Today's Devotion

Christian Community – What’s in a Name?

Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent.  I understand Ash Wednesday and I understand Lent, but I never knew about Fat Tuesday.  That’s probably because my family never celebrated or recognized the day.  Why the name Fat Tuesday?  In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says, “What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”   So, too, Fat Tuesday, by any other name would still be as “fat”.  Probably the best know other name for Fat Tuesday is the wildly popular Mardi Gras.  The French word Mardi is the name of the day of the week Tuesday and Gras translates to fat.  Whether the day is called Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, the day is one of excess.  It’s a day to enjoy oneself before denying oneself during the days of Lent.  This brings me to another name for the day.  Shrove Tuesday, which is derived from shrive, refers to the usual practice in Medieval Europe of the confession of sins before the Lenten season.

Christian Community – Why Fat Tuesday

Knowing that Lent was a time of reflection, penitence, penance, and fasting, it was necessary to empty the larder of eggs, fat, dairy, and meat products because there was not refrigeration and they would not be used for the next forty days.  Imagine the women of the household and throughout the community just cooking and baking up a storm.  There would be food overflowing.  It seems logical that people would gather and share in this excess, trying to eat everything in sight.  It sounds like the makings of a great party!  Another name for a big party is carnival.  The actual meaning of the word carnival comes from the Latin carne meaning flesh and levare which means to lift.  In other words carnival translates to take meat away.  Once again, excess precedes denial.     

Christian Community – History of Fat Tuesday

Even though Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras is seen as hedonistic, it has its roots in the Christian calendar.  In cultures that celebrate Carnival, January 6 is the kick off date.  This date is known as Twelfth Night, Three Kings Day, or Epiphany.  It is the day celebrated as the day that the Wise Men, bearing gifts, visited Baby Jesus.  This is also the day when celebrants serve King Cake, a rich cake prepared and baked in a circle to represent the circular route that the Wise Men took to find Jesus and to confuse King Herod and thwart his plan to kill the Christ Child.  Traditionally, a bean or a coin was hidden inside the cake and the person who found it was said to have good luck in the coming year.  In preparation of the King Cake today, bakers put a small plastic baby, representing Baby Jesus, in the cake and the person who finds it is to host the next year’s King Cake party.  The King Cake season runs from Epiphany through Mardi Gras.  Some groups of people may hold King Cake parties throughout the whole season, thus extending the attitude of excess over many weeks and not just Fat Tuesday.

Christian Community – To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate

As I stated in the opening of this blog, my family never celebrated Fat Tuesday.  In researching this, I’m glad we never did.  Too often we partake in something that just seems fun.  Often, we can say, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”  But was it?  While eating a King Cake is probably no big deal, the attitude of “eat, drink, and be merry” behind the tradition of Fat Tuesday deserves thought as to whether one wants to celebrate or not.  The eating, drinking, and being merry can all be in excess during Carnival.  How we live our life as a child of God should not be just a collection of acts, but of a daily lifestyle.  Every day we should be mindful to live a life pleasing to our Lord.  1 Peter 1:13-16  tells us how to prepare our minds and be self-controlled with the admonishment to “Be holy, for I am holy.”  

This debate to celebrate or not to celebrate has been going on for a long time.  The picture you see here called Battle between Carnival and Lent  is by Pieter Bruegel in 1559.  On the left side of the picture you see an inn for enjoyment and on the right you see the church for religious observances.  The painting personifies the juxtaposition of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.  It signifies a half-secular and half-religious festival.  Look carefully and you’ll see a joust between two traditional enemies – Carnival (Paganism) and Lent (Christianity).  Carnival is depicted by the obese man on a beer barrel holding a spit for his lance.  Christianity is shown as a thin figure in a cart holding a baking shovel for a weapon.  All around the rest of the picture is all kinds of revelry. 

And so the debate and conflict continues: to celebrate or not to celebrate.  As Christians, we are in the world, but not of this world.  If we follow the admonition to “be holy”, the answer is “No.”

