Monday, June 9, 2008

Baptism service out of the blue

Yesterday was Sunday and at Crossing there was a baptism service planned after church. I didn't go but I did witness a baptism that day. I ran into a friend of mine and he wanted to be re-baptized which means he was sprinkled as a baby and he wanted to confess his faith now that he understands the meaning of baptism. It was an awesome experience we walked down to the French Broad River and we walked right in the crisp cold water. I felt like I was being baptized all over again because I felt refreshed and overwhelmed by God's creation all around me. I don't have a picture of the scene but just picture a wide river in the valley of the foothills of Tennessee with no highway or road insight. You had to be there. We baptized my friend and then we prayed over him. He was so excited. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to grow closer to God. He wanted to commit his life to a life of Shalom (peace and restoration). He needed Shalom in his life. It was definitely a God thing that I witnessed this act of faith. Pretty simple.