 |
| FCPO Newsletter and Bible Study |
|
 |
|
|
The "thin blue line" covered by the blood of Christ. |
This week's newsletter and police-focused Bible study comes to you in the wake of our annual outreach mission to our own in DC during
National Police Week 2017. Here's the
after-action debrief:
First, I can't thank you enough for praying for us in this outreach -- so appreciated! We had a
great team made up of multiple officers, their spouses and supporters with law enforcement ministries from all over the U.S., all serving under the FCPO-USA banner (so grateful to all). I posted numerous pics and updates on my Facebook page ("friend" me), as did co-team leader Kevin Bernard, Rick and Kristi Neace (Badge of Hope Ministries) and others. While FCPO Board member
Jim Bontrager
(Warrior on the Wall Ministries) could not be with us physically this year, he was so in spirit and took the time to text, call, email and post: all very much needed and appreciated. Special thanks also to FCPO Executive Director
Paul Lee
for all his support, and to FCPO Board VP, Lt.
Chuck Urgo
who took the time to call and pray for us.
In addition, there are not enough good words to describe the blessing it was to once again have The Cedars in Arlington as our very special home base during Police Week (special thanks to Chaplain/Pastor Jack Crans for again arranging our stay, and to Ray and Cheryl Prosperi who were again our hosts (this precious couple just loves on us -- true blessing).
With that, our team ministered to our own on multiple fronts both in Virginia and DC during our Police Week outreach, including an exhausting but very productive (praise God) time in FOP Tent City (we were a light in what is often a very dark place). We also spent considerable time at our memorial, at our candlelight service, and what was an incredibly encouraging National Law Enforcement Memorial Service on the U.S. Capitol lawn where both the President and Vice President came out to support us in no uncertain terms (first time after nine long years under what was the most anti-law enforcement administration in our nation's history -- and many of us had "leaking eyes" under our sunglasses...).
The results? With the understanding that the vast majority of our law enforcement brethren serve without a saving faith in Christ, God enabled us to give away hundreds of Bibles, books, tracts, and other resources at our Tent City space, along with many confessions of faith and recommitments. Special kudos must also go out to Michigan's Dan Thayer and Randy Dyhloff who spearheaded our "service" duty -- hauling trash throughout Tent City. Most certainly, seeds were planted and we were able to pray openly with many hurting officers and family members (and so much more). God also allowed us to have much favor with the FOP Tent City folks (He is doing a work there, to be sure)! Kevin and I were both "walking wounded" but God gave us the strength to carry on (all Him), as He did for all our teammates.
What started three years ago with a Holy Spirit-inspired, "Code 3" sense of urgency with Jim Bontrager, Kevin Bernard and I has grown into something we can only give God credit for (He is on the move, others are catching the vision, and to Him be all the glory)! Now to recover and start praying/planning for next year!
With Police Week still very fresh, this week's Bible study ("In Valor There is Hope") is posted for you below. The Holy Spirit literally had me writing until the wee hours of the morning on this one -- I hope it blesses and challenges you (sadly, in keeping with 1 Cor. 1:18, it will also anger some who continue to wrongly insist there are multiple paths to God...please pray for them). I can't encourage you enough to open your Bibles, take it in, and then share it with others in keeping with our Great Commission mandatory "call for service" (it is not "the Great Suggestion").
And speaking of both these newsletters and
Police Week, here's our last edition if you missed it:
Spiritual Backup (and remember that I
always re-post them on our
Facebook
,
Twitter
and our
website
as well).
Note: YES, I will still be posting a recap of the message shared by Aurora PD Officer Matt Springer at our last FCPO-Aurora "cop church" fellowship -- stay tuned for NEXT week's newsletter. We are of course set to go for this week's meeting -- see the details below-right! If you're in our area, bring your spouse, invite a colleague and join us tonight at Calvary Aurora as we continue our chapter-by-chapter/verse-by-verse study through the Book of Acts (also how you can get a FREE Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry t-shirt).
Finally, and while I only ask a couple of times a year, the expense of our Police Week and other outreach efforts both locally and around the country prompts me to again humbly ask for your financial support as the Lord leads. All donations to this ministry are tax-deductible through the FCPO-USA 501(3)(c) and can be made by sending a check to The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry at P.O. Box 630854, Littleton, CO 80163. Know also that 100% of your donations will be used for police outreach. Thanks in advance (and thanks again to all who are supporting this outreach both financially and with your prayers)!
