Three events took place over the past two weeks that stuck me profoundly. They have important spiritually and political implications.
www.devotions4cops.com for an archive of past devos or current ones you can send a link to others.
The county of San Diego responding to a complaint by neighbors issued a citation to a man holding a Bible study in a private home. He was interrogated about prayer, saying amen and singing songs.
The California Supreme Court ruled to uphold Proposition 8. The Proposition stated marriage is between a man and a woman. It was largely underwritten by the Mormons although many churches supported it. It also caused Rick Warren to apologize to his gay friends.
A young black man walked through Chicano park. As he did some young thugs were there hanging out, probably smoking some dope and drinking a 40oz, spilling a little for the dead and locked up homies. The guys are from the Logan street gang have ties to the Mexican Mafia and TJ drug cartels. They are a large and violent gang. As the young black man walked through the park, one of the Logan homies called him a “Nigger” and told him his “kind” was not welcomed in the park. The gang members caught up with him at the corner and beat him savagely with a golf club, chain and bat while screaming racial slurs.
Question: Of these events what should our reaction be as Christians?
Issue 1: “Just meet at a church and not offend the neighbor” one person wrote. Others feared the sky was falling and we were entering the great persecution. The early church met in homes. In fact there were no church buildings where Christians met until around 300 AD. This drives at the heart of those who call themselves followers of Christ. The issue is a core value and it’s spiritual rather than political. Christian’s meet with other Christians, having a fellowship dinners, praying together and ministering to one another. They truly cared for one another. This is central to Christ’s teachings. When it was said, “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together” this is exactly what the topic. Unity of the body of Christ should be of the highest priority. It’s also a constitutional mainstay.
Paul was arrested and then released when he told them he was a Roman citizen. He was told to “go quietly” after mistreatment in jail. He refused! Based on law. Acts 16: 35-37. There are things we must vigorously contest. This I believe is one of those issues. "[2] Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Scripture and Law are on our side and unrestricted fellowship is worth the fight.
Issue 2: Prop 8. It challenges the very way marriage is defined. Homosexuality goes against the way God designed man. The majority of Christians have decided this is a critically important issue in which to get politically motivated. In a secular form of government the issue of legislative morality is taken to task by those who believe morality is up to the individual’s decision. In our system of government people of faith should/must be involved. Not the religious institutions, but the people who have been called by God.
I do find it interesting we turn our heads and say nothing about homosexual behavior, just marriage of gays. We are silent about the legal right to divorce and remarriage (Biblical prohibitions). We say nothing about people (gay and straight) living together and getting common law rights. We have chosen to fight gay marriage and remain silent about the rest. If the government/people chooses to accept marriage as defined as gay, poly, living together, straight or other, why do Christians still seek the governments blessing? Do we really care what man says about marriage? My promise to be faithful to Cathy was before God. I don’t care what Arnold thinks.
I heard George Will sum up very well the idea of religion and government…The constitution demands a separation of religion from state. You can not separate faith from government. Faith forms the values from which a person votes.
Matthew 22:23 ff, “at the resurrection whose wife of the seven will she be since all of there were married to her? Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage.”
Issue 3: The young man was beaten because he was black. Our lack of moral outrage at racism is an abomination to God. Not just against black people, but Mexicans, Jews, Arabs, Whites, Poor, others. Under the banner of Christ this should NEVER be associated with those who claim to be followers of the Savior. John 4: Jews would not even eat off of a plate used by Samaritans. Jesus challenged that, he was given a drink by a Samaritan woman, a hooker on top of it all! He brought her eternal life. When the society banned them Jesus ministered to them. Only one church in SD that I know of is racially diverse. That is a shame. How are we reaching out to others who may be different than us? As one man said, Sunday is the most segregated day of the week.
THREE LESSONS FOR ME:
1. Look to the scriptures for guidance in how we influence governance. Not the traditions of old that gave us slavery but a fresh look of obvious objectivity.
2 When permissible by law we should influence government.
3. Recognize issues God would stand for and on those raise the flag of Christ. Flag raiser beware you are representing the King! The violent assault of the young black man, the restriction of religious liberty are things, I believe we should view as vitally important.
4. Be willing to lay it all on the line. If Prop 8 is overturned Christians should refuse to be recognized in marriage by the State of California. While we are at it ban any marriage that is other than one man and one woman. O yeah we did, except for those who have had multiple partners, wives and lovers. Ouch!
