A Concise Regurgitation of my Facebook Posts from the EMS State of the Sciences 2014 Meeting

Let me start by saying that I also plan to post my notes from the NAEMSP meeting in January, but... I never really promised the NAEMSP notes to anyone and I have promised these to many, so we shall do these first!

And, given that the closest LCMS church is about 100 blocks away and I am sans vehicle in a Dallas, Texas hotel, Sunday worship has already been completed in the hotel lobby with some streaming hymns through an Android App on my phone... and, there exist about three hours until I meet with Kevin Hendrickson to head to the Scareport (where the scareplanes land... to quote Scotty Whitfield) about 20 miles away... followed by about two more hours of waiting... for a 1.25 hour flight into the current ice storm that is Evansville, and... you get the picture... getting the picture? That may not have been the longest run on sentence I ever wrote, but its close and it conveys the emotion of the moment.

So, here is a copy (with a few edits) of all of my Facebook posts concerning the Eagle's Annual Meeting, less trailing comments, except where needed for clarification. Suitable for printing but not for framing (too much coffee this morning?):

• Once again I will be posting updates for the next two days from the US Metropolitan

  

  Eagle's Day One

  Consortium of Medical Director's EMS State of the Sciences Conference for all of you EMS peeps out there... stay tuned!
• Epi alone does not improve neuro intact survival in arrest. Epi+Vaso+Steroid increases ROSC by 19%. 3x neuro intact survival! Also... stopping all pauses in compressions must be a continued focus. - Slovis, Nashville.
• Oxygen is detrimental in CVA, AMI, COPD and Sepsis. No target of 98-100%. New norm should be 92-94%. COPD target is 89-92%. Slovis-Nashville.
• Follow the Eagles key points at "@eaglesgather" or "#GatheringEagles14"
• Boston Marathon bombing response shows that training works and planning works. "Chance favors the prepared mind." -Louis Pasteur. EMS units in urban cities should have no less than 4 touniquets on every ambulance. Dyer-Boston.
• Local EMS mitigated emergency patients and accomplished nursing home evacuation prior to task force arrival at the West, Texas explosion. 60% of patients were transported by private vehicle as several ambulances were destroyed. Medical Director was injured and lost house in blast. Lesson: do what is needed to do to make it work. Understand the basics. Be involved in preparedness. Kidd-San Antonio.
• Plan or plans will be made for you.
• Active Shooter Response. 50% shooting still in progress when police arrive. 98% single shooter. Medium sized communities. Shooter shifts to targeting police on police arrival or kills self. When officer alone, must engage shooter 75% of time. If engaged, officer shot 33% of time. New focus, engage fast rather than prep for entry. Stops incident fsster. See Hartford Consensus. Fabbri-FBI.
• Active shooter LE will most likely no longer wait for SWAT under Hartford Consensus and FEMA active shooter guidelines. This is a joint police, fire and EMS response. Paramedics should deploy with police into cleared, but not secured areas. Treatment MUST begin in warm zone using TECC guidelines. In the second in, rescue team concept (RAMS), Police serves as security for EMS on RAMS team. All Philadelphia fire medics are now trained for entry with appropriate equipment. Mechem-Philadelphia.
• "For the life of the flesh is in the blood..." Leviticus 17:11. They just unveiled an EB guideline for hemorrhage control by consensus of ACS-COT, NASEMSO, NAEMSP, ECRI and AMR: Direct pressure, tourniquet or hemostatic dressing if not an appendage.
• Sometimes big is big and big is bad... there is no "take it all in first" action in a massive tornado. Goodloe-Tulsa.
• Asiana crash. Regular emergencies do not stop. Have your initial procedures baked in place. Walking wounded were very badly hurt and were not green. Great response videos. Yeh- San Francisco.
• Just a note. This remains the go to conference of the year for EMS. I have been to none consistently better.
• "We have failed to educate physicians on what EMS is and where EMS is going." Blackwell-Greenville. All first year South Carolina med students must complete and certify as NREMT and work one shift a month on ambulance.
• Recipe for simulation vomit... Campbell's chunky vegetable soup with two shots Jack Daniels... shake well. Blackwell (blame him).
• Kudos to Neil Richmond’s Louisville, Kentucky EMS medics who assisted with registration last night to keep flow going here at Eagles in Dallas.
• 53 urban, federal agency and international medical directors now on stage... let the audience questions begin.
• Pay attention to the medicine in your system. Keep the radio under your pillow 24 hours a day.
• Michael Copass wins 2014 National Excellence in EMS Award. Many of the medical directors present from across the nation trained under him in Seattle or took sage advice from him.
• 1) Had the pleasure of lunch with the Medical Director of FDNY and several other EMS professionals. Good discussions on EB use of spine boards and also arrest management. 2) 
• Where I keep being mistaken for a Physician when teaching... I have now been bestowed with an AAS degree via my name tag... thank you very much UT Southwest... LOL
• Low dose Ketamine very effective for pain control without many side effects. 0.1mg-0.5mg/kg IV. Can be given intranasal. Costello-ACEP.
• Intranasal Fentanyl very effective and safe in Peds. 20% of EMS calls involve pain. Taillac-NASEMSO. Fits with AMR Evansville protocol and experience.
• Neither psychology nor data show length based tape resuscitation in Peds is actually correct or works. Great lecture on how the brain thinks. Call to remove length based tape from practice. Antevy-Broward. How many of us have said this for many years? www.pediatricemergencystandards.com
• Clawson presented little used EMD protocols on stuck accelerator and also sinking vehicle. Played audio of EMDs failing to use protocol. Tragic. You only get one chance at this before death. Clawson-NAED.
• Fairly common for Bravo level EMD responses to become or be arrests on or after arrival. Advocates first responder response. Less than that showed only 23% of true Echo responses received FR response. N. Richmond-Louisville. (I have seen this way too often).
• 95% of training is for 5% of calls. Everything we do has to be in line with the IHI Triple Aim. Beeson-Ft. Worth.
• A vision without resources is a delusion. Beeson- Ft. Worth.
• Albuquerque study shows double medic crews make more errors. Crews of EMT/Paramedic faster at clearing scene. Harrell-Albuquerque.
• Paramedics are extremely good at identifying very ill patients. Paramedics are also very good at identifying patients who are perfectly fine. It’s the ones in the middle that are difficult. Isaacs-Dallas.
• During lightning round discussions, one city medical director has ordered tourniquets placed in every public AED box. I know what this comment may stimulate... what about tourniquet over use by limited training individuals? I do not believe that is the case. 1) Tourniquets are now proven to not cause harm so it really is not an issue if it is applied as overkill by the public. 2) when needed it is a proven life saver. (I am going to make a shout out that we need tourniquets in every classroom for teachers as part of active shooter response planning... please don't give me any flack about the training level, it's simple and would save lives).
• One European medical director commented that they have found the new IT clamp to be very effective in controlling scalp lacerations.
• Alaska has a state grant that will allow every 8th grader to be certified in CPR state-wide. Levy-Anchorage.
• There appears to be quite a bit of support from several medical directors dealing with large patient volumes who are transitioning from King and Combi-tube to the I-Gel stating raving reviews from crews. London Ambulance Service has also transitioned to the I-Gel. (Have to look at that!).
• Frequent flyers now being called Super Users. Top 20 patients in LA accounted for 2100 EMS calls and 1900 transports. The median age was 51. 80% had a payer source, but only 10% resulted in reimbursement. In most cases ER was not appropriate for their care. Heavy burden on EMS system infrastructure and cost. Sometimes multiple transports in a single day. Impacts availability of EMS and increases ER load thus increasing ER wait times. Shortage of primary care physicians. ACA may make ERs much more busy. EMS turn around time or "wall time" is increasing. Hospitals cannot hire more staff as reimbursement dwindles. ER patient volume is seeing more patients who are not admitted. Resulting in mid-level providers in the field and need for mobile integrated health (still needs payer source). EMS systems should become more tiered in response (I agree!). Radical change is ahead. Eckstein/Los Angeles.
• EMS care at the end of life is increasing. EMS needs guidance and training in this area. Yancey-Atlanta.
• Ft. Worth system notifies hospice of 911 responses to hospice patients so that they are involved from dispatch. They also offer the caller the community paramedic to come to house instead of ambulance if desired. The key is an innovative partnership that works well for end of life care and helps prevent hospice revocation. Helps decrease the effect of the panic response at time of 911 activation. Beeson/Ft. Worth.
• Up to 48,000 Afghan and Iraq theater veterans are homeless. Phoenix fire implemented a training program for EMS to be aware of what some veterans are experiencing. Also initiated dispatcher training for veteran interaction during crisis. Overviews stressors, PTSD and available resources. 81% reported having been attacked during duty. 79% had seen dead bodies. 9% of the Arizona population are veterans. Played videos of live combat to show environment experienced and IED detonations (not that it compares to being there). IED explosions were huge, including one that erupted 30 feet of asphalt directly up in the air as if a monster was coming up out of the road. The question was asked.... if you had seventy near fatal car accidents in one year between ages 18 and 19, would it mess you up? Combat Operational Stress First Aid was lightly referenced. In some cases, more suicides have occurred than number lost in combat in a single year. Be respectful of deployment experience. VA working hard to identify and offer treatment. Phoenix was the first US city to house all identified homeless veterans. Gallagher-Phoenix.
• Salt Lake has program triaging some psych patients directly to psych facilities to decrease ER load and deliver appropriate care. Youngquist/Salt Lake.
• Substance abuse and mental health is the largest area of need in mobile integrated health. They are screening for psych facility transport as well (Wake County). Their advanced practice paramedics are trained in breathalyzer use. "If the patient is suicidal, you can make a pretty good case that they need to see a psychiatrist not a trauma center." Myers-Raleigh.
• Tomorrow: Spine Board discussions, resuscitation, street drugs and trauma! STAY TUNED! Heading to dinner.... phew!!! (had to interject that one as I was getting texts asking why the updates had stopped after 6pm!).

