Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

In Psalm 19 we read that the heavens are telling of the glory of God. But what exactly does that mean? Is the glory of God just pretty lights in the sky or is it something much more than that?  Nations and people throughout human history have built monuments to the sun, moon and stars. Modern science and industry spends billions of dollars annually to uncover the secrets of the cosmos. The late planetary astronomer Carl Sagan said that the cosmos and the stars on a clear and cloudless night sky, far and away removed from the light pollution of urban areas, elicits "unbidden" a sense of awe, wonder, and reverence.  So what is this glory of God?  Rather, as you will see, the glory of God points us not to a what, but to a Person. The second Person of the Trinity, the risen Lord Jesus Christ.  On this episode of Good Heavens! we talk with Hebrew scholar and president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Thomas Egger, and unpack the rich depth and wonder of God's glory in Christ.  For more about Dr. Egger and his work, you may visit his site at https://www.csl.edu/directory/thomas-egger/   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

Charles Darwin published his influential book, The Origin of the Species in 1859. Today, evolution and natural selection remain the dominant scientific paradigms of our time regarding the development of biological life. Many atheists and skeptics regard Darwin's ideas as having finally done away with the idea that life is the special creation of the God of the Bible. Our guest this week, Dr. Stephen C. Meyer of the Discovery Institute in Seattle, Washington, and best-selling author of The Return of the God Hypothesis suggests the findings of contemporary biological sciences point in the opposite direction. On this episode, Dr. Meyer unpacks with resplendent clarity how the intricate designs and arrangement of molecules and proteins in living cells serve to affirm the fantastic truths proclaimed in Genesis and the Psalms. Life is indeed the special creation of the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our cellular composition reflects exquisite design and purpose. Life is fearfully and wonderfully made. God's invisible attributes; His wisdom, creativity, power, intelligence, beauty, and majesty are reflected in everything He has made from the tiniest zygote to the swiftest Zebra on the Serengeti. You don't want to miss this episode! From Dr. Meyer's website, http://www.thereturnofthegodhypothesis.com Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle. He has written well-known books including Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design.   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

Charles Darwin published his influential book, The Origin of the Species in 1859. Today, evolution and natural selection remain the dominant scientific paradigms of our time regarding the development of biological life. Many atheists and skeptics regard Darwin's ideas as having finally done away with the idea that life is the special creation of the God of the Bible. Our guest this week, Dr. Stephen C. Meyer of the Discovery Institute in Seattle, Washington, and best-selling author of The Return of the God Hypothesis suggests the findings of contemporary biological sciences point in the opposite direction. On this episode, Dr. Meyer unpacks with resplendent clarity how the intricate designs and arrangement of molecules and proteins in living cells serve to affirm the fantastic truths proclaimed in Genesis and the Psalms. Life is indeed the special creation of the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our cellular composition reflects exquisite design and purpose. Life is fearfully and wonderfully made. God's invisible attributes; His wisdom, creativity, power, intelligence, beauty, and majesty are reflected in everything He has made from the tiniest zygote to the swiftest Zebra on the Serengeti. You don't want to miss this episode! From Dr. Meyer's website, http://www.thereturnofthegodhypothesis.com: Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle. He has written well-known books including Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design. Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."  Genesis 1:1  "Great are the works of the Lord. They are studied by all who delight in them." Psalm 111:2 Today there exists a confidence in the minds of many skeptics and unbelievers that science has somehow disproved God's existence.  According to our guest, Dr. Stephen C. Meyer of Discovery Institute in Seattle, Washington, nothing could be further from the truth. In his latest book, The Return of the God Hypothesis, Dr. Meyer unpacks and examines the leading scientific theories in both cosmology and biology and demonstrates with lucid, evidentiary detail, how God is indeed the best explanation for the existence of the universe and life within it. On part one, we discuss Dr. Meyer's personal journey and the latest findings in the science of the universe. You'll find your faith encouraged as we discover together that rather than doing away with God, the exquisite discoveries of the last century point directly to divine intelligence, affirming the wondrous truths of Scripture that everything that has come to be has been made and is sustained by the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 1; Psalm 19; Psalm 111; Isaiah 40:26; Colossians 1; John 1; Hebrews 1:3; 11:3). From Dr. Meyer's website, http://www.thereturnofthegodhypothesis.com Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle. Video courtesy of Good Heavens on Patreon.com

Thanks to Podbean listeners, Good Heavens was recently nominated by Welp Magazine to be in a list of the Top 20 Podcasts in Astronomy for 2021!  To see the article go to https://welpmagazine.com/20-best-astronomy-podcasts-of-2021/ "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."  Genesis 1:1  "Great are the works of the Lord. They are studied by all who delight in them." Psalm 111:2 Today there exists a confidence in the minds of many skeptics and unbelievers that science has somehow disproved God's existence.  According to our guest, Dr. Stephen C. Meyer of Discovery Institute in Seattle, Washington, nothing could be further from the truth. In his latest book, The Return of the God Hypothesis, Dr. Meyer unpacks and examines the leading scientific theories in both cosmology and biology and demonstrates with lucid, evidentiary detail, how God is indeed the best explanation for the existence of the universe and life within it. On part one, we discuss Dr. Meyer's personal journey and the latest findings in the science of the universe. You'll find your faith encouraged as we discover together that rather than doing away with God, the exquisite discoveries of the last century point directly to divine intelligence, affirming the wondrous truths of Scripture that everything that has come to be has been made and is sustained by the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 1; Psalm 19; Psalm 111; Isaiah 40:26; Colossians 1; John 1; Hebrews 1:3; 11:3). From Dr. Meyer's website, http://www.thereturnofthegodhypothesis.com Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle.   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.  

