Educate For Life with Kevin Conover

The debate over the existence of God and the presence of evil is ages old. The greek philosopher Epicurus pondered this seeming contradiction. He wrote, “Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

In the modern age, this debate landed in a court of law. In 2007, a state senator sought an injunction against God for His many malicious acts. In his lawsuit, the senator claimed God has caused “widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants.” The judge eventually dismissed the case because the Almighty could not be properly notified of the lawsuit because of his unlisted home address.

Today, that debate continues on Kevin Conover’s Educate For Life radio show. He is joined by guests Clay Jones and Sean Taylor. Clay Jones is a professor at Biola university and is writing a book, Why God Allows Evil, and speaks widely on that subject. Find him on the web at http://www.clayjones.net. Sean Taylor is an active member of the secular humanist, skeptic and atheist communities in Southern California including the San Diego Coalition of Reason.

Tune in to this engaging discussion and debate on this important and age old topic.

This episode first aired on May 14th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

What if your son came home one day and told you he was locked in a room for an hour and forced to pray to Jesus. In today’s politically correct world you might think this would never happened, but in fact it has. The young boy’s parents were so outraged they sought to get all christian clubs banned from the school. The school fearing a lawsuit prevented the club from reforming for months.

Join Kevin as he talks with guest Nate Landis, who is here to tell you how this club fought back and eventually earned reinstatement. Nate Landis is President and founder of Urban Youth Collaborative. His passion is to share how Jesus brings hope, healing, and purpose into hurting lives. He is an ordained minister and evangelist in the Presbyterian Church (USA) who speaks often at churches, schools, and conferences. He has a B.A. in Sociology and Youth Ministry, M.Div. in Urban Ministry Emphasis, and a Ph.D. in Religion & Ethics.

Learn how you can get involved with Urban Youth Collaborative in your community or public school. Visit http://uyc.org/get-involved/.

This episode first aired on May 7th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

In this unaired bonus episode of Educate For Life with Kevin Conover, Kevin speaks with Dumisani Washington. Dumisani is the founder of the IBSI (Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel) and author of Zionism & the Black Church: Why Standing With Israel Will Be a Defining Issue for Christians of Color in the 21st Century. He presents his views on why it is important for all American Christians to support the modern state of Israel, and the Black church in particular. Kevin and Dumisani talk about some of the misinformation that the enemies of Israel have circulated in their attempts to delegitimize it as a state, especially the idea that zionism is equivalent to racism. Dumisani explains why the black church can identify with the people of Israel, and why all Christians must defend the only safe place for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Middle East.

To learn more about Dumisani and his book Zionism and the Black Church, visit IBSI-now.org.  You can learn more about how US Christians can support Israel by visiting Christians United for Israel (CUFI.org), the largest pro-Israel organization in the US.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Not long ago, the debate between creation and evolution was almost entirely one-sided—at least in the scientific sense. Although Christians long opposed the evolutionary explanation of life on Scriptural grounds, they had no answers to any of the scientific arguments. That is, until Dr. Henry Morris published The Genesis Flood in 1961. This book became, as Dr. Steven Jay Gould commented, the “founding document of creationism,” and Dr. Morris the founder of the modern scientific creationist movement.

In this episode Kevin talks with Dr. Morris’ son, Dr. Henry Morris III, about his father’s legacy, the ongoing success of the Institute for Creation Research, and other issues relating to creationism. They discuss current creation research projects, the future and challenges of creationism in the church, and more.

In addition to the many free resources they offer on ICR.org, the Institute for Creation Research provides creationism training at special conference events.  One such event will take place at Calvary Chapel in Oceanside this October, and feature leading creation scientists Dr. Henry Morris III, Dr. Jason Lisle and Dr. Jake Hebert.  Don’t miss out on such a great opportunity!  Visit ICR’s event page for more information.

This episode first aired on April 30th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

A 13 year old boy told a school counselor that he felt he should not have to go to church three times a week with his parents.  The counselor called for an “emergency removal” of the boy from his home.  At a subsequent hearing the judge mandated that his parents only take him to church once a week to retain custody of their son.

This scenario occurred not under a communist regime or in a George Orwell novel, but in modern-day America.  It is just one example (albeit an extreme one) of the government undermining parental rights.  This week Kevin talks with Michael Farris, President of ParentalRights.org and Chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association.  Michael is a constitutional lawyer (and the litigator on the above case) devoted to the issue of parental rights.  He explains how the government has given itself the ability to take rights away even from responsible, non-abusive parents, and what we must do to correct this injustice.

When our nation was founded, the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children was so obvious that it didn’t require mentioning in the Bill of Rights (c.f. the 9th Amendment).  Today, however, this sense is not as common.  That is why Michael is leading the charge, and garnering support from people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and political affiliations, to add a parental rights amendment to the Constitution.

For more information and to sign the petition for the amendment, visit ParentalRights.org.  You can learn more about this issue from two free 30-minute documentaries: Overruled and Building the Machine.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” -2 Corinthians 3:17

This episode first aired on April 23rd, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Ultimately, it’s not up to a church, youth pastor, Christian school, or anyone else to make sure that your kids are strong enough in their faith to face the world’s challenges: it is your responsibility.

