Raining in our neck of the woods, and tomorrow and Saturday when Carla will have days off.  She will be able to do some of her playing in the dirt, but, depending on how much rain there will be, not quite like she wants.

Not really complaining – or at least not too much – it is still early; the additional moisture is important for our water table and that will be a key to keeping the garden nourished this summer.  Still........

Gotta get things ready for lunch/supper.  We have crazy meal hours here – we have breakfast, but lunch may be late in the afternoon after Carla gets off work, so we usually just have the two meals and a few left overs in the evening.  It isn’t for everybody, but it works for Carla and I.

If she has to work late I plan for light leftover type meals for and earlier lunch so it doesn’t rest heavy on her when she goes to work.

‘Nuff of that, need to get going.

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Ephesians 6:10-12  KJV  “ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

When a police officer is getting ready to go on patrol he makes sure that he can handle any and all situations that can come up during his shift – or as much as possible anyway.

He is wearing a vest under his uniform.  His uniform has his badge on it making him readily identified as a police officer.

Uniforms for patrol officers have changed during the years since I have left the profession.  When I was working we had the military style uniforms, Class A uniforms for special occasions and regular uniforms for regular duty. 

Now many departments are wearing a more practical uniform that is set up for their particular geographic area and community. 

But the one thing they all have in common is the display of the badge of authority.

They made sure their guns are loaded and ready to go – Movies and Television loves to show officers cocking their guns before moving in – not realistic, if the officer had to put a cartridge in the barrel before defending himself or others he would lose valuable time and but himself in serious jeopardy.

The gun is loaded, one in the chamber and if a semi-automatic, the safety will be on.  He makes sure his radio works and his other weapons and equipment are ready in case he needs them. 

Then, after going over pertinent information as to what has happened since he last came to work and what may be pertinent to what is expected to happen on his shift, he goes out to his patrol car.

He follows a routine to make sure his patrol car is ready for patrol.  Checks the lights, makes sure he doesn’t have low tires, checks the backseat to be sure there isn’t something hidden there.  Makes sure that any long guns are loaded, secured and ready.  Makes sure it is gassed up (usually the previous shift would gas the car before the end of shift, but there are times they get too busy and don’t get it done.)

You always start a patrol with a full tank, you never know what may happen where you have to sit at a crime/accident scene with the car running – going out of gas isn’t an option.  He may be called to go a longer distance than is normally called upon and again going out of gas is not an option.

Then when he is satisfied, he starts patrol.

But it takes more than just being physically prepared.

He must be alert and focused on his area, always looking, watching, listening for the unexpected.  Always prepared to go from a quiet ride down the street to an emergency of any kind, stopping a fight, responding to a call, discovering a burglary and investigating, anything, large or small that happens that requires an officer.

But even that is not enough.

Before an officer goes out on patrol, alone, he goes through training which includes not only the laws he is to enforce but making him aware of physical dangers he might face showing different techniques of conducting himself all the way from verbally handling the situation, physical restraint techniques, to the use of non-lethal and lethal weapons.

He is trained in many aspects of the work, including proper driving techniques.

He rides with a training officer who goes over what is expected of him in his jurisdiction.  How to actually patrol the streets looking for crime and being a deterrent, not just driving around as a civilian would.

Still it takes several years before he is completely ready to handle any call that comes his way.

It takes time, training, experience and willingness to learn and improve to become a good officer.

Very few officers aren’t nervous in making any car stop, let alone the first one, without having a training officer with him, is a stressful situation.

The same goes for any call where he is the lead officer who is going through something for the first time.  He may know what is supposed to be done, but it takes experience to handle the situation calmly and effectively.

But, that doesn’t stop him from doing the job.  He may be nervous and maybe even scared, but he takes a deep breath, and uses his training and what experience he has to handle the call.

It is no different than most jobs, you are shown and taught to do what is necessary, you are watched as you either practice or actually do the job, you undergo correction and advice until you can do the job on your own – still you are going to be nervous for a while, wanting to do the best you can and not make a mistake.

AND it is no different when it comes to being a witnessing Christian.

Now, God doesn’t say to us that we must be well versed in theology to tell others about Him.  As a matter of fact, many brand-new Christians are very good about telling of their salvation, they have the joy of that salvation so bubbling up within them that they can’t put a lid on it – and they shouldn’t.

Friends see the difference in them and know there has been a transformation in them, they see and hear it and some are going to want the same thing.

But, as time goes on we have to get into more serious discussions with skeptics that challenge us with questions.  Now, some of those will be just put downs (on these you either decide to let them play their game and still witness or just move on – hoping eventually someone will reach them, or that they will come back to you with serious question,) but others will have very real concerns and interests, and we need to be able to help them understand what being a follower of Christ is all about.

That scenario can be very difficult, it can be so overwhelming that many Christians decide to leave it to the preachers and teachers – without realizing that some of these people will never step a foot into a church.  To them the Christian standing in front of them IS the only person that cares enough to share the gospel with them; and rightly is the Church of Christ.

So how do we go about being a more effective witness for Christ.

First:  2 Timothy 2:15  KJV  “ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Read the Word of God, join a Bible believing preaching church that isn’t afraid to go past feel good services or teaching and gets down to the nitty gritty – and often uncomfortable – truths of God’s Word.

Even so, we don’t have to wait years before we can fully divide the Word before we witness.  If we don’t have the answer we know someone who does and we can tell the person we are witnessing to that we will find the answer for them.

Second, and this is probably the most difficult for the Christian that wants to witness, but just can’t summon the ‘courage’ to do so:  2 Timothy 1:7  KJV  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

We can use many other verses but that one puts it in a nut shell.  We just have to claim it!

And once we start He will guide and help us know what to say and not be afraid to share His love and His salvation.

May prayer, for me today and every day, is to be prepared so that I am “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Later, Art (-: