Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona, just over 30 miles outside of Flagstaff. What slammed into what is now part of the Arizona desert to make this giant three-quarter-mile-wide and some 600-feet-deep hole in the ground? Scientists believe the meteor was between 150 and 200 feet wide. Earth is impacted routinely by meteors and micrometeors, tens of thousands of tons per year in fact, but thankfully a majority of these are no bigger than a sand grain or fine dust. But once in a great while, KABOOM! The Earth gets blasted by a much larger meteor. There are other geological signs of impact craters throughout our planet. Astronomers are working diligently to try and detect what are known as "near-earth asteroids and meteors" before they catch us off guard. So how do such wonders point us to the glory of God? How can they remind us of who God us? How do they fit in with our understanding of the heavens that God has created? Come and see! On part two of our discussion about these enigmatic floating rocks, Wayne and Dan take you around the world to some of the more well-known impact sites and meditate on what we can glean from them about our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. Resources for our these episodes on meteors: Meteorites book: https://www.amazon.com/Meteorites-Story-Our-Solar-System/dp/0228101743/ Book: Night Sky with the Naked Eye https://www.amazon.com/Night-Sky-Naked-Eye-Constellations/dp/1624143091/ Best Meteor Showers in 2021 https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/best-meteor-showers-in-2021/ Meteor in Russia from 2013 - Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBLjB5qavxY

Shooting stars. Meteors. Bright flashing streaks of light zipping through the heavens! They are a wonder and delight to all of us. If you've ever stood under the canopy of a pristine dark sky filled with stars and have seen even one meteor take you by surprise, you know the childlike delight that stirs the soul. But what exactly are meteors? From where do they come? What exactly are we seeing? What's the difference between meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites? And how might these celestial messengers declare the glory of God? Come along with Wayne and Dan as they dive into the science and the glory of these cosmic fireworks that so take our breath away! They'll break down the science and lift up the glory of God in meteors and they'll even tell you when you can catch a glimpse of some of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. Resources for our these episodes on meteors: Meteorites book: https://www.amazon.com/Meteorites-Story-Our-Solar-System/dp/0228101743/ Book: Night Sky with the Naked Eye https://www.amazon.com/Night-Sky-Naked-Eye-Constellations/dp/1624143091/ Best Meteor Showers in 2021 https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/best-meteor-showers-in-2021/ Meteor in Russia from 2013 - Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBLjB5qavxY 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.

This episode of Good Heavens! is part two of our conversation with physicist and author James Sinclair about God and cosmology. James has worked with Dr. William Lane Craig on a number of publications about cosmology and was integral in helping Dr. Craig and "team theism" prepare for this debate! It was a delightful and wide-ranging conversation centered around the 2014 debate between cosmologist and atheist Dr. Sean Carroll and Christian philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig. On part one we talked about billionaires in space, science fiction, and Dr. Carroll's thoughts on theism in general. On part two James helps us better understand why time and entropy are problems for naturalistic accounts of the universe. We also tackle why Christians should be not only just interested but actively participating in the dialogue about the universe and creation in general. So come and find out why the best science about the universe is better explained by God's existence! Some links for further study below. Contending with Christianity’s Critics: Article: At Home In the Multiverse? Critiquing the Atheist Many Worlds Scenario. Author James Sinclair https://www.amazon.com/Contending-Christianitys-Critics-Answering-Objectors/dp/0805449361/ God & Cosmology: William Lane Craig & Sean Carroll in Dialogue Article: Cosmology & Cosmologists with the “Does God Exist?” Problem: A Consideration of kalam’s Second Premise. Author: James Sinclair https://www.amazon.com/God-Cosmology-Dialogue-Greer-Heard-Grear-Heard/dp/1506410774/ 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.

On this episode of Good Heavens! Dan sits down with physicist and author James Sinclair to discuss God and cosmology. James has worked with Dr. William Lane Craig on a number of publications about cosmology and was integral in helping Dr. Craig and "team theism" prepare for this debate! It was a delightful and wide-ranging conversation centered around the 2014 debate between cosmologist and atheist Dr. Sean Carroll and Christian philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig. On part one we talk about billionaires in space, science fiction, and Dr. Carroll's thoughts on theism in general. SPOILER ALERT! We discuss the endings of the films Interstellar and Contact, just in case you haven’t seen them! For more information on James' work: Contending with Christianity’s Critics: Article: At Home In the Multiverse? Critiquing the Atheist Many Worlds Scenario Author James Sinclair https://www.amazon.com/Contending-Christianitys-Critics-Answering-Objectors/dp/0805449361/ God & Cosmology: William Lane Craig & Sean Carroll in Dialogue Article: Cosmology & Cosmologists with the “Does God Exist?” Problem: A Consideration of kalam’s Second Premise Author: James Sinclair https://www.amazon.com/God-Cosmology-Dialogue-Greer-Heard-Grear-Heard/dp/1506410774/ 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.

Mars has inspired more than just astronomers and scientists. Mars has had and continues to have a profound impact on our collective imaginations, influencing a musical composer, countless artists and writers! What was God thinking when He made Mars? Why make such a world? How does Mars declare the glory of God? Dan and Wayne explore Mars from the comfort and safety of their armchair rocket ships. Our armchairs cost much less than a rocket and are far more comfortable and safe. So come and continue the adventure exploring the little red dot that goes back and forth across our evening and night skies. Links for further Martian Exploration: See Wayne's notes on missions to Mars: https://creationanswers.net/goodies/MarsMissions&TheRedPlanet.pdf NASA Mars Exploration Website https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/ Mars' catastrophic geology (article by Wayne Spencer) https://creation.com/mars-catastrophic-geology Video: NASA's Perseverance Rover Lands on Mars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm0b_ijaYMQ Carl Sagan talking about exploring Mars in 1972 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhv5V_8RPiI Why do we want to go into space? (Feb 2020 Good Heavens program) https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-do-we-want-34422720 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.

