Dear Fellow Servant-Warriors:
I hope you all took the time to read my previous post, including the update from Dep. Mike Dye that I’ve since added here. I have also just learned the identities of the Lakewood (WA) officers killed this morning (source with photos -- http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78101617.html):
-- Sergeant Mark Renninger, 39, with thirteen years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.
-- Officer Ronald Owen, age 37 with twelve years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter.
-- Officer Tina Griswold, age 40 with fourteen years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children.
-- Officer Greg Richards, age 42 with eight years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.
-- Officer Ronald Owen, age 37 with twelve years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter.
-- Officer Tina Griswold, age 40 with fourteen years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children.
-- Officer Greg Richards, age 42 with eight years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.
Notice anything? No rookies in the bunch! "Food for thought" folks.
While I had already prepared a study for this Thursday’s meeting (December 3rd, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver in Littleton), I think God is clearly directing us to focus on today's events and how they relate to our walk both as officers AND as Christians.
MEETINGS AND GUEST SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT!
As previously announced, wounded CSP Trooper Scott Hinshaw will be our guest speaker at our December 17th meeting. I’ll have more details on the website and in upcoming newsletters but please begin to pass the word now.
Tentative Upcoming December Meeting Schedule:
-- Thursday, 12/3, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver
-- Thursday, 12/10, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver
-- Thursday, 12/17, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver
-- No meetings set for the 24th (Christmas Eve) or 31st (New Years Eve).
MESSAGE RECAP
In light of today’s events in Washington, I find that it is no coincidence that the topic of our last profession-relevant Bible study centered around the fact that who and what we are as servant-warriors -- aka “sheepdogs" -- is very different from those we protect (the “sheep”) and most certainly different from those that prey on them (the "wolf”).
Our text came primarily from Judges 7 (God’s “300”) and, while I’ve taught on this passage in the past, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to do so again but from a different angle. As I said – and in light of today’s events in Washington – I believe that this was no mere coincidence. The context is Gideon’s relatively small force of 32,000 facing a highly-trained Midianite army of at least 135,000 (outnumbered roughly 4:1). So what does God do? He tells Gideon to cull his troop strength by sending home all who were “afraid and trembling” (Judges 7:2-3). What?! That went against everything we would think prudent or wise (take our current Afghanistan conflict over troop strength, for example). But God was not finished! He went on to tell Gideon that the numbers are still “too many” and had Gideon take the remaining 10,000 to the river to drink. There He culls the army down to only 300! What criteria did God use? He selected only those who were truly watchful – those who stood and “lapped” the water with their hands rather than placing their faces in the water (see Judges 7:4).
Why is this significant? Two main factors come to light. The first is that the chosen 300 were too vigilant to kneel or otherwise put their faces in the water! Rather, they drank while looking up and around (good officer safety). Secondly, God was demonstrating His perfect will, power and tactics. That personally chosen group of 300 would be used by God to take out 135,000! Moreover, our Lord insured that, by His tactics, it would be clear to all that He was controlling the outcome (God's power over our own). I strongly encourage you to read the rest of the chapter -- we serve an awesome God!
So, especially in light of today’s events, what does this chapter mean for those of us called to serve in law enforcement)? We are (1) to be ever VIGILENT and (2) to place our whole trust in Christ and His perfect plan for our lives rather than insisting on doing things our own way. In short, there is POWER IN WEAKNESS, and God delights in using weak, humble and willing vessels to display His love, strength and faithfulness. Is that you?
PRAYER REQUESTS
-- For the surviving families and colleagues of Mark, Ron, Tina and Greg who were killed this morning in Washington, and that the suspect would be taken into custody without any further casualties.
-- Arkansas City (KS) Chief and fellow FCPO Board Member Sean Wallace sends this: It has been a rough weekend for Public Safety this weekend. Firefighter Cody Ball and his wife Amanda lost their 1 year old baby to a heart defect, and my Lt. of Investigations Mark McCaslin lost his dad to cancer. Our agency will be attending two funerals next week and that is always tough on everyone. Not to mention the pain Cody and Mark are feeling. Please pray for grace and comfort for everyone.
-- Denver PD Ofc. Mark Roggeman, a strong believer and partner in our ministry, will be on a mission trip to Australia for the next 11 days. Pray for traveling mercies, protection and that God would use Mark and their team mightily as they share the Gospel in a country that very much needs it. I hope to have Mark share with us at a future meeting.
-- Pray for a brother who is testing this weekend with Estes Park PD.
-- Mahnomen County (MN) Dep. Chris Dewey and his wife Emily continue to covet and need your prayers. Please check their CaringBridge site for daily updates: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.
-- Denver PD Officer Allison Casias is continuing to rehab. See http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisoncasias for more.
-- PRAISE REPORT! Vince Harrison in Albuquerque sent out a huge “thank you” for everyone who has been praying for them in light of recent events: We’ve had a rough few weeks. My son was in a bad wreck and was ejected from his car. Four days later, my father had a heart attack, and three days after that my buddy’s wife had an AD and the .40 cal round went into her abdomen. All three have recovered miraculously with Gods help! It has been an awesome week seeing what God has done.
-- Pray for me as I teach/preach at our church's Tuesday night service this week. Please come join us if you are free (1900 hours, Tuesday, 12/1, Calvary South Denver)!
-- Finally, let’s keep our wounded/recovering brothers and sisters at Ft. Hood in our prayers.
Speaking of Ft. Hood, wounded warriors and real leadership, a colleague in Texas sent this to me and I felt led to share it with you. I would contrast this with the actions of our current Commander in Chief (who yes, very much needs our prayers). Note the photo with this post...
A man had a TV on in his office when the news of the military base shootings came on. The husband of one of his employees was stationed there. As he called her into his office, the employee got a text message from her husband saying, "I am okay." The cell phone started ringing right after that. It was an ER nurse. She said , "I'm the one who just sent you a text, not your husband." She thought the message would be comforting, but she immediately knew she had to let the wife know what was going on. She said, "I am sorry but your husband has been shot 4 times and he is in surgery." The wife left and drove all night to be at her husband’s side. Here is the photo (top right of this post) I just received from my brother that was taken today in the hospital room. He is awake and will recover. His wife, who lives in Dothan, AL, made it to Ft. Hood about the time he was waking up. Thought I'd share this great outcome.
I’ve verified the story. This leader told very few of his visit and no TV cameras were there to record it for “political” reasons. This is how a real leader pays respect to those in uniform!