Christian Art: Meaning of Fish Symbol    

The Greek word for fish is “ichthus”.  The Greek spelling or characters are Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma.    These five Greek characters are an acrostic.

• Iota (i) is the first letter of Iesous (Greek for Jesus).  
• Chi (kh) is the first letter of Khristos (Greek for Christ). 
• Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou (Greek for God, or “God’s).  
• Upsilon (u) is the first letter of Huios (Greek for Son).  
• Sigma (s) is the first letter of Soter (Greek for Savior). 

So, this acrostic translates to “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”   

Christian Art: Ichthus – Acrostic or Symbol

Which came first – the acrostic or the symbol of the fish?  The use of the symbol of the fish actually predates Christianity.  It is found in Egyptian, Syrian, Babylonian, and Roman art.  It was a symbol of a deity and used in religious art and rituals.  It would be logical that early Christians adapted this as a symbol of their deity, Jesus Christ. 

Christian Art: Biblical References to Fish

Jesus did most of His teachings in Galilee where fish were a dietary staple.  Fish are often mentioned in the Bible, and are therefore a logical symbol for the early Christians.  In Matthew 4:18-19  Jesus invites Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, who were fishermen, to join Him and be His disciples when he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  This same invitation is recorded in Mark 1:16-17.  In Matthew 14:17 the disciples told Jesus that they had only five loaves and two fish to feed a multitude of people who had followed them into the desert.  After the disciples had fished all night unsuccessfully, Jesus asked them to take their boat out and let down their nets.  Luke 5:4-6 tells us that they obediently did so and caught so many fish that their nets broke.  Again, after an unsuccessful night of fishing, a similar situation is recorded in John 21:6 where it reports that there were so many fish that they could not draw the nets in to the boat.  

Christian Art: Why the Fish Symbol   

The fish symbol was used primarily among the Christians of the first and second century A.D.  Life was dangerous for them because of their faith.  Evil emperors of the Roman Empire, including Emperor Nero (54 A.D to 68 AD.), persecuted, tortured, and put to death the followers of Jesus Christ and the early Christians.  For fear for their lives, they had to be cautious choosing where they would meet and with whom they could talk.  They used the fish symbol to mark their meeting places, often in underground places called catacombs.  The sign of the fish also indicated to others that it was safe to talk about their faith.

Christian Art: Communication Using Fish Symbol     

The Jesus fish symbol is very simple.  It is two intersecting arcs with the ends extending beyond the point of intersection so that the image resembles a profile of a fish.  Because of its simplicity and seeming meaninglessness, it was a safe way to communicate with other Christians.  Imagine two strangers meeting, not knowing if the other was Christian or not.  One could simply draw an arc in the dirt, mud, or sand.  If the other person was not a Christian, it would have no meaning.  If he was Christian, he would complete the symbol by drawing a reverse arc, creating the sign of the fish.  And so, the fish was a secret password between the two strangers.

Christian Art: Fish Symbol Today

Today we are seeing the historical Christian fish symbol again.  We see it on bumper stickers, t-shirts, ball caps, coffee mugs, and jewelry.  We can see it in many artistic forms.  The fish can be seen either facing left or right.  The fish swimming to the left seem to be the most meaningful orientation because the symbol then resembles the letter alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet.  In Revelations 1:8 we read “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Such a simple symbol for a mighty God!

B&C Gifts Updates: Why White for Christenings?

This week Baptism and Christening Gifts received a phone call asking about our Prayer Blankets.  While talking with the person, she asked “Why do they use white for Christenings?”  This got me to thinking, and I did a bit of research on this question.  

