STRESS RELIEF for Firefighters & Paramedics from Chaplain Skip

I have a confession to make. I believe I have come to a place where I have allowed myself to be beaten down in a spiritual battle... I just realized that our hobby had become our passion. Yep, I am talking about our Harley.

Just about two years ago, Cindy and I bought a Harley. We prayed about it and believe that our REAL CHIEF okayed the idea. It is great stress relief.

But, the other day, I was looking at last years expenses and realized that we put almost as much into buying bits of chrome and t-shirts as we had tithed to GOD. (A 'tithe' is you giving at least 10% back to GOD).

I felt horrible. I had let a bunch of chrome become a "golden calf" in our lives. (In Exodus, Chapter 32, the Hebrew people made an idol out of gold into the shape of a calf and worshiped it as Moses was receiving the commandments from GOD).

I immediately apologized to GOD, for letting something material to become that important in our lives. Granted, we don't 'worship' the bike. But, we did allow it to become way too important. That money we spent on the bike could have gone to this ministry or to the church we attend.

And the time? Oh, my. I am embarrassed thinking back on telling people how great it was to own a Harley, when the time could have been much better spent sharing the GOSPEL with others.

I go forward from now, knowing that I have been forgiven by a GOD who loves me so much that I can't fathom. I go forward from here with a renewed SPIRIT of servanthood.

Will we sell the Harley? I don't know. I do know this - that it has plenty of chrome and that we have plenty of t-shirts. And, I do know, that from now on, our money and our time will be used to let others know JESUS is our REAL CHIEF and how HE wants to be your REAL CHIEF...

...On HIS Shift,

"Working a Sunday Shift"

April 22, 2006

"Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?'"

- Mark 3:4a (NIV)

I hope that you had a great Easter last Sunday... we sure did. HE is risen, indeed!!!

You might be reading this right now and scratching your head, "What a minute - this is Saturday!"

That's right... you see, I am on shift tomorrow. For those that haven't been told, I took a new fulltime position. After almost four years of working a 24 every Tuesday and Friday, my shifts are now rotating... which means, every once in a while, I will have to work a Sunday. But, as we read in this week's verse, I am in very, very good company.

JESUS was being watched by the Pharisees, the local "religious" leaders, to see if HE was going to heal a man of his infirmity on a "Sabbath" day. The Sabbath day (or "day of rest") is kept on a Saturday in the Jewish religion. We, as Christians, generally celebrate the Sabbath on Sundays.

The Pharisees and other sects believed that you should do nothing on a Sabbath... including acts of kindness. They also believed that you were not allowed to gather food or go for water. You simply did all of that before a Sabbath.

Our REAL CHIEF was trying to teach them that ANY day was a day to do good... as HE puts it here "to save life." HE healed the man in front of them.

So, worried about working on a Sabbath day? Don't be. Rejoice. Do good. Save lives. Our REAL CHIEF set the example.

So, tomorrow, for the first time in a very long time, I will be serving on a Sunday...

...On HIS Shift,

"Offensive or Defensive Attack"

April 9, 2006

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

- Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)

Today marks the eighth and final week of our study from the book of Ephesians; learning about GOD's personal protective gear - the Bible, calls this PPE 'the whole armor of GOD.' I invite you to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "archives" for February and March of 2006 to read about the other pieces of our REAL CHIEF's armor.

This week, we will talk about the "sword" that our REAL CHIEF provides... HIS Word... The Holy Bible.

You might remember that the pieces of armor, the PPE of GOD, have, for the most part, been defensive equipment. Just like in the fire service - our helmets, bunker gear, boots, gloves, air packs... are all designed to protect us. But, our REAL CHIEF also issues us a "hoseline" called the "sword of the SPIRIT, which is the word of GOD." A hoseline, as you know, can be used both offensively - to "slay" the fire - and defensively - to keep the "the enemy" off of you.

Well, so it is with GOD's hoseline for us... HIS Word. The Scriptures can be used to keep evil, our real enemy, at bay. The Word of GOD is also used as a weapon to fight the spiritual battle that rages on in each of our lives.

JESUS knew this... you might remember that early in HIS ministry on earth, HE was out in the desert and our enemy, Satan, went on the attack by tempting CHRIST. Here is what happened;

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: `He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:2-11)

Notice that each time the devil would strike with his sword of lies, our REAL CHIEF struck back with Scripture... with the Word of GOD. Notice, too, that the enemy even knows Scripture and tries to use that against JESUS. But, our LORD stuck back with THE SWORD. Can you see the sparks flying and the hear the clang of the swords in this battle?

We have been equipped, fellow soldiers. Well equipped. We now have the most powerful weapon known - HIS Word. Study this weapon. Get to the point where it is studied daily. Become proficient in its' use as we go forth to serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"White Helmet"

April 2, 2006

- Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)

We are now in the seventh week of our study from the book of Ephesians; learning about GOD's personal protective gear. The SOG for Life, the Bible, calls this PPE 'the whole armor of GOD.' I invite you to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "archives" for February and March of 2006 to read about the other pieces of our REAL CHIEF's armor. This week, we will talk about the "crowning" piece of the armor of GOD - the "helmet of salvation."

Some of the more memorable times I have had on a fireground happened when I would show up on scene when one of my favorite captains was there. You see, he couldn't stand to see a clean helmet... especially when my Chaplain's white helmet was new. Every time he would see me on scene, he would grab my helmet, walk over to some charred area and rub my helmet in the soot! He would come back and hand me my helmet with a big smile on his face. The funniest instance was during salvage and overhaul on a house fire. The origin had been in the kitchen. Cans of food had exploded everywhere due to the fire. Well, my buddy grabbed my helmet, as usual, and disappeared. When he came back, the top of my helmet was covered in soot... and bits of creamed corn! It was hilarious. Now, when he sees me, he simply asks, "Got any corn?"

The helmet is one of the most recognizable features of modern-day bunker gear. When something thinks, "what is a fireman?," I believe two images immediately pop into mind - a big red truck and a firefighter's helmet. And, the helmet has been part of our history of the fire service... think about the tall, leather helmets like the one worn by Benjamin Franklin.

There are all sorts of helmets... for firefighters, bikers, skateboarders, military... well, the list goes on. The helmet is designed to protect our brain... our mind.

I believe that is exactly what the "helmet of salvation" is for... to protect our mind from the thoughts that our enemy throws at us. Thoughts like; "you're never going to fall in love" or " you've been too bad a person for CHRIST to love you." The devil bombards your mind with every distraction he can come up with to keep you away from a relationship with GOD. But, we can put on our "helmet of salvation" - our promise from GOD that CHRIST provided for our salvation by dying on the cross for us. We can never be "good enough" or "earn our way" into Heaven. Only when we cry out to GOD and ask forgiveness and accept HIS free gift of salvation can we "put on" our helmet... the "ultimate white helmet" of the salvation HE made available to us.

Call out to CHRIST. Put on your helmet, fellow soldiers.

...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.

Chaplain Skip writes STRESS RELIEF every week, usually on Sunday afternoon