Retired on Duty (ROD) Christianity

Reference last week’s newsletter and the topic of church shootings, check out Bradley County (TN) Sheriff Tim Gobble’s response to the latest church shooting:
http://www.policelink.com/news/43236-tennessee-sheriff-creating-special-church-deputies. Tim is a strong believer and is thinking “outside the box” in this regard. As stated previously, going to church with your family is NOT an excuse to stop being a sheepdog. Just carry!

On that subject, we’ll conclude our look at the concept of self-defense (public safety) and our Christian walk this Saturday (0900, Calvary Chapel South Denver in Littleton – http://www.calvarycsd.org/ for directions. Note that the CCSD Men’s Breakfast will be going on at the same time we’ll probably meet in one of the classrooms). Last week we introduced this topic by taking a quick look at the “turning the other cheek” concept and contrasting it with our Lord’s conversation about taking up the sword (see Luke 22:36-38). We will dig deeper into this concept on Saturday and in particular how it relates to what we do as God’s peace officers.


PRAYER REQUESTS!! I’ve received a plethora of prayer requests this week and ask that you join us in lifting up our brothers and sisters (as always, send me your prayer requests and I’ll post them here as appropriate):

(1) FPD Chief Dave Gottschalk’s dad, a true warrior, is back in the hospital and is undergoing tests for colon cancer while at the same time battling cancer in general. I don’t know if he knows Christ as Savior but I hope to visit him soon and share the Gospel with him. Keep him and the entire Gottschalk family in your prayers.
(2) Pray for a Black Hawk PD dispatcher (Suzie) who was (a) recently burglarized and (b) is scheduled for cancer surgery later this month. Suzie is a huge supporter of law enforcement and a very solid Christian. She has had a very tough time of late and could really use our prayers and support.
(3) Pray for the young daughter (Shelby) of DOR Criminal Investigator Joe Kelley. She has a serious kidney infection and may be facing surgery.
(4) Pray for West Metro Fire Investigator (peace officer) Paul Russell and his colleagues as they investigate the explosion/fire that has been in the news of late. Two lives were lost and another is in serious jeapardy.
(5) Continue to pray for Kathy Allerton and the whole Allerton family ref. Mike’s death last month (see previous newsletters and/or http://www.thecenturionlawenforcementministry.org/)
(6) Pray for an Arapahoe County S.O. deputy who is seeking similar LE employment in CA where he is moving due to family considerations. While you’re at it, pray for me (God will) as I’ll be interviewing for a transfer position this Friday.
(7) I’ve been contacted by the wife of a new officer who recently graduated from the academy and is already drifting into some of the all-too-familiar traps that are endemic in our profession (less time at home, more time at “choir practice” with his LE buds, less and less time with God, etc.). She is also undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Please keep BOTH this sister and brother in your prayers. They have young kids as well.
(8) Continue to be in prayer for this country and our leadership. Here is a really cool website on this topic with great “food for thought:” http://usawakeup.org/movies.htm. That said, please – for God’s sake – make an informed decision this November.

Do you need prayer? Email or call (720-371-1022) and I’ll be happy to pray with and for you. Just need to talk? Same thing!

Finally, I need to mention something that recent events have once again brought to the forefront. Folks, you can’t be a “half-way” or “laid back” Christian. God wants us to be sold out for Him. Our Lord didn’t do anything half-way. In fact, His Word tells us that he detests the kind of laid back “Christianity” that is the “norm” for many of us (and especially so in the law enforcement profession): Revelation 3: 14-19 reads (in part), “You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of My mouth. For you say 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." What’s frightening about this statement is that most people in this world who call themselves “Christians” are in fact “lukewarm.” Yes, we might go to church on Sundays, make an appearance, and think to ourselves, hey, I don’t sell drugs, I haven’t killed anybody, I never robbed a bank, I even give to charities, I’m a cop…etc. Bottom line is that being a half-way, “laid back” (aka “RETIRED ON DUTY”) about anything, especially our job and our faith, simply won’t cut it. On the contrary, we are called to excellence in ALL we do (meaning that being “cold” won’t cut it either). Won’t that make me some kind of “Jesus freak?!” I would certainly hope so! When we stand before our Lord we should in fact hope that we are what the “world” calls a “Jesus freak” and can hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)

So how can we change from “lukewarm” to being “on fire” before Christ spits you out (on your way to Hell)? If you don’t know Christ as Savior, then NOW is the time to change that. If you DO know him as Lord, then perhaps you need to recommit your life to Him. So how can we turn it around? Confess that you are need of salvation, that you believe in Jesus, that you regret your sins, and that you want His salvation, and you will receive life’s biggest treasure - eternal life in Heaven (not to mention the peace and joy of a life in Christ while here on Earth). If you already know Him, then ask him to forgive you for being “lukewarm” (and your sins in general) and to rekindle the fire you had when you first came to Christ. If it helps, these are the kinds of things that I said when I asked Jesus for salvation: "Jesus, I am a sinner. I ask You to forgive me of every sin I have committed throughout my life. I know You are the Son of God, and I need You, Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Come into my life Jesus, and make me one of Your own."

More? Check out the POFCI link http://www.pofci.org/knowJesus.htm (also on our website).

Nuf said for now. Stay safe and hope to see my locals on Saturday.