A
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Jumping Through Windows
Can a leader motivate people? Some say yes and others say no. I have to be honest; I’m not sure. So how motivated are you…to serve Christ’s kingdom that is. Please don’t mistake serving Christ with working in a church. It could be one in the same if that is what God has put on your heart, but not necessarily. I’m talking about brining honor to Him through serving others.
Not too long ago we developed some information about a gang member who was in possession of a Tec 22 sub machine gun. We did the usual and had some of our guys stop him, rip the gun. They put him in jail and went 10-8. The DA kicked it (didn’t file charges) because of some dominion and control issues. We needed to wait for DNA testing to come back from the Lab. In the meantime we got more information that he rearmed himself. While he is part of an Asian gang, he is actually from the Middle East. So detectives contacted Probation and convinced them to put him in on a violation while waiting for the gun to come back from the Lab. They went to his house of record. Not there. All of his homies’ homes. Not there. They finally got information he was at an apartment hiding from the police. Detectives and probation officers went to the house, got a good tight perimeter and pounded on the door. POLICE and PROBATION open up we know you’re in there. We will kick the door. BAMB, BAMB the 2nd story apartment shook with the force of the blows from the butt end of the detectives flashlight. Now the guys out back can clearly hear the noise in front. But it’s a second story and not much chance they guy is coming their way, so they do what most cops do in this circumstance. Laugh. The knocking is now more intense and the door is pushing back with every blow. Finally the team leader gives the command, kick it! Boom! The door flies open and the team enters yelling get on the floor and give me a two!
Suddenly, the glass window to the rear of the apartment explodes and showers the two backyard detectives with shards of glass. Behind the glass is a flying Afghani. He lands directly in front of them in a bush, cutting his stomach. They pounce on him and slap handcuffs on his wrists in what looked like a pro-steer roping competition. 1.2 seconds and hands in the air, he was cuffed. No longer a threat, he is now off to the hospital for treatment of lacerations to the stomach.
While at UCSD Medical center waiting for treatment (it can take hours) a probation security officer watched the suspect. The suspect complained several times how he was sick and needed to throw up. Rather than giving him a bed pan, the guard allowed the guy to puke in private. About the fifth time puking in private, he came out with a metal and wood handrail. The kind that surround the toilet and help you get up. The guard had been lulled asleep. The suspect took the bar and blasted the guard to the side of the head. Multiple blows later the guard is on the ground and the violent gang member is running down the hallway. It must have been a sight. A hospital gown wafting in the wind creating a back draft that shows a butt crack (this is where the saying crack kills came from) carrying a set of handcuffs and a metal bar. To his credit the guard got up and chased down the fleeing felon. He tackled the guy and held on until help got there. This was a motivated crook and a motivated guard.
I was challenged this week by Hebrews 6:9-12. The writer tells them to get the gifts that accompany salvation. He tells them that God is just and will not forget their work and love as they have helped others in need “…show the same diligence (motivation) to the very end in order to make your hope secure. Don’t become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what was promised.” Is it possible in our 21st century culture that we have become lazy because we have hired professional pastors to do our job? Each of us should obtain the “gifts” that accompany salvation…and use them.
I love cops who still possess the wonder of policing. They are as motivated and diligent at doing a good job as the day they started. A group of highly motivated people develops a corporate ethos. An ethos of hard working, pro-active members (cops or Christians) or unmotivated, lazy and will become ultimately corrupt members (cops or Christians).
Look around for someone who has been a Christian for years but still has the fire (diligence/motivation) to serve the most high GOD. That is who I want to imitate.
Andy
Not too long ago we developed some information about a gang member who was in possession of a Tec 22 sub machine gun. We did the usual and had some of our guys stop him, rip the gun. They put him in jail and went 10-8. The DA kicked it (didn’t file charges) because of some dominion and control issues. We needed to wait for DNA testing to come back from the Lab. In the meantime we got more information that he rearmed himself. While he is part of an Asian gang, he is actually from the Middle East. So detectives contacted Probation and convinced them to put him in on a violation while waiting for the gun to come back from the Lab. They went to his house of record. Not there. All of his homies’ homes. Not there. They finally got information he was at an apartment hiding from the police. Detectives and probation officers went to the house, got a good tight perimeter and pounded on the door. POLICE and PROBATION open up we know you’re in there. We will kick the door. BAMB, BAMB the 2nd story apartment shook with the force of the blows from the butt end of the detectives flashlight. Now the guys out back can clearly hear the noise in front. But it’s a second story and not much chance they guy is coming their way, so they do what most cops do in this circumstance. Laugh. The knocking is now more intense and the door is pushing back with every blow. Finally the team leader gives the command, kick it! Boom! The door flies open and the team enters yelling get on the floor and give me a two!
