UPDATED: Knowing God's Will for Your Life

Fellow Sheepdogs:

To say that this last week has been busy would be nothing short of understatement. However, our perfect Chief readily supplies all our training, armor, and weaponry for the fight -- Ephesians 6:10-18. That said, we're ON for this week's fellowship meeting and Bible study: (RESCHEDULED) Saturday, 10/31/09, at 0900 hours, Calvary South Denver in Littleton. This week's topic centers around how we can KNOW God's will for our lives. Is that possible? Most definitely! A major part of the Christian life is making the free-will decision to follow, love and obey Him as opposed to trying to do it "my way." If we're honest, the vast majority of us would have to ask, "So how's that working out for ya?" in terms of our way vs. God's way. We'll dig into it on Thursday -- please join us!

STUDY RECAP

This week's study ties in very well with my teaching last Thursday: that God's kingdom is not a democracy (Praise God -- perfect leadership, perfect government!!) and that the whole idea of being a true "Christian" centers around following the God of the whole Bible as opposed to the "god" of our own creation, comfort zone and ideas. Ofc. Travis Yates' (10-4 Ministries/The Centurion Papers) penned an outstanding piece -- Christianity & Sports -- in which he quotes an article written by Tom Krattenmaker in USA Today entitled "And I'd like to thank God Almighty." Krattenmaker's chief target is Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (and his ilk) and the proposition that Tim's "kind of religion" promotes "intolerance" and is "out of sync" with "mainstream" (hmm) Christianity. Krattenmaker goes on to cite a recent Pew Study which stated that 65% of American "Christians" believe there is more than one way to eternal life and thus have a "more generous conception of salvation." Travis writes, "Krattenmaker may think he is on to something but there is a deep seeded problem with his logic. Those 65% of American Christians are likely not Christians at all. How is anyone saved by a Gospel they do not even know or believe in? This is not the Gospel. The Gospel, as the Tebow Family raises high, is exclusive. There is no other way other than Jesus Christ. Travis also points out that "Jesus is not so much the problem when He is mentioned as "A Way" but change one word and expect everything around you to break lose. The world (and USA Today) will gladly accept Jesus as "A Way" but as soon as He is "The Way", everything changes."

See http://www.thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2009/10/christianity-sports.html for Travis' complete blog.

So what is the point here? Is Christ "a" way or "THE" way? As I've previously pointed out, God's answer, as cited in John 14:6, is crystal clear: "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

The website GotQuestions.org has a terrific response that sums up our study question beautifully: http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-only-way.html. Don't take my word for it -- check out the article and search God's word (THE answer) instead! Are you ready to accept His call and follow after Him?


MEETING CALENDAR (Subject to change -- check the website and your email for updates.)

-- Saturday, 10/31/09, 0900 hours, Calvary South Denver (regular meeting).
-- Fri-Sun, 11/6-8/09, FCPO National Conference, Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs (see below). NO MEETING on Thursday, 11/5 as I'll be preparing for my duties at the conference.
-- Thursday, 11/12/09, NO MEETING
-- Thursday, 11/19/09, 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver (regular meeting)
-- Thursday, 11/26/09 THANKSGIVING (no meeting -- duh)!!

*** FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN PEACE OFFICERS National Conference! 11/6-8/09. Go to http://www.fcpo.org/ and/or email me for details. While officers will be coming from all over the world, I'm strongly encouraging our Front Range members, visitors and supporters to attend as the conference is here in Colorado this year at the famous Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs. If money is an issue, we have space/scholarships for a limited number of officers, spouses and/or supporters (day passes, rooms, etc.) who would otherwise not be able to attend. LET ME KNOW!!


"OFFICER DOWN" UPDATES

-- Mahnomen County (MN) Dep. Chris Dewey: Chris will have an important surgery on November 4th. His wonderful wife Emily is a model of courage and strength for her warrior-husband. Both very much covet your prayers and support. See http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey for daily updates and details (getting registered is easy).

-- Jefferson County (CO) Deputy Art Peterson: I visited with Art at Swedish Hospital last Friday and he is improving -- so much so that he may get to go home this week or next! Art still has a long way to go and his "back to duty" status is still very much in doubt. I had the honor of praying with/for Art and he very much needs more of the same! That said, PRAISE GOD for answered prayer so far!!

