johnlaeger.com

Sleepless & Smokey Night

Went to bed early last night - intent on getting a good night's sleep.

3:08 AM - pager sounded.  Fire at shingle factory.  In the warehouse.  Black black smoke.  Cleared after 7 hours on the scene.  Everyone was beat and looked like they had been snorting black powder.  I am still picking black boogers out of my nose.  And my feet are killing me.  Fire boots weren't made for long calls.

Possible Opportunity

I have an opportunity in front of me to put into play two things I totally love to do.  This has come up rather quickly and I need to make a decision by mid to late of next week.

At this point, I am not ready to give details.  What I am asking for right now is prayer.  I need to make a major decision about something I have never done before and wisdom is absolutely essential.

Later...

I am TOO OLD for this - but I love it!!!

I am tired.  If Patti, Dave, Ben, or Rachel need anything from me today - they will need to tell me twice plus send an email in LARGE print.  My knees are killing me.  My body aches.  My head hurts.  My eyes aren't focusing.

All because of last night at drill and a couple of calls.  (You thought I had a hangover didn't you?  I'm not THAT stupid.)

We spent three hours at the burn tower doing roll-ins.  Fire both downstairs and upstairs with victims.  Lots of crawling around on concrete floors and up and down steps.  First time in for me and my partner - we went left and upstairs.  Ran out of hose so had to pull more.  Found a victim.  Put the fire out.  Finished primary search.

Then we did it again.  And again.  I wasn't interior on the 2nd and 3rd time.  I was outside support.  But I have never sweat so much in my life!

Got home around 10:30.  Next two hours we had two real calls.  Not big ones, but after 3 hours of crawling around on concrete floors with full turn-out gear and packs on, pulling hose, loading hose, putting trucks back into service - those two calls were tough.

So...this morning (I think it's morning)...I have had coffee and am now on my first 20 oz bottle of Mountain Dew.

I totally love the adrenalin rush, the work, the sweating - but I am really getting too old for this!

How to NEVER get lost

Just got back from a call.  Someone was lost and disoriented in a local wilderness area.  It didn't take long to locate this person.  We just followed the trail.  I am not sure, but it appears that she got off the trail and ended up on a location she did not intend to be at.

I have been back in this area biking before.  The paths are clear.  I don't mean to simplify this, but if you just stick to the path - you will not get lost.  If you stick to the path and follow the map, you will NOT get lost.  Just follow the path.  Trust the path.

I couldn't help think about how we/I walk through life.  God has given us a map called the Bible.  The psalmist even says that the Bible is a light to my "path".  If I would just follow the path and map.  If I would just trust the path - I would never get lost or disoriented.

We get into trouble when we go off on our own.  We get off the path.  We think we know a different way, maybe a better way, maybe a shortcut.  But in getting off the path - we get lost.

If we follow the Bible, we will NEVER get lost.  We will never go wrong.  If I follow the Bible in my marriage, I will NEVER go wrong in my marriage.  If I follow the Bible in my parenting, I will NEVER go wrong in my parenting.  If I follow the Bible in how I spend and manage money, I will NEVER go wrong and get into debt.

The problem is people - most people - think the Bible is stupid or old-fashioned.  So they don't follow it.  But look where it gets us...bad and troubled marriages, parenting and kid problems, debt & stress from money mismanagement.

Follow the path.  Follow the map.  Follow the Bible.  You will NEVER get lost.

Dramatic Video

I realize my last several posts have been focused on the fire department and the fire that killed "the brave nine" in Charleston.  However, firefighters and fire departments are always on my radar and hold a place of priority in my life.

Here is some dramatic video shot of the Charleston fire.  It is several minutes long and takes a while to load - but it is well worth the watch to try and understand the intensity of this.

Someone asked me, "What is a flashover?"  Basically it is when the contents of a room reach the point of ignition at the same time and everything ignites with massive intensity simultaneously.  It is extremely dangerous and you can just imagine what a flashover would be like in a furniture store.

Fire at Sofa Super Store

Burning Furniture

Great CNN video report on how fast furniture burns.

Furniture and Fires

If you haven't checked the batteries in your smoke detectors lately...now is a good time.  They WILL save your life.

STINK!!!!

"Shakopee Fire Department...first page for a fully engulfed semi-trailer filled with shredded plastic and paper."

(Shredded plastic and paper is a fancy word for GARBAGE!!!)

