A Cop's CHRISTmas

I hope this finds you all staying vigilant and boldly in “the fight” as we prepare to celebrate the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Accordingly, this week’s profession-relevant message will center on just that – how we as peace officers should look at the celebration of Christ’s human birth in a message I’ve entitled “A Cop’s Christmas.” Those in or visiting the Denver area are encouraged to join us tomorrow (Thursday, December 15th) for our once-monthly foray to Calvary Chapel Aurora (www.CalvaryAurora.org) where we’ll meet in rooms 138/139 just off the café (downstairs/café entrance) starting at 7 PM. In addition to my short Bible study we’ll also have an opportunity to swap some on-duty Christmas stories and share some pie and other goodies (yea – come hungry and take your diabetes meds ahead of time…LOL).

I will of course post a detailed recap in next week’s newsletter for everyone else around the world that can’t be with us in person. Speaking of, here’s the RECAP from last week’s message:

From Sheepdog to Wolf: How the Mighty Fell

The recent events involving a nationally recognized former sheriff (just Google “Pat Sullivan, sheriff, Colorado” and you’ll get your fill) along with a host of similar incidents – with the latest being just two days ago in Texas (www.caller.com/news/2011/dec/12/police-woman-found-shot-monday-morning/?partner=popular) -- were the impetus for last Thursday’s message. Everyone who follows this ministry knows my affinity for my friend Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s famous On Sheep, Wolves & Sheepdogs essay (www.killology.com/sheep_dog.htm). As peace officers – God’s ordained servant-warriors (Romans 13:1-4) – we are called to serve and protect the sheep (the public) from the wolves (criminals) that would otherwise prey on them with impunity. Unfortunately, the sheepdog bears a close genetic kinship with the wolf and as such the curse of sin sometimes turns the good to bad.

The sad case of former Sheriff Pat Sullivan (and others like him) has a strong biblical parallel in the persons of kings Saul and Solomon. Both had incredible potential and a plethora of accomplishments. Sadly, both shared many of the same faults (pride, rebellion and lust in particular) and failed to finish well. Please take the time to review the following passages:

SAUL

1 Samuel 15:13-23; Daniel 9:5; 1 Samuel 31:1-6
2 Samuel 1:19-27 How the mighty have fallen…

SOLOMON: A promising beginning, incredible blessings and achievements, and a terrible fall…

2 Chronicles 9; 1 Kings 10:1-24; I Kings 3, 9, 11 (11:4-8 in particular).

The “erosion” of Solomon’s life can be summarized in four areas:

 Material Attraction—more concerned about acquiring and building your life than seeking and following the one God planned for you.

 Relational Distraction—more excited and attracted to people and relationships than seeking a relationship with God (publicity, notoriety, acclaim…).

 Sexual Addiction—more focused on the ultimate sexual experience than God's provision in purity. Solomon, like Pat Sullivan, had an unrestrained preoccupation with sex—sexual addiction (in Pat’s case, porn, gay sex, disease, etc.) 1 Kings 11:1-3 reveals that Solomon not only had Pharaoh's daughter as a wife (unequally yoked -- sin) but that his unrestrained preoccupation with sex ultimately led him away from God as he acquired 700 wives and 300 concubines. Again, Solomon turned his head away from the clear teaching of God's Word — Deuteronomy 7:3-4. The result? "...his wives led him astray"—v. 3b.

 Disobedience—more adherence to your whims and desires than obeying God's Word (the Bible).

As he allowed sin and compromise to creep in bit-by-bit, Solomon's once granite character began to erode away. Solomon defiantly ignored the explicit instruction of God’s inerrant Word and failed to pay attention to very wise council—God’s and his own. Heed the God-given words this once great king left for us, but failed to heed himself in Proverbs 1:23-33 (God speaking to Solomon – and Solomon sharing words that apply to Saul, Pat Sullivan, and us.)…
"If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you -- when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Solomon received the tragic fulfilment of his own words in much the same way as Pat Sullivan was jailed in the detention center that bears his name. It can be said for Saul, Solomon and Sullivan that “competence without accountability intoxicates our ego” (Dan Wolgemuth, http://fridayfragments.com/dan-wolgemuth/cold-hard-steel/)

In 1 Timothy 6 we read, But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 (NIV) tells us, Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Pat Sullivan, like Saul, was a sheepdog that became a wolf. However, the GOOD NEWS is that this change does not have to be a permanent one. The “cure” (the ONLY cure) entails a radical turning (repentance) FROM your sin TO a life-saving/life-changing personal RELATIONSHIP (not "religion") with the ONLY One who can save you. 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess (repent, turn) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That does not mean we don’t suffer the just consequences of our sin but rather that God has provided us a way for us to be made right with Him.

Is that you? Are you right with God today? God loves you so much that He sent His only begotten Son into the world (Christmas) to ultimately be tortured and die on a cross in our place. Some of you will claim that you are not like Pat Sullivan (or Saul or Solomon, or me for that matter) – that you are a “good person” and will get to enter Heaven because of your service as a cop (soldier, pastor, whatever). Really? Take the “Good Person Test” at www.fcpo.org/christian.html and let me know how you do! My prayer is that TODAY is the day for you to turn to Him. Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).
___________________________

Let me close this newsletter with a couple more links for you to review.
(1) From Col. Ray Fairman ("Where's the Line to See Jesus"): www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OExXItDyWEY&vq=medium

(2) Fallen Project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7K-LwEq7p8&feature=youtu.be


That’s a wrap for this week (Get it? Christmas – “wrap”:). Don’t forget to check out the latest news, prayer requests, announcements and more both on our Facebook pages and at www.TheCenturionLawEnforcementMinistry.org. Be safe but bold in Christ.