Baptism: The Experience

John 3:3&5 

No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit

■ Born Again: You will emerge from that water like you once emerged from the waters of your mother’s womb, born as a new baby, into a new life. 

Acts 8:38

And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

■ Baptism involves going DOWN INTO the water. Why did Philip and the eunuch go down into the water? They didn't need to get all wet to have water sprinkled or poured on him. The Greek word BAPTIZO means to immerse, to dip. If you don’t go down into the water, immersed and covered with it, and then come back up out - it just isn’t Baptism. There’s a good reason why – which we will see in other verses. 

Acts 22:16 

 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

■ Baptism = “washing away your sins” – not just a bath. The water is an illustration of what is happening inside. All that filth of sin, the blackness in your heart, the hidden secrets and shames: Washed away completely. Nothing – not a speck – left behind. 

Romans 6:3-4 

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

■ Baptism is a BURIAL: They buried Jesus, and part of the process of being united with Christ includes a burial. This is why baptism (baptizo) or immersion - burial in water - was the means chosen by God for this saving process. It is a symbol of Christ’s burial, and is the point in time that the OLD YOU is dying and being buried. 

1 Corinthians 10:2 

They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 

■ Paul paints a picture from the OT. Moses led the Israelites through the parted waters to rescue them from Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. This is a picture of what happens to us in baptism. We also pass through the water in order to be rescued from Satan and sin and the life we have lived before. 

1 Peter 3:21

...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 

■ Another illustration of Baptism, this one  from the story of Noah. Noah and his family were rescued by passing through the water. We also can be rescued by passing through the waters of baptism. Notice what it says, in no uncertain terms: “Baptism now saves you.” Not by taking a bath, but by your faith and repentance coming humbly before God in this humbling ceremony. 

II Kings 5

But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

■ Baptism HERE & NOW: Naaman, commander of an army, had leprosy, and went to the prophet Elisha, who told him. “Dip yourself seven times in the Jordan River” 

Naaman thought it a stupid request, why wouldn’t any old river do 

But his servants said, “If the prophet had asked you to do some great, magnificent thing, wouldn’t you have done it?" 

Naaman dips himself seven times, and comes up clean. 

Some people say Baptism is an odd, insignificant little ceremony. But if God asked you to climb a mountain to the peak in order to receive forgiveness there, wouldn’t you do it? Much simpler to meet him where he does ask – by dipping not seven times, but just once, in the water. 

Leviticus 14:1-7

 The Lord said to Moses, “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed. Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.

■ Another illustration of Baptism: This Old Covenant ritual involved two birds. One bird was killed and its blood allowed to drip into a clay pot of water. The second bird was tied up with scarlet yarn and dipped into the bloodied water, then untied and released to fly away free. This is an illustration of how being washed in the blood of a sacrifice is cleansing. 

Baptism Unites You With Christ

1 Corinthians 1:13-15

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 

 ■ You are NOT being baptized into the name of the person who lowers you into the water. You're not being baptized into a certain congregation or denomination. “In the name of” is a term that refers to ownership: Your preacher, your church... they don't own you. You are being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Give your allegiance to them and not to any teacher or church above your allegiance to Jesus. 

Matthew 28:19 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

■ Baptized IN THE NAME OF the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: This is a legal phrase used in contracts back then: It means you are being put under the OWNERSHHIP of whoever you are put in the name of. YOU ARE NO LONGER YOUR OWN – You belong to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – With all the rights and responsibilities that go with that contract. 

Acts 8:12 

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 

■ Baptism & the Kingdom. In baptism you are embracing the kingdom of God, putting yourself under His reign and authority. The Kingdom is not something you look forward to in the future, pie in the sky, by and by. The Kingdom is a reality for now: You are willingly submitting yourself as a citizen of God’s kingdom, giving him authority over you in every way. 

Matthew 28:20

. . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 

 ■ Baptism is for ALWAYS. The benefits of baptism are not just for today, not just until you get tired of being a Christian, not just until you slip up and sin again -- The Promise: I am with you ALWAYS, even to the end of the age. 

Romans 6:3-4 

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 

■ Baptized into his DEATH: In Baptism you are connected with the death of Jesus, you experience the death of the old you. That sinful woman, beaten down by life, scarred by sin, separated from the life of God , is DEAD! REALLY MOST SINCERELY DEAD! 

