Ken Ham's Blog, page 441

"Deaf Day" Is Monday at the Creation Museum: Reaching Out to the Hearing Impaired

The Creation Museum's annual outreach event to reach hearing-impaired people begins Monday. We are thrilled that 35 signers for the deaf are coming in for the day to ensure that people with a hearing handicap can understand the teaching throughout the Creation Museum.

This very special event features ASL interpreters, deaf volunteers, and text-based captioning. Many of the Creation Museum's videos are already open-captioned for all of our guests to enjoy. On Deaf Day, several presentations will provide text-based captioning. Other areas will feature ASL interpreters providing live interpretation of presentations such as The Last Adam.

Live presentations given by AiG speakers will also be interpreted, and volunteers will be available to assist with ticket sales, food ordering, and providing directions. Deaf volunteers are also available to assist deaf guests with questions about the museum. The Creation Museum events calendar lists the programs that will be offered and what forms of interpretation will be provided.

We hope many guests will come and enjoy the Deaf Day each year. We trust those Creation Museum guests who don't have such a hearing condition will enjoy watching the expressive communication of American Sign Language during the shows and throughout the museum. It can be a real learning experience to be surrounded by people speaking the beautiful language of ASL!

Those who have volunteered to help on this special day will have an opportunity to tour the museum ahead of time, receive free lunch at the café on the day(s) they work, and receive a discount in the Dragon Hall Bookstore!

Visit the Creation Museum website for more information about Deaf Day 2011.

More Communication Help at the Creation Museum

We are also thrilled to announce that we have updated the Cell Phone Audio Tour signs in the museum gardens and Petting Zoo. These signs contain a QR code so that guests with smartphones can access both the audio as well as text versions of the tour. Download a QR code reader and take a stroll through the gardens and zoo to test our new signs. For our hearing-impaired guests, this will also be a great way to communicate information and add to their experience. This is only a small step of many future plans to add more interactive features.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Robot Invasion at the Creation Museum

Robots intrigue the imagination. They have filled science fiction stories for years. Robots possess certain human-like qualities. They can "sense" the world around them—and then react in various ways. As technologies advance, we ask the question "will they become human?"

This is actually a profoundly spiritual question.

A worldview that accepts evolution and billions of years leads to a conclusion that robots will make better humans than currently exist today. We just need to improve technology, evolutionists say. Make a better robot. However if your view is based upon the Bible, then what should be your view of robotics? Why has the Creator given us the ability to create robots? And what are we to do with robots?

It seemed like a robot invasion at the Creation Museum this week.  We hosted a team of college students who use robotics to help young people consider the role of robots in a biblical worldview. The Bob Jones University Science & Technology Ministry Team travel 3 months a year challenging young people to consider how amazing God's Creation is—and how they can use their interests and God-given abilities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to bring glory to God. While it has been common for Christian colleges, including BJU, to send teams around the country singing and doing dramas, BJU saw a real void in the areas of STEM. They wanted to let Christian young people know there was a place they could receive an education that will give them the ability to serve the Lord in the sciences. BJU's biblically based, liberal arts education, focuses on equipping students to defend the Christian faith in an increasingly secular culture which has bought into evolution and billions of years.

BJU wanted to do these workshops at Creation Museum because of its desire to be associated with Answers in Genesis and our stand on the importance of teaching the biblical view of a young earth—and showing folks the difference between true observational science, that gives us robots, and historic science. The BJU Team wants students to know that God loves science and has commanded His children to study his Creation (as part of taking dominion Genesis 1:26).

The robotics workshop makes an excellent way to promote the right view of science and the Bible and to let young people know BJU exists to provide excellent science, technology, engineering and math education that is honoring to the Scriptures—and honors God. For more information about BJU, visit BJU.edu. If your school would like to schedule the Science & Technology Ministry Team, visit www.BJU.edu/welcome/offcampus/ministry-teams/science.php (by the way, BJU is one of the colleges listed at AiG special website www.CreationColleges.org).

Here are just a few of the great comments this team has received from high school students around the country:

The experience was truly something none of us will ever forget. We all thought it was a fun and educating process. It opened all of our eyes to the amazement of how advanced technology really is, and gave us a new perspective of how great a Creator God really is.

