I AM the Bread of Life

"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

     Ah the Firehouse dinner table. So many stories shared. All of the world's problems solved. Many snowflakes offended. Relationships forged. And, Some of the best meals in town served. Magic happens as men and women "break bread" together around that table. Our time around the table is just as important to us as our time spent training and on the fire ground. We return to it time and time again because it is sacred to us.
     The term breaking bread is a Biblical one. It has its roots embedded in the practices of the early Christian Church in which they shared not only meals together, but "the" meal together: the body(bread) and blood(wine) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said that He is the Bread of Life. Just as a good firehouse meal and fellowship nourish us, so too does communion with Him. It provides us with nourishment, life, and satisfaction to our weary souls.
     When you find yourself distant from God and life seems devoid of joy, purpose, and meaning, it is time for you to go to the Bread of Life. He can be found in the Words of that Bible that is collecting dust on your end table, at the church in your neighborhood that you've been absent from, with your friends who are believers that you haven't made time for, or in that simple conversation(prayer) with Him that you've been avoiding. Spending time with Him is more important than the time we spend around the firehouse table. I guarantee you won't regret it.

 May the LORD Bless You and Keep You,

Bobby

Photo Credit: IG @delgadokustoms

The First Zombies?

"The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" - Matthew 27:52

Ok. They probably weren't actually zombies, but why doesn't anyone ever mention this verse in conjunction with the Crucifixion? Dead people resurrected in the tombs is a major deal! Jesus has just breathed His last breath. The earth shook and the veil in the temple was torn in two. This let's us know that Jesus' death gives us direct access to God. There are no more barriers or needs for religious ceremonies and sacrifices. Jesus said, "It is finished." Matthew and only Matthew then mentions that the dead woke up!

Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is defined by the miraculous. The virgin birth? Miraculous. Water into wine, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame walking, the dead rising? All miraculous. The power of Sin and Death defeated once and for all? MIRACULOUS!

God promised in Isaiah 26:19 that the "dead will live." As always God is the only one who 100% undeniably keeps His promises. Many of us first responders have seen the power of D50 wake someone in insulin shock. I've always marveled at the power of Narcan to resurrect a person overdosed on heroin. Yet nothing compares to the POWER of the CROSS!

Because Jesus Died and Rose, we can LIVE!!! The living people in the tombs are evidence of the new order of things. Death has lost its victory and its sting! We can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil! We take complete comfort and have confidence in Jesus' words- another promise: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE!" This my friend is a big, big, deal and reason to celebrate!

May the LORD Bless You and Keep You,

Bobby

Mourn and Rejoice Together

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." - Romans 12:15

Grief and celebration are part of the dichotomy of life. This week the mother of some of my best childhood friends died. Then HFD lost another brother in the line of duty. And, a brother firefighter got to marry the love of his life. To say that life is full of highs and lows is an understatement. 

My take away this week is that no matter what we go through, we are created to go through it together. To rejoice and mourn with others is as simple a command as we can get. Both my extended family and fire family have done this extremely well. We have shed tears, lent empathetic ears, and offered shoulders to cry on. We've shared meals, beers, laughs, and memories together. 

As God's children on this journey called life, we are to come alongside each other and offer our presence as Jesus did. In mourning and in celebration we share in the human experience. We commit to being there for and with our fellow brothers and sisters. We hurt because they hurt, and we celebrate because they celebrate. There are people in our lives right now who need us to mourn or rejoice with them. When we show up for others, we demonstrate that they are loved and they matter. In doing so, we show them the love and presence of God. 

May the Lord Bless You and Keep You!

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

 

Blurred Vision

"Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." - Proverbs 29:18

There's something special about being able to see. I remember getting my first pair of glasses in the first grade. I was so excited to read all of the posters in my classroom, some of them for the first time. 20/20 vision brings about great clarity and detail. As I got older, my vision got worse due to severe astigmatism, so I wore thick(coke bottle) glasses and eventually expensive contacts. 

I finally decided to get LASIK surgery after I lost my crew in a heavily involved house fire. It was New Year's Day. I got little to no sleep from celebrating the night before, and I was slightly dehydrated from all of the beverages consumed. This made my eyes extremely dry and not ready for my contacts. As I was checking out my airpack, the tones went off, and we were first in to a house fire! There was no time to put on my contacts. On arrival, I stumbled to the front door and kicked it in. I then began pulling slack for the nozzle man. We encountered fire immediately and pushed our way forward. The captain caught up to us and told me to go get a scuttle hole(attic) ladder. I was so blind, I had to be directed to my truck and back. I then attached myself to the wrong crew and was ordered to find my own. I wandered around aimlessly while my crew was looking for me. They called a mayday on my behalf. A month later I had perfect vision thanks to the Eye Center of Texas. Again like the first grade me I was excited to read everything I could- license plates, clocks, billboards.

People who lack a vision for their lives are just like the vision impaired.  They  stumble and fumble their way through life with no real direction, joy, or passion. They constantly wander around and attach themselves to the wrong people who are just as lost. They don't seem to care about anything. They put off making major decisions because they have no assurance. They may even take unnecessary risks because why would it matter? The scriptures say they "cast off restraint," while other translations say they "perish." They die never having truly lived. 

 True vision for our lives comes from walking in God's purpose for our lives. We can find our purpose and abundant life, by reading and obeying the Holy Scriptures. In doing so we come to know God. In knowing and obeying God and His Word, we are "blessed." Could you use some direction, passion, and purpose for your life? You can find it in God and His Word. Be blessed. 

-Sr Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

You Are a Mist

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." - James 4:14

In our line of work, we are extremely familiar with the brevity of life. Unfortunately we have witnessed the death of newborns, 90 year olds, and everything in between. Often times all in one day. 

This week we laid to rest a brother firefighter who seemed to have so much life left. That same night I spent time comforting a mother and father who had just lost 3 young kids. Life is indeed short. Not one of us is promised tomorrow. 

The deaths of loved ones and the young are reminders of our mortality. Death has been undefeated since Day 1 of Human History, and it shows no signs of ending that streak any time soon. Throughout my career, many people have asked, "Am I going to die?" I almost always answered, "Yes. It might not be today, but we are all going to die."

I think we should all take time to reflect on our lives. How we live our lives matters. How we love God, our neighbors, our families, and even our enemies matters. Every conversation had and every memory made could be our last. Make each moment this side of heaven count. Say, "I love you" and "I'm sorry." Show it. Mean it. Live at peace with everyone and make your peace with God with whom we will all stand face to face.

-Captain Bobby Delgado, HFD Chaplain