we practice freedom as American CHRISTIANS? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text and AFTERWORDS below). American Christians should … Read more

Is life an illusion? Nothing more than a dream? How do we know? And what if we meet someone who disagrees? Even better, HOW do we disagree, when we disagree? You won’t want to miss the answer in this story on this week’s Truth in Two! [Full text below and don’t miss the AFTERWORD!] Life … Read more

You only have one of two choices. That choice determines how you will think. Either this world is all there is or there is Someone who has made this world. Your answer to that either-or statement will impact how you live life. Watch our Truth in Two video to find out why (full text below) … Read more

“Power And Authority” Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, September 9th, 2019

Intimidation. Bullying. Fundamentalism. They are all attempts to shame another. The problem with bullies is their own sense of inadequacy. Why would I say this? And how does this relate to Genesis 4? Watch our two minute Truth in Two video to find out! (full text below). Bullies only want to take away others’ freedom. … Read more

Authority is held in an open hand. Power is a clenched fist. We all live by authority structures, like it or not. But we know the difference between authority and brutalizing power. Find out an easy way to tell the difference. Watch our two minute video (full text below). Do people view your authority with … Read more

A person really knows how to live . . . . . . if they know how to die. A celebration of life suggests how we ought to prepare for death. What happens after death ought to make us carefully reflect on life. Find out why in this week’s Truth in Two (full text below). … Read more

We must not forget our history, but . . . . . . we must not live there either. We bear the responsibility to remind ourselves, our children, of our past. Why? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (full text below). We do not live in the past, but we don’t forget it … Read more

My view of teaching changed . . .   . . . when I had to do it myself. Being a school teacher is exhausting work. Find out why by watching our two minute video (full text below). At Comenius, we salute all K-12 teachers everywhere. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is … Read more

Johnny Unitas is my hero.   I became a Colts fan when I was 8 years old. To me, Johnny Unitas embodies loyalty. My love of football comes from my respect for Johnny U’s dedication. Find out why I love the Indianapolis Colts by watching this Truth in Two (full text below). My boyhood hero, … Read more

“Apologetics for School and Life“ Mark Eckel on Q90 Radio, August 8th, 2019

We encountered one problem over and over: The Humanist superstition. I had great respect for Isaac Asimov’s views. My students watched his American Humanist videos with me. Watch the problem my students discovered in our Truth in Two video (full text follows). It is a superstition to believe humans can bring Heaven to Earth. Subscribe … Read more

What happens when everything goes SIDEWAYS? Will my life always be THIS WAY? Why do we believe that what we consider to be “normal” will continue? “What if?” questions should make us stop to think. Find out more about “normalcy bias” by watching our two minute video (text below) If anything is “normal” we know … Read more

How do you communicate your message? You need to know what bridge to cross. What is the most important idea behind communication?  The audiences with whom we communicate, change. So “the bridge” to each group is imperative. Watch our two minute “Truth in Two” to find out why! [Full text follows below.] Jesus’ incarnation best … Read more

What do younger Christians need? Older Christians. What helps a Christian teenager navigate ideas in the public square? Watch our two minute Truth in Two minutes to find out! (full text below). Titus 1.9 is clear: we are to encourage each other with sound doctrine. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President … Read more

“The science tells us.” Oh really?! What do researchers know that the rest of us don’t? Watch our two minute Truth in Two to find out (full text below). At Comenius, we ask questions, do our research, and let the answers speak for themselves. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of … Read more

They may not know now. But they will. Repetition. Concentration. Training. Being educated for life. Preparation for what’s coming. No matter what it is. My job as a teacher is to prep students for a life they don’t know but will come. Watch our 2 minute Truth in Two to find out why. Getting students … Read more

But what if I don’t like her/him/them? “Like” has nothing to do with it. Christians can evade the clear teaching of Scripture when it suits them. Be wary that our views of authority are reflective of our view of God’s authority. See our two minute “Truth in Two” to find out why (full text follows … Read more

Helping Christians to Watch Movies Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, June 20th, 2019

Brutish and cruel. When authority has a human face. At the Comenius Institute we believe ultimate authority belongs to God alone. Watch our two minute video and ask yourself, “Who are the watchmen in my life?” (full text below) H.G. Wells was right: beware those creatures who want to be Creator. Subscribe to “Truth in … Read more

Dictators know their power. Movies can be useful propaganda. I love movies. I’m sure you do too. But we aren’t alone. Every totalitarian state has used film for controlling minds. Are we being brainwashed? Watch our two minute Truth in Two (full text below)! It’s not “just a movie.” Movies can change the way we … Read more

