Christmas 2014: My Wish for You

Those of you who know me already know that my thoughts usually run pretty deep. To say that I am introspective would be a drastic understatement. I analyze everything and over-analyze much more than I should. Maybe this is why my hobbies require complexity and learning. Take my love of cigars and aged liquors as an example. It takes time to learn how to taste the subtle flavors and judge the construction and smoke of a fine cigar. Complexity is also important in tasting the hints of vanilla and oak in a snifter of XO Cognac. Noting the color and aroma before ever taking the first taste. It even matters down to where that small sip hits on the tongue as to how the senses will interpret the experience.

I can hear the reader's wheels turning already... what does this have to do with Christmas 2014? Bear with me... I just came from the 11pm candlelight service at our church and it is 2am on Christmas morn as I even start writing this...

I sometimes cringe a bit when I spend a few dollars for these pleasures. I do not smoke a lot of cigars by any means and an XO cognac for me is a rare treat. I would love to increase the presence of both in my life, but that would be dramatically expensive to continually partake in cigars and cognac on a regular basis... and it would probably promote more sitting and introspection... and that could be dangerous. It could lead to blogging of epic proportions while nothing else would really be getting accomplished.

Let's talk about the lap of luxury for a minute. I was reading cigar reviews the other day and came across an advertisement for a small batch Tequila that was to be enjoyed as you would a cognac. Intrigued, I looked it up to see where one might purchase it and how much it was. Any thought of ever trying it was quickly wiped from my mind. A single bottle was over $400. I knew that bottles of

Louis XIII cognac went for $3500, but I really was not expecting $400 for a Tequila, however well made it might be.

Padron 50th Anniversary Maduro

I saw another ad yesterday for a cigar. It was for the Padron 50th Anniversary Maduro. It doesn't come in a cigar box with 20 or 25 inside... it comes in its own humidor of 50 sticks. Here is the price tag: $5000 (basically $100 for each cigar). Trying one of those will probably not happen in my lifetime. Can you imagine? It would be like igniting a $100 bill.

Things like this do appeal to me but, thank the Lord, I do not act on things of this cost. I also hope that no one ever spends their hard earned money to buy me such an expensive gift as one of these things.

Even though told during the Christmas story, the three kings or wise men came at a later date. Many believe it to be actually closer to the two year point after Christ's birth before they visited and came bearing the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. 

Jesus was not born in the lap of luxury. His first bed was essentially an elevated feed trough in that stable. His earthly family was most likely working class with heavy taxation due to the occupation by Rome.

Do you know what Myrrh actually was used for in the time of Christ? It was an oil used for incense in the temple. It was also used for anointing kings. Another use was in the preparation of the dead for burial (think about that last one for a minute... A gift of Myrrh for the King of Kings that could also be used for the preparation of the deceased... was this a message?).

Frankincense was also burned as incense in the temple. Both Frankincense and Myrrh were expensive, valuable gifts. Gold is gold... no need to explain more. These gifts may have financed their move away before the slaughter of the innocents. Maybe that same Myrrh had been saved and was being taken to the tomb for the preparation of his body on the morning of the third day? We will never know and to speculate could lead us in so many directions of which none would be fruitful. We simply do not know.

The facts are simple... we know that His coming was announced by the Angel Gabriel directly to the virgin Mary who was astounded and marveled at this. We are also told that she pondered these things in her heart.

One of my favorite Advent hymns (as we sing it from a foretelling point of view) is "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came," LSB 356. The first verse of this hymn reads:

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
With wings as drifted snow and eyes as flame;
"All Hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady." Gloria!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rimCxZzrgI

The hymn tells us, reflecting scripture from the first chapter of Luke that Mary humbly accepted God's will for her as she accepted the fact that she would birth God incarnate as man.

Christ was born into the lap of normality. God as man would have no palace, no ring placed on his finger in preparation of  a future coronation. There were most likely no servants in the household of a carpenter, so his hands would show the signs of work at an early age.

These gifts were given and were probably used for something specific along the way, but the certainly did not change the need for work or highly elevate the families status. When Christ started His ministry, he walked everywhere where one could walk. He spent time crossing water in small fishing boats. He had told His parents early on at a young age when He had went missing the he was about His Father's business.

Fact is we can all lament or discuss what we do not need when the real fact is we have been given everything we need to go forth and do God's will, including salvation from our sins.

We do not need to wait for the perfect time, the right set of skills to be learned or for a time an place where we are happy enough to decrease the chasing our own desires and be the servants we are meant to be. This is why I cannot stand the errant theology of those that readily preach that "God wants you to be happy." That is not our purpose here.

I can chase cigars and cognac for the rest of my days. They may deliver me a deceptive sense of happiness for my effort as well. They will not, at their high cost deliver me from my self and my sinful nature. Only Christ can do that and He did it by paying the highest of all costs. I am ransomed at a very high price, and even so with Him knowing the sins and sinful nature of all He would save.

