Like last month, I found another good article posted on Facebook pertaining to the emotional survival of 9-1-1 dispatchers. It is authored by Ryan Dedmon, Founder of “Operation 10-8”—Visit The web site.
As I alluded to in the previous edition of “APB”, 9-1-1 dispatchers have to obtain critical information, stay calm, and disseminate that information to field units, while keeping track of status changes. They must have good listening skills, think quickly, and be accurate in their course of action. While all of these things are crucial to the job, we have to remember that they are human beings capable of making a mistake. When I think of emergency communications, the first thought that comes to my mind is stress. But I think Mr. Dedmon hits another key element of 9-1-1 dispatch work involving a condition known as “sensory overload.” Dispatch personnel have to process an enormous amount of information during their shift. Now I don’t have a formal education on the subjects mentioned in the article; I can only go by my years of experience on the job. But think of the emotional rollercoaster of “up and down” adrenaline, working with the body’s physical elements (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) and the constant multi-tasking in a sedentary position for 8-12 hours a shift. I’m only one example, but sometimes I wonder how I lasted for 20-25 years on that job.
I’m glad to see these types of studies and articles coming out for 9-1-1 dispatchers. I hope there are more studies and articles like these that come out in the future. It is so important for anyone involved in 9-1-1 dispatch work to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Outside of that 9-1-1 center, enjoy life to the fullest. Eat properly, exercise, and get plenty of rest. Enjoy time off with family and friends who care about you. Try to leave “work” at work, but don’t be afraid to talk to someone either about that traumatic call you took. Sometimes the “9-1-1 first responder” needs a response too: a compassionate person who will listen to them. Then I encourage you to get into God’s Word and feed, study, and meditate on what it says. Pray to God and praise Him for His care, tell Him your feelings, and ask Him for direction, wisdom, calmness, and peace on and off the job.
Dispatchers do not face the added physical danger that field personnel (i.e., police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel) deal with daily. But they do face stressful and emotional overloading situations each day on the job. I again ask you to pray for our 9-1-1 dispatchers. Thank them for being there to answer “the call.”
Our devotional this month originated from a sermon outline that was preached around 1938 by my grandfather, James Purdle. I never met him; he died September 11, 1961, three months before I was born. I do have several of his outlines that my parents passed on to me. He preached in several churches in the 1930’s in southern Illinois. I filled in some commentary so that this wonderful story of the prodigal son could be told. I hope that it will be a blessing to you. Signing off for now…
Dave & Brenda Purdle
Ministry 9-1-1
THE CONFESSION OF A PRODIGAL
By Pastor James Purdle, with added commentary by Dave Purdle, Founder/Director, Ministry 9-1-1
Luke 15:11-24
“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.” (vv. 17-18)
There is no place in the Bible that covers the entire subject more than this. Anyone who ever been to church or Sunday School has heard this story from the Scriptures. Jesus gave this account and several others like it in the form of a parable. “A parable is a comparison of two objects for the purpose of teaching…It was an effective method (used by Christ) of revealing truth to the spiritual and ready mind and at the same time of concealing it from others” (The New Compact Bible Dictionary).
This account is a part of an exposition in Luke 15 of why and how Jesus receives lost sinners, loves them, forgives them, and takes them as children of God. The prodigal son is a plain picture of that fact. I want you to observe how clearly Christ pictures the heart attitude and state of a sinner. In this day and age, we seem to point the blame on someone else. We say, “It’s because of him” or “She’s the reason this happened.” I don’t think we can blame the father on this one because the parable pictures a sinner going away from God on his own. We can’t point at God negatively either, because God is sinless and no human being falls into that category whatsoever. It is the prodigal son that stands out, the picture of a lost sinner.
As we study the prodigal son, we want to zero in on his confession. This confession has sobbed itself through centuries. Too often, our confession is mechanical and lifeless. It’s because we got caught in our wrongdoing. It’s simply “I’m sorry” – just empty, soothing words to make everything better and/or to reduce impact or punishment of the offense. Not so with this confession. The sense of spiritual hunger was never more than today. The one who made this confession so long ago is generally called the prodigal. By the way, what is a prodigal? What does the word “prodigal” mean? Pastor Ken Burdett defines a prodigal as “someone who leaves a better way of life for a lesser way of life.” He is the boy who went away from home. He is probably one of the best known characters in the Bible. He has a message for us all. For the person who is in the pleasures of the city of destruction; for the person who is in the sight of the cross; for the person who climbs the hill of difficulty; for the person in the valley of humiliation. Let’s journey with the prodigal son and find out what led him to this confession.
The sinners journey from God involves selfishness, wickedness, disgrace, and suffering (vv. 11-16)
Why did this young man go into a far country? Not because he wanted to wreck himself. He never intended to wind up in a hog pen. No one ever wanted to do that. No car ever intended to go in a ditch. No ship ever intended to go on the rocks. When he left home, I’m sure the prodigal son did not intend to do any harm. Yet he went away to please himself. Notice what this journey involved:
First, we see selfishness from the prodigal son. Notice his words in verse 12: “Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.” It’s all about him. He took without a word of thanks all that his father had given and all that he would have inherited later on. As we look at the picture of a sinner, he never thanked God for all that had been provided him – life, health, food, air to breathe, family, job, and other comforts – and furthermore, felt no obligation to seek or serve God.
After leaving home, there is wickedness seen in the prodigal son (v. 13). First, he went “into a far country.” No restraints, no discipline, and no admonishments from his parents. In this case, the sinner gets as far away from God as possible. Instead of having God as an enjoyable, constant companion, he becomes an alien, a stranger, a foreigner, and an enemy. In that “far country,” he squandered his possessions with a lack of restraint, indicating he was reckless or had loose, worldly standards. This is an accurate image of the influence and way of sin.
Then there was disgrace; look at verse 14. As the saying goes, “a fool and his money are soon parted.” He foolishly spent it all, so when a famine came, he had nothing. When there is sin, there is famine. The Scripture is true: “…be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Notice as well that he was unable to meet the need because all was depleted. Where were his friends that helped him spend the wealth? Gone! The prodigal son became poor and lost his respectability and self-respect.
So self-pleasing is expensive. He who is bent on pleasing himself is doomed to pay a terrible price. As we look at verses 15-16, because of sin there was suffering. This is the trap of sin. It cost him the fellowship of his father. It cost him his freedom. It cost him to the point that he had to do an unpleasant task: feeding hogs. While he was feeding them “husks” (carob pods), he desired to eat what they had. By the way, these husks or carob pods are described as a “fruit shaped like a horn and has a sweet taste; it was (and is) used not only in fattening swine, but as an article of food by lower classes” (Thayer’s Lexicon). This was his lowest depth.
The sinners journey to God involves a conviction to come to himself (vv. 17-19)
But this boy came himself. He sees things as they are: the pleasures of sin do not last. He stated, “I perish (i.e., I am certain to be destroyed=appolumi) with hunger.” Convicted, a man can repent. He had learned about the wages of sin, so by repenting of that sin, he was able to appreciate the love and forgiveness of his father. Having come to himself, he came to a decision and put it into effect. Notice his resolution: “I will arise and go…” The Geneva Study Bible states, “The beginning of repentance is the acknowledging of the mercy of God, which encourages us to hope expectantly.” It is forsaking sin, not just saying “I’m sorry,” but turning the back toward the sin and journeying toward God and His righteous ways.
The prodigal son confessed his sin and unworthiness. What he decided he was going to say to his father in verse 18, he actually said to him personally in verse 21. This confession included the first act of sin and all that grew out of it. The specific content is important: “I have sinned.” He had been ungrateful, wicked, and rebellious. He took the responsibility for his sins personally. It was directed first to God and His divine authority. If God can’t save him, then he cannot be saved. He had to be willing to go to God first. Then the confession was directed to his father, who he had offended, treated unkindly, provoked, and dishonored. As the prodigal son was thinking about addressing his father, he was going to say that his conduct was a disgrace and he was not worthy to be his son. Thus he wanted to be allowed to come back into the family only as a servant. As you read verse 19, you can see the humility, the love for his father’s house, as well as a confidence that his father would treat him kindly, even if he was only considered a servant.
The sinners reception by the Lord (vv. 20-24)
We have focused on the confession of the prodigal son. Now we want to examine the response of the father. In studying the three parables of Luke 15, the theme is “this man receiveth sinners” (v. 2). As the prodigal son got up after he came to his senses and started home in his disgraceful state, would he be received and welcomed there? This is important because we see a loving, prayerful father waiting and watching for his wandering son to return. When the waiting father saw his returning son in the distance, he was moved inwardly with love and pity, and ran to meet him. Total opposites: The prodigal son walking slowly in shame; the father hurrying out to greet him. Notice the response of the father. He threw his arms around the son’s neck and embraced him, as well as fervently kissed him (again and again) as a sign of affection and reconciliation. This is a beautiful picture because Jesus Christ receives unworthy and repentant sinners, but they must come to Him alone for salvation and forgiveness.
As the father embraced his son, the prodigal grieved for what he had done, not for what he had lost, with a tone of voice expressive of the deepest contrition: “Father, I have sinned…” (v. 21). The prodigal son showed his remorse, but he was never allowed to say, “Make me as one of thy hired servants” (from v. 19) because his father joyfully interrupted him with four significant statements. As the prodigal son stood there with ragged, smelly clothing on, the father said, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him” (v. 22f). When a person has Jesus Christ as their Savior, they have His robe of righteousness put around them (cf. Isaiah 61:10; Romans 4:7-8). Next he said, “…put a ring on his hand,” which is the sign of sonship because he is in the family. Unworthy as we are, we are received by God’s mercy and grace into the family of God (cf. Romans 8:17; I John 3:1-2). The father goes on, “put…shoes on his feet.” In Christ, righteousness is accounted to us, we are placed in the position of a son, and our walk is changed. Our walk is our manner of life or our vocation in the Lord (Ephesians 4:1; 6:15; Colossians 1:10). The prodigal then shared in a feast at his father’s house with family. When a person comes back to Christ, it is a time of celebration because it not only involves the forgiveness of sins and redemption, but it is the restoration of a rich and blessed life as a child of God and follower of Jesus Christ.
The confession of a prodigal is a lesson to us. When we rebel against and turn from God, we ultimately have to face the painful reality of our waywardness. We have to come to our senses first, then confess and repent of that sin (turn away from it), and come back to Christ. Maybe you made a profession of faith at one time in Jesus Christ, were faithful in living for the Lord and serving Him, and because of sin – which may have built up over time and/or a single, significant, life-changing sinful event – you have run away from God. My friend, are YOU in that position today? If so, please think about this story and come back to Christ. As Christians, when we sin or when we get away from the Lord, we can claim I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We never have to be afraid of being rejected by God because He is a compassionate, loving Father, who will always forgive and stands ready for us to return home.
The Golden Rule may be old,
but it hasn’t been used enough to look worn.
Bible Trivia: Blown by the wind
1. Who did God address from a whirlwind?
2. How long did the wind that parted the Red Sea blow?
3. What food did God bring to the Israelites by using a wind?
4. What runaway boarded a ship that the Lord struck with a strong wind?
5. What was blown out of Egypt by a strong west wind?
6. What book of the Bible does a woman call on the north wind and south wind to blow on her garden?
King Saul thought Goliath was too big to fight –
David thought he was too big to miss.
In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
My Grandfather recorded in his sermon notebook that “Lieut. Col. John McCrae, the author of this poem, a member of the First Canadian contingent, died in France on January 28, 1918, after four years of service on the Western Front” in World War I. (This poem is in the public domain)
If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him.
No one would have remembered him either.
MINISTRY 9-1-1
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As a representative of your agency, thank you for allowing us to send this newsletter to you. Please read and enjoy; feel free to pass it along to other dispatchers in your department. Ministry 9-1-1 is a non-profit, volunteer evangelistic and biblical counseling outreach specifically for 9-1-1 telecommunicators. Call or write if we can be of any assistance to you or your agency.
Bible Trivia: 1] Job (Job 38:1); 2] All night (Exodus 14:21); 3] Quails (Numbers 11:31); 4] Jonah (Jonah 1:4); 5] Locusts (Exodus 10:19); 6] Song of Solomon (4:16)