When it was all over with, I felt very accomplished, but yet also developed a new respect for our Creator.The human body does so much more than a robot ever could and yet God created us & everything else in 6 days! How amazing is that?

Thank you so much for coming to visit our school. I learned a lot about not only robotics but how God created us to create other things. This was a great experience and I hope you will come back to our school very soon.

I thought it was going to be some geeky computer thing but it turned into something fun & interesting (and we played with legos!).

Here are some photos from this past week showing all of the fun and excitement that was had as the BJU team taught many young people and their parents at the Creation Museum.












These museum guests were taught that robots, as with all technology, exist for the purpose of glorifying God and can point people to a relationship with him through Jesus Christ!

We hope to have the BJU robotics team as a regular feature at this world- class facility.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Family Fridays This Month at the Creation Museum

Now that school is back in session for most parts of America, it's harder to sneak in some all-important family time. This month our Creation Museum will be offering the chance to recapture some of that time with what we call "Family Fridays"—starting next week. For three Fridays in September (9, 16, and 23) you can save $5 on each admission, along with special offers in the bookstore. Eat in Noah's café, enjoy special family talks, and attend after-hours events.

You can continue your Friday museum experience and add Saturday admission for only $5 more per person. It's like getting two days for the price of one.

See more details of Family Fridays on the Creation Museum blog.

Teaching Children the Truth in California

Here is a photograph I just love to see—Liseli Ramirez (wife of AiG staff member Andy Ramierz, who is our rep in California) teaching first and second grade at Community Christian School in Hemet, California. After being exposed to the ministry materials and conferences of Answers in Genesis, Liseli realized the vital importance of training up a child in the authority of God's Word right from the beginning. You will notice she is using the Answers in Genesis book Dinosaurs for Kids. We know these early years of cognitive development are foundational to how a child believes when he or she is older. By teaching true history, we know these children will have the confidence of defending the hope that resides in them—and they will also understand that because the history in the Bible beginning in Genesis is true, the gospel based in that history is also true.

Liseli is working hard to try to help stop the two-thirds of the next generation that are walking away from the church by the time they reach college age (see Already Gone for details regarding this exodus from the church in America).

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

You Can Impact an Atheist

On Wednesday I shared a sad item in my daily blog about a young man who became an atheist even though he grew up in a household in which his father is well-known for writing and lecturing about intelligent design in our universe. Recently, we had an atheist visit our Creation Museum, and he had some surprisingly nice things to say about his tour and the museum's content. We are happy to see him open to our message of presenting biblical history—and the gospel.

This atheist attended with a large group of people (mostly Christians) visiting from a nearby state. The group was hosted by a ministry friend who often brings groups to the museum—one group had 92 people in it! This museum booster told us, "Some friends recently took a group to the Creation Museum using our guest passes; the group leader told me in advance that one man they had invited to go with them is an outspoken atheist in their town, but that they had been talking to him over recent months and years. He did go with them and here is the account he wrote."

The Creation Museum is spectacular! The main building is a sight to behold from the outside.

We went in and first went to a theatre [Stargazer's Planetarium] where you lay your chair back and watch a show on the concave ceiling. It tells about the size and magnificence of our solar system. The main point was to show just how small our world really is. I heard rumors that a few folks dozed off, but I never witnessed any of it. lol. . . .

It was a fantastic show.

Next, we went to another theatre that has three screens that discussed the big question of "Does God really exists?" Very well done. The guy, who I thought was an usher, told us to expect some surprises. I thought to myself, "What can a screen do?"

When a thunderstorm took off on the screen, and the chairs shook, a wind blew on us, and we all got a mist of water in our faces, I learned what he meant! If you go, this show alone will make it worth the drive.

We then went on the walking tour. Very well done! It was very artistic and well organized, and it was very thought provoking.

I was puzzled to learn that they think God created everything only 6,000 or so years ago. I have always been told it was millions of years ago. Their point was that we haven't evolved from anything. We are how God made us.

They dispute carbon dating. They demonstrate how erosion, like the Grand Canyon, can happen in hundreds or thousands of years instead of millions of years. And they did so very convincingly, in my opinion.

Then, we went outside. They have a beautiful garden around a small lake with paths. . . . They have great landscaping and a huge variety of plants to see. They have a suspended bridge that I didn't try. But they have a floating bridge that I hated but felt was fun so I used it both ways.

