A Call to Lead

Fellow Sheepdogs:

We’re set for this week’s TCLEF fellowship/Bible study meeting at Calvary South Denver in Littleton – see the “announcement” section below for more details. This week we’ll start another series on what leadership should look like from a biblical perspective. Are YOU leading from the front? Are you praying for your supervisors and management? Join us on Thursday as we take a fresh look at the subject.

Last week we took the time to affirm our foundation as Christian officers and as a ministry through four “pillar” passages of Scripture.

-- Our calling: Ezekiel 22:30
-- Our charge: Psalm 82:3-4
-- Our blessing: Matthew 5:9 (see v. 44-45 for more)
-- Our authority: Romans 13:1-7

I strongly recommend that you take some time to study these passages and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they apply to both you personally and in relation to our calling as LEOs.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) Meeting schedule updates:
-- Thursday, 9/17: 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver.
-- Thursday, 9/26: No meeting. Enjoy the break but keep me in prayer (see #2 below).
-- Thursday, 10/1: 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver.

(2) Both retired DPD officer/current DPD Chaplain/Pastor Manny Hays and I have been invited to speak and deliver the invocations at major upcoming law enforcement events (Manny at next months IACP conference here in Denver and me at the CPPA conference later this month in Grand Junction). What is disturbing is that Manny has been told that he may NOT pray in Jesus’ Name!! Pray for Manny as he seeks to change this directive – and see the last prayer request entry below.

(3) The Thornton Police Department and CO FOP Lodge 16 is holding a benefit poker run for TPD Officer Jon Coddington who is fighting cancer. Jon is a Vietnam vet and retired (20 years) LAPD officer. The run will be held on 9/27 starting at 0900 at TPD. See attached flyer for details and contact info! Let’s keep this brother in prayer – and that they have good weather for the poker run.

(4) Desert Waters Correctional Outreach is hosting the “Honoring our Community Protectors” event in Canon City (CO) on October 3rd. See www.desertwaters.com for details.


UPDATES ON WOUNDED OFFICERS (keep them all in your prayers)

(1) Jefferson County (CO) Inv. Art Peterson: I’ve had nothing new yet this week other than that he still can’t have visitors. We’ll keep you posted.

(2) Mahnomen County (MN) Dep. Chris Dewey: Chris has had rough couple of days. His wife Emily provides regular updates on Chris. Go to their Caringbridge site for daily updates: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.

(3) Chicago PD Ofc. Densey Cole: Densey’s departure date has been moved back a bit to early October. His wife Mary will keep me posted. Please continue to keep them in prayer. Denz still faces a very tough road and uncertain future. That said, Denz did accept Christ as his Savior before he went into emergency surgery last month (lungs filled with fluid) but very much needs fellow Christians to come mentor him in his new faith.

(4) Colorado State Trooper Scott Hinshaw: I was finally able to reach Scotty who informed me that he has been doing quite a bit of speaking – including teaching at churches both here in Colorado and outside the state. He faces more surgery – let’s continue to pray for our brother-at-arms.


TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

(1) Colorado Police Protective Association (CPPA) Conference, Grand Junction, CO. 9/24-26/09. Col. Dave Grossman will give his acclaimed “Bullet Proof Mind” presentation and I will give the invocation at the awards dinner Friday night and competing in the shoot on Saturday. See www.CPPA.net for details and registration information.

(2) Colorado State Investigators Association (CSIA) Conference, Golden, CO. 10/7-8/09. Outstanding training/speakers. See www.csiainc.org for details and registration information.

(3) IACP Conference is in Denver this year (10/3-7/09). This is a great opportunity for chiefs who know Christ as Savior to share the Gospel with the many who don’t. See www.iacpconference.org.

(4) Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) is holding their annual conference at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs November 6-8, 2009. Registration due date is Oct. 16th. Email Grant Wolf at grant@fcpo.org for forms and details. I’ll have more as the date gets closer.


PRAYER REQUESTS (Please take the time to truly lift these individuals in prayer. As always, forward your prayer requests to me for publication here as appropriate or to bring up during our weekly fellowship meetings.)

(1) Pray for JeffCo Dep. Ned Weiner who had surgery yesterday related to lymphoma. They found cancer…PRAY for healing and strength! I hope to visit Ned at Swedish sometime this week.

(2) Pray for a fellow officer who is also in the Guard and just got back from overseas. He is dealing with some issues related to PTSD.

(3) Pray for a colleague (fellow state investigator) who is facing open heart surgery in the coming week.

(4) Randy Latimer of Oxnard (CA) PD wrote, “My dad, retired Asst. Chief James Latimer, has been fighting cancer for a few years. He's been going through lots chemotherapy and radiation trying to zap the cancer cells with little success. Recently, his battle has become a lot tougher as the cancer seems to be attacking various organs, mainly his kidneys. Doctor's are trying to determine the best course of treatment for him at this point and have determined that the chemo and radiation should be stopped and that the best course, at this point, is to make him comfortable while they figure out the issues with his kidneys. He's not on hospice care. He is still in good spirits despite being in a lot of pain and hasn't lost his sense of humor. He and my mother, Pollie, are fighting this battle hand-in-hand. We thank you for your prayers and support through this difficult and trying time."

(5) Pray for Fairplay Chief of Police Dave Gottschalk’s wife who goes in for biopsy this week. I’ll keep you posted.

(6) Pray for a colleague facing work-related issues at his department. Stupid but serious stuff that I chalk up to the same lack of true servant-leadership that continues to ruin morale and ends the careers of good cops an a daily basis.

(7) Pray for a Bloomington (MN) officer who was seriously injured in a MC accident (see http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2009/09/10/breaking_news/161policecyclecrash.txt).

(8) Pray for a well-known colleague who is dealing with debilitating and extremely painful ear aches/head aches. He does not have health insurance and needs to keep working.

Stay the course, LEAD from the front, share the Gospel, and strive to glorify God through the excellence of our service. Don’t forget to pass-on our newsletters and website address to others.

MC