Stress Relief - A Weekly Article from the Fire & EMS Chaplain

Those of you who have been reading this little article for a while have been kept up-to-date on my less-than-triumphant return to the world of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) as a little 'ole EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).

The area of the city I work in is what Dr. Minson, our medical director, calls "the badlands." It is an area that is socio-economically depressed. It is comprised of many run-down neighborhoods and businesses that can open up anywhere due to the lack of zoning ordinances. There are apartment complexes surrounded by twelve foot barbed wire fences... I have yet to figure out if that is to keep people out or in. It is a high-crime area. Just last night, our unit made two overdoses, a drunk and a shooting... all between midnight and six this morning. You get the idea.

And, alot of what I see... most especially in the ERs (Emergency Rooms) is a lack of compassion. And, yes, unfortunately, I have seen it in the field, too. Every hospital in Houston, it seems, goes on "divert" or "drive-by" status at the same time. And, when, by necessity you take, say a gunshot victim to one of these places of healing, you more often than not encounter at least one employee who displays a lack of compassion. I know that it comes from being inundated by a group of people who use/abuse our emergency rooms as they use them as clinics to treat their minor maladies. And, here we come... shame on us... bringing in yet another soul that needs attention.

Don't get me wrong here... when we roll through the doors with a "true emergency," the ER personnel jump in and work feverishly. It's just that every patient below that "true emergency" standard (whatever that may be) are the ones often hurried off into a corner somewhere.

In our verse this week, our REAL CHIEF, Himself, was tired and had tried to get away from the crowds in a boat. But, when HE landed, HE saw that the crowds had followed HIM. So, what does the Bible say happened? Did HE advise everyone that HE was on 'total divert?' Absolutely not. The SOP for Life says that HE saw them, HE had compassion on them and HE healed their sick.

I want to encourage you to remember that as you are out making call-after-call that you stay focused on what you are to do.... have compassion for the sick. Your comfort and care may just be how other people know that you are serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Search and Rescue"

September 22nd, 2002

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

- Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

How many times have you heard someone say, "Well, I believe that you don't have to go to church to be a believer." Or, maybe you have said that yourself? You know, "I believe in God, but church is so full of hypocrites." Did you know that the Bible says, and I paraphrase, "Oh yeah? Even the devil believes in God." I bet Satan doesn't go to church, either. BUT, I can tell you this, he does stand in the parking lot. He rides along in your car on the way. He even is in your thoughts as you consider going to church. You see, our enemy doesn't want you to ban together to hear instructions from our REAL CHIEF.

Let me try to explain what happens when you disregard the Standard Operating Guidelines for Life - The Bible: you become weak. Think about this. Let's say that you go through paramedic school. You stayed up night after night studying. You spent countless hours in clinical and ambulance rotations. You finally tested and passed. You are assigned to a unit. All of a sudden, the tones drop. Your unit is dispatched to a cardiac call. So, you and your partner sit there. WHAT? Well, sure. You know what you are supposed to do. You know how to do it. You believe you can help someone. So, why go? Isn't believing enough?

You respond the call, don't you? Of course. And, when you get there, several things occur; first, you find someone that needs help. Second, there are family members to console. Third, you just might save a life. Fourth, chances are, you might actually learn something they didn't teach you in class.

You see, you must SEARCH for a solid, Bible-teaching church so that YOU may be RESCUED from falling into the trap of complacency. As you seek out and fellowship with other believers, you will find that you can help others, others will help you and our REAL CHIEF will bless you as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Knock The Flames Down"

September 15th, 2002

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

- Luke 10:19 (NIV)

I wonder if the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor was as intense as last Wednesday was? Probably. Especially, to those who were there in Hawaii at the time.

I pray that each and every one of you found time to sit and reflect and to thank our REAL CHIEF for "knocking the flames down" of 9-11-01. I also pray that every one of you reading this right now have a personal relationship with HIM... that you have asked HIM to be your SUPREME INCIDENT COMMANDER of your life... either before OR after that terrible day.

