Monday, December 20, 2010
Firefighter's Creed
Thursday, December 02, 2010
There He Goes, A Hero
Too many people grow up and forget what it is like to dream of being the hero. Sometimes we still want to be the guy that saves the day, but we imagine ourselves in our own skin being the hero. Remember when we were children and, when we imagined being the hero, we literally imagined ourselves in the very suit of the hero? Sometimes the imagination carried us to a place where we wore the giant 'S' on our chest... some other times it was a fire helmet. Other times it was a set of handcuffs in a game of cops and robbers. One thing was always the same. We weren't just being ourselves dressed as some hero. We WERE that hero. We were literally emulating one specific human being or character. We WERE Superman... just ask us.
What is it like to be an adult and still imagine ourselves emulating a hero? I'd say that's the definition of a follower of Jesus. Take the following examples into account.
-Jesus gave us instructions to have the faith of a child. (Matthew 18)
-We are to be transformed into the very image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3)
-We are to emulate Christ's very actions in this world. (No link to a verse on this one; just read the Gospels and you'll get the idea.)
-We are to be "Little Jesuses" (ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church
)Look, bottom line is we get to be heroes. Much like the comic books we combed through as a child, searching for clues as to how we could be a better Superman... we are given the blueprint of how to emulate the savior of the world... someone even Superman could look up to.
I still want to be a hero. The only difference is that now, when I picture a hero, he's not wearing bunker gear.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Let No Man's Ghost... (a call out to leaders of the Church)
I had the pleasure of assisting in the instruction at the Abilene Fire Control Conference just a few weeks ago. While in the registration room (which is a classroom), I saw an intriguing quote painted over the exit door.
"Let no man's ghost say his training failed him."
Firefighting is inherently dangerous. That is actually an official statement by the National Fire Protection Association. Yes, there is danger, but where danger meets inevitability is the many who fail to meet a minimum training standard. The phrase above is a constant reminder that fire fighters should constantly assess their training in the context of the challenge ahead of them. Perhaps the even greater reminder in that phrase is that of personal responsibility. It chants in the back of your head as a mantra prior to entering a life threatening situation... do I have the training? Do I have the experience? When the answer is no, time to get out there and be challenged in a new set of skills.
This past Tuesday, my fire department put a group of newer firefighters through a series of firefighter rescue drills. The training was intended to be above their level. It was meant to push them harder than we've ever pushed them. The goal was to force firefighters to overcome the mental challenges that await them in real life calls. It wasn't to beat them down, but to build them up... challenge them to see their own weaknesses and progress beyond them. As leaders of that fire department, we have a duty to train these fire fighters in skills that they will meet in real life. Then, when the time comes, we can wash our hands clean knowing that we have prepared those firefighters for what they are about to face.
--
Recently, my wife and I were studying Acts 20. Toward the middle of the chapter was Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian elders. He said something that surprises me.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Paul is leaving the Ephesians for the last time, but he is leaving with a sense that he has taught them everything they need to know to carry on in his absence. How many leaders do we have in our Churches today who can say that, in their absence, their flock is capable? How many of our leaders feel like they have fulfilled their task of sharing with the flock the "whole will of God?"
Bottom line is, Church leaders can take a lot from the phrase above too. In a world where we can hardly differentiate the Christians from the unbelieving, where the Body tends to look, act, and speak JUST like every one else... Are we as leaders of the Body, training the flock, or leaving them to the wolves? I don't know about you, but I'm so tired of my Sundays looking like a fashion show and my Mondays-Saturdays looking like the rat race. When will we begin to train the Body to be in the world, but not of the world? When will we start following the way of the radical Jesus, the giver of life, rather than the way of the world, which is death?
I want to see the quote above plastered in church buildings across the world: "LET NO MAN'S GHOST SAY HIS TRAINING FAILED HIM." It is a new call, a new challenge to train each and every single follower of Jesus to be ready and able to take on the fight. Our congregations are so lacking in training of its members that we are being ripped to shreds in this world, but it is only at the hands of our own self service. When will we get up and look out the window to see the world we are meant to serve, then train to enter into it? Get out of the pews and into the world!
I dream of the day that I could speak with confidence, as Paul did, that I can wash my hands clean, knowing that I have lead my brothers and sisters and helped prepare them for service in this world. Until that day, the phrase continues...
