A Family Baptism

This is a reflection on baptism as a believer, a father and a husband.  It is a moment bringing profound appreciation when one you love so strongly comes to believe in Jesus Christ as God and their savior.  So far my oldest daughter has made a decision to follow Christ with her life and be baptized, and now my wife already in faith made the decision to follow through with Jesus' command to be baptized by water because the opportunity for her husband to perform it was a reality.

Photo by Sean MacDonald.

It also just happens that this was my first performed baptism.  Our lead pastor and elder Josh Dryer did the teaching on baptism that day, but I performed confession / profession and act itself at my wife's request.   It was a wonderful day where I was surprisingly less emotional than expected.  I also have to say that I am so very blessed to have a woman who desires with all her heart to be sanctified in Christ.  Having a godly woman at his side is God's greatest earthly gift to man that transcends earthly measure. To be in a continuous and daily relationship where each person helps the other become more Christ-like is an AMAZING institute of God!  I know it would be much harder to do what I am doing and will continue to do without her.

Photo by Sean MacDonald.

As a man called to be a pastor I reflected on four passages of Scripture the night before. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) gives me my instruction to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  For my wife Trista, she is commanded to follow Christ's example and be baptized (Matthew 3:13-17).  Paul teaches us in Romans 6:1-15 that we are to be buried with Jesus in death so that we may also be raised with him in new life - following his example and command; atoned by his sacrifice.  Both the passages in Romans and in John 3:1-15 show us some more detail about the nature of what it means to be baptized and the symbolism behind it. We are to be buried and this by itself implies that we are to go underneath (the Greek baptizo confirms this directly meaning, "to immerse").  Going under the water allows us to show in our hearts that we desire be raised to new life and washed clean of our old earthly ways. This is also what it means to be "born again," - born out of water in physical life and reborn out of water for our new spiritual life.  A new life that may glorify Christ.

Photo by Sean MacDonald.

Photo by Sean MacDonald.

Photo by Sean MacDonald.

RCC Facebook Banners

I made up a few Facebook banners for River City Church members recently and here they are:

Prayer Chain

I find my home in Dubuque, Iowa at River City Church - a church plant full of potential.  Many things are in the works and in the heart for this new church, one effort of which is in the works is a prayer chain. A prayer chain is a fantastic opportunity that organizes opportunities for people to be together in interceding on behalf of others in prayer.  Another individual is taking responsibility for managing the chain at River City, however one thing that will also be put into works for this is a handout (in a flyer format) to encourage those who may be looking for a little more information about how to be involved within the prayer chain.  Other handouts will likely find fruition as they become applicable. The following is the prayer handout:

*UPDATE*

I wanted to note that a revision is planned for some time in the future which potentially may be a front and back version to add more content. I wanted to make a couple more points available to people in providing Scripture reference to why prayer's are done in Jesus name (John 14:13-14; 1 John 5:14-15; Colossians 3:17), and rejoicing in answered prayer (Psalm 28:6-7). I also want to point others to some of the coolest prayers in the Bible including the Lord's prayer (the example to follow --- Matthew 6:9-15), Hannah's prophetic prayer (1 Samuel 1:1-2:10), Daniel's prayer for understanding (what follows is also very important --- Daniel 9:1-19) , Solomon's prayer for understanding (1 Kings 3:1-15).