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

"Long Distance"

May 30, 2004

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

- Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV)

Have you ever had an argument with someone who holds a grudge? I know I have. They feel you have done them some kind of unforgivable wrong and they keep it in front of your face.

"You did "this or that" to me." "I can't believe you would do someone like that."

You feel like telling them, "Hey, I said I was sorry. Can't you just please let it go?" And, every time they see you, you start feeling guilty... or angry... or hurt. All because of something from the past.

Well, I have great news for you. Our REAL CHIEF forgets when you ask forgiveness. This is no religious thing... this is a relationship thing. GOD says, "If you will put your trust and faith in ME, I will forgive all your wrongs." In fact, HE says he tosses your sins over HIS broad shoulders so that your sin is as far from you as "the east is from the west."

I want you to stop and think about that a minute - how far is the east from the west? If you started walking north from where you are right now, you would eventually end up at the north pole... at which point you would then be walking south... until you got to the south pole. And then... well, you get the point. HOWEVER, if you started walking east, you would forever be walking east... you would never face west again. That, my friends is how far east is from west!!! That is long distance (or is it wrong distance? LOL) It is immeasurable!

Our REAL CHIEF is so filled with mercy and forgiveness, that HE can take every sin you have committed and toss it over HIS shoulder - IF you ask HIM to. THAT, friends, is a loving GOD. HE wants you to enjoy this relationship with HIM as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Fire Breathing Dragon"

May 23, 2004

"...Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

- James 3:4-6 (NIV)

I hear it all the time... someone cursing. Someone using profanity as a noun, an adverb, an adjective or a verb. Sadly, we are hearing it more and more on our televisions and especially at the movies. I believe that we, as a society, are being desensitized to the use of profanity. Television and movie studios are striving, it seems, to make it okay to use foul language.

And, we hear it all the time in our line of work, don't we? And, you and I both know that it isn't necessary. You know how I know that? Because I have worked around firefighters and medics who have the foulest mouth when it comes to telling "war stories" or jokes when we are sitting around the station. But, when you get those same people in front of a victim or a patient (or even a public relations event), they don't use the foul language. How about that? You don't need the filth to get your point across.

Other times, the foul words seem to pour out of our mouths. It was one of the toughest things to control when I first became a servant of my REAL CHIEF. Like, hitting you thumb with a hammer... what's the first word out of your mouth? If you are anything like I used to be, it sure wasn't "ouch."

In this weeks' verse, we are reminded that, even though it is a small part of the whole body, the tongue can set the whole course of your life. But, you have a choice. You can let your television-controlled tongue speak for you. OR you can ask that our REAL CHIEF control your tongue... your words... your life.

You are a living example, in public service, to all those around you... to both the public you serve and to those who work with you. Don't let you tongue control you. Be a well-spoken example as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Ghosts"

May 16, 2004

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..."

- Ephesians 6:7 (NIV)

I was speaking with a friend the other day about what we do out in the field. Sometimes, the calls catch up to you. "Ghosts" are what Nicolas Cage's character calls them in his movie "Bringing Out The Dead." 'Ghosts' are the memories of the bad ones... the pediatric full arrest, the multiple fatality apartment fire, the child who was raped, the stillborn fetus of a crack-addicted sixteen year old mother.

When those ghosts start popping up more and more frequently, it should be a signal to you to seek out help for yourself. Whether it be in the form of pastoral counseling, a doctor, CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) or even sitting down and just talking about things with someone you trust... you need to talk things through .

And, when this phenomenon occurs, more often than not we immediately start thinking, "I wonder if I am in the right career?" or "Does my REAL CHIEF really want me out here seeing and dealing with all this stuff?"

Well, I believe that in most cases, YES, HE wants you doing what you are doing. You see, the SOP for Life (The Bible), tells us that each one of us is equipped with some gift for service. I happen to believe that those of us in fire and emergency medical services have been given certain abilities that only GOD could give. Stop and think about that. How many people do you know that could see and smell and touch the things that we do? How many could stomach the smell of a fast-food taco that has just been projectile vomited across the back of an ambulance? How many could handle seeing a decapitation? I'll tell you - very few.  But, you can. Sure, it makes you queasy sometimes. But, you are the one HE has sent to that scene. And, if you believe that GOD sent you, you must also believe that HE will give you the stamina and the drive that you need to carry on.

So, the next time the "ghosts" start trying to tear you down and make you question whether or not you are where you are supposed to be... STOP. PRAY. Tell our REAL CHIEF that you need HIS guidance so that you can learn to serve wholeheartedly...

...On HIS Shift,

"Love For Mom"

May 9, 2004

"When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

- John 19:26-27 (NIV)

Our verse this week is for the moms out there to let them know how much our REAL CHIEF loves them and wants to care for them.

The scene: at the foot of the cross. JESUS's mother, Mary, is standing there watching as her son is being brutally murdered. There are several people there, as we read in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)... the Roman centurions who are doing the dirty work... several women (including Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of JESUS) and some of HIS disciples. There were, I am sure, several onlookers... "rubberneckers" we call them... you know, the ones that back up traffic for miles because they had slow down and look at the pretty flashing lights.

Anyway, though beaten and lacerated and on the verge of death, one of our REAL CHIEF's last acts was to make sure HIS mother was going to be taken care of after HE left this earth in human form. HE looked down from the cross and saw HIS mom. Near her was HIS best friend while on earth, the Apostle John. And, HE tells her, "John is your new son," and to John HE says, "John, this is your mom... take care of her."

Isn't it amazing that, though facing death, our REAL CHIEF finds the time to show HIS love for HIS mom?

Have you done that today? Have you found the time to call your mom and say, "Mom, I love you." ?

For all the moms out there, this is for you...

...On HIS Shift,

"John Doe"

May 2, 2004

"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise."

- Proverbs 20:1 (NIV)

We made a call the other night that came out like this - "Medic ##, an unknown problem - assist the Sheriff's department on scene with a man down." How many times have you made these scenes?

We arrive on scene... by the way, did I mention it is three o'clock in the morning and pouring down rain? ... anyway, we get there and come pulling in beside three squad cars. All the deputies and a couple of firefighters are standing around a rain-soaked man laying in the grass at the side of a road. And, surprise, surprise... the guy wreaks of alcohol. We try to arouse him, to no avail.

We load him up on the stretcher and get him in the back of the ambulance. Still no response. We put oxygen on him. We do a glucose check on him... normal. We give some Narcan... nothing. We give him some Thiamin. He responds to painful stimuli, but that's about it. So, off we go to an emergency room with yet another "John Doe." If you aren't in the business, "John (or Jane) Doe" is a name given to any patient who comes in without any identification and who can't tell us who they are.

It is at times like these that I think about all the parties I went to before I began serving my REAL CHIEF. I think about the people I work with that tell me about the parties they go to now. I think about the firefighters and medics who actually brag about how drunk they got.

And there, laying in front of us, was a man who had gotten so drunk that we couldn't wake him up. We finally get to the emergency room and he starts to awaken a little. He admits to drinking "three beers." (Which is, by the way, is one more than the usual response). I figured they must have been three eighty-ouncers.

Our verse this week comes from the book of Proverbs and it is a strong reminder; getting drunk is "not wise." What's the opposite of "not wise?" - answer - "ignorant."

I remember that when I would drink, I would do so to "be happy" for a while... to escape, if you will.  Now I know there are much better ways to get happy.... Don't reach for a bottle... reach a comedy movie and stick it in the DVD. Don't "pop a top," pull out old photo albums. Don't go bar hopping, go play miniature golf. In other words, do something "wise."

Our REAL CHIEF needs you sober and wise as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,