Latest Newsletters/Bible Studies: "Playing in the Mud" and "Watchmen on the Wall"

I got a bit behind (email and social media remain the best ways to get these), but here's the latest

(1) Playing in the Mud

(2) Watchmen on the Wall

God is With Us in the Battle AND A Character Witness for Christ

Here's the latest two Centurion/FCPO e-newsletters and Bible studies that have gone out to our worldwide readership (email me at fullarmor911@yahoo.com to get signed up):

(1) God is With Us in the Battle

and

(2) A Character Witness for Christ

Stay safe out there -- but radically bold in Him.

MC

Caleb the "Cop" -- TRUE Strength & Honor!

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

This time last week I was flying home from serving at Dep. Chris Dewey’s police funeral (What an honor -- and you can watch most of the church portion of Chris's funeral service at LWCC.org.). As many of you already know, my being there was nothing short of God-ordained. Thanks to all who prayed for me in this endeavor. In addition, thanks to retired Denver PD Officer Mark Roggeman, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, and Minneapolis PD Sgt. Bill Palmer for their outstanding assistance and being open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Most of all, I thank my Lord and Savior for directing my path in this assignment.

At our last meeting, our own Erv Meyer taught a very special profession-relevant Bible study (what Boulder Co. S.O. Chaplain Andy Wineman calls a TACTICAL Bible study – I love it) on the person of Caleb as described in Numbers 13:1-14:38; 26:65; 32:11, 12; Deuteronomy 1:34-38; and Joshua 14:6-14; 15:13-19. What our Lord revealed to us through Erv’s teaching of His word is a warrior-leader (“cop”) who is an outstanding role model for all of us who serve in our God-ordained profession. A study of the above-listed passages shows us that Caleb:

(1) Lead from the front and by example.

(2) Was absolutely obedient and didn’t complain.

(3) Wholly trusted in God’s plan and submitted to His authority.

(4) Displayed life-long courage in the face of incredible adversity and overwhelming odds (Caleb knew his Captain).

(5) Possessed unsurpassed integrity where many others fell short.

(6) Understood the importance of backup and teamwork.

(7) Controlled his emotions – did not become angry or bitter despite facing hardships caused by the disobedience of others.

(8) Responded to his "calls" and completed them with excellence.

(9) Was never a ROD (“retired on duty”) cop.

(10) Maintained his warrior skills and stayed fit for duty despite his many years “on the job.”

(11) Always kept a positive, enthusiastic attitude despite the hardships he had to endure. Caleb RAN to the battle and relished God’s assignments for him.

(12) Never wavered – he stayed the course and finished strong.

In short, Caleb was everything a servant-warrior (cop/soldier) should be – and everything we should all be striving for. So how can WE be a modern-day Caleb (we CAN)? Only -- ONLY -- by the allowing God to be sovereign and giving permission for the Holy Spirit to control our lives. We CAN'T do it on our own -- we WILL fall short without God directing our path as He did with Caleb. That said, ask God today to make you into a modern-day Caleb in accordance with His unique plan and direction for your life. Strength & Honor indeed!

This week I will be teaching a tactical Bible study on the subject of PRIDE as detailed in God’s perfect “policy and procedure manual” (aka the Bible). Matt Wallenburg will once again be leading worship, I’ll talk about Chris funeral service, and we’ll have a great time of prayer and fellowship. Please “pass-on” this newsletter to your friends and colleagues and -- if you are in the Denver Metro area -- join us tomorrow evening. As always, I’ll have a complete recap for all those who can’t attend and/or are elsewhere in the world. Stay tuned!


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

(1) Check back frequently for the latest announcements, meeting updates, and prayer requests. The latest version is already up and follows this post.

(2) A couple of you have forwarded the following verse to me that provides a wealth of truth (and some wry humor) in these tough times: The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left -- Ecclesiastes 10:2. TRUE!

(3) Many are having a tough time and – despite my previous teaching on this subject – continue to wonder why God allows suffering and hardship in their (our) lives. In response, take a look at the following (click on the link): Standing Firm -- https://store.afa.net/pc-10000581-98-standing-firm-dvd.aspx.

(4) Need more solid reasons to be in prayer for our nation and leaders? Check this out from David Barton leading a tour of the US Capitol like you've never seen (we've been lied to)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfEdJNn15E&feature=player_embedded.

(5) The 2010 Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) National Conference will take place September 10-12 in Gulfport, MS. See the FCPO link here on our website for complete details…please join us!

