February 2003

The "instruction book" for life is the Bible.

"Saved By A Toilet?"

February 23rd, 2003

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

- Romans 15:13 (NIV)

I just came home from a residential fire.  Actually, it was a two-story garage attached to a one story house and the garage and upstairs apartment were fully involved upon arrival of the first-in engine company.

Thanks to some fine firefighting and to the credit of our REAL CHIEF, there was a quick knockdown.   So, there was minimal damage to the house itself.

I arrived on scene and got my briefing from the Chief, then went over to meet and comfort the homeowners (an elderly couple).  After we had talked for a while, they told me that there might be a cat still inside.  Of course, my first thought was, "You mean ex cat?" - knowing that the amount of smoke that was initially inside that house would have done the small animal in.  I gently explained that should we come across the cat, we would be happy to bury it for them.  They were very pleased that we offered to do that.

I walked over and informed command that there might be a cat inside.  He looked at me with a look that said, "You mean ex cat?"  Well, about ten minutes passed and out came one of our assistant chiefs carrying a wet, but very-much-alive cat.  The cat had survived because he jumped into a toilet.  Imagine that.  An animal that normally hates water instinctively jumps into it to save its' own life.

We human beings are kind of built like that to... with something instinctive inside of us that tells us we need the saving power of CHRIST... our REAL CHIEF.  I have heard it described as a "GOD-shaped hole in our heart that can only be filled by HIM."  

"Fill that hole" in your heart right now.  Ask CHRIST to become your REAL CHIEF now.   Tell HIM how you long to serve...

"Staging Instructions"

February 16th, 2003

"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

- Jude 1:21 (NIV)

I don't exactly know how your agency dispatches you to unstable scenes. Here, in the Houston area, if we get a call involving violence or the potential of a unsafe scene, the dispatcher might say something like, "Medic 93 - a shooting - stage for law enforcement...." In other words, "the scene isn't safe right now, wait until law enforcement arrives and stabilizes the situation.

Back when I first got into EMS, there was no such thing as staging instructions.  You got a call, you went.  Unfortunately, in doing so, we had paramedics get hurt by violent people.   We got shot at.  Weapons were pulled on us.  Not that those situations don't occur today... BUT, it has dropped considerably.  Why? Because we wait.   We have learned that waiting saves lives - ours.

At first, it was hard for me to adjust to staging, being of the "old school."  My argument was, "Man, there is someone laying in there that has been shot (or stabbed, or assaulted, etc) that needs our help and we have to sit here waiting 10 minutes or more for the cops to show up."  But then, I started coming to the realization that if we kept running into those situations, someone, maybe even me, might get shot... and, if we get hurt or killed, who are we going to be able to help?

So, I have learned to wait.  During the wait, it gives me time to pray for the situation. It also gives me time to prepare, in my mind, what we are going to do for this patient.

In our verse this week, we are instructed to wait in GOD's love.  We are to continue serving as we wait on the promised eternal life with our REAL CHIEF.  As we wait, as we are "staged," we are not to just "sit here" wondering what eternity is going to be like.  We are to think about and pray about our life of servanthood for CHRIST... of living a life that reflects HIS mercy and grace.  THAT is "keeping ourselves in God's love..."

"Rehab"

February 10th, 2003

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

- Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)

You may not be aware, but I am blessed to be able to preach at a local fire station once per month.   We do this the second Sunday of each month.  If you are in the Houston area, I cordially invite you to attend.  Most folks show up in department t-shirt.  And, I preach from the SOP for LIFE (The Bible), using firefighter/EMS terminology.

Yesterday was a special second Sunday, as it was the first one after losing Gary Staley in a fire in Porter.  Well, I invited Gary's parents to attend.  My love and admiration for them went through the roof when I saw them walk through the door.

My lesson yesterday was about "Rehab" in life.  You know, when you go through the horrific things life tosses at you and you "just can't take it anymore."   My point was this; in order to make it through life, you have to have spiritual rehab... something that can be obtained only through trusting in our REAL CHIEF, WHO, as our verse says, gives strength and power when we feel totally beaten down.

And, sitting right there amongst us were two shining examples of this teaching... Don and Ruby Staley.  Does this mean that they are thoroughly "rehabbed" from losing Gary only three weeks ago?  Absolutely not. But, it does display something to me... and, I pray, to you, also... Their faith in Christ is worn for all to see.  Their very presence there yesterday said to everyone, "We are so hurt, but we need to be here to show you how our REAL CHIEF is sustaining us, is loving us and is working with us."

Don came up to me after the sermon.  He told me that Ruby had found where Gary had signed my Guestbook back in 2001, while I was up in New York City.

But, the among the first two I saw when I went to look were these...

And, then, I found this...

"Tapping Strength"

February 2nd, 2003

"...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 40:31 (NIV)

If you are a "regular" reader of these articles, you will know that there are times when the articles don't come to you every Sunday.  January was one of those months where things happened in such magnitude, that I flat didn't have the time (or the energy, it seems) to sit down and write.

Last month, our REAL CHIEF handed me one of the toughest assignments HE has ever given me: coordinate the line-of-duty-death funeral for "one of our own."

On Sunday, January 19th,  I had gotten off work with EMS.  We had run calls right up to quitting time at 0600.  I managed to find my way home and got to sleep at about 0700.   At 1155 hours, my wife came in a woke me up.  "It's Carter on the line, he says there has been a line-of-duty-death in Porter."

I was up, dressed and on scene in less than a half hour.  I watched as a fallen, modern-day knight, a slayer of "dragons,"  was placed in a stokes basket.  He was covered with an American flag.  We escorted him out of the smoldering remains of the building through a wall of honor made up of his colleagues.  And, thus, began the start of six days of shear agony... for everyone who knew Gary Staley.

The first job after getting Gary out?  The chief and I went to Gary's parent's house.  I also need to mention that Gary's beautiful eight year old daughter was there.  I broke the news that crushes hearts.

We assigned a family officer to stay and work with Gary's parents.  And, we headed back to the station and started the planning of a funeral that, by Friday, would draw a response of almost 2000 firefighters.  I spent that first night, not sleeping, at the chief's house.  I didn't see my family again until Wednesday.

The funeral, the 200+ apparatus procession, the graveside service all went with the honor and dignity deserved by our fallen hero.... and, I would like to tell you why....

It wasn't me.  There was absolutely NO way I could have accomplished all that needed to be done without crashing.  The pain, the grief, the bewilderment and the complete exhaustion would have done me in.  No, the way we got through that week was purely through the strength of our REAL CHIEF.  And, I was not the only one tapping in on HIS strength... Gary's parents were also able to survive by allowing CHRIST to hold them up during it all... you see, the Staleys are CHRISTIANS.  So was Gary.

I want you to think about this.  Can you think of anything harder than losing your son?   than losing a fellow firefighter?  If you are EVER faced with something so horrific, it is my prayer that you heed this advice: ask JESUS CHRIST to become the REAL CHIEF in your life... NOW.  Then, if tragedy strikes in your "backyard," you will have the strength of the CREATOR of the universe to get you through it all... and beyond.

Mr. and Mrs. Staley - you make me proud to be serving...

CHAPLAINS NOTE - Usually, this article goes out to about 550+ firefighters who have signed up to receive the email.  Then, on average, another 50 or so visit this page during the week.  This past week, the above article was viewed 268 times, in addition to the email that was sent out!

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.

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STRESS RELIEF is written every week, usually on Sunday afternoons.