Reflections on the 2026 Rooted Educator Worldview Summit

In mid-June, I had the privilege of attending the third annual Rooted Educator Worldview Summit with four of my ECS colleagues. It was hosted by ACSI and the Colson Center in beautiful Colorado Springs and was titled "Created and Called: Biblical Anthropology for Christian Education." This year's conference explored what it means to be human in light of the Christian worldview and how this vision reshapes the aims, practices, and culture of Christian education. Core topics included: 

• identity as image-bearers of God - Genesis 1:26-27
• the biblical understanding of calling - Galatians 1:15
• strategies to address cultural distortions (e.g., secular self-help, cancel culture, materialism, individualism) - Romans 12:2

I'm thankful I serve at a school where I can hear world-class speakers like Dr. Sean McDowell, John Stonestreet, and Elizabeth Urbanowicz. As Christian educators, we all must consider how a deep theological understanding of personhood informs spiritual formation, service, school, and society. By reclaiming a biblical view of humanity, we can empower students to embrace their identity in Christ, cultivate emotionally healthy relationships with their neighbors, and lovingly serve in our community and beyond.

Below are some questions we will be discussing at our in-service in August. I encourage you to reflect on these questions and perhaps discuss them with your family. Also, please be in prayer for us as we seek to partner with you to see individuals and communities transformed for the glory of God.

"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" Revelation 5:13

Hope

• How does a biblical view of humanity as created in God's image ground a resilient hope for students?

Truth

• How can Christian education help students understand truth as both revealed and lived?

Identity

• How does being an image-bearer shape a student's understanding of personal worth, purpose, and relational belonging?

Calling

• In what ways can schools help students discern their unique gifts and callings within God's purposes?

Movies, Music, & Video Games: Helping Our Children Be Spiritually Discerning

My favorite comedy, which happens to be based on a true story, is Nacho Libre. Any Nacho Libre lovers out there? It's a fairly clean underdog movie that was released in 2006 (rated PG). Nacho Libre is about a Catholic monastery monk in Mexico who is a wrestler at night so he can buy better food for the orphans in his care. It is filled with cheesy humor and a happy ending, and I'm a sucker for happy endings. If you have a middle school boy, I highly recommend watching Nacho Libre with him. Some notable quotes from Nacho include:

• "My life is good. Really good. I get to wake up at 5 AM every morning and make soup." 
• "They may have the appearance of riches, but beneath the clothes, we find a man... and beneath a man, we find his nucleus."
• "Get that corn outta my face!"

There are more quotes I like; however, they aren't exactly what I want our elementary students to be quoting (e.g., how much Nacho knows about the gospel). :-)

Recently, my family enjoyed watching the Michael Jackson biopic (rated PG-13) on a flight to Korea. This led my teenage son, Josiah Lee, and me to examine some of Michael Jackson's song lyrics. Some of Michael Jackson's lyrics are great ("I said if you're thinkin' of being my brother, it don't matter if you're black or white"), and some of his lyrics are not so great ("You can't hurt me; I found peace within myself"). Hee hee. Ow!

It can be hard to navigate our entertainment-driven culture, but if we want our children to grow closer to Christ, we must actively disciple our kids. If we don't, the world will influence them in ways that don't honor God. As our children make choices about what they watch, listen to, and play, how can we protect them, help them be wise, and encourage them to think critically? Below are five points to consider.

1. Remember what Scripture says and share it with your children REGULARLY. We are to do everything to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful and build up (1 Corinthians 10:23). The Holy Spirit is our guide into all the truth (John 16:13). 

2. Use http://pluggedin.com/ to help discern the good, the bad, and the ugly. This Focus on the Family website has been extremely helpful to us, providing detailed information about movies, music, video games, and more.

3. Ask yourself and your children: 

• How does the movie, music, or video game affect my heart and others? 
• Does it glamorize wealth, drug use, and fame? Does it demean women? 
• Is it biblical? 
• Does the movie, music, or video game help my child positively connect with others? 
• Can they learn anything from the movie, music, or video game? 
• What time constraints should I put on my child? Is my child completing their schoolwork and chores?

4. Pray with your children REGULARLY, and don't ignore your conscience (Romans 9:1). The prayer of a righteous person has great power (James 5:16)!

5. Look at the MPA and ESRB ratings and take notice of the parental advisory labels, but be the parent. Hollywood and New York City aren't Christian meccas, so don't be surprised when that PG-13 movie contains some nudity and foul language.