Preparing for a street fight. Mr. Miyagi was right. “Show me, Wax on, wax off.” Anyone who has watched the classic movie The Karate Kid connects immediately to that statement. The old man, the karate master, Mr. Miyagi, is teaching the young man, Daniel, how to defend himself against bullies. So he brings the boy … Read more

Science has limitations. Science cannot give us “should.” We marvel at the good work of science (see our Truth in Two here). But we are wary that science, like other disciplines, can be distorted by sin. Watch our two minute video to find out how (full text below) We are grateful for science and for … Read more

Life Science Science supports life. If we depend on research for our lives, there are lives depending on our research. Scientific procedures to save lives in the womb explain why lives in the womb should be saved. Watch our two minute Truth in Two to find out why (full text follows). The science of life … Read more

I LOVE SCIENCE! And look what science just discovered in 2018! Christians love science because they love the God who made the science. Watch our Truth in Two video to find out why (full text follows). The wonder of science originates in the wonder of The Creator. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of … Read more

The horror is in me. Horror literature teaches one of the most important lessons of life. Gothic literature changes us from the inside, out. Watch our two minute video to find out why (full text below). Just imagine if we let the horror change us. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President … Read more

How do you explain it? Serendipity? Luck? or Providence? A Christian view of life begins with Who is in charge of life. “Luck” is not personal nor powerful. “Providence” is both. Watch our two minute video (full text below). I will take Providence over luck any day. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark … Read more

– Dr. Eckel teaches “Christian Thought” a course for Indianapolis Theological Seminary, every Monday in June & July, 7-10 p.m. – Dr. Eckel attends the Consortium of Christian Study Centers annual meeting in Chicago August 5-6. The Comenius Institute is a member.   – Truth in Two videos come out every Tuesday morning, Warp & … Read more

Stealing ethics? Where else would you get them? We all believe in right and wrong, especially when it comes to money. We should not be surprised by the reason; watch our two minute video to find out (full text below). WHERE we get our ethics from shows WHY we believe in common virtue. Subscribe to … Read more

I LOVE talking with students about their studies . . . . . . helping them to think Christianly about all things. Students have questions outside of class as much as they do in class. The Comenius Institute helps Christian young people navigate intellectual waters. Watch our two minute video to hear some of what … Read more

Everyone dies. But . . . What do we do in the mean time? It is important to consider the temporal in light of the eternal. Why? Watch our two minute video (full text below). Death is serious. So is life. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute … Read more

“Ring the bells that still can ring.” “Forget your perfect offering” “There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.” Watch how some of our Indianapolis friends are letting the light in (full text below). Rehearse, live Leonard Cohen’s words every day. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President … Read more

#WomensHistoryMonth We remember not just once a year, but every day. Our granddaughters come from a long line of strong women. Watch our two minute video for seven examples (full text follows below). #WomensHistoryMonth is every day. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time … Read more

Two Christian doctrines run through every life question. What people believe impacts how they think. Why are humans at war? Why do laws change? What is the basis for peace? Watch our two minute video to find out how belief impacts our thinking (full text below). Where Christian wisdom and college life meet is not … Read more

My job is not to make students learn . . .  . . . but to entice them to learn. What do professors want their students to remember about their classes years from now? Watch our two minute video to find out (full text below). Learning Truth necessitates we lead students to it. Subscribe to … Read more

– Dr. Eckel travels to Nashville, TN to present to the Transdisciplinary Group, March, 29.   – Dr. Eckel speaks to the Christian Student Fellowship on the IU Bloomington campus, March 21-22.   – Comenius students spend 10 hours a week talking with Dr. Eckel.   – Truth in Two videos come out every Tuesday morning, … Read more

“The world sends us garbage . . . . . . We send back music.” You won’t believe this story! Human worth, value, and dignity come only from God who gives it. Watch our two minute video to find out why (full text below).  No person is a “throw away,” because all persons are made … Read more

Winsome understanding . . . . . . with respectful vigor. We must practice the famed words “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Learn the questions to ask. Watch our two minute video (full text below). How I treat others who may disagree with me shows the depth of my love for others. Subscribe … Read more

We don’t talk much about the excretory system . . . . . . until something goes wrong. Expunging waste from our body is a picture of ridding ourselves of HYPOCRISY. Watch our two minute video to find out why (full text below). Getting rid of external AND internal uncleanness is a constant need. Subscribe … Read more

