Johannes Kepler, the yet-to-be famous astronomer, presented a unique New Year's gift to his patron in the winter of 1611. The scientist gave his benefactor a witty, reasoned discussion on why snowflakes (more exactly, ice crystals) have six corners. Since microscopes and diffraction instruments had not yet been invented, no one really knew why crystals took the shapes they did.

As the early church grew in the Graeco-Roman world, the apostles and fathers preached to men who believed in evolution. In Athens, Paul encountered Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.¹ These and other early philosophers were also scientists. They observed the world and attempted to explain its nature and origin. They had many views on origins, all evolutionary.²

The Bible reveals to us various principles which God used in the creation through the Word; by will; from nothing (ex nihilo); spontaneously; through JESUS CHRIST. Let us examine one aspect, which is spoken of in Psalm 104:24. "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." We encounter these works, so wisely conceived, at every turn.

Bible-believing Christians and churches, believing as they do in Christ's Great Commission to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), have tried many methods to reach non-Christians cultures, some of which have not been very effective.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State on May 18, 1980, is certain to be remembered as one of the most significant geologic events in the United States of the 20th century. The explosion, on May 18, was initiated by an earthquake and rockslide involving one-half cubic mile of rock.