Previous Devotionals

Critical Decision Points in Times of Change

Destined To Serve

Forgive and Live

Rediscover The Passion

At The Core Of Who We Are

Are You Fit To Fight?

Have A Realistic Christmas

Give Thanks To The Lord For He Is good

Freedom Isn't Free

No Pain, No Gain?

Critical Decision Points in Times of Change  

The year was 1942, and there was good reason for apprehension in America.  131 days following an attack that left conventional wisdom at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, many seemed to still be more interested in fixing the blame rather than the problem.  Morale was low and fear and doubt loomed over the nation as the ability of American forces to defend against an aggressor rolling across the Pacific with a seemingly unstoppable intensity was in question.

As the industrial might of a sleeping giant awoke to the grim reality of a protracted war, a renewed vision and bold strategy was immediately needed as people desperately searched for hope.  The response that would follow was unlike anything ever attempted before or since.  An imaginative and daring plan was launched, based on a scenario that to many seemed unworkable and impossible. 

Was it a risk worth taking?  Decisive leaders recognized the significance of the times and knew that a drastic change in systems and methods was imperative.  The necessity for action precluded the luxury of additional time, funding, research, or argument.  Reality limited the vision to the use of existing resources, but the results of applying traditional doctrine had already been graphically and disastrously illustrated.  Necessity would require that available resources be used in new and innovative ways, and success depended not only on technology and tactics, but also on a mindset change by those that would employ them. 

Old paradigms would have to die.  Personal kingdoms would have to crumble under the weight of collective survival.  A joint service planning effort was required, where turf battles for limited budgets and resources had once reigned.  Focusing on commonalities rather than on differences, teams worked together to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  Trust replaced suspicion and hope prevailed over cynicism.  Survival and victory would depend on the ability of those from differing backgrounds, beliefs, and opinions to submit and commit to a common vision, placing their trust in personal faith, one another, their leadership, and their cause.

A strike at the heart of mainland Imperial Japan, utilizing only sixteen Army B-25 bombers launched from Navy carriers seemed suicidal.  To make matters worse, the vision for this daring retaliatory strike utilizing Army air and Navy surface assets came from an unlikely source, a submariner! 

Retraining was required.  Ingenious modifications of aircraft and flight decks were necessary.  More would be required of people and their equipment than either had ever before been expected to give.  With no way of retrieving the land-based bombers and their crews aboard the carrier, and with little promise of forward bases for landing or refueling, those who volunteered to carry out the mission would be asked to risk everything for their values.  

The grimness of the situation had not changed, but the way that solutions would be found certainly had.  And while Admirals and Generals provided the vision, accomplishment of the mission would depend on the moral and physical courage of Captains, Sergeants, Petty Officers, and Privates who would make the vision their own.  They would provide a down payment on the future at the cost of present comfort, false security, or opportunities to provide sideline commentary. 

The result was what history remembers as the “Doolittle Raid” of 18 April 1942.  While inflicting only minimal damage on Japan’s military infrastructure, the raid did mark the beginning of a psychological turn toward a vision of victory in America, restoring hope and inspiring people to commit to the long struggle ahead.  While the raid was never intended to result in a decisive military victory, the psychological impact ultimately produced other results that were of incalculable strategic value. 

Stunned Japanese strategists overreacted by pulling forward-deployed troops from critical areas and reassigning them to defend the Japanese mainland, a renewed hope and higher morale translated into increased war production in America, and operational planners became less reactive and more aggressive in taking the war to the enemy.  This would be illustrated later that same year as the Battle of Midway turned the tide of the war in the Pacific.  Those who planned, conducted, and witnessed the Doolittle Raid, a seemingly inordinate risk for its potential benefit, could not have imagined its ultimate impact on the outcome of the war and on world history. 

While associated with risk and pain, change is required anytime we transition from theory to practice. This is the stage where we, and others, really learn who we are. Vision, integrity, and ingenuity are still necessary for those who dare to look beyond the immediate in order to attain the ultimate.  Even after the vision has been articulated, the road ahead still seems somewhat ambiguous.  It is.  We have never done tomorrow this way before. 

Regardless of your religious persuasion, faith plays an integral role.  We all place faith and trust in something.  Faith placed in God is well founded, and success is measured on God’s scale in ways that we cannot immediately, or sometimes ever, comprehend.  God’s intervention in the lives of people throughout history is a powerful illustration that old paradigms pass away to be replaced by something new, different, and full of opportunity. 

God is in the business of doing things that have never been done before.  Maybe you are at a point in your personal or professional life where you could use a renewal of hope or purpose, a fresh perspective, or a new start.  Or, perhaps you are one who is resistant to all change.  How have you fared thus far in preventing change from occurring in life?  Times of change provide great opportunities to change. 

