Educate For Life with Kevin Conover

This week Kevin talks with Rabbi Joel Liberman, who in one important respect is different from most rabbis: he recognizes Jesus Christ as the Messiah whom God sent for the Jews and the world.  Joel is a prominent member of the Messianic Jewish movement, and has been a part of it for the past 28 years.  He has held leadership positions in multiple Messianic organizations (such as the MJAA and IMJA), has written multiple Bible commentaries from that perspective, and is the leader of a Messianic Congregation.

Kevin and Joel talk about a variety of topics related to Messianic Judaism, from its roots in the New Testament to the current issues faced by modern-day Israel.  Joel explains what is at stake for Jews who turn to Jesus, as well as why and how Messianic Jews honor their heritage during their Saturday congregational meetings.  They also discuss the Old Testament prophecies that reveal Jesus to be the true Messiah—some of which are no longer even read in Jewish synagogues.  Joel makes a powerful case that all people, whether Jew or Gentile, must turn to the Messiah of God and be saved.

Rabbi Joel Liberman’s congregation meets Saturdays at 10 AM. Visit their website at TreeofLifeCA.org.

“What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.”  —Romans 3:1-2

This episode first aired on July 26th, 2015.

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

Slavery is undoubtedly one of humanity’s ugliest inventions, yet it is found within the pages of Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments.  Many people, from plantation owners to secular humanists to President Barack Obama, have alleged that the Bible explicitly supports this dehumanizing institution.  How should Christians respond to such an accusation?

This week Kevin looks at data both inside and outside the Bible to cast some light on the issue.  What is the connection between slavery and finances, and what does this mean for modern-day America?  When the Bible refers to slavery, does it mean the same sort of thing that occurred in America before the civil war?  Does the New Testament affirm that slavery is OK?

Kevin examines specific laws God gave to Israel concerning slavery and compares them with surrounding nations of the time, revealing God’s intention to make this ubiquitous practice far more humane.  Then he examines references to slavery in the New Testament, including Paul’s personal appeal to a slave owner in his letter to Philemon.  Throughout this episode it is made clear that God is not a cause of slavery; He is the one who sets captives free.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  —Galatians 3:28

This episode first aired on July 19th, 2015.

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

This week Kevin continues to examine the tough issue of sexuality by talking with Joe Dallas, an expert on sexual addiction and homosexuality.  Dallas is an author, conference speaker, and ordained pastoral counselor.  His writings have been featured in both Christian and secular media (such as The Christian Research Journal and The Los Angeles Times), and he has made appearances on a variety of television programs (ABC Evening News, The Joan Rivers Show, and others). Joe has a Masters Degree in Christian counseling and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.  He is the program director of Genesis Biblical Counseling, a ministry that helps men deal with sexual addiction.

Joe’s life is a fascinating story that makes him uniquely qualified to speak on issues of sexual identity.  In his youth he experienced attraction to both men and women, and lived a promiscuous bisexual lifestyle before becoming a Christian.  Even after he came to God, it took Joe years to leave his lifestyle behind.  From 1978-1984 he worked at a pro-gay church, was a homosexual activist, and believed that homosexuality and Christianity are compatible.  A change occurred when he realized that he wasn’t really listening to what the Bible had to say about the issue, but was projecting his own opinions onto it.  In order to truly start following God’s leading, he moved to a new city and got involved in a Bible-believing church.  After accepting the truth about his lifestyle Joe took a huge step of faith: regardless of what sort of feelings and attractions he would have in the future, regardless of whether he would ever have another relationship, and regardless of whether he would ever marry or have a family, Joe decided to submit his sexuality to God and stop practicing the homosexual lifestyle.

After living in obedience to God, Joe was fortunate enough to meet a woman he was attracted to, and she became his wife.  However, Joe acknowledges that not all people with homosexual attraction will have the same experience; others turn to God and never have a change in their attractions.  As Kevin and Joe discuss the issue of sexual identity, a central idea emerges: each person’s sexual desires and experiences are different, but anyone can choose to honor God through their lifestyle and behavior.  Joe shares his perspectives on a variety of related issues, such as how Christian parents should react if their child comes out as homosexual, and what the church should do to reach out to homosexual communities.  Through it all, Joe shows that shows that God is loving, and because of this he calls us to be holy.  Though sexuality is complex, it can also be manageable, even after one has fallen into addiction.

