PMJ Winter 1997

I began rationalizing the choices I made. My foul language was okay because that's all a street monster understands. A few extra blows at the end of a fight were okay because that's the only true justice a suspect would get. Jesus must know that my job is so special and unique unto itself. Right?

Oh yes, there were times when the Holy Spirit convicted me! But the more I strayed from the path by not confessing my sins and repenting, by not attending church and reading the Bible, and by not praying, the seeds that had been planted in my life were slowly but surely being choked to death by the thorny bushes growing in my heart. The whole time the Enemy (Satan) was laughing. Here's another Christian who will never be able to win a battle for the Lord. In fact, he'll probably cause some others to stumble. I'm sure that's what I did.

Next, deception became my game, and I was a master craftsman. I couldn't face Kathy, let alone Jesus, with all I had become.

It was so much easier to play the roles. I played the loving husband, the friendly neighbor, and whenever Kathy shamed me into coming to church, the happy and faithful Christian man. No one knew the depths I had fallen to. I was everything but faithful. Kathy never knew. My friends and family never knew. But Jesus knew. How sad He must have been to see where I was taking His free gift and His love. I look back, now, and think of the many times He called me to come back home, only to have me turn away.

At times, I wanted to come home, but only on my terms. I wanted the miracle intervention, the visit from Michael or Gabriel. I wanted Jesus, Himself, to appear to me and say that all was well and then change my heart in an instant without any effort on my part. I may have said I was sorry, but I wasn't truly repentant. So, when the miracle didn't happen, I became bitter and angry. Satan was always quick to harass me in these instances. He accused me and called me a hypocrite when I wanted to talk to the Lord. Satan tried to assure me that Jesus obviously didn' t care or was too angry with me to respond.

With the unexpected birth of our third child, things finally came to a head. I was an angry man. I was angry at God because He wasn't where I wanted Him to be. I was angry at Kathy because she was growing in her walk with the Lord. I was angry at the world because of my job and all of the negative and hurtful labels that were placed on me and my profession.

I became very selfish. I wanted more out of life. After all, didn't I deserve it? I wanted the toys I never had. I wanted to travel and taste the good life, just once! But I couldn't have these things now because I was married with three children to support, and many other responsibilities.

Finally, my hardening heart turned to stone. I was cold as ice One night, after coming home very late, I found Kathy crying because I hadn't called. She was worried that something might have happened to me. This was the opportunity the Enemy had been waiting for. I snapped. I yelled at Kathy and told her she had no right to know where I was all of the time. I belittled her for being so emotional (a trait I had long since forfeited) and demanded that she stop crying. I didn't care that she cared about me. I went into bed, but she followed me. She asked, "What's really wrong? Tell me the truth!"

I looked her square in the eyes and said, "I don't love you anymore! I want out!" I fully expected Kathy to completely break down and, at the time, it wouldn't have mattered to me if she did. However, I was amazed to see a strange peace come over her and she became extremely calm. She looked back into my eyes and said, "I love you. Good night." She left, quietly closing the door behind her. It was only later that I learned how the Holy Spirit had intervened at that crucial moment, comforting her and filling her with His love and peace.

Within a few weeks, I had moved out of our house and was living with my parents. My parents must have agonized over seeing their son's life in such a miserable condition. I'm sure it was also agonizing for my Father in heaven. I quickly tried to enter the fast lane again, thinking I was going to make up for lost time. But as it is with all things of this world, the short season of gratification left me truly empty, indeed. I discovered that I really did know how to cry. I cried as I tried to find sleep on many lonely nights wondering how I could have ended up in the condition I was in. I felt indescribably lonely. My depression level reached its lowest point ever. However, my pride still had some life left.

I lashed out at God, challenging Him to end this for me. I even placed myself in harms way at work in the hope that I could speed things up for Him. I lashed out at Kathy even more, but to no avail. The Lord was protecting her because she was seeking Him first and standing firm in her faith. It seemed the angrier I became, the more she responded with love. Trust me. It is futile and frustrating to attempt combat with someone under the covering of God's wings. I remember the Holy Spirit pressing in, convicting me of all I had done, and saying, "I'm still here. I love you. You're choosing to try it on your own. When you're finished, come home."

Well, being the quick learner that I am, it took me three months before I finally realized how utterly wretched my life had become, The choices I made years ago, so subtle then, now flashed across my mind like huge billboards. What seemed so insignificant at first (missing church, skipping a daily Bible reading, frequent fellowship, daily prayer, not seeking Him first in all things) eventually led me off the narrow path of righteousness, and left me completely broken. I finally called out in despair to the Lord. I surrendered. Then the Father, knowing my heart was not truly repentant, answered.

On Kathy's birthday, I asked if I could take her to dinner. She agreed. It was like a first date for both of us. We talked openly and honestly with each other and discussed my coming home. Kathy was quite anxious about it, but agreed to let me come home. I wasn't quite sure where my life was going, but I decided to act out of obedience to the Father. I soon learned that obedience has its rewards.

It began a few days after I returned home. Some close friends of ours invited us to a conference at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base,which was being hosted by the Navigators Organization. Again, I accepted out of obedience. While there, the Lord used a key speaker (Bob Boardman) to speak directly to me. I returned home that day feeling convicted, and yet encouraged for the first time in quite a while. I prayed that night that the Lord would heal me and forgive me. But now I wanted His forgiveness on His terms and not my own.

The next step in the healing process was a couple's conference hosted by Peace Officers For Christ International. I had heard about it and was really interested in attending. However, we were short on finances and staffing was low at work. What is impossible for me is of little consequence to my Father when He starts to move in my life. Seemingly out of nowhere, we were given a scholarship to attend the conference for free. Then my lieutenant, who at first denied my last minute request for the time off, had a sudden change of heart. Shortly after we arrived at the conference, I knew why.

I felt sure the entire conference was a charade, and all who attended were part of a huge conspiracy against me. For three days I was dissected by the Lord via the guest speaker. For three days I cried my eyes out, repenting, and being filled with His awesome love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy. The speaker, Pete McKenzie, said something which was forever burned into my heart. He said, "With all that God has given you by His awesome love and grace, what will you give Him in return? I know you have an incredibly hard and often dangerous job. But you need to make a decision. Are you a policeman who happens to be a Christian? Or are you a Christian that was also called to be a policeman?"

I was on fire again! I came down from the mountain where the conference had been held a new man in Christ! The Lord, however, wasn't finished pouring out His love for me. Next, I attended Promise Keepers in Los Angeles. What an awesome sight! 70,000 men were praising and worshiping the Lord. While there, the Lord gave me another token of His love. As He called my best friend and partner to repentance, I watched him rededicate his life to the Lord. I learned that he, too, had experienced some of the feelings and failings that I had experienced.

Over the next several months, I was blessed as my pastor, Ed Piorek, taught about the Father's love. It was during this period that many of the old fears and insecurities that I had hidden deep within me were revealed and dealt with by the Lord. He showed me times in my life when He watched over me. He showed me times when I thought I was alone, yet He was there. He reminded me of how much He loved me, even in the worst times. Once, while having lunch in the kitchen after church, I was listening to worship music on a Christian radio station. Some old worship songs came on that I hadn't heard in a long time. As I listened to them, the Lord showed me a picture of me sitting in church as He said, Even when you were sitting in that church back then, I loved you, my prodigal son.

Since then, the Lord has placed a burden on my heart for other prodigals like myself. Those who at one time or another have fallen away from Him, have a special place in my heart. If one or more of you fit this description, then I'm here to tell you, Stop running, listen to your Shepherd's voice,and come back home! The Father will be faithful and run to you with open arms.

