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.


Our Troop logo

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

 

Book List #1 - Christian Texts



cph.org

I am going to blog on several book lists... yes... I know I am dancing around all over the place and owe you, the reader, several other promised entries. I desire to read now more than ever. On these book lists are texts I have read and ones that I have not. Some in part, some fully read.

This list will be concerning the ones I want on my desk at home, at my finger tips concerning the Christian faith. Some I have read and read again. Others of these I have used as reference or have read or studied certain sections.

So here are some I wish to have as essentials, as real books, not electronic editions, sitting right on my desk:

• The Lutheran Essentials Library

  

  cph.org

• The Lutheran Study Bible
• The Lutheran Service Book
• Luther's Catechism
• Treasury of Daily Prayer
• The Lutheran Book of Prayer
• Reading the Psalms with Luther
• Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions
• Law and Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible
• The Lutheran Difference
• The Apocrypha: The Lutheran Edition
• Broken - by Jonathan Fisk (his weekly videos at www.worldvieweverlasting.com have been essential to my continued learning and growth. This book is a must read)
• The Canon of Scripture - by F. F. Bruce (the complete history of how our current text of scripture came to be covering many of the church forefathers)
• Lutheranism 101 (all about why we worship and believe the way we do)
• The Church from Age to Age: A History from Galilee to Global Christianity - by Edward Engelbrecht
• Take Eat, Take Drink - by Ernest Bartels (by far my favorite Christian book read yet. Thoroughly covers the history of the Sacrament of the Altar)
• The Didache - an early Christian church handbook of liturgical worship. One of the earliest records of how worship was conducted in the earliest Christian congregations
• Add to this list a copy of both the old blue and old red LCMS hymnals

cph.org

This is the short list. There are others, but these are the ones I want to get sooner than later. I would not mind having them as eBooks either, but I still prefer the heft and feel of a good text and the ability to right notes in the margins.

I have the Lutheran Service Book listed above (actually on loan from my 15 year old son). I also have an 1899 Lutheran Pocket hymnal from Concordia Publishing found for me by a good old LCMS Lutheran, John Davis. It is now a prized, protected addition to my library.

Why do I desire these? In the pages of all are the depth and insight I need to grow as a Christian. These do not save me or "enhance" my salvation in any way. They will enhance my studies, my ability to understand and my lay attempts at apologetics.

At the core is scripture... Sola Scriptura. Let scripture interpret scripture.

These books will help me understand the Word... the son incarnate, crucified, buried and risen again. That is my desire.

Soli Deo Gloria

An Hour That Will Not Be Forgotten... Veteran's Day 2014

In a way, I guess I approached today a little too operationally. After all, my mind was preoccupied. There was the blown engine in my wife's vehicle over the weekend. Then my car started having issues last night. Luckily it was a simple repair today as my wife's car was being towed to get an engine from another not so lucky, wrecked Honda Odyssey.

Just a little preoccupied...

I had to go pick up some Scouts and flags and get them over to link up with the rest of our Boy Scout Troop at our local Healthsouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital. The plan was simple. We were going to have the boys go into the rooms of the in-patient veterans with our full size United States and Indiana flags, give each veteran a small flag, thank them for their service, salute them then exit their room. We were going to do this for every veteran in the hospital.

We arrived and were greeted in the lobby by employees and management of the facility. The Troop was given a pep talk by one of the managers on what Veteran's Day stood for and how important these people were to our history and way of life.

I get it. I feel like I always have... I have always been one to support our military and our veterans... without question. We owe our way of life to the fact that they protected our freedoms. The veterans that I am used to being around are mainly from recent conflicts. Many are younger than me.

I had never really been around many of our older veterans, especially those who are advanced in age and are suffering from ailments and injuries.

That came home in me tonight.


We visited with thirteen in-patient veterans at the facility and two employees who were veterans as well. We performed as planned with the Senior Patrol Leader calling the youth to attention in or in front of each room and then giving a salute to the bed ridden or wheelchair bound veteran. Marines, Army, Army Air Corps, Air Force and Navy were represented in this collection of patients.

