I don’t know about you, but in my life a lot of things just don’t happen on my schedule...when I would like for them to happen. It seems there is always something I am WAITING on.

What about you...what are you waiting for? For a relationship to materialize or improve? For a raise/promotion? To be recognized for something you have done to improve yourself and your value to others? For a sale to go through? For a prayer to be answered? For financial investments to pay off?  
   
A big part of life is WAITING...so what are you doing while you wait? Some people become bitter because they feel they have been waiting too long. Others get depressed waiting and lose hope of their situation ever changing. 
   
Waiting is hard because it can feel like we have no control. But while we may have no control over when a situation will change, we do have control over our focus during the wait. I have never had a single situation get better by focusing on what I did not have while I was waiting. 
   
Have you ever considered that the wait could be a time of growth? A protracted time of suffering or pain can make you thankful for all the “normal” days. Doing without something can cause you to focus on the simple things that bring true joy and peace...like friends, faith, family, etc. 
   
This past year several big things have been out of my control and I found new meaning in a Bible verse that you may have seen printed on a t-shirt, etc. It says, But those who WAIT on the Lord will renew their strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not be weary, They will walk and not faint. Through all of the waiting for wrongs to be righted, to see where to go from here...in the midst of all the craziness, I found peace looking to God and saying, “I’ve done all I can do. I can either look at what I don’t have or I can look to You to help me and WAIT for you to show me what’s next.” In this, I discovered strength and peace in hope-filled waiting. Things will change, but by His hand and in His time, not mine. 
   
I don’t know what YOU are waiting for this week and at this time in your life, but I pray your wait isn’t wasted. Look for growth, joy and hope in the waiting! 

Blessings, 
Pastor Rob

I read this Psalm (ancient poetry) over the weekend and I thought of my officer friends. There was a time when King David’s son was trying to kill/overthrow his father as king. In the midst of this undeserved, crazy hatred against him, King David (king of Israel circa 993 BC) called out to God with absolute confidence that God would rescue him. 

In the midst of a defund-the-police-culture, I am glad we live in a state and city which supports our officers, but I know you still face undeserved, crazy hatred (whether it is personally or in the media). I want you to know that I, and MANY others, pray regularly for your safety and for you to stay encouraged as you serve. May this prayer and statement of faith from King David encourage you this week that God will have your back if you call on Him.

Your service is appreciated, Pastor Rob 

As a volunteer pastor for my local police department, I sometimes have the honor of officiating  a brief wreath presentation ceremony on the anniversary of the EOW for officers who gave their life in the line of duty in our city.  I would like to share  with you my brief tribute to Officer Gary Harl on this 46th anniversary of his End Of Watch. I hope this is also an encouragement for ALL officers that service and sacrifice will always be remembered.
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Thank you for being here today. I am privileged to stand here with you as we remember the life and service of Gary Harl whose End of Watch was 46 years ago today (July 16, 1975).
 
This date marks the remembrance of Gary’s EOW. Gary didn’t choose for this date to be remembered, but he did choose the life of service that makes the name Gary Harl worthy of being remembered, respected and honored. 
 
Remembered
   A hero is always remembered. People are remembered by those who loved them when hey are gone, but when one gives their life in service...they are remembered even by those they never met. 
   Gary is remembered by his Blue family here today who never had the opportunity to serve with him.
   Gary is remembered by citizens of Arlington who have  attended a ceremony or read the memorial at Hero’s Park. 
   The name Gary  Harl is read and remembered by every cadet going through the academy. A hero who gave his life in service.
   APD Academy Class 35 wrote these words on Gary’s Officer Down Memorial Page: As we learn and prepare to serve this great city, may we always remember the trails you blazed and the sacrifice you made. Thank you, Sir.
 
Respected
   A hero is always respected. People can, and do, say a lot of things. Make a lot claims. Hope to make a lasting impact. But when the saying, claiming, and hoping leads to action, that’s when the lives of others are touched and you make an impact. That’s what Gary did by choosing a life of service to our City. It is his service and his sacrifice that we will always remember and respect.
   Again from ODM, a mother whose son was also an officer who lost his life in the line of duty wrote: Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. 

Honored
   A hero is always honored because of the inspiration their actions leave for others. A corporal from the Panama City Police Dept. wrote this on Gary’s page several years ago:
   I found Officer Harl’s memorial today. He left this world the day I was brought into it. I can’t say that I could ever take his place, but I will continue to help hold the line down here while he watches us from above. May God bless the spirit of Officer Harl, and may He continue to offer comfort to the family and friends who feel his loss every day. Though the decades have passed, you are not forgotten. ‘Heroes live forever.’
 
So on this solemn day Sue, we want you to know Gary will always be remembered.
   Gary will always be respected for the life he lived, for his service, commitment and sacrifice for our City.
  And Gary's memory will always be honored as a hero who inspires those who follow in his footsteps.
   Remembered. Respected. Honored.
  
MOMENT OF SILENCE / PRESENTATION OF THE WREATH
 
PRAYER
O Lord, our Great Comforter, the ultimate example has been shown to us through the work and ministry of Your Son, Jesus. Yet, in daily life, You raise civil servants who also lay down their lives for the protection of others. We thank You, Lord, for heroes such as Gary who showed us what it looks like to serve and live a life dedicated to others. Help us, like Gary, to live our lives dedicated to serving others so that our lives will also be worthy of being remembered, respected, and honored. 
 
BLESSING
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you today. Amen

If you’ve watched America’s Got Talent, you’ve heard the judges ask a contestant, “What’s the dream?” They are being asked, “How big do you want to be? How much to you want to do? How far do you want to go? What kind of impact do you want to make?”
   
I like asking officers, “Why did you become a cop?”  When some say, “I don’t know...I just always wanted to be a cop”, I think about something those of us in the ministry refer to as a “calling”. It’s a feeling or a belief “This is what I am supposed to do. I’ve been given the ability, personality and temperament to allow me to do this...almost like I was created to do this and help people this way.” When the task feels bigger than what I can handle, the calling gives me the strength to soldier on.
   
Do you ever feel that way doing your job? Of course every day is not rainbows and unicorns. The job you do is HARD, yet you feel accomplished in doing it well. Is it a calling? Were you created the way you are so you can help people the way you do?
 
When you think about “What’s the dream?” in your career, does your answer include the size of your impact? If it does, I would like to leave you with this encouragement (especially if you believe God called you to do what you are doing).
   
Describing God and what He is able to do in us, the Apostle Paul wrote these words: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
   
Your career is not limited to answering calls for service, writing tickets and the mundane parts of your job. If God called you to do what you are doing, He will use you in your everyday service to impact and change the lives of those around you one person at a time. What if God multiplies your influence bigger than you ever imagined possible? According to these words from Paul, that’s the sort of thing God does for those who look to Him. DREAM BIG! 
   
Your service is appreciated,
Pastor Rob