Christ is king of all eternity. He wields this power without the riches of this world. As His servants we are free to do His will.

Consider the words of two other hymns:

"Whoever seeks the Christ lift humble eyes and view,
a babe encradled in a stall, a little Child so new." - "Whoever Seeks the Christ" by Michael J. Meyer and John Behnke

"Since all He comes to ransom,
By all be He adored,
The infant born in Bethlehem,
The Savior and the lord.
All idols then shall perish
And Satan's lying cease
And Christ shall raise His scepter,
Decreeing endless peace." - "A Great and Mighty Wonder, LSB 383"

My wish for you this Christmas? If your a Christian, I wish you His continued grace in all of it's abundance much as stated in the common benediction of Numbers 6:24-26.

If you are not a Christian, my wish is that He still watch over you and convict you to learn of His saving grace for you. There are many who scoff at those who believe and see this as folly of the utmost degree... scripture tells us that the Cross (message of the) is folly to those who are perishing, but to those who are saved it is the power of God.

My happiness comes from my knowledge of Him and what he has done for me. We live in a dark world. There are bad things occurring around us and plenty of reasons not to be happy. Christians look forward to the day when the struggle for happiness on Earth ends eternally and when we will see our Lord. All sorrows and pain will be wiped away.

Everything that occurs here on Earth is just a bump in the road for the Christian as we know our happiness is not temporal.

If you are a Christian, practice your belief, partake in the sacrament of the Altar, repent and obey your God. Raise your children in the Faith. Stand for Christ alone.

If you are not, visit and ask. Doors will be opened to your understanding. The world is little more than a dark abyss. There is refuge from the daily storm in Him. Come learn deeply what we Christians know to be true. There is more to the Christmas story than a simple babe in a manger or a commercially warped Santa legend bringing gifts. There is faith in knowing that the battle of battles, the one for your salvation has already been fought and won.

I normally am not outright with this wish. Know that I do it our of Christian love and concern for you the reader. I am a sinner, and without Christ I am nothing. I sin more times than I count daily and there is not anything I can do to be worthy. Christ has taken care of that problem. I simply want the same for you.

For those who are my friends, know that I am there for you whether you are of the same beliefs as I or not. I believe God loves you and any sin of yours is no greater than any sin of mine, but in love, through the Word, with the Law and the presentation of the Gospel, we point out our frailties and those of others for forgiveness.

No riches or false happiness needed.

Me, Myself and I at the Holiday Inn Express

Well... here I am on a Thursday night, away from the family, looking at a long day tomorrow with an early morning meeting, an Indiana EMS Commission meeting and a long drive home... and the wait... teaching about four hours of a Wilderness First Aid Class for the BSA Friday evening with another all day session on Saturday... then an Evansville Icemen game Saturday night.

 

My schedule is sometimes insane to say the least.

 

After a three hour drive today with it's share of near mishaps, working on some educational programs for my primary job and an employee dinner this evening in Greenwood, Indiana, I was a little tired. Since then, I have went to Walmart and retrieved a Coke Zero, a Kit Kat bar and a comb, read over the entire agenda again for the  Commission meeting tomorrow in Brownsburg and spent some intermittent time of Facebook. In between responding to Facebook posts, I have been reading from the Matthew 1:1-1:11 Concordia Commentary by Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs while listening to Pastor Jonathan Fisk at www.worldvieweverlasting.org

Tonight, I found a wealth of understanding of the Word in both Gibbs and Fisk. In trying to read and listen as I often do, an episode of Fisk's work from last week somewhat grabbed my full attention away from my reading for a few minutes as he really did explain well how as American Christians we attempt to divine what God is up to in the present. Specifically, what is God trying to tell me right now... rather than understanding what he has revealed is in the Word and what occurs in the world is allowed by God, but not his directly trying to tell us something. That is nothing more than mysticism. It was an excellent episode. You can watch it at:

The House That Mysticism Built

Back to the commentary by Dr. Gibbs...

 

Both of my Pastors had Dr. Gibbs for classes at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Both speak very highly of him. Other Pastors I know highly recommended this commentary. Since it is Advent, I found it a good time to start with Matthew 1:1 and do some deeper reading and experience the exegesis of the first part of the book of Matthew by Dr. Gibbs. I could have probably picked something on the book of Luke also for Advent, but that is usually where I have concentrated in the past. As Gibbs clearly indicates, Matthew early on describes who Christ is in a multitude of ways.

 

The text is amazing. In many places, there are more footnotes on a page about the text than the text itself. There are some very deep dives into the Greek and an extreme level of explanation. In short, even for a lay person like me, this book is hard to put down. This copy is borrowed from the church library, so the urge to highlight and make notes must be suppressed... although, i think I will be adding this text to my "want" list.

