March 2001
"Choosing to Serve" March 25, 2001 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." - Matthew 6:24 (NIV) One of the lessons (verses) in the Instruction Book for LIFE (the Bible) that I have heard misquoted almost every time is stated is 1 Timothy 6:10. What you will hear people say is "money is the root of all evil." That is not what HIS Word says. The verse says "the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil." BIG difference. It is not money, in and of itself, that is evil or wrong... it is the love of it, or the yearning for it that is wrong. Serving our REAL CHIEF brings about a great deal of freedom in our everyday life. Especially prevalent is the freedom of choice that HE gives us. One of those choices is this; whom (or what) do we choose to serve? When you think you need to work two "extra jobs" to "support" your lifestyle, you have made the choice to "serve money. " Yes, I know what firefighters earn. I also know that many times you choose to get extra jobs so you can buy a bigger home, a newer pickup truck or some other thinga-ma-deal to "keep up with the Jones's." Now, don't get me wrong here. I understand that it is very tough to support a family on a firefighter's income. But, what I am saying is this; when you give up time serving HIM in order to increase your bank account, you have chosen to serve money, rather than serving The One who gives you the abilities to earn that money. You see, our REAL CHIEF knows your needs. Furthermore, HE promises to supply our needs. So often, we tend to confuse our "needs" with our "wants." The Mission Statement of EMERGENCY MINISTRIES is pretty straightforward: "Serving God by Serving Those Who Serve Others." I made a choice a long time ago: to serve our REAL CHIEF. I feel I am striving to do that by serving you. And, the beautiful part is this; that as I do so, HE provides my needs, if all I "want" is HIM. Make your choice right now to serve HIM. It is a choice that will affect your eternity. If you have questions about how to serve HIM or you simply need some help making that choice, please write to me or talk to your local Chaplain or clergy. On HIS Shift,
"How the Battle is Won" March 18, 2001 "When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." - Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (NIV) I just bought a CD over the internet. I bought it because it is called "Fire Station Family - Songs of Firefighters." I got much more than what I thought I was paying for. "What do you mean?" you ask. Well, I figured I'd get a CD with a few songs about firefighters. What I received, though, was not only a music CD, but a small booklet with the story behind the artist(s) that also had all of the words to the songs. Oh, did I mention that the songwriter (Glen Palecek) is a Christian firefighter? Oh.... he autographed the booklet, too! Anyway, one of the songs is called "Blue Shift Rookie." Basically, the song is about how much he likes working this particular shift because the Captain works side-by-side with his crew.... And, I don't mean just on the fireground... apparently they have a Captain that helps sweep and mop and cook and clean and... well, you get the picture. Things are much more enjoyable when "the boss" is right there with us, doing the job to accomplish the same goal. It's that kind of boss who encourages and empowers you to serve better, doesn't it? In our verse this week, we are reminded that every time we go out that door (preparing for battle) we should be reminded that we need not fear the enemy (fire)! This is because, the verse says, our REAL CHIEF is there fighting the fire with us!!! Furthermore, HE goes onto to say that, as a team, you will be victorious! Isn't wonderful to know that we, who are truly serving on HIS Shift, are being led into the battle by the Creator of the Universe? On HIS Shift,
"Time for a Laugh" March 11, 2001 "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." - Genesis 21:6 (NIV) I don't know how your week has been. But, chances are you are about as ready for a good laugh as I am. So often, our worlds are full of tragedy. Just last night, one of our departments went to the scene of a choking. A six year old little girl had accidentally inhaled a rubber fingertip protector. The crews worked and worked on her. At the Emergency Room, I sat with them as we watched ER staff get a pulse back, then a blood pressure. The beautiful little girl even had a few spontaneous respiration. They then transferred her by helicopter late (after working to stabilize her for three and one half hours) last night to a hospital with a neonatal ICU. Then, this morning, I called that hospital. I received the news that the little girl arrested in the helicopter. She didn't survive. I need a good laugh. Laughter is very healthy. Physically, it releases endorphins and lowers blood pressure. Spiritually, it makes your heart "sing"!!! In our verse this week, we are reading about the story of Abraham and Sarah. The couple was very old and Sarah had never given birth. Yet, God had promised the couple that Abraham would father a son born to Sarah. When the child was born, Sarah was about NINETY years old! Sarah and Abraham faithfully believed our REAL CHIEF's promise to them. So, as the boy was born, Sarah named her son "Isaac." In Hebrew, the word "Isaac" means "he laughs." Sarah was SO relieved at birthing a child at her age that she laughed and said all would laugh with her. So, take some advice; laugh a little. Better yet, laugh a lot this week. Rent a comedy movie. Learn some good (need I say clean? hehehehe) jokes and share them with others so that they might laugh, too. You will feel so much better, so relieved. And you know what? I believe that our REAL CHIEF enjoys hearing our laughter. On HIS Shift,
"A Marriage Made in Heaven" March 4, 2001 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." - Genesis 2:24 (NIV) According to experts, one of the biggest stressors in our lives is divorce. Those who have been through one can tell you the amount of pain, guilt, fear and sleepless nights that accompany the breaking apart of a marriage. Notice there are no good emotions mentioned. Twice in past week, my wife and I have been stunned at the announcement of two impending divorces amongst people very close to us. You see, even people around a dissolving relationship are affected. It doesn't matter what the "reasons" are for a divorce, the fact remains that divorce rips to pieces something that our REAL CHIEF Himself has put together. Huh? Yep. I believe that all marriages are "made in Heaven." Look at our verse this week... when a couple says "I do," they "become one flesh" and that they are "united." So, if you get divorced, you are literally tearing apart one body... one "flesh" ... and the term "unity" (which means "together as one") is destroyed. Now, of the two couples on the verge of destroying "what God has put together", we are noticing to very different potential outcomes. One of the couples, let's call them Fred and Wilma, reached out for help. They almost waited too late to do so - in human terms - but not in God's eyes. HE doesn't want any marriage to fail. Anyway, "Fred" called me and told me what was happening. He had already filed for divorce (the day before) and was moving his "stuff" out of the house. I talked with him and learned that both he and Wilma didn't want the marriage to end. I convinced him to "un-file" the divorce papers and both of them agreed to go to a Christian counselor I know. They went last Thursday. Friday, Fred called me to say "thanks" and that he thought they were on right path to heal the hurts in their relationship!!! You know why? They are both being "brought back" to the reality that if they don't have God at the center of their own life, nothing can work for long. Now, what about the other couple? I'll call them Barney and Betty. They have simply given up hope. Neither attend church, where they might find help and support. More significantly though, neither has a relationship with our REAL CHIEF. We are praying for all four people involved. I hope you will join us in those prayers. If you and your spouse are even slightly considering parting company, PLEASE, please, please reach out to someone you trust. Get a counselor or a pastor to help you discover the Biblical truths of marriage and divorce. The best thing I can tell you to do is read in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 5, verse 21 through Chapter 6, verse 4. I leave you with this thought for the week from Ephesians 5:21 - "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." 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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