These guiding principles, tips, and questions have helped Megan and me teach and train our three children to grow in discernment. Mistakes will be made, but major growth and maturity can happen if holiness is pursued. 

What suggestions do you have in helping your children grow in discernment? Post a comment or drop me a line. I would love to hear what has worked for you and your family!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Beatitude 8: Are We Teaching Our Kids that Believers Will be Persecuted?

Like most people, I love to be comfortable, so when I moved to South Korea in 2002 and then to the Middle Kingdom the next year, it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I left a middle school teaching position I absolutely loved, sold my ranch home out in the sticks, and gave away my dog - like a classic country song. I moved to a nation where the language sounded nothing like English, ate a ton of fermented and spicy food that worked my system, and accepted a low-paying, not very stimulating job. When I moved to a much bigger East Asian country the next year, American comforts dropped even more. I spent time on crowded buses and smoky taxis, struggled to communicate what I wanted, and received lots of stares. 

Despite the challenges I faced, I can't say enough good things about my 14 years outside of America as an adult. I grew tremendously in my faith, and I learned so much from the community-first approach and service culture I saw in East Asia. There is much we can learn from visiting and living in countries around the world; things that can't be taught in books. Another thing I learned was how easy we Christians have it in the States. I hear some American Christians talk about the growing opposition we face in our country, but this pales in comparison to what many of our brothers and sisters face in many parts of Africa and Asia. This doesn't mean we won't face persecution. It just looks different. 

Christian persecution in extreme cases results in physical harm, imprisonment, and death. Think North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen. While you and I may not experience that kind of persecution, we might be disrespected, excluded, mocked, or have hateful words hurled at us. If you've experienced any form of this due to your beliefs in Jesus Christ, you've experienced persecution. Is this something we're teaching our children, or are we sheltering them from the hardships of reality? Jesus promised that if we follow Him, we will be persecuted (John 15:20). We must prepare our children to understand that followers of Christ will sometimes be ridiculed, rejected, teased, or yelled at for believing what the Bible says. A paper might be graded lower, playing time may be reduced, or a job promotion might not happen due to our beliefs. Do we ALL understand that this is part of God's plan, or do we complain and cry when we've obeyed God's commands and offend the world?

Let's remember Jesus did everything perfectly yet experienced pain and suffering. Let's remember what Matthew 5:11-12 says: Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. As believers in Christ, we can pass through the fiery trials and tests that come our way with the all-powerful Holy Spirit. Let's do that. Let's give God the glory!

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

Beatitude 7: Are We Teaching Our Kids to be Peacemakers?

My name, Mark, originates from the Latin word Marcus, which means warlike and is associated with the Roman god of war, Mars. As a kid, I sometimes had a Mighty Mouse complex and lived out my name. When I was in sixth grade, I got paddled for getting into a fight with my classmate at lunch. I decided to make fun of Andrew's watch, which led us to duking it out and being sent to Mr. Kamm's office. When I was a high school junior, I decided to knock down the goalkeeper who blocked my weak PK. That led to a red card and a suspension in my next soccer match. There were other dust-ups I had at recess and in the neighborhood when playing football, camping, and skateboarding that never led to formal consequences. By God's grace, my aggressive and nasty ways are a thing of the past, although I still battle sin every day. 

Our world is filled with so much hate and violence. I'm not sure how anyone thinks we are born good. We don't have to teach our kids to be mean, impatient, or lazy. We have to teach them how to be kind, patient, and hard-working. We adults sometimes have difficulty getting along with each other, which can result in online arguments, shouting matches, divorces, or even prison time. Watch the news, and you'll see that global leaders have conflicting national interests and ego clashes that fuel catastrophic results and threaten regional and global security.

So how can we bring peace to our divided relationships and world? How can we be peacemakers and bring peace to others despite all of the feuds, rivalries, and conflicts? The key is Jesus. Without Jesus, there is no real peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) who can give us a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday to make peace between God and sinners. We are to share His message of peace, His good news, to all those we can. When we trust in Jesus, we are blessed with peace and joy regardless of our circumstances, and an eternal home free from sin, Satan, suffering, disease, death, and destruction. We become peacemakers who are adopted into God's forever family. 

So, do you know Jesus, Our Peace, as your Lord and Savior? Not just know about Him, but do you follow Him? Worship Him? Love Him? Are you a peacemaker who brings reconciliation to broken relationships? Let's not gloss over problems, but teach our kids about the Peacemaker. And if possible, let's live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18). 

