Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

Dan discusses four incredible new images from the James Webb Space Telescope and how they reveal the glory of God. Topics include the Pandora's Cluster, an artist's conception of VHS 1256 b, the Wolf-Rayet 124 star, and NGC 7469 A Star Wreath.

Did dragons ever really exist? Why is there a constellation of a dragon? Where'd it come from? On this episode of Good Heavens! Dan breaks down the myths and legends behind Draco the Dragon, the 8th largest constellation in the night sky, Find out about its brightest stars and some of the deep sky objects within and about what Scripture has to say about the dragon of old.  Don't miss this fascinating episode. Sit back, close your eyes, and imagine you're in a state-of-the-art planetarium. If you have some booming home audio surround sound or good car speakers, they will certainly enhance this one-of-a-kind audio theater for the mind's eye!  DISCLAIMER: In our series on the constellations, we are not condoning, endorsing, or encouraging any astrology or horoscope related practices. Stars do not determine one's future or personality. We simply provide a history and overview of the constellations and how they can remind us as Christians of God's glory in Christ. Please see our Watchman four-page profile on the spurious practices and assumptions of astrology written by a former astrologer now Christian. https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/astrologyprofile.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.

See a wondrous alignment of planets at the end of March! Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Mars, and the Moon!  What does it all mean for us? Find out on this special episode!    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 made Alice swim in a puddle of tears?  Mathematics!  As long division did for Dan in 4th grade. Math can bring tears, both of frustration and joy. What exactly is math? Why does it work so well in describing our universe? How can people explain mathematics apart from mind? And what's it all have to do with a grin without a cat?  Come and see (or in this case, listen)!  For more grinning from the heavens, see Wayne's article!  https://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2023/01/27/the-grin-from-space/ Dan's full interview with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke.    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.

A special edition of Good Heaven! A heavenly event you don't want to miss! Mark your calendars for a special sight in the heavens coming soon. And you won't need a telescope or binoculars. You'll even be able to see it from a big city if your western horizon is clear and the weather is good.  Come and see!   

Have you ever seen a grin without a cat? Come and see, or at least listen to the story about a fascinating object in the deepest recesses of Ursa Major, the Great Bear!  Alice in Wonderland, Charlie Chaplain, Albert Einstein, invisible space-time fabric, and a grin that is kinda out of this world.  For more grinning from the heavens, see Wayne's article! The Grin from Space https://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2023/01/27/the-grin-from-space/   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.

Part three of our discussion of the fascinating and inspiring life, imagination, and writing of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien includes Tolkien's concept of the eucatastrophe and the importance of friendships both in his life and in the characters of Middle Earth.  Wayne's essay on Tolkien's Fantasy World https://creationanswers.net/goodies/Tolkien_FantasyWorldvsRealWorld.pdf  Some titles mentioned in the broadcast https://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-4-Book-Boxed-Set/dp/0345538374/  https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0063280779/  https://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Biography-Humphrey-Carpenter-ebook/dp/B00I7JFC7C/ https://www.amazon.com/Tolkiens-Modern-Reading-Middle-earth-Beyond/dp/1943243727/  https://www.amazon.com/Leaf-Niggle-J-R-Tolkien/dp/0008205531/  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.

Part two of our discussion of the fascinating and inspiring life, imagination, and writing of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien includes the moral nature of Tolkien's Middle Earth landscapes, true heroism, and Earendel.  Wayne's essay on Tolkien's Fantasy World https://creationanswers.net/goodies/Tolkien_FantasyWorldvsRealWorld.pdf  Some titles mentioned in the broadcast https://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-4-Book-Boxed-Set/dp/0345538374/  https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0063280779/  https://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Biography-Humphrey-Carpenter-ebook/dp/B00I7JFC7C/ https://www.amazon.com/Tolkiens-Modern-Reading-Middle-earth-Beyond/dp/1943243727/  https://www.amazon.com/Leaf-Niggle-J-R-Tolkien/dp/0008205531/  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 this podcast, J.R.R. Tolkien, Author of Lord of the Rings, is the guest. They discuss Tolkien's idea of the sub-creator, his work as a reflection of Jesus as the Logos, and the influence of his natural theology on his writing. They also explore Tolkien's background as a philologist and his love for words, as well as the intricate connection between an author's personal life and their writings. The chapter Bard's heroic battle against the dragon is also highlighted.

If contemporary astrophysics and cosmology has demonstrated anything conclusively about the nature of our universe it is   (1) We have a very special and unique place here on earth to observe and learn more about the universe and   (2) It requires intelligent agents to create even the simplest models of our universe or other theoretical universes.  In short, despite what popularizers of science tell us, we are indeed significant in the cosmos and there is an intelligent being behind and beyond the cosmos.  As Christians, we know that the Creator of the cosmos Himself came down to us in the Person of His Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. All things came into being through Him, but sinful humanity did not recognize or know Him.  Can man invent a universe and live in it? Can we live as though our lives are really insignificant? The simple answer to both questions is no.  On this episode of Good Heavens! Wayne and Dan discuss two basic problems with modern cosmology:   (1) Creating theoretical universes and   (2) Declaring human beings to be cosmically insignificant.  Some thoughtful resources to strengthen and encourage you on these topics.  A new video by Dan called "Fine Tuning is Dangerous" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqdvgQ2mrpk Dan's interview with Steven C. Meyer, author of The Return of the God Hypothesis (Two Parts).  https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/return-of-the-god-hypothesis-part-1-with-stephen-c-meyer/ https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/return-of-the-god-hypothesis-part-2-with-stephen-c-meyer/ Dan's interview with Dr. Luke Barnes, coauthor of A Fortunate Universe https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/a-conversation-with-dr-luke-barnes/ Book: Cosmology without God? https://www.amazon.com/Cosmology-Without-God-Problematic-Theology/dp/1532636849/ James Walker's interview with former high-ranking scientologist Mike Render (Two Parts) https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/jwalker55293/episodes/2022-11-06T23_00_00-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/jwalker55293/episodes/2022-11-13T23_00_00-08_00 Original presentation from Dr. Sean Carroll, "God is not a Good Theory" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew_cNONhhKI   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.