There are moral implications and assumptions about climate change. And it is thus vitally important we have a proper understanding not only of the history of Earth, but of current scientific paradigms about the environment that smuggle in a moral imperative about what we ought to do about the environment.  If the heavens and earth are not created, if the Genesis Flood did not occur, and God did not judge the world as Scripture tells us, then how do science or the environment give us any moral commands? Is biological life on earth threatened by human behavior? What does it mean to be human and alive on Earth today? Scripture is clear about these questions. We are created in God's image for the purpose of bringing Him glory. He created the world as very good but it was impacted by human sin. God judged the wickedness of man in a global Flood. Much of modern geological science denies a flood ever took place, and by implication, negating God's judgment. But climate change and the science of the environment have theological and moral implications. Both sides of the debate recognize there is much at stake.  On part two of our discussion with Institute for Creation Research physicist Dr. Jake Hebert, we look more into the nature of Earth's history and environment and discuss how these issues are related to God and His glory in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jake Hebert's page on the ICR website:   https://www.icr.org/jake_hebert/ Jake's book, The Ice Age and Climate Change. Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible. Image by LuisValiente from Pixabay

Climate science is making headlines today. It is one of the hot topics of our time. But what is the science that underlies current scientific assumptions about the environment? Is it sound? Is the planet headed for a catastrophe of our making?   How do we best interpret the history of Earth? Is the past a key to the present? How many ice ages have there been? Come and see climate science as you probably have not seen in the headlines!  On this special two-part episode of Good Heavens! Wayne and I talk with Institute for Creation Research physicist Dr. Jake Hebert III about the current state of climate science and the importance of getting Earth's geological and environmental science right.  Dr. Hebert argues that how we understand the physical universe will profoundly influence how we interpret the current state of our environment.  If God doesn't exist, from where do we derive the moral imperative to care for Earth's climate? Is the Earth a fragile biosphere or is God governing it through His providential wisdom and care? At Good Heavens! we affirm that God is still on the throne and in control of what He has made.  Dr. Jake Hebert earned a Ph.D. in physics in 2011 from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he did cutting-edge research on the connection between cosmic rays, solar activity, and weather and climate. Jake Hebert's page on the ICR website:   https://www.icr.org/jake_hebert/ Jake's book, The Ice Age and Climate Change. Video of largest glacier calving ever filmed:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3VTgIPoGU Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible. Image by LuisValiente from Pixabay

Matthew, Mark, and Luke see the Last Supper as a Passover meal. But John seems to say the Passover meal had not yet occurred. Can this discrepancy be reconciled? On this special Easter edition of Good Heavens! Wayne and Dan examine a solution proposed by Dr. Colin J. Humphreys in his book, The Mystery of the Last Supper.  We do not argue this is the only possible or conceivable solution, but we do find it persuasive enough to make a podcast out of it!  So come and see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  https://creationanswers.net/biblical/crucifixiondate.htm  https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Last-Supper-Humphreys-ebook/dp/B004V9O7BO/  Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible. Image by Ambroz from Pixabay

If you have not yet listened to part one in our series, we encourage you to check it out before diving into Part 2.  In Part 2, Wayne and I discuss the ways in which ancient Jewish people kept time, we talk about the beauty and regularity of the sun and moon that give us the ability to know times and seasons and we also discuss the wondrous regularity of nature.  Why is it that the sun, moon, and stars all faithfully seem to know their place? Why is it we can predict where they will be in the sky? Why is nature so regular and ordered?  We think it is because Jesus created nature to be this way. It is His "fixed order" that He established when He created the heavens and the earth. And in Jeremiah 31, the LORD uses this "fixed order" of the cosmos as an example of His unfailing and steadfast love toward us in Christ, and even to all creatures great and small, including a humpback whale who delights to eat anchovies!  So come and spend some time with us as we explore the wondrous regularity and usefulness of the sun, moon, stars, and nature.  In Part 3 we will discuss how calendars are relevant to the last week of Christ and the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. Books and resources mentioned: The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy Encyclopedia of Ancient Astronomy The Mystery of the Last Supper Links to resources on Wayne's website. https://creationanswers.net/biblical/crucifixiondate.htm https://creationanswers.net/goodies/LastWeek_Christ_Outline.pdf https://creationanswers.net/goodies/LastWeekofChrist.pdf Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

What's the date today? What time is it? For many people and times, the answers to these questions were not always easy to determine. Today, we take it for granted we can tell time by a clock or look up a date on a calendar.  On this episode, Wayne and Dan discuss some fun and curious tidbits about calendars, from the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Romans to the late 16th century when there was a great calendrical reform by Pope Gregory VIII. We talk about the Julian and Gregorian calendars and how the sun and moon figured into months and years.  This is part one of a three-part series that will culminate in the final days of Jesus of Nazareth, leading up to His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, all in line with Easter celebration on Sunday, April 4th of this year.  Books and resources mentioned:  The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy  Encyclopedia of Ancient Astronomy  The Mystery of the Last Supper  Links to resources on Wayne's website.  https://creationanswers.net/biblical/crucifixiondate.htm https://creationanswers.net/goodies/LastWeek_Christ_Outline.pdfhttps://creationanswers.net/goodies/LastWeekofChrist.pdf Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.