UPDATE! Prayer Requests, Announcements and Local Meeting Schedule

UPDATED (12/23/2010) PRAYER REQUESTS (see the November 27th post for additional and check back frequently for updates):

-- One of our own was laid to rest on Tuesday (12/21): retired Colorado State Trooper Marvin Weese (a believer). Please be in prayer for his family and colleagues. See http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=24630 for more.

-- Let's be in prayer for the wounded Chicago firefighters and the families/colleagues of those who gave all in yesterday's (12/23) deadly fire there.

-- Please pray for New Zealand Constable Bruce Mellor who was viciously attacked with a machete while on a traffic stop. Mellor and his NZ police colleagues work unarmed (insane).

-- Pray for two colleagues who are recovering from injuries.

-- Be in prayer for a Western Slope officer who will be undergoing shoulder surgery on Thursday, 12/16. UPDATE: Our brother is at home recovering -- lots of pain but improving (keep him in prayer)

-- The Colorado Law Enforcement Officers Association (CLEOA) just sent out the following. Please be in prayer for our brother's family and colleagues.
We want to let our supporters know that Steamboat Springs PD lost one of their officers to cancer: Dale Vance Coyner. Dale graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 1980 after helping his football team win the 1979 State Football Championship. Dale was also an accomplished wrestler in high school. Dale received his Bachelor’s Degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1984. When Dale returned to Steamboat Springs he began a Law Enforcement career by going to work with the Routt County Sheriff’s Department in 1997. He joined the Steamboat Springs Police Department in September of 1998 as a Patrol Officer. In 2004 Dale was promoted to Patrol Sergeant. Dale had an exemplary career and was known for taking pride in his work. He believed that kindness, strength, and integrity were paramount in handling the difficult situations that Police Officers encounter, and he demonstrated each of those qualities in his career. On December 4, 2010 Dale succumbed to cancer after a courageous 4 month battle with the disease. Dale passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. Dale leaves in this life his wife, Judy – his mother, Patricia – his son, Daniel Vance Coyner – his daughter, Rebekah Grace Coyner – his sister, Connie Jerene and her husband, Darrell Davis. He also leaves in this life a large number of relatives and friends. Our prayers go out to the Coyner family during this difficult time

-- We are asking everyone to say a prayer for the "Darkhorse" 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and their families. They are fighting it out in Afghanistan & they have lost 9 marines in 4 days. Semper Fi, God Bless America and God Bless the United States Marine Corps...Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever.

See http://www.facebook.com/pages/3rd-Battalion-5th-Marines/129302720460021?v=wall for more.

-- Be in prayer for Falls Co. (TX) Deputy Lou Lourcey who was run over during a running gun battle in central Texas today. See http://www.centraltexasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13667075 for details.

-- Pray for a colleague who is dealing with some very serious back issues and is in a great deal of pain.

-- At last report Utah State Park Ranger Brody Young is again fighting for his life in a Grand Junction (CO) hospital after his condition was downgraded from serious to critical due to infections stemming from being shot in the LOD last month. Brody's shooter has still not been apprehended. Please keep Brody in prayer and consider posting a note and/or supporting his cause via his Facebook page. See http://www.rangerbrody.org/ for more.

-- Mesa (AZ) PD Officer Lance Heivilin continues to covet your prayers as he battles cancer. Following is Lance's Facebook post -- one that epitomizes the Christian's proper attitude to trials:
My family returned from church, tears in their eyes, deeply touched by the Word shared by Paster Zach. I had stayed home today to visit with a friend who was in town on a trip, the timing as if it it was meant for Jennae, Dad, and Bryan to receive a message without me there. They had discussed the message with friends at church. They brought the message home, shared it with tears. The significance was so clear, Bryan carried likely the largest burden in the sharing of the three of them. But the message ended with smiles of understanding. A quietness of acceptance that is difficult to comprehend. I am compelled to share it with you. The reading today was from John 11:1-44. It is the chapter about the death of Jesus's good friend Lazarus. Jesus carries the burden of both God and man in his decision making. I want to focus on Verse 4, "But when Jesus heard about it he said, "The purpose of his illness is not death, but for the glory of God. I, Son of God, will receive glory from this situation." I have learned through this illness that I am not sharing my story for my own reward. It started out that way, but His word has shown me different. I share my story, to show others that God's strength is the source of my strength. That my love for Jesus brings me the comfort that if modern medicine cannot keep me well, that what lies ahead is not the end but only the beginning. Verse 4 brings Jennae security, the kind that makes a husband know that everything will be ok. People see the convoluted chain of events of the past 6 months in my life, which one person could never plan, has brought me to one of the top cancer treatment facilities in the country. There is a greater plan at work here. But please, understand that miracle I hope will come in controlling the cancer is not my testimony. All that I am today, all the incredible blessings beginning with my wife and now family, came after a I submitted to God in a tiny loft apartment one dark night in 2000. My life as it stands today is my testimony. Confronting cancer is another chapter, though I hope it is the strongest chapter in a compelling reformation of a troubled and conflicted soul. Thank you all for being here for me, for Jennae, for my family in our greatest hour of need. It is my hope that my battle with cancer will shine as my brightest success, by helping people understand God's grace. It is my prayer that when the day comes and you need His grace to succeed in your overwhelming challenges, you will ask Him. Reach for Him. Submit to His will. Through this you will find an inner peace you never dreamed possible.

