Preacher's Kid

I recently got the wonderful opportunity to baptize my own child -- Tarik. It was moving to say the least. But, apparently, it was not moving to everyone in the congregation. As I explained what our baptism represents, Adeline felt that my exposition needed some pizazz; so she posed for the camera through much of my explanation...

What am I, David Koresh?

The other day I met a girl that attended the local Christian college. It is the denomination that dominates our community so our conversation is probably indicative of the entire towns opinion of us. This is how our conversation went...

ME: Oh you go to that school? I was a guest lecturer there one day.

GIRL: What did you lecture on?

ME: Calvinism.

GIRL: Was it for CULTS class?

Ahhh, the joys of planting a PCA church in the Midwest.

Minivan Theology

JRD: I know God is amazing and all, but how did he talk when he made everything?

Daddy: ...thinking...

JRD: Did he quit talking?

Daddy: ...thinking even harder...

JRD: Why don't I hear him talking now?

In the blur, I don't exactly remember how I handled these questions. I think I said something about God not really even having a mouth - effectively undermining the trust my 4-year-old has in Scripture already! Next I tried to draw an analogy of how we say things so they are easy to understand; like when we say the sun is going to sleep at night... and then I remembered that JRD still thinks the sun does go to sleep at night. Yikes! Explaining the anthropomorphic qualities of Scripture may need to wait a year or so. In the meantime I pretty much have to say things like, "I don't know honey, but I know that God loves you a whole bunch."

Which, actually, that answer was pretty satisfying to her.