16November2009
Posted by Daniel under: Miscellaneous.
A few months ago, I came across a New York Times article called “Reviving the Lost Art of Naming the World.” I was expecting to simply read something interesting from the world of science, not to see God. And yet, He was there — hidden in plain sight.
Taxonomy is the science of naming and grouping things; or, more formally, “orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships.” (Merriam-Webster Online). The author of the Times article, Carol Kaesuk Yoon, lamented the gradual disappearance of this science, saying that it “…is essential to understanding the living world, and our place in it.” Hmmmm…sounds like Genesis 1:19-20: “So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field.” (ESV). I’ve never really thought much about those verses, except maybe to wonder how long it took, and what language Adam used. After reading this article, it seems that there is something deeper going on.
I was fascinated by Yoon’s description of the universal nature of taxonomy, which she describes as being more than a 17th-century science –- instead, “when people across the globe were creating ordered groups and giving names to what lived around them, they…[appear] unconsciously to follow a set of unwritten rules.” Despite the inestimable variety of “folk taxonomies,” there is a global commonality to how we classify and describe the world around us. My immediate question is, why? How did this happen?
Yoon gives three concrete examples of such commonality; I’ll list them here, but won’t quote at length from the article – you should read the whole thing for yourself. Her examples are:
1) “People recognize the same basic categories repeatedly.” (e.g. fish, birds, trees, etc.)
2) “People consistently use two-word epithets to designate specific organisms within a larger group of organisms.” (e.g. grizzly bears)
3) “People will even concur on which exact words make the best names for particular organisms.”
Now, Yoon does not discuss how our descriptions of the world around us can be so universal, so common to all people groups from urban societies to jungle clans in Papua New Guinea – perhaps that is for the best. I’m not sure how someone with a non-Biblical worldview would explain this, but to me these facts point with a large, flashing arrow directly to the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. Verse 1: “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.” Verse 9: “…there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.” The Bible provides a clear explanation of why people of every language describe the world in essentially similar ways – because at one time, we all had the same language, and from that group of people which God scattered over the entire earth have come all the peoples and languages that we know today. I was surprised, pleasantly, to find evidence for the truth of Scripture in such an unlikely place –- a kind confirmation from the Lord that His Word stands the test of time -– and science.
One part of this article that I haven’t thought about in depth, but am drawn to, is Yoon’s thesis that ordering and naming life is a fundamental part of who we are. It is as if Adam, in ordering and naming all the animals in the Garden of Eden – before the Fall – somehow imprinted that into the DNA of the entire human race. She concludes the article, “Once you have a name for particular beasts, birds and flowers, you can’t help seeing life and the order in it, just where it was always been, all around you.” I would simply add to that the thought that, as we see “life and the order in it,” perhaps God will reveal Himself in places that we never expected.
29September2009
Posted by Daniel under: Children; Uncategorized.
Thinking this morning about John 4:46-54, and was encouraged by the picture of how Jesus dealt with parents during his ministry. There John tells how Jesus healed the son of the official from Capernaum. In Mark 5:35-43 is the story of Jesus bringing Jairus’ daughter back to life. And in Mark 7:24-30 a young girl is delivered from a demon.
What encouraged me was that Jesus listened to the pleas of parents desperate for their children to live, and He healed them. I know there are no guarantees that my children will become Christians, but Jesus’ words in John — “Go, your son will live” — give me reason to hope that he will listen to my requests to heal my children from their spiritual sickness and give them eternal life.
21September2008
Posted by Daniel under: Miscellaneous.
The story of the full-of-faith centurion in Luke 7:1-10 (also Matthew 8:5-13)has always been one of my favorites, but I’ve never completely figured out what the centurion’s point in talking about himself as “a man under authority” was. Until now I have incorrectly thought that the centurion’s point was that he, and Jesus, were under authority.
Last week, as I was listening to The Luke Reports from the Focus on the Family Radio Theater, the Holy Spirit turned on a light and helped me to finally understand why Jesus made such a big deal of the centurion’s faith. The key is in the centurion’s message to Jesus: “But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Luke 7:7-8)
The centurion’s point was that Jesus, like himself, possessed authority. In essence, the soldier was saying to Jesus, “Look, all I have to do is speak a work and my servants will obey me. In the same way, all you need to do is speak a word and your servants will obey you.” I suddenly realized that the reason Jesus was so impressed with the centurion’s faith was that here, in the most unlikely of places, was a man who actually recognized the extent of Jesus’ authority. This man clearly believed that sickness was subject to the Jesus’ commands. This is nothing less than an admission that Jesus was God, the creator of the universe and Master of all nature.
So now I understand the full force of Jesus’ marvel at the centurion, and His statement, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (Luke 7:9, ESV). May my faith in everyday things be that of the centurion.
For an excellent message highlighting Jesus’ authority, listen to this sermon from Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
9September2008
Posted by Daniel under: Uncategorized.
The cross-country voyage ended about 3 weeks ago, and while we truly enjoyed our trip we were thankful to see our new home. It’s been a busy time of unpacking and trying to get settled as much as possible before I begin my new job and our first visitors arrive (all on the same day!).
The house is older and has not been well cared for – it’s been one opportunity for sanctification after another this week. Might jot down some thoughts about that later on.
For now, it’s time to sign off.
14August2008
Posted by Daniel under: Family; Miscellaneous.
Verse of the Day:“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Prov. 9:10)
Day 7 Mileage: 412 miles
Day 8 Mileage: 424 miles
So what happened to days 5 and 6? We spent those in lovely Colorado Springs – that will have to be a separate post. I love the Springs and was disappointed when Day 7 came and we had to leave Pike’s Peak in the rear-view mirror.
The last two days have been “because we have to” days. If I had a teleport machine, I’d have used it, but instead we had to drive the 800 miles across Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. If we had teleported, though, we would have missed two days of traveling blessings from the Lord. The kids have continued to behave incredibly well, especially considering how long they’re spending strapped in the cars. We’ve been kept safe through thousands of miles of driving and lots and lots of rain. We’ve been able to visit old and new friends and rejoice in God’s work in all of our lives. So far, it’s been an outstanding trip!
One thing is for sure about I-70 – it’s straight! I’m glad to have that stretch of road behind us and to move on to some more interesting scenery in Kentucky and West Virginia. One of the neat things about these cross-country moves with the military, though, is that we get to experience nearly the entire spectrum of U.S. geography in a very short period of time. As a family, we are getting to see things that only I’ve been able to experience so far, and I’m very excited to be on this trip together.
So tonight we finally reached St. Louis, Missouri. Supper at a Japanese steakhouse and dessert at Cold Stone Creamery wrapped up the day. Tomorrow we’re meeting my sister and her two children at Cape Girardeau, MO for a day together before we push on to Louisville, KY on Saturday.
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