Hambone v3.0

A New Child of God

Twenty eight years ago today, a new child of God came to be. I received my Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion) at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Duncan, Oklahoma.

My faith journey, like most, is unique. I come from a family of Protestants. My mother’s family is mostly Baptist, with a few Methodists mixed in. My father’s family is Pentecostal, with a few (very) Fundamentalist Baptists mixed in. My father, grandfather, and a couple of uncles are licensed Assembly of God ministers.

Growing up, we went to church occasionally and did the Vacation Bible School thing, but were hardly what anyone would consider devout. After my parents divorced when I was in Jr. High, we stopped entirely, but my father became a lot more devout, leading to his becoming a part-time minister. Through my college years, I was very agnostic and seldom thought about what faith I might have had at all. To this day, I’m not sure what the defining moment of clarity might have been that led me to seek God.

I attended Mass in the early fall of 1982 and I felt that was the way church should be, especially after having all those fire-breathing preachers yelling and carrying on at me for all those years. I started attending classes soon after (the process is much more formal and structured now. If you’re interested, I am part of the team that conducts them at my current parish), leading to my receiving the Sacraments on December 22, 1982.

Many people who received their Baptism as teens or adults tell of an almost mystical experience of great joy and light. All their sins have been washed away and they start afresh. I felt… nothing really special.

I did not let that stop me. I kept attending Mass every (mostly anyway) Sunday. I moved to Houston in the late spring of 1983 and began attending Mass regularly at the parish I lived near. After a while, I joined the Lector ministry, reading the Scriptures at Mass every few weeks. At that parish, I fell in with a great young adults group. We were a fairly close group and had many activities, both within the group and with other similar groups in other parishes. At one of those outside events (a happy hour at a local C&W bar), I met Yellow Hair; we dated and were married after several months.

I consider her to be one of my spiritual mentors, not in a formal way as in teaching me the Gospel or anything, but in the way she leads her life. When I would want to skip Mass, she would drag me there anyway. Over time, I have gotten to the point where I look forward to Mass. This gradual growth is the result of God giving me the gift of his grace through the Holy Spirit via my wife.

Over the last few years, I have become much more devout and certain that God is acting in my life. I have become much more active in my parish as part of the Lector ministry, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program, and the Knights of Columbus.

Who would have thought that having a priest pour water over your head could lead to such a fulfilling life?

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10 responses to “A New Child of God”

  1. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    I attended Mass in the early fall of 1982 and I felt that was the way church should be, especially after having all those fire-breathing preachers yelling and carrying on at me for all those years.

    What? “fire-breathing preachers yelling” from the Pentacostals and Assembly of God churches? What are you taking about. 😉

    we dated and were married after several months.

    Now **THAT’S** the way to do it! BTW, were Hamous and David Jennings fist fighting at that bar?

    Over the last few years, I have become much more devout and certain that God is acting in my life. I have become much more active in my parish as part of the Lector ministry, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program, and the Knights of Columbus.

    Who would have thought that having a priest pour water over your head could lead to such a fulfilling life?

    Baptism is the first step of coming unto Christ through covenant. The Sacrament renews that covenant and by taking it one should ponder on how he or she can better serve the Lord. Good works and faith are essential for salvation. It’s good to read about both of yours, Wagon.

  2. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    I attended Mass in the early fall of 1982 and I felt that was the way church should be, especially after having all those fire-breathing preachers yelling and carrying on at me for all those years.

    What? “fire-breathing preachers yelling” from the Pentacostals and Assembly of God churches? What are you taking about. 😉

    we dated and were married after several months.

    Now **THAT’S** the way to do it! BTW, were Hamous and David Jennings fist fighting at that bar?

    Over the last few years, I have become much more devout and certain that God is acting in my life. I have become much more active in my parish as part of the Lector ministry, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program, and the Knights of Columbus.

    Who would have thought that having a priest pour water over your head could lead to such a fulfilling life?

    Baptism is the first step of coming unto Christ through covenant. The Sacrament renews that covenant and by taking it one should ponder on how he or she can better serve the Lord. Good works and faith are essential for salvation. It’s good to read about both of yours, Wagon.

  3. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    And we are glad to have you in our big, wide boat! It’s great that you’re helping to row!

    I remember when my husband received his entrance into the Church. It was, of course, at Easter Vigil, and after several stops and starts with RCIA, he had finally completed the preparations to receive his sacraments. After waiting so long, I wanted to be close by at the baptism, but when we arrived at the church, a large family had already camped out in the pew closest to the baptismal font. Two pews, actually. I was bummed, since I was pretty sure they’d all be standing up and blocking my view when the time came. I should have trusted more.

