Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Swanee River ...

In the short time Karen and I attended "119" home church in Langford ( started last year by Tony Dower - former Missions/World Changers Director for PCLC) we became friends with a fellow named Graham. He was baptised on Sunday afternoon in the Swan River (near Coode St jetty).

It was cool (literally) to be there. I have never attended a baptism outside of a church building before. A couple of guys were standing on the end of the jetty with their stubbies - watching the whole thing. I 'm not sure if they were amused or intrigued by the sight of Rob and Clarita dunking Graham in the water. I had (just briefly) a small glimpse of what it must have been like for Philip when he baptised the Ethiopian official in the lake, or when John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the river.

There were hundreds of people all around the place, and we must have looked strange to them - standing around on the shore, cheering Graham on. It reminded me of the scripture where Jesus said "if you confess Me before man, then I will confess you before the Father".

There are some words from a great old hymn that go like this ...

"I'm not ashamed to own my Lord,
or to defend His cause.
Maintain the honour of His Word,
the glory of His Cross."

It's worth thinking about!

Shalom,
Steve

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