Merry CHRISTmas from the Centurion Ministry

My Fellow Sheepdogs:

First, sorry about the typos in the email I sent out earlier today. I wrote it late and then sent it off today w/o proofing it. My bad! Thanks also to all those with cyber “red pens” who alert me to such things.

Right off, Diana and I wish to extend a very warm and joyous CHRISTmas to each of you and your families (Not "Happy Holidays,” “X-mas,” or any other "PC" stuff -- we are celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord!). Yes, many of us are/will be working today and tomorrow and yes, it is tough to be away from family and friends. However, there is also great purpose and meaning to what we have been called to do -- ESPECIALLY on Christmas! See below for more!!

REMINDER!
No meeting study this Saturday. We hope to be back on track January 3rd but our normal cop fellowship and Bible study may be superseded by the funeral for Chief Dave Gottschalk's father (I'm waiting on details and will have same in next week's newsletter and on the website). Stay tuned and check back for more.

Last week we concluded our look at whether or not we (as Christian officers) should or should not be using deception techniques in our undercover ops, interviews/interrogations, general policing, etc. I'll have a recap with Scriptural references in next week's newsletter but would like to thank those who showed for the studies as well as folks from all over the world who provided input via email, phone, and on our Police Facebook page. Thanks also to Pastor and FBI Chaplain Gino Geraci for his insight on the subject. I would also like to extend my thanks to Colorado Springs PD Sgt. Jeff Strossner for making the drive up from the Springs to join us last Saturday. Jeff leads a Christian fellowship for officers in his neck of the woods and I'll have more on that in next week's newsletter as well. STAY TUNED.

PRAYER REQUESTS
I'll have a more extensive list next week but, for now, please go to God in prayer over the following:
(1) For our military men and women serving overseas (many of them in harm's way) this CHRISTmas. Pray for all LEO's working the holidays as well.
(2) For a Black Hawk PD Dispatcher (Suzi) who will under more surgery on the 29th.
(3) For Chief Gottschalk and his family over the death of their father last week. The funeral is tentatively scheduled for January 3rd but I don't have time/place yet. Stay tuned.

Speaking of CHRISTmas, take a few moments to check out these two short videos:

(1) CHRISTmas video (pretty cool):
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2c0321b45c9854085638

(2) Some may have seen this before but, given both what many of us do for a living and why Christ came into the world, this seemed very appropriate:
http://www.godtube.com/view_video?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

Finally, the following was sent to me by a brother officer and I wanted to share it with you. This IS why we "do what we do" folks!

"It was many years ago when I first joined the police department, I knew there would be special occasions my family would spend without me. Knowing that fact didn't make the task any easier. The celebrations I missed that first year depressed me and sometimes made me feel bitter. Working on Christmas Eve was always the worst. On Christmas Eve years ago, I learned that blessings can come disguised as misfortune, and honor is more than just a word.

I was riding one man patrol on the 4-12 shift. The night was cold. Everywhere I looked I saw reminders of the holiday: families packing their cars with presents, beautifully decorated trees in living room windows and roofs adorned with tiny sleighs. It all added to my holiday funk.
The evening had been relatively quiet; there were calls for barking dogs and a residential false burglar alarm. There was nothing to make the night pass any quicker. I thought of my own family and sunk further into depression.

Shortly after 2200 hours I got a radio call to the home of an elderly, terminally ill man. I parked my patrol car in front of a simple Cape Cod style home. First aid kit in hand, I walked up the short path to the front door. As I approached, a woman who seemed to be about 80 years old opened the door. "He's in here", she said. She led me to a back bedroom.

We passed through a living room that was furnished in a style I had come to associate with older people. The sofa has an afghan blanket draped over its back and a dark, solid Queen Anne chair say next to an unused fireplace. The mantle was cluttered with an eccentric mix of several photos, some ceramic figurines and an antique clock. A floor lamp provided soft lighting.

We entered a small bedroom where a frail looking man lay in bed with a blanket pulled up to his chin. He wore a blank stare on his ashen, skeletal face. His breathing was shallow and labored. He was barely alive. The trappings of illness were all around his bed. The nightstand was littered with a large number of pill vials. An oxygen bottle stood nearby. Its plastic hose, with face mask attached, rested on the blanket.

I asked the old woman why she called the police. She simply shrugged and nodded sadly toward her husband, indicating it was at his request. I looked at him and he stared intently into my eyes. He seemed relaxed now. I didn't understand the suddenly calm expression on his face.

I looked around the room again. A dresser stood along the wall to the left of the bed. On it was the usual memorabilia: ornate perfume bottles, a white porcelain pin case, and a wooden jewelry case. There were also several photos in simple frames. One caught my eye and I walked closer to the dresser for a closer look. The picture showed a young man dressed in a police uniform. It was unmistakably a photo of the man in bed. I knew then why I was there.

I looked at the old man and he motioned with his hand toward the side of the bed. I walked over and stood beside him. He slid a thin arm from under the covers and took my hand. Soon, I felt his hand go limp, I looked at his face. There was no fear there. I saw only peace.

He knew he was dying; he was aware his time was very near. I knew now that he was afraid of what was about to happen and he wanted the protection of a fellow cop on his journey. A caring God had seen to it that his child would be delivered safely to Him. The honor of being his escort fell to me.

When I left at the end of my tour that night, the temperature seemed to have risen considerably, and all the holiday displays I saw on the way home made me smile.
I no longer feel sorry for myself for having to work on Christmas Eve. I have chosen an honorable profession. I pray that when it's my turn to leave this world there will be a cop there to hold my hand and remind me that I have nothing to fear.

I wish all my brothers and sisters who have to work this Christmas Eve all the joy and warmth of the season. We have all been there. God bless you all."

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

This said, remember that our office and our duty does NOT give us a "get out of hell free" card, nor does our loving God give cops "professional courtesy" when it comes to spending eternity with Him. His Word is CLEAR: it is ONLY by a right relationship with Christ that we are assured a place in Heaven. "Not fair!" some will say. It wasn't "fair" that Christ came into the world on that first CHRISTmas day and it wasn't "fair" that he chose, out of love, to pay the price for your sins and mine on the cross some 33 years later. He paid the “unfair” price freely and the only proviso is that YOU must choose between life or death. Will you respond to His “dispatch” for your life by accepting Him as Savior? Do you KNOW (yes, you can know for sure) where you will spend eternity? If not, please don't wait another minute as you never know when your time will be up. Give me a shout and/or go to http://pofci.org/knowJesus.htm for more.

It is and has been my life's honour and privilege to serve with and for you. Merry CHRISTmas my fellow sheepdogs!