Dr Michael LeFebvre,. author of The Liturgy of Creation: Understanding Calendars in Old Testament Context, sits down with Kristine Johnson and John James Kirkwood to discuss the controversies over the creation accounts in The Bible and why are still talking about them. Is there a "plain reading" of the text? What can we learn from Israel's ancient Holy Days in relation to creation narratives? Is it more likely that the creation narrative is an historical account or are there sacred rhythms of labor and worship hidden in a liturgical approach? Michael LeFebvre is a pastor and a Bible scholar. He received his PhD in Hebrew Bible from the University of Aberdeen, he was ordained through the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and he served for seven years as an adjunct professor of Old Testament studies with the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is an active member of the Center for Pastor Theologians and presently works in human resources while in a ministry transition. He and his wife, Heather, live in Indianapolis and have five teenage and adult children. Purchase Michael's book: The Liturgy of Creation: Understanding Calendars in Old Testament Context, at our Amazon affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/44f6wI9

Dr. Mary Schweitzer calls in to Voices in the Wilderness to speak about Faith and Science.

At the age of 5 she announced to her brother and his friends that she was going to be a Paleontologist. And then, as she puts it, “Life got in the way.” After a long and winding road, Mary Schweitzer eventually got there. Since receiving her PhD in Biology from Montana State University in 1995 she, along with her mentor and colleague, Jack Horner, have turned the world of Paleontology upside down ushering in a whole new set of tools and a series of firsts.

Currently Dr. Schweitzer is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University and an Associate Researcher for the Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University.

Dr. Schweitzer was the first scientist to identify the gender of a dinosaur, even showing that a T-Rex named Bob, was actually a female and pregnant at the time of her demise. Dr. Schweitzer was also the first to identify and isolate soft tissue in an ancient fossil bone. Her work has ushered in the first real change in Paleontology in the last 300 years, her techniques are as ground-breaking as her presence and inspiration have been in smashing the glass ceiling for women in that field. Her influence has led to the developing field of Paleoproteomics, where Dr. Schweitzer has also discovered that iron particles may play a part in the preservation of soft tissue over geologic time.All in all, there’s something about Mary.

This episode first Streamed Live on April 2nd, 2023 here: https://youtube.com/live/ObKFcmrEHbs

Dr. Abram Bicksler, President/CEO of ECHO, joins Voices in the Wilderness to share how Science can help the poor and why Creation Care is a necessary component of the Gospel message for Christians. Dr. Abram Bicksler is the president of ECHO Global Farm and earned his Doctorate and Master’s degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a focus on sustainable cropping systems and completed his Bachelor’s degree at Taylor University in Environmental Science and Biology. As a leader and researcher, Dr. Bicksler has been published in a number of journals including: Experimental Agriculture; Agronomy for Sustainable Development; Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems; the Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education; Ecosystems and People; the International Journal of Development Research; and, the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, in addition to contributing to a number of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) publications. While at FAO, Bicksler guided agroecology and sustainable food systems initiatives in multiple regions of the world. Before serving in Rome, Bicksler led the ECHO Asia Impact Center’s international staff team, coordinated and implemented regional networking and training events, initiated research culminating in multiple published studies, planned and began execution of the ECHO Asia Small Farm Resource Center, and grew the capacity of the ECHO Asia Seed Bank.