The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry: National Day of Prayer & National Police Week Preview

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

National Day of Prayer & National Police Week Preview

Greetings Fellow Servant-Warriors:

First off (for our locals and visitors), we’re “on” for this week’s profession-relevant Bible study (see schedule below). Inasmuch as this Thursday is the National Day of Prayer (we’ll honour our Lord in prayer regardless of the flawed lower court ruling and related issues), I’ll be teaching a message that directly applies to us in law enforcement and we’ll have a special time of prayer for both our profession and our country. Invite a colleague and join us for a powerful evening of warrior-fellowship and the sharing of God’s word.

One area of discussion will be whether or not we (law enforcement) are “at war” given the current issues we face as a profession. Check out this secular article on the subject: http://www.policeone.com/active-shooter/articles/1971738-Are-Americas-officers-at-war/.

To recap last week’s study, our own Dep. Art Briles shared a message that contrasted portions of the Miranda advisal with our walk as Christian officers (especially as it relates to the “power of the tongue”). The scriptural context was derived primarily from Psalms and Proverbs. Take the time to study the following and see if you can discover how they relate to the Miranda rights:

(1) Keeping silent: Psalm 34:16-17; Psalm 56:8-13; Proverbs 2:1-9

(2) Anything you say can and will be used against you… (What you say and what comes out of your mouth can either bring life or death): Psalm 10:1-11; 12:3; 34:13; 37:30; Proverbs 10:31; 12:19; 18:21.

Updated MEETING SCHEDULE:

-- Thursday, May 6, 2010: special “National Day of Prayer” meeting and Bible study. Calvary South Denver (www.CalvaryCSD.org for directions), Room #6, 1900 hours.

-- Thursday, May 13, 2010 -- same time/place: Retired DPD officer, chaplain and pastor Manny Hays will be our guest speaker.

-- Thursday, May 20, 2010 -- same time/place. OMG expert and veteran officer Jim Wattles (of History Channel’s Gangland fame) will be our guest speaker.

-- Thursday, May 27, 2010 – same time/place.

NATIONAL POLICE/National Law Enforcement Memorial WEEK Preview:

As most of you should be aware, National Police Week 2010 (http://www.nationalpoliceweek.com/) is set for May 9-15. I had hoped to be in DC for some of the events at the Memorial but it will have to wait another year as I’ll be spending much of that time in the hospital recovering from a long-overdue procedure to correct my decrepit hip caused by way too many years of “wrestling with God” (see Genesis 32:24-32) and a plethora of athletic and profession-related “abuse.”

Speaking of NPW: Law Enforcement United Team NM (6 riders) leaves for the long ride this Thurs. at 6:05 AM. The long ride (800 miles) will begin on Sat from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick Georgia and will end in Chesapeake VA on May 8th. The rest of the team (2 riders) will meet us on the 8th and we will all ride the remaining 250 miles to DC starting on the 10th to arrive on the 12th meeting Tonia Harris (see below) and Ally for the Law Enforcement Memorial Week events! You can follow our progress and view pics at our Facebook page linked below. Please pray for us those we ride with and the families of fallen officers who we will be ministering to along the way. Thanks you all who gave to make this fundraising ride possible and all who have helped us train. See
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Law-Enforcement-United-Team-NM/270864113563

Also out just in time for NPW: New FCPO Video! Check it out (great job) -- http://blutube.policeone.com/Media/5668-Fellowship-of-Christian-Peace-Officers/.

And finally this from a colleague in Great Britain: Minister-turned-police officer (for Christian officers, part of our ministry should in fact be our work) -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebE4XVDOxgM.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

(1) Praise Report! Little Tayler Ellison (5 y.o. daughter of Englewood PD Officer Shane Ellison) had a very clean MRI and continues to be cancer free! Keep the Ellison family in prayer as they are expecting a new addition in about 13 weeks.

(2) Officers Down: Let’s be in prayer for our Detroit PD colleagues who were wounded in the shooting yesterday morning (1 dead, 4 wounded) as well as the family of our brother who “gave all.” See http://connect.lawofficer.com/forum/topics/detroit-officer-killed-4.
It has been a vicious last few days for us in general. See http://www.odmp.org/ for the latest – pray for the families and colleagues of our fallen brethren.

(3) FBI agent John Wills asks that we be in prayer for his 4 y.o. granddaughter who is experiencing unexplained seizures and passed out the other day. Pray for healing and for the doctors who are treating her.

(4) Pray for me reference my upcoming surgery (May 12th).

(5) On the subject of poor leadership “at the top,” I’ve been in contact with friends of Tonia Harris, widow of Sandoval County S.O. Deputy Joe Harris who was killed in the LOD last year. The following is just one example of poor leadership in that hurting agency. Please keep Tonia and the men/women of the SCSO in your prayers and for a repentant change to godly servant-leadership from Sheriff Trujillo. http://www.koat.com/news/23130579/detail.html.
My many contacts there tell me that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to issues with that agency. Appalling. I've posted a photo of Joe at that National Police Memorial in DC on our website.

(6) Please be in prayer for our colleagues in Arizona as they deal with the fallout of that state’s righteous decision to begin enforcing the immigration laws already on the books at the federal level. Pray also for the full recovery of Pinal County S.O. Deputy Louie Puroll who was reportedly shot by illegal aliens during a traffic contact last Friday.

(7) Finally, please be in prayer for a colleague in NM who recently suffered a minor heart attack. Our brother covets our prayers as he makes some much-needed lifestyle changes.

