The "Standard Operating Guideline For Life"  is the Holy Bible.

"Real Rescue"

January 25, 2004

"'...for I am with you to rescue and save you,' declares the LORD."

- Jeremiah 15:20(b) (NIV)

We had one of those rare days in big city EMS (Emergency Medical Service) - every call we responded to was an actual emergency! Okay, except one - a report of a "man down" who apparently had decided to become a "man up" prior to our arrival and was gone when we got there.

The rest of the calls we responded to that shift were all "true emergencies." Now, if you are not in the business, you are probably asking, "Aren't all ambulance calls emergencies?" That's a tough one to answer.... NOT! We have gone on 9-1-1 calls were it is a person with a cold or flu and they have no transportation to the clinic - happens all the time. We were even called one night because the person had a boil on their... er, well... you know, where they sit.

Anyway, last shift, we had a crack cocaine overdose, a cardiac, a respiratory and a few other calls - all of which required IV lines, cardiac monitors, emergency drugs and emergency transport to the hospital. It was a shift that made you feel like you were really making difference.

Well, there is only ONE real rescue... it occurs when you are drowning in the cesspool of a material world. You are gulping your last "breath" of hope and you reach toward the Heavens. Our REAL CHIEF, hearing your 9-1-1 call to HIM (prayer - "Help me, GOD, I can't do this anymore!"), reaches down with HIS Hand and pulls you to HIM. HE opens his "medical kits" and dispenses HIS Grace and Mercy on you. HE heals you. HE saves you.

Are you laying in the gutters of life right now? Has sin assaulted you? Have you collided with a world full of hopelessness?

Our REAL CHIEF is on standby 24/7/365 waiting on your call for help. HE reminds us, in this week's verse, that HE is ready to rescue you. You see, HE desperately wants to rescue you and train you - to help rescue others - as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Wanting To Know"

January 18, 2004

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

- Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

We had a mass-casualty drill yesterday. The "initial call" came in as an "unknown problem" at a school. The first-in medic unit pulls up to scene, rather than waiting for law enforcement (which is usually standard procedure on any "unknown nature" call). Because of this, as soon as her partner opened the door, he was "shot" by the "bad guys" inside the school... you see, the drill was a scene of a multiple shooting at a school (ala Columbine).

We had one student in the class who kept asking the instructors, "What's going to happen?" and "Are we going to have to do advanced skills?" and other questions. When the other students ask her why she was doing this, she said, "I just have to know what's going to happen, so I can prepare myself."

Some of us kinda chuckled... I mean, that is the nature of this business - we don't know what is going to happen. We take what little information is given to us (via a dispatcher or previous runs at the same address) and we respond with some preconceived notions in mind. For example, when dispatch sends you on an "unknown problem" call, what do you usually think of? Usually, it's a routine sick call. But, we know from experience that it can range from absolutely nothing to a multiple shooting. So, you prepare for the worst, but expect the norm. You don't worry about it.... you just go do it.

You see, our REAL CHIEF understands that if you go through life with a "What's gonna happen" thought process, you will worry yourself to death. It's called "the fear of the unknown" and our REAL CHIEF doesn't want us going through life fearing and worrying.

Instead, GOD says "Take one day at a time." HE says, "Quit worrying about tomorrow and deal with today."

Our REAL CHIEF knows the troubles we face. HE knows what this world can do to you. emotionally and spiritually. HE wants you to go through life bravely, without fear and without worry. HE wants you to turn your worries over to HIM. HE wants you to walk side-by-side with HIM as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Restart The Heart"

January 11, 2004

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

- Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Okay... it doesn't happen often. But, every once in a while, we bring someone back.

This past week, we had a patient go into full arrest on us. We watched the patient go from conscious to unconscious to respiratory depression to respiratory arrest to full arrest. With only about a minute of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), we were able to "get him back." By the time we reached the emergency room, he was even breathing on his own. Thanks to our REAL CHIEF, this patient has a fighting chance at life. I pray for his recovery and that he knows the healing power of GOD.

