David, Goliath and You

So important that we get this right (the David and Goliath story is often misapplied).  

David, Goliath and YOU.

MC

Warriors for Christ

 Understanding our wholly biblical servant-WARRIOR ethos and calling:  "Warriors for Christ."

A Warrior's Training

May 21st Centurion newsletter and Bible study:   A Warrior's Training

Understanding and Embracing Our Servant-Warrior Ethos

No stinkin "guardian" mess here.  UNDERSTANDING OUR SERVANT-WARRIOR ETHOS.

MC

The Lion and the Lamb

God has so much for us in this message.  Do you understand that our King -- and our example -- is both the fierce Lion of Judah and the sacrificial Lamb of God who laid down His life for you and I?  Can't encourage you enough to open your Bible (and your heart) and dig into "The Lion and the Lamb."

MC

The Crucible

Here's the August 1st edition:  The Crucible.

MC

A Cop's (Warrior's) Father's Day

This study is applicable to not only those of us serving in law enforcement but father's in general: A Cop's (Warrior/Sheepdog) Father's Day.  Pass it on.

MC

A Chrstian Warrior's Body Armor

Here's the newsletter from the 1st week of May: A Christian Warrior's Body Armor.  Pass it on!

MC

Embracing Our Warrior Ethos in an Age of Guardians

While email or friending me on social media is still the best way to get these newsletters and police-focused Bible studies, I always post them here as well. Accordingly, here's "Embracing Our Servant-Warrior Ethos in an Age of Guardians." Timely to be sure.

MC

God's Armor-Bearer

Here again is our most recent newsletter and Bible study -- "God's Armor-Bearer."

MC

Embracing Our Servant-Warrior Ethos

Here's last week's Centurion/FCPO newsletter and Bible study -- "Embracing Our Servant-Warrior Ethos." This week's will go out via email as usual and then later posted here as well.

Be safe out there.

MC

The Warrior God Uses

This went out last week to our emamil subscribers (FREE) and on our social media feeds but here again is "The Warrior God Uses." Is that you? It can be -- it should be!

Let's get in the fight behind Christ our Captain!

MC

Servant, Warrior, Leader

As before, this week's newsletter and Bible study has been posted on our social media (Facebook and Twitter pages) and has gone out to our worldwide list of email subscribers (FREE). However, for those who may have missed it or want to pass it on, here again is "Servant, Warrior, Leader". Special thanks to Pat Welsh!

MC

Servant, Warrior, Leader

As before, this week's newsletter and Bible study has been posted on our social media (Facebook and Twitter pages) and has gone out to our worldwide list of email subscribers (FREE). However, for those who may have missed it or want to pass it on, here again is "Servant, Warrior, Leader". Special thanks to Pat Welsh!

MC

Warriors or Guardians -- A Biblical Perspective

This week's newsletter and Bible study has FINALLY gone out to our email subscribers and is also posted on my Facebook and Twitter pages. However, here it is in this format as well. Take the time to check out "Warriors or Guardians? -- A Biblical Perspective" and then (1) pass it on and (2) let me know your thoughts. Special thanks to Jim Glennon, Travis Yates, Charlie Eipper and Lt. Col. Dave Grossman for their inspiration and input (thanking the Holy Spirit most of all).

Let's be safe on the street but bold in Christ!

MC

The Fallen Warrior

Sorry for the delay in posting this week's newsletter (away on vacation) but the best way to receive it is to sign up to get in via email (FREE). Regardless, here's "The Fallen Warrior." Special thanks to Marc Crawford of Bearing the Sword ministry for this week's Bible study.

PASS IT ON!

MC

"Warrior-Servant-Leader"

This week's newsletter and Bible study has gone out to our world-wide readership via email (FREE to sign up) but here it is again: "Warrior-Servant-Leader." In addition to our study, please take the time to review the announcements, prayer requests, and more. I have also updated the meeting schedules ('eyes left/scroll down").

Let's be safe on the streets but BOLD in Christ.

MC

Staying the Course and Finishing Strong

Greetings Fellow Warriors!

Right off (for my locals and visitors), don’t forget that there is NO MEETING tomorrow (Thursday, 031810). We’ll be back next week and don’t forget that I’ll have a special Easter message at our pre-Easter meeting on April 1st (no kidding). Check the schedule posted last week and next week’s newsletter for more -- and remember that our own Matt Wallenburg is back to open our meetings with some outstanding worship music (vital).

Speaking of meetings, we had a excellent turnout last Thursday as we explored the leadership style of Barnabas as detailed in Acts (4:36-37; 9:27; 11:24) and elsewhere in the New Testament. Tradition says that Barnabas was one of the seventy whom Jesus sent out in pairs "as lambs among wolves" into every city (Luke 10:1-24). That same passage reveals that the concept of delegation in leadership is passed down to us from our Lord Jesus Christ, who the tells us in verse 19, “Behold, I give you AUTHORITY to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall be any means hurt you.” (Note: “serpents and scorpions” is figurative for demonic powers – see Romans 16:20).

In truth, one of the greatest issues we deal with today in terms of those in positions of authority is a lack of leadership in the area of delegation. Those with the inability to delegate tend to be the insecure micromanagers that are the bane of all in our profession. By contrast, in Barnabas we have an example of a leader secure enough in his own capabilities and in his relationship with the Lord to encourage and empower others to act in his name. In fact, Barnabas’s name is literally translated “Son of Encouragement.”

So what kind of leader do you want? What kind of leader are you? Encourager/delegator or micromanager? Col. Ray Fairman writes, “The Lord sent seventy laborers out and told them they were as sheep among wolves, but most importantly he delegated an authority in Luke 10 verse 19 commensurate with the responsibility He placed upon them. Will He do any less for you? I think not. Therefore, can you do any less for those whom you lead? Again I think not!”

Let’s be the kind of leaders that God has called us to be and that we want ourselves! Ray’s complete chapter on The Art of Delegation can be found at http://www.rayfairman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=9.

Speaking of LEADERSHIP and true Christian servant-leaders in law enforcement:

Tulsa PD Captain Travis Yates of 10-4 Ministries (http://www.tenfourministries.org/) has put together a short “must see” video for all law enforcement officers. The video also serves as a great template for Christian officers to share their faith with their fellow warriors. Travis also speaks the TRUTH: that we in this profession must still come to Christ like anyone else in order to be saved. Our profession and service does NOT save us. ONLY a right relationship with the risen Savior can save us!
See Law Enforcement: The Best News You Could Hear at:
http://thecenturionpapers.blogspot.com/2010/03/law-enforcement-best-news-you-could.html or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J6dqrOjCks. TRUTH!


Author seeks YOUR stories for upcoming book:

From Police Chaplain Grant Wolf in reference to the book he’s writing with YOUR input:

“As of today, March 16, I have completed 200 stories. The first 100 took 50 days, the second took 25! Wow! Now it’s on to 300 and then to completion. Once more I’m asking for your help!
(1) Please continue putting the word out to all you know. I have about 25 stories yet to be edited, but need 140 in addition to those. “Keep those cards and letters coming, folks!”
(2) If you have additional stories, please send them on.
(3) Believe it or not, I’m not getting tired of doing this. My back and neck get tired, but reading and editing your stories is ever-new. I know there are thousands of good stories out there “among the troops,” but some are too shy to make it happen.
Thank you again for all you have done and are doing to make this book a reality. If I can finish by late April/early May, it will be on the shelves late this year in time for the reader to begin January 1."

Grant will edit, amend or clean up rough drafts. Just send in your 1 page story.
Grant can be contacted at police_stories@yahoo.com.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

(1) Pray for a Grand Junction PD officer suffering from some ongoing health issues. Pray also for a Western Slope colleague who is battling cancer.
(2) ANSWERED PRAYER/Praise Report(!): Las Vegas Metro PD Lt. Christopher Hoye has been nominated to become the next U.S. Marshal for Nevada. Pray that his confirmation goes smoothly. Chris is a committed Christian and outstanding servant-leader.
(3) Five year-old Tayler Ellison, daughter of Englewood PD Ofc. Shane Ellison, continues to improve and has completed her treatment for brain cancer (praise God). She has an MRI next Wednesday -- pray it comes back clear. This little girl displays a true warrior’s attitude and spirit. I’ll keep you posted.
(4) Pray for a Mountie (RCMP) who is facing some tough hurdles as he fights a false charge against him (justice, truth, etc.). Ask God to fight the battle for him and that justice will prevail.
(5) POLICE LAYOFFS: Pray for those of us all around the country facing pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs in this difficult economy. Pray especially for the Colorado Springs PD as they are in a “world of hurt” financially and may be laying off a bunch.
(6) Pray for a local officer threatened with dismissal from his agency by leadership that prefers RODs ("Retired on Duty" officers) to those willing to get into the fight and lead from the front.
(7) Pray for another officer who lost his full-time position and benefits. He needs discipline and guidance with his family's finances and God's help in getting on with another agency.
(8) Pray for me as I will be speaking and teaching at a conference this weekend.

Folks, let’s “Run to the Battle” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL7cL_p5_84) and lead – truly LEAD – from the front with Christ as our Captain (Joshua 5:13-15). Until next week…let's stay the course and finish strong!

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!