B&C Gifts Updates: History of Color White

This history of the use of the color white goes back to ancient Egypt.   The pure white color used in Egyptian art was created from gypsum and chalk.  Because of its lack of color, white (hedj and shesep) was the color of simple and sacred things.  It suggested purity and omnipotence, or the ability to know all things.  The heraldic colors and the “Nefer”, the crown, of Upper Egypt were white.  White sandals were worn at holy ceremonies, and white alabaster bowls were used for rituals.  White was the color of embalming tables.  Even the name of the city of Memphis, the holy city of Egypt, meant “white walls”. 

B&C Gifts Updates: Color White Symbolism

There is a lot of symbolism in the color white.  Ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams.  In a dream, the appearance of white is thought to represent happiness at home.  White castles are symbols of achievement.  White represents purity, innocence, and cleanliness.  That’s why we see doctors wearing white coats, or brides wearing white gowns.  That bride may dream of living in a house with a white picket fence which symbolizes being embraced in a safe and happy home.  In art we see angels depicted wearing white.  Of course, we know that in the movies the good guys wear white hats and the damsel is rescued by the white knight riding on a white charger. 

B&C Gifts Updates: White Recorded in the Bible

White is seen early in the bible in Exodus when the Children of Israel, while wandering in the wilderness, are sent the daily blessing of Manna.  Exodus 16:31 tells us it was white and tasted like wafers made with honey.  Throughout the bible the color white is the color used to describe purity, refinement, righteousness, being unblemished, or heavenliness.  Looking outside today at over ten inches of snow, I see a beautiful scene, with all the dirtiness covered over.  What a wonderful analogy that the bible uses in Isaiah 1:18, when it tells us our sins, even though they may be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.  There is reference in Revelations 3:4-5 that tells us that he that overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment or garments and that his name will be confessed before the Father.  Again in Revelations 7:14 white garments are mentioned as being washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. 

B&C Gifts Updates: White for Christening

In light of all of the above, it is only appropriate that the color white is used for baptism and christenings.  Webster’s dictionary defines baptism as a Christian sacrament using water.  In Psalm 51:7 King David says, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” 

Baptism and Christening Gifts offers a Knit Keepsake Baby Prayer Blanket Gift Set in White for your child for their dedication, baptism, or christening.  It is symbolically as white as snow!  It is soft, fluffy, and cuddly and made by a seventy year old grandmother who prays as she knits for the child who will receive it.  She prays that the child will be wrapped in God’s love and have a blessed life.  Accompanying the white baby prayer blanket is a prayer card with seven prayers.  It is a special gift that can be saved for baby’s baby making it a family keepsake heirloom.

B&C Gifts Updates: White as Snow

Take a moment to enjoy the video White as Snow by the Maranatha Singers.  View all of the pictures showing clean, pure white snow keeping in mind that our sins are as scarlet, but through His blood, our Father sees us as white as snow.  What a blessing! 

This is why white is used for baptisms and christenings.

Christian Music: History

Christian music has its origins linked to thousands of years of Hebraic culture.  It was the folk music or music of the people often played with lyres, harps, tambourines, and other percussion instruments.  Exodus 15:20-21 makes reference back to the time of Moses.   “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.  And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”  After the construction of Solomon’s temple in 900 B.C., professional worship music, using dual reed pipes, was incorporated during special religious events such as Passover and the Feast of the Tabernacles. 

Christian Music: Its Birth

The Jews worshipped liturgically, and their temple worship was reinvented and adapted into Christian worship quite logically.  The early Christians had been Jews who now followed Christ.  Their faith was the completion of Judaism, and they continued to use many aspects of the Jewish liturgy.  The Jews of the Old Testament sang psalms, many of which were written by King David.  They also praised God, and asked God to be their help and guide.  These were prayers and sacred songs influenced from the text of the Holy Word set to music.      

Christian Music: Antiphonal Singing

The type of singing that was used in the ancient Hebrew temples was antiphonal singing.  It is text based on the Jewish Book of Praise or Psalms.  It is two choruses, or priest and congregation, singing back and forth, very much like an echo, but not always identical.  It is known as a responsorial chant, almost like a call and response.  The chant goes back and forth between the priest, or officiant, singing what is called the verse and the congregation, or choir, singing back what is called the response.  Ezra 3:11 gives an example of this when is says “They sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to unto the Lord.”       

