Ken Ham's Blog, page 436

Russian-language TV at the Museum

Interest in the Creation Museum continues to be strong well outside the boundaries of the United States. Recently, a crew of three people representing the Russian-language service of Hope TV spent the day at the museum for a special documentary they're doing on the topic of Creation and Science. They interviewed Dr. Andrew Snelling (see photo below), who is our staff geologist, in the Dinosaur Den section of the museum, and also Dr. Georgia Purdom, who has a PhD in molecular genetics. I have to admit that it is wonderful to be able to rely on my AiG colleagues who have higher academic qualifications than I have to conduct such interviews, especially when the topics get into technical areas that this Russian crew asked about—like radiometric dating, the Ice Age, etc.

We don't know when this special program will air in Russia and other Russian-speaking countries (e.g., Ukraine). In the meantime, we shared with the TV producer that we have twelve talks of mine (the Foundations series) recently dubbed into Russian, which will be ready for release in a few weeks. They were produced in cooperation with our friends at the Slavic Gospel Association in the Chicago area.

In a later blog post, I will let you know about a very special trip that AiG made last weekend to Moscow, which is related to these new Russian videos and their very warm reception by Christian leaders. It will be very inspiring.

As the TV producer was interviewing Dr. Purdom in the museum's main hall, a family from Siberia happened to be listening in. They were stunned to hear their Russian language being spoken amongst the crew. So we will be sending a complimentary copy of my new DVD set Foundations in Russian for this family as well.

Then during the day, a television reporter from Dateline Australia (SBS TV) was here to film many of the museum exhibits, and the next day, he interviewed me on the theme of "an Australian living in America" and having something of a national profile the U.S. Frankly, I can be somewhat leery about how the Australian (and British) press can cover a Bible-proclaiming ministry like ours (the U.S. media are generally better, believe it or not), but all we ask for is balanced and accurate reporting. The Australian reporter has had a fascinating background. He has covered all sorts of horrible international tragedies in the past few decades, and was there at the fall of Saigon in 1975. Knowing that background, I made sure to address the question of why we have suffering, bloodshed, disease, etc. in this world if there is a God. Also, because Dr. Andrew Snelling, our geologist, is also from Australia, the reporter interviewed him too.

The Australian videographer films me and the Coopers of Woodstock, Georgia inside the "Wonders of Creation" room.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Old Earth Christian Cannot Ultimately Give Richard Dawkins an Answer

This past Thursday, an article about Richard Dawkins and William Lane Craig appeared in theguardian news in the United Kingdom, entitled: "Why I refuse to debate with William Lane Craig."

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California.   Richard Dawkins, the famous atheist,  was giving his reasons as to why he refuses to debate Dr. Craig.  Dawkins brings out his usual claim of accusing God of genocide because of the order to the Israelites to kill the Canaanites. Such claims  have been answered many times on the AiG website and in books and DVDs. Actually, how can a person claiming to be an atheist accuse God of genocide anyway? How inconsistent can one get!  You see, Dawkins has no basis whatsoever to impose his "morality" on anyone else!

Now Richard Dawkins does quote William Lane Craig attempting to explain that the Canaanites were pagans, and were in rebellion against God—and a Holy God has the right to judge them accordingly.  But really, Dr. Craig can never give the ultimate answer he needs to—and why?  Well watch the first 35 seconds of this video clip on Youtube.

The video clip is part of an interview with Craig from the Michael Coren Show. Throughout the video, Craig claims that the earth is about 13 billion years old, and that he will not contradict what he calls "mainstream science." Dr. Craig is an ARDENT believer in billions of years of earth history.  Thus, he believes there were millions of years of death, disease, suffering, and violence before man sinned.  The Bible makes it clear that after God had created everything, he called the creation "very good." For those Christians (like Craig) who believe in an old earth, then they are blaming God for disease and death—and they are really saying God calls such "very good."  Such compromise will never allow a person to be able to give the correct answer to Richard Dawkins—that it is not God's fault there is death and disease and suffering—it is our fault, because we sinned in Adam.  We committed high treason against the God of creation.  The real issue is not why did those particular people die—but why is everyone (including Richard Dawkins) going to die!  It is because we are sinners—which is why we need salvation—which is why God's Son stepped into history to pay the penalty for our sin.

