Today was in interesting day at church. It still amazes me that I can hear the same thing over and over and get new teaching from it. I'm taking the traditional new members class at Southside Baptist and we were discussing baptism as all new members classes must do. Having sat through this class at least 2 or 3 other times, it was kind of fun to hear something new and to take away from the class a little different perspective on a well-taught principle. I do not recall ever knowing that Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Wesley all taught that baptism by immersion was the proper method. You would think that, having grown up in the Methodist Church, I would have known that. However, maybe in the last 300 years or so, the Methodists have just let that little detail of history slide. Anyway, that is not what I valued the most from todays discussion. The point made today was that salvation should be followed quickly by baptism. It made me think about my baptism that came many years after I was saved. My children and I were baptised together in 1979, I think. It was the first opportunity that we had after they prayed and asked Christ to save them. At the time, I did not realize the value of being baptised so soon after salvation. As parents, it is our responsibility to keep Jesus before our children every waking moment. He should not be Who we talk about once in awhile, but Who we talk about always. It is important to talk to them about their salvation experience to help them remember the momemt, and to walk them continually toward the next step which is baptism. As time passes and they get farther and farther away from that day that they believed with the faith of a little child, they will most certainly remember the obedience of baptism. It was a blessing to visit these memories and learn the value of simple lessons.

Samuel John Pracht

Today is Samuel's birthday. He would have been 3 years old if he had been able to stay with us. I remember how much he touched our hearts as he quickly came and left this world. He would have had so much fun with his baby brother Jack. It is hard to imagine what Sara and Garrett would have done with four! Anyway, happy birthday, Samuel. You were created and kept in the arms of Jesus.

Today is January 10, 2009 and I have decided to post a blog in an effort to keep up with the times. I do not want it to be said that you can't teach an old Mimi new tricks. My children have informed me that they are through creating grandchildren for me so I have to start getting serious about teaching them eternal truths and not just telling them how much I love them. Isn't that what grandmothers do? Or at least grandmothers who have a burning desire to know that their family will be together eternally!
Enough being so serious. Sara's children just left here and I got some really cute pictures of Jack Henry, my newest grandchild. I'm not sure if I will be able to post them on this blog because I haven't gotten that far yet. Hey, it worked. Hopefully, I'll get better at it and be able to put the picture where I want it instead of right in the middle of things. For now, though, I'm happy I was able to get this far