An Officer's Warfare

Fellow LEOs and Supporters:

This week’s newsletter comes to you in the wake of the devastating weather-related issues we’ve been dealing with all over our country and I’ve posted a slew of prayer requests concerning same here on our website (scroll down to the updated Saturday, May 21st post). In addition, this week's newsletter includes a number of ways you can assist in aiding our fellow officers and their families who have been injured and/or have lost pretty much everything -- please scroll down for the “411.”

Now some will point to false teacher Harold Camping’s latest failed prediction as a bogus way to explain the weather, flooding, etc. that has been wrecking havoc all over the world. As such, I wanted to take a moment to again point out that such disasters have occurred regulary throughout history as both a result of natural events and ultimately because we’ve been dealing with a fallen world since Adam and Eve choose not to obey a loving but just God for whom all sin is an abomination. Is the Lord coming back for his own? You bet -- and perhaps very soon. When? The Bible is clear that only the Father knows the day and hour (Mark 13:32) but that we are to be ready at any moment (Matthew 25:13). How then can we be ready? Only by confessing/repenting of our sin and entering into a life-changing/life-saving personal relationship with Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord (what it means to be “saved” and “born again”). Is that you? Are you ready? If not, then turn to him today so that you can look forward with eager anticipation of our Lord’s sure return. How? Perhaps you think you are a “good person” and/or that you’ll get a “free pass” to heaven because of your service as a cop. Dead wrong on both counts! Go to www.fcpo.org/christian.html and take the “Good Person Test.” If you discover that you are very much the lost sinner without the remedy that only Christ can give, then I invite you to get right with him today…there is simply NO other way (John 14:6).

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A Cop’s Destiny & Legacy -- Message RECAP:

Do you understand your God-given destiny? What kind of legacy will you leave once this life ends? That was the subject of last week’s profession-relevant Bible study based primarily on 1 Peter 2:9-10 -- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Our DESTINY as Christians is directly tied to WHO we are in Christ. In this passage Peter reveals five main points:

(1) God’s desire is that all come to salvation through Christ but he gives each of us the free choice to say “yes” or “no” to him (yes, there are very divergent, definite and permanent consequences to each response). Those who enter into a personal relationship with Christ (becoming a Christian) are in fact CHOSEN by God.

(2) We receive MERCY from a loving, forgiving God for all who repent and place their trust in him. We could substitute the words “loved,” “graced” or even “pitied” for the word "mercy."

(3) The Christian becomes God’s POSSESSION – his inheritance. You are the ones he aims to spend eternity with. When God says (in 2 Cor. 6:16), I will be their God and they will be my people (my possession), what he means is that "I will dwell in them and walk among them." How cool is that?!

(4) We become HOLY and set apart for God! Not by anything we could ever do but only by Christ’s atoning sacrifice for us by his death and resurrection.

(5) Finally, the Christian is a royal PRIEST, meaning that the Christian has immediate access to God -- you don't need another human as a mediator. God himself provided the one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. As such we are called to minister to others in God’s very presence (priestly service).

In short, our true identity – our DESTINY – is to make known God’s identity!

Our LEGACY? Biblically speaking, our legacy can be summed up in the acronym LOVE: If we live to leave a legacy of life (L) for those who follow, and leave openness (O) to all God is and is doing, and leave vision (V) for what God calls us to be and do, and leave enthusiasm (E) in how we live, protect and serve in Christ, then we will leave behind a true LEGACY of L-O-V-E. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus answered: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love (serve/protect) your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40).

The Apostle Paul left a lasting legacy -- he died fully engaged in living for God. Here are the last words Paul leaves us: “I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8, in “The Message.”)

What will be your legacy? Will you seek to leave the next generation money or toys, or rather values that endure throughout all eternity? Values like life in all its fullness, openness to all that God is doing, vision for the glory of God, and enthusiasm in serving God through serving and protecting others. That spells LOVE, and love never fails, never quits and never falls short.

This week’s study will center on A Cop’s Warfare – both the physical and spiritual! Join us if you’re in the Denver area or, if not, I’ll have a full recap in next week’s newsletter. Stay frosty!
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DISASTER RELIEF:

Speaking of LOVE, here’s how we can help our fellow warriors affected by the disasters in OK, MO, and elsewhere in the South and East:

(1) Tulsa PD Cpt. Travis Yates of Ten-Four Ministries writes,
We now have specific officer names & we have partnered with the Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Team to help these specific officers that lost everything. Law Officer Magazine is helping us to ensure there are not additional officer needs. Prayers are appreciated.

Contact Travis via his FB page (https://www.facebook.com/lawofficer#!/pages/Ten-Four-Ministries/143312303768) or go to www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/disaster/tenfourministriesinc.

(2) Responder Life (www.responderlife.com): https://www.facebook.com/lawofficer#!/notes/responder-life/help-for-joplins-first-responder-families/226507624027461.

(3) Our own Officer Jason Pearson with Englewood PD will be leaving with Alma Officer Larry Kiefer and hopefully a few others on a relief trip staring June 1st. Email Jason at jason@magtfdenver.org for more or to find out how you can assist.

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PRAYER REQUESTS!

The latest requests are included in the updated May 21st post here on our website. Pleae take the time to review and pray concerning these pressing needs (check back frequently as I update these on a daily basis).

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DENVER-AREA NEWS:

(1) Denver PD Ofc. Danny Vieth, who recently gave a kidney to fellow officer, writes, The weekend after Memorial Day, I am riding with Team Transplant at Elephant Rock to raise money for the American Transplant Foundation. Will you consider a tax deductible donation? Please go to this link to donate to my fundraising effort –
http://teamtransplant.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=470650&lis=1&kntae470650=5365D5D3105B4ECEA42C6348D8364A84&supId=323404419

I am riding with some pretty incredible and inspirational people. This link describes many of the riders, and my profile is near the bottom –
http://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/events/teamtransplant/2011-elephant-rock/meet-team-transplant-2011. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

(2) I have posted the current Denver-area meeting schedules here on the top-left side of our website. Please check back frequently.

(3) Our own Matt Wallenburg leaves for National Guard basic training next week and will be joining us tonight at 1900 hours at Calvary South Denver in Littleton to lead worship and give us a chance to both pray for him and say a temporary “good bye.” Please join us!

(4) Top Gun Police Motor Challenge! The Centurion LE Ministry/FCPO-Denver is a sponsor and we hope you’ll join us on June 5th (great ministry/witness opportunity). See www.topguncops.com for details.

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MEMORIAL DAY!

A great many of us will be working long hours over the Memorial Day weekend dealing with the plethora of sin-related issues – it’s what we do! However, please take the time to remember what this weekend is really all about by thanking a vet and praying for our comrades fighting overseas while we do our part here at home. Don't forget to fly your flags as well. Accordingly, I’ll leave you with this tribute sent to my by a fellow officer (thanks Jerry): http://media.causes.com/576542?p_id=92681239

Be safe out there!

MC