As long as we have been observing the heavens, we have known of the immortal wandering stars of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. What is it about these "planets" that fascinate us so? Why do we spend billions of dollars sending robotic probes and satellites to the surface of a distant, lifeless, and desert wilderness? From the safety of our armchairs, Dan and Wayne discuss our fascination with the red planet, and the various space exploration missions to Mars from multiple nations. The name "Mars" is a reference to the god of war in ancient Greece. We hope you'll join us for our adventure to the vermillion wanderer as we explore its fascinating features and ponder how we see Mars as the creation of God's "fingers" (Psalm 8) ultimately a manifestation of the glory of God in Christ! Links for further Martian Exploration: See Wayne's notes on missions to Mars: https://creationanswers.net/goodies/MarsMissions&TheRedPlanet.pdf NASA Mars Exploration Website https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/ Mars' catastrophic geology (article by Wayne Spencer) https://creation.com/mars-catastrophic-geology Video: NASA's Perseverance Rover Lands on Mars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm0b_ijaYMQ 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.

This is part five in our five-part series on the Genesis flood found in Genesis chapters six through nine. On this episode, we discuss the significance of the prevalence of these flood narratives for us today. They are more than just mythical tales. It cannot finally be mere coincidence that all of these stories share common elements found in the book of Genesis. On our first episode we featured a Young-Earth perspective on the flood with Dr. Tim Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research here in Dallas, Texas. On parts two and three, we featured an interview with Old-Earth creationist and astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross about his perspective on Noah's flood. Our guest this week is author Nick Liguori who has compiled an impressive and unique anthology of flood stories from indigenous people and tribes throughout North, Central, and South America. It is an unprecedented collection of carefully documented stories told by tribal elders, missionaries, anthropologists, and historians of these native people groups. If the Genesis flood really happened, we should expect to find these stories from different people groups. Many of these tales have similar elements to the details found in Genesis, messenger birds, a raven, a dove, a boat or canoe, only a handful of people being saved, divine displeasure and a rainbow of promise. Nick has shared these articles summarizing his book: https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends-americas-part-1/ https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends-americas-part-2/ https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends-americas-part-3/ For ordering the book: https://store.icr.org/echoes-of-ararat.html https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Ararat-Collection-Legends-America/dp/1683442717 From the back cover of Echoes of Ararat Nick Liguori is a civil engineer and and avocational researcher of biblical history and creation science. Nick has focused his research on the Book of Genesis and the Flood, including compiling a massive archive of references to the Flood from the histories and traditions of nations all over the world. Nick believes that a right view of God is critical to a right view of ourselves, and a right view of history is critical to a right view of God. Nick and his family live in Virginia. 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.

This is part four in our five-part series on the Genesis flood found in Genesis chapters six through nine. On our first episode we featured a Young-Earth perspective on the flood with Dr. Tim Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research here in Dallas, Texas. On parts two and three, we featured an interview with Old-Earth creationist and astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross about his perspective on Noah's flood. On parts three and four, we feature author Nick Liguori who has compiled an impressive and unique anthology of flood stories from indigenous people and tribes throughout North, Central, and South America. It is an unprecedented collection of carefully documented stories told by tribal elders, missionaries, anthropologists, and historians of these native people groups. If the Genesis flood really happened, we should expect to find these stories from different people groups. Many of these tales have similar elements to the details found in Genesis, messenger birds, a raven, a dove, a boat or canoe, only a handful of people being saved, divine displeasure and a rainbow of promise. So come and be fascinated and encouraged by what these ancient native peoples have to say to us today. We believe what Nick has compiled serves as a powerful confirmation of what we read of Noah and the flood in Genesis. Nick has graciously shared summary articles of his book: https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends-americas-part-1/ https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends-americas-part-2/ https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends-americas-part-3/ For ordering the book: https://store.icr.org/echoes-of-ararat.html https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Ararat-Collection-Legends-America/dp/1683442717 From the back cover of Echoes of Ararat Nick Liguori is a civil engineer and and avocational researcher of biblical history and creation science. Nick has focused his research on the Book of Genesis and the Flood, including compiling a massive archive of references to the Flood from the histories and traditions of nations all over the world. Nick believes that a right view of God is critical to a right view of ourselves, and a right view of history is critical to a right view of God. Nick and his family live in Virginia. 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.

On this episode, we continue our conversation with astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross from Reasons to Believe, who holds to an "old-earth" view (4.5 billion years). Dr. Ross presents his understanding of the text of Scripture, the science, and how he sees Noah's flood mentioned in Genesis 6-9. But most importantly, Dr. Ross models charity and grace towards those who hold to a young-earth view (6-10,000 years), recognizing the most important aspect of this discussion is not finally the science, but modeling civility, compassion, and the love of Christ. We have also featured a "young-earth" view of the flood from Dr. Tim Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research here in Dallas, Texas. That program was called "Modern Geology and the Biblical Flood with Timothy Clarey." We believe as Christians that there is room for civil and charitable disagreement about the scientific details of the flood and we hope that no matter if you are a young or old-earth creationist, or a skeptic or unbeliever, that you can see how Dr. Ross and Dr. Clarey charitably disagree but affirm that the flood described in the Bible really did happen and most importantly, they both affirm the inspiration of Scripture and the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our aim is to present different perspectives and model Christian charity and love in how we address the issues that divide believers. For more about Dr. Ross and Reasons to Believe: https://reasons.org/ This broadcast and our broadcast with Tim Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research do not constitute an endorsement of young or old-earth creationism and do not necessarily reflect the views of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. Arlington, TX (https://www.Watchman.org). 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.

The Bible tells us that in the last days, there will be mockers who will scoff at the idea of a biblical flood. if you've ever talked to a skeptic or an unbeliever, you probably have experienced this mockery first-hand. You've been told there's no evidence for a flood, or that the Bible is just a mythical tale, and that while the story of Noah and the animals on the ark might be a cute Sunday school lesson on a felt board, no thoughtful adult takes it seriously. On this episode, we talk to astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe. Dr. Ross has explored in great detail the text of Scripture and has participated in discussions and debates with believers and unbelievers alike about the reality of Noah's flood found in the book of Genesis, chapters 6-9. Dr. Ross takes what is known as an "old-earth" view of the flood. That is, Dr. Ross believes the earth to be billions of years old, rather than six to ten thousand years old. He also does not believe the flood covered the entire globe. We have also featured a "young-earth" view of the flood from Dr. Tim Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research here in Dallas, Texas. We believe as Christians that there is room for civil and charitable disagreement about the scientific details of the flood and we hope that no matter if you are a young or old-earth creationist, or a skeptic or unbeliever, that you can see how Dr. Ross and Dr. Clarey charitably disagree but affirm that the Flood described in the Bible really did happen and most importantly, they both affirm the inspiration of Scripture and the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. For more about Dr. Ross and Reasons to Believe: https://reasons.org/team/hugh-ross https://reasons.org/ This broadcast and our broadcast with Tim Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research do not constitute an endorsement of young or old-earth creationism and do not necessarily reflect the views of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. Arlington, TX. 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.

When the Apostle Paul preached his sermon on Mars Hill to the Greek philosophers, he quoted from two Greek poets writing about Zeus, but he used the poem as a bridge to show the Athenians the truth about the risen Lord Jesus Christ. In speaking of the Gospel in Romans 10, Paul references Psalm 19. The proclamation of God's glory begins with the good news of creation. And as we learned in part one, Dr. Markos argues Jesus Himself does what Paul did on Mars Hill when speaking to a group of curious Greek seekers, using those things which have come before to proclaim the arrival of the kingdom of the heavens. From the general revelation of creation through the pagan imagination of the Greco-Roman world, Jesus is Lord of all. But what would this kind of creative bridge-building look like for us today? Dr. Markos argues Christianity isn't just a story, but the best story. In our scientific and post-Enlightenment age people flock to the movies, starving for redemption, meaning and purpose. And though we all know the stories of the silver screen are indeed not true in a literal sense, they are true on a much deeper level. Bravery, sacrifice, standing up for truth and goodness in a world filled with evil. Our culture wants this to be true. And the good news is that it is true. Dr. Markos argues Christians should seek to find Christian truths in our movies and in the ancient myths. As C.S. Lewis noted in his essay, "Myth Became Fact", "We must not be nervous about 'parallels' and 'pagan Christs': they ought to be there - it would be a stumbling block if they weren't. We must not, in false spirituality, withhold our imaginative welcome." On part two, Dr. Markos gives us more insights into the ways we can use the ancient myths in proclamation of Gospel truth. 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 would you say to someone who says Jesus was a myth? Is the Bible's message like myths and legends? What if it is like them? What are people looking for in myths? Come listen as Dan and Dr. Markos discuss how the gospel is the fulfillment of the best myths. Dr. Louis Markos says that Christianity is the fulfillment of all the great myths of the past. Viewed this way, "myth" does not mean "falsehood," but rather a cultural narrative rooted in the truth of who we are as created in the image of God. Louis Markos is a Professor of English at Houston Baptist University and holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities. He speaks widely on ancient Greece and Rome, Lewis and Tolkien, and apologetics and classical education. He has written the book, "The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes," published in 2020. A video of this program is also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/JcV8UE85Q3E 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.

The Bible gives us a record of God's judging the evil and violence of man with a flood. Skeptics say modern geology proves the flood didn't happen. Christians affirm the reality of the flood but often become entangled in debate over whether or not the flood covered the entire world or just a local area in and around the ancient Near East. Many Christians are also divided on the issue of how old the earth is. We explore this issue by looking at science and young-earth creationism. This episode begins an investigation of the biblical flood from a scientific perspective. On this episode we feature the research of geologist Dr. Timothy Clarey of the Institute for Creation Research. You can find out more about Tim's work on his ICR website at https://www.icr.org/tim_clarey/. Dr. Tim Clarey received a Master of Science in Geology in 1984 from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Science in Hydrogeology in 1993 from Western Michigan University. His Ph.D. in Geology was received in 1996 from Western Michigan University. From 1984 to 1992, Dr. Clarey worked as an exploration geologist at Chevron USA, Inc. He was Full Professor and Geosciences Chair at Delta College in Michigan for 17 years before leaving in 2013 to join the science staff at the Institute for Creation Research. 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 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.

