I just returned from five days of learning and fellowship at the 25th annual Federation of Fire Chaplains training conference, which was held in Emeryville, California. Emeryville sits next to Oakland, right across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco.  I want to thank the host Chaplain, Rufus Watkins, for his hospitality. I want to thank Ed Stauffer, for being a light and founding the FFC twenty-five years ago.

It was a great time for revitalization of our calling as Chaplains. I rekindled old friendships (Tim and Dave and Bill and so many more) and developed new ones. One Chaplain I had never met, Fr. Jayson Landeza, of the Oakland Fire Department, was a blessing to me.

Some of us had the opportunity to go to San Francisco twice during the time there... once, at night, for dinner at the  "Fisherman's Wharf," where we dined at the world famous "Alioto's" (absolutely THE best escargot I have ever eaten). The second time was during the day, where we went and drove around the city. Of course, we stopped at a firehouse and took some pictures (aren't we predictable? hehehehe).

I noticed something; that city is a lot like life. Roads going up and down. Beautiful sights and ugly sights. A diverse cultural population. And, I noticed something else - It would be absolutely beautiful, sun shining and the temperature is nice and warm, then, in a matter of minutes, you see the fog roll in... literally. As the fog bank approaches, everything grows dark and damp and cold.

As Chaplains and as believers, we are called to be a light to the world. Our service to others is to shine through SO brightly, that it burns through the cold, the dampness and the darkness of the "fog," that is the evil, floating through our cities.

I look forward to next year's conference. In the meantime, won't you join me in becoming "lighthouses on a hill?" Let your light shine bright as you serve...

In attendance were the parents and daughter of Gary Staley, our Porter, Texas firefighter who was killed in the line of duty back in January. I spoke about how I had some great friends in that audience by the names of Don and Ruby Staley... and, beautiful, little 9 year old, Courtney.  I then explained how I met them...

It is the horrific job of a Chaplain to notify next of kin when a firefighter or medic dies. That is how I met Don and Ruby... and, as fate would have it, Courtney was at her grandparents house that day. I broke the news that forever alters lives.

As I related that story to the audience, tears began running down my face. Seeing them sitting out there and remembering how we met was tough. I also told the audience that I never want to have to meet someone that way again.

Then, this afternoon, I preached at the Porter Fire Station (I hold a Chapel service on the 2nd Sunday of every month at one of the local departments). Ruby and Courtney were in the congregation. I teared up again.

Then, when I got home, I got some email from a friend (via this website). A K-9 police officer had written me a few weeks back, after reading one of these STRESS RELIEF articles. He related to me that what he had read in that article had helped him face a reality: his K9 partner, Arnold, needed to be put to sleep. Well, today, he emailed me that tomorrow, October 13th, some officers and he and his wife will be taking Arnold to the vet.  I cry thinking about how hard it was two years ago to put down our Golden Retriever, Scarlet.

I have cried three times in the last two days. That's okay. I know it's okay because our REAL CHIEF set the example.  And, like I told my friend Tim, when you cry, others around you will say, "See how he loved him."

Everyone please keep Tim in your prayers tomorrow. He is going to cry. Ask our REAL CHIEF to be there in that vet's office as his partner starts a new journey...

Among the dignitaries addressing the crowd was one of our Texas State Representatives, the honorable Debbie Riddle. I learned, during her speech, that Representative Riddle had been a volunteer firefighter and had volunteered with the local EMS. By the way, Representative Riddle presented the Ponderosa department with a Texas state flag that had been flown over the capital building in Austin.

I was the final speaker and I spoke briefly about the origins of the Maltese Cross and it's place in history... the origins of which are believed to be during the Holy Wars of the middle centuries.  I closed my remarks with a simple prayer asking our REAL CHIEF to bless and protect all who passed through the new training tower.

After the ceremonies, Representative Riddle approached me and told me how much my remarks had meant to her... she is a believer!  Imagine that... a politician who follows our REAL CHIEF!

Her and I began a fairly in-depth discussion.  One thing I told her... we need more politicians who believe in our REAL CHIEF. Before I could say it, she blurted out, "That is the way our founding fathers intended it to be." She told me how she pulls out the Bible from her desk drawer every morning and reads from The Word. So, I presented her with one of the "firefighter Bibles" that I give out to firefighters.

Meeting Representative Riddle was a breath of fresh air. She is in a political arena controlled by, it seems, Satan himself. Everywhere, GOD is slowly being "removed" from our courtrooms, our schools, our governments and, unfortunately, our nation.

Our people need to be reminded of this week's verse - we need to put our hope in HIM... in our REAL CHIEF.

One way we can do that as a nation is to insure that our leaders are believers... not just in talk, but in action.  Research the candidates every election. If you are able to, contact them personally. Ask them if they are willing to serve...