Brothers & Sisters “of the Sword:”
Hope everyone took time out to spend time with (if close) and/or call our respective mothers on Mother’s Day. While I’m at it, “Love ya, Mom!”
Updated MEETING SCHEDULE:
-- Thursday, May 13, 2010 -- Calvary South Denver (www.calvarycsd.org for directions), 1900 hours, Room #6. Retired DPD officer, chaplain and pastor Manny Hays will be our guest speaker (see below for details).
-- Thursday, May 20, 2010 -- same time/place as noted above. Noted outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) expert and veteran officer Jim Wattles (of History Channel’s Gangland fame) will be our guest speaker. Stay tuned for next week's newsletter for details!
-- Thursday, May 27, 2010 – same time/place as noted above. I hope to back in the game by then.
MESSAGE RECAP:
We had an outstanding time of fellowship, prayer and profession-relevant study of God’s word at last week’s TCLEM meeting. Inasmuch as last Thursday was the National Day of Prayer, the Holy Spirit led me to change my prepared message to one that centered on the subject intercessory prayer. My text came from both Daniel 9 and how it relates to the Lord’s appearance to Solomon in II Chronicles 6 and 7 (and 7:14 in particular). What we see in both passages are men who humbled themselves before the Lord on behalf of their people. God tells Solomon in verse 14 that “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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
In brief, God is saying that if we will do three things --
(1) be humble (confess)
(2) pray (repent)
(3) turn (come back) to Him.
In turn, He will respond in three ways --
(2) hear
(3) forgive
(4) heal.
Likewise, in the 9th chapter of Daniel, we see a humble, obedient and righteous believer praying for his people (country). The entire chapter is a testimony to the fact that God DOES answer prayer in accordance with His perfect timing and will. That said, what is significant about Daniel and his prayer for the nation? Here are the main points:
(1) Daniel’s prayer was the result of his study of Scripture (he referred to Leviticus 26:40-45 and other passages).
(2) Like Solomon, Daniel confessed and repented of his people’s sins (see Lamentations 1:18).
(3) Daniel fasted and prayed for a period of time (see Matthew 17:21, for example).
James (James 5:16) tells us that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Daniel’s prayer was just that – the effective and fervent prayer of a righteous (in our case, being made right with God through a life-changing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ) man. In fact, II Chronicles 9:23-25 and 36:22-23 clearly reveal that God answered Daniel’s prayer on behalf of his people!
The application for us as Christian officers is straightforward:
(1) Be righteous before our Lord through a right-relationship with His Son.
(2) Pray fervently for our nation, our agencies, our leaders, and those we serve and protect.
Billy Graham’s Prayer for the Nation provides a great conclusion for this important message as it relates to us today:
“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare... We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.. We have abused power and called it politics... We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honoured values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free.. Amen!”
Are you prepared to pray for our country in the manner of Solomon and Daniel? As believers, God gives each of us the grace to be a modern day "Daniel" every day. Let’s get right and be in the fight -- and watch what God will do!
MESSAGE PREVIEW:
Pastor Manny Hays (retired Denver PD officer and current DPD chaplain) will be teaching in my stead this week while I’m recovering from surgery. Manny’s topic centers around the challenging and oft misunderstood subject of predestination as detailed in Romans 8:18-39. Did we choose our calling or were we called to our calling? Why did we and why do we endure this present evil? Join us Thursday for the answer!
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK is underway! Hopefully, at least a few of us are in DC adding some “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-14) to NPW events. For more, see http://www.nationalpoliceweek.com/ for more.
CHRISTIAN OFFICERS IN THE NEWS!
Something positive in the Media for a change! Click on http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14972172.
