New to FriendlyChristian.com? Check out the FAQ page to learn about the site. Wondering who the heck I am? The My Story page is a great place to start. Thanks for stopping by!
Click here to subscribe via RSS.
Click here to have posts delivered by email.
This message will automatically disappear after your 3rd visit.
A year and a half ago I got baptized in the ocean at [tag]Isle of Palms[/tag]. It is one of those days that I’ll never forget. I remember the people that were in attendance. I remember the weather. I remember the songs that we sang before the dunking began. And I remember the feeling I got when coming up from my [tag]baptism[/tag].
Before being submerged, they asked us to speak into a mic, saying what are name was, where we were from, and what the day meant to us. I said something along the lines of:
I am Bill. I’m from [tag]Detroit[/tag], MI. Today is my confession to the world. I would stand on the tallest building and announce it to the world if I could.
Here we are 1.5 years later. Yesterday Tiffany was baptized. It was amazing. I cried like a little girl (no offense little girls). Before the baptism, just like last year, they played a few songs. Before I go any further, you need to understand the setting. We were at the beach…a very very public beach. There were tons of people arriving at/leaving the beach. We had a man, his guitar, and a singer. There were a few hundred of us there. You couldn’t miss us if you tried. We stuck out like a sore thumb.
I remember this very setting from last year. I remember thinking to myself, “this is awesome. There are people everywhere and I’m not embarrassed. Thank you, God, for bringing me this far. This is what it’s all about!!”
This year was a bit different. “Wow, I feel pretty awkward right now. Everyone is looking at us. We’ve gotta look like a bunch of weirdos. We’re standing around singing to an invisible [tag]God[/tag]. People are lifting their hands. I am crying. I wonder what people are thinking about us right now…”
Then I realized - “wow! I am still a huge sissy! After all this time, how could I still be embarrassed about my faith? Why do I feel like such a huge weenie? I wonder if I’ll ever get to the point where I’m not at all embarrassed about my [tag]faith[/tag]. Or will there always be that feeling of hesitation…that feeling of embarrassment?”
You see, the things that God has done in my life in the past 1.5 years should be enough for me to go into any situation excited and confident about my faith.
I am Bill. I’m from Detroit, MI. Today is my confession to the world. I am still a sissy. I’m a work in progress.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Loading ...
Aren’t we all “a work in progress”? I don’t look forward to the day when I say to myself “Stick a fork in me, I’m done”.
Bill: As far as I can tell, brother, you are no sissy. A sissy wouldn’t run a site like this.
hoverFrog: No believer I know expects to ever “get there,” at least not in this life.
Have a good day, fellas.
You’re not a sissy Bill. But I understand what you’re saying. It certainly doesn’t sound like a question by your self proclamation of what you KNOW God has done in your life the past 1 1/2 years. It’s easy to have lots of questions right now in the midst of this new journey you’re on too. And that’s OK! I believe, in your case, it will only solidify who God is in your life. I know when I start to “wonder what people are thinking” that’s when it gets uncomfortable for me. My significance in Christ and decision to follow Him has nothing to do with what someone else may think or feel about my personal decision. However, I will always respect those around me and be sensitive when it calls for it. I remember someone once told me, “If you’re worried about what others are thinking about you - Don’t! They’re only thinking about themselves.”
Bill, would you still stand on the tallest building and announce your faith to the world if you could?
@Tam…
Absolutely.
Thank you Bill for sharing your moment of joy with us.
When we make out our daily “to do” list we need to add at least one thing that will give us joy.
For my Catholic friend it’s going to church each day on his way to work.
For me it’s dragging myself out of bed early in the morning and driving down to the beach to watch the sun rise over the ocean.
Whatever it is that brings us pure, unadultrated joy it doubt most of us do it enough.
On the subject of being a “sissy” to me that means not doing something you believe in because you think others will make fun of you.
It takes courage to say “I believe in God” or “I am Atheist” when you think people will look at you like you are some kind of freak.
Thank you again Bill for sharing your moment of joy with us and I hope you get to experience that feeling as much as possible.
God will always be faithful to answer your questions, don’t worry about losing Him, or being a sissy. I don’t see your sissiness at all, just a very brave brother doing something I couldn’t have done after only 11/2 years. Don’t worry about others opinions, only God’s. He is the ultimate Bible answer man and will make everything clear to you in time. You’re doing a wonderful job and are quite the inspiration!!!!
Christianity is not for sissys or wimps! although it did sound funny the way you put it.
I think this is the toughest thing I have ever done, and I am from the city and a very hard city girl once upon a time…still I am hard in a different way though.
keep pressin on…no one is complete til they leave the planet. I personally hope I get to leave like Enoch..ya know just walking and talking with God and then just go home with Him.
I don’t get it. Why would you feel embarrassed? If that’s what you really believe, then to hell with what other people think (literally). If anything, you should be happy about making a spectacle of yourself, to bear witness and to get people thinking.
Perhaps you’re the embarrassed type, but then why get embarrassed now if you didn’t before? I think something important has changed between then and now.
Haha, I just read your ‘pink shirt’ post, and you’re obviously not the easily-embarrassed type, so there you go
I just went to your Church’s website, and their statement of faith says this:
“The sole basis for our belief is the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error, and the final authority on all matters on which it speaks.”
Well that sounds like a testable hypothesis right there. Might be a good place to start.
Hey Bill - what a coincidence. I was out at the IOP last spring for the ocean baptism, too.
Roger that - I also think about those same things all the time. Maybe I’m a little co-dependent (shh!) It’s funny - sometimes I’ll fear the ridicule of people I’ll never know or meet again, but will commit the same sin repeatedly with God right there watching me. Doesn’t make any sense, but it’s good to know God is faithful regardless of our stumbles and staggers.
Dude, I’ve been wearing this new t-shirt I got. It says “Atheists” on it. It’s bright green, friendly-looking and the logo looks like the “Oakland Athletics” jersey unless you read it carefully.
I’ve been kind of jumpy wearing it out in public, but I’ve had nothing but good comments so far.
This being out with your beliefs stuff is funny sometimes. Yet I have no problem visiting a church!
@Siamang…
I wonder what would happen if you wore your green t-shirt to church…
:-?:o:d:d
I’ve never gotten a negative reaction with my Happy Atheist T-shirt (http://www.cafepress.com/affable_atheist.22008329). Never wore it to a church, though.
What do you think would happen if he wore his “green t-shirt” to church, Bill?
@Mer…
Good question. I guess it would depend on what kind of church he went to. I know at my church people would be interested in talking to him and listening to his story. Sadly, I’m willing to bet that most churches would alienate him and whisper to each other.
The better question would be, how would God react to him wearing at Atheist shirt to church. Would he strike him down with lightning? Would he not allow him in? Or would he welcome him with open arms?