There is much to the universe we simply don't know. And this unknown aspect of the cosmos inspires and fascinates us, inviting us to explore and engage it's tacit voice, "Come and see!" The psalmist (Psalm 111:2) proclaims, "Great are the works of the LORD, they are studied by all who delight in them". While many scientists who study the cosmos do not acknowledge God as the Creator, their dedication to knowing more about the heavens tells us the created order is imbued with an inestimable value, majesty, awe, and wonder. We are willing to spend time, effort, and money to knowing more about it's undisclosed secrets. Whether it is the surface of the moon or the wondrous artistic sculpting of the cloud formations of Jupiter to the most distant galaxies, known or unknown, we believe it all declares the glory of God. Some of the mysteries mentioned in this series for your further exploration! Note there are not specific "Christian" points of view expressed in these websites and resources and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wayne, Dan, Good Heavens, or Watchman Fellowship, Inc. Fast Radio Bursts: https://astronomy.com/news/2020/11/astronomers-have-finally-found-the-cause-of-mysterious-fast-radio-bursts Gamma Ray Bursts: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/objects/bursts1.html Book: We Have No Idea https://www.amazon.com/We-Have-No-Idea-Universe/dp/0735211523/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=We+Have+No+Idea 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. ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team

The universe is filled with "known unknowns" to quote the former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. They are fascinating, mysterious and worthy of our attention. There are all sorts of wonderous and fantastically mysterious light sculptures in the cosmos. We talk about the mysteries of stars, galaxies, galaxy structures, fast radio bursts, gamma ray bursts, and all kinds of other things that presently remain a mystery to astronomers, cosmologists, and astrophysicists. And we think all these great unknowns point to the glory of God in Christ. So come and see what's up in our marvelous universe and be amazed by what we don't know! Some of the mysteries mentioned in this series for your further exploration! Note there are not specific "Christian" points of view expressed in these websites and resources and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wayne, Dan, Good Heavens, or Watchman Fellowship, Inc. Mysterious light: https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936219170/scientists-discover-outer-space-isnt-pitch-black-after-all MOND: https://newatlas.com/physics/modified-gravity-evidence-dark-matter/ Technetium: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ethansiegel/2015/08/01/a-periodic-table-surprise-the-one-element-in-stars-that-isnt-on-earth/?sh=2fa74570df74 Podbean enables the Good Heavens 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.

Somehow Wayne and Dan are still riding along on a comet as they explore the mysteries and intrigue of these celestial wonders! Could comets actually have helped to kickstart life? Just what kind of things must line up in order for this to have happened? What comets can we see in 2021? Dan made another video trailer for this episode, click here and HANG ON! Video clips from ESA, NBC News, the Discovery Institute. Books: See David A. J. Seargent's book on Amazon, "The Greatest Comets in History: Broom Stars and Celestial Scimitars." Also on Amazon, look for the 2020 updated edition of the book, "The Mystery of Life's Origin" by Thaxton, Bradley, and Olsen (and others). For David Gelernter's essay on why he left Darwinism, go to https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/giving-up-darwin/ Or see Wayne's article for this podcast, on comets and the origin of life: https://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2020/12/24/comets-meteorites-the-origin-of-life/ 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/store/donations. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible. Good Heavens! is a production of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. A 501 C (3) educational non-profit Christian research organization.

Come along and ride a comet with Wayne and Dan as they explore the mysteries and intrigue of these celestial wonders! Why are they so regular? Why are they so surprising? How do they behave? What are they made of? From where did they come? And could they have seeded life on our planet? From Halley and ISON to the present day extraordinary accomplishment of the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to Comet 67P, comets continue to fascinate us. Come and see what's up with comets and find out how you can catch one in 2021! To see a video trailer for this episode, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfHWqYxIaOo See the book on The Greatest Comets in History on Amazon. See the technical book, "The Mystery of Life's Origin" on Amazon See Wayne’s article on comets and the origin of life at https://creationanswers.net/answersblog. 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/store/donations. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible. Good Heavens! is a production of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. A 501 C (3) educational non-profit Christian research organization providing the body of Christ with resources on apologetics, world religions, cults, and non-Christian worldviews. Visit our main site at Watchman.org. If you enjoy Good Heavens! be sure to check out our other podcast Apologetics Profile. We feature conversations and interviews about Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witness, science and other apologetics topics from top-notch authors and guests! Image credit: TRAPPIST/E. Jehin/ESO

We live in a fragmented world where everything seems to be classified, separated, divided and reduced to its subatomic bareness. Morality seems subjective, beauty is illusory and subjective, and we are confused about what is ultimately true about the world. We've lost or are barely holding on to the idea that it's not only possible, but absolutely necessary to see the world as being reconciled in Christ. Despite what appears to us to be a host of unending confusion and fragmentation, we are assured by God that He upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-20; John 1:1-9). From stars to sparrows to the very hairs of our head, God's truth reigns and rules supremely and sovereignly. On part two of our discussion with Dr. Christina George, we further examine the role of music in our lives and how it helps us to recapture a holistic view of the cosmos and our place within it. Come and see. For more information on Christie's work, please visit her at http://cjgeorge.com. The quote mentioned in the introduction comes from James E. Dolezal's book, All That is in God, available on Amazon. 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/store/donations. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