Visit Joe’s website at JoeDallas.com for more info on the counseling resources and services he has to offer.

This episode first aired on July 12th, 2015.

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

This week Kevin talks with Ray Comfort, Founder and CEO of Living Waters Publications.  Ray discusses his latest movie, Audacity, which focuses on the controversial topic of homosexuality.

Unlike Ray’s previous films, Audacity is not a documentary, but a scripted “Hollywood movie” with professional actors.  The movie follows the story of a stand-up comedian who finds himself increasingly confronted by supporters of homosexuality, and faces the challenge of lovingly voicing his own convictions rather than giving into the pressure to remain silent.

Though the movie is fictional, the subject matter is all to real: in light of the recent Supreme Court decision it is already becoming more difficult for Christians to hold to biblical principles, and many are capitulating.  After talking with Ray, Kevin discusses various scientific, social and medical issues related to the subject of homosexuality in order to address some of the toughest questions and objections Christians face.

Audacity is available for download now on AudacityMovie.com, and it will premier for free on YouTube on August 19th.  For more resources, visit Ray’s website LivingWaters.com.  You can view his previous documentary films (such as Evolution vs. God and Noah) and many other videos on the Living Waters YouTube channel.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  —John 3:17

This episode first aired on July 5th, 2015.

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

“I’ve never met a woman who regretted having her child; but I’ve met many women who regretted having an abortion.” —Heidi Cessna, CAPS

This week Kevin talks with Julie Dowler and Heidi Cessna of College Area Pregnancy Services (CAPS), a licensed medical clinic that serves women who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies.  CAPS provides pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, information about all the options, and counseling for those who have suffered as a result of abortion.  All of these services are free of charge.

Julie started as a financial supporter and prayer partner of CAPS when it was founded in 1998.  She started working as a volunteer pregnancy counselor in 2000, and became the program director in 2004.  She was promoted to her current position of Executive Director in 2008.

Heidi is the nurse manager for CAPS.  She began her career as an RN at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, and started at CAPS as a volunteer receptionist.  She is currently working at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in labor and delivery.

Kevin talks with Julie and Heidi about what CAPS does for pregnant women and why their work is so important.  If you or someone you know, whether male or female, is unsure of what to do about a pregnancy, visit CAPSonline.org to learn about the options and make the best choice possible.  For more info about why abortion is wrong and how to talk about it, look at Stand to Reason’s SLED Test and Living Waters’ 180 Movie.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  —John 10:10

This episode first aired on June 28th, 2015.

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

Whose job is it to take care of the needy: the government, or the church?  In this episode Kevin talks with national black conservative leader Star Parker.  Parker is the founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), a think-tank devoted to creating market-based solutions to fight poverty.  She has spoken on more than 190 college and university campuses about anti-poverty initiatives.  In addition to these qualifications, she is intimately acquainted with the issues of poverty and welfare from experience: Star spent seven years of her life in and out of welfare dependency.

How did Star overcome her disadvantaged situation?  It turns out that the welfare system only caused her to remain dependent, and prevented her from working for fear that she would lose all of her support.  It wasn’t until she became involved in a church, which encouraged her to entrust her needs to God and release herself from the welfare system, that she was able to rise out of poverty.

To this day, Star believes that it is the church and not the government that can truly help the poor.  Government welfare is one-size-fits-all, but every impoverished person and family has different needs that only individual attention can address.  Kevin and Star discuss a variety of topics in a search for real solutions to this tough issue.

Go to UrbanCure.org to see what Star and her organization are doing to address current social issues.

This episode first aired on June 21st, 2015.

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

Do you really have to turn off your brain to believe the Bible?  It is a common myth that science and the Bible have always been in conflict, and the case of Galileo is often cited as proof.  But not only is Galileo’s story misinterpreted to fit this agenda (see here for an explanation); there are numerous examples of the Bible being surprisingly consistent with, or even ahead of, scientific knowledge.  In this episode Kevin goes over some of these examples to show that in reality, science the Bible are best friends forever.

What accurate scientific information can be found in the Bible?  For one, it acknowledges that the earth is resting on nothing (Job 26:7; yes it is supported by the invisible force of gravity, but it is not held up by any physical object).  It states that the heavens are stretching out (Psalm 104:2 among others, in line with the expansion of the universe), and that all of creation is wearing out and will one day pass away (Psalm 102:25-27, in line with the laws of thermodynamics).  The Bible has also recognized significant medical principles, such as the fact that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11; contrary to the once-scientific practice of bloodletting), the importance of washing the body and the hands (Leviticus 14:8-9 and others), and the practice of quarantining those with infectious diseases (Leviticus 13).