  

  A foggy start to Day Two...

• Day 2 posts from Eagles will begin within the hour. Please feel free to use the Facebook SHARE feature to spread anything interesting. This is the kind of information that leads to changes in patient population outcomes. (some of these posts had up to 30 shares per post).
• 58% of medical directors still feel prehospital therapeutic hypothermia is valid and are continuing. 85% believe in motorcycle helmet removal. 60% believe in sports helmet removal. 80% call codes in the field. 55% feel Ketamine should be used in EMS. 39% use device med dispension for EMS at hospital. 25% still respond to all 911 calls lights and siren. 83% allow permissive hypotension in trauma. This is reported from the Eagles library threads. They are going to make these 78 threads available for public viewing this year as 10 topic areas. Local studies will be available as well as survey results. Augustine-Eagles Librarian. I will advise site when revealed.
• Chicago fire presented how they used the CARES database to improve OHCA outcomes. Weber-Chicago. I will reiterate this again. If your EMS system is not enrolled and participating in CARES you are are missing out on a very kow cost tool for comparison on OHCA success. Not very time consumptive to play in this arena. I know that in 2013, Evansville was the only player in Indiana. We need the whole state involved. You don't know what you don't know... measure and benchmark. (In comments it was noted that Harrison County EMS has now started CARES entry for 2014, Gary Kleeman and Mike Hunter who used to work in Evansville. Great job!).
• First question to always ask... how does this apply to my system? (This is why I hate state and regional protocol sets). 40% better outcome with intubation over superglottic airway in OHCA. Trust, professionalism and perfection is what every patient expects every time... this applies to airway also. Waveform (not colormetric) capnography on every airway as the FIRST mechanism to confirm and monitor placement and effectiveness. BVM alone for some patients with difficult airways could be more beneficial than intubation or SGA. paramedic must have ability to choose by patient presentation. McMullan - Cincinnati.
• No ventilations during 1st 6 minutes on scene of OHCA in Witchita. All are worked on scene. Have judged that ventilation and drugs are secondary to assure 90% of time is spent doing compressions. Systems must do whatever is beeded to decrease perishock pauses in compressions. Look up the Japanese words Seiton, Seisou, Seiketsu ans Shitsuke... and apply to how you manage arrests. Start compressions immediately following shock. They have reduced perishock pauses from 31 seconds to 5 seconds. Braithwaite-Witchita.
• Video taping cardiac arrests in Anchorage. They put GoPro cameras on every LP15. Seen only by medical director then file is destroyed. Too many bags and equipment on scene is a distraction and hinders movement and care. Video allows feedback that you may not see yourself. Ethics and legal on this are still undetermined. Not used for discipline. Levy-Anchorage.
• Compression fraction is the number one effector of OHCA survival. ROSC is the number one predictor of survival. Work them where the drop. If the rearrest in unit STOP. If there is not enough room to work them in unit pull them out. Let nothing impact compressions. They have used PDSA cycles to improve this process in Austin/Travis. Hinchey-Austin.
• Memphis has had a dramatic increase in ROSC with use of LUCAS but no outcome info is available regarding survival to discharge. Jury still out on mechanical CPR. Holley-Memphis. I still think that the only valid reason for mechanical CPR is long transports with prolonged CPR for crew safety in transit.
• NAEMSP is publishing position on when to terminate arrest soon. Wake County data shows predicted survival probability in VF and PEA lend toward the 40-50 minute range to capture 90% of survivors with 70% neuro intact. Asystole very short in comparison. 20 minutes. If capno is good.... keep working it. Myers-Raleigh.
• Colorado is seeing increasing excited delerium issues with Black Mamba Cannabis since legalization. Epidemic levels. Dangerous for user and very dangerous for caregivers. Ketamine being used in this situation. 5mg/kg IM. Less proved to need redosing. Hefty dose. 33% required intubation. Shorter ER stay with Ketamine. Had higher intubation occurence with Midazolam. Ketamine works. Collwell/Denver.
• 1013 fentanyl related deaths 2005-2007. Now seeing fentanyl laced Heroin in Philly. Most effected cities are Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. Detroit had 12 deaths in one day. Public narcan administration seems to be helping. Carfentanyl is 100x more powerful than fentanyl if that is used. Always give lowest amount of Narcan needed to improve respiratory status. Mechem-Philadelphia.
• Naloxone is not a benign drug. Medicine changes rapidly. If it was benign we would not be discussing opiate withdrawl. If they are breathing adequately Narcan should never be used. What is really needed? Naloxone in this case? No. What is arrival difference between LEO and medic unit. Program should not happen until this is measured and found to be an issue. Four minute difference not enough to warrant LEO Narcan. Goodloe-Tulsa/OKC. My thought is this... we just need to measure need and make an EBM decision rather than be reactionary. If found to be a real issue so be it.
• Science is good. Technology is great. Unless you can socialize it... its dead in the water. It means you talk the talk and walk the walk. What have we learned at Eagles? You can learn more in 10 minutes than in 60. Humor and slapstick make it stick. In order to move forward you dont have to be organized. Change is rapid and consistent... but not necessarily organized. No fluff. Cut to the chase. Give the data and go. People pay attention to quirky... use that! Eagles presents successes and failures in a peer environment. What sounds ridiculous ends up being good ideas. Leave here wondering how well you are doing at changing your system. This is art and science. If you suck at art you can't implement the science. Evidence must translate to implementation or it is useless. Eagles is the fertile soil for evaluating small tests of change. (Resounding applause for this). Shame on us if we do not become transparent, accountable practices of medicine. Racht-AMR. My note... fits perfectly with the IHI Triple Aim and small tests of change. How do we get EMS to embrace this?
• Lightning round... how many have non-EMS narcan programs? About 20-25%. How many have streets littered with dead bodies of heroin addicts? Not a single hand came up... I do not know the answer... is there a measured/assessed need?
• Lightning round... TXA use? If used it should be EB for individual communities based on need and measurement. My note: Once again... medicine application is a local issue. The broader applied the more lowest common denominator it becomes and the more resistant to change.
• I am laughing... Peter Antevy just said that because many ERs do not have waveform capnography it is all the more reason to work the arrest in the field. GIVE THAT MAN A COOKIE! Great perspective.
• Several states now have policies allowing extension of drug expiration dates in times of shortage. (REMEMBER TO FOLLOW WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN YOUR STATE).
• Video honoring EMS line of duty deaths during last year in the nation. Lives given serving others are never truly lost. My note: Always remember that sometimes we don't come home... we go Home. One shown as a youth in his BSA uniform... OA Brotherhood and Eagle Scout. Just touched me... Singing Auld Lang Syne...
• Several cities including San Francisco have Sobering Centers to take load off ERs. Other major cities looking at the concept. This would mean inebriated individuals would be taken to a quasi-medical facility to sober up under medical supervision when they met safety criteria. Isaacs-Dallas
• 10-12% of physicians will develop a substance abuse addiction during their career. "The insanity of the disease is that it tells you that you work hard... you have a right to play hard." They do the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome.... the very definition of insanity. Eventually a point is reached where you do not want to live without drinking and using, but you don't want to stop either. Rehab is the worst thing they will ever go through and the best thing that could happen. YOU CAN SAVE THE LIFE OF A COLLEAGUE OR LOVED ONE by not covering for them and helping them access programs to help them. You can help build programs to help them. Quote: "Not everyone can be a hero but everyone can be great, because greatness is determined by service." - Martin Luther King, Jr. Don't be afraid to help. "It is by God's grace that I stand before you today... sober for 5 years" -Isaacs-Dallas (Standing Ovation). Pepe added... it is hard to deal with those involved in substance abuse, but they are all the same human beings. They all need help and need redirected, whether they are on the street or a physician.
• My opinion only... just hit the first less than favorable lecture this year. I think someone needs to look at GCS as a scoring/documentation tool rather than trying to classify it strictly as an assessment tool and comparing it to AVPU. Use has grown far past its original intent as an evaluation of TBI. A lot of shaking heads in the audience.
• "Larry Miller will personally be responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the planet." ...in reference to the inventor of the Vidacare EZIO. Frascone-St. Paul
• 250,000 central line infections every year, costing over 2.3 billion dollars. IO's are central lines without all the complications. Presented that hemodynamic monitoring can occur through the bone marrow, meaning IO could be used for monitoring, decreasing need for central lines. Now doing human trails on this. Presenter convinced this will prove better than central lines. Frascone-St. Paul... I will go there... imagine the applications... like MAP recognition of fluid resuscitation targets rather than the magical, mythical systolic 90?
• It is now known that clotting the superior vena cava is most often caused by central and PICC lines. Fowler.
• PPV and hyperventilation continues to be the devil. Every increase of 1mm/hg decreased
  cerebral blood flow by 4%. Hyperventilation is assassination unless herniating. Alteration in ventilation, perfusion and cellular metabolism will affect CO2. USE ETCO2 WHEN VENTILATING In significant trauma without head injury, Hypocapnea is an indicator of shock. McMullan-Cincinnatti.
• Intelligent Conveyance. London: 8.2 million population. 620 square miles. 767,000
  
