A Cop's Thanksgiving -- TCLEM Newsletter

Colleagues:

Yes I know, this week’s newsletter is running late – welcome to my world of juggling family, work and ministry.

First off (for our Denver-area folks/visitors), we are in fact meeting tonight for our once-monthly foray to “western Kansas” (aka, Aurora, CO): 7 PM, Calvary Chapel Aurora (www.CalvaryAurora.org), Room 138. Bring your spouse, invite a colleague, forward this email and join us for a powerful time of profession-relevant fellowship, Bible study and prayer. I’m teaching special I’ve entitled “A Cop’s Thanksgiving.” I’ll also have gift for you from last week’s Jerry Jenkins event but – like with our ministry shirts (free to you) – you gotta come to a meeting to receive it. See below for more.

MESSAGE RECAP:

We had an outstanding and well-attended evening with best-selling author Jerry Jenkins last week. Jerry’s family (dad, brothers, uncles, etc.) include a plethora of cops who served or are serving in the Chicago area and his latest trilogy of Christian fiction centers on the lives of our fellow warriors. His presentation centered on The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry's and FCPO-Denver’s signature passage – Romans 13:1-4 -- along with Psalm 15 and Matthew 5:9. Jerry presented part of his own testimony, his heart for us in law enforcement and the following points (along with a great deal of appropriate humor):
(1) Cops are held to a higher standard and Christian offices doubly so.
(2) Cops are willing to die for others.
(3) Better to be “tried by 12 than buried by 6.”
(4) That it’s unwise to draw enemy fire because it makes your partner nervous.

Jerry also stated that a lie by a cop is more heinous than from just about anyone else because:
(1) It violates the public trust.
(2) Compromises the entire justice system.
(3) Can unjustly put a human being in a cage for the rest of his life.

In addition, Jerry rightly pointed out that it is very tough to share our faith (evangelize) with other cops because of their false belief in “relative goodness” and the equally false idea that we have a free pass out of hell because of the “good” we do for society. The real standard is of course that we must ALL come to Christ in the same way (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6...).

I had the privilege of closing with a salvation message that piggybacked on the false sense of security many offices have. Again, I strongly recommend that everyone take the “Good Person Test” on the FCPO website (www.fcpo.org/christian.html) – let me know how you do! Who are you going to believe – God’s inerrant word or a bogus poem written by an unknown author falsely telling you that you’ve “done your time in hell?”

Jerry B. Jenkins is the most prolific and highest-selling evangelical novelist of our time. He is the author of more than 175 books, including the 63,000,000-selling Left Behind series. In addition to being an incredible author, Jerry also has an outstanding sense of humor and I would recommend him as a speaker to anyone. See his website at www.jerryjenkins.com for more!


Secondly, our own James “Jimmy” Wattles (legendary Denver PD officer, state gaming investigator and now CSP chaplain) recently taught a powerful message for our fellowship followed by an updated version at last Saturday’s Calvary South Denver Men’s Ministry prayer breakfast. As part of his “Gambling with God” message, Jim presented “Ten Keys to Success” for the Christian officer adapted from Poker for Dummies:

(1) Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses: Philippians 4:13(2) Act responsibly: Galatians 6:5
(3) Think: Romans 12:2
(4) Have a plan: Proverbs 3:5
(5) Set deadlines: Ephesians 5:15-6
(6) Be realistic: 1 Corinthians 10:13
(7) Expect difficulties: Matthew 6:34
(8) Build on small accomplishments: Proverbs 3:5-6
(9) Persist: Isaiah 40:31
(10) Have fun: Ecclesiastes 2:24.

Isn’t it cool how God can use an issue like gambling (not recommended) and turn it to good?

As always, my point of posting our study recaps is to provide you with opportunities to freely adapt them to your own devotions and FCPO chapter Bible studies. Speaking of the latter:

Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) News:

I strongly encourage everyone to become a member of the FCPO (only $25). Membership provides you with a wealth of resources while at the same time supporting our work to evangelize and support our own in God’s ordained profession of servant-warriors. Go to www.FCPO.org for more!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

I’ve posted the latest prayer requests, local meeting schedules (not just mine but two others being run by my colleague Mark Roggeman through Peace Officers for Christ – Colorado), and much more here on our website (next post below). Check back frequently for the latest updates! Don’t forget that we’re also on Facebook.

Note that I will be teaching at Calvary South Denver in Littleton next Tuesday at our Tuesday Night Dialogue (TND) service. My topic will be Show me the Evidence (Are you Really Saved?)! 1900 hours -- feel free to join us for this unique service.

That’s it for this week – more to come in the next! Let’s be safe out there whilst fully engaged in “the battle:” www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_7oRbdXTMs&feature=related.