There is a small petting zoo in the back. And petting doesn't really describe it well. These animals came up to us wanting to be petted! (The little feed machines may have had something to do with it; the animals know what they are for.)

We need to pray this atheist has a heart change. We don't know the extent to which this has perhaps occurred in his life as a result of the museum visit. But, as he went through the Creation Museum, he heard and read the Word of God. He heard a clear presentation of the gospel. And remember, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

You too can obtain guest passes (we call them witnessing passes) you can use over and over again to bring people to the Creation Museum to impact their lives—and thus their eternity.

To consider getting a five-year or lifetime museum membership that include guest passes (which can be used in evangelistic ways), go to http://creationmuseum.org/members/benefits/.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Intelligent Design Is Not Enough

No doubt you have heard of the Intelligent Design movement. This is not a Christian movement but is made up of a group of scientists and other academics who are against naturalism and teach that there is some "designer" behind the universe and life. They don't name the designer, however. Those within the movement have various beliefs about the origins issues—some believe in billions of years and even evolution. Some are Christians, but some are not. Some may be young earth creationists.

Dr. Michael Behe is one scientist from this movement with whom many would be familiar. His book Darwin's Black Box is well-known. Although Behe is ardently against naturalism and teaches that there is a designer behind life, Behe does not take a stand on a literal Genesis. In fact, one could really call Behe a type of Theistic Evolutionist.

One of the points I have made over and over again through the years is that when one takes man's fallible ideas of evolution and millions of years and adds those to Scripture, he reinterprets the clear words of the Bible and undermines biblical authority. I have also warned that when such compromise exists in one generation, it usually becomes much greater in the next, and then the next—until the foundation of God's Word is lost from people's thinking. Actually, this is what the Already Gone book research has illustrated in regard to why two thirds of young people are leaving the church by the time they reach college age.

I have also said many times over the years that just teaching about intelligent design is not enough. One needs to point people to the true Designer—to the Creator God of the Bible. It is also imperative to understand what God's Word teaches us concerning salvation: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). We should never divorce design arguments from the Word of God. At the Creation Museum, I often clarify that we don't want to just convert people to be creationists. Creationists will end up in hell separated from God forever just like an atheist, unless they have trusted Christ for Salvation. We want to see people converted to be Christians.

Recently, Michael Behe's son was interviewed for an article for The Humanist Magazine. Think about what I have stated above as you read excerpts of this sad interview with Leo Behe as he shares how he became an atheist even though he grew up knowing the ID arguments.

The Humanist: You've previously written that the first critique of religion you came across was Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion. From that, you realized "how questionable religion might sound to some who had not grown up around it." Why did you originally read Dawkins and what particularly in that book made you question religion?

Behe: There was a lot of buzz about The God Delusion back in 2008 when I read it, and it seemed to be having an impact on a lot of Christians' faith. I had recently decided to turn my interest in apologetics toward atheism, and Dawkins' bestseller seemed to be a good place to start. The God Delusion has been criticized for its allegedly infantile treatment of metaphysics, but that aspect of the book was not what originally challenged my faith. The point that hit me hardest while reading was the fallible origin of Scripture, which I had never considered (to my own surprise). That point in particular was what originally shook my specific faith—Catholicism—and planted seeds of skepticism, which continued to grow as I expanded my knowledge through other literary works on both sides of the issue. [Emphasis ours.]

The Humanist: How long was this transformation, and why didn't your father's ideas (or others) about intelligent design demonstrate proof of a "designer" or creator?

Behe: The journey from very devout Catholic to outspoken atheist took about six months total. Once my trust in the Bible was shaken, I still believed strongly in a theistic god, but I realized that I hadn't sufficiently examined my beliefs. Over the next several months, my certainty of a sentient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent deity faded steadily. I believe that the loss of a specific creed was the tipping point for me. . . .

The Humanist: About your father, you previously blogged: "I believe that he does have doubts and does see conflicts between science and the Bible, and he therefore continues to reshape his faith so as to dodge those conflicts." Why do you think he has doubts and why does he continue to reshape his faith?