Galatians 3:27

…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 

■ New Clothes! You will have new clothes when you come up out of the water. Not just wet clothes, but new clothes - Clothed with Christ. From now on, when God looks at you, he will not see the filthy rags of sin and depravity that you have been wearing, but instead will see Christ and his perfection and his sacrifice. 

Romans 6:3-4; 11-14

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

...In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 

■ The old YOU is DEAD, BURIED . . . but that isn’t all. The NEW YOU is RAISED up from the waters, raised up from the life of sin and death, and raised up to live a new life in Him. Verses 11&14 tell us the implications of that new life.

Ephesians 4:4-5 

There is one body, one Spirit, one God and father of all, one Lord, one faith, one baptism

■ Baptism is listed among the things Paul says unites us. Baptism now unites you with everyone else who also has been baptized - Everyone in your community, in this country, all over the world, all through time, past, present and future. We are all one.

Baptism AND...

Colossians 2:12 

 . . . having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 

■ This verse describes the process of entering a new relationship with God:

 • Saved By Grace (the power of God)

 • Saved Through Faith (Your acceptance, belief and commitment to the gospel) 

• Saved At Baptism (You meet God at the appointed place) 

Saved By Grace, Through Faith, at Baptism 

Acts 22:16 

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

■ Baptism AND . . . Calling on the name of the Lord. 

We hear this phrase a lot. According to this verse, the time and the place to call on the name of the Lord is right here and now - at the time of baptism. That phrase is not talking primarily about any set of words you say, or a crying out. It’s about accepting Jesus’ name to be stamped on you for ownership. The best way to do that is not through words, but through actions – the actions commanded in scriptures. 

Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...

■ Baptism AND . . .Becoming a Disciple. Baptism is part of becoming a disciple: Someone who follows Jesus, studies Jesus, learns what Jesus wants you to be, wants you to do. Less like punching a passport to heaven; More like enrolling in school to become an apprentice.

 Mark 16:15-16 

 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

■ Baptism AND… Belief! Being dunked into water is not what saves you! Baptism and Belief in Jesus Christ!! Without belief, the baptism is just a bath. But if you believe in Jesus, who has the power to save you, AND are baptized, you will be SAVED! 

 Acts 2:38 

 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

■ BAPTISM AND . . . Repentance. Baptism alone doesn't save anyone. Repent AND be baptized. Repentance = godly sorrow over the things you’ve done, changing your mind, changing your heart, resolve to change your way of living. You repentant heart leads you into that water, where the Lord will make that change of life a reality. 

 Acts 2:41 

 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

■ BAPTISM AND ….Acceptance.  They accepted his message and so they were baptized. When I take my car to the mechanic, I accept, I believe that they know how to fix my car, that they know more about my car than I ever will. And so I hand them the keys and leave the car with them. By being Baptized, you are saying, I accept, I believe that Jesus knows more about me than I will ever know, and that He can fix what’s wrong with me. And as you go down into the water, you are handing over to him the keys to your life. 

Acts 9:18 

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.

■ Baptism is part of the process of surrendering to Jesus.  At this point Paul has 

 • Been visited powerfully by Jesus in a way that knocked him to his feet; 

 • Actually spoken to Jesus and received a direct commission from Him; 

 • Repented greatly over his past life as a persecutor; 

 • Changed his mind completely about who Jesus is and accepted him as the Son of God;

 • Prayed for hours and days, both by himself and with Ananias;

 • was healed from the blindness that Jesus had given him

AND STILL, there is something more he needs to do: He got up and was baptized. 

 Acts 16:14-15 

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. 

■ Baptism as EVIDENCE. Lydia was already “a worshipper of God”, and yet she heard the gospel message from the apostles and knew she needed to do more than just worship God. She needed to be baptized. And THEN, the apostles knew that she was a believer, and they fellowshipped with her as such. Baptism was a verifiable point in the process of committing to living as a believer and apprentice of Christ.

