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Kyle West Story-Truth Project
Why would God use a boy with cerebral palsy? That’s what 7 year-old Kyle West asked. Now 18, God has used Kyle in incredible ways, including on The Truth Project. Despite Kyle’s difficulties, God has a plan and purpose for his life and for yours. Watch Del's bonus teaching looking at the topic now or watch the full episode online now at Cross Examine's Facebook page www.facebook.com/CrossExamine.
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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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The “Canyon”, Sunday
Posted on July 8, 2008
Filed Under Science | 23 Comments
Sunday was the day we first saw the river.
I was excited to start this journey. Twenty-two “scholars” and yours truly had been invited to examine the geological evidence within the Grand Canyon. Did it support the Genesis account of creation and the Great Flood, or did it confirm what almost all of us had been taught—that the Canyon had been formed over millions of years and slowly carved out by the Colorado River?
This is the kind of stuff that electrifies me.
An all-day bus trip had taken us from our gathering place in Las Vegas, through the northeast corner of Arizona, into southern Utah, and then back down into Arizona, winding our way eventually to the Navajo Bridge and the Marble Canyon Lodge, where we would spend our last night in a real bed. For the map aficionados, we drove I-15 to Utah 9, then 59 to Arizona 389, then 89A.
This place is what one might call “isolated”. Yet it was beautiful. Two new friends and I walked across the Navajo Bridge and got our first look at the Colorado River, 467 feet below, which would become our home for the next week.
I awoke with the first hint of sunrise and took my final morning run. The rock formations were amazing, 
but the silence was stunning. I know it sounds stupid to say this, but I had to stop and “listen” to it. Something was different about this silence. I think my body even sensed the lack of radio and television waves. Cell phone coverage was non-existent too, so there were no cell tower signals either. No power lines. No telephone wires. No “emanations” from anything. It was total and complete silence. I stood there, dead still, for a long time, just to experience what is a complete rarity in our world today.
As I sit here now, I long to take that run again.
After breakfast and another pre-trip briefing, the 23 “scholars” and the five “teachers” gathered together for a group photo. 
As Tom put it, the objective was 28 in and 28 out.
We began as strangers, but ended up friends and fellow pilgrims on this most important quest. I was anxious to get started.
It wasn’t easy cramming us all into the three vans, but we somehow got the doors closed and headed for Lee’s Ferry, where we would meet the river, the “canyon” and our rafts…and begin our week-long study of the evidence that the “canyon” held for us.
Comments
23 Responses to “The “Canyon”, Sunday”
A few years ago on a business trip I flew down to the GC floor in a helicopter out of McCaren Field in Las Vegas. When the helicopter landed and the rotor made it’s last slow rotation on shut down, the silence was just overwhelming. I’ve told the story (much less eloquently) nearly every time the GC has come up in conversation. You are the only other human I have ever heard talk about this. See you in church next time you pass thru your hometown….
Wow – sign me up! How fun and exciting!
I like the emphasis you put on the article toward the end: “…never went to work unshaven. This time I did.” Anxious to hear more about the trip and what you “scholars” discovered.
Dear Del,
My husband, 2 grown sons, and I did a 3 day hike in the GC. It was the most incredible thing we’ve ever done. We started our hike in about 6 inches of snow at the rim and wound up in 90+ degree weather at the bottom. The beauty is truly magnificant. We just remained in awe of God and His creation. God even opened the door for us to minister His Truth to our 25 yr old female guide. It was just incredible – So glad you got to experience what you did!
Del,
Thank you for inviting us to share another “tour” with you. As with the Truth Project, my heart leaps within me as you begin to describe your experiences in the canyon. You may feel that your words cannot begin to describe the awesome wonder of beholding God’s majesty there, but just remember that by God’s grace you were able to lead us into the wondrous experience of gazing on the face of God.
Thank you for continuing to share your heart with us. It not only makes us hungry for more tours, but it makes us realize that we all have our own tours, and on our varied paths we can see the hand of God everywhere. How great is our God!