    We were all shepherded outside to start the vigil, then made our way to the parish hall, then made another procession to the church building itself. I had tried to maneuver myself so that I’d be at the front of the line when we entered the church building, but other people kept cutting in front of us. Just as we were making the last turn, our friends, who headed up the RCIA program, saw us, and ushered us to the front of the line. There were still a lot of people inside the church when we entered, and I was sure my spot was taken. Nope! The choir had been standing at the back of the church near the font, blocking that last pew. No one had the audacity to ask them to move, but I did! They moved aside and allowed us to seat ourselves.

    I had a front row seat as Hubby was helped into the font and the priest raised the pitcher of holy water over his head. I was close enough that I got a little re-baptized when hubby got his!

    Sweet.

  4. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    And we are glad to have you in our big, wide boat! It’s great that you’re helping to row!

    I remember when my husband received his entrance into the Church. It was, of course, at Easter Vigil, and after several stops and starts with RCIA, he had finally completed the preparations to receive his sacraments. After waiting so long, I wanted to be close by at the baptism, but when we arrived at the church, a large family had already camped out in the pew closest to the baptismal font. Two pews, actually. I was bummed, since I was pretty sure they’d all be standing up and blocking my view when the time came. I should have trusted more.

    We were all shepherded outside to start the vigil, then made our way to the parish hall, then made another procession to the church building itself. I had tried to maneuver myself so that I’d be at the front of the line when we entered the church building, but other people kept cutting in front of us. Just as we were making the last turn, our friends, who headed up the RCIA program, saw us, and ushered us to the front of the line. There were still a lot of people inside the church when we entered, and I was sure my spot was taken. Nope! The choir had been standing at the back of the church near the font, blocking that last pew. No one had the audacity to ask them to move, but I did! They moved aside and allowed us to seat ourselves.

    I had a front row seat as Hubby was helped into the font and the priest raised the pitcher of holy water over his head. I was close enough that I got a little re-baptized when hubby got his!

    Sweet.

  5. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    A great story, WB. I love such stories, particularly the conversion stories of those with backgrounds such as yours.

    My faith journey, like most, is unique. I come from a family of Protestants. My mother’s family is mostly Baptist, with a few Methodists mixed in. My father’s family is Pentecostal, with a few (very) Fundamentalist Baptists mixed in. My father, grandfather, and a couple of uncles are licensed Assembly of God ministers.

    Wow. I assume there have been some interesting conversations at your family gatherings.

    I can’t imagine how wonderful it must be to really discover the majesty of liturgical worship for the first time.

    I don’t have a such a conversion story, yet. I was raised and confirmed Episcopalian. Episcopal worship/Mass back then was hardly distinct from Catholic Mass. In my teens I abandoned church. Twenty five years later I came back to the church (Lutheran). Though none of them will admit it, I think there was a conspiracy hatched by the Holy Spirit and certain family members to give me a gentle shove in that direction. A brother-in-law encouraged me to come sing with him and the rest is history; someday I’ll figure out a way to show him my appreciation for his reaching out.

    Over the years, I have become disenchanted with the direction of the Lutheran church. Those that can read between the lines know I embarked on a search some years ago that seems to lead towards Catholic conversion but there remain some doctrinal blockades I cannot, so far, overcome.

    But all is well. Like you say, this is a journey.
    Christ is mine and I am His.

  6. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    A great story, WB. I love such stories, particularly the conversion stories of those with backgrounds such as yours.

    My faith journey, like most, is unique. I come from a family of Protestants. My mother’s family is mostly Baptist, with a few Methodists mixed in. My father’s family is Pentecostal, with a few (very) Fundamentalist Baptists mixed in. My father, grandfather, and a couple of uncles are licensed Assembly of God ministers.

    Wow. I assume there have been some interesting conversations at your family gatherings.

    I can’t imagine how wonderful it must be to really discover the majesty of liturgical worship for the first time.

    I don’t have a such a conversion story, yet. I was raised and confirmed Episcopalian. Episcopal worship/Mass back then was hardly distinct from Catholic Mass. In my teens I abandoned church. Twenty five years later I came back to the church (Lutheran). Though none of them will admit it, I think there was a conspiracy hatched by the Holy Spirit and certain family members to give me a gentle shove in that direction. A brother-in-law encouraged me to come sing with him and the rest is history; someday I’ll figure out a way to show him my appreciation for his reaching out.

    Over the years, I have become disenchanted with the direction of the Lutheran church. Those that can read between the lines know I embarked on a search some years ago that seems to lead towards Catholic conversion but there remain some doctrinal blockades I cannot, so far, overcome.

    But all is well. Like you say, this is a journey.
    Christ is mine and I am His.

  7. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    I have posted the following piece several times over the years. Those of you that remember it will have to indulge me again. I’m not sure WB has seen it.