Not unlike the Doolittle Raiders, the necessity for action precludes the luxury of additional time, funding, research, or argument.  Positive and substantive change does not begin in circumstances, but in choosing not to be blown by the unpredictable winds that are always a part of natural life.  A genuine transformation that will make a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you occurs not from the outside in, but from the inside out. 

While in complete control, God often chooses not to change our circumstances, but will instead change our hearts, attitudes, and perspectives in the midst of those circumstances.  God holds victory for those who will dare to follow a path that is lit by a lamp at the feet, rather than a floodlight on the shoulder.  The Apostle Paul encourages us in a letter to the Romans, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind…(Romans 12:2).” 

The choice belongs to us.  We can remain faithful to our principles, loyal to our vows, and demonstrate honor and moral courage in our actions regardless of circumstances, potential outcomes, or personal costs.  While we must adapt to change, we often cannot avoid the challenges that come as a result.  We will decide whether they define us, or if they are used as defining moments in us.

“DESTINED TO SERVE”

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), philosopher, physician, humanitarian, and 1956 Nobel Peace Prize recipient who left the comforts of civilization to serve as a medical missionary in Lambarene, Africa said,

“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones

among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”  

           Who doesn’t want happiness? We see the world’s desire for happiness in newspapers, magazines, and on television. The world equates happiness with self-absorption. The obsession of self: money, physical appearance, or worldly success leads people in the wrong direction on their search for happiness.

            Albert Schweitzer had it right, but he was actually restating ideas that Jesus spoke two thousand years ago.   A scene from the life of Christ found in John, Chapter 13, finds Jesus in the days preceding his death eating a meal with his disciples. Jesus could have easily relaxed and enjoyed the meal, but he didn’t. The text instead paints a picture of a Savior who looks to the interest of others. Jesus rises from the table, pours a bucket of water, and begins to wash the disciples’ feet.  Jesus, the Lord of all Creation, bends down, picks up a towel and begins to wash feet.  Acts of humility, acts of service, acts of love - in each one Jesus saw the need. He immediately put aside his own needs to serve others.  True spiritual happiness comes from seeing the needs of others and responding appropriately.  In an interview with Reader’s Digest (Oct 1949, p 1-5) Schweitzer said,  

“No matter how busy one is, any human being can assert his personality by seizing every opportunity for spiritual activity.  How? By his second job: by means of personal action, on however small a scale, for the good of his fellow men.  He will not have to look far for opportunities.

 Our greatest mistake, as individuals, is that we walk through out life with closed eyes and do not notice our chances.  As soon as we open our eyes and deliberately search we see many who need help, not in big things but in the littlest things.  Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him."  

            Those who serve their communities in the fire service see the need.  Recently I was talking with a firefighter about the importance of service.  Asked what the greatest reward of being a firefighter was, he responded, “I could do many other things in life, but for me serving my community as a firefighter has the greatest reward, because I am able to help people who need help.”  These acts of service begin with those to whom you are close.  The public sees the service provided by firefighters in emergencies: fire, medical and rescue calls, but real service is also found inside the stations. The work of a firehouse centers on service to one other and then extends to the community. Communal meals, station duties, etc. show service as a part of “being” and not just “doing.”   

         The theological implications remain constant.  The words of Albert Schweitzer, as well as those of one of  “Abilene’s Bravest,” point to the true words of Christ,

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

                                                                                                                                                          John 13:14-17

May the Lord keep each of you safe as you serve,

Because of Christ,

Chaplain Hale

FORGIVE AND LIVE

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins.”    Mark 11:25

Forgiveness is not something that comes easily or naturally to me.  I’m not talking about the guy who cuts me off in traffic or the management of the new United store who refuses to add pancakes to their breakfast menu.  I mean the real deal.  What do we do with those passages in Scripture that address the need for forgiveness when we have really been done wrong, when we are justifiably hurt, and when we feel justified in our resentment toward another person?  Like this one, when Jesus said:

“But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…if you love those who love you, what good is that?”  Matthew 5:44-45

Come on, we’re only human, right?  Is it humanly possible to forgive those who have not only hurt us, but have done so intentionally? 

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to be in Berlin, Germany, standing in front of the Emperor Wilhelm Memorial Church.  Although surrounded by a modern and progressive city, the exterior of the church stands as it did at the end of World War II.  On the night of November 22, 1943, it was almost destroyed by an Allied bombing attack that left it gutted and burned.  In the church, next to a statue of Christ stands a cross made of nails.  The nails are from the roof beams of the Cathedral in Coventry, England, which were consumed by fire and destroyed in a Nazi bombing attack on November 14, 1940.  The congregation in Coventry erected a cross made of charred roof beams on the altar of the destroyed church, and scratched into the stone wall behind the altar the words, “Father, forgive.”  From nails collected from the ashes, it formed the cross of nails that was later presented to the Emperor Wilhelm Church as a symbol of forgiveness and reconciliation. 

