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

"Pressing On"

June 27, 2004

"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."

- 2 Timothy 3:13 (NIV)

So many of us work "extra jobs" - you know, those part time jobs while off shift from your full time job. And, some of us (those of us in need serious counseling....LOL) not only have full and part time jobs, we go to school, too!

I don't think I can count the number of times I say to my wife or my partner, "I am SO tired." Poor, pitiful me. Maybe someone will feel sorry for me. I really think my wife does... she cares. She will answer with, "I imagine so." That's because we so seldom see each other - between my full time job, my full time ministry and my paramedic class. But, my partner? Her response is something like, "Yeah, I know, me, too. I put in a hundred hours of overtime."

You know something, though? IF we are working towards the right goals, it is okay to be tired - it's just that sometimes we get caught in the complaining mode.. For example, I work for the EMS agency to earn enough money to pay the bills. By completing paramedic school, I will be able to earn a little bit more, so that I won't have to get another "extra job" when I graduate.  So, I am working towards an end where I will be able to spend more time with my family and my ministry. And, having prayed about the class and the time commitment, I feel it is the right thing to do. But, I still get a little "worn around the edges." And, when I do, I have the tendency to complain about it... and, I shouldn't.

Our verse this week is a reminder to keep doing right. It is also a reminder that we should not tire doing it. Forgive me, LORD, for complaining when I am tired. Help me to press on for YOU. I never want to tire serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Happy Father's Day"

I have just returned from a 3-day activation with our DMAT team. So, I am re-printing the Father's Day article I wrote back in 2001. Enjoy!

June 20, 2004

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord"

- Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)

The word for "father" is found almost one thousand times in the New International Version of the Bible.   Naturally, most of the time the word refers to our REAL CHIEF, to our Heavenly Father.  But, many other times it refers to us who are fathers.

I, for one, need to admit to you that I am no way near being a model father.  When I wasn't a Christian, I certainly didn't raise them in a Godly way.  Now, though, I am doing the best I can with the one left at home.  I am, as our verse this week instructs, trying to her raise her up in the "training and instruction" of the Lord!

Our verse also instructs us dads that we should not "exasperate" our kids.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "exasperate" as;

1 a : to excite the anger of  b : to cause irritation or annoyance to
2 obsolete : to make more grievous :

So, we are not to anger, irritate or annoy our children.  But, what does the phrase "in the training and instruction of the Lord" mean?  I believe it means we are required to sit down with our kids and read the Bible to them.  And really, even more than that, to explain it to them in terms they can appreciate.   I believe it also means we need to make sure they go to church and/or Sunday School with us.  When you take your children to church, they;

• learn more about Christ

• learn there are others who love Christ

• see adults worshipping Christ

I believe the whole idea is that we, the dads, must be setting the example.  We must demonstrate to our children ON A DAILY BASIS that we pray, we study and we worship our REAL CHIEF, our Heavenly Father.   I think they must also see and hear us admit our mistakes and then ask God for forgiveness.

"Kids, I am so sorry for the mistakes I have made along the way.  Please forgive me and help me show you how much love our Heavenly Father has for you by demonstrating how much love I have for you."

No, I am pretty sure I don't deserve a special day to honor me as a father... I don't believe I am worthy of that.  But, I DO believe that our Heavenly Father is certainly deserving.  HE IS THE REAL "NUMBER ONE DAD!"

...On HIS Shift,

"Combative Overdose"

June 13, 2004

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here." Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God."

- Luke 9:41-43 (NIV)

So, there we were - It was about three-thirty in the morning. We had already run eleven calls since coming on duty at six in the morning the previous day. Plus, we had to post (cover several districts from a fixed location) seven or eight times. Busy shift. Anyway, the tones go off announcing a seizure patient and off we go.

We arrive at the address... a run down trailer down a pot-hole infested mud road. As we approach the trailer, there is patient laying... or should I say convulsing... on his front porch.

We load the man, who initially appears to be in the throws of status epilepticus (continuous seizure activity). As we look at him, though, we see his eyes open... looking around... almost pleading with us to "just make it stop." This guy was overdosed.

As we start an IV and administer drugs to counteract the overdose, the fight is on! We eventually had to restrain the man so that he could not hurt himself or others. When we arrived at the emergency room, it took seven of us to control him and get him re-secured to the stretcher in the ER.

Satan is like that, you see. He sends one (or more) of his evil spirits to live inside someone... to fill their lives with pain. In this case, he sent the spirit of drug addiction. I can remember this poor patient screaming, "Kill me... just kill me!"

Sure, we can sometimes reverse the overdose. The patient gets all better. Then what happens? 99.9% of the time, they go right back out and get wasted again.

Our verses for the week tell the amazing truth... only our REAL CHIEF can completely remove an evil spirit through belief in HIM. And, it is the same for any spirit of addiction... only through CHRIST can you be set free. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, pornography, gossip... whatever... turn and ask our REAL CHIEF for healing. Allow HIM to send away the evil spirit and HE will replace that spirit with HIS HOLY SPIRIT. That is a promise to you from HIM if you are serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Evisceration"

June 6, 2004

"A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."

- Matthew 8:2-3 (NIV)

I hope this doesn't gross you out too bad. But, the other day, we made a call where the patient presented with an evisceration. Now, if you aren't in the business, you might not know the term "evisceration." This is a condition where, for whatever reason (stabbing, laceration, etc), a portion of the intestines end up on the outside of your abdomen, rather than on the inside, where they are supposed to be.

I started thinking about that in terms of the way we live our lives. As Christians, we should be living clean lives... both on the "outside" - where others can see us as we are - and, on the "inside" - where our REAL CHIEF can see us as we really are.

In our verse this week, CHRIST examples this to us. You see, the man with leprosy first showed that he was "clean" on the inside. We know this, because Matthew tells us that he "knelt before HIM" (an act of worship) and that he then professed that he knew that CHRIST could heal him ("YOU can make me clean."). CHRIST saw that he was "clean" on the inside, so HE chose to make him clean on the outside, too - HE cured him of the leprosy.

Non-believers are kind of like our patient the other day... they live their lives with their filth on the outside for all to see. And, it is a reflection of their live on the inside, too.

You and I, on the other hand, are to live our life so that others can see our REAL CHIEF living within us. That means we have to be "clean" inside and out to serve properly...

...On HIS Shift,