Legacy - James Albert Decker (15)

21 June 2013

This is the third verse of one my dad's favorite hymns: "Victory in Jesus." So today I dedicate this to my dad who received renewed vocal chords exactly one year ago. See you soon Pops!

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him –
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you...

I Peter 1.3-4 (NIV)

Throwing Some Cold Water on the Situation (Infusion 2013)

INFUSION
17 June 2013

I am not proud of it. When I have the blessing of baptizing someone as a recognition of their faith in Christ Jesus, I like the water to be warm.

Though I know it is not true, I feel like an expert when it comes to cold water baptisms. At Infusion this year, the water was cold - very cold - 30-something degree cold - where is the ice kind of cold.

It was our privilege this year (Tim and me) to baptize the chairman of our leadership council for this coming year. Brian came on strong for us this past year and we discovered what an excellent leader he is becoming.

Brian's desire to be baptized at this point seemed wonderfully similar to Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist to signify the beginning of His ministry. 

I will venture a guess here, but I bet that the Jordan River's water was warmer.

After the baptisms were finished, one student came up to me and said, "Pastor Paul! This was all so thrilling and you were so enthusiastic. You even dove into the water to show how excited you were for Brian's baptism." This is one of those moments that get frozen in time for you. I was thinking, "Oh, if only that were true!"

What really happened went like this. Knowing that there was no way I could enter the frigid water by walking in slowly, I fully committed by jumping in. When I landed, however, I lost my balance and I was having trouble stopping my momentum. Not wanting to end up in the deep end, I decisively dove into the water to bring my momentum to a halt. It worked.

After that, things really moved fast. Because I was struggling to breathe, I called for Brian and Tim to position themselves. With lightening speed, I said these words: "Brian, because of your stated testimony to follow Jesus and your desire to follow Him in baptism, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Then down he went, and up he came. We all raised our hands in victory and high-tailed it out of the water.

Never have I done a baptism faster.

Never have I struggled to breathe like that.

But I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Let's do it again!

(Quick, before ice begins to form on the top!)

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 

Romans 6.3-4, NIV

Irresistible Worship (Infusion 2013)

INFUSION 2013
13 June 13

Beth came to the Fall Retreat and did not like it.

She came, because her twin sister, from Oneonta's CA, invited her. Becky has been praying that her sister would understand the truth and respond to it. But it has been hard.

Take one look at Beth and Becky, and there is no doubt about it. They are identical twins. But not so much when it comes to the personality. Beth is outgoing and outspoken. Becky is quieter and unassuming.

Though Beth did not enjoy the Fall Retreat, Becky invited her again, this time to Infusion. It was a bold move, since Infusion is more intense than the Fall Retreat. And, it takes a greater commitment, since it lasts for six days. Though we invite all students to come, at the heart of Infusion is leadership training.

Nevertheless, Beth came. Just like in the Fall, she was outgoing, engaging, and opinionated. And though I would not say she was antagonistic before, this time she was intrigued and involved. There was no doubt. Beth was searching for the truth.

One evening, during an especially enthusiastic worship song, she found herself dancing in the middle aisle with Paul Marsh, the campus minister from Colorado University in Boulder. He is one of our elder statesman at CA. The floor was bouncing, and we were all enjoying the Lord's irresistible Presence.

For Beth, though, a change had taken place. She meant every word that she was singing. Worship had brought her into God's Presence, and she believed.

"Look at what's happened! This is our God! We waited for him and he showed up and saved us! This God, the one we waited for! Let's celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation."

 Isaiah 25.9, The Message

Party in Session (Infusion 2013)

INFUSION 2013

11 June 2013

It was unusual to say the least. It was early in the evening and worship was going full blast. That was not unusual. What was unusual was the presence of the state troopers.

After spotting them through the windows, I accompanied two others and we went outside to see what they wanted. After all, we are not accustomed to the state police walking around the grounds of this out-of-the-way location. Camp Pinnacle is not on the beaten path.

The two officers explained that there was someone at our location who had called 911. They were especially concerned because it sounded like a big, noisy party in the background, and they were afraid someone might be hurt. 

It did not take long for the three of us to conclude that we had an infamous "butt call" on our hands. Naturally, the troopers wanted to talk to the person in question. What was peculiar is that when we invited them into the building, they declined. Their hesitation was firm, but we wanted to show them that the "party" was harmless as far as they would be concerned. With a little more prodding, they came in, and we located the offending phone. Soon they were gone.

Afterwards, I had two thoughts of note:

1) While I am sure the troopers need to maintain a degree of objectivity in such matters, it felt like we were not believed. This is only my opinion, of course, but it came across that we were not to be trusted, as if we were a cult. It was an interesting feeling, perhaps even helpful experientially.

2) On the other hand, I was delighted that our worship time was described as a party. It was! We were celebrating and enjoying our awesome God!

Celebrate God. Sing together — everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! 

Psalm 32:11, The Message