Hill Country Institute Live: Exploring Christ and Culture Hill Country Institute

The Hill Country Institute is non-partisan; however, we like to talk to Christians who are in the political arena about how their faith impacts their approach to governance, how we develop and live as good citizens, and how we initiate and sustain gracious, respectful dialogue in our pluralistic culture.

Josh Graham is an independent candidate for U.S. Congress in the 37th District. He has a fascinating background including working for the CIA, assisting companies in developing international markets, and now serving as a teacher and men’s basketball coach at Veritas Academy in Austin, Texas.

In this fascinating interview, Larry talks with General Robert Neller about  Just War Theory; the increasing security risks our country faces from the alliance of China, Russia, and Iran; the importance of Allies to the United States; and our commitment to Ukraine from the time they gave up nuclear weapons.

General Neller served in the U.S. Marine Corps for forty-four years. He was the 37th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and served as member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Military. 
General Neller also served as Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (05-07); Assistant Division Commander for 1st and 2d Marine Divisions; and President of Marine Corps University.

His Joint assignments include service in the Policy Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium, and as the Director of Operations (J-3) of the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.
General Neller’s many honors include having The Marine Corps Wargaming and Analysis Center named after him. It will be called the “General Robert B. Neller Center for Wargaming and Analysis” when it is completed in 2025. Neller Center will be a world-class facility for Marines to wargame in a secure, centralized location and will provide next-generation technologies to facilitate wargaming and analysis across multiple levels of classification, with a host of coalition and joint partners. 
General Neller is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law and a Distinguished National Security Fellow at the Clements Center. Both centers are located at the University of Texas. 
He is a Board Member of Bridge to Mobility, which provides access to wheelchair accessible vehicles. 

In this interview with Dr. Vlasta Zekulic, Head of Strategic Issues and Engagements of the Supreme Allied Command Transformation of NATO, we discuss Dr. Zekulic's calling to military service and the challenging and rewarding career it can be for women, the role of her faith in her career, Just War Theory applied, the complexity of warfare today, and the need for alliances to share expenses and technology to meet the increased risks the United States faces.

Dr. Zekulic earned her undergraduate degree at The Citadel in South Carolina, and her Master’s and Doctorate in International Relations and Security Studies at the University of Zagreb in Croatia, her home country. She directs, coordinates, and manages the development of strategic issues and engagement, including coordinating and managing the efforts of senior civilian and military policy makers so they are informed on strategic issues relevant to NATO and Allied Command Transformation’s role. 

In this interview, Larry and Father Captain Herb Bailey, a motorcycle-riding, Anglican priest and artist, discuss the amazing way God has worked in Father Herb's life, how we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and how to be an evangelist where God has called us. You'll hear an amazing personal story of God’s moving in this man's life and calling him to ministry.
Before he recently moved to Austin, Father Herb was leading a ministry center, a Christian coffee shop, in the Pittsburgh area, as part of his work in the Church Army USA. He is now on staff as Evangelist in Residence at Christ Church Austin. He continues as Executive Ministry Director with national ministry coordination responsibilities with Church Army USA.  He is here in Austin to assist in growing disciples and to teach, and lead, evangelism in Texas.
Father Herb is available to teach evangelism in churches or with other groups.

In this interview, Larry talks with Bob O’Dell, tech entrepreneur, author, screenwriter, and movie producer, about the little-known history of the impact that the Tonkawa Tribe had on the city of Austin, Texas. Bob and others are working on bringing friendship and recognition to the Tonkawa Tribe, and Bob is in the process of producing a documentary on the Tribe’s history.

They also discuss how the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making life decisions and how listening to the Holy Spirit's leading shaped Bob's career. With the recent passing of Dan Davis, founding pastor of Hope Chapel, where Larry and Bob first met, they knew they needed to start their interview by giving recognition to Dan and the impact he had on both of their lives. 

Presenting at Concordia University in Austin, Texas, Larry presents three perspectives from which we should consider creation care: 1) God's Word, the Bible; 2) God's World - what we observe as we study God's good creation; and 3) God's Work - what we do to take care of His amazing and bountiful creation. Areas of concern which he addresses are loss of biodiversity, the growing accumulation of waste and trash, pollution in various forms, and a warming planet.