The last words I heard last night before falling asleep were these: “Dad, I want you to put my baptism on my ipod.”
July 25, 1996 and December 10, 2006 are days Diane and I will always remember. Those are the days we baptized our boys. Both were about fourteen-and-a-half when we baptized them.
Chris had planned last night carefully. After Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Dive,” the DVD clip “I Believe” (Igniter #3), a scripture reading (Colossians 3:12-17), and a prayer, three letters were read to him (this part he didn’t know about): one from Josh Ross, one from Jenna, and one from Matt. They were the kind of letters that bless you all the way to your bones.
Then Diane spoke wonderful words to him, encouraging him to trust in the Lord with all his heart, leaning not on his own understanding (Prov. 3).
I told him that his journey of faith has been more like the opening of a flower than the sting of a bee. Many conversions are like the sting: they happen suddenly and you know exactly when. Most of the passages about conversion in the New Testament echo that language because people were turning from darkness to light, from paganism to Christianity. But that language doesn’t entirely fit his experience. He has been a person a faith from the very beginning. We’d seen his character forged in the midst of challenges: his sister died when he was two, he almost died in a wreck a decade later; he lost a first cousin, and then he lost a friend (in the accident). God has been forming him into a person of incredible kindness and compassion toward all people.
So for Chris, the darkness-to-light language doesn’t really fit. He’s been on a journey — a journey for which baptism is an important marker. It is a stake in the ground for him to declare, “This isn’t just my mother’s faith . . . or my father’s faith . . . or my brother’s faith. This is what I believe.” It is an acceptance of the challenge of Colossians 3:17: that whatever he does in word or deed, he’s to do it all in the name of the Lord. It is a public acceptance and welcoming of the mission of Christ.
Then we baptized him in front of some of the important people in his life. (I’ll add a picture later.) Some of those there are on his basketball team at Lincoln. Some are friends he’s known since they were in the nursery together at Highland. Others are people who’ve been teachers, coaches, almost-parents, covenant group members, etc.
So last night he told me he wants it on his ipod. He wants me to rip the DVD onto my Powerbook and then put it on his iPod. (Yes, he has the nicest one in the family — a video iPod. There really isn’t much video on there. Highlights of Texas’s national championship. A few other things. Now his baptism.)
After the baptism, we went to the gym for pizza, soda, cookies, and balls flying everywhere.
That’s a night to remember.
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This from my friend, Mark Moore:
I’m about to help you out here with an amazing idea for your Christmas shopping. You know that nagging problem of what to get for the person who has everything? Well, this should solve that one. I bet they don’t have their very own tree in Uganda. Click on the link below and you can buy one, get a cool Christmas card you can plant (yes, a card you can plant when you are done) and it will grow flowers (no kidding) and you get an ornament that will have a number on it marking the GPS coordinates of your tree in Uganda. (Better click on the link below if you want it to make sense.) The Kibo Group is a non-profit that I run along with a friend named Clint Davis. You can read about Kibo at our website www.kibogroup.org. We make no money off this, (Kibo has no salaries for stateside employees)…the money goes to plant trees. Check it out… its a pretty unique gift idea and it really can make the world better.
Merry Christmas!
I just read back through and see a need for this clarification: the balls were flying everywhere. Pizza, soda, and cookies were not.
What a precious memory for your family. I got choked up just reading about it.
As parents, we feel a sense of God’s working when our children make the important decision in their life to follow Christ. We know we have been teaching them, but it is God’s work that brings them to this point.
I would tell Chris to enjoy his journey and remember it is the beginning, not the conclusion of his walk with Christ! It will be full of happiness, assurance and struggle, but always peace!
Peace to your sweet, sweet family!
Pizza, soda, and cookies would have made it even more a night to remember.
Seriously, congratulations to you and Chris. I know as a parent that there is no feeling any better than baptizing your son (I’ve done four now); and welcome to the family, Chris! Happy day.
I needed the reminder that baptism may not be IT but IT IS a very important and significant event. Thanks for giving me that Mike.
Without a doubt, the most precious memory I have was baptizing my two children. I will never forget when my son was getting ready and the two of us were alone. He reached out and grabbed and held me tight and simply said, “Dad, I love you.” That was one of those incredible life memories. Mike, I especially love your decription of the baptism of a child of faith. I have never heard it expressed better. Praise God!
As I read I just started singing “God of Wonders”. I’ve had 4 granddaughers (out of 10 grandchildren) take on baptism in the last few years. The memory of their parents and now them can have me singing all day. Such a good thing, Steve and I are so happy for your family.
Awesome!
Beautiful post today! Blessings galore to Chris in his walk with the LORD.
Mike, I love your son and it was so sweet to be there to witness his baptism. I love that going under the water thing….the plunge that says that you are in this for life…I’m jumping in and going in over my head and I’m not looking back. I love it. Always a powerful image.
I also received the email from Mark. I love him and all his ideas.
Blessings to both Chris and Ashley Taylor, 13 year old daughter of Greg and Jill. My family was blessed to participate in a very similar baptism ceremony for Ashley yesterday here in Tulsa. It was a great experience for all of us (despite my 6 year old boy gashing his head open on a pew mid-ceremony). Greg does a great job of sharing Ashley’s baptism experience on his blog. http://gregtaylor.wordpress.com
And thanks for the plug for Kibo’s Mvule Project.
Congratulations, Mike!
Congratulations! Wherever God has a son, then I have a brother. I know you’re very proud, and we’re happy for you all.
On the subject of baptisms, did you see this one that went terribly wrong on youtube?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31nA6LCMxE
What a joyous occasion! May God continue to bless Chris richly in his walk of faith.
Thanks for sharing the story. What a hugh blessing (and honor) to baptize your own children into the Lord. I have four boys and so far it’s 2 down 2 to go. Woo Hoo
Praise God!
Thanks for letting me be a part of the evening. I wish I could have been there. I love Chris like a little brother. Can’t wait to see pictures.
I teared up when I read your post too. What a special night! I knew when I was playing Cootie with five-year-old Chris and he was praying for the dice to roll a certain way that his faith was in the midst of formation.
He’s been through a lot in his fourteen years, and yet he’s stayed so strong. I admire his faith and he’s an inspiration to me. Nights like last night make a babysitter and almost sister so proud!
I’m happy for Chris. I remember how clean I felt and how… oh, I can’t even explain it now and it’s been 32 years this month. You are a blessed man. We are all blessed.
AWESOME! Love to you and your sweet family. We miss you guys.
Great cannonball! Gotta love the enthusiasm! My understanding was that it was the next kid in line, not the kid who had just been baptized (different shirt). I could be wrong, though.
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Congrats Mike, and especially to your son. Very cool to have it on his iPod, that will not only be a great keepsake, but a nice conversation starter for him with his friends.
That is so sweet! My husband babtized both of our daugters in the same day and it is definately a day we will never forget!
What joy there is in knowing Chris has a wonderful heritage. He is surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to journey with him.
I’m following your eldest son’s examplary gift on your birthday and giving in honor of my grandchildren and others from the World Vision gift list. Also my 7 grandchildren will get a $20 bill they are to give away to others of their choices who need a cup of cold water.
rejoicing with you!
Chris’s baptism sounds just like what that kind of event should be…a celebration!!!
Mike,
Nice description of the bee sting and flower unfolding conversion process.
When my son’s were baptized they were flowers unfolding but had been told (by well meaning traditional Christianity) all along they were not worthy of communion with God unless their sins were washed away by baptism.
I couldn’t remember any communion breaking sins my 10 and 11 year old boys had committed?
Thanks again for the description.
Mike, Diane and especially Chris!
What more marvelous rememberance could you possibly weave into your family memory book? Beautiful moment, beautifully shared with us. Blessings on all of you!
Chris, I look forward to a hug from my new brother in Him when next we coincide at Highland!!
In His love, grace and mercy
Kathy
Mike and Diane,
Last night was incredibly special to be a part of. I am so proud of the incredibly tender and servant-hearted young man Chris is becoming. Chris will be in my prayers as God continues to equip him to be a man after His own heart! Love you guys.
Congratulations to Chris and family! What a great moment in all your lives! Praise the Lord!
Great thought. Baptisms on the ipod! I like!!!!
What a special time-thanks so much for sharing it with us, and welcome, brother Chris into the family!!:) Thanks again for your thoughts and for allowing us to be a part of this so very important marker. Blessings~
What a special night! I love the idea of the song and the video. Wish I could have been there…I still remember sitting next to Chris in your van on the way home from Sam Thomas Elementary every other day. He and I had a great time.
I still hear lots of news about Chris through my parents, and I join the many voices expressing how very pleased we are in who he is and who he is becoming. God’s blessings!
Just a week or two ago (seems like), Chris was in the nursery when Diane felt comfortable bringing him. You guys were going through so much right then. Even though he wouldn’t remember me caring for him then, I still feel like he is one of my kids. (Yes, I have quite a few.) Maybe there will be a time in heaven when we will be able to remember those who loved us when we were very small, and that will be a day of God’s glory for us who love and care for the small ones. Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your family.
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