I've Got New Names

Thomas Gerald Lewis: That’s the name I was given at birth. My parents and namesakes, Thomas Jefferson & Geralene, shortened it to Gerry and that’s what I’ve been called most often for these 50 plus years. 

I’ve inherited a few other monikers along the way.  In sixth grade, one of my friends started calling me Dumbo because I had not yet grown into my ears. My pastor and mentor, Roland Earl, called me Goober.  Once I became a pastor, both Gerry and Lewis often got preceded by Brother, Pastor, and Reverend.  That last one was my least favorite.  I’ve always been more irreverent.  When I completed my doctorate, then I gained Dr. Lewis, Dr. Gerry, Dr. Lew, and Dr. G.  A couple of my associate pastors called me Master Doctor and El Doctoro.  Once I started writing about Mrs. Sweetie, it wasn’t long until Dr. Sweetie came about.

Twenty-five years ago today (May 5), I got a new name that was a game changer: Daddy.  I think back to the time when I couldn’t wait to hear that baby girl say “Da-da” for the first time.  What an amazing sound! She has grown up to be a wife and high school teacher and my heart still melts when that name crosses her lips. She’s one of those important women in my life that I have been writing about for a few weeks. When she ends a phone call with, “I love you, Daddy,” I can’t feel anything but amazed and blessed.

There is a common thread that runs through this process of the acquisition of new names.  Each one came about because of a change in circumstances or location, or because of a significant event.  Another common thing about those new names is that they were in addition to rather than instead of the previous ones (with the exception of Dumbo and Goober—those did eventually go away).

However there was another significant event and change that resulted in some new names that were not simply additions; they were exchanges.  The event was responding in faith to the grace of God offered through Jesus Christ.  When I did that, everything changed.

You were dead in your transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1).  You were separate from Christ … without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:12-13). You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8). Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds … But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:21-22). You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:25).

New names, new focus, new destiny.  Talk about a game changer.