A few months ago while I was watching television, I turned the channel to Larry King Live. The guest that evening was Bill Maher, and he was giving his thoughts on various topics. When the topic of religion came up, he referred to it as "magic." I couldn't believe it, so to get that response out of my head I watched, The Passion of the Christ.
I love the film and the message it presents to all of us, and that message is that Jesus Christ died for our sins. He went through so much pain and humiliation because he loved all of us so much. How incredible is that?
The next day I told my sister, Leslee that I had watched it, and it made me realize that I needed to be in church again. She had also wanted to start going again, so we planned to go that Sunday. Leslee and her kids did go to church that Sunday, I unfortunately overslept. However, I did make it the following week, and have been enjoying it ever since.
I immediately felt welcomed, everyone kept telling me they were glad to have me there, and hoped I'd come back again.
After my second or third week, I knew that I wanted to be baptized. I had been to a few baptismal services, and I got chills as each person accepted Christ in their lives. So I sent my pastor a message asking when the church would be doing baptisms, and he said they would schedule it.
In the meantime, one of Leslee's prayers was answered when her husband, Chad started attending church with us. It has truly made a difference for all of us.
Leslee and I are members of the church choir, which is wonderful. We've also been practicing for the Christmas cantata. I'm not usually comfortable with doing things in front of an audience, but when you're singing for God, you have to put the nervousness aside.
As I was heading down the hall for our first choir practice, my pastor asked if he could talk with me for a minute. We sat down, and he asked, "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?" I said, "Yes, I have."
He said, "That's great! When would you like to be baptized?" I asked if we could do it the following Sunday, and he said that would be fine.
So, on my mother's birthday, September 19th, I went to church and everyone was asking if I was ready, and I said that I was. I couldn't wait. Just before I went back to be baptized, a man in the choir sang, It Is Well with My Soul.
He finished the song and then spoke of how he was encouraged by my decision to be baptized. I was thrilled that my decision had meant something to so many people.
I will never forget walking down the steps into that tub, turning around and looking in my pastor's face as he asked, "Ryan, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?" I said, "Yes, I have!" Then he said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Then, I went under. As I came back up, I said, "Oh, wow!" I heard a man in the congregation say, "Amen." The power of that moment will never leave me. That day was truly the greatest day of my life.
I've heard people say that you don't need to go to church to believe in God. I believe that, but I also believe that if you do go to church, it makes you feel His presence so much more. I've realized I'm able to focus on things that are really important, instead of things that aren't so important.
I pray every night for those who are lost, and don't believe God exists. I try to understand how someone could feel that way and I can't.
I will continue to pray for them, and hopefully one day they'll realize how great there lives will be when they let Him in.