Everyone puts their faith in something. Professors are no different. Students should be taught how to wrestle with ideas. That’s what we do at Comenius. Watch our two minute video (full text appears below). At Comenius, we believe that ideas change people and people change culture. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is … Read more

Respecting university work . . . . . . Shows respect for the subject, the professor, and God-given intellect. There are few things that dismay me more than shoddy work in any field. Watch our two minute video about the need for academic excellence (text below). 1 Thessalonians 4:12 says it best: our work shows … Read more

Sensitivity in words shows sensitivity toward people. My friend and brother, Dr. Dave Deuel, Senior Research Fellow – Policy and Publishing – of The Christian Institute on Disability of Joni and Friends asked me to publish the style guide for “Writing and Speaking about Disability in Biblical Counseling Ministry.” I offer this guide at Warp and … Read more

It doesn’t take much. But it means everything. How do we treat people when we meet them? What is important to others should automatically become important to us. Watch our two minute video (full text below). Everyone deserves respect. All we need do, is give it. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is … Read more

Will you be the answer to the question? A new year encourages a new approach. Watch our two minute video (full text follows). Our answers should be seen in how we live. Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here). Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends … Read more

– Dr. Eckel teaches “Theological Interpretation of Media” for Capital Seminary, February – March. – Dr. Eckel speaks for Spanish River School In-Service, Boca Raton, FL, February 15th.   – Dr. Eckel’s peer-reviewed journal article “” is published in the Fall, 2018 edition of Integrite: A Journal of Faith and Learning.   – Dr. Eckel speaks … Read more

You think everyone should be accepted? I’m going to ask you, “Why?” Inclusivity is imperative in a free society. But it’s an exclusive claim. Our two minute video gives a Christian answer to the question, “Why?” (full text below). Jesus’ exclusive claim is the answer to question, “Why?” Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here). Subscribe … Read more

“Questions to Answer for 2019” 18-01-07 Mark Eckel Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, Jan 7th, 2019

I once danced in Jerusalem. Someday, I will do so again. Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew, makes dancing before The King, possible. Do you wish to dance for joy? Watch our two minute video (full text below). Dancing with Jesus is only possible if Jesus is The King the wise men sought. Blessings on The Holiday, … Read more

I said, “This weekend . . .” “. . . I want you to find out where you came from . . .” Genealogies tell us about our past and our future. Watch our two minute video on the genealogy of Jesus to find out why (full text follows). Jesus’ past matters to our future. … Read more

“Christmas: What Really Happened” Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, Dec 21st, 2018

Plots, Purges, Palace intrigue . . . . . . Not to mention Satanic attacks. The Birth of Jesus is NOTHING like you find on a Christmas card. (Part One here) (Part Two here) The exciting conclusion to the Christmas Story can be seen in our two minute video: “The reason the Son of God … Read more

Really? Seriously? It was like that?! Jesus’ birth is NOTHING like a Christmas card! Watch our two minute video (full text below). Assassination. Despots. Flight to freedom. THAT is the True Story of Christmas. Blessings on The Holiday, from all of us at The Comenius Institute. Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here). Subscribe to “Truth … Read more

Christmas cards may promote myths, but Christmas is no fiction. Jesus’ birth had more in common with Law and Order® than Hallmark Movies®. Why is the original, true story so important? Watch our two minute video. Part 2 next week (full text below). If there is no TRUE STORY, there is no story to tell. Blessings on … Read more

75% of Christian students may leave The Church after attending public university. The answer? Personal, spiritual investment on campus with students. We spend time with Christian young people. “I’ve never thought of that before!” This is the kind of statement I hear every week. At some point  during any conversation, I give a Christian answer … Read more

Confession IS Thanksgiving. Biblical Thanksgiving is a Declaration of God’s Greatness. On Moody Radio last week I said . . .  Confession IS Thanksgiving (@ min 3 – 5) My favorite Thanksgiving STORY (@ min 5.15 – 6.45) How can we practice Thanksgiving every day? (@ min 7 – 8.45) https://warpandwoof.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-11-16_kelliandsteve_stream.mp3 May we always be … Read more

“Gratitude at Thanksgiving” Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, 11/16/2018

Woody Allen agrees with Solomon. Fantasy is no substitute for reality. “What satisfies?” is question all people ask. Watch our two minute video that gives a Christian response (full text follows below). Movies are no substitute for real life. But movies can explain our real lives. See Dr. Eckel’s book about movies When the Lights … Read more

What is the source of your goodness? Can you have fruit without a root? People want what is “good” without saying where “good” comes from. Watch our two minute video (full text below). Don’t complain when the tree stops producing its fruit after the roots are destroyed. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius … Read more

