Craig Duck

Choose Good, Live Strong: Level Up in the Firehouse Picture this: You roll back from a tough structure fire, adrenaline still pumping. The bay fills with the usual dark jokes and rough talk as everyone tries to blow off steam. It is easy to join in when everyone is doing it. But deep down you know there’s a better way. That’s exactly where the prophet Amos found himself. He wasn’t a professional preacher—he was a regular shepherd pulled straight out of his fields into a wealthy but broken Northern Kingdom full of injustice and sin. God gave him one clear command: Stop chasing what drags people down. Seek good instead—real justice, real righteousness, lifting up the hurting. Do that, and you won’t just survive—you’ll live. And the Lord God of hosts Himself will stand with you. Young firefighter, that same challenge is your invitation today. Seeking good in the department God has called you to: • Showing genuine compassion to everyone —that’s justice in action. • Choosing words that build your crew up instead of tearing them down. • Holding the line on integrity, and respect even when others do not. • Being the one who quietly encourages the rookie or checks on those struggling. When you choose good, you do not just get through the shift—you level up. You live with purpose, a stronger mental game, and a tighter brotherhood. And the best part? The Lord God of hosts—the ultimate Incident Commander—has your back, He will never leave you or forsake you. His presence is the backup that never leaves the rig. Encouragement for the day – “Seek good and not evil, so that you may live: so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken.” Amos 5:14 NKJV For further study read Amos 5:4-15 Lord, give me the courage and strength to seek good over easy today. Help me live strong in this calling, knowing You’re with me on every call and in every station moment. Encouraging first responders with the truth of God’s Word!! #firefighter #faith

Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive? Don't wait until tomorrow because tomorrow never comes.

Monday Morning Quarterback Football season brings out the armchair experts. Plenty of firefighters who never played a down will confidently explain exactly how their team should have run that last series. The same reflex shows up in the fire service. After a tough call—especially one that ends in injury or death—the critiques begin. Firehouse talk and social-media comment threads fill with people who were not on the scene, did not have the size-up, and still somehow know exactly what “should” have been done. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 ESV Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 4 is clear: our words are to build up, not tear down. Verse 29 forbids corrupting talk and requires speech that fits the occasion and gives grace. Verse 32 adds the positive counterpart: be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. When brothers and sisters are already carrying the weight of a tragic run, the last thing they need is public second-guessing. They need people who will stand with them, not over them. This week, look for one concrete way to put that into practice. · Pray by name for the department and the families involved. · Send a short note or text that simply says, “I’m with you.” · Share a verse that has carried you in hard seasons. · In the comments or group chat, choose silence or a word of support instead of critique. Firefighting is dangerous. Good people sometimes get hurt or killed doing it. Our calling is not to explain every outcome, but to love the people who are left standing in the aftermath. That is how we give grace and how we honor the Lord in the fire service. For further study read Ephesians 4:25-32 Lord, we are heartbroken over the recent tragedies in the fire service. I pray that you would comfort those who are hurting. Use us to share your great love with them. Encouragement is the art of pulling someone from the pit of despair!!

Do you believe?

Training Grounds I worked as a firefighter back in an era when formal training was often hard to schedule. Our company was one of the busiest, and we simply did not always have time for classroom sessions. Our officer understood the importance of training and used every opportunity to teach us. We would go over important material on the fireground while waiting for the investigator, on medical calls while waiting for the ambulance, and sometimes at the watch desk between runs. In those moments he passed on the knowledge he had gained so we would be better prepared for the next call. “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NIV Jesus walked this earth some two thousand years ago. The instructions He passed on to His disciples remain just as relevant to today’s Christian firefighters as they were to those early believers. Jesus showed a pattern of teaching we can use with those we are discipling. As you serve in the fire service, look for the same kind of natural moments—between calls, during rehab, after a tough run, or in the station—to teach others what you have learned about Godly living. Pass on to the next generation the things they need to know and do in order to follow and obey Jesus. Like that old lieutenant, take every opportunity to share biblical principles so others might learn to obey God. When you do this work of making disciples, you can have confidence that Jesus Himself is with you and that the Father is well pleased. Today, identify one person in your station or life and intentionally share one biblical truth that has shaped how you serve. For further study read Matthew 28:16-20 Lord, give me courage today to find someone to disciple and teach them the things that God has shown me. Encouragement should be considered a duty for every believer!! #fireservice #firefighter #faith

The trials and tribulations of life can be overwhelming and downright exhausting but take heart God has a plan. When we get to the other side by God's grace we will find that He has been working in us to produce a person of Godly character who can better shine His light and encourage others.

