ACTS&FACTS

INSTITUTE FOR
CREATION RESEARCH

www.icr.org

MARCH 2017

VOL. 46 NO. 3

Evolutionary Clock Futility

page 16
Convergent Evolution
Is a Seductive
Intellectual Swindle

All in Favor...
page 5
Are Planets Only
Thousands of Years Old?
page 17

page 20
EXPLORE THE MOST FASCINATING AND MYSTERIOUS CREATURES OF ALL TIME

Uncovering the Truth about Dinosaurs explores

the most fascinating creatures of all timedinosaurs.
What were they, where did they come from, and
how did they die?
Join us as we journey to various locations to in-
vestigate dinosaur theories, while experts in paleon-
tology, geology, and history examine evidence that
casts doubt on secular theories about geologic time
and evolution. This series offers compelling evidence
that confirms the biblical account of Genesis.

Episode 1: Digging into Dinosaurs

Episode 2: Dinosaurs and Dragons
Episode 3: Dinosaurs and the Flood
(Includes a 112-
Episode 4: The Hard Truth page viewer guide.

$39.99
Additional viewer
guides are available.)
DUTTAD This DVD series contains English closed captions and subtitles in
English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Korean!

Espaol

Call 800.628.7640
or visit ICR.org/store
Please add shipping and handling to all orders.
Offer good through March 31, 2017,
while quantities last.
 CONTENTS

VOLUME 46 NUMBER 3
MARCH 2017

5
Published by
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH FEATURE
P. O. Box 59029
Dallas, TX 75229
5 All in Favor
214.615.8300 H e n r y M . M o r r i s III , D . M i n .
www.icr.org
RESEARCH
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jayme Durant
9 South America Shows the Flood Progression
T i m C l a r e y , P h . D .
SENIOR EDITOR
Beth Mull 9 IMPACT
10 Refuting BioLogos: Do Japanese Lake Varves
EDITORS
Michael Stamp Prove an Old Earth?
Truett Billups Jake Hebert, Ph.D.
Christy Hardy

BACK TO GENESIS
DESIGNER
14 Gods Threading Machines
14
Dennis Davidson
B r i a n T h o m a s , M . S .
No articles may be reprinted in whole or in
part without obtaining permission from ICR.
15 What Is a Graven Image?
Copyright 2017 H e n r y M . M o r r i s III , D . M i n .
Institute for Creation Research

All Scripture quotations are from the New

King James Version unless otherwise indicated.
16 Evolutionary Clock Futility
J e f f r e y P. T o m k i n s , P h . D .

15 17 Convergent Evolution Is a Seductive

Intellectual Swindle
R a n d y J . G u l i u z z a , P . E . , M . D .

CREATION Q & A

17 20 Are Planets Only Thousands of Years Old?

B r i a n T h o m a s , M . S .

APOLOGETICS
21 Clever Creatures: Wise from Receiving
Wisdom
James J. S. Johnson, J.D., Th.D.

STEWARDSHIP
22 Building Biblically
21 Henry M. Morris IV

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 3
 FROM THE EDITOR

LEGACY

Working Together with One Mind

CONTENTS

W
hen my children were young, I often peeked in on having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind and [stand-
them as they played in their roomsespecially if ing] fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith
they were quiet. Crayon-scribbled walls taught me of the gospel (Philippians 2:2; 1:27). We are grateful to have such
that lesson. Sometimes Id be pleasantly surprised leadership for ICR.
to see all four kids playing in the same room, doing different things Henry Morris IV provides more details about how you can
one arranging toy horses in a line, another building a Lego tower as partner with us in building this Discovery Center (page 22). We en-
tall as he could reach, a daughter donning petticoats with skirts and courage you to continue working with us to reach others with the
scarves piled in heaps around her, and one reading a book to herself evidence for biblical creation. We have been amazed and encouraged
by your faithful prayers and support as weve carefully planned each
detail and every exhibit that will demonstrate the work of our incred-
ible Creator.
The other articles in this edition of Acts & Facts demonstrate
the kind of work our team of experts is involved inthe science
that fuels the exhibits you will see displayed in the Discovery Center.
Dr. Tim Clareys research with ICRs Column Project is described in
South America Shows the Flood Progression (page 9). Dr. Jake He-
bert addresses the problems with some of the teachings of the BioLo-
gos Foundation (pages 10-13). Brian Thomas describes Gods design
in RNA in a way most of us can understand (page 14), and he shows
how science and the Bible agree that God made the lights in the sky,
including planets, only thousands of years ago (page 20). Both Dr.
Jeffrey Tomkins (page 16) and Dr. Randy Guliuzza (pages 17-19) re-
veal the futility of evolutionary explanations, and Dr. James Johnson
highlights how animals display Gods wisdom (page 21). Our entire
ICR staff is committed to bringing you evidence that demonstrates
Gods glory in creation.
in the corner. Other times, I glanced in the room and found them all Even children know how to lay aside their varied interests and
working together to build a fort. Hold that end while I pull this chair combine efforts toward a goal. But what we are building wont be set
under this end. They were working cooperatively with a single aside and forgotten in a couple of hours. With one mind we work
goal in mind. Harmony and unity. together to bring you Gods truth for His glory and your encourage-
This is what comes to my mind when I read Dr. Henry Morris ment. And with one mind, we move forward to build a Discovery
IIIs feature article this month, All in Favor (pages 5-7). Hes de- Center that will impact generations to come. Though ICRs projects
scribing unity among believers. They are seeking the Lords direction and venues may vary, the message is still the same. Pray for us as we
and following His leading, with one purpose and goalto glorify our work together to make our Creator known.
Lord. In this case, the goal is to build a Discovery Center to showcase
the scientific evidence for creation, in keeping with ICRs mission to
demonstrate how science confirms the Bible. Jayme Durant
Dr. Morris description of the ICR Boards decision-making Executive Editor

process reflects unity in an attitude of service, being like-minded,

& |
4 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
H E N R Y M . M O R R I S I I I , D . M i n .
Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the
head, running down on the beard,
the beard of Aaron, running down
on the edge of his garments. It is
like the dew of Hermon, descend-
ing upon the mountains of Zion;
for there the Lord commanded the
blessinglife forevermore.
(Psalm 133:1-3)

All in Favor...
O
ne of the major themes of consideration and prayer, the Board ap- After it became clear that the Santee
of the Bible is unity. Not proved the start of construction of the ICR operation needed to move its headquarters
just acquiescence or as- Discovery Center for Science and Earth His- to a central location to more efficiently meet
sent, but total agreement tory. I must tell you that the discussion was the nationwide ministry requirements, all of
in mind and spirit. Such long and serious, but as the Lord seems to us began praying that the Lord would pro-
an ideal is very difficult to accomplish desire, when the decision was made every- vide a larger campus. Hopefully, it would
especially among human beings! From time one was in complete agreement that we accommodate the potential of a world-class
to time some churches have been privileged should begin. museum or exhibit center that could more
to note such an agreement, but it is rare even aggressively display the growing body of evi-
among those organizations founded by the Backstory dence that the Bible is both historically ac-
Lord Jesus and under the oversight of the curate and scientifically viable.
Holy Spirit. Occasionally, some Christian We have, as many of you know, been As should be the case, the need and
groups operate (at least at a Board level) seeking to raise enough funds to begin the vision must also come under the veri-
with total unanimity as the go ahead sig- building the Discovery Center. The earlier fication of the Lords will. Sometimes the
nal, but more often than not we all fall vic- stages of this vision began way back in the syncing of those elements is more demand-
tim to the majority rule culture of a demo- Santee, California, days as ICR tried to cob- ing than it appears on the surface, no mat-
cratic society. ble together a series of displays that would ter how much it is desired or how impor-
I am very glad to pass on to our Acts & demonstrate the paucity of evidence for the tant the vision may seem. Often, the dream
Facts readers that such rare unanimity was evolutionary story and provide some of the waxes and wanes with the demands of the
experienced by the ICR Board at our Janu- more positive evidence for the creation mes- moment, and Scripture seems to provide
ary 20, 2017, meeting. After several years sage of Scripture. many examples of the necessity of ensuring

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 5
 that the Lords people do not get out ahead seemed to be, there were other pressing mat-
of His willand that the Lords people are ters to consider. ICR was still young in the
absolutely in sync with the totality of the Dallas area, and our new staff needs were
principles of Scripture. growing along with the increasing demand
One of those principles ICR has been for seminars across the nation. Further-
committed to since its inception is not going more, the refurbishing of the old buildings,
into financial debt for anythingand not upgrading the labs, etc., required an ongoing
becoming encumbered with either govern- special management of the precious operat-
mental funds or human endowments that ing funds the Lord provided through our
would hinder the free exercise of Gods lead- very generous donor base. ICR staffers praying over the Discovery
ing in the future. Often, those two simple Center ground in the fall of 2010.
requirements needed to be reaffirmed as Dallas Impetus
opportunities presented themselves, but ei- sion that they were unable to grasp at the
After we relocated ICRs headquar-
ther the funding or the unanimity was not time of the encouragement. Looking back
ters to Dallas in 2006, a few of the gracious
forthcoming. on those few years, I can now see the Lord
Christian businessmen in the Dallas area
was trying to help us think a little bigger
became interested in what we were doing. I
Perot Museum than we were at the time.
was able to meet with some business groups
The years from 2006 through 2015
As word of the coming Perot Museum and became involved in First Baptist Church
were challenging, but the Lord continued
of Nature and Science hit the Dallas area in of Dallas, from which relationships came
to supply all of our needs, enabling us to ex-
early 2008, the emphasis seemed to be on the some unusual financial help that enabled us
pand for the future and still meet the grow-
wonders of the evolutionary storyand to purchase adjacent property and prepare a
ing operational needs of our staff without
the enormous fundraising effort bumping sales and distribution center. It would serve
ever going into debt.
$200 million seemed to shout the desperate ICR well as we planned for the potential ex-
need for something to counter that attempt hibits, and also provide a large staging area
to present the awful distortion of nature as for the acquisition of artifacts for the Dis-
Go for It!
the god of creation. covery Center. We began construction plans in ear-
Soon after that, I tried to encourage The property purchases required nest in September 2015 after receiving a
our Board to consider a project that could nearly two full years and multiple million surprise estate gift in excess of $2 million.
respondat least in the DFW metroplex dollarsall of which the Lord provided You may remember my article in that
with the truth for the young lives that in extra gifts that put us in the position to months Acts & Facts in which I cited Isaiah
would potentially be swayed by evolution- build out a greater vision than we originally 54 and told our readers of the wonderful
ary philosopy. The Perot Museum planned thought possible. gift that helped me (and our Board) begin
to showcase the evidence in a magnificent An interesting prophecy in Isaiah to expect that the Lords timing was coming
edifice designed to present the half-truths 54:2 encourages Israel to enlarge the place to fruition.
and outright lies of evolution to the hun- of your tent, and let them stretch out the There was much yet to be done. Al-
dreds of thousands of young people in curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; though we had spent about $5.6 million by
North Texas. lengthen your cords, and strengthen your the fall of 2015 on property and artifacts, we
Unfortunately, as critical as the need stakes in preparation for a coming expan- really had no concrete idea of the size and

A view of the ICR Discovery Center from Royal Lane, the lobby and a birds-eye-view of the planetarium.

& |
6 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
cost of such a project. After the Board autho- Two Axioms of Capital Projects through the gifts of His people. When we
rized me to move forward with a formal de- share our earthly things with the works of
sign, we hired the Beck architectural firm to As many of you can attest, any time the Kingdom, God promises that we will
help us, and in the ensuing several months you begin a serious capital project (kitchen share in the true value of the eternal King-
they provided a great design that was for- remodel, home addition, church building, dom. Here are a few of my favorite Bible pas-
malized and approvedbut was going to etc.) you can expect that it will take longer sages about giving to remind us all of Gods
cost some $20 million more than we had in and cost more than the best and most hon- faithfulness.
the bucket. est estimate can extrapolate. Things always
cost more as you get into them, and the time Give, and it will be given to you: good
I suspect you have already received a
involved is always adjusted as the work pro- measure, pressed down, shaken together,
brochure or two about the design and the
gresses. and running over will be put into your
exhibit proposals, and many of you have
We would be naive to expect otherwise. bosom. For with the same measure that
responded with generous gifts to make this
So, although we have enough to get you use, it will be measured back to you
possible. We appreciate the way you have
started and the construction firm is happy (Luke 6:38).
partnered with us in prayer and financial
support to make this vision a reality. with what is available, it is almost guaran- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
teed there will be more needed in the days steadfast, immovable, always abounding
Say Aye! ahead. Some of you have not yet given to in the work of the Lord, knowing that
invest in this legacy project. I would encour- your labor is not in vain in the Lord
So, here we are now. The Board en- age you to consider the possibility of sharing (1 Corinthians 15:58).
thusiastically approved the construction what the Lord has enriched you witheven
phase. We have received well over $10 mil- if you consider it a small gift. Most of the Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest
lion in donations, large and small, from from their labors, and their works follow
gifts to this project have not exceeded $100.
nearly 7,500 donors during the 17 months them (Revelation 14:13).
Every gift counts, and every gift counts with
since September 2015 and have spent an ad- the Lord. If you would like to learn more about
ditional $500,000 in planning, permitting, I anticipate we will need another $1 the ICR Discovery Center, check out our
and burying the utility lines along the main million to complete unexpected construc- website at ICR.org. The site provides an
boulevard that fronts our property. tion costs, and probably another $3 to $5 excellent perspective of how this Discov-
A most generous donor and long-time million for the completion of the exhibits. I ery Center will establish a
supporter of ICR decided to commit to $4.5 do anticipate the Lord will provide whatever legacy platform that will
million in additional funds so we can begin is needed. His provision thus far has been challenge the generations
the construction now! God is so good, my sufficient to increase our shallow faith. I do to come.
head and heart are still swimming! not expect He will let us down.
Dr. Morris is Chief Executive Officer
But, the Lord has always worked of the Institute for Creation Research.

The Book of Beginnings

A PRactical Guide to Understanding Genesis
Dr. Henry M. Morris III
n New Expanded Hardcover
Editiona Classic Keepsake!
n Extensive Subject & Scripture
Indexes
This comprehensive edition of The Book of
Beginnings addresses the difficult issues
in Genesis. The in-depth answers will help
you communicate the richness of Genesis.

$39.99 Call 800.628.7640 or visit ICR.org/store

(reg. $49.99) Please add shipping and handling to all orders.
BTBOB Price available through March 31, 2017.

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 7
 RESEARCH
EVENTS M A R C H
EVENTS

IMPACT
IMPACT Dallas, TX Knoxville, TN
M A R C HTO GENESIS
BACK
MARCH Equipped for the Times Class University of Tennessee at Knoxville
19
5 First Baptist Dallas (R. Guliuzza)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR865.609.1385
(J. Lisle) 214.969.0111
BACK TO GENESIS APOLOGETICS
Midland, TX
MARCH Dallas, TX STEWARDSHIP
First Baptist Church
5, 19, Discipleship University at First Baptist Dallas MARCH
Back to Genesis
CREATION Q & A
26 (H. Morris III) 214.969.0111 24-26
Creation Apologetics Conference
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RESEARCH(H. Morris III, R. Guliuzza, T. Clarey, F. Sherwin)
432.683.0600
Midland, TX
MARCH
Midland Area Pastors Luncheon
6
APOLOGETICS
(H. Morris III) 432.553.6145 Farmington, NY
MARCH
Calvary Chapel of the Fingerlakes
26
(J. Lisle) 585.398.3550
Knoxville, TN
STEWARDSHIP
MARCH
Calvary Chapel of Knoxville
19
(R. Guliuzza) 865.609.1385

CREATION Q & A Back to Genesis

CREATION APOLOGETICS CONFERENCE

RESEARCH

FROM THE EDITOR

Dr. Henry M. Morris III Dr. Randy Guliuzza Dr. Tim Clarey Mr. Frank Sherwin

LEGACY
MARCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
24-26 2 1 0 4 W. L O U I S I A N A AV E .
MIDLAND, TEXAS 79701
432.683.0600
CONTENTS
Join us on one of our Fossil Walks!
Register at www.BacktoGenesisConference.com

For more information on these events or to schedule an event, please contact the ICR Events Department at
800.337.0375, visit ICR.org/events, or email us at events@icr.org

& |
8 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
RESEARCH T I M C L A R E Y , P h . D .

South America
FROM THE EDITOR Shows
the Flood Progression

N
ew research confirms that the the exact same maximum level observed
LEGACY
Flood recorded in Genesis was across North America and Africa, indi-
global. It also reflects the exact cating a truly global event. Finally, the
step-by-step biblical account of Tejas Megasequence seems to show the
CONTENTSprogression.
the floodwaters floodwaters recedingpost-Day 150
In previous articles, I described of the Floodand accordingly shows a
ICRs Column Project, a research initia- similar coverage level to the Zuni.
tive in which we are building a database Some may wonder why there isnt Figure 1: Sauk
of stratigraphic columns from across complete coverage across all of South
the world.1,2 At that point wed only America if the Zuni was the high point
completed North America and Africa, of the Flood. The answer is straightfor-
compiling stratigraphic information for ward: the highest hills were only flooded
more than 1,100 boreholesoil well- by a modest amount of water, leaving
bores, outcrops, cores, cross-sections, little sediment behind as the floodwa-
and seismic dataover these two great ters receded (Genesis 7:20). Late-Flood
land masses. Figure 2: Tippecanoe
and post-Flood erosion likely removed
Most recently, weve added 404 these thin areas of sediment, exposing
columns across South America, giving a the crystalline crust we see across much
total of over 1,500 compiled stratigraph- of Brazil today.
ic columns from around the world. This The geology of South America
report describes some of the results of confirms Gods Word; the columns
that study and gives compelling con- across the continent show a clear pro- Figure 3: Kaskaskia
firmation of the biblical Flood account gression of the floodwaters, just as de-
described in Genesis 7. scribed in Genesis 7.
What do we see? In Figures 16,
The waters prevailed and greatly
we show the thickness of the six megase- increased on the earth, and the ark
quences across South America. The Sauk moved about on the surface of the
is the earliest Flood layer, followed by waters. And the waters prevailed
Tippecanoe, Kaskaskia, Absaroka, Zuni, exceedingly on the earth, and all the
and finally the youngest layer, Tejas.3 high hills under the whole heaven
Figure 4: Absaroka
were covered. (Genesis 7:18-19)
Note how the coverage of the continent
steadily increases with each successive All over the globe the rocks cry out
layer, marking the Floods progression. and tell the Flood story. And we can be
These data indicate the Flood start- thankful for Gods promise in Genesis
ed out slowly, inundating limited areas 9:15 that a global flood will never again
at first but increasing a little more each destroy the world.
time as the first megasequences were de- References Figure 5: Zuni
1. Clarey, T. 2015. Grappling with Megasequences. Acts
posited, perhaps during the first 40 days & Facts. 44 (4): 18-19.
2. Clarey, T. 2015. Reading African Strata. Acts & Facts.
(Sauk, Tippecanoe, and Kaskaskia). Lat- 44 (9): 9.
3. Morris, J. D. 2012. The Global Flood: Unlocking Earths
er, during the deposition of the Absaro- Geologic History. Dallas, TX:
Institute for Creation Re-
ka Megasequence, the coverage dramati- search, 149.
cally increased until the Flood appears Dr. Clarey is Research Associate
to have reached a maximum coverage at the Institute for Creation Re-
search and earned his Ph.D. in
level in the Zuni Megasequence, pos- geology from Western Michigan
sibly around Day 150. Fittingly, this is University.
Images courtesy of Davis J. Werner. Figure 6: Tejas

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 9
 IMPACT
IMPACT BACK TO GENESIS
J A K E H E B E R T , P h . D .

REFUTING
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BACK TO GENESIS APOLOGETICS

BioLogos:
STEWARDSHIP

CREATION Q & A
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RESEARCH

APOLOGETICS Do Japanese Lake Varves

STEWARDSHIP
Prove an Old Earth?

Image credit: Copyright 1999-2015 Kapi'olani Community College, Asian Pacific Digital Library. Adapted for use in accordance with federal
CREATION Q & A

RESEARCH

copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holder.
FROM THE EDITOR

LEGACY

CONTENTS

I
n 2010, the BioLogos Foundation published an article by these salts would have precipitated out of solution, quickly forming
old-earth geologists Gregg Davidson and Ken Wolgemuth enormous salt deposits.2
presenting four supposedly unanswerable arguments for an Their second argument, that layering patterns in Grand Can-
old earth.1 However, creation scientists can reasonably address yon cant be explained by a single flood, is frankly somewhat confus-
their challenges. ing and downplays recent well-drilling results.3 Their third argument
Their first objection, the existence of salt deposits within the is that the sequence of fossils is too orderly to be the result of the Gen-
sedimentary rock record, can plausibly be answered by the extrusion esis Flood. Although creationists do acknowledge a general pattern
of supersaturated brines from within the earths interior as the foun- in the fossils, this pattern is better explained as a result of progressive
tains of the great deep were broken up during the Genesis Flood flooding of different ecological environmentsespecially since fos-
(Genesis 7:11). Upon coming into contact with cold ocean water, sils of land creatures are often found in marine sediments (and vice

& |
10 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
versa) and fossils are often found in locations that contradict evolu- floor of the lake. Thus, the ash layers corresponding to each eruption
tionary expectations.4,5 should be the exact same age, even in different cores. If the counted
However, Davidson and Wolgemuth (D&W) also claimed that varves really are reliable age indicators, then the number of counted
varves within a Japanese lake prove that the earth is at least 50,000 varves between the two ash layers should be the same in both cores
years old. Varves are repetitive groups of laminations within sedi- but they arent (Figure 1).7
ments that are assumed to represent successive annual deposits. D&W Later researchers acknowledged that as many as half the count-
claimed that since 50,000 varves had been identified within mud from ed varves could not be clearly distinguished. When they encountered
this lake, the earth must be at least 50,000 years old. Is that true? this problem, they assumed a constant sedimentation rate to fill in
Before answering that question, I should note that the follow- the gaps. Therefore, the true number of counted varves was much
ing presentation is a summary of a technical paper that may freely be less than the 50,000 claimed by D&W, probably between 15,000 and
read online.6 Space does not permit us to list all the relevant citations 25,000.
here, but they are included in the technical paper.
Could These Layers Form Since the Flood?
Japans Lake Suigetsu
Under the right conditions, tens of thousands of varve-like lay-
Lake Suigetsu is a large lake located near the coast of the Sea ering patterns could form in the 4,500 years or so since the Genesis
of Japan that is about 34 meters (112 feet) deep at its center. Scien- Flood. The Flood/Ice Age model predicts an enormous amount of
tists drilled and extracted a core 75 meters (246 feet) long from the closely spaced volcanic activity in the centuries after the Flood, as well
lakebed, enabling them to examine the layering patterns within the as extremely dry, windy conditions at the end of the Ice Age.8 This is
sediments. The sediments from the lakebed consisted of gray clay in- important, because volcanic ash and dust are rich in silica, the main
terspersed with white layers made up of the remains of algae called ingredient diatoms use when constructing their skeletons. Therefore,
diatoms. Scientists assumed that each gray and white couplet, or the Ice Age provides the opportunity for thousands of non-annual
varve, represents one year, with the white diatom layer forming dur- diatom blooms to occur in a few centuries, plausibly explaining the
ing the spring and the gray layer forming during the fall/winter. white diatom layers observed in the Lake Suigetsu sediments.9

Are These Really Annual Layers? Radiocarbon Confirmation?

Actually, the original researchers only reported 29,100 varves, But D&W added a twist to their argument. Scientists radio-
although later researchers claim to have counted more than 50,000. carbon-dated leaf, branch, and insect fossils within the Lake Suigetsu
In any case, there are good reasons to believe that many of the varves sediments. D&W converted these radiocarbon ages into what they
are not annual events. For instance, scientists drilled side cores next called measured carbon-14 and then plotted those values against
to the main core. Two different volcanic ash layers, representing two tree ring and varve calendar ages in their Figure 7 (our Figure 2).
volcanic eruptions, were identified in the main core and one of the
Tree Ring and Varve Count
side cores. When each of the volcanoes erupted, its ash settled on the
0 0 0 0 0
0 10,00 20,00 30,00 40,00 50,00
4.5
SG4 SG (Main Core)
Steel Lake
4.0 Varves
Same Ash
Layer 3.5
Key
50,000 varves
Depth Down Core

3.0
Tree Rings 50,000 years
Measured Carbon-14

Sediments
without Layering 2.5

2.0
Ash
1.5
Same Ash
Varve Layers Layer 1.0 Lake Suigetsu
Varves
Different Varve Counts 0.5

0.0

Figure 1. If varves can be relied upon to represent annual layers, then -0.5 Approximate Limit of C-14 Detection
the number of varves between the two ash layers should have been
-1.0
the same in both Lake Suigetsu cores, but this was not the case. (After
Figure 2 from Kitigawa et al, reference 7.) Figure 2. After Figure 7 from Davidson and Wolgemuth, reference 1.

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 11
 EVENTS

IMPACT
BACK TO GENESIS
D&W argued that since the yellow dots fell on a nearly straight ments because they hope these sediments will help them calibrate
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
line, this proved the radiocarbon ages were true calendar ages, at least radiocarbon ages.11 What does this mean?
for the last 50,000 years or so. If this were really true, it would indeed
APOLOGETICS Even secular scientists recognize that calculated radiocarbon
be a strong argument for an old earth. It would also suggest that the ages rarely equal true calendar ages. Thus, they need some way to
STEWARDSHIP
conventional assumptions behind radiocarbon dating are correct, in convert apparent radiocarbon ages into true calendar ages that they
spite of evidence
CREATION Q to
&theA contrary accumulated by creation scientists find acceptable. One way of doing this is to radiocarbon date objects
(radiocarbon in dinosaur bones, coal, diamonds, etc).10 whose true calendar ages are known. If one plots the calendar ages
RESEARCH
In order for D&Ws argument to be valid, two things must be against the corresponding radiocarbon ages, a calibration curve or
true. First, it must be true that the calendar ages (obtained by varve graph is the result. In theory, scientists can then radiocarbon date an
and tree ring counts) really do equal the radiocarbon ages; and sec- object of unknown age, look up the radiocarbon age on the graph,
ond, the tree ring and varve counts must be independent of the ra- and then get the corresponding calendar age. But why would you
diocarbon ages. need a calibration curve if radiocarbon ages are already equal to the
true ages? This fact alone should have alerted D&W that radiocarbon
Radiocarbon Ages Dont Equal Varve Ages dating is not as simple as they seem to thinkeven if one accepts,
for the sake of argument, the incorrect uniformitarian assumptions
The fact that the yellow dots fall on a more or less straight
behind the method.
line does not alone prove that radiocarbon ages equal true calen-
dar ages. The easiest way to see this is to simply plot the radiocar-
Radiocarbon Ages and Varve Counts Not Independent
bon ages against the calendar agesthe ages that secular scientists
themselves assigned to the Lake Suigetsu varves (Figure 3). If the Moreover, the varve ages were dependent on the radiocarbon
ages. Varves could not be clearly distinguished at the top of the core,
Varve Age (cal B.P.)
and so the first counted varve was located at a depth of 10.4 meters
0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 below the core top. Researchers then assigned an age of 8,830 years to
0
this particular varve. One of the papers cited by D&W explains:
The absolute age of the LS [Lake Suigetsu] floating varve chro-
10,000
nology has been determined by wiggle-matching 22 14C dates
Radiocarbon Ages (B.P.)

from the younger part of the LS sediment to the revised German

20,000
oak 14C calibration curve.12

In other words, researchers experimented with different ages

30,000 for the Lake Suigetsu varves. Then they picked the chronology that
gave the best possible match between the Lake Suigetsu data and the
40,000
German oak radiocarbon calibration curve. This particular match
occurred when they assigned an age of 8,830 years B. P. (Before Pres-
ent) to the varve at a depth of 10.4 meters in the Lake Suigetsu core.
50,000
This is obvious even in D&Ws own Figure 7 (our Figure 2). The yel-
Figure 3. The radiocarbon ages generally do not agree with the varve low dots labeled as Lake Suigetsu varves do not start at 1, as one
ages, even though secular scientists were free to choose the calendar age would expect from a simple counting process. Rather, the varve count
of the first clearly distinguishable varve. starts at 8,830, a little to the left of the 10,000 on the horizontal axis.
Furthermore, the German oak tree-ring chronology was used
to construct the radiocarbon calibration curve (the blue line labeled
radiocarbon ages really do equal calendar ages, then the yellow dots
tree rings in Figure 2).13 The Lake Suigetsu varve counts aligned
should fall on the red linebut they dont. One cant help but won-
well with the blue line because they were made to align!
der why D&W did not themselves simply plot the radiocarbon ages
So, contrary to D&Ws assertion, the Lake Suigetsu varve ages
versus the varve counts, as this information was readily available to
were not determined independently of the radiocarbon ages.
them. (They used it to construct Figure 2.) But because they instead
plotted measured carbon-14 against the varve counts, they ob-
What about the Steel Lake Varves?
scured this important point.
Also, it should have been obvious, even from just the popular Likewise, we shouldnt be impressed by the good alignment
science literature, that radiocarbon ages generally do not equal varve between the blue line and the handful of yellow dots in the upper
ages. Secular scientists are excited about the Lake Suigetsu lake sedi- left-hand corner of Figure 2. This same alignment is shown more

& |
12 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
closely in D&Ws Figure 5 (but not shown here). The yellow dots Scripture. When these claims are examined more carefully, they are
corresponding to the varve data from Steel Lake, Minnesota, did not always shown to result from faulty logic and implicit denials of the
originally fall on the blue line. This agreement was obtained only after Genesis record.
secular scientists adjusted the Steel Lake values to make them agree! References
1. Davidson, G. and K. Wolgemuth. Christian Geologists on Noahs Flood: Biblical and Scientific
But D&W neglected to point this out to their readers, although it Shortcomings of Flood Geology. BioLogos Foundation. Posted on biologos.org July 2010.
2. Morris, J. 2002. Does Salt Come from Evaporated Sea Water? Acts & Facts. 31 (11).
should have been clear just from the abstract of the paper they cited: 3. Morris, J. D. and J. J. S. Johnson. 2012. The Draining Floodwaters: Geologic Evidence Reflects
the Genesis Text. Acts & Facts. 41 (1): 12-13.
These results, together with other varve studies, demonstrate 4. Thomas, B. Dinosaur Fossil Wasnt Supposed to Be There. Creation Science Update. Posted on
ICR.org April 14, 2011, accessed November 10, 2016.
that an independent age-determination method, such as 14C 5. Stewart, D. 1992. Petrified Footprints: A Puzzling Parade of Permian Beasts. Smithsonian. 23
(4): 70-79.
dating, is usually necessary to verify, and potentially correct, 6. Hebert, J., A. A. Snelling, and T. Clarey. 2016. Do Varves, Tree-Rings, and Radiocarbon Mea-
varve chronologies.14 surements Prove an Old Earth? Refuting a Popular Argument by Old-Earth Geologists Gregg
Davidson and Ken Wolgemuth. Answers Research Journal. 9: 339-361. Accessible at answersin-
genesis.org.
D&Ws whole argument hinges on varve ages being indepen- 7. Kitigawa, H. et al. 1995. AMS 14C Dating of Varved Sediments from Lake Suigetsu, Central
Japan and Atmospheric 14C Change During the Late Pleistocene. Radiocarbon. 37 (2): 371-378.
dent of radiocarbon ages, but the very papers they cite show that this 8. Oard, M. J. 2004. Frozen in Time. Green Forest, AR: Master Books.
9. Oard, M. J. 2009. Do Varves Contradict Biblical History? In Rock Solid Answers: The Biblical
was not the case! Truth Behind 14 Geological Questions. M. J. Oard and J. K. Reed, eds. Green Forest, AR: Master
Books, 125-148.
10. Baumgardner, J. R. et al. 2003. Measurable 14C in Fossilized Organic Materials: Confirming
the Young Earth Creation-Flood Model. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on
Conclusion Creationism. R. L. Ivey Jr., ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Creation Science Fellowship, 127-142.
11. Spector, D. The Most Important Records for Dating Old Objects Were Just Found in a Japanese
Lake. Business Insider. Posted on businessinsider.com October 18, 2012, accessed October 19,
We could say more about this subject, and D&Ws paper con- 2016.
12. Kitigawa, H. and J. van der Plicht. 2000. Atmospheric Radiocarbon Calibration Beyond 11,900
tains at least one other major mistake.15 Table 1 provides a reality Cal BP from Lake Suigetsu Laminated Sediments. Radiocarbon. 42 (3): 370-381.
13. Davidson and Wolgemuths blue line should have been labeled radiocarbon calibration curve
check on their claims. because that is what it actually was. Although tree ring data were used to construct this best
It is a shame that BioLogos has been using such a fallacious fit calibration curve, the evenly spaced points on the calibration curve did not correspond to
data from real trees.
argument to dissuade Christians from trusting the straightforward 14. Tian, J., T. A. Brown, and F. S. Hu. 2005. Comparison of varve and
14
C chronologies from Steel Lake, Minnesota, USA. The Holocene. 15
history recorded in Genesis, but perhaps we can learn a lesson (4): 510-517.
15. Davidson and Wolgemuth calculated their measured carbon-14
herefallacious arguments can seem very convincing, even though values incorrectly, even by uniformitarian reckoning, because they
overlooked subtle complications in the radiocarbon-dating method.
they are wrong. Christians should never be intimidated into accept-
Dr. Hebert is Research Associate at the Institute for Creation Research
ing the latest scientific claims that contradict the clear teaching of and earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas at Dallas.

D&W CLAIM
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH SHOWS CONCLUSION

Japanese lake bed has Most layers are non-annual and were
Dust storms and volcanic eruptions can
tens of thousands of annual formed by the volcanic eruptions and dust
form non-annual layers.
layers (varves). storms of the post-Flood Ice Age.

Researchers physically As many as half of these layers were not

Varve counts contain long-age bias.
counted 50,000 varves. clearly distinguishable.

Radiocarbon ages Varve counts cannot logically be

The purpose of radiocarbon ages was to
independently confirm independent of radiocarbon ages if one is
correct or calibrate the varve counts.
varve age counts. used to calibrate the other.

Disagreement is especially noteworthy given

Radiocarbon ages match Nearly all the radiocarbon ages disagreed
that the researchers were free to assign the
varve ages. with the varve count ages.
count number for the first distinguishable varve.

Table 1. A reality check on BioLogos claims regarding Lake Suigetsu varve counts.

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 13
 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BACK TO GENESIS APOLOGETICS

B R I A N T H O M A S , M . S .
STEWARDSHIP

Gods
The factory loom cannot see what it is doing, nor can it imagine
CREATION Q & A
an end product, but it can make a precise motion. Who could watch
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
anRESEARCH
industrial loom in action without immediately perceiving that

Threading
whoever designed and built the loom had sight, precise motion, and a
mindful purpose? In other words, the tools that humans make reflect
APOLOGETICS human qualities and abilities. Did God make any threading machines?
Yes, He did, and without them our bodies would die in minutes.

Machines
But His machines handle threads many times smaller than a hu-
man hair. If an RNA molecule, which carries the information needed
STEWARDSHIP
to construct a protein, is like a thread, then the ribosome is like a nee-
dles eye. The slender RNA winds through the ribosome, which helps
translate the RNAs information.
What happens when bad thread enters a factory loom? A ma-
chinist stops the loom, diagnoses the problem, and devises a
CREATION Q & A solution. Maybe a super-genius could devise a factory with
no people, where machines diagnose and solve their
own problems. Researchers recently discovered
such machines working with ribosomes to correct
RESEARCH faulty RNA.
Misshapen RNA strands stall inside their ri-
bosomes. In yeast, this catches the attention of the
oddly named Ski complex. Other organisms have
FROM THE EDITOR similar complexes. Each Ski complex includes ribo-
some clamps, an on/off switch, and attachment points
for an enzyme called helicase. The Ski2 segment of Ski

W
LEGACY hat does it take to slip a tiny thread complex clamps onto the stalled ribosome. It then pushes a
through the eye of a needle and dangling end of the RNA thread, called an overhang, into a channel
then use that thread to accom- that travels through helicase. Helicase likely threads bad RNA strands
plish a purpose? Chimpanzees into the eyea small openingof a nearby exosome for recycling.
CONTENTS In a study published in the journal Science, a German and
and other apes cant do this. It takes fine, precise
motion. Three examples of using needle and French team worked out the positions of the thousands of atoms that
thread point to God as a super-genius Creator. make up the ribosome, RNA, and Ski complex. The study authors
In her later years, my grandmother sometimes wrote, We observe that the mRNA 3 overhang is threaded
asked me to thread a needle for her because her eyesight directly from the small ribosomal subunit to the helicase
had dimmed. A sewing thread can enter only one place channel of Ski2.1
the needles eyeto fulfill its purpose. Maybe the sewer then uses Sighted, precise, imaginative people make
it to hem a pant leg, stitch a seam, or embroider a garment. Whoever factory looms that quickly and reliably slip threads
properly manipulates thread must have sight, make precise motions, through tight spotsbut the machines sometimes
and imagine the end product. need technicians. Similar reasoning demands a
Certain machines use thread to create cloth mechanically. In micro-sighted, precise-to-the-atom, and imagi-
handlooms, the weaver tosses a shuttle that carries a bobbin of native super-genius to make molecular machines
weft thread between separated crosswise warp threads. The thatlike automated problem-solving techni-
weaver then swaps thread angles before tossing the shuttle ciansthread flawed RNA strands into recyclers.
back to the other side. Some automated factory looms Truly, our God is the ultimate Genius.
replace shuttles with slender rods called rapiers. One Reference
1. Schmidt, C. et al. 2016. The cryo-EM structure of a ribo-
rapier brings the thread halfway across, then passes its someSki2-Ski3-Ski8 helicase complex. Science. 354 (6318):
1431-1433.
thread to a second rapier that grabs the thread to pull
Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research
it all the way across the cloth width. They hand off the and earned his M.S. in biotechnology from Stephen F. Austin State
thread something like 1,000 times a minute. University.