So...close your eyes and take a whiff.  Burning, smoldering plastic and garbage...a full semi-trailer which is now being dumped onto the parking lot.  Can you just smell the aroma?!!

Good thing I have a mustache because that smell is embedded into my mustache now!  I get to smell it ALL DAY LONG!!!

Hey Sandy...let's make-out!!!

Actually with the tragic news of the deaths of the firefighters in Charleston, this was a good call.  Lots of sweat, stink, comaraderie.  Just feels good to be around other firefighters.

Nine Firefighters Killed

This is a tough post.  So many thoughts going through my mind.  Too many to put into words.  I am not even sure I have words.

Firehouse Article

CNN

WCCO

Some say men aren't supposed to cry.  Right now, I think that statement is foolish.

Next time you hear a siren, see a fire truck, or pass by a fire station - pray for the families of these brave firefighters, the department they belonged to, and pray for all firefighters who never give it a second thought to go into a deadly structure to search for and rescue others.

Looking for teens who love drama

We (Shakopee Fire Department) ... are putting together a mass casualty drill.  It will be a mock drill involving a school bus and a few other cars.  This will be a significant drill for us in training and preparing for something we hope never happens.

We need teens to volunteer to be a part of this.  They would be the victims who are trapped, hurt, etc. that we rescue and medically treat and transport.  Some will be seriously hurt.  Some will be okay.  Some will be deceased.  We will be doing the make-up and everything to make this as real as possible.

If you want to be a part of this or know someone who would be - email me and let me know!

When Training Pays Off

Check out this video of two firefighters doing a text book self-rescue at a house fire in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Firefighter Self-Rescue

Firehouse Article

The video is the real deal.  This is no drill.  But...it works because of training.  What you see is self-rescue that firefighters train on doing.  When a room becomes fully involved and there is no way out except a quick out a window, we slide head first down a ladder.

Feels Good to Feel Good!

I haven't felt this good in over two weeks!  And today was a GREAT day!

I am absolutely loving my quiet time right now ... reading through the Old Testament and spending some great time talking to Jesus (yes...I talk to Jesus Christ!!).  THEN...we had a car fire and for the rest of the day I could smell the aroma of burning rubber and engine!  Went to lunch with my son, helped him chop up some wood for the fire pit.  Wrapped the day up by putting new line on my poles.

Tomorrow - I am going for a bike ride then hitting the lake to do some good old Minnesota fishing!

It feels good to feel good!

See ya Sunday - it's gonna be totally awesome!

Friday

Today is the best day I have felt in about two weeks.  Found out that a RX prescribed by the dentist actually GAVE me a bacterial infection (another reason why I believe dentists are evil at their very core!!!).  So, I am now taking a new RX to fix the problem created by the other RX.  (Sounds like a conspiracy if you ask me.)

I am still doing a lot of resting.  Haven't made a fire call in over a week and probably will lay low at least through the weekend and see how my energy level is then.  It is extremely difficult to hear my pager go off and know I do not have the energy to respond so I just sit and listen to trucks check in, check on the scene, etc.  AHHHHH!!!!  I know what they are doing and I AM NOT THERE!!!!!

Over the past few days, I have:

• Acquired a new tolerant taste for whipped yogurt (dude...I have to be really sick to consider yogurt!)
• Read The Blogging Church and learned a few new ideas for using my blogs to communicate better.
• Read Made to Stick - a book everyone involved in communication (verbal, journalism, teaching, etc.) needs to read.  It will change the way you communicate to get your message to stick.
• Found a new awesome planning software called MindJet
• Attended a great vocal concert where my daughter sang twice and STOLE THE SHOW!!!

AND...I have gotten more antsy for this coming Sunday when we start the new series iParent!  If you haven't invited someone to come yet - DO IT TODAY!!!  There will be child dedication, rockin' music, music videos, and I will start my message off with something I know you have NEVER SEEN IN CHURCH BEFORE!!  And you will not believe what I had to personally go through to make this happen - including giving my daughter a heart-attack!!

See ya Sunday!

Tired & Cold but Pumped About Sunday

I am tired and cold.  Since Saturday I have lost count of the number of fire calls we have had - probably pushing 30 (it seems).  I thought yesterday was going to be a breather.  No calls all day but three came in - one was a car fire inside a body shop - between 8 PM and 2 AM.  I might have gotten 3, maybe 4, hours of sleep last night.  Then already this morning we have had two.  And of course, every time we are outside (temp right now is -18) so it is hard to warm up.