Self-Control: Disciplined for the Mission As I have served in the fire service, I have noticed that there are times that I struggle with self-control. On Saturdays, when I worked in a busy engine company in Washington, DC, we would eat more than our allotted caloric intake. We would start it all off by going to the farmers market and consume a big cinnamon roll, and I mean big, before breakfast. Saturdays meant a big breakfast, gorging on fatty foods and carbs. Then there was our snack in between runs followed by fish sandwiches from the “Fishman.” We ate a big lunch, and then dinner before capping it all off with cheesecake and milk before going to bed. “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” I Corinthians 9:27 ESV My lack of self-control at the firehouse is not a good character trait to have as a Christian firefighter or first responder. Paul encouraged believers to exercise self-control when it comes to their faith and their bodies. He was constantly under attack when it came to his ministry, and without self-control it would have been easy for him to stray or become ineffective. This battle we have in the flesh is real. Those who bear the name of Christ can lose focus and begin to disobey biblical truth. Paul used the image of a competitor running a prestigious race. They must live a disciplined life to compete for the top prize. Likewise, we need to subject our minds and bodies to the will of God—by the power of the Spirit—so that we will be pleasing to Him in everything we say and do, not becoming disqualified in our witness or ministry. This takes time and effort if we want to succeed, but pleasing God is worth all the struggles. This week, identify one area where your self-control is weakest—whether food, temper, rest, or speech—and deliberately bring it under the Lord’s control through prayer and one practical step. For further study read I Corinthians 9:16-27 Lord, teach me how to have self-control in this crazy mixed-up world. Help me to focus on obeying the truth and to rely on Your Spirit as I discipline my body and mind. Encouragement is an action word, so let’s get busy!! #firefighter #FCFInternational #Christ

Have you checked out the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters Back to Basics Bible study? Check it out on the APP Christian Firefighter Hub. It comes with video and lesson. fellowshipofchristianfirefig…

Self-Control: Disciplined for the Mission As I have served in the fire service, I have noticed that there are times that I struggle with self-control. On Saturdays, when I worked in a busy engine company in Washington, DC, we would eat more than our allotted caloric intake. We would start it all off by going to the farmers market and consume a big cinnamon roll, and I mean big, before breakfast. Saturdays meant a big breakfast, gorging on fatty foods and carbs. Then there was our snack in between runs followed by fish sandwiches from the “Fishman.” We ate a big lunch, and then dinner before capping it all off with cheesecake and milk before going to bed. “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” I Corinthians 9:27 ESV My lack of self-control at the firehouse is not a good character trait to have as a Christian firefighter or first responder. Paul encouraged believers to exercise self-control when it comes to their faith and their bodies. He was constantly under attack when it came to his ministry, and without self-control it would have been easy for him to stray or become ineffective. This battle we have in the flesh is real. Those who bear the name of Christ can lose focus and begin to disobey biblical truth. Paul used the image of a competitor running a prestigious race. They must live a disciplined life to compete for the top prize. Likewise, we need to subject our minds and bodies to the will of God—by the power of the Spirit—so that we will be pleasing to Him in everything we say and do, not becoming disqualified in our witness or ministry. This takes time and effort if we want to succeed, but pleasing God is worth all the struggles. This week, identify one area where your self-control is weakest—whether food, temper, rest, or speech—and deliberately bring it under the Lord’s control through prayer and one practical step. For further study read I Corinthians 9:16-27 Lord, teach me how to have self-control in this crazy mixed-up world. Help me to focus on obeying the truth and to rely on Your Spirit as I discipline my body and mind. Encouragement is an action word, so let’s get busy!!

The Bible encourages us to share the Good News with those in our circle of friends and family - Do you believe?

Deconning Our Gear Decontaminating our gear has become an important task that firefighters must do after a fire. When I became a firefighter for the District of Columbia Fire Department, we only had one set of gear and back in the early 90s our department had a lot of fires. It was not uncommon for the company I was assigned with to respond to multiple fires in a shift, and we rarely washed our gear back then. Some firefighters are paying the price for it now. Fire after fire our gear would collect contaminants. These impurities could then be easily absorbed into our bodies and taken home. Today, fire departments all over the country have strict policies on decontaminating their members after a fire, a second set of gear to be utilized while the first set is being washed, and a better understanding of cancer-related illnesses. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 ESV We live in a fallen world. Sin abounds in the fire service, and it is easy for today’s firefighters and first responders to violate God’s word. Pride after a good stop, anger on a tough call, coarse language in the station, or neglected relationships under the strain of the job can all collect like contaminants if left unaddressed. These things do not stay on the surface; they are absorbed into our hearts and can be carried home. Fortunately, God has provided a way to decontaminate our lives. Sin is anything we think, say, or do that is displeasing to God. He has given us a way to have all our transgressions forgiven and our fellowship with Him restored. John reminds us of the simple process we need to utilize: walk in the light, and when we sin, confess those sins to God. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves; but when a Christian firefighter or first responder slips, forgiveness is still possible. Confessing our sins cleanses us from all unrighteousness and restores our relationship with God. We don’t need to go to anyone but God to confess our iniquities. Simply take a moment right now and be cleansed. For further study read I John 1:1-10 Lord, thank you for this powerful reminder to confess my sins to you. I desire to be pleasing to you in everything I say and do. Search my heart and wash me clean. Encouragement is the art of pulling someone out of the pit of despair!! #firefighter #FCFInternational #dailyinspiration

What a good, good God to provide purpose in pain and comfort us when we need it the most.