If you would like to discuss any of this further, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'll do what I can to listen and point you to the One who can give us perfect peace.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

Beatitude 6: Are We Teaching Our Kids to be Pure in Heart?

Follow your heart. Sounds like pretty good advice, right? It's probably something you've heard a million times. World-class athletes say it, you'll hear it in Hollywood movies and pop songs, and you're sure to find it on trendy canvas prints and photo books at Michaels and Wally World.  

What does the Bible say about our hearts? Should we be following our hearts? Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Matthew 15:18-19 says, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." Ouch. It doesn't sound like we should follow our hearts. You don't need to be a Christian, though, to understand that following your heart is BAD advice. 

When little kids follow their hearts, they often complain about their food, don't share their toys, hit their siblings, and lie about what they did. If you think this is an inaccurate representation of children, you've never been a parent. Stubborn hearts are also found in adults. I would love to tell you that my heart is always in the right place. It's not. I can give a beautiful gospel presentation, watch someone proclaim Christ as their Lord and Savior, then get in my sweet Dodge Caravan and get upset at someone who drives like an idiot. Sometimes I forget I'm the idiot. 

Folks, when our hearts are impure, selfish, judgmental, and dishonest, we will not see God. To be pure in heart, clean, clear, and blameless, we must receive Christ and believe in His name. We need to follow Jesus, not our hearts (Matthew 4:19). Our hearts can't save us, but Jesus can save us from our hearts. Only Jesus can make our hearts pure so we can be in a relationship with God. Psalm 51:10 says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." And Ezekiel 36:26 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." We don't ask Jesus into our hearts; He gives us new hearts. 

When Jesus does a cleansing work in us and makes our hearts pure, we pursue lives of purity and uprightness. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches producing good fruit that glorifies God (John 15:5). We have a heart for God and want to honor Him in all that we think, say, and do. We aren't Pharisees who emphasize external ritual purity; we have an internal purity of the soul that people see as real and genuine. We actually enJOY Jesus and want others to know His love. We are true born-again believers, not fake Christians whose words and deeds show hypocrisy and cunning deception. 

So how are we doing in teaching our kids to be pure in heart? Do our children clearly see Christ in us? Are we poor in spirit, mourning our sins and the sins of the world, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being meek and merciful? Let's pursue Christ and a life of purity. Let's set our minds on things above and let Christ do His sanctifying work in our lives!

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Does Easter Excite You? Does Christ Excite You?

We Americans sure love our holidays. We spent more than 13 BILLION dollars on Halloween costumes, candy, and decorations last year. Thanksgiving has become synonymous with family, food, and football. And things have gotten totally out of control when it comes to gift-giving and outdoor lights during Christmastime. What about Easter? Do you know when it is? Does it excite you that Easter is around the corner? Despite what the world says, there is no greater holiday than Easter. Let me repeat - There is no greater holiday than Easter!

Celebrating Easter is about celebrating the Risen Christ. Jesus lived a perfect life, laid down His life on Good Friday, and came back to life on Resurrection Sunday, proving once again, HE IS GOD! Do others see us excited about this? Is it clear to others that we are alive in Christ? Let's be sure to share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone we can. As followers of Christ, we want Heaven crowded. We want others to know God and have peace and joy in a life that can be full of challenges. Let's not be quiet about Easter and what Christ did. Let's be sure to give God the glory. 

1. The Resurrection proves that Jesus is the all-powerful God victorious over sin and death. We can trust Him.

2. The Resurrection confirms that God's wrath was satisfied and our debt was paid in full. Those trusting in Christ are forgiven of their sins.

3. The Resurrection assures followers of Christ that we serve a living Savior who mediates and intercedes for us. We are to be envied.

4. The Resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of born-again believers. We are alive, and a new and perfect home is being prepared for us.

I hope you believe this. If you are struggling in your faith, unsure of who Christ is, or just have some questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'll do what I can to listen well and point you to our Savior and living hope, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

The 2026 Flourishing Families Study - Parenting: It's Not What You Think...

Do you find parenting to be like the pretty picture below? Is your family always smiling and exchanging pleasantries? Although my family truly enjoys spending time together, we haven't been oozing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) every second of our lives. Sometimes I've been an unloving, impatient, and unkind blockhead. Parenting can be hard stuff, but I'm not making it any easier when I fail to look to the cross and allow my feelings to be the ultimate guide. I need help, BIG TIME. I'm thankful our all-powerful, all-knowing, good God has provided us help in a variety of ways.

