Why Bad Things Happen to "Good" People

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

We are set for this week’s “regular” Centurion Law Enforcement Fellowship (TCLEF) meeting starting at 1900 hours this Thursday, Dec. 10th, at Calvary South Denver in Littleton (go to http://www.calvarycsd.org/ for address/directions). As our old/regular meeting room just inside the main doors (“Multi-Purpose Room”) is currently available, we’ll meet there both this week and next. The focus for this week’s meeting will center on the importance of balance in our lives. What – and WHO -- is “first” in your life? God or “the job?” How would you feel about yourself if you were seriously injured or found yourself in a situation where you would lose your job today? Is “the badge” your god? What comes after? We’ll discuss that in detail this Thursday – please join us!

Speaking of job-related “what if’s,” don’t forget that Colorado State Patrol Trooper Scott Hinshaw, who is nothing short of a walking miracle, will be our guest speaker at the December 17th meeting! Tell your friends and come ready to be moved and changed by Scott’s remarkable testimony! See the November 25th post below for more details. Pass the word and invite your friends and colleagues.


TCLEF CHRISTMAS PARTY

We will be hosting our first Christmas potluck party on Saturday, December 19th. JeffCo S.O. Dep. Art Briles and his wife Lonni have graciously volunteered their home with a probable start time of 1500 hours. More details to come!


RECAP from last meeting (“Why bad things happen to good people”):

In the wake of the Ft. Hood terrorist attack, the ambush murders of our Lakewood (WA) colleagues and now yet another ambuscade of an officer in Pennsylvania (see http://www.policeone.com/officer-shootings/articles/1974035-Pa-officer-responding-to-home-disturbance-killed/), one of the most difficult and frequently asked questions I get is, “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” The biblical answer (God’s definitive word on the subject) is clear: there are no “good” people. God tells us through His Word (the Bible) that we are all tainted and infected with sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:8). Romans 3:10-18 could not be clearer about the non-existence of “good” people: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

A better question would be “Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite the evil, wicked, sinful nature of the people of this world, God still loves us. He loved us enough to die FOR US so as to take the penalty for our sins (Romans 6:23). If we repent and receive Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9), we will be forgiven and the promise of an eternal home in heaven (Romans 8:1). What we deserve is death -- and ultimatley hell. What we are given is eternal life in heaven if we come to Christ in faith.

Need more convincing? Check this out from Tulsa PD Capt. Travis Yates of The Centurion Papers: http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2009/11/4-lakewood-wa-officers-murdered-why-god.html.

** Thanks to www.GotQuestions.org and Dep. Mike Dye’s The PeaceKeepers Bible Study for Law Enforcement Officers for providing much of the resources for this week’s study.

But what about us as cops? Don’t we get some kind of special “get out of Hell free” card? Doesn’t the poem tell us that we’ve “…done our time in hell?” The answer is a very definitive “NO!” The true bottom line is that unless we repent of our sins and are “born again” (trusting Christ as our personal Lord and Savior), we can NEVER enter into the Kingdom of God -- aka “Heaven” – and will instead be lost forever (ultimately what we call “hell”). Without Christ, there will be no “RIP” when this life ends (see John 3:3-7 and http://www.gotquestions.org/born-again.html).

This ministry exists to share the TRUTH with our fellow “sheepdogs,” and the truth is that without Christ we are ALL lost. There is NO other way! Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (See also http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-only-way.html).

Is that you? Is there any reason that, right now, you should not seek God’s forgiveness and commit (or re-commit for those who have turned their backs on God or are sitting on the proverbial “fence”) your life to Christ? If you are ready to accept Christ as your Savior -- what it means to become a Christian -- here is a prayer you can pray. Note that just saying this or any other prayer will not save you. Rather, if you sincerely ask and commit your life to Him, God will forgive you, change you, and give you the power to live for Him rather than yourself. This prayer is but a simple way to express to God your faith in Him, receive His forgiveness, and enter into an eternal relationship with the living Savior: "God, I know that I have sinned against You and am deserving of punishment. But your Son Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness! Amen!"