So... am I enjoying myself? Yes, to a certain extent. I like driving, but I hate being on the road away from my family. I like being able to read and learn, but I miss having six year twins crawl up on me to snuggle.

So as I prepare for sleep and the hectic schedule of the next two days, my mind will turn to my thoughts such as this...

www.girlversusdough.com

My friend Shannon Marshall, posted a recipe link to my Facebook timeline yesterday. It is for sausage filled Piggy Rolls. You see... I have a six year old daughter infatuated with Pigs who just happens to love sausage... I cook, but I have never made dough before. After looking at this recipe, I guess I will be learning how to make dough. It doesn't look fun but I will manage.

But her reaction when they come out of the oven will be worth it.

Piggy Roll recipe:
https://www.girlversusdough.com/2013/06/17/sausage-stuffed-piglet-buns/

Advent related Worldview Everlasting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjosdC5D80o&feature=youtu.be

Concordia Commentary Matthew 1:1-11:1:

https://www.cph.org/p-685-matthew-11-111-concordia-commentary.aspx

Bring Me To Life... A Song Revisited

"How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life"

-First two verses and refrain from "Bring Me To Life" performed by Evanesence

Writer(s): Ben Moody, David Hodges, Amy Lee
Copyright: Chrysalis One Music Publishing Group Ireland, Zombies Ate My Publishing, Forthefallen Publishing, BMG Rights Management (Ireland) Ltd.



Photo Courtesy of Chief David Bretz

I was at the funeral home visitation for a friend who passed away a short time ago. While standing in line to view my friend and speak condolences to the family, I heard the music playing with the slide show. The music actually caught my attention before the slides did... Evanesence... "Bring Me To Life."

I know the song well. Back in 2005, I spent hours setting pictures of the destruction left by the November 6th, 2005 tornado to this very same piece of music. It just seemed to fit back then. The song is dark and it seemed to invoke the feelings that I had felt as a responder during those early morning hours before sunrise when we knew it was bad (then of course, the sun came up and we knew then... it was worse than bad). The song seemed to fit, "save me from the nothing I've become."

I remember the debris being all over the place. I remember the stories. I have even met many who were victims.

Photo Courtesy of Chief David Bretz

Everyone did their jobs. Lives were lost before we even had a chance to get there. In those cases it probably would not have made a difference anyway. Lives were lost in the rubble. Some lives were saved by interventions of rescuers... others by paramedics. The surgery departments at both hospitals were busy places that morning.


I remember the frantic search for one of my Cub Scouts that lived in the mobile home park that had been hit. It was four days later before I found out he was indeed alive and safe.

Anyone that was there was affected in some way. It was

Photo Courtesy of Chief David Bretz

overwhelming. It was also one of those events where everyone could say they did what had to be done as well.

So here I was nine years later, standing in a line at a funeral home. I had not heard the song in many years, Once again, from the secular side of me, the song seemed to fit the environment. That was as far as it went though as my very next thought was that the song did not fit at all. The Word simply came on the next thought...

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
- I Corinthians 1:18, ESV

and...

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

-Philippians 1:21, ESV

 

We do not have to have our name called to be saved from the dark. The Book of Jeremiah tells us that God knew us while we were still in the womb (1:5). He has breathed into us an made us real unto Him through His Word. Christ has paid the price so that we will not become "nothing."

 

"...for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

- I Corinthians 6:20, ESV

 

So many in this world despair when darkness comes into their lives... either through disaster and calamity or to them as an individual or family. Never forget the end of the story. It has been written and Satan knows how it will play out. In case you don't know, he has already lost.

 

Death is the penalty for sin. Christ overcame death and the stone was rolled away. For those in Him, death holds no power.

 

The song says as its climax, "bring me to life." This happens not through the dark pleading as the song writers have scripted, but through His body and His blood given and shed for us.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evansville_Tornado_of_November_2005

 

 

Advent... A Time of Anticipation

November 30th, 2014 was the First Sunday in Advent. For many American Christians, the church year may be a little lost on them. For those of us who lean (heavily in my case) toward the liturgical practice of Christianity, the church year is an annual tour of our faith. It assures that we view the whole of scripture and the entire story of Law and Gospel, refreshing ourselves in the knowledge and listening to the delivery of the Word. The season of Advent is no exception.

The First Sunday in Advent marks the beginning of the church year. It is when we look for the birth of Christ to come, fulfilling Old Testament prophesy and promise.

The word "anticipation" is used quite a bit in connection with Advent. Soon, Christ comes and the Christmas season is upon us. All too soon, in the Spring, Lent and Easter will occur, finalizing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Cross and empty tomb, as our pastor would say, appeases the conviction of death placed upon us by the Law.