Christian Music: Repetition of Holy Words

The word liturgy is defined by Webster as the customary repertoire of ideas, phrases, or observances.  The liturgy is full of the repetition of ideas.  We repeat the ritual of sacrifice, known as the Eucarist or Holy Communion.  We have the communal repetition of scripture,  spoken, not silent, so that it can be heard and absorbed.  Much as it is important to repeat ideas and behaviors for children, so, too, do we need repetition to make ideas and behaviors part of our life, and that includes our religious life.  We sing praises, but the most often repeated prayer is one of supplication, called the Kyrie Eleison.

Christian Music: Kyrie

Kyrie is the Greek word for Lord.  Kyrie Eleison is Greek for Lord have mercy.  The primary use of the Kyrie from the perspective of the Bible has been to call to God confident in His mercy.  The people of Israel called out to God in Isaiah 33:2 “Be gracious unto us.”  In the New Testament two blind men in Matthew 20:30 call out “Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.”  Matthew 15:22 tells of the woman who has a daughter plagued by the devil.  She calls to the Lord, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David.”  Blind Bartemaeus, in Mark 10:47, cries, “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.”  The poor lepers in Luke 17:13 beseech Jesus to help them with the words, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  These are repetitions of a plea for mercy across the ages as recorded in Scripture.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.  Kyrie Eleison.        

Christian Music: Antiphonal Singing Benefits

Antiphonal singing, although repetitious, is not boring.  On the contrary, it has benefits to the Christian.  One must, of course, be fully present, with mind body and soul paying attention to the words, thinking about them as they are said and sung, being mindful of the meaning and powerful nature of the words.  Antiphonal singing unites the hearts of the family of God in the intensity and passion of intercession allowing us to receive a blessing when we come to Him in unity.  It allows for new understanding and revelation as the Holy Spirit comes to us as we hear God’s word. 

Christian Music: Kyrie Elieson

May you receive a blessing as you listen to the Kyrie sung as a Gregorian chant.  Kyrie Eleison.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Christian Family: What is a Worldview?

The word worldview is from the German word weltanschauung, meaning to look onto the world.  Worldview is the looking glass or lens we look through to make sense of the world we live in, helping us to determine what is right and wrong with ourselves and others.  It informs us in our decisions as to how to interact with other people in our family, in school, in the workplace, and in the larger community.  Ultimately it is our working theory of the world and how we can maneuver through life in the world.  It forms a framework of ideas and attitudes about the world, ourselves, and others and how to relate to them.  It encompasses beliefs regarding all aspects of life including Theology, Philosophy, Ethics, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Politics, Economics, and History. 

Christian Family: Questions Shaping Worldview   

There are many questions that shape our worldview.  Even young children begin asking questions.  As we get into our teen years and young adulthood we begin to question even more.  

We question the reality of the world and our existence in it.  Is the world real or just my imagination?  Do miracles happen or is it just some coincidence?

 We question the existence of a divine being.  Is there a God?  Is there one God or many?  Is God a he or a she?

 We question how we got here.  Where did we come from?  Was it creation or evolution? 

 We question how we should live.  What is right and wrong?  What is our purpose in life?

 We question where we are going.  What happens when we die?  Will we be reincarnated?  Is there life after death?  Is there heaven and hell?

Christian Family: What Affects Worldview?

There are many things that affect our worldview.  Of many things, we do not have any control. 

We have no control over inherited or physical characteristics.  Our race, skin-tone, and features are unique to us, but unfortunately often become the fuel for teasing or harassment.  Even if we are not teased, but are praised for our good looks or intelligence, that too, influences our worldview.    

 We have no control over background experiences or life situations.  Have we grown up among wealth or poverty?  Both can have an affect on how we see the world.  Have we or a family member had serious health issues?  Have we grown up in a warm loving, Christian home, or an abusive environment? 