If you prayed that prayer today and meant it with all your heart, you can be assured that you are truly saved and will have eternal life in Heaven. Moreover, God has a perfect plan for your life right NOW. So what’s next (YES, there has to be a “next”)? If you are an officer in the Denver metro area, I invite you to join us for regular “cop fellowship,” prayer and profession-relevant Bible study. If you are outside the metro area, I recommend that you seek out a FCPO and/or POFCI chapter in your area (see http://www.fcpo.org/ and http://www.pofci.org/). It is also important to that you check out http://www.gotquestions.org/now-what2.html for more on "what to do next." Finally, shoot me an email at fullarmor911@yahoo.com and tell me about the decision you’ve made today!

Bottom line is that our badge and our “good works” will NEVER get us into Heaven. Know also that if you die without Christ in your life there is no “second chance.” The time is now and tomorrow may very well be too late. Don’t wait another minute to come to know Him as your Lord and Savior.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

(1) Author Kristi Neace has written a new book for officers’ wives – Lives Behind the Badge -- that I believe will be a great resource. Check it out at http://www.kristineace.com/ or at http://englishmountainpress.com/ebooks/NeaceKristi/index.htm.
(2) The memorial service for our four Lakewood (WA) colleagues will be held this morning starting at 1300 hours Pacific time at the Tacoma Dome. Let’s continue to be in prayer for the families (both “blue” and natural).
(3) Randy Green of Mission Mobilization International sends the following update: “In November we went to Medellin, Colombia and ministered to police officers, correctional officers, military officers and prisoners during our week visit. We had a total of 306 that we worked with and 252 responded to the gospel invitation. We had our first police officer from Australia, Paul Mellick, join us on a trip. It was a joy to work with the six godly men that joined me on this trip. Please pray for our next trip to Mexico from December 6th to 12th. I will be traveling with Paul Vick and Emery Esse to Guadalajara and Tepic, where we will be training and sharing the gospel with federal police and correctional officers. Pray for me as I will be in Mexico City on the 12th meeting with government officials to plan trips for next year. Thank you again for your prayers.” See http://www.missionmobilization.org/ for more on this important outreach.


PRAYER REQUESTS

(1) Pray for me and my fellow Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) national board members as we deal with some important internal issues regarding the future direction of the ministry.
(2) Pray for a pastor and former officer who is currently candidate for a position with Estes Park PD.
(3) Pray for a close family member who is not walking with the Lord (salvation and more).
(4) Pray that God will manifest His perfect will for a brother who feels called to leadership (true “SERVANT-leadership”) within our profession. This should should speak to ALL of us!
(5) Pray for our worship leader/pastor Matt Wallenburg, as he pursues a position with a metro law enforcement agency.
(6) Pray for our own Denver PD Ofc. Mark Roggeman as he ministers to the lost in Australia as part of the Haven Ministries team.
(7) Be in prayer for the family and colleagues of Pelham (AL) Ofc. Phillip Davis who was shot and killed during a “routine” (NO such thing) traffic stop last Thursday. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
(8) Pray for the family and colleagues of Penn Hills (PA) Ofc. Michael Crawshaw who was ambushed and killed on Sunday.
(9) Englewood PD Ofc. Jason Pearson wrote to tell me about a colleague whose son has been in ICU since he was a week old and may be facing serious disabilities. This brother reportedly wants to start living for the Lord again. Let’s keep him, his family, and their child in prayer (healing/complete recovery, guidance for the doctors, and more).
(10) Continue to pray for Mahnoment (MN) County S.O. Dep. Chris Dewey and his wife Emily as they battle on in the aftermath of Chris being shot in the head early this year. Chris still has a very tough road ahead of him and Em needs our support and prayers as she stands by his side.


Let’s stay safe out there folks! It is open season on us right now both on the job and spiritually. We need to be alert, focused on our training, and keep both our physical and spiritual body armor (Eph. 6:10-18) in place.

MC