Ezekiel 16:49

I have a child whose middle name is Ezekiel. His dad wanted his middle name to be Zeke, but apparently felt that was too informal, so he laid the heavy-duty Ezekiel upon this sweet babe. I picked the first name, Christopher, and then fell into a post-delivery drug-induced stupor, so I take no responsibility for the middle name.

I have always been fascinated by Ezekiel the prophet. From time to time, when I see him mentioned in an article or book, I'll read a little about him. This time I saw him mentioned in Nicholas Kristof's column on 2/28/10. What I gather from wikipedia, Ezekiel went around the desert spouting prophecies and resurrected some beautiful young men (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also called Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego in the Bible) sentenced to death by Nebuchadnezzar. This takes place in chapter 37; keep in mind that some theologians do not accept this event as a literal resurrection.

I am telling you all this because when else in this blog will I be able to use the all these great names? Batheshba is another good name; my grandpa Elmer enjoyed talking about her.

Back to Kristof. His column is about saving the world and the work of an organization called World Vision, a Seattle-based Christian organization. It's an interesting column and you can read it here.

Richard Stearns is the U.S. head of World Vision and thinks most Christians don't do nearly enough to help the poor and afflicted. Mr. Stearns quotes Ezekiel 16:49: "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."

Doesn't that perfectly describe Americans who are in a lather over health care reforms, and school lunch programs, and unemployment benefits? I know some anti-tax people really don't have much money, but I believe the majority of anti-tax hysterics live quite comfortably and don't hesitate to spend money to promote their own self-interests.

I hope to have a bumper sticker soon with Ezekiel's fine words. Right next to the one that says Jesus Was a Socialist and Jimmy Carter was Right.