  transports per year out of 1.7 million calls. Many are diverted via nurse call taker screening and instructions. 31 emergency departments. Intelligent Conveyance aim is to proactively manage London Ambulance Service surge issues on arrival at ER. Not aimed at reducing ER transports. Intelligent Conveyance desk manned by paramedics and EMDs from 0800 to 2359. This is all about decreasing ambulance turn around to keep ambulances call ready as much as possible. Hourly arrival triggers are monitored. Ambulances are identified by clinical dispatch criteria and an ambulance may be redirected to a less busy hospital after consultation with crew. Shortens wait time for patient and turn around time for crew. Dedicated talk group for Intelligent Conveyance. Specific alert level patients for stroke or STEMI are not diverted. Minor injuries suitable for urgent care are not diverted. 8650 calls have experienced IC. 39% transported to alternate facility. This has significantly reduced ERs going on diversion. There have been no clinical incidents. Fionna Moore-London Ambulance Service Medical Director. My note: I am always impressed by LAS and Fionna Moore's presentations. They have no laws saying they can take a patient where they do not want to go, but they do not pressure as it is the quickest way to a complaint. Most go along with the program.
• The more 12-leads we do the better we get. Do not limit to classical signs and symptoms. Be sure and run on atypical and aginal equivalent presentations. ALWAYS in syncope. ALWAYS in general weakness. Presentation simply reinforced some of the more odd presentations that we should have been running 12-leads on since 2000. Schrank-Miami. My note: Right sided leads and posterior leads are under utilized as well. Right sided leads should be taken any time there is Inferior STEMI or hypotension following 1st Nitro.
• Just so everyone understands the Eagle's format: Two days, 0700-1730. 49 10-15 minute data driven presentations, 4 award presentations, 4 lightning rounds with the audience doing the questioning and survey of the Eagles, and one great oppositional debate. No tracks... everyone gets to see the same presentations. Conference gets larger every year. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Conference demographic, primarily EMS Medical Directors, EMS clinical management and paramedics.
• Who do you need to immobilize at an accident scene? The one on the phone with his attorney. Great joke to start the LSB discussion.
• NNT=1032 to prevent one bad outcome. NNH=66 to cause one harm with spine board application. LSB use must be judicious and benefit must outweigh risk. Strong muscle groups support spine in back. St. Louis Fire advocates c-collar only as the only weak non-supported area is the neck. Gilmore-St. Louis.
• The Eagle's 2014 Great Debate - Fowler vs. Valenzuela: FOWLER: 14,000 spinal cord injuries annually. 1/3 die in the accident. Axial distraction is BAD. LSB causes pain. Pressure at sacrum on board is 149mm/hg. Two fold greater disability if spine board is used. Data is empirical that LSB should not be used in penetrating trauma. Early on, immobilization on LSB only occurred due to incomplete/inaccurate assessment at the emergency department level (trickled down to EMS). Clinical criteria exists in the NAEMSP/ACS-COT 2013 position. This is an evidence-based document/criteria. We immobilize far too many people. "Anyone who objects needs to be strapped to an LSB for an hour with a full bladder." Spine boards do not immobilize the spine. Spinal injuries are rare. VALENZUELA: Keep the LSB. Significance of trunk motion when head is immobilized is an issue in at least one study. If halo permits 4%, 4% must be pretty good. Halo also reported at 7% movement. Anyone saying LSB causes pain must be a drug seeker. Pressure ulcer data is from 1987. No pressure ulcers if rolled. It is significant if injury is prevented once. One study assumes Malaysia is medically sophisticated. It also collapsed patients into broad categories. Also, does not look at severity of disability or non-spinal injuries. Feels that LSB is bad is NOT supported by the data. Some studies indicate flaws and the fact that more study is needed. Compares it to a randomized controlled trial of parachute effectiveness. Showed several articles from 1950-57. These indicate presence of cord injury by movement for x-ray (could be secondary injury also). If we rule out drug and alcohol how many people are left that do not get immobilized? RESULTS (entire Eagles group): With only 14-18,000 injuries a year there may not be a randomized, controlled multi-center ever. There is a swelling component causing secondary injury that is not prevented by c-collar or LSB. Most likely the cause of "late development" of spinal injury rather than movement. Stated that Spinal clearance should be a BLS skill but must be followed consistently. Long spine boards and immobilization are not the same. Immobilization can happen without a LSB. Described case study of a hangman's fracture that was not treated and allowed to heal without intervention in a 17 year old. Young children cannot sit up and keep head supported with a c-spine injury. Also had a good outcome on a non-immobilized 1 year old with c-spine fracture (halo only). Most Eagle's believe LSB should dramatically decrease. Many de-emphasizing general LSB use as a component of immobilization. Data shows near drowning children under age 5 do not have c-spine injury. Everyone needs to stick to the protocol in their practice based on what the medical community desires based on available EBM application. Missed fractures have been inconsequential. Atlanta removing FR applied LSB in back of ambulance after evaluation. One medical director believes that fear of the nurses reaction in the ER is the only reason that anyone gets immobilized in his system. Many have three levels... no immobilization, c-collar and head to cot or full using LSB. Some have removed all immobilization. Injury reduction of caregivers lifting the "tongue depressor on steroids" (LSB) is another issue not supporting LSB use. (yeah I know… still vague… just like the position paper…).
• This concludes my attempt at relaying the information from the US Metropolitan Medical Director Consortium: EMS State of the Sciences Conference (Eagle's) for 2014. I will attempt to cut an paste all of this to my blog sometime in the near future so that it can be printed or referred to in one place. I will also post the link to the PowerPoints once available from the Eagle's group. Feel free to share my comments. Can't wait to see home tomorrow!

