Dear Brothers & Sisters:
We back on schedule for our “normal” Saturday AM Bible study this coming weekend, to wit, 0900-1000+, Calvary South Denver in Littleton . As highlighted below, we’ll re-visit the correlation between Ephesians 6:11-18 and law enforcement (a cop’s armor as it relates to the Christian life). This is really cool stuff and I hope you’ll invite your colleagues and friends for a great time of “cop fellowship,” prayer and Bible study.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (let me know if you have announcements you’d like me to post on our website):
(1) Acclaimed author, pastor and speaker Alistair Begg (http://www.truthforlife.org/) will be teaching at Calvary South Denver tomorrow (Thursday, 9/18) at 1900. Alistair is a native of Scotland so I’m particularly stoked. Regardless, please come by if you have the time (and bring your families).
(2) Ladies, it may not be too late to sign up for this weekend’s (Friday and Saturday) outstanding “Women of Faith” conference. Go to http://www.womenoffaith.com/ or via http://www.947krks.com/ for more information.
(3) For those who may not be aware, retired police officer and current Reverend Steve Crain owns Blue Star Police Supply (http://www.bluestarpolicesupply.com/) located just off I-25 on Hampden. Steve is a powerful Believer and has a heart for all of us in LE. He also has a super selection of high-quality gear at great prices – stop by and pay him a visit.
TCM APPAREL & LOGO: Our gear order is in the “works!” Please know that we will NOT be in the business of selling TCM apparel (I have not been led to solicit outside funds for TCM but we do tithe to the ministry) but will distribute it FREE on a select basis. All TCM gear will bear our logo on the front while the t’s and hoodies will also have a paraphrase of Romans 13: 1-7 on the back. Robert Butcher of Christian company J and R Graphics (http://www.jandrmarketingtools.com/) in Lakewood is our vendor and I’m excited about what should be a terrific tool to share the Gospel and our message. Every part of the TCM badge and sword logo has specific meaning to those of us in law enforcement and is based in part on Ephesians 6:11-18 (scroll down to view the Symbol Arts challenge coin that further illustrates this passage of scripture).
(1) The law enforcement badge is analogous to a knight’s shield and corresponds to verse 16: “In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” It could also equate to our body armor although I think that verse 14 is a better match to that: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled (Sam Brown belt) around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE (body armor) of RIGHTEOUSNESS in place…”
(2) The sword stems from verse 17: “…the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” The Bible, God’s Word, is in fact the Believer’s “sword” in much the same way as a knight’s sword is analogous to our sidearm. Note that I chose the Claymore (“great sword,” claidheamh mòr, in Gaelic) version for good reason. Note further that the sword’s basic shape is that of the Cross.
(3) “The Centurion” refers to the Centurion who was at the Cross (Mark 15:39) and who some surmise may have become a Believer at that moment. It also refers to “The Faith of the Centurion” and the authority he (ergo, "we") carries (Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10).
(4) The cross in the center seal should be self-explanatory for the Believer. The artist-inspired spiked ends of the cross remind us of the nails and spear used to pierce our Savior and, in the same vein, the enormity of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us. That the cross is empty is symbolic of the hope and confidence we have in Him. Our Lord’s death on the cross also takes those of us in law enforcement to John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (not only each other but ALL those we serve and protect).”
PRAYER REQUESTS: As always, send me your prayer requests for publication here OR give me a shout if you need immediate prayer support.
(1) Hurricane Ike: Please hold up our brother and sister officers working in South Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Check out these pictures to get some idea on what they are dealing with: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html. Accordingly, my church is sending an aid team down to the Texas coast this coming Saturday: please keep them in prayer. If anyone is interested in joining them, reach out to Mike Montgomery at mmontgomery@calvarycsd.org. Finally, let me know if you are aware of other groups headed that way and we’ll hold them up in prayer as well.
(2) I’ve had a prayer request from a Maryland college student who is studying CJ and looking forward to a career in same. He may be facing some very serious legal repercussions after being involved in a traffic accident. Pray for God’s intervention and comfort.
(3) Inasmuch as we remembered Patriot’s Day (9/11/01) last week, this comes to us from the good folks at Cop Devotionals (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CopDevotionals/message/342 -- outstanding site/info btw – see links section) - - may we NEVER FORGET! (4) Seek and pray for wisdom and guidance regarding the coming election and for our country in general.
(5) Finally, I want to offer an apology to the party who expressed a difference of opinion regarding a recent prayer request regarding a family member. If I was in error, I do in fact apologize for any offense (but not about asking for prayer as in fact prayer was sought). I need to be sensitive (hmm, some would say that “Mike” and “sensitive” in the same sentence is an oxymoron), loving and wise in my actions. Accordingly, keep me in prayer in terms of same.
PRAISE REPORT: Thanks for your prayers for a brother officer in NM who was diagnosed with a spot on his lung. Further testing now reveals that the spot, formerly thought to be potentially cancerous, has “disappeared” (no signs of it anymore) and he has been given a clean bill of health. Doctors can’t explain it but we certainly can! We serve an AWESOME God!
Let’s keep spreading the “Word.”