(6) Christian Cops on the Radio! I had the honor of being Tulsa PD Capt. Travis Yates’s (Ten-Four Ministries -- http://tenfourministries.org/) guest on his new Centurion Radio program. Go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ten-four-ministries to listen to my broadcast/message and those that preceded it – and the great ones that will follow. See also http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2010/08/centurion-radio-6-detective-mc-williams.html.

(7) BAPTISM! Some of our regulars have expressed the Holy Spirit-inspired (not to mention obedient) desire to be baptised. If others in the Denver-metro area are interested, let me know and we’ll set it up soon.

(8) We continue to visit and pray with our wounded brothers at Craig Hospital and I am asking that you join us in this endeavor. Regardless, please keep Ofc. Max Faistenhammer (MI) who is headed home this week, Dep. Kyle Rosentreter (WY), Dep. Scott Warrington (CO), and Dep. Mike Severson (WI) in prayer. Ofc. Densey Cole (Chicago PD) is also back at Craig this week for his re-evaluation and I hope to visit with him on Friday.

Finally, if you do not know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (or have fallen away from walking with Him), then let me again encourage you to get right with God today. Tomorrow is promised to no one and there are NO SECOND CHANCES if you die in your sin (not knowing Christ as your Lord and Savior). Come to him today -- click on the How to KNOW Christ as Savior link here our website -- and then TELL SOMEONE (us and others) about it. Know too that I’m here to pray and/or counsel with you.

Stay strong in Christ!

All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

To say that last week’s fellowship meeting and profession-relevant Bible study was outstanding would be nothing short of an understatement. Marine, police officer and chaplain Col. Ray Fairman’s presentation was incredible, memorable, and inspirational. As previously announced, Ray and his bride made a special effort to take time out of their vacation to join us last Thursday whilst en route to cool Idaho from their home in sweltering Georgia. Trust me when I say that Col. Fairman would make a superb choice for any law enforcement and/or ministry conference speaker. That said, I’ll do my best to recap Ray’s message (below).

Speaking of recaps, I opened our meeting with a special Bible-based Memorial Day message I entitled “All Gave Some, Some Gave All” – a phrase I first viewed at the Vietnam Memorial (aka “The Wall”) many years ago in Washington DC. Understanding that it was our Savior who truly gave ALL on the cross for us, how can we best remember and honour those who gave “all” or “some” in service to our country as members of the Armed Forces? Clearly, a fellow sheepdog dying in their sin without a saving, personal relationship with Christ is NOT the way. Rather, we must – MUST do ALL we can to share the Gospel message with our fellow warriors so that they will have every opportunity to say “yes” to Christ before this life ends (thereby assuring their place with Him in eternity). Understand this – there is no such thing as second chance, ”get out of hell” pass for ANY of us who end this life without a saving relationship with Christ (see Hebrews 9:27). On the contrary, we must be ready NOW as tomorrow may very well be too late.

So how can we best accomplish this? Here is a short 3-point answer:

(1) Repent, turn from your sin and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior TODAY (see the “How to Know Christ as Savior” link right here on the left side of this web page).
(2) Dedicate yourself to radically pursue God by growing closer and closer to Christ every day through uncompromising obedience, prayer, study of His word (the Bible) and regular fellowship with other believers.
(3) Decide today to live a life without compromise – to be full-on/sold-out to Christ in spite of whatever circumstances or hardships we might be facing. This also means not justifying our actions (sin) based on what we think or feel is right (http://bible.cc/proverbs/14-12.htm) as opposed to obeying His word. Remember that we can’t “make-up” our own “gospel.” Rather, the God tells us that there is only ONE WAY to salvation. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT through Me. In short, out goal should be to one day stand before our Lord (rest assured, we will ALL stand before Christ to be judged one way or the other) and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23). In short, BE a living example to others by the way you live for Christ.

I concluded my message by sharing a segment from the book The Good Life written by Chuck Colson in which he provides a biblical perspective from the film, Saving Private Ryan. Specifically, Colson points to the pivotal moment where Captain Miller tells James Ryan, “…Earn this…!” (see http://thepoint.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/14563). Christ most certainly earned it for us -- let's live our lives in such a way as to honour His sacrifice.

The message for us on Memorial Day -- and EVERY day for that matter -- is to live a life worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1-6) while seeking every opportunity to share Christ with our law enforcement and military (Armed Forces) brothers and sisters. Remember that just passing-on these newsletters is an easy way to share with othes.

Greg Laurie provides some extremely relevant notes as to how the United States will figure in the “last days” (Revelation): http://www.harvest.org/get_pdf.php/1140.pdf. Be in prayer for our country!

For honour's sake: http://www.resistnet.com/forum/topics/some-gave-all-all-gave-some .


