My (Second) Baptism

Yesterday, Sunday, July 29, 2018 I was baptized for the second time, this time as an adult knowing what I was in for. A little story here, I was baptized by sprinkling at age nine into the New Hope United Methodist Church. It was a little country church in a community known as Fort Henry about five miles west of Huntsville, MO. I went through confirmation classes, and for the next 15 years I was a Christian. I taught Sunday School, and at one point as a teen I thought about being a minister. But after high school I drifted away, but remained a Believer. But then amongst the worst things that can happen to a young man that is just starting out happened, my father died after a four year bought of cancer. I turned on God and the Church. In three years I was pagan, and years later I became a writer of pagan books. But God had a plan, slowly he showed me the flaws of what I believed, and guided me back to Christ. The turning point came while I was writing on ethics, and it occured to me that the Great Commandment and the Golden Rule were the answer to all my problems.

I started attending Church again. My own Church had closed years before so I attended Huntsville United Methodist Church. I knew most everyone there as I had grown up around them and was warmly welcomed. I never spoke a word of my pagan past. Then at my first Communion after returning to the Church, I accepted in my mind Jesus Christ as my Savior. I continued attending Church and slowly opened up about my life of idolatry. No one batted an eye, I was accepted with love and kindness. I was asked to be on the Admin Council. I hardly missed a Sunday. When Reverend Mike White became our pastor he preached often about the importance of baptism. One Sunday after Church I mentioned being baptized again. Rev. Mike is well awake of my pagan past, and was at the time, and said he thought given my past it would be a good idea.

And that brings us to yesterday. It started out as any Sunday, save I slept later than usual. I got up and prepared for Church. I came early as I had promised Matt, who usually runs the video screens I would do it to give him a break. That way he could for once sit and enjoy the service and not fret about getting the right hymn on the screens, It was Communion Sunday, my favorite service of the Ordinary Days ( a time when there are no major Church holidays). I went through the service doing my "job" and took Communion. After Church I ran to Dollar General after relaxing at home a bit, and then to Walmart to pick up some things, and finally to Taco Bell to grab something to eat. Once home, I composed a letter to a friend which I still have not decided whether to send as it is a touchy issue. And then fearing I would be late, I left for Rev, Mike and his wife Linda's beautiful home on Lake Nehai northwest of Salisbury, Mo. I made it there with time to spare, and slowly members of my Church family showed up.

Then the time arrived for the rites to begin. Another church member, Diane was also getting baptized, so it was quite an event for the church, Rev. Mike gave a short sermon on baptism, we sang hymns, and then Diane and I went out in the lake with Rev. Mike to be baptized. The water was at first cold, and I am no fan of water not being a good swimmer. Rev. Mike baptized me first. He had me cross my arms, inhale, and hold my noise. And then he plunged me underwater. Usually I close my eyes under water, but I left them open, and the feeling was exhilarating. I came up and had the most amazing feeling. It was not just the rush of the water, but the feeling I had been cleansed of my sins. It was am amazing feeling after a year of dealing with a whole host of problems ranging from rumors about my pagan past among other things, a prostate infection, a brief return to drinking, and trying to withdraw from an addictive prescription medication. All that along with issues among my circle of friends had brought bitterness, and some hatred or those that had wronged me. Now, though I was able to let that go. It was God that helped me make it through all of that, and now God had brought it full circle, and brought me back at last to Christ.

I feel like a new man. It has been a long process. I went from being a struggling writer to having a descent job since I returned to the Church. My family is healthy and doing better than they have. My circle of friends is smaller, but a much happier circle. All this I owe to God, and my choice to return to Christ. If you are a Believer, and have never been baptized, I strongly encourage you to do so. It is a life changer.