Many parents feel that when it comes to teaching their children to answer the faith’s more difficult questions, either they don’t have time, or they don’t know how to bring up the topic, or they don’t feel up to the task themselves. That’s why Natasha Crain, a Christian mom and blogger turned apologist, wrote her book “Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith.” In this episode of Educate For Life with Kevin Conover, Natasha and Kevin discuss her book and the importance of parents training up their children in the ways of God. “Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side” can help any Christian parent introduce some of the most difficult topics to their children, from the problem of evil to slavery in the Bible. Check out Natasha’s website, ChristianMomThoughts.com, to buy the book and read her articles on many Christian parenting topics!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

This episode first aired on April 16th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

This week Kevin talks to psychologist Dr. Julie Hayden, Dean of the Graduate School of Behavior Sciences at Southern California Seminary.  Julie is trained not only in psychology, but also in religious studies (in which she has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s).  This dual focus enables her to approach psychology from a Biblical perspective, in order to best understand how God has designed humans to function.  It also allows her to understand how certain behaviors, such as pornography abuse, are harmful to both individuals and families.

Maintaining a family is never easy, but it’s much harder when a member struggles with something like addiction (whether drugs or pornography), PTSD, or infidelity.  However, as traumatic as they are, even these issues can be overcome: with the proper methods, there can be healing.  But how do you confront a loved one about something so sensitive, and how can you be sure that they will make a lasting change instead of just ending up back where they started?  To answer these and other questions, Dr. Julie Hayden is hosting the second annual Family Conference at Mapleview Baptist Church, from April 22-23.  For more information and to sign up in advance, visit FamilyConference.info).  You can also check out Julie’s website, GoRhombus.com, for information on other events and training opportunities.

This episode first aired on April 9th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

One of the most dreaded responsibilities of any parent is that of talking to their child about sex.  Aside from the general awkwardness of the topic, it feels as though bringing it up will spoil a child’s innocence.  However, if parents aren’t proactive in teaching their children a biblical perspective on human sexuality, the world will be all too eager to fill their heads with harmful misinformation.  And with children having more and more internet access from increasingly younger ages, they will almost certainly be exposed to the worst teacher of all: internet pornography.

This week Kevin talks to Luke Gilkerson, a Christian author, co-founder (with his wife) of the family website IntoxicatedOnLife.com, and an 8-year employee of Covenant Eyes.  Luke is all too aware of the dangers of pornography: he was addicted to it for years.  After countless attempts (many halfhearted) to give up porn left him believing he could never truly change, Luke was finally able to escape its clutches with the help of a godly mentor who believed in him.  A few years later he connected with Covenant Eyes through his wife’s church, and spent the next 8 years helping them achieve their mission.

Covenant Eyes is an internet accountability and content filtering service.  It was created both to protect children and adults from viewing internet pornography, but just as importantly, to start dialogues within families about internet usage and Christian values.  Visit CovenantEyes.com to see how their software can benefit your family!  And at Luke’s website, IntoxicatedOnLife.com, you can find a variety of helpful resources, including tools to help you discuss the important issue of sexuality with your children.

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” –Job 31:1

This episode first aired on April 2nd, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Does the geologic evidence really prove an ancient Earth, or can a biblical perspective do a better job of explaining our world’s features?  This week Kevin’s guest is research geologist Dr. Steve Austin.  He may not be a stone-cold wrestler, but he does know a lot about rocks.  You may think geology sounds boring, but Steve could prove you wrong: he recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and has visited many other exotic and beautiful locations for his research (especially the Grand Canyon).

Steve talks to Kevin about some of the evidence he’s uncovered for biblical history throughout his long and productive career.  Where did the Grand Canyon come from, since it clearly wasn’t formed by the Colorado River (as secular geologists are now admitting)?  Why are there so many marine fossils in completely inappropriate places, like deserts and high mountains?  Could there be evidence that there really was an earthquake when Jesus was crucified, as the Bible says?  Steve addresses these questions and more while also sharing about his personal journey, from a rock-loving kid in a secular home to a Biblical Creationist and research geologist.

Steve doesn’t hog all the adventure for himself!  He also runs a program called Creation Adventures, where anyone can sign up to go on a geologic expedition.  In May of 2017 he is leading a 7-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that will explore the evidence for Noah’s Flood.  Visit CreationAdventures.com to get more information and sign up!

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” –Hebrews 12:28-29

This episode first aired on March 26th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Many people can name a specific reason why they became a Christian, but how many would say the reason is “math”? Probably very few, and Douglas Ell is one of them.  Kevin talks to Doug about his recent book Counting to God, in which he explains how mathematical analysis of the scientific evidence over several decades finally persuaded him to change from atheism to Christianity.  For Doug, it wasn’t moral arguments, spiritual feelings, or difficult life circumstances that brought him to God.  He needed hard evidence, and that’s just what he found.  Kevin and Doug discuss this evidence, from biology (the fact that so many organisms have completely unique and functional DNA code with no evolutionary history) to quantum mechanics (the existence of measurable, physical phenomena that defy the laws of physics) and beyond.  They show that God isn’t just a last resort to cover gaps in scientific knowledge: there are irrefutable positive evidences why He is absolutely necessary to understanding life and the universe.

After graduating from MIT with a double-major in mathematics and physics, Doug earned a Masters in Theoretical Mathematics before entering into field of law.  His long and successful career practicing law, combined with his training in mathematics and science, have made him the ideal person to examine both the evidence and arguments for (and against) God.  After repeatedly finding that the evidence points to God rather than away from him, Doug remarked to a colleague (Professor Peter Fisher, Head of MIT’s Department of Physics) that someone needed to write a book about this incredible information.  His colleague responded, “Why not you?”

The resultant work, Counting to God, is available at Doug’s website (CountingToGod.com) as well as from other booksellers.  It is a great tool for strengthening the faith of believers, as well as prompting unbelievers to think deeply about their worldview and the questions it raises.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” –John 1:1

This episode first aired on March 19th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/