MY FAVORITE MOMENTS DOING MY FAVORITE THING

There are many things I enjoy doing; and I have certainly had many wonderful experiences over my lifetime. When it comes to ministry, I don't know of anything I love more than preaching. I love every part of the process, and am humbled to have this privilege. But, there is something that I do in ministry that might be better...that could be my favorite thing. Because even when it comes to preaching, my real desire is to see people discipled - taking the next steps in their spiritual journey. As a pastor, I get to see that quite often, and I love it. But, when it comes to decisions people make as followers of Jesus, there is one that stands out above them all; and I get to see and hear the experience up close and personal.

Baptizing someone, or at least seeing someone baptized, from our church, that I know...someone we get to see grow in Christ...is my favorite thing. I love to interview them and hear how they came to Christ. I love to talk to them about what baptism is, and what it is not. I love to answer questions about it. I love to set up the experience for them, of publicly professing their faith in front of the church, friends and family. I love to see and hear how others celebrate and respond to those who are taking this very important next step.

This last Sunday, I experienced some of my favorite moments doing my favorite thing. I baptized my youngest 2 children: Caleb and Gabrielle. Previously, I had the privilege of baptizing my older 3 children; and now, I have baptized all of my children! In this case, it came up somewhat quickly, at least for me. We had planned a baptism, with over 12 people committed to be baptized after our morning service (2 were not able to make it). On the Friday night before, after a message they heard about listening to God and doing what He is calling them to do, both Caleb and Gabrielle told us they wanted to be baptized. It was great to see them, without any pressure from us, take this step forward and desire to follow Jesus in baptism.

And so it was, this past Sunday morning, after baptizing 10 others, I was privileged to baptize my children. What is better than that? I was front and center, and a part of the process...to see them stand as a testimony to their faith in Christ, identify with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection, and to see their joy in doing what God has asked them to do. I'm trying to think of better moments doing my favorite thing...and right now, I can't think of one.

Taking NOTHING for granted

It is too easy in life to take almost everything for granted. We don't take the time to consider how blessed we are; and how things could be completely different...in a moment. Today, this thought hit me after my daughter informed me that a Chick-fil-a was robbed at gunpoint last night; and it was the Chick-fil-a she had worked at for almost a year while we lived in Georgia. To make matters worse, the young man that carried a gun into the store was a friend of hers, a fellow employee; and was the guy who had come, at her invitation, to the graduation party we held for her.

I just took it for granted that a Chick-fil-a would be safe from armed robbery, especially from employees; that no one we knew would ever do something like that; and that as my daughter worked there, her friends could be trusted. But today I am praising God for the things I often take for granted. I praise Him for: the fact that my daughter did not have a closer friendship with this guy; the fact that she was not there to work last night; the fact that no one was injured, and that he and his alleged accomplice were found and arrested; protecting my daughter; being the God who is always in charge and who can be truly trusted...always!

Hopefully, after today, I will not take as many things for granted as I usually do. Praise God for all He does, unnoticed, in our lives every day.