Leading from the Front

Fellow Sheepdogs:

As announced previously, there will be NO fellowship meeting this week as several of us will be at the CPPA conference in Grand Junction (see below). We’ll be back at it on October 1st (see schedule under “announcements” below) – details to follow in next week’s newsletter.

Here is the recap for all those who missed last week’s meeting or are from outside the Denver metro area:

Our study focus centered on the concept that true leadership is SERVANT leadership – modeled after the attributes of Jesus Christ Himself. As an ultimate example, our Lord took the form of a servant and humbled himself on the cross for the sake of others (you and I). Many, especially those who do not have a saving knowledge of the Savior, might wonder how someone who is supposed to be “meek” can be a model for leadership in the law enforcement profession. We in today’s society often have a very skewed idea of what “meek” really means from a biblical concept. “Meekness,” a counterpart to humility, is literally translated “POWER under control.” Isn't that what what we should exhibit as cops? Jesus, the strongest Person who ever lived (still lives), manifested perfect leadership skills through His humility. See Philippians 2:5-8 for more. Rest assured, there is nothing “wimpy” about our Lord!

John MacArthur, the author of “The Book on Leadership,” (highly recommended) wrote, “The real leader is the one who can handle the stress, solve the problems, bear the burdens, find the solutions, and win the victories when everyone else is merely flustered, confounded and perplexed.” Using Paul as the prime example of someone living Christ’s leadership model, MacArthur relates how Paul’s composure in the face of an imminent shipwreck -- while a “mere” prisoner no less -- was a mark of his ability to LEAD with a servant’s heart. Through Paul’s leadership, lives were saved and hearts won to Christ. See Acts 27:9-44. The Bible gives us a wealth of scriptural guidance on the subject of leadership. Here are but a few examples: Philippians 3:12-14, 17; 1 Timothy 1:16 and 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 2:21; and John 13:15.

The bottom line here is that the only way to truly deal with the leadership vacuum both in law enforcement and our nation, is for godly men and women (yes, YOU) to step forward, BE LIKE CHRIST (and Paul), and lead from the front with a true servant’s heart. We’ll be digging into these concepts again in the near future – stay tuned!

Finally, and speaking of "leading from the front," I must share the following video of elected representative Brian Baird being confronted at a “town hall” meeting by a former US Marine on the subject of where some are wrongfully leading this nation. Outstanding and, in my view, clearly God-ordained in the way it came about. Enjoy (and learn)! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rRE5UK6NQU


ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) Meeting schedule updates: -- 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) 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. Contact me for details.


WOUNDED WARRIOR UPDATE

I received the following on JeffCo Deputy Art Peterson and I’ll have more on our other brothers next week:

“GOOD NEWS! Art continues to improve and is beginning to feel a bit better. He is feeling strong enough now to see an occasional visitor. If you plan to visit, please call ahead to make sure he is feeling strong enough. Art continues to enjoy the cards and notes sent to him. You can send those cards to him in care of Swedish Medical Center, 501 E. Hampden Avenue, Englewood, CO 80113.”

Praise God (but keep the prayers coming)!

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

(1) Colorado Police Protective Association Conference (9/24-26/09) and the Rocky Mountain Women in Law Enforcement (RMWLE) Conference (9/23-9/25) will be hosting Col. Dave Grossman (www.killology.com) for his “not-to-be-missed” Bullet Proof Mind presentation this coming Friday in Grand Junction. I’ll be giving the invocation at the CPPA awards dinner Friday night just prior to Colorado Attorney General John Suther’s keynote address. Pray that God will use Dave and I according to His purposes! See www.CPPA.net and www.rmwle.org for respective conference details and registration information.

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

(3) IACP Conference is in Denver this year (10/3-10/7)! This is a great opportunity for chiefs who know Christ as Savior to share the Gospel with the many who don’t (again – LEAD). Manny Hays (retired DPD officer/current DPD chaplain and a cornerstone of this ministry) will be giving the invocation. See www.iacpconference.org for more information.

(4) The Lone Tree (CO) PD is hosting an 8-hour training session covering both the latest search & seizure issues in the wake of the Gant decision AND a case presentation on the Susan Doll homicide (a case study in forensic DNA). Contact Sgt. Candace Mullins at Candace.Mullins@cityoflonetree.com for more information.

(5) Looking for something “different” (“awesome,” “uplifting,” “moving” and “powerful” are some of the adjectives I would use) in a worship service? My church -- Calvary South Denver (www.CalvaryCSD.org) -- is having a special praise and worship event as part of our regular Tuesday Night Dialogue service at 7:00 PM on September 29th. Diana and I are involved in this ministry and we’d like to invite everyone to attend. Bring your spouses (child care is provided) – plus new visitors can eat for free after the service! ‘Hollar’ at me if you have questions.

PRAYER REQUESTS

(1) My boss with the State will have open heart surgery tomorrow. Please keep him in prayer.

(2) Pray for Fairplay Chief of Police Dave Gottschalk’s wife who is awaiting the results of a biopsy.

(3) Pray for a female officer who (a) needs Christ in her life and (b) is facing some work-related issues stemming from – at least in part – a lack of leadership in her agency.

(4) Continue to pray for a colleague who is dealing with debilitating and extremely painful headaches and earaches.

(5) Many of you have been praying for Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Thomas O’Connor who has been battling cancer. I received word today that Tom passed away last week (see http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09261/998922-122.stm#ixzz0RllrOY0Z). This decorated fellow warrior responded to the field where Flight 93 went down on 9/11/01. His family very much needs your prayers and support.

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.