Many saluted back. Several wept under the recognition. Some told of us of their service in WWII over 70 years ago. Many served in Korea or Vietnam, others more recently in the middle east.

They were all appreciative of the recognition, but as the Scoutmaster (a veteran himself) and I watched, the boys became appreciative of the moments also.

Several of these men told the scouts to be strong and never be afraid even though they might feel the fear. They were told that whatever they do, they should do it well and do their best. They were told stories of local Boy Scout camps now long closed. They heard how many of these veterans were Life or Eagle Scouts.

Our Scouts were, quiet and respectful, only speaking to say various forms of "thank yous" and delivering salutes while placing flags in withered hands.

The Scouts learned quickly of the importance of this detail as did I. I have always held these men in high regard, but now to see them in the twilight of their lives, now recovering from a variety of healthcare issues, now changed my view even more. They cannot be forgotten. Not in any way or at any time.

There are no pictures of these veterans here. Being in a healthcare facility, privacy dictates that we not show them. But you can see them in your mind's eye... lying in bed or sitting in a wheelchair.

Men that once defended this great nation being visited by youth one fifth their age that have no frame of reference as to what they have been through. Seeing the tears flow made me realize that we must actively do things for our veterans. We must actively show our appreciation.

The Scouts of Troop 310 will remember this day. One Scout remarked to me that this service project was "deep." I will say that it was deep also. It was very insightful. We immediately agreed to do this again each year. It is a small gesture with big implication and we will take it on.

Tomorrow is not Veteran's Day. Do not wait until this day in 2015. Thank a veteran and show appreciation every day. The freedom you have today is because of their sacrifice.

The Diametric Nature of My Wants and Needs

DIAMETRIC: completely opposed, being at opposite extremes, "in diametric contradiction to his claims" - Merriam Webster Definition

It has been quite a while since I have written at length in this blog. Suffice it to say that it has been extremely busy of late. Not an excuse, or maybe it is as I always feel guilty when my writing gets limited to the technical side, namely the type of writing I do for work.

This particular entry is going to start out sounding like a list of self-centered, material driven  wishes for a genie in a bottle... well some of those I am contemplating are not really material, but could be seen as self-centered. The driver on this may be that I turned 50 in 2014. Maybe the topic is being driven by some intense introspection. Honestly, I could not tell you for sure as to my motivation... other than to write about it.

So... my warning going into this one is simple... please read the ENTIRE entry to the end. Is not the end where the points are usually made? If you tire of the few insights that I am going to give into my "wants," simply scroll down a bit to the summation as it will differ dramatically.

I am going to pen a list of my wants... in some cases listing the "why" behind the want as well. I have been working quite hard lately, in a variety of areas and I believe you could describe my current state of mind as a bit on the taxed side. What better time to want something than when one feels deserving of more than what they feel they have at the moment? Right?

Some that read this blog know me personally. Others know me at a distance, and I am quite sure some reading will not know me at all. This list will give you an insight into some of the things I like and dislike. Please take offense at nothing; this is simply going to be me putting some things down on paper that come into my mind in the arena of what I, as a human influenced by a sinful nature, find that I would like to pursue.

The first list will be the "wants." What I need will follow. I will even attempt to give you some pictures to clarify and amuse you, the reader.

