Ezekiel

Yeah, it’s been a minute.
I have had moments of inspiration in which I felt the world was ready to hear my thoughts on weighty subjects...subjects like Romerica (©natewatson), the emergent church, John Ratzinger, etc.; however, when the time came, I couldn’t write anything. It wasn’t writers block or some tortuous path from my mind to pen—I just didn’t feel like it. Till tonight.

Tomorrow my son is going to be born. Sandra is going to be induced at 7am tomorrow morning. This vivid expectation has become less fantastic as this week has progressed, and now anticipation is killing me. I can’t wait to grasp little Ezekiel!

Today I put on a golf outing as a fundraiser for the 501c3 for which I direct. Two years ago at a previous outing the organization hosted, a young man named Todd was the guest speaker. After 18 holes Todd spoke to a horde of golf aficionados about how his life had been dramatically ameliorated as a result of the impact that our staff had on his 16 yeasr old life.

Todd died in a horrific automobile accident less than a year ago.

So, we decided to forgo the dramatic testimony this year, and use the outing to honor our beloved Todd. It was a bit somber as repeat golfers remembered his words. Todd’s father, also named Todd, spoke to this year's golfers about his son. As he spoke, he suddenly became a different person. His eyes became hazy, he stopped looking at the audience, and tears flowed down his cheeks. He left Toledo, Ohio, and entered into the land of the grieving.

I was planning on letting our participants in on the fact that my bride was giving birth tomorrow to our son…but I just couldn’t do it. Not in that atmosphere, not with a broken father in the room.

Man! How cyclical life is! I stood in grievance, knowing that in less than 24 hours I would be holding my beautiful son, who has been growing in my wife’s belly for 9 months.

The Hebrews knew better than anyone of the cyclical qualities of the universe. Thus, any synoptic comparison of coordinating scriptural texts will only end in confusion for the theologian with a western presupposition. It wasn't until the development of the apocalyptic that there was the idea that history flowed toward a scripted teleological outcome--this idea which would influence the western notion of linear time. This apocalytpic, first seen best in the writings of I Enoch (3rd century bce), was only developing in and around the time of Christ.

I can’t wait to see Ezekiel tomorrow! Thanks for Ezekiel, God!

1

Just like every other technologically advanced form of communication that comes my way, I doubt I will be faithful to this, but here goes.

So I figured this would be a nice way for anyone who cares to involve themselves in my thoughts/ideas. I don't want to presume anything, like most blogs do. Here are the top things I don't want anyone reading this to think:
1. I am intelligent
2. I think I am intelligent
3. I am artsy
4. I drink only Starbucks coffee, while wearing hemp flip flops, and carrying around a book bag full of philosophy and theology books, while quoting Nietzsche, and dreaming of moving to Canada
6. I only write a blog when I am depressed and feel like the world sucks
5. I don't Care

Conversely, I like to talk, argue, and learn. So I hope when I have something to say, someone can come back with wisdom, critique, encouragement, advise...yadada.

I want to talk in this blog about everything. The first topic I will throw out there is Sandra.

Sandra is my wife. We met at a Ben Fold's concert in Kansas City. Our courtship leading up to our marriage wasn't typical, but it worked. I couldn't live without Sandra. When I feel down, doubt myself, feel like a failure, she is there to lift me up. When I am full of myself and my opinions, she is there to bring me back down to earth. She has taught me how to grow up. I have a lot left to learn, but as long as she is next to me, I will be all right. Sandra takes care of our three kids, soon to be four. She levels me out...I would be way too strict if she had not taught me that kids need to have room for error, and sometimes their error is punishment enough. But, at times she'll call on me to do what she has trouble with--being stern. Sandra isn't perfect--nobody is--but she is perfect for me.

Thanks for Sandra, God!