Acts 16:33 

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 

■ Baptism without Waiting.  Paul and Silas were in jail; singing praise at midnight, when an earthquake set everyone free. But they did not leave the Jailer alone. He immediately asked. "What must I do to be saved?" I'm not sure this is a spiritual question just yet. He may have been afraid for his life. But Paul tells him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." The jailer took them home to care for them, and then…. IMMEDIATELY he was baptized. Don’t wait! Why put it off? This is the way things are done in the New Testament records. Belief is followed as immediately as possible by baptism.

Acts 18:8

Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

■ Baptism is worth sharing. This happens in more than one record in the New Testament. Crispus and his entire household believed and were baptized. This is a life-changing experience that you will want to share with your family, your friends, everyone you know. It is contagious! “Your entire household” means your house and home, but also your workplace, neighborhood, your gym, your grocery store, and more. YOU now have the awesome responsibility of letting your entire household see how this has changed you. You not only are a new person, you have a new job - telling others about it. 

 Hebrews 6:1-2

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

■ Baptism is highly important, just as are the other things listed there. But Paul says to MOVE ON from those important things. Stop resting on your laurels, on what you’ve gotten right, on your grasp of doctrines. MOVE ON to maturity, MOVE ON to growing in being like Christ, in serving others like Christ, in sharing what you know and what you have experienced with others. This is only the beginning.

Baptism: Why?

 Over several decades time, Roy Weece led a Mizzou Christian Campus House ministry team to do prison ministry at a Missouri state prison for women. Periodically the team would conduct baptism services for the women who signed up to be baptized.  Sometimes this would involve as many as thirty to forty women linin g up to be baptized. 

Before each woman came to be baptized, Roy would read the next person's name off the list and say, "Come to Jesus."

He would then quote a scripture and briefly summarize its teaching on the subject of baptism.

When Roy left his work with the Christian Campus House, I became the coordinator of the prison ministry and inherited the list of baptism verses from Roy. What follows here and in the next few blog posts is the list I compiled, combining Roy's list and comments with my own.

Why be Baptized?

Matthew 3:13-15 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

■ Why be baptized? To fulfill all righteousness

Righteousness = the character of God and everything worthy of his character. Submit to baptism because you want to please God, want to take on his character, his righteousness.

■ Why be baptized? God wants you to be baptized/

There are many things you can grow to know and learn about baptism, but this truth is at the base of it all: God wants you to be baptized. 

 Acts 2:38 

 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

■  Why be baptized? Every believer needs to be baptized.

Baptism is NOT optional; Peter says “Every one of You” need to do this, in order to receive the blessings as promised. This is not something that you can pass up and still be forgiven! Every one of you! 

■ Why be baptized? For the forgiveness of your sins.

Two actions/Two results – Repent AND be Baptized. The first result: Forgiveness of sins. You are about to experience something more wonderful than the parole board. You are about to receive a FULL PARDON from God. Your slate will be clean, your record will be clear.

■ Why be baptized? To receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The second result: The gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is none other than God Himself, Jesus Himself, coming to take up permanent residence in your heart. From now on, everywhere you go, God goes with you. Everything you do, Jesus is along for the ride. Everything you need in order to make that drastic change in your way of life, the Holy Spirit is always in there, providing the direction and the power for the new direction you’re taking. 

Acts 8:36

 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 

■ Why be baptized? Because it's part of the Gospel.

Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch the good news – the gospel – about Jesus. The eunuch’s response: he asked to be baptized. The gospel message includes everything about Jesus. He is God sent as a man. He lived and showed us God’s character. He died, was buried, was raised, and ascended. And the gospel is also about how to be reconciled to God through Jesus: By Grace, through Faith, at Baptism.

Ridesharing: How Did He Know?

There's one phrase rideshare drivers hate to hear from their passengers.

Actually there are two. The other one is "I'll tip you on the app," usually spoken as the passenger is exiting the car at their destination. Rideshare drivers will almost always respond by saying to themselves: "No you won't." Because the vast majority of the time they won't. The ones who do tip generally don't feel the need to tell you they're going to.

That other phrase, though, is also almost always untrue. 

"I'll be right out."

It's usually texted to the driver at the 3:00 minute mark of waiting for the passenger. This happens because around that time the rideshare app will automatically send a text to the passenger reminding them that soon they will begin to be charged extra for the wait time.

And so they react to this warning by texting the driver, "I'll be right out", in the futile hope that by doing so the automated algorithm that guides the app will believe their lie and decide to take pit and not charge them.