Suddenly, the glass window to the rear of the apartment explodes and showers the two backyard detectives with shards of glass. Behind the glass is a flying Afghani. He lands directly in front of them in a bush, cutting his stomach. They pounce on him and slap handcuffs on his wrists in what looked like a pro-steer roping competition. 1.2 seconds and hands in the air, he was cuffed. No longer a threat, he is now off to the hospital for treatment of lacerations to the stomach.
While at UCSD Medical center waiting for treatment (it can take hours) a probation security officer watched the suspect. The suspect complained several times how he was sick and needed to throw up. Rather than giving him a bed pan, the guard allowed the guy to puke in private. About the fifth time puking in private, he came out with a metal and wood handrail. The kind that surround the toilet and help you get up. The guard had been lulled asleep. The suspect took the bar and blasted the guard to the side of the head. Multiple blows later the guard is on the ground and the violent gang member is running down the hallway. It must have been a sight. A hospital gown wafting in the wind creating a back draft that shows a butt crack (this is where the saying crack kills came from) carrying a set of handcuffs and a metal bar. To his credit the guard got up and chased down the fleeing felon. He tackled the guy and held on until help got there. This was a motivated crook and a motivated guard.
I was challenged this week by Hebrews 6:9-12. The writer tells them to get the gifts that accompany salvation. He tells them that God is just and will not forget their work and love as they have helped others in need “…show the same diligence (motivation) to the very end in order to make your hope secure. Don’t become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what was promised.” Is it possible in our 21st century culture that we have become lazy because we have hired professional pastors to do our job? Each of us should obtain the “gifts” that accompany salvation…and use them.
I love cops who still possess the wonder of policing. They are as motivated and diligent at doing a good job as the day they started. A group of highly motivated people develops a corporate ethos. An ethos of hard working, pro-active members (cops or Christians) or unmotivated, lazy and will become ultimately corrupt members (cops or Christians).
Look around for someone who has been a Christian for years but still has the fire (diligence/motivation) to serve the most high GOD. That is who I want to imitate.
Andy
Friday, May 22, 2009
Rendered Safe
Its 0200 hours, and the lights have been off in the house for 30 minutes. The coast looks clear. A lone dark figure walking in the shadows approaches a car and crawls under the back rear quarter panel. Not typical behavior for a car burglar. What gives? The lone figure carefully pulls out a shinny black box with three strong magnets from his pocket. In doing so the man bumps the car with his shoulder setting off the alarm which sounds with a shrill. WoWoWoWoWo, Deedo, Deedo, Deedo. Lights flicker on in the house as the suspect runs from the vehicle and lies in a shadow at the neighbor's house, gun in hand.
The victim checks his car, walks around looking into the dark. No break-in, nothing missing. He misses the man in the bushes. Churp, churp he resets the alarm and heads off to bed for some restless sleep. The shadowy figure lays still, heart thumping, sweat pouring out of him, afraid he might be discovered. He almost was. No, he is not some meth freak looking to steal a car stereo, a transient looking for change or an illegal alien looking for a car to drive to LA. It's a cop. A gang detective to be specific, trying to place a tracker on a car. The guys on point for counter surveillance, now that the cluster is over, rib the bumbling detective over the encrypted radio frequency. Nice! Why don't you just knock on the door and ask S-1 to put it on the car for you? Stick a sign on the car, "SDPD tracks you." Laughter rings through the hidden ear piece. He got the tracker in place. It worked well.
The next day while speeding down the freeway, S-1's vehicle hit a bump and the tracker dropped off onto the number 4 lane of the heavily traveled multi lane highway. A concerned citizen calls the police who promptly evaluate the "suspicious package" in this era of terrorism. It was a contraption they had not seen before. Even thought it is a silent dispatch sent over the MCT, news stations catch wind of the developing story during prime commute and orbit overhead. The officers request the bomb squad. Meanwhile detective back in the office are watching the movement of the suspect vehicle and notice it has been stopped for some time on the freeway. They head out to verify the suspects location and see if there is an incident. There was an incident.
As detectives arrive the bomb disposal operators roll out the remotely controlled robot loaded with a video camera and a 12 gauge shotgun. Horrified they watch as the robot rolled up to the tracking device. The operators give the "fire in the hole" warning as the 12 gauge shotgun blows a fist size hole in our tracker. The device has been rendered safe!
