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

The EMS (Emergency Medical Service) I work for part-time is just switching over to on-board computers. This technology will allow us to speedily complete our patient reports and actually hand a copy to the emergency room staff. Or, at least, that's how it is supposed to go! So far, most of us are still trying to learn the software. Friday night, we worked a full arrest. Normally, the paperwork for that type of call would take about 30-45 minutes to complete. However, with our new technology, my partner gave up on the computer after an hour... and then, he still hadn't gotten to the narrative. He finally pulled out one of the old written forms and used that.

Twenty-nine years ago, when I started in the business, we could have only dreamed about such a piece of equipment. Shoot, I remember the first "portable" defibrillator we carried was called a "Telecare" unit. It was about two feet high and a foot deep. It had a radio/telemetry system, about a 3" monitor (for lead II only) and a defibrillator. Oh... and it weighed about 44 pounds. The unit we carry today is about 12" x 8", has 12 lead capability, can pace and defibrillate, takes blood pressures, "diagnoses" rhythms, displays oxygen saturatration levels and weighs about 11 or 12 pounds. Can you imagine what we may be carrying twenty-five years from now?

Here we are, paused on the brink of yet another new year... 2003... unbelievable, isn't it? As we sit and look forward to our new year, we often make promises to ourselves... we call them "resolutions." Usually, those resolutions relate to self-improvement, don't they? Like: losing weight, committing to a work out program, going to a school, etc.

THIS year, try to "look forward" to what our verse this week speaks of; the coming of our new life with our REAL CHIEF. This new life is promised to all who have asked Christ to become their Supreme INCIDENT COMMANDER of life. Ask HIM into your life. Then, this year make it your new year resolution to seek HIM daily as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Response Time"

December 22nd, 2002

"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

- Matthew 2:9-11 (NIV)

Sorry there was no article last Sunday. I thought I would have internet access. I had access, but I couldn't upload anything because I didn't have a dialup access... long story... never mind. Anyway, I was at the National Fire Academy. I met eighteen awesome men who had given up the week before Christmas to come and learn how to better care for the firefighters (and, thus, the citizens) they serve.

Well, three days from now is the celebration of the greatest Birthday ever... that of our REAL CHIEF. I wanted to talk with you more about the very first Birthday for HIM. In our verses this week is the story of the famed "wise men" from the East. I wanted you to notice and learn some things here; first, we don't know how many there actually were. We all probably remember during our lifetime being taught that there were three kings. I don't know why, really. My guess is that, since there were three gifts given, we began assuming there were three men. Oh well.

Our topic this week, though, points not to how many "magi" there were, but to their response. Our SOP for life (The Holy Bible) tells us that they were given the message that our Savior had been born and that they followed a star to find him. Based upon the story in the Bible, we know that their travel time was approximately two years... you see, they came from "the East." Pretty poor response time, huh? Well, not too bad, really, if you consider they traveled by camel and apparently could only do so by night (because they were following a star). But, we're not really concerned about their response time as a lesson to us, but about their response. Period. Their response was this; no matter the distance, no matter the mode, no matter the time it takes... we HAVE to go see our KING. And, when we find HIM, we MUST bow down and worship HIM. And, we must present the best of what we can give to HIM.

How about it? This CHRISTmas seek HIM. Look for our REAL CHIEF in your life. No matter what it takes. Then, bow down and give HIM your "gifts" - your gifts of love, faith and devotion to HIM will become the gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then, you will have become a "wiseman" serving...

...On HIS Shift,

"Eyewitness"

December 8th, 2002

" And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

- Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)

A couple of nights ago was a little "hairy" for my family and I. The evening started out nice enough... I (and my wife and daughter) went to a wedding rehearsal for a wedding I was to perform the next day. That went really well.

Towards the end of the rehearsal, though, one of my many pagers went off... a residential fire. Since it was on the other side of the county, we took our time. I monitored the radio as I drove to the scene, my wife and daughter in tow, as is sometimes the case. We arrived on the scene. It is a one-story with heavy damage. While there, I am asked to assist with a man down next door... seems he tried to get into the burning house and was now claiming smoke inhalation. Anyway, we cleared the scene after about an hour.

As we made our way home, I watched, in horror, as the vehicle in front of us went completely across into oncoming traffic! A vehicle coming towards us had two choices; hit the guy head-on or take the ditch... he chose, wisely, the latter. Then, we watched as the man hit a driveway and went airborne for about 50 feet, bounced, and then reentered the roadway.

Our "leisurely" drive home turned into adrenaline-pumping eyewitness event!

I imagine it was much the same for the shepherds in our verses for this week. There they were... leisurely driving their sheep.. when all of a sudden... ZZIIINNGGG angels appear. The shepherds' adrenaline levels went through the roof. The were completely frightened.

But, the angels said, "take it easy... you're going to like this news... CHRIST is born!"

Have you ever sat and wondered what it must of been like to be there? to be an eyewitness of an event like that? Well, you can! As we enter into the Season to celebrate the birth of our REAL CHIEF, you can give your "eyewitness" account of HIS birth to others... Let others witness you as you serve...

...On HIS Shift,

"Listen to Reason"

December 1st, 2002

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

- John 18:37 (NIV)

I have been writing, over the last couple of months, about gossip and slander and lies that seem to fill the stations. It's time to switch gears a little bit. Why? 24 days until Christmas... aaaaggggghhhhhhh!!! hehehehehe. Can you believe it? 30 days until 2003. Man... where did this year go?

Anyway, I thought that we would talk about Christmas for the next couple of weeks. It is, afterall, the start of the season with a great reason; Christmas marks the celebration of the birth of our REAL CHIEF. But, why did HE come to us, in human form? HE came to save us.

In our verse this week, our REAL CHIEF is standing before the man who would eventually order HIM beaten and hung from a cross. HE admits that HE was born to be our King. But, HE had anything but a royal birthday... our REAL CHIEF was born in a stable and HIS crib was a feeding trough... a manger. Humble beginnings for a King.

HE was born to testify to the truth... THIS truth; GOD loves you. HE loves you so much that HE sent HIS only SON as a CHRISTmas present just for you. HE 'wrapped' HIM in plain paper. HE tied the paper with the 'ribbon of truth.' HE placed a 'bow of love' on HIM. In HIM, is the gift of Eternal Life. THAT, is the Truth that our REAL CHIEF wishes to share with each of you 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.