    A seriously Catholic friend whose line of work has him hanging out with equally serious evangelical Protestants has a problem. “I’m not very good,” he says, “at giving the kind of formulaic ‘personal testimony’ that they seem to expect.” I know what he means. For many years I’ve been responding to evangelical friends who want to know when I was born again or, as it is commonly put, when I became a Christian. “I don’t remember it at all,” I say, “but I know precisely the time and place. It was at 357 Miller St., Pembroke, Ontario, on Sunday, June 2, 1936, when twelve days after my birth I was born again in the sacrament of Holy Baptism.” (I was baptized at home because the chicken pox was going around.) That usually elicits a wry smile, and then the question, “Yes, but when did you really become a Christian?” In sober truth, there have been not one but several moments in my life that would no doubt qualify as what most evangelicals mean by a conversion experience. In circumstances appropriate to the disclosure of intensely personal experiences, I have told others about these moments. And some day, in pathetically pale imitation of Augustine and other greats, I might write about them in detail. My public testimony, however, is not to my experience but to Christ. It is not upon my experience but upon Christ that I rest my confidence that I am a child of God. The same set of questions is addressed from a Calvinist viewpoint in a recent issue of that mordant publication, Nicotine Theological Journal. The article includes this from the 1902 Heidelberg Catechism, Twentieth–Century Edition: “Nor need you doubt your conversion, your change of heart, because you cannot tell the day when it took place, as many profess to do. It did not take place in a day, or you might tell it. It is the growth of years (Mark 4:26–28), and therefore all the more reliable. You cannot tell when you learned to walk, talk, think, and work. You do not know when you learned to love your earthly father, much less the heavenly.” The editors add, “This is the Reformed doctrine of ‘getting religion.’ We get religion, not in bulk but little by little. Just as we get natural life and strength, so spiritual life and strength, day by day.” Of course, some do get it in bulk, and with a bang. One thinks, for instance, of the zealot from Tarsus on his way to Damascus.—Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, First Things, April 2000

  8. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    I have posted the following piece several times over the years. Those of you that remember it will have to indulge me again. I’m not sure WB has seen it.

    A seriously Catholic friend whose line of work has him hanging out with equally serious evangelical Protestants has a problem. “I’m not very good,” he says, “at giving the kind of formulaic ‘personal testimony’ that they seem to expect.” I know what he means. For many years I’ve been responding to evangelical friends who want to know when I was born again or, as it is commonly put, when I became a Christian. “I don’t remember it at all,” I say, “but I know precisely the time and place. It was at 357 Miller St., Pembroke, Ontario, on Sunday, June 2, 1936, when twelve days after my birth I was born again in the sacrament of Holy Baptism.” (I was baptized at home because the chicken pox was going around.) That usually elicits a wry smile, and then the question, “Yes, but when did you really become a Christian?” In sober truth, there have been not one but several moments in my life that would no doubt qualify as what most evangelicals mean by a conversion experience. In circumstances appropriate to the disclosure of intensely personal experiences, I have told others about these moments. And some day, in pathetically pale imitation of Augustine and other greats, I might write about them in detail. My public testimony, however, is not to my experience but to Christ. It is not upon my experience but upon Christ that I rest my confidence that I am a child of God. The same set of questions is addressed from a Calvinist viewpoint in a recent issue of that mordant publication, Nicotine Theological Journal. The article includes this from the 1902 Heidelberg Catechism, Twentieth–Century Edition: “Nor need you doubt your conversion, your change of heart, because you cannot tell the day when it took place, as many profess to do. It did not take place in a day, or you might tell it. It is the growth of years (Mark 4:26–28), and therefore all the more reliable. You cannot tell when you learned to walk, talk, think, and work. You do not know when you learned to love your earthly father, much less the heavenly.” The editors add, “This is the Reformed doctrine of ‘getting religion.’ We get religion, not in bulk but little by little. Just as we get natural life and strength, so spiritual life and strength, day by day.” Of course, some do get it in bulk, and with a bang. One thinks, for instance, of the zealot from Tarsus on his way to Damascus.—Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, First Things, April 2000

  9. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Shannon #4;

    That was a very good read.

    Like the Catholic respondant towards Evangelicals, my take on being “born again” is a repeated process as opposed to a one-time event. This is related to repentance. If, for example, one decides he or she lies too much, that person can repent and dedicate his or her life to be more Christ-like in honesty. If one steals, he or she may come to a point to change that proclivity and dedicate his or her life to be more Christ-like and not steal. This can be repeated many times throughout one’s life. While growing up my friends knew I was religious and this was my constant explanation to them regarding being “born again”.

    25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

    Mosiah 27:25

  10. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Shannon #4;

    That was a very good read.

    Like the Catholic respondant towards Evangelicals, my take on being “born again” is a repeated process as opposed to a one-time event. This is related to repentance. If, for example, one decides he or she lies too much, that person can repent and dedicate his or her life to be more Christ-like in honesty. If one steals, he or she may come to a point to change that proclivity and dedicate his or her life to be more Christ-like and not steal. This can be repeated many times throughout one’s life. While growing up my friends knew I was religious and this was my constant explanation to them regarding being “born again”.

    25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

    Mosiah 27:25

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