I lost something along the way of my life. My innocence. Because of my sin nature and my willing sin as well, I became separated from God. I was just rolling along on the freeway of life, being tracked remotely by an all knowing GOD but under my own decision making power. Like the lost tracker I was aimless and worthless to God's kingdom. I had to make a choice stay aimless or follow Christ. I chose to accept His sacrifice as my solution to sin and spiritual aimlessness. I accepted His forgiveness and as a result I have eternal life. God blew a fist sized hole in my heart just like the tracking device. He took all of my sin and nailed it to the Cross. Like the tracking device I have been rendered safe.
Happy Easter, the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. If you desire forgiveness just tell God that you accept Jesus as your Savior from sin. He will give you purpose and meaning in this earthly life and the kingdom to come. If you do this please email me Andrew.mills@att.net and let me know. I'd appreciate it.
Rendered safe from myself.....
Andy
The victim checks his car, walks around looking into the dark. No break-in, nothing missing. He misses the man in the bushes. Churp, churp he resets the alarm and heads off to bed for some restless sleep. The shadowy figure lays still, heart thumping, sweat pouring out of him, afraid he might be discovered. He almost was. No, he is not some meth freak looking to steal a car stereo, a transient looking for change or an illegal alien looking for a car to drive to LA. It's a cop. A gang detective to be specific, trying to place a tracker on a car. The guys on point for counter surveillance, now that the cluster is over, rib the bumbling detective over the encrypted radio frequency. Nice! Why don't you just knock on the door and ask S-1 to put it on the car for you? Stick a sign on the car, "SDPD tracks you." Laughter rings through the hidden ear piece. He got the tracker in place. It worked well.
The next day while speeding down the freeway, S-1's vehicle hit a bump and the tracker dropped off onto the number 4 lane of the heavily traveled multi lane highway. A concerned citizen calls the police who promptly evaluate the "suspicious package" in this era of terrorism. It was a contraption they had not seen before. Even thought it is a silent dispatch sent over the MCT, news stations catch wind of the developing story during prime commute and orbit overhead. The officers request the bomb squad. Meanwhile detective back in the office are watching the movement of the suspect vehicle and notice it has been stopped for some time on the freeway. They head out to verify the suspects location and see if there is an incident. There was an incident.
As detectives arrive the bomb disposal operators roll out the remotely controlled robot loaded with a video camera and a 12 gauge shotgun. Horrified they watch as the robot rolled up to the tracking device. The operators give the "fire in the hole" warning as the 12 gauge shotgun blows a fist size hole in our tracker. The device has been rendered safe!
I lost something along the way of my life. My innocence. Because of my sin nature and my willing sin as well, I became separated from God. I was just rolling along on the freeway of life, being tracked remotely by an all knowing GOD but under my own decision making power. Like the lost tracker I was aimless and worthless to God's kingdom. I had to make a choice stay aimless or follow Christ. I chose to accept His sacrifice as my solution to sin and spiritual aimlessness. I accepted His forgiveness and as a result I have eternal life. God blew a fist sized hole in my heart just like the tracking device. He took all of my sin and nailed it to the Cross. Like the tracking device I have been rendered safe.
Happy Easter, the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. If you desire forgiveness just tell God that you accept Jesus as your Savior from sin. He will give you purpose and meaning in this earthly life and the kingdom to come. If you do this please email me Andrew.mills@att.net and let me know. I'd appreciate it.
Rendered safe from myself.....
Andy
14 year old Javier Quiroz was a typical 14 year old kid. He played soccer, rode his bike around the park and flirted with girls. He was healthy, smart, and hansom. He was murdered. There were very few leads in the case and minimal evidence. Javier was the victim of a gang homicide that was the genesis of Operation Stampede. Operation Stampede was a 6 month covert investigation into the violence and weapons trafficking of a violent San Diego Street gang. It was led by Sergeant David C . Det. Nestor H, Fernando R, Damon S and Jana B where the case agents.
Here is how this case came to life. A sharp CIU detective and two parole agents conducted a search of a man’s house. He was targeted because he was the “shot caller” or leader of the gang. He also had Mafia ties. When this man was visited at prison he was brought out with two guards and belly chains. His imposing structure and strength was easily evident. The detective and agents caught him dirty just prior to getting off of parole. It was explained to him 20 years in the joint (for doing a friend a favor) or help the police solve some crimes. He was at a point in his life where he had the chance to make it. Leave the life of crime and raise a family with his wife or back the homies. He chose to help. Most gangsters would have just walked away from their family to standby their homies.
