Learning Curve Challenge!

Many of us on the team at Reasons for Hope were privileged this week to learn more about astrophysics under the tutelage of Dr. Jason Lisle—Christian astrophysicist, author, and popular speaker. I got to hear Dr. Lisle teach for the first time many years ago, when he was a speaker and writer for Answers in Genesis.

Prior to that, astronomy and physics were of little interest to me. After all, I planned to keep my feet planted on the Earth and could just enjoy what I saw in the heavens on a clear night for viewing purposes. I didn’t really need to know more. I mean, I did my time in middle school and high school learning biology, chemistry, and the order of the planets of our solar system— “My Very Excited Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Pins” (yes, Pluto was still classified as a planet back in those days). And, I memorized what I needed to in my general education science courses for good grades in college. So how was learning about astronomy going to be applicable in real life?

The first time I heard Jason Lisle speak, I was immediately impressed not only by his vast knowledge and credentials at such a young age (he was still in his 20s), but more so by his passion for God’s Word and showing that when we begin with a biblical worldview, then examine the surrounding universe, we will see God’s plan and design. In other words, what we see in the world is consistent with what we read in the Word. That talk revolutionized my thinking. I had always been a creationist and believed God’s Word was true, but this new information made me realize that I had been compartmentalizing my Christianity. This meant I’d also been missing out on opportunities to strengthen my own faith and influence others through learning more about the space above my planet.

Fast-forward to the spring of 2006—when I was approached by the administrator of the Christian school my daughters were attending about a teaching position for the following school year. He had two open teaching positions and had heard I had a K–8 teaching credential as well as a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Long story short, a few weeks later, I accepted a position to teach—you guessed it—SCIENCE to all 7th–9th grade students starting that fall. The next two years were absolutely amazing as I learned and taught life science, earth and space science, and physical science every day from a biblical perspective. What a joy to teach these students science in a way I wish I’d been taught, and to see them learn and appreciate the truth of God’s Word even more.

I share this story because I honestly believe that had it not been for Dr. Lisle’s talk, and messages from other biblical creationists I’d heard, my mindset would not have been in the right place to do God’s will at that point in time—meaning I would have most likely turned down that job/ministry offer. Consequently, I also would not have the privilege of being part of the Reasons for Hope team today, since it was while I was serving at that Christian school that I was asked to write the Demolishing Strongholds curriculum and, in turn, met Carl Kerby. Someone wisely said, “Trust the direction in which God leads you,” and I’m so thankful for that.

In an earlier blog, I stated that I love learning. On top of that, I love being part of a ministry in which we are constantly challenged to learn and grow so that we can then share our new knowledge with the rising generation. In our training session with Dr. Lisle, we were so blessed to be taught and have our questions answered by an expert in biblical creation and astrophysics.

In just one segment of our Google Meets training, he demonstrated for us how light year calculations are done and confirmed what Albert Einstein concluded—that there is no possible way to calculate a one-way measurement of the speed of light because there is no way for us to know if light travels the same speed going away from us as it does coming towards us. (Did you know that light year speed is calculated based on its round trip time measurement?)

Because of that fact, and because of what we read in God’s Word in Genesis 1:14–15, we may actually be seeing distant starlight in real time! This is just one example of the new knowledge I gained this week that once again reinforces that if I start with the Bible, what I see in the world (or universe) is consistent with what I read in the Word. I can be absolutely confident in the truth of God’s Word.

You probably noticed that the title of today’s blog is “Learning Curve Challenge!” And yes, you read about my own learning curve, but I want to put out a challenge to you, the reader, and ask you a question. When was the last time you delved into learning science AND learning it by starting with the Bible?

As I conclude, our team would like to publicly thank Dr. Jason Lisle for partnering with us and taking the time to invest in our learning so that we may better serve you. We’d also like to challenge you to visit his website and tap into the free resources he has to offer, both print and digital, to increase your own learning in the area of biblical creation and science.

To access Dr. Jason Lisle’s speaking calendar and resources, go to his ministry website HERE.

For hundreds of FREE video resources produced by Reasons for Hope, download our App HERE. Just look for the blue asterisk.

Holly Varnum, Director of Curriculum Development at Reasons for Hope* joined us September 2021 to launch curricular materials to support many of our media resources. With degrees in education, curriculum and instruction, and educational administration, she comes with over three decades of experience in working with teens and adults in camp ministry, teaching and administration, and curriculum writing (A Beka Book, Focus on the Family, and Answers in Genesis to name a few). God has provided her with a well-rounded educational perspective through service in Christian schools, charter schools, public schools, Christian camps, and local church ministry. She has been a classroom teacher, instructional coach, administrator, camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, ladies’ Bible Study teacher, and conference speaker and looks forward to using her passion for God’s truth within the context of RforH*. 

Her hobbies include cooking and baking, hiking, camping, travel, and working on do-it-yourself projects. Holly and her husband, Paul, (RforH*’s new Director of Media Content) also enjoy any time they can spend with their three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren (so far!). They live in the beautiful state of Maine, and yes, eat lobster (properly pronounced “lobstah”) whenever they get a chance!