Are You Living Ready To Respond and Live for Beyond?

In the time it takes you to blink your eyes, the space you occupy could be changed or affected forever.
The January 12th Earthquake in Haiti affected the lives of millions and killed hundreds of thousands of people in about 45 seconds. The tornados that just roared through Yazoo City in Mississippi did their deadly damage in seconds, a VRM trained Chaplain who was a denominational leader was killed alongside her driver just minutes after leaving the airport on their way to speak. (More to follow on that tragic story shortly) Those events happened so fast and so unexpectantly.

A Case in Point-

Gene Grounds and myself arrived in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago to attend a conference being hosted by military chaplains. We arrived in the late afternoon and were met by my brother Col. Andy Smith.

We were discussing if we wanted to go to the hotel first or go to dinner. We decided to give Gene a little tour of the area before going to dinner. We took him into the famous and beautiful Garden of the Gods park.

It was a gorgeous afternoon as the setting sun created beautiful colors and shadows on the whimsical and unique rock formations. Gene was having a great time getting out at various scenic points and taking pictures.

We had gotten to the end of the park and were about to drive out where the roadway lanes are narrowed by massive rock towers that squeeze the lanes together, the most famous and photographed feature is the "Balancing Rock" formation.

We got out to take a personal look and Andy and I scrambled up the rocks. We set on the foot of the formation and Gene took photos of us. Then Gene (against all advice!) decided he wanted to have his picture taken at the base of the Rock. He handed the camera to my brother and was soon sitting next to me.

My brother took the picture and just seconds later on the way down, Gene slipped and plunged into the ground, striking his body on the ground and his head on the raised concrete curb.

I thought I was going to be dealing with a concussion or massive head injury, but to my relief Gene was sitting up as we got to him with no apparent head wound. But we soon discovered his right leg was in pain and to make a long story short, in the blink of an eye his life as he knew it had changed.

His hip was fractured and it would require surgery and he is still recovering in Colorado Springs and we are hoping they will release him to fly back to DFW three weeks after the accident to continue painful rehab near home. (Please keep him lifted up in prayer)

In the blink of an eye or the matter of a few seconds or minutes lives were changed from the stories told above.

And as the heading of the blog asks- "Are you living ready to respond and live beyond?"

When Gene was hurt we were trained to jump in a do basic first aid and critical incident assessment. We got him in the car and headed to the hospital. We prayed with him and for him, we gave Verbal and Psychological First Aid, we let him know we were there for him and gave him the hope we were headed to a place where they could relieve his pain.

Living Ready to Respond is what we teach and live at VRM.

The bible tells us to "Be dressed in readiness and keep your lamp alight" Luke 12:35

(As Gene says all the time- "When the lights go out the one with a flashlight is the leader!")

BUT- what if you were gone in the blink of an eye? Are you living ready for the beyond? Do you know where you will be spending eternity?

You are not assured of tomorrow, the end of this day or even 5 seconds from now.

You may be living with blessed assurance that you are in Christ, and that is an awesome assurance and frees us up to face life and whatever comes our way, we are safe indeed!

If however you think you can make that decision to "get right with the man upstairs" in some vague future date, just remember it can all change in the blink of an eye and you may not have the time to make that decision.

Let me encourage you in a world filled with crime, violence, earthquakes, tornados, floods, fires and terrorism that you be living ready to respond here on earth and beyond!

Blessings- The Chaplain

Haiti-Land of Giants

In the tongue of the Taino Indians who once inhabited Haiti, they called their beautiful island "Ayiti" the land of mountains. A visit there will reveal the name is fitting and the island is now pronounced Haiti.
The people of modern Haiti have an incredible history and legacy that more people need to know about. Once called Santo Dominque the French turned this once lush, green island into the richest colony in the world. Renowned for its sugar and coffee and some of the best tasting fruit in the world.
But, it was built on the backs of slaves from Africa. Almost unimaginable horrors where inflicted upon the people captured, stolen, and shipped from Africa. Countless numbers of them died in horrible conditions while being shipped across the Atlantic, some hurled themselves into the harbor when they arrived, rather than live one second longer in chains. And many perished from their mistreatment in a matter of just a few years, only to be quickly replaced by another African who was just looked upon as a soul less commodity.
Finally and with great cause, the slaves revolted. Paying a huge price they defeated all comers, plantation militas, British invaders, Polish mercenaries, and the French themselves. Burning cities and plantations, clinging to the mountains, enduring all hardships and losing hundreds of thousands of people. But as the incredible General Toussiant said- "Come people let us fight those who would put us back in chains, better to die so that our brethern live free!" and despite stunning victories he was deceived and captured and shipped off to France to die a slow and miserable death in a cold stone tower.
But the Haitians faced the giants and clung to the hope of freedom and won their independence to break the Giant called slavery!
Haitians fought not just for their freedom but served with Washington agains the British at Savannah in our revolution and they fought with Bolivar in the wars of independence in South America.
They have faced sanctions and hardships imposed on them for 200 years. They have chaffed under dictators and struggled against poverty.
They have faced many giants and they are facing the Giant of destruction caused by the Jan. 12th Earthquake and they face long recovery.
Don't forget our brothers and sisters in Haiti just over an hour away by air from Miami. Don't write them off as they face their giants. Come and face the giants with them. They have a history of clinging in hope against all odds and many Giants.
God bless the Haitians and God give them the power to break all the Giants they face.