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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where life just smacks you in the face and your world starts spinning like the cartoon birdies on the old Saturday morning cartoons? Our response during these times can set us up for success if we can keep proper focus.

Young love is touching, but enduring love is inspiring. Infatuation often burns out. Some relationships start hot and end bitterly cold. Most people go into marriage with the intent to make it last a long time. Sadly, even among the followers of Jesus, that doesn’t always happen. As a pastor, I’ve been surprised by some relationships that have lasted, but I’ve been more surprised by those that didn’t.

We probably wouldn’t be fans of stories that start well and end with the phrase, “and they all lived horribly ever after.” Many stories that we like begin with trouble, continue with tension and then end with resolution. The characters live “happily ever after.” These kinds of stories resonate with us for a couple of reasons. First, we are hard-wired for a good ending to this earthly drama. Because of the gospel, there actually is a happy ending for those who want it.

It is rather odd that we dunk people in a tank of water, unless there is more to it than dunking people in water. We believe Jesus Christ is the Lord. He told us to make disciples and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And, He said that we are to teach His followers to observe all the things that He commanded. So, we baptize because Jesus told us to, and because of what it means.

Some of you will know those words from Frank Sinatra’s famous song, but they really aren’t original with him. Humans have been wanting to do things their own way for a long time. Perhaps you have struggled with wanting things your own way even today. We do have a lot of freedom over our own “kingdom,” but living in community means having to surrender once in a while. We are created beings, and we are dependent on numerous entities, especially God, our gracious Creator and Sustainer.