What have been the beliefs, values, attitudes, and habits that have surrounded us as we were growing up?  This also is something over which we often have no control.  Living in a negative environment often produces negative worldviews.  Living in a positive environment produces the greater odds of developing a positive worldview. 

Some parts of our worldview are shared by others in our community, while other parts differ for each individual.        

Christian Family: Worldviews Affect Decisions and Actions

Worldviews are the dominant force affecting all of our decisions and actions.  It determines how we act and react to others.  Will we be kind and helpful, or will we be mean, gruff, and stand-offish?  Will we react by turning the other cheek when we have been wronged or will we have an eye for an eye attitude?  Will we choose to do the right thing even when no one is looking, or will we take advantage of a temptation?  Will we have love and compassion for someone who is less fortunate, or will we just gloat and be glad that we are not in the same situation? 

Christian Family: Who Teaches Worldviews?

We must be aware that worldviews are being taught every second of every day.  Parents, school, church, experiences, and the media all teach worldviews.  We assume that the school and church are doing an admirable job of teaching worldviews.  As parents, we should be on top of what is being taught, especially through our children’s experiences and through the use of media.  As parents, we have the first and most important influence to shape our children’s worldviews.  If we don’t use that precious opportunity, our children will, without a doubt, and by default, have their worldview shaped by other sources. 

Christian Family: Teaching Worldviews to Children

Teaching worldviews  to children is a daily and unending lesson.  Even as children grow into adulthood, lessons are still to be taught.  Not by preaching, mind you, but by example.  It will be the opposite of the “do as I say, not as I do” phrase.  Children watch and learn from parents’ actions.  The worldview we want to impart is not just “head knowledge”, but a whole-life experience.  We must model what we believe.  Our children will live it with us.  To develop a Christian worldview, it must be in our hearts and not just on our tongue, and then translated into our everyday actions for our children to observe and absorb.  Proverbs 22:6  tells us “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.”      

Christian Family: What is Your Worldview?

As Christians, we like to think that we know how to, and do, incorporate biblical principles into our responses to the challenges and opportunities of our everyday life.  Our decisions and actions reveal what we really believe.  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

 Take a free online worldview test  to determine your worldview.  It is a free service for educational and research purposes.  You will be tested in the area of law, economics, civil government, religion, social issues, sociology (family issues) education and science and rated for these eight areas as either: Strong Biblical Worldview Thinker, Moderate Biblical Worldview Thinker, Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker, Socialist Worldview Thinker or Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker.  It takes about 25 to 35 minutes and will encourage and challenge you to an even deeper biblical worldview.  There will be a biblical response to every question at the end of the test next to your score.  This will be a tool to show where your worldview is strong and where it needs improvement.

Christian Family: Biblical Christian Worldview

Watch the video Biblical Christian Worldview: Introduction: Understanding the Times.  It is the first of 12 videos available regarding biblical Christian worldview.

What is your worldview?  Your decisions and actions reflect your worldview to the world.   Your worldview is your living witness.

Egyptian Christians – Copts

The English word Copt is taken from Gipt, Gypt, or Aigyptos, an Arabic word meaning Egyptian, as well as the Greek word Egyptos.  The names Abraham and Sarah, Joseph, Jacob and Joseph, and of course, Moses run through the history of Egypt, as well as that of the Holy Family.  Ever since the Arab conquest the term refers to the Christian Egyptian, not the Muslim Egyptian.  At that time, in 642 AD, all the native Egyptians were Christian.  Egypt was called Dar-el-Qypt, which means home of the Copts.  The Copts, as Egyptian Christians are known, live in all provinces of Egypt, but are not a majority in any of them.  They make up about 10 percent of the Egyptian population, with 90 percent of those being Coptic Christians.  This makes them the largest community of Christians in the Middle East as well as one of the oldest churches.   The majority live in extreme poverty facing discrimination in many facets of their life, including education and employment. 