-- Denver PD Officer Allison Casias is -- PRAISE GOD -- making progress but still can't have visitors. However, Allison may be moved to a long-term facility this week or next. Go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisoncasias for details. I was able to meet with her family and pray with them last Friday. Allison and her family need our continued prayer and support.

-- The young daughter of Englewood PD Officer Shane Ellison, Tayler Ellison, is having a rough week but is a "trooper." Please keep her in prayer as she undergoes yet more chemo. Go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/taylerellison for more.


PRAYER REQUESTS (As always, send 'em and I'll post them as appropriate.)

-- Former Oxnard (CA) PD Officer Chris Orsini sent a request asking that we pray for retired Officer Bud Hoffman who is suffering from pneumonia and heart problems.

-- FCPO board member and fellow Warrior Paul Lee in Tennessee is asking that we be in prayer for his wife Donna who is in great pain and scheduled for surgery Nov. 21st, if not sooner.

-- Pray for a Christian officer who is a finalist for a law enforcement management position and a chance to lead (simply ask our Lord to intervene in accordance with His will alone).

-- Pray for a brother officer in NM who is struggling with some personal issues.

-- Pray for the child of a CO officer who is currently hospitalized in Aurora.

-- Pray for a fellow investigator currently serving on active duty in Kuwait. While we're at it, let's all be in prayer for our fellow officers and military personnel serving in harm's way all over the world -- "THANK YOU for your service, fellow warriors!"

-- Continue to be in prayer for Officer Densey Cole who is now back in Chicago. Let's continue to ask God for healing AND protection.

-- I've been made aware of what is truly an almost daily issue in our country -- especially in terms of small-town policing. I recommend everyone go to http://www.policelink.monster.com/ and click on the Police Officer Suspended for Ticketing Mayor's Son article. Let's keep Ofc. Josh Rowell in prayer, as well as Chief Heinz Koop (that he would step-up and fight for his officer). I don't know the whole story but my gut says that this is yet another "Do you know who I am" scenario that routinely ends officers' careers. DO THE RIGHT THING!

-- I've learned that three DEA agents were killed in the chopper crash in Afghanistan. Please be in prayer for their families and colleagues. See story on the same Police Link page.

Finally, I'll leave you with this awesome Tangle video that serves as a great reminder of exactly how much our Lord loves us. Well worth the watch! http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=ac73dc200b76dc05b071&utm_source=newsletter1020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos
"Thank you Lord for loving me and taking my place on the cross! I love you my Jesus!"

Stay the course and PASS IT ON!

TCLEF Newsletter for Week of 10/11/09

Fellow Servant-Warriors:

This week’s newsletter will be brief as I just got back in town and (as previously announced) we will NOT be meeting tomorrow. Our next schedule fellowship meeting/Bible study will be Thursday, October 22nd. I’ll have a recap of our last study along with details of our upcoming meeting in next week’s newsletter – STAY TUNED!


WOUNDED WARRIOR UPDATE

Denver PD Det. Danny Veith sends the following regarding Chicago PD Officer Densey Cole’s impending transfer back to Chicago: “Officer Densey Cole has successfully completed his rehabilitation regimen at Craig Hospital. Densey is now scheduled to return to Chicago for continued treatment this Friday. It has been an honor and privilege for the Denver Police Department to partner with other area law enforcement agencies in supporting Densey during his recovery. Please join us this Friday, October 16th, at 0715 hours in the 3400 Block of S. Clarkson St. to say good-bye. We will be gathering on the west side of the street, on the south side of Craig Hospital, under the awning of the driveway. Densey will be departing Craig at about 0745 hours. If you cannot make Craig Hospital on Friday morning, Densey will be entering DIA from the departure ramp (Six West) at about 0830 hours. Law enforcement officers, with credentials, will be able to access Concourse B (via the DPD Screening Officer) where his commercial flight to Chicago will depart at 1029 hours.”

I am asking our readers/supporters to continue proactively praying for Densey’s spiritual and physical health. Please also pray for his personal safety and welfare. Trust me when I say that your prayers for Densey and his family are VERY much needed!

Mahnomen County (MN) Deputy Chris Dewey is also making what many see as miraculous progress. That said, both Chris and his wife Emily really need your prayers as Chris faces some important major surgery in the near future. Our ministry will continue to come alongside them and I hope to visit again later this week.

I don’t have anything recent on JeffCo Deputy Art Peterson but I hope to visit him again this week as well and will try to get a status update for you.

FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN PEACE OFFICERS (FCPO) NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The 2009 FCPO Conference is being held at the historic Glen Eyrie Conference Center this year (November 6-8)! Officers and their wives from all over the world will be attending and I am strongly encouraging our readers/supporters to do the same. Yours truly will be in attendance and serving/leading “as assigned.” Go to www.FCPO.org for registration information (deadline is FAST approaching).

PRAYER REQUESTS/PRAISE REPORTS

(1) Thanks for all who prayed for retired Chaplain/Pastor Manny Hays regarding his address/invocation at the IACP conference last week. Things went great (praise God) and I’ll include more on this in next week’s newsletter.

(2) Grand Junction PD Criminalist CJ Wilson attended today’s funeral services for Las Vegas PD Officer Milburn "Millie" Beitel and had the opportunity to pray for/with many of Millie’s colleagues and family members. She reports that Beitel’s partner, Officer David Nesheiwat, is still in serious condition but is expected to survive. CJ reports that many of their fellow officers are still distraught not only by Millie’s death but also by the manner of it (their unit was reportedly engulfed in flames after the crash). Please keep David in prayer along with Millie’s family and all our brother/sister officers in Vegas.

(3) A Denver PD Officer was recently admitted to the hospital suffering from blood clots that required brain surgery. I was advised today that our fellow warrior has taken a turn for worse. I have also been lead to believe that she likely does not know Christ as her Savior. Pray both for healing and salvation.

Finally, I’ll close by sharing the following from “The PeaceKeepers” Bible study author Deputy Mike Dye. I believe it comprises much of what God has called us to do as Christian officers and as a ministry.

Mike writes, “I received the following Facebook e-mail from a cop in the NY area. I don't know him, but he joined my Facebook / Peacekeeper's group. I thought that you would like to read his comment and my response in its entirety. I thought that his comment was something that every cop wonders about. I know that my answer could have gone in any number of directions, and every one of us Christian cops could have added something else, but I instead allowed the Holy Spirit lead me on my response and I pray that it was the right one. Thanks for you are doing to help reach cops for the kingdom of our Lord!”

‘Dear Mike, "The Job" takes me places where I wish I didn't not tread. Whether it's to a bad scene, filth spoken in the station, or my own thoughts that are crazy enough. I hate starting my day and the "female" cops have said the infamous "C" word, "F-bomb," "J -blanking C," and on my way in I just had a good time of prayer with Jesus. I wish I were a pharmacist or an optician some days. I know every profession has its pitfalls, but what is it with coppers??? I wish I worked with good strong bothers in Him. UGH!’

Hey Brother Paul, The tough part of this job is to remember who you are really working for. It's not, your department, chief, sheriff, or even yourself. Your job is your service back to God. You are a Romans 13 officer. You are an officer who has chosen to be a "peace officer" and as such you represent the good that is God here on earth. If only more officers understood their role as God's representative here on earth, sent to do the people good (read Romans 13:1-4) then there would less officers than the one's that you describe. Officers need to understand that we facing a battle of Good vs. Evil and that it is a spiritual battle as described in Ephesians 6:16. Cops hide behind God (and the good) by joining in the evil. Why? Quite simple, it's manly to be evil and wimpy to follow God. However, the exact opposite is true. When you follow God there is power in the cross. Start reading your bible, start praying for your area of responsibility (your beat area, patrol area, or your work assignment) The Bible in Jeremiah 29-7 says "to pray for the peace and prosperity of your city" and that does not mean wealth. It means spiritual prosperity. I could provide you 3 hours of personal testimony of how God has (1) transformed a high crime ridden part of my city into a Godly non-crime area. (2) transformed a school campus from drugs, gangs, and daily fights into a school where the school staff is going "what happened, it's peaceful". (3) How God had provided me great favor in my dept to the point that it scares me. And believe me, I don't work with good strong Christian brothers either. But, the goal is to allow them to see God in you and they will reduce / or change their behavior. Always remember to speak Life (not death) into everyone you see. Co-workers, public, etc. You will begin to arrest your thoughts and frisk them thoroughly to see if they are carrying doubt of any kind. II Corinthians 10:5 says,“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.”If the thought in your mind is not supporting your faith, ‘you don’t speak it!’ Hope this helps, and feel free to write me anytime!”

I echo Mike’s sentiments. As Pastor Sam Park of Calvary South Denver likes to say, let’s stay the course and finish strong!