A Question of Leadership

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

Lots to put out this week so please bear with me and take the time to read it through.

First off, we’re ”on” for this week’s profession-relevant Bible study and fellowship meeting this Thursday (Jan. 21st) at Calvary South Denver in Littleton starting at 1900 hours in classroom #7. This week we will begin a new series on LEADERSHIP in the law enforcement profession based on Col. Ray Fairman’s “Leadership Lessons from God” (from his book, Are you Destined to Lead? A Bible Examination of Leadership). The series will challenge us to accept the call to leadership that God has placed on everyone who serves in law enforcement (regardless of rank). As always, I’ll include a detailed recap along with a link to each lesson/chapter on Ray’s website (for all those outside the Denver metro area). See http://www.rayfairman.com/ for more on this retired marine, police officer and active police chaplain. Stay tuned!


BIBLE STUDY RECAP:

Last week we concluded our discussion about what it means to be a “true Christian" by examining what happens after we die (and what happens after a cop goes down in the line of duty). The superb biblical website http://www.gotquestions.org/ provides a great short article on the subject:

Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death?First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven by having received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). For believers, death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22).Second, for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers also seem to be sent immediately to a temporary holding place, to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22-23 describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelation 20:11-15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and then being cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but rather are in a temporary realm of judgment and condemnation. However, even though unbelievers are not instantly sent to the lake of fire, their immediate fate after death is not a pleasant one. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24).Therefore, after death, a person resides in a “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).

So what about a police officer? Folks, while the Bible clearly supports our calling in law enforcement (we are his ordained “ministers”), we do NOT get some kind of “get out of Hell free card” for our service. Like anyone else, we MUST trust Christ -- and Christ ALONE -- as Lord and Savior in order to enter eternal life with Him. Are you ready to say “YES” to Christ? Are you a believer or a “make-believer?”

On the subject, check out this great resource on from the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officer’s (FCPO) website: http://www.fcpo.org/audio.html. Important stuff about life’s most important question.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Retired DPD and current fellow State criminal investigator Jimmy Wattles (of History Channel’s Gangland fame) sent me the following video and asked me to share it (much for us in law enforcement to think about in terms of redemption).

Jimmy writes, “Ron "Bad Ron" Gruber was a former member of the Sons of Silence motorcycle gang in Iowa. He was a very violent member, along with his two brothers, Jeffrey Gruber, "Bad Ron," and Mark "Turd" Gruber. Ron is doing time in Iowa after taking a plea bargain to charges related to the murder of a young woman who was the girlfriend of another member of the Sons of Silence. Jeffrey Gruber is doing a life sentence at Florence FCI.”
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w55b55a27Lo


OFFICER DOWN NEWS:

As of today (01/17/10), we are up to a dozen officers killed in the line of duty so far in January alone. One of those, Special US Deputy Marshal Stan Cooper (EOW 01/04/10), began his law enforcement career in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1960 before moving to Las Vegas were he retired as a sergeant. In 1994 Stan went to work at the LV Federal Court House where he was serving when, while defending others on January 4th, God called him home after 42 years of service. Regarding Stan, a colleague sent this article to me today in response to a previous question I asked about whether or not Stan knew Christ as his Savior. The article, in a VERY secular newspaper(!), not only answers that question with a resounding “YES” (praise God) but also says volumes about drawing close to God so we can be ready to be used by Him in “Esther” (Esther 4:14) moments. Please take the time to read this incredible short article and then ask God to use you “for such a time as this!” http://www.lvrj.com/news/court-worker-describes-final-moments-with-dying-security-officer-81924722.html.

Remember that while Stan died doing what he loved, he is now with the Lord not because of his service in law enforcement but rather ONLY because he trusted in Christ as his Lord and Savior. What about YOU?


TRAINING RESOURCE:

Chief Investigator Ken Wallentine has a tremendous resource available to law enforcement personnel. Ken writes, “Xiphos (pronounced zee-phose) is a biweekly summary of recent court decisions about criminal procedure and other subjects important to law enforcement officers and administrators. The xiphos is a short double-edged sword used essentially as a backup weapon by ancient Greek warriors. This service is provided at no cost. To subscribe, send a message to http://us.mc516.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Xiphos-subscribe@KenWallentine.com.” Ken also has a great website with Xiphos archives: http://www.kenwallentine.com/index.html.


PRAYER REQUESTS:

(1) I’ve been asked to put out a prayer request concerning the upcoming selection process for Grand Junction’s next Chief of Police. Let’s ask God to put HIS person in that position and that this person would lead with a servant's heart (our profession is DESPERATE for godly leadership).

(2) Also on the subject of law enforcement leadership (from a reader): “Lt. Chris Hoye of Las Vegas Metro PD has been nominated to be the new US Marshal for Nevada. Chris's faith is an inspiration to all who know him. Moreover, his work ethic and integrity are above reproach... Chris has already passed the vetting process and awaits only the President’s approval. Chris is a true leader of men and a servant-leader in every respect… Please pray that the nomination goes forward without any problems.

(3) Ron Leonard of Christian Military Fellowship (http://www.cmfhq.org/) sent me the following regarding the situation in Haiti: “As all of you are now aware the tiny country of Haiti was hit by a 7.2 earth quake that has left the country in shambles. They are now est. more than 100,000 may be dead! I know many of you are already giving to the need there. But if you are still praying about how to give here are "Proven" organizations that are helping. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ (Headed by Franklin Graham), and www.salvationarmyusa.org. These are two of the ones who have come to my attention that we know the money is getting directly to the Haitian people! Most of all my brothers and sisters, please pray!”

I second that in every way. Let’s be praying for our fellow officers and military personnel serving there as well as they are most definitely in “harm’s way.”

(4) Pray for our ministry worship leader, Matt Wallenburg, as he pursues his own calling into law enforcement (testing with a number of agencies).

(5) Please pray for the wife of a JeffCO deputy who is battling cancer. Denise’s husband has only recently returned to work after recovering from line of duty injuries that nearly took his life last year.

(6) Fellow FCPO member Ray Bell asks that we be in prayer for his father-in-law who is battling cancer.


Finally, don’t forget about the going away party for wounded Dep. Chris Dewey tomorrow. See the previous entry (below) for more!

Stay strong and safe in Christ!