There is a music in creation for those who have the ears to ear it. From the singing stars present at the foundation of the Earth, to the song of Moses after the miraculous crossing of the Yam Suf, to the silent songs of nature, from stars to sparrows, as well as songs we make as image bearers of God, all point to a kingdom and country not of this world. Hearing this music helps us to understand the world more holistically, enabling us to perceive it all centered upon the risen Lord Jesus - from science, to poetry, literature, theology, & music - all things were created by Him and for Him. He upholds all things by the word of His power. Creation centered upon Jesus is the grandest of fairy tales and we are all characters and subjects of the King of king and Lord of lords. As followers of Christ, we live in what Tolkien and Lewis called the “true myth”, the true story to which all other myths point. Ours is a world alive with wonder, awe, and majesty, and we can know the Author Himself. Our very special guest on this two-part episode of Good Heavens! is professional musicologist Dr. Christina George. Through song and music, Christie strives to unites beauty, philosophy, and theology together to help people see creation more holistically. In our darkening world of fragmentation, isolation, and niche specialization, Christie’s ministry is a much needed encouraging and thoughtful light. For more on Christie’s work, you can visit her website, http://cjgeorge.com 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/store/donations . Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

This is part two of our conversation with chief veteran astronomer of Answers in Genesis, Dr. Danny Faulkner. If you've not caught part one, you don't want to miss it! On this episode Danny and Wayne answer questions we took from Twitter, we talk about the recent tragic news about the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico collapsing, and we talk about a some unusual objects that passed through our solar system in recent times. And of course, we discuss how we think all of this news about the heavens, as well as our fascination with the cosmos, all point to the glory of God in Christ. Dr. Danny Faulkner holds a PhD in Astronomy from Indiana University. He taught at the University of South Carolina Lancaster for over 26 years. He now works as a researcher, author, and speaker for Answers in Genesis (answersingenesis.org). Check out Danny's blog. 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/store/donations . Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

On day two of the Creation week, the Bible tells us that God created the "expanse" (raqia in Hebrew). For centuries, many have believed the "expanse" to be made of something solid. On day four, God creates the greater and lesser lights and the stars and places them all in the expanse. The translators of the Septuagint translated raqia as the stereoma, a solid, crystal sphere. Jerome translated raqia into the Latin firmamentum. In this special two-part episode of Good Heavens! Wayne and Dan chat with veteran astronomer Dr. Danny Faulkner about what he has come to understand raqia and how he is using this concept to create a biblical cosmology. We think you'll find his insights quite fascinating! Dr. Danny Faulkner holds a PhD in Astronomy from Indiana University. He taught at the University of South Carolina Lancaster for over 26 years. He now works as a researcher, author, and speaker for Answers in Genesis (answersingenesis.org). Check out Danny's blog. Wayne maintains Good Heavens! on Podbean. Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms. If you would like to help Wayne defer the annual cost of maintaining Good Heavens! on Podbean, you can donate any amount at https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens. Donations to Wayne are not tax deductible. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/store/donations/ Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

What is string theory? In the field of physics, it's a relatively novel idea that suggests at the very smallest level, subatomic particles are made up of tiny, vibrating filaments, rather than point-like particles. These filaments are known as "strings", each with particular resonances, like strings on a musical instrument comprising different notes. The vibrations of the strings produce the particles physicists understand today. But string theory is still theoretical and somewhat counterintuitive to common sense, as the mathematics proposes that there are extra dimensions in our universe. But neither the strings or the extra dimensions have been detected and our technology is not powerful or sophisticated enough to detect them. So is string theory really science or just philosophical and mathematical speculation? And what does such a unique theory of the physical world have to do with the Christian faith? Come and see! Our guest this week is Dr. Tom Rudelius, a theoretical physicist whose field of expertise is in string theory and early cosmology (the study of the very early universe). Tom is also a follower of Christ. Come and hear his remarkable testimony and how he sees & understands the intersection of science and faith. For more about Tom, you can check out some work he has done with the Veritas Forum below. Some of the scientific and theological views expressed in our guests work do not necessarily reflect the views of Watchman.org, but we do strive to find common ground with our guests in the wonders of creation, in the glory of God and the person of the Lord Jesus. https://youtu.be/8R_TTp5c4iI http://www.veritas.org/multiverse-podcast/ https://veritaschristoetecclesiae.wordpress.com/author/rudelius/ The blog by Aron Wall Tom mentioned, Undivided Looking. Brian Greene's work on string theory. (He is not a Christian, so far as we know, but he is a leading expert on string theory.) Part 1 of a NOVA video on string theory here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/the-elegant-universe-part-1/ This podcast is provided through Good Heavens on Podbean.com. To support this program go to https://goodheavens.podbean.com/ (or the Podbean App) and look for the Become a patron link in the upper right.

