Caleb the "Cop" -- TRUE Strength & Honor!

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

This time last week I was flying home from serving at Dep. Chris Dewey’s police funeral (What an honor -- and you can watch most of the church portion of Chris's funeral service at LWCC.org.). As many of you already know, my being there was nothing short of God-ordained. Thanks to all who prayed for me in this endeavor. In addition, thanks to retired Denver PD Officer Mark Roggeman, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, and Minneapolis PD Sgt. Bill Palmer for their outstanding assistance and being open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Most of all, I thank my Lord and Savior for directing my path in this assignment.

At our last meeting, our own Erv Meyer taught a very special profession-relevant Bible study (what Boulder Co. S.O. Chaplain Andy Wineman calls a TACTICAL Bible study – I love it) on the person of Caleb as described in Numbers 13:1-14:38; 26:65; 32:11, 12; Deuteronomy 1:34-38; and Joshua 14:6-14; 15:13-19. What our Lord revealed to us through Erv’s teaching of His word is a warrior-leader (“cop”) who is an outstanding role model for all of us who serve in our God-ordained profession. A study of the above-listed passages shows us that Caleb:

(1) Lead from the front and by example.

(2) Was absolutely obedient and didn’t complain.

(3) Wholly trusted in God’s plan and submitted to His authority.

(4) Displayed life-long courage in the face of incredible adversity and overwhelming odds (Caleb knew his Captain).

(5) Possessed unsurpassed integrity where many others fell short.

(6) Understood the importance of backup and teamwork.

(7) Controlled his emotions – did not become angry or bitter despite facing hardships caused by the disobedience of others.

(8) Responded to his "calls" and completed them with excellence.

(9) Was never a ROD (“retired on duty”) cop.

(10) Maintained his warrior skills and stayed fit for duty despite his many years “on the job.”

(11) Always kept a positive, enthusiastic attitude despite the hardships he had to endure. Caleb RAN to the battle and relished God’s assignments for him.

(12) Never wavered – he stayed the course and finished strong.

In short, Caleb was everything a servant-warrior (cop/soldier) should be – and everything we should all be striving for. So how can WE be a modern-day Caleb (we CAN)? Only -- ONLY -- by the allowing God to be sovereign and giving permission for the Holy Spirit to control our lives. We CAN'T do it on our own -- we WILL fall short without God directing our path as He did with Caleb. That said, ask God today to make you into a modern-day Caleb in accordance with His unique plan and direction for your life. Strength & Honor indeed!

This week I will be teaching a tactical Bible study on the subject of PRIDE as detailed in God’s perfect “policy and procedure manual” (aka the Bible). Matt Wallenburg will once again be leading worship, I’ll talk about Chris funeral service, and we’ll have a great time of prayer and fellowship. Please “pass-on” this newsletter to your friends and colleagues and -- if you are in the Denver Metro area -- join us tomorrow evening. As always, I’ll have a complete recap for all those who can’t attend and/or are elsewhere in the world. Stay tuned!


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

(1) Check back frequently for the latest announcements, meeting updates, and prayer requests. The latest version is already up and follows this post.

(2) A couple of you have forwarded the following verse to me that provides a wealth of truth (and some wry humor) in these tough times: The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left -- Ecclesiastes 10:2. TRUE!

(3) Many are having a tough time and – despite my previous teaching on this subject – continue to wonder why God allows suffering and hardship in their (our) lives. In response, take a look at the following (click on the link): Standing Firm -- https://store.afa.net/pc-10000581-98-standing-firm-dvd.aspx.

(4) Need more solid reasons to be in prayer for our nation and leaders? Check this out from David Barton leading a tour of the US Capitol like you've never seen (we've been lied to)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfEdJNn15E&feature=player_embedded.

(5) The 2010 Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) National Conference will take place September 10-12 in Gulfport, MS. See the FCPO link here on our website for complete details…please join us!

(6) Christian Cops on the Radio! I had the honor of being Tulsa PD Capt. Travis Yates’s (Ten-Four Ministries -- http://tenfourministries.org/) guest on his new Centurion Radio program. Go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ten-four-ministries to listen to my broadcast/message and those that preceded it – and the great ones that will follow. See also http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2010/08/centurion-radio-6-detective-mc-williams.html.

(7) BAPTISM! Some of our regulars have expressed the Holy Spirit-inspired (not to mention obedient) desire to be baptised. If others in the Denver-metro area are interested, let me know and we’ll set it up soon.

(8) We continue to visit and pray with our wounded brothers at Craig Hospital and I am asking that you join us in this endeavor. Regardless, please keep Ofc. Max Faistenhammer (MI) who is headed home this week, Dep. Kyle Rosentreter (WY), Dep. Scott Warrington (CO), and Dep. Mike Severson (WI) in prayer. Ofc. Densey Cole (Chicago PD) is also back at Craig this week for his re-evaluation and I hope to visit with him on Friday.

Finally, if you do not know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (or have fallen away from walking with Him), then let me again encourage you to get right with God today. Tomorrow is promised to no one and there are NO SECOND CHANCES if you die in your sin (not knowing Christ as your Lord and Savior). Come to him today -- click on the How to KNOW Christ as Savior link here our website -- and then TELL SOMEONE (us and others) about it. Know too that I’m here to pray and/or counsel with you.

Stay strong in Christ!