A Life of Valor: TCLEM/FCPO-Denver Newsletter

Fellow Servant-Warriors and Supporters:

We had another great time of profession-relevant Bible study, fellowship and corporate prayer in Aurora last week where I taught on the subject of discouragement (A Cop's Discouragement). As always, I've posted my recap below in the hope that you will (1) pass it on with this newsletter and (2) adapt it for your own studies and devotions.

With the opening of the new film Act of Valor this Friday (February 24th), I was strongly prompted to teach a profession-relevant (LIFE-relevant) message based loosely on that theme (A Life of Valor). If you're in the Denver Metro area, please consider joining us this Thursday (February 23rd) at Calvary South Denver starting at 7 PM. We'll either be in the café or the High School room (if latter, it is the last room on the right all the way past the main sanctuary - I'll have signs posted...). I'll of course post a recap for everyone else in next week's newsletter and both here on our website and via Facebook.

In addition, I'll have a free TCLEM t-shirt (or sweatshirt, caps, literature, CDs, etc.) for any officer who attends a meeting (Yes, you gotta show to get one!). Scroll down to the pics at the bottom of our website to see an example!

Message Recap: A Cop's Discouragement

Discouragement (depression, distress, despondency, despair...), while common in life, is particularly rampant in our God-ordained profession of law enforcement (Romans 13:1-4). Why? Is there a remedy? God's love letter and wholly perfect "policy and procedure manual" - The Bible - reveals that discouragement is synonymous with sin (although one does not have to be in sin to feel discouraged). My primary text for this study - 1 Samuel 30 - reveals David in the midst of intense discouragement as he deals with the consequences of his own sinful, backslidden behavior. The issue is this: David and his men were on the run from Saul and have sinfully aligned themselves with the Philistines (evil pagans who are also Israel's sworn enemies). Moreover, 1 Samuel 27:8-11 reveals that during this time David was making his living as a bandit -- robbing cities -- murdering all the inhabitants in the process (SIN). In response, and while David and his men are with the Philistines preparing to do battle against Israel, he left his own city of Ziklag defenseless to attack. Accordingly, the Amalekites attacked Ziklag, burned it to the ground and took all the inhabitants captive - including David's two wives (it is noteworthy to point out that - unlike David's sinful actions -- the Amalekites didn't kill anyone).

V. 3-6 of this passage revealed David's discouragement: First, David and his men "wept." The Hebrew use of the word is analogous to Jesus's use of it in the Greek in John 11:35 - Jesus wept. It literally means not just simple crying or sadness but rather a heart-rendering and grievous brokenness. V. 6 follows with, Now David was greatly distressed [discouraged], for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.

How did a broken David respond? The last part of v. 6 reveals the answer - the RIGHT answer: ...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. The word "his" is very important here inasmuch as the Hebrew connotation denotes RELATIONSHIP with God and not just simple, intellectual "belief."

Other translations use the word "strength" or "strengthened" in place of "encouraged" (David strengthened himself in the Lord his God). This is so key for you and I in dealing with our own discouragement. On this Pastor David Guzik of Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara writes, "This was backslidden David, wayward David, "fight with the Philistines" David. Why would God strengthen him? Because God is rich in mercy and grace, and because David was now completely broken and ready to be filled. David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He didn't wait for someone else to strengthen him. He didn't say, "Well Lord, if You want to strengthen me, that's fine. I'll just wait here until You do it." David knew that the Lord's strength was there for those who wait upon Him, so he strengthened himself in the Lord his God. God's strength was there for David all the time, but now he takes it for himself and will strengthen himself in the Lord his God. This wasn't some kind of rah-rah cheerleader kind of positive thinking mumbo jumbo. This was the strength of the living God making itself real in the life and heart of a hurting man. This was strength for recognition, strength for brokenness, strength for repentance, strength for determination to win back what the enemy has stolen. This is the same strength that would raise Jesus from the dead!"

Concerning this same passage and theme, famed English preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote, "May you see your self-righteousness burned like Ziklag, and all your carnal hopes carried away captive, and may you then encourage yourselves in Christ, for he will recover all for you, and give you spoil besides, and there shall be joy and rejoicing." and (on strengthening/encouraging ourselves in the Lord), "Some of the best talks in the world are those which a man has with himself. He who speaks to everybody except himself is a great fool."

Moreover, the broken David finally got it right and decided to stop doing things his way: He humbly asked (sought) God what he should do (direction, "marching orders") in response to the Amalekite sack of his city and the kidnapping of their loved ones (v. 8).

God answered and David OBEYed EXACTLY as instructed. How did God respond - and how will God respond to us? The Lord graciously and lovingly restored to David what was lost!

In summary, how did David - and likewise how should we -- approach discouragement?

• David strengthened himself in the Lord his God (this must include repentance).
• David inquired of the Lord.
• David believed God's promises (faith, trust).
• David did what God told him to do (obedience).
• David showed unexpected care and kindness to others (love for others).
• David gave God the glory for the victory as opposed to taking it for himself.
• David shared the reward with others.
• David did what he could to mend relationships.

What else does Scripture reveal to us about how we should approach discouragement? In the New Testament the Greek word egkakeo means, "to lose courage, become faint of heart." Jesus knew - promised even - that we would become discouraged. Dr. Luke (Luke 18:1-8) wrote that Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they should always pray and not lose heart [egkakeo]. Our Lord went on to teach by way of parable that God is not like human friends and judges. Rather, He is compassionate, gracious, merciful and eager to care for His people as opposed to being begrudging, cold, unforgiveing and slow to help like we typically are.