What a tremendous blessing it is to reflect back on 1996 and forward to 1997 as the Lord continues to bless the ministry of Peace Officers For Christ International. We currently have eleven members serving on our National Board of Directors and twelve Regional Representatives. We welcome Mike Day (Central California Coast), Mike Morrison (Iowa), and Steve Smith (Alaska) as our most recently added Representatives. Our current list of Regional Representatives cover California, Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, Tri-State (West Virginia, Ohio & Kentucky), Georgia, Illinois, New York & Venezuela. Our publication, the Peacemakers Journal, is reaching officers in all fifty states and in twenty foreign countries. Just a few months ago the Board of Directors for Peace Officers for Christ and Barnabas International Mission voted to accept and move Randy Green and his family under the umbrella of Peace Officers For Christ. POFCI is now an official missionary sending organization! We welcome the families and churches that have faithfully supported the Greens in Caracas, Venezuela to our mailing list. We look forward to our missions trip to Caracas with several officers and families from across the United States February 21 - March 4, 1997. Please continue to pray for Randy, Marlene and their children as they minister in an area of the world that is involved in an intense spiritual battle.

I want to personally thank those of you who have been led of the Lord to financially support this ministry. A small portion of all General Fund donations are earmarked for our Missions and Scholarship Funds. Our Missions Fund now helps to support Ray Payne (Full-time POFC Regional Representative for New York), Jon Wetterholm (Full-time Hospital & Police Chaplain and POFCI Board member) and Randy Green (Regional Representative in Venezuela). Nancy and I have also been blessed by several of you who have supported our General Director's Tent Ministry Fund. These funds, separate from the POFCI operating budget, have enabled Nancy and me to travel at home and abroad to continue to present the vision of this fast growing ministry to the law enforcement community. If you are interested in praying for (and/or) supporting the Paynes, Wetterholms, Greens, or the McDowells, their personal prayer letters are available upon request.

The Board of Directors also oversees funds from our Scholarship account. These funds are used to assist those in need to attend our police couples or family weekend retreats, or our dinner banquets. Our goal is to bring hurting families to the throne of grace as we pray that their hearts will be open to restoration as they hear the gospel presented.

I want to thank those of you who have faithfully supported the POFCI General Fund. Presently this is our most important need as we experience a tremendous time of growth in this outreach. The primary use of our General Fund provides for the publishing of the Peacemakers Journal. I truly believe that the Journal is the cornerstone of this ministry. I recently received a letter from a wife who told me that her husband had recommitted himself to the Lord as a result of the Peacemakers Journal. She said that when it arrives at their home he reads it from cover to cover! Many of you then pass your copy on to others at work or church! Did you know that the Peacemakers Journal is now being sent to almost 5000 homes across the United States and into twenty foreign countries? Our goal is to publish the Journal in a timely manner every quarter and our ultimate vision is to send it out every two months. Our prayer is that the Lord would expand our team of supporters who contribute on a monthly basis. Would you pray with us?

As is our custom you will rarely hear of the financial needs of this ministry in the Peacemakers Journal or in separate mailings. We believe that the Lord will burden those He wants to support and pray for this ministry. I have made this exception for three reasons. First, our mailing list has been increasing rapidly over the last year so many of you are not familiar with how the ministry operates. Second, we want you to share in praising the Lord for His goodness to us, and third, we want you to know of the needs and the direction of the POFCI ministry as we begin 1997.

Eighty-two officers recently enjoyed a tremendous time of fellowship at POFCI's first ministry banquet in the Denver Front Range area. After four officers prayed to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, one FBI agent commented, "I really want to be part of this!" The Lord is stirring the hearts of men and women in law enforcement across this country and around the world. We look forward to working with you as we seek the Lord's guidance for this growing outreach.
Dave McDowell
General Director

Are you totally satisfied in your relationship with the Lord and with the service that you are giving Him? Would you like to make more of a difference in the lives of those you touch? Would you like to have more boldness in sharing the gospel? Have you prayed that God would give you power to exercise your faith? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then we have much in common.

I'd like to suggest that God has provided just the answer for us in His word. In Matthew 28:18-20 we read, "Then Jesus came and spoke to them saying, "all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

This commandment of Christ to the disciples was not meant for them alone. It was also meant for all who would follow after them. Note verse 20 where He says, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." That means that the preceding command to, "go and make disciples," applies to each one of us who names the name of Christ with the same force as it did to the apostles. Note the words "all authority" in verse 18. Authority is the delegated tight to exercise power. All authority was given to Christ, and with that authority, He commanded us to go and make disciples. Contained within that command is the implication that the hearers also possessed the authority to carry it out.

To make this a little clearer, I'd like to use an illustration from the field of law enforcement, the search warrant. Webster's defines warrant as, "a sanction or authorization." It is further described as, "a commission or document giving authority to do something; a precept or writ issued by a competent magistrate authorizing an officer to make an arrest, or seizure or a search or to do other acts incident to the administration of justice."

Now imagine if you will, being assigned as a narcotics officer for your agency. One day you are told by a citizen that a drug dealer in the community is selling drugs to elementary school children who go by his house on their way to and from school. After conducting an investigation and determining that the information is accurate, you go to your local judge and pray that he would grant you a search warrant for the drug dealer's house. The judge looks over your petition and determines that you have covered all the bases so he issues your warrant. Once the judge puts his signature to the document, it immediately becomes a command of the court. It is no longer just a request by you for the authority to search the drug dealer's house. It is now a command from the judge, ordering you to go and search the drug dealer's house. As with the above statement of Jesus, the judge's command includes within it an empowerment for the one carrying it out. In fact, the warrant reads like this:

Now let us say that we have obtained our warrant. For the purposes of our scenario I would like to explore a few of the things we might do with it.

First, after getting the warrant, we could go around to all the Police and Sheriff's stations in our county and show it to all our fellow police officers. We could brag to them about what great authority the warrant gave us to bring the drug dealer to justice. But in reality, the drug dealer would be brought no closer to justice than he was before we got the warrant.

Another option is that, after receiving the warrant, we could call the judge every couple of days. We could remind him that we still have the warrant and thank him for issuing it. We could tell him how generous it was of him to entrust us with so much power and authority. We could tell him that he was the most gracious judge in the entire state for having given us that warrant.

A third possibility is that we could take our warrant back to the station and lock it in our desk. That way no one else would be able to take advantage of it. We could go in and look at it every day and meditate on how much authority it gave us to do our job.

A fourth possibility would be the, "my warrant is better than your warrant" syndrome. Can you imagine getting a warrant for drugs and a fellow officer comes along and tells you that if you don't have a warrant for stolen property, it's no good. Or he asks you why you are wasting your time on drug dealers around the block when you have plenty of drug dealers in the county jail.

As we all know, the only real use for the search warrant is to serve it as initially intended. This would be my true exercise of authority as a peace officer and would result in the confiscation of evidence and the arrest and imprisonment of the drug dealer.

As silly as the above illustrations may sound, the sad fact is that many Christians handle their authority to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in just that way. Like the first example, many Christians go from church to church and from fellowship to fellowship declaring to other Christians how much authority they have to proclaim God's truth to a lost world. Yet they never share their faith with the lost—those who need to hear it.

As in the second example, we often go to the Lord in prayer, thanking Him for all that He has done for us and we even thank Him for entrusting us with the ministry of reconciliation. But unless we are actually carrying out that ministry, we are mocking Him when we pray that way.

Like the example of the desk drawer, some of us have rationalized that our religion is a private thing and so we keep it to ourselves. And then there is the argument about denominations. If you don't belong to my denomination and if you are not doing everything the way I do it, you are doing it wrong.

Finally, there is the argument that we shouldn't think of sending missionaries around the world when there are so many here who need to hear the gospel. In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and that they would receive power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. Christ's disciples were not a lot different then than they are today. In fact, they became so complacent in their relationship with Him that He had to shake them out of their peacefulness and bring persecution upon them so they would move out into the world to proclaim the message of peace. We need to recognize our authority in Christ and go forth and proclaim the Good News of salvation to a lost world. We need to be Champions for the cause of Christ.

Champions are not those who never fail, they are those who never quit. If you have tried and failed, there is still hope for you. You can still be a Champion for the Lord Jesus Christ. What you need to do is try again. Speaking to the Church at Ephesus Jesus said, "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works..."Revelation 2:2-5

If you are not totally satisfied in your relationship with the Lord and with the service you are giving Him, or if you would like to make more of a difference in the lives of others, or if you would like more boldness in sharing your faith, ask Him to give you a renewed vision for what He has for you to do. Ask Him to fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit. Then go out and serve your warrant. As one sports ad so succinctly puts it, "Just Do It!"

We are very pleased to report that God not only gave us an exciting time, but the fruit continues to come forth. We were also very honored to have Dave and Nancy McDowell join us for our first POFC-Colorado Luncheon Outreach. I believe Dave will also testify to the fact that God is doing some great things and laying a strong foundation for the ministry here in Colorado.

There were 82 people at the luncheon that represented a cross section of law enforcement agencies, which included the FBI, DEA, and State Police. We are very excited I about the contacts that the luncheon generated for us. Loveland Police Chief, Tom Wagoner, shared a very moving testimony at the luncheon, just before Dave McDowell spoke. We were all amazed when everyone stood to give Chief Wagoner a standing ovation at the conclusion of his testimony. He really shared his heart.

A police couple from Aurora also shared a very moving testimony of a very tragic experience in their lives that God has since repeatedly used for His glory. Can you imagine being dispatched to a multiple homicide scene only to be informed while handling the call that your 5 month old son died of SIDS? Dave and Denise Cummings testified of the incredible presence of God's peace during this difficult time in their lives. Since then, there are at least six other officers that have given their lives to Jesus Christ because of their testimony of God's grace.

When Dave McDowell got up to speak, there wasn't a dry eye in the entire place, Dave did a wonderful job of bringing forth the Gospel. As a result, five officers indicated that they prayed to receive Christ, and even more indicated an interest in finding out more about what it means to become a Christian. Please pray for our follow-up efforts. One of the more expressive responses came from a S.W.A.T. Officer out of Denver when he said, I knew something was missing in my life, and I didn't know what it was until now. Wow! Please pray for George. He was the guest of one of our Vision Team members who is also a member of S.W.A.T. in Denver.

Later that evening, Dave and Nancy were on the radio doing a two hour interview. The interview was fantastic. I've been receiving calls from different parts of the state from those who heard the program and want more information about the ministry sent to them.

We are really pumped about POFC-CO. There are many who are making inquiries about the ministry. I was particularly encouraged when an FBI agent said, Man! I be got to be part of this! Please keep us in your prayers as we follow the Lord's lead.

The history of organized fellowship among Christian peace officers in Alaska dates back to 1980, and the formation of the Alaska Peace Officers for Christ. Over the years this fellowship has enjoyed times of tremendous growth and fruit, and it has weathered droughts of little activity. Through it all, a group of officers dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ has persisted in His service, endeavoring to serve the Lord and honor His name within the law enforcement community of Alaska.

This fellowship has maintained a wonderful relationship with the Alaska Police Chaplains Ministries, which is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains. The thriving police chaplaincy in Alaska has been a blessing to law enforcement in general in the state. It has been a tremendous encouragement to the local POFC.

Just over a year ago, during a period of drought in the local POFC, the Lord started moving on the hearts of some of the local Christian officers to become active with the larger body of Christian officers via POFCI. The relationship with POFCI grew quickly under the hand of the LORD, and recently resulted in the appointment of a Regional Representative to Alaska for POFCI.

This exciting development and a hiring boom of new officers in Alaskan law enforcement has created a new work and an anticipation of great things to come in Alaska. A recent vision-setting fellowship drew an enthusiastic crowd. The results of the meeting helped us to establish prayer, ministry to law enforcement marriages and families, and small group fellowships as our immediate goals. Long term goals include an Alaskan POFCI Couples Conference and efforts in support of law enforcement training. Truly, we are expecting God to do great things in this great land as His Spirit fans the flames of revival in Alaskan law enforcement. Praise God!

The Word charges us to walk through our jurisdictions as Jesus' ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18-20). Solid Christian officers can have a tremendous impact on their departments and communities if they are willing to stand up for Jesus and walk according to His commands. We in Alaska are excited about doing just that. May God bless you as you run the race with vigor and joy!

On 02-09-97, at a large church in Los Angeles, a Police Officer Recognition Day was held. Lori and I were there representing POFCI, as well as Board Member John Wetterholm and his wife, Marilyn. John also brought a dear friend, George Lee.

The VIP's present were LAPD Chief Willie Williams, LAPD Deputy Chief Ron Banks, LAPD Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker, many captains and lieutenants, and many from the rank and file of LAPD. Also in attendance was L.A. County Sheriff Sherman Block and many deputies from his department. The Director of the FBI (Western Region) was present with several agents. The Chief of Police for the LA Unified School District was there, along with many officers from departments from all over southern California.

There were four different services that day which ministered to approximately 16,000 people. The media was there in force filming messages and personal testimonies. The goal of this event was to use the media as a tool to let the people in the world know that there are Police Officers out in the streets that are born again servants of the Lord, Jesus Christ. This church was also honoring Black History Month.

The most powerful message was given by Inglewood Police Chief Thompson. He was dynamic and anointed by the Holy Spirit. Chief Williams also gave a message which was a blessing. There were several other messages given as well.

I gave my personal testimony. I felt like such a little man sitting with all of those dignitaries, waiting for my name to be called. My hands were sweaty, my knees were weak, my stomach was tossing and turning, and I only had three hours sleep. However, the Lord picked me up and carried me. He changed much of my testimony at the last minute. He carried me as I spoke in front of thousands of African Americans. I shared with them how I had so much hate and vengeance toward others as a young police officer. It got very quiet in the sanctuary. When I told them I surrendered my life to Jesus and was born again, the church roared with shouting and applause. I shared with them other things that the Lord has done in my life. I shared the love that the Lord has given me for others, including the criminals who often find their way to my backseat.

I was embarrassed by the cheering. I asked them to give glory to God because it was Him who deserved the credit for whatever good there was in my life. They did. I want to thank God for what He did at this event. I want to thank those of you who participated in the event and prayed for its success. I want to thank God for the work He has given us in the Inland Empire. We are reaching officers for His glory.

ONE CUFF FOR ANOTHER
A Deputy Sheriff in Santa Clarita was in the process of citing a motorist when a van pulled up behind him and turned off its lights. Needless to say, the Deputy stopped what he was doing to find out what the person in the van wanted. The driver of the van got out and held up his right arm. Attached to his wrist was a set of handcuffs. "Excuse me. This girl in the back of my van put these things on me as a joke. I don't think it's funny and I can't get them off. I thought if anyone could help me, you could." The man said.

The Deputy soon realized that the man, who claimed to be the designated driver for a bachelorette party, was intoxicated. The Deputy, being conscious of service oriented policing, gladly obliged the man's request and removed the handcuffs from his wrist. Unfortunately for the driver, the Deputy exchanged the man's set of cuffs with a set of his own and took him to jail for drunk driving.

A BOOKING SEARCH TO REMEMBER
Officers in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California arrested a man after they went to his home seeking evidence in a burglary case where the suspect was stealing pay phones from school campuses. Officers found no phones in the search, but took Gilbert Aragon, 48, into custody on suspicion of parole violation.

As Aragon emptied his pockets at the Devonshire Division jail, the jail officer noticed an item that looked familiar. It was a brown handle, two-blade pocket knife that had been missing for five years. The knife was believed to have been taken in a break-in at the jailer's home. Just seeing the knife, the jailer predicted it would have a broken blade. And it did. It was the jailer's knife, all right. Aragon was booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property.

There were a number of knives at his residence, according to the arresting officer. Yet of all of the knives he chose to carry with him, he chose to carry the one belonging to the jailer.