Why the concern?

Egyptian life is hard, especially now with the political turmoil.  Banks are closed and money dispensing machines are shut down.  Department and grocery stores are closed.  Acquisition of everyday goods is difficult and inconsistent because transportation and distribution systems are virtually paralyzed.  If food and basic staples are available, it is extremely expensive with the cost of these items very high on the global market, and going higher.  Many shops, particularly those of the Christians, have been looted and attacked.

Who are they? 

The Egyptian Christians, or Copts, have loving families.  They are people who wish to live their lives in peace, going to the store, to work, to school, and to church.  They can’t do this when Christian gatherings and church meetings have been cancelled.  They can’t do this when they are staying in their homes out of fear.  They are “praying hard” and “trusting God” for protection amidst all the tumult.

In their own words:

We’ve all seen the news each night and day of the chaos going on in the streets in Egypt.  It is violent and disturbing.  But this quiet plea for help from a young girl who is fearful for her life is also disturbing.

Copts around the World

The Copts have immigrated to other parts of the world and worship in churches wherever they live.  They have churches in the United States, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Holland, Brazil, as well as many other countries in Asia and Africa.  This would mean that many of these immigrated Copts would likely have family and friends still in Egypt and would be concerned for their safety.

Our Prayers

Just as the Copts are praying, so too, should we pray for our fellow Christians.

• Pray for quick return to stability in Egypt.
• Pray for a non-violent solution to the political turmoil.
• Pray for the protection of the Egyptian Christians and their property.
• Pray that they receive strength through their faith.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Every story has a beginning.  So, too, does the story of Christian art.  

Christian art has its beginnings with the followers of Jesus, the Christ.  During the early years of the new religion that would become to be know as Christianity, the followers were persecuted for their beliefs.  For their protection and safety, they congregated in underground places called catacombs.  

In an effort to share and teach their belief, they drew images on the walls of these underground passages and rooms.  This created an ambivalent feeling in them.  While wanting to express their beliefs, they were conflicted because of the Old Testament teaching of the second commandment to not have any graven images.  (Exodus 20:4)  

They undoubtedly did not consider this art, but more a means of education and communication.  Since the followers were largely of the lower class and uneducated, communicating through images was very useful.  After all, as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The disciples asked Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray.”  What He taught them was what we know today as the Lord’s Prayer, undoubtedly the best known and most recited prayer in all of Christianity.  It is sometimes known as the Our Father prayer, or if spoken in Latin, the Pater Noster prayer.

If the disciples asked and needed to be taught how to pray, so much more so do our children need this skill.  We know that any skill is taught and learned through much repetition, and this includes the skill of praying.  What better way to do this, as parents, than each night, as we tuck our children into bed, to make it a habit to recite the Lord’s Prayer.  As Sunday School teachers we talk about the importance of prayer, explain the words, and pray the Lord’s Prayer at the end of each Sunday’s lesson.

Baptism and Christening Gifts offers a beautiful drawing of Christian wall art featuring children playing cheerfully out in a grassy field with their hands together circling a tree.  In the top of the tree are the words of the Lord’s Prayer written beautifully in calligraphy. 

Our Lord’s Prayer for Children Christian wall art drawings, which may be personalized with the hand lettering of Baby’s name and date, makes thoughtful and meaningful birth, baptism, christening, or baby dedication gifts.  When hung on the wall of Baby’s room, the drawing is a beautiful reference as prayers are said each night at bedtime. 

When hung in a Sunday School classroom, it reinforces that we are all children of God who need to look to Him in prayer each and every day as we go through life interacting with others.

There is a saying, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Perhaps this is why it is the most often prayed prayer.  It has been taught since childhood… and it remains in memory.

As shown here, the Lord’s Prayer for Children is presented with white and green mats in an oak frame. 

