Peace Officers for Christ International Peacemakers' Journal - September 1994

My wife still reminds me that when I visited her after the birth of each of our five children and brought her a gift, none could match the clock radio I presented her upon the birth of our son - our only son. David was the middle child - two older and two younger sisters. From the time he was a child, he demonstrated seemingly tireless intensity in the things he attempted. Fulfillment came twenty-four years later upon graduation from the Police Academy in Waterville, Maine.

A "P.K." ("Preacher's Kid"), David endeavored to please his dad and struggled with a vocation choice - thinking he might not please dad if he didn't become a pastor or missionary himself. If law enforcement was God's will for his life, the encouragement from dad was for him to become the best police officer possible...and he was, but only for two years. Just a month before his twenty- seventh birthday, on a hot, humid Saturday afternoon, David's life on earth came to an abrupt close - ambushed and gunned down by someone he was trying to help. With one hour to go on a double shift he was working for fellow officers, David again unselfishly demonstrated his tireless energy by responding to a reported accident call to assist two other officers in their reports and investigation.

Only One Son...

Officer David R. Payne fulfilled the purpose to which the Lord had called him, and was promoted on July 23rd, 1988. Over nine hundred law enforcement officers, plus another thousand relatives, friends, and others heard a clear presentation of the Gospel during the Memorial Service. Truly, David was also a missionary!

The tears of family and friends, including those of a young widow and two small children, cannot change what has transpired, but David did leave a legacy that is irreplaceable. Countless numbers have heard that God had only one Son also.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to die because of God's love and because of our sin. Yes, God did so love the world that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish, but would have everlasting life...John 3:16.

Only one son...his life given - so that others may live. God's Only Son... His life given so that you may live eternally - 1 John 5:11-13. Do you know the "peace with God" Romans 5:1 speaks about?

"Dad" Payne
2 Timothy 1:12

Are you a peace officer who is unsure of where you will spend eternity? Would you like to be sure? You can be! But you must first acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You must repent of your sin. "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins." (Ecclesiastes. 7:20). Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross so that your sins may be forgiven. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7). You must trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Ask Jesus into your life now. Pray this prayer.

"Dear Lord, I realize that I am a sinner, I have tried to live my life without you, but I no longer want to live that way. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and that he rose again on the third day. I acknowledge that Jesus is the Only Way to eternal life. Lord, forgive me of my sins. Come into my life, change my heart, and make me into the person you want me to be. Amen."

If you prayed that prayer and would like counseling on how to further your relationship with Jesus Christ, give us a call at (714) 426-7632.

David Payne's story has been printed in tract form and has been used effectively as an evangelistic tool. If you would like copies of this tract, please contact us at POFC and we'll send them out to you.

Ray and Barb Payne, the parents of Patrol Officer, David Payne, are presently involved in ministry with the law enforcement community, supporting grieving parents, spouses and families, as well as co-workers and departments. Since their son's death, the Payne's have dedicated their lives to "being there" - at police funerals, memorials and other times of need. The Payne's can be contacted through their web site, OnlyOneSon.org

David Payne - Eow July 23, 1988

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Dave McDowell

I was pulling into the driveway recently in our Honda when Kristina (7 years old) looked down at the floor and said, "Daddy, why do you have your 'staff with you?" Kristina had just noticed that I had left my PR-24 baton on the floor. I usually change at work, but the night before I had come home in my uniform and had put the baton (now a "staff") on the floor.

When I finished laughing with Kristina, I thought of Isaiah where it says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6a). I need a Shepherd! Someone to guide me in the right direction. The analogy is of the Lord guiding and protecting us with His rod and staff. (Many times I am sure He thinks my baton would get my attention faster). I also thought of Psalm 23:4 which says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Our God is truly a source of comfort and encouragement!

It is our prayer that this issue of the Peacemakers Journal will be a source of comfort and encouragement to you and your family. We receive mail from all over the United States and a growing number of letters from overseas. One common theme is that all of you who have written, comment on the fact that this is a much needed and vital ministry. A testimony that we recently learned of illustrates that. A Deputy Sheriff shared the July issue of Peacemakers' Journal with a co-worker who, after reading the story of Chaplain Bruce Bryan, gave her life to Christ! Thank you for your encouragement and please continue to pray!