HE WAS NO EVIL KNEIVEL
The Arizona Highway Patrol came upon a pile of smoldering metal embedded into the side of a cliff, above the road, at the apex of a curve. The wreckage resembled that of an airplane crash. However, further investigation revealed that the wreckage was that of a car. The make of the car was unidentifiable at the scene.

The lab finally was able to piece together what had happened. It seems that the vehicle's operator had somehow obtained a J.A.T.O. unit (Jet Assisted Take Off), or what is commonly referred to as a solid-fuel rocket booster. A J.A.T.O. is used to give heavy military transport planes an extra push for taking off from short runways. He had driven his vehicle, a 1967 Chevy Impala, out into the desert and found a long, straight stretch of road. He then attached the rocket unit to his car, got up some speed, and fired off the rocket!

The facts, as best as could be determined, are as follows. The man hit the ignition for the rocket at a distance of approximately 3.0 miles from the crash site. This was established by the prominent scorched and melted asphalt, at the location. The rocket, if operated properly, would have reached maximum thrust within 3 seconds, causing the Chevy to reach speeds well in excess of 350 mph., and continuing at full power for an additional 20-25 seconds. The driver, soon to be pilot, would have most likely experienced G-forces usually realized only by dog-fighting jet fighter pilots, under full after-burner.

The automobile remained on the straight highway for about 2.5 miles, or 15-20 seconds, before the driver applied and completely melted the brakes. This caused his tires to blow apart and leave thick rubber marks on the road surface. The wanna-be pilot was soon airborne and flew approximately 1.4 miles before impacting the cliff face at an altitude of 125'. The impact created a blackened crater 3' deep in the cliffs rocky face.

We were dispatched to fly a photographer to the scene of a freight train fatality. The victim was a veteran police officer. He was walking along the railroad tracks, looking for evidence from an assault, when he was struck by a freight train.

These tracks were frequently traveled by long, fast freight trains. Several other officers tried to get his attention as they saw the train approach. The position of the coroner's bright yellow blanket suggested he did step away from the tracks; just not far enough.

A number of officers at the scene were simply standing, staring at the train and the tracks. When we landed our helicopter in the street to pick up an investigator, they didn't seem to notice. They were numb. A fellow officer, a friend, was dead. And the circumstances were unbelievable. How could you get blind sided by a freight train? My partner grew up near a train yard. He tells me it is very possible to be right on the tracks in front of a train and never hear it coming.

So, take a minute and look around. Look at this set of tracks that points to Jesus. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thess 4:16) Where there are tracks, you can expect a train. This train is on schedule, but the schedule is unpublished, ...the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction will come upon them suddenly... and they will not escape. (1 Thess 5:2,3)

Is there anyone near you, waving their arms and shouting, Look out!? Are you so distracted by your circumstances that you don't, or won't, see what is coming? ...we do not want you to be ignorant... or grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again. (1 Thess 4:13,14)

Jesus has laid down tracks just for you. He wants you to get on His train, not get run over by it. He has paid your fare, made all the arrangements, and offers you a free ticket to board. Ignoring the tracks, or even stepping aside, are fatal alternatives. Accept His offer and get on board. It's the only way to go.

My Father's way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache;
But in my soul I'm glad to know
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away;
But still I'll trust my LORD to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Though night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I'll pin my faith, my all, on Him;
He maketh no mistake.

There's so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight's far too dim;
But come what may, I'll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He'll make,
Through all the way, though dark to me,
He made not one mistake.

It was just another early morning shift, so it seemed. I usually work a one-man car, but on this night I had a partner. We received a suspicious person call in Canyon Country, a community on the east side of the Santa Clarita Valley. The call indicated that a male, white adult, was hanging around the front of a house in which a woman was home alone.

As we turned onto the street of the call, it struck me that the street was much darker than usual. All of the street lights were out. In fact, the only light on the entire street that was working was the one lighting the porch of the house we were going , to. I blacked-out (turned off all the car's lights) as we got closer to the house. I could see a man on the front porch shaking the screen door. He then started pounding on the door violently.

I stopped a couple of houses from the location and across the street. I got out of the car, turned down my radio, and left my door open so I would make as little noise as possible. There was a tiered brick wall along the front of the house. I stayed low as I made my way across the street. Just as I got to the wall, the front porch light went out. I was now in total darkness, except for one lightness, except for one light.

I looked down at my left leg and saw that the flashlight sticking out of my sap pocket was turned on, I tried repeatedly to turn it off, but it would not go out. The last thing I wanted to do was give my position away to the suspect. It was too late. As I frantically tried to turn off my light, the suspect peered down at me from over the wall. He laughed sadistically then disappeared behind the brick and mortar.

Now that I had been discovered, I had lost the advantage of concealment, and the cover I had could easily be compromised. It was time to confront this knucklehead and handle the problem. I drew my weapon and slowly backed away from the wall. I did not stand straight up. I didn't want my head to be this guy's first available target, if he was armed. I trained my light on the area of the front porch which included the area I last saw the suspect. The suspect came into view. He was still laughing,only louder.

I ordered him to show me his hands. He raised his hands in front of him and started flashing signs at me as fast as his fingers would move. And those fingers were moving fast. He was not flashing gang signs. I knew what those looked like. It was as if he were using sign language. All the while he was laughing. Then, as luck would have it, if I had believed in such a thing, my light started to dim. The suspect's laugh grew louder and more ear piercing as he slowly disappeared into the shadows of my darkening beam. The suspect made one last hand gesture before my light went completely out. It wasn't a one finger symbol commonly referred to as an animal of flight. It was the horned hand—the satanic sign of the beast.

I was in total darkness. Yet the suspect's eyes and teeth were aglow. His laugh grew louder. My heart, pounding almost as loudly, was in my throat instead of my chest. I'm not ashamed to say I was getting scared.

Then, when I thought the situation could not intensify any further, the suspect started to climb over the wall. He was not trying to flee. He was coming at me. He was going to take me on, even though I had a gun pointed at him. I ordered the suspect to stop. He kept coming at me. I yelled for my partner who, for some unknown reason, had yet to get out of the car. I kept yelling to him. But my partner just sat there frozen and motionless.

The suspect, whose eyes and teeth were glowing a florescent green, was now in a full sprint. His scream was hideous. He ran faster than anyone I had ever seen. I reholstered my weapon. I only had enough time to take a short, gasping breath before the suspect made his final, hellish lunge at my body.

I sat up, panting heavily. I frantically looked around to see where I was. I could hear my wife's voice as she tucked the children in for bed. The terrifying call for service had been a dream. It took several minutes before I was convinced. But it was, in fact, a very bad dream.

I don't dream very often. If you were to ask my wife, however, she would tell you of the arrests I have made in my sleep over the years. But all in all, my dreams are infrequent. I can say, in all honesty, that I have never had a more vivid, realistic, petrifying dream in my life. I'm no Joseph. My views on the interpretation of dreams is a conservative one. I've seen the misinterpretation of dreams lead to embarrassment for those sharing, with the interpretation bordering on heresy. I've heard dreams thrown around on Christian television as if they were God's prophetic utterances, when they were probably no more than the results of indigestion caused by falling asleep shortly after eating a Tommie's burger. Although I'm making light of the misuse of dreams, I believe that God can use dreams to speak to His people.

With all of that said, it was obvious to me from the moment I woke up, that there was an important message for me in this dream. Some of you may think, and understandably so, that this dream was a direct attack from Satan. I don t believe that's the case. I believe this dream, as scary as it was, was from the Lord. I believe God confronted me on a very important issue. He did it in such a way that was guaranteed to get my attention, and get His point across.