So here I now sit in the hotel… Kevin and I hoping that the direct flight to Evansville is not cancelled due to the ice storm. All things said, this was a great trip. Every Paramedic should attend this meeting at least once. If you are a medical director or are involved with EMS clinical practice, you should be here every year. The same goes for NAEMSP annual meeting.

Below are a few pics from the trip...

Till next time! May His peace be with you.

The Cafe Pacifica

Dr. Fouts Photobombing the Ferrari

The Evansville group at Dinner after Day One

Christmas 2013... Another Year Has Passed

As the final hours of Christmas Day wind down, I find myself more in awe of the Advent season than ever before.

I may or may not have admitted this before on Facebook or in this blog, but I used to hide from Christmas. I looked back to see if I had ever commented on this and just how far back it was. I found a post I made on December 24th, 2010. It essentially said the way I had felt for nearly 35 years. There were a lot of friends who died and bad memories that tended to always land right around the end of December.

Even going to a Christian high school, the "reason for the season" seemed dim for me for many years. And on top of that I really started to despise the comercialization. That just seemed to make it worse. I can remember a few Christmas seasons that went fairly well, but it never really kicked in for me until at least 2011.

It was an easy transition. The cause was easy to determine also.

The more committment I made to learning from scripture, the better my life has become. It clearly has an effect on family life. No... it does not make everything (here on Earth) perfect, but, knowing that all of scripture comes together to tell the grand plan of salvation for Man really does make a huge difference.

As my priorities allign with my beliefs, the more important Christmas becomes.

I will tell you a short story from this week and leave it at that for this entry. We do not have a lot of exterior Christmas decorations. We have a lighted pink pig, with wings and a halo. It has a red scarf around its neck.

Yeah... doesn't really fit the topic does it? But... my youngest daughter loves pigs. Her nickname is pig. There are stuffed pigs. pig shaped jewelry boxes and pig flashlights. So there really was no way we were getting out of the store back in 2012 when the lighted yard pig was spotted without buying it.

This year we added a Rudolph... complete with blinking red nose.

That left me with a single strand of white lights. Last year I wrapped them around a metal lawn cross and used it as well. The cross is always in the yard. I do move it from time to time, but it is always out there and has been for at least six years.

When I started to put this all together a few days ago, Rhiannon came out to help (mainly to make sure I installed "her" pig correctly). I pulled the cross out of the ground and laid it aside, simply to reorganize. I put the lights on a small ornamental tree shaped bush.

I then put pig in place. I unboxed the new Rudolph and staked it in place. Then I ran the extension cord and plugged it all in. Everything lit. All would be well and there would be no frantic, last minute search for a new pig.

I then turned around, picked the cross up off the porch and stuck it in the ground in a new location.

I heard an audible sigh.

I turned to see five year old Rhiannon smiling at me. She then said, "For a minute I thought you were going to forget the true meaning of Christmas."

I was stunned. She gets it. She thought I was going to forget the cross.

The words of Christ from Mark 10:15 came immediately to my mind...

"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

My mind shot back to how much I did not care for going to a Christian High School back then. Now I count it as the greatest asset of my past, along with many trials and tribulations. I now see the value in the things I remember from back then. I had an education for those four years with a Christian foundation.

I see that same foundation now in several of my children. Luke and the twins had the advantage of a Christian preschool. Michael, Luke and the twins all have the advantage of being at Evansville Lutheran School (I wish I would have had Michael there before 5th grade... he is now an alumni). My point is that they not only know what they believe, but they can each articulate it fairly well for their current ages.

They pray at the family meals. We adults seldom get the chance to lead the prayer. I have heard Michael now explain communnion very succinctly and accurately several times now. They get it better than I ever did at their ages. God has blessed our family with these opportunities for Christian education.

It simply reinforces what I said earlier. The more we learn, the more Christmas and other church holidays mean to us. I made the comment to a Pastor from one of the Evansville circuit churches the other day that this Advent has left me "speechless." It finally unfurled in this short blog entry.

All I have wanted to listen to this season are the hymns... not the Christmas songs of Bing or the secular stations. I have read LCMS Advent sermons from across the nation this last month. I feel strengthened and blessed and better prepared to talk to others about why my faith is where it is.

Anyway, Christmas is no longer sad for me. The bad things I always anticipated happening are now dim in the rear view mirror. Of course I no longer view death the same way anymore either. Advent and Christmas are now times of fulfillment and awe.

As these last few hours fade, the kids play with presents and tomorrow will be a work day for many. My mind is now focusing on the fact that the church year now runs headlong toward Easter. In just a few short months, we will move from celebrating the arrival of God as an infant to acknowledging the completion of His will in His death and resurrection. All of which had been grandly foretold by the prophets. A manger... then a cross and an empty tomb.

Our Pastor recently lead an depth study of the Gospel of John. It helped. John fills in a lot of things the other Gospels do not, being written later than the first three. He did note that it was odd to be approaching Christmas and discussing the crucifixion at the same time. But one without the other would be moot.

Merry Christmas! Share your faith. Do it in a way that lets Christ do the work. If we do it without Him we will surely mess it up. He will give you the right words.

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:11 ESV.

In closing, I am going to let my historically curious side (which is also fed by my EMS-tainted humor) relay a new tidbit I was recently made aware of... Everyone is aware of the ancient St. Nicholas. He put coins in children's shoes, paid a dowery once and was known for gift giving. A friend, Mike Eppler, posted a meme on St. Nick with a peice of history I did not know.

St. Nicholas was attendance at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Apparently there was some discor regarding the true divinity of Christ. Arius had taken the view that Christ was merely man. At that, St. Nicholas apparently walked over and (depending on the account) pummeled him, or at least punched him in the face for being a heretic.

I have a new found liking for St. Nicholas.

Let me tell you about Evansville Lutheran Troop 310...

This will be a tough one for me.

It will be difficult, in anything short of a book, to describe the last three years of building a new Boy Scout Troop. The story of the start is nothing short of knowingly climbing on board a roller coaster. This whole thing started over a year before we got close to actually launching.

We were in the process of changing churches. We were driving almost thirty miles round-trip to church on Sundays. We were all set to visit St. Paul's Lutheran Church which was about four miles from our home. We were set to go there the next Sunday... but the weekend before, we had been visiting a few Boy Scout Troops trying to figure out where my son was going to go when he finished the Cub Scout Webelo program.

We had just gotten in the car after visiting a Troop. My ten-year-old son Michael then asked, "Dad? Are there any Lutheran troops?"

"Not locally, no."

Silence for a few minutes.

"Why?" He asked.

I said, "Not sure... from what I understand, the last one in the area folded about thirty or forty years ago. I think it was at Redeemer." Not too sure of the facts on the time frame, but it was what I had heard.

Michael and I at Philmont the summer
before he asked about starting a Troop

More silence.

His eyes brightened. "WE SHOULD START ONE!"

I lost it. I am sure my voice raised at least a third higher. "Are you nuts? Do you know how much work it is to start a Boy Scout Troop?" I had taken Woodbadge in 2006 and had heard the stories from those who had started units.The wife and I were fresh from having just led the revitalization of a fifty year old Cub Scout Pack (that I had attended as a child in 1971). If you have ever been led into adult Scouting with the phrase "It is only one hour a week," then you know what was racing through my head.

He did not look too disappointed at my reaction, so he dropped it... until the next day. He brought it up a few more times the next day. Each time, I gave him a reason as to why this was simply not possible.

The day following shook my world. I got a call from a gentleman that had attended a Cubmaster training program I had helped teach. Just so happened that he was the Cubmaster of a fairly new Cub Scout Pack... at St. Paul's Lutheran. He called to ask a question: "Have you ever thought about starting a Lutheran Boy Scout Troop?"

He might have thought I had hung up on him for a moment.