The natural world depends on the . . . Horrific stories remind us we are not alone. Watch our two minute video (full text follows). There is a good reason to be frightened: on Halloween and every day. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. … Read more

What will WE do? “Help” is the best four-letter word. Living in a world of trauma, we see need all around us. What will we do? Watch-listen to our two minute video (full text below). “The Good Samaritan” is not just a nice tag line: it is a life-line. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos … Read more

I am not, “basically good.” Cain is in us all. Our problems are not “out there” or “with them” but “in here,” in us. Watch-listen to our two minute video (full text below). Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian … Read more

How do I interact on social media? My 10 Personal Rules for Social Media Posting. These are my rules for myself and are not intended for anyone else. 1. I always try to answer the question, “What do you want to be known for?” Some believe their job is to be social media warriors. God … Read more

“Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence” Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, 10/8/2018

Stuck in a mountain snow storm? Who you gonna’ believe? Given a choice between a human instinct and divine revelation, what would you choose? Faith? Belief? Trust? Reliability? Watch our two minute video below (full text follows). Follow the guide with the best information Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is … Read more

There is no fence to sit on. There are only two options. Watch our two minute video (full text below). Life is full of choices. There is one that counts forever. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people in … Read more

She screamed and no one helped. The first five minutes of Boondock Saints says it all. Evil prospers when good is absent. Watch our two minute video (full text below). If I can be bad, good can’t originate with me. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. … Read more

Stuck in a mountain snow storm? Who you gonna’ believe? Given a choice between a human instinct and divine revelation, what would you choose? Faith? Belief? Trust? Reliability? Watch our two minute video below (full text follows). Follow the guide with the best information Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is … Read more

“Biblical Standards For Accusers And Accusations” Dr. Mark Eckel on Moody Radio (September 21st, 2018)

“Should” automatically suggests there is “right” and “wrong.” I was reading Michael Crichton’s novel to my students. What we discovered was the standard for ethics does not change. You want ethics? Watch our two minute video (full text below). Dinosaurs tell the story. But the story is repeated every day. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” … Read more

Are you ready? Prepare now, for then. Rodin’s sculpture has been used to sell many things. Rodin’s sculpture was originally intended for something much more serious. Watch our two minute video (with the full text below). What I do now, counts forever. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The … Read more

I put the book down, and wept. I read The Search for God and Guinness, right after the recession. And I thought, “If all employers treated people as did Guinness, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” Watch our 2 minute video or read the full text below. A beer company founder and his offspring showed … Read more

You want to see a CHANGE? Start with yourself: develop personal “habits of the heart.” Changing ourselves is more difficult than changing culture. Watch-listen to our 2 minute video (with full text below). We need to exert authority over ourselves before exercise authority over others. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark … Read more

Gratitude: one of the chief pillars of life. We give acclaim to someone outside of ourselves. Do you owe a debt? To whom do you owe a debt? How will you repay the debt? Listen to our two minute video (with full text below). Doing right is motivated by Someone doing right by us. Who … Read more

“How Should Christians Respond to a Culture of Constant Change?” – Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, May 30th, 2018

Their heritage depended on it. We must decide if what we have inherited is important enough to keep. Every generation must make a choice, a choice about what is most important, a choice of what to keep. Watch our two minute video (full text below). Every generation faces the same question, “What from the past … Read more

This is a true story: “I could kill you while we’re sitting here.” “But you seem like such a nice man!” How can anyone say anything is right or wrong? Watch our two minute video (full text & “afterword” below). Ethics don’t come out of mid-air, even when riding on a plane. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” … Read more

Sometimes a fish story can change a life. Character development changes lives. Have you ever wondered why people LOVE stories? Have you ever wondered why stories CHANGE people? Watch our two minute video (full text below) to answer the questions. Want to change a life? Tell a story. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). … Read more

The grave awaits us all. How does our view of death impact how we live life? Since our years are limited, we would do well to consider what is limitless. Watch-listen to our two minute video (or read the text below). Are you prepared for “There and Then?” Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from … Read more

“Pressing flesh” has a whole new meaning. The power of an image fires our memory. How do images ignite what is most important? Watch-listen to our 2 minute video (text below) So, what’s most important to you?! Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website), spends … Read more

The last of the human freedoms.   What does surviving Auschwitz and getting out of bed in the morning have in common? The Bible’s book of Genesis has the answer. Watch-listen to our video and read (below) about the importance of meaning, reason, & purpose. So why do YOU get out of bed in the morning? Subscribe … Read more

Dr. Mark Eckel, July 1, 2018 Part of the Choose This Day series, preached at a Sunday Morning service Joshua 2 reads like Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, and Wonder Woman all rolled into one! But this spy thriller turns on Rahab’s confession, “The LORD is God of the heavens and the earth.”