A special Good Heavens!/Apologetics Profile presentation of Dr. Sarah Salviander's chapter on God and black holes from The Story of the Cosmos - How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God. TheStoryoftheCosmos.com What is a black hole? Where are they? How were they discovered? How does the majesty, mystery, and enigma of black holes point to the glory of God? Come along on this special episode and find out! Dr. Sarah Salviander received her PhD in astrophysics from the University of Texas at Austin. She was a researcher at UT for sixteen years, where she specialized in the study of quasars, supermassive black holes, and galaxies. She is the author of several peer-reviewed journal papers and a comprehensive Astronomy & Astrophysics homeschool curriculum. She is currently writing books about the remarkable confluence between Christianity and modern science. Author Website: https://sarahsalviander.com. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at @SarahSalviander. Sarah presented her talk at LifePoint Church in League City, Texas (South Houston) on October 21st, 2020, as part of their Wednesday Night “Unfiltered. Conversations that Matter” apologetics ministry. Thanks to Trevor Shakiba and Pastor Josh Sharpe for coordinating the event and for the assistance in the production of the video. You can visit the church’s website at https://golifepointchurch.org. LifePoint provided the audio and video. Daniel Ray of Watchman Fellowship edited and produced the final video. For more information on the ministry of Watchman Fellowship, visit our website at https://Watchman.org You can also see the video of this presentation here. https://youtu.be/xi0CwpY5ICg This prodcast is provided through Good Heavens on Podbean.com. To support this program go to https://goodheavens.podbean.com/ (or the Podbean App) and look for the Become a patron link in the upper right.

C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe turned 70 this month (October 2020). In the midst of a difficult year of pandemics and politics, now is the perfect time to reacquaint yourself with C.S. Lewis's timeless classic. What's in your "spare oom" that can lead to adventures undreamt and unsought? Come along with us on this special combined episode of Good Heavens! and Apologetics Profile as we celebrate the imaginative, cosmological, literary, and apologetic wonders of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with C.S. Lewis scholar Dr. Michael Ward. Dr. Ward served as Daniel Ray's master's thesis advisor at Houston Baptist University in 2016. Daniel is the first to have written a master's thesis on Dr. Ward's 2008 book (Amazon), Planet Narnia - The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis. Michael is the author of several published works and scholarly articles about Lewis, the imagination, and theology. He has lectured in 30 of the 50 states, holds a doctorate of divinity from St. Andrews, and has made numerous radio, podcast, and television appearances. More on Michael's work can be found at https://michaelward.net/. Michael Ward with Eric Metaxas in conversation about Planet Narnia. Michael and others from around the world reading from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (on narniaweb.com) Laura Miller's book mentioned in the broadcast (Amazon). The Magician's Book - A Skeptic's Adventure in Narnia Image credit: Refuge31 Films

This is the second episode in our series on the constellations from a biblical perspective. Leo is our featured constellation on this episode. We talk about Leo's kingly nature, a little bit of its legend and lore, and explore a few of the sights you can see within this ancient pattern of stars. The Bible says that the heavens declare the glory of God, they do not predict the future nor tell anyone what their fortune is. But they can and should remind us of God's glory and His faithfulness to us. So enjoy stargazing! Learn all you can about the heavens and all their hosts and how they point us to the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Here are some references mentioned in the broadcast. Not all sources mentioned specifically endorse the Christian faith, but they are good references for astronomy and the history of star and constellation lore. From the International Astronomical Union https://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/ Burnham's Celestial Handbook https://www.amazon.com/Burnhams-Celestial-Handbook-Observers-Universe/dp/0486235688/ Constellation Guide website https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-map/zodiac-constellations/ Good Heavens is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship https://www.watchman.org/

Join us as we have a lovely chat with physics professor and Fellow of the Royal Society, Dr. Tom Mcleish and physics & science teacher David Hutchings, both from the UK. We discuss why science and the Christian faith are not only not incompatible, but that science truly needs God, specifically the Lord Jesus. Their book, the the title of this podcast episode, is not a superficial Christian sticky-note attached to a highly secularized scientific methodology. No! Rather, it is a very easy-to-grasp, edifying, Christ-centered, tour-de-force from which readers of all ages and backgrounds can appreciate and learn something about the intersection of science and Christianity. They have written an excellent and accessible book on this topic and give us the confidence and encouragement to see how God is for "good science" and why good science must have Christ as its foundation. Jesus came to reconcile man with God, but that reconciliation includes reorienting our minds (Rom. 12:1-2) to see all of creation as a reflection of God's nature, of His invisible attributes, expressions of his wisdom (Job 28; 38-41). Creation as seen through the lens of Scripture, gives us reason for exploring and investigating it (Ps. 111:2) and is what inspired many of the great scientists of the past, as Tom and David point out through the many stories and examples in their book. So come and have a listen to our fascinating discussion about God and science, for the glory of God! Find out more about Dave and Tom's book - "Let there Be Science, Why God Loves Science and Science Needs God". Available at https://www.amazon.com/Let-There-Be-Science-science/dp/0745968635/ Image credit: NASA/JPL Caltech (Galex mission)

Johannes Kepler lived a remarkable life during equally remarkable times. On this special Third-Anniversary episode of Good Heavens, Wayne and Dan talk about Kepler‘s accomplishments and his character. He lived during the Catholic Counter Reformation in a time when there was much superstition. In spite of great hardship and personal loss Kepler influenced people away from superstition and made revolutionary discoveries about the planets. Kepler's Mother was accused of witchcraft in a time when many women were being wrongly executed for witchcraft. But Kepler did a legal defense of his Mother and eventually she was freed. He demonstrated remarkable character and faith in difficult times. Thank you to everyone for listening for 3 years! For more information on Kepler check out these links: Article by Wayne for this podcast https://creationanswers.net/biographies/SuperstitionToModernScience.htm Amazon link to Kitty Ferguson's book https://www.amazon.com/Tycho-Kepler-Kitty-Ferguson/dp/0802713904 Website about Daniel and Wayne's book, "The Story of the Cosmos" (2017): https://thestoryofthecosmos.com/