The environment depicted in this dream was significant. Answering calls in darkness are often handled differently than those in daylight hours. Sounds are intensified. Sounds recognized by the criminal element as being produced by cops, such as the opening of a powerful four-barrel carburetor, are noticed much sooner in the quiet of the night. Suspects often have the advantage of seeing the officer before the officer sees them. Those things used for cover and concealment by day may or may not be as efficient during the night. We need to remember that the Enemy is well equipped and trained to move about and attack in the darkness of this world. "Consider the covenant; for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence." Psalm 74:20 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph. 6:12

Once I approached the wall, trying to take up a position of advantage over the suspect, my light would not turn off. Patrol officers are trained early on that it is very important not to illuminate yourself or your partner in the darkness. The silhouette of an officer, backlit by a partners flashlight, can make a very easy target for a would-be assailant. As a training officer, backlighting your partner is a mistake met with little tolerance, as previous trainees can attest.

In the dream, I found myself violating this very important safety rule. I tried to turn off my light, but I couldn' t. I covered the top of my light with my hand, trying to block out the beam, but it didn't work. I was lit up. Why? "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." I John 1:6,7

The significance of this part of the dream is not that my light wouldn't turn off. Rather, it was that I kept trying to turn off the light. How often do we, as Christians, try to blot out the light of Christ that is in us by the way we live our lives? We rely on our own tactics in life instead of relying on His holy tactics of Christian living. It is a well known fact in the law enforcement community that we fall back on the things we have learned in critical and stressful situations. Many times I have gone into a spiritual battle relying on what I've learned or seen in others instead of relying on the power (the light) of Christ that is in me.

How does the Enemy respond? I lost sight of the suspect when I tried to hide behind the wall. The Enemy knows those who are one with Christ. No matter how often we try to block out the light of Christ in our life by the way we live, the Enemy can still see those who are owned by The Light. "He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; he lurks to catch the afflicted; he catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net. He crouches, he bows down, and the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones." Psalm 10:8-10

The suspect looked over the wall and saw me desperately trying to turn off the light. He laughed. He laughed because he was looking upon another Christian who was going to try to enter into the battle on his own terms, using his own tactics, fighting his way. Like the lion, the Enemy is quick to attack the weak and afflicted because they are easy prey. Christians who choose to deny the light of Christ by striking out on their own and entering into spiritual conflicts unprepared only succeed in making themselves easy prey.

I was getting scared at this point. I backed away from the wall and drew my weapon. I realized that I may have been in over my head. I desperately wanted my light on, now. Now that I had been discovered, I wanted to make sure that I could see the suspect clearly. Then, to my horror, my light started to dim. Those of us who work for larger departments are accustomed to the occasional malfunction of equipment. It's one of those logistical miscues that comes with the territory. You expect the charge on your flashlight to run out from time to time. That's why one always carries a backup light in one's war bag. You just hope your light never dims in a situation such as this one. But mine did. "Jesus therefore said to them, 'For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light."' John 12:35,36a In these verses, Christ was explaining that He would soon be lifted up and no longer be physically with them on this earth. In my dream, the Lord, seeing that I desperately tried to turn off the light, allowed me to see what life would be like without the light. And it was frightening, God's word tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us. At the same time, though, the Lord allows us to make our own choices and suffer the consequences when those choices are outside of His will. By allowing my light to dim, the Lord was allowing me to see the result of my own futile attempt to walk alone - to fight alone. The result was an overwhelming fear of the darkness and the fear of wondering what the Enemy would do next. In the darkness, it is very difficult to see from which direction the attack will come. It's a very unnerving feeling for a cop. The hope of having the Light in us is this. "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."' John 8:12

As my light started to dim, I began to yell for my partner. How many times, when we're confronted with a spiritual issue in out lives, do we turn to man before we turn to God? "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8 Granted, God often uses people to minister to us in our times of need. He will use His children to further His kingdom and minister the gospel to a lost and dying world. But who are we called to rely on first. Yes, God uses people to fulfill His will. However, the Enemy can also use people to try to frustrate the plans of the Almighty.

There was a time in my life, early in my Christian walk, that I put far to much importance on man. I would turn to this person in times of spiritual crisis or uncertainty instead of first turning to God. When this person fell spiritually, so did my walk with the Lord. I had put so much stock in this person's walk that the lines between the fallen creation and the Creator were blurred.

It is absolutely unheard of for a partner to sit idly by, in the front seat of a radio car, while his partner is about to be attacked. God was showing me that I must first call upon Him in times of need or in times of battle. God may send people to help us in response to our plea, but the first call must be made to Him. "I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:3

The suspect charged at me with the ferocity I had never seen in any other suspect. By this time it was obvious that I was fighting with Satan and not one of his henchmen. As he charged me I reholstered my weapon. What?! Had this been reality, I would have been justified in dropping this guy like a bad habit. Here I was, confronted with a possible burglar (or worse), who was charging at a peace officer who had who was charging at a peace officer who had his front sight splitting the bad guy's eyebrows. My light was going out. My partner was seemingly frozen in fear. The suspect was hell-bent on attacking me. Was I in fear for my very life? You bet!

Yet I holstered my weapon. In my flesh I would have been justified in shooting this guy. But this dream was clearly not about the flesh. This was a spiritual battle. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." IICor. 10:3,4 The Lord had me reholster my earthly weapon because it would have had no effect on this spiritual Enemy. "Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." Eph. 6:11 Only those weapons that come from the Lord are useful and powerful in the spiritual battles of our lives. We will only be successful in these fights if we first turn to the Lord before we turn fights if we first turn to the Lord before we turn to man. We cannot expect to win the battles if we live our lives in such a way as to dim the light of Christ that has been so freely and lovingly given to us, at such a great cost. We will not win these spiritual battles if we continue to try to hide behind the walls of our own sin and fleshly desires.

How did the fight end? I don't know. I believe the Lord did not want me to see how this battle turned out. The war has been won by Christ's finished work on the cross, but the battle rages on. The battle continues every day for those who have yet to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Lord did not let me see the end of this fight because He wanted me to take a close look at the battles I have been in and look at the weapons I have chosen to fight with. Not seeing the end of this fight has made me evaluate my spiritual readiness for the fights that lay ahead. So instead of cursing the Enemy for this dream I thank the Lord. "This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord s and He will give you into my hands." I Sam. 17:46,47

We can be as sure and as bold as the young boy, David. We can claim the victory before the fight as David did. As long as we remember, as David obviously did, that our weapons are not of this world and that the battle is the Lord's, we can be confident that the Lord will deliver the Enemy into our hands. Go, now, to the Lord in prayer and choose your weapons carefully.

It's the fall of 1998. The world looks much the same as it did a few years ago. People are still arguing about gun control and global warming. But the political tide has changed drastically. The hope of a conservative political agenda directing the path of the Nation's government was short-lived and dashed by the apathy of millions of Americans who, by word and not deed, claimed to care. The liberal wing of society that for decades has cried against the injustices and violations of the civil liberties of others is now in control of our waning democracy. In an unsurprising twist of irony (to those who for years have been watching closely) those who swore to protect the downtrodden and oppressed are now passing laws which subjugate a group of people in ways they have always allegedly opposed.

The justification for such action is easily explained by those now in control. The spin doctors working diligently for the controlling liberal elite have convinced an uninformed, ignorant American society that the new group of oppressed are actually the oppressors. They have convinced the Nation that this group is so subversive and dangerous that their beliefs are as great a threat as their actions. They had to say this because this group's actions have been so lukewarm that they have affected very little change. Since there were not enough documented incidents to convince the general public that this group's actions posed a significant threat, those in power had to come up with another way to stir the masses. So they waged a vicious and calculated campaign against the somewhat intangible, often private, and usually quiet aspect of this group's DNA - their beliefs.

To believe as this group does, so the new power base is reporting, is to oppress those who are not of like mind. It discriminates against those who choose to live differently. It poisons the minds of the Nation's youth into believing they should submit to the authority of their parents. According to those in power, this group has the audacity to put the rights of the child behind the authority of the parent. Those in control go on to testify that the simple-mindedness of this oppressive and dangerous group would have its followers believe in absolutes instead of the freethinking which permeates society and says, Life is a shade of gray. Right and wrong is up to the individual to decide. It's not to be decided by any lofty, moral code or by any fantasyland deity.