What can we count on? What is most important? Permanent things. Watch, listen to our 2 min video. We can all agree to lasting, permanent things. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website), spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), hosts … Read more

You never know when God will show up. Ordained, ordered, ordinary creation from The Creator. Watch our two minute video explaining the Christian view of creation God has ordered all of creation down to the last detail. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website), spends … Read more

My favorite politician is . . . Vaclav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic, because . . . . . . he believed people had lost sight of Transcendence. Watch our two minute video (or read the text below). Loving our neighbor depends on whether or not there is a God who first loved … Read more

Biologists, business people, builders, everyone depends on it. Why we depend on ORDER. Watch our 2 minute video (or read the text below). Genesis gives us the basis for our ordered world and the reason for how our world works best. Our dependence upon an ordered world begins with The Orderer. Subscribe to “Truth in … Read more

How does honey get to your table? Bees, Coherence, and the Unity of God’s Creation. Watch our 2 minute video: how honey from bees shows how we make sense of everything. God’s creature the bee gives a snapshot of how the world makes sense. Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is … Read more

“My wife loves whales.” This was the first statement out of my mouth . . .  . . . when early last semester one of the girls asked me a question about eschatology. You should have seen their faces. What did “whales” have to do with Jesus returning to earth? My explanation, however, would far … Read more

“Truth in Two” – Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, May 30th, 2018

Alone. Directionless. Isolated. To be lost in a forest is disorienting. You see everything and nothing. Watch and hear my retelling of “Lost in the Forest” by Francis Schaeffer to find your way out. There is hope for a map, a guide, and a hut.   Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website), spends … Read more

At Comenius we are excited to announce… A brand new video series. Each week we will create a new, 2-minute video. In each video I will explain a simple Christian truth in two minutes. Our introductory video is about the word “truth” and Harvard University. The first episode, immediately following, gives a bit of background … Read more

  Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website), spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), hosts a weekly radio program with diverse groups of guests (1 minute video), interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video) Picture credit: snappygoat.com, wikipedia.com, librivox.org  

INJUSTICE should produce two questions: (1) Could you live with it? (2) Now what will you do? “Civil War Literature and Culture” is an IUPUI class I have been privileged to take this semester with the brilliant professor, Jane Schultz. One of our earliest readings was from Rebecca Harding Davis’s “Life in the Iron-Mills.” [Listen … Read more

“Doing good” has its source in The Good God. “Beneficence” – giving for the good of others. The cultural mandate (Gen 1.28-29) can be defined as God’s intention for humanity was to manage and conserve, not use and abuse, the creation.  Both production from and preservation of earth’s resources are possible. God’s beneficence shows God’s … Read more

Read this book! Research is the deliberation of the owl. Research is the spider’s methodical construction of her web. Research is the beaver building his dam, branch by branch. Research is the cat surveying her territory, still, silent, awaiting the opportunity to pounce. Masters and doctoral work demands these and other zoomorphic metaphors of care, … Read more

“So many are so depressed!”   A remark from a student tutor created a discussion about why college students may be depressed. A few at the lunch table began to offer suggestions toward help. “What if you created a short questionnaire? The questions might prompt student reflection and an opportunity for practical suggestions.” The discussion … Read more

How it all began.   The Practice of Faith-Learning Integration A frantic phone call.  A quick visit at my door.  A conversation at lunch.  An emailed question. “I’m showing the periodic table today, what biblical principles should I teach?” “Is there anything to say from a Christian perspective about The Giver which is on our … Read more

Radio Interview: “Serving Christian College Students through Comenius” (Mark Eckel on Moody Radio – 3/20/18)

“The only way we can judge if someone’s feelings are hurt is if absolutes of right and wrong show why feelings shouldn’t be hurt.” See Campus Episodes (Part One) here. See Campus Episodes (Part Two) here. Episode 1 Academics We had just been discussing how various Christian groups share the gospel. My young friend expressed her … Read more

How do you “self identify”? See Campus Episodes (Part One) here. Episode #1  “Social media is an illusion where people try to control our image using people to value ourselves.” Our discussion was about why young people don’t feel like they are doing any good in their lives. Students, my young conversationalist contended, are depressed … Read more

Radio Interview: “Miraculous Healing” (Mark Eckel on Moody Radio – 3/5/18)

