Comments on: All In A Hard Night’s Work

By: pstrmike

pstrmike — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:06:02 +0000

Intense stuff…… I still grapple with the ideal of someone being here one moment and then gone the next…. the understanding of it illudes me, even though I am quite familar of what God has told us in His word. Cleaving to the promises………….

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:06:49 +0000

Bill, Caleb,
Tears flowing from your expressive account, I am reminded of my own story. On the morning of June 18th I got the morning call that nobody is ready for. “They just took Dad to the Hospital. He has no B.P. and they don’t know what’s wrong. It is really bad. PRAY!” 20 minuted later, my brother, also a paramedic, who was there with him called and said that they just called code blue and were doing CPR on Dad. “Get here as soon as you can.” I was in the car going 90 MPH up the 101 freeway to the central coast. As I passed in Goleta, I got the call… “He’s Dead” They had done what they could to keep blood flowing… they were being Dad’s heart for him, but alas, his aorta had already ripped apart and his blood had nearly all been pumped into his abdomen. His BP was 0/0 and his heart rate was around 250 BPM. Try as it might, the heart just had nothing left to pump and gave up.

Life can change in a moment. We find that the “important” things are not that important, and those things that can be so little in our lives are actually the most important events because they are life giving, and life changing. I have spent the past month wondering and wandering. Trying to steady myself for these next steps. I do not know what they will be, but I take them one step at a time. The Psalms remind us that “Thy Word is a lamp unto our feet” and it is not a search beam that shows us much more than a couple of steps ahead. We do not really know what lies ahead. We can only be ready to hear the call of God and to do what he asks when He does. Prepare yes, but be ready for change. Be ready to alter your own plan and see what God is doing in your midst. I am glad that at least I have a lamp at my feet. Peace.

By: Missy Murray

Missy Murray — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:29:04 +0000

Praying Heart,

What Caleb wrote was so real for me…I have been in the hospital so much with my son…We are thankful for those medical professionals like Caleb…that do such a hard Job so well.

Thank you for your prayers…what Caleb wrote broke me today… but that is good…it brings me closer to our Lord Jesus.

Missy

By: Praying Heart

Praying Heart — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:37:47 +0000

Missy -
my heart goes out to you for what you shared about your son, Matt having Cystic Fibrosis – please know that we’re standing with you in prayer that God will give you both peace, comfort, wisdom and provision for His will and guidance in this huge decision –

- praying that Jesus will be Matt’s closest Companion and that your family find His Grace carrying you – you are not alone –

Blessings and love to you all -

By: Praying Heart

Praying Heart — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:16:08 +0000

Tom,
As an ER doctor you can personally relate to what Caleb wrote –

i couldn’t read his documentation without crying –

- i felt all of the emotion he had to put on hold – saw through his words all the training and team work exercised in the efforts to save a life – was caught up in the tense expectation as everyone used their skills and equipment to work together to save a life – 0 my heart dropped when i got that the monitor went flat as the patient’s heart stopped beating – in my mind even heard the lead doctor call everyone off – the nurse calling out the time as she charted when that life ended – was captured by his fatigue and surge of emotions – tears fall – exhaustion takes over – emotions, physical, mental and spiritual scream out for rest – Caleb comforting himself in his loving Savior – falling into His all-Loving, all-Sovereign Arms of Grace to focus on the hope of Heaven and eternity – to be with Jesus forever and always – where there are no more tears – no more sorrow –

-freshly awakened to the reality of our own frail lives – and of those around us – our ministry to serve God with all our hearts and lives -

Thank you, Pastor Bill for posting this and for all you do to save lives, yourself along with other pastors of the Gospel of Christ –

Thank you, Caleb for individually documenting so realistically the pressures and intensity of what you face in your ministry at work

Thank You, Tom for all you do in the ER to help others and save lives. too and for

God has a specific calling on each of your lives – you guys each have a heart of compassion to be used by God as you love and serve the people He brings your way –

God’s obviously using each of you special ways for His glory!

Our prayers do strengthen and uphold one another – you guys are in mine -

By: Thomas Sprinkle

Thomas Sprinkle — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:01:17 +0000

Well put. We hope to save more than we lose- Just like ministry. God is omnicient and in the end we place it in his hands after we have done our best.

By: Greg Boyd

Greg Boyd — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:41:41 +0000

Thanks for posting this, Bill. It was very moving. Please thank Caleb for us all.

By: Missy Murray

Missy Murray — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:32:23 +0000

This so real…I can’t believe I am reading it this morning.
My son suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and his lung function is Diminishing and his doctors are asking if he wants a transplant….

We are asking for wisdom… my son Matt is 15 years old …he has to make this decision. He is doing 3 to 5 hours of breathing treatments a day waiting for healing…he doesn’t want a transplant as the outcome is unpredictable..Also we know of two people who are adults now who didn’t get transplants and where healed.

But if that is the way he is to get healing my son needs to know.

In His Love,
Missy Murray

By: Bill Walden

Bill Walden — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:22:23 +0000

Dave,
I thought so too. Amazing writing, and an incredible parallel to ministry. I hope that doesn’t sound like we are trying to compete, but the emotions of “people” work can be intense.

By: Dave Rolph

Dave Rolph — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:02:39 +0000

Wow!! What amazing writing! This is a perfect description of ministry too.