It also never ceases to amaze me why Richard Dawkins is even concerned with this issue—after all, as an atheist, he believes he will cease to exist when he dies—and ultimately from his perspective, everyone will cease to exist eventually—so why should he care about people dying? From his perspective there is no ultimate purpose and meaning in life except what he subjectively determines that to be right in the here and now!  Well Dawkins is illustrating Romans 1 so clearly—he "'suppresses the truth."  Because in his heart he knows there is a God, and he has a conscience, Dawkins has to shake his fist at God and do whatever he can to block his ears to the truth.   That is why he is so active in suppressing the truth—in a sense he is putting his hands on his ears and saying "I refuse to listen—I refuse to listen."

But what is also very sad, is that Christians who compromise with millions of years do not stand on God's Word in Genesis and can never be the real Christian witness to Dawkins they need to be—and one day they will have to answer for that to the God of Creation who gave us His infallible Word!

You can read the entire news article about Richard Dawkins at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/20/richard-dawkins-william-lane-craig

Speaking in Memphis

Tomorrow, Dr. Gary Parker and I begin a two-day AiG conference in Memphis TN.  For more details, go to www.answersingenesis.org/outreach/event/7085/

Also on Tuesday, I will be speaking at nearby Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary. See www.answersingenesis.org/outreach/event/7156/



Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

The Big Surprise

Well, I thought I had somewhat "escaped" someone making a big deal of my sixtieth birthday on Thursday. Yesterday morning, the staff gathered in our Special Effects Theater to "harass" me for turning 60. After 20 minutes of the typical sorts of things they do at such "bashings," I thought that was over. My understanding was that I was having dinner with our kids and their families as a final event for my birthday. How wrong I was!

Unknown to me, family and friends had "conspired" behind the scenes to do something much bigger. While I was on stage at our pastors and Christian leaders' conference making some announcements, I was interrupted on stage by my brother Stephen who then said, "This is your life." He began a series of great surprises, such as photographs of my life from childhood to the present being shown on the big screens—along with video clips of some of my family (my mother, sisters Beverly and Rosemary, and brother David) and friends from Australia. The following photos are just a few highlights:

Unknown to me, AiG's leadership team and our faculty were lining up outside Legacy Hall to join those at the leaders' conference for "The Big Surprise."

Stephen interrupts me on stage.

My wife appears on stage and then tells the account of when I asked her to marry me.

Our five kids with their families (with our seven grandkids) appear on stage.

The chairman of the AiG board presents Mally and me with a certificate for a weekend in Pigeon Forge, TN.

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Brad Benbow (president of Joseph David Advertising)—who has also become a close friend—traveled from Muncie, Indiana, for this event.

Tim Dudley (president of Master Books) flew in from Arkansas—Tim has been a close friend for many years.

Buddy Davis—AiG singer, songwriter, sculptor, and speaker—traveled down from Henpeck, Ohio, for the birthday event.

Then "The Big Surprise." This had been kept a very closely guarded secret (as was everything else on Thursday) to make this a very special moment. My brother David and his wife Thelly had secretly traveled from Australia to be here for this event. As David had broken his leg three weeks ago, I would never have even entertained such a possibility.

During the event, a video clip was shown of my mother telling some "secrets" about my life! She did a great job, and it was hard to keep control of my emotions as I watched this. My sisters Beverly and Rosemary were also on video.  My sister Bev brought the "house down" with her comical comments!

We are a very close family; to see my sisters and mother on video and then for my brother to suddenly appear on stage, what a birthday remembrance this will be! And I guess it helps me get over the emotional stress of admitting I am now 60! Even though the rest of my family would have loved to have been here, I will be visiting with them when we go to Australia in a few weeks (after speaking in Malaysia).

After "The Big Surprise" on stage, about 60 family and friends came together for a special birthday dinner held in Discovery Hall at the Creation Museum. As I looked around the room, I saw friends that I first met 34 years ago:

Andrew and Kym Snelling who recent moved from Australia to join AiG.
Dale and Karen Mason who I met the year before we moved to the U.S.
Mark Looy whom I met about 30 years ago when he was working for a Christian radio station in San Diego and interviewed me while I was on a U.S. speaking tour.
Mike Zovath who worked with me at ICR after he retired from the military.

Mark, Mike, and I were the three who moved to Kentucky to begin AiG and build the Creation Museum. And then in attendance were many of the friends we have made in the USA, such as Sue Jones and Dran Reece from California and then the many friends we have made while in Kentucky. I can't name them all, but we are so thankful for the dear friends and family the Lord has given us on this earth.

Well, what a day—now to get on with life in the 60's!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Singing with the Saints

AiG musician and speaker, Buddy Davis, was thrilled to report a great blessing from the news in Nashville. His song, "Singing with the Saints," went up the national Inspirational Country charts 15 points. It is now in the top 50 on radio stations across the US.

It's track #10 on the CD, I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ (you can hear a 30 second sample of the song). To commemorate this achievement, we are selling the whole CD for a special price!

Follow the Pastors' Conference on Our Blog

Be sure to follow the pastors' conference on our outreach events blog, where you will find updated posts.

Here are some photographs taken yesterday at the "Answers for Pastors" conference.

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AiG speaker, Mike Riddle, speaking on education.

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Pastor Brad Bigney speaking on biblical counseling.

Participants looking at resources.

More resources.

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Dr. Andrew Snelling speaking on geology.

AiG's David Chakranarayan giving a challenging devotional.

Steve Ham as MC.

John Elliot—singer and songwriter.

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Karen Haught—speaker for the special women's sessions.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Shot Taken at Aig by Nazarene Professor in New York Times Op-ed

Randall Stephens is an associate professor of history at Eastern Nazarene College. He, along with former professor of physics at the same college (Karl Giberson), wrote an op-ed piece in yesterday's New York Times to help publicize their new book The Anointed. AiG has written a preliminary response to this book, showing that it is poorly researched and really is an attempt to attack AiG, the Creation Museum, and other Christians who are committed to biblical innerrancy and the proclamation of the gospel in this secularized age. Go to this link to see our article on The Anointed.

In the article linked to below, the authors state the following:

Mr. Ham built his organization, Answers in Genesis, on the premise that biblical truth trumps all other knowledge. His Creation Museum, in Petersburg, Ky., contrasts "God's Word," timeless and eternal, with the fleeting notions of "human reason." This is how he knows that the earth is 10,000 years old, that humans and dinosaurs lived together, and that women are subordinate to men. Evangelicals who disagree, like Francis S. Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, are excoriated on the group's Web site. (In a recent blog post, Mr. Ham called us "wolves" in sheep's clothing, masquerading as Christians while secretly trying to destroy faith in the Bible.)

Well, I did write a blog post entitled "Beware of Wolves." In that post I stated the following:

In the Old Testament, over and over again we find that many "shepherds" (leaders) led the people astray. And in the New Testament, we read of many examples of religious leaders who were teaching things that were in error, leading people away from the truth of God's Word. The apostle Paul mentioned many of them by name. . . .

Yes, as harsh as it might sound, today there are shepherds in the church who are also "wolves"—they have infiltrated the church with their destructive teaching.

I then clearly stated,  "Now, I am not saying these wolves are not Christians—I suppose the term can fit Christians as well as non-Christians."

I also stated the following in the article:

One such example is seen clearly in the writings of Dr. Karl Giberson. Until recently, he was a physics professor at Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts—probably leading many students astray about the Bible's authority with his compromised teaching. He has been involved with the theologically liberal BioLogos Foundation and recently co-authored a book (The Anointed, published by a division of Harvard University Press) with Eastern Nazarene College history professor, Dr. Randall Stephens. (By the way, Dr. Darrel Falk, a Nazarene professor in biology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, has also similarly written against AiG and the literal creation position.)

Stephens and Giberson have once again misrepresented what I stated with what I would call a "cheap shot." They claim, "Mr. Ham called us "wolves" in sheep's clothing, masquerading as Christians while secretly trying to destroy faith in the Bible."  The Bible certainly states there are "wolves" from without the church and from within. And for those within, only God knows their heart, but I clearly wrote in my blog post that "I am not saying these wolves are not Christians." We have been totally misrepresented in this Times' op-ed.

