God and Nature Spring 2024
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
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"By Sy Garte and Anikó Albert
Welcome to the Spring 2024 issue of God and Nature! We hope you’re enjoying the May flowers the April showers have brought—or, as in our case, look forward to the sunshine at the end of the May showers.
We start this issue with a passionate essay by Keith Miller about getting to know the geology and biology of God’s creation and where we humans fit into it. Andy Quick gives us an illuminating insight into the mathematical and metaphysical work of the brilliant and troubled mathematician Georg Cantor. Sid Niemeyer tells us the story of his pioneering career in nuclear forensics and how it transitioned into a very different field—writing fiction. John Carpenter takes us on a tour of Genesis hermeneutics with a sequel to his piece on “When was Day One?” from our Fall 2023 issue. Terry Defoe gives us a thoughtful essay on how sixteenth-century scholars at the University of Wittenburg helped to advance the Copernican theory of heliocentrism in the face of opposition from some in the Church, and what we can learn from their example. Beth Madison closes out the essays with an inspiring piece about turning in hope toward the light of faith as the resilient buttercup turns toward the sun.
Cheryl Grey Bostrom brings us a "Birds' Eye View" in her column On Camera- Scripture in Creation, about one of her favorite subjects, and Mike Clifford has written a moving tale of University life in his Across the Pond column.
We have two poems in this issue, Sonneteer Andrew Budek Schmeisser’s “The Choice,” and Julie Anderson’s “Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.” Finally, we have a beautiful original work of art by Donna O’Scolaigh Lange called “Summer Meadow,” from an original 14 x 11” painting.
In our creative news section, we are happy to mention a number of literary works by our authors and editors for this Spring season. Columnist Cheryl Grey Bostrom, a woman of many talents not limited to her inspiring photography, has just released her newest novel, Leaning on Air. Published by Tyndale House, this book has already received wide acclaim and is destined to put her firmly in the highest rank of Christian authors.
Editor Sy Garte’s second book, Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology (Kregel), was released in February and had a month-long run as the #1 Amazon bestseller for new releases in the Science and religion category. Contributor Sid Niemeyer published his first novel, Atomic Peril: A Nuclear Forensics Thriller (Quantum Publishing) in 2023. The book has gotten rave reviews from experts in the field of nuclear security as well as from bestselling suspense writers. Contributor Beth Madison’s book Well-Grounded: Cultivating Intimacy with God on agricultural principles and spiritual discipline was released from Northeastern Baptist Press in March 2024. And contributor Keith B. Miller will soon be publishing Life as Stewardship: A Bible Study Discussion Guide from Masthof Press: (Morgantown, PA). Watch for it later this year!
Finally, as co-chairs of the program committee for the 2024 Annual Meeting of the ASA, Mike Beidler (incoming Chair of the ASAs’ Executive Committee) and I (Sy) want to welcome you to Washington DC this summer. We expect a record turnout for this exciting annual meeting with top-notch plenary speakers (including Francis Collins) and a thrilling schedule of oral and poster presentations on the theme “Diversity of Divine and Human Endeavor.” Washington is of course a major tourist attraction, and we have a great list of field trips and sites to explore in the nation’s capital. Please check out the ASA website for details.
We pray that you enjoy this issue and consider making your own contributions to this magazine devoted to the harmony between God and Nature. Please use the submission page to send us your essays, poetry, photography, and artwork (after reading the instructions for authors, of course).
Sy Garte, Ph.D. Biochemistry, is Editor-in-Chief of God and Nature, and the author of “The Works of His Hands: A Scientist's Journey from Atheism to Faith”, (Kregel) and “Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology" (Kregel). He has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities and was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He blogs at The Book of Works, and his website is sygarte.com. Sy is Vice President of the Washington DC ASA Chapter, and a fellow of the ASA.
Anikó Albert grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and is a graduate of Eötvös Loránd University. A serial migrant, she taught English as a Foreign Language in her hometown, high-school Spanish in Kingston, Jamaica, and English and various subjects in Alameda, California. She is currently the Managing Editor of God and Nature, and Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland.
