A "Code 3" Sense of Urgency

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

My heart is heavy tonight as we have started off 2011 along the same sad lines that we ended 2010 with. As many are aware, a fellow officer was shot and killed while investigating -- alone no less -- a shots fired call when the perp took her out with a shotgun. The suspect managed to wound another officer before dying in a hail of rightous gunfire (see http://policelink.monster.com/news/articles/148698-hell-broke-loose-in-gunfight-that-took-deputys-life). Just tonight here in Colorado a Northglenn officer was shot serving a warrant on a sex offender. At last report the officer is doing well, thank God (took rounds to the vest and arm) and the perpetrator reportedly took his own life before SWAT entered the residence. See http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=173404&catid=339.

Like our slain Ohio sister, we put on a badge, armor and weapon each day and hopefully seek God grace, protection and leading as we go out and stand in the gap (Ezek. 22:30) for those we serve and protect. Duty issues aside, there are thousands of our fellow servant-warriors who are also dealing with battle wounds, disease, family issues (see below), personal problems, and so much more. Bottom line remains the same: we MUST ALL come to Christ the same way. There is no "get out of hell pass" for those serving in law enforcement and we need to have a true "Code 3" sense of URGENCY about sharing the TRUTH of the Gospel with our brothers and sisters in "blue" (and of course being fully right with God ourselves). The horrendous but just consequence of a fellow officer dying without saying "yes" to Christ should be seen as untenable to all of us as there are NO SECOND CHANCES once this life ends. Stay tuned for more on this subject...!

There is no recap this week due to our weather-related cancellation this past Thursday. That said we are in fact "on" for this week and I'll post my usual recap in next week's newsletter. As an alternative, I encourage you to take the time to listen to the recorded Centurion Radio show I did last Friday with Tulsa PD Captain and Ten-Four Ministries Director Travis Yates. We talked about what true biblical servant-leadership should look like in our profession and had a very sobering discussion about the very topic I hit on above. Go to my New Year's Eve post and click on the link. I also strong encourage everyone to check out the many resources available at http://www.tenfourministries.org/. There you can sign-up for Travis's outstanding weekly e-newsletter and, for that officer who has yet to make a decision for Christ, click on the "Know God" button.

The Grace Card (a cop's movie) hits theaters on February 25th and I'm encouraging everyone to pray and promote the film (and of course go see it). I have a link on our website or just go to
http://www.thegracecardmovie.com/.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: One of our own and his family are in need of your ongoing prayer support. This officer's teen daughter is currently in a hospital dealing with a host of issues in what has been nothing short of a nightmare for all concerned. I don't want to give out any more details in this venue but God knows the need -- just PRAY!

Speaking of prayer requests, the latest have been posted here on our website (see the updated Dec. 26th post). Please check back frequently.

Denver-area (FCPO-Denver) NEWS:

(1) We're meeting as scheduled this coming Thursday, January 6th starting at 7 PM at Calvary South Denver in Littleton. Last week's newsletter and my Dec. 27th post provide the details -- please plan on joining us (spouses are welcome and encouraged to attend). We'll also talk about where this ministry has been, the vision for where God will take us in 2011, along with a great time of corporate prayer and cop fellowship.

(2) Our inaugural Centurion LE Ministry BAPTISM service is set for Saturday, January 15th and I'll be teaching on this subject at our January 13th meeting. If you are have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior but have yet to be baptised (no, infant baptism doesn't cover it) and would like to take part in this blessed act of obedience to our Lord, please shoot me an email and plan on attending our January 13th meeting.

(3) Cops and Samson! As previously announced, we're participating in a special Tuesday Night Dialogue service at Calvary South Denver in Littleton on the very profession-relevant topic of Samson and Delilah from Judges 16. Please join us (bring your spouse and kids -- child care provided)! Starts at 7 PM in the main sanctuary. Pastor Sam Park's teaching on this subject is very much "a cop's story" -- perhaps even YOUR story.

That's it for this week's newsletter. "Stay frosty" and "Oscar Mike" with Christ as our Captain. Blessings, my fellow sheepdogs!