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

"Pre-Shift Briefing"

April 25, 2004

"...and David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them," HE answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.""

- Isaiah 30:8 (NIV)

We are getting so close to the end of the Paramedic class! Tomorrow night is our class final exam. We have already started our clinical rotations on the ambulance. This is where we are putting into practice what we have learned these past few months. We are required to complete 504 hours on the ambulance as a Paramedic student. Seems like a lot to me. But, it will most certainly serve to make us better medics in the long run.

Anyway, I was doing some student time yesterday. About halfway through the shift, one of the EMTs on the truck commented to me, "Oh darn, I forgot to pray for the shift today! Did you do that for us?"

I replied that I most certainly did. You see, I try to make it a habit to start the shift with a prayer, "GOD, I give this shift over to YOU. May it go as YOU have planned it. Help make me a light to others I come across today."

The great King David did that, too. He had a pre-shift briefing with his REAL CHIEF before every battle. In our verse this week, David returns home and learns that attackers have overtaken his hometown and the attackers have carried off the wives and children of he and his men.

So, what does David do? Does he take off with revenge in mind? Does he take off after them without a plan? NO! David stops and turns to his REAL CHIEF for a pre-shift briefing. He asks GOD if he should even pursue them. And, our REAL CHIEF answers him... "Go and rescue them!"

I believe that if you will start each shift with a pre-shift briefing with our REAL CHIEF, HE will tell you the same thing... go and rescue them! You need HIS counsel as you start your shift and you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Looking Up"

April 19, 2004

"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"

- Job 12:12 (NIV)

There was no article written yesterday, as my family and I were out of town (and away from the computer!) to help celebrate my grandmother's NINETY-EIGHTH birthday. Ninety-eight years!

To make this more amazing, our "Gang," as we call her, still lives at home by herself. She does have someone come in and help her... and, my aunt lives right around the corner, so she does have the assistance when needed. But, for the most part, she still does things on her own... her way!

Gang is very special to me. You see, she virtually raised my little sister and brother and I. And, she gave me the basis of my relationship with my REAL CHIEF. Maybe, more than she knows. Gang "made" us go to church every Sunday. We went to Sunday school and to the "main service" with her. About the time I turned fifteen or sixteen, Gang would drop me off in front of the Sunday School building and I would wave as she drove off... then, I would promptly run two blocks away to the local fire station and sit and talk with the firefighters. That's right... Chaplain Skip skipped church!

But, the seed had already been planted in my life. It wasn't until I was grown that I came back to where Gang had raised us... to church... to CHRIST.

We are to, as this week's title suggests, look up to our elders. Just as we look up to our Chiefs and Captains to get us through a working fire with the voice of experience, we should look up to the leaders in our families. There is, as our verse this week says, wisdom to be found.

Gang, I love you and I thank you for setting an example for my life.

Friends, find the "Gang" in your life. Sit down with them. Learn from them. Honor them. Things that they can teach you will serve you well as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"C.P.R."

April 11, 2004

"He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "Then they remembered His words."

- Luke 24:6-8 (NIV)

It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a great while someone is revived using cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

If you are one of the lucky first responders who have worked and sweated doing everything you can to work on someone - and then, to see them later walk out of the hospital - wow! what a feeling. Or, to be working away and one of the medics says, "Stop CPR!" and all eyes turn to the monitor and there it is: a normal complex... then another, and another. "Quick! Do we have a pulse?" "YES!!!"

"Awesome," you mumble to yourself. "C'mon," you start saying (to the patient and, maybe, to yourself), "Breathe." And then, the patient takes in their first breath.

What a super feeling. You feel like you are walking on a cloud!

Today is Easter. It is a celebration and reminder of the greatest CPR ever given... CHRIST Proved Resurrection! Today is the celebration of the RISEN LORD. Today is the celebration of the resurrection of our REAL CHIEF. HE arose and is alive RIGHT NOW and is waiting to give you CPR - CHRIST Provides Restoration.

That's right, if you are living a life that seems hopeless - if there are marital problems, job problems, addiction problems that seem insurmountable - call out for our REAL CHIEF to give you the kind of CPR that only HE can give... restoration.

Yes, our REAL CHIEF has risen... HE has risen indeed! Let HIM perform CPR on you, so that you may get up and serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Fallen Knight"

April 5, 2004

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

There was no STRESS RELIEF article yesterday. This article will explain why. We have been assisting HFD's Chaplain with this horrible event.

Three other firefighters were injured.

Pray with us as we stand along side our brothers and sisters. Pray for the families.

Our REAL CHIEF is here...

...On HIS Shift,