SEPTEMBER 2000
"Taming the Tongue"
September 24, 2000
"...because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."
- Ephesians 5:3(b)-7 (NIV)
When I became a Christian, it seems like one of the toughest things, to "get rid of" (you know - to "put off the old self") was my tendency to fall back on station-house language. You know what I am talking about. The obscenities came so easy. Especially when you were sitting around telling "war stories"- you know, everyone trying to outdo the other - both in story and language.
Even now, I still have to stop and think during certain times to be able to hold my tongue, as it were. But, I do not think I have intentionally said an obscenity in a few years.
Isn't it funny how our verse this week warns us not to be "partners" with those who continue to curse and tell dirty jokes (coarse)? Now, I know that you usually don't have the choice as to who you are teamed with. But, you do have a choice as to who you "hang out" with. You see, I don't know about you, but if I am around someone telling dirty jokes all of the time, I might be tempted to counter with one of my own. At the very least, I might find myself chuckling at the joke. Neither is acceptable. Do you know why? When you laugh at a dirty joke you just might be encouraging that person to continue. And, even worse, if YOU tell a dirty joke and you have told others that you are a follower of our REAL CHIEF, you are a hypocrite and the non-believer will be able to point and say, "See?! ...and he says he is a Christian." Or, even worse perhaps, is that you might cause another brother to "stumble" in his walk with God.
So, when the language starts to become offensive or the jokes are improper... walk away. Go find a quiet place in the station. Pick up the instruction book for life...the Bible.
Sometimes the things we see on our job are obscene enough. Tame YOUR tongue and distance yourself from others who might pollute your walk with our REAL CHIEF.
On HIS Shift,
"A Time to Say 'No'"
September 17, 2000
"...if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace."
- Daniel 3:15(b) (NIV)
I bet some of you have heard it before... "Hey, man, we're going for a beer or three after shift. Everyone is going to be there. Wanna go?"
Sounds tempting sometimes. Maybe not even for the beer, but at least for the chance to "hang out" with the guys... a chance to feel part of the crew. Puts a lot of stress on you, doesn't it?
In our verse this week, the prophet Daniel is relating the story of three of "his crew." Daniel and his crew members Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were officials in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar (say that three times really fast - hehehehe). Well, ole King Nebuchadnezzar had built himself an idol made of gold (a bar?) and had issued a proclamation that everyone must bow down and worship the idol when they heard the music start.
Well, the king heard that our crew didn't want to play. They flat told the ole king, "Our REAL CHIEF is going to protect us. But, even if HE chooses not to, the three of us will never bow down to your idol. So, true to his word, he threw the three into the furnace. A furnace heated to seven times its' normal temperature, by the way. A fire so hot that the Bible says it consumed the guards who were to throw the crew into it. The three fell into the fire. Those watching say they looked into the furnace and saw the three plus another man. They yelled at our three friends, who came out of the fire without a thing wrong with them... no burns, no singed hair - nothing. You see, that was our REAL CHIEF in there with them, protecting them.
Daniel, himself, also had the opportunity to say NO. Remember that story? Daniel got thrown into the lion's den because he said NO, he wasn't going to stop praying. Our REAL CHIEF protected him, too.
The next time you are asked to head to the bar with "the guys" (bow down and worship the idol of gold) when the shift is over (when the music begins), remember our shift members Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They all said NO. Not only that, they said NO with a great deal of confidence.
You can, too. You can say NO to heading to a party with the non-believers. And, you can say it without stress, knowing that the rest of us who serve our REAL CHIEF are right there with you saying NO.
On HIS Shift,
"Taking It In Stride"
September 10, 2000
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,"
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NIV)
You might have noticed (at least, I hope you did! hehehehe) that I did not send out a "Stress Relief" article last week. I could sit here and tell you that it was because it was Labor Day and I was on vacation. Or, I could tell you that today marks the one-year anniversary of Stress Relief and I was preparing a special edition. The truth is, we have gone through a very tough time in our life and, within days, those tough times gave way to great news. Through all of the last fourteen days, I could have torn myself away and written an article. Please forgive me, I was just plain tired.
Let me try to tell you everything that has happened. First, Cindy and I got a phone call that our brother-in-law had passed away. Bad news. We took off of work, took the kids out of school and headed up to Oklahoma City for the funeral (now, why does the word "fun" start off the word "funeral"?). Bad news, again. We learn during the funeral that our brother-in-law had accepted Christ on his deathbed. Great news. We drive back home 8 hours. Yep, bad news (those of you with kids will understand). I get back to work at my full time job and my boss informs that I won't get paid for the two days I took off. Again, bad news. On Saturday, the 2nd, we sold a couple of our Pomeranian's puppies. Good news... made up for lost work days. Then there was last Sunday, the day I usually write these articles. This year's firestorm hits home. I am called to a multi-alarm grass/woods fire with several homes threatened. I assist in command at that scene for almost 5 1/2 hours. Bad news. We saved all of the homes. Good news. Immediately, I went on two more alarms in our county and then went up to the next county to assist in evacuations there. Bad news, bad news. I got home and to bed a little after midnight. Had to get up at 0500 hours for work... yep, on Labor Day. Extremely bad news. Monday and Tuesday afternoon and evening fought fire again. Bad news and bad news. But then, in the midst of all of this, I got some very exciting news... EMERGENCY MINISTRIES IS NOW AN "OFFICIAL" NON-PROFIT CORPORATION!!! Great news!!!
What is my point to all of this? What does it have to do with this week's verse? Our REAL CHIEF tells us in His Word that there is a time for everything. HE planned it this way. HE even says there is a time to laugh and to cry, to live and to die, to rejoice and to mourn... in other words, good and bad balance things out.
When it seems that you are getting pounded with a lot of bad things, KNOW that your REAL CHIEF has just as many good things in store to balance out your life. In order for you to know that... you must ask HIM to come into your life and to give you the faith that it requires to trust HIM that the bad will be balanced out with the good.
I want to thank each every one of you who have stood by and encouraged me during the last year. I want to thank Jesus Christ, my REAL CHIEF, for giving me the ability to bring the articles to you each week. The internet CAN be used to HIS glory and honor.
Please pray for this ministry as HE takes us to the "next level." We are going to take this, prayerfully, to a full time Chaplaincy. If you can help, please email me directly. You can also call me at (281)528-6070.
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.
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