Can we foresee potential results from our decisions? In the futuristic thriller World War Z, Brad Pitt plays a U.N. envoy who battles a world-wide zombie apocalypse. He discovers that Israel has successfully walled off their nation to stop the onslaught of the undead. Discussion with the politician responsible for the successful defense uncovers an … Read more

“She kept dropping F-bombs throughout her talk.” Episode #1 My text notification chirped. She was writing from a classroom lecture. “I’m in a world language course. In our random reading this week we read the story of Adam and Eve. The professor told the class it was a myth that teaches women are useless, scapegoats … Read more

Radio Interview: “Defending the Christian Faith: Apologetics” (Mark Eckel on Moody Radio – 2/20/18)  

“Youthquake” Spending Time with Christian Young People – Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, January 9th, 2018    

“Pro-Science, Pro-Life” – Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, January 22nd, 2018    

“The Study of and Relevance of the Old Testament” – Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, January 29th, 2018    

“A Biblical, Practical Response to Poverty” – Mark Eckel on Moody Radio, February 6th, 2018

Working together is better than working apart. Dr. Clyde Posley, Dr. Mark Eckel, co-host Warp&Woof Radio Government “shutdowns” or legislative stalemates do little to overcome disagreements. Entrenched, combative pugilists seek only to dominate and humiliate. “Victory” comes at a cost, a cost not always immediate in its impact. Proverbs 18:18 says, “The lot puts an … Read more

Science and human life. Both depend on an origin outside human decision. The Atlantic published “Pro-Life, Pro-Science” this past Thursday (here). Emma Green documents the obvious science behind neonatology studies. She suggests that pro-life groups are “winning” the debate on abortion since science is “instilling a sense of awe that we never really had before … Read more

Nine out of ten times we will agree. Speaking with Christian brothers in a recent on air interview, I made the suggestion above. It was a group of men whose political, cultural views were widely varied. As we discussed issues, it was clear that we all adhered to the same biblical principles, we all held … Read more

The rich are judged by how they treat the poor. Poverty is real, has real consequences, for real people, with real needs. Poor people in particular are targeted as the “have-nots” in American politics.  Poverty seems always to be a “wedge issue” for debate.  One party will tend to label the other as “the party … Read more

Psychology in Film: Pain and Promise, Presented in St. Louis, November 18. (2 hours)

Showing rather than saying may sometimes be the best testimony we can give about Jesus. (Mark 7:24-8:10) (41 min, 23 seconds)

Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year 2017: The passion of youth, the wisdom of age. The old adage “too soon old, too late smart” is one gray-hairs enjoy leveling at those who still have their hair. But I am struck by the idea that passion needs wisdom. As a hexagenerian (yes, I’m 60 years … Read more

What is our Christian responsibility with possessions, wealth, & finance? A Biblical Reason for and Practice of Giving. God perfectly created the physical world (Gen 1: 3, 5, 7, etc). The Creator is landlord: He owns everything (Deut 10:14; Job 41:11; Ps 89:11; 1 Kg 21:1-3). Sin, then, marred the world despoiling goodness (Gen 3.17-19). … Read more

We will never forget. This essay is dedicated to all who were murdered in Las Vegas on the night of October 1st, 2017, all who suffer from their wounds (seen and unseen), the families who grieve loss, those who gave their lives for others, and those who helped in great or small ways. We stand … Read more

Seeing beauty – education’s goal. Humanities’ instruction depends on the origin of humanity. Caldecott’s thesis can be easily summarized: To be educated means we must constantly return to origins in order to pursue any ends. For the Christian educator, education must begin with, end on, and be motivated through Heaven. Against the fragmentation of god-less … Read more

I really blew it. He was doodling. I was angry. The high school student sat right in front of me while I was teaching. Doodles poured from his pen. I thought he might take some notes from time to time, but no. At some point, I had had it. I needed to rein in this … Read more

They took over. It happened just yesterday. A group of Comenius students gathered in the campus center at IUPUI to talk. Often I am the one to ask questions of students: “What have you heard in classes lately that challenge your faith? What is the question being discussed on campus this week? How are you … Read more

       Comenius Institute has new “digs”! Here is what was announced on Thursday, 19 October 2017 by our partners at Collaborate 317: “We are proud to announce the first member of the Amplify Hope Program @ Collaborate 317 – Meet Dr. Mark Eckel and The Comenius Institute! This is an amazing faith-based organization that helps high school students navigate the … Read more

Dr. Mark Eckel will be speaking at Grace and Peace Church in St. Louis 10-11 November 2017 on Psychology in Film