The general public in 1998 America has bought the liberal rhetoric hook, line, and sinker. Why shouldn't they? Society to the naked eye hasn't hanged much over the last few years. Women are still being raped, children are being abused, and innocents are being gunned down in our streets every second of every day. The numbing of the hearts and minds of a once great Nation has spread to the numbing of the souls of its people.

The Group that is now the focus of a Nation's antagonism is not without its share of blame in the recent turn of events. The Nation's new power base, which comes from an eternal Negative Source, has done nothing to hide their insidious agenda. The group now finding themselves persecuted at every turn saw it coming years ago. But through their apathy they led themselves to believe that what they saw happening in China, Africa, South America, and other parts of the world could never happen in the land of the free, the home of the brave.

Even when CNN reported about a bill working its way through Congress which would outlaw the Group's activity, the Group blew it off as political posturing. The same group which fought for the civil rights of minorities and others would never try to pass a law banning the beliefs of a nonviolent group. Would they?

Then, on November 3rd, 1998, to the cheers of many and the shock of some, Senate Bill 666(A) was passed into law. It reads as follows:

Any person, regardless of age, sex, race, or national origin, who acts in such a way as to profess Jesus Christ as deity, which includes proclaiming Him as the One True God, is guilty of the crime of Christianity. Acts which constitute such an offense include speaking the name of Jesus publicly, public or private reading of a Christian Bible or other theological work, leading or participating in any group or study whose focus is the life of Christ, wearing any jewelry or insignias which could be associated with Christendom, and public verbal or nonverbal prayer.

Each state will have the right to interpret this law on a case by case basis. Determination as to the length and severity of sentencing upon conviction of this statute will be decided by the individual states.

Millions of people around the country, up until now, claimed to be Christian. Not surprisingly, hundreds of thousands who wore their Christianity like an entry on a resume were now finding it easy to dismiss their alleged faith as a passing phase. Some Christian musicians found it easy to complete the crossover from spiritual to the secular market. The number of protesters outside of abortion clinics saw a marked decline. Awanas groups were losing its members to the newly enlightened Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Needless to say, church attendance nationwide dropped substantially.

A man named Jim sat in his easy chair with his jaw gaping as he watched the news reports about the new law which its authors claimed was a liberating societal advance. Jim was a member of a small church in a predominately middle-class city, on the west coast. He had been a Christian for several years. As he sat in stunned amazement, he reflected on his walk with the Lord.

Jim's walk was not one marked with notoriety. He served occasionally in the church and shared his faith when compelled to do so. His wife and children were aware of the depth of his faith, but he felt uncomfortable showing that depth to others. He believed in the power of prayer, but had difficulty being consistent in that aspect of his walk. He believed in the truth of God's Word, but found it difficult to find the time to study.

As Jim watched the T.V., he was concerned for his welfare and the welfare of his family. At the same time, he felt relatively safe because he had always deferred the responsibility of being bold in the faith to others. The whirlwind of thoughts and emotions revealed an underlying current of guilt because of his spiritual complacency and obscurity.

Jim went to work the next day still a little dazed from the recent events. He sat at his desk and noticed with uneasiness that everyone in the office was glancing at him with piercing looks and then murmuring to one another. He looked down at his desktop, at the pictures of his kids. As his eyes scanned the desktop he took special notice of his daily calendar. It wasn't just any calendar. It was a Bible calendar with a Scripture verse for each day. The calendar wasn't flashy or obvious. Jim wasn't the type of guy to plaster his car with spiritual stickers and then head down the freeway at 83 miles per hour, honking at those who chose to obey the local traffic laws. He wasn't the type to wear spiritual pins or T-shirts just to give a person something to stare at as he joined in the office gossip or an off-colored joke. Jim was not perfect. He knew it. Yet he made a conscious effort not to seem hypocritical in his faith. But Jim was scared. He realized that his faith may actually cost him something now that the new law was passed.

He picked up the calendar, mumbled, "Lord, forgive me, " and put the calendar in the bottom desk drawer.

Jim tried to look busy, but he couldn't think clearly enough to get any real work done. Just before lunch, two uniformed officers walked into the supervisor's office. Jim watched the cops movements intently. Then to his astonishment, his supervisor stood up from behind his desk and pointed in Jim's direction.

The two policemen left the office and walked to Jim's desk. One looked uneasy. The other grinned. "Jim Smith?" The grinning cop inquired. "You're under arrest for being a Christian." At first Jim thought he was in the middle of an intense, frightening daydream. But with the presence of cold metal against his wrists, and the unmistakable sound, even to the untrained ear, of the ratcheting of handcuffs, he realized that this was not a dream.

Jim was transported to the local station, booked, fingerprinted, and given three phone calls. His only call was to his wife. "Honey, you're not going to believe this." Jim said. "I've been arrested for being a Christian." There was no reply, except for the quiet sobbing. Jim tried to assure her that it was all a misunderstanding and that he would be home before she knew it. In his own mind he wondered how true his assessment of the situation was.

The following day, Jim was escorted into the court room to be arraigned on his only charge. A man of modest financial means, Jim was assigned a public defender to handle his case. The public defender, who privately was a staunch supporter of the new anti-Christian law, tried to set aside his personal feelings so he could uphold his oath to provide Jim with the best possible defense. Besides, in his mind, the public defender thought this case was a little better than defending the drug dealers and thieves that he most often had to stand beside.

"I think we have a good case, here." The public defender said. "I've been reading the district attorneys case against you. They don't have much on you. Witnesses will testify that you've been seen feeding the poor. But we can explain that away as nothing more than a common goodwill gesture. They have evidence that you have financially supported a local church and other Christian organizations. No problem. We'll say you were just looking for a tax break. As far as reading the Bible goes, we'll say your interests were literary and not spiritual."

"All rise!" The bailiff forcefully said. "Court is now in session. The Honorable William Johnson, presiding." "Be seated." Said the judge. "l have before me case PA01327, People vs Jim Smith. The charge is Christianity. I see that Mr. Smith is represented by the public defender's office. As to the sole count of Christianity, violation of Penal Code section 666(A), how does the defendant plead?"

Jim thought of his family. He suddenly realized that he was being forced to either denounce or defend his faith. "Should I plead not guilty and hope for a jury that feels sorry for me? Or should I plead guilty and stand firm for what I've claimed to believe for many years? Is this really happening? What do I do? Am I a Christian, or not? Is it worth leaving my wife and kids? What would Christ have me do? Would He understand if I pled not guilty?" The Judge, whose Monday morning calendar was pretty full, said, "Well. Is the defendant going to enter a plea?"

It was then that Jim heard a voice. Not an audible voice, but one from deep inside his heart. "Do you remember what I did for you?" The voice whispered.

Jim pictured a courtroom from long ago. Although things were much different then, the similarities between his case and that of another Man's were evident. " So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year." John 18:12,13.

Jim thought of the mockery called a trial that Jesus was subjected to. Jim thought about how Jesus was arrested, after being betrayed by an alleged friend, although He was completely innocent. Jim thought of the way the guards and officials treated Jesus"And some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists,and to say to Him, Prophesy! And the officers received Him with slaps in the face." Mark 14:63. "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and arrayed Him in a purple robe; and they began to come up to Him, and say, Hail, King of the Jews! And to give him blows in the face." John 19:1-3.

Jim could feel his pulse and respiration elevate as he pictured the abuse his Lord and Savior had to endure. Jim thought of the unjust sentence carried out against an innocent Man-against God. "And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing'. And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, 'He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.' And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!'" Luke 23:33-37.

Jim thought of the price Jesus paid for loving a sinful world, full of sinful people. "And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.' And having said this, He breathed His last." Luke 23:46. Jim always knew the truth, but as he said the words to himself, they took on a much deeper and urgent meaning. "Jesus died for me."