On December 28, 1944, after ten months of confinement in concentration camps, Corrie Ten Boom was freed, having lost her father and sister in the Holocaust. She later found out that an order had been given at the end of that very week to kill all women her age and older, and that her release had been due to an error in prison paperwork.  Her Christian family had provided a hiding place in their home for persecuted Jews during World War II.  Fifty-nine at the time of her arrest, she was placed in an isolation cell during the first weeks of her imprisonment, as depression and a sense of hopelessness consumed her.  “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart,” she would later write.  This was not a trite saying to Corrie Ten Boom, but represented a sentiment that had been tested, as she recounts:

“It was in a church in Munich where I was speaking in 1947 that I saw him- a balding heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat, the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. Memories of the concentration camp came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights, the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor, the shame of walking naked past this man.  I could see my sister's frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment of skin… this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent. Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘a fine message, fraulein!  How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’  It was the first time since my release that I had been face to face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.  ‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying. ‘I was a guard there.  But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian.  I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well.  ‘Fraulein-’ again the hand came out- ‘will you forgive me?’ And I stood there-and could not. Betsie had died in that place- could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?  It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.  For I had to do it- I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. ‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses,’ Jesus says, ‘neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.’ Still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart.  But forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.  ‘Jesus, help me!’  I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand.  I can do that much.  You supply the feeling.’ And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me.  And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands.  And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried.  ‘With all my heart!’  For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and former prisoner.  I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then.’”

A few years ago I traveled back to Bosnia-Herzegovina.  I had been there before as a soldier and had witnessed first-hand the devastation and unimaginable results of atrocities committed on both sides of a tragic war.  This time, I was in the company of “Molar,”[1] a young Muslim man who had a year before converted to Christianity, and who was now active in an underground Christian church.  During the war, Molar helped defend Sarajevo against an overwhelming Serb force that occupied the high ground surrounding this city in a valley.  I was familiar with the events of that time, and was aware that the Serbs had turned anti-aircraft guns down toward the city in an assault on apartment buildings, and had employed snipers who targeted civilians, including children.  Molar had been wounded three times, and had lost family and many friends in the siege.  He took me on a terrain walk and pointed out many of the areas of military significance as we discussed the tactics used by both sides.  Our walk took us close enough to the zone of separation that we looked across at an outpost on the opposite side.  I asked, “How do you feel now, standing so close to your enemy?”  Without hesitation, Molar looked at me and said, “I’m not stupid, I would not go over there and ask them to kill me, but I had to forgive them in my heart.  In my heart, they are no longer my enemy.  Today, I am a Christian, and I must love them.”

To answer our original question, no it’s not humanly possible to forgive in this manner.  We don’t have the human capacity for what is only possible through the healing power of the love of God, who…

“…reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”  (1 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Harboring unforgiveness places us in bondage.  We can be free today to be reconciled in our relationships with God and to others by forgiving and living empowered lives.  Sometimes we must forgive ourselves, other times we must face the difficult task of forgiving those who do not ask, or who do not consider themselves to be in need of forgiveness.  It’s not about the other person, but is between God and us.  We can experience God’s power in our lives today only when we allow ourselves to forgive and live.   

REDISCOVER THE PASSION: THE BOOK BEHIND THE MOVIE

If you are not aware of the national conversation on the recently released film “The Passion of the Christ,” you have either been living under the proverbial rock or studying for the Lieutenant’s exam.  The movie has generated a great deal of interest, created some debate, and perhaps raised a few questions.

Several of you have asked me where the events of this film might be found in the Bible, and have found the following outline containing the Scriptural references helpful.  For that reason, I am providing it in this forum, and encourage all of you to refer to the biblical text to explore the events surrounding the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who is “The Christ.”               

As with most movies based on textual accounts, a certain amount of creative license and editing is assumed.  You will find that some things in the biblical account may be omitted or condensed in the movie, while other events in the movie may be added as a matter of hypothetical interpretation.  In order to better place into context the events of the final hours of Jesus, it is helpful to look into the person and teachings that comprise the whole Gospel message.  In understanding the day of crucifixion, it is also beneficial to look at the week leading up to it.  Contact me if you would like some information on where to find these Scriptural accounts, or if you are interested in joining a group of us who will be meeting periodically between now and Easter to look at and discuss these biblical accounts (while we also consume coffee and donuts).