Also available:

Lord’s Prayer for Children with White and Green Mats in White Wash Frame

Lord’s Prayer for Children with White and Green Mats Unframed

Lord’s Prayer for Children with White and Pink Mats in Oak Frame

Lord’s Prayer for Children with White and Pink Mats in White Wash Frame

Lord’s Prayer for Children with White and Pink Mats Unframed 

All of the above Lord’s Prayer for Children Christian wall art are available in either English or Spanish.

The words of the Lord’s Prayer, as they appear in English, are as follows:

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen 

The words of the Lord’s Prayer are also available in Spanish and are as follows:

Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos Santificado sea tu Nombre Venga tu reino Hágase tu voluntad En la tierra como en el cielo Danos hoy el pan de este día y perdona nuestras deudas como nosotros perdonamos nuestros deudores y no nos dejes caer en al tentación sino que líbranos del malo. Amen.  

All of these come in three sizes:

8×10

11×14

12×16

For an infant baptism, the church encourages the use of godparents or sponsors.

Parents should choose good practicing Christians who have kept the faith over the years and are of the same confession of faith as the parents. This avoids putting a godparent in a difficult or compromising situation in which they would be asked to take vows that they might not be able to carry out in good conscience given their own religious views and beliefs. This is an important consideration in light of the responsibilities of godparents which are as follows:

• The godparent is to witness that the infant who receives the sacrament of baptism has been properly baptized.

• The godparent is to pray for their godchild.

• The godparent is to help with their godchild’s Christian upbringing.

• The godparent is to be part of the godchild’s life for the rest of their life, especially if the child should lose their parents.

Often godparents are relatives or grandparents who have a blood relationship with the godchild.

While good friends are also appropriate, sometimes friendships wane, leaving the godchild without an active godparent.

In the case of family or friends who are of a different faith, it is suggested that they be involved as witnesses to the baptism.

Please read Responsibilities Involved in Baby Dedication – Part 1 as posted yesterday.

Yesterday, as discussed in my blog entry, when a parent chooses to celebrate a Baby Dedication, they are dedicating their child to God. They are making a promise to God to raise their child in a godly way.

This got me to thinking. As is my style, I often look up the meaning of words.

Please bear with me as we take a walk through the dictionary.  It will impress upon you, as it did me, of the extreme significance of the decision to dedicate your baby to God.  Let’s look at the words as they flow from that word promise into the word responsibility… which, by the way, has consequences. 

Promise: 1. legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made the right to expect or claim the performance of a specified act   2. ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence

Vow:  solemn promise by which one is bound to an act, service, or condition 

Responsibility:  a burden; a moral, legal, or mental accountability 

Responsible:  liable to be called to account; able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations 

Accountable:  subject to giving an account 

Consequence:  something produced necessarily following from a set of conditions 

Wow!  This is not something to take lightly!  We all make promises.  We all have responsibilities.  But none like this! 

As a child we promise to make our bed and keep our room clean.  Mom and Dad expect that when they look into our room, that they will see an organized room with a made up bed.  Unfortunately, as children, we often fall short of our promise.  We might have TV privileges or our allowance taken away as a consequence. 

As teenagers, we promise to drive safely and be home by a certain hour.  Hmmm.  When that doesn’t happen, we might be grounded or have the keys taken away. 

As adults we have responsibilities to our boss.  Failure to follow through on them may incur a reprimand.  Depending on the severity, perhaps we face being fired. 

How about the promise we make to our spouse to remain faithful, to be a partner or team player through life.  If we neglect our responsibilities in this promise, we may find ourselves divorced. 

None of these compare to the consequences we may face if we take our promise to God lightly.  After all, God has placed one of His precious little children into our hands to nurture physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  That child was created in His image, and He expects us to “train up that child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6  

The Baby Dedication is not just a ceremony.  It is a solemn promise!  We will be held accountable!  I don’t even want to think of the consequences of failing our God!  We must take this promise seriously… and with lots of prayer!