The Rat Race

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:7-8

Can't take it with you. Most of us have spoken those words at some point in our lives. Yet, we willfully place ourselves on that dang running wheel on a regular basis. We chase after more stuff as if it will satisfy us. We like new stuff, nicer stuff, bigger stuff. Many of us work extra jobs and overtime to pay the notes on stuff we don't need or that can wait. 

I'm not saying that having nice things is bad. I'm not saying that some of us aren't legitimately busting our humps just to make ends meet on things we actually need. What I am saying is that most of us have not mastered the art of contentment, myself included. Being content is being happy with what you have. It is being grateful for everything and everyone God has placed in your life. It is being okay with not having the bigger house, newer car, latest phone, toy, etc... Simply put, it is wanting what you already have.  

When are we going to get off the wheel and live for what matters? When are we going to stop being absent from our friends and families just so we can have one more thing? Time is our most valuable asset and the clock is always ticking. We can never get back lost time. Life is short. Relationships are what matter- God and Family above all else. Let's live a life a of contentment and spend our time with the people who matter. Start by making a list of all your reasons to be thankful.

-Captain Bobby Delgado, HFD Chaplain

Houston, The Eagle Has Landed

This weekend, 50 years ago, a great event in the history of man occurred. Two men landed their spacecraft on the moon. A few hours later, they exited their craft and actually walked on the surface of the moon. What an awesome event! I can remember being a young boy staying up together with my church family after Sunday night church services to watch  the first ever moonwalk. My anxiety was high as I feared for our newest hero, Neil Armstrong, hoping the surface wasn't quicksand or worse, that some moon monster would run on screen and gobble him up on live TV in front of 600 million people. Luckily for him, all went well.

As I look at the moon, it seems so far away, and it's awesome to think that these brave men traveled there and stood on its surface. Some skeptics still don't believe it really happened; in fact, a movie was made to that effect called "Capricorn One." But, I believe and will always cherish the memory of that moment.

That same year, another great event occurred. Oh, it didn't get the press of the moon landing, however it was none the less significant to me. Although many observed this event, only a few remember it at all. I remember my anxiety was high for this event also, not knowing what the future held. This event also involved leaving this planet and taking up residence in a foreign place- the heavenlies. 50 years ago, this 9 year old boy(me) walked the aisle at church and gave his life to Jesus.

In 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were heroes on earth and the people rejoiced. But, in 1969, I became a hero in heaven, and the angels rejoiced. Insignificant? I don't think so. The astronauts had to have a lot of faith in the NASA scientists and engineers that sent them there. You will have to have enough faith in a loving God concerning your eternity and heavenly home. Are you a skeptic? Are you willing to take that first step? If you do, it will be one giant leap for your eternity.

Luke 15:10 ”I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Romans 10:9 "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

-Retired District Chief Jeff Boles

The Best is Yet to Come

"However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him"- 1 Corinthians 2:9

In Genesis 41:1-40, after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and devising a plan for the upcoming famine, Joseph was made second in-charge of the land of Egypt. Joseph’s journey to the palace was one full of hardship and adversity. Joseph was blessed with the ability to interpret dreams, and he was also well loved by his father. In fact, Joseph’s father loved him more than he loved his other ten sons(Genesis 37:3). His father’s love for him, alone with his ability to interpret dreams, caused Joseph’s brothers to hate him(Genesis 37:5-11). Because of his brothers’ jealousy and hatred for him, they schemed to get rid of Joseph and threw him into a cistern and later sold him into slavery(Genesis 37:12-28). This would only be the beginning of Joseph’s hardships. Next, he was falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown into prison(Genesis 39:1-20). Then, he was forgotten about after helping the king’s cupbearer by interpreting his dream(Genesis 40:1-23). Through it all, Joseph never gave up, and he always trusted in his God because he understood that his best was yet to come.