This will be a new series on the constellations - short audio stories & astronomy facts about the visible constellations known today from the northern hemisphere. Each episode will hopefully be less than ten minutes. Our first featured constellation will be Orion the Hunter. A hunter, a god, a fool, a warrior, with many beautiful astronomy sights you can see with your own two eyes. These celestial audio vignettes will also consider how these constellations reflect the glory of God. Dan is going to try and cover all the visible constellations visible to us in Europe and North America. Pray for him! We hope you enjoy them. Let us know what you think! For more on the constellation Orion https://www.ancient.eu/Orion/ - Legends about Orion https://nineplanets.org/orion-constellation/ https://thestoryofthecosmos.com/ Our book: a Biblical and integrated look at how the heavens declare the glory of God. Image from on https://wallpapersafari.com/w/eJf0WO

Cultivating a deeper appreciation and understanding of what God has created is an act of worship. God has given us two books, the book of nature and the book of Scripture. They are meant to be read together. As Psalm 19 shows, David speaks of creation in the first six verses and then speaks of God's revelation in and through His word in verses 7-13. He then concludes the Psalm with a prayer "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, my Rock and my Redeemer." In contemplating both the heavens and the word of God, David is inspired and exhorted to pray that God would accept him. And in Christ, God answers that prayer not just for David, but for all of those who would call upon the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation. So how might a knowledge of binary stars enrich and encourage us in our faith? If David's contemplation of God's creation ultimately led him to pray, so too can our meditating on what God has made lead us in a similar way. The way, the truth, and the life. So come and listen to professor David Bradstreet with us. Be fascinated by the wonders of binary stars and learn how they point us to the glory of God and His love toward us in Jesus. A short video on binary stars. More about Dr. Bradstreet. A short video with Dr. Bradstreet. More about Dr. Bradstreet's chapter in The Story of the Cosmos. Dr. Bradstreet's book Starstruck.

On part two of our discussion with Dr. Tim Hamilton, we chat about something he discovered while sifting through images taken by Hubble! The world is still filled with God's gifts, waiting to be discovered. You don't have to be an astrophysicist to receive from God's bounty! You don't have to be a scientist to make a discovery! God freely gives us gifts because He loves us, not because we earned it or deserved it. When David considered the heavens, it reminded him of God's care for Him. So we hope Tim's story of discovery will do the same. We hope it can inspire and encourage you to consider that God also longs to give you gifts, the gift of forgiveness, of love, of mercy, or whatever else you need, maybe inspiration for your job or some difficult situation for which you see no answer. Fear not! Jesus knows, He sees, and your way is not hidden from Him. So come and hear Tim's story!

Do cutting-edge astrophysics and the Christian faith go together? Yes! On this episode, we speak with Dr. Tim Hamilton, an astrophysicist who recently made an exciting and unexpected discovery looking through images from the Hubble Space Telescope as he was studying quasars. The object TIm discovered is tentatively called by a colleague of his "Hamilton's Object". Tim is also a Christian who enjoys contemplating how God's actions in the physical world might best explained. What are miracles? How did God created the universe? Can science find out everything God did in the beginning? Ecclesiastes 3:11 says of God, "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." This, however, does not mean we should not keep looking to make discoveries, of course. Every new discovery about the cosmos reveals something more about the One who created it all. We read God's two books, the book of nature and the book of Scripture. Both point us to the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We hope part one of our chat with Tim will encourage you to see that science is no threat to our faith in Christ, but it fact informs it, shapes it, and gives it life. So come along and find out more about how an astrophysicist contemplates the heavens and God's sustaining power throughout. For more on Tim's work, click here!

Does the Physics of the Universe do away with God? Of course not! On part 2 of our conversation with David Wilkinson and Dave Hutchings, we explore further the implications of the late Dr. Hawking's engagement with the idea of God and what the implications are for a universe bereft its Creator. The late Dr. Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist whose pioneering work in black holes forever impacted the way we look at the universe. But what of the implications of his thoughts about God? Ought we to assume Hawking's brilliance in trying to understand the cosmos is transferable when he speaks of God? The late Dr. Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist whose pioneering work in black holes forever impacted the way we look at the universe. But what of the implications of his thoughts about God? Ought we to assume Hawking's brilliance in trying to understand the cosmos is transferable when he speaks of God? So we hope you will be encouraged by this program. There has yet to be a scientist whose theories and ideas have come anywhere close to unseating the Lord Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. The heavens are still declaring His glory! Here is more about Professor Wilkinson: https://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/staff/profile/?id=2006 To get the book, God, Stephen Hawking, and the Multiverse, click here: https://www.amazon.com/God-Stephen-Hawking-Multiverse-matters-ebook/dp/B083TY4J8B And, Let There Be Science, by David Hutchings and Tom McLeish https://www.amazon.com/Let-There-Be-Science-science/dp/0745968635

Dr. Stephen Hawking was a brilliant Cambridge theoretical physicist whose pioneering work on black holes and the origin of the universe put him in the public eye and imagination. His book A Brief History of Time was a runaway bestseller, with some 10 million copies having been sold worldwide since its publication in 1988. Despite the limitations of ALS, Dr. Hawking went on to father children, write more books, give lectures, travel, and continue to do research. Remarkably, he lived to the age of 76, much to the astonishment of the entire watching world. His life and work define a generation of our understanding of the universe. On this two-part episode, we explore the life, work, and beliefs of the late Dr. Hawking with two distinguished gentlemen from the UK, David Hutchings, a high-school physics teacher and Dr. David Wilkinson, astrophysicist and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Dr. Hawking believed science had replaced God. But he did not really engage the God of the Bible. To get the book by the same title, go to this link: https://www.amazon.com/God-Stephen-Hawking-Multiverse-matters-ebook/dp/B083TY4J8B