Firefighters Know How to Eat I recently visited a friend of mine in the FDNY Marine Division. Jerry Sillcocks is a Captain in that division, and he invited me to visit him during one of his tours. They were able to give my wife and me a ride on the fireboat and of course fed us dinner afterwards. One thing about firefighters, they sure can cook. We ate so much food that our stomachs hurt afterward. The smothered pork chops were cooked to perfection. I don’t think that there is a firehouse in America that doesn’t have at least one cook who could easily cook for a five-star restaurant. Firefighters know how to fuel up for the work ahead. "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34 NIV Today’s passage is very interesting. We find ourselves in the middle of a story where Jesus teaches a valuable lesson. While in the Samaria region, and after a lengthy discourse with the woman at the well, Jesus is interrupted by His disciples. They are concerned that He has not had enough to eat and they want to make sure that He stays well fed. Jesus reminded them that His ultimate goal in life was to please His Father, and He received spiritual nourishment when He did. Just as we fuel our bodies so we can run calls and finish the job, Jesus fueled Himself by doing the will of the One who sent Him. He also reminded His disciples that there is still plenty of work to be done in sharing the Gospel with those who are lost. Today, we see many firefighters and first responders who have never heard of Jesus Christ in a positive manner. Christian firefighters need to follow the example Christ gave us and be willing to share God’s plan of eternal security through faith in Jesus Christ. Are you willing to finish the mission? Today, look for one natural opening with a firefighter on your shift and simply tell them one reason Jesus matters to you. For further study read John 4:31-38 Lord, give me courage today to share the good news with at least one firefighter in my department. Encouragement goes a long way when shared with a friend!! The APP – Christian Firefighter Hub #firefighter #FCFInternational #faith

Who said technology isn't fun?

Great advice for every Christian firefighter - Let's work on our walk in the fire service for Christ today.

Listen Up: On the Fireground and in Your Faith It is important for firefighters and first responders to listen. As a lieutenant, when we had a new person assigned to the company, I would go over the apparatus with them. As they learned how to pump the apparatus I would have them listen to the different sounds, paying attention to each one. I wanted them to know what it sounded like when the pump went in gear or when something wasn’t right. As an officer, I would have to carefully listen to what was going on at the fireground, and what my superiors were telling me. Today, officers are required to repeat back orders from the incident commander so that they may be reassured that you heard them correctly. If you don’t learn to listen, you will never learn to be a great firefighter. Missing a pump sound or a radio order can cost lives; listening carefully is not optional. “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 11:16 NIV We are in another fascinating section of Scripture. John the Baptist was in prison for his faith and wanted some reassurance from Jesus. John sent several of his disciples to meet up with Jesus and ask Him if He indeed was the Messiah. Jesus replies and then tells the crowd that John the Baptist is the “Elijah who is to come” (verse 14). Because this revelation needs our utmost attention, Jesus says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Take time and effort to fully comprehend what was just said. It is mission critical in our faith that we listen to God. Since God speaks to us through His completed Word, the Bible, we must daily engage in reading it with the same focused attention we give the pump panel or the radio. Those who choose not to read and truly listen will miss what God has for them. Do you have ears? Listen up to what God is telling you today. Today, set aside ten quiet minutes, read Matthew 11:10-15, and ask God one clear question: “What do You want me to hear and obey right now?” Lord, help me organize my life today so that I might set aside enough time to read and study the Bible with the same care I give the fireground. Encouragement comes in all shapes and sizes, choose one and begin!!

How is your walk with Christ today - Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" John 14:15

Order of Dispatch Recently, the volunteer department that I am serving in purchased a new piece of apparatus. After preparing it for service the officers got together in order to figure out the order of dispatch for the emergencies we are called to. Our department has a first, second and third due area that we are responsible for and the order that our apparatus responds in is critical. The officers agreed upon the order for almost every situation and made a sheet for members to reference until it is memorized. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV The death of a loved one can be a difficult time for anyone who is going through it. The Christian firefighter can draw comfort and hope from the fact that those who have died “in Christ” we will one day see again. Jesus assured us that He will come back again one day. On that Day the Bible explains the order of dispatch. Jesus will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then the rest of us that are still alive will meet Jesus in the air. This is referred to as the rapture or the second coming of Christ. For those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I urge you to learn what the Bible says about having your sins forgiven. For those of us that are saved, pray about other firefighters and family members who need to hear the good news about salvation and share it with them. For further study read I Thessalonians 4:13-18 Lord, thank You for Your great salvation which is so rich and so free. Encouraging first responders with the truth of God’s Word!! #firefighter #FCFInternational #dailyinsiration

Are the burdens you are carrying too heavy carry and don't know how to approach God? Run to Jesus and allow the Spirit to guide you.