Welcome to the Spring 2024 issue of God and Nature! We hope you’re enjoying the May flowers the April showers have brought—or, as in our case, look forward to the sunshine at the end of the May showers.
We start this issue with a passionate essay by Keith Miller about getting to know the geology and biology of God’s creation and where we humans fit into it. Andy Quick gives us an illuminating insight into the mathematical and metaphysical work of the brilliant and troubled mathematician Georg Cantor. Sid Niemeyer tells us the story of his pioneering career in nuclear forensics and how it transitioned into a very different field—writing fiction. John Carpenter takes us on a tour of Genesis hermeneutics with a sequel to his piece on “When was Day One?” from our Fall 2023 issue. Terry Defoe gives us a thoughtful essay on how sixteenth-century scholars at the University of Wittenburg helped to advance the Copernican theory of heliocentrism in the face of opposition from some in the Church, and what we can learn from their example. Beth Madison closes out the essays with an inspiring piece about turning in hope toward the light of faith as the resilient buttercup turns toward the sun.
Cheryl Grey Bostrom brings us a "Birds' Eye View" in her column On Camera- Scripture in Creation, about one of her favorite subjects, and Mike Clifford has written a moving tale of University life in his Across the Pond column.
We have two poems in this issue, Sonneteer Andrew Budek Schmeisser’s “The Choice,” and Julie Anderson’s “Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.” Finally, we have a beautiful original work of art by Donna O’Scolaigh Lange called “Summer Meadow,” from an original 14 x 11” painting.
In our creative news section, we are happy to mention a number of literary works by our authors and editors for this Spring season. Columnist Cheryl Grey Bostrom, a woman of many talents not limited to her inspiring photography, has just released her newest novel, Leaning on Air. Published by Tyndale House, this book has already received wide acclaim and is destined to put her firmly in the highest rank of Christian authors.
Editor Sy Garte’s second book, Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology (Kregel), was released in February and had a month-long run as the #1 Amazon bestseller for new releases in the Science and religion category. Contributor Sid Niemeyer published his first novel, Atomic Peril: A Nuclear Forensics Thriller (Quantum Publishing) in 2023. The book has gotten rave reviews from experts in the field of nuclear security as well as from bestselling suspense writers. Contributor Beth Madison’s book Well-Grounded: Cultivating Intimacy with God on agricultural principles and spiritual discipline was released from Northeastern Baptist Press in March 2024. And contributor Keith B. Miller will soon be publishing Life as Stewardship: A Bible Study Discussion Guide from Masthof Press: (Morgantown, PA). Watch for it later this year!
Finally, as co-chairs of the program committee for the 2024 Annual Meeting of the ASA, Mike Beidler (incoming Chair of the ASAs’ Executive Committee) and I (Sy) want to welcome you to Washington DC this summer. We expect a record turnout for this exciting annual meeting with top-notch plenary speakers (including Francis Collins) and a thrilling schedule of oral and poster presentations on the theme “Diversity of Divine and Human Endeavor.” Washington is of course a major tourist attraction, and we have a great list of field trips and sites to explore in the nation’s capital. Please check out the ASA website for details.
We pray that you enjoy this issue and consider making your own contributions to this magazine devoted to the harmony between God and Nature. Please use the submission page to send us your essays, poetry, photography, and artwork (after reading the instructions for authors, of course).
Sy Garte, Ph.D. Biochemistry, is Editor-in-Chief of God and Nature, and the author of “The Works of His Hands: A Scientist's Journey from Atheism to Faith”, (Kregel) and “Science and Faith in Harmony: Contemplations on a Distilled Doxology" (Kregel). He has been a Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at three universities and was an Associate Director at the Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. He blogs at The Book of Works, and his website is sygarte.com. Sy is Vice President of the Washington DC ASA Chapter, and a fellow of the ASA.
Anikó Albert grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and is a graduate of Eötvös Loránd University. A serial migrant, she taught English as a Foreign Language in her hometown, high-school Spanish in Kingston, Jamaica, and English and various subjects in Alameda, California. She is currently the Managing Editor of God and Nature, and Chair of Rockville Help, an emergency assistance charitable organization in Rockville, Maryland.