“That’s not the person I was talking about.” It was the greatest experience of my teaching life. I taught for over forty years in the poorest public schools in and around Indianapolis. My students came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. I taught math. The most important aspect of education is relationship. Trust is … Read more

“I don’t want you to believe anything I tell you.” This mantra has been and continues to be repeated daily to all my classes. I believe, as did the Bereans, that we should check all information against a standard. In my case, as a biblical professor, I encourage students to go back to Scripture to … Read more

It was just more of the same. Comenius students and I text throughout the week: when I will be on campus, prayer requests, helpful essays about their studies, and what they are learning in class. The screen shot above is an example of a classroom message. “Where do ethical standards come from? Are they universal … Read more

Dr. Mark Eckel on “Unchurching” – What happens when you don’t go to church, Moody Radio Chattanooga

Dr. Mark Eckel teaches “Old Testament Overview” Sundays at 11am at Crossroads Community Church. See more on our Videos Page.

Dr. Mark Eckel is teaching an Old Testament Overview class at Crossroads Community Church on Sunday mornings at 10am. His video teaching can be found on our Videos Page, and on Warp and Woof as well as on the Church website.”

#IgniteIUPUI, bringing Christian groups together on campus, had its first 2017 meeting on Thursday September 7th. Dr. Mark Eckel spoke on ‘Student’ as Vocation. The Comenius Institute students Juzette, Kelsie, Luke, & Nathaniel explained how their Christian belief impacts their studies.  

Same beliefs, different approaches. In the spring of 2016 I took a class on literary theory from a brilliant IUPUI professor, Tom Marvin. The class was structured around student discovery and presentation. One of my class projects was to explain the African-American approach to literature.     Our text referenced both W.E.B. Du Bois and … Read more

“You don’t understand.” I have been gladly married to the same woman for 38 years. We celebrate our anniversary on August 4th. One would think that after 38 years there would be no more surprises, no more to discover, no more need to ask “How do you feel about that?” After 38 years she still … Read more

The Marks of a Christian Mentor: A Vocational Description (Part Three) “By guiding attention we take in our hands the key to the formation and the development of personality and character.” Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky[2] “Teacher,” Part One (here), “Scholar,” Part Two (here) My first stint as an educator was chosen by a four letter word: … Read more

This Monday (the 21st) at noon, we will have our first lunch discussion in the lunch room of the student center. We invite you to join us as we examine the intersection of Christian wisdom and college life.    

“Ignite” is a monthly college gathering at IUPUI all about connecting with other Christians on campus, and giving yourself to a larger calling that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE as a college student. Dr. Mark Eckel will be presenting the first session entitled “Student as Vocation”. Current Comenius Students will be sharing how they have been … Read more

Bigotry is the seedbed of genocide. In the past year I have been both demeaned by a white, female, liberal professor for not saying enough (in her estimation [1]) against racism and disparaged by a white, male, nationalist for not defending my “blood kin,” my nationality, my skin color, my “whiteness.” The most recent incident … Read more

The Consortium of Christian Study Centers, of which The Comenius Institute is a part, met for its annual meeting on the campus of Wheaton College in July. It’s a time of equipping and preparation as we prepare for a new academic year, and helping students find the intersection of college life and the Christian faith. … Read more

Interested in practical theology? Want to learn more? Listen in to our Radio Show on Wednesday mornings form 10 am to noon at radio next.tv We also have a weekly Podcast available from the iTunes Store. The podcast includes the same content as the weekly radio show and is available here. Comenius is also featured in … Read more

Comenius is a part of a growing movement of Christian study centers. Each year, we attend a conference centered around the question “what does it mean to answer the call of Christ in a university environment. It’s a time of equipping and preparation as we prepare for a new academic year, and helping students find … Read more

I was too poor to buy books. No, I didn’t steal them. Years ago, I was asked by a local group to give a talk about business ethics.Since my degrees focus on “ethics” but not “business” I decided I should visit a bookstore to see what business leaders were saying. Book stores were still plentiful … Read more

Everything is founded on faith. Three stories. A group of students and I discussed a question they had heard in class: “Why are humans always at war?” I asked what was said in class. The discussion centered on people needing to make a decision against violence, for peace. I asked if the professor gave a … Read more

Our problems originate inside. Our hope originates from outside.   Over the last three days I have posted these statements on social media: “Racism” is not the direct result of history, nationality, ethnicity, nor privilege. Racism is the direct result of sin in our hearts. “Greed” is not a result of big business, banking institutions, … Read more

