Inspire, Summer 2004

What’s Abuzz L ast month I was feeling great. No pains, no strains, no discomforts. In fact, I hadn’t felt that good in years. So, I went to the doctor to find out why. There had to be a reason for me not having anything wrong physically. I wanted a thorough physical to diagnose my condition. You know what the doctor discovered? Everything in my body was functioning as it was supposed to. He prescribed a plan for me: stop wasting his time. OK. I’m joking … at least about going to the doctor. The most important work of a physician is to diagnose the symptoms of pain in order to determine the reasons for the bodily malfunction. Pain is a symptom that something is wrong. The pain in our world is also a symptom that something is wrong. But the diagnosis does not lead us to discover a disease infecting society. The pain results from a deadly flaw in our nature. Humanity’s spiritual DNA has mutated to a state of fallenness, and the consequences are separation from God, personal sin, and a dying world. Things rot, rust, decay, and die. This is not the land of the living; this is the land of the dying. Some worldviews tell us that we are merely ignorant of our divinity or that perfection is merely around the next evolutionary corner. But pain and suffering in the world tell us that something is radically wrong and our world yearns to be made right. Pain is one of the few experiences that communicates across the boundaries of culture, language, and time. Disease and accident, grief and loss, sorrow and abandonment — these are the emotional places where all of humanity meets. For this reason, suffering may be the starting point for an understanding of God’s love for the world and the hope of the gospel. God did not distance himself from our suffering, but became one of us that He might suffer with us and for us. As a result, we have hope. Christ has conquered pain, suffering, and even death itself (I Corinthians 15:26). One day it will all disappear, and the world of peace and wholeness that God intended from the beginning will be restored. And you won’t even have to go to the doctor! 6 Summer 2004 Cedarville University Celebrates 108th Commencement Cedarville’s 108th Commencement, held on May 1, involved several “firsts” for the University. Not only was it the first Cedarville commencement for Dr. Bill Brown, who began his presidency in August 2003 — it was also the first time commencement has been held in the new Doden Field House and the first time since 1971 that Cedarville has had an invited guest as its commencement speaker. Dr. Lynne V. Cheney, author, scholar, and wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, delivered the commencement address. Dr. Cheney, who has earned a reputation as a forceful advocate for improving education in America, offered the graduates five secrets to success. She challenged them to act with self-confidence, find true expertise, hold to a base of conviction, be aware and respectful of others’ convictions, and know what success is. “Success,” Dr. Cheney told the graduates, “almost certainly will be connected with work that you love, work that involves you deeply quite apart from whatever rewards it may bring.” Out of the 646 graduates, four were singled out for special honors. Gregory S.G. Guiler, a preseminary Bible major from Canal Winchester, Ohio, and Sarena J. Luke, a communication arts major from Kearney, Nebraska, received the President’s Trophy, which is the highest honor for a graduating senior. Erin M. Avery, a physics major from St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Benjamin R. Lynch, a mathematics major from Knoxville, Tennessee, were given Faculty Scholarship Awards for maintaining perfect 4.0 grade point averages throughout their college careers. In addition, the Medal of Honor was presented to U.S. Rep. David L. Hobson (Ohio 7th Congressional District) in recognition of his integrity and compassion, as well as his leadership in national defense, military readiness and well-being, fiscal responsibility, health care, and medical research. A U.S. Congressman since 1990, Rep. Hobson has served on the House Budget Committee and chaired the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. For more photos from Commencement, see pages 14-15. No Pain — So What’s Wrong? President’s Pen Dr. Bill Brown President Cedarville University