October 12 Thought for Today - Have Mercy On Me, A Poor Sinner! Have Mercy on Me, a Poor Sinner! Constable Merv Tippe (Ret.) Regina, Saskatchewan It was a cool fall evening in rural Saskatchewan, and I thought it would be a quiet shift. After a stop at the local Cafe for coffee, I was back in my car and decided to patrol some rural roads. Before long, dispatch advised me of a red pickup truck which had been stolen from a community about 40-miles south; the police there felt it might be coming my way. The incident had happened much earlier in the evening, so I really didn’t expect it to show up. However, about that time I exited a rural road onto the highway back to town and noticed vehicle taillights ahead of me. Speeding up, I got close enough to determine it was a red pickup truck, perhaps the one we were seeking. When I radioed in the license number, it came back confirmed. As we entered town, the vehicle sped up slightly. I then activated the light bar, but the driver of the truck appeared to ignore me, turning down a side street. Even after I activated the siren a couple of times, the truck continued on until he pulled into a yard. I drove up behind him and was about to radio in the stop when he got out of the truck, reached in and pulled a rifle off of the rack in the back window. That’s when I said out loud what I call my arrow prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner! To this day I am not certain what really happened, except the next thing I knew I was standing in front of the fellow with my 357-Magnum revolver tucked up under his nose. I heard myself saying: Put that gun on the ground or your next thought will be your last! The last thing I recall before that was reaching for the handle of the patrol car door. It was as if I was translated by the Lord to right in front of the thief with my revolver in his face. There was just no way I could have opened the door, gotten out of the car, unholstered my weapon and ran the 12-15 feet to where he was. I arrested, cuffed and charged him with the theft of the truck, which was later returned to its rightful owner. As a result of my actions, the next day my right upper chest was bruised near the shoulder, and my shoulder was extremely sore. Once again the “arrow I shot” hit its mark; God had been merciful and spared my life! “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” Proverbs 3:6-7 (This story appears on October 12 in the daily devotional, Stories of Faith and Courage from Cops on the Street. The book is available in either print or e-book form. Check with your local bookstore or order online at Amazon.)
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:45:03 +0000
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