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Copyright © 1999-2001 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved.

August 2001

The "instruction book" for life is the Bible.

"Day of Rest?"

August 27, 2001

"He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.""

- Matthew 12:11-12 (NIV)

I know.  Second times in as many weeks, this article is coming to you a day late.  Well, yesterday was one of those busy days.  Now, I know Sunday is a day of rest.  The Bible says so, right?   You know... "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." (Genesis 2:2-3).

So, what about those of us who work a shift on Sundays?  Is that Biblically correct?

My day started at 0500 hours yesterday.  I got up and went a performed a wedding ceremony at daybreak for one of my firefighters and his fiancée'.  Why daybreak?  Well, they chose it because the sunrise represents the start of a new day and they were starting a new life.... I kinda liked that.  Anyway, after I left there, I came home and the family and I got ready and went to church.  We then stayed over for a class at church until 1300 hours.  I then took the family home, changed clothes and headed to one of my fire stations to take my CPR refresher class.  I left there at 1700 hours and went straight to my part-time EMS job at the local amphitheater to work a concert.  I finally got home at 2330 hours last night.

I tell you all of that to show you that I believe what I did yesterday, including working, was okay in the eyes of our REAL CHIEF.  You see, in our verses this week, our REAL CHIEF had healed someone on the Sabbath... the day of rest.  The local religious zealots (who were so caught up in their religious practice that they couldn't see GOD right in front of their eyes) approached JESUS and verbally blasted HIM for "working" on the Sabbath.   Our verse this week is HIS reply to the Pharisees.  HE illustrated HIS principle using sheep, as the locals were primarily sheep-herders and would understand the metaphor.  The gist is this: if you are doing something good, such as pulling one of your sheep out of a jam (thus, your livelihood - your job) , it was okay with HIM.   Yesterday, I performed a Christian wedding, went to worship, went to learn how to save lives and then went and earned some money for my family.

So, even though it may be called the "day of rest," HE instructs us that - even on Sundays - we can serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Puffed Up"

August 19, 2001

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

- Phillipians 2:3 (NIV)

I remember w-a-y back to when I got my first Paramedic patch.  I sewed it on my uniform shirt.  I put the shirt on and turned sideways so I could admire myself in the mirror.  I think I walked sideways like that for about a week... I wanted to make sure everyone else saw that patch, too.

I can also remember being in the ambulance or fire truck "running hot" through the city streets.  I would watch as heads turned and think to myself, "Man, am I cool or what?"   Little did I know... most people could care less about the emergency vehicle... let alone, who was inside.

Today, when an emergency vehicle passes me, I have noticed that I don't look at anyone in the truck, either.  I am just looking at the truck.

I think that maybe all of us in the emergency service profession, whether paid or volunteer, have gone through some degree of the same type of ego trip... of being "puffed up."

Our REAL CHIEF does not like us in a puffed up condition.  Throughout HIS Standard Operating Procedures for Life (the Bible) He reminds us to humble ourselves.  This week's verse is one of those reminders.  In the verse, HE tells us to put others ahead of ourselves... to actually consider them better than ourselves.

I don't believe there is anything wrong with being proud about what you do for a living.  Just don't be a victim of your own ego by allowing that pride to puff you up.  So many times we tend to do things with the thought in mind, "How is this going to make me look? or feel?"   Our REAL CHIEF reminds us to consider asking this instead, "How is this going to glorify HIM?"

Learn to humble yourself to God.   Learn to humble yourself to others.  In doing so, you can hold your head up and let others know that you are serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Beer"

August 13, 2001

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

- Proverbs 20:1 (NIV)

I guess I have been a Christian long enough (that is, I have been following our REAL CHIEF) that just the smell of beer to me is not very inviting.  I had forgotten that.  Until yesterday.

You see, that is why this article is coming to you a day late.  Yesterday, I worked with the EMS team at a local amphitheater for the Willie Nelson "Family Picnic."  Seven bands/artists for about eleven hours.  Outside.  No cloud cover.  It was hot.  And, I really can't figure out why it is called a "family picnic."  I saw very few children (thank goodness) and I certainly didn't see any picnic baskets.  Oh, well.  But, I did see lots and lots of beer being consumed.

Every call we made, it seems, was alcohol related - usually tied in with the heat.  We even had to help escort a woman (and her new 'boyfriend') out of the stall of a men's room.  We had to awake people passed out from drinking too much beer.  There was all of that, plus the aroma of marijuana floating through the air.  There were couples, in broad daylight, writhing on the ground like they were in a private room somewhere.

Our verse this week reminds us that those who consume alcohol are not wise.  Now, I have not found where it is written not to drink.  However, I have found where our REAL CHIEF says we are not to get drunk.

Some of you have written me about how harmless it seems to go out and have "a couple of beers" (c'mon... how many times have you heard the ETOH patient tell a cop, "I only had two beers, offashure.") with the rest of the crew.  If you truly have a just a couple of beers, it may not be harmful to you.  But, I want you to think about this; a rookie sees you having a couple, so he/she feels it's okay to have a few... and so on and so on.   What you do can - and will - affect others.

Our REAL CHIEF says that if we slam down a few that "we are not wise."  Conversely, then, if we don't drink alcohol, we must be smart, huh?  I know I saw a whole bunch of unwise folks yesterday.

So, please keep in mind that if drink, you can stumble (pun intended) in your walk with HIM.  AND, your actions may also cause someone else to stumble.  Put the beer down so that you can serve wisely...

...On HIS Shift,

"Full Bunker Gear"

August 5, 2001

"...and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."

-   Daniel 3:27(NIV)

I don't know about you, but I love the smell of a fire.... okay, I'm sick, I know.  Now, I don't like the smell of burned flesh or burned hair... that is a sickening smell.  Sorry - I didn't mean to turn your stomach at this point.

I just preached my second service at a firehouse this morning.  Very cool.  Twenty-seven firefighters and family members showed up.

Today we talked about wearing protective gear.  But, we also talked about the protection our REAL CHIEF issues to us - HIMSELF - when we become believers.

I am going to make you do a little research.  Our verse this week is from the book of Daniel, chapter 3, verse 27.   It is a conclusion to a story about three of Daniel's (of 'Daniel and the Lion's Den' "fame") friends who refused to bow down to a king who was demanding that everyone worship the gold image he had made.  As a result of their refusal to disobey our REAL CHIEF, they were thrown into a fire... a really hot fire... with nothing on except street clothes.  Our verse this week describes how they came out of the fire... unscathed.  I want you to read the story for yourself.  Read Daniel, Chapter 3, verses 1-28.  I want you to read how our REAL CHIEF became "command in action" and was in the fire with our three friends, protecting them - yes, saving them!

Don your spiritual protective gear. The Bible calls this the "whole armor of God."  You can read about that in the book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 11 - 18.

So, ask Christ to become your CHIEF, your INCIDENT COMMANDER in life, put on all your bunker gear and get ready to serve...

...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.