Then Pentecost and so forth throughout the year. I, for one, greatly appreciate the design and order of the
church year. Advent is a great place of reflection for me now.

Here is why...

I used to hate Christmas. And I mean HATE it. Even though I was a professing Christian from early in my youth, I had plenty of reasons in my mind to not like Christmas as a young adult. Maybe it was the fact that I had a few close friends die near or on Christmas. Maybe it was the fact that as a young paramedic I worked multiple cardiac arrests under Christmas trees while family cried in a corner. Maybe it was that I was just unhappy with myself and could not stand the fact that so many people got all joyous and happy with the "Christmas Spirit." Maybe it was just because all the bad stuff in my life seemed to always happen around Christmas. I was dumped by "girlfriends" around Christmas... had hard life realizations around Christmas... even started an EMT class within a week of Christmas (and we all know where that has led me!). Maybe it was that I simply did not fully understand the message (not that I, a poor sinful being, can ever fully comprehend the message). Maybe the rock had to hit me upside the head to get my attention.

The change for me occurred a few years after I made the switch from evangelical church shopping to becoming a Confessional Lutheran. Even then, the change in me was slow. Maybe even the number of children surrounding me had something to do with it too. As the family grows around you and having a wife who loves Christmas, it's kind of hard to play out the scrooge role without your bluff being called.

I am a winter person anyway. I like cold weather. I like the season, I just kept ducking Christmas because of bad memories.

Another excuse was used in my head too. I had heard all throughout my four years at a Christian High School that there was no real way that Christ was born in December and that it was an attempt to draw more pagans to Christianity by combining it with Yule. That was an easy cop out for me. "It's not really Christmas anyway."

What really changed this for me was not just the constant external nudging of the kids, the wife or the Christian world around me, but the more I dove into the Word, listened to the words of the Advent and Christmas hymns and attending the additional services of Advent whenever possible (which also resulted in me wanting to attend Lenten services... and then Tre ore and Tenne Brae. I can't include Maundy Thursday in that list as it was actually the first LCMS service I ever attended and had been a long favorite next to Palm Sunday... I digress, as usual).

The depth of traditional liturgy drew me the rest of the way in. The depth of meaning in what is visualized (actually visualized... not any new age or vision casting type idiocy... but connecting what is seen, heard and practiced with the scripture) and the connection of the liturgical services to referenced scripture and practice with a basis going all the way back to the early church and the Didache (the Teaching of the Apostles). Services for me were suddenly more worshipful, more referenced deep learning experiences that when over left me refreshed through the Sacrament of the Altar, less burdened by the things that have occurred in the past few days and more than anything... longing for more.

Our Service Book (or hymnal) not only contains our hymns, but the order of worship for multiple services. Each order of worship is annotated with directly applicable scriptural reference (which for me begs for even deeper study dives). As I learn, I understand more... not because by doing that it would affect my salvation, but because I am filled with the desire to do so. It is right to do.

The more I attend, the more comfortable I am with apologetics, or explaining my faith to others. That used to scare me to death. Now I look forward to those conversations. I have never went to church to be entertained or have a personally rewarding emotional experience and I hope that being a Christian is more than that for any of you as well. It is about the entirety of the revelation of the Word, our condemnation, His sacraments and His grace.

So how does this relate to Advent? I actually look forward to it with great anticipation... Advent and Christmas. When we celebrate it does not matter to me, but the fact that we do is of great importance to me. Stop and feel the reality behind Christmas and what His coming meant then and means now. I now feel the anticipation of the coming Messiah, both as they may have then and as we will know it when it happens again. Advent allows for more worship, more solidity in my faith and more learning about my Creator, Lord and Master. It also allows me to reflect upon my corrupt nature and the Law exposing my sin for which I can do nothing to appease.

Advent is the anticipation of the coming of our salvation.

This year, I am troubled internally because I am teaching a college class that is going to cause me to miss every Advent service. At least this is ended before Christmas Eve where I will attend a late night candlelight service with a demeanor of utter reverence in fulfillment of God, born as man, being perfect, crucified, dead, resurrected and coming again.

Please watch this short video on Advent: http://vimeo.com/112184868



Concordia Publishing House

Book List #4 - The Stuff I Read for Fun and Enrichment

Here is the final list of books that I like. This time, it is all about what I enjoy reading or that which has taught me something I needed to know or change or serves as a personal reference. This list is varied.

The list contains fiction and non-fiction. I am sure you can find one of these you would like or agree with me on as to importance.

