The CENTURION Law Enforcement Ministry: New Newsletter Format

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

New Newsletter Format

This week's newsletter is our first using the Constant Contact format. Hopefully, this eliminate some of the SPAM, scam and other email issues I've been having with Yahoo (no, I'm not again stranded in Scotland). If you wish to opt out from receiving the newsletters or if it was sent to you in error, please shoot me an email to thecenturionministry@yahoo.com and I'll remove you forthwith.

The Latest Prayer Requests & Announcements are posted and updated regularly here on our website (scroll down). Please take the time to be review and join us in praying for our own.

Denver-Area Meeting News

Don't forget that -- as announced -- there is NO MEETING tomorrow night (1/26/2012). The Denver-area meeting schedules are of course posted at the top-left here on our website. We'll be back on February 2nd at Calvary South Denver (www.calvarycsd.org) in Littleton starting at 7 PM -- probably in the High School Room (all the way in the back past the main sanctuary). Bring your spouse and invite a colleague!

Update on Diana

Thanks to all who have been praying for Diana reference her recent surgery. Praise God, the procedure went well and she is now recovering at home (keep the prayers coming).

Message RECAP: Cops Bold as Lions

Last week I concluded our current 3-part mini-series with a message I entitled "Cops Bold as Lions." The National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC has a panel below a statue of a lion bearing the words of Proverbs 28:1 -- The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion. In fact, there is a pic posted here on our website (scroll down to bottom) of me standing beside that very portion of our wall. So how does this apply to us as both peace officers and Christians? In the original Hebrew, this passage comes alive in a way that just can't be matched in English.

-- Wicked: The word is an adjective in the Hebrew - rasha - and means guilty (as of a crime); hostile towards God; guilty of sin against man or God.

-- Flee: Literally means to be hide; fearful escape (as if running from the police).

-- Righteous: Just; make right, lawful. How? The ONLY way we can be made righteous is by being in a right relationship with God in Christ and NOT through our service as LEOs.

-- Bold (specifically "are bold" - batach in the Hebrew): confident, unwavering trust. The Hebrew connotation is also chazaq, meaning "mighty", "strong" (see below). How? True biblical boldness comes by the power of the Holy Spirit and not of ourselves.

-- Lion (specifically "as a lion" - kĕphiyr in the Hebrew): like a young lion among defenseless sheep.

So here's the gist: God is calling EVERY believer to boldness in Christ. Bold in serving our families and spouses, bold in how we serve and protect as cops, bold in sharing the Gospel and plan of salvation with others, and bold in our worship and devotion to our King. As true believers (those born again and made right through a personal relationship with God in Christ), we can also live boldly without fear inasmuch as there is NOTHING the "world" can do to separate us from our eternal destiny with the Lord.

Some of the primary passages of Scripture concerning being bold in the power of our Lord include but are by no means limited to Joshua 1, Joshua 10:21-27 and Ephesians 6:10-20. In addition, study 1 Chronicles 28:20; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 4:13; and 2 Timothy 2:1 (among others).

The conclusion of this mini-series is this: God is calling -- commanding -- us to be overcoming. radical and bold followers of Christ as opposed to lukewarm (Revelation 3:16), pew-warming, mediocre make-believers. To use the line from Courageous (now out on DVD and Blu-Ray), "Where are you men of courage?" Where indeed! I encourage you to review the following links that will pull this series together for you. Rak Chazak, my fellow servant-warriors!

See:
(1) The Ancient War Cry by Eric Ludy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XKSV9sKr8w
(2) Real Christianity! www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZByA0bFoNU&feature=share

That's it for this week folks! Let me know what you think of our new format and know your ideas, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Be safe but bold in Christ.

Denver-Area Meeting Schedules

* Please check back frequently for the latest updates!

-- Thursday, March 1st, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver in Littleton (http://www.calvarycsd.org/ for directions). Jim Wattles will be teaching!

-- Thursday, March 8th: TBD (stay tuned for details)

-- Thursday, March 15th: Calvary AURORA (in Aurora, CO), 7:00 PM, Rooms 138/139 in the school area off the cafe'. http://www.calvaryaurora.org/ for directions.

-- Thursday, March 22nd, 7:00 PM, Calvary South Denver in Littleton. Officer Rob Parks of the Denver Police Department will be sharing his testimony and a message on "Cops & Marriage." Join us!

-- Thursday, March 29th: NO MEETING (we typically take the 5th Thursday of a month off).

_______________

In addition:

(1) A number of us participate and serve at the Tuesday night service ("TRUTH" service) held at Calvary South Denver in Littleton starting at 7:00 PM. We are currently working through the Book of Revelation. Bring your spouse and invite a colleague to join us for this unique and powerful time of worship, "no holds barred" teaching of God's Word and fellowship. Pastor Sam will also end each service with an invitation to repent and accept Christ as Lord and Savior -- thus a great op to invite your unsaved friends, colleagues and family members!

