CSE Blogs

From: Kent Hovind
Sent: April 27, 2008
To: Peter
Subject: Obeying to the letter
First Read: Luke 5:1-9

KH: Excuse me, Mr. Peter. What happened to your net? Is it ruined?

Peter: Oh, it’s pretty badly ripped up, but I think I can fix it. These nets cost about 150 shekels, so we try to make them last as long as possible. We try to be real careful with them.

KH: If you are careful with the nets, then how did it get torn up so badly?

PT: Well…about an hour ago my partners and I were real discouraged. We had fished all night and caught nothing. We were tired and thinking of quitting. We were washing the nets right here on this rock. Then, that man over there talking to the crowd came by and changed my life.

KH: Who is he and what did he do?

PT: His name is Jesus. He came and got in my boat to preach to a huge crowd of people. We were washing the nets and listening to him preach. It was incredible! I’ve never heard anything like it. When he was done preaching, he told me to launch out into the deep and let down the nets.

KH: Did you do it?

PT: Well…yes and no. I did launch out, even though I told him we had tried already and failed. I let down one net, this one here actually, even though he had said “nets.” I don’t know why. Maybe it was laziness or lack of faith.

KH: So what happened?

PT: We immediately caught so many fish that it ripped the net! We filled both boats with the fish from one net. There were so many that the boats nearly sank! I tell you, Kent, I’ve been fishing this lake all my life and I’ve never seen or heard of anything like it before. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I had really obeyed and let down all the nets! Zebedee is taking the fish to market now.

KH: What are you going to do now?

PT: I’m gonna fix this net and then leave everything here with Zebedee. I’m quitting the fishing business for the right reason now. I’m gonna follow that man for the rest of my life. He told me that if I would follow Him, He would make me a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). If He can help us catch fish like this, I can’t wait to see how many men we catch!

KH: Peter, you won’t believe me if I told you how many men, women, and children’s lives will be saved by that man. Follow Him.

PT: Oh, I will and I’ll listen really carefully and obey to the letter next time. That “s” was important!

From: Kent Hovind
Sent: June 10, 2008
To: Biology Textbook Author
Subject: Evidence For Evolution?

KH: Excuse me, Mr. Biology Textbook Author. Now that it’s summer, I wonder if I could continue asking questions about your book.

Textbook Author (TA): Sure, I remember you. How else can I help?

KH: Well, I’d like to ask you about pages 15 – 16 where you list evidence for evolution. Do you have your book there with you?

TA: I’ll get it. Just a moment…all right, I’ve got page 15. “Evolution after Darwin: More Evidence.” Isn’t it amazing how Darwin has been proven right since his book came out in 1859.

KH: Well…quite a few major scientists over the years have disagreed that there is more evidence for evolution. Of course we need to define the word evolution. Everyone agrees that variation within kinds happens, but all human experience shows us that the variations have limits. Dogs always produce dogs.

TA: That’s true, but human experience and observations only go back about five thousand years. Given enough time, the small variations we observe could add up to major macroevolutionary change. That’s why I put “The Fossil Record” and “The Age of the Earth” as my first two entries. It takes billions of years for evolution to happen; so, we don’t really see it in a human lifetime. We have to get evidence from fossils.

KH: But I see several problems there. First, fossils are dead. They can’t evolve at all. Second, why should anyone believe an animal in the past could do something animals today cannot do—produce something other than their kind? Third, there really is no “fossil record,” there are just billions of fossils. It is modern man who puts his interpretation on them. They don’t talk, they don’t reproduce, and they don’t evolve. They also don’t have dates on them telling us when they lived. The very existence of fossils indicates rapid catastrophic burial worldwide. Nearly all indicate burial in waterborne sediments. It looks to me like fossils are great evidence for a worldwide flood just like the Bible and three hundred cultures tell us about.

TA: Oh, no! All scientists know the Bible is a myth. It’s true that fossils rarely form today, but over billions of years with millions of local floods, the fossil record could be created.

KH: How would you explain the petrified trees that are standing up and running through many layers that are said to represent millions of years? (Seminar Part 4)

TA: That is a hard one to explain, but all scientists believe in evolution over millions of years; so, we know it is true. Anyone who would question that would be EXPELLED from teaching or doing research (Seminar Part 7).

