Wading through life

Jon Moeller, the Washington Nationals’ longtime chaplain, simply nodded; and it was a nod that probably cost him his job. The question he affirmed with his nod? "Are Jews doomed because they don’t believe in Jesus?"

Tough question for sure…in the sense that by answering it he had to know things could get messy. But what’s the guy to do? Deny what scripture tells us? Doomed is kind of a harsh word…but, when it comes down to it, I guess that is the situation those who don’t call Christ lord will face.

Sadly, everyone and their brother at the Nationals is saying the reported remarks "do not, in any manner, reflect the views or opinions of
the Washington Nationals franchise."…thus wiping their hands clean of the Bible.

I was very glad to read that the ministry that assigns MLB chaplains, Baseball Chapel, hasn’t just reacted and yanked Moeller to please the Nationals, but wants to talk it over with the team. Seems like they aren’t caving to political correctness.

In a fitting, compromising ending, Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Greater
Washington, said it would be more appropriate if non-denominational prayers were
offered so players of all backgrounds could participate.

Who, exactly, does a person pray to in a non-denominational prayer–assuming non-denominational prayer means inter-faith prayer as the context suggests?

See the entire article, "Nationals suspend chapel leader," on ESPN.com.

Sitting in a really nice hotel in Mackinac City, watching ESPN and surfing the Web, waiting for our ferry ride over to the Island. I’ve never been on Mackinac Island, so I’m kinda looking forward to the trip. A co-worker and I are recording Steve Forbes do a video greeting for an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Symposium Spring Arbor University is hosting on Thursday. He’s up here in Mackinac for some big CEO conference that costs like $10,000 to attend.

We made the five hour drive up here last night and crashed in time to see the very exciting end to Monday Night Football (certainly kicking myself for not starting Santana Moss in my fantasy leagues).

The hotel we’re staying at is clearly seasonal. We paid only $54 for the two of us, it’s right on the lake, and within walking distance of the ferry. It had a great full-scale breakfast, including eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit, cereal, and…fresh Belgium waffles None of this continental crap.

There was a little feature on ESPN’s Cold Pizza about Green Bay running back Ahman Green. A Pro-Bowl back, he hasn’t notched a 100-yard running game since last November. Call is a slump, for sure.

I kinda feel like that. I haven’t blogged anything worth while in a long time. And on a grander-scale, I haven’t had revelation from God in a while too. Used to be something weekly, if not daily. But it’s just not happenin’ right now.

It certainly isn’t God’s fault. I don’t feel like he decided to stop talking to me. I’m just struggling and for the most part, not asking him his opinion; not seeking him with all my heart. I guess the most troubling part of all this is that I’ve known this for a while and haven’t decided to do anything about it. Just kinda sitting on the sidelines, watching the game being played, but content to leave my position unfilled for the time being. The fact that my team needs me and is at a disadvantage without me doesn’t seem to bother me–at least not enough to change my attitude about it.

So, there it is: the scary honesty of where I’m at. It’s out there for all to know. When I’m stubborn…I’m really stupid Reminds me of a friend who was raised in Christian home…but didn’t really do anything with her faith until sometime in her 20s. She said something like: "I always kinda new I’d come around to Christ sooner or later."

I know I just have to decide to care again, but my stubbornness (or should I say, my flesh) says: hold out until you have something "real" and "tangible" to come back to. But Christ wants me to come back to him in faith that he’s good even when I don’t find his goodness real and tangible. And I guess that’s what I’m stubbornly holding out for.

The hard-ass old art professor at SAU, who dishes out compliments about as often as the sun totally eclipses over Huron County (which I think never happened during my childhood), just told me that my photography is phenomenal and that I was like a “little Ansel Adams.”

AND he said that he wanted me to be part of a faculty-only art show sometime because they didn’t have enough stuff to fill the gallery on their own.

Four of my photos are hanging in the Ganton Art Gallery right now as part of the faculty, staff and alumni show that kicked of the gallery’s fall schedule. Among the other works are Rick Herter’s Pentagon-commissioned 9/11 paintings. The show will be up through mid-Oct.

Eric and I walked by a building on our way to the Big House and it said something about a "natatorium." Neither of us knew what it was…but the building was the intramural building, so we could speculate it had something to do with sports.

"Maybe it’s a swimming pool," Eric suggested. I tried to break down the word and figure out how it could mean swimming pool, but I couldn’t come up with anything.

As it turns out, Eric was correct. Here’s the definition:

[Late Latin nattrium, place for swimming, from neuter of Latin
nattrius, of swimming, from nattus, act of swimming, from past participle of
natre frequentative of nre, to swim. See natatorial.]

I went to the Michigan game at noon with my bro. He got free tickets from someone who got free tickets from someone. Good times. We met for breakfast at some sweet place in Ann Arbor at 9 and then made our way over to the Big House. Would have liked a better game (UM won 55-0 over Eastern; they pretty lame). But still a very good time…and FREE!

But what I’m REALLY excited about is the Spartants big outing vs. Notre Dame thus far. They just scored again, making it 38-17. Unbelievable… Their offense is pretty tough to stop; fun stuff. Drew Stanton is a stud.