On December 22, 2024 I was able to share an amazing day with Choice. I was able to be a part of both my children, Lily and Logan being baptized. It was quite emotional for all of us. I love what my son said directly after. “Dad, I wish I could feel that happy all the time!” What an incredible way to describe the presence of the Holy Spirit and the promise of Heaven. I take a measured approach to my boy and seldom raise my voice for a course correction. I have a clear set of guidelines I ask him to follow. Some of the things I ask of him are to open doors for everyone, help where you can, be kind even when its hard, be the last in line to receive and first to give, and to always take care of your sister and mother. Sometimes he slips up, forgets a chore, takes a joke a little too far and I have to remind him a secret about a father’s love.
It’s a love without end, Amen, it’s a love without end, Amen.
Lily can be very quiet, almost timid in some social settings. It makes me chuckle because my shy girl has the opinions of a lion. She fiercely defends the gospel and questions the worldview of just about everything. Her Baptism was a carefully researched, well thought out declaration of her faith. I am so proud and humbled to have a daughter like her. Yesterday she was reading essay examples for Harvard admissions. Today, she is still thirteen. Tomorrow, I can’t even imagine what idea, argument, or cause she will walk out of her bedroom door with but I do know she will argue from a biblical worldview perspective. I’ll have to remind myself a secret about a father’s love.
It’s a love without end, Amen, it’s a love without end, Amen.
I think we are all proud of our children as they grow and fret over their milestones. I recall trying to teach our daughter to walk by holding a little green door in my hand she would reach for it, take a few awkward steps, and fall into my arms. Are we, as adults not unlike this example as we follow Christ? My son on the other hand, I would launch couch pillows at him to keep him a quadruped as long as we could! He has, in spite of my efforts become an excellent member of the two-legged club and in fact is near outpacing me. I hope it’s not blasphemous to suggest Jesus launching couch cushions at his children… But, on the other hand he does call us, nudge us, and push us to seek those things that would ultimately glorify Him.
It’s a love without end, Amen, it’s a love without end, Amen.
I had the honor to baptize my wife, Liz. It was a very special moment for us. And I couldn’t be more glad to be typing because if this were a video blog you all would see the joy and emotion glossing over my eyes.
It’s a love without end, Amen, it’s a love without end, Amen.
I, along with George Strait sincerely want to thank the Church for sharing in our amazing day. We, The Baumgartner’s are so blessed to have found a Church home at CBC.
Shane Baumgartner