It seems to me that the co-authors have also made another cheap shot with their comment about women ("are subordinate to men"). I have always stated that men and women have different roles, and they need to submit to each other (as the Scripture teaches) in those roles. I think they are implying something else in the way they wrote the commentary. Not only that, but I remind husbands that they are to love their wives to the extent they would be prepared to die for them, and I often cite, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25).

And yes, biblical truth does trump the fallible ideas of sinful man who has a heart that is "deceitful above all else and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). I make no apology about taking such a stand!

Here is the link to the op-ed.

Great Response for AiG Pastors' Conference

It is so thrilling to see so many pastors (and their wives), who are committed to standing on the authority of God's Word in Genesis, attend AiG's pastors and Christian leaders' conference this week at our Creation Museum. The following are some photos taken yesterday:

Dr. Al Mohler (president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville) gave the keynote address

AiG's Dr. Terry Mortenson as he addressed the conference

Some of the audience in the Creation Museum's Legacy Hall

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

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"Legacy Five" Family at Creation Museum

It was a thrill yesterday for the Creation Museum to host Scott Fowler of the well-known southern gospel singing group "Legacy Five" and his family. (By the way, you can watch a video clip of Legacy Five on YouTube.)

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Scott, his wife Taryn, and their two sons Preston and Bailey.

Here is a photo of me with the family taken in my office, and I am holding their new CD entitled Legacy Five—A Wonderful Life. My wife and I both love southern gospel music, so we are looking forward to listening to the new CD.

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Here is another photo with the family taken in AiG's new observatory and in front of the famous (and original) "Johnsonian" Telescope.

And yes, we did discuss the possibility of a Legacy Five concert in our aptly named Legacy Hall at the Creation Museum. We trust this will happen in 2012.

You can find out more about Legacy Five at www.legacyfive.com

Pastors and Christian Leaders' Conference Begins Today

AiG's pastors and christian leaders' conference begins today in Legacy Hall and goes through Thursday. For more information go to the conference website.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

A Distinctive Homeschool Meeting

We count it a privilege to have the opportunity to keynote homeschool conferences across the United States. AiG wants to equip parents to be able to train their children in biblical truths. You might already be aware that almost two-thirds of our young people growing up in Bible-believing churches will leave the church in their 20s (We discussed this in our book, Already Gone). Even the Southern Baptist Convention has done studies that mirror this.

If you live in the southeastern part of the country, I wanted to let you know that I will be keynoting a homeschool conference in Spartanburg, SC from March 15–17 . I mention this event now because on October 31, a discounted registration opportunity will end. In line with our desire to equip young families with biblical truths, I was happy to learn that the title for this homeschool convention is "Teach them Diligently."

The conference organizer, David Nunnery, shared with us that "Teach them Diligently" was "born out of a recognized need for more events celebrating the focus of Christian homeschool families … and to disciple their children to glorify God."

What really caught my eye was the following from Mr. Nunnery:

There will be two distinctives to this convention. First, any vendors who touch on creation or "beginnings" must sign a statement in agreement of two theological principles:

Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole creation, spanning about 4,000 years from Creation to Christ, and that the days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages, but are six consecutive 24-hour days of creation; 2. The Bible is the plenary, verbally inspired Word of God. It is our final authority for faith and practice and is without error.

At a time when there is at least one group of homeschool conventions that has a watered down statement of faith and now allows all sorts of vendors in their exhibit halls (including non-Christian groups), I find it encouraging that the organizers of "Teach them Diligently" are standing firm on the Word of God.

Register by October 31 to get the discount, and find out more information at www.teachthemdiligently.net.

Speaking of Conferences

[image error]I want to add here that our conference called "Answers for Pastors" (though it is also for other Christian leaders like Sunday school teachers) starts Tuesday morning here at the museum with Dr. Al Mohler and several AiG staff speaking. If you're a Christian leader living in the area, you can register at the door. For more info, see our outreach site.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

The Genesis Flood Anniversary Conference

Here is a series of photographs taken during the day at our very successful Saturday conference at the Creation Museum, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of The Genesis Flood. This is the book that started the modern biblical creation movement.