Peace Officers For Christ International is expanding on several fronts. Many new Bible studies have begun and hundreds of new officers have been contacted. Pastors and churches have joined us in ministry, which will result in officers and their families becoming involved in local congregations. If that is not exciting enough, you will read in this issue's "Around the World" column, that doors have opened for ministry to police officers in other countries as well. We have been invited to participate in a World Law Enforcement Conference in Caracas, Venezuela, November 7-11, 1994!

Many officers, pastors, police chaplains, and laymen have a vision for this ministry. Our desire is to be an encouragement to you as we develop relationships with many who will become Regional Representatives for POFC. Good advice was recently received from Pastor Ray Payne in New York. In Ray's last newsletter, which is an outreach to the law enforcement community, he noted, "God promises to comfort us so that we may become comforters, not so much that we may become comfortable."

You may be starting with only a few officers or families who are interested in meeting for Bible studies and fellowship. Do not be concerned with quantity; the Lord will bring increase to His ministry in His timing! In his book, "The Quest For Character." Pastor Charles Swindoll sums it up best with his definition of vision.

"Vision. It is essential for survival. It is spawned by faith, sustained by hope, sparked by imagination and strengthened by enthusiasm. It is greater than sight, deeper than a dream, broader than an idea. Vision encompasses vast vistas outside the realm of the predictable, the safe, the expected. No wonder we perish without it! Ask God to stretch your vision today... to encourage you with visionary plans as you walk in His presence."

ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME
By Rich Pieniaszek

I gazed at the ribbon of highway that spread out before me. From where I was parked, tucked away on an unused portion of Phillips Road, I had a commanding view of the State route for several miles north and south of my position. In the short time I had been working in the Mojave area, it had become my favorite spot for spying out speeding cars. I had recently transferred to Mojave from the Central Los Angeles area. "What a difference," I thought to myself: from the incessant radio traffic and grid locked freeways of Los Angeles to the wide open Mojave desert and little, if any, radio traffic. In fact, the first week after my transfer, I was positive that the radio in my patrol car was defective and I was constantly adjusting the knobs to see if it was working. Finally, I accepted the fact that things weren't as hectic out here in the "Boonies" as they were in downtown Los Angeles.

Things were really different. The people were different; more friendly and outgoing. They even got to know you by name, something that rarely happened in L.A. At first it was difficult for me to accept the friendly "locals." Indeed, the first time one of them waved at me, I thought the guy was making the familiar obscene middle-fingered salute commonly used in Los Angeles. But as I became accustomed to the slower pace of the High Desert, I began to relish the idea of being out there.

I had transferred to the Mojave area to cut down on my commuting time. I had moved to Lancaster four years earlier, drawn by the affordable housing and clean air. There were no openings available at the California Highway Patrol's Lancaster office and the next closest was the Mojave office. After commuting to Los Angeles for 3 1 /2 years, I was grateful for the 25 minute drive to work instead of the 90 minute grind to Los Angeles.

Today had started like all the others since my transfer. After dressing in the locker room and listening to a short, informal briefing, it was off to "White's Cafe" for coffee with two of the officers who worked the day shift with me. This would be our last chance to get together and chat before hitting the road. The Mojave area was large and the chances of seeing your co-workers during the shift were slim. I enjoyed the conversation, even though I still felt like the new guy in the office. After a couple cups of coffee, and seeing the desert heat shimmering off the cafe parking lot, I told the others, "Well guys, it looks like it's going to be another hot one. I think I'll get out of here and try to get some activity before the road melts. " With that, I paid for the coffee and walked out into the sunshine.

Leaving the cafe, I got lucky right off the bat. I had pulled out onto State Route 14 behind a car that had expired registration. After completing that citation, I chanced into a stop sign violation and then another registration "pinch". Things were going well when I snagged a speeder as I was heading out of town towards Red Rock Canyon. With four tickets in the bag, I was feeling good. I was looking forward to doing some exploring today. I had worked this beat a few times before and had found a "Cherry Patch" on Phillips Road. But there were other side roads that begged to be explored and I intended on doing just that. Besides, I needed to become more familiar with the roads throughout my beat, not just the main State Route. If I ever had a pursuit or other emergency to respond to, it would be nice to know the layout and conditions of the other roadways.