• Downbelow Station - by C. J. Cherryh: This particular book is an awesome ride through time and space and how people could be easily left cut off from everything. I particularly like the character of Signey Mallory who turns sides in the book to do the right thing. This book has personalities, military, star faring economics, politics, big business, factions, twists, turns... well... everything that makes a sci fi book a great read. Probably my favorite sci fi book of all time.
• Alliance Space - by C. J. Cherryh: See above, more Signey Mallory and Alliance Space side of the conflict. This book is actually two novels: Merchanter's Luck and 40,000 in Gehenna.
• Starship Troopers - by Robert Heinlein: Do not judge this book by the movie (although I loved the movie too), the book is far more in-depth. An all out high end space battle for the survival of man kind. The part I like the best is the political type of government set up in the beginning of the book (and the history of how Earth got that way).
• A Pirate Looks at 50 - by Jimmy Buffett: A non-fiction autobiography of Jimmy Buffett. Stories from throughout his life and how and why his encounters molded him. 
• The Winning Dad - by Stan Toler/Jerry Brecheisen: A great book on being a Dad. If I can ever accomplish fifty percent of the ways and means in this book, I would be a far better father. All I can do is continue to do my best. 
• The Darwin Awards (multiple books/volumes): No... I do not believe in Evolution and personally think Darwin was clueless to scientific method. These books have nothing to do with evolution, but they do prove that stupidity only has one cure... death. These books are a riot. Many would disagree with that statement... face it, I am jaded by 31 years in EMS. When I read these stories of people doing crazy things that lead to their own demise, it reminds me of many of the things I see on the ambulance. Understand that as EMS people, we have to have a strange sense of humor and force ourselves to laugh at the horrible. It is a defense mechanism... otherwise we will find ourselves sitting in a corner, rocking back and forth, saying "nani, nani... nani."
• The Planiverse - by A. K. Dewdney: I found this book a long time ago. It is about computer alien contact with a two-dimensional race. The book and it's illustrations will hurt your brain on trying to comprehend a two-dimensional world. I think math addicts would love this book too. The problems associated with life in 2D would be complex. 
• Decision Points - George W. Bush: Let me start by saying I really like George Bush and think
  
  he was a great president (let the hate mail begin). My family did well under his administration and my values were for the most part protected. This book tells, in his words, why he made the decisions he made. It is a great read.
• Fahrenheit 451 - by Ray Bradbury: Instead of starting the first fire department in colonial days, in this alternative timeline, Benjamin Franklin starts the first fire department to burn books. After all, knowledge in the hands of the public is dangerous (sarcasm from me). It takes place in a late 20th century time frame with the world on the verge of nuclear war as homes are burned to the ground for simply having books.
• The Lord of the Rings (series) - by J. R. R. Tolkien: Do I have to even say anything? Really? I could read these again and again. I think I have been through the series six or seven times.
• Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter - by Seth Grahame-Smith: The movie was horrid. The book is a roller coaster ride. Smith does a great job of suspension of disbelief in this book. Plus there is a background of history in the book that makes it actually educational within the fictional
  
  tale. The ending will blow your mind (not used in the movie which is now where even close to the book).
• The Dragon Riders of Pern (series) - by Anne McCaffrey: I do not even remember how many books are in this series, but all are excellent and dive into the aspects of the lives of many across a long timeline on the world of Pern. The books read like fantasy but ends up being pure sci fi.
• Getting Things Done - by David Allen: This is the best, and most simple book on organization and follow through I have ever read. If you are a manager, read it. Recommended to me by the principal of New Tech High School a few years ago. Glad I read it. He made his students read it. Good decision on his part. 

These several bear repeating from the other three lists as I find them staples of reference for my faith or for living life:

• The Holy Bible (ESV preferred): From my perspective, the ESV is the most accurate translation available. Sola Scriptura. The Word of God. It contains the Law and Gospel, gives us the only thing we really need by showing us the Savior and our own inadequacy from Genesis to Revelation.
• The Book of Concord: The Lutheran Confessions: This is doctrine I can grasp and believe in. If you like theological study, rad it, regardless of your beliefs. You will ask questions.
• The Lutheran Service Book: I like liturgy. My son likes liturgy. Enough said?
• Baden-Powell: Two Lives of a Hero: Just the best biography I have ever read. I like people who think, then do and continue to make an impact. Leaving a legacy is important. Baden-Powell did that. He never stopped. He rarely said no.

This is just a short list of books, but ones that I find special. Everyone has their likes and dislikes. If you read one book of one of these four lists, I will feel that I have served the purpose of these four blogs. Sharing insights is important. I hope mine have shown you something you can use or just an insight into me.

That said... what would YOU like to see me write on?

Book List #3 - Scouting Essential Reads

Here we go with the third, but not final installment of suggested reading lists. The one following this one will just be pure fun because it is just going to be the stuff I enjoy reading. If I post a repeat in that it will be for a different reason than why it appeared in the first list.

This list is strictly related to Scouting... or the Boy Scouts of America. For those of you not acquainted with the BSA, more information on the century old youth organization can be gained at www.scouting.org.