BUT...in spite of all of that - I am pumped about this Sunday!  We are starting a new series called "Use It or Lose It" - series on money.  I do a series like this every year.  Why every year?  Look at the stats of debt in our society and it is clear that we do not have a handle on how to handle our finances.

Most are skiddish when it comes to talking about money in the church - but what I am going to be saying is straight from the Bible.  I think people get all bent out of shape when the church talks about money, because so much of what is said is NOT from the Bible.  God wants all of us to live financial freedom.  And getting there is actually pretty simple IF we do it God's way.

Another great thing about this Sunday is it means we are one Sunday closer to our new look coming in March!

FA & Cold Weather

It is so stinkin' cold.  -18 this morning and that was without the windchill.  I wish some of those humans responsible for global warming would move to Minnesota!

We have had 13 fire calls the past 48 hours.  Mostly just fire alarms - but I am froze to the bone from getting up, out the door, get into a frozen truck, drive to the station, put my gear on, get on a truck, go to the scene, freeze, come back to the station, take my gear off, get back into a frozen truck, drive back home.

We have done that 13 times in the last 48 hours!  (four times during the Super Bowl!)

Marriage & Fire - What a Day!

I love talking about marriage and helping couples have great marriages. AND I love the adrenelin rush that comes from fighting a fire.  Today I did both!

First - the marriage part.  I wrote my first message for the series "Married but..." starting in March.  I am so PUMPED about this series!  It's going to be tough to wait 5 more weeks!!!!  Put it on your calendar - March 11.  If you are married and loving it or married and not loving it - YOU HAVE GOT TO BE HERE!!!

Second - the fire part.  As I was writing, we were paged to Savage to assist them with a house fire.  Pretty much out when we got there except for some hot spots and some fire still coming off the roof.  5 departments responded.  My crew of 3 went to the basement to take care of hot spots.  We were in about 30 minutes until my air tank started buzzing - low on air.  Personally I think I had a bad tank but the chief said I was just suckin' too much air and need to lose about 20 lbs! :) (I think he's right!)  With the cold temps out, it didn't take long for our gear to freeze up when we came out.  It's been a long time since we had a fire in temps like this. Sounds wierd - but it felt good.

Dignity, Honor, Respect

It was about 20 degrees out and the wind was biting, but nothing could stop us from giving Bob the dignity, honor, and respect he so deserved.  I am proud to be a Shakopee Firefighter.  The pictures tell the story.

You can see them all here in the Shakopee Fire Photo Album.

A Night of Brotherhood

I would guess there were 200+ firefighters at the service tonight in honor of Bob Latzke.  It could have been more.  All I know is that we could not fit all the fire fighters inside the room.  This was very impressive.  What an amazing show of brotherhood.  I know I didn't see all the departments - but I did see Savage, Prior Lake, Jordan, Waconia, MedFire, Victoria, Chaska, Carver.

I have posted some pics in the photo album in the left margin.

Honoring a Brother

Several people are asking about the details to the wake and funeral for Bob Latzke, active Shakopee Fire Fighter for 28 years.  Here are the schedule details, including details for other fire departments and fire fighters coming.  I hope to have more posted on the funeral later this week.

Wake/Viewing

• 6:15 PM:  fire fighters gather at McNearney Funeral Home for line up and assembly
• 6:45 (approx):  processional
• 7:00 (approx):  fire fighter prayer service by casket

Funeral

• 10:00 AM:  funeral at St. Mary's Catholic Church
• 11:00 (approx):  processional to cemetary with trucks & fire fighters marching
• 11:30 (approx):  graveside ceremony

This Warrior is a Child

This a day of thinking.  I remember a song called "Warrior is a Child".  I think it's pretty appropriate for me and the department...

"Lately I've been winning battles left and right, but even winners can get wounded in the fight.  People say that I'm amazing - strong beyond my years.  But they don't see inside of me I'm hiding all the tears.

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.  They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.  I drop my sword and cry for just a while.  'Cause deep inside this armour.  The warrior is a child

Unafraid because his armour is the best, but even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.  People say that I'm amazing - never face retreat.  But they don't see the enemies that lay me at His feet."

A Time To...

Eccles. 3:1,4 (NIV) "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."