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 Jillian Smith on this 10th anniversary of her 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 Pastor Rob and it is my privilege to have the opportunity to share this time with you as we remember the courage and sacrifice of  Officer Jillian Smith.

Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies once said, “In the film world, we can all be heroes. In the real world, where heroism can cost your life…, people aren’t so willing to make those sacrifices. When they do, they are set apart from the rest of us.”

When people hear Jillian’s story, they realize that her actions that night 10 years ago did set her apart.

Looking at the actions of someone who gave their life to protect another like Jillian did, it is natural to ask, “What did they draw from to allow them to act with such courage?” I never had the opportunity to meet Jillian, but I have met and talked with you, her family, these past two years and it is obvious that the Lord was her strength/her motivation and that this was a calling for her.

As I was thinking about both the tragedy and the heroism we are remembering today, I was reminded of a story I read about another young person who leaned on the Lord for strength and followed his calling. I saw some similarities between the two.

In the early 1900’s, 16-year-old William Borden graduated from high school, an heir to the Borden fortune. His parents sent him on a trip around the world for his graduation present and during this trip, something happened that nobody expected. Seeing the hurting people of Asia, the Middle East and Europe, Borden came home and informed his parents that he wanted to become a missionary. Many of his friends told him he would be “throwing his life away as a missionary.”

Returning to the US, Borden graduated from Yale and then Princeton Theological Seminary. On his way to China, he stopped in Egypt to learn the Arabic language so that he could also reach Muslim people. While in Egypt, 25-year-old Borden contracted spinal meningitis and died within a month.

Borden’s death was reported in the major American newspapers. His biography states, “A wave of sorrow went around the world...he not only gave up his fortune, but himself to be a missionary.”

“When Borden’s parents were given his Bible, they found the following: Just after he renounced his fortune to become a missionary, he wrote the words, “No Reserve.” His father told him he would always have a job in the company, then at a later point, his father told him he would never let him work in the company again. At this time Borden wrote in his Bible, “No Retreat”. Then, they discovered in his Bible these words written shortly before his death in Egypt, “No Regret”. (Outreach Magazine, July 8, 2018)

Jillian will always be remembered as one who lived a life of No Reserve and No Retreat. I think if we could ask her today, she would tell us...No Regret. 

THAT is a definition of a hero, the definition of love and a shining of example of one who knew her every step was in the Lord’s hands.

And now we are going to honor Jillian’s life of service and her sacrifice with the placing of a wreath.

WREATH PRESENTATION

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we are honored to gather here today to remember Jillian's life, service and sacrifice for our City. Please let her family, friends and co-workers experience your peace today. May her life and her courage challenge us to live lives of no reserve, no retreat and no regret.

BLESSING
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. Amen.

I have shared this story at briefing the last three years and, since I can't be at briefings right now due to Covid restrictions, I decided to shoot a video and send to officers this year. Since I posted the story here last year, I thought I'd share it in this video instead.

Joy To The World. The lyrics of this Christmas carol come from the Christmas story where the angel appeared to the shepherds, “...I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” And joyful news that was...unless you look back several months...and your name was Joseph! In the words of another Christmas carol, Go Tell It On The Mountain,  “the virgin Mary had a baby boy…” The virgin birth is a part of the miracle of Christmas, but if it seems odd today, think about Joseph hearing it for the first time. In his day, getting married as a virgin was a BIG deal. What must he have felt when his wife-to-be, whom he had kept a virgin, told him, “I’m pregnant.” Because Joseph was a good guy, he tried to call of the wedding quietly so as not to expose Mary to public ridicule (and worse). Then an angel showed up and told Joseph that Mary’s conception was miraculous, she was indeed still a virgin and that he should go ahead and marry her. Despite the struggles that must have gone on in his head, the awkward explanations to family, etc, Joseph did the right thing, married Mary and took care of her.

After dealing with all of that, there was still the whole traveling with a 9 month pregnant wife (by donkey!) and when it was time for Mary to give birth, all that was available to them was a barn. That must have been quite the year for Joseph, but he still found joy!

2020 has been quite a year for first responders and I don’t think many people would want to walk in an officer’s shoes this past year. Some may ask, “How can we talk about joy in the midst of a year like this?” Joy is different than happiness...it isn’t tied to circumstances. Joy comes from doing the right thing in spite of the struggle. Joy comes from knowing no matter how hard or discouraging things may become, you are bringing hope to others on their darkest day because you are there. I believe joy is a reward from God for looking to Him and doing right in hardest of times. Thank you and bless you for serving during this difficult year. May you be filled with JOY this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Rob

SERIES: Stay Strong (3 of 3)
Work Hard Like a Farmer - Part 3

This is the last 2020 meme and the last thought in this Stay Strong series.

Enduring hardship is a part of life and 2020 has certainly been a year to endure. We endure hardship and don’t give up because of the reward. A soldier endures for victory, an athlete endures for the win and a farmer endures for the harvest. Stay strong… like a farmer you  have sowed seed & will reap a harvest!

A farmer knows, perhaps more than most, that there is no such thing as quick results. A farmer must work hard to sow the seed in the field and continue to work hard to care for the seed and budding crop. The reason the farmer works so hard is because they know a harvest is coming, and they want to benefit from the harvest. The reason we all like farmers is because we also benefit from their hard work!

Farming is hard not just because of the work involved, but because of the hardships that must be endured. Besides fighting weeds, monitoring soil conditions and keeping away animals, farmers must contend with nature. Floods, drought and fire are just a few of the hardships that could set a farmer back a whole season. Hardship like that must be made up with future crops, and future hard work.

Life is like that, too. We work HARD so we can reap a good harvest. We invest in our kids, in our marriages, in our relationships, in our homes and on our jobs hoping to multiply the good seeds we have sown. In your job serving our community, you are constantly planting good seed. Besides your “job”, you serve families in need, serve schools and students. I’ve seen you fix bikes, change tires, deliver meals and more. 2020 has been a year of storms trying to destroy your harvest. There are personal challenges you have had to endure and public attacks on top of that.

Life is hard, and 2020 has been particularly difficult. I’d like to encourage you with a quote that helps me keep going when I’ve worked long and hard and experience a hardship that makes me want to give up: “Don’t become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Sowing and reaping is not just true in farming, it’s a principle in life. I believe God put it in place, I believe it is true, and I am praying YOU see a harvest in all the good seed you are planting. Thank you for serving. Your service is appreciated, Pastor Rob

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Links to other posts in this series: Part 1, Part 2