Uphill idealist

How often is it that a ten year old boy says to his great aunt, "I want to be baptized. Will you baptize me?" Earlier this summer my great nephew Eli asked me this exact question. His question came on the heels of he baby brother, Atticus, birth. Days passed, but Eli would not forget his question about baptism. He got the ball rolling and kept it going until October 11, 2015. This story gets even better as Eli continues to ask for what he desires and requests my husband Ian and I to stand as godparents for himself and Atticus.  We were honored. We said yes! The day arrived. The Eastman and Sullivan clan arrived in full force. We were so proud, of Eli's desire to be called a child of God and carry his three month old brother to the waters of baptism with him. This was a day to treasure - and remember. Elias Robert Eastman and Atticus Joseph Sullivan  are publicly and forever children of the water. In Gratitude - Auntie Vic...

In the last year or so, my nephew Eli has been taking karate lessons at a martial arts school. When he goes to class he wears a special suit called a Gi and has even earned two different color belts as he’s grown in his skill. Eli has learned all of this by going to class, looking at the sensei (teacher) to see how to practice the exercises and he follows his teacher’s instructions.  Over time Eli showed he had a gift for endurance. When other students were getting tired, he still had energy to burn. Each student in his class excelled in different ways. Some were good at jumping high, kicking, and rolling. Have you ever been in a class like this – what were you good at? In John 1, we have a chance to look, see, follow and come along with Jesus as he becomes the teacher to new students. Just like karate students, we all have God-given gifts. In addition to gifts like running, jumping and energy you also have spiritual gifts. Some examples of spiritual gifts are: wisdom, faith...

On Sunday, the gospel reading was Mark 1:4-11 and the section of 9-13 is one I keep thinking on since I heard it. The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus 9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. 12At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him." Jesus was at a point in life where what he had been preparing for had to work out in practice. He had spent 30 years working towards all the opportunities that God had promised in and through him. What would it be like to be and live as God in the flesh and blood of humanity? Would he know the answers to all the big questions or would he just have bigger questions? E...