The words just came out... not as I wanted them too... "My son and I were just discussing that yesterday."

The discussion was only about ten minutes long. I told him we could speak more this coming Sunday because we were already planning on attending the church where he was a member. I prayed.

People talk of being led to do something. Nothing like a child's idea coming to fruition with the call of a person I barely knew, from a church I was already planning to attend... all in less than 48 hours.

I had recently told myself that I was not going to say no to things asked of me (which I had conveniently forgotten when Michael asked about starting a troop). I met with the Pack Committee of Evansville Lutheran Pack 310, chartered through the school ran by St. Paul's Lutheran and the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. It was going to happen.

We just needed members. Boys who in this age of blue-tooth headphone online role-playing might actually want to start a fire, cook a meal, pitch a tent, catch a fish, hike and shoot a bow... and learn duty to God and Country. Plus this was a chance to do it in a place I wanted to be to begin with... within the LCMS.

The BSA requires five boys to start a unit. I prayed again.

The first sign-up meeting failed. Two boys attended. But... they were solid. They wanted in. We waited a couple of months and tried again. We got four. I prayed again.

I wondered if it was a bit selfish, but I wanted my son in a troop at his church. I wanted to work within the church and with Scouting.

We got permission from the local council to start with the four we had as long as I wrote a plan to get more boys involved. The very first Troop meeting we got the fifth boy. Three months later we got six more.

That seems like a lifetime ago. In August, it will have only been three years.

People would inquire about joining. I distinctly remember a call from a Lutheran Pastor who was moving to the area and had a son in Scouting and another preparing to turn eleven who might be joining. I think that was in late 2011, cannot remember. I do remember telling him that we did not have much equipment yet, but we were trying. I did tell him two things... that we were distinctly Lutheran and that what we lacked in Equipment we made up for in Patrol Method.

We are truly a "boy led" unit. Those boys decide what we do. They lead their patrols. We mildly nudge them (as adult leaders) to succeed and we sometimes let them fail (so that they learn).

Here it is 2013. Where are we today?

• We have been a "Gold" level unit award winner for 2011 and 2012 in BSA's Journey to Excellence program. 
• We have our first Eagle Scout.
• We have another Scout with an approval from the Council to start his Eagle Project.
• We have two more Life Scouts who will be working on Eagle projects within the year.
• We now have tents, phenomenal camp stoves, dining fly sets, axes, sports equipment and some extra supplies to use for those who may not have their own personal camping equipment (we still need a good Troop trailer though!).
• We have had a Scout earn the BSA National Medal of Merit for life-saving actions.
• We logged 530 hours of service during 2012, with over 80% of that being within the Evansville Circuits of the LCMS.
• We now have 19 registered young men in three patrols (Jackalope, Wolves and Piranha).
• We had both patrols attending Summer Camp in 2011 earn Honor Patrol status at OBSR... the first time we ever went!
• We staged our own Summer Camp in St. Louis at BSA Camp Beumont in 2012 (We also attended a large LCMS church in Des Peres, Missouri also where we were welcomed by the congregation).
• We have camped a lot of places and seen a lot of things.
• We applied for our first Philmont Trek for 2014 but unfortunately did not get pulled in the random selection process.
• We are now planning for a Philmont Trek in 2015.
• We had three boys attend National Youth Leadership Training in 2012 with one of our youth on staff.
• We have a youth on staff for the same NYLT program this year.
• We have a Scout attending the inaugural 2013 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel who is a Patrol Leader within that contingent.
• We have custom neckerchiefs in the colors of the school which hold Luther's Seal and the five Solas in Latin.

I will add to this list in a few minutes as a lot unfolded for us in the last two weeks.

The purple neckerchief is for the Troop, the yellow one for
the Cub Scout Pack

About two weeks ago, thanks to some donors within two LCMS congregations, we were able to complete all of our essential equipment purchases. That took a great weight off my shoulders and marked a milestone for the troop. The Troop and I are VERY thankful for this.

Last week we attended Summer Resource Camp at Old Ben Scout Reservation. We reorganized the boys into two new patrols for camp so that we could shake things up with some temporary patrol leaders and reorganization. The goal... reinforce patrol method, teamwork, and managing hectic schedules. At this camp, you gain points for participation in a wide variety of challenges. You get more points for winning challenges. All of this leads toward awards at the end of camp for the three top scoring patrols.

Mike Eppler and Jay Coy have done an amazing job for the last seven years setting up and running this resource camp. Jay keeps the point scores very quiet until the end of camp.

There are also patches distributed for "Honor Patrols." These are patrols that score above a preset level of points throughout the week. Everyone attending gets a very colorful camp patch. Those in patrols making enough points to be Honor Patrols get a "ghosted" patch of a single color as well.

The challenges are things like participating in events, scoring in the Top Shot competition, playing in water games, having the best patrol stave, using pioneering skills and knots to build a campsite gateway, having the best patrol spirit and many more. It requires team work and ability to split up also.

The patrol staves are interesting in themselves. The patrols make a flag for this blank stick. They decorate it. Throughout the week, as they participate in challenges, they get any number of items and trinkets that hang from the stave. It has to go anywhere in camp that the patrol goes.

We put five of our younger Scouts in one patrol. They called themselves the "Crazy Eights."

The four older boys attending (two Star Scouts and two Life Scouts) reorganized into the "Random" patrol.

It is hard to get points for every possible activity while trying to win a few as well to get the extra points. The schedule is purposefully designed to overlap to make the boys, delegate, plan, take advantage of strengths of certain scouts and also allowing scouts to get to the events they really want to get to do... all within a schedule filled with merit badge opportunities.

During that final nights campfire we learned that once again, both of our patrols had made Honor Patrol status. I was elated for them. It warms the Scoutmaster's heart to know that a three year old troop can pull this off. I was not prepared for what happened next.

I had thought that the Random Patrol might have a shot at 3rd place for overall "Outstanding Patrol." They announced the 3rd place patrol and it was not one of ours from 310. No biggie, we had still performed well with two honor patrols. I turned off the camera and put it away.

They announced 2nd place. We applauded.

Then I heard: "The first place Outstanding Patrol for the 2013 Old Ben Scout Reservation Summer Resource

 Camp 2013 is... Troop 310 Random Patrol!"

I dropped the camera.

Those four boys obviously did not hear it. They were still sitting! I sent the word down the line... "GO!"

They jumped up, not sure of what had just happened. Then it dawned on them. They went to the front of the campfire stage and accepted their winning plaque. They each also got a first place bead necklace and their choice of a BSA knife.

Once again, I was more than happy. I have watched this group for nearly three years now... forming, storming, norming... and finally PERFORMING. They were able to adapt into a group of four that took on the challenges and succeeded (against patrols that in some cases numbered six to eight boys).

The night before, one of our Scouts who serves as the Troop Chaplain's Aide had led us through an awesome devotional with well connected readings and prayer that he had readied for a smaller troop level campfire at our site. It was a great opportunity to listen, expound and discuss our faith.

The "Duty to God" does not start or end with the BSA. The BSA just enforces it as an important responsibility in our lives. This scout made a great verbal connection that a good devotional assures that the Gospel is in the message. He stated it frankly and with authority. Several nodded quietly.

Random Patrol

These really are not boys... they are young men. One hundred and fifty years ago, boys of their age might be already working very hard jobs or even supporting elderly parents as the overall breadwinner for the family unit. These boys know how to lead and they know how to work. I would describe them as "strong" in faith as well.

Following the closing campfire, the traditional Order of the Arrow call-out was held. The OA is the BSA's National Honor Camping Society. Two young men from the Random patrol were called-out into membership along with one of our adult leaders (my wife... who I have not yet blogged about but will soon). You are only elected to the OA by your peers and they are told to vote based upon your character and ideals.

We are all home now... well, most of us anyway. I have another scout in the unit who is still up at the same scout camp on staff for the BSA National Youth Leadership Training Course. My wife is up there too serving as a camp cook and health officer. Next week we will be doing Boards of Review for rank advancement as these boys get closer to the goal of becoming an Eagle Scout.