Behe: I think that all scientists who hold to a particular religious creed must experience conflicts with their sacred texts and their scientific observations. I can't speak for my father's personal beliefs specifically, but I believe that the constant reinterpretation of sacred texts to correct conflicts between theological claims and scientific discoveries says something about the faith upon which those claims are based. For irreducible complexity particularly, the glaring inefficiencies apparent in life—along with a universe that appears more chaotic and indifferent the more we learn about it—will challenge the religious beliefs of any scientist and continue to force additional reinterpretations of sacred texts. It is my hope that eventually such texts will lose all credibility.

Earlier in the interview, Leo Behe stated, "I was raised Roman Catholic, and I was always very comfortable with it. It was as natural to me as any other part of my education. I was always very active in my faith—I attended Mass every Sunday, sometimes more, and confessed my sins to a priest often. I was also very interested in apologetics; however, I generally focused on debating members of other faiths or denominations of Christianity. It did not occur to me until later in life to examine the reliability of the Bible, the infallibility of which my Christian opponents would always agree upon. Among my family, we would always hold to Catholic traditions such as nightly recitation of the rosary, and we always attended Mass together."

You can read the entire interview at The Humanist.

This serves as a reminder for parents (and fathers in particular as spiritual head of the house) not to compromise the Word of God. It further reminds us of the need for quality apologetics resources, such as what Answers in Genesis produces, so parents can teach their children how to defend the Christian faith, answer the skeptical questions of this age, and stand boldly and uncompromisingly on the authority of the Word of God.

Recently, Answers in Genesis produced a book entitled How do we know the Bible is true? This along with our Answers Books, Demolishing Contradictions, and other apologetics resources are important tools for parents today.

I would also remind all of you to read Already Gone and Already Compromised. Both of these books illustrate the consequences with the next generation of Christians and Christian leaders who compromise God's Word with evolution and millions of years.

We need to pray for the Behe family. I hope they will consider a visit to our Creation Museum and meet with us.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Prominent Symphony Musician Drops By

One of the blessings of living in the Cincinnati metropolitan area is to be able to attend live performances of the famous Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO). It's concertmaster (the lead violin) is Tim Lees, who is in demand as a guest violinist for other orchestras. He is one reason the CSO is considered to be a world-class group of musicians, as it draws rave reviews whether they perform in Vienna or Tokyo.

Tim has been a good friend of the AiG ministry for several years, and returned to visit our Creation Museum recently so that he could celebrate his daughter Maddie's fourth birthday—and also show friends from New Hampshire a place where biblical truths are proclaimed.

In the photo, you can see Tim to the far left, and his four-year-old daughter, Maddie, in the front row on the left—as they began their museum tour.

I look forward to attending a CSO performance next month in the beautiful Music Hall in downtown Cincinnati. It's a building that goes back over 130 years, seats over 3,500, and is on the list of national historic landmarks as determined by the U.S. government. It's a gorgeous, Victorian-style building. If you're ever coming to visit the Creation Museum, you might want to check the schedule for the Cincinnati Symphony to see if it will be performing around the time of your Creation Museum visit (see www.cincinnatisymphony.org). Our museum is only about 20 miles from Music Hall.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Prominent Pastor Endorses Already Compromised

Our book Already Compromised, detailing research America's Research Group conducted in assessing the state of Christian colleges, has certainly received a lot of attention.

I have done many interviews on Christian radio about this publication. We have also had thousands of people view our web list of colleges where presidents have put in writing they agree with AiG's statement of faith. Here it that special website.

We have also read many very positive reviews. We are thrilled to now share an endorsement by the well-known California pastor, Dr. John MacArthur. See the following endorsement he forwarded to us:

I have no doubt that the average church member would be shocked and outraged to discover how many supposedly evangelical colleges and universities have more or less given up their commitment to biblical inerrancy and the authority of Scripture—especially when dealing with the early chapters of Genesis.

I'm grateful for this important work by Ken Ham and Greg Hall, documenting the many compromises that have ravaged the Christian academy.

Already Compromised is a much needed wake-up call and a summons to arms for faithful, courageous Bible believers. We need to stand up, declare our faith, and defend the truth of Scripture courageously. The stakes are high and the battle may be more fierce than ever, but God will bless those who honor His Word. May He bless us with clear, unwavering voices.