Let's begin:

• I would really like a 50-52 ring gauge Dominican or Cuban Montecristo cigar and a glass of Louis XIII Cognac from Remy Martin. That of course would probably cost me about half of my monthly house payment (with the cigar being less than 10% of the cost). This is a want list so let's make it a bottle of Louis XIII and a humidor full of these wonderful cigars. While we are at it let's just fully stock the solid oak and Spanish cedar humidor (built and given to me by John Davis many moons ago) with Rocky Patel's and other Toro size or larger smokes. We can also add to the Remy... a collection of single-malt Scotches, Kentucky and Canadian Bourbons. Maybe a small fridge of ice cold Guinness as well. Let's just go even farther and have small wine cellar. At risk of sounding like a lush, we will stop there.
• I want a far better house than what I have and I would like that house to be in a far better area not exhibiting the same level of police reports and crime. I would really like this house to be larger than 998 square feet (yes, we have four kids still at home with us in a house that small... and yes I am thankful for what we have as there are far too many that have far less). I want that house to have a private study where I can have my books... and my cigars. I want it to have a sewing room for my wife and a bedroom where each child does not have to share a room. And the kitchen... the kitchen... I want two stoves with at least two ovens. I want one of those stoves to be in an island in the center of the kitchen with a pot and pan rack hanging from the ceiling over it. I want this house to be on the edge of a large woods or forest. It should have many types of trees but with a good mix including many evergreens so that you can smell the pine needles in the fall. It needs to have a large play set with a multitude of activities for the twins. It should have a place for Michael and my wife to practice with the bow and arrow. It will need a basketball goal for Luke and Peter and a playhouse... or better yet a tree house for our "Southern Indiana Tree Pig," Rhiannon. Back on the inside, I want two front-loading clothes washers accompanied by two dryers (even more desired with the whole school uniform thing going on these days and our laundry nearly doubling). I want at least one if not several fireplaces. It should be modern yet appear rustic. Wood, stone and the color green should prevail in the appearance.
• How about a car. I mean a real car. No minivan or SUV (although I am thankful for both and they serve our needs very well). I want something that is fun to drive and filled with stupid little options like color changing dash lights that serve no other purpose than to be "cool." Let's call it a 2013 Ford Mustang. It has to be solid white... or maybe have two medium blue racing stripes from the hood to the trunk. While we are at it, let's have that car just for daily driving... let's replace the 2004 Honda SUV with something very similar. It must have eight seat belt positions and be able to tow a trailer. Let's keep the current trailer, as it suits our needs as a family just fine, but get a new one for the Troop... maybe a 12x6 (and of course the new SUV must be able to pull this with eight people on board. Maybe that trailer will get donated to the Boy Scout Troop some day. I doubt an SUV can pull much more than that safely.
• I want my beard. As I write this, I currently have had to shave it away, as my employer 
  
