Angela and I just finished 4 birthday parties last weekend. We had Andrew’s birthday party at the end of January, about 1 month after his actual birthday, because it is so close to Christmas. Nathan and Seth’s parties were this past Saturday, and then a family party on Sunday afternoon for all three boys.
You may be thinking – no big deal – a few birthday parties. But you are missing a key element to understanding the pressure of birthday parties around the Daniel house. Everything must be thematic. The drinks, snacks, games, and the cake. For example, because Andrew liked to play with rocks and dirt as a baby, the party’s theme was Turning One Rocks. All accompanying party details followed the theme: rock candies, chocolate coated rock shaped candies, breaking geodes, etc. Last year, there was the Star Wars party for Nathan and Andrew with Yoda Soda (yes, it was green and foamy). And this year, I watched or managed (not sure which) 14 boys (8 yrs. old) dashing in and out of the house on a treasure hunt to find lost dog owner, Penny from the new, hit movie Bolt; or was it pennies (each boy received about $2 worth at the end of the race). So my wife is amazing, and I just help.
On Monday, Nathan's actual birthday, the craziness of parties was over so mom and dad could relax at family dinner. We started to remember back to the arrival of our first baby boy at 9AM, 8 years ago. Angela recalled being awaken that first night and shouting with a low voice because of the hospital, “we have a baby.” Of course, as any good father and husband, I don’t remember her saying this, probably slept right through. Labor and Delivery takes a lot out of us guys.
Although I slept through my wife’s reminder of our new baby, it didn't change my excitement because “life had appeared.” We had waited over 2 years and endured a miscarriage before this moment. Life had come. Everything would be different; mainly a new fellowship had begun. Nathan and I would bond; have secrets and dreams, and adventures together. Because life appeared, fellowship began.
As number 2 (Andrew) appeared, and then 3 (Seth), I remember sitting in a couch chair at the hospital with three boys in my lap and thinking about the new level of fellowship. A fellowship I could embrace or reject. It occured to me: the appearance of life does not guarantee fellowship, only the potential for it.
The Apostle John opens his letter to the Churches around the City of Ephesus with similar words of greeting. Life has appeared. Fellowship has begun with Father God. You can enjoy it. We can enjoy it together. Not a guarantee of fellowship, only the potential for fellowship with God the Father as they choose to walk with the Father through the Life He has provided in his Son, Jesus Christ.
This Sunday marks the beginning of a walk we will take through the first letter of John. A letter written with clear purpose: "we proclaim to you...so that you also may have fellowship with us...the Father...and His Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3) Also at the close of the letter, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13)
This lead off message is of great importance: Why I believe in Jesus. Because both fellowship with God and eternal life depend on it's answer. See you Sunday.
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