Right now, you might be thinking that all the suffering and the sorrow you are enduring will not equal to anything good. However, just like Joseph, God could be using all the difficult situations and problems you have gone through to prepare you for something greater. God could be working behind the scenes arranging a tremendous blessing for you and your family. You will never realize it if you give up now. That’s why the Bible teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight(2 Corinthians 5:7). Even though you cannot see God’s blessings being formulated, you can trust and believe that they are in the works. You can trust that God has something good that He is preparing for you right now. As Christians, we have to be able to look past our present dilemmas and see all the wonderful possibilities that life can bring. We need to be able to visualize all the amazing blessings that God has in store for us and our loved ones. As believers, we must be able to see through all the pain and anguish and allow God to show us that the best is yet to come.

-Captain Rinthian Pickney

HFD Station 42C

Love Your Enemies

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." -Jesus in Matthew 5:44

There are some things written in the Bible that I don't particularly care to listen to or follow. That whole love your enemy and pray for them bit is at the top of my list. Jesus must have been high or misquoted on that one. Who does that? Who wants to show love, be kind, and pray for those who have hurt us?

What we really want is to get revenge. We want our enemies and opponents to feel the pain we feel. We know that no good can come from evening the score. The vicious cycle of revenge will just continue. Jesus in His infinite wisdom asks us to end that cycle.

If we wanted to pray for those who have wronged us, we would probably pray that God would strike them with lightning or fire and brimstone served up Old Testament style. Instead, we should pray that God would change their hearts. We should pray that God would give us the strength to forgive. We should pray that God would heal the hurts in their hearts that have caused them to lash out at us and others. 

The Lord Jesus on the cross got a chance to practice what He preached. As he was suffering unimaginable pain inflicted on Him by the Romans, he prayed for them. "Father forgive them..." Jesus doesn't ask us to do anything He hasn't done himself.

Who is your enemy? Is it a boss, an ex, a spouse, a neighbor, a classmate, or a politician? How can you show them kindness? How can you pray for them? Jesus gives us the key to end the cycle and heal the anger and bitterness we harbor in our hearts towards our enemies: Love and Pray. Be blessed.

-Captain Bobby Delgado, HFD Chaplain

Missing the Journey

"The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." -Genesis 12:1

Abraham was the man God chose to start the Jewish nation and religion. It was a huge task that started with the simple command to "Go." It took a great amount of faith for him to leave everything familiar to him and become a nomad.

It is summer time, and many of us are taking trips to the rivers, mountains, beaches, and the anywheres but home. If you're like me, you are destination minded. There is no greater joy for a vacation bound father than beating the GPS estimated time of arrival. I become militantesque in my quest for speed and efficiency. I start my plan to beat the GPS prediction by dehydrating my wife and children so they'll need less potty breaks-genius I know. I stay alert on the long drives by constantly calculating with precision how much time I can save by driving x-amount of miles over the speed limit while still being safe.

It is no easy task being Dale Jr in an 8-passenger Suburban (mini vans were banned in our wedding vows). I no doubt am a jerk when one of my precious offspring or the woman with whom I am one try to foil my plans of interstate dominance. I don't have time for sights or sounds and unnecessary stops.

A wise person once said that life is about the journey not the destination. When we get in the go, go, go mode, we miss the beauty of God's creation. We can miss amazing conversations, laughter, and the love of the people He has placed and wants to place in our lives.

This holds true for life in general, not just road trips. It is easy to get side tracked because we want our raise, promotion, retirement, graduation, wedding etc...now. We can get so caught up in reaching the destination that we miss all of the blessings God has for us along the way. More importantly, we miss all the ways God wants to use us to be a blessing to others. Abraham didn't get to see the Promised Land. There were many times when not reaching the destination frustrated him and tested his faith. Yet he remained faithful.

Where is God commanding you to go? Who is He asking you to bless? Take the first step, and enjoy and savor every step and stop along the way.

