Enrichment with Excellence

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the Frank Lewis family of Pekin, Illinois. This wonderful family publishes Home School Enrichment magazine, one of the very best publications for homeschoolers today.

Frank and Kari—plus their sons Matthew and Jonathan and Matthew’s new bride of only two months (Lisa)—drove here last Friday for two reasons:

First, they wanted to tell me personally just how much the creation message has meant to them. Frank and Kari told me that way back in early ‘80s they were given a set of audio tapes from one of my very first U.S. tours and that those audio tapes impacted them so much that it changed the way they approached parenting and eventually led them to start the Home School Enrichment magazine together with their sons. It’s a true “family” business.

Second, they had heard wonderful things about the Creation Museum’s live nativity, Bethlehem’s Blessings, and wanted to experience it themselves. They sent me a note after their time here and said:

Ken, we just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our visit last weekend to the Creation Museum! The live nativity was excellent, and did a wonderful job of pointing to Jesus as the true Reason for the season. The entire evening was very enjoyable—we might have to make this a new Christmas tradition! God bless you and all of the staff at Answers in Genesis as you press on in your vital ministry!”

Dale Mason, our VP of Marketing & Media and the person in charge of publishing our Answers magazine, was brought up in Peoria (only a few miles from Pekin) and has really struck up a great relationship with the Lewises. In fact, Matthew Lewis credits Dale and his wife (Karen) for a very candid conversation about a year ago during which the Mason’s challenged him not to unnecessarily put off pursuing a life mate, since we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply so that the world will know the truth of the gospel of Christ. Matthew took their counsel to heart! His dear bride Lisa is proof!

It was really quite encouraging (and humbling) to hear how God has impacted the Lewis family through the creation/gospel message, especially in light of how they are now impacting the world so abundantly through their magazine, website, and the sons’ speaking ministries!

I encourage you to sign up for their free newsletter or subscribe to the bi-monthly magazine Home School Enrichment. It is excellent; it stands firmly on the Bible’s authority; and it even includes an article by me from time to time! You can subscribe or request a free sample. (If you’re interested in learning more about the story behind the Lewis family, see this page on their website.)

Five More Dates—Don't Miss Out!

I hope you are having a blessed Christmas week. On Saturday evening here at the Creation Museum, we resume our special Christmas program—Bethlehem's Blessings—that will run for five more dates: December 26, 28, and 29, and January 1 and 2. Several thousand people (including 2,200 on a snowy evening last Saturday) have already visited.

Of the many free events being held (most of them outside) is our dramatic presentation of a temple guard from 2,000 years ago, performed inside our Special Effects Theater. In the photo you see the guard—Hyam—sharing his story, beginning with his search for the “child born King of the Jews” and ending with his transformed life. Hyam is portrayed by ministry friend Deks Nordquist.

Deks performed the role of a Roman tribune during a special program for our staff last April. Last year during our Christmas programs, he played the part of a Roman centurion from 2,000 years ago.

Also free this Saturday (as well as Monday and Tuesday evenings of next week, plus January 1 and 2) is our live nativity, first-century marketplace re-creation, and our decorated gardens (beautifully lighted with 60,000 outdoor lights). There is a cost to enter the museum exhibits and the planetarium (with its wonderful program “The Christmas Star”), but the museum admission is only $5 after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday (and also on Jan. 1 and 2)—the planetarium’s “The Christmas Star” is a separate paid admission. Bethlehem’s Blessings starts at 6:00 p.m., and ends at 9:00 p.m. (with the last guests entering the lighted gardens at 8:00 p.m.).

Go to this special website for details on what days Bethlehem’s Blessings will be held.

Devotion

The fruit of their thoughts

(Jeremiah 6:19) Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

We need the merciful control of the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ working in us to prevent the horror of our sinful thoughts from actually coming to fruition.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying, Ken