Please reach out if you need prayer or counsel (see below)!
MC
|
|
b
|
RESOURCES
The "pressing" that the Holy Spirit put on me for Police Week and this past weekend was to get of out the way and "let God." The Lord also put that on my own pastor's heart as he taught at our joint-church men's ministry breakfast at Calvary Cherry Creek this weekend. Sam Park's message, aimed directly at us guys (sorry ladies...:), is a something the Spirit has led me to share here as well. Here's "Man Up" and "The Benefits of Difficulties." You'll be blessed, encouraged and challenged.
PRAYER REQUESTS
(1) Thank you for all your prayers for FCPO outreach team during Police Week 2017. God did an amazing work (as summarized in my after-action report above)!
(2) Pray for wounded (25 surgeries from being run over in the LOD) Denver Officer John Adsit was medically retired last week. That said, I believe God will use John in mighty ways!
(3) Part of what I do in ministry is coming alongside wounded officers who come from all over the United States to Craig Hospital here in Englewood, CO. Of late, we've been doing just that with two officers who are much in need of prayer: St. Louis (MO) Officer Gary Glasby, Jr. and Wichita (KS) Officer Brian Arterburn. Please pray.
(4) We prayed for so many during our time in DC during Police Week...they could use some backup (God knows the details, just pray).
Have a prayer request or announcement you would like included here? Need prayer?
Email me
! I also post prayer requests on my Facebook page ("friend" me).
|
|
|
|
|
The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
is a FCPO-affiliated, evangelical Christian outreach to our own in law enforcement. These newsletters and Bible studies are part of this effort and past editions can be found on our
website
and on social media
(
Facebook
and
Twitter
)
pages. Feel free to adapt these messages for your own individual or group use and please share them with others.
In addition, I regularly speak at both law enforcement and civilian conferences and events around the country -- please shoot me an email if I can be of service to your church, agency or organization.
|
|
Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers
|
FCPO-USA exists to provide biblical support ("backup"), accountability and iron sharpens iron fellowship to Christian officers first in the U.S. and throughout the world as well. My chapter -- FCPO #217/-((FCPO Metro Denver and Aurora), typically meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday at Calvary Aurora (High School Room, 7 PM) for "cop church" Bible study, prayer and servant-warrior fellowship
. Spouses are both welcome and encouraged to attend with their LEO! Our next meeting is set for TONIGHT, Thursday, May 25th.
Information on the other
FCPO chapters
meeting around the country (including the new chapter here in Arvada, CO) can be found on the
Chapter Locator
pages on the
FCPO-USA
website.
|
|
|
|
s
|
In Valor There is Hope
Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD your God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
Mark 12:29-30 (added emphasis mine)
"In valor there is hope" -- inspiring words carved in granite on the cornerstones of our National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in DC.
The meaning for us as cops AND for the public we serve and protect, is that the valor demonstrated by those of us on the "thin blue line" gives hope for a safe and civilized nation. While this phrase was written by the famous Roman senator and historian Tacitus (who also wrote of our Lord's death on the cross), my call here is to present God's (biblical) perspective on both "valor" and an eternal "hope" that transcends what we do as peace officers.
Valor, valiant, and valorous are mighty and moving words. In his commentary on
Judges 6:12
(
And the angel of the LORD appeared to him [Gideon] and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor." -- added emphasis mine),
Matthew Henry wrote, "
Gideon was a man of a brave, active spirit, yet in obscurity through the times: he is here stirred up to undertake something great. It was very sure that the Lord was with him, when his Angel was with him. Gideon was weak in faith, which made it hard to reconcile the assurances of the presence of God with the distress to which Israel was brought. While God calls Gideon valiant, He makes him so even when Gideon's courage failed him."
We see this biblical understanding of God-empowered "valor" again in
Hebrews 11:32-34 where the writer describes the "heroes of the faith" who, acting under the power of God Himself, "
conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." The context is clear...none accomplished anything outside of God's strength (and not of themselves, lest they boast --
Ephesians 2:9).
The Latin root --
valere -- means to be strong, to be worthy. Therefore, "valor" means courage, fearlessness, and bravery, especially in military combat and what we do in as LEOs on the "thin blue line." It is expressive of both persons and of acts. All valorous and heroic qualities find their impetus from indwelling strength!
