Cops, Christians and Independence Day

Getting caught up on posting the newsletters/Bible studies here (email and social media is the best way to get these).  Here's
COPS, CHRISTIANS & INDEPENDENCE DAY

Celebrating "Dependence" Day

Here's my annual Independence Day message: Celebrating "DEPENDENCE" Day.

MC

God, Country and Independence Day

And here's my annual Independence Day (4th of July) newsletter and police-focused Bible study: "God, Country and Independence Day."

MC

Freedom Isn't Free -- Happy Independence Day!

My annual Independence Day newsletter/greeting has gone out to our worldwide subscribers but here it is again as well: click on  Freedom Isn't Free.  Police Officer-turned-evangelist Tony Miano can attest to this personally this week -- he was arrested in England for preaching the Gospel and the truth of God's inerrant Word.  Don't think that can happen here?  It's coming folks -- don't take your liberty for granted!

That said, I'd like to once again post a link to Pastor Eric Ludy's outstanding short (6 minutes) video, The Ancient War Cry.  Be inspired and get back in the fight!

PRAYER REQUEST:   On this 4th of July, please pray for the families and colleagues of our 19 firefighting brethren killed defending the town of Yarnell (AZ) from a raging wildfire.  Pray also for the lone survivor who is now fighting for his life after being burned over 75 percent of his body. 

Let's stay vigilant in Christ! 

Police Lt. and Chaplain M.C. Williams

A Cop's Courageous Call

This week's Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry/FCPO newsletter, A Cop's Courageous Call, is up!  Lots of news, info, schedules and of course our weekly law enforcement Bible study/devotional.  Read, apply, and pass it on.

Don't forget that Capstone Ministry (FCPO-Castle Rock) meets TOMORROW (July 1st) at Calvary Castle Rock starting at 6:30 PM.  Join us if you're in the area!

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PRAYER REQUESTS (updated July 1, 2013)

** At least 19 firefighters in AZ have been killed and othes have been severely injured.  Please pray for the families and colleagues of those who died in the line of duty and for the recovery of the injured.

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Know that we're always here for you guys.  As my Marine buddy and fellow chaplain Jim Bontrager likes to say, let's keep taking the hill behind Christ our Captain.

Lt. Michael "MC" Williams
Chaplain and Director, The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
VP, Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers - USA
fullarmor911@yahoo.com

Slaying the Giants

Fellow Paladins:

The use of the word “paladin” has significant meaning for this week’s study that I’ve entitled “God’s Paladins – Slaying the Giants.” For those not “in the know,” a “paladin” is a term that originated during the early Middle Ages. Specifically, the paladins, sometimes known as the Twelve Peers, were the foremost warriors of Charlemagne's court. Paladins were prominently featured in the The Song of Roland where they represent Christian martial valor and skill. The term is also closely intertwined with the Knights of the Round Table and our Lord’s Twelve Apostles. Clearly, the word/concept is also associated with the biblical ideal of the modern day peace officer -- and thus a most relevant topic for this week’s study.

I’m excited about sharing this important message with you -- please join us if you are in the Denver area and don’t forget to pass-on this e-newsletter to your friends and colleagues. Our own Matt Wallenburg will again be leading worship and we'll have a time for fellowship and prayer. I will of course provide a detailed recap in next week’s newsletter for all our readers around the country so stay tuned!

Speaking of RECAPs…here’s the one from last week’s special 4th of July study:

Along with portions of Psalm 81, our primary text was II Chronicles 7:14, which reads,
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Our Lord gives us three main points in this incredibly relevant passage:
(1) Humility

(2) Prayer

(3) Repentance (turning from sin)

The bottom line is this: the “idea” and yes, MIRACLE, that is (perhaps was) the United States of America was based on thoroughly biblical values. Our nation’s founding document declared INdependence from Great Britain but, with equal fervor, DEpendence on God. Even our National Anthem refers to our Lord. Unfortunately, we don’t often hear the 4th verse which reads – in part – …Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just. And this be our motto: "In God is our trust.”

Sadly and tragically, we have fallen away from our Christian roots and are reaping the consequences. I fear for the country I love and have served for the last twenty-five years.

One of my heroes, Patrick Henry, wrote, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” (see http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/henry-liberty.html for the full speech). Perhaps more importantly, Henry also wrote, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Here are two more relevant quotes:

-- "Providence (God) has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." - U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice (hmm!), John Jay.

-- “Let us look forward to the time when we can take the flag of our country and nail it below the Cross, and there let it wave as it waved in the olden times, and let us gather around it an inscribed for our motto: "Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever," and exclaim, Christ first, our country next!" -- Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States.

That said, how can America be restored? I believe that the future of our country will be either national revival or total destruction. We are witnessing the collapse of moral and ethical values unlike any other time in our nation’s history and our current elected leadership (shame on us) is taking us down a path of godlessness while spending and taxing us into total oblivion.

The essence of what our Lord is requiring of Christians in America is REPENTANCE. We MUST be on our knees for our country and put into practice the timeless and relevant lessons of II Chronicles 7:14. While our Lord may indeed be coming soon (“Come quickly, Lord Jesus” – Revelation 22:20 -- http://bible.cc/revelation/22-20.htm), for our children’s sake, we MUST seek our Lord’s mercy on America.

For more on this topic, I suggest the following article by Chuck Colson: http://www.crosswalk.com/11633747/.