What should matter most? “What happened to the gospel?” This was his first question for me after the election. My brother Brian called on Saturday. We spoke of many things but primary to our conversation was what we together referred to as “cultural Christianity.” Brian and I mean by this phrase that we are concerned … Read more

“You can’t handle the truth!” “For the general public is being reduced to a state where people not only are unable to find out about the truth but also become unable even to search for the truth because they are satisfied with deception and trickery that have determined their convictions, satisfied with a fictitious realitycreated by design … Read more

The March for Life, 2017 The Washington Post finally reported on the pro-life event this year. Compare and contrast is one of my favorite teaching methods.     Teaching the biblical basis for government I have had students read The American Declaration of Independence (1776) and The French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789). I … Read more

Want to be a Christian intellectual? Read The Intellectual Life. “Let us not be like those people who always seem to be pallbearers at the funeral of the past.                           Let us utilize, by living, the qualities of the dead” (15). A man who … Read more

“Humor plays close to the white hot fire of truth.” E. B. White “Our laughter contains the hope of redemption.” F.H. Buckley, The Morality of Laughter Laughter. We began each class hour the same way. When I was teaching in high school I would show the latest “Darwin Awards,” weekly “Calvin and Hobbes” cartoon strips, … Read more

The discussion was anything but typical. Cytotechnology. Forensic linguistics. Finite math. I had to ask her if she would type out cytotechnology to me on my cell phone. I had not heard of it before even though I had seen its affects in medical research. “Does your professor ever talk about origins, where things come … Read more

“I feel the pressure all the time.” Comenius students and I sat around the table talking. Our topics of conversation ranged from “internalized misogyny” to Haitian views of American racism to the vocation of being a student. One of the talking points revolved around a New York Times article about why sports fans may continue … Read more

Imagine there’s no freedom. It’s easy if you try. On the American university campus, you don’t have to imagine. I was teaching a class on Theological Interpretation of Media this past week. On Saturday morning (4 March 2017) I began by reading the full description of an attack on freedom of speech. The Vermont newspaper … Read more

“It happens all the time.” We were discussing social media communication. My young friend and I were discussing what he sees and hears on the college campus. “Relationships are based on convenience,” he began. “Students surround themselves with people who think like they think.” My face frowned, “Isn’t that exactly the opposite of what should … Read more

“No. No. No. No.” Every question I asked received the same response. She had been studying psychology, specifically, the theories of personality. “In your class was the idea of ‘person’ linked with ‘personality’?” I asked. “No,” she responded. “Did your professor discuss the origin of human personage?” I asked. “No,” she responded. “Were there any … Read more

Paul’s letters to churches were “distance learning.” Biblical Basis for Seminary Traditionally, a seminary has been a place of study to train clergy, religious personnel, chaplains, or lay leaders. The word “seminary” comes from a Latin root meaning to plant a nursery, sow a seed bed, launch a breeding ground, or begin a process. The … Read more

The Marks of a Christian Teacher: A Vocational Description [1] The true function of the teacher is to create the most favorable conditions for self-learning. True teaching is not that which gives knowledge, but that which stimulates pupils to gain it. One might say that he teaches best who teaches least.[2]  “I do not want you to … Read more

Marks of a Christian Scholar: A Vocational Description [1] “The Christian scholar-teacher must be a person who believes in Christian higher education, who is committed to the mission of his or her institution.  It is not enough to hire faculty who happen to be Christians, even if they are fine scholars.  We must find and … Read more

They were outnumbered, outgunned, and outmanned. There was no reasonable belief they could win. It was a stop-gap measure at best. What was at stake? Only the Hawaiian Islands and the west coast of The United States.   This was the Battle of Midway, June, 1942. No military had ever won more territory in six … Read more

My one word definition of education: Ownership. This past week one of my classes and I were reviewing the year. I wanted to know their comments about the learning process. It was a great discussion lasting an hour and a half. “As much as it pains me to admit it,” one young man began his … Read more

They never saw it coming. I was teaching my first class at Moody Bible Institute. I handed out the syllabus. Faces around the room fell, jaws dropped as they read. I had created a horrendous curriculum. The requirements were beyond the reach of normal undergraduate students. The expectations of time would allow little sleep. The … Read more

None of us thinks alone. We all face social pressure from our social groups. My friendships are broad. Some swear by CNN, others by Fox. There are those who ally themselves with Rush, others with NPR. One group call themselves “progressive” another, “conservative.” Certain groups cheered this past election, others cried. Select folks begin discussions … Read more