Service at the Lake
August 25th, 2006 by Northern FarmerWednesday evening was a very special evening for our little family out here in the countryside. The night before we had just under an inch of rain and the dust was settled and things were greening up across the countryside, something we haven’t seen for quite some time. It was even humid out, the pollens in the air were washed away and the temperature had cooled down to the low seventies. The sky was overcast, but that was beautiful in itself. Our church was having baptism service at one of the local lakes at a private residence. We brought our lawn chairs and settled down near the shore after getting there a bit early.
It started right on time with a brief welcome and prayer. Then it went into song, with the only instrument being a guitar, no sound systems, no nothing. Just simple. Our praise team started us all out singing, “Are You Washed in the Blood†Now for those who don’t know this old song here’s the first verse and chorus.
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Chorus:
Are you washed in the Blood,
In the soul cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments Spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
It was sung all the way through with many more verses not written here and it was so good to be singing the old songs on the lakeshore that it almost overwhelmed me. After that as is the way we do things, everything was solidly backed up by scripture, several of them. So that everyone there had a full understanding of what was taking place that evening.
Testimonies were next from the group of believers, from young to old, the testimonies were wonderful, a testament of God’s power and deliverance to the wayward and lost. The simple Gospel that confounds the wise and worldly. Praise Jesus! There’s tremendous power in testimonies and the power was flowing that evening, glorifying God and lifting up His children.
I was getting a bit dimmer out with the overcast sky and the evening was moving along, we all joined together in song, singing, “Down To The River To Prayâ€. Now anyone that knows these old songs of faith knows the moving power in them. In the twilight we walked softly down to the lakeshore still singing this old gospel song and then it was time for the baptisms. The scene was so beautiful, walking past all the trees and shrubs, the grass not crunching under foot like it did during the drought, with the lakeshore curving away, a bay flanked by hills and woods, and a lake so calm with no people on it that evening. The baptisms were preformed as it was getting dimmer out because of the clouds. Many folks were baptized and there was a feeling of joy in the church family.
When it was all over with we walked back up to the area we had the service at and there was a fire going to warm a person up a bit and also roast some marshmallows. The fellowship was wonderful, talking about God, faith, the gospel, ah….. That’s what it’s all about! Doing what we are commanded to, believe and be baptized. The old ways, as old as the Gospel itself.
Now, in this service three of us from our little family were baptized, myself and our two daughters. So it was very special to us and we’ll never forget this evening for eternity, plus daughter Becca, besides being baptized, was baptized on her birthday that day.
August 25th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
What a beautiful testimony! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your very precious baptismal service. Brings back memories of my baptism in an Indiana swimming pool!
August 25th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
thank you for sharing. What a wonderful blessing to be baptized with your daughters! I thought I would never feel so wonderful than when I was baptized until I witnessed my grandson asking Jesus to come into his heart and asking to be baptized… My heart and soul was so filled with love and blessings!
August 26th, 2006 at 5:39 am
Lynn,
Thanks and it was so special. I just wish I could get it down better in words, but this is all I can do for now. God Bless!
Peggy,
Wow, yes! I can feel how you felt then! God Bless!
August 26th, 2006 at 8:33 am
WOW! I say That was very special, thanks for sharing it ,
I love the old songs and Are You Wash in the Blood ! is my Fav
Tom, I very happy that you and your Daughters were Baptized together, it is a very special feeling , My mom and I were Baptized together , in the river
Thanks, and happy late Birthday wish too Becca
God bless you all
August 26th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Congrats Tom, Rachel and Becca. New babes in Christ as a family, how awesome. I have goosebumps.
August 26th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
It is really cool to see families coming together and getting baptized together. Nothing more powerful than a family standing up and doing what Jesus commanded us to do. I know that the devil is hiding now. He ain’t about to mess with a family that is growing in Christ together. Congradulations on your families baptism.
August 26th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Jan,
Thanks, and that’s sure special with you and your mom, wow!
Christina,
Just kidding!
Goosebumps, you should have been in that Minnesota lake
Thanks!
PJ,
I sure do agree with you! There’s already some big stuff happening, catch you in the morning! Thanks!
August 30th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
A little late, but congratulations to the newly baptised Scepaniak family members! What a treasured memory/event it is!
August 30th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Tom,
Congratulations on your baptism and the baptisms of your family members. I am sure this will be an exciting pilgrimage.
I am a lttle late on my congratulations - I just spent a few days at Polyface working with my son and the Salatin family.
Jim
August 31st, 2006 at 5:32 am
Christine,
Thanks and yes it sure is and will be treasured from now through eternity. Take care and God Bless!
Jim,
Thank you!
So that’s where you were! I’ll bet that was an experience! You’ll have to fill me in on it sometime!
God Bless!
August 31st, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Tom,
Polyface was a very good experience! They are not afraid of hard work and are very frugal. Everything they do is thought through. Evenings, except during the busiest part of summer, are left for reading, relaxation and talking. They get lots of phone calls. Teresa said she counted 40 calls one day.
We will have to find time to talk more. Maybe when I bring up the goat kids.
Jim
August 31st, 2006 at 7:13 pm
Jim,
One thing I’ve noticed around here that’s different than years ago is the traffic on the farm. Hardly a day goes by without someone stopping in for buying something. While no where near Polyface’s traffic, it’s sure different than being a commodity farm. I can just about imagine what it’ll be like in a few years, hmm. Plus I like gabbing with folks in person, kinda sharing the wisdom, so to speak 
Sometimes I wish I was afraid to work hard, save me allot of sore muscles
We’ll have to get together this fall, in a couple weeks it should slow down to a roar here. You know, I was thinking, (watch out), next year us folks in this region should all have a get together, maybe something like a mini, old fashioned camp meeting. No big wigs involved, you know, ag experts. Just us simple folks. And I know there are a few darn good preachers that read this blog so they could be there to keep us out of trouble. Well, it’s just a thought
Who knows, by then I might be a dairy goat man too!
September 1st, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Tom,
A get together will be good. It will be good to encourage one another.
I think the number of people stopping buy will accelerate a lot at your place. You should see the number of people that stop in at Polyface. One day we were boxing eggs and two guys from Ireland suddenly show up wanting to talk with Joel. (Joel was at a rental farm mowing pastures.) I think Joel probably gets his fair share of strange questions. My son said that in the last few days someone called Joel to say that they just purchased a dairy and they wanted to know what to do with the milk. Ahh … wouldn’t you figure this out before purchasing the dairy?
Jim
September 1st, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Jim,
On a much smaller scale I get questions to from time to time, and have found that I love teaching folks about good food around here. And about that dairy purchase, why do I believe you?? There sure are some planners out there, eh!