KH: You mentioned that “the discovery of other fossils has supported Darwin’s predictions and has shed light on how organisms, over this enormous time span of 3.5 billion years, have evolved from simple to complex.” To what specific fossils are you referring?

TA: Well, I cover those in chapter 21.

KH: I’m looking in chapter 21 on page 441. Are you aware that the ambulocetus was made from very few bone fragments and many experts do not think it is a missing link at all? (Seminar Part 4B)

TA: I didn’t know that.

KH: Even if it were a missing link, going from legs to no legs is losing, not gaining. Is that how evolution works, by losing things? Isn’t that the opposite of the type of evidence you need?

TA: But the whale still has small leg bones in his abdomen today. You can see them on page 451.

KH: Those are not leg bones. Those bones are used in mating. Special muscles attach to those bones. Whales must mate under water, in the dark with no hands. People who study whale anatomy know the bones differ in male and female whales and are part of the reproduction system, not useless leg bones. We have one of the bones in our museum at Dinosaur Adventure Land.

TA: I didn’t know that. But there is still fossil evidence of horse evolution from four-toed to one-toed over millions of years. You can see the graph on page 443.

KH: I can’t believe you are still using that as evidence and even devote two entire pages to it (pages 442-443). Don’t you know that was all proven wrong in 1950? (See Evolution Handbook pages 744-751 and see Seminar Part 4)

TA: I didn’t know that either. What about the fossil evidence for the evolution of oysters I show on page 441? There are billions of fossil oysters.

KH: That’s true, and they are all identical oysters to those found today. The sorting of oysters by size in the rock layers is best explained by a huge flood just like the one described in the Bible (Seminar Part 6). They certainly don’t show any evolution of oysters into any other kind of animal.

TA: So what fossil evidence is there for evolution?

KH: I don’t think there is any at all.

TA: But what about all the other evidence for evolution?

KH: I have to go now, but I’ll get with you later about the other things on page fifteen.

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From: Kent Hovind
Sent: May 26, 2008
To: Agabus
Subject: Can doing right bring suffering?
First Read: “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar” (Acts 11:28). Also read Acts 21:10-14.

KH: Excuse me, Mr. Agabus. What’s going on here?

Agabus: I’m helping Paul and Luke pack their stuff. They are headed for Jerusalem. He’s over there talking with Philip and his four daughters (Acts 21:8-9). I came down here to deliver a message to Paul.

KH: What was the message?

AG: God told me to tell him that he would be bound and delivered to the Gentiles if he went to Jerusalem (Acts 21:11).

KH: If you know he will be arrested, why are you helping him pack?

AG: I delivered my message like God said and Paul still feels called to go, so “the will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:14).”

KH: But the Gentiles will not understand his message and may kill him!

AG: God didn’t tell me to tell him not to go, only that he would be bound. God shows me things sometimes. Several years ago God showed me there would be a great dearth in the land (Acts 11:28), so we all saved up to be able to send help to the brothers in Judea. That’s how I got to know Paul (Acts 11:30). I love him like a brother. He’s a great man of God.

KH: Then why don’t you stop him from going to Jerusalem?

AG: It may be God’s will for him to go. I just know he will be arrested if he goes. Was it God’s will for Joseph in Egypt to be arrested?

KH: I wrestled with that one. God used it for His glory, but that doesn’t mean it was His will.

AG: How about Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They suffered at the hands of the heathen, yet God used it.

KH: I know. I don’t see any way to answer the questions about why doing right sometimes brings seemingly bad consequences.

AG: Everyone wrestles with that one. Look what happened to John the Baptist (Matthew 14, Mark 6).

KH: I know. Jesus said he was the greatest man born of women (Matthew 11:11), yet he spoke out against Herod’s sin and died for it. Was he wrong to speak out?

AG: I don’t know. I also don’t know if Paul is wrong in going to Jerusalem. I just know he’s in for suffering.

KH: So what do you do now?

AG: I told him what God sent me to say. Paul is a great man who loves God. He’s my friend. I will love him, help him pack, and keep quiet about the trip (Acts 21:14). He’s in God’s hands. If I bug him about it, it will just ruin our relationship.

KH: Good advice, Agabus. Hard to follow, but good advice.

