Author: Ron Baker

I’ve been preparing a sermon on the legacy we leave behind.

So, I googled my full name – “Ronald James Baker”.  There was someone in the states who died at 52 (my age) – his obituary was on-line.  Another one was the first faculty member at Simon Fraser University and ended up a president of a University in the Maritimes.

My personal favourite!  Ronald James Baker, whose high school yearbook proclaimed that he “plans to drive a hot bulldozer.”  Check it out here!

Oh, the things we want to be known for!!

Am I helping them to live or to die?

That is a question I ask as I deal with cancer patients (patience may be a more applicable term). 

Day by day the certainty of cells still fighting the cancer becomes less certain.  Tests reveal progress — sometimes positive, other times negative. 

I have sat with a lady who about ten years ago had a polished head, balder than mine!  She has since had a child, been clear of cancer and now lives an active life.  I have sat with a brother whose cancer engulfed him only three years after biking across Canada.  His death was this past summer.

I pray with people to exhibit joy in suffering, strength in pain and hope for the future.  For some the future is a certainty, soon in another realm.  For others the current body will continue to fight.  Sometimes I sense an urge to continue to pray for current healing.  For others I pray for release to eternal healing.

For all tonight I pray for a greater sense of God’s presence and his pleasure.

Tuesday night our daughter had a baby shower.  In Prince Albert.

This was to be a “money” shower!  The idea was to provide enough to buy a crib.  She got enough to buy more than one crib, plus some gifts were also brought.

The shower saw around 47 ladies attend.  I’m not a “shower goer”, but I understand that is a good showing.

Some came to see Jill, others for the baby’s sake.  We had driven up on Tuesday afternoon and headed back Wednesday morning.  A quick visit (sorry we didn’t get to see all of you in PA!).

Back on Wednesday night, I was invited to attend a Kindersley Junior Klippers hockey game.  They lost 3-1, but just being in the rink was enjoyable.  The crowd was small (Klippers are not on a winning streak).  As someone mentioned – this is when the true fans hang out!

Today we ventured to the Heart Pacemaker Clinic in Saskatoon — two hours in, two hours back!

This year, we celebrate 35 years of battery power for Jill’s heart.  The technician checked the current battery’s status and functioning.  With the printout comes an assessment of who’s running her heart.  3% of the time, her heart is on its own!  97% of the time battery powered electrical impulses keep her blood running and her heart ticking.

Got me to thinking!

Who powers my heart?  Figuratively! 

How much of the time do I run on my own power?  How much of the time does God’s power take over? 

Let me be honest!    Some days I think I dip down into the lower percentages.  And other days I find the joy of the higher regions.  

Am I at 97%?  Probably not!  I hope I’m edging that way, because I would love to be a 100 percenter!!!