Thanks, Del, for sharing. One Scripture comes to mind, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Ps. 46:10) He speaks to us so clearly in the stillness, or is it that only as we quiet ourselves do we hear?
Blessings!
Del,
It’s great to hear of your experience in one of God’s greatest displays of His majesty!
And I too am somewhat jealous as you’ve brought me back to a place that once captivated my soul as I used to fly tours of the GC in the “good ole’ days”, before they banned flights beneath the rim. It truly was paradise and a pilot’s dream, being swallowed up in that vast work of beauty, that work of the Master’s hand.
I thank our Lord of your heart for discovery and defending the faith. And for your work and diligence in teaching us the most wonderful truths of scripture.
Looking forward to the simulcast…
Twenty-One years ago I had the privilege of taking the seven day trip that started at Lee’s Ferry and took out at Phantom Ranch. My fiance who is now my bride of almost twenty-one years said when I came back from “The Canyon” I was changed. I remember that trip like it was yesterday but cannot recall the exact moment I was changed. The float down “The Canyon” still changes me when I ponder the sights, sounds, and wonder of God’s Creation.
Hopefully you will continue to write about your experience and continue to let your facial hair grow!
The silence one hears in God’s Great Cathedral is deafening.
The GC has to be one of the all time top places to revel in the kind of beauty that could only come from God. On my trip there with my son in ’04, we stayed along the rim, but had the good fortune to still be there at the end of the afternoon, when the clouds were still heavy from the sudden rainstorm that had just drenched us. The rain had stopped as suddenly as it had started, and the clouds were beginning to part. And when they did, lo, the sun’s rays pierced through every opening, and the mist hanging over the canyon accentuated each beam, steadying them in place. There must have been six or seven broad rays shooting down at different angles. It looked like heaven was beckoning us! The colors were eerily stunning. In the foreground were the deep black sihloettes of the mighty rock formations, towering above the canyon. Right behind those were the charcoal grays. And farther away yet were the pale grays. The tints kept getting more pale as they faded into the distant mist. The scheme was only of varied shades of black and gray, including the whitish clouds hovering above. In contrast, the single color accent was the brilliant gold of the sun’s rays. We just stared at the sight, amazed.
The photograph we took gave us an exquisite memory to savor. It’s framed, and is very special to us.
In the classic, “Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis, I think it was Beaver who said,”What you see and what you hear depends on where you’re standing and what kind of attitude you have.”
Some look at creation and say there is no God.
The Rev. Michael Dowd, America’s evolutionary evangelist looks at creation and says, ‘Thank God for evolution!’ And he has written a book with that exact title which I reluctantly paid $24.95 for. He promises that his “sacred” evolutionary perspective will enrich people of all faiths and “non-faiths”. I could see many people being decieved with his nearly endless fine-sounding arguements.
Thank you Del, for teaching us in the Truth Project that when studying any issue relating to God we must always ask what will we see in the nature and character of God in this study. So important.
M.W.
Your pictures capture the sights so well. When I look at them I feel like I can experience a small moment of your large experience. What an amazing opportunity!
Hey folks, what a cool experience to have and what a beautiful and grand place.
Though I live in the great northwest, I have not had the time to visit Mount Saint Helens. I understand that there is an area that the devastation of the initial event caused which some are calling a little “Grand Canyon.” Is this the case? If so, what an interesting scenario.
Let me know!
Years ago I had a co-worker tell me he was not impressed by the GC, that it was just a big hole in the ground. I had seen it’s majesty as a young child and even before I knew the truth of God’s creation I stood there hearing this in disbelief that he could think such a thing. Two summers ago I had the privilege to visit again as a believer with my family and it is even more impressive.
Del,
My husband, son and I were at the Grand Canyon also this year in the 1st week of April. All I could think of was “Wow, how can anyone say that there is no Creator” with this hand painted scenery. The silence itself was a beautiful thing. It gave you a sense of peace and closeness to our heavenly Father. The word “awesome” best describes the Grand Canyon experience to us. A glimpse of the magnitude of our maker!
