Archives: May 2008

“Let’s bring wonder back into science.” — Ryan Griffith. This was said in the context of our study of Genesis 1-4 in Hebrew class.

I couldn’t help but be interested in the idea of an underwater cemetery in Florida.

To catch us up to speed, “The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last fall, is seen by its creators as a perfect final resting spot for those who loved the sea. They hope that one day the reef will cover 16 acres and have room for 125,000 remains.”

“This is simply as good as it gets,” said Gary Levine, a diver who conceived the reef and is now a shareholder in the company that owns it.”

A worker that is responsible for the cement work, “Hutslar said the reef is designed to last forever and engineered to withstand the harshest hurricane that has hit Florida in the last 100 years.”

There’s a couple of things that I think are just shockingly ironic. First, a cemetery is as good as it gets? I mean, the idea of being buried in an underwater “Atlantis” is really cool. But, it’s only cool to the living. These people, every one of them, are dead. They can’t enjoy the coolness of being buried here. Death is never as good as it gets. Where we are buried is highly secondary to what happens after we died. Jesus pointed this out in his life. Having to be buried in a borrowed grave, Jesus shows his idea of as good as it gets means, “I’m coming back. Don’t tear off the price tag for that tomb. You can return it, for the warranty won’t have expired.”

Second, I can’t help especially to note the irony of graves “designed to last forever.” Anyone who has ever experienced a loved one’s death understands that there is something odd about their dying. It is not natural. And, the realization of death never settles into our minds. It always, in my opinion, seems more like the person is on a trip. Could this be because we were made to never die? Death is foreign for us. And, death is not eternal. Therefore, to buy a grave that is going to last forever is like buying a grape, that if you eat, will never rot. Christ has conquered the grave and death’s time of reign is nearing to an end. So, perhaps these graves are truly designed to last forever, but something tells me (the Bible) we’ll never find out. The market for graves will cease long before forever.

I used to work in “The Learning Center” at my university. There, I labored with college students on subject and verb agreement, the forming a complete sentence, the proper use of to/too, the writing of a coherent paragraph (and paper!), and things like this. I was regularly shocked at my students lack of learning. In the article, “College: A Cruel Hoax For Some,” Rod Dreher probes the depth of the college degree. It is definitely worth checking out, especially if you are a teacher or desire to teach.

(HT:Challies)

Justin Taylor linked to this very helpful article from Sean Michael Lucas, “Ministerial Students, Calling, and PhD Studies.” Thanks SML and JT.

When swamped with theological study, I’ve found it crucial to remember that God is sovereignly good and Hebrew is hard.

On Al Mohler’s blog, he writes about the recent vote by the United Methodist Church to uphold its views that homosexuality is not compatible with Scripture. One of the keys to that vote being upheld was the presence of delegates from Africa. Mohler quotes,

Mr. Folkerth said, “American Methodists are ready for change [i.e. toward embracing homosexuality].” But he and others said change was thwarted this time by international delegates, particularly delegates from Africa, whose numbers and influence have grown because the denomination is growing there [and should we wonder why it is growing there and not here in the States?].

Could the problem with the American church be that it has functioned for too long as the uncriticizable, strong brother? So, thank you, Father, for the maturing of other churches that will call us to account for our ministries. May it happen more so that we do not pour scorn on your great name.

(HT:AM)

I’m a pre-mil kinda guy. And one of the reasons is a passage like Isaiah 65. I have no idea how to deal with it apart from a kingdom of localized already, but not yet, new heavens and earth.

” 17“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.” (Isaiah 65:17-25 ESV).