Let’s lead (serve) biblically! Stay safe and vigilant, my brother and sisters.

Our Core Verses

COPS -- God's ministers for good and a terror against evil. We do not bear the sword in vain.

(Paraphrase...for full text, see the Bible in Romans 13:1-4)

Psalm 82:3-4

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.ressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.he widow.

Colorado Law Enforcement Ministry Meeting Schedules

The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry (FCPO-Denver)

On the local front (meaning Colorado Front Range) we typically meet for iron sharpens iron fellowship and Bible study every 2nd and 4th Tuesday evening of each month at Calvary Castle Rock. Email me for details at thecenturionministry@gmail.com or give me a shout at 720-371-1022

Men of Courage Law Enforcement Ministry

Buena Vista (CO) PD Sgt. Dean Morgan is leading a law enforcement fellowship/Bible study in Chaffee County and the surrounding area. Contact Dean at interceptor@policeone.com for more info.

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TCLEM Mission Statement

The mission of The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry (TCLEM), is to educate law enforcement officers (police, deputies, troopers, investigators, parole/probation, corrections, military, etc.) about God's unique call on their lives as outlined in God's word (Bible) and to lead officers and their families to a saving knowledge of and close personal relationship with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Through same, we also seek to positively impact our profession by raising up Christian servant-leaders and reduce our historically high rates of divorce, alcoholism, depression, suicide and related issues.

Law enforcement is a God-ordained ministry of service and protection for our society as outlined in the Bible in Romans 13. Inasmuch as our very authority as peace officers is given to us by God, TCLEM seeks to affirm our calling as servant-warriors ("sheepdogs") and leaders while at the same time developing the our spiritual, family and personal lives through Bible study, peer fellowship, and group accountability along with active involvement in a solid Christ-centered/Bible-based church. We also seek to infuse our profession with godly leaders who will in fact LEAD (serve) from a biblical world view.

What We Believe (Statement of Faith)

(1) WE BELIEVE the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's sacrificial agape love, which is greater than any secondary differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

(2) WE BELIEVE in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity as detailed in God's word (Bible).

(3) WE BELIEVE the sixty-six books of the Bible (i.e. Old and New Testament) comprise the totality of Holy Scripture and is inerrant in the original text, and remains God-breathed/God-inspired and infallible in all its substance, and therefore, it is the supreme and final authority in faith, theology, and life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, 89, 105.

(4) WE BELIEVE that our Lord has called us to share the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life and, in particular as it relates to our service in the God-ordained calling of law enforcement. We also believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.

(5) WE BELIEVE there is only One true, eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and is worthy of worship and obedience. Deut. 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31, Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20, Rev. 4:11.

(6) WE BELIEVE in one God who is Creator of heaven and earth, Spirit, personal, transcendent, sovereign, life, love, truth, almighty, simple (i.e. one without parts), timelessly eternal, unchangeable, wise, just, holy, relational, dynamic and infallible in all things.

(7) WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, possessing two distinct natures which are co-joined in one person, that He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless and miraculous life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious substitutionary death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, physically ascended back to the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and lives to make intercession for us. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today. John 1:1-3,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11.

(8) WE BELIEVE that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered as a gift by the Lord Jesus Christ to all based on His grace alone. When a person sincerely repents of their sin and enters into a life-saving/life-changing personal relationsship (not "religion") with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, they are immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all their sins are forgiven, and they become a child of God -- changed, and destined to spend eternity with Him. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

(9) WE BELIEVE in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today, and should be exercised within scriptural guidelines, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9,11; Titus 3:5.

(10) WE BELIEVE in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe that the physical second coming of Christ with His saints to rule on the earth will be personal, premillennial, and visible. This motivates us to holy living, heart-felt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship, and participation in the two ordinances the Lord gave the church - adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion. Revelation 3:10, Thessalonians 5:9.

(11) WE BELIEVE there is a real personal devil of great evil, cunning, and power, who seeks to tempt, kill, steal, and destroy, yet his power is limited by God to only what God permits him to do; that the devil has been defeated positionally at the cross of Christ, and will be defeated practically at Christ's glorious second coming which will ultimately eventuate in the quarantine and punishment of the Satan (aka the Devil, Beast, and False Prophet, etc.) in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone where they will be tormented day and night forever (what has been traditionally called "Hell"). Luke 10:18; Matthew 4:10; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11, etc.

(12) WE BELIEVE that our Lord is clear that there is ONLY ONE WAY to Christ and that is through a life-changing personal relationship with the Risen Savior. Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life. The way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Intellectual acceptance of Christ is not enough. You must come to him determined to turn from what displeases him, with a total trust in Christ's saving power for you.

Are you ready to receive Christ today? If so, scroll up towards the top of this page to the links under How Can I be Saved (AKA True "Officer Safety"). Please feel free to contact me if you need help in this area -- it would be my honour to lead you "home" to Christ!

If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. It's the greatest discovery you will ever make!

Donate to the Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry

We do accept donations to support our ministry and outreach, including but not limited to leading officers to Christ, support for wounded officers; "officer down" outreach; chaplain and counseling services; speaking engagements; website expenses; ministry apparel, etc. Donations can be made out to The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry and mailed to

P.O. Box 630854
Littleton, CO 80163

That said, support your church first...and then donate if the Holy Spirit inspires you to do so. Thanks in advance for your support.