Let no man's ghost say his training failed him...
"Let no man's ghost say his training failed him."
Firefighting is inherently dangerous. That is actually an official statement by the National Fire Protection Association. Yes, there is danger, but where danger meets inevitability is the many who fail to meet a minimum training standard. The phrase above is a constant reminder that fire fighters should constantly assess their training in the context of the challenge ahead of them. Perhaps the even greater reminder in that phrase is that of personal responsibility. It chants in the back of your head as a mantra prior to entering a life threatening situation... do I have the training? Do I have the experience? When the answer is no, time to get out there and be challenged in a new set of skills.
This past Tuesday, my fire department put a group of newer firefighters through a series of firefighter rescue drills. The training was intended to be above their level. It was meant to push them harder than we've ever pushed them. The goal was to force firefighters to overcome the mental challenges that await them in real life calls. It wasn't to beat them down, but to build them up... challenge them to see their own weaknesses and progress beyond them. As leaders of that fire department, we have a duty to train these fire fighters in skills that they will meet in real life. Then, when the time comes, we can wash our hands clean knowing that we have prepared those firefighters for what they are about to face.
--
Recently, my wife and I were studying Acts 20. Toward the middle of the chapter was Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian elders. He said something that surprises me.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Paul is leaving the Ephesians for the last time, but he is leaving with a sense that he has taught them everything they need to know to carry on in his absence. How many leaders do we have in our Churches today who can say that, in their absence, their flock is capable? How many of our leaders feel like they have fulfilled their task of sharing with the flock the "whole will of God?"
Bottom line is, Church leaders can take a lot from the phrase above too. In a world where we can hardly differentiate the Christians from the unbelieving, where the Body tends to look, act, and speak JUST like every one else... Are we as leaders of the Body, training the flock, or leaving them to the wolves? I don't know about you, but I'm so tired of my Sundays looking like a fashion show and my Mondays-Saturdays looking like the rat race. When will we begin to train the Body to be in the world, but not of the world? When will we start following the way of the radical Jesus, the giver of life, rather than the way of the world, which is death?
I want to see the quote above plastered in church buildings across the world: "LET NO MAN'S GHOST SAY HIS TRAINING FAILED HIM." It is a new call, a new challenge to train each and every single follower of Jesus to be ready and able to take on the fight. Our congregations are so lacking in training of its members that we are being ripped to shreds in this world, but it is only at the hands of our own self service. When will we get up and look out the window to see the world we are meant to serve, then train to enter into it? Get out of the pews and into the world!
I dream of the day that I could speak with confidence, as Paul did, that I can wash my hands clean, knowing that I have lead my brothers and sisters and helped prepare them for service in this world. Until that day, the phrase continues...
Let no man's ghost say his training failed him...
Monday, August 23, 2010
Priorities
If you haven't noticed... I've been absent lately.
I have been so busy with life that I never seem to get to the part where I sit down and write it all down. A quick lesson I've learned that I wanted to share with everyone.
--
Last week was the Abilene Fire Control Conference. I was asked to teach a class called Rapid Intervention Team (RIT). For those in fire service, here is a great resource for you to learn how to create a great RIT program in the context of your organization. Either way, I did a lot of research leading up to this class because it has been a long time since I've taken RIT and I wanted to be up to date on latest best practices and national standards. The class went okay, but one part of the class reminded me about life and how sometimes we never seem to get to the bottom of our to-do lists.
For those who are unaware of RIT, it is the national standard and practice which states you should always have firefighters outside on a dedicated firefighter rescue team if firefighters are in a dangerous environment (such as inside a house fire). Those firefighters are asked to do nothing except be prepared in case a MAYDAY is called out by firefighters inside.
During this class, I decided to give students a checklist for them to use on their own fire scenes. Those checklists were not intended to be an exact template, but something they could use to develop their own checklists for what to do in the case of a MAYDAY call and request of a RIT team activation. The purpose of this checklist was simply to show that there is a lot to be done if a RIT team is activated and that they should make sure everything is done "by the book" to prevent overlooking important, yet minute tasks in the heat of the moment.
When I think about my daily life, I realize that I sort of need a checklist to work from too. I have priorities within my fire department, my career, my family, my faith... all of which are varying degrees of importance, but all must be completed. I have gotten in the practice of writing a to-do list every day to make sure I live up to the requests of my customers, fellow firemen, family, and Lord. I try my hardest not to see it as some legalistic rule of law, but rather a guideline to help me remain organized and follow priorities.