& |
14 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
IMPACT
BACK TO GENESIS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

T
APOLOGETICS
he concept of a graven or carved
image1 in the second of the Ten
STEWARDSHIP
Commandments is sometimes

CREATION Q & A
misunderstood.
RESEARCH
You shall not make for yourself a

What Is a
carved imageany likeness of any-
thing that is in heaven above, or that
is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth; you shall not

Graven Image?
bow down to them nor serve them.
(Exodus 20:4-5)

What exactly does God mean by this

term?

1. The main thrust of this commandment is

H E N R Y M . M O R R I S I I I , D . M i n .
that believers are not to worship anything
that is earthly as a representation of God.
The emphasis was on worshiping the idol,
the image of an earthly thing, or the earth-
ly thing itself in place of God. Idolatry is
nearly always a major problem and down-
fall of Gods peopleboth then and now.

2. The first four commandments involve the

direction of how we should relate to God; and everlasting power. Amen (1 Timo- on Earth is idolatryunless that image is
the remaining six describe our relation- thy 6:16). All attempts to make a physical used as something to worship.
ship with each other. representation of Yahwehs eternal Being Films portraying the life of Christ
were forbidden and would result in capi- have helped win hundreds of thousands
3. Although the Lord Jesus Christ is most
tal punishment. to the Kingdom over the years. If the actor
certainly God in the triune Godhead and
portraying Jesus is an idol, then the Lord
co-equal in every way to the Father and 5. The New Testament extends and applies
God would never bless and harvest through
the Holy Spirit, in the incarnation Jesus idolatry to anything that is worshiped in-
that medium. Such representations of the
became man so that the work of salva- stead of God.3 The key is the worship of
Lord Jesus on Earth are not graven images
tion could be completed. While He was a thing or practice that takes the place of
or idolsHe was here and could be physi-
on Earth, Jesus was most certainly physi- God. Attempting to portray the work of
cally seen and touched (1 John 1:1). Even
calHe was true manand He clearly the Lord Jesus on Earth, in story form, is
His resurrected body is still human in form.
demanded worship of Himself and obe- not worship or idolatry. That portrayal is
It is the God [who] is Spirit (John 4:24)
dience to His teachings.2 merely an effort to tell the story of what
who cannot be seen or represented in any
Christ did while on Earth so that the gos-
4. The first four commandments focus on physical form that is the focus of the second
pel can be made clear and efficacious.
Yahweh: Now to the King eternal, im- commandment.
Very few Christian groups use idols as a
mortal, invisible, to God who alone is References
means to worship. 1. Graven image is used in the King James and Revised
wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Standard translations and carved image in the New King
James and English Standard translations.
Amen (1 Timothy 1:17). And these com- The Institute for Creation Research 2. In Matthew 4:18-22, Christ called the four fishermen Peter,
Andrew, James, and John as His disciples. They physically
mandments specifically insist that there is known for holding to the literal words of left their nets that very day and followed Christs person
is nothing on Earth, or under Earth, or Scripture in a day of enlightened science. during His entire ministry.
3. Therefore put to death your members which are on the
above Earth that could be like Yahweh, We would never knowingly violate the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and
covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
who alone has immortality, dwelling words of Holy Scripture in any way. We are
Dr. Morris is Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Cre-
in unapproachable light, whom no man most careful in everything we produce. No ation Research.
has seen or can see, to whom be honor picture or statue of the Lord Jesus as He was

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 15
 IMPACT
BACK TO GENESIS J E F F R E Y P . T O M K I N S , P h . D .

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

E
volutionists assign mil- that includes potatoes, peppers,
APOLOGETICS
lions of years to fossils, tobacco, petunias, and toma-
STEWARDSHIPand even to genes in the toeshas popped up in rock
DNA of living creatures,
CREATION Q & A
strata in Argentina alleged to be 52
in an attempt to bolster evolution- million years old. For evolution,
ary theory, which needs the magic
RESEARCH this early time period is long be-
of deep time to seem plausible. fore the dates previously ascribed
But the supposed ancient clocks to these species of plants by both
they use for these age assignments paleontologists and biologists.
rarely agree with each other. In Furthermore, the fossil tomatillo
other words, the DNA clocks rare- fruits look exactly like those grow-
ly line up with the fossil clocks, de- ing today, exhibiting no evolution
spite the fact that both clocks are over the alleged eons of time. Be-
statistically calibrated by the same cause evolutionary biologists have
evolutionary assumptions. sequenced the genes from many

EVOLUTIONARY
While paleontologists have different types of nightshades and
assigned ancient dates to fossils come up with many ancient dates
since the late 1800s, the idea of a and supposed evolutionary rela-

CLOCK FUTILITY
molecular clock in biology wasnt tionships, these fossils are particu-
conceived until the early 1960s. larly disturbing and only serve to
This idea came about by com- highlight the futility of evolution-
paring proteins between different ary dating systems.
types of animals combined with the alleged ages of animal evolution As noted in a previous Acts & Facts article, when biologists re-
taken from the fossil record. Scientists hoped this strategy would lead move the biased evolutionary time calibrations from their molecular
to a unified evolutionary tree of life with accurate ancient evolution- clocks, they almost always arrive at dates that correspond with a bib-
ary time points for the branches. Much to the disappointment of lical creation timeframe of 6,000 to 10,000 years.4 But because bias-
the evolutionary clock community, five decades of molecular clock free empirical clocks dont match up with the myth of Darwinian
research data have provided only contradictions and discrepancies.1 evolution, they are rejected out of hand. The empirical scientific facts
David Reich, a human evolutionary geneticist at Harvard Medical support the Bible and not the failed opinions of man.
School, recently stated, The fact that the clock is so uncertain is very References
1. Tomkins, J. P. and J. Bergman. 2015. Evolutionary molecular genetic clocksa perpetual exer-
problematic for us.It means that the dates we get out of genetics cise in futility and failure. Journal of Creation. 29 (2): 26-35.
2. Callaway, E. 2015. DNA clock proves tough to set. Nature. 519 (7542):
are really quite embarrassingly bad and uncertain.2 139-140.
3. Wilf, P. et al. 2017. Eocene lantern fruits from Gondwanan Patagonia
Problems for evolutionary biological clocks exist at many levels. and the early origins of Solanaceae. Science. 355 (6320): 71-75.
4. Tomkins, J. P. 2015. Genetic Clocks Verify Recent Creation. Acts &
Various genes and/or DNA sequences give widely different evolution- Facts. 44 (12): 9-11.
ary rates, not only when compared between different types of organ-
Dr. Tomkins is Director of Life Sciences at the Institute for Creation Re-
isms, but even within a similar group of genes called a gene family in search and earned his Ph.D. in genetics from Clemson University.
the genome of the same organism. Scientists use these rates to specu-
late about divergence dates (when one organism supposedly split off
and formed another type of creature), but these widely different rates
The Design and
commonly disagree with dates derived from fossils in paleontology.
Complexity of the Cell
Amazingly, these molecular data discrepancies exist despite the fact
Dr. Jeffrey P. Tomkins
that biological sequence data are almost always calibrated by dates
from fossils. Even though statistical tricks are used to manipulate the $19.99 $17.99
data toward a favorable matching outcome, the results almost always BTDACOTC
lead to conflicting evolutionary conclusions. Visit ICR.org/store
A recent fossil discovery in Patagonia places a glaring spotlight Please add S&H to all orders.
on this embarrassing clock problem.3 Extremely rare and delicate Offer good through March 31,
2017, while quantities last.
fossil remains of tomatillos (Mexican husk tomatoes)a member
of an economically important group of plants called nightshades

& |
16 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
MAJOR EVOLUTIONARY
BLuNDERS

Convergent Evolution Is a
Seductive Intellectual Swindle
R A N D Y J . G U L I U Z Z A , P . E . , M . D .

W
hen it comes to swindles, it would be hard to top Liz Car- very similar characteristics between creatures that could not have been
michael. She spun a tale about obtaining proprietary secrets inherited from a common ancestor and that evolutionists will never
from her deceased NASA engineer husband that enabled accept as having been produced by an intelligently designed internal
her to start and become CEO of a totally bogus car company programming that is specified for common purposes.
marketing the Dale. This fictitious 84 mpg, three-wheeled car bilked Evolutionary literature often contracts convergent evolution
millions from investors in 1975and all the while Liz was actually a down to its central idea and simply calls it convergence.
man, Jerry Dean Michael, impeccably dressed like a woman. No in-
vestor ever saw the car factory or drove a Dale. Yet, Liz always talked The Basic Notion of Convergence Is Imaginary
with investors so matter-of-factly about her wholly imaginary in-
dustrial realm that they willingly visualized everything within their It is tempting to start an evaluation of convergent evolution by
hopeful minds, where it took on a vivid life of its own. identifying all its problems. This is where a word of caution is neces-
An intellectual swindle rivaling this is the wholly imaginary sary. Like other key elements of evolutionary theory, convergence is
fabrication called convergent evolutionthe idea that the same traits not an observable process but is rather observed only in someones
evolved independently in completely different organisms. Like Lizs mind as imaginary visualization. Convergence is another evolution-
investment pitch, evolutionists also write about it so matter-of-factly ary mystical, mental construct.
that it has taken on a genuine life of its own in all their willing minds. We should not naively proceed into matter-of-fact discussions
Why do they embrace convergent evolution so eagerly? Because it of convergence without questioning the basic premise that such a
serves as a rescuing device for an important dogma of evolutionary Darwinian process truly happened. If we dont question it, we give
theory. (A rescuing device is a completely fabricated conjecture de- convergence a life of its ownjust like Liz got her investors to hand
vised to save someones theory from contrary evidence.) over their money for an imaginary product and thus perpetuated the
Evolutionary theory holds that physical features shared by dif- misleading of other people. It is better to begin by rejecting the idea
ferent creatures are strong evidence for evolution. To evolutionists, that convergence accurately explains any historical realities and then
common traits are best explained by their descent from a common show that fanciful narratives about convergence amount to ad hoc,
ancestornot by a shared common design. Darwin taught: just-so stories.

All thedifficulties with classification are explained, if I do not

A Magical Story Substitutes for Purposeful Internal Programming
greatly deceive myself, on the view that the natural system is
founded in descent with modification: that the characters which In Why Evolution Is True, Jerry Coyne explains convergence by
the naturalists consider as showing true affinity between any
describing two similar-looking but unrelated cacti: I have both types
two or more species, are those which have been inherited from
a common parentthat community of descent is the hidden growing on my windowsill, and visitors cant tell them apart without
bond which naturalists have been unconsciously seeking, and reading their tags.2 He knows that common ancestry cannot explain
not some unknown plan of creation.1 their similarity, so he focuses on eliminating the explanation that
their shared traits result from designed internal programming for
However, this highly revered tenet greatly needs rescuing be-
cause so many nonhereditary similarities contradict it. Convergent common purposes. Switching from science to theology, Coyne asks:
evolution is the fabricated conjecture evolutionists invoke to explain Why would a creator put plants that are fundamentally different,

Image credit: Hemmings Motor News. Copyright American City Business Journals. Adapted for use in accordance | &
with federal copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holder.
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 17
 but look so similar, in diverse areas of the world that seem eco- For instance, the power of convergence is projected in extinct
logically identical? Wouldnt it make more sense to put the same wildebeest-like mammals that had trumpet-like nasal passages re-
species of plants in areas with the same type of soil and climate?2 markably like the nasal crests of hadrosaur dinosaurseven though
By answering his own question with a I wouldnt do it that both were allegedly separated by millions of years. By casually explain-
way reply, Coyne dismisses any consideration of designa classic ing this anatomical similarity by convergence, evolutionists morph it
evolutionary tactic. He thus dodges thoughtful discussion of possible into wondrous evidence for evolution.
design-based explanations. The fossil record provides tangible, historical evidence for the
Coyne also substitutes what he believes is a well-knowni.e., mode and operation of evolution across deep time. Striking pat-
matter-of-factscientific alternative in lieu of designed internal pro- terns of convergence are some of the strongest examples of these
gramming. Yet, he merely invokes a simple magical story that is not operations, whereby, over time, similar environmental and/or
behavioral pressures precipitate similarity in form and function
based on fact but only exists in his mind.
between disparately related taxa.6
Again one must ask: If animals were specially created, why would
the creator produce on different continents fundamentally dif- The precision of convergence is seen in finding out that 59
ferent animals that nevertheless look and act so much alike?...No swimming or flying animal species ranging from mollusks to insects,
creationist, whether of the Noahs Ark variety or otherwise, has birds, bats, whales, and fish all use the same fluid motion mechanics.
offered a credible explanation for why different types of animals The tips of their wings, fins, etc. all bend at essentially the same point
have similar forms in different places. All they can do is invoke and flex 26 degrees. The research team pondered, What factor(s)
the inscrutable whims of the creator. But evolution does explain
drive natural selection to converge on highly constrained bending
the pattern by invoking a well-known process called convergent
evolution. Its really quite simple. Species that live in similar habi- kinematics across such a wide range of animal groups?7 They specu-
tats will experience similar selection pressures from their envi- lated that nature molded these diverse organisms as it drove them
ronment, so they may evolve similar adaptations, or converge, independently through time in the quest for energy efficiency.
coming to look and behave very much alike even though they The scope of convergence is seen in multitudes of organisms
are unrelated.2 evolving eyes. Evolutionists claim that similar environments con-
Another evolutionary authority, the late Ernst Mayr of Har- strained creatures to converge on comparably complex eyesinde-
vard, claimed convergence illustrates how evolution functions as a pendently at least 40 times, and probably as many as 65 times.8
substitute engineer: Convergence illustrates beautifully how selec- But even if claims of Darwinian convergence were not ad hoc
tion is able to make use of the intrinsic variability of organisms to stories, the concept still has serious problems.
engineer adapted types for almost any kind of environmental niche.3
Evolution is thus the intrinsic variability, or a creatures normal het- Problem 1: Imagining Coincidence upon Coincidence
erozygosity, coupled with the natural process of struggling to live that Developmental biologist Sean Carroll reports that a similar
fractionates the diverse alleles into various populations. gene, Pax-6, has been found to be associated with eye formation in
animals with all sorts of eyes. Convergence is normally the explana-
Casually Invoking Convergent Evolution Everywhere tion of choice for these similarities. But Carroll rejects convergence
Evolutionary literature projects engineering prowess and God- as implausible since that account simply invokes a remarkable co-
like volition onto unconscious nature and weaves an active nature- incidence in that the Pax-6 gene was called upon repeatedly to build
agent into its narratives.4 This helps the incredible accomplishments eyes from scratch in these different groups of animals.9 Instead of
claimed for evolution appear more believable. Ascribing the ability convergence, he embraces another imaginary account that is equally
for nature to repeatedly converge on the same trait in very diverse implausible. He believes these genes were remarkably conserved
organismssometimes separated by many millions of years, even to unchanged for 600 million years in organisms as diverse as flies and
identical genesgives convergent evolution a seemingly omnipotent elephantswhile other genes became so intensely mutated they
capability. caused the evolution of flies and elephants.
For evolutionists, convergences supreme power is both implicit Carrolls remarkable coincidence is exceedingly restrained.
and pervasive. A belief expressed in a study published in Nature hints Similarities of marsupial and placental mammals are presented as
that evolution may be finding the same genetic solutions to a problem another showpiece of convergence. Evolutionists believe that on
more often than previously thought and that convergent molecular Australia and the Americas, nearly identical environmental condi-
evolution is much more widespread than previously recognized.5 tionsdrought, flood, heat wave, Ice Age, famine, disease, food types,
The litany of incredibly complicated biological traits to which predatorswere occurring over vast ages in nearly identical intensity,
convergent evolution is casually appended as the explanation is enor- timing, sequence, and other factors to mold not just a gene but whole
mous. A few examples from evolutionary literature will highlight suites of physiological and anatomical features to coincidently arrive
some of the capabilities ascribed to convergence. at remarkably similar body types for dogs, wolves, cats, anteaters,

& |
18 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
moles, mice, Coynes cacti, etc. Two intelligent design researchers sum A Better Organism-Focused, Design-Based Explanation
up, Without some form of design or teleological guidance, conver-
The general evolutionary viewthat nature acts as an exercis-
gent evolution requires a piling of coincidences upon coincidences
ing agency to mold passive organisms into unlimited forms over time
that strains credulity.10
as they are docilely driven by environmental challenges called selec-
tive pressuresis bankrupt. No scientific paper has ever quantified
Problem 2: Convergent Evolution versus Darwins Community a selective pressure. Converged, conserved, or other evolution-
of Descent ary words that project volition onto nature serve as rescuing devices.
Every occasion in which evolutionists must invoke convergence Convergence is not an observation demonstrated to flow from ob-
argues against similar features being strong evidence for evolution. jectively discernible causes but is a declaration based on mental pic-
When looking at similar features, which evolutionary explanation turesa metaphysical conjecture that substitutes for a total absence
is legitimateconvergence or common descent? Or should both be of explanation.
taken as imaginary scenarios? Consider a report on unexpected ge- However, creationists have long explained similar traits in very
diverse creatures as functioning toward similar purposes. They ex-
netic similarities for genes enabling echolocation in whales and bats.
pected to find shared genetic programming to guide the traits devel-
The discovery represents an unprecedented example of adaptive opment, an expectation confirmed in Hox genes, gene networks, and
sequence convergence between two highly divergent groups.
other mechanisms.14
[Study author Stephen Rossiter said,] It is generally assumed
In a recent rebuff to convergence, ICR geneticist Dr. Jeffrey
that most of these so-called convergent traits have arisen by
different genes or different mutations. Our study shows that a Tomkins discussed how pythons and boas can each expressevi-
complex traitecholocationhas in fact evolved by identical dently quite quicklysome highly similar yet environmentally spe-
genetic changes in bats and dolphins.We were surprised by cific traits that enable them to fit and fill different niches.15
the sheer number of convergent changes in the coding DNA.11 These findings tend to confirm design-based creationist theory
that emphasizes active, problem-solving organisms that are capable
The same report stated:
of extraordinary self-adjustments to fill dynamic environments. Fu-
If you draw a phylogenetic [relationship] tree of bats, whales, ture research will likely confirm more details of how creatures can
and a few other mammals based on similarities in the prestin [a detect signals during development (and also afterward) and make
hearing gene] sequence alone, the echolocating bats and whales
self-adjustments to their own traits per internal algorithms. Sensors,
come out together rather than with their rightful evolutionary
algorithms, and other internal system elements enable them to ac-
cousins.11
tively and continuously track environmental changesnot be pas-
Addressing this specific contradiction, Lee Spetner perceptively sively driven and molded by them.
observes: Such extreme bioengineering magnifies the profound wisdom of
Convergent evolution isan invention. It was invented solely to natures true creative Agent, the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 104:24).
avoid addressing the failure of the phylogenetic tree to support References
1. Darwin, C. 1872. The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 6th ed. London: John
Common Descent. There is no theoretical support for conver- Murray, 369.
2. Coyne, J. 2009. Why Evolution Is True. New York: Viking, 91-94. Emphasis in original.
gence, and whatever evidence has been given for it is the product 3. Mayr, E. 2001. What Evolution Is. New York: Basic Books, 223.
of a circular argument.12 4. Biello, D. Was Darwin a Punk? Scientific American. Posted on scientificamerican.com Septem-
ber 28, 2010, accessed January 3, 2017. See also Guliuzza, R. 2014. A Response to Does Natural
Selection Exist? Answers Research Journal. 7: 403-420.
The blunder of evolutionary theory is that similar features are 5. Hayden, E. C. Convergent evolution seen in hundreds of genes. Nature News. Posted on nature.
com September 4, 2013, accessed January 1, 2017.
evidence for evolutionexcept when they arent. 6. OBrien, H. D. et al. 2016. Unexpected Convergent Evolution of Nasal Domes between Pleisto-
cene Bovids and Cretaceous Hadrosaur Dinosaurs. Current Biology. 26 (4): 503-508.
7. Lucas, K. N. et al. 2014. Bending rules for animal propulsion. Nature Communications. 5: 3293.
8. Land, M. F. and R. D. Fernald. 1992. The Evolution of Eyes. Annual Review of Neuroscience. 15:
Problem 3: Convergent Evolution Was Stunningly Wrong 1-29, referencing Salvini-Plawen, L. V. and E. Mayr. 1977. On the evolution of photoreceptors
and eyes. Evolutionary Biology. 10: 207-263.
9. Carroll, S. B. 2005. Endless Forms Most Beautiful. New York: W. W. Norton, 68-69.
What about the teaching of 40 independent evolutionary de- 10. Dembski, W. A. and J. Wells. 2008. The Design of Life. Dallas: The Foundation for Thought and
Ethics, 116.
velopments of various eyes? That manifested into another incredible 11. Cell Press. In bats and whales, convergence in echolocation ability runs deep. ScienceDaily.
Posted on sciencedaily.com January 27, 2010, accessed January 1, 2017.
evolutionary blunder. This view was entirely incorrect, Sean Carroll 12. Spetner, L. M. 2014. The Evolution Revolution: Why Thinking People Are Rethinking the Theory
of Evolution. New York: Judaica Press, Kindle Locations 1229-1231.
notes after citing genes called Hox genes that control eye development 13. Carroll, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, 72.
14. Guliuzza, R. J. 2015. Major Evolutionary Blunders: Evolutionary Predictions Fail the Reality
in sighted creatures. The late Stephen Jay Gouldsaw the discovery Test. Acts & Facts. 44 (9): 17-19.
15. Tomkins, J. P. Convergent Evolution or Design-Based Adaptation?
of Hox clustersas overturning a major view of the Modern Syn- Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org July 7, 2016, accessed
January 2, 2017.
thesis [natural selection fractioning out genetic variability]. Carroll
Dr. Guliuzza is ICRs National Representative. He earned his M.D.
candidly continues, Natural selection has not forged many eyes com- from the University of Minnesota, his Master of Public Health from
pletely from scratch; there is a common genetic ingredient to making Harvard University, and served in the U.S. Air Force as 28th Bomb
Wing Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Guliuzza
each eye type, as well as to the many types of appendages, hearts, etc.13 is also a registered Professional Engineer.

| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 19
 CREATION Q & A B R I A N T H O M A S , M . S .

RESEARCH
Are Planets Only
Thousands of Years Old?
FROM THE EDITOR

LEGACY

CONTENTS

Go to a standard planetarium show or watch a plenty of methane.

television documentary on the solar system and Even one of the many newfound, very distant extrasolar plan-
youll hear that the planets formed about four etsnamed GJ 1214bchallenges secular scenarios. Some astrono-
and a half billion years ago. But the many evi- mers believe it has a very watery composition. But it orbits near a
dences favoring recent planet formation counter that idea. Each of red dwarf star with enough radiation to have vaporized the planets
these evidences contains a clocklike natural process that is still ticking waterunless the planet is young enough to still have some origi-
even though it should have gone dead long ago if it began billions of nally created water.4 Finally, astronomers labeled weird, blade-like
years ago. formations of methane ice on Plutos youthful surface as standing
For example, Saturns beautiful rings look bright and clean. Bil- for a few tens of millions of years.5 How could Pluto have avoided
lions of years of space dust should have tarnished the rings ice crys- formation-erasing collisions like those that made the moons impact
tals into a dull gray long ago. Saturns moon Enceladus continues to craters for all that supposed time?
jet ice from 101 geysers near its south pole. Secular astronomers face These examples merely dip a toe into the deep waters of youth-
a challenge in explaining why all this material didnt exit Enceladus ful planetary features, including young-looking magnetic fields. ICR
millions of years ago and why this little moon still has enough energy has a collection of articles (ICR.org/recent-universe), plus a new
to fuel its many geysers.1 book (Guide to the Universe), that illustrate young-looking planetary
Next, some planets and moons emit too much heat to fit the and other outer space features. They confirm the recent creation that
billions-of-years model. Neptune emits twice the heat it receives from the Bible clearly teaches. Isaiah 51:13 says, And you forget the Lord
the sun, and Enceladus emits some 10 times the heat secular scientists your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations
predicted.2 If God made Neptune and Enceladus relatively warm in of the earth. Science and the Bible agree that God made the lights in
the beginning, they should still have extra heat after only thousands the sky, including planets, only thousands of years ago.
of yearsbut not billions. References
1. Porco, C., D. DiNono, and F. Nimmo. 2014. How the Geysers, Tidal Stresses, and Thermal
Planetary atmospheres also boggle long-age expectations. Re- Emission across the South Polar Terrain of Enceladus Are Related. The Astronomical Journal.
148 (3): 45.
searchers recently puzzled over the methane atmosphere around 2. Howett, C. J. A. et al. 2011. High heat flow from Enceladus south polar region measured using
10600 cm-1 Cassini/CIRS data. Journal of Geophysical Research. 116 (E3): E03003.
Saturns big moon Titan. They wrote, A question that remains un- 3. Mitchell, J. L. and J. M. Lora. 2016. The Climate of Titan. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary
Sciences. 44: 353-380.
answered is, where is all the methane coming from? Radiation from 4. It may actually have very little water, however. See Kempton, E. M.-R., K. Zahnle, and J. J. Fort-
the sun permanently converts the methane into larger molecules, ney. 2012. The Atmospheric Chemistry of GJ 1214b: Photochemistry and Clouds. The Astro-
physical Journal. 745 (1): 3.
mostly ethane. The ethane should have fallen to the surface for mil- 5. Moores, J. E. et al. 2017. Penitentes as the origin of the bladed terrain of Tartarus Dorsa on
Pluto. Nature. 541 (7636): 188-190.
lions of years, forming hydrocarbon oceans. But that turned out to
Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research and earned his M.S. in
be wrong as well, they wrote.3 Titans youthful atmosphere still has biotechnology from Stephen F. Austin State University.

& |
20 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
APOLOGETICS J A M E S J . S . J O H N S O N , J . D . , T h . D .

