Born Again...Again

On Monday of this week I was baptized. Now, some of you may be saying "Kelly, what? Surely you have been baptized before, devout Christian gal that you are!" Well, that is a gray area evidently.

I was raised in the Lutheran Church. So at the ripe old age of 2 months old, I was "baptized" (sprinkled, christened). Then in the 8th grade I was confirmed into the church by making my own statement of faith and began taking communion. As I have always attended churches that accepted my sprinkling as baptism, I've always considered myself baptized.

However, my new church does not accept sprinkling. They teach that the Greek word ‘baptizo’ means to immerse, plunge, dip, or bury in water. They believe that the baptism, (full immersion into the water and rising out of the water) is symbolic of Jesus being buried and rising again. Romans 6:3-5 says "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

My ministry at my former Church included leading the MOPS group, leading a Bible study, serving on the Christian school board, and being asked to serve as an elder of the church. I could not be a ministry leader at my new church with out joining, and could not join with out being immersed.

I've been thinking. Let's say the Pastor was wrong. Well, being baptized "again" wouldn't hurt anything. As my sister, ADHD, said there isn't a verse in the Bible that says "Woe to he who try-eth too hard to do-eth the right thing in God's name." BUT...what if the Pastor is right. What if my baptism (sprinkling) before was an example of man corrupting what God meant. How could I go wrong by being immersed? It just seems right to me, either way.

In all of this an ironic thing happened. I told my dad I was going to be immersed. He has already been sprinkled twice. Once as a infant in the Episcopalian church, and again as an adult in the Lutheran Church (who also sprinkle, but wouldn't accept his sprinkling with the wrong water!) He is now considering being immersed in the Baptist church he attends with his wife. My husband was also immersed with me, so we could join the church together as a couple.

What if my pastor is right? What if because I am born again by being immersed, two more are born again because of me? I get chills just thinking about. And it's not just because I'm all wet.

John 3:3 -- In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Luke 3:21, 22 -- When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Acts 2:38 -- Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Hide & Go Seek

"Ready or not, here I come!" This is the customary shout out after you've finished counting to let all those hiding know you are on your way to find them in the game of Hide & Seek. Then you must seek out - go in search of - those who you are playing with.

The bible tells us we must seek God - go in search of - as well. Often times, like in the game of Hide & Go Seek, we throw up our hands in exasperation and yell "I give up!" "It's too hard!" "I can't find you." Often we just don't know where to look. We need a map.

Like a treasure map with a giant X on it, the bible provides the way to find God. We must seek him with our whole heart, and not give up. We must seek him first, before other things in our life.

For me, sometimes it is easy to find God. When I have put forth the effort, studying his word and praying I have felt the presence of God. Other times, I'm lazy and don't put the effort in seeking...I fail to find him. I want to blame him "It's too hard." But truthfully I haven't put the effort forth. If I'd just seek, I'd find.

What is keeping you from finding God today? I urge you to seek him with your whole heart. Because a time is coming when he will shout out "Ready or not, here I come!" Are you ready?

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7,8)



*This post was inspired by the Random Question at Edie's Rich Gifts.

Thought for the Day

After visiting the book store today, I realized that any book that is considered an authority on a subject is called a bible...the Barbecue Bible, the Crystal Bible, the Flavor Bible, the Bartenders bible and the Juicing Bible, just to name a few. When I looked up bible in the dictionary, while the first few definitions referred to scripture (the Holy Bible), the last definition says "any book, reference work, periodical, etc., accepted as authoritative, informative, or reliable."

Yet the Holy Bible, which should be considered THE authority on the subject of God and eternal life is often not considered the authority at all.

Isn't our world strange?

Halloween: Trick or Treat?

My 2 Daughters with my dad before TRUNK or treat at his church - 2007

Get together a group of Christian moms and ask them about Halloween and you'll get as many different answers as there are women. Some adamantly are against it as the devil's day. Others don't trick or treat, but do alternate "Fall Festivals" complete with costumes and candy. Finally, there are some that say "it's all in fun" and anything goes.

I don't know where I fall. On one hand, I trick or treated as a kid. I loved it! I love Jesus a lot and don't see how I was scarred by trick or treating. At the same time, the bible says to avoid every kind of evil, and that witch craft is evil.

This is one of those gray areas. Another is shows like "Wizards of Waverly Place" and books like "Harry Potter." They are about witchcraft, so I don't let my kids watch them. But I watched Bewitched as a kid, loved it, and played wiggling my nose to create magic spells. It was fun and pretend. Of course, we also pretended to smoke, complete with candy cigarettes! But today I am a non-smoker (and have never smoked). So where do you draw the line?

Some churches recommend using Halloween as an evangelism tool, giving out Christian tracts along with candy. Remember what is meant for evil, God can turn for good. Another idea I got from Susan at Learning for Lifetime was a reverse trick of treat. You can read about that here.

