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

"Altered Mental Status"

August 29, 2004

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"

- Romans 8:6 (NIV)

I found this definition of "Altered Mental Status" online and I think it is a pretty good one - "Altered mental status (AMS), sometimes referred to as altered level of consciousness (ALOC), is evidence of impaired brain function. Patients with altered mental status show a change in personality, behavior, or responsiveness. Patients may appear anxious, agitated, or combative, or they may be somnolent, difficult to rouse, or completely unresponsive."

In the field, we see lots of AMS, don't we? A good example is someone suffering from smoke inhalation. In simplistic terms, the smoke has choked out the oxygen in the brain. When the brain is deprived of its' oxygen is when you begin seeing AMS. Left untreated, the oxygen-starved brain will eventually lead to death.

It's the same way out here in the world. The SOP for Life (The Bible) says that when you become a CHRISTIAN, when you ask JESUS to come into your life as your REAL CHIEF, HE sends you HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live within you... to guide you... to teach you.

So, think of things this way - the HOLY SPIRIT is the "oxygen" for your mind... for your soul. But, we have a tendency (called a sinful nature) to have sinful thoughts and deeds. So, those sins become the "smoke" entering your brain.

Asking forgiveness for your sinful thoughts or actions is an invitation for the HOLY SPIRIT of our REAL CHIEF to "re-oxygenate" your mind and your soul.

Our verse this week puts it pretty plainly... keep sin in your life and you will die from your "altered mental status." The good news that this verse brings, though, is this - let our REAL CHIEF control your mind and spirit and you will live!

Breath in the "oxygen" of the HOLY SPIRIT. HE is the breath of life.

Finally, give that "oxygen" to others... tell them about our REAL CHIEF and how great it is to serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Graduation Looms"

August 22, 2004

"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

- Galatians 5:26 (NIV)

I have only one more twenty-four hour student shift and it is through!!! My regular readers know that I have been in a year-long torture, er... class, in order to obtain my National Registry Paramedic certification.

You know how, at the end of something, you say, "Gee, time really flew by" or "Where did the time go?" Well, not me! LOL. This has been the longest year I can remember. Between work, school, the ministry and my family, I am, to say the least, a little bit weary. But, the end of school approaches.

I am going to ask all of you to pray with me and for me... until September 17th and 18th. Those are the dates of the National exam.

And, then, I will be a Paramedic. But, I want to stay focused on why I am being obedient to my REAL CHIEF in taking this class. I feel that HE called me to complete the class so that I can more effectively serve others. And, at the same time, HE reminds me that it will provide a little more income so that I can give more freely to HIM, to the community and to my family.

What I don't want is to become another conceited medic. There are already too many of those out there. You know the type... they walk into the room sideways so that everyone can see the certification patch on their arm. There are paramedics out there that actually call themselves "paragod." All I can say is "Watch out for the lightening!"

You see, those are the type of paramedics who are running around in a panic because someone else got the promotion. Or, they are the ones gossiping about the others they work with... "Hey, did you hear about ole so-and-so?" They are the ones serving themselves.

I want to be the kind of paramedic who still puts down the computer to help my partner clean the back of the ambulance. I want to be the kind of paramedic who willingly takes new medics aside to train them. I want to be the kind of paramedic my REAL CHIEF has called me to be. HE has given me advanced training so that I can serve more effectively...

...On HIS Shift,

"Long Shift"

August 15, 2004

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

- Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

This past Friday, I worked a twenty-four hour shift in a district I haven't worked in for almost a year, with a partner I haven't worked with for almost two years. And we had plenty of opportunity to get re-acquainted. You see, we ran seventeen calls on that shift.

Now, that may not seem much to you, but the most calls for service I have ever run in my nineteen years in the business is eighteen. And... I was MUCH younger then! LOL

I was beat. Tired. Weary.

So, this week's verse is a reminder for... well, for me, to be honest. You see, out of those seventeen calls, only a couple of the patients really needed paramedic care. The rest of the calls were for things like; an earache, a headache and other such nonsense.