Through covert video taping and evidence gathering techniques the CI was sent after targets who we believed were involved in 5 murders and 6 attempted murders. The goal was to gather evidence and put them away, even if we could not solve the murders. The CI began buying guns and dope for the Mexican drug cartels. He had sellers from the gang set and other entrepreneurial gun traffickers. Some sold fully auto AK-47’s and M-16 military rifles, others cheap handguns. Once while buying several guns and large quantities of methamphetamine, one of the suspects said, “Hey XX let me have the gun for a few. “I’m gonna go bust on OKE 46th.” (Translation: I want to use the guns to kill some other gang members 4 blocks away.) The CI told him to find his own gun knowing he couldn’t. They tried to burn the house later that night with the family inside.
The Mexican Mafia has a moratorium on drive by shootings. At the direction of detectives, the CI threw a cook out for the gang members at an undercover location we had under observation. (Your tax dollars at work.) He gathered all the gang members around him and said, “The big homies (mafia) are upset. You (pointed to our murder suspect) violated the no drive by rule. Everyone looked at S-1 with disgust. He clearly had to defend himself in this crowd of killers. I didn’t mean to. I was sitting in the car, saw these fools (other gang members) slipping and had to shoot them. The door didn’t open. Tell the big homies, I didn’t mean to. The car was not moving. (Violation of the order is death.)
They went on with the conversation later. Wicked (another gang member) demands to know from S-1 why are you killing little kids? Man, he disrespected us at the beach. We found him at the park. Insane took the gun and shot him. It knocked him into the bushes. He came back to the car and said that little #@$%^ is still alive. He went back and finished him off. You should have heard him begging for his life. He was begging, don’t shot me, don’t shot me. I big bang then it went quite. Javier was dead.
Darrell W, Van C and teams followed one of the primary targets around for two days. They watched as he went to work with his wife and waited for her in the car. He let her pump the gas as two gang members sat in the car. They watched as he delivered dope, got up in the morning, ate lunch and talked casually on the cell phone. At 1206 AM the team watched as he left work (his wife’s) and was stopped by a two officer team. Chris L and Scott H casually walked up to the car, knowing he was good for two murders and asked to see his diver’s license. He showed it to them and was asked to get out of the car. Not unusual for gang members. It was all good, don’t show emotion just go along they will let me go like every other time. In stead L. asks him, "Hey didn’t you get shot in the penis?" Yeah, how did you know? I took the report. Oh yeah. Isn’t the bullet still there? Yeah. (As he is putting handcuffs on the distracted man) It’s gonna be there for a while. You’re under arrest for murder. Just a few hour’s later SWAT teams from our department, Chula Vista , and AFT fanned out all over the city with more than 100 other officers and began throwing flash bangs and kicking doors of wanted gang members. Their sins had been laid bare.
Two weeks ago I asked you to pray for our ability to be safe and track down all these heathens. Thank you! You had a part in one of the best projects in the nation. Because of the stellar work of Dave, Nestor, Fernando, Jana, Damon, Raul, Steve, Lou, Darrel, Van, Chris and many others, 31 people were arrested on multiple charges with a gang enhancement. Some are potentially facing death row, others life. Detectives seized almost 50 guns and pounds of meth, cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Best yet the evidence is irrefutable.
This project caused me to stop and think for a few minutes. Why was this project so successful? I think I know and it is found in I Corinthians 12:14-31. I have yet to see a team work with one purpose and so little strife. Each of the main players put their egos aside and did their job without fail or emotional baggage. “The body is a unit made up of many parts.” Each person no matter what their roll was vital to its success. “Those parts of the body that seem to be the weakest are indispensible.” “Now (because they accepted Christ as Savior) you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” If one suffers, we all suffer. If one succeeds we all succeed. It’s part of working as a team.
Am I being and effective body part or am I causing the team to be less than effective? It seems to me this is the malady of the 21st century church.
After the project was announced and the people were arrested one of my guys sent me an email. "The facial expression I saw on these fools faces when the magnitude of this operation resonated in their small brains was simply "Priceless." I just wanted to let you guys know how absolutely great it felt to work this operation today. Great freaking job! I really felt proud to be a San Diego Police Officer today…"
I want to be even more proud of the church-those who believe in Christ. Christians have more at stake, the cases are bigger and the team more important. Some times it takes creativity like Operation Stampede. Other times it just takes doing my part, no matter how small or insignificant. It always takes working as a team. Are you part of the team? Are you enhancing or distracting from the potential of the project?
Part of the BODY!
