Here our February 15th Newsletter and Bible study: "Even the Demons Believe -- and Tremble" (God's Word on what it means to truly "believe" in Christ as your Lord and Savior).
MC
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
A Matter of Life and Death
One of the most important newsletters and Bible studies I've written (thank You Lord): A Matter of Life & Death.
Friday, April 28, 2017
Cops, Repentance and True Salvation
Here's this week's Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry e-newsletter and Bible study: Cops, Repentance and True Salvation.
Pass it on!
MC
Pass it on!
MC
Monday, November 28, 2016
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).
(1) A Cop's Thanksgiving
(2) A Cop's Life and Death (Living a life worthy of our calling).
Monday, September 5, 2016
Association vs. Transformation
As always, here's the repost of last week's Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry newsletter and Bible study (part 2 of our 2-part series on the salvation a 1st Century cop -- Cornelius the centurion): Association vs. Transformation. The "translation" short story? Religion (association) is not the same as a life-saving/life-changing RELATIONSHIP (transformation) with the risen Savior.
Be safe on the street but radically bold in Christ.
MC
Be safe on the street but radically bold in Christ.
MC
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
A Cop's Salvation
Not yet getting our newsletters via email or social media? Know we'll post them here as well -- "A Cop's Salvation."
MC
MC
Monday, July 27, 2015
The Promises of Repentance
As usual, this week's newsletter and Bible study has gone out to our email subscribers (FREE) all over the world and it's posted on Facebook as well. That said, here it is again in this forum: The Promises of Repentance. Don't forget to check out the prayer requests, announcements, resources and more before you pass it on!
MC
MC
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Cops Under Conviction ("Convicted by Conscience")
This week's Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry/FCPO newsletter and devotional has gone out to our many worldwide subscribers but here it is again. Take the time to read not only the announcements and news but also the recap of Chaplain Jim Wattles' Bible study from last week. Click on Cops Under Conviction.
Secondly, I continue to be disturbed by an almost constant barrage of possibly well-intended but dangerous (as in eternal consequences) posts that falsely suggest that we (LEOs, first responders, military, etc.) can somehow "earn" a free-ride into heaven or out of hell by our service. Rest assured, we canNOT "badge" our way into God's house or out of our otherwise just destination (hell)! Rather, it is ONLY by repenting of our sin and entering into a life-saving/life-changing personal relationship with God in Christ that we can be saved. If you doubt that, then your argument is with God alone. See the links on the left side of this website under "Know God (AKA True Officer Safety)?"
Finally, I ask for your prayers for all those still dealing with the fallout from the Aurora theater shooting that occurred 1 year ago this weekend. Many wounds still not healed. Moreover, in speaking at a COPS (Concerns for Police Survivors) event this weekend at the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial, that point was further driven home. Let's have a Code 3 sense of urgency in sharing Christ with our own.
Church Security and Threat Conference!
Calvary Chapel Albuqueque will be hosting a Church Security and Threat Training Conference on July 23rd from 9 AM - 5 PM. Retired Albuquerque PD detective and current Calvary ABQ Dir. of Security Vince Harrison, a leading expert on church safety and security issues, will be a one of the instructors along with Dr. Larry Allen and Gil Baca, Jr.. They will be covering such topics as active shooter and knife attacks, the security role of ushers and greeters, CCW liability issues, and more. Pastors, ministry leaders, ushers, security, police and fire personnel are encouraged to attend. To register and obtain complete conference information, email Vince at vinceharrison@comcast.net or call Rachael Chance at 505-974-1730.
Stay safe -- but BOLD in Christ.
MC
Lt. Michael "MC" Williams
Director, The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
Secondly, I continue to be disturbed by an almost constant barrage of possibly well-intended but dangerous (as in eternal consequences) posts that falsely suggest that we (LEOs, first responders, military, etc.) can somehow "earn" a free-ride into heaven or out of hell by our service. Rest assured, we canNOT "badge" our way into God's house or out of our otherwise just destination (hell)! Rather, it is ONLY by repenting of our sin and entering into a life-saving/life-changing personal relationship with God in Christ that we can be saved. If you doubt that, then your argument is with God alone. See the links on the left side of this website under "Know God (AKA True Officer Safety)?"
Finally, I ask for your prayers for all those still dealing with the fallout from the Aurora theater shooting that occurred 1 year ago this weekend. Many wounds still not healed. Moreover, in speaking at a COPS (Concerns for Police Survivors) event this weekend at the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial, that point was further driven home. Let's have a Code 3 sense of urgency in sharing Christ with our own.
Church Security and Threat Conference!
Calvary Chapel Albuqueque will be hosting a Church Security and Threat Training Conference on July 23rd from 9 AM - 5 PM. Retired Albuquerque PD detective and current Calvary ABQ Dir. of Security Vince Harrison, a leading expert on church safety and security issues, will be a one of the instructors along with Dr. Larry Allen and Gil Baca, Jr.. They will be covering such topics as active shooter and knife attacks, the security role of ushers and greeters, CCW liability issues, and more. Pastors, ministry leaders, ushers, security, police and fire personnel are encouraged to attend. To register and obtain complete conference information, email Vince at vinceharrison@comcast.net or call Rachael Chance at 505-974-1730.
Stay safe -- but BOLD in Christ.
MC
Lt. Michael "MC" Williams
Director, The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
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!
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