Finally (and once again), check out this God-inspired moment at a rally where a Marine veteran sings a stanza of the Star Spangled Banner that very few may know about or ever heard -- not to be missed and right on target as we celebrate our nation's birthday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0fQd858cRc&playnext_from=TL&videos=cWNozAevym8&feature=sub.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

(1) Please check out the updated Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers website – http://www.fcpo.org/. Note the link to this year’s Conference posted at the very top (I will be in attendance). There is also a link to the upcoming Sherwood Pictures (Fireproof, Facing the Giants) movie Courageous that just completed shooting in Albany, GA – just scroll down the main page. Courageous is a movie about and for us (cops) and our families – not to be missed in 2011! Thanks to fellow FCPO board member Paul Lee in Tennessee for the reminder!

(2) I had the privilege of helping Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (http://www.killology.com/) last week during his Bulletproof Mind presentation at the Colorado State Patrol Academy. Some may not know that Dave is in fact a sworn peace officer in Illinois. Please keep Col. Grossman – a solid Christian – in prayer as he delivers his messages to peace officers, school officials, and military personnel all over the world. Dave has a heart and calling for us and it just so happens that he fully embraces the "paladin" concept. Hooah!

While at the academy I also had a chance to see wounded CSP trooper Scotty Hinshaw. Please keep this fellow warrior in prayer.

(3) Speaking of prayer, the latest prayer requests and meeting schedules are posted just below this one. I update them regularly – please check back frequently.

(4) Lt. Travis Yates of Ten-Four Ministries (linked here on our site) has started a radio outreach! Entitled Centurion Radio (no relation other than we are kindred ministries), this unique program that will highlight the latest trends in the first responder profession while integrating biblical topics throughout each show. Currently the show is scheduled for each Friday at Noon, CST. Travis has invited me to be a guest sometime in August or September. This weeks guest is none other than Tony Miano, the founder of Ten-Four Ministries. Tune in tomorrow (Friday, July 9th), at Noon CST, to hear Tony discuss how Ten-Four Ministries started, evolved and what he is doing today. You can listen to the show either live or afterwards by clicking here.

With that...
There are giants in need of slaying: to battle -- with Christ as our Captain!

PS: On a lighter note (and speaking of slaying "Giants") -- GO ROCKIES!!! Two miraculous finishes in a row!!

A Biblical "4th of July"

Fellow Sheepdogs:

I’m going to try to keep it a bit short as I’ll be working nearly every weekend from now through the end of July. That said, we had a terrific meeting last week as I presented a profession-relevant message entitled, “Where’s Your Evidence?” The context is a two-part question:

(1) If stopped today, is there probable cause to arrest YOU for being a Christian?
(2) If arrested, is there enough evidence to convict you?

In establishing a foundation for this message, we first focused on the FACT that all TRUE Christians can and should have the assurance of their salvation as explained in 1 John 5:11-13 and other related passages. That said, a great many “Christians” may not have that assurance because, frankly, they may not be really saved in the first place. Simply “believing” in God or Jesus does NOT make one a “Christian.” On the contrary, God tell us in His word (the Bible) that, “Even demons believe – and tremble.” (James 2:19). Rather, Paul instructed those in the early church to “examine themselves” to see if their faith was truly genuine or if it was counterfeit. See 2 Corinthians 13:5 and Corinthians 13:5.

So how do we KNOW (yes, we CAN and should know) for sure? There MUST be EVIDENCE! What evidence? Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “By their fruits you shall know them.” Simply, if a fellow cop, judge or jury were to examine your life, would they find any spiritual fruit – HARD evidence – to prove that you are a TRUE follower of Jesus Christ – to wit, a Christian. In fact, the only way others can tell you are a Christian is by your works.

That said, we must be careful to understand that all the “good” works in the world will NOT save anyone. On the contrary, Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy…” Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”

Works clearly don’t save us but – if we are truly saved – then works must follow. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, his is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

Acts 26 outlines three steps that you must take to be SURE that you are in fact a Christian:

(1) You MUST have your eyes opened insteady of being spiritually “blind:” 2 Corinthians 4:4.
(2) You must TURN (repent) from “darkness” to “light.” A true believer will come out of the darkness and into the light. Acts 26:18.

(3) You MUST turn from the power of Satan to the power of God to live a righteous, obedient and FRUITful life. See 2 Cor. 6:14 and James 2:14-26.

If you have not already turned from the sin in your life and accepted Christ as your Savior, or if you have made that commitment but are not walking with Him as your Lord (lack of EVIDENCE), then get RIGHT with Him today. Simply go to the How to be Saved and/or the How to KNOW Christ as your Savior links on the left side of our website. If you truly embraced Christ as your Savior, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and given the grace to follow Him -- and have real EVIDENCE that you are in fact the “real deal.”


UPCOMING MEETING: This Thursday (July 1st, Calvary South Denver, Littleton -- see website for details) I will presenting a biblical view for what we celebrate on the “4th of July.” Note that our own Matt Wallenburg will once again open with some outstanding worship music (what a blessing Matt is)!! If you are local or visiting, please join us! Note that our meeting schedule is posted here on the website (typically the post that follows this one if not the first) and updated regularly -- check back frequently.


NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT BIBLE STUDIES!
Officer Ben Canniff of the Milwaukee Police Department has started not one but TWO area Bible studies for LEOs in Wisconsin: Mondays at 6 PM in Franklin and Fridays at 10 AM in Oak Creek. Email Ben at canniffben@hotmail.com for details!


TRAINING:
Since Lt. Col. Dave Grossman will be in town today at the Colorado State Patrol Academy and I’m set to give him a hand with his book sales and such, this is as good a time as any to tout his programs. Go to http://www.killology.com/ to learn more and see Dave’s very busy training calendar (coming to a city near you…). Col. Grossman is a strong believer who presents a “not-to-be-missed” message that appeals to all true “sheepdogs” (servant-warriors) serving in our God-ordained profession.


PRAYER REQUESTS are posted here on the website and updated regularly. Please check back frequently and join us in praying for one another.


More soon...until then -- stay the course!