A
http://www.kusi.com/news/local/44201677.html
Here is how this case came to life. A sharp CIU detective and two parole agents conducted a search of a man’s house. He was targeted because he was the “shot caller” or leader of the gang. He also had Mafia ties. When this man was visited at prison he was brought out with two guards and belly chains. His imposing structure and strength was easily evident. The detective and agents caught him dirty just prior to getting off of parole. It was explained to him 20 years in the joint (for doing a friend a favor) or help the police solve some crimes. He was at a point in his life where he had the chance to make it. Leave the life of crime and raise a family with his wife or back the homies. He chose to help. Most gangsters would have just walked away from their family to standby their homies.
Through covert video taping and evidence gathering techniques the CI was sent after targets who we believed were involved in 5 murders and 6 attempted murders. The goal was to gather evidence and put them away, even if we could not solve the murders. The CI began buying guns and dope for the Mexican drug cartels. He had sellers from the gang set and other entrepreneurial gun traffickers. Some sold fully auto AK-47’s and M-16 military rifles, others cheap handguns. Once while buying several guns and large quantities of methamphetamine, one of the suspects said, “Hey XX let me have the gun for a few. “I’m gonna go bust on OKE 46th.” (Translation: I want to use the guns to kill some other gang members 4 blocks away.) The CI told him to find his own gun knowing he couldn’t. They tried to burn the house later that night with the family inside.
The Mexican Mafia has a moratorium on drive by shootings. At the direction of detectives, the CI threw a cook out for the gang members at an undercover location we had under observation. (Your tax dollars at work.) He gathered all the gang members around him and said, “The big homies (mafia) are upset. You (pointed to our murder suspect) violated the no drive by rule. Everyone looked at S-1 with disgust. He clearly had to defend himself in this crowd of killers. I didn’t mean to. I was sitting in the car, saw these fools (other gang members) slipping and had to shoot them. The door didn’t open. Tell the big homies, I didn’t mean to. The car was not moving. (Violation of the order is death.)
They went on with the conversation later. Wicked (another gang member) demands to know from S-1 why are you killing little kids? Man, he disrespected us at the beach. We found him at the park. Insane took the gun and shot him. It knocked him into the bushes. He came back to the car and said that little #@$%^ is still alive. He went back and finished him off. You should have heard him begging for his life. He was begging, don’t shot me, don’t shot me. I big bang then it went quite. Javier was dead.
Darrell W, Van C and teams followed one of the primary targets around for two days. They watched as he went to work with his wife and waited for her in the car. He let her pump the gas as two gang members sat in the car. They watched as he delivered dope, got up in the morning, ate lunch and talked casually on the cell phone. At 1206 AM the team watched as he left work (his wife’s) and was stopped by a two officer team. Chris L and Scott H casually walked up to the car, knowing he was good for two murders and asked to see his diver’s license. He showed it to them and was asked to get out of the car. Not unusual for gang members. It was all good, don’t show emotion just go along they will let me go like every other time. In stead L. asks him, "Hey didn’t you get shot in the penis?" Yeah, how did you know? I took the report. Oh yeah. Isn’t the bullet still there? Yeah. (As he is putting handcuffs on the distracted man) It’s gonna be there for a while. You’re under arrest for murder. Just a few hour’s later SWAT teams from our department, Chula Vista , and AFT fanned out all over the city with more than 100 other officers and began throwing flash bangs and kicking doors of wanted gang members. Their sins had been laid bare.
Two weeks ago I asked you to pray for our ability to be safe and track down all these heathens. Thank you! You had a part in one of the best projects in the nation. Because of the stellar work of Dave, Nestor, Fernando, Jana, Damon, Raul, Steve, Lou, Darrel, Van, Chris and many others, 31 people were arrested on multiple charges with a gang enhancement. Some are potentially facing death row, others life. Detectives seized almost 50 guns and pounds of meth, cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Best yet the evidence is irrefutable.
This project caused me to stop and think for a few minutes. Why was this project so successful? I think I know and it is found in I Corinthians 12:14-31. I have yet to see a team work with one purpose and so little strife. Each of the main players put their egos aside and did their job without fail or emotional baggage. “The body is a unit made up of many parts.” Each person no matter what their roll was vital to its success. “Those parts of the body that seem to be the weakest are indispensible.” “Now (because they accepted Christ as Savior) you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” If one suffers, we all suffer. If one succeeds we all succeed. It’s part of working as a team.
Am I being and effective body part or am I causing the team to be less than effective? It seems to me this is the malady of the 21st century church.