As the stated purpose of the film was to present a focused adaptation on the account of the crucifixion, however, it begins with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gesthame, an olive grove outside Jerusalem, in the hours before His arrest. 

Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gesthame: (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1)

• Jesus goes to the Garden to pray in the early pre-dawn hours of Friday morning
• He prays three separate prayers in the Garden (a place at the foot of the Mount of Olives)
• The disciples Peter, James, and John are with Him in the Garden
• Jesus explains to the disciples the seriousness of the situation and tells them to also pray so that they will be able to withstand temptation that is to come- He is disappointed to find them falling asleep at such a crucial time

Jesus’ prayers as recorded in the original language of the biblical text reflect a grammatical change, depicting Jesus' intensity and resolve...

1^st Prayer:  "If it is possible any other way...” (Experiencing in His humanness the weight of His burden)

2^nd Prayer:  "If it cannot pass, your will be done...” (He understands this is the time)

3^rd Prayer:  "Since it is not possible any other way...” (He displays a resolution & final acceptance of His mission)

Jesus’ method of prayer, in the prone position, was very unusual for a Jewish man in that time, who normally would pray while standing.  This perhaps reflects the weight of His burden and the depth of His anguish.  While He entered the Garden displaying His humanness, Scripture portrays Him departing for His mission on the cross with a resolute Spirit, as a “conqueror to the conquest.”   

As His time of crucifixion drew near, in His humanness He turned to the Father, relied on that relationship, and received comfort and strength for the task.

Jesus Arrested: (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12)

• Judas led the Temple guard to the Garden and pointed out which one was Jesus by giving Him a kiss (He was ultimately betrayed by one with whom He was so intimate, and whom He loved and trusted)
• Peter attempted to prevent Jesus' arrest and cut off the ear of a soldier
• Jesus healed the soldier and commanded Peter to drop his weapon
• The Disciples scatter and run from the Garden (Peter later denies knowing Jesus)

Jesus on trial:

• There were 6 different trials (3 before religious officials, 3 before Roman government officials)
• The religious officials brought Jesus before the Roman officials (Pilate) shortly after dawn on Friday morning because Roman law permitted the death penalty only by official Roman order
• Pilate sends the case to Herod Antipas, who governs over Nazareth, where Jesus is from; Pilate is unconcerned with blasphemy as a crime and is worried about political ramifications of a decision
• Herod, in turn, sends the case back to Pilate (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:6-25; John 18:39-19:16)

-         As a last effort to release Jesus, Pilate resorts to the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner; the crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus

-         Jesus was formally charged with blasphemy and given the death penalty

-         None of these trials met the Roman legal requirement (trial held in hours of darkness, Jesus forced to testify against Himself, no agreement among witnesses, Annas was no longer the high priest and had no legal authority)

Jesus' Execution (Six hours on the cross):

The beatings (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15)

The mockery & humiliation (Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-19)

The journey to the crucifixion site (Matthew 27:31-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-33; John 19:1-17)

Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26-32)

Jesus' words from the Cross:

Jesus is recorded as speaking 7 times from the cross

During the first three hours [0900-1200 hrs]:

(Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-27)

1. A word of intercession- "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

2. A word of promise- "Today you will be with me in paradise"

3. A word of loving concern- “Dear woman, here is your son…”  “…Here is your mother…” (Jesus gave care of His mother to His disciple, John)

During the final three hours [1200-1500]:

(Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30)

  [A mysterious darkness falls over the scene during the final three hours]

4. A word of spiritual anguish- "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" (Also see Psalm 22:1)

5. A word of physical anguish- "I thirst"

6. A word of triumph and accomplishment- "It is finished!"

7. A word of confidence and trust- "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit" 

(Thanks to Dr. Donald Williford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of New Testament and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Logsdon School of Theology, Hardin-Simmons University, on whose lectures these descriptions of Jesus’ final words are taken.)

On breaking of Jesus' bones; piercing His side: (John 19:31-37)

Fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies of Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10

• Spear was used to officially certify/pronounce His death
• John's Gospel presents Jesus' death at 1500 hrs on day of Jewish Passover feast, at which time the sacrificial lamb was slain, left whole, and roasted on a spit over an open fire; Jesus is presented as the ultimate and final Passover lamb- one sacrifice for all and for all time

Responses of nature at the death of Jesus:

• Earthquake (Matthew 27:51)
• Darkness/eclipse from noon to 1500hrs (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44) 
• Reports of sightings of opened tombs and the dead raised around Jerusalem (Matthew 27:52) 
• Curtain of the Temple torn in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) 

Responses of the witnesses at Jesus' Death:

• Soldiers confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Matthew 27:54-56; Mark15: 39; Luke 23:47)
• Onlookers realized the terrible thing they had done and lamented (Luke 23:48)
• Jesus' followers looked on from a distance (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:49)

The "REST OF THE STORY:" HE IS RISEN!

