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Copyright © 1999-2001 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved. |
January 2002 The "instruction book" for life is the Bible.
"'Talent' On The Fireground" January 27, 2002 "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts , according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve, if it is teaching, let him teach, if it is encouraging , let him encourage, if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently, if is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." - Romans 12:4-8 (NIV) I want to ask you some questions this week. Then, hopefully, I want to help you find some answers to these questions;
Some people that are great on the nozzle, but can't ventilate very efficiently. Some are great with the jaws, others are more efficient tending to the patient. I know one guy who absolutely loves pulling ceilings... and, he is good at it. Some are great incident commanders; planning and directing the attack. Others are better suited taking the orders and carrying them out. What's the point? The point is, each of us has been given different abilities, different talents, if you will, to enable us, as individuals, to come together as a team to fight a common enemy: fire. In our verse this week, we learn that we really are each a different part, but, all members of, the same "body" - in our case, the case of those following our REAL CHIEF, we are members of the living body of Christ. Some of us may be good Sunday School teachers, others may be better equipped to serve overseas as a missionary. Some may have the God-given desire to serve food at the local homeless shelter, while others may collect goods for a pregnancy assistance center. And, just like we have already mentioned, all of these "individual" talents allow us to come together as a team to fight a common enemy: the fires of hell... Satan. As a member of this "body", you are important. But, you are no more important than any other part! You see, you might be "just" a femur. But, without a femur, there is only half a leg... and that half is pretty useless without the upper half. Without the femur, the body can't function near as well as God designed it to function. You see, an eye needs the toe, just as much as the hip needs the wrist. Each part has a different function... a different role. Without each individual part, the body is not whole. Hopefully, you understand your function on a fireground. If you don't, people die. I want you now to learn to understand your function in this body of Christ. If you don't know what your God-given talents are, ask HIM! Pray. Ask HIM to show you, to reveal to you, how you can use HIS gifts to better serve HIM... ...On HIS Shift,
"The Pump is Blown" January 20, 2002 "Even the young grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV) How many of you have ever been on the scene of a fire and, all of a sudden, there is no water. You scream for water, only to hear from the operator, "The pump is blown!" Well, if you stay in the fire service long enough, chances are, you will hear that. For whatever reason, the pumps fail. When the pump fails, everything can fall apart... very rapidly. That happens with all of us, too. Our "pumps" fail... our will to go on fails. If it has never happened to you... good for you. But, don't brag about it. Because I am here to tell you that at some point in your life, you will grow tired of trying. Trying what? I don't know. Trying to help... trying to diet... trying to ... well, you get my point. It is trying to keep on trying.... get it? Even the prophet Elijah got tired. Do you remember that story? Elijah was running from a wicked queen who had vowed to kill him. At one point, Elijah curled up under a tree and prayed to God to kill him! Know what our REAL CHIEF did? HE caused the prophet to take a nap and to eat and drink... in other words, to re-charge... to fix his "pump." And, it went so well, that Elijah, it says, got up and traveled forty days and forty nights to his next God-ordained appointment. I get tired, too. Yep, me. After coming home from New York, there have been plenty of times that I have said, "That's it. No more. I don't want to see another fatality or hear another pager go off." And, it's at times like those, that we must get "fixed." "Okay," you ask, "How?" I sit and pray. I study the Bible... our instruction Book for Life. And, I even went to talk to a professional counselor. These all are things that help "get our pumps fixed." But, ya know, this week's verse is a reminder of the ultimate fix for a broken spirit... our REAL CHIEF. Like the verse says, "...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." What we do for a living takes a whole lot of strength and a whole lot of stamina. When that drive to "keep on keepin' on" begins to dwindle, you must call on our REAL CHIEF to "fix your pump." That way, you will be renewed and will press on as you serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"Money In The Fire Service?" January 13, 2002 "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But, seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV) How many of you entered the fire or EMS arena with the idea in your head that you would get rich by saving lives? If you did, by now you are extremely disappointed! No, we knew, coming into it, that we do what we do because it is what our REAL CHIEF has instilled in us to do.... and, face it, we love it! Each week, as I sit down to begin the process of writing these articles, I pray... stunning, huh? hehehehehe. I sit and ask HIM what HE needs to talk to you about this week. For some reason, the subject of money came to mind. I am not sure what it is like where you live, but many, many people in the Houston area have been laid off lately (have you heard about a little outfit called 'Enron?'). Add that to the slumping economy and you get a whole lot of people fretting over money. Well, our Word this week from our REAL CHIEF should be of great comfort to all us. First, HE tells us NOT to worry! Isn't that great? HE goes on to say that HE knows your needs and will fulfill those needs IF... this is a promise with a prerequisite... you will first ask HIM to be your REAL CHIEF and to grant you HIS righteousness. Besides, what would you do with a bunch of money? The story goes of a rich old man who prayed and prayed that he could take his wealth with him to heaven when he died. God loved the man, so HE told him, "Okay, but you can only bring one suitcase with you." The next day, the old man died and, sure enough, he showed up at the Pearly Gates with a suitcase full of gold bars. Saint Peter sees the suitcase and says,"Hold on a minute, you can't take that into Heaven!" The old man told the Saint that God had given him permission. So, Saint Peter said, "Okay, but I need to look inside." The old man complies... Saint Peter looks in and bursts out laughing and lets the man in the Gates. One of the angels asks Saint Pete what was in the bag. Saint Peter replied, "Pavement." <pause for effect> You see, you can't take it with you... but, if you could it would still be worthless in Heaven. God simply wants you to ask HIM to be your REAL CHIEF. HE will then provide you everything you need to serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"Outside the Firehouse" January 6, 2002 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) There is Life outside of the firehouse. Ohhhh, novel concept! heheheh. We have talked a little about this verse before. Specifically, in the context of "I don't need to go to church to be a believer." Basically, we discussed the facts about how we most certainly do need to "go to church." We need to do this so that we may encourage each other as believers... let's face it, it's hard trying to follow our REAL CHIEF by ourselves. We need to have, as the great Theologians, The Beatles, said, "...a little help from our friends." But, I was reminded last night about the importance of that fellowship continuing outside of the church... and the fire station... walls. Last night, my wife and I went out with a great couple. We had taken a liking to them when we met them last summer, but had never really had the chance to sit down with them and just talk. Let me go back a little way. We met Mark and Linda when I went to be a guest on a talk show at the Christian radio station that Mark is the station manager for. Linda works the front desk. We hit it off immediately. So much so, that when 9-11 happened, I would call in and "go live" with Mark's listeners to give specific prayer needs from Ground Hero. Anyway, last night, the four of us went out to dinner at a great little restaurant. And, we talked. And, we talked. Before we knew it, it had been a four hour episode of "This is Your Life." I, personally, was reminded of how uplifting it is to hear and see others who live to serve our REAL CHIEF. And, how great it is to see how our REAL CHIEF blesses those who boldly get down on their knees. It also shows me something else... there is life outside the firehouse. We need to be reminded of that every once in a while. Get out. Find some good, believing friends, get a baby-sitter and go out! The time fellowshipping with Godly people will do you good and will help you better serve... ...On HIS Shift,
It is my prayer that the verses we discuss help each of you as it has helped me deal with the amount of stress we are all faced to deal with. If you are not yet saved, I have Good News for you. Jesus loves you very much and His Holy Spirit is drawing you to Him. To learn more, click here.
© 1999 - 2001 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved. STRESS RELIEF is written every week, usually on Sunday afternoons. |
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