Memorial Day Message

Brothers & Sisters of the Sword:

This Memorial Day, we honour all our fellow warriors – law enforcement and military – who gave "all” or "some" in defense of our nation. Please remember the families and colleagues of the fallen in your prayers. This day I also honour the memory of my own father -- CMSgt. Lonie C. Williams, Jr. -- who served in the military for thirty years plus another seventeen doing the same job in DOD Civil Service. His military service included two tours in Vietnam and he was the last American to leave Iwo Jima when we returned it to Japan in 1968. The flag Dad removed from the pole on Mt. Suribachi (see http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Mt_Suribachi_memorial_Iwo_Jima.jpg) still flies today at my parent’s home in Texas. Dad went to be with the Lord just under a year ago and I would ask your prayers for my mother as the pain of his death is still very fresh for her.

That said, what is central for us who know Christ as Lord and Savior is that we must take on a sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel message with both those we serve and those we serve with. What makes my father’s sacrifice truly significant is the assurance that Dad is NOW with the Lord because -- some years ago – he turned and said “yes” to Christ. I can think of no greater tragedy than for a fellow warrior to end this life without the assurance of spending eternity with our Lord (what it means to be “saved”). As I’ve pointed out numerous times before, our service does NOT provide a “get out of jail” (hell) pass! On the contrary, God’s word is very clear that ONLY those who repent of their sins and are “born again” in Christ will be saved. If YOU have not already made a decision for Christ or are living a life that is anything short of being 100 percent sold-out for Him, then I urge you to get right with our Lord today. See the “How to Know Christ as Savior” link right here on our website or contact me directly and I’ll be honored to help you take that step. God's word (Bible) clearly tells us that there are NO second chances once this life ends. In accordance with Joshua 24:15, “…choose this day whom you will serve…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. “ What say YOU?

In keeping with today’s holiday, I will be teaching a special Memorial Day message at this Thursday’s (June 3rd) Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry meeting starting at 1900 hours at Calvary South Denver in Littleton. In addition, we will have a special visitor in the person of noted Marine, police officer and chaplain Col. Ray Fairman (http://www.rayfairman.com/). Ray plans to stop by while on vacation from Georgia and I’ll set time aside for our fellow warrior to share some of his remarkable testimony. Please join us and don’t forget to pass the word to your friends and colleagues.

Finally (and speaking of honoring and remembering our own on Memorial Day), pastor and police chaplain Lonnie Trujillo passed along the following: "Thought I'd let you know that Denver PD Officer Mark Roggeman retired yesterday after 39 years of law enforcement service being a point man, serving his fellow man, called by God, sharing the gospel of Jesus." Mark led a Peace Officers for Christ International (POFCI) chapter in Denver for a number of years and our brother still has much work to do in our Lord’s service. Let’s keep Mark in prayer as he seeks God’s will and direction for the next chapter in his earthly life.


MESSAGE RECAP:

Last week’s discussion centered on the topic of “why God allows trials and tribulations” in our lives. Why would a loving God allow us to go through such things as the death of a child, injury, disease, hardships, worry and fear? What about all the carnage and evil we see as cops? Doesn’t loving us mean that God wants our lives to be easy and comfortable? The issue of sin aside (I'll come back to it) and inasmuch as the Christian life is one that should be lead in accordance with God’s word (the Bible), the answer is “NO.” For the believer (Christian), ALL trials and tribulations ("TNT") have a specific purpose in accordance with His perfect plan and will. Here are the main points:

(1) God’s ultimate purpose is for us to grow more and more into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). The way trials accomplish this is explained in 1 Peter 1:6-7.

(2) Trials develop godly character and we are called to REJOICE in them (Romans 5:3-5, 8; Romans 8:37). Oswald Chambers, on the subject of “spiritual SURFING,” wrote, “The wave that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super JOY of going clean through it. These very things – tribulation, distress, persecution – produce in us super-joy; they are NOT things to fight. We are “more than conquerors”...the saint (Christian) knows the joy of the Lord not in spite of the tribulation but BECAUSE of it.”

(3) Persevering through TNT proves our faith (Philippians 4:13).

(4) Sin has consequences and God will most definitely discipline His own (1 Peter 4:15; Hebrews 12:1-11; Deuteronomy 8:2-5).

(5) TNT come with both a purpose and a reward (James 1:2-4, 12; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

(6) TNT help us to grow and mature in Christ (James 1:2-4).

(7) God will comfort us in our troubles (II Corinthians 1:4).

(8) There is no better time to serve others than in the midst of our own suffering and troubles (Luke 6:38). We should also understand that there are others are dealing with as much or more than we are and that Christ suffered the most of all.


MEETING SCHEDULE for our locals and visitors:

(1) Thursday, June 3rd, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver, Multi-Purpose room (big room just inside the main entrance), 9052 W Ken Caryl Ave, Littleton, CO 80128.

(2) Thursday, June 10, same time/location as #1 above.

(3) Thursday, June 17, same time/location as #1 above.



PRAYER REQUESTS are updated and posted here on our website. That said – Memorial Day should be a reminder to pray for this nation and the leaders who have drifted away from the biblical principles on which our country was founded. II Chronicles 7:14 reads, “If my people, who are called by my Name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and TURN from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer, forgive their sins, and heal their country.”

Stay the course!