HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-10-03, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013. PAGE 15.By Pastor Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship, Blyth
Genesis 1:25 says, “God made the
wild animals according to their
kinds, the livestock according to
their kinds, and all the creatures that
move along the ground according to
their kinds. And God saw that it was
good.” But God’s involvement has
come under attack in the scientific
establishment ever since the time of
Charles Darwin. Many today
attribute the variety of earth’s life-
forms, not to God or even
“Intelligent Design”, but to
evolution (i.e. “macro-evolution”
between species - in contrast to the
“micro-evolution” which is
observable everyday within species,
and is taken advantage of routinely
by plant and animal breeders).
I am not, professionally speaking,
a scientist. Yet I enjoyed science
classes in school and, before
becoming a pastor, earned a Master
of Science degree in crop
physiology at the University of
Guelph. So I have an appreciation
for the basic rudiments of the
scientific method. It starts with
observation; a scientist notices a
certain phenomenon or pattern
within nature. The scientist develops
a hunch or theory as to invisible
‘laws’ that might be causing things
to happen as they do, resulting in the
observable data. They then test their
theory (“hypothesis”) using
experiments that, exploiting the
benefits of repetition and
randomized design, rule out
haphazard results and either prove or
disprove the theory. If the theory is
true - the invisible laws the scientist
suspected are indeed at work
influencing factors to behave in a
predictable way - certain observable
results will be obtained, and in fact
can be reproduced by other
researchers in diverse places using
similar experimental methods. The
prevailing scientific theory should
be the one that best explains the
data. If what you’re seeing by way of
results doesn’t match what your
hypothesis predicts, it’s time to
modify your theory, or even scrap it
altogether and go back to the
drawing board.
An essential part of the scientific
process is observation: collecting
data and analyzing results. In the
case of my own University thesis,
we investigated whether planting
corn more densely could mimic
applying drought stress, with 12
different corn hybrids. Research
involved measurement of many
different plant and environmental
variables, such as height, leaf area,
tassel weight, silking date, grain
yield, corn heat units, precipitation
and so forth. Computers were
essential in the analysis stage to
crunch all the numbers and decide if
there really was a significant
correlation.
Back in 1859 when Charles
Darwin first proposed his theory
about species originating from
simpler life forms by means of
natural selection, there was a limited
amount of research data available.
At one level, Darwin was simply
doing what any scientist does,
proposing a theory to check out a
“hunch” that might help explain the
observable data. However, after over
150 years have elapsed, there are
considerable gaps in the data that’s
emerged which suggest his macro-
evolutionary theory has serious
flaws and should be rejected.
Coming to Blyth this weekend is
Dr. Kirk Durston, who holds
undergraduate degrees in physics
and engineering, a Master’s in
philosophy, and a Ph.D. in
biophysics from the University of
Guelph. Dr. Durston debates on
university campuses across Canada,
demonstrating among other things
that Intelligent Design (“I.D.” - of
which a God who creates would be
one instance) provides a better
explanation of the real-world data
than does Darwin’s theory.
Durston explains that Darwinian
evolution requires variation beyond
taxonomic limits. There are certain
genetic “walls” (if you will) between
genuses that prevent transitions from
lower to higher life-forms; for
example, a horse may mate with a
donkey, but the resulting mule is
typically infertile and unable to
reproduce.
This is underscored by the
repeated phrase “according to their
kinds” in Genesis 1:25. After over
100 years of experimentation with
E. coli or Drosophila, Durston
From the Minister’s StudyLook to Genesis for creation says Dow
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
World Wide Communion Sunday
Creation is Saying “Sustain Me”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
PASTOR
Sandra Cable, DLM
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Tuesday - Wingham Bible Study 7:30 pm
Tuesdays - Youth Group at CRC 7:30 pm
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
Guest preacher
Dr. Kirk Durston:
“Renewing our Mind in
a Declining Civilization
Potluck to follow, all welcome
Sunday, October 6: Romans 12:1-3
at 308 Blyth Rd.
Celebrating our
12th
Anniversary
Celebrating our
12th
Anniversary
Don’t miss our special Sat., Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. forum on Science and the Skeptic at Blyth Arena
Evangelical Missionary ChurchAlways A Place For You
huronchapel.com
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
We invite you to join our church family in:
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, October 6
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
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