A Whole New Gaggle

The other Saturday I had the day off from work.  After running around town looking for housing I took a trip out to Grafton Pond near the house where I'm currently staying.  I was told this was a great place to go paddle and see wildlife, and there are no motorboats allowed.  So I wanted to check it out prior to taking a kayak out.  Within five minutes of arriving I saw these guys and gals.  Totally looking forward to getting out on a kayak and taking in the view.

I Believe

This weekend at Riverbank Church Chris shared from Acts 8.  He shared specifically about the story of Philip sharing The Gospel with and baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch.  Chris talked about how we have the opportunity to believe that Jesus is who he said he is and we can make the decision to follow him with our lives.  He shared that baptism is simply an outward expression of an inward change in our hearts.  It's a public confession of our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We see in  Mark 1:9-11 and in Matthew 3:13-17 that Jesus was baptized.  Jesus was a perfect man yet he still chose to set the example for us in our walk with him.  He probably didn't have to be baptized, but yet he chose to show his love for his heavenly Father through this outward act of obedience.  

We see also is Acts 2:38-41 the immediacy of the early believers public display of their decisions to follow Christ.  Just like the Ethiopian eunuch these early followers were baptized upon believing in Christ.  3,000 people were baptized that day.  Imagine what that day was like.

I love being a part of experiencing baptism.  I still remember the day I was baptized by Dr. Young back when I was 12.  I could barely keep my head above the water as I knelled in the baptismal.  I remember Dr. Young pushing my head down so far I thought he might actually be trying to drown me.  Plus the white terry cloth rob was so wet and heavy afterwards I thought I wouldn't be able to get out of the baptismal.   But I also remember that day being the day I went public with my faith in Jesus, and I can always look back to that day and know that there are people who were there to witness that event and who can ultimately hold me accountable to my decision.

As Chris drew his lesson to conclusion he gave people the opportunity to get baptized.  Some had already been signed up.  But others came and were baptized on the spot.  Each person had the opportunity so say out loud that they were being baptized because they BELIEVE in who Jesus is and what he did for them.  It was a great time of celebration, and support of 12 fellow followers of Christ as they displayed publicly their decision to be cleansed of sin and cross from death to life in Christ.

Do you believe in who Jesus says He is?  Have you ever gone public with your faith through baptism?  If not, what's stopping you from saying "I believe"?  It's our first step in obedience as followers of Christ.  

Same Kinda Different

I've been back in New Hamphire for about a week, after having been gone for a little over a year.  When I left New Hampshire in March of 2010 I was living about 65 miles south east of where I am now.  It's been interesting so far being back in a region I'm familiar with, yet being in a town where I'm still trying to find my way around.

The same holds true for church.  When I left South Carolina I had come out of a Sunday where there were over 10,000 people gathered across 5 campuses all over the state of South Carolina.  This past Sunday I spent the morning with around 140 people in one location in one town in New Hampshire.  One church has been around over 11 years.  The other, just over one year.  It's very interesting to go from one Sunday to the next and experience such different circumstances.   To go from a church where there are more people on staff than people who attend the church I'm with now.  To go from a church who's youth facility seats more people than the location we are meeting in.  To now be with a church where all the tools we use to worship together on a Sunday morning fit inside a Suburban and a 20 ft trailer instead of a ten of thousands of square foot space.  I could go on and on about the differences, but I think you get the point.

Church in New Hampshire is different from church in South Carolina.  But it's also the same.  First of all and most importantly both churches are sharing the message of Jesus Christ.  Whether that be to adults or to children on their level.  Both churches are placing the focus on Jesus and worshiping him through, songs, giving, serving, growing, and following.  Both churches have a vision of reaching the lost in their communities.  Both are doing whatever it takes to share Jesus and make disciples.  Both are baptizing, both are being the body of Christ.  Both are doing their best to serve with excellence.  Both are doing their best to be good stewards of the tools and resources God has given.  Both are not afraid to try something and fail.  Most importantly both are being THE CHURCH.

Both these churches may be different in many ways, but they are so much the same.  I've been reading through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) the last couple months.  If you've ever taken the time to study them you'll find that each book is different.  Written by different authors, therefore from different perspectives.  Each one has stories that the other ones don't.  Even written in different locations.  But one thing remains the same in each of these books.  The message of Jesus Christ.  That is the part that's never different.  That always remains the same.  Jesus is present and visible the entire time, and His message stays the same.

When we allow Jesus to be present in and through our lives regardless of our location, our circumstances, our relationships, regardless of what life looks like in that moment, that is when we experience the same kind different.

Northward Journey

Most of you all know that I just completed a long journey back to New England from South Carolina.  I've posted a map below of my route for all those non geographically savy people and for those just curious.  All said and done it was a little over 1,000 miles from Anderson, SC to Lebanon, NH.  Last Tuesday I left Anderson, and traveled to my hometown of Lititz, PA.  Spent a day there chillin' before making the rest of the journey on Thursday.  Gotta say hi to the parental units right?  Oh, and anytime you stay in Lititz you have to go to Dosie Dough for coffee and a chocolate long john.

I will probably get in trouble from someone for admitting this, but the photo below was taken while driving north on interstate 81 through Virginia.  There was about a 1 mile stretch of wildflowers in the middle of the interstate and I just couldn't resist.

You never know what you will see along your journeys.  As an avid motorcycle enthusiast I'm always looking for fun and unique motorcycles.  However, this encounter takes the prize for most unique thing I saw along my trip north.  A Russian made Ural Motorcycle being towed by a Toyota Yaris.  I'm not sure which one gets better gas milage, but I'm sure the motorcycle could tow the car in a pinch for sure.

I arrived in Lebanon, NH last Thursday night and a group from Riverbank Church helped me unload everything into temporary storage.  From there we proceeded to swing by the church office and grab some pizza.  Buffalo Chicken at Ramunto's is very good indeed.  After that I settled into my temporary living arrangements in Enfield, NH.  A lady from church graciously offered up a room in her home till I can find a space of my own.

Friday morning the task was to return the rental truck and trailer to the rental place.  Rather than take the car back to Lebanon I choose to take advantage of the amazing weather and ride the scenic route.  I've passed the sign below many times on previous rides throughout New England but never stopped before.

I Road up route 5 in Vermont than crossed over to route 12 and 12A in New Hampshire and continued north to Lebanon.  This bridge is the longest wooden bridge in the United States, and the longest two-span wooden bridge in the world.  That's probably why I had such a hard time getting the whole thing in a "creative" shot.

The rest of Friday was spent stopping in at my new job at the Eastern Mountain Sports in West Lebanon, NH, getting a lay of the land and signing some paperwork.  I'll be working in a store again as a Floor Supervisor and am looking forward to being back with EMS.

Got back Friday afternoon to where I'm staying.  The house is across the street from Mascoma Lake.  There truly is nothing like a New England mountain lake.  I could have sat here all the rest of the day.  Saturday turned out to be rainy and a great day to relax and regroup from a very long trek northward.

Sunday we met for church at the Lebanon Opera House right on the green in Lebanon, NH.  It was a great day.  I super excited to be back in New Hampshire and being a part of what God is doing through Riverbank Church.  I spent the afternoon attending a meeting/training with all the Riverbank volunteers, and getting acquainted with the staff I'll be serving alongside here.  

This week will mostly be spent with retraining at work, meetings with church staff, and starting to look for a place to live.