In the Greek Scriptures, the word "valor" is
ischaros, meaning strong and mighty (
1 John 2:14). In the Hebrew, is it repeatedly used to describe God Himself. It should, therefore, be no surprise that those who follow Him can rightly say, "
Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies" (
Psalm 60:12).
Valor is what is communicated by the word "
strength" in our main text from
Mark 12. We are to love the Lord with valorous strength and righteous might! It is this sort of fortified love for the Lord that carries the day when we fulfill our
Romans 13:4 law enforcement commission to be God's valorous "
ministers for good and a terror against evil" (doing spiritual deeds of valor under the God's power and authority).
One anonymous Christian writer put it like this: "Anyone who desires to do valiantly for His Lord and Master must first prepare his heart. No one knows when the opportunity for valor will arise, but all can be
"ready to every good work" every day (
Titus 3:1). Anyone who desires to do valiantly must martial [great word], and be willing to hazard, everything he holds dear for the cause for which he stands and for that which he loves --
with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength, withholding nothing (
Matthew 6:21
). Anyone who desires to do valorous deeds must wholly submit his interests to his one and only Master (
Matthew 6:24
)."
More? Consider just the following:
(1)
Ephesians 6:10 -- "
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
(2)
Daniel 11:32 -- "
The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits"
(3)
Psalm 18 and
Psalm 144 (and so many more).
That said, God also makes it clear in His wholly inerrant Word that unless we first know Christ as Lord and Savior, our acts of heroism and "valor" bring no lasting value or "hope" (John 3:1-21, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:21-31 and so many more).
Clearly, "our hope is found in nothing less than Jesus Christ, in righteousness.." (our Cornerstone), and unless we repent of our sin and are born again in Him (the ultimate "servant-warrior" -- Revelation 19:11-16), it is impossible for us to ever be "good" enough or have enough "valor" to have the "hope" of heaven or escape a righteous judgment in hell. So do you have that? Are you sure? Thus the Code 3 sense of urgency we took to Police Week, and why I am pleading with you now to "repent and believe" in Christ alone for your salvation.
Yet the officer seeking to rely on his/her own deeds to gain glory might bring up the other lion cornerstones at our monument: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." Who are "the righteous" of Proverbs 28:1? Ultimately ONLY those first made righteous by what Christ did for us on the cross (it is NOT for the unsaved, and not about what we do as cops unless we are first born again in Christ). Again, as with biblical valor, it is ONLY God who can make us righteous and give value to our being "bold as lions."
Others will quote John 15:3 ("Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."). Isn't that about us as cops? Nope! The passage is about Christ laying down His life for those who would "repent and believe" in Him for their salvation. Likewise, it would apply to those who are saved and then lay down their lives to bring others into the faith (as many of Jesus' followers would go on to do in being martyred for the faith).
What about "Blessed are the peacekeepers?" Uh, not in the Bible. "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9) then? Not about us as cops unless it is Christian officers sharing the the peace found ONLY in a right relationship with God in Christ.
Is it right to remember our honored dead? To support the many more who sustain horrendous, career-ending injuries in the line of duty? Absolutely! But "Valhalla" is a pagan myth and Islam teaches a false theology that one can achieve heaven by slaying the "infidel" (anyone outside of Islam -- including Christians). Rather, God's desire is that "
none should perish" in hell (
2 Peter 3:9), but it comes with the imperative that there is
ONLY one way we can be saved (
John 14:6). Do you have that? Do you truly know Christ as Lord and Savior? You can! Consider the following:
(1) Jesus' first words in His earthly ministry were: "
Repent and believe in the Good News
" (
Mark 1:15
). To
repent
is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates our sin. To
believe
as God intends it to
completely and radically surrender to Him in
faith
("believe" and "faith" have the same Greek root meaning) in the same way you have faith that your body armor will stop the rounds it is designed to stop or that a skydiver's parachute will open (we stake our lives on it)! Moreover, the words repent and believe are literally two sides of the same coin in meaning and intent.
(2) In
John 3:1-21, Jesus said, "...
you must be born again." Note our Lord's emphasis on
must (not "may" or "should"): this is the
life-saving/life-changing personal relationship (not "religion") with Christ that I stress so often. See
What does it mean to be a born again Christian.
Then see:
(a) Take the
Good Person Test
and see how you do (as shown in this study, you can't ever be "good" enough without Christ). Then go to...
Only "in Christ" can we truly serve with the kind of
valor that brings an eternal
hope! Turn to Him in faith today! Amen?
MC
|
| f` |
|
|
|
|
|
|