Hey Del:
I feel like I know you after watching all 12 sessions of The Truth Project. The message that you are spreading about the truth of creation and how it is the fundamental issue of our time is greatly appreciated. I have to respond to your blog by saying that my family is headed down the Colorado River from Phantom Ranch through the lower half of The Canyon next week. I will look forward to reading more of your blog when we return.
What a great creation He has made! Blessings to you and your efforts.
Dr Tackett
It’s really a small wonder (thought not to me/us!) The more I ponder God through His word by His Spirit the more overwhelmed I am by His absolute soverignty! Thought I don’t think I’ll ever understand why He chose to reveal Himself to me, I will never be able to praise Him enought for His marvelous grace. Thank you for your passion for His TRUTH!
Del,
Thank you so much for the “Truth Project”. My husband and I were floored by it when we took our first series early in 2007 at Catalina Footlhills Church in Tucson, AZ. It affected us so much that we signed up for leadership training in Scottsdale in September 2007. We were fortunate enough to be taught by you on that Saturday, and suprised to see you speaking at our home church in Tucson on that Sunday morning where we were able to ask lots of questions and pick your brains for several hours. We have since led three different home groups for the Truth Project, and can’t wait to lead more!
My husband and I are also avid fans of the GC. Doug has been down one side and up the other over a period of a week to ten days two different times already with his brother and is planning a third trip with our eldest daughter. We get up there every time we can, at least once or twice a year. It is our favorite place to go and we literally have thousands of pictures. It is sooo beautiful that we just can’t stop taking them each time we go. God is truly an awesome God!
Keep on blogging!
I’m with you on the silence, Del. I was there during the tourist off-season, in February. The silence was truly deafening. It made the views so much more majestic to have this library-like hush over the world, as if every rock was crying out the truth of creation and every creature knew it should listen with reverence. No place like it.
Funny how God puts us in certain places in order for us to “get it” … We just returned from our TTP Training Seminar in Chandler, AZ. My husband and I decided to make it a family vacation and used the extra day to go and see the Grand Canyon – a sight we regretfully skipped almost 13 years ago when visiting Arizona for our honeymoon. Witnessing God’s hand in nature brought me to tears almost instantly! I couldn’t help but praise him as I sat on one of the ledges and looked in awe. How can anyone deny Him? I’m so glad I’m experiencing The Truth and that this spectacular sight was available to me to solidify His divine plan.
I grew up in Arizona and everytime I would visit the Grand Canyon I was reminded that the finger of God took a stroke over the planet of earth and etched out a wonderful reminder of His creativity.
Del,
I enjoyed your article and pics. Over the last 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading 24 groups of my 8th graders and their parents in hiking the Bright Angel Trail in GC. I teach in a public school in WI, but I know that many were permanently impressed with the majesty of God’s creation.
I remember a trip into the Grand Canyon, when I was a young Boy Scout. Just a few years ago my wife and I went to GC. “Stuff” yeap all tha God did. It didn’t just happen;it is just one proof of God’s creating hand.
I hiked from the North rim to the South with my Explorer Scout Post. I still remember with awe that experience. It has deepened in meaning with the years and studies in science. During graduate school I struggled with how to reconcile the Genesis accounts of the world and the evolutionary view I was being taught. After studying the Word diligently and looking at the actual scientific evidence, there is no doubt that the Genesis account is literally true.
Why is there music? How could Groffe capture the GC in music (The GC Suite)? ‘Cause God put his stamp on us! Thanks for impressing that on me.
As I was growing up, my big bro’s played classical music and I always dreamed of riding the mules into the GC. When I got my chance a couple of yrs ago.. they wouldn’t let me ’cause I was too heavy…. bummer. So, we had to hike the “bright angel trail” behind them. If the glory of God is manifest in nature….. surely it reaches a pinnacle here.