The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry: A Matter of Evidence

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

A Matter of Evidence

Fellow Sheepdogs:

Hope all my fellow dads had a great Father’s Day and that those who are not fathers remembered theirs. That said, EVERY day should be one where we think of/spend time with (prayer) and honour (worship/obey) our heavenly Father. If you have not already done so, please check out the Father’s Day post I sent out earlier this week and as posted here on our website.

The latest meeting schedule is also posted (next post below) but this is a great time to remind our regulars, locals and visitors that we’re “ON” for this Thursday's profession-relevant Bible study/fellowship meeting starting at 1900 hours at Calvary South Denver in Littleton (see Calvary South Denver link for directions). We SHOULD be in our usual spot (big Multi-Purpose Room) but, if not, just hunt us down. Matt Wallenburg will open our meeting with some outstanding worship music -- don't miss it.

Those who couldn’t attend last week missed an incredibly moving testimony from an officer who is dealing with some exceedingly difficult family and work-related issues. We had the opportunity to come around our brother in prayer and I ask you to do the same. That said, Frank should be on hand to share an important update with us on this Thursday…stay tuned or join us if you can!

This week’s profession-relevant Bible study centers around a biblical concept dealing with something all LEOs should be familiar with – EVIDENCE. What evidence? Good question -- show up at 7 PM Thursday and we’ll answer it together. Rest assured, this evidentiary issue applies to each and every one of us who call ourselves “Christian.” Don’t miss out if you’re in the area. However, for all those who can’t be here, I’ll once again post a detailed recap for everyone in next week’s newsletter and on our website.

Speaking of recaps…here is the one from last week’s study on biblical leadership:

Based loosely on Col. Ray Fairman’s “Leadership Lessons from God” that he entitled, Are you Destined to Lead?, our model for last week’s teaching was the person of Moses as revealed in Exodus chapters 2 and 3. Here God uses this reluctant leader to teach us that “a leader has to give up, in order to grow up and go up.” Via what Fairman calls the “Principle of Sacrifice,” Ray concluded this chapter by writing, “If you truly desire to lead, you must be willing at any time to answer the call of sacrifice” while at the same time never forgetting that “you can never out sacrifice Christ.” It begs the question, are YOU a sacrificial leader? I encourage everyone to read the chapter in full (just about 3 pages) by going to http://www.rayfairman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=9.

My goal is to present a chapter from Ray’s series about once a month.

Speaking of Col. Fairman, Ray shot me an email yesterday advising that he and Joan finally made it home safely but likened the trip to a “Clark Griswold” vacation (Google it if you don’t know what we’re talking about :). Ray also stated that, “Joan and I consider our time with you folks as one of the high points of our trip through the west.” It was a high point for us as well, my brother!

Today I once again visited with wounded Michigan officer Max Faistenhammer who is rehabbing here at Craig Hospital in Englewood. Max’s father serves with the DEA so his time here is limited. While Reid McGrath, Jason Pearson and other Englewood officers are stopping by regularly, I am asking our locals and ministry regulars to make an effort to visit as your schedules permit. Max is on the third floor of the Craig’s west wing. In addition, you’ll find Max on Facebook and on his CarePages site: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/HealingMachine. We also have a post below that details Max’s upcoming benefit in Michigan (see the Friday, June 18th post).

I have made a point to share the Gospel with Max and he now has one of our shirts and a police Bible. Stay tuned for more…

PRAYER REQUESTS & MEETING UPDATES are now posted and updated regularly on our website. Please check back frequently and pray for those seeking same.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

(1) The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) 2010 Conference will be held the 2nd weekend in September (Friday 9/10-Sunday 9/12) at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gulfport, MS. LEOs from across the US and Canada will be there – myself included. For more information on the conference, email Ivette@fcpo.org or call (423) 553-8806 for a brochure and registration form. I'll post an update soon.

(2) Florida deputy and author Mike Dye (http://www.christianlawenforcement.com/) sent me the following story (link below) reference the worsening situation on our borders and in Arizona in particular. Folks – CARRY your weapon and extra ammo when you are off duty, stay in “condition yellow,” and let’s be in prayer for our brothers and sisters working in that tough area while praying for our nation in general. See http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12692837.

As always, keep your comments, prayer requests and "411" coming. Hope to see you Thursday and let's stay vigilent out there!

MC

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.