Critics of Scripture have dismissed it. Skeptics mock it. And even some Christians will attempt to explain the heavenly events described in Joshua 10 as "natural" phenomenon or that Joshua's words were simply poetic or an allusion to something else. Did the sun and moon really "stand still" in the Valley of Aijalon as described in the Bible? What really happened? How can this passage from the Old Testament be an encouragement for us today in these troubling times? Tune in for Wayne and Dan's discussion. We hope it will remind you of Jesus. For more on the Long Day of Joshua see this article by Wayne: http://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2013/11/23/joshuas-long-day/ Photo courtesy photos-public-domain.com

Did the sun and moon really "stand still" in the Valley of Aijalon as described in the Bible? Is Jesus still governing the goings on in the heavens and earth? We live in a time where we, like Joshua, should be strong and courageous. But only the Lord Jesus can give us that necessary strength and freedom from fear. We hope our reflections on Joshua 10 will be an encouragement to everyone. In this program Wayne reads from Joshua chapter 10, verses 1-28 (NIV, 1984 Bible). This provides the background for a podcast coming soon on the Long Day of Joshua with Wayne and Dan.

"In conversations about science and faith, Jesus Christ rarely comes up." So begins the introduction to a 2018 anthology of essays titled Christ and the Created Order - Perspectives from Theology, Philosophy, and Science, edited by Andrew B. Torrance and Thomas H. McCall. If Jesus is to have first place in everything, that means He should have first place in discussions about science and theology. But sadly, for many reasons historically, theologically, philosophically, and scientifically, He does not. What do we do? What should we do? How should we see Jesus in relation to all that He has made? On this episode of Good Heavens! we interview Dr. Torrance about the necessity for Christians to cultivate a truly Christ-centered view of looking at creation. Andrew holds a doctorate from the University of Otago and "is research fellow at St. Mary's College, the School of Divinity of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and the project leader for Scientists in Congregations Scotland (sicscotland.org)." Andrew is also the grand nephew of the late Scottish theologian Thomas Torrance and grandson of theologian J.B. Torrance! Find out more about Andrew and his work!

If you have ever tried understanding some of the cutting-edge theoretical models of the universe, you know what we're talking about! Yet for the most part, some scientists who study the universe, especially if they are professed skeptics or atheists, will say some pretty odd things about God, things that are far and away outside the realm of their particular cosmological ideas. On this episode, Wayne and Dan discuss some of these "strange" sayings of cosmologists and astrophysicists, including thoughts of Dr. Leonard Susskind, Sir Arthur Eddington, Dr. Carl Sagan, (indirectly the late Dr. Stephen Hawking), Dr. Sean Carroll, Dr. Lawrence Krauss, Sir Fred Hoyle, and Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, plus a few others. So join us for what turned out to be, we think, our longest single episode of Good Heavens! since we began way back in the fall of 2017. We hope you enjoy it! See also Wayne's blog article at http://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2020/06/06/cosmologists-say-the-strangest-things/ Picture: The Reflection Nebula DG 129. Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA

On our last episode, Dan spoke with Dr. John Barentine, the director for public policy for the International Dark Sky Association about preserving our night skies and about constellations and their attendant lore. On this episode, Dan speaks with Paul Bogard, author of The End of Night, Searching for Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light. It is a catalogue of adventures Paul took to some of the brightest and darkest skies on the planet, from the city of Paris, to the island of Sark, where there is not a single automobile or street light. Paul also visited several national parks as well, taking readers on a journey that anyone can follow. Paul also shares with us the wisdom he gleaned about the healthful benefits of natural darkness and why everyone should be concerned about preserving and cherishing it. You can find out more about Paul's work here.

Many of us cannot see or experience the beauty and glory of a truly dark, star-filled night sky. The ever-growing urban lights of large cities blind us to the ancient wonder of the heavens. There is a growing interest in astro-tourism, people willing to travel to dark-sky preserves to experience and learn more about the heavens. On this episode of Good Heavens! Dan talks with the public policy director of the International Dark Sky Association, (https://www.darksky.org/) Dr. John Barentine, about the importance of preserving truly dark-sky environments, and about the importance of community and storytelling in relation to our relationship to the heavens above us. There's even some bonus material at the end of the episode featuring a more in-depth look at stories about the constellations of Hercules and Draco the dragon! See the Saving our Stars website (https://www.savingourstars.org/). To follow updates on the on-line Grand Canyon Star Party visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm

This is part one of Dan's interview with astronomer and educator Dr. David Bradstreet, professor of astronomy at Eastern University in Pennsylvania and an expert on binary stars. David has been teaching astronomy for over four decades and is a co-contributor to our book, The Story of the Cosmos - How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God as well as the co-author of Star Struck: Seeing the Creator in the Wonders of Our Cosmos. He even has an asteroid named after him! On this episode David shares with us his pedagogical insights into the contemplative benefits of astronomy and how he sees teaching, astronomy, and life down here on planet earth all fitting together. Come and see how contemplating the cosmos transcends our modern penchant for food, clothing, and incessant busyness and can encourage and strengthen our faith in Christ. So take a few minutes to come and contemplate Dr. B's wisdom and experience on this episode of Good Heavens!