Col. Fairman then followed with an incredibly inspiring presentation in which he blended portions of his personal testimony with the Marine Corps values he lived for “forty-two years, five months and twelve days.” Ray pointed out that those same values should in fact be a central part of our law enforcement code. It should be noted that Ray added the word “Family” to the USMC principles of God, Country, Corps (family follows God in the proper order of things). Ray also revealed that God’s “call” to Adam in Genesis 2:15 to tend and keep it in reference to Eden carries the same Hebrew meaning as our own “serve and protect” ethos of today.

In addition, Col. Fairman shared the following acronym HRSMMA:

Hear about God before you read His word.
Read about God (Bible).
Study God’s word (take notes).
Meditate on His word.
Memorize His word (thereby gaining the ability to wield the Sword of the Spirit as detailed in Ephesians 6:17).
Apply God’s word to every aspect of our lives and profession.

Ray also came bearing gifts, including but not limited to copies of his books Are you Destined to Lead? and Ephesians: God’s Battle Plan for Spiritual Warfare. In return, we gave Ray a Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry polo and I’ll ship him a sweatshirt come winter.

I’ve posted a couple photos of Col. Fairman – scroll down to the bottom. Reference same, one of the photos shows Ray shaking hands with young Kyle Mair, the son of veteran Denver PD Sgt. Jim Mair. Kyle – a "chip off the old block,” was recently credited with helping save the lives of two persons who were pinned under a vehicle involved in a serious traffic accident (Kyle -- being an up and coming sheepdog -- stopped to assist instead of driving on with the sheep). Kyle plans to enter the Marines after high school and Ray spent considerable time talking to this outstanding young man about his options and what that choice will entail.

Ray’s website is the place to order his books and view a plethora of outstanding free resources – go to the SWAT link under “Christian Law Enforcement Sites” on the left side of this page.

I consider Ray to right up there with Col. Dave Grossman (a high compliment indeed) as a speaker. I’ll regularly include much more from Ray via our ongoing leadership series – stay tuned!

THIS week (06/10/10, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver church in Littleton) I will present a profession-relevant message centered on the importance of ACCOUNTABILITY based on Proverbs 27:17 -- As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man (or woman) Sharpens Another. Please join us if you’re in the area and -- for those who are not -- I’ll again present a detailed recap in next week’s e-newsletter and here on the website. Be sure to PASS THE WORD by sharing this newsletter with your friends, colleagues, and others in your email address book.

Finally, don’t forget to frequently check back for the latest announcements, meeting schedule updates, and the all-important prayer requests (see posts below).

Until next week – STAY THE COURSE!

Accused GJ Officer Takes Own Life

Many of you may be aware that a Grand Junction (CO) police officer was recently arrested for sexual assault and burglary. He was subsequently terminated while still in jail and before he bonded out. The officer was also reportedly a Christian but may not have been living that faith and/or involved in church or a Christian accountability group similar to ours. Today I was notified that the officer in question committed suicide in Metro Denver (see also http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/gen/breaking-news/index.html?p=9869). I don't have all the facts in this matter but have it on pretty good account that the evidence was pretty strong. That said, my prayer is that a full investigation will be done and the truth will come out. I'm keeping this simple now but there are a plethora of issues represented in this matter that relate directly to us as Christian officers and for this ministry. We will discuss/pray about this (and for the family -- "blue" and natural alike) tonight.

Here is what our colleague wrote (edited...):
"Jefferson County SO found Glenn Coyne dead in a Days Inn motel room on west Colfax yesterday at 1:30pm - we just found out this about noon today. He died of a self inflicted gunshot wound. The chief told us that understandably, Glenn's wife is devastated and very distraught, particularly over the press coverage, and he asked all of us to keep his wife & children in our thoughts & prayers and especially to look out for each other now and reach out to those who are having trouble dealing with it. I think a lot of us are just sad that this has all happened the way it did. I'm sure it will take his family a long time to recover from this, and I pray that Glenn was right with God before he took his life. Please pray for our department and especially that we can heal and face the challenges in the days and months ahead. The chief had it exactly right when he said that in moments like this, when we can't reconcile the man we knew before all this happened with the actions afterward, that we need to lean on God and not our own understanding. That's the Bible verse that popped into my head right before he started speaking to us today..."

MEETING REMINDER: While I have you, don't forget about tonight's meeting/Bible study starting at 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver, room #7. Retired Denver PD officer and current DPD chaplain (and Calvary pastor) Manny Hays will be our guest speaker. We will also have some very exciting news (miracle/answered prayer) to share!! Don't forget to bring your wives and fellow officers (and pass this on)! See you then.