TRAINING CORNER:
Denver PD Officer G.T. “Todd” Gentry (author of A Bulletproof Life – see http://www.amazon.com/Bulletproof-Life-G-T-Gentry/dp/1606478168) has posted his latest XFit video at http://www.xfit33ad.com/. Excellent profession-relevant strength and conditioning approach set to a powerful biblical backdrop. Learn and apply!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
I’ve updated the prayer requests right here on our website (see next post below). Please take the time to read the requests and join us in praying for those in need of God’s devine intervention (including me as I go in for surgery tomorrow).
In closing, let’s commit ourselves to fervent prayer, obedience and the study of God’s word as we respond to His calling on our lives to serve and protect.
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Warrior's Path
Greetings, fellow Sheepdogs!
MEETING UPDATE for our Front Range locals and visitors:
We’re “on” tomorrow (Thursday, November 19) for our regular time of “sheepdog” fellowship, profession-relevant Bible study and prayer starting at 1900 hours at Calvary South Denver in Littleton . Plan on meeting in classroom #7 unless our "old" room is free. I’ll have highlights of the FCPO National Conference and we'll discuss what makes us “different” in terms of our calling both in law enforcement AND as Christian officers/leaders. Our “path” is indeed that of a warrior (aka Col. Grossman’s “sheepdog” analogy). Spouses are encouraged to attend!
As always, I’ll post a recap with scriptural references for our readers all over the country and world as part of next week’s newsletter. Stay tuned!
I sent everyone a copy of Ten-Four Ministries latest newsletter in a previous email but, while I have them linked on our website (left-hand column), the information is important enough to include the information again in this format. Check it out: http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2009/11/truth-is-what-matters.html. Great stuff!
FCPO NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP:
As most of you know by now, I had the honour of teaching all three days at the recent Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) national conference at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs . The Centurion Law Enforcement Fellowship (TCLEF) was well-represented at the conference and our own Matt Wallenburg did an awesome job leading worship -- "thanks Brother" (and check out the new pic at the bottom of this page)! I was also asked to serve on the FCPO National Board of Directors -- truly an honour. The Glen Eyrie grounds are spectacular and God blessed us with great weather -- although some of you “flat-landers” struggled with the altitude – LOL. We had outstanding fellowship and the testimonies shared by fellow officers from all over the country were amazing and moving! TCLEF is but one cog in what we envision as a growing world-wide network of Christian outreaches to criminal justice personnel and their families. I’m also excited to see us affiliated and active with FCPO, POFCI, Ten-Four and other similar Christian law enforcement ministries. Please keep us in prayer as we “run to the battle” in this vital area of ministry.
My first teaching of the conference weekend was on prayer -- and praying in accordance with God’s will in particular. Interestingly enough (God has a unique sense of humor), I received the answer to something important that I had been praying and striving for just moments before I was to speak. Diana and I had prayed that God would manifest His will in this endeavor but His answer, a “NO” (or perhaps “wait), was in fact tough to take. That said, a big part of our walk as Christians is TRUSTING Him to give us only what is in accordance with His PERFECT plan for our lives instead of only seeking our own way. It is this type of “surrender” that is a foundation of what it means to really TRUST Christ as our Lord & Savior. The concept is especially hard for cops but essential nevertheless. I should also point out that this same spirit of “surrender” meant having to spend much of the night changing my pre-prepared messages from what I had planned to what our Lord wanted me to say!
That said, how CAN we be sure we are praying in accordance with God’s will? The Bible gives us clear answers to the question. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to HIS WILL, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
The trustworthy website http://www.gotquestions.org/ does a great job of summarizing this and related questions for personal study and reflection: http://www.gotquestions.org/praying-will-of-God.html. The related links at the bottom of the same webpage, along with http://www.gotquestions.org/questions_prayer.html, provide additional biblically sound information on prayer in general. Bottom line is that prayer is how we fellowship and communicate with God, is vital to our development as Christians, and is most certainly a cornerstone of this ministry. In fact, our Father tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing.” Please take the time to check out what God’s Word has to say on the subject. Pray – and pray some more!
TRAINING:
This week’s training post comes to us from http://www.policeone.com/. They’ve provided a really great case law update (short/concise): http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/1964272-12-Supreme-Court-cases-affecting-cops/. Take the time to stay up-to-date and ready to rock out there.
Don’t forget your spiritual training, physical fitness, nutrition, defensive tactics, firearms, etc. Think Sheepdogs – not sheep!
PRAYER REQUESTS (As always, send me your prayer requests and we'll include them here as appropriate.):
(1) A Colorado PD sergeant is asking that we pray for his newborn son who has been hospitalized with some very serious medical issues.
(2) Continue to keep Denver PD Officer Allison Casias in prayer (spiritual and physical). Allison has been moved to a rehab facility and is showing progress (praise God)! Sign up for regular updates and/or share messages of encouragement at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisoncasias/journal.
(3) Mahnomen County (MN) Dep. Chris Dewey continues to recover from his latest major surgery at Swedish Hospital in Englewood . Pray for continued recovery and that he can be moved back to Craig Rehab Hospital ASAP. His wife Emily covets your prayers as well. Follow Chris’s progress at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.
(4) We’ve had a slew of Colorado State Patrol troopers seriously injured in traffic-related incidents this past week. Please keep them in prayer.
(5) Pray for a GJPD crime analyst who is dealing with some serious/ongoing cancer issues (healing, strength, etc.).
(6) Pray for a GJPD officer who, after the FCPO conference, is being led to start a LEO Bible study/fellowship group in Grand Junction. Way to lead and obey, my Brother!
(7) Pray for a dear relative – that he would come to have a deep, “full-on” relationship with Christ and would walk forward and away from the issues that he has allowed to hold him back.
(8) Let’s keep Fort Hood Police Department Sgt. Kimberly Munley, her FHPD colleagues, the injured, and the families and friends of those killed, in prayer. This sister reportedly did an outstanding “sheepdog” job!
(9) Pray for a brother officer dealing with some serious financial issues.
Finally, we need to be in prayer reference the new/upcoming film being produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia (of Fireproof and Facing the Giants fame). Courageous will center around four sheriff’s deputies dealing with work, fatherhood and family issues. This is EXACTLY the kind of project we need to support! Check out the movie website for more: http://www.courageousthemovie.com/. Stay tuned for more…
Hope to see you Thursday!
MEETING UPDATE for our Front Range locals and visitors:
We’re “on” tomorrow (Thursday, November 19) for our regular time of “sheepdog” fellowship, profession-relevant Bible study and prayer starting at 1900 hours at Calvary South Denver in Littleton . Plan on meeting in classroom #7 unless our "old" room is free. I’ll have highlights of the FCPO National Conference and we'll discuss what makes us “different” in terms of our calling both in law enforcement AND as Christian officers/leaders. Our “path” is indeed that of a warrior (aka Col. Grossman’s “sheepdog” analogy). Spouses are encouraged to attend!
As always, I’ll post a recap with scriptural references for our readers all over the country and world as part of next week’s newsletter. Stay tuned!
I sent everyone a copy of Ten-Four Ministries latest newsletter in a previous email but, while I have them linked on our website (left-hand column), the information is important enough to include the information again in this format. Check it out: http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2009/11/truth-is-what-matters.html. Great stuff!
FCPO NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP:
As most of you know by now, I had the honour of teaching all three days at the recent Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) national conference at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs . The Centurion Law Enforcement Fellowship (TCLEF) was well-represented at the conference and our own Matt Wallenburg did an awesome job leading worship -- "thanks Brother" (and check out the new pic at the bottom of this page)! I was also asked to serve on the FCPO National Board of Directors -- truly an honour. The Glen Eyrie grounds are spectacular and God blessed us with great weather -- although some of you “flat-landers” struggled with the altitude – LOL. We had outstanding fellowship and the testimonies shared by fellow officers from all over the country were amazing and moving! TCLEF is but one cog in what we envision as a growing world-wide network of Christian outreaches to criminal justice personnel and their families. I’m also excited to see us affiliated and active with FCPO, POFCI, Ten-Four and other similar Christian law enforcement ministries. Please keep us in prayer as we “run to the battle” in this vital area of ministry.
My first teaching of the conference weekend was on prayer -- and praying in accordance with God’s will in particular. Interestingly enough (God has a unique sense of humor), I received the answer to something important that I had been praying and striving for just moments before I was to speak. Diana and I had prayed that God would manifest His will in this endeavor but His answer, a “NO” (or perhaps “wait), was in fact tough to take. That said, a big part of our walk as Christians is TRUSTING Him to give us only what is in accordance with His PERFECT plan for our lives instead of only seeking our own way. It is this type of “surrender” that is a foundation of what it means to really TRUST Christ as our Lord & Savior. The concept is especially hard for cops but essential nevertheless. I should also point out that this same spirit of “surrender” meant having to spend much of the night changing my pre-prepared messages from what I had planned to what our Lord wanted me to say!
That said, how CAN we be sure we are praying in accordance with God’s will? The Bible gives us clear answers to the question. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to HIS WILL, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
The trustworthy website http://www.gotquestions.org/ does a great job of summarizing this and related questions for personal study and reflection: http://www.gotquestions.org/praying-will-of-God.html. The related links at the bottom of the same webpage, along with http://www.gotquestions.org/questions_prayer.html, provide additional biblically sound information on prayer in general. Bottom line is that prayer is how we fellowship and communicate with God, is vital to our development as Christians, and is most certainly a cornerstone of this ministry. In fact, our Father tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing.” Please take the time to check out what God’s Word has to say on the subject. Pray – and pray some more!
TRAINING:
This week’s training post comes to us from http://www.policeone.com/. They’ve provided a really great case law update (short/concise): http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/1964272-12-Supreme-Court-cases-affecting-cops/. Take the time to stay up-to-date and ready to rock out there.
Don’t forget your spiritual training, physical fitness, nutrition, defensive tactics, firearms, etc. Think Sheepdogs – not sheep!
PRAYER REQUESTS (As always, send me your prayer requests and we'll include them here as appropriate.):
(1) A Colorado PD sergeant is asking that we pray for his newborn son who has been hospitalized with some very serious medical issues.
(2) Continue to keep Denver PD Officer Allison Casias in prayer (spiritual and physical). Allison has been moved to a rehab facility and is showing progress (praise God)! Sign up for regular updates and/or share messages of encouragement at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisoncasias/journal.
(3) Mahnomen County (MN) Dep. Chris Dewey continues to recover from his latest major surgery at Swedish Hospital in Englewood . Pray for continued recovery and that he can be moved back to Craig Rehab Hospital ASAP. His wife Emily covets your prayers as well. Follow Chris’s progress at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.
(4) We’ve had a slew of Colorado State Patrol troopers seriously injured in traffic-related incidents this past week. Please keep them in prayer.
(5) Pray for a GJPD crime analyst who is dealing with some serious/ongoing cancer issues (healing, strength, etc.).
(6) Pray for a GJPD officer who, after the FCPO conference, is being led to start a LEO Bible study/fellowship group in Grand Junction. Way to lead and obey, my Brother!
(7) Pray for a dear relative – that he would come to have a deep, “full-on” relationship with Christ and would walk forward and away from the issues that he has allowed to hold him back.
(8) Let’s keep Fort Hood Police Department Sgt. Kimberly Munley, her FHPD colleagues, the injured, and the families and friends of those killed, in prayer. This sister reportedly did an outstanding “sheepdog” job!
(9) Pray for a brother officer dealing with some serious financial issues.
Finally, we need to be in prayer reference the new/upcoming film being produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia (of Fireproof and Facing the Giants fame). Courageous will center around four sheriff’s deputies dealing with work, fatherhood and family issues. This is EXACTLY the kind of project we need to support! Check out the movie website for more: http://www.courageousthemovie.com/. Stay tuned for more…
Hope to see you Thursday!
Monday, October 19, 2009
HIS Way or "Highway" (UPDATED!!)
Dear “Band of Brothers” (and Sisters of course):
As previously announced, we’ll meet as scheduled this Thursday for our regular profession-relevant fellowship and Bible study: 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver, 9052 W. Ken Caryl Avenue in Littleton, Room #7. Don’t forget to bring your spouses and to invite your colleagues (just pass this email to others in your address book).
My topic for this week’s study stems from an email that I received in which the writer chastised me for suggesting that there is only one way to Christ/Heaven. The source was my asking for continued prayer for an officer we been praying for/supporting for the last six months and who has adopted an ideology that “everyone will go to Heaven” so long as they are “good” and believe in “something.” The writer went so far as to suggest that God’s way as detailed in the Bible is “oppressive” and no longer valid in this “modern world.” So how should we respond? Bottom line here is that many will criticize us for standing firm on God’s Word. The TRUTH is that there is in fact only ONE WAY to be saved, and therefore only ONE WAY to an eternity with the Lord. It has nothing do with what I or anyone else THINKS or “believes” is the “right” way. Rather, it is what God says is HIS way – we simply can’t “make up” our own path to salvation! Truly, it is His way or "highway!" (but with LOVE always being central). Here is part of my response:
“So what is the source of truth? It is God's breathed word, the Bible. There is insufficient time/space to go into this in detail but suffice it to say the that the Bible has NEVER been disproved and is, statistically speaking, the most accurate text ever written (although it is SO much more than a text). The TRUTH is that "God so LOVED the world (you, I) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). The word "believe" as translated from the Greek pisteuo is so much more than simple "belief" as we use in English -- even Satan and his demons "believe" in God but are certainly not "saved." Moreover, our Lord tells us in Romans 3:10 that "There is no one righteous (good), no, not even one." This means that without a saving knowledge of Christ (being spiritually “born again”), NO ONE is “good” enough to enter into eternal life with Him. I am not teaching my way but rather God's perfect way. Your argument is with God, not me. There is in fact only ONE WAY and it is HIS way. Thomas asked Jesus, "How can we know the way? Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:5-6.”
Of course, God’s word also tells us that the alternative to God’s way, aka “YOUR own way,” is eternal separation from God – ultimately what some commonly refer to as “Hell.” Our goal as a ministry is to do all we can to share God’s love and plan of salvation (as opposed to the equally real alternative). In the end, the Truth is still truth and the choice is truly yours.
We’ll dig into this topic in depth on Thursday. Please join us!
MESSAGE RECAP
Retired Denver PD Officer and current police chaplain and pastor Manny Hays shared with us at our last meeting. Manny’s message centered around the importance of prayer – particularly WHY we should pray – along with a report on his invocation at the IACP Conference. As previously reported, Manny was initially told that he could not pray to God (To whom or what then – a light bulb??) before the “powers-that-be” relented with the proviso that he NOT pray in Jesus’ name!! God gave our brother a great alternative: Manny closed with “…in the Name of our Lord & Savior.” LOL – outstanding!!! Manny provided the following scriptural references – please make them part of your own study: II Cor. 13:9; Phil. 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:8; I Thes. 5:25.
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN PEACE OFFICERS (FCPO) NATIONAL CONFERENCE!!
The 2009 FCPO National Conference will be held here in Colorado this November 6-8 at the famous Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs! Go to www.FCPO.org and click on the conference link at the top. Please join us for an unforgettable time in the Lord with other Christian officers from all over the world! Wives are strongly encouraged to attend. I will be in attendance as will our own TCLEF worship leader Matt Wallenburg (helping lead worship, of course).
OFFICER DOWN UPDATES
As many of you know, CPD Officer Densey Cole is now back in Chicago where he is undergoing continued rehab. Please continue to keep him in prayer (spiritual and physical).
Jason and I visited with Mahnomen County (MN) S.O. Deputy Chris Dewey and his wife Emily last week. They will remain here at Craig Hospital until at least January as Chris faces some very tough challenges – including more surgery. We serve a MIGHTY God -- continue to lift Chris and Em in prayer. Those wishing to follow Chris’s progress can do so by logging on to his Caring Bridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey (Emily provides daily updates).
Speaking of Chris, I received the following email from Mahnomen County Sheriff Doug Krier: "...I just want to thank you for taking care of Chris & Emily Dewey for us. I have been reading your updates and I have enjoyed everyone of them - It helps me get through the day sometimes. It's really nice to know the the brotherhood reaches throughout the country.
Thanks again Mike - Sheriff Doug Krier"
Reid McGrath from Englewood PD sent me an update on Denver PD Officer Allison Casias. I'll try to get by to see her/prayer with her family later this week. She is scheduled for surgery today. Please PRAY! Updates can be seen on her Caring Bridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisoncasias.
I just found out that JeffCo Deputy/Investigator Art Peterson has been moved to a regular room (Swedish Hospital, Room 406) and can have visitors. I'll try to get by to see him as well. Continue to pray for this hurting brother as well.
In the future, I will post additional updates directly here on our website. I encourage everyone to check frequently.
PRAY REQUESTS & PRAISE REPORTS
(1) Be in prayer for the success of the upcoming FCPO National Conference.
(2) Pray for a brother officer who is testing for a leadership position this coming Wednesday.
(3) Pray for Erv Meyer who has been traveling and is due home in the coming week.
(4) Continue to be in prayer for a colleague on the mend from open-heart surgery.
(5) PRAISE REPORT: See our website for a report on answered prayer (October 16th entry). Praise God!!!
(6) A fellow warrior is suffering terribly from pancreatitis. Please pray for him.
See ya Thursday!
As previously announced, we’ll meet as scheduled this Thursday for our regular profession-relevant fellowship and Bible study: 1900 hours, Calvary South Denver, 9052 W. Ken Caryl Avenue in Littleton, Room #7. Don’t forget to bring your spouses and to invite your colleagues (just pass this email to others in your address book).
My topic for this week’s study stems from an email that I received in which the writer chastised me for suggesting that there is only one way to Christ/Heaven. The source was my asking for continued prayer for an officer we been praying for/supporting for the last six months and who has adopted an ideology that “everyone will go to Heaven” so long as they are “good” and believe in “something.” The writer went so far as to suggest that God’s way as detailed in the Bible is “oppressive” and no longer valid in this “modern world.” So how should we respond? Bottom line here is that many will criticize us for standing firm on God’s Word. The TRUTH is that there is in fact only ONE WAY to be saved, and therefore only ONE WAY to an eternity with the Lord. It has nothing do with what I or anyone else THINKS or “believes” is the “right” way. Rather, it is what God says is HIS way – we simply can’t “make up” our own path to salvation! Truly, it is His way or "highway!" (but with LOVE always being central). Here is part of my response:
“So what is the source of truth? It is God's breathed word, the Bible. There is insufficient time/space to go into this in detail but suffice it to say the that the Bible has NEVER been disproved and is, statistically speaking, the most accurate text ever written (although it is SO much more than a text). The TRUTH is that "God so LOVED the world (you, I) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). The word "believe" as translated from the Greek pisteuo is so much more than simple "belief" as we use in English -- even Satan and his demons "believe" in God but are certainly not "saved." Moreover, our Lord tells us in Romans 3:10 that "There is no one righteous (good), no, not even one." This means that without a saving knowledge of Christ (being spiritually “born again”), NO ONE is “good” enough to enter into eternal life with Him. I am not teaching my way but rather God's perfect way. Your argument is with God, not me. There is in fact only ONE WAY and it is HIS way. Thomas asked Jesus, "How can we know the way? Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:5-6.”
Of course, God’s word also tells us that the alternative to God’s way, aka “YOUR own way,” is eternal separation from God – ultimately what some commonly refer to as “Hell.” Our goal as a ministry is to do all we can to share God’s love and plan of salvation (as opposed to the equally real alternative). In the end, the Truth is still truth and the choice is truly yours.
We’ll dig into this topic in depth on Thursday. Please join us!
MESSAGE RECAP
Retired Denver PD Officer and current police chaplain and pastor Manny Hays shared with us at our last meeting. Manny’s message centered around the importance of prayer – particularly WHY we should pray – along with a report on his invocation at the IACP Conference. As previously reported, Manny was initially told that he could not pray to God (To whom or what then – a light bulb??) before the “powers-that-be” relented with the proviso that he NOT pray in Jesus’ name!! God gave our brother a great alternative: Manny closed with “…in the Name of our Lord & Savior.” LOL – outstanding!!! Manny provided the following scriptural references – please make them part of your own study: II Cor. 13:9; Phil. 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:8; I Thes. 5:25.
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN PEACE OFFICERS (FCPO) NATIONAL CONFERENCE!!
The 2009 FCPO National Conference will be held here in Colorado this November 6-8 at the famous Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs! Go to www.FCPO.org and click on the conference link at the top. Please join us for an unforgettable time in the Lord with other Christian officers from all over the world! Wives are strongly encouraged to attend. I will be in attendance as will our own TCLEF worship leader Matt Wallenburg (helping lead worship, of course).
OFFICER DOWN UPDATES
As many of you know, CPD Officer Densey Cole is now back in Chicago where he is undergoing continued rehab. Please continue to keep him in prayer (spiritual and physical).
Jason and I visited with Mahnomen County (MN) S.O. Deputy Chris Dewey and his wife Emily last week. They will remain here at Craig Hospital until at least January as Chris faces some very tough challenges – including more surgery. We serve a MIGHTY God -- continue to lift Chris and Em in prayer. Those wishing to follow Chris’s progress can do so by logging on to his Caring Bridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey (Emily provides daily updates).
Speaking of Chris, I received the following email from Mahnomen County Sheriff Doug Krier: "...I just want to thank you for taking care of Chris & Emily Dewey for us. I have been reading your updates and I have enjoyed everyone of them - It helps me get through the day sometimes. It's really nice to know the the brotherhood reaches throughout the country.
Thanks again Mike - Sheriff Doug Krier"
Reid McGrath from Englewood PD sent me an update on Denver PD Officer Allison Casias. I'll try to get by to see her/prayer with her family later this week. She is scheduled for surgery today. Please PRAY! Updates can be seen on her Caring Bridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisoncasias.
I just found out that JeffCo Deputy/Investigator Art Peterson has been moved to a regular room (Swedish Hospital, Room 406) and can have visitors. I'll try to get by to see him as well. Continue to pray for this hurting brother as well.
In the future, I will post additional updates directly here on our website. I encourage everyone to check frequently.
PRAY REQUESTS & PRAISE REPORTS
(1) Be in prayer for the success of the upcoming FCPO National Conference.
(2) Pray for a brother officer who is testing for a leadership position this coming Wednesday.
(3) Pray for Erv Meyer who has been traveling and is due home in the coming week.
(4) Continue to be in prayer for a colleague on the mend from open-heart surgery.
(5) PRAISE REPORT: See our website for a report on answered prayer (October 16th entry). Praise God!!!
(6) A fellow warrior is suffering terribly from pancreatitis. Please pray for him.
See ya Thursday!
Friday, October 16, 2009
PRAISE REPORT!
A short time ago I posted a prayer request about an officer facing disciplinary action (up to termination). I have been remiss in reporting that not only did he keep his job, but there was no action taken against him at all. His Chief in fact showed tremendous leadership. I consider this truly God-inspired (answered prayer). Thank you Lord!
Stay tuned for more!
Stay tuned for more!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
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.
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.
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