Honoring Our Fallen

What is the best way we can honor those to go before us?  Who are killed in the line of duty?  By making sure we've done all we can to give them every chance to "repent and believe" (Mark 1:15 -- "get saved"). Folks, no "other" way to make it into heaven or escape an otherwise just punishment in hell (a forever life sentence).  Here then is, "Honoring our Fallen."

A Cop's Thanksgiving AND A Cop's Life and Death

With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us, here are the latest two newsletters/police Bible studies that have gone out to our email and social media subscribers (FREE, of course). Stay frosty out there!

(1) A Cop's Thanksgiving

(2) A Cop's Life and Death (Living a life worthy of our calling).

Ultimate Backup

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's this week's newsletter and Bible study -- Ultimate Backup. As always, reach out if we can serve you.

MC

Updated Prayer Requests

See the Jan. 26th post (below -- scroll down) for additional. Feel free to email (thecenturionministry@yahoo.com) your prayer requests. Please take a few moments to join us in praying for our own.

NEW (Updated 02/20/12):

** Drucilla Wells (retired FBI) writes, Got at call at 8:50 a.m. that Mom had activated her life alert button and been transported by ambulance to the hospital. As of about 20 minutes ago they were still running some tests. I was able to talk with her briefly. She’s complaining of pain all across her chest and back. They said her vitals are good, but they gave her nitroglycerin en route to the hospital and have a nitro patch on her now. She said they’re exploring heart, kidney, and gall bladder as possible source of the problem. Of course, you all have been praying for her already for severe sinusitis and bronchitis and I think there’s also the possibility of pneumonia. They’ve taken a chest xray, but didn’t have a reading of it yet.

Your prayers are appreciated.

** From Nate Bickerstaff with the Red Oak (TX) PD: "My daughter-in-law Bria Bickerstaff has been given a week to live. The doctors have given up on her. The cancer has taken over her body. She is 30 years of age and had 3 children 14, 3, 1, My son, David, who is married to her works for the Ellis County Sheriff’s office. Be praying for Bria, David and the kids. David is really having a tough time."

UPDATE: It is with a joyous heart for Bria and a sad one for her family that we announce that Bria has gone home to be with the Lord. Please pray for her family and financial needs. Ref. the latter:

Several have inquired about making gifts to assist the Bickerstaff family financially in the home-going of Nathan’s daughter-in-law (they lack insurance and so much more). Gifts on their behalf can be sent to:

First Baptist Church of Red Oak
320 E. Ovilla Road
Red Oak, TX, 75154

Senior Pastor Rusty Shuler can be contacted at (214) 542-7037.


** A CBI staff member has been diagnosed with cancer in her throat, lungs and stomach. Please keep her in prayer.

** A brother (Juan) in NM is asking for prayer after suffering a "mini-stroke."

** Several weeks ago 7 Colorado State Patrol cadets were hospitalized during "hell week" at the academy. Three were subsequently kept in the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries/medical conditions. Two remain hospitalized with conditions that may very well be with them for life. Please pray for these wounded warriors (complete recovery, healing and that they can continue their training in the next class) and pray as well that this situation will be corrected at the academy so that this does not have to occur in the future.

Officer Needs Assistance!

Another BROTHER OFFICER NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Ivan “Gene” Lawyer, a Colorado State Patrol trooper in the Colorado Western Slope area, is in need of our prayers and support. Gene, a 10 year veteran with the State Patrol force, was involved in a duty-related incident on July 20, 2010 while on duty. The incident was turned over to a Grand Jury, and they have charged him with several counts. Gene’s first court appearance has been set for November 9, 2010. Since Gene had recently come back to the force, he had not yet rejoined the CSPPA, thus leaving the Lawyer family to obtain a private lawyer to represent Gene in this case. Realize that Gene had been on the force for over nine years prior and had contributed to the PPA program during those nine years. The first installment for retaining this lawyer is $20,000.00 and is due on or before November 9, 2010. Total costs for Gene’s defense could exceed $75,000.00.

