Soul Scientist

Recently, some folks have asked me, “why did you choose the name soul scientist?.” With that in mind, I thought I’d take a bit of time to revisit the meaning behind the name of this blog:

1. As a Christian, who’s a soil scientist, the most important work I can ever do is to share the truth in love about God and His deep-down love for all people (see John 3:16). For His love is that covenant forever love given to each and every one of us. A love which extends and endures all the way down to the smallest particle of the soil of our souls, no matter how dirty our past or present lives might be (see Psalm chapter 136).
2. Steadily seeing the beauty of synergistic ideas from Scripture and science in word pictures brings me one of the greatest joys I’ve ever known, both as a Christian and a soil scientist. (see Psalm 119:18). Similarly, one of the greatest frustrations I’ve ever known is the inability to begin to express in words the majesty and wonder God put into creation and the matchless worth of His Great Name. Only Scripture can attempt to properly declare the goodness of our Good God (see Colossians 2:2).
3. Years ago, my Appalachian accent used to be so strong that when I said “soil”, it sounded the same as “soul”. And vice versa was true, too! Thus, even I had to purposefully slow down and decidedly say “soil” or “soul” as was appropriate for the moment. I’ve also been told that even now when I’m telling stories from my childhood in Appalachia my accent gets much stronger so that soil still can sound exactly like soul (and vice versa).
4. That interchange of soil and soul brings out my deep appreciation for puns and all the things associated with soil. For example, I often say my job description is “I dig holes for a living” and other appropriate and applicable expressions involving soil or dirt. (Yes, I do love a good pun “from the ground up!”)
5. One of the very earliest ideas I saw linking Scripture and soil science was the “soul erosion” David experienced with his progression of sins described 2 Samuel chapter 11 and his subsequent repentance prayer for his sin in Psalm chapter 51. I’ve written and spoken about this idea many times since 2020. And God has been faithful to convict me of my own sin every time I’ve spoken or written on that idea (see 2 Corinthians 7:10). Conviction by the Holy Spirit in the soil of my soul about my sin is a completely undeserved mercy and a fully glorious grace in the forgiveness God bestows when I return to Him (see 1 John 1:9).

With all that in mind, please know this: I am deeply grateful for each and every one of you who are reading this, whether you’ve been here since the beginning of the blog and books or just popped your head in today. Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement to keep asking questions and continue in the wonder open to all of us at the feet of our Christ Jesus under whose feet all has been placed by God (see 1 Corinthians 15:25-27).

God can do the impossible as seen many times in Scripture. One of my favorite examples is from Psalm 107 which says this: God can also turn the desert into watery pools, thirsty ground into watery springs (Psalm 107:33 CEB). I can testify in my own life that God can and will do the impossible and improbable in everyday life, including using a soil scientist to deliver His truth spoken in love (see Ephesians 4:15). On that note, if He can use me, just imagine what He can do with your life in your willingness to seek and to find Him wherever He has placed you for His glory and the good of His people (see Jeremiah 29:11).

And if you’d like to find out the good plan God has for you, here’s a great place to start: Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about. (Jeremiah 33:3 GNT)

written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2026.