Being in Scouting is about being busy and making an impact. For me it is a support mechanism for a personal ministry that also happens to include the outdoors and the teaching of life skills. To me, the fact that we are chartered through an LCMS school and try to serve as many LCMS congregations as we can is no accident.

The BSA is in the media at the moment. Reactions to the new membership policy are varied. I have wanted to tell this story for a long time, but with the events of the past three weeks (both nationally and within our unit) I felt now was the time.

The future is before us. I do not know what tomorrow will bring. I am hopeful. I am worried. I am still doing my job as a Scoutmaster. I will do my job with these youth. But I also need to assure everyone engaged in this endeavor knows... As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord.

Where he leads, I will follow. There is no crisis of Faith for me in this. My Faith is firm. If we are able to

Several of the young men of Evansville Lutheran
Troop 310

keep our scouting units, I will rejoice and move forward, working as our charter organization desires. There are some great, spirit-led men in the LCMS working on the decisions that will be made.

If not, I am sure I will have a period of great remorse, but I will follow whatever those who are far more learned in Theology than I decide. I am loyal to Scouting... but I am also purchased at a great price, the blood of my Savior Jesus Christ. I am reminded of this and comforted each time my lips touch the cup.

In this I will always rejoice.

Life Scout Michael Turpen

I care greatly for these young men. My hope is that I will continue to serve through being their adult leader in this "game with a purpose" (Lord Baden-Powell). They all do very well in this game and get better each day.

We have several closing in on Eagle... at least four at the time of this writing including my son, Michael.

If not, I am sure that I will be guided in my next role, just as I feel I was guided to this one.

Please give thanks in all that you do. Remain focused and help someone along their road tomorrow. Not because you have to help though. Baden-Powell once said, "Boys have to learn to do good without reward." We are thankful for the ability to serve and expect no merit from it for it is the right thing to do.

Till next time on the 4F trail that is this blog, may His blessings be with you.

Lee (Scoutmaster... one of many vocations).

Scooter Support Parent

I have no youthful frame of reference for this entry. I never had a scooter as a kid. Not sure I even remember them existing.

One of the things I have grown accustomed to this year has been the fact that we probably made one of the best purchases a parent could buy for the money. Sometime back now, we got the twins each a Razor brand scooter. These metal, two-wheeled pieces of lightning get more use than any toy I have ever seen. I also have to believe they are good for physical fitness because in the absence of a hill they are 100% four year-old powered. They fold up, even down to the steering shaft and handles, making them easy to transport in a car. They are sturdy (they have been in hundreds of crashes at this point, and the things have been thrown over obstacles by their maniacal small-fry owners on numerous occasions). I have only had to make one minor repair when an spring-loaded adjustment button got out of place. Easy fix.

Peter's is a bright yellow with the "Hot Wheels" logo emblazoned all over it. Little did we know when we bought it that the logo would be so applicable to it's rider (driver? operator? What are you when you control a Scooter???).

Rhiannon's is silver and pink (of course) with multicolored LED's in the wheels that light up when it rolls. The lights make this thing a sight to behold at dusk or even in the dark (yes, we have been there... many times).

We started out letting them ride in the street in front of the house. This is always done with parental observation of course and they are pretty good about getting out of the street when a car is still over a block away. Peter is a bit more advanced that Ree as he can jump up and flip the Scooter in a new direction or hunker down lower than the grips and ride it while squatting. Neither of them use the wheel brake. They just drag a shoe, sometimes using the shoe in a cornering maneuver. They are good at getting these things rolling and then balancing and moving side-to-side to keep it going without using their feet to push all the time.

This skill was earned at a price of course. They fell... and they fell... and they crashed... and they flipped. They still do. All the time. This has taught them that even if they are bleeding, it is part of the fun they get from these metal freedom-givers (at least in the eyes of those younger than five).

Here is where we are these days: We drive to Evansville's Dress Plaza overlooking the Ohio River. We park near the Museum of Arts and Sciences. I walk behind them while they ride on the Green Way. We pass the Four Freedoms Monument. We travel down the entire length of Dress Plaza to Casino Aztar. We then turn to go up Main Street, stopping at the water fountain at Old National Bank Building for fun.

We then proceed up Main to Subway... usually apples or chips and fruit juice eaten in front of a 113 year old fountain. They eye Angelo's Italian Restaurant every time we pass, but have not yet asked to go in.  Up to the Ford Center, and back down the other side of Main Street. Then they eye Milano's much the same way they do Angelo's (even more so tonight after they saw kids their age eating Spaghetti at a side walk table tonight). Need I describe further? I

Old National Bank Fountain

think not. A news crew would have an amazing time filming the antics of the twins as they ride.

You get the point, I am sure. They are unstoppable on these "Razors."

People walking on the Main Street Walkway stop to watch as they curve around, slide to stops, or balance riding while looking backwards. It is unusual given their size. They wait for me to catch up at each intersection (yes, I can't keep up). Daddy is back their explaining to every bystander who asks how I have no clue how they do it or where they get their endurance.

This trek is usually two and a half miles in length.

They know the intersection rules. They wait just back from the edge of the curb. They know the white hand on the crosswalk sign tells us when we can go. We cross. Then I am soon left some 50-150 feet behind as they weave past walkers, benches, fountains (usually a wide circle back, slide to a stop and dismount... no

113 Year Old Fountain on Main Street

fountain can ever be left unexplored).

Each trip is not without mishap. The cuts, bruises and pains happen EVERY trip. So... what I am going to describe to you now is the work of an adult paramedic whose is tired of being caught unprepared... The Scooter Support Backpack (yes, I am aware that I have truly lost it).

In a small day pack, I have now placed the items needed to keep these two absolutely happy while on their several hour foray into Downtown Evansville. These are the "must haves" for a fully enjoyable trip without having to cut it short to go back to the car:

1 Digital Camera.

6 Kool-aid Jammers (Make sure the straws are attached or someone will be unhappy (It's Ree. In the words of Bruce Banner in the Incredible Hulk: "Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

6 Mild Slim-Jim Beef Snacks.

1 Can Pringle's Pizza Flavored Potato Crisps (yes, one whole can, the balance to be eaten later in the night).

1 Package hand-sized antiseptic wipes.

1 Instant Cold Compress (when they crash together, the worse of the two will get this... hazard of triage and weight I am willing to carry).

35 assorted Band-aids.

1 roll medical tape.

6 gauze pads.

5 butterfly closures.

1 tube Neosporin antibiotic gel.

10 cotton tip applicators.

4 finger splints.

1 spray can 30 SPF Sunscreen.

Apple Break

Overkill you say? Nay say I! This is what it takes to keep these two going. Do not think that they cry for a band-aid at every little wreck either. They just want the bleeding to stop so they can keep going. I kid you not... these two will get hurt, buck up, patch up... then back on the two-wheeled metal beasts to conquer another slight hill, long slope, or circling of a fountain without applying any "push."

So... if you ever see them on Evansville's walkway or Riverfront, don't try and get out of their way. They are good at the weaving part (while making you stare and laugh).

Never mind the band-aids either. Those are just covering the most recent sets of battle scars from the scooter wars.

Till next time on the 4F trail, May the Father bless and keep you. Thanks for reading.

Goodnight.

1009 Views... WHAT?!??!

Today realized the 1000th viewing of my blog. Not bad for less than a year. The thing that has astounded me though is where my readers are... It goes to figure that the majority would be in the United States. What surprises me are the next two countries listed in the stats.

Here they are...

USA                    783

Germany              110
Russia                  79
United Kingdom   5
France                 2
Ireland                 2
Brazil                   1
China                   1
Italy                     1
Malaysia              1

I guess I am curious more than anything... May be that the posts that wax more Lutheran are attracting my Germany readers. I really have no way to know for sure. I would also love to know what individuals from the other countries have seen in my blog that led them to read it.

The two highest viewed posts have been "A Trip To The Statehouse" and "1/12th of my Life (or why Popcorn?)". Those two are related to EMS and Scouting. I myself am more partial to the ones in the four part introduction and the ones where I discuss my beliefs.

So... I will ask my first request in this blog: If you would, take a moment to leave a comment telling me what you like about the blog (or do not like). Also, if there is something you would like to see more of, comment on that also. If you choose to comment in your language I will use the translate feature to read it. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

God bless! ...and by all means keep reading!