In conclusion, God reveals to us in His Word the following principles that the believer - the Christian (* see below)-- should take hold of when dealing with discouragement:

(1) There is a season for everything: Ecclesiastes 3; Hebrews 12:10-11.

(2) God will never leave us nor forsake us: Hebrews 13:5; 2 Kings 6:15-17.

(3) We must REPENT of our sin: Isaiah 30:15-16.

(4) We must focus our eyes (firearm -- front blade) on Christ: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

Finally, we MUST be in a right relationship with God in Christ - what it means to be a Christian (*) and KNOW Him as your personal Lord and Savior - in order for God to truly move us from discouragement to encouragement. Are you ready to surrender all to Him? To truly enter into a life-saving/life-changing personal RELATIONSHIP with the risen Savior? If so, let me again encourage you to scroll down the left side of thsi website to the links under True "Officer Safety" (How Can I Be Saved?).

We KNOW that we're going to face discouragement. The question becomes how we are going to deal with it. When we understand discouragement from a biblical (God's) perspective, and deal with it based on biblical principles, we can begin to move from discouragement to encouragement. Whatever we face, whatever challenge, God will be with us to accomplish what is best for us (His will, not ours). He is leading the charge in the battle for our good and His glory. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 31-39). As believers, God is always working in our lives and for our good. He is never going to tell you it's a bad time to ask for help. Moreover, He is more eager to show us His plan than we are to know it, and more eager to provide His strength than we are to have it.

Won't you turn to Him today! Know also that I'm here to help in any way I can!

PRAYER REQUESTS, MEETING SCHEDULES & ANNOUNCEMENTS...

...are posted here on our website and updated regularly. Please take the time to review, pray for one another, and take advantage of the many resources available to you. If you have an announcement, prayer request or praise report, don't hesitate to email them to me at thecenturionministry@yahoo.com.

Speaking of announcements...

Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers 2012 FCPO Memorial Golf Tournament

Many of you know that I serve on the FCPO national board. I can't encourage you enough to become a FCPO member (dirt cheap, rich rewards) and otherwise support this outstanding organization that, like The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry, is dedicated to bringing cops to Christ, to strengthening and supporting those that already know Him, and to reducing our abhorrent rates of police suicide, divorce, alcoholism (and so much more). See www.FCPO.org for more!

Accordingly, this is a great time to announce our annual golf tournament and fundraiser. The following is a letter from my fellow FCPO board member and retired Chattanooga (TN) Police Captain Paul Lee:

Dear Saints,

For the 11th year the FCPO Chattanooga Chapter 121 is hosting their annual fundraising golf tournament for the FCPO National Ministry. The Chattanooga Chapter donates 90% of the proceeds to the FCPO National Ministry and keeps 10% to do local ministry with. Chattanooga hosts this tournament in honor and memory of one of their members, Chattanooga PD Sgt. John Baker, who died with cancer 12 years ago. In the 1st tournament the proceeds went to John and his family to help pay bills. After John's death the tournament became a fundraiser for the National FCPO Ministry in his name.

Beginning this year Chattanooga will be adding another honoree to the tournament, Chattanooga PD Sgt. Tim Chapin. Tim was an FCPO member and played in all 10 FCPO Golf Tournaments. He played last year on Friday April 1, 2011. We all had a great time and Tim was talking about retiring. On Saturday April 2, 2011, Tim went to be with the Lord after a violent line-of-duty gun battle with an armed robber. We all know the dangers of our profession. That is why FCPO is so important. FCPO brings Christians in law enforcement together to pray, comfort, & minister to each other and also to be Salt and Light to our brothers and sisters in Law Enforcement. Let us be faithful to Jesus Christ who laid down His life voluntarily for each of us so we could live by not letting any of our brothers & sisters leave this earth unwarned & unprayed for.

The FCPO National Ministry needs your help also. Please pray earnestly for our fundraiser. Chapters please consider becoming a $100.00 hole sponsor. Your chapter will have a sign placed in a Tee Box for all to see. This is very important for 2 reasons: (1) all the players including the civilians will see how FCPO reaches from coast- to-coast in the U.S.; and (2) the churches and business people playing in the tournament are more eager to become FCPO financial supporters when they see the chapters also support the National Ministry. Please know that 100% of your donations go directly to the National Ministry.

Please email me for a copy of our golf brochure about John and also look at the tribute we will be paying to Tim.

God bless,
Paul Lee (Retired Capt. Chattanooga PD)
President FCPO/USA
www.fcpo.org

Here's the Facebook link to the tournament: https://www.facebook.com/events/388986321115278/?context=create

We're "10-8" for this week, folks. Be sure to let me know how we can improve our outreach, newsletter, websites and more. If you're in the Denver area, we hope to see you Thursday and/or even tonight for
TRUTH (the unique Tuesday night service at Calvary South Denver in Littleton that quite a few of us attend and serve at).

Don't forget to pass-on the newsletters as well -- great way to share Christ and plant seeds for the Kingdom!

Be safe -- but RADICAL in Christ our Captian!

Police Det. Sgt. and Chaplain M.C. Williams
Director, The Centurion Law Enforcment Ministry
Vice President, Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers - USA