(Corrected version)
Within a minute of me sending out the email version of this blog, our good friend, Tim, sent me notice that His birthdate is September 29th, not October 29th. Sorry for the error. It is impossible for us to correct an email version of the blog, so we’re sending out this new email with the correction.
Many of our readers have come to know Ron Oja over the years. He has been a featured speaker at all our SKM Bible Conferences since we first met him in 1998. We then asked him to speak at our first (of ten annual) conferences in Philadelphia in the spring of 1999.
In the past few years his health has been declining, especially his memory. That is especially poignant and paradoxical because any of us who have seen him teach have recognized that our heavenly Father had gifted him with an almost photographic memory.
But that faculty has been in decline for several years and is becoming increasingly more distressing now. Ron himself had recognized it early on. He said to me then, in so many words, that he is at peace with it because he has complete trust in the Father and that whatever Father has ordained for his life, that Ron is in full agreement with His plan.
Pauline has been an ever-faithful 24/7 caregiver during Ron’s decline. She is a veritable saint. But as anyone knows who has given care to someone with dementia, no one can give care 24/7 without help and regular breaks.
We all want to help with our suggestions, but Pauline has been overwhelmed with all kinds of ideas for various protocols to treat the condition, or at least slow down the progression, but all to no avail.
They have seen various specialists—both in the medical community and in the alternative community, but his condition continues to deteriorate. Here below is photo from just a week ago of Ron receiving laser treatment. Pauline is continuing to source outside help.
Our request is first of all, join me in daily prayer that our Father would work a phenomenal miracle and restore Ron to full capacity.
Secondly, if you feel so led, send Ron a greeting card (whether Christmas card, get-well card, or a brief note) and let him know how he has blessed you and that you are praying for him. (Their address is: PO Box 26, Wright, MN 55798)
By the way, most of our readers know that Jesus was born in the autumn, not on December 25th. And for 20 years or so, my family eschewed Christmas. It was Ron who enlightened me that Jesus was actually conceived on that night, December 24-25th —we have written about it previously—how Christ (the Light of the world) became mass (took on human form). (Hence, Christmas).
It is a little play on words using E=MC2, but with a wonderful truth embedded in that play on words. Because when Mary experienced a full-term human pregnancy of 278 days, it comes out to his actual birth date on October September 29th, (I think the math is correct, I am going from memory, so don’t quote me on that, but you get the idea. {Thanks for the correction, Tim.})
We do not get caught up in worldly “Christmas,” but with a clean conscience, we can and do now rejoice with our “regular” Christian brethren (i.e., those who are unaware of His true birth date), as we can celebrate how Christ became mass on December 25th.
In any case, we pray for Father’s perfect will to be done. And do keep Pauline in your prayers equally with Ron. Thank you!
~END~