--
What do you do to keep organized?
What signs do you see that remind you that you're getting off target and losing sight of priorities?
I have been so busy with life that I never seem to get to the part where I sit down and write it all down. A quick lesson I've learned that I wanted to share with everyone.
--
Last week was the Abilene Fire Control Conference. I was asked to teach a class called Rapid Intervention Team (RIT). For those in fire service, here is a great resource for you to learn how to create a great RIT program in the context of your organization. Either way, I did a lot of research leading up to this class because it has been a long time since I've taken RIT and I wanted to be up to date on latest best practices and national standards. The class went okay, but one part of the class reminded me about life and how sometimes we never seem to get to the bottom of our to-do lists.
For those who are unaware of RIT, it is the national standard and practice which states you should always have firefighters outside on a dedicated firefighter rescue team if firefighters are in a dangerous environment (such as inside a house fire). Those firefighters are asked to do nothing except be prepared in case a MAYDAY is called out by firefighters inside.
During this class, I decided to give students a checklist for them to use on their own fire scenes. Those checklists were not intended to be an exact template, but something they could use to develop their own checklists for what to do in the case of a MAYDAY call and request of a RIT team activation. The purpose of this checklist was simply to show that there is a lot to be done if a RIT team is activated and that they should make sure everything is done "by the book" to prevent overlooking important, yet minute tasks in the heat of the moment.
When I think about my daily life, I realize that I sort of need a checklist to work from too. I have priorities within my fire department, my career, my family, my faith... all of which are varying degrees of importance, but all must be completed. I have gotten in the practice of writing a to-do list every day to make sure I live up to the requests of my customers, fellow firemen, family, and Lord. I try my hardest not to see it as some legalistic rule of law, but rather a guideline to help me remain organized and follow priorities.
--
What do you do to keep organized?
What signs do you see that remind you that you're getting off target and losing sight of priorities?
Monday, August 02, 2010
Late Nights; Early Mornings
I am sitting in the passenger seat of a car that is Abilene-bound. We should arrive after 1am. I've spent only 3 nights out if the last 12 at home and the rest in hotels. Some for business, some for pleasure. Being so tired after weeks of traveling has me thinking about the many first responders going on very little sleep around the world.
--
In many of my recent travels, I have been spending time with my firefighter customers and friends. The story is similar in most towns, large and small: big fires, technical rescues, and very little reprieve. Men and women who are in service to their community.
--
As I think about the men and women who so often are overworked and underpaid, I think about our tasks as followers of Christ. We are called to work tirelessly spreading the Gospel in love. Again, men and women who are in service of their community.
--
This particular weekend I am traveling back from visiting my sister, who had competed at NASA in an international space settlement design competition. I was very proud to spend time with her and see her hard work displayed on an international level. That's what a big brother is supposed to do, right? Yes, we are family... And family goes to great lengths to support each other.
--
As in the firefighters working tirelessly to support the needs of the community they serve... And the family members who desire to support each other in their endeavors, I question whether our Christian brethren have grasped what it means to work tirelessly for the needs of the community. Then, I am reminded of the people who seem to never sleep while they take care of others. Tish and I are blessed to have the example of a few such families... One family in particular, the Green family have been the most constant source of emotional and spiritual support over the last few years in our efforts for South Pacific Missions.
--
So, I'm tipping my hat tonight to my brothers and sisters-- firefighters and brothers in Christ-- who work tirelessly in service of others.
--
In many of my recent travels, I have been spending time with my firefighter customers and friends. The story is similar in most towns, large and small: big fires, technical rescues, and very little reprieve. Men and women who are in service to their community.
--
As I think about the men and women who so often are overworked and underpaid, I think about our tasks as followers of Christ. We are called to work tirelessly spreading the Gospel in love. Again, men and women who are in service of their community.
--
This particular weekend I am traveling back from visiting my sister, who had competed at NASA in an international space settlement design competition. I was very proud to spend time with her and see her hard work displayed on an international level. That's what a big brother is supposed to do, right? Yes, we are family... And family goes to great lengths to support each other.
--
As in the firefighters working tirelessly to support the needs of the community they serve... And the family members who desire to support each other in their endeavors, I question whether our Christian brethren have grasped what it means to work tirelessly for the needs of the community. Then, I am reminded of the people who seem to never sleep while they take care of others. Tish and I are blessed to have the example of a few such families... One family in particular, the Green family have been the most constant source of emotional and spiritual support over the last few years in our efforts for South Pacific Missions.
--
So, I'm tipping my hat tonight to my brothers and sisters-- firefighters and brothers in Christ-- who work tirelessly in service of others.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Personal Responsibility
I tend to listen to a lot of talk radio while I drive. I can't say that I relate to everything I hear on this medium of entertainment, but it definitely adds some interesting thoughts to a mundane drive through west Texas. Given that I spend up to 1200 miles a week staring at the open land, I need something other than local radio stations to keep me occupied. While listening to the Dave Ramsey Show (a personal finance program), I came to a series of understandings that all relate back to personal responsibility. In his instance, he was describing the amount of money paid to interest in car loans. He used the example of a $500 per month car payment, paid into investments over a lifetime, rather that car payments, equals more than 2 million dollars. Out of the 2 million dollars you could buy brand new cars in cash every 4-5 years and still have over a million dollars. His humorously sarcastic statement was "even if I'm half wrong, you're still a millionaire, so shut up."
In my fire department, we are in a significant growth period with the community around us. With the two first out fire engines nearing 30 years old, we realize their time for retirement will soon be here. But a new fire engine costs more than $300,000. Do we go into debt for a new truck? I think not... if the situation above is true for $30,000 vehicles, wouldn't it be more true for a $300,000 vehicle? In addition to new fire trucks, the department is also trying to build a new fire station, at the cost of $500,000. With only enough income to cover operation costs, it would be a perilous mission to attempt to take a loan out for this facility. Instead, we'll have to pay it out, in cash, with our blood, sweat, and tears. It may take us a little longer to get into the facility, but our community can be better served when we have a facility that has no debt over its head.
It is amazing to me that almost all of life is simply a matter of delaying gratification. Some people can't wait to run down and buy the latest and greatest vehicle, but at what cost? They see a $30,000 price tag, but don't see the opportunity cost of investing that money and buying a slightly worn car for a few years until they can afford said new car in cash only. There is even a way that buying used cards instead of new ends up in the investments paying 100% of all vehicles for the rest of your life.
The same happened in the recent housing boom. I am oversimplifying just a little bit, but there were stories of people in low paying labor jobs taking out loans for over half a million dollars on a new home. When those adjustable rates readjusted, people found out they could not afford it. Yet, while some people people were spending more than half their take-home pay on a mortgage, others realize that settling into a smaller, more affordable home will afford them more later in life.
Then, most importantly, I think about my faith. I believe Christ spoke so much about delaying gratification so that the end result would be so much sweeter. A large example is simply our lives... If we live our lives in search of the Kingdom now, our reward in Heaven is far greater than living to our own desires now. Doesn't this ring true for so much else we do in life? Many researchers have found that those having the most sexual fulfillment in life are married couples, not single individuals out seeking sexual encounters. Furthermore, there is research to suggest those who did not cohabitate prior to marrying are less likely to be divorced. What does all this mean? Simply delaying acting out desires with a partner will result in long term fulfillment.
The list could go on and on, but the ultimate result is that a life lived with discipline and delaying short term gratification in search of long term success will result in a life more like Christ.
In my fire department, we are in a significant growth period with the community around us. With the two first out fire engines nearing 30 years old, we realize their time for retirement will soon be here. But a new fire engine costs more than $300,000. Do we go into debt for a new truck? I think not... if the situation above is true for $30,000 vehicles, wouldn't it be more true for a $300,000 vehicle? In addition to new fire trucks, the department is also trying to build a new fire station, at the cost of $500,000. With only enough income to cover operation costs, it would be a perilous mission to attempt to take a loan out for this facility. Instead, we'll have to pay it out, in cash, with our blood, sweat, and tears. It may take us a little longer to get into the facility, but our community can be better served when we have a facility that has no debt over its head.
It is amazing to me that almost all of life is simply a matter of delaying gratification. Some people can't wait to run down and buy the latest and greatest vehicle, but at what cost? They see a $30,000 price tag, but don't see the opportunity cost of investing that money and buying a slightly worn car for a few years until they can afford said new car in cash only. There is even a way that buying used cards instead of new ends up in the investments paying 100% of all vehicles for the rest of your life.
