Does God Hear?

As a worship leader at my local church, I was interested as I read “Does God Hear?” While I believe the ultimate expression of a relationship with God is to worship Him, I also know that there have been excesses with how worship is practiced at some churches today. We worship not only to make a habitation for the Lord; it is also to prepare the hearts of the people to receive God’s Word, so that we can grow in our faith in Him.

Gaye A., Springfield, Illinois

Ken Ham’s article, “Does God Hear?” was excellent. We still sing the traditional hymns with their profound messages. However, we emphasize the importance of preaching God’s eternal Word. The Apostle Paul wrote, “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [not singing] to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21b).

David S., Canby, Oregon

Willing Servants

I thoroughly enjoyed the article, “What Is That in Your Hand?” (“Impact,” April–June, 2013). God can do things beyond our wildest dreams when we are willing to serve Him, regardless of the position. Willing servants are among the most important assets for any ministry.

Sara B., Lubbock, Texas

Watching TV with His Eyes Open

I am watching a [naturalistic] show on the Great Lakes, and until accepting Christ five years ago and subscribing to your magazine, I would have cheerfully believed everything they say. So thank you, thank you, thank you, for opening my eyes to the lies of the world, and the truth of Scripture.

David G., Kingport, Tennessee

Author Chat

Thank you so much for the encouraging time we had in the online chat on the Ice Age with Mike Matthews!

Sara B., Lubbock, Texas

Epigenetics Implications

I was intrigued by your epigenetics article “Inheriting More than Genes.” I’m hoping you can address the negative behaviors some of us engaged in before Christ came into our lives, which could show up in our children’s and grandchildren’s DNA as chemical tags and subsequent propensity for repeating these negative choices. We should examine each of our stupid choices with the accountability for our legacy.

Christian C., Email

Author’s Response: It’s really hard to link negative behaviors to their effects on DNA. That is not saying there is no effect but that the study of epigenetics is still in its infancy, and so it is difficult to make definitive links at this time.

The article by Dr. Purdom on epigenetics certainly introduces us to a new mechanism by which the behavior of an individual may be influenced by the behavior of his relatively recent forbears. Is this possibly a way in which God visits “the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:5; 34:7)?

John V., California

Author’s Response: This is unlikely based on the context. Exodus 20:5 is a continuation of verse 4, which is the third commandment, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.” The iniquity of the fathers upon the children seems to be referring to a spiritual legacy, not a physical legacy. If people make their own gods and follow after them, then it is very likely that their children, grandchildren, and future generations will do the same.

Woolly Beasts for a Wee Boy

I received my first issue of Answers and I find every article important and informative. All very well presented. I love the art of the two woolly beasts on the cover. Have been curious about them since I was a wee boy.

Patrick S., Email

The Age of the Grand Canyon

“Another View of the Grand Canyon” (“Perspective,” April–June, 2013) contains the sentence, “The radiometric dates for the volcanic rocks at Grand Canyon actually demonstrate that the first and last sedimentary deposits of the canyon were laid about the same time.” The volcanic rock came after the sedimentary deposits, forcing its way up from deep within the earth, through the sedimentary rock, to the surface. The fact that this volcanic rock passes through the sedimentary rock in no way demonstrates that the sedimentary deposits were laid about the same time.

Tim A., Boise, Idaho

Dr. Andrew Snelling’s Response: The lava that flowed on top of the sedimentary layers dates the same radiometric age as the lava that appears at the base of all these layers. If the lava flowed from the same source both before and after the sediment and yields the same age, then we can conclude that the sediment was all laid at the same time, too—during the year of the Flood.

Submit Your Photos . . . For Publication!

Have you snapped the most amazing shot of God’s creation, and you wish others could see? Now is your chance! Beginning next issue, we’ll print the “winning” photo on an 11 x 17 wall poster. Any great shot from nature—from microscopic to macroscopic—could win! For details, visit www.answersmagazine/readerphotos.