  does not allow beards. I will post a picture of how I would like to look when I retire (although I doubt I can ever have the masculine looks of Jeff Bridges). Oh, the vanity that does shine through when we think of how we would like to appear. The hair needs to be much longer as well.
• Back to the house... I want some non-worn furniture and room enough to have a table that would seat the entire family plus guests... I think that means seating for twelve. I want my library out of the boxes in storage and back onto book shelves.
• I want a really nice chess set. Luke would probably love this.
• I want to see the stars and moon more... from the Sonoran desert of Arizona, from the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico and from the beaches of Florida.
• I want a Swedish Vallhund. Look it up. One really cool dog that could sit beside me next to an outdoor fireplace and look all stately while I smoke my cigars and drink my Cognac.
• I need (oops... slipped up there... should be "want") a shed. Not really a shed, but a true yard barn... looked at a 24x15. That should do it. Room for getting rid of our monthly storage payment and still enough room for my wife's tools and a workbench (she will be a topic of an upcoming blog). I really want the two story yard barn but our silly City code says you cannot have a structure on your property taller than your house.
• I want to find a ton of money for our Boy Scout Troop (see earlier blog posts). We need that trailer... bad. We need to finish out cookware and patrol boxes for three more patrols. Most of all, we need to have enough cash on hand that we can pay ahead of time for summer camp reservations (October for the coming June). While we are at it, I would love to hit the lottery (or some other means of no work/extreme payout fantasy) that would allow the wife and I to buy the blue building occupying the only part of that block that our church does not own. We could then donate it to the church for use as a daycare/preschool during the day and to be used for Scout and other organization meetings during the evenings.
• I want to send my  oldest son to the 2015 World Scout Jamboree in Japan.
• I want a vacation. One of at least two weeks duration. I want to see mountains and I want to see the ocean during said vacation. No email.
• From my EMS side... I never want to hear anyone say the word Ebola again.
• I want to drive to St. Louis on a Saturday and spend about four hours in the Concordia Publishing House bookstore... with an unlimited checkbook. I have seen Rev. Dr. Noland's library... I could read for the rest of my life and never be filled with the knowledge that I seek.
• I want to quit my entire EMS career and devote my time to impact. By impact I mean in the church, with youth, with the community... maybe even by designing excellent systems of prehospital clinical care delivery (yeah, we circled back to the EMS devil again). Since we circled back to EMS... I want to really devote a ton of time to the Indiana EMS Commission. We have a great framework for EMS in Indiana. It needs an infusion of evidence-based medicine and practice to make it even better.
• I want time with my wife. I want to make it where she does not have to work for us to survive. Not saying that I want to her to have to stay home. I want her free to make real impact as well. I want to camp with her. I want to travel with her (by the way have I ever mentioned how much I hate travelling without my wife?).
• I want to look at our personal finances just once without wondering how we make ends meet. I still am not sure how the bills get paid other than by the grace of God.
• I want to be able to buy an energy drink whenever I want one.
• I want unlimited coffee... made by a Keurig or french press. Unlimited. Darker roasts preferred.
• I want Monday's off. Every Monday. I want to be able to spend every Monday morning in scripture study with Pastor's Wiist, Moog and Esterline. I learn much there.
• I want time to help out and work more within Evansville Lutheran School.
• I want my kids to mind what my wife and I say without question (is that really too much?).
• I want our nation to protect Christian freedoms. If you want to protect other religions freedoms, do so. Do it without hindering ours.

So... by now you have a very small glimpse at the wants of Lee Turpen and a little bit of the why associated with the desires. This is not a complete list. No one could ever make one. I have my good thoughts and bad thoughts just like every sinner on the face of God's creation.

So what about the needs? In reality, I could make a very long list with some form of human mental, logical justification for each which somehow by my own definition would be different from a "want."

Here is the reality. I have no needs.

And He said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." - Luke 12:15, ESV

Every need I could ever have was taken care of at the cross of Jesus. Daily, redeemed sinners around the world pray. We petition the Father for many things... that we regain our health, that we can pay the next bill, that our situation would change, or that we would not be oppressed. These are asked for as are many others.

Here is more on that reality. The only thing I need is God's saving grace. I have sinned through commission and omission. I have sinned through Adam. I am sentenced to eternal death which is separation from God. This need has been met...

Thy Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;

He's by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.

And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,

Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;

The Kingdom ours remaineth.

-Martin Luther (A Mighty Fortress is Our God)

We sometimes lament when a prayer is not answered and fail to realize that the ultimate prayer... rescue from the result of our sin, has already been granted. As evil as the many things that can and do happen to us seem, the ultimate rescue has already been made for those that believe the crucified and risen Savior.

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

So... my wants are many. The perception of my needs may also be many. My actual needs are none. Through the Word, Water and the Sacrament of the Altar I am saved. I perceive that I need comfort in this. That comfort is received through His body and His blood.

Scripture alone tells us that salvation is through grace alone, by faith alone through Christ alone to the glory of God alone. Not my sentence structure, but one I read once that now makes perfect, daily sense to me.

I will look upon the cross and remember that I really have no needs. I guess I have a "need." It's a want, and a desire. It is for Christ and His sacraments. It is a need of my own to hold close my baptism, and receive "mystic, sweet Communion." It is to hold the Word, Faith and the promise of His Grace very close and to glorify Him.

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum.

And by the way... want a good read... the article at the link below has my vote for short read of the year!

http://birdchadlouis.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/how-a-small-rural-congregation-became-a-megachurch-overnight/