I listened to the silence as I sat in the patrol car on Phillips Road - like a spider waiting for its prey. The silence was overwhelming in a way, but I liked it. I liked the openness of the desert and the feeling of being truly alone. Working by yourself was best because you only had yourself to blame if something went wrong. Conversely, if things went right, you got all the glory. I was confident in my abilities as a Highway Patrolman.

I had been a "Road Cop" my entire career and had handled situations ranging from delivering a baby on the freeway to talking a tormented man from ending his life by jumping from an overpass. I had arrested hundreds of drunk drivers, worked several hundred traffic collisions, and provided assistance to thousands of stranded motorists during this time, not to mention the too- numerous- to- count traffic citations I had written. All in all, I felt that I could handle whatever came down, no matter what it was.

I looked out at the foothills to the west and saw the beauty of Red Rock Canyon. Although I didn't consider myself a religious man, I did believe in God, and after seeing the beauty of Red Rock Canyon, I had no difficulty believing that God was a Master Creator. The red- rimmed canyon walls were much too gorgeous and intricate to ever have been conceived by a mere mortal.

Today was perfect. The air was pristine, the sky was cloudless, and the temperature was steadily rising, but still tolerable. It was not yet 10:00 A.M. and I already had four tickets. As I scanned the highway, looking for traffic violators, I saw a couple of cars running about 65. But that was not good enough. I had a self-imposed speed limit of 70 MPH. Although the speed limit was 55 MPH, I didn't feel right in citing anyone doing under 70, especially considering how wide open it was out here. Then, out on the periphery of my vision, I spotted a shiny reflection coming north. "Looks good," I thought. "Maybe 70 or 75." The reflection soon began to take on the distinctive shape of a Porsche. As the silver colored car drew closer, I revised my speed estimate to 80 MPH.

After the Porsche crossed in front of me, I started to accelerate west along Phillips Road. Before reaching the intersection, I scanned the highway for cross-traffic. Finding it clear, I turned north onto State Route 14, the rear tires chirping in protest. The rear of the patrol car began to slide and lose traction. I eased up on the throttle and the skid ceased. "Easy, Big Guy," I thought to myself. "Number five isn't going to get away,"

I accelerated to 110 to close the gap between me and the Porsche. The adrenaline was pumping and I felt totally alive. When I'd closed the distance to half a mile behind the Porsche, I started my odometer clock. It was an effective way to clock speed in the desert and I had gotten good at it. I cut my speed to 80 and watched the Porsche as it entered the next curve. I noted my odometer reading as 4.2. I was only concerned with the last two numbers on the odometer. Continuing north at 80 MPH, I checked my odometer as I reached the same curve. I saw that it read 4.6. Subtracting the two numbers, I determined that I was 4/10ths of a mile behind the Porsche. I continued north to the next checkpoint. When the Porsche crossed a bridge that straddled a small arroyo, I consulted my odometer again and noted that the numbers read 6.1. When I reached the bridge myself, I saw that the odometer read 6.5. I was still 4/10ths of a mile behind the Porsche. The distance between our cars remained the same, so my estimate of the Porsche's speed was correct.

To make absolutely certain of the speed, one more check was necessary. I was ready to make the stop now, but if the ticket were contested, two checks usually eliminated all of a judge's doubt. After reaching the third checkpoint, and finding the 4/10ths of a mile gap between us remaining, I was all set to make the stop. I stomped on the gas pedal and accelerated to 120 MPH, closing in on the Porsche. When I was about a tenth of a mile behind him, I turned on my red spotlight and my flashing high beams to get the driver's attention. I slowed my patrol car back down to 80 MPH and got about 150 feet behind the Porsche. The driver did not respond to my red lights and continued north at 80 MPH, oblivious to my presence behind him. After traveling another half mile, I turned on my siren. A couple of seconds later, the driver of the Porsche looked up at his rearview mirror and immediately hit his brakes. I had anticipated his reaction and was already on my brakes too. The Porsche slowed and moved onto the dirt shoulder of the highway. I positioned my patrol car behind the Porsche thinking, "Not only did I get an odometer clock of 80 MPH, I even got a bumper pace at the same speed." This guy must have been daydreaming or something. I looked at my watch and noted that the time was 10:20. "Well," I thought, "plenty of time left to explore. Let's scratch out this ticket real quick and get to it."