• The empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)
• Appearances of the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-53)

As you reflect on these passages in the Bible, and perhaps after seeing this film, you are no doubt confronted with the love of Jesus Christ demonstrated for you by the ordeal of the cross. 

  The significance of the crucifixion, however, is not only found in the violent manner of His physical death, or the human suffering He endured, but also in the identity of the One who willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice.  It is more than “what it was,” but “who it was.”  And more than an historical event, the suffering Jesus of the cross can meet you where you are today:

  “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in very way, just as we are- yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

  “And being found in appearance of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

  Know that no matter where you are, no matter what you are facing, no matter your struggles, temptations, or failures, Jesus understands, loves, and lives to give you the hope for which He paid on your behalf at the cross. 

1 John 5:13,

“Chappie”   

At The Core of Who We Are

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…”    Proverbs 29:18

As the Strategic Planning Conference comes to a close, the task of developing and implementing action plans based on an identified vision begins.  That task falls to every member of this Department; you are a crucial key to the future.

While the Abilene Fire Department family undergoes this period of transformation, the process can be one that is both exciting and somewhat uncomfortable.  When developing the strategic vision for the future of our Department, and identifying the critical elements of a tactical mission statement that will take us there, one thing will remain constant if we really expect to succeed.  Those core values that embody this organization should drive everything else that is attempted or accomplished.  While innovation and imagination opens the door to endless possibilities for the future, these core values are those things that are timeless, non-negotiable, and not for sale.   

Visions change, missions must have the flexibility to react to a dynamic environment, and contingency planning is a must.  The core values that constitute who we are though, individually as well as organizationally, will serve as the “magnetic north” on our moral and ethical compass.  These ensure that we are on the proper azimuth as we blaze a new trail for the future of this Department.     

How important are core values?  

These values can be the difference between merely doing everything right and doing the right things.  As we identify those values that most characterize who we are as a Department, keep in mind the words of Jesus, “For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). 

What does this statement hold for us as we undergo this process?  There is a human tendency to be led by feelings and emotions, rather than acting on what is right and consistent with what we say we believe.  This is often difficult because doing the right things is often much more difficult than merely seeking to do the things we are already accomplishing even better.  The key, Jesus teaches, is to place your treasure in the right place.  There is an element of warning.  If it is not God that we treasure, if our lives are not consistent with our core values, then where really are our hearts? 

Can we really trust our emotions to lead us to sound decisions for the future?  How many of us have purchased a car, a home, or even entered into a romantic relationship with someone based entirely on emotion, ignoring warning signs in an effort to satisfy our emotional needs or desires?  Jesus’ statement not only speaks to the fact that it is often difficult or painful to do what is right, but also offers us some real hope as we strive to ensure that our treasure is well placed. 

Jesus’ statement contains a hopeful promise.  Make God’s ways your treasure and your heart will follow.  Do the right thing even when, especially when, you don’t feel like it, and the emotions will catch up.  Basically, act your way into a new way of feeling, rather than feel your way into a new way of acting.  As we establish the core values that will define who we are to ourselves and others, it is important to recognize that we must also act on these so that they are not just another product of a touchy-feely process of self discovery. 

“…Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

                                                                                                                (Philippians 3:13b-14)

Whether or not the strategic planning process was a success is yet to be determined.  The outcome depends on us all, and whether we choose to be proactive in decisively acting our way into a new future rather than feeling our way along based on our past experiences.  These are the tough calls, the times that separate us from the “also-rans,” the decisions that will bind us together as one to build not just a good Department, but the Abilene Fire Department of the future.

We will become what we believe and internalize about ourselves.  Establishing core values is a way to identify as a team and present to the community what exactly it is that we treasure as a Department.  It has been said that we as humans operate as if we have two personas, the person we believe we are, and the person we think others believe we are, while in reality we only have one: the person others know we are.  Establishing core values is a way in which we will rediscover, and others will see, who we truly are and what it is we really stand for.          

If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It!        

            What’s wrong with the way we are doing business now?  Maybe nothing, and in a static universe we would never have to worry about adapting to change.  We all know, however, that the only thing constant is change.  All individuals, and every organization, must embrace change as an opportunity for growth in order to remain relevant today and effective tomorrow.

          God promises that we need not fear change.  Sometimes change is welcome.  If you are unhappy with the ways things are, hang in there.  Like the West Texas weather, things are sure to change soon. Admittedly, they may get worse before they get better, but they surely will change!  So how do we step off of the emotional roller coaster of judging our present situation, and our perception of the future, from our limited perspectives?  How can we lose the victim mentality and not view change as either good or bad, but a as future reality to be met with confidence? 