Finally, I encourage all of you to read Romans 14. It is an excellent example of folks believing different things in Christ (some eat meat, some don't). I believe you could insert "celebrate Halloween" in these verses to get the same result. Verse 13 sums up the chapter when it says "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

This is a controversial subject. I'd love to hear what your family does in conjunction with Halloween. What I encourage everyone to do, it not to judge their neighbors decisions to participate or not. Listen to God's prompting for your family life, and make your decisions accordingly.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 -- Avoid every kind of evil.

Galatians 5:19-21 -- The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Luke 6:37 -- Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Friends

(My ADHD Me, Truth 4 the Journey, Chatty Kelly and Sue J)

On Monday, my dear friend Sue J had a brunch in my honor. (This was to celebrate my status as a "published" author because of my article finally coming out in the November issue of the Proverbs 31 Woman magazine...nearly one year after I submitted it!)

Bloggy friends Truth for the Journey and My ADHD Me were also there. Patterson 5 was on the guest list, but was home with a sick little one. Two non-bloggie friends (Stacy & Gwen) were there with us as well. We wish YOU could have been there too.

I am a social gal and thrive on friendships and fellowship. God created us in his image, and I see that I am like him in this regard. God created Adam. He saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So then came Eve. Throughout the bible we see the importance of relationships.

David's best friend was Jonathan. The bible shares of their close friendship in 1 Samuel 18 - 20. Jonathan loved David "as himself." (Love your neighbor as yourself.)

Even Jesus who was perfect desired fellowship with his disciples. He didn't go through his ministry alone, but had close friends. Simon was one of his closest friends, whom Jesus called "the rock I will build my church on." (Matthew 16:17-19) John was another good friend. John called himself "the disciple Jesus loved." (in John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7 and 21:20. I picture John wearing this shirt.)

But even in a relationship with Jesus, there were troubles. Many times Jesus' disciples didn't understand what he was saying. In John 6, they say "this is hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Yet, they admit there was no where else to go, Jesus had the words of eternal life. Other times, they let Jesus down...sleeping when he asked them to pray for him before his crucifixion, and of course Simon denying Jesus three times.(Matthew 26)

I know I've let my friends down at times, yet they are still still my friends. They've stood beside me in bad times and in good. I am so thankful to have them to help me celebrate the good times this week.

So today my encouragement for you is to make a friend, be a friend, and have fun with a friend! I had fun with mine! Since you bloggy friends couldn't be there, I leave you with this quote from 3 John 1:14, "I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name."

Proverbs 17:17 -- A friend loves at all times.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 -- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

How to Fit in at Church

BONUS BLOG: This was too funny not to pass on....

Therefore....

I'm studying the text of Romans 12:1,2 in response to Edie's Random Question, over at Rich Gifts. We are supposed to read the text, and write which part speaks to your heart. You can view other answers over at Edie's blog. Here is mine. First let's look at the text.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

The funny thing is, when writing about the text, Edie skips over the text "Therefore, I urge you, brothers." My pastor once told me whenever you see the word THEREFORE, you need to stop and ask "What is it THERE FOR?" To do that, you must read what comes before.

Romans 11 tells of God's mercy. God originally came for Israel. He did not reject his people, rather they rejected him. So now gentiles were offered grace, "grafted in" Paul says. We were not part of the originally plant (or plan). But because of the rejection by the Jewish people, gentiles were included. My study bible further explains that God's merciful plan to include the gentiles in his great salvation plan should humble them, not fill them with arrogance. Israel's hardening to Jesus is partial, not total; and temporary, not permanent.

In 11:22 it tells of the kindness and sternness of God. My study bible says "Any adequate doctrine of God must include these two elements. When we ignore his kindness, God seems a ruthless tyrant; when we ignore his sternness, he seems a doting father." This seems like the perfect example of God, kind yet stern; loving yet just.

"THEREFORE" - in view of God's mercy ...God has been merciful to us gentiles by grafting us in, where we don't belong, so much more so we should be changed because of it. "Transformed by the renewing of our minds."

So, have you been transformed? Or do you take this merciful gift God gave, (a gift meant for Israel, but given to us gentiles because of mercy,) for granted? I admit, I do. I take for granted that Jesus died - a horrible death - for ME. For YOU. We so readily accept the grace that we forget the price. So today I urge you to focus on God's mercy.

We have been allowed where we don't belong. We have "all access back stage passes" so that we can go where others can't. We can be with God in heaven. We can have eternal life. We aren't groupies, we are invited guests. Because of the mercy of the host...the Heavenly Host.

Dear God, thank you for your great mercy. Forgive me for so callously accepting the gift of eternal life. Let my life be transformed by you, so that I may be able to know your will and apply it in my life. In Jesus name, amen.