The same happened in the recent housing boom. I am oversimplifying just a little bit, but there were stories of people in low paying labor jobs taking out loans for over half a million dollars on a new home. When those adjustable rates readjusted, people found out they could not afford it. Yet, while some people people were spending more than half their take-home pay on a mortgage, others realize that settling into a smaller, more affordable home will afford them more later in life.
Then, most importantly, I think about my faith. I believe Christ spoke so much about delaying gratification so that the end result would be so much sweeter. A large example is simply our lives... If we live our lives in search of the Kingdom now, our reward in Heaven is far greater than living to our own desires now. Doesn't this ring true for so much else we do in life? Many researchers have found that those having the most sexual fulfillment in life are married couples, not single individuals out seeking sexual encounters. Furthermore, there is research to suggest those who did not cohabitate prior to marrying are less likely to be divorced. What does all this mean? Simply delaying acting out desires with a partner will result in long term fulfillment.
The list could go on and on, but the ultimate result is that a life lived with discipline and delaying short term gratification in search of long term success will result in a life more like Christ.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Rhyme behind the reason...
A recent project I have been leading at our fire department is new probationary requirements. The previous requirements were simply out of context in the new way our fire department operates. Upon agreeing to this project, I sat down and listed a series of objectives I want every new probationary firefighter to learn and accomplish before being granted a position as a full member in the organization. While on probation, new firefighters respond to emergencies with other members, but are given a lot more restrictions on the tasks they are allowed to perform on scene. This is obviously for their own safety, as we don't want new firefighters trying to perform advanced tactics on scenes, though they can be useful performing menial tasks such as getting tools off the trucks and performing less advanced tasks.
While working on these new probationary procedures, I was struck with a serious challenge: How do I balance the need for a strong, thorough training regimen with the fears that too many rules will drive new members away because they simply can't measure up? The other issue at hand is that, by training them to a specific standard, I am not guaranteeing their safety nor am I guaranteeing that nothing will ever go wrong on a scene. What good is to to give them a list of "do this" and "don't do that" in life? What does that do to my credibility as their lieutenant over probation when something does go wrong? Why must they learn to drive in a controlled environment before emergencies? Why must they take a firefighter safety course? Why must they possess knowledge on all fireground equipment and apparatus? Why must they...? Why? Why? And the list goes on...
There has to be a rhyme behind the reason.
I came across a video that a friend posted on Facebook tonight. It describes the same scenario with the group many call "de-churched." This group of individuals were raised up going to church, but for one reason or another were driven away. The speaker of this video--Matt Chandler-- describes how the trap is set when we tell people that they must live by a set of rules but never give them the tools of being transformed by Christ. What good is it for us to live by a strict regimen if in the end we aren't armed to handle the struggles of real life: divorce, death, sickness, debt? What good is to "do this," or "don't do that" just because?
There has to be a rhyme behind the reason.
What are your thoughts?
While working on these new probationary procedures, I was struck with a serious challenge: How do I balance the need for a strong, thorough training regimen with the fears that too many rules will drive new members away because they simply can't measure up? The other issue at hand is that, by training them to a specific standard, I am not guaranteeing their safety nor am I guaranteeing that nothing will ever go wrong on a scene. What good is to to give them a list of "do this" and "don't do that" in life? What does that do to my credibility as their lieutenant over probation when something does go wrong? Why must they learn to drive in a controlled environment before emergencies? Why must they take a firefighter safety course? Why must they possess knowledge on all fireground equipment and apparatus? Why must they...? Why? Why? And the list goes on...
There has to be a rhyme behind the reason.
I came across a video that a friend posted on Facebook tonight. It describes the same scenario with the group many call "de-churched." This group of individuals were raised up going to church, but for one reason or another were driven away. The speaker of this video--Matt Chandler-- describes how the trap is set when we tell people that they must live by a set of rules but never give them the tools of being transformed by Christ. What good is it for us to live by a strict regimen if in the end we aren't armed to handle the struggles of real life: divorce, death, sickness, debt? What good is to "do this," or "don't do that" just because?
There has to be a rhyme behind the reason.
What are your thoughts?
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