–  Dr. John MacArthur

Equipping the Next Generation

I praise the Lord for the opportunities He entrusts to us to equip the next generation with the creation and gospel message. During the month of August, Buddy Davis and I have been presenting special programs for children and young people at the Creation Museum. We continue doing that today as we give two such programs. The following are some photographs taken of Buddy and me as we make these presentations in our new auditorium at the Creation Museum—Legacy Hall:

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Now He Is a Movie Star!

Buddy Davis's name is synonymous with AiG and the Creation Museum. Buddy sculptured most of the dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Den exhibit at the Creation Museum.

Buddy is also known as a singer; he has composed the words and music of many songs that encapsulate the messages taught from AiG. His songs—several dozen of them now—are loved by young and old alike. Buddy conducts concerts regularly at the Creation Museum.

Buddy also presents workshops for children and adults at conferences and at the Creation Museum.

Well, Buddy is also a "movie star" to many. Just recently, AiG released the first of a new series of videos featuring Buddy!

And the following are just two examples of what people are saying about the new video:

We LOVE "I Dig Dinosaurs"! Thank you so much for the work you do. It's nice to sit down as a family and watch something that all of us can enjoy–my husband and I, our teenage boys, and all of the other children all the way down to the one-year old. We can't wait to see what's next!  May God bless you . . . and all of your projects!.

We just watched "I Dig Dinosaurs" today after receiving it yesterday. Awesome! My kids thought it was so cool that you were out in beautiful Montana and I appreciate the work you and Answers in Genesis do to spread the Truth about our history and His story.

You can find out more about this new video and how to order on the online store.

And if  you do not follow Buddy on Facebook, I encourage you to do so on his Facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Radio Equipper

Our ministry friend David Wheaton has changed careers—from being a world-ranked tennis player to a broadcaster on the topic of the biblical worldview. His ministry is called The Christian Worldview, and its mission is to equip Christians to develop a full biblical worldview about life and faith—and to share the gospel.

David's ministry is perhaps best known for his The Christian Worldview nationally syndicated radio program that is broadcast every Saturday from 8-9am Central Time on about 200 radio stations. My "baby" brother, Steve, was David's guest last weekend, and among other things they talked about our upbringing in Australia. You can listen to the interview at TheChristianWorldview.com/tcwblog/listen

The Beauty of God's Creation

Even though the world is so adversely affected by sin and the Curse (Genesis 3), we still see the hand of the infinite Creator God and the beauty of His incredible design.  Here are some photographs AiG photographer Deb Minnard took in the Creation Museum gardens this week.  The flower is a perennial hibiscus.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

God Is Using Spanish-language Answers in Genesis Materials in Colombia!

I love to have our supporters share in the blessings of how the Lord is using Answers in Genesis resources to reach people around the world. Read this exciting email received this week.

Ken, I was at the Apologetics Mega Conference in July and bought the 6-DVD Creation Mini Series (in Spanish) and your book The Lie: Evolution (also in Spanish). Two weeks ago, I brought them with me on a mission trip to Colombia and gave them to some Colombian believers who lead a church youth group. I emailed them and asked if they had a chance to watch/read any of the material and here was their response (translated):

I tell you, I found the material to be amazing! I was teaching a lesson about the Fall of Man, and the students kept asking questions about Adam being a real person, and does the entire population really come from just Adam and Eve. I didn't really know how to respond. Then I met you and you gave me the AiG DVD about "Race." Now I'm preparing another lesson using the video to better answer their questions and to show them we really do come from One Race! I'm so glad I watched it . . . it has a really good biblical foundation and the scientific analysis is great. I have learned so much . . . thanks again for the big help! I'm going to see if we can start a Bible study on Origins for our staff devotions. This can help us better understand the message of salvation. God Bless!

I thought you'd be blessed to hear how the Lord is using AiG to impact students and spread His Word in remote parts of Colombia!

Thank you Lord for using Answers in Genesis to reach people with this vital message of the truth of Your Word!

The Lord is my rock and my fortress

At the Answers in Genesis staff devotion Thursday morning, our special guest speaker, Pastor Tim Armstrong, from Crossroads Community Church in Mansfield, Ohio, gave a devotion centered around Psalm 18:1-2: In the photo, here is Tim speaking to the staff.

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalms 18:1–2)

You can listen to this 20-minute devotional online below.

Pastor Tim Armstrong

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken