God's Calling on a Warrior's Life

Fellow Sheepdogs:

July is a supremely busy month for me but we continue to meet, pray and reach out to one another as brothers and sisters both in Christ and as fellow servant-warriors.

Accordingly, we had a great gathering last Thursday on the subject of Slaying the Giants. To recap, we explored the concept that as Christian officers, we are called by God to be modern-day knights -- Paladins – and that our Lord is calling us to STAND (Ephesians 6:13) and obey as He leads us against the “giants” (In addition to what we deal with as cops and military personnel, "giant" can include but is certainly not limited to trials, illness, relationship issues, poor leadership in our profession, stress, temptation, evil in general, etc.) we face on daily basis. Moreover, it is also clear that God has given us a unique provision of courage, that he has called us to the profession of arms (law enforcement, true military warriors, etc.), and that it is His will that we be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6) in the face of evil and the “sons of perdition” (destruction) that walk this earth: 2 Thessalonians 2:3 -- Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy (rebellion) comes first and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, the son of perdition (destruction).

Our Lord is calling out a question to each of us: Who are you? Our answer should ring clear and without hesitation, “I am a mighty man of God and I am here to fight and resist evil wherever I find it.” God's word (the Bible) repeatedly directs us to emulate Jesus. He is the Lamb, but He is also the Lion. The Lord God is the King, coming to wreak vengeance on His enemies, but He is also the gentle Lamb, dying for His people. As Isaiah writes, Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him (LION). He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:10-11.

Secular "society" has "lambified” (hmm -- sheep) us to the point that we've forgotten the ferocity of the lion. We were born for battle -- the greatest battle history has ever known -- the battle between good and evil. The enemy wants us passive, secular and weak -- to shy away from the fierce lion God has placed in our hearts. That said, we must also remember that a major characteristic of God's Paladins -- the knight -- is HUMILITY. With that we must recognize that our true strength and skill come not from our own ability (as with Samson) but from God and God alone (as with Gideon and his “valiant 300”).

Gen. William Boykin -- speaking at the Epicenter 2008 conference in Israel hosted by Joel C. Rosenberg, said, One day, we're going to stand before the gates of Heaven. Some of us want to be able to walk up there in a white robe and we want to sing Abba Father and Amazing Grace and we want to say to the Lord, "I worshiped You." But I want you to think about this: Here’s the way I want to enter the gates of Heaven. I want to come skidding in there on all fours. I want to be slipping and sliding and I want to hit the gates of heaven with a bang. And when I stand up and I stand before Christ, I want there to be blood on my knees and my elbows. I want to be covered with mud. And I want to be standing there with a ragged breast plate of righteousness. And a spear in my hand. And I want to say, "Look at me, Jesus. I've been in the battle. I've been fighting for you." Ladies and gentlemen, put your armor on and get into battle.

Folks, the bottom line is this: God is calling us as His paladins to wake up to our Christian WARRIOR heritage and get into the fight!

That’s my exhortation to you as well -- there are giants out there in need of slaying!

Blessed by the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1
The Lord is a warrior; The Lord is His name. Exodus 15:3

*Special thanks to both Christian Warrior Ministries and the book Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis.

PREVIEW of this week’s study:

Speaking of being “called,” this week’s (tomorrow) law enforcement-relevant Bible study continues the theme of seeking and receiving God’s CALL on our lives. Clearly, serving in our profession is (or should be) a calling. Inasmuch as our very authority as peace officers comes from God (Romans 13:1-7 and elsewhere in His word), we should be seeking His will in this and all other areas of our lives. Are you “called?” How can you know? Join us tomorrow and we’ll delve into what God has to say to us on the subject. As always, I’ll recap the study in next week’s e-newsletter for all those who can’t attend in person. Stay tuned!

With our locals and visitors in mind, I will be keeping this week’s study comparitively short in order to leave time for another round of TESTIMONY – what God has done/is doing in your life -- sharing. If interested, shoot me an email in advance if you can…and be available to be used by God!


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Please check back frequently for the latest announcements, meeting schedule and prayer requests (see posts below). I’ve also posted information on the upcoming benefits for wounded officers Chris Dewey in Minnesota and Max Faistenhammer in Michigan. Chris and Emily really need our continued prayers and we of course continue to visit with/pray for Max as he undergoes intensive rehab here at Craig Hospital in Englewood. Email me and/or attend a meeting if you want further info on visiting Max at Craig.

Speaking of prayer requests, SA Dexter Wells has sent out an urgent one for ATF Special Agent Will Clark. See http://www.fleoa.org/component/content/article/41-top-headlines/207-fleoa-demands-justice-for-hero-atf-sa-clark-63010.html for details. There but for the grace of God go we! Please lift Will in prayer. I’ve already added this to the latest (7/12) prayer request to the post below.

To quote my pastor (Pastor Sam Park), let’s “stay the course and finish strong” while doing battle with the "giants" in the land!

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!!