Baptism.

Do you ever do something that you are so excited about, you just can't wipe the smile off your face? That was Judson last week as he got baptized. And it was awesome.

In "christianese" baptism is a public proclamation of the private decision to surrender your heart to Christ. In other words, baptism is the public event that celebrates something that is not necessarily "visible". Kinda like how a wedding celebrates a marriage. And it's a big deal when someone decides to be baptized, because it's a command! It's a step in faith and obedience. Scripture is pretty clear that we are to confess our sins, surrender to Christ, and be baptized. The baptism signifies the transformation that takes place when we come to know Christ. We are washed clean of our sin. We are made new. Our lives should look different!

Baptisms are one of my favorite things to photograph. (I know... I say that about a lot of things. I have lots of favorite things... I am an easily excitable person! Just ask anyone who knows me.) But with baptism, it's special in a different way. I get the opportunity to capture someone being obedient to what God has called all believers to do. And that... well that is just incredible. It's a huge honor to be able to not only witness, but photograph, this step in obedience for members in the faith community.

Last week, our church was honored to baptize Judson, a vibrant and passionate young man. Just take a look at the photos... they speak for themselves, don't they? God is going to do incredible things through Judson. His excitement is simply contagious! See for yourself: