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Check out this awesome flash memorializing 9-11-01
Copyright © 1999-2004 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved. |
The "Standard Operating Guideline For Life" is the Holy Bible.
"Rejoice While Remembering" February 29, 2004 " So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." - John 16:22 (NIV) This past Wednesday, my wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. One of the gifts was tickets to opening night of Mel Gibson's new movie "The Passion of The Christ." It was a very, very impactful movie. If you are a follower of our REAL CHIEF, this movie is a "must see." If you are not yet a follower of CHRIST, this movie is "must see." Whether or not you are a follower, this movie will graphically (some say too graphically) depict how much our REAL CHIEF suffered to give you eternal life. I know I took a whole lot of it personally. And, by that, I mean as I sat and watched JESUS's skin being avulsed from HIS body, I said to HIM, "I'm sorry, Lord." I thought to myself, "MY sin caused HIM to go through that." THAT, my friends is the epitome of love. The ultimate in sacrifice. But, you know what? JESUS didn't want you to feel sorry for HIM... No, HE wants you to see how much HE loves you and is willing to lay down HIS life for you so that you may come know HIM as the REAL CHIEF in your life. In our verse this week, JESUS is talking with HIS disciples about HIS soon-to-come sufferings and death on the cross. And, while it is true that HE reminds them that they will feel grief, HE also tells them that when HE returns to them (in other words, after the resurrection) they will rejoice. Notice, HE doesn't say they "might" or they "should" rejoice... no, sir, HE says they WILL rejoice to the point that no one will be able to take that joy from them! Well, guess what? HE IS RISEN! This movie should be a vivid reminder that we need to be rejoicing in remembering that HE went to cross so that we may have eternal life in HIS perfect Heaven with HIM! Yes, Wednesday was a day of two celebrations for Cindy and I... a day celebrating that GOD chose us to be as one in HIM AND a day to rejoice that CHRIST died and now is alive so that we may live. And you know something? Both reasons are a celebration of LOVE! Go see the movie. Take an unsaved friend to see it. Rejoice that HE is allowing you to serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"Light At The End Of The Tunnel" February 22, 2004 "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 was sitting in Paramedic class yesterday and figured out that we have only twenty-five classroom days left. Now, the actual end date isn't until August, because of ambulance rotations ("internship," if you will). BUT, the end is in sight, as far as sitting in the classroom three days a week. That little bit of news was enough to spark some enthusiasm in the class... there is "light at the end of the tunnel" for us now. Everyone smiled at the thought, "Hey, we might actually make it." Have you ever been in such a situation? I mean, you have been battling with whatever has been tossed into your life and things seemed impossible? And then, something comes along during all of it that makes you realize, "I can do this!" Well, that, my friends, is called HOPE. And, to those of us who follow our REAL CHIEF, our hope should be in HIM. HE is the LIGHT at the end of the tunnel of darkness. There is an old Hymn called "My Hope Is Built" and the first verse goes like this; "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name." There is LIGHT at the end of your tunnels in life, too. In the book of John, chapter 8, verse 12, our REAL CHIEF tells us about this LIGHT, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." There are eleven of us left in a class that started with twenty six people. I pray that all us make it through to the end of this. But, whatever happens, I am putting my HOPE in my REAL CHIEF. HE is the LIGHT at the end of my tunnel. Let me encourage you, too. Ask CHRIST to come into your life as your REAL CHIEF. Put your HOPE in HIM. Put your trust in HIM as you continue to serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"The Best Valentine" February 15, 2004 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (NIV) Remember back in elementary school during Valentine's Day? I remember making a card for everyone in the class. And, we would decorate a paper bag. At a certain time in class, everyone would walk around and "deliver" a handmade Valentine's Day card (sorry, Hallmark) into a paper bag on each student's desk. Then, you would get to go through them. It was a great feeling wasn't it? Sometimes, someone dropped some of the little candy "Sweethearts" into your bag. "Be Mine" - "Together Always" - "I Love You" - "Kiss Me" are some of the ones I remember. And do you remember that feeling when you opened that "special" Valentine from a special someone in the class that you maybe had a crush on? Your heart would skip a beat and an ear-to-ear grin would chisel itself upon your face. You might have even blushed a little with the discovery that someone out there really loves you. Well, our REAL CHIEF sent the biggest, best VALENTINE ever... HIS SON. Think about that. If a little handmade card can make your heart melt, what should you feel like when your VALENTINE goes to the cross and dies for you to prove HIS love? A good friend forwarded the following email to me:
This, too, then is my Valentine's greeting to you: Our REAL CHIEF loves you so much that HE sent HIS SON as HIS Valentine Greeting for all... HE LOVES YOU and wants you to serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"Peace Sign" February 8, 2004 " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27 (NIV) I think the message this week is for me. However, if you have had a week full of strife, it might be for you, too. I reached a point last Tuesday night where the stressors in my life had caught up to me, it seemed. I went home from work and went straight to bed. I was exhausted. I slept for almost 12 hours straight. But, you know what? I wasn't refreshed. Do you know why? I do - I was trying to do everything myself. Between school, tests, 24hour shifts, a new partner and family and the ministry, I was trying to perform a balancing act ON MY OWN. Sure, I prayed about situations. But, I didn't really turn things over to my REAL CHIEF. Then, I came across this week's verse. WOW! Our REAL CHIEF reminds us to give our burdens to HIM (Matthew 11:28-29) and that we are not to worry (Matthew 6:24-34). But, in this week's verse, HE gives us some very, very strong assurances. First, CHRIST says HE gives HIS peace to us. Think about that. HIS peace. That is a peace that surpasses all understanding. I WANT THAT PEACE, LORD! Then, HE goes on to remind us that we should not let fear be a part of who we are in HIM. I have another trying week coming up, as I know a lot of you do. There are some things I really don't want to deal with. So, instead of trying to do things "my way," I am laying this week at the feet of my REAL CHIEF. I am begging for HIS peace. I am asking HIM for a trouble-free heart. And, I am asking HIM to take away my dread... my stress... of these earthly distractions. Finally, I am asking HIM to forgive me for not coming to HIM first with these issues. LORD, thank You for granting me Your peace. I pray that each one of you turns to our REAL CHIEF this week and asks for some of that peace as you serve... ...On HIS Shift,
"THE Super Bowl" February 1, 2004 "'By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." - Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV) We just watched, as I am sure a lot of you did, the Super Bowl from right here (in Texan - "rat cheer") in Houston (that's you-stun), Texas. Fairly good game, I suppose. As always, I think the commercials were the better viewing. The halftime show? Disgusting. Fifteen minutes of scantily-clad, hip-gyrating singers and dancers... all of them boldly imitating sex acts to the beat of bass-filled hip-hop music. Right there on worldwide television. The REAL Super Bowl occurred several thousand years. It, too, played out on a Sunday... a seventh day. But, what a contrast. Instead of millions of people watching 22 men run up and down a field, there were millions of angels, accompanied by millions of stars watching the creation by GOD. And, GOD Himself, was watching and saw that it was all good. Imagine being a spectator on that first Sunday. The first man and woman... Adam and Eve, got to enjoy the day. The newness of everything. The untouched beauty of the landscape our REAL CHIEF had painted. The brilliance of the stars and the moon at night. Sin had not yet entered the world. I remember growing up in Dallas... another great football town. Back in those days, Sundays were pretty much the way GOD designed them... a day of rest. I remember getting to sleep late and my Grandma would fix Sunday "brunch" and afterwards... off to church we went. And, you know something? All the stores were closed. Their employees were home resting, too. Next Sunday, take a break. Rest. After all, football is gone for awhile. Make the day as our REAL CHIEF intended it... all of us need the day of rest while we 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.
The folks at the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation can also help if you have been involved in a Critical Incident. If you are in the Greater Houston, Texas area, BLUEBONNET CISM team will respond at your department's request. © Emergency Ministries - 1999 - 2004 . All Rights Reserved. |
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