(2) Officers are meeting for Bible study at Brooklyn's near Invesco Field each Tuesday at 1230 and at the DIA chapel each Saturday AM. Contact Mark Roggeman at MRoggeman@aol.com for more info.

TCLEM Mission Statement

The mission of The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry (TCLEM), is to educate law enforcement officers (police, deputies, troopers, investigators, parole/probation, corrections, military, etc.) about God's unique call on their lives as outlined in God's word (Bible) and to lead officers and their families to a saving knowledge of and close personal relationship with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Through same, we also seek to positively impact our profession by raising up Christian servant-leaders and reduce our historically high rates of divorce, alcoholism, depression, suicide and related issues.

Law enforcement is a God-ordained ministry of service and protection for our society as outlined in the Bible in Romans 13. Inasmuch as our very authority as peace officers is given to us by God, TCLEM seeks to affirm our calling as servant-warriors ("sheepdogs") and leaders while at the same time developing the our spiritual, family and personal lives through Bible study, peer fellowship, and group accountability along with active involvement in a solid Christ-centered/Bible-based church. We also seek to infuse our profession with godly leaders who will in fact LEAD (aks "servant") from a biblical world view.

What We Believe (Statement of Faith)

(1) WE BELIEVE the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's sacrificial agape love, which is greater than any secondary differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

(2) WE BELIEVE in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity as detailed in God's word (Bible).

(3) WE BELIEVE the sixty-six books of the Bible (i.e. Old and New Testament) comprise the totality of Holy Scripture and is inerrant in the original text, and remains inerrant, inspired, and infallible in all its substance, and therefore, it is the supreme and final authority in faith, theology, and life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, 89, 105.

(4) WE BELIEVE that our Lord has called us to share the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life and, in particular as it relates to our service in the God-ordained calling of law enforcement. We also believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.

(5) WE BELIEVE there is only One true, eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and is worthy of worship and obedience. Deut. 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31, Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20, Rev. 4:11.

(6) WE BELIEVE in one God who is Creator of heaven and earth, Spirit, personal, transcendent, sovereign, life, love, truth, almighty, simple (i.e. one without parts), timelessly eternal, unchangeable, wise, just, holy, relational, dynamic and infallible in all things.

(7) WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, possessing two distinct natures which are co-joined in one person, that He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless and miraculous life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious substitutionary death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, physically ascended back to the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and lives to make intercession for us. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today. John 1:1-3,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11.

(8) WE BELIEVE that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered as a gift by the Lord Jesus Christ to all based on His grace alone. When a person sincerely repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, changed, and destined to spend eternity with the Lord. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
(9) WE BELIEVE in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today, and should be exercised within scriptural guidelines, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9,11; Titus 3:5.

(10) WE BELIEVE in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe that the physical second coming of Christ with His saints to rule on the earth will be personal, premillennial, and visible. This motivates us to holy living, heart-felt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship, and participation in the two ordinances the Lord gave the church - adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion. Revelation 3:10, Thessalonians 5:9.

(11) WE BELIEVE there is a real personal devil of great evil, cunning, and power, who seeks to tempt, kill, steal, and destroy, yet his power is limited by God to only what God permits him to do; that the devil has been defeated positionally at the cross of Christ, and will be defeated practically at Christ's glorious second coming which will ultimately eventuate in the quarantine and punishment of the Satan (aka the Devil, Beast, and False Prophet, etc.) in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone where they will be tormented day and night forever (what has been traditionally called "Hell"). Luke 10:18; Matthew 4:10; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11, etc.

(12) WE BELIEVE that our Lord is clear that there is ONLY ONE WAY to Christ and that is through a life-changing personal relationship with the Risen Savior. Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life. The way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Intellectual acceptance of Christ is not enough. You must come to him determined to turn from what displeases him, with a total trust in Christ's saving power for you.

Are you ready to receive Christ today? If so, right where you are you can pray something like this: "Lord, I know that I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the dead. I invite you into my life to be my Lord and Savior."

If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. It's the greatest discovery you will ever make!

Donate to TCLEM/FCPO?

We do accept donations to support our ministry and outreach, including but not limited to leading officers to Christ, support for wounded officers; "officer down" outreach; chaplain and counseling services; speaking engagements; website expenses; ministry apparel, etc. Donations can be made out to The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry and/or FCPO-Denver and mailed to

P.O. Box 630854
Littleton, CO 80163

Donations are tax-deductible through our affiliation with the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers 501(3)(c). That said, support your church first...and then donate if the Holy Spirit inspires you to do so. Thanks in advance for your support.