But, that isn't really what I wanted to share with you this week. I wanted to share with you how my heart has had a "restart", too.

As you are aware (if you have been keeping up with these articles of late), I have had a rather challenging three or four weeks.  I have;

• Had two runs of SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia - where your heart just takes off).
• One of my best friends went to be with our REAL CHIEF.
• Worked fulltime on a 9-1-1 truck in the 4th largest city in America.
• Worked fulltime in this ministry - including preaching at my friends' funeral and preaching at the firehouse today.
• Went to Paramedic school fulltime.
• ....to say nothing of trying to be a fulltime father and husband...

I had, quite understandably, felt pretty beat up. I was tired. I didn't feel like doing much of anything.... except praying. I kept praying for renewal. And, HE gave it me!

I am attacking my tasks with a new zeal... with a new heart that desires only one thing... to beat for HIM. I asked our REAL CHIEF to allow me to do my best for HIM... to serve HIM as HE would want me to serve HIM.

All it took was prayer and a few emails from you, my readers. Our REAL CHIEF reminded me, through your letters, of the impact of this ministry. I got phone calls and encouragement from almost everyone I spoke with this past week. Our REAL CHIEF has restarted my heart. And, I feel great.

I look forward to walking side-by-side with you as we start this new year...

...On HIS Shift,

"New Year, New Start"

January 4, 2004

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."

- 2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (NIV)

We have a lot to talk about this week.

First, I want to thank everyone who wrote, called and (most importantly) prayed for us after last week's article regarding my "little scare." I would like to give you an update. This past Monday, I had another "run" of tachycardia, though, this time it wasn't as severe as the previous Monday. That afternoon, I went to my Doctor and then to a cardiologist. The results? Your prayers worked! The Cardiologist says my heart is "perfect" and that the two events were "benign." He tells me that these episodes occur due to an "extra" electrical node in the heart that fires for no particular reason. I was put on a drug that will prevent reoccurrence. WHEW!

There is also some bittersweet news to report to you; a very good friend of ours died last Monday morning. Bittersweet, because though he is dead, Charlie had come to know JESUS as his REAL CHIEF just this past summer. And, so, Charlie is now enjoying his New Year with a New Life in CHRIST. Charlie is helping to staff HEAVEN'S firehouse.

Charlie Flowers was the assistant chief of the New Caney Volunteer Fire Department. In November, he was on scene of a motor vehicle crash with extrication. Charlie was Incident Command. During the extrication, Charlie began experiencing chest pain. He suffered a severe MI... a heart attack. He was hospitalized for about a month. It looked bleak. But, he recuperated enough to go home. In the wee hours of the morning, Charlie went to sleep and never woke up on this earth again.

As some of you know, I preach once per month at a firehouse. During the three years we have been doing this, Charlie and his wife, Betty, were almost always in attendance... in fact, Charlie only missed one service during that time! I will never forget this past July's service, when Charlie walked up to me after the message and said, "Will it make you happy to know that I asked Christ to become my REAL CHIEF?"  I was ecstatic... here, before me, stood a man in his sixties who now had a bright eternity to look forward to.

During his stay in the hospital, we visited him as much as possible. I even had the privilege of feeding him and helping the nurses change his sheets. When he was coherent, we would just sit and talk.

Charlie's life was lived in serving others... he spent 26 years in the fire service. Charlie's death was also serving others... because he suffered the heart attack that eventually killed him while on the scene of that MVA, his death is considered a "Line of Duty Death."

Our verses this week explain how this "domino effect" of service works - when you serve others, those being served praise GOD. Every act of service elicits praise for our REAL CHIEF.

I praise GOD for Charlie's life and his service to others. This will hurt for a long time. Charlie was a good friend. But, I will dwell on the fact that, though he is gone from our presence on earth, he continues to serve our REAL CHIEF...

...On HIS Shift,