Jim glanced back at his wife and kids again who, by now, were all in tears. Instead of a look of uncertainty, this time he smiled. Jim realized that he had spent a major part of his walk with the Lord buried in complacency. He realized chat his life of faithful obscurity only denied the Lord the opportunity to truly work through him. He looked again at his children and completely understood that the decision he was about to make would forever affect the legacy he would leave for them. Jim always knew that Jesus Christ, God's Chosen One, was the One who promised and secured his place in heaven for all eternity, Jim knew Jesus was the only Way to know such security. Jesus Christ knew no obscurity or complacency of faith. And for what? To glorify Himself by loving and saving a lost and dying world.

Jim stood to his feet, looked at the judge, and said, "Your Honor, I am guilty. But sadly, I have not been guilty enough of violating your immoral earthly law. I am, however guilty of repeatedly and knowingly violating God's commands. I am guilty of living my life in such a way that a defense can actually be put together to exonerate me from my faith. You have chosen to arrest and prosecute a man whose faith has been subject at best. You will sentence a man in this court for what he has done. But there will come a day when I will be sentenced in a much Higher court because of what Christ did for me. All of us will be judged one day. More important than whether or not a person is found guilty of Christianity here is whether or not the same verdict is rendered when we each stand before the Throne of Christ. Yes your Honor, I am guilty. Jesus Christ is Lord and I have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. It is by His life, death, and resurrection that I can be forgiven for falling short of His glory. Regardless of what sentence is passed here today, I have already been sentenced to eternal life through Christ Jesus, my Lord. What is your plea, your Honor? Where will you spend eternity?"

Silence. Not a word was spoken by anyone. The judge forcefully lifted his gavel, looked at Jim with amazement, then set it gently on the bench, He could not bring himself to say the words. Rather,he merely motioned with his hand for the bailiff to escort Jim out of the courtroom.

Jim's wife looked down at the little girl, wiping the tears from her own eyes, and smiled. "Your daddy did the right thing, honey. He stood beside Jesus instead of hiding behind Him."

Court is in session every day of your life. A case is being built against you, one way or another. One day you will answer the most important charge that could ever be brought against you. Jesus Christ will ask you. What's your plea?

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The question caught me by surprise. The distinguished looking pastor stood, and with sincerity in his voice, asked, "How on earth can you claim to be a Christian and work with policemen? It was not the sort of question I had anticipated. I was traveling through the country of Belarus conducting a series of regional seminars for pastors on the subject of personal witnessing. I was in the city of Mogilev, and had just completed my first three hour seminar. When I was first introduced, it was mentioned that I was a chaplain with the Park Hills, Missouri Police Department and a member of Peace Officers For Christ International. I had no idea how shocking my position would be to the 91 pastors who attended the seminars, or to the members of the churches in which I was to preach. Many times during the twelve days I spent in Belarus and Russia, I was told that the words "Christian" and "Policeman" were contradictory. As I traveled through the country and heard the stories of the people, I came to understand why they felt as they did.

In one church I visited, I was told about a police officer who became a "Believer," and was baptized into their church. A short time later, they learned that he was in an asylum. He has not been heard from since. In another church, I was approached by a man who informed me, with a tear in his eye, that his son was a believing police officer, but could not share his beliefs with anyone. The father would not give me his son's name for fear of reprisal if anyone ever found out he was a Christian.

And so, I found myself facing a very sincere question. To the best of my ability, I explained that, in America, police officers are respected by law-abiding citizens, that the motto of many police departments was "To Protect and Serve" the public, and that there were many police officers who found the strength to perform their duties through their faith in Christ. I told them that some of these Christian officers had banded together, joined by Christian police officers in other countries, into an organization for fellowship and mutual encouragement and that the name of this organization was "Peace Officers For Christ International"

I feel that the pastors' seminars were extremely successful, as these church leaders were grasping for avenues of helping their people. They were left with materials that they can now use in teaching their members how to share their faith. I thank God for the privilege of spending time in this former Soviet state teaching and preaching.

But I failed completely in another effort. Peace Officers For Christ had asked me to find a contact person in Belarus and/or Russia. However, in all my time in both countries, in all my contacts while there, I heard of only two police officers who were Christians. One was believed to be in an asylum (or worse) and the second was afraid to tell others of his faith in Christ because of what might happen to him.

In every church I visited, I encouraged those present to pray for their police officers and to witness to them. They said they would pray for them, but witness to them? "No way!" The old Soviet-induced fear of the police is deeply ingrained in the average citizen. And so, I turn to you, members of Peace Officers For Christ International. I ask you to pray for "Closet Christians" in the Belarus and Russian police departments. Pray that other police officers will come under the sway of the gospel and become "Believers."

Editor's Note:
Reverend Vein Coviogton spent 10 years as Chaplain with the St. Louis County Police Department, and the past 3 1/2 years as Chaplain with the Park Hills Police Department, both in Missouri. He is presently working with Jim Frago in establishing an arm of POFCI in Missouri Although he was unable to locate a Christian police officer in Belarus or Russia, he was able to find us a contact person in South Africa through a missionary he met in Belarus. Vern is also pastor of the Esther Baptist Church in Park Hills, Missouri.

Oh, though this hour has passed us by,
our life was but a breath,
But with it came no agony,
there was no sting of death,
For we are with the One who cares,
He took us while in slumber,
To a place where streets are paved with gold,
and angels without number.
There was a man who waited,
'fore he walked through heavens gates,
This man, he came, he took our hand,
familiar was his state.
A good man, Mommy, one we could trust,
He had buttons on his breast.
He had a badge on his hat,
And a shiny medal upon his chest.
He said he came to take us,
where there would be none to fear,
That there would be more children,
Even Grandmas live up here!
Mommy, he knew, this man was alright,
He said we would be okay!
He said there would be those who care,
All the days to come your way.
Remember Mommy, not to fret,
When you lie your head to rest,
For we are with God and the gentleman,
With the medal on his chest.

On October 26, 1996, The Anchorage Police Department was agonized by the loss of a brother officer. Officer Dan Seely was killed when he attempted to stop a man involved in a domestic disturbance. After Dan was shot, the killer shot and killed both of his young children, Jessica Lynn (5) and Gary Paul (4), and wounded his wife.

Officer Dan Seely was one of the finest officers on the Anchorage Police Department. When he died, a part of me and you died, too. He was very highly respected for his work and his heart seemed to have no bounds. He was a good, kind man. It was an honor to work with him and to know him. My earnest prayer is that when I leave this earth to be with my Lord, people will say the same things about my life as they did about Officer Dan Seely

As police officers, we all know that what happened to Dan could happen to us or someone close to us. A tragedy like this can certainly put a different perspective on life. This makes a person step back to see if he or she is ready to meet the Lord. Are you an officer who is pondering the day when you will stand before the Lord? God's word is quite clear. The only way to insure a place in God's heaven is to know His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior.

Police Sergeant Timothy Simenson was a dedicated, 18 year veteran of law enforcement who loved his work and did it well. He was admired not only by his fellow officers, but by his community, a small town 35 miles southwest of Chicago. Then came that tragic night, September 28th, 1994, when an armed robbery suspect, hiding in the trunk of the getaway car, ambushed him and took his life.

In order to cope with the grief, Tim's father, Bob Simenson, wrote and published Not To Be Forgotten. It is a tribute and a memorial to his policeman son. The book recounts the events that lead to his son's death and takes the reader through the entire ordeal, from the crime to the courthouse. You will be taken on a journey inside a loving family, as you sense the pain of a wife and a mother of two young children. You will be encouraged to learn how the family's faith in a loving God helped sustain them through the ordeal following Tim's untimely death.

This book is a father's heart poured into words as he shares an intellectual and emotional experience that the reader, hopefully, will never have to go through. The book is a drama, a love story, and family album of memories. The reader will be shocked by the young officer's death, but will be inspired by his life. It is sprinkled with photos and thoughtfully inspiring verse that will be helpful to anyone who has grieved over the loss of a loved one.