I recently pulled up to an apartment complex  and began the wait for my passenger. At the 3:00 mark he texted, "Be right out" and I told the app, "No he won't". Rideshare drivers often talk to their app.

This passenger went a step further and texted me an explanation: "I can't find me keys."

My initial reaction was to wonder why this statement was relevant to my life. But then inspiration hit me and I texted him back.

"They’re in your pocket from last night."

About 20 seconds later the passenger texted back, "LOL. On my way." And out he came from the building and into my car.

"How did you know that?" was the first thing out of his mouth. "How did you  know the keys were in my pocket?"

My answer: "I'm a parent. You’re like my son was at that age."

This ridesharing experience reminded me of another story.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭20‬-‭22‬)

Jesus and the disciples are at the last supper in the upper room. During the meal, Jesus makes this astonishing prediction. Someone is going to betray him.

The disciples respond with sadness and a guilty question: Is it me? Surely you don't mean me?

Not just Judas. Not just Peter. ALL of them began to say one after the other, Is it me? 

Each one reacts to Jesus' prediction with the instant though, "How does he know?"

He knows because he knew their hearts. And he knows your heart and my heart. 

He knows your heart. He knows that one thing that distracts you most from him.  That one thing that most tempts you to betray him or deny him. 

Who is it? 

Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭23 

We usually interpret that statement to refer to a specific person whose hand is actually dipping bread alongside Jesus, hand. But the phrase essentially means “the one who shares this supper with me” 

During the Passover meal, there was a common load of unleavened bread that each person tore a piece from. And there was a common bowl they all dipped their bread into. 

Many have often wondered why the rest of the disciples didn't see Judas dip his bread alongside Jesus and then overhear the pointed conversation. the two of them had. 

Could it be they were all so self-absorbed with the knowledge of their own guilt that they weren't paying attention to anyone else?

I often have to consciously get my focus out of my own swirl of thoughts when I'm picking up rideshare passengers. I remind myself it's more than a job. It's an opportunity to share a few moments with a stranger, to be salt and light in their world, to encourage them or even challenge them as the opportunity arises. 

I remind myself that I'm ridesharing, with the focus on the sharing.

And that's true for all of us, whatever the job or circumstance. Stop dwelling on yourself and pay attention to the people around you. Be there for them.

All Nature Sings: Rooster Mornings

It was winter break at the University of Missouri and I was with a group of students from the Mizzou Christian Campus House, heading to Mexico for a one-week mission trip. 

A friend, the campus minister in charge of the trip, had drafted me to be one of the leaders of the group. Mostly I think he needed someone to be one of the drivers for the 20-hour road trip. 

Two things stick in my mind about that week

Conversion experience 

First, I experienced what I’ve told people was a true conversion experience during that trip. 

On the first morning in Mexico I woke up early, no longer able to continue lying in my sleeping bag on the concrete floor of a half-finished church building. We had spent five hours the previous evening getting a head start on the week’s work, physically taxing construction work. My 50 year old body took a full 15 minutes to unlimber and get itself off the floor. 

Once up, I heard murmured voices from a small room just off the larger assembly hall. I gingerly tiptoed around the dozens of students who were still asleep and walked through a door. 

The other five of “the old people,” as the students called us, were already awake, sitting on folding chairs, drinking coffee. I stepped to the coffee pot, grabbed a small Styrofoam cup, and poured myself a drink of black tar. 

My friend, the group leader, looked at me with wide eyes because he knew I don’t drink coffee. I’ve never even liked the smell of coffee. 

“Unless you’ve got a cold bottle of Coke hidden in this room,” I said, “I’ll take my caffeine wherever I can find it.” I drank a cup of coffee every morning that week. On the return trip home I bought the largest cup of gas station coffee I could find at every refueling stop along the way. I was so tired from the long, hard week, I needed all the help I could get for the long drive home. 

After we finally got back home it was many hours before the accumulated caffeine would allow my body to sleep. I’ve been a coffee drinker ever since. 

Let them praise the name of the Lord 

The other notable memory from that week began on that same morning. My fellow ‘old people’ were occupying all the available chairs in the small room, so I stepped outside, hoping to unlimber my stiff joints. 

As the door closed behind me, I emerged into the brisk pre-dawn. The sky was still dark, with only the barest suggestion of light on the eastern horizon. 

Villa Union is a town of about 6,000 people and what must be around 50,000 chickens. I had noticed the day before that every home surrounding the tiny church had chickens scratching around in the mostly dirt in the yards. While we had worked on various projects that week, the rooster in the yard next door would emit a bellowing crow every few minutes. His dignity and his feathers were apparently ruffled by all this unexpected activity in his neighborhood. 

On this first morning, that rooster was not alone in expressing himself. As the sun prepared to make its daily appearance, every rooster in town was doing what roosters do at dawn. Thousands of them were crying out to the heavens, announcing the approaching dawn. 

I’m a city boy who had never heard even one rooster crying out the report of a new day. Where I live the new day is announced by an alarm clock and the sound of traffic in the streets. 

Cock-a-doodle-doo doesn’t begin to describe the sound of thousands of chanticleer voices echoing together. It was an unbroken wall of sound, filling the night air. 

I was stunned, poleaxed, my jaw dropping. I looked up into the sky, tears forming in my eyes at the wonder of such a thing. 

The blending of the reverberating voices reminded me of the echoing voices of monks singing Gregorian chants. I’m not a Catholic but I own several CDs of chants. I find them relaxing and uplifting. Because I don’t understand the Latin words, the monks voices are like the purest praise. 

Like the monks’ chorale, the song of the rooster multitude put me in mind of what it must have been like for the shepherds to hear the voices of a host of angels praising God, echoing the news of the Savior’s birth across the hillsides. Just as the angels were designed to be God’s messengers, the roosters were faithfully fulfilling the role for which God had created them. The choir of feathered callers were using their God-given talents to sing the praises of the God who gave them their voices. 

I walked around the yard, my hands lifted toward the heavens, tears streaming down my eyes. I joined in with the roosters, praising God for the new day in this strange land. 

When the first of the sleepy students wandered out of the church building, they found me standing in the middle of the construction site, my arms raised toward the heavens, welcoming the sunrise. The roosters’ hallelujah chorus was all but finished. 

I’m not sure the students believed me when I told them what they’d missed, but some of them got up earlier later in the week and welcomed the dawn with me. And thousands of roosters. 

Praise the Lord, all ye roosters. And praise the Lord everyone.

The Cost of Air

My Rideshare passenger was a student, a young man who lived in an apartment complex where I generally expected to pick up international students. He wasn't.

The app told me this would be a multi-destination trip, the first being the Walgreens store downtown. I assumed the additional destination would be to return him back home, as was often the case with Walgreens trips. It was. 

Until it wasn't.

I backed into a parking spot while he went inside. Less than five minutes later he returned, with no purchase in his hands.

 "They didn't have it!" he exclaimed. "But they suggested I try Office Depot." And he looked at me hopefully, since Office Depot was not one of his multiple destinations.

"Office Depot is right behind Walgreens," I offered. "I can just take you back there. No need to change the trip details for that." And off we went.

As we pulled in to the almost entirely empty Office Depot parking lot, I asked him what he was searching for.

"A can of air. The kind you spray to clean your computer."

He left the car to go look for air in Office Depot, while I wondered why he had thought Walgreen's might be the first choice to buy a can of air. And then my eye caught the sign on the front window of Office Depot: "STORE CLOSING: Final Two Days"

It wasn't long before the young man returned, again without any purchase visible. Apparently there was nothing left in Office Depot to purchase other than shelving and fixtures.

He asked me where I thought he could find his can of air, and I suggested Walmart, which had seemed to me the obvious first choice all along. So he added a destination to his app and off we went to Walmart, three miles and 12 minutes away. 

He found his can of air at Walmart and we went back to his apartment.

The trip all together was a little over 9 miles, taking about 45 minutes, including the time I spent waiting for him in parking lots. His charge for that trip was nearly $50.  

For a can of air that cost $9.

For the moment let's set aside the absurdity of a modern world that considers it normal - even necessary - to buy a spray can filled with nothing but air. 

For his purposes, for the efficient running of his computer, than can of air was a treasure worth spending more than a family of four might spend on a meal at McDonalds.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 

Matthew 13:44-46