The books I am going to list here are what I consider the essentials for anyone engaged at the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Chair or Charter Organization Representative level. In some units the COR may not be deeply involved. Where true, that is a shame as that position can work toward a lot of different areas of troop development, recruiting, fundraising and numerous other opportunities for the troop.

I could go into resources for Cub Scouting but I am about four years removed from that arena and just now getting my feet wet as the COR of the Pack ad Troop at our charter organization, Evansville Lutheran School

Having served as a Den Leader, Cubmaster, Pack Committee member, Troop Committee member, Scoutmaster and now Charter Organization Representative, I have accumulated a fairly good amount of reading material, all of which will not be listed below... again, these are what, in my opinion only, are essentials for learning and reference.

First of all, the things we do as a unit to "grow boys" using this "game with a purpose" (Lord Baden-Powell) must support the aims and methods of Scouting, Scout Oath, Scout Law and support our role as a Charter Organization.

That said, I have found no better organization to teach boys how to survive in the real world while preserving things that matter.

So, if you want to take on an adult leadership role in a Boy Scout Troop, here is your reading list... this is of course a different role from youth leadership as they are really the ones in charge of the troop (as this list will readily teach you)...

• The Boy Scout Handbook: Well, duh... if you do not know this one pretty doggone well the chances are your youth will call your bluff and know it better than you do. There is game that is played every year at our local summer camp where the two men in charge of camp challenge the youth in the dining hall to question their "buffalo knowledge." Some hard questions get asked there. The knowledge on both sides of that coin is very deep. Know the material.
• The Scoutmaster Handbook: Read this cover-to-cover at least once. Keep it for reference. This is the how to do it after your training is over.
• Guide to Safe Scouting: This is updated every quarter. Do not get caught not knowing the content of this manual and it changes often! Contained therein are the rules we must live by to keep scouts safe. Available online at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx
• The BSA Field Book: This is a one stop book for fairly in-depth "how to do it"  for everything from camping to cooking, horseback riding to critical and thinking. Not only do you need it, every scout in your unit needs it.
• Guide to Awards and Insignia: Know this one and you will not fall victim to other scouters who are constantly telling you when, where and what you can wear on your uniform or your scouts uniforms. This is the only true reference. There is a lot of incorrect opinions out there on uniforming in the BSA. That said, I still do not understand why kilts should not be worn as part of the official uniform but it is not my decision to make.
• The Order of the Arrow Handbook: Number one, conduct yourself in a manner that you get elected by the troop committee to the OA (if you were not already elected as a youth). Then learn the book inside and out as you will be a resource to your youth OA Troop Representative (including pushing them to attend the monthly OA chapter meetings) and other youth in your unit.
• The Scoutmaster Minute: This little book will start you off with already written pearls of wisdom for the end of your troop meetings, but more importantly it leads you to recognize those little life happenings that translate into good Scoutmaster Minutes. Never end your troop meeting without one.
• Strength for Service: This is a reprint of an old book from the 1940's of small devotionals for very hard jobs and responsibilities. Written during a time of war, it was designed to bolster spirits in a time where the jobs at hand could cost you your life. This is the stuff that heroes are made from... A Scout is Brave.
• If I'd Known Then What I Know Now - by J. R. Parrish: This is a great book translating some youth life lessons into a book so people can hopefully learn the lessons before they make the mistakes. Good luck trying to get youth to read it (my own son even blew it off), but it does give you ideas how to translate the topics into good campfire discussions.
• Baden-Powell: the Two Lives of a Hero - by William "Greenbar Bill" Harcourt: To me, this is
  
  an essential read. It's long, but it is far from tedious. The founder of the world scouting movement had such an exciting life that every page urges you to want to read the next. You can see where almost every "little thing" in Scouting comes from and why. This is one of the top ten books I have read in my life. If you like biographies, this one is very complete. It is a two part, very thick book. The first part covers Lord Baden-Powell's life as a career British military officer including a detailed account of the siege of Mafeking where he was in command and held off the Boers for nearly a year. The second part deals with the creation of the Boy Scouts and how it spread world-wide like a fire. It was published in 1964 and is a phenomenal read.
• Wilderness First Aid Field Guide by Jones and Bartlett Publishing: I am a career paramedic and EMS manager. I learned things from this little book. If you are not a medical person but are an adult scouting leader, have this one at hand. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH of the boys and other leaders in your charge. Take it seriously. This little book is concise and will get you through a ton of minor and major emergencies. Get it. Carry it. Better yet, take the course. The book comes with taking the course.
• Since a Scout is Reverent (the 12^th and final point of Scout Law), do not forget the faith-based materials needed to focus on this important aspect of the program. If you are not supporting the 12^th point of Scout Law, you do not have a Boy Scout Troop. I am being generic here as in our units we take this VERY seriously and is one of the reasons we have these units in the first place. In our case, the two essentials are the Holy Bible and the Lutheran Service Book (hymnal, prayers and services). Do not make these secondary.

Those are my picks. It is kind of a small list. Like I said above this list is only my opinion based upon my experiences and the scouting challenges I have faced as a Scoutmaster and now as a COR. You may find others as well. I have also used the Program Features books and others.

Scouting Magazine is also a great resource especially in the area of new ideas and finding additional fundraising opportunities. You get it already each month with your leadership membership in the BSA. Read it.

One last thing… if you are going to be a long-term, valuable leader to your youth, take the Wood Badge Course. Yes… it is six days of your life you will never get back, BUT… given the nature of the course, it is six days disconnected from the rest of the world where you learn to put together diverse teams and accomplish things as a group. You will learn much of scouting’s origins and methods. You will also have a ton of fun. Do not cheat yourself. Take this course.

That's all I have for you now. If you have never spent any time with this great organization, take the time to do so. It makes great adults too.


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Book List #2 - Good EMS Reads

Since I did the last booklist on texts concerning faith, I am going to turn the keyboard toward emergency medical services this time (since I am in one of those rare moods where I am willing to speak about EMS when not at work). I will probably do two more… one on good read for Scouters and another on books I have thoroughly enjoyed reading for pleasure.

That said, this one will be a bit long as I want to be fairly global in my approach in case someone out there is trying to create a reading list that will help them further their career in EMS. It will be a list that is clinical, managerial and also work a bit for educators. Ask any EMS educator and they will tell you their opinion on text books. So will I, and mine will appear below somewhere in this large minefield of titles. There will also be several that you may need to find at used bookstores because they are out of print.



Me, circa 1984 taking blood
pressures at a mall.
Photo by John F. Maier

When it comes to EMS there is a lot to read. The problem comes in when trying to differentiate the good stuff from the bad. Here is the reality… what we need to read is directly related to EBM (evidence-based medicine) or how to get enough data to perform EBM. Unfortunately, we are just now exiting the dark ages of EMS where opinion and anecdote reigned supreme. Many in EMS still hold to outmoded and unproven perceptions of a reality based on isolated experiences and not aggregate or peer reviewed data.



Hence a quote from last year’s EMS State of the Sciences conference in Dallas: “We have to stop defining EMS by the things we do and start defining ourselves by the outcomes we produce.” I cannot remember who said it, but it is so very true.

Then you step into an ambulance station or an EMS discussion and you hear the focus. The talk is of this skill and that skill… of old medicine versus new medicine (accompanied by lamentation as to why we have to change… again). Try taking a skill, piece of equipment or a medication away from a group of paramedics. You will be met by gnashing of teeth and you might even get bit. Try adding something and you may be met with distrust as to why you have crossed the threshold carrying “change” (“change” might as well be Ebola to many EMS folks).

This list is going to center around EBM. If not directly related to EBM, indirectly through how to look at data or treat people.

I will start with the clinical/education list. So let’s crack the knuckles’ and get started:

• Emergency Care in the Streets – Nancy Caroline: To me this is the essential EMS textbook. It is a core read for the paramedic program and in my opinion, by far the best, most explanatory text out there for teaching paramedics. The accompanying resources are good as well. You will also find throughout this list that I really like the EMS publications published by Jones and Bartlett. I think they do a great job in the area of EMS.

• Critical Care Transport – also published by Jones and Bartlett: This is a core text for reference in starting any critical care program. You can get deeper with other books and resources, but this one is very global in its approach.  Again, the resources are good too.

• The 12-Lead ECG in the Acute Coronary Syndromes – by Phalen and Aehlert: I still believe that the Phalen teaching model produces the best outcomes in prehospital STEMI identification and management.

• Prehospital Trauma Life Support: Given two major training programs in trauma care, I tend to like this one best for the timeliest adoption of new information.

• Cardiology Essentials – by Theresa Holler: I was delivering content that was hard to find in writing anywhere concerning cardiac care for years. Then along came this little book with its tips in the margins that covered everything I had been teaching. Good book.

• Wilderness First Aid (both the text and field guide)- published again by Jones and Bartlett: This one is great for those situations where care is not living right around the corner. We use it in Scouting so this one will probably come up again.

• Principles of Emergency Medical Dispatch – by Clawson, Dernocoeur and Rose: I am not a 100% sold fan of EMD, especially on the methodology of prioritization. I have seen a lot of cases where local data flies right in the face of that portion. That said, I do believe that it provides a decent framework for medical 911 dispatching and when the chips are down, every caller deserves CPR instructions. Read this one and at least you will have a working knowledge of the topic.

It would not be right to discuss EBM and not mention the focus on periodicals. There are really only three that are worth reading from an EBM perspective. I will however discuss a fourth more common one.

