Another birth in our family

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

10:00 pm Central Standard Time

Comfort Suites, Fort Worth, Texas

Sheri and I had just put the kids to bed and were trying to be quiet while they fell asleep. I am sharing a bed with Julianna. Just when things had finally gotten quiet, Julianna rolled over and said,

"Daddy, I am ready to ask Jesus into my heart."

I immediately shut my computer down, turned the lights on and began smiling as big as I possibly could. This is the moment I've been waiting for! She has been asking questions for over a year and every time I answered with anticipation.

I remember when I told my dad that I was ready to ask Jesus into my heart. I remember kneeling down next to the couch as he helped me pray that wonderful prayer. I know how much it means to me that my dad was the one who lead me to the Lord.

I asked her what it means to ask Jesus into her heart. I asked her why she needed to do such a thing. I asked her if she was sure that she was ready to do that. I asked her if she wanted to do that now.....

So we knelt down next to the bed in our hotel room and my little girl asked Jesus to come into her heart and forgive her of her sins.

She knows that He will be with her forever. She knows that she will be going to Heaven.

She wants to be baptized when we go back to Ashland Ave. for the holidays. She wants me to baptize her. Now that is something to look forward to!

What's In A Name?

Just the other day Sheri and I had the opportunity to do some shopping at an outlet mall. (I am man enough to admit that I actually enjoy going to outlet malls.) As I was walking around looking at all the different stores trying to figure out which one I could actually go in and find something that I would wear (a store that I would not feel like I was too old to be in), I began thinking about all the different brands of stuff. Outlet malls are unique because you can walk into 4 different stores and see the exact same things for sale....at "blowout outlet store prices."

You ever stopped to think about how people act and react over name brands?

Where did you get that shirt? Wow, very nice. (Assuming it wasn't me that answered, "Target.") What kind of car do you drive? Sweet! What kind of purse is that? (Not really sure what an answer would sound like here, because I've never even notice purses let alone ask what brand they are.)

Now don't get me wrong. This is not a blog about getting hung up on name brands. If you like to wear Gucci and can afford it....or American Eagle and can afford it for that matter...then that's awesome and you go ahead and enjoy it. This isn't even a blog about which brands are bad because the way they market themselves. (I get lost in that conversation.)

Here's what I want to know: Why isn't there the same amount of reaction over the name "Christian?" Recently I have been reading a lot about a movement that wants to completely avoid the term. At first, I thought I understood....but I totally do not. Why aren't we proud to call ourselves Christians? Why don't we oooh and aaaaah when someone else tells us they are a Christian? How has that name lost it's value? Perhaps we've forgotten what the name means.....

According to my computers dictionary, Christian means: "a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and His teachings."

So then "Christian" is associated with Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:9 says "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him (Jesus), and given him a name which is above every name." Sounds like a pretty good reason to be proud of the name "Christian!" I'd even say, that name should spark more excitement in us than Mercedes, Coach, Ralph Lauren, Apple, Microsoft......

You get the point.

Last night, I watched a pastor stand in his lobby and announce to the members of his church, who were still hanging out after service, that a lady had just put her faith in Jesus Christ. The lobby erupted with cheers and clapping. She is now a "Christian."

Now that's a name worth getting excited over!

Philippians 2:10-11

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."