After the project was announced and the people were arrested one of my guys sent me an email. "The facial expression I saw on these fools faces when the magnitude of this operation resonated in their small brains was simply "Priceless." I just wanted to let you guys know how absolutely great it felt to work this operation today. Great freaking job! I really felt proud to be a San Diego Police Officer today…"
I want to be even more proud of the church-those who believe in Christ. Christians have more at stake, the cases are bigger and the team more important. Some times it takes creativity like Operation Stampede. Other times it just takes doing my part, no matter how small or insignificant. It always takes working as a team. Are you part of the team? Are you enhancing or distracting from the potential of the project?
Part of the BODY!
A
http://www.kusi.com/news/local/44201677.html
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Trunk Lid for God
The trunk of a police car is somewhat like a bed spread in a cheep no tell - hotel. Forensically, they look the same under ultraviolet lighting. It’s not a thing you would want to lay your face on. Smears of Jerry curl mixed with snot from people getting OC sprayed, blood mixed with saliva and certainly urine from some drunk passing by an empty patrol car. I heard a culture of swine flu genetically altered with Hep C was obtained in the back seat and on trunk lid of a patrol car.
As you know working graveyards is physically brutal. It feels like someone drained 50% of your stamina out of your body for 4 months straight. You spend the night looking for things to do, crooks to chase and people to laugh at. Patrolling the dark streets is difficult, but it’s hopeless when the fog bank rolls in. You want to die! You resort to terrorizing each other with pranks and playing bumper tag. Don’t ask. When your friends go out on an alarm call you sneak in and set their siren and lights to turn on with the ignition. When they start the engine it’s a shot of pure adrenalin. When they fall asleep at a stop light you pelt them with rocks so they think they have been shot at and cry as they roll out onto the pavement guns drawn. You put a dead or live animal in the back see and watch through long eyes. Heaven forbid they leave their keys in the ignition. Some have actually called in I need the air…someone stole my car.” “10-22, I found it.” Lots of mic clicks in the background.
One of my friends who is part POII and part John the Baptist was recently working graveyards. As he drove around in the fog and after the radio slowed to a crawl, he felt God talking to him. No it wasn’t a prank of beat partners setting his radio to scan NW Tac 12, but a strong yearning in his heart. He had been working with some other believers on the department and really felt he needed to do something. He sent a “to P” message over the MCT and asked them to meet him at a closed park. Normally the guys will meet to smoke a cigar, drink some coffee or chomp on a bagel. They tell a few stories that may or may not be totally true and get a few laughs to get them through the night. No self respecting cop eats doughnuts. (Unless its one of those bear claws.)
He pulled into the only open business bought a few items and drove to the park where the team was waiting. He climbed out of the driver’s seat surrounded by an AR-15, computer on a swivel and a 12 gauge shot gun in the rack. His lunch pale was safety belted into the seat. That’s the important stuff. He brought the bag from the 7-11 with him. It was about 0530 hours. The officer, responding to the influence of God opened the bag and pulled out some saltine crackers, Dixie cups and grape juice. He broke the crackers into smaller pieces, poured the juice and served communion on the trunk of a black and white as the sun rose into the sky. They prayed and thanked the Lord for safety and salvation on this beautiful San Diego morning. Seven men, united in the brotherhood of arms and eternity. As the sun rose in the sky it reminded the men of the Son of God who rose from the dead. After all, it was Easter morning!
It’s amazing to me that on a platform of filth God was honored through the obedience of a cop. Its kind of like our lives, we are that platform. “There is none righteous not even one.” And again, “your righteousness is like a filthy rag.” But God has chosen to use us as a platform to bring Him honor. “He uses the simple things to confound the wise.” There is not one of us God cannot use. The question is, are we willing and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Will we be his trunk lid.
I Corinthians 2:10 ff The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.[c] 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This week I’m going to be a trunk lid for God.
Andy
As you know working graveyards is physically brutal. It feels like someone drained 50% of your stamina out of your body for 4 months straight. You spend the night looking for things to do, crooks to chase and people to laugh at. Patrolling the dark streets is difficult, but it’s hopeless when the fog bank rolls in. You want to die! You resort to terrorizing each other with pranks and playing bumper tag. Don’t ask. When your friends go out on an alarm call you sneak in and set their siren and lights to turn on with the ignition. When they start the engine it’s a shot of pure adrenalin. When they fall asleep at a stop light you pelt them with rocks so they think they have been shot at and cry as they roll out onto the pavement guns drawn. You put a dead or live animal in the back see and watch through long eyes. Heaven forbid they leave their keys in the ignition. Some have actually called in I need the air…someone stole my car.” “10-22, I found it.” Lots of mic clicks in the background.