God’s character and core values are constant, and God is faithful.  When facing the call to proactively address change, we can make a positive difference in our own lives and in the lives of others, and we can always turn to God for guidance.

“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.  But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

                                                                                                                         (James 1:5-8)

            As individuals and as a team, we need not be blown and tossed by the prevailing winds.  God provides an anchor point, and our core values will act as our rudder, ensuring that we are adaptable to change while remaining faithful to the unchangeable principles that define who we are.  Seemingly, it is a paradoxical policy of “rigid flexibility.”  In reality, it represents the only thing on which we can depend:  as sure as change is, God’s presence in the midst of it and in our future is even more certain.

            Prayerfully consider the words submitted for your consideration by the representatives of the Strategic Planning Committee.  They are not only words, but are values heavy with symbolism, conveying a vision for our Department as we seek to deliver the highest quality of service to our community.  This will also be a good opportunity for all of us to assess where we are in our personal lives.  Before moving to the next step, let us define who we really are.  Take some time, and take it seriously.  While everything else will be negotiable and adaptable to a changing environment, the core of who we are is not.  

Christmas is upon us, and for many it is a time of struggle.  Many of our struggles during these times are rooted in past hurts, painful memories, and unmet expectations.  If you expect the Chaplain to provide you with some cliché on the true meaning of the holiday, stop reading now.  I may only add to those unmet expectations.  I would instead like to wish you a realistic Christmas, and if you will hang with me on this, I believe the true reality of this season might give us all hope, and will certainly be better than my attempt at a more poetic response.

Not to criticize any of those good clichés that make us stop and think, but some remind me of a time when I heard a guy ask someone, “What Would Jesus Do?”  His reply?  “I don’t know, but I ain’t Jesus anyway.”  Perhaps not the most tactful response, but I appreciate the honesty, and also see some merit in his unintended statement on theology.   We are not Jesus, and trying to do what we cannot by merely emulating the actions of the Son of God is a little like expecting to play like Michael Jordan because we bought the shoes.  You can spend the night in your garage, but in the morning you still won’t be a car. 

So what’s the point, Padre?  Well, the bumper sticker people have done a fair job of reminding us that Jesus is the “reason for the season.”  I would instead like to ask you another question:  “Which Jesus?”  In the answer lies the key to living the exciting and abundant life God gave to us.  At my home this Christmas Eve, my family will make some chocolate chip cookies for Santa, accidentally eat all of them ourselves, and then pull out some goldfish crackers or something to leave next to the tree.  My wife and I will enjoy the fact that we won’t have to tell our five-year old to go to bed more than once.  Regardless of whether he’s been naughty or nice the rest of the year, he’s not running the risk of being caught awake when those goldfish are consumed.  Before the children go to bed, however, we’ll also read the story of Jesus’ birth found in the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke.  What a fantastic and descriptive account of God’s love for us, and what a great way to realistically remind ourselves of “the reason for the season.”  And that is the reason – the birth of Jesus.  No argument there.  It is, in fact, the obvious basis for the Christian observance of Christmas.  But is that all it is?  Is your Jesus still a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes (whatever those are), lying in a manger?  The gift of Jesus that is Christmas is more than a gift – it’s an invitation. 

Luke’s birth narrative stands as a testimony of the intervention of God in the lives of real people created with purpose and significance.  The Apostle Paul, in the second chapter of Philippians, also speaks of the magnitude of this event when he writes,

“…Of his [Jesus] own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant.  He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.  He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death – his death on the cross.”

The birth narrative, however, does not tell the whole story, but is rather a glorious beginning of the story of your intended future, and of the reality of Christmas.  I encourage you to read Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus this Christmas, but don’t miss what Paul Harvey would call “the rest of the story” found in chapter 24, where Luke writes,

“Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared.  They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb, so they went in; but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them.  Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, ‘Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive?  He is not here; he has been raised.”

It’s not that we confuse Christmas with Easter, but that we realize they are inextricably tied, and that neither was intended only to be an historical event.  His birth alone, without the mission of His life, the meaning of His death, and the significance of His resurrection reduces Christmas to another nice little story.  Missing the significance of this event in our own lives reduces the real meaning of Christianity to the coldness of mere religion.  Do we have a working faith, or are we working a program?  He lives today to extend an invitation for us not to merely act like Him, but to allow Him to actually give us new life.