From: Kent Hovind
Sent: May 13, 2008
To: Dad
Subject: The Patient Love of the Father
First read: James 1:5 – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

GOD: Good morning, Son!

kh: Good morning, Lord. Lord…why did Bob answer me so rudely last night? I just asked him a simple question and he went crazy! Does he talk to his wife and kids that way at home?

GOD: Yes, Son, he does and that’s one main reason why his family avoids him and is falling apart. Let’s go for a walk, Son. I’ll show you….

kh: OK, Lord! I recognize this place. It’s 216 Willow St. in East Peoria, Illinois. I grew up in that little house.

GOD: Go follow that boy, Son, and listen carefully to what happens next.

Seven-Year-Old Boy: Hey, Daddy! What time is it?

Dad: Son, it’s time for me to quit fixing this lawnmower and take you with me to the dime store (five-to-ten-cent store in Morton, Illinois).

Boy: Oh, wow! I love the dime store! Are Mark and Ross going too?

Dad: No, Son. It’s just you and me. I’ll go tell Mom….

Boy: Wow! Just us? What are we getting, Daddy?

Dad: It’s a surprise. Hop in the VW bug…I’m sure proud of you, Son. Mom said you cleaned your room real well this morning and remembered to feed the dog. You are a great son to have. I sure love you.

Boy: I love you too, Daddy. What’s the surprise?

Dad: Be patient, Son. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Hey, how’s your coin collection coming?

Boy: It’s great, Daddy. I found a 1909, but it’s not an S-VDB. I keep looking, though.

Dad: Those are real rare, Son. They didn’t make very many and they are worth a lot of money. I hope you find one. I’ll bring you a few more rolls of pennies when I go to the bank this Friday…OK, Son, we’re here. Let’s go inside and get the surprise.

Boy: What is it, Daddy? Give me a clue, please!

Dad: OK. One clue. It’s an answer to your question, Son.

Boy: What question, Daddy?

Dad: You’ll see, Son. Let’s walk over here to the jewelry case…all right, Son, pick out a watch. Which one looks good to you?

Boy: Wow, my own watch! I like the one with Superman.

Dad: All right, Son. Superman it is. Let’s go pay for it and head for home. That will answer your question.

Boy: What question, Daddy?

Dad: Well, you asked me what time it was, remember?

Boy: Oh, yes. I remember now.

Dad: Well, my dad said, “When a boy asks that question, it’s time to get a watch,” so there you go. Now, you tell me, Son, what time is it?

Boy: It’s two o’clock, Daddy. Thanks!

Dad: Thank you, Son. Let’s go home.

GOD: OK, Kent, let’s go. Did you see it, Son?

kh: Oh, yes, Lord! I remember that day. I was so proud to have my own watch. You sure gave me a great dad!

GOD: Did you see how he answered your question about what time it was?

kh: Yes, Lord. He did that kind of thing all the time. I don’t recall him ever scolding me for asking a question. He was kind and patient with his answers even when my questions were stupid or annoying. I loved asking him about everything and letting him teach me. I really had a great childhood and learned a lot.

GOD: Did you grow up thinking your dad was generally pleased with you or generally displeased with you?

kh: Oh, that’s easy. I felt he was pleased with me most of the time. It gave me freedom and made me want to please him and talk with him about anything and everything.

GOD: I designed the family so kids would have a close loving relation with their daddy to get a picture of their relation with Me. Do you go through life thinking I’m generally pleased with you or generally displeased with you?

kh: Oh, that’s easy too. I’m well aware of when I sin, but I feel that you are generally pleased with me.

GOD: I am, Son. You transferred that feeling from your childhood. That’s how it should be. Bob didn’t have that, Son. His dad often gave him angry or smart-aleck answers when he asked questions. Bob went through life feeling his dad was displeased with him because he usually was. He learned to avoid him and not ask questions. Sadly, he treats his wife and children—and just about everyone else—the same way. He answered you roughly last night because that’s all he knows. He feels that by putting people down it lifts him up somehow. It doesn’t work very well, does it, Son?

kh: No, Lord, it makes me want to avoid him.