All of us that know and LOVE Gene know that he is a loving, caring and most competent officer, brother, loving husband, father, son, and son-in-law to all of us and is facing this huge unexpected expense.We, the family and friends of Gene, are asking for assistance!! PLEASE, if there is any way you can help us by donating to Gene’s attorney fees, we would GREATLY appreciate it. We ALL realize, with the economy like it is and money being VERY tight for everyone, the sacrifice it will take from each of you to help Gene with his attorney fees. It is the wishes of Gene that any amount of monies received from your generous donations that may exceed his attorney fees be placed in a special fund for the Fraternal Order of Police to assist any other brothers in need.The bank information needed for you to graciously donate to Gene’s attorney fees is listed below:

“GENE LAWYER DEFENSE FUND”@ any WELLS FARGO/WACHOVIA Bank ACCOUNT # 6633784522 ROUTING # 102000076

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DONATION!!!!!!

If you want updates, information or would like to send cards of encouragements to the family you may contact:

Ed and Cheryl Suppes 56548 Dalia Road Olathe, CO 81425 970-323-6387

or

Matthew and Tina Suppes 63269 Lavender Circle Montrose, CO 81403 970-252-1863

Late Breaking Announcements & Prayer Requests

I would normally hold off but there are a couple of pressing issues that I felt led to post right away (look at it as an "amendment" to this week's newsletter) Please take a moment to pray for these folks.

(1) Fellow FCPO member Paul Lee in Chattanooga writes,
“I am usually sending out prayer requests for others but today is different. This request is personal and is from me. I just received word from my daughter that my three month old grandson, Hunter Lee Bargo, is going to have to have additional hearing tests Friday. As of right now the doctors say he is not responding to any sound at all. When he was born last December his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. He was literally blue when he came out but pinked up and cried right away. We have not noticed anything strange he seems alert (and hungry) when he is awake so this is a bit of a shock.

Please pray for Hunter and his mom Amber and dad Bobby. I will update everyone as soon as I have more information.

God bless,
Paul

Paul W. Lee
www.fcpo.org
Office 423-294-5085
Cell 423-322-2896
pwlee@Unum.com


(2) Speaking of the FCPO, Chattanooga PD Chaplain Grant Wolf is in the process of compiling stories from Christian cops for publication in an upcoming book. Grant writes,
“I’ve now completed 60 stories – enough for two months – to go into “”Stories of faith and courage from cops on the streets!” The publisher feels your stories certainly rival many of the ones they’ve written about in the first four books of this series. (Go to www.amgpublishers.com for more information). BUT, I STILL NEED STORIES FOR 10 MORE MONTHS! Even though this is Super Bowl weekend, do you think you could write your story down, then click and send? I’ll take the time needed to polish it up and make you look like Hemmingway…but I can’t do that unless you send your story. The stories I’ve received range the gamut from humorous to sobering; the key common ingredient is that the writer saw God’s hand in it.”

Please pray for Grant in this endeavor and then contribute. Grant's email contact is police_stories@yahoo.com.

(3) Deputy Chris Dewey will be going home to Minnesota soon but faces significant life-long challenges in addition to recovering from his latest surgery. First, keep him in prayer (and his wife Emily as well). Second, give if you can:

Deputy Chris Dewey Fund
First National Bank of Mahnomen
103 N. Main Street (or P.O. Box 378)
Mahnomen, MN 56557

(4) Monument (CO) PD Chief Jake Shirk has announced that he is running for Sheriff in El Paso County (Colorado Springs environs for all you unfortunate folks who don’t live in Colorado). I’ve know Jake to be a godly man with outstanding leadership qualities and a good heart. He’s also a great “cop’s cop” and someone I would “run to the battle” with any day. Please be in prayer for Jake personally and in regards to the office he seeks. See www.chiefjake4sheriff.com
for more.

(5) Finally, please pray for my mother who had surgery yesterday. She is recovering but is in a lot of pain. Thanks!

Paraphrasing Paul, let’s “Stay the course and finish strong!” 2 Timothy 4:7

ANNOUNCEMENT!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, fellow "sheepdogs!" With the holiday in mind, it is most appropriate to announce that decorated Colorado State Trooper Scott Hinshaw has agreed to be the guest speaker at our December 17th meeting! Scott may not like me characterizing him this way, but this fellow servant-warrior defines the word "hero" and the fact that he is alive today is nothing short of a miracle. Rest assured, Trooper Hinshaw's testimony is a life-changing , "must see" event!

While I've included a link to one of the many stories that came out after the October 11, 2007 line-of-duty events that resulted in the death fellow CSP Trooper Zach Templeton and left Scott clinging to life in critical condition (http://cbs4denver.com/local/crash.adams.county.2.562754.html), I'll leave the complete "rest of the story" to Scotty. Please plan to join us and be sure to pass-on the news to your law enforcement colleagues.

Stay tuned for more details!