She was a special person.

Conclusion of the chase of the rape suspect:

I filed my report and went on home.  The next day was my day off, however, I received a call from the Detective Sergeant later in the day.  He had obtained warrants on the suspect for attempting to elude, several counts of hit and run, reckless driving, and attempted rape.  The suspect had called and agreed to turn himself in; he would be there at 3:00 pm.

I went down to be involved in the interview.  He said, “My wife is 9 months pregnant and we haven’t had sex for quite a while.  I had just dropped her off for work at the Nursing home and went into the Laundromat to wash some clothes.  I saw the girl there and we were all by ourselves.  I don’t know what happened but the next thing I knew I was grabbing her and was going to rape her when I saw the reflection of your patrol car coming up the street from the window across the street from the Laundromat.  I let her go and ran.”  Then when he saw me coming out of the service station with my lights and siren on he became even more scared.  He said he had never done anything like that before, but I didn’t buy it, he had driven to purposely into the oncoming traffic to try and get me hit. 

We couldn’t prove it, but we knew he had eluded before.  I asked him where he had gone after he got out of the car.  Turns out he had an uncle who lived across the field and had ran over there and hidden in his barn.  Because he had voluntarily stopped before he raped the girl the charge was reduced to harassment, the rest of the traffic charges stuck though and he spent several months in the county jail. 

The damage to the patrol car wasn’t all that bad.  We had to replace the mufflers and shocks, but there wasn’t any more damage. 

But the real insult was the bill; it totaled $212.  I had to fill out an accident report, because “an accident report has to be filed with the State of Oregon if there is injury or property damage totaling $200 or more.”

Mathew 17:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Two seemingly contradictory verses, on the one hand it is very difficult to follow Jesus.  His demands are ‘hard’ and so difficult that very few can adjust their lives to them. 

This verse is directed at those that have not yet accepted Christ as their Savior.  He is telling them, up front, that to follow Him is difficult and that they will need to walk a very narrow road – one that has no byways. 

It is just one of many times that Christ made the difficulty of being a Christian known to those that would accept Him. 

We see those preaching today that do not challenge the person; that accepting Christ is an end all be all and that everything will be perfecting fine once they accept Him.

They will have no pain, they will have great fortunes, they will have every personal need met.  There is nothing about walking the walk that Jesus walked; nothing about the challenges to our faith in Him.  Nothing about the need to turn over everything we are to Him.  It is all rainbows and flowers.

That namby pamby Jesus is not of Scripture.  He wanted His followers to understand that serving Him would require sacrifice of self, dedication to Him and willingness to do all, even suffer and die if He so orders.

Christ, the Apostles and millions of Christians have been tortured, imprisoned and lost their families and lives because of their service to Him.

Many American Christians don’t witness, don’t call attention to their faith in Christ because it puts a bull-eye on their chest.  They don’t want to have to be embarrassed, or challenged about their beliefs.  It is easier to just stay quiet in the face of adversity than to proclaim a stand for Christ. 

So, they listen to feel good sermons and pat themselves on their back about how being a Christian so wonderful – as long as you don’t have to live a live for Him.

Meanwhile tens of thousands of Christians in other parts of the world are being attacked, homes destroyed, churches destroyed, families tortured and killed and everything they have is gone – including health and eventually a violent death will greet them.

How do they do that?  Why can’t American Christians take those kinds of stands for Christ?  Our leaders have watered down the Gospel and have made it okay not to witness for Him.  We have become soft and in so doing we have made Christ soft and without impact in our nation. 

We equate happiness – spiritual when we get emotionally involved – with things, not service to God.  We equate happiness with Joy, but they are not the same.

Joy comes from the Holy Spirit.  It can come only when we have turned ourselves over to Him.  The washing away of our sins, the sincere desire to serve and to stand up for Christ allows the Holy Spirit to communicate with our spirit and allows us to experience what the Joy of God is; not happiness, but an assurance of His Love and caring for us.

As Christians we can experience that Joy and Peace God gives even when we face death’s violent door, because in Hope and Faith in God we know that we will overcome and have eternal life with Him. 

As a soldier sometimes must sacrifice himself so others can live, we too sometimes are called upon to face unpleasant and deadly circumstances so He will be glorified. 

It is a narrow road, but once we find it, and walk it, we have great Joy in our hearts and Peace in our minds because we know He is walking it with us.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again