As we might face the struggles of heartbreak, despair, or depression on December 25th, it is the living Jesus that is the reason for new hope.  As we face tragedy, He provides comfort.  As we wade through the minutia of everyday life, He gives us purpose.  He came in the ordinary to infuse life with the supernatural.  Is our Jesus a baby in a manger, or is He the risen Lord?  Is He the reason for the season, or the God of our everyday lives on the other 364 days?  The birth of Jesus, the newness of life, and the innocence of an infant:  consider yourself invited to experience a rebirth in your own life this Christmas because today is only the beginning – and that is the reality of Christmas. 

God’s truth of Jesus is not only the reason for the season, but is the reality of life.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas, where the reality of the love God has for you is evident as never before.  It is an honor to serve the men and women who are “Abilene’s Bravest.”  May God bless you and keep you.  

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”

Psalm 136:1

            Thanksgiving is a unique tradition.  While distinctively American, it is also a holiday that evokes the traditions of the many communities of faith that comprise our nation.  My wife told me of a friend, an elementary school teacher, who asked her class, “Who knows how Thanksgiving began?”  Hoping to at least hear the keywords “Pilgrim,” “Indians,” etc., she instead received the reply from a usually shy little girl who said, “It’s a time in the school year when teachers are so tired they need a break from the kids.” 

             Thanksgiving can mean a lot of different things to different people.  We all have different family backgrounds, life experiences, and struggles, so how do we all come together and collectively offer thanks?  For what are we thankful?  To whom do we offer our thanks?  In my own experience, the only Indians I remember at Thanksgiving were those from Washington D.C.  Back in the Staubach days, the Cowboys versus Redskins rivalries were as important as Mom’s dressing and giblet gravy.  It wasn’t until much later that I learned exactly what a “giblet” was, but that’s another story.

             In Luke’s account of Jesus (17:11-17), we are given a picture of a time when Jesus was traveling along the border between Galilee and Samaria. As Jesus entered a village, ten men who had leprosy approached him.  Standing at a distance, they yelled, “Master, have pity on us!”  Jesus replied, “Go show yourself to the priests.”  As they went, each of them was healed.  Only one, a Samaritan, later returned to Jesus, falling at his feet and giving thanks.  Jesus asked, “Weren’t all ten healed?  Where are the others?  Did no one return to give thanks to God except this foreigner?”  Then Jesus said to the Samaritan, “Rise and go, your faith made you well.” 

To Luke’s audience, Samaritans were despised.  “Your momma is a Samaritan” would not have been a complimentary phrase.  Much like in the parable of the Good Samaritan, however, we see that Jesus draws no distinctions on who might receive His grace.  As if it weren’t enough that this man was a Samaritan, he was also a leper.  Those who suffered from leprosy were required to stay away from others and to announce their presence as others approached so they might be avoided.  Sometimes leprosy would go into remission.  In those cases, persons with leprosy would present themselves to the priests to be declared “clean.”  Note that Jesus sent the lepers to the priests before they had experienced any change in their outward condition.  He pronounced them “clean” regardless of how they still appeared to others.   

While all of the lepers responded in faith by obeying Jesus’ command to go to the priests, only one returned to give thanks.  90% took the blessing and went on without acknowledging God’s hand at work in restoring their lives.  To that one, Jesus pointed out the secret to his healing—faith.  While Jesus did not revoke the blessing from the ungrateful ones He had healed, through thanksgiving flowing from a grateful heart this one despised Samaritan experienced a relationship with God that opened up a new understanding of love and grace.                               

Giving thanks doesn’t always come naturally.  Ironically, it is during times like these that we may be more susceptible to focusing on what we perceive to be negative, rather than giving thanks for our blessings.  The man might have focused on why he had leprosy in the first place, rather than on the miraculous work Jesus had done in his life.  Why didn’t he?  Because he experienced the love of God through Christ first hand.  The holidays are often very difficult for those who have experienced loss, or who are facing struggles and hardship.  Maybe you’re coming into this season expressing the same emotions of David, who wrote,

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.

I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold…

I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.

My eyes fail, looking for my God.” (Psalm 69:1-3)

                Even though you may be up to your neck in your own miry depths this thanksgiving, worn out looking for a hope that seems not to come, you can give thanks that you are not alone or without hope.  There is a God who will not avoid you, who will not leave you hanging if you will put your faith in Him.  That same David also wrote,

            “My heart is steadfast, O God;

I will sing and make music with all my soul…

            I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

            Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

            Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

            And let your glory be over all the earth.” (Psalm 108:1-5)

Or, maybe you’re one of those who has experienced blessing, but were too busy to stop and recognize and appreciate what really took place.  Pause to give thanks for all the good that God brings.  “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving…”  (1 Timothy 4:3). 

