To Serve & Protect

We had outstanding attendance at last week's pre-Easter study where I shared a message entitled, "Cops Pounding Nails." As usual, I've posted my recap below -- feel free to use/adapt to your own studies and devotions.

This week our own James "Jimmy" Wattles will be teaching a Bible study he's entitled "To Serve & Protect." Invite your spouse and a colleague and join us if you're in the Denver area. I'll of course post Jim's recap in next week's newsletter for our national and world-wide readership. We start at 7 PM at Calvary South Denver in Littleton (not sure which room yet -- just follow the signs).
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Cops Pounding Nails -- An Easter Message

Last week I gave my annual profession-relevant Easter message via an expository, inductive study of Mark 15 that followed my obligatory viewing of The Passion of the Christ. In addition to our primary text in Mark, I strongly encourage you to take the time to review the related passages in the other three gospels (Matthew, Luke and John).

What is the application for us today? It was a 1st century SWAT team that came to arrest an innocent Jesus on a trumped-up warrant (no probable cause), after which our Lord faced false-charges, perjury and abuse before "courts" in three different jurisdictions; 1st century LEOs inflicting excruciating torture (imagine being sent to a training or academy class that certifies you to inflict maximum punishment -- scourging -- to a point just short of death); and finally cops nailing our Savior to a cross where He would take on the sins of the very officers who placed Him there.

That there was a man named "Jesus" who was tried, tortured and executed on a cross and placed in a supposedly "escape proof" tomb that was found empty three days later is a historical FACT that is not in dispute even by the most "learned" (sic) of skeptics (see Is the Story of Easter Really True). However, this rock-solid EVIDENCE (as LEOs we're all about the evidence) is a matter of history and not of faith. On this S. Michael Houdman of www.GotQuestions.org writes, "There is a big difference in stating that Jesus of Nazareth was put to death by Pontius Pilate in the first century and his body is still missing to this day, and saying that Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, through the predetermined plan of God died a substitutionary death for humanity, and was resurrected to restore spiritual life to dead, helpless sinners so that they may have eternal life. The first statement is history, the second is the gospel. And the latter requires faith to believe."

The bottom line? It was us -- peace officers/warriors -- that nailed our Savior to a cross. He allowed us (yes -- you and I and not just our counterparts in AD 33) to torture and murder Him so that He could bear our sin and shame on that humiliating instrument of pain and death. God's love, grace and patience for those of us He has called to serve and protect (Romans 13:1-4) is nothing short of miraculous and a testament of God's love and mercy. Moreover, it was a police officer of Jesus' day -- a Roman Centurion standing at the foot of the cross and exclaiming his faith in light of overwhelming evidence -- that is generally considered to be the first Gentile convert to what we call "Christianity" (Matthew 27:54)!

California officer Michael Asplund wrote an outstanding piece that is the perfect accompaniment to this study: Pounding Nails. Please take the time to read and apply it to your life. The message of Easter is truly, "Three nails, three days, ONE WAY (the ONLY way) to God."

Like the Centurion (a cop and the namesake for this ministry) at the cross, my hope and prayer is that you too will examine the evidence and respond in faith. How? Scroll down the left side of this website to links under How Can I Be Saved (aka True "Officer Safety". I implore you -- repent of your sin and turn to the ONLY One who can save you. As we say on a felony stop, "DO IT NOW!" The consequences of saying "yes" or "no" to Christ are both sure and eternal! Feel free to contact me if I can assist in any way.
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National News, Prayer Requests & Announcements...

...are posted here on our website (scroll down to next post) and updated regularly. This newsletter will also be re-posted on our Facebook pages (Links to same on left side -- don't forget to "LIKE" and share with us there). That said, here are just a few more pressing announcements.

(1) Apologetics (aka "defending the faith with sound biblical doctrine") Corner:

Our website lists a host of excellent apologetics resources (scroll down left side to "Defending the Faith/Defending the Truth". That said, there is an excellent video documentary on the false/heretical "Emergent Church" movement that I highly recommend. Click on The Real Roots of the Emergent Church.

(2) On Tim Tebow and Living our Faith:

Retired officer-turned-pastor Bill Rhetts has put together an excellent short video teaching that he's entitled The Tim Tebow Hysteria, the Media Frenzy & the Rev 3:20 Church. Check it out!

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DENVER AREA NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) Denver-Area Meeting Schedules and related events for both POFCI-CO and FCPO-Denver are posted here on this website (left-hand side near the top) and are updated regularly.

(2) The SEAL of God Event:

Chad Williams, a former Navy SEAL who became a born-again Christian during his time of service, will be speaking at Calvary South Denver in Littleton on May 19th, starting at 7 PM. Chad has authored a book entitled SEAL of God and is now serving as the high school ministry leader at Greg Laurie's church in Irvine, CA.

Chad will share his powerful testimony and experiences as a SEAL along with a message of salvation and the truth of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.

The event is FREE and we encourage you to bring your unsaved family members, friends and colleagues (LEOs and combat military personnel in particular).

More details to follow (or just contact me for further).


(3) "SamKwanDo and the Dojo of Truth"

Yes, a little humor there in reference to Pastor Sam Park (a Korean-born martial artist) and our powerful Tuesday night TRUTH services at Calvary South Denver. Highly recommended! Quite a few officers and their spouses who are a part of our TCLEM/FCPO fellowship also attend this service and both Diana and I serve there weekly. Great worship, powerful Bible teaching and an opportunity to say "yes" or otherwise get right with Christ every week. The teachings are also available online (email me for details).

(4) Men's Prayer Breakfast! Calvary South Denver, 8 AM, April 21st, 2012.

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Time to go "10-42 and hit the sack! Let's continue to stay battle focused and fully engaged in "the fight" while at the same time always training hard and exercising solid officer safety in the field.

Please feel free to CONTACT me if I can be of service.

Det. Sgt. & Chaplain M.C. Williams
Director, The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
Vice President, Fellowship of Christiain Peace Officers - USA (www.FCPO.org)