On the Eve of Confirmation...

Michael on Pike's Peak in 2010

As I sit here looking over my handiwork of a few evenings, I find myself astounded. On the computer is a file
of pictures that I will have running as a slide show on a table at the Confirmation reception tomorrow following his first Communion.

There are 870 pictures. They range from about age three up to just a few days ago. Fourteen years of life. At least eleven years of pictures. Moment that are captured in a flurry of digital pixels. Instants in time that are going to be seen by family and friends. Many of these pictures he has never seen before, but he will remember the details when he sees each and every one. I am sure of it.

Pastor Eckels questions the Confirmands at St. Paul's.
Michael is in the green striped shirt.

Last night we sat and watched as two of our Pastors questioned each of the Confirmands they sat panel-style between the two podiums. Quite frankly... I was amazed at the depth of understanding in these eighth-graders as they proved and upheld their education in their faith.

All of them were a bit nervous as they sat facing a total of five local Pastors as well as family and members of a few different Congregations. But as the questioning got underway, their anxiety eased and they easily answered and showed understanding of their professed beliefs. In the majority of questions, they were even eager to raise their hands to answer.

I was proud as Michael answered the first three questions asked. It then went somewhat randomly with the raised hands. Good questions... answers filled with understanding.

It amazes me the depth of understanding represented by this group of Confirmands. They responded to each question. Their verbal explanations of the Apostle's, the Nicene and the Athanasian Creeds were without question.

Michael and I in 2008 at
Philmont in New Mexico.

These youth see the Truth. They see the Way, the Truth and the Life.

They quoted scripture upon the asking. It was written in their hearts.

Our Pastors have done a fine job in the shepherding and education of these youth.

Tomorrow, in just a few hours, they will be Confirmed and receive their first Communion. May they approach the Sacrament of the Altar with reverence, preparation and awe as they partake in that which was given and shed for them.

May they know the comforts of the believer.

Michael as Crucifier during
Lent in 2013

We will be there with them in this.

I, for one, am proud of the Faith my son has exhibited. He will enter a public high school next year. May he stand firm in his faith. May the Lord give him the strength to do so among his peers.

I have watched him grow from a small child to a young man capable of many things. He isn't perfect. None of us are... but he continues to grow in many ways. I for one am glad that his faith in God is at the forefront of his life.

I watched him present before a group of youth and adults today on the topic of packing a backpack. My hope is that he will use his God-given talents in many ways... but I hope that the presentation abilities will also be used to deliver the saving grace of the Word; the message of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Michael presenting today.

Soli Deo Gloria

On several occasions while extrapolating within the confines of the 4F blog, I have mentioned the "Five Solas." I want to take a moment and key in on one of them. My intent here will be to show examples and keep my comments in between very succinct and to the point.

"Soli Deo Gloria" or "Gloria to God alone."

I asked my four-year-old daughter, Rhiannon, to help me with this particular entry. I searched for images of “God.” I asked her to look at these and pick the ones that she thought most looked like God to her. In this experiment, I had no theory in mind on the front end; however I did wonder whether she would lean toward the visually powerful depictions, divine or even toward pictures of Jesus. There turned out to be a theme in what she picked (and I have included those pictures so that you might see).

Out of the three pictures that she picked, two of these artistic renditions were of Christ in His

Ree's First Pick

glorified state. Another shows God and the Ark of the Covenant (clearly a powerful depiction).

So many times these days we hear someone wondering:

“What is my purpose?”

“What am I supposed to be doing with my life?”

“Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing?”

“Am I good enough?”

“Nothing that I do seems important?”

And there are a ton of new age mystics, feel-good preachers, escapist activities and issue generating fanatics to throw answers back in return. In reality, what does the whole of scripture define our purpose to be?

Ree's Second Pick

Our purpose here on Earth? I think the mission of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod says it very well in summation: “In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.”

As a member of the church, I closely associate with this purpose and its scripture-based truth. It is fairly easy for most of us to look through the whole of scripture and come up with a summation thought such as the one above for our lives (and particularly referring to the church as well).

But what about our purpose throughout eternity?

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and


Ree's Third Pick

wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”  And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”  -Revelations 5:8-14

Our purpose is to the glory of God alone. All that we do… all that we can do… is only enabled by the power of God. And not one good thing can come of our actions or deeds unless for the purposes of His will.

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” – Romans 7:18

So, here I dwell. My purpose, as a living, breathing creation of God, and that will continue in the form designated by Him after my physical death is simply to glorify Him. Look at the below complexity describing the Trinity and the overall feeling of a glory too great for words to describe:

“For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another. But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit: the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal, just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite. In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty; and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.” –Excerpt from the Anthanasian Creed (5th-6th Century AD).

We use the word “glory” a lot in Christianity. But if we are to glorify God, just what are we to be doing, both now and later in His presence? We glorifying him by worship and being a servant to His tasks and His commands and being about… well… and I use this word reluctantly… about His WORK.

I understand that I just alluded to works. Just remember that this exposition is about “Glory to God Alone” not glory to us and our self. I am not alluding to the value of works toward our salvation. “Sola Gratia” and “Sola Fide” may be covered later. I am describing the fact that we glorify God by being an instrument of His will.

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.

-Verses 1 & 5, “Crown Him With Many Crowns,” Public Domain, LSB 525 Concordia Publishing House

For in the end we know what will happen. One infallible truth is that at a point in the future there will be a moment when all will realize the power and the glory of God:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:9-11, ESV

I do not quote that as a scare tactic. I quote it as an answer to the questions first listed above. What should we be doing? What the Word instructs us to do.

Our purpose is His purpose. No more, no less. Sin clouds our judgment and our effectiveness at this task while on Earth. It will not cloud our judgment in glory.

The reason I asked Rhiannon to pick the “pictures” that most reminded her of God was that I wanted to see how a four-year old views God. I think what was relayed was far more powerful than what I would have thought. I expected her to pick a picture of a “nice, friendly Jesus.”

Alas, no… she picked ones with radiance, crowns and power.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever…

Some Links:

http://castingcrowns.com/music/the-altar-and-the-door

Listen to Tracks 6 and 7 (Altar and the Door & Somewhere in the Middle)

http://castingcrowns.com/music/lifesong

Listen to Track 2 (Praise You in the Storm)

http://www.worldvieweverlasting.com/2012/01/25/the-nss-sanctifor/

Doing good...

Retro Ree and Kat of the Vine

In many previous “4F” posts (as I have came to call this blog), I have mused upon Faith, Forests (Scouting, only once so far), and the Field (EMS). I think it is high time I turn toward family. After all this upper end of the list vocation is the sole reason why I do not exit EMS forever, grow my hair and beard and collect sea shells by the seashore.

I usually laugh inwardly at those who say “you couldn’t live without being in EMS.” They obviously do not know me very well. While EMS is a passion, vocation and focus for portions of my life, it could easily be replaced by things more important. But… EMS pays the bills, so I stay. And like any vocation, the work is definitely there to be done. And that work is testing me somewhat this week…

So, with that said (let me know if you ever get tired of that entry phrase… although it probably won’t change my usage)… let’s talk about a few members of zoo for a moment. We are going to start with the girl children (we shall discuss the boys later).

Hence the title, “Retro Ree and Kat of the Vine.”

The title is simply a paraphrasing of the descriptions to come. These two daughters, one age four, the other twenty-two are in some ways a lot alike and in others different.

“Ree” is the nickname for Rhiannon, the youngest (by 5 minutes) of the Turpen girls. She is the fraternal twin of Peter Isaac (who we will explore in a later blog unless he has taken off my fingers with a baseball by that time, relegating my typing time to nil). Rhiannon is a fearless little sprite who truly claims (and mimics) a kinship with fairies and princesses.

I don’t think Ree has gained an ounce since she was two (I am being facetious of course) and she loves to climb trees, take 2.5 mile long scooter trips, ride her bike and be generally fearless. She also has not an issue one with calling out any of her brothers when something does not match her sense of right (of course she does tend to be defensive of her twin). She is very much a Daddy’s girl and always the first one to greet me when I come home in the evening.

Her other nickname is “Piggy.” She got this from eating three times as much food as her twin

Piggy (Ree) and Corky

brother when they were less than a year old. She put him to shame at the dinner table. Of course now he is the chunk and she the bean pole. However, this has given her a love of all sorts of pigs… from stuffed, to banks to even a pig shaped jewelry box. It’s all about the pig.

She likes watching music videos (and here is where the “retro” comes in). Meatloaf (I Would Do Anything For Love) and of course Stevie Nicks (Rhiannon) are at the top of her list. But she also likes the funnier stuff by Katy Perry and Psy as well.

Stevie Nicks (Landslide), Kid Rock (All Summer Long), Van Morrison (Brown Eyed Girl). As I have said before, Rhiannon is kind of a retro music kind of girl. Yes, i do think Kid Rock is sort of '70s at times...

 But then you throw in some Carly Rae Jepsen and Ree is all about that too...

Then it's back to Fleetwood Mac and "Silver Springs." I dont get it, but I can't say that I do not like her diversity in music.

Of course, I will not lie. Her first name comes from the Stevie Nick’s song “Rhiannon” which I really liked as a teenager and still am partial to today.

Rhiannon likes anything interactive. When she was two years old she learned the words to a common interchange between Commander Adama and Lieutenant Starbuck in the new version of the television show Battlestar Galactica. She usually likes the version from the Battle of Ragnar Anchorage:

Adama: “Good Morning Starbuck, What do you hear?”

Starbuck: “Nothing but the rain!”

Adama: “Grab your gun and bring in the cat.”

Starbuck: “Aye-Aye, Sir. Coming home!”

It is short, but she really gets a kick out of saying it back and forth and has wanted to re-watch the short video clip of one of the interchanges about a zillion times.  Reference video clip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmqdsFq9fgs

She tends to actually listen in church (you should see it when her head spins around to ask a question about something just said in the sermon… priceless!).  Although for the longest time she thought Pastor Eckels was Jesus (she has since figured it out… but our Pastors are called and ordained servants of the Word so that association is logical to a young child). Of course, two of her brothers thought the same thing of Pastor Keller at an early age as well.

She is fairly particular about her clothing (appropriate to where she is going… and she usually picks it out herself too), hair (style), makeup (yes, I know… but she can be a little Diva at times).

She likes salad. I did not eat “rabbit-food” until my late twenties. She also likes Hockey too and is a huge Evansville Icemen fan.

I mentioned earlier that she is somewhat protective of her twin, but it does not stop there. She will jump in to defend in a moment anywhere where she feels someone or something is being harassed or abused (even the dog!). It is quite funny to see her through her 33 pound, four-year-old, stick-figure body in between two people with her chest out, arms thrown back, posture, stating, “You want a piece of me?”

Too funny.

She obviously likes to take up a cause.

Ree and Kat together...

On that point, let’s move to the oldest of the offspring. I cannot call her a kid any more as she is 22. But “Kat” is a graduate level student at Ohio State in the Veterinary Medicine program. She was accepted for early entry into the program during her third year of undergraduate studies at Purdue.

She and her Australian Shepherd “Mal” (short for Malcolm from “Firefly) live in Columbus, Ohio. She seems to be adjusting well to life on her own, but then again she has always been somewhat self-managing.

She has done well setting her own limits, adhering to her values and arguing those values as well.

“Kat” is short for Katherine. Fits well for a person who knew they wanted to be a Vet since the 2nd Grade. Kat has had an excellent GPA since around the fourth grade or so with honors classes in high school and the GPA continuing through her three years at Purdue.

I will be the first to say that I was not the most supportive parent with her decision to leave Indiana… after I love this state dearly and with there being only four other states I would like to live in (Colorado, Texas, Washington and New Mexico), Ohio still does not quite compute. But she has proven it was a very good option for Vet school.

One of my earliest memories concerning the tenacity of my oldest daughter has to be a day that I picked her up from school at what I think was her Kindergarten class. I still remember her at age 5, running to the car carrying this huge Teddy Bear (I think it was dressed in a Christmas motif kind of outfit). Here’s the set up. There had been a “Teddy Bear Tea Party” that day in the class. All of the students were supposed to bring a Teddy Bear. That is all I knew at this point… I was supposed to pick her up and make sure she brought her Teddy Bear home. She climbs into my truck, tosses the Teddy down, crosses her arms and says, “Teddy Bear tea Parties can be so annoying.” And that is a direct quote from a five year old.

So… I said, out of total astonishment: “So what was annoying about it?”

She immediately launched into a diatribe about how everyone was supposed to bring a Teddy. She then added that there were prizes for the biggest bear, the smallest bear, the best dressed bear, the fattest bear… etcetera… etcetera… never uncrossing her little arms. She was chiefly incensed over the fact that everyone got a prize.

I indicated that I still was unclear as to why the party had been annoying.

She then looked at me. The arms unfolded, straight out, palms up in the typical “why” stance and stated, “But someone brought a stuffed Rabbit. IT WASN’T A BEAR!”

Not sure if that was a “just doesn’t fit the rules argument” or a recognition of an entitlement concept, but either way it was hilarious. It took me the entire ride to get her calmed down and let the anger go (all while trying to choke down the laughter).

I guess that story serves to show that she sets lines, limits and definitions and then abides by them. She has always been that way. That said, she is now technically, by the numbers, an adult.

An example of that line drawing, not crossing thing was her waiting until she was 21 to have her first drink. We actually made it where that first outing occurred with me. That trip required a trip to West Lafayette, then to Indy to find a Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant.



Kat at Oliver Winery in Bloomington

Now this is where the “Kat of the Vine” title comes from… she has taught me to really like and appreciate the differences in various wines. I have learned quite a bit with her instruction and the idea that we should do a wine trail together. She has went from that first drink to wine connoisseur in less than 18 months. She also introduced me to my favorite wine: Reggae Red from Easley Winery in Indianapolis.

The Uplands wine trail was a great amount of fun. I also learned that our tastes in wine differ between father and daughter (we also have denominational differences in our faith as well). I am still learning. I like the sweeter wines, although I am learning to like Pinot Noir’s (which I hear is a logical progression). I like some whites also, but Kat is all about the white wines.

I will insert here: Please do not judge on the wine… the very first miracle of Christ was at the Wedding Feast at Cana where the water was turned to wine. Please see a sermon reference link below concerning both wine and marriage…

Another topic where I find Kat amazing is in the area of strategy. We have often in the past played a

St. Louis 2004

game called “Pirates.” It is a constructible strategy game where you collect and build small ships punched out of credit card sized plastic sheets. It is played on a large table top. It is not an easy game to win at when confronted by a diabolical mind such as that of my dear daughter’s.

Then there is her love for animals...

The thing though that I find the most impressive about Kat is that she has kept a straight and narrow path. Be it alcohol, smoking, relationships, school… she has made it a point to do the right thing and stay out of trouble. Her Christian character shows through at all times.

Kat & Jerad

She currently is looking to work with a specific church ministry which helps children of divorced parents. And she is doing this while in grad school.

I love my daughters dearly. In many ways, I cannot convey this in the space given in a blog. Daughters are sources of great love. You worry about them. You always know that you have not helped them enough, but they grow and succeed anyway. I thank God for them.

Lastly, there is nothing better than that little hand on your shoulder and those little lips state, “This is a secret between us… You are the best Daddy ever.” When I heard this two nights ago, I smiled on the outside, but nearly cried on the inside.

What I give is not enough. It will never be enough. Why? It is simply because we want to give our daughters the world.

And they deserve it.

Till the next time on the “4F” trail… God Speed.

Reference (and fun) links:

One of my favorite sermon texts regarding two good gifts from God, Wine and Marriage: http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=1574

Battlestar Galactica (new): www.syfi.com/battlestar/

Uplands Wine Trail: www.indianauplands.com

Easley Winery: www.easleywinery.com

Winzerwald Winery: www.winzerwaldwinery.com

French Lick Winery: www.frenchlickwinery.com

Wine Styles Store Evansville: www.winestyles.net/burkhardt