Please allow me to tell you what happened to my family and I this past Wednesday. First, I spoke to the Junior High where our youngest goes to school. That was at 0900 hours. At 1000 hours, we gave the invocation and spoke at the Humble Civic Center. Then, we went to the airport to fly to Dallas to speak to a community group remembrance with eight churches involved in the Coppell area. Yep, you guessed it. That plane we got on was American Airlines flight 1702. About 25 minutes into the flight, the pilot announced we were turning back to Houston due to "navigation equipment problems." About 8 minutes or so later, we were on the ground in Houston, having been escorted there by F-16's. We taxied past all the terminals. Not a good sign. We were surrounded by police cars when we stopped. Two teams of police boarded and arrested two men. The FBI later told us it was a "comb" that had been mistaken as a weapon. Whatever. We got back on the plane (after it was searched) and went on to Dallas. We ended speaking to around 3-4000 people that night. Know what I talked about? Yep! Jesus. I talked about the HOPE that came from what evil had intended to do harm. And, I presented the Gospel message using my testimony from our experiences at the World Trade Center.

You see, that incident on the flight to Dallas was Satan's attempt to frighten us, to distract us... to keep me from going to Dallas. But, as our verse this week instructs, WE have been given the power to overcome the enemy and his evil tricks. We accomplished that through prayer. And, despite what the devil intended, we preached a gospel message of the LOVE and HOPE that only CHRIST can give that night. By the way, did I mention that my family was sitting there? Among them was my younger brother. My prayer was that if just one person heard (and took to heart) that message, that it would be my brother.

We are home safe and sound now. A little drained. But, very elated. Every day I feel so blessed to be serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Hope From The Flames"

September 8th, 2002

" He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, "

- 2 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

Here we are. Almost one year away from the greatest insult ever heaped upon our brothers... when the forces of pure evil sent a missile full of humans, full of life, into the heart of America. Then, with demonic planning, knowing (I believe) that thousands of firefighters, police officers, EMTs and paramedics would be there... the enemy of good sent a second human-laden missile into the midst of it all. Its' purpose? To take out the heroes of American society. And, so it did... 11 EMS personnel, 63 police officers and 343 firefighters... oh, and one Fire Chaplain. The enemy's' intent? To destroy our hope.

Well, it didn't work. We stand stronger today than ever. For the first time ever, public service personnel have caught the public's eye. People actually come up to us and say "thank you for everything you are doing." Never before has this generation seen so many symbols of patriotism... American flags on cars, trucks, businesses and homes.

You know why it didn't work? Because we have HOPE. Sure, evil dealt us a terrible kick in the belly. But, that contusion has healed into scar tissue that makes our resolve, our hope, stronger than ever. You see, we have our REAL CHIEF standing with us.

I love you, JESUS. And, I love America. And, I am proud to be an American Christian serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Accomplishments"

September 1st, 2002

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..."

- Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

It has been a week of "milestones" in my life and the life of this ministry;

*First, I can't believe it... already September. This month will, of course, mark an anniversary of monumental proportions... 9-11. Because of that attack on America, it became a milestone in my life as I went up to "the big apple" to serve our REAL CHIEF.

*This month also marks the third year, 156 weeks, that I have been given the words to write this article!

*Friday, I learned that I had been blessed and passed my state Emergency Medical Technician exam and am now certified! (or, is that 'certifiable?').

*This week, the number of people receiving this article has risen to 604!

*Next week, on the anniversary of 9-11, I have been asked to give a testimony on tape (to be played at a remembrance ceremony), speak at a Junior High, speak at a City Hall and then we are being flown to Dallas to speak that evening at a community remembrance up there.

But, you know something? All of that, all of what we do, is absolutely meaningless unless we are doing it for our REAL CHIEF. What good does it do to write this article week-after-week if I am not doing it for HIM (who is the ONE who tells me what to say, anyway)? What good does it do me if I go through EMT class, unless I am doing it to accomplish something for our REAL CHIEF? What good does it do for me if I go to a place of utter tragedy and death. NOTHING!

Everything we do must be done with a motive... to serve GOD. Please dwell on that this upcoming week as we approach 9-11-02. Approach and plan this week so that everything you do is something that will show others you are serving...

...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.

STRESS RELIEF is written every week, usually on Sunday afternoons.