tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632039.post115578083265543443..comments2023-06-27T08:35:34.758-05:00Comments on Random Thoughts and Associations...: 100 Baptisms!charlesdean2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04655299409145526648noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632039.post-1155905863516557472006-08-18T07:57:00.000-05:002006-08-18T07:57:00.000-05:00I thought it was a beautiful and moving experience...I thought it was a beautiful and moving experience for all those invovled. It gave a glimpse of what it must have been like to see the congregation gathered at the river years ago. Awesome.JGanschowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10879923965051678182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632039.post-1155865983727396562006-08-17T20:53:00.000-05:002006-08-17T20:53:00.000-05:00my dad was baptized last night and i know that for...my dad was baptized last night and i know that for him it felt more authentic since it was outside and in God's creation. nature is one of the biggest ways he connects to God and to have the opportunity to be beaptized in the lake was exciting for him. <BR/>it was awesome to see so many people come out of the water in tears. much more than usual for some reason or another. very moving service.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632039.post-1155851419610512772006-08-17T16:50:00.000-05:002006-08-17T16:50:00.000-05:00Why so many? Typically, at Northwoods, by God's ...Why so many?<BR/> Typically, at Northwoods, by God's grace we often see between 20-30 people baptized per month. So that is leading to some of the numbers.<BR/><BR/> I also know that some people have been "holding out," because for them, it feels more "authentic" perhaps to be outdoors.<BR/><BR/> I also know that for everything that happens in life, some people have pure motives, others do not. I'm sure that last night was really real for some people...the woman I baptized, and the community of people she does life with were all in tears! And then I'm sure that somewhere in that crowd were people who were just going through the motions.<BR/><BR/>I guess, I figure that my job, is to preach the gospel and baptize and take people at their word when they say they believe in Jesus, and let God take care of all the motives.<BR/><BR/>But I understand your questions...I used to be more skeptical about stuff like this. I've just felt more released in recent years to be faithful in carrying out the great commission in the best way I know how...<BR/><BR/>thanks for the questions.<BR/><BR/>one last thing...as a practice, we don't baptize people multiple times, unless they claim that they don't believe that they were actually Christians the 1st time (we do get a lot of people who were baptized as infants, for example).<BR/><BR/>Honestly, I really don't care about the number 100, per se, but just that's it's exciting to be part of a church where adults lives are being changed. I used to work at a church that in the 4 years, I was there saw maybe 20 adults baptized. And as far as last night goes, as far as we know, there were none that were "rebaptized," just because it was in a lake.charlesdean2https://www.blogger.com/profile/04655299409145526648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632039.post-1155850436402366512006-08-17T16:33:00.000-05:002006-08-17T16:33:00.000-05:00here's something i came to learn recently.to quest...here's something i came to learn recently.<BR/><BR/>to question.<BR/><BR/>and i question the lake baptism.<BR/><BR/>although there hasn't been a baptism at nwoods since may, why so many this time?<BR/><BR/>are people just wanting to be baptised b/c it's in a "real" body of water?<BR/><BR/>"oh yeah... the lake! i want to be baptised in the lake!"<BR/><BR/>...even though some of those people might have already been baptised recently.<BR/><BR/>that was my initial response, but i know there are some who actually did it b/c they felt it was right for them, and ryan's post really cemented that for me.erichapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03904150719090775786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632039.post-1155796766288814972006-08-17T01:39:00.000-05:002006-08-17T01:39:00.000-05:00thanks charliethanks charlieRyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085513694611370913noreply@blogger.com