Dr. John Whitcomb—the book's co-author

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Another photo of Dr. John Whitcomb

The audience while Dr. Whitcomb was speaking

Dr. John Morris—son of the other co-author, Dr. Henry Morris; president of ICR

Dr. Terry Mortenson—AiG's historian of the creation vs. evolution issue

Dr. Andrew Snelling—our staff geologist

Another photo of Dr. Snelling

Dr. Snelling is also the author of the update to The Genesis Flood: Earth's Catastrophic Past.

Me

Calling All Pastors

Our next conference in our museum's new auditorium (called Legacy Hall) starts this Tuesday: a pastors' conference, where Dr. Al Mohler of Southern Seminary joins AiG speakers in equipping Christian leaders to defend our Christian faith. See http://www.answersingenesis.org/outreach/answers-for-pastors/.  You can register at the door and also enjoy the opportunity of touring the Creation Museum during the conference.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Honoring Two Great Men of God

This year is the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book The Genesis Flood, co-authored by Dr. Henry Morris and Dr. John Whitcomb.  This is the book that really started a new "reformation"—a movement to call church and culture back to the authority of the Word of God beginning in Genesis.

Last evening, at a special banquet held in Legacy Hall at the Creation Museum, we honored Dr. John Whitcomb and the late Dr. Henry Morris.  We were thrilled that Dr. John Morris, president of the Institute for Creation Research in Dallas, came on behalf of the Morris family.  Dr. Whitcomb and Dr. John Morris both spoke to the audience, and then were presented with a special trophy and plaque honoring the work of these two great men of God.

Here are some photos taken last night to give you a feel for this event:

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Today at the Creation Museum, we are running a special conference at which Dr. John Morris and Dr. Whitcomb, along with three AiG speakers will make presentations. Check it out on the event calendar.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Museum Advisory Board Member Visits the Museum

When AiG was constructing the Creation Museum during the last decade, we sought out some well-known Christian leaders to publicly back our museum project. Those partnerships helped lend more credibility to the museum, especially to help find other Christian leaders to get behind the evangelistic museum.

One of the first Christian leaders to join our advisory board was Dr. Paul Dixon, who was the president of Cedarville University (Ohio) at the time. Dr. Dixon had toured the Creation Museum just before it opened in 2007, but he had not yet visited the finished museum. (He spends much of his time in Florida and Tennessee nowadays; although as Chancellor of Cedarville University, he still visits our region from time to time.) During a Bible conference at Calvary Baptist Church in northern Kentucky where he was the speaker, he dropped by during a break and got caught up with our ministry and posed for a photo with me.

I am encouraged there are some Christian colleges like Cedarville University (CU) that are standing on the authority of the Word of God beginning in Genesis (the majority of Christian colleges do not). I am happy to say that Cedarville University is one on our rather small list of colleges that believe in the book of Genesis as real history (see www.CreationColleges.com). Also, when our visitors tour the Creation Museum, they will notice that some of our special programs are sponsored by CU; also, you frequently see CU ads in our Answers magazine.

To find out more about this college in central Ohio and its science programs (many of its faculty scientists have become good friends of AiG), go to www.cedarville.edu.

Before becoming the president of Cedarville University in 1978, Dr. Dixon served as an evangelist for 14 years. In 2003, he became the chancellor of Cedarville. During his tenure as president, his student body almost tripled in size and the campus grew from 180 acres to 480 acres. His son Scott is a professor at Cedarville. I also learned that Dr. Dixon received his doctorate in education from the University of Cincinnati, which is not too far from our Creation Museum.

A Flood of Memories

We are welcoming two creationist leaders to the Creation Museum today and tomorrow. They will be speaking at our conference inside the museum that will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the classic book The Genesis Flood.  That would be the book's co-author, Dr. John Whitcomb, and Dr. John Morris, son of the other co-author, Dr. Henry Morris (John is the president of the ministry his father started, which is called ICR).

Here is the schedule for the all-day conference in our new Legacy Hall. You don't need to preregister—it's free to paying museum visitors that day. I will be speaking, plus Drs. Whitcomb and Morris, and also Dr. Terry Mortenson and Dr. Andrew Snelling of our staff. See the event page for more details.

It will be a great time of blessing. If you live in the region, come on by!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken