“Either we let nature interpret the Bible for us . . or we let the Bible interpret nature for us:” Academic and producer Dr Grenville Kent on how the gospel redeems a fallen nature. Grenville spoke as part of Celebration of Creation at Avondale College of Higher Education this past weekend (May 13 and 14). Credit: Timothy Standish.
Fast break: Staff members and students returned from mid-semester recess to take another break from teaching and from study. Inter-faculty basketball replaced Forum on Avondale College of Higher Education’s Lake Macquarie campus, May 4, and it seemed the competition enhanced collegiality. Credit: Carly McCrow.
Slam dunk: Bachelor of Education (Secondary) student Brodie King jumps a table on his way to second place behind teaching classmate Ray Moaga in the slam dunk contest, part of Avondale Basketball Association’s All-Star Weekend. Other results: Rest of the World beat New South Wales (A-grade men); New South Wales beat Rest of the World (A-grade women); New Zealand (women) beat Balls Alls (men); and New Zealand and New South Wales beat Rest of the World (B-grade men and B-grade women). Credit: Chelsea Mitchell.
Drift4Christ: Leighton Smith shares his love for Christ through his love for drift racing, where drivers control a high-powered car while sliding it sideways through a course. He did more of the former rather than the latter at Forum on Avondale College of Higher Education’s Lake Macquarie campus this past week (May 11), although the car drew a crowd. Avondale is a sponsor of the Port Macquarie Seventh-day Adventist Church-based ministry. Credit: James Juma.
No proof He exists, but His existence helps make sense of life
Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church
God did it!
The Bible often makes this point about creation, but it never goes into much detail. For a few millennia, this didn’t matter. Come the scientific age, though, and we want the “how” question answered, despite the writers of the Bible never intending it to be a book about science.
This is the mistake 16th century German reformer Martin Luther made with a comment about one of his contemporaries, Copernicus. Copernicus claimed the sun, not the earth, was the centre of our solar system. “The fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside-down,” said Luther. “However, as Holy Scripture tells us, so did Joshua bid the sun to stand still and not the earth” (Joshua 10:12-15).
Copernicus was right, Luther was wrong. The Bible spoke to its first readers in terms they understood. We’re the ones who bring a different perspective to the text.
As a Creationist, I would love to have scientific evidence to conclusively prove God created. The closest we can get, with science, is to find evidence of the possibility.
Mind you, scientists (Creationists or not) have to be careful about how much they say about origins because they can quickly move from science to the philosophy of metaphysics for which there is no scientific methodology.
The honesty of Isaac Asimov, scientist and science fiction writer, is refreshing: “Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don’t have the evidence to prove that God doesn’t exist, but I so strongly suspect He doesn’t that I don’t want to waste my time.”
I so strongly suspect God does exist because, even though I don’t have the evidence to prove He exists, His existence is the only way I can make sense of life on Earth. That begins with His creation of our cosmos.
That’s why I say, God did it!
Four of the best: Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning quartet Ernie Haase + Signature Sound (from left: Ernie Haase; Devin McGlamery; Doug Anderson; and Ian Owens) spread the good news through gospel during a concert at Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church this past Saturday (May 7). The concert, part of the ensemble’s The Cathedrals-Influenced Tour and one of only three in Australia, sold out, even at $65 a ticket. Credit: Maneesha Walsh.
“Less is more:” This advertisement promotes the benefits of small class sizes at Avondale College of Higher Education. It is designed by Design Studio and Public Relations Practice students who attended a masterclass with lecturers Donna Pinter (graphic design) and Bruna Tawake (communication) on the process of producing a design brief. The class helped the students understand the benefits—and the challenges—of producing accurate briefs. It also required the students to work together—a trial, if you like, for second semester’s Jacaranda Banquet, the success of which both classes are responsible.
Avondale College of Higher Education