Clever
STEWARDSHIP
Creatures:
Wise from Receiving Wisdom

A
nimals fascinate children. They our immaterial selves. The animals soul water onto the mash. If the water was
should amaze adults, too, yet of- is revealed by how he or she intelligently spilled accidently, Beck writes, the
CREATION ten we Qare&
tooA busy to take time thinks, communicates, learns, and makes crow would return to the trough for a
refill rather than proceed to the food
to ponder and appreciate the decisionsincluding problem-solving
pan with an empty cup. The bird was
God-given traits of the creatures who share choices. not taught to do this. The [problem-
our world. Although many animal behaviors ex- solving] behavior appeared spontane-
RESEARCH
Why should animals capture our at- hibit preprogrammed responses to outside ously, Beck reports. 3
tention? They are alive! Unlike plants, which world conditions, not all animal behavior
Many other examples of problem solv-
are like biological machines (having no self- is instinctive. Some animal behaviors reveal
ing by resourceful animals could be given.
consciousness), higher-order animals like
1
that God chose to give them cleverness
FROM THE EDITOR Domesticated livestock, family pets, wildlife,
mammals and birds are truly alive, often abilities to learn new ideas, to fit new situa-
and laboratory-tested animals come up with
displaying what might be called person- tions, and to solve practical problems of daily
clever solutions to the challenges of daily liv-
alities. Although qualitatively distinct from living.
LEGACY ing to secure food, water, air, shelter, rest, in-
humanswho are made in Gods image As [Benjamin] Beck tells us in his book formation, and reproductive success. 3-5
(Genesis 1:27)animals have what Scrip- Animal Tool Behavior, [a crow] was fed But the resourcefulness of animals
ture calls a soul (Hebrew nephesh).2 partly on dried mash, which its keepers
should not surprise us. Proverbs informs us
This soul is something more than the were supposed to moisten. But some-
CONTENTS times (being merely human) they for- that God wisely installed wisdom into ani-
animals physical body. A dogs soul departs
got. The crow, undaunted, would then malseven small creatures like ants, conies,
at death, yet its physical body remains. Thus,
pick up a small plastic cup that had locusts, and lizards.6
there is a difference between a dogs imma- been provided as a toy, dip it into a wa- Literally, these animals are wise from
terial life and its material body, just as we ter trough, carry the filled cup across receiving [Gods] wisdom.7 Fascinating!
humans have physical bodies distinct from the room to the food, and empty the References
1. For more information about the nature of plants, see Mor-
ris III, H. M. 2012. Its Alive! Acts & Facts. 41 (8): 4-5.
2. Regarding animals having nephesh-characterized life, see
Genesis 1:20-21, 24; 2:19; 9:10, 12, 15-16; Leviticus 11:46.
See Johnson, J. J. S. 2013. New from Nothing: Is God Still
Creating Today? Acts & Facts. 42 (5): 10-11. See also Joubert,
C. 2011. What Makes Us Human, and Why It Is Not the
Brain: A Creationist Defense of the Soul. Answers Research
Journal. 4: 217-232.
3. Savage, C. 1997. Bird Brains: The Intelligence of Crows, Ra-
vens, Magpies, and Jays. San Francisco: Sierra Club, 2-4. See
PLOS Medias Causal understanding of water displace-
ment by a crow, posted on youtube.com. See also Burke,
M. 2016. Only clever observers realize just how intelligent
fish crows are. Chesapeake Bay Journal. 26 (8): 39.
4. Even parrots can appreciate the cause-and-effect thinking
needed to understand and solve a novel situation. See
Bates, M. Problem-solving parrots understand cause and
effect. Wired. Posted on wired.com October 17, 2013.
5. Humble frillfin goby fish demonstrate amazing problem-
solving abilities, as do tool-using dolphins, elephants, birds,
tuskfish, and other resourceful animals. See Tomkins, J.
P. 2016. Fish as Smart as Apes? Acts & Facts. 45 (12): 15.
(Clearly these complex cognitive fish abilities dont fit the
evolutionary paradigm[but] they exemplify the incred-
ible engineering and creativity of our great Creator God.)
6. Here semamith is translated as lizard based on analysis
in Cansdale, G. S. 1976. All the Animals of the Bible Lands.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 24, 28, 199-200, 227, and
267.
7. Proverbs 30:24-28 (translating
chakmm mechukkmm in verse
24).

Dr. Johnson is Associate Professor

of Apologetics and Chief Academic
Officer at the Institute for Creation
Research.
Image credit: Copyright 2016 K. Bohn / San Diego Zoo Global. Adapted for use in accordance with federal copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by
ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holder.
| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 21
 STEWARDSHIP H E N R Y M . M O R R I S I V

Building
CREATION Q & A

Biblically
RESEARCH

FROM THE EDITOR

A
fter years of planning and praying, first city and tower on the plains of Shinar. ours and do not come to us naturally (Isaiah
LEGACY
the leadership of ICR has made the The peoples reasoning was simple: Let us 55:8-9). While we may have every reason to
decision to begin construction make a name for ourselves (Genesis 11:4). believe God has truly called us to build, are
on the ICR Discovery Center for These examples show the first prin- we convinced it is the right timeGods
Science and Earth History. We are thrilled to ciple to consider is motivation. Why are we timeto begin?
CONTENTS
get started and excited by this significant building? Is it, like Noah, in obedience to ICRs Board discussed these biblical
addition to our ministry. At the same time, God and for His will and glory? Or is it for building principles at length in their Janu-
we realize what a major commitment this personal pride and for the glory of man?
ary meeting before beginning deliberations
is for us, and my fathers lead article in this The building of the first temple in
on the Discovery Center. Like Noah, ICR
months issue provides an excellent sum- Jerusalem provides another key principle.
obeyed the Lords will as best as we can
mary of our journey to this point. But its King David, described by God as a man
determine it. Like David, ICR spent years
equally important for our supporters to un- after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14),
preparing, planning, and gathering, and
derstand the mindset behind the scenes as longed to build a permanent house of wor-
most of our staff members have given por-
this initiative was carefully considered. ship for the Lord. David spent years making
The first two major building projects abundant preparations before his death tions of their small fortunes to the project.
recorded in the BibleNoahs Ark and the (1 Chronicles 22:5) and was divinely given And like Solomons charge, ICR is now con-
Tower of Babelprovide marvelous in- the plansby the Spirit by which it should vinced the time is right!
sight into godly principles we should follow. be constructed (1 Chronicles 28:12). He even Financial support for the Discovery
Noah, the only man at the time who found gave a large portion of his personal fortune Center was very strong during 2016, and
grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8), to the project (1 Chronicles 29:3-4). But God we are closing the gap on the total funds
was warned by God of His coming judg- denied Davids desire to personally build the needed. But we arent quite there yet, so
ment on the wickedness of mankind. God temple and instead gave that responsibility to please consider taking advantage of ICRs
told Noah to build the Ark, and Noah spent his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:7-10). active matching gift challenge. All gifts to the
the next 100 years in obedience to Him. This account shows the second prin- Discovery Center will be matched dollar for
Nimrod, the first postdiluvian man to be- ciple to consider is Gods timing. Isaiah dollar up to $4 million! Please visit ICR.org/
come a mighty one on the earth (Genesis tells us plainly what we all know intuitively: donate/museum to donate online, or mail
10:8), likely organized people to build the Gods thoughts and ways are higher than your check payable to ICR (write Discov-
P R A Y E R F U L L Y CONSIDER SUPPORTING ICR n GALATIANS 6:9-10 n ery Center on the memo line). The time
is right, and this God-given opportunity
Through Visit ICR.org/give and explore how you
Online Donations
couldnt be better (Galatians 6:10). Thanks
can support the vital work of ICR ministries.
Stocks and Securities in advance for helping us
Or contact us at stewardship@icr.org or
IRA Gifts
800.337.0375 for personal assistance. finish the course.
Matching Gift Programs
CFC (Federal/Military Workers) Mr. Morris is Director of Donor Re-
Gift Planning ICR is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, lations at the Institute for Creation
Charitable Gift Annuities and all gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent Research.
Wills and Trusts allowed by law.

& |
22 ACTS FACTS MARCH 2017
 CREATION Q & A
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RESEARCH

I have been following your organization now for a few Almost done
years. I receive Acts & Facts and Days of Praise. Your
APOLOGETICS reading The
The Long War
resources are invaluable. The information in Acts & Long War Against God. I Against God
Facts has not only strengthened my beliefs but also allowed me have always stuck to my Dr. Henry Morris
to feel more confident in my witness to others. guns in believing literal 6 $16.99 BTLWAG
STEWARDSHIP (plus S&H)
days. But, now it makes
I attended two of the Truth on Tour lectures
sense. Thanks for
at Denton Bible. I first attended Your
your work.
Origins Matter and then Astronomy
H. G.
Points to Creation. Both lectures were
given by Dr. Jason Lisle. I would rate
CREATION Q & A
them both as beyond outstanding. Both
Thank you, ICR, for continuing to
empowered me to make a stronger
spread the truth even though the lie is so
witness.
popular. Im thankful for the information and re-
I purchased Guide to Dinosaurs for my seven-year-old, and
RESEARCH sources you share with us that help us see Gods
he loves it! I pray daily for your organizations efforts and for truth in science.
the funds to be collected for the museum in Dallas. How this A. N.
will glorify the Lord! You are making a huge difference in this
broken world. FROM THE EDITOR
You can spend
C. S.
tens of thou-
sands of dollars, like I
LEGACY
did, on a higher edu-
I homeschool three of my four cation and never learn
children and I also teach in a co-op group. this. What a travesty.
Your Acts & Facts magazine has been such a God did give us the an-
CONTENTS
blessing to my teaching and co-op this year. I swer...and it costs noth-
would like to take the time out to say thank ing...it was a gift.
you! Welook forward to every S. F.
new issue.
C. C.

This incredible magazine [Acts & Facts]

needs to be in the hands of every student and
faculty member in secondary education.
A. J.

Shalom, I received your Days

of Praise this morning. I love reading
them each daytheyre very
encouraging and contain so
much teaching which seems so lack-
ing in many churches today. These [memes] are great. Real science in very
F. S. bite-size parts with images. Keep these up!
S. R.

Have a comment? Email us at editor@icr.org or write to Editor, P. O. Box 59029, Dallas, Texas 75229.
Note: Unfortunately, ICR is not able to respond to all correspondence.
| &
MARCH 2017 ACTS FACTS 23
 Homeschool
Resources P. O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229
www.icr.org

Buy all five Guide to books for $74.95!

Perfect for homeschoolers. Place each book into your
shopping cart, use promo code SBGTCB at checkout,
and save $10 when you buy the whole set!

MADE IN HIS IMAGE (DVD)

$39.99 DMIHI
THATS A FACT (DVD)
$9.99 $7.99 DTAF

CREATION BASICS & BEYOND

$9.99 $7.99 BCBAB
UNCOVERING THE TRUTH
ABOUT DINOSAURS (DVD)
$39.99 DUTTAD

DINOSAURS AND THE BIBLE

Brian Thomas
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES
$4.99 BDATB1
OF GENESIS
Groundbreaking 12-DVD series!
$129.99 $89.99 DUTMOG01
TRUTH ON TOUR DVDS!
We have a wide selection of educational DVDs.
Many are on sale while supplies last!
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES
OF GENESIS
Student Guide
$14.99 $12.99 BUTMOGSG

To order, call 800.628.7640 or visit ICR.org/store

Please add shipping and handling to all orders. Offers good through March 31, 2017, while quantities last.