One of our core values at ECS is to commit to partnership, and one way we do this is through the Flourishing Families studies being held at the following five churches. It's hard to believe, but this is our third year having these parenting studies.  

• Christian Fellowship Church
• Crossroads Christian Church
• Epworth Community Church
• Henderson's First Baptist Church
• One Life Church

This year, we will be using Paul Tripp's Parenting: It's Not What You Think It Is video series. Although both of my daughters are married, and Megan and I only have an eighth-grade boy in our home now, we still have much to learn about parenting. Pastor Paul Tripp has been married for over 50 years and has four adult children, so he is someone who can help us learn how to raise children in God's ways. He has taught me much about living a gospel-centered life, and I believe he can help us disciple our children and find rest in God. 

Being a great dad is super important to me, and if you're a parent, being a great parent should be of the utmost importance to you. Please consider signing up for one of the studies to gain insight into being a better parent and help your family flourish. You don't have to be a member of any of the churches, and if you're struggling with knowing what you believe, that's okay, too. These studies are a time when we can be real with each other, provide encouraging support, and better understand the best way to parent. 

If you can't make one of the Sunday or Wednesday evening studies, join us at Epworth Community Church for the study I'm facilitating on Monday mornings from 8 to 9:30 AM. It begins February 23rd, and you can sign up here. Raising children can be challenging, and there is no need to do it alone. Let's learn and grow together and bring God the glory. I hope to see you there!

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Beatitude 5: Are We Teaching Our Kids to be Merciful?

Can you define mercy? Mercy is a word we often hear, but I'm not confident that many can explain it. Lots of people confuse it with grace. Grace is unmerited favor. It's a God-given gift that you don't deserve. We named our first kid, Grace Noel. She's a gift from God that we don't deserve. I've committed countless crimes against God, but God, in His amazing grace, saved me and showed me I was a selfish sinner worshiping my success and money. My pursuit of Jesus was shallow for a few years, and I wasn't living life for God's glory. God woke me up, though, and I'm now a trophy of His grace.

So what is mercy? Mercy is about not getting what you do deserve. You've messed up big time, but the person you wronged doesn't smack you for your stupidity. 

Are you familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son? Here is the ultimate story of mercy. You have two sons, one who does everything "right" and one who does everything wrong. The younger son disrespectfully demands his share of the estate, and the father lets his sinful son go his way. The son squanders his wealth recklessly, but then realizes he can return to his dad and live a far better life as a servant. When the son returns, the dad doesn't rip into him and reject him for his foolish choices. No, he shows him mercy and is thankful the son has returned home. This doesn't sit well with the older self-righteous brother, who is following all of the rules. Where do you see yourself in this story? Are you like the older son, a judgmental Pharisee, or are you like the younger son who sees his sins and confesses them? Are we like the dad, who represents God, who embraces his son with love and mercy despite all of the dumb decisions he made?

God has provided me with tons of opportunities to show others mercy. I had the privilege of serving as a principal for a decade at two excellent schools, Tianjin International School in China and Evansville Christian School in Southern Indiana. When you're a school principal, especially a middle school principal, it isn't uncommon for kids to come to the office for foolish mistakes they've made. We need to remind ourselves that the scared kid in front of us is created in God's image, and we have an opportunity to show them mercy. Let's be thankful when God won't let us forget about our past blunders and the mercy shown us at times. If the student is truly remorseful for their poor choices, respectful towards us, and willing to make amends for their mistakes, let's show them mercy. The discipline they receive shouldn't be as tough. But if they're an arrogant punk who lies and defends their words and actions, you can give them justice. Provide them with the tough (and loving) discipline they deserve. 

So, how are you doing in displaying mercy to your children? Are you always disciplining your children the same way, no matter how they respond to their fumble? Are you failing to see the giant plank in your own eye when they only have a small speck in their eye? Let's remember the mercy God has shown us and be merciful to others. And let's remember, if you are in Christ, you are blessed and will be merciful.

If you want to better understand the difference between mercy and grace, here is a five-minute video from Paul Tripp.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7

Beatitude 4: Are We Teaching Our Kids to Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness?

We've been examining the Beatitudes in our chapels this year, and it's crucial to recognize that Jesus' teachings on the character of Christians build upon each other. 