GOD: It makes most people want to avoid him, Son. He also avoids Me because he thinks I will answer him like his earthly father did. He doesn’t understand James 1:5.

kh: Oh, Lord, I love that verse. You always answer our questions and never upbraid or scold us for asking. You have always been patient with me these last forty years. I love praying to You and asking You questions.

GOD: I do love you, Son, and I love hearing and answering your prayers.

kh: Thanks, Lord. Can I ask one now?

GOD: Sure, Son.

kh: Why did you let this happen, and when do I go home?

GOD: I know this hurts you, Son. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were hurting and wondering why for a while in John 11 as well. I don’t like to see My children suffer. It hurts Me (John 11:33-35), but I had a good reason to allow it for a while.

kh: What was the reason, Lord?

GOD: How many people were healed in Matthew 12:15, Son?

kh: It doesn’t say, Lord. It just says a “great multitude,” so there must have been a lot of them.

GOD: There were, Son. Those healed from days of pain, suffering, and wondering why were all part of a bigger plan. It was for their good, your edification, and My glory. Many were saved because of that family, after I raised Lazarus (John 11:45; 12:9-11). You have asked Me many times to use you to bring people into My kingdom, haven’t you, Son?

kh: Oh, yes, Lord, thousands of times.

GOD: That’s what I’m doing, Son. This prison time will work out for your good and My glory, and many will be saved.

kh: Father…what time is it? How much longer?

GOD: Soon, Son. Soon. Go listen to Rush and get a tan. I’ve got your back.

From: Kent Hovind
Sent: May 12, 2008
To: Mary the sister of Lazarus
Subject: Why didn’t Jesus come?
First Read: John 11:1-20

KH: Hi, Mary. It looks like you are awfully depressed. What’s wrong?

Mary: Oh, it’s awful! I don’t understand how He could do such a thing. I thought He loved me. How could He let this happen? I don’t understand.

KH: What happened?

Mary: My brother Lazarus was sick (John 11:1) and we sent for Jesus (John 11:3). We know that He can do anything (Job 42:2). He has been coming to our house for a long time. He loved our brother, Lazarus (John 11:3), but He didn’t come when we sent for Him. We kept waiting and waiting and hoping, but my brother just got worse and finally died. Jesus could have stopped it all…but He didn’t. I can’t believe He allowed this to happen to our family.

KH: I’m so sorry to hear about your brother. Do you need anything around here, like food to feed the family? Mary: No, we have lots of mourners who have come, but we have plenty of food – thanks for asking. All I really need are answers right now. Why would Jesus delay His coming? We sent for Him four days ago. He was just up the Jordan River where John used to baptize (John 10:40-42). If He had come when we called for Him, my brother would not have died (John 11:21).

KH: I wish I could give you an answer. I’ve had the same question many times in my life. Jesus doesn’t always come when I call either. All I can give you are a few possible reasons to consider, but no definite answers.

Mary: I’d love to hear any options to consider.

KH: Well, obviously the first one would be that He was busy reaching other people where He was (John 10:42).

Mary: I’m sure He was, but He can heal people by remote without even coming. He’s done that many times before (Matt. 8:13, Matt. 15:28).

KH: Well, the second option is that He didn’t love Lazarus or care what happened to Him.

Mary: I don’t believe that for one minute. Jesus loved Lazarus (John 11:3,5). He came to our house often (Matt. 21:17, Mark 11:11). I can’t doubt His love.

KH: A third option is that He couldn’t do the job.

Mary: I don’t buy that either. Jesus is God in the flesh (John 1:1-14). I believe He can do anything.

KH: Then the only other option I can think of is…He loves you all very much, but He isn’t done yet and has a greater plan for His glory (John 11:4).

Mary: I guess that has to be it, but I can’t see how this can be part of it. Lazarus has been dead for four days now.

KH: Don’t some of the Jews have a belief that the spirit stays around for three days after a person dies?

Mary: Yes, they do.

KH: Maybe Jesus wants to destroy that myth.

Mary: But by now my brother’s body is beginning to decay.

KH: I thought you said Jesus could do anything.

Mary: I guess I did. So why am I doubting?

KH: You haven’t read the end of the chapter yet (John 11:21-45). It’s not over. Just wait and see what Jesus does. He usually shows up late by my clock, but on time by His.

Mary: OK, I’ll wait on the Lord.

KH: Good — I’ll check back this afternoon.