• Prehospital Emergency Care: This is the journal of the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians. It contains peer reviewed, published science on the field of EMS. This is a must read if you want data driven future views of EMS as well as the debunking of age old non-EMB practices. They have even started producing model EBM care guidelines.

• Annals of Emergency Medicine: This is essentially the peer reviewed scientific journal for emergency physicians. At least one article in every issue will have some kind of impact on EMS.

• Circulation: Although I sometimes feel that the AHA is a day late and a dollar short on implementing change, Circulation is another resource for our endless goal of affecting those patients that are less than 0.5% of our total call volume… cardiac arrest.

• JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services): When I started in EMS, this magazine was the bomb. It migrated to a collection of EMS news (or behind the scenes after the news) and documentary of what those in EMS do. Now it is moving back toward science. The annual exception to this is what happens once a year (today in fact) when they release the EMS State of the Sciences supplement. This supplement is complemented by what I consider to be the best conference of the year the EMS State of the Sciences Conference in Dallas (otherwise known as “A Gathering of Eagles”).  I will put a link to this supplement and another to the conference at the bottom of this blog entry… but act quick… if you intend to go to Eagle’s the positions sell out quick and they are already taking registrations for February 2015. It is a very cost effective conference as well.

The other conference that is great is the NAEMSP Annual Meeting. It covers fewer topics than the State of the Sciences conference, but it also has very solid, peer reviewed science where the State of the Sciences is sometimes the raw data (but that is good when presented rapid fire in over 40 common sessions… you don’t have to pick!).

Now for books that help you achieve EBM and outcomes. This is the art and the science (as Dr. Ed Racht would say):

• The NAEMSP 4-volume set (Clinical Aspects of Prehospital Medicine, Medical Oversight of EMS, Evaluating and Improving Quality in EMS, and Special Operations Medical Support): These are not only great reads by experts about what is important (THE MEDICINE), but a great desk reference set.

• The Six Sigma Handbook – by Pyzdek and Keller: It does not have to be Six Sigma, but it sure helps to grab a tool kit of QI tools.

• Six Sigma Simplified – by Jay Arthur: This book and its smaller stapled companion quick reference of what analysis you should use for what data are great desk references. If you do not know what to do with your data, this book will give you a start.

• Future Edge – by Joel Barker: This is an old read from the 1990’s but the message is clear. You must anticipate, innovate and be excellent. If you suffer from paradigm paralysis or if you do not know what that is READ THIS BOOK. It is by far my favorite management book of all time. It explains why innovation always comes from the fringe.

• Professional Presence – by Susan Bixler: I like this book. It convinced me to stop wearing EMS uniforms to meetings. Dress for the role you are in. If you are speaking with hospital administrators, dress like them, talk like them, learn their issues and seek win-win solutions. It is an old book, but I think it a good one.

• Legal Aspects of Emergency Medical Services – by Cohn and Azzara: This is just a simple, basic legal reference for EMS.

• The Magic of 3am – by James O. Page: I have been through three copies of this book. It is priceless. I still read sections of this to my medic classes. If you like ethics and answering the questions as to why you continue to be in EMS, this is a great book. If you have never read it, treat yourself.

• Thriving on Chaos – by Tom Peters: Want to really figure out what is going on in an organization? MBWA (management by wandering around). This is an eye opener about getting out of the office and engaging the people in your organization.

• A Passion for Excellence – by Tom Peters: Same author as the last one. Peters on organizational excellence.

• Thinking Critically – by John Chaffee: This book is really old, but it gives good background on the most important field skill in EMS, critical thinking. Critical thinking cannot be trained, but it can be honed to a fine edge.

• Raving Fans – by Ken Blanchard: Yes… it’s about customer service, excellence and the patient experience. It is also about listening to the people closest to the patient/customer.
• Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun - by Wes Roberts: This old

  

  book from 1985 is fascinating. It talks about and dives into leadership traits and tactics. The book connects these historically and shows the skills you must hone to get people to want to follow you and at the same time not make tactical blunders so that your people see the winning scenario of their efforts. This is another must read book. At only 110 large print pages, you can read it in a night.
  

Well… that’s my EMS career book list. Hope it helps. I am sure there will be some disagreements with my choices, but a blog is about personal experience and expression so take it for what it is worth.

There are some useful links below (including one to the AMR Ebola page which NAEMSP has stated is the place to go for EMS and Ebola information):

 

2014 State of the Sciences supplement from JEMS:

http://www.jems.com/special/ems-state-science-2014

State of the Sciences 2015 Conference info (Eagles):

http://gatheringofeagles.us/2015/2015information.htm

NAEMSP 2015 Annual Meeting:

http://www.naemsp.org/pages/annual-meeting.aspx

AMR Ebola Information page:

http://www.amr.net/Ebola