But then, as I prayed about what our REAL CHIEF would have me write about this week, HE showed me this week's verse. The CREATOR of the universe and all that's in it took time out to tell me to not give up.

Do you need that reminder? HE wants you and I to know that we should not toss away our compassion... our service to others. HE promises us great rewards "at the proper time." You and I don't know when that time will be. So, must keep on doing good for others... even if it means running seventeen calls...

...On HIS Shift,

"Honored"

August 8, 2004

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

- Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Well, I have some exciting news for you. If you read last week's article, you would know that our youngest was in the midst of her two week "boot camp" training for Junior ROTC. Well, she made it! Yes, she endured. And, though I don't believe she will ever admit it to Cindy and I, we believe that she had a good time overall and is probably pretty darn proud of herself for sticking with it.

My guess, too, is that she said a lot of prayers herself that she would make it. I received several emails from some of you that agreed with us in prayer that she would make it. We delighted in seeing her accomplish this tough two weeks.

For her birthday a couple of weeks ago, I gave Megan a "gift certificate" good for a shopping spree with dad at the mall (because anyone who knows me KNOWS how much I enjoy shopping - LOL). As an incentive to complete her boot camp, I told her that when she successfully completed the course, I would double the value of that gift certificate. DOHHH!!!  We spent almost five hours at the mall yesterday. aaaagggghhhhhh! LOL

Well, friends, not only did she complete the training, but her "flight" (her squad, if you will) received the Drill Competition award AND the "Honors Award." We are obviously very proud of her and thankful to our REAL CHIEF for listening to hers, ours and your prayer.

We delight in the LORD, as our verse this week says. The Hebrew word for "delight" used in this verse is Hithpael meaning:
1) to be of dainty habit, be pampered
2) to be happy about, take exquisite delight

Take exquisite delight in the LORD. HE promises if you do so, it is you who will be pampered... HE says HE will give you the desires of your heart. I know Megan desired to get through the last two weeks. GOD allowed her to do so. Let's all delight in the LORD.

Have a safe week. Delight in our REAL CHIEF as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Disciplinary Action"

August 1, 2004

"Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you."

- Deuteronomy 8:5 (NIV)

We are so, so proud of our youngest. She is a freshman in High School this year (well, in two weeks anyway). And, she was accepted into the Air Force Junior ROTC.

This past Monday, she started ROTC "boot camp." It is very much like military boot camp. She comes home every day exhausted. And, she says she doesn't like it. She says she wants to quit. She says she doesn't like being yelled at. We keep telling her, "It's only two weeks long and you only have a week to go." And, "We know you don't like it now - but, you will like it later." But, alas, what do we know? We are just adults. We are just parents. We never had to face discipline before, right?

Of course, I am joking. We all have endured discipline in some shape or fashion. As a child, we soon found out that if we did something "out of line," we found ourselves either being spanked, or standing in a corner, or sitting in "time out," or the dreaded, "You are grounded from television for one week." Sure, we didn't like the punishment. But, think back, you learned something.

Discipline throughout your life actually shapes you and molds you as a human being.

Our verse this week reminds us that, just like our earthly dads (and moms) discipline us, so does our Heavenly FATHER. Our REAL CHIEF also disciplines us so that we may become a better CHRISTIAN... which means "CHRIST-like." And, being disciplined as an adult is no more pleasant than when we were kids. We just have to trust HIM to get us through the discipline so that we may understand the truth that HE is trying to teach us.

Would you please join Cindy and I in prayer for Megan? Pray that she will endure as she is being taught military discipline. Pray that she realizes that a little bit of yelling today will shape and mold her as she grows stronger.

Finally, welcome GOD's discipline in your life. Hebrews 12:6 says, "because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Know then, that as HE punishes you, HE has accepted you "as a son." That, my friends, makes you brothers (and sisters) of CHRIST! Keep that thought in the back of your mind as you receive discipline while serving...

...On HIS Shift,