17 Apr, 2007
Outer space burial
Ashes of 'Star Trek' Star James Doohan to Be Blasted Into Space
Las Cruces, N.M. — The ashes of James Doohan, who played chief engineer "Scotty" Scott on the original "Star Trek" TV series, have been loaded into a rocket that is set to launch in New Mexico on April 28.
The remains of Doohan, Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and some 200 others were loaded into a rocket by Charles Chafer, chief executive of Celestis, a Houston company that contracts with rocket firms to send cremated remains into space.
Families paid $495 to have a few grams of their loved one's ashes placed on the rocket.
Chafer said he's aware of the dedication of "Star Trek" fans.
"There's no doubt that we'll find a way to accommodate fans who travel here and want to be part of that experience," he said.
Doohan died in July 2005 at age 85.
The remains of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry were blasted into space in 1997.
photo & story courtesy foxnews.com, 04/05/07
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:17-22 (NLT)
17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. 19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! 20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. 21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.
In today's God's Story scripture, what do Solomon's thoughts about life after death teach us?
The study notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE help us understand the answer:
3:19-22 Our bodies can't live forever in their present state. In that sense, humans and animals are alike. But Solomon acknowledged that God has given people the hope of eternity and that we will undergo judgment in the next life (3:17; 12:7, 14) - making us different from animals. Because we have eternity planted in our heart, we have a unique purpose in God's overall plan. Yet we cannot discover God's purpose for our life by our own efforts - only through building a relationship with Him and seeking His guidance. Are you now living as God wants? Do you see life as a gift from Him?
Sadly, many people around us view life after death as sort of a science fiction show like 'Star Trek'. I don't know anything about "Scotty's" spiritual beliefs, but he clearly understood the spiritual truth of God the day he died. His soul was "beamed" to either heaven or hell, even though his remains will orbit planet Earth for awhile.
How about you? Are you ready for where your soul will remain after your earthly remains are disposed of? Are you helping others understand how to get on the right 'trek' for eternity?
- Thank God for the gift of life. Praise Him that you are His unique creation, with a soul that will live forever! If you know Christ as your Savior, worship Him right now...thank Him for His promise to bring you to His Heavenly home for eternity. If you don't know Christ and have not received His forgiveness for your sins, which only He can provide, ask Him to be your Savior right now....He will come into your life and He promises that what remains for you after death is life with all of God's family in Heaven forever!
- Memorize Ecclesiastes 3:11 as a reminder that God's love for everyone is a pursuing love. He has "planted eternity in the human heart".
- Whenever you see 'Star Trek' reruns or memorabilia, let it remind you to that people around you need to know what remains for eternity after their earthly remains are gone.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray every day for God to prepare you to help someone near you understand this "eternity" that God has placed in our hearts.
- If you have a 'Treky' friend or family member who doesn't know Christ, email today's story about "Scotty" to him or her if they are open to spiritual questions.
- The next time you are hanging out at night with a friend or family member who needs Jesus, look up at the stars and talk about "Scotty's" outer space burial. Ask your friend if her or she ever thinks about what happens to us after we die? Your most important mission here is to LISTEN.
- May 2008 [9]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [21]
- December 2007 [20]
- November 2007 [18]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [20]
- July 2007 [18]
- June 2007 [19]
- May 2007 [18]
- April 2007 [13]
- March 2007 [17]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [9]
- December 2006 [6]
- November 2006 [15]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [14]
- June 2006 [4]
