22 August 2010 (West Shore Evangelical)

We went to West Shore Evangelical yesterday
About baptism Dr Phil Thorne had a lot to say
From Romans chapter six he did read
Baptism is something all followers need
There were stories of Peter and Paul
In Acts 2, 8, 10 others they did call
In each case, followers were baptized
For to do so, disciples were apprised
An entrance into faith baptism represents
It is a public expression of a turn of events
And an inward commitment of the union invisible
Ensuring that from Jesus, his disciples are indivisible

He then turned to verses five through eight
Being "united with Him" is a disciple's fate
For what Jesus did should have changed our lives
Our sins are forgiven until He again arrives
But baptism itself does not save anyone
It merely reminds us of what we have done
We must then go and live according to God's call
For "faith that does not proclaim is no faith at all"

Of what God will do in our lives, baptism is a picture
We read more about this is the same scripture
We must take our baptism wherever we go
And in our actions, our faith should show

By becoming a new person, our old self we should cut out
Our new self will be with Jesus, of that have no doubt
We might still feel the pull of old sinful desires
But that's when baptism should change our internal wires
For to be a true disciple of Christ, I am gleaning
Is to live out baptism's true meaning

To crucify our old desires we can choose
Doung our old habits we can refuse
For being a real Christian is more than saying a prayer
We need to practice discipline and to show care
For God's spirit is in us, per Luke 9:23
Saying "deny self and take up the cross daily"
About the battalion's baptism we then heard
Keeping their arm dry meant not all was surrendered
But Sam Houston went under fully clothed with his wallet
He dedicated his whole being to the Holy Spirit
Our entire body should in water be immersed
So our entire being is blessed not cursed
"In between" is a dangerous place to be
For we should choose to follow Jesus completely