The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry: "The Academy"

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

"The Academy"

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

Just got back from spending a few days with family in Texas -- thanks to all who prayed for me in this endeavor. Part of this trip included spending a night at the Rocksprings Historic Hotel (http://www.historicrockspringshotel.com/) in the little Hill Country town of Rocksprings near my brother's hunting property. Owners Debra and Craig Wolcott are doing a wonderful job restoring this century-old hotel while at the same time standing strong in the face of some egregious small town politics. A stay at the hotel is highly recommended (the Texas Hill Country has its own unique beauty and charm) and the Wolcott's covet your prayers.

In my absence, our own James "Jimmy" Wattles led last week's fellowship where the recently released DVD "Shattered" was the viewed and discussed. The film provides and in-depth look at the very real issues of evil that our kids are exposed to on a daily basis. Shattered also has direct application for those of us serving in law enforcement. Please take the time to review the Shattered website
(http://www.shatteredthedvd.com/), watch the trailer, and then order a copy to share with your family, your church and your colleagues.

Unfortunately, my trip also forced me to miss our 2nd Annual Christmas Potluck hosted by Art and Lonni Briles (Thanks guys!). Those who could not attend missed out on both outstanding food and fellowship!

We're back as usual this coming Thursday (December 9th) where I'll be teaching on the subject of the "Academy." The vast majority of us serving in our God-ordained (Romans 13:1-7) profession or in the military have undergone some type of academy or basic training. However, the academy concept also has direct application to the Christian life -- one that lasts a lifetime and is truly "on the job training" for the truly committed. Interestingly, the postulation has perhaps even greater significance to LEOs. Please join us this Thursday if you're in the Denver-Metro area as we explore this unique subject. I'll of course be posting a complete recap in next week's newsletter and here on our website for all our readers residing throughout the USA, Canada and many points around the world. Stay tuned!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-- As usual, the latest prayer requests, announcements and meeting schedules are posted and updated on our website. In particular, take a moment to again pray for little Elizabeth Jetton and her folks (Elizabeth's mother Sheila is a LEO in Tennessee). Elizabeth is once again fighting for her life and will likely be hospitalized through the Christmas holiday.

-- Tulsa (OK) PD Capt. Travis Yates is a great partner in ministry (Ten-Four Ministries -- http://www.tenfourministries.org/) and was kind enough to give us a fine plug in his latest e-news post. I'll again be Travis' guest on his excellent Centurion Radio show in the near future and I'll be joining both Travis and my friend Lt. Col. Dave Grossman for a special Bulletproof Mind seminar in Tulsa this coming April -- stay tuned for more details!

I'll close this week's newsletter with a note of urgency. Attending last week's funeral for a brother officer killed in the LOD presented another stark reminder that our time on this planet is finite and that officers must come to Christ in the same way as anyone else (no such thing as a "get out of hell, free" pass and we won't have our badges when we stand before the Lord). On the contrary, the ONLY way to a truly purposeful life in this existence and an assurance of salvation in the next is via a life-changing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ (what it means to be a "Christian"). How does this occur? By confessing and turning (literally an "about face") from our sin, seeking His forgiveness, and receiving Christ into our hearts. Are you right with God today? See http://tenfourministries.org/know_god.html for more on what it means to enter into this life-changing and life-saving relationship with our Risen Savior!

This has been a horrendous year in terms of LOD deaths and injuries. Please take the time to stay sharp physically, mentally and of course spiritually -- and be sure to take good care of each other. More to come -- until then -- stay the course and finish strong with Christ as our Captain!

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.