Todd's Blog

I just got back from the Bryan College Undergraduate Research Conference .  I'm teaching an adjunct class this semester to bio majors, and two of my students were presenting.  I had a great time, and I wanted everyone to know what spectacular biology majors they have at Bryan College.  You should hire one or accept them into your graduate program.  It is an honor and privilege to be part of their education, even though I do such a small part.  I'm reminded of the apostle Paul's words to the Thessalonians: For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?  For you are our glory and joy. Amen to that! After the conference, the department chair took me aside and shared with me the results from the latest standardized testing of the senior biology majors.  The test splits up their scores in four categories: cell, organismal, genetics, and evolution.  To my absolute delight, Bryan College students...

The call for abstracts for Origins 2014 is now available at the Creation Biology Society website .  Plans for this years conference have taken longer than anticipated, and because of that, we've extended the abstract deadline to May 9, 2014 .  We'll soon be able to announce the venue and program, and I'm sure you'll agree that the delay was well worth it . What is Origins 2014?  It's the annual research conference of the Creation Biology Society and the Creation Geology Society.  Creation scientists from around the world gather every year to give updates and short presentations on their research.  This year, we're also planning a conference especially for the general public and a field trip to the spectacular Garden of the Gods!  This is a marvelous opportunity to hear the latest in creation research, meet and talk with prominent creation scientists, and fellowship with like-minded believers.  We'll have registration information available very soon...

It seems I caused some confusion with my previous post on the situation at Bryan College , and I need to clarify the meaning of that post.  Please understand that I'm not changing or amending that post; I am merely explaining the original authorial intent. Since posting, I have been congratulated on joining the teaching faculty at the college, and I was criticized for swooping in like a vulture to pick up a job "while the bodies are still warm." When I wrote that I was going to offer to "help," nonspecific help was the entirety of my offer.  I never intended to seek full-time employment as a teaching professor.  My current work with Core Academy of Science is more than a full-time job right now, and I am committed to developing that ministry.  The Core Academy board wants me to phase out of part-time teaching and work without distraction for the ministry.  My board's wishes were another motivation for not wanting to offer my help to the college (besid...

Here's my contribution to the Core Academy March newsletter: A great deal has been said recently about statements of faith,  especially how those statements specify - or don't - the details of God's creation.  Faith statements serve a variety of purposes.  They can positively define the beliefs of a group of people, or they can negatively state what is out of bounds for that group.  Most statements of faith do both.  Some statements help others understand exactly where certain institutions stand, while other statements are more of a minimal ideal to which a group strives.  Lots of statements go beyond the bare necessities of Christian faith and include points that help define a group's identity.  For example, a creationist organization will include points about creation, but a ministry to the poor might leave those points out in favor of clear declarations of human value and God's love. All of these functions are perfectly reasonable, and many hund...

A week or so after my conversation with Darrel Falk at the world famous Rhea County Courthouse, I received a very interesting email.  It opened with very nice words about how the author respected me, and then 90% of the email was spent informing me of how naïve I was and how awful Darrel is and how I really shouldn’t be fellowshipping with him.  My participation in those events with Darrel just makes it easier for gullible young people to accept theistic evolution.  At the very least, it makes it seem unfashionable to take a stand on creation. The line that really caught my eye was this:  “Truth has no fellowship with error.” I was ready to write off the rest of the email, but that sentence struck a chord, because I have had similar concerns.  I do think my work with Darrel is creating space for what I consider error, and that makes me nervous.  What will God say to me if I actively tolerate a grievously wrong view of origins and encourage others t...