Baptism of the Lord -Year B Through the Door and on the team Jan. 11, 2009

Mark 1:4-11
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I Have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
con•ver•sion
Pronunciation:
\kən-ˈvər-zhən, -shən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conversion-, conversio, from convertere
Date:
14th century
1: the act of converting : the process of being converted2: an experience associated with the definite and decisive adoption of a religion3 a: the operation of finding a converse in logic or mathematics b: reduction of a mathematical expression by clearing of fractions4: a successful attempt for a point or points especially after a touchdown or for a first down <a 2-point conversion> <a third-down conversion
We celebrate today the Baptism of the Lord. Baptism is the gate for us. Once we pass through the waters of baptism we say and believe we are called and claimed by God. I.E we are on the team. We call the process of accepting this love and calling the process of conversion. The Bible churches call it being saved. It is about the on going process of giving your heart and Soul to God.
I found it ironic that under Merriam Webster’s definition of conversion was 10 the association and adoption of a religion and also an extra point conversion in football.
So being that it we are in Packer Badger country I though a good ole football prep talk may be in order.
(Blow Whistle and grab the football)
It is time to convert for the extra point. It is time to be on the team or off the team. It is time in our new year to up our reps. If we are going to win this game, this battle. We are going to need to up our reps. Do some spiritual weight lifting. Read our scriptures say our prayers and put our nose and our eye on the goal.
This is no time for spiritual slackers. It mean out there and our opponent is big and mean and sneaky. It is time to bring out the armies.
Connie Ott from St. Dunstan’s sent this little poem in my Christmas Card. I think it sums it up nicely. It’s a poem by Howard Thurman
When the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and the princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins. To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the Hungry, To release the Prisoners, To bring Christ to all, To make music in the heart.
I do believe that it is time to up our game and to realize that team means together everyone achieves more. Together we can do battle against the darkness. Times are going to be tight for a while and in tight times great opportunities present themselves. It all comes down for me to does our baptism mean something or not. Does being on God’s team mean something to you? As the Notre Dame Coach in Rudy says. No excuses do the work. I think the image of being in the trenches is a good one. In hard times we need to stay close together, pray hard and be ready for the opportunities that God sends our way. So we can continue to convert our heart to God’s love and score the extra point for Jesus when it is our turn.
In the love of God