Looking for a Sign -- Centurion LE Ministry Newsletter

Fellow Officers and Supporters:

Would appreciate feedback from those of you receiving the newsletters via our new Constant Contact (CC) format. Hopefully, this will help with the SPAM issues and other Yahoo-related issues I've been dealing with. CC also allows me to post a link to the newsletter on FB and not just this somewhat abbreviated website version (CC allows me an easy way to utilize direct-click links).

We had a great time of interactive Bible study and fellowship at last Thursdays TCLEM/FCPO "Cop Church" meeting. Jim Wattles' teaching entitled A Cop's Battleground (aka Christian Life is a Battleground) elicited a good deal of discussion. Jim's primary text was the whole of Jude (the whole "book" is just a single chapter -- read it through to understand the context). Interestingly enough, Jude may have been a favorite of the Beatles (get it:)! Regardless, here's Jim's recap for all our readers worldwide (feel free to adapt and apply it to your own devotions and studies):

Message RECAP: Christian Life is a Battleground


Pastor Gino Geraci of Calvary South Denver in Littleton, Colorado (www.CalvaryCSD.org) recently spoke about "apostasy." I listened as he told us that the "Christian life is a battlefield" and that it is "not for cowards." I wasn't really sure what the definition of apostasy was, but the lesson kept my attention as it kept reminding me of the duties of law enforcement officers in ferreting out evil doers. When I got home, I looked it up and learned that it comes from the Greek word apostasis, which means desertion or revolt, but more commonly it is used to describe the abandonment of one's religious faith or a deliberate falling away and rejection of truth.

Those of us who have committed ourselves to Christ should know exactly what Pastor Gino meant when he described our lives as a "battleground." As Christians, we find our faith being questioned and ridiculed more and more. To this day in many countries around the world, Christians are imprisoned, beaten and murdered because of their faith. In the US, we aren't yet so concerned about being murdered, but biblical beliefs and practices are in fact being attacked by the media and through lawsuits filed by atheist/agnostic groups and eroded through the decay of Christian values (we are told that we must become more "tolerant" of things we know are sinful). Sadly, many churches today have watered down their messages and actually preach "tolerance" in opposition to God's inerrant Word (praise God, His truth never changes).

As law enforcement officers, we understand the courage it requires to chase after a man who is shooting at you, or the courage it takes to stand up against a violent group who far outnumbers you, but do we have the courage to stand up to people who are attempting to take away our Christian beliefs or even attempt to make them "illegal" under man's law?

Jude 1:4 says, For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:5 says, But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.


The late Pastor Charles Spurgeon said, "This would be the first step in apostasy; men first forget the truth and then adore the false." Moreover, some of the worst offenders -- apostates -- seem to be those men and women who claim to be former "Christians."

Pastor Gino closed his message on apostasy by saying, "You need to defend your faith against condemnation." and "You need to be watchful and vigilant for ungodly men." That is where we as Christian law enforcement officers need to be vigilant while we patrol our beats, using our discernment and good judgment to be on the lookout for those ungodly men who prowl in both darkness and broad daylight looking to dilute or destroy our biblical freedoms and beliefs.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 tells us, But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

Perhaps the US Navy says it best in the command, "General Quarters...General Quarters....All hands...man your battle stations!"

Amen! My own postscript to Jim's teaching is this: We are indeed at war against a very real enemy (Satan and all who follow after him). Even today, a federal appeals court in California wickedly ruled that marriage is no longer defined by God's law (between a man and woman) but rather by their own -- Proposition 8 Overturned! God spoke to us about this very thing in Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

God's call to us both as Christians and as cops is to STAND (Ephesians 6:13) on His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit against the enemies arrayed on the battleground before us. Rak chazak! Be not afraid -- be strong and courageous -- the Lord of hosts will lead us (Zechariah 4:6)! So will you?

Finally, and while implied in the title, it is imperitive that we point out that this message is intended for the Christian -- that person who has repented (turned from -- a "180" -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2KsU_dhwI) and entered into a life-saving/life-changing relationship (not "religion") with God in Christ. In truth, without the Lord we are ALL ultimately powerless and defeated. If you've not yet made a decision for Christ, let me again urge you to go to scroll down the left side of this website to the True "Officer Safety" (How Can I Be Saved?) links. It is ONLY through a right-relationship with Christ that we can experience true and lasting victory -- turn to Him today (and contact me if you need assistance or have questions).


This Week's Message: Searching for a Sign


This week (Thursday, 2/9/2012, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver in Littleton) I'll be teaching a profession-relevant/life-relvant message on the subject of "signs." Both believers and unbelievers alike are routinely looking for a sign(s) from God to prove His existance, to provide direction or validation, or give comfort for one thing or another. What does God Himself say on this subject? How can you know that the "sign" you are seeking comes from God? Should you be seeking signs at all? We'll answer these and related questions together on Thursday and I'll recap it for everyone else in next week's newsletter (stay tuned).


News & Announcements


Our website has a plethora of great information, links and resources to help you in your walk not only in the law enforcement realm but also as parents, spouses, students and more. Here you'll also find the latest prayer requests (scroll down -- and please feel free to email me your requests to thecenturionministry@yahoo.com), meeting schedules, news, announcements, training links and so much more. I update our website almost daily -- check it out and then refer back frequently.

That's it for this week folks. Don't forget to look for/like us on Facebook (I have my own page as well under Mike Williams) as well!

Let's be safe while serving boldly in Christ.

Police Det. Sgt. and Chaplain M.C. Williams
Director, The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
National Board VP, Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers -- USA