-Captain Bobby Delgado, HFD Chaplain

Sweeter than Honey

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" - Psalm 119:103

Samson was a strange dude. He was arrogant, revengeful, a player, and a jokester, but God still used him to deliver the nation of Israel from the Philistines. So, there is still hope for that Rookie. While traveling, Samson walked past a lion carcass he had killed the week before. Looking into the rotting belly of this animal, he noticed that bees had made a hive there, and it was now full of sweet honey. He challenged his adversaries with a riddle; “Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet(Judges 14:14).” They never would have gotten it if Samson’s wife didn’t blab. The sight of this unlikely beehive made an impression on Samson.

In the New Testament in the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul writes to the people of Philippi saying, “What has happened to me has actually served to advance the Gospel(1:12).” What happened to Paul? Well, he entered Rome as a preacher and ended up being a prisoner chained to a guard 24/7. Jail was not part of his plan and probably is not part of yours either. Life throws us curves, and often we find ourselves in our own version of prison. To some our prison is relationship issues, to others declining health or disease. Maybe for you it’s financial problems or addiction. Or you could just be just sick of all the political turmoil and how it has affected your job, home, and family. Paul however, didn’t allow his prison to get him down. He knew something we don’t.

Often when we face difficulties, we pray for God to deliver us and free us, to get us out of here, and to make everything whole, better, and as it should be. Often He does, but sometimes He has another plan; the plan he had for Paul.

You’ve heard it said that when everyone is running away from a fire, firefighters run in. I will tell you that when you find yourself in your personal prison, God may not save you. He may not grab you and run out. He may actually run into your prison to be with you in your time of despair. That’s what God did with Paul. He met him in his prison. This changed the lives of those trapped with him, and empowered Paul to courageously claim, “Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or death(1:20).” He went on to proclaim, “To live is Christ and to die is gain(1:21).” Wow!

What an odd story Samson told. In a rotting body of a dead animal, bees entered to make something sweet. How much more will God meet you in your rotten situation with something sweeter than honey- His presence, love, and comfort. He will give you the courage to say, no matter how this works out, God is with me, and I’m with Him, and its gonna be alright.

Look for God “in” your circumstances not just as a path out of them.

-Retired HFD District Chief Jeff Boles

My Brother's Keeper

"Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother, Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. 

"Am I my brother's keeper?"

"Am I my brother's keeper?" That is a heck of a question to ask God who is ever present and all knowing. The audacity of Cain to answer a question with a question. It shows his callousness and ignorance. The answer to Cain's question is emphatically "YES!" We are all responsible for each other. We have an obligation to care for, love, and serve all of humanity.

Brotherhood is a word that get's thrown around a lot in the fire service. Some say it exists and others claim it is dead. I say that Brotherhood(our sisters included) is up to me. It is not up to the next person, the station officer, or the Chief. I am responsible to be my brother's and sister's keeper. 

Ever since I entered HFD in 2003, I have been fortunate to be part of some amazing crews that accepted me and my family into theirs. These crews were diverse in every way and intricately involved in each other's lives. Brotherhood is taking care of each other on the job, but it really shows true in taking care of each other when we're off duty. 

An article from 2018 in Fire Rescue 1 stated in 2017 there were more deaths by suicide in the fire and police service than line of duty deaths. This is both staggering and heart breaking. The reasons for and solutions to are all complex. I believe that we can all be part of the solution. We can all help carry the load when one of our own hits hard times. We can all be on the lookout for the subtle changes in behavior that occur when we are struggling.  We can listen for the verbal cues our members give when they feel they can't go on. We can all speak up and ask the hard question of their desire and plan for suicide. If we see something ,we can say something. We can refer them to one of our Docs, Chaplains, or the EAP. We can all pray for them daily and with them in the moment. 

It is about all of us doing our part. Say it with me.  I. AM. MY. BROTHER'S. KEEPER. 

Be Blessed,

Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

1-800-273-8255

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline