Hurricane Gustuv

Little Rock is a part of the NDMS Nation Disaster Medical System. What this means is that whenever a city meets with a disaster such as a hurricane, and evacuation from area hospitals is needed, this program springs into action. Each participating hospital in the destination city sends in a bed count for specific types of patients they can receive the goal then becomes to match the number of patients sent to the number of patients able to be received. Little Rock has been a part of this system for many years, but I think we had all believed that it would never be tested. Tested it was for hurricane Katrina. We learned a lot of lessons that year.

Saturday we had the opportunity to test our skills and lessons once again.
We started off Saturday at 10AM at MEMS getting ready to receive patients that we were told would arrive at noon. The first plane did not come till late that evening which meant a lot of tiring waiting @ 12 hours at first. The logistical preparation for the evacuation was in credible. A total of 30 ambulances were gather at one time, not to mention support staff for treatment, carrying stretchers, food, etc…When the planes finally started coming it got busy, real busy.
The preliminary totals are.
13 aircraft were received (a mix of C-130 and C-17)
233 patients were off loaded, triaged, treated and transported to local hospitals

There at the end of the event we had three C-130 and two C-17 on the ground at the same time. One of the planes was from Canada that had been called in to serve the evacuation.

The leader for the Nation Disaster Medical System said in his report:
This was a massive operation. Probably larger than anything seen during Katrina/Rita and certainly the largest reception activity ever completed over such a short time.

There are not many times when my work at MEMS conflicts with my job as Pastor. One of the understanding Deacons said, “I see your work/ministry at MEMS as an extension of this local church” I sincerely appreciate that kind of support. Thank you to this congregation for freeing me to stay till the job was done late Sunday night.

Small People......

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great" -- Mark Twain

;-)

"If everything's under control, you're going too slow." - Mario Andretti

A Thought......

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." -Napoleon Hill

Gideons visit today

For more than 15 years the NLR Church has partnered with the Gideons each year to buy Bibles. Today was their visit.

Gideons bolster efforts in 3rd largest mission field—the U.S.A.

It is hard to believe, but sadly true: the United States of America has become the third largest mission field in our world today. Estimates of unsaved people in the U.S.A. range from 54% to 70%. In response to this startling revelation, Gideons plan to distribute 12 million copies of God’s Word in the U.S.A. alone during their 2008-09 fiscal year.

Perhaps the most sobering way to visualize the spiritual decline in America today is to take a walk down any U.S.A. neighborhood street. It is very likely that two out of three of the people you encounter are lost. They do not know Jesus as their Savior.

What impact can The Gideons make through the distribution of 12 million Scriptures in the U.S.A.? Perhaps there is a more appropriate question…What can God accomplish through 12 million Gideon-placed Scriptures? The Lord tells us that His Word “shall not return unto me void” (Isaiah 55:11).

According to Barna research, less than one out of ten people, who makes a decision to follow Jesus, does so in the context of a church setting. Most will enter into a relationship with Jesus by seeing His life and Kingdom lived out in the lives of others. That’s what Gideons do; they live a Christ-like life, sharing His Word and witnessing to those they meet. And God constantly multiplies these efforts as is apparent through the regular flow of testimonies received at The Gideons International headquarters. (Click on the “Changed Lives” section of this Website to see and hear recent testimonies.) Rest of story

Life Dreams?

I have been reading one Pastors life goals, the list included things such as:

Go to a Superbowl
Go to a Packers game at Lambeau Field
Ride a Mule into the Grand Canyon
Take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon
Raft a Class V River
Go Cave Tubing in South America
Go Hang Gliding
Do a personal retreat at a monastery
Spend a night in a tree house hotel
Spend a night on a house boat
Go cliff jumping
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary
Live to meet my Great Grandchildren
Celebrate an Anniversary in Italy
Celebrate an Anniversary in the Caribbean

I found his list quite challenging. What does it take to dream like that, to be willing to take the risk to dream and chase these kinds of experiences? Consider;

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot

“If no one ever took risks, Michaelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor.” – Neil Simon

“It’s nice to at least once a year have a near-death experience.” – Mark Allen

“That which does not destroy me makes me stronger.” – Neitzche

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert Kennedy

“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” – Soren Kierkegaard

What are your life dreams and goals, what is holding you back?

"When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me." -- attributed to John Wesley

Jason

Many of you may remember Jason Whittington. He attended NLR for a while before moving to New York. A couple of weeks ago he was in town and stopped by to visit for a while. I had the opportunity to have him in our home and do some much needed catching up. He installs high-end audio video in commercial and some residential buildings by day, and is breaking into the voice over business by afternoon and night. Keep a watch out for him; we will be able to say we knew him when...

http://jasonkayne.voices.com/

Hoppers on line

Some of you may remember the Hopper family, I just got the link to their web page.



http://www.shoutlife.com/crownministry