I got out of the patrol car, crossed behind the Porsche, and approached the opened right side window. This was the standard right side approach that I used on traffic stops, a habit ingrained in me while working the freeways in downtown Los Angeles. There were no wide shoulders on the L.A. freeways and left side approaches made you fair game for becoming a hood ornament on someone's car. Evidently the Porsche driver didn't see me cross to the right side of his car as he was gazing out the left side window awaiting my appearance. After watching the perplexed driver for a couple of seconds, and scanning the interior of the car for contraband, I politely cleared my throat to let him know where I was. As he turned to look at me, I felt the hairs at the back of my neck begin to rise. A chill ran down my spine as a voice inside me said, "Watch your back. This guy is bad news."

Although the man looked very ordinary, his eyes had a steely, hard look that seemed to go right through me. He didn't have any tattoos or scars or other distinguishing marks commonly associated with gang bangers or ex-cons. Neither did he appear fidgety or hyper. I calmed myself and went into my standard, "The reason I stopped you is that you were going a little too fast today." Then I asked if I could see his driver's license and registration. This was my regular opening line designed to inform the violator why he was stopped. Additionally, if he had committed another crime, this would allay his fears of being stopped for that crime.

The Porsche driver said nothing as he began to look for his driver's license. After finding it he started in on me. "Can't you guys find any 'real' criminals? Geeze, it's wide open out here and there's no way I was doing eighty." I took the documents and told the violator I'd be back in a couple of minutes. My gut told me that there was something wrong with this guy. All I wanted to do was write the ticket and get out of there. As I started to fill out the citation, I watched the violator like a hawk. Working alone was fine about 99% of the time, but its main drawback was that there was no backup available. You were on your own out here.

I kept watching the driver, trying to figure out what was bothering me about him. Nothing really tangible. I'd had other violators gripe about tickets before, but this guy was different. Maybe it was his eyes. "Yeah!" I thought, "That's it!" The eyes were cold and hard and stared right through you as if you weren't even there. I shuddered involuntarily. Looking at the driver, I saw him watching me. In fact, it seemed that he was watching me as closely as I was watching him. I felt the hair at the nape of my neck rise again and felt my stomach start to turn. "Definitely a bad character," I thought. I completed the citation and walked back to the right side of the Porsche. The driver glared at me, but signed the ticket without comment. I thought I saw a look of disappointment on the violator ' s face, but it only lasted a moment. Then the steely eyed look returned.

I tore off the yellow copy of the ticket and gave it to the driver. He threw it to the floorboard and accelerated away, kicking up gravel and leaving me standing alone on the shoulder. "Thank God that's over!," I thought. I went back to my patrol car and sat down to write some notes about the odometer clock and bumper pace. Somehow, I knew that the Porsche driver would never take care of the ticket.

Two weeks later, as I was ready to start work, the day shift sergeant poked his head into the locker room and said, "Rich, see me after briefing." "Great!," I thought. The only reasons a sergeant would want to see you were bad ones. Either someone had filed a complaint against you or you messed up an accident report.

Somehow I felt that it wasn't a faulty accident report. I hadn't had one of those returned in years. I went through a mental list of people I thought would complain and drew a blank. All of the enforcement contacts I had made recently had ended on a positive note so it must be something else.

Briefing seemed to last an eternity. Finally the beats were assigned and the other officers left. The sergeant looked at me and said, "Come on into the Sergeant's Office, Rich. The lieutenant and I want to talk to you."

"Oh great! Not only the sergeant, but the lieutenant too! I must have messed up big time!" I walked into the sergeant's office and sat down. My heart was beating what seemed a thousand beats a minute. I would rather fight a drunk than sit in a sergeant's office and get raked over the coals. "Relax, Rich," the sergeant said. "You're not in any trouble."

"That's right. Rich. Calm down," the lieutenant said, a slight smile on his face. "We just wanted to ask you about a stop you made a couple of weeks ago. " The lieutenant then asked me about the Porsche I had stopped earlier in the month. He went on to tell me that the driver of the Porsche had been stopped for speed again two days later by a Sheriff's Department in Northern California. This time, however, the Porsche driver shot at the deputy before being captured by a multi-agency task force. While going through the Porsche, deputies found the copy of the ticket I had issued. They were curious about why the driver hadn't shot at me when he had no problem shooting at a deputy. The sergeant continued, "When they questioned him at the jail as to why he hadn't shot at you, he said it was because there were too many cops there. He said there were two or three big cops backing you up on the stop. We figured the guy was feeding the deputies a line of bull. We know there is no backup out there. But if a couple of off-duty cops happened to be there, we would like to send them a letter of thanks on your behalf," the lieutenant finally finished.

I sat there stunned. I had been alone on that stop and there was no backup. I informed the lieutenant of that and agreed the guy must have been feeding the deputies a line of bull. With that I walked out the door and started my shift. Too late for coffee so I hit the road. My beat was the same as it had been two weeks earlier and I pondered why I had been so fortunate to have been spared the bullet.

On my drive home at the end of my shift, I tuned in to the new Christian radio station that had just started broadcasting from Rosamond. My wife Kathy had told me about the station and asked me to give it a try. My sweet wife of fifteen years was a "Born Again True Believer" who had given her life to Christ as a little girl. She was continually trying to get me involved in church and spiritual matters, but I was reluctant to get involved. I did not feel the need to belong to a church and felt that getting by myself with God was good enough. Besides, I convinced myself that the drunks I arrested on Friday nights were the ones leading the church services on Sunday. If I was going to be a Christian, I didn't want to be a phony one. The announcer on the station began telling the audience about a new release from Amy Grant that was coming up. "Well, that's not a bad start," I thought. "At least some of the music might be good."

In 1984, I had a real dislike for most church music. It was too slow for my tastes. I was raised on Rock & Roll and music that had a driving beat. So far, Amy Grant was about as close as I could find to a Christian Rock & Roller. Not that I had tried too hard to find others that had a similar sound.

After a couple of commercials, Amy's new release started. I listened as the song began, encouraged by its upbeat tempo. As I listened to the lyrics, I learned that the song was about God's Angels and how they watched over God's people in times of peril. The song gave examples of Angels protecting people in an unseen manner, without the rescued person knowing about it.

In a brief flash of God-inspired insight, I realized what had occurred out in the bleak, desolate desert when I had stopped that Porsche driver. "They must have been angels," I thought excitedly. "What else could it have been!" Somehow, the Porsche driver must have been able to see the angels standing watch over me! Wouldn't that be something?" That might explain why the guy looked so disappointed. He wanted to waste me, but my heavenly backup thwarted his plans.

I couldn't wait to get home and tell Kathy about this exciting turn of events. Kathy was always hopeful that something about Christianity would start a spiritual thirst in me. Well, I sure had a desire to find out all I could about the heavenly host now, that's for sure! As I parked my car in the driveway, I somehow knew that I would never really be alone again, no matter how far out in the wide open spaces I found myself. With those thoughts running through my head, I began to take my first footsteps in my walk with the Lord.

AROUND THE WORLD

Peace Officers for Christ International has been invited to participate in a World Law Enforcement Conference. We have been asked to come Caracas and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Police Chiefs and high-ranking officials from around the world. More than 700 delegates are expected and will represent several countries from South America, Europe, Israel and Japan. Our contact is Luis Hidalgo who is a Volunteer Chaplain for the Central Intelligence Agency of Venezuela. Luis has informed us that the interest is growing and several other countries are expected to participate.

Please begin to pray now for Dave and Nancy McDowell as they prepare for this opportunity. Dave will be one of the keynote speakers for the conference and Nancy will be involved in ministry to the police wives.

If the Lord leads you to participate by giving financially to this opportunity, we would ask that you designate your giving to the, "Missions Outreach Fund. " As with all giving to POFC, all gifts will be receipted and are tax deductible. Your giving will provide for two areas. First it will provide airfare for representatives of POFC International. Second, you will be providing for the printing of the, Only One Son gospel tract into Spanish. We are praying that we will be able to take thousands of these tracts to missionaries in Venezuela. We are already in contact with Randy and Marlene Green who are missionaries to Venezuela. Randy was formerly a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department in Colorado. Through Randy and local pastors, we will be arranging for follow up with officers and their families who respond to Christ's offer of forgiveness and salvation.

ROLL MODELS MADE OF SILLY PUTTY
By Tony Miano

I remember as a young boy how much fan it was to play with "Silly Putty." I remember pressing the putty onto a newspaper or comic book and transferring the image onto the putty. Having done that, I would stretch and manipulate the putty in order to distort the image into some silly configuration. Hence, the name "Silly Putty."

I'm of the opinion that today's society chooses its role models in much the same way I once played with "Silly Putty." We take an otherwise average human being, who may possess an interesting talent or image, and transfer their likeness into our minds, and sometimes even our hearts. We then distort that image to fit our needs at the moment. As with "Silly Putty," once we distort the image of the person, it's almost impossible to see the person for who they really are. It's even harder to remold the putty into its original form. The once realistic replication is lost forever.

Society's distorted view of morality has brought several less than worthy individuals to the forefront as so-called role models. Magic Johnson, for example, is being touted as a role model. The once great basketball player's work in AIDS awareness and education has, in part, earned him this distinction. What most people who look at Magic as a role model are unwilling to do is look at the course he took to get there. By his own admission, he had sexual relations with scores of women, which eventually led to his contraction of the H.I.V. virus. Considering that any sex outside of marriage is wrong. Magic ' s vehement stance against "unprotected" sex does little to add to his credibility.

Another example of role model distortion is O.J. Simpson. As I write this article, I am well aware that O.J. is innocent until proven guilty while going through the judicial process. More importantly, O.J., like the rest of the human race, is guilty until proven innocent by the shed blood of Jesus Christ in God's holy court.

I was angry, but not surprised, when I saw the freeway overpasses lined with O.J. fans and well-wishers. Here these people were, cheering for a suspected murderer who was running from the police. O. J. may have been a role model while he was running for thousands of yards on the football field, but not when he was evading radio cars instead of would-be tacklers. A man with a documented history of spousal abuse, who openly defies the law as America watches, and is suspected of two gruesome murders - a role model? I don't think so.

The names of similar individuals who are considered role models, but are unworthy of the distinction, could probably fill a library. Are you asking yourself, "How should I choose role models? How should I help my children choose role models? Do I have what it takes to be a good role model?" Well, if you 're not asking yourself these questions, you should be.

While looking through the Book of Hebrews, I came across a verse, which, in my opinion, perfectly sets the standards for choosing role models. "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." (13:7)

In choosing a role model, you should first "remember those who led you." Who in your life has led you to the Lord? Did they lead you with mere words, or with the way they lived their lives? Who is leading you now? The person, or people, who led you to Christ would be a good place to start when choosing a role model. Chances are, they did not witness to you while advocating "protected" sex outside of marriage, or while looking in the rear view mirror at a sea of red and blue flashing lights.

When choosing a role model, one should consider those "who spoke the word of God to you". In this audio/visual age, we receive messages every time we turn on the television. That's why my wife and I decided to get rid of our T.V. almost a year ago. Our kids were being bombarded with messages I didn't want them to see or hear. God's word is very specific. The messages we receive should come from those who speak the word of God to us. Our role models should speak God's word with their mouths and with the way they live their lives.

"...Considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. " Do you consider the results of your role models' conduct? Does their conduct glorify themselves, or does it glorify God? Should the conduct of your role models be applauded or despised? If the result of their conduct glorifies God, then we should "imitate their faith." Again, God's word is specific. We are not to imitate their financial status, position in the community, or choice of careers. We should never try to walk in another person's footsteps unless we know in our heart that person is walking with the Lord.

Now that we know how to pick a role model, how should we go about picking role models for our kids? The answer is a simple one; yet it is one of the hardest things we will ever do. The best way to pick a role model for our kids is by being one. If we are truly living our lives for Christ, if we are seeking His will and speaking His word, if we are practicing what we preach and our conduct shows it, then our children should never have to look farther than Mom or Dad's favorite chair to find a role model!

With two beautiful daughters and a third on the way, I have set a very important goal for myself. When my daughters reach the point in their lives when they begin to consider marriage (I can feel my hair thinning, skin wrinkling, and joints aching as I write this), my prayer is that they will look for a man like their Dad. This is not an egotistical statement. I don't feel I have yet reached the consistency or maturity in my faith to earn such distinction. However, it is my goal. I want to be such a role model to my girls that they will base their decision as to who they will marry on what they see in me.

Do you have what it takes to be a role model? If you're not sure, that's okay. Humility is an important ingredient in the recipe for being a good role model. Here are some verses on character that are helpful to me when I'm considering the type of role model I want to be.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma". (Ephesians. 5:1,2)

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her." (Ephesians. 5:25)

"He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend." (Ps. 15:2,3)

"When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom." (Proverbs. 11:2)

There are many, many other verses that are just as helpful. You probably thought of some others as you read these. These verses are just some of those that keep me accountable when I'm not being the type of role model I should be.