We back on schedule for our “normal” Saturday AM Bible study this coming weekend, to wit, 0900-1000+, Calvary South Denver in Littleton . As highlighted below, we’ll re-visit the correlation between Ephesians 6:11-18 and law enforcement (a cop’s armor as it relates to the Christian life). This is really cool stuff and I hope you’ll invite your colleagues and friends for a great time of “cop fellowship,” prayer and Bible study.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (let me know if you have announcements you’d like me to post on our website):
(1) Acclaimed author, pastor and speaker Alistair Begg (http://www.truthforlife.org/) will be teaching at Calvary South Denver tomorrow (Thursday, 9/18) at 1900. Alistair is a native of Scotland so I’m particularly stoked. Regardless, please come by if you have the time (and bring your families).
(2) Ladies, it may not be too late to sign up for this weekend’s (Friday and Saturday) outstanding “Women of Faith” conference. Go to http://www.womenoffaith.com/ or via http://www.947krks.com/ for more information.
(3) For those who may not be aware, retired police officer and current Reverend Steve Crain owns Blue Star Police Supply (http://www.bluestarpolicesupply.com/) located just off I-25 on Hampden. Steve is a powerful Believer and has a heart for all of us in LE. He also has a super selection of high-quality gear at great prices – stop by and pay him a visit.
TCM APPAREL & LOGO: Our gear order is in the “works!” Please know that we will NOT be in the business of selling TCM apparel (I have not been led to solicit outside funds for TCM but we do tithe to the ministry) but will distribute it FREE on a select basis. All TCM gear will bear our logo on the front while the t’s and hoodies will also have a paraphrase of Romans 13: 1-7 on the back. Robert Butcher of Christian company J and R Graphics (http://www.jandrmarketingtools.com/) in Lakewood is our vendor and I’m excited about what should be a terrific tool to share the Gospel and our message. Every part of the TCM badge and sword logo has specific meaning to those of us in law enforcement and is based in part on Ephesians 6:11-18 (scroll down to view the Symbol Arts challenge coin that further illustrates this passage of scripture).
(1) The law enforcement badge is analogous to a knight’s shield and corresponds to verse 16: “In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” It could also equate to our body armor although I think that verse 14 is a better match to that: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled (Sam Brown belt) around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE (body armor) of RIGHTEOUSNESS in place…”
(2) The sword stems from verse 17: “…the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” The Bible, God’s Word, is in fact the Believer’s “sword” in much the same way as a knight’s sword is analogous to our sidearm. Note that I chose the Claymore (“great sword,” claidheamh mòr, in Gaelic) version for good reason. Note further that the sword’s basic shape is that of the Cross.
(3) “The Centurion” refers to the Centurion who was at the Cross (Mark 15:39) and who some surmise may have become a Believer at that moment. It also refers to “The Faith of the Centurion” and the authority he (ergo, "we") carries (Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10).
(4) The cross in the center seal should be self-explanatory for the Believer. The artist-inspired spiked ends of the cross remind us of the nails and spear used to pierce our Savior and, in the same vein, the enormity of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us. That the cross is empty is symbolic of the hope and confidence we have in Him. Our Lord’s death on the cross also takes those of us in law enforcement to John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (not only each other but ALL those we serve and protect).”
PRAYER REQUESTS: As always, send me your prayer requests for publication here OR give me a shout if you need immediate prayer support.
(1) Hurricane Ike: Please hold up our brother and sister officers working in South Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Check out these pictures to get some idea on what they are dealing with: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html. Accordingly, my church is sending an aid team down to the Texas coast this coming Saturday: please keep them in prayer. If anyone is interested in joining them, reach out to Mike Montgomery at mmontgomery@calvarycsd.org. Finally, let me know if you are aware of other groups headed that way and we’ll hold them up in prayer as well.
(2) I’ve had a prayer request from a Maryland college student who is studying CJ and looking forward to a career in same. He may be facing some very serious legal repercussions after being involved in a traffic accident. Pray for God’s intervention and comfort.
(3) Inasmuch as we remembered Patriot’s Day (9/11/01) last week, this comes to us from the good folks at Cop Devotionals (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CopDevotionals/message/342 -- outstanding site/info btw – see links section) - - may we NEVER FORGET! (4) Seek and pray for wisdom and guidance regarding the coming election and for our country in general.
(5) Finally, I want to offer an apology to the party who expressed a difference of opinion regarding a recent prayer request regarding a family member. If I was in error, I do in fact apologize for any offense (but not about asking for prayer as in fact prayer was sought). I need to be sensitive (hmm, some would say that “Mike” and “sensitive” in the same sentence is an oxymoron), loving and wise in my actions. Accordingly, keep me in prayer in terms of same.
PRAISE REPORT: Thanks for your prayers for a brother officer in NM who was diagnosed with a spot on his lung. Further testing now reveals that the spot, formerly thought to be potentially cancerous, has “disappeared” (no signs of it anymore) and he has been given a clean bill of health. Doctors can’t explain it but we certainly can! We serve an AWESOME God!
Let’s keep spreading the “Word.”
