"10-8" with Christ (part 2): Centurion LE Ministry Newsletter

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

It has been another crazy week so please bear with me as I share what God has placed on my heart over the last few days.

I had the honor of attending Limon (CO) Officer Jay Sheridan’s funeral on Tuesday (3/15). The way we (LEOs) and the community Jay served came out to support his wife, child and colleagues was incredible. Please keep them in prayer.

Jay's tragic death serves as yet another reminder that we MUST have a sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel and message of salvation with our brother and sister officers. Clearly, Jay was a character, a good cop, and a loving husband and father. In short, he was certainly what most might call a “good” man. However (and as I’ve pointed out many times in the past), God has a very different standard and, in the end, His standard is rightfully the ONLY one that counts. His word is clear – that without repenting (confessing, turning/forsaking) from our sin and asking Christ into a life-changing/life-saving relationship (NOT “religion”) – a spiritual rebirth – being “good” by the world’s standard just won’t cut it. It is only after we are "born again" that good works -- the "evidence" of a transformed life -- have a real impact. The rash of LOD deaths in the last few days (CO, NY, VA, FL, etc.) are yet more reminders -- more "2nd chances" if you will -- that we MUST have a sense of urgency about both getting right with God by HIS standard and then responding to our Lord's mandate that we share the “Good News” with others. It does not matter how "safe" we are or how many lives we save if we do not place our trust in Jesus and live for Him in this life. I would again encourage the doubters and skeptics out there to go to http://www.fcpo.org/, click on the “About You” link, and then “Are you a Good Person?” Are you a good person according to God’s standards? You can be -- take the test and find out how -- and do it now! Please join me in praying for our slain brothers' families and colleagues.

Speaking of prayer…the latest PRAYER REQUESTS and MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS are posted here on our website (next post) and are updated on an a near-daily basis. Please check back frequently. Reference our meetings, see below…

_______________

FCPO-DENVER/Colorado Front Range-area News and Announcements

(1) As announced in last week’s newsletter, meeting and here on the website, we are NOT meeting at Calvary South Denver tonight but we ARE meeting tomorrow (Friday, March 18th) for our once-monthly "cop church" fellowship at Calvary Chapel Aurora (see http://www.calvaryaurora.org/ for directions) in Room 144 (new room) starting at 7:00 PM. If you show tonight or at Calvary South Denver, then you were not paying attention and are out of luck:)!

(2) Also for the skeptics out there, noted author and apologetics expert Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ and many others) will be speaking this coming Saturday and Sunday (March 19 and 20) at Calvary South Denver in Littleton. Lee’s topic will be “Investigating the Evidence for Belief.” I will be in attendance Saturday night starting at 1800 hours and I’m encouraging the sheepdogs under my care to attend (be sure you are carrying your life-saving, anti-wolf equipment) on whatever day/time bests fits your schedule. See http://www.calvarycsd.org/ for details.

(3) I will be teaching for Pastor Mike Montgomery at Remedy Church this coming Sunday (3/20) at 9:30 AM. See http://www.remedychurchdenver.com/ for more. Please keep me in prayer as I share with his flock.

_________________

Lt. Col. Dave GROSSMAN Event!

Tulsa PD Captain and Ten-Four Ministries Director Travis Yates is hosting Dave for a unique Bulletproof Mind presentation in the Tulsa (OK) area on Thursday, April 7th. I’ll be there to represent The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry as we see this as both great warrior-training AND a law enforcement ministry op. Please join us if you can. Spaces are filling fast and the price is right if you register now. Hope to see you there! See http://warriormissions.org/training/bulletproofmind for details and registration information.

_______________

Courageous is Coming Soon! Check out the new trailer at http://www.courageousthemovie.com/.

_______________

Christ our FTO: Message RECAP!

Last Thursday I concluded our look at what it means to be “10-8 with Christ” with a presentation I entitled Christ our FTO. Except for the most grizzled old war horse, most of us serving in law enforcement have been through a field training program under the direction of a Field Training Officer (FTO). Unlike the police world, a Christian’s “field training” never really completely ends (or shouldn’t). However, there are a number of parallels to our walk as Christians with law enforcement field training. Stay with me…

(1) Christ’s Apostles were in “field training” with our Lord for three years (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) before they were sent out (graduated) in the Book of Acts. Likewise, Paul served as a FTO to the Ephesian church for three years as detailed in Acts 20:31. Under both Christ’s and Paul’s leadership we see a biblical term for field training – discipleship.

(2) Paul describes his heart attitude towards those he was “field training” in 1 Thessalonians 2:3-13:

(a) v. 3-6: Paul was single-minded in purpose as he discipled (trained) those under his care.
(b) v. 7-8: Paul cared for his "trainees" in the same way a parent cares for their child.
(c) v. 9-10: Paul the FTO was a role model for those he was training.
(d) v. 11-12: Paul the FTO provided individual attention and instruction (see also Acts 20:31 and Col. 1:28-29).

(e) v. 13: Paul stressed God’s word as the perfect and essential “policy and procedure manual.” See also Eph. 4:11-16.

(3) Paul’s concern for the “officers” he was “field training” went well beyond that of a typical FTO in that he was rightfully committed to their spiritual welfare and growth: II Cor. 11:28-29, 12:15; II Timothy 2:10.

(4) Paul the FTO emulated conviction and passion for the job and served as an outstanding role model (he was not a ROD officer): I Cor. 4:15-16, 11:1; Phil. 3:17, 4:9; I Thess. 1:6-7; II Thess. 3:7-9; II Tim. 3:10-11.

Clearly, the Christian life as revealed in the Bible holds many parallels to the police academy, field training, and our overall law enforcement calling. Romans 13:1-7 gives us our authority and Psalm 82:3-4 serves as an example of our marching orders. The Book of Acts even gives us a great picture of godly “police sergeant” in the person of the Roman centurion Cornelius conducting a briefing (“roll call”) and directing the “officers” he trained to go “10-8” on assignment in chapter 10, verse 8: “10-8” -- with Christ (is that COOL or what??!!). That’s our call folks. Are you walking “10-8” with Christ or are you walking your own way? If the latter, turn to Him today as tomorrow is guaranteed to no one and there is no more time to waste.

This week (Friday, March 18, 1900 hours, Calvary Aurora in room 144) I’ll be teaching on the importance of following our Chief’s orders – aka OBEDIENCE – as Christians and as warriors. Please join us if you’re in the area and remember that I’ll have a complete recap for everyone else in next week’s newsletter and on our website – stay tuned (and pass it on).

Time to strap on our armor and get 10-8 with Christ our Captain!