TMZ’s Top-5 Posts of 2012: #3

I’m smack-dab in the middle of a top posts countdown. I’ve already talked about my fifth and fourth most popular posts of the year. Time to pop the champagne on post #3.

Wait, the champagne is for the first post…

Time to pop the seltzer water for my third most popular post of 2012! It goes back to April and serves as a bit of a prequel to my #5 post: “A Birthday Baptism by Buccaneer Bay.”

Earlier this year, I had never been baptized despite being a Christian from my youth. Suddenly, I wanted to change that. And explain that. And so the post, “Why I’ve Never Been Baptized” was born. Here’s how it began…

Several years ago I watched my younger siblings do it. I’ve often wondered whether I would ever follow in their footsteps. Been questioned about it plenty of times.

But I already have Jesus in my heart. I love Him dearly. He is everything; He’s the only thing.

For nearly 25 years God’s will has superseded mine, despite countless stumbles along the way. I’m certainly not perfect, but I strive to do the right thing. To love people like God has inexplicably loved me. I believe in Him as sure as I do oxygen or the intoxicating smell of cinnamon buns baking in an oven. When all else fails, He never has, does, or will.

I’m already assured of living with Him forever someday. What else is there?

Why get baptized? 

I’ve spent most of my life in isolation. Particularly within church. A cruel irony considering I’ve attended approximately 99.3% of the 1,305 Sunday services stretching back 25 years.

I’ve always gone to church, but I’ve hardly ever felt part of church. Always witnessed the story happening around me, but had never taken part in the story myself.

Baptism always seemed to be a waste of time considering my utter disconnect from the church. What did I matter? Why stand in front of hundreds of people who don’t care about or even know me, only to return to obscurity once the applause dies?

Why put myself through such heartless ritualistic agony?

***

CLICK HERE for the resolution to this cliffhanger! Did I ever decide to get baptized??

Oh. Yeah. I did. Like I said, this is kind of a prequel to my #5 post. But based on the number of views this one got, it just proves prequels are better than the original. I mean, just look at Star Wars.

Check back tomorrow for my #2 post of the year! WE’RE ALMOST THERE.

Until then, what’s the third best way to skin a cat? For me, garden shears. Without a doubt.