Amelia Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 []http://images.ucomics.com/comics/cl/2005/cl050827.gif[/] Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldona Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 Hey, that's great...I think an adult baptismal font with a water slide would make baprisms great fun and also teach a highly symbolic object lesson. Sort of like, "When my life was running away from me, I was at the mercy of forces beyond my control (i.e. gravity), I fell down to my lowest point ever, and then I was buried in the waters of baptism and my downward slide came to an end..." I'm sure other more poetic types than me can phrase it better. aldona Quote www.asrc.org.au (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Melbourne)Helping over 2000 refugees & asylum seekers each monthIMSLP/Petrucci Music LibraryThe Public Domain Music Score Library - Free Sheet Music DownloadsLooking for classical sheet music? Try IMSLP first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 My son might actually like that one! He's scared to death of baptism because the pastor holds you under "for so long." I told my husband this morning that maybe we should ask our pastor if he'd make an exception and do a sprinkling! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Nan Posted August 28, 2005 Moderators Share Posted August 28, 2005 Maybe Sammy could help, he is a long time expert on baptism. His father was a Pentecostal minister and at a very young age Sammy was seen trying to baptise the family rooster - which did survive the event <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Naomi Posted August 28, 2005 Administrators Share Posted August 28, 2005 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> Nan said: Maybe Sammy could help, he is a long time expert on baptism. His father was a Pentecostal minister and at a very young age Sammy was seen trying to baptise the family rooster - which did survive the event <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Michelle, Perhaps you shouldn't share the story of Sammy's early attempts at baptism with your son <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/smilie_zoom.gif" alt="" /> Sammy's attempts remind me of my younger brother baptizing the cat! Actually the cat survived better than my brother's arms. Perhaps giving him a lesson about power in the blood <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've heard stories of young men at the seminary doing some unusual things during the "baptism practice" such as making the water HOT or COLD and other things to keep their fellow students on their toes so to speak. Naomi Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 You know, I was wondering, as we were watching the baptism this Sabbath, if pastors practice this. I would think they must! No, not sharing Sammy's or your brother's attempts at baptism. Of course, we don't have animals except the budgies which don't come out of their cage (one is exceptionally nervous, even for a budgie, so they don't . . . ahem . . . budge), and his brother is too big for him to try. This is a serious fear, though. We've actually thought about "practicing" aspects of it (with Asperger's, we usually have to rehearse anything new several times until it's familiar)--like putting a towel over his face and dunking him in the tub. He's afraid of water getting up his nose. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amelia Posted August 28, 2005 Author Share Posted August 28, 2005 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> He's afraid of water getting up his nose <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Michelle, how about a pair of swimmers nose plugs? Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Naomi Posted August 29, 2005 Administrators Share Posted August 29, 2005 Michelle, Well now you know, yes, they do pratice. Amelia, The nose plugs sound like a good idea. Naomi Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amelia Posted August 29, 2005 Author Share Posted August 29, 2005 I didnt get to practice for my baptism but I knew the general how to's. The only thing I didnt know was that the pastor would hold me down so long. Does it say somewhere that you only get a real baptism after X many secs? Sheeesh Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Nose plug just might work--hadn't thought that far in advance. And since I think my son would thrash around if held under "too long" I think advice to my pastor to "dunk quickly" would be in order. He does know about some of my son's difficulties, so maybe he would be sensitive to that. However, I do think they have an age limit here--not sure what it is, but my guess is they'd tell me that he's too young now (he's 8). M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Officially, I don't think there is an "age limit", but I do think it wish to wait a year or two, but keep the goal in his mind. I was only 8 when I first gave my heart to the Lord, and as I got older I wanted to be baptised -- but I was too shy to ask. I was upset when there was a baptism just before Christmas one year, and several of my girlfriends were baptised, and no one had asked me! Next year I saw the mission Bible Worker talking to my mother after church, and on our way home my mother said that Miss ..... had asked if they could baptise me in the baptism that was coming up in a few weeks, and she had said yes!!!! Yes, I was thrilled that I was going to be baptised, but hurt that no-one has asked ME! No-one came to talk to me about it. My mother had just been told what clothes to bring. No-one even knew that I had given my heart to the Lord all those years before. As the years passed, and after graduation as a Bible Worker myself, I made quite sure that every young person was not only asked personally about their decision for baptism, but they were visited in the home, and given studies, just as though they were the product of the evangelistic meetings. I think that is the least that our young people are entitled to! Beryl Quote "Grace is God doing for us, in us and through us that which He requires of us but which is impossible for us to do in or for ourselves."Â But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottie Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 My daugter asked to be baptised at age eight, which we thought was too young. I put her off by telling her that her tenth birthday would be on Sabbath, so she could have both "birthdays" on the same day. Our pastor studied thoroughly with her and a friend at our house. A long-time friend of hers was the baptising minister, and the whole service centered around the baptism. It wasn't just a short part stuck in wherever they thought there was time. A really nice ceremony which she will remember for a long while. People at church that day still tell me they remember, and it was 17 years ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Naomi Posted September 3, 2005 Administrators Share Posted September 3, 2005 Beryl said:</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> As the years passed, and after graduation as a Bible Worker myself, I made quite sure that every young person was not only asked personally about their decision for baptism, but they were visited in the home, and given studies, just as though they were the product of the evangelistic meetings. I think that is the least that our young people are entitled to! Beryl <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Beryl, On another thread I gave an account of my "two" baptisms. You made an important point and I wonder if it has changed today. My mother was the one who was asked by our pastor and made the arrangements. No personal visit with me, no studies, etc. To me it was not that special, just something I had to do ... I had made my decision and been baptised without their knowledge. Moreover, I am not completely sure that I wasn't the one who made the "decision" for my children. I do know they were not given studies. Was it, and is it still, just assumed that if a child was/is raised SDA that they understood "all" and their parents had authority to select the time? Kudos to you for making the decision that of the Childs. Naomi Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted September 4, 2005 Share Posted September 4, 2005 I really appreciate what you all are saying. I was baptized at 7 or 8 with a group from my little school after an evangelistic series--don't remember individual studies. I personally want to make sure that this is my child's decision, AND that he gets age-appropriate studies to understand the decision. Baptisms here are much more of a big celebration than what I've seen in the US. They sing several songs, then they have an interview with the person to be baptized. They always ask that person if there is someone he/she would like to see baptized, and they always name a friend who is in attendance in the congregation and why they want this friend to make that decision. They read through each of the vows and the person verbally assents to each. Then the baptism. Directly after the person has left the tank, the pastor asks if there is anyone in the congregation who wants to study for baptism. Afterward, they take a picture with the newly baptized people and all the church members in attendance on the front steps of the church. It takes a long time, but I think it is worth it. My 8 y/o has struggled with this the past 2 baptisms. He really wants to stand up, but he's scared of the dunking. So I've told him there is no hurry, he can take the time he needs to take to make the decision. I don't want to be the one making his decision for him! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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