            We come together as Americans this week to collectively overeat, to celebrate football, and to gather with friends and family.  This year, we especially remember those who are in distant and dangerous lands bringing freedom to the oppressed.  Let’s also not forget to exercise our own freedom to give thanks to God for the blessings He gives, and for the healing we are all offered that surpasses the physical.  The leper later died physically of some cause, but the message of the Gospel is that he could again hear the words, “Rise and go, your faith made you well.”  No matter where you are this Thanksgiving, that’s good news! 

Freedom Isn’t Free

“To be born free is an accident, to live free is a privilege, and to die free is an obligation.”  These words reflect the thoughts of an American serviceman who suffered as POW in Vietnam for over seven years.  Robinson Risner’s words hold special significance this week as we observe Veteran’s Day.

We are reminded this week that freedom is not free, but was purchased by those who understood both the privilege and obligation associated with this priceless gift that we as Americans enjoy on a daily basis.  You may also identify with the words of one of General Risner’s fellow POW’s, Sam Johnson, who said of his time of torture and captivity, “Freedom has a taste for those who fight and almost die that the protected will never know.”  Those in the fire Service also have a special understanding of the concept of a few putting their lives on the line for many. 

As we reflect this week on our freedom, the cost associated with it, and the sacrifices made by those who have served and continue to serve as our nation is at war, may we also be reminded of the responsibility that we bear as recipients of this gift.  The Bible states, “To those who are given much, much will be expected in return” (Luke 12:48).  Veteran’s Day is an opportunity not only to thank those that wear the uniform, but also for all of us as Americans to take inventory on how we put that freedom to use. 

As we take time to thank those who have served, let us consider also what God has done for us so that we might be free.  That freedom also came at a high price.  In the Book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul addresses this subject of spiritual freedom and the responsibility associated with it.  Paul reminds us that Christ came to set us free, not to live selfishly as we do, but to live freely in love as we never could before.  He sums up this concept in Galatians 5:14, “For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Let us recommit ourselves to seeking ways in which we might honor the price of freedom by answering the call of freedom.  We pray today for those who continue to defend our right of religious liberty, to believe and worship as we wish, and the right to serve others in love.  Let us not take these for granted, to waste these precious gifts that have been entrusted to us, but to exercise and safeguard them so that we might pass them on to those who will follow. 

To all of you who have served in the forces that defend our nation, thank you.  To those of you that lay down your lives for your friends each time you drop your bunker gear next to the apparatus, thank you too.  May God keep you and bless you.  

No Pain, No Gain?

This summer, I had the opportunity to do some traveling with the Navy.  One of the places I visited was the Amphibious Base in Coronado, California, home to SEAL training. 

Bear in mind that these guys are nuts!  They tread in freezing water for hours, run around carrying telephone poles, and say things like, “Oxygen is a crutch!”  As a matter of fact, they have all sorts of catchy phrases to justify their ability to withstand what would kill the average person.  “The only easy day was yesterday,” is a personal favorite.  Rather than join them in a physical application of these principles, I’ve instead been giving some theological thought on another SEAL insight, “Pain is weakness leaving the body.”   

Sounds crazy, right? Maybe, but it does remind me of how God works in the midst of the struggles we all face.  James says, “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.” [1]   Note that he says “when,” not “if.”  This can be a real disturbing thing to those of us who still aren’t all that pleased when troubles hit.  I must admit that “pure joy” is not always my first reaction when things don’t go my way.  Rather than continue to beat myself up for this, however, I have come to the realization that I probably will not ever be able to welcome the pain.  Still, it will come.  After all, the only easy day was yesterday.

Are we really expected to welcome the trials in our lives?  As with many things, a change in perspective can make all the difference.  For the SEALs, the good news is not pain, but  that weakness will be overcome.  God’s gift of His Son, Jesus, gives us an opportunity to frame life in a different way.  James continues with the promise, “…because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”[2]  How many of us would not want to be complete, not lacking in anything?

Trials will continue to come, but they need not define our lives.  Hope in the midst of our trials is not found in the trouble, but in a relationship with God, an anchor point that never changes.  While we still may not welcome the circumstance, we can choose to view it as a conduit for God to work in our lives, bringing us to a new level of spiritual maturity as we experience His love for us in a deeper way.  His focus is not on our immediate circumstance, but on our ultimate outcome.  His plan is not to harm us, but to give us a “hope and a future.”[3]  He wants the best for us. 

If we could see now where He wants to take us, we would agree with Him.  Faith is placing that trust in Him ahead of time.  How can we “consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds?”  Because the trial is only the beginning, an indicator that the stage is set for God to do something only He can do.  Look at the pain as recognition of our  human weakness, clearing a way to a renewed life and peace in His strength.  Take hope.