As Kevin demonstrates throughout the episode, Christians do not have to worry about whether science or the Bible is true; the Bible has repeatedly been vindicated, once science catches up to it.

This episode first aired on June 14th, 2015.

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

A great ideological chasm exists between the godlessness of Hollywood and the convictions of Christianity.  How can believers bridge that gap to make a difference in the entertainment industry? Kevin talks with Dr. Larry Poland, who has had the rare privilege of ministering directly to the industry’s top executives for over 30 years.  From his extensive experience, Dr. Poland shares what what works and what doesn’t when it comes to Christians expressing their concerns about movies and television.

Dr. Poland explains that anger-fueled protests are just what the industry leaders expect from the Christian community—and it doesn’t phase them.  Rather than inspire them to take the feelings of millions of Christian consumers into consideration, this type of reaction only confirms their belief that Christians are generally irrational, hateful people.  But there is one response that does make a difference: unconditional love.  As Dr. Poland states, this is the offense for which there is no defense.  The entertainment industry is led by powerful people who have a great influence on society, but they are ultimately human beings who need to be reached with the love of Jesus Christ just as much as anyone else.  You can learn more about Dr. Poland’s perspectives on this critical issue at his website, MasterMediaIntl.org, and in his recent book Chasm: Crossing the Divide Between Hollywood and People of Faith.

This episode first aired on June 7th, 2015.

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

This week Kevin talks to Christian microscopist Mark Armitage.  After discovering unfossilized dinosaur tissues, Armitage was suspiciously dismissed from his position as Manager for the Electron and Confocal Microscopy Suite at California State University, Northridge.  His scientific resume is impressive: Armitage has a BS in education, an MS in biology, and an Ed.S. in science education.  He has contributed micrographs and scholarly articles to scientific journals, and has taught at both Azusa Pacific University and CSUN.  Armitage contends that he was terminated not for his performance, but for his religious views, and is in the process of suing for wrongful termination.

What’s the big deal about soft dinosaur tissues?  The scientific establishment knows what is at stake with this issue, which is why other scientists (such as Mary Schweitzer) have offered feeble attempts to explain it away.  As Armitage puts it, “If these fossils, these bones scattered across the earth are full of soft tissues, then they have to be young.  And if they’re young, the deposits that they’re found in are young.  And if the deposits are young, then the earth is young.  And if the earth is young, suddenly Genesis becomes a believable account of real history, and that’s what the evolutionists are fearing.”  Kevin and Mark talk about the scientific implications of these discoveries, and why they are significant to the gospel.

Find out what Mark is up to at his blog, facebook, and youtube pages.  You can also look at his personal facebook and youtube accounts.  Consider supporting his GoFundMe campaign to help him run his personal microscopy lab, so that he can continue to research soft dinosaur tissues.

This episode first aired on May 31st, 2015.

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

Back in June 2008, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed the Louisiana Science Education Act into law, allowing public school science teachers to include information about Creationism in their lessons.  In May 2015, he announced that he was launching an exploratory committee to determine whether he will be making a bid for the presidency in 2016.  According to one Slate writer, the connection between these two events is clear: though Governor Jindal majored in biology at Brown University (and therefore knows better), he decided to abandon real science and embrace Creationism to gain support from conservatives and advance his political career.

To many people, it’s as simple as that: if you aren’t stupid or ignorant enough to actually fall for Creationism (which Governor Jindal can’t be, given his education), then you must only be pretending to believe it due to ulterior motives.  But is it possible that a person’s decision to move from evolution to Creationism could be an intellectually honest one, based on sound evidence?  That’s exactly what happened to Dr. John C. Sanford, PhD geneticist and Cornell University professor, who rejected evolution after spending decades at the top of his field.  He reasons for doing so are detailed in his excellent book Genetic Entropy.  This week Kevin takes a look at the inescapable genetic evidence for Creationism as explained by Dr. Sanford.  If Creationists are the dogmatic ones, why do proponents of evolution go to such great lengths to prevent alternate ideas from getting any public hearing?

This episode first aired on May 24th, 2015.

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