What’s coming up? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
Death.
Now there’s a great way to begin a blog post that I’m sure leaves you feeling great.
But in reality, we all know that death is coming. We may not like to think about it, but that doesn’t change that it is coming. We often try to distract ourselves from it by filling our lives with amusements to keep us going onward. We want to act like things will go on forever and won’t ever change.
We act that way, but then something happens suddenly. Sometimes it can come out of nowhere. Last year, I got in a major car accident when a car T-boned us on my wife’s side. We both walked away from that accident, but it definitely left an impression on me on how I could have lost her.
I could have. A car accident could happen today for all I know. A shooting could take place at a public place. I have no idea what is going to happen today. Isn’t it a bit presumptuous for me to live like life will go on normally? That doesn’t mean I live in fear, but it does mean I don’t take my life around me for granted.
It especially means that if you have a terminal illness. If that is the case, then you know definitely that you are living on borrowed time. So what do you do? How do you handle it? Also, where is God in this time?
My guest this Saturday wrote a book on this topic for those who are terminally ill and their loved ones. He has ALS and is a pastor who knows what Scripture says about this topic. His book is called For Thou Art With Me and his name is Bruce Baker.
So who is he?
Bruce Baker is the former pastor of Washington County Bible Church in Brenham TX. Due to the health problems he faces, he resigned from that position Easter Sunday, 2019.
Bruce served in the Navy for over 11 years as an Electronics Technician (rising to the level of Chief Petty Officer) before leaving the service to work as a TV engineer at a Christian television station. It was during this time he felt the call of God to enter the ministry full-time. He enrolled at Calvary Bible College graduating with a BS in Christian Ministries; he then continued on to Calvary Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a Master’s of Divinity degree (Pastoral Studies) with highest honors. He earned his PhD in Systematic Theology from Baptist Bible Seminary, Clark’s Summit, PA.
Before Bruce came to Texas, he was the Senior Pastor of Jenison Bible Church, Hudsonville, MI. Prior to that he was Senior Pastor of Open Door Bible Church in Belton, MO, and Adjunct Professor of Bible and Theology at Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary. It was during his tenure in Missouri that his passion for teaching Bible and Theology to pastors who had no access to any formal education was kindled. To date he has taught in eight different countries on four separate continents.
He is a contributing author to the book “Progressive Dispensationalism” as well as the author of numerous journal and magazine articles. “Spiritual Maturity” is his first full-length book. “For Thou Art With Me” is his second book, written primarily to share with others the peace he has experienced after his own terminal illness diagnosis. He was diagnosed with ALS in November, 2017. He is currently working on a third book concerning the attributes of God.
Dr. Baker and his wife, Bonnie, have been married over 37 years and have three grown children and ten grandchildren.
Pastor Baker and I will be talking about what it’s like living with a terminal illness and how Christianity offers help in this time. We will also be talking about those left behind. I hope you’ll be listening this Saturday to this important topic and please go on iTunes and leave a positive review of the Deeper Waters Podcast.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
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