• Beatitude 1: Christians are poor in spirit. We humbly admit our need for God; we can't save ourselves. Only Christ gives us access to God and eternal life in Heaven.
• Beatitude 2: Christians mourn. We hate our sins and the sins of the world; yet, we find comfort and peace in God, despite the difficulties we face.
• Beatitude 3: Christians are meek. We don't try to take control and overpower people. We are led by the Spirit, bless others, and receive God's blessings. 

This brings us to beatitude 4. Matthew 5:6 says, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Does this describe you and your heart? Are we teaching our kids to hunger and thirst for righteousness, showing them this is how to be blessed and where our souls receive satisfaction? What does that even mean?

To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to actively seek a right relationship with God. We desire to be like Christ, and if we are in Christ, trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior, His righteous character will be seen in us by others. We understand that only Christ can quench our thirsts and feed our souls. Jesus said, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again (John 4:14a). Later in John 6:35, Jesus says to a large crowd, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Jesus is essential for life and the life to come. He is the way to God and a life pleasing to God. 

Seeking a right relationship with God starts with acknowledging our sins to Him. We humbly confess our unholy thoughts, words, and actions to God - our pride, ungratefulness, impatience, laziness, selfishness, and more. We confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When we call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved (Acts 2:21), and we will hunger and thirst for righteousness. This is what true Christians do because we find satisfaction in Christ.

So, are you hungering and thirsting for righteousness? Are you teaching this to your kiddos? I want to encourage you to get in God's Word daily, like Mr. Allen recently challenged us. This is the greatest way to grow in God's grace and knowledge. We must be people of the Word if we want to be satisfied. And if we are His blessed people who hunger and thirst for righteousness, that's what we'll be.

If you would like to discuss this further, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'll do what I can to listen, encourage, and point you to the King of kings, Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. He is good!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

Let's Not Forget About Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is next week, but many Americans have been in Christmas mode since November hit. While I'm a fan of Christ-centered Christmas celebrations, let's not forget about Thanksgiving. Thankfulness is a major Bible theme, and we have much to be thankful for! James 1:17 tells us EVERY good and perfect gift is from above; therefore, we should thank God for all the good He gives us. And 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, it's God's will for us in Christ Jesus to give thanks in ALL circumstances. 

It's easy to complain and question God when hard things happen, but giving thanks should be a lifestyle for Christians. Those close to me know that my family has been experiencing some bumps lately, but through the Holy Spirit, we can still give thanks to our Heavenly Father. Thank You, Lord, for the finances. Thank You, Lord, for the insurance. Thank You, Lord, we don't have to get on a plane to visit our family. You are good. All the time.  

So how can we cultivate a heart of thankfulness, especially when life is challenging? Three years ago, I wrote a blog post about this, and I want to remind us of five simple spiritual practices that can help not just during Thanksgiving, but all the time.

1. READING God's Word - I can't emphasize how much being in my Bible has helped me to better understand how to be like Christ and give Him thanks for my family, church, job, and life. Read your Bible, and you'll realize it has much to say about how God's people should be a thankful bunch.

2. REMEMBERING God's Goodness - God has been so good to me. I've been able to adopt three children from China, watch our two daughters get married to godly men, celebrate over two decades of marriage with Megan, encourage all kinds of people in their Christian walk, and more. Take time to thank God for all the good He has done for you!

3. REFLECTING on God's Splendor - We need to stop dwelling on our ever-changing circumstances and look to the awe-inspiring, glorious God who is the Beautiful One. When we think deeply about who Jesus is, the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature (Hebrews 1:3), we can be thankful people who reflect Christ to others.

4. REQUESTING God's Help - We aren't made to be independent, doing life on our own. Our Triune God created us and wants us to trust Him with our lives. When believers are humble and cry out to God as the Psalms instruct, God hears us and can provide comfort and peace during difficult times. This helps our hearts to be thankful regardless of the storms of life.   

5. RESTING in God - Are you a doer and fixer like me? Are you trying to control things and make sure everything is nice and neat? Well, life gets messy at times, and we must always trust Christ to be the source of our strength. If we don't, we will fall apart. Let's slow down, be still, and surrender ourselves to our Sovereign Lord who has everything in control.

There you have it. Read. Remember. Reflect. Request. And Rest. Nothing earth-shattering, but five ways that can cultivate a thankful heart. Who doesn't want that? May your heart be full of thanks this Thanksgiving and every day. To God be the glory.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1