From Sheepdog to Wolf -- How the Mighty Fell

Fellow Sheepdogs & Supporters:

Hope everyone is staying the course and hopefully flying their flags on this 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor (be praying for surviving vets and the families of the fallen).

We had a great time of profession-relevant Bible study, prayer and fellowship at last week’s Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry/FCPO-Denver “Cop Church” gathering and having Matt Wallenburg back with us to lead worship made it all-the-more special. Jim Wattles presented an outstanding teaching on the topic of “A Cop’s Cross” (aka “Picking up Your Cross”). I’ve posted the recap below – please take the time to read and adapt it to your own devotionals/Bible studies.

With all the national news concerning former Colorado sheriff Pat Sullivan along with a number of similar stories, I was strongly led to teach a study based on a couple of biblical parallels that I’ve entitled From Sheepdog to Wolf – How the Mighty Fell. If you’re in the Denver area, please join us tomorrow at Calvary South Denver (www.CalvaryCSD.org) starting at 7 PM for what will be a highly interactive discussion. I will of course present a detailed recap in next week’s newsletter and here on our website -- stay tuned for same.

Speaking of our website, I’ve again updated the prayer requests and announcements along with the latest local meeting schedules. There are also a host of links, resources and other tools to assist you in your daily walk, profession, family and more (and check back frequently). Inasmuch as I also serve as the Board VP of the national Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (www.FCPO.org), I also strongly encourage everyone to check out that site as well where you will find a plethora of useful info along with a link to other FCPO chapters in your area.
With that, please check out the following:

(1) Year-End DONATION APPEAL:
This is the one time of year that I send out a donation appeal. Your tax-deductible offerings assist us in “getting the word out” along with a host of other ministry activities to law enforcement personnel all over the world. Scroll down to the bottom/left here on our site to learn how to financially support our outreach efforts. One of my planned projects for 2012 is a mission trip to train and share Christ with officers in Moldova (a very poor Eastern European country that was part of the former Soviet Union – definitely NOT a vacation). Thanks in advance for your support.

(2) A Christian Warrior “Battle Cry:
Check out this awesome 6 minute video and get fired-up -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XKSV9sKr8w&feature=player_embedded.

(3) A Sheepdog Leadership Lesson from Law Enforcement Today:
http://lawenforcementtoday.com/2011/12/02/excerpt-%e2%80%9cthe-pack-mentality-and-the-leadership-lessons-of-ike%e2%80%9d/#comment-519.html.

(4) Jack Enter on Leadership:
I highly recommend Jack Enter’s outstanding law enforcement leadership presentations. Go to http://www.jackenter.com/. Jack is both a committed brother-in-the-Lord and a great speaker to boot (he interjects a ton of humor into a very serious topic).

(5) FCPO Fall Newsletter:
Is now online! See www.fcpo.org/newsletter.html. Please consider supporting FCPO by becoming a member ($25 one-time fee).

Message RECAP: Pick Up Your Cross!

What did Paul mean when he wrote to the believers in Philippi in Philippians 1:29, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” How is being granted the right to suffer, a gift we receive from Christ?

In their book, The Kingdom, Power and Glory, Chuck and Nancy Missler define suffering as “barring ourselves from following what we want, feel and desire, and instead choosing to follow Christ.” Suffering brings believers closer to God because it tests our faith and obedience and reveals our true character. Some people would seek shelter from their suffering outside of His will (alcohol, drugs, suicide) and others actually blame God for their problems and suffering, but those who remain faithful and have that “eternal attitude” will realize their suffering is for His glory. 1 Pet 4:19 says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to be a faithful Creator.” 2 Tim 3:12 says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

Since Adam and Eve sinned, we were doomed to be sinners, to suffer and to die, but as Paul shows throughout his epistles, he rejoiced in his suffering and he continued spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, even to the Roman guards he was chained to. In Acts 9:16, Jesus said, “For I will show him (Paul) how many things must he suffer for My name's sake.” Paul goes on to tell the Philippians that he “desires” to die and be with Christ, but he knew that it is was far more important to remain in the flesh and do Christ's work while relying on the Lord for his strength (Phil 4:13). In Phil 4:21 (“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”) Paul displays an “eternal” attitude – a “heavenly mindset” – in understanding that God was allowing temporary suffering to grow him and bring others to His Son.

As Christian police officers we are called to forgive those who do horrible things to others and sometimes to ourselves while at the same time doing our duty. This is indeed a difficult command but one that I believe is part of our suffering – our cross-bearing -- for Christ. God is using our difficult service to not only to stand against evil on the streets but to also to strengthen our faith and obedience in Him while growing our character. Heb 5:8 says, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which he suffered.”

Note that it is important to remind you that any suffering we have due to our own self-pity and/or sin is NOT for Christ’s sake. 1 Pet 4:15-16 tells us, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

Jesus made the choice to pick up/carry his cross and then die on it under the weight of our (yours and mine) sin. Likewise God is calling us to pick up our own cross – one that will likely often seem heavy, burdensome and painful. It may also cause us anxiety and throw us off balance. However, our loving Father promises that He will give us the strength and balance we need to carry that cross wherever He wants us to go. God is calling for us to seek Him, trust Him and walk in obedience. Prov 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths.”

Finally remember that we don't want to come up short when our cross is not long enough, not wide enough, not heavy (hard) enough to carry out what God has sent us to do. When we say to God, “I can't do that”, we are actually saying, “I won't do that.” Through Paul’s example God has given us our marching orders: pick up your cross and rejoice in it! Go to www.jesussite.com/blog/2007/11/take-up-your-cross/ to see the illustration.

That’s it for this week folks. Train hard, strap on your armor (Kevlar and spiritual), be vigilant, serve your spouse and kids, and be the men and women of valor God is calling you to be. The battle is His (2 Chronicles 20:15-17) – will you stand?