A man with three birthdays, really four

I'm a man with three birthdays, really four!

I celebrate three birthdays. My father told me that my birthday is June 22nd. My driver's license and birth certificates list June 28th. My mother told me that my birthday is actually June 29th. She said she knew the birth certificate date was wrong but was in pain and just signed it anyway. When I lived with my father for a short time, I celebrated June 22nd. Of course, when I was with my mother for a short time, I celebrated June 29th.

That me makes a man with three birthdays, only one of which is correct. To get the right one, I celebrate all three.

There is another birthday that is not celebrated with a party, cake or candles. That was the day that I was born into the kingdom of God.

I joined the Tabernacle Baptist church in 1957 and was baptized. I was "born again" into the kingdom of God on Friday, August 12, 1966.

This idea of being born again is addressed John 3:3-5 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So, I have all of these birthdays to celebrate, but only one of them counts.

When I turn 99, it'll be fun

He turned 99 and looked well.

I attended a birthday party for a man who turned 99 years old yesterday. He was surrounded by his wife, all of his children, all of his grandchildren and great grands; all in the same place at the same time. He was alert, walked in the room and was fastidiously dressed for his 99th birthday photo. It was an inspiration.

It made me wonder about my 99th birthday. That'll be in the year 2048. Things will have changed then. I hope to be of sound mind and still planning for the future, obviously not mine, but those of my grandchildren and beyond.

What is more important than a long life is living a productive life. We should show God's love everyday, help the poor, show the lost the error of their ways and challenge injustice in high places. At the end of the day, we will be blessed.

Psalms 41:2 has a word of promise to those keep doing God's will despite advancing age, "The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies."

As for my 99th birthday party, I think I'd like some lemon ice cream and a slice of butter soaked, home made pound cake.

After that, I'll get on my wristband computer, call up a digital visual screen and begin plans for my 100th birthday!