Author: Ron Baker

This author has written 2740 articles

Singing in harmony

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Last night I was together with three other people – a soprano, tenor, alto and myself.

Now, I love to sing bass.  But I also love tenor and doing lead. 

So here we are, practicing to do an acappella rendition of “O Holy Night” for our local carol festival.  The first verse is alright – I sing the normal bass line.  Then on the second verse I’m to do a solo for a few lines.  Then back to bass??  Not a chance – I’m floating all over and everyone is looking for another note as I snatch theirs

Something tells me that being spontaneous doesn’t always work!  And a few voices next to me confirmed that truth!!

Come hear us Sunday night, December 4th at the United Church in Kindersley – 7:00 pm.

Local Pastors Round Table

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Thursday.  7:00 in the morning start and 4 pastors around the table.

No, its not King Arthur’s roundtable.  Rather, a group of us who want to share with each other and with God.

So we discussed some scripture and the joys and sorrows of our lives.  Three of us have grown children.  One has just moved to a new location.  One is bivocational.  All of us are intent on seeing our community impacted for Jesus.

And so, as we enter Advent this coming week, I’m thinking about waiting — and I’m waiting for what God will do!

The slow days – "sabbathing it"

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I’ve spent the last two days in recovery!

Not that life hasn’t been good.  Far from it!  With baptisms and recordings and teaching and preaching and celebrating anniversaries and putting up Christmas tree lights who could complain.

But I’ve learned in the cycle of things when calendar spaces become full for more than a week, you need to take a breather.  For me, I begin to lose focus on life and revert to habits that are bred from laziness.  My arthritic knees begin to ache and I struggle to put coherent sentences together.  My whole person is telling me that you’d better slow down.  [I’ve also got a wife who knows when I’m losing it!!]

So, I’m learning that when there are signs (I’d like to think they were from heaven — but let’s be practical here — they’re just part of living here on earth!!), I need to take time to slow down for a bit.

So Monday and Tuesday I was back working, but I took some time to relax.  That meant morning and evening activities – but afternoons at home.

How do you know when it’s time to “sabbath”?

Snatches of 48 hours

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At a suprise 25th anniversary party — when asked for wisdom —  the wife said you need to keep a sense of humor, the husband immediately told a joke!

At a baptismal service 4 youth affirmed their commitments to follow Jesus.  Parents, grandparents and friends showed up to celebrate.  The picture taking was constant.  The potluck was scrumptious.  The shared stories and lives were worth weeks of relationship!

At a supper discussion there is talk of how to complete and share a CD of original music.  Perhaps touring, press releases and more musicians added to the project.

At a meeting with the Christian Education committee chair we work on wording for a brochure outlining our child protection and facility usage policies.  All the time bemoaning the trend our society has taken towards mistrust instead of trust.  Which has meant a whole rewriting of laws.

At a rooftop experience I place christmas tree lights on a crown.  Our street, King Drive, has celebrated Christmas for at least three decades by lighting up metal rebar “crowns” on top of our houses.  Not a bad symbol of the Christmas season – a king come to earth!