I think it's important now to say that even the best of role models are still sinners saved by grace. We must be careful not to put them on too high a pedestal. If we do, we open ourselves to having our spirits crushed when they fall from their high perches and land on top of us. However, there is one Role Model who will never fall. There is one Role Model who will never let you down. That Role Model is Jesus Christ. He is the perfect role model.

Thinking back on my "Silly Putty" days, I remember stretching the putty so far that it would snap in two. If we stretch the images of our human role models too far, those too can snap. But the verse I mentioned on picking role models is immediately followed by this one. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Hebrews. 13:8). He cannot be stretched too far. He will never break. Therefore, our first Role Model should always be Him.

BOOK REVIEW

By Pastor Jeff Steel

This is a review of the book "Standing Tall "by Steve Farrar. For any man who is concerned about the direction our society is going, and how we need to respond to what is happening, "Standing Tall " is must reading! The subtitle is, "How a man can protect his family," and the book lays out what every Christian husband and father must know to do exactly that.

Farrar starts with a call to loyalty in chapter one - what he calls "Riding for the brand." In the old west, that was the highest compliment you could give a man, and it meant he was loyal to his outfit, no matter what. Farrar then calls Christian men to undivided loyalty to Jesus Christ. The brand we ride for is the "2-1-2" which, "signifies two nails in His hands, one spear in His side, and two more nail scars in His feet. That's why we're not our own, and that's the price He paid. For you. For me. We're riding for the brand." (Pg.l4)

Farrar's message is powerful and to the point. He calls men to take the spiritual leadership in their homes and in their communities. He spells out the need for real discernment today, men who see what is happening around them and know how to respond as men of God. He describes some of the confrontations he has had with barbarians at his children's school. He also lays out clearly the need for spiritual men who are not afraid to draw lines and set limits for their families, whether it's in TV, music, movies, or anything else. We have to be moral relatives for our kids, who know what is right and what is wrong and stick to it.

In chapter five, Farrar opens by telling about the politically ambitious couple he met in 1986 while living in Little Rock, Arkansas. I won't give it away, but the first few pages of this chapter are worth the price of the book. The parallels he draws between Baal worship in Israel and some of the trends in our society today are insightful and important. He deals with abortion, homosexuality, the environment, and tolerance. On each point, Farrar is right on the money.

Farrar spends two chapters outlining the agenda of the homosexual movement, and how they want access to our kids. Farrar tells it the way it is, even though the way it is borders on sickening at times. These two chapters are not pleasant reading, but they are necessary reading. Ignorance isn't bliss, and the only way to safeguard our children is to know what the other side is trying to do.

After critiquing what is happening in our society, Farrar spends the last few chapters laying out practical advice on how a man can protect his family and pass on a spiritual heritage to his children. Chapter nine lays out for us what it means to fight the good fight by staying faithful to the Word and keeping a clear conscience. The chapters, "Seven Ways to Help Your Kids Stand Tall" and "Womenfolk" are filled with practical suggestions for building strong spiritual families and training our kids how to live for God and resist peer pressure.

Farrar's style is easy to understand, spiced with humor and powerful illustrations, and will keep your attention. There are a lot of books for men out there right now, but for my money, this is a must read. The church needs men who are willing to stand tall and not just stand around. "Standing Tall" can help us do that.

DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN?

The Deal of the Century?

Joel P. Matlock and Timothy L. Muhammed were arrested in Topeka, Kansas last December, after engaging in a drug deal in front of the Topeka Police Station. According to one officer, the men decided to do the deal there to discourage each of them from killing the other after the deal was over!

What Are You In For?

Convict A asks Convict B, "What are you in for?" B replies, "Identity Crisis." A says, "How's that?" B answers, "I left my fingerprints on the safe. "

SUSPICION!

"Why are you arresting me?," asked the burglar. "Suspicion," answered the officer as he was placing handcuffs on the guy. "Oh no! Not that!, "replied the crook. "The last time I got arrested for suspicion the judge gave me six years!"

LOVE THEM LAWYERS!

Not too long ago, in a lawsuit against CBS Television, a shareholder who held just twelve shares of their stock received a settlement of $15,000. His lawyer walked away with a cool million!

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Page last updated 06 May 2002

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