To order Not To Be Forgotten (paperback, 174pgs.) Send a $15.00 check or money order to Fair Haven Publishing, P.O. Box 777, Rice Lake, Wl„ 54868. If you would like an autographed copy, call toll free, 888-234-7761.

In March 1996, Adam Mejia, a young friend of mine was diagnosed with a particularly virulent form of cancer. I had known Adam since he was born and his parents, Danny and Linda, have been my friends for nearly a quarter of a century. Linda, is a Code Enforcement Officer with the Murrieta (California) Police Department while Danny is a building contractor.

Adam fought a courageous battle with the disease, but a little more than one month after his seventeenth birthday, he succumbed to its attack against his once strong body. I remember visiting Adam one evening at the City of Hope, a world class cancer treatment facility in Duarte, California. During my visit, Adam needed to use the bathroom. I watched as, with the aid of a walker, he made his way toward the bathroom door. I wept as I saw that the once powerful legs of this young high school wrestler had dwindled away to skin and bone. Adam reminded me of a frail little man walking the halls of a convalescent hospital.

During his last weeks Adam became weaker and weaker. The cancer had so permeated his body that he could no longer even walk. He was frustrated with the fact that he could no longer do even the simplest of things for himself. As his condition worsened, he began to express himself through his art. He drew pictures of himself as a super hero conquering the dreaded arch villain, "Cancer."

While her son was undergoing treatment at the City of Hope, Linda Mejia did a lot of writing. One of the things she wrote was the following poem.

To the City of Hope I go
Because within my heart I know
That in those gates, beyond their glow,
The spark of life my soul can show.
The gardens fragrant, full of bloom,
Are seen from every sunlit room.
Their beauty touched by tender care,
Inspired, protected, for lives to share.
The City of Hope, divinely made
To cure the pain of all who've prayed,
Guide the hands of every surgeon -
As morning and evening I read from Spurgeon
Doctors, nurses, workers smile
Committed to husband, wife or child;
Determined to fight the enemy
Preserve the light and dark to flee.
My City of Hope with streets of gold
- A hope of life eternal is what I hold;
Where dust, rat, moth and mold,
Will never through those gates unfold.
On Earth our faith in medicine
Designed, invented by mortal men
Cannot without our Creator's pen
Prolong the life on Earth to end.
Our City of Hope, beyond the rise
Above the fleece and starlit skies
I hear His voice from watchful eyes
"Come home my child, you've won the prize."

Adam Mejia was undergoing a metamorphosis that all of us go through during the course of our lives. The only difference was that Adam's transformation was greatly accelerated. When he was eleven years old, Adam had committed his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Adam knew that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. "(I Corinthians 15:50) He knew that "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) On that day, some six years earlier, Adam was born again. He had made the transition from death to life.

On Friday morning, November 8, 1996, a brief eight months after he had been diagnosed, God took Adam home to His City of Hope. I had the privilege of experiencing Adam's last hours through his family who were with him to the end.

During his last hours, every breath was a struggle for Adam. He was very tired and his family knew that his time was near. They were convinced when, a few hours before he died, he said to his father, "Dad, gels! Gels!" When Danny asked for clarification, Adam said the one word, "Angels!" His family knew that Adam was able to see what they could not. A short time later, Adam smiled the most beautiful smile and said, "You'd all like it there!" Then, at 6:30 in the morning, he opened his eyes wide, as if he was seeing heaven's glory, and reached up with his hands, as a little child would do when wanting to be lifted by his father. Then he softly and peacefully let out his last breath. It was as if he had fallen into the arms of God. He closed his eyes and went home to be with Jesus. In the gospel of Luke, chapter 16, we read of the death of Lazarus, a man who knew God. Verse 22 says that when he died, he "was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom." It would appear that Adam had the same experience. His metamorphosis was complete. He had been transformed from a caterpillar into a butterfly.

The following Friday, November 15, was the day of Adam's funeral. It was an awesome day in God's Kingdom! I have attended more funerals in my lifetime than I care to recount. One of the earliest was my own father's funeral nearly forty years ago. Since then I have attended untold numbers of police funerals with all of the pomp and ceremony attached to such a solemn event. But this funeral was special. The service was interspersed with songs, testimonies and a video presentation of Adam's life. It was truly a celebration of praise! Adam's mother, Linda, spoke other love for Adam and of the strength that God had given their family. As she spoke to the more than 1,000 persons in attendance, she praised God for His goodness and for what He had accomplished in their lives since March. She also rejoiced that her son was in heaven with Jesus. Later, Danny sang the song, "He's Alive!" It is sung from the perspective of the Apostle Peter on Resurrection Sunday and has a powerful message of promise - because He has risen from the dead we can face the trials in our lives today.

Pastor Raul Ries gave the eulogy at the end of the service and invited any who did not know Jesus Christ as their Savior to come forward and receive Him into their hearts. When Raul first gave the invitation, no one moved. It looked as though no one would respond. Then he asked everyone who was a believer to begin to pray. And we prayed! Many of us prayed that just one person would come forward. Then, something happened. A lone figure left his seat near the back of the church and began making his way to the altar. The middle aged man, his long gray hair pulled back in a pony tail, walked purposefully down the aisle. He was coming forward to make a public declaration of the rededication of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. It seemed that God had been waiting for this one man before He moved on anyone else's heart. The man was my very good friend, Ernie Murray, LAPD-retired, who had flown out from Vermont for the funeral. Once Ernie made his way to the front of the church, the flood gates opened. What a sight to behold! Nearly two hundred people (mostly teens) gave their hearts to Christ in response to Pastor Raul's invitation. God was truly glorified in Adam's life and in his death as well. We know the angels in heaven were rejoicing that day!

Many people ask, "What does POFCI do?' Well, I thought about that and basically the ad that we have placed in a number of police magazines says it all.

The ad reads, "POFCI is an international organization of peer support and we offer free police training to police departments: domestic and foreign." That's it. Now, of course there is a little more involved. Upon request, we offer the Peacemakers Journal, our POFCI magazine, which is written by peace officers for peace officers. We ask officers to look through our WEB page for current information about our ministry and to look for other Christian police organizations and dates of different Christian meetings.

We are an information-clearing house where peace officers can read about other Christian officers in our magazine, WEB page, and newsletter. We encourage Christian peace officers to meet other officers at breakfasts, retreats, and finally for coffee over the hood of a police unit. Here they can share their frustrations about the job, the media, the joys of the chase and joys of their family.

It is our desire to show the world and the law enforcement community that a peace officer can do the job and still be a Christian the Bible teaches. The basic principle that "Jesus loves me this I know," is a start of a growing relation with the living God, not a one-time membership. This is a growing, living relationship that continues to grow daily. Graduating from the academy did not make you a police officer. That was just the start. Everyday you are becoming a better cop: there are bad days; there are good days, and sometimes even marvelous days. The Christian officer realizes that each day, good or bad, in another day to serve the Lord.

So what is a Christian law enforcement officer to do? I will give you a few simple basic nuts and bolts principles on how to serve God:

1. Read or hear the Bible daily.
The closer to God you get, the more Christ-like you become.

3. Worship God for who He is the giver of your every breath.
Thank him for giving you life.

4. Talk about Him with others.
Pick your battles, but standup for Moral and Ethical issues in conversations with coworkers at your department.

The POFCI board and I want to thank you for your interest in Peace Officers for Christ International. Please feel free to contact us with comments, questions, and inquiries.
In His Service,
Terry Hart
POFCI Outreach Director

Page last updated 25 May 2002

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Peace Officers for Christ International

Peacemakers' Journal - Winter 1997

The Prodigal in Blue
By Officer Stephen A.C. Ahearn

Peace Officers for Christ International

Peacemakers' Journal - Winter 1997

The Prodigal in Blue By Officer Stephen A.C. Ahearn

The Prodigal in Blue
By Officer Stephen A.C. Ahearn