What a great testimony! "Complete calm in the eye of the storm." You can find Lance on Facebook -- leave him a message of encourgagement.

-- Please continue to pray and support little Elizabeth Jetton and her parents -- TN Officer Sheila Jetton and husband Matt. Sheila's CaringBridge post today was very touching: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elizabethjetton. We can be warrior's in many ways, and Sheila and Matt are truly that as they fight for their daughter's life. Take the time to write Sheila a note of support on their CaringBridge page.

-- Laura Lawyer, wife of CSP Trooper Ivan "Gene" Lawyer, sends the following:
My name is Laura, and on July 20, 2010 my husband Gene Lawyer, who is a 10 year veteran of the Colorado State Patrol, was involved in a shooting while on duty. This is any law enforcement officers and families worst nightmare and no one could prepare you for the way this changes your life. Not only the mental issues, but the finances and the way you live your everyday life. This incident as well as the ongoing crisis has turned our lives upside down, as well as our friends, families and even our co-workers lives.Gene has been indicted on multiple felony counts stemming from the incident. His first court appearance was on November 9 and his next appearance will be on January 11, 2011. We have been advised the entire process could take more than a year. At the time of the incident Gene was not a member of the CSPPA (Colorado State Patrol Protective Association) and therefore not protected with legal defense. This has left our family to obtain a private attorney to represent Gene’s case and has placed a HUGE financial burden on our family.I am asking as a wife to please think about your family, friends, loved ones, neighbors, co-workers or even that law enforcement officer you know or possibly have never met. PLEASE, if there is any way you can help us by donating to Gene’s attorney fees, we would GREATLY appreciate it. We ALL realize with the economy the way it is and money being very tight for everyone, the sacrifice it will take from each of you. The outcome in this case can and will affect the way all law enforcement officers do their jobs across the entire nation.

The bank information needed for you to graciously donate to Gene’s attorney fees is as follows:
WELLS FARGO/WACHOVIA Bank
ACCOUNT # 6633784522
ROUTING # 102000076

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DONATION!!!!!!! Always make sure to tell your loved one that you love them before they go on duty, because you never know...

-- Continue to pray for Pastor/Chaplain Manny Hays (retired Denver PD officer) and his wife Angie who is battleing liver cancer and is in need of a transplant. Both are powerful in Christ.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-- A colleague writes,
I am grateful for your ministry and the timeliness of your articles. In this era when so many Christians are being hammered by Satan and our society becoming more and more violent it is so critical that we stay the course and not loose sight of HIS love and grace! A number of training instructors we both know teach courses through the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center (MCTC) located at Camp Dodge, IA. They pay all of the tuition costs and for students traveling they also pay hotel and meals. A great deal. With the current congress not passing the budget for this year and the newly elected officials stating they are going to stop all earmarks, MCTC has had to cancel all of their December classes, about 500 officers have been affected (they had planned on taking training, many had purchased airline tickets or taken vacation, etc only to be notified that the class they were scheduled to attend had to be canceled). If congress does not pass the budget in the next two weeks MCTC and their sister agencies across the country will have to close down. Last year with MCTC, RCTA in MS, and WRCTC in WA over 23,000 police officers received free training. I ask that you help us pass the word to get our elected officials to fully fund these organizations and let us get on with our business of helping the police be better prepared to meet the challenges we face. Time is critical as the next two weeks will determine if these agencies survive or are shuttered! I have seen the difference this training makes in the lives of the officers who attend these classes and therefore the public we serve and protect.

Let's both pray and act!


Updated MEETING SCHEDULE for our FCPO-Denver Chapter:

-- Thursday, December 16th, 2010. 7 PM, Calvary South Denver in Littleton (http://www.calvarycsd.org/ for directions), High School Room -- last room on your right past the main sanctuary. I'll be teaching a special officer-relevant Christmas message (invite a friend or colleague and join us).

-- Thursday, Dec. 23rd, NO MEETING (Merry Christmas!).

-- Thursday, Dec. 30th, same time/place as the 16th above.

Check back frequently for the latest updates!