Program Transcript
Episode 12: Journey to Jesus: Ron’s Story
Heather M R Olsen

Welcome friends. Chaverim.

Today I bring my friend Ron Tjalkens to Illumination.

He and his wife, Kim are great friends of Karl’s and mine.

Ron is a PhD in Toxicology, with a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Experimental Neuropathology.
He is a Professor of Toxicology and Neuroscience at Colorado State University.
Ron also runs a biomedical research laboratory studying Parkinson’s disease.

He’s a rock star in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

But why have him here on Illumination?
Well, Ron has a beautiful story in his walk to meet Jesus.
He is a former atheist.
He is a well-educated scientist.
He studied and rationalized and wondered, why do people believe?

Unfortunately, for this recording, my microphone was set up improperly. Consequently the sound quality of Ron’s story is not as pristine, but I did not want to rerecord this as his words and delivery could not improved on. So, maintaining the integrity of Ron’s testimony and without giving away his story, here is my time with Ron.

I am trying a new format this week in my Jesus series.
And I’m a little nervous. I’ve never interviewed anyone before.

Karl & I met Ron and Kim, through mutual friends, yet the four of us became fast friends.

Ron & Kim are two of my great encouragers: in my faith, in my teaching and podcasts, and in extra-biblical sources. In fact Ron continues to send me remarkable info, books, and podcasts that grow me.

Welcome Ron. Thanks for joining me!

So, Ron, besides your amazing faith, your quest for learning more about the Bible and Jesus, your friendship, you have such a cool vocabulary; I always learn new words from you-yet you say things in such an understandable way.

But why did I ask you here?
You were an atheist and now a believer in Jesus.
BUT also, you are a scientist, a PhD in Toxicology and a left-brain thinker.
You study neurodegenerative brain disease, specifically Parkinson’s.
By the way, thank you for your work in debilitating diseases.

Perhaps some unbelievers think that those of us who have a strong faith are more emotional, or right brained: artists, who dream and think about fluffier things. Perhaps we “need” something or someone to believe in because of our emotions.

Yet, any of us who know Jesus, scientists or artists and everyone in between, know that He brings life. And peace.

2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We can therefore proclaim the Gospel or the good News of the Messiah who has come.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

I would love to have you share your background, your journey, and your reasons why.

It’s important that we all know our WHY.

First welcome. Thanks for coming!

Background?
Seeker?
Authenticity church?

YOUR JOURNEY.
Atheism 101. How can a good God allow such bad things to happen?

YOUR WHY.
Why Jesus?
What does this mean for you?

What would you tell someone who is seeking?

Thank you, Ron.
**Heather!

©2024 Heather M R Olsen, Illumination: Hebrew Insights. All rights reserved.