One of my friends who is part POII and part John the Baptist was recently working graveyards. As he drove around in the fog and after the radio slowed to a crawl, he felt God talking to him. No it wasn’t a prank of beat partners setting his radio to scan NW Tac 12, but a strong yearning in his heart. He had been working with some other believers on the department and really felt he needed to do something. He sent a “to P” message over the MCT and asked them to meet him at a closed park. Normally the guys will meet to smoke a cigar, drink some coffee or chomp on a bagel. They tell a few stories that may or may not be totally true and get a few laughs to get them through the night. No self respecting cop eats doughnuts. (Unless its one of those bear claws.)
He pulled into the only open business bought a few items and drove to the park where the team was waiting. He climbed out of the driver’s seat surrounded by an AR-15, computer on a swivel and a 12 gauge shot gun in the rack. His lunch pale was safety belted into the seat. That’s the important stuff. He brought the bag from the 7-11 with him. It was about 0530 hours. The officer, responding to the influence of God opened the bag and pulled out some saltine crackers, Dixie cups and grape juice. He broke the crackers into smaller pieces, poured the juice and served communion on the trunk of a black and white as the sun rose into the sky. They prayed and thanked the Lord for safety and salvation on this beautiful San Diego morning. Seven men, united in the brotherhood of arms and eternity. As the sun rose in the sky it reminded the men of the Son of God who rose from the dead. After all, it was Easter morning!
It’s amazing to me that on a platform of filth God was honored through the obedience of a cop. Its kind of like our lives, we are that platform. “There is none righteous not even one.” And again, “your righteousness is like a filthy rag.” But God has chosen to use us as a platform to bring Him honor. “He uses the simple things to confound the wise.” There is not one of us God cannot use. The question is, are we willing and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Will we be his trunk lid.
I Corinthians 2:10 ff The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.[c] 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This week I’m going to be a trunk lid for God.
Andy
Control Freak
I like being in control. It’s more comfortable that way, ya know, my way. But things just don’t always go as planned nor do they go my way. As a young pastor (those who are shocked it was for 2 years and I got fired twice. Once I choked out one of my parishioners, the next time for being a “bull in a china shop.” I refused to kick some black kids out of the church gym. “Those kind” didn’t attend this church. These guys fought, swore and could hang on the rim.) When you loose control things they don’t go your way. Then you deal with disappointment.
`
Last week Andrea (my middle child) and Rhodes her friend were playing Bocce’ ball on the beach. With my Bocce ball set. The uneven, soft in some spots and hard in others sand, punctuated by rocks makes it a whole new level of competition. (Mark you know its on with you this summer.) A flying rat…a.k.a. Seagull, kept interfering with Andrea’s and Rhodes game. Every time Rhodes threw the little ball the bird pecked it. (You throw out the little ball and whoever get’s closest to it with the big balls wins points.) Finally out of frustration (I think Andrea also must have scored some big points on a throw) Rhodes did what most juvenile delinquent men like me would do. He threw the little ball at the seagull. He missed. The bird fluffed his feathers, looked at Rhodes with an evil little bird smile, squawked a few times, muttered something to himself about doing flyby pooping’s on people smarter than Rhodes and Andrea and ever so calmly picked up the ball in his beak and flew away. As the bird looked over his shoulder, flying just out of Rhodes reach and flew just fast enough to elude the future Navy Seal, he must have laughed to himself. He clearly chirped “I have the ball and the control.” Rhodes chased the bird out of sight. Andrea almost vomited from complete convulsions lying in the sand gasping for air. Not finishing the game was a big disappointment. Telling me a seagull stole my ball made it worse.
The Romans were control freaks. Acts 16:16 – 40 is an interesting story about control, the loss of control and regaining meaningful control in the end. Paul, Salis, Doctor Luke and others were preaching in a Roman colony. A slave girl who had a “spirit where she could predict the future” followed them around shouting these men are servants of the highest God.” It annoyed Paul. So he cast out the spirit. She lost her ability to predict and make money for her owner. They took Paul to court and rather than being just the Romans beat them and threw them in prison, to control them. The jailer was told to guard them carefully. (No more escapes like Jesus) So he put them in stocks and chains. A gigantic earth quake took place and the fetters fell off. (Total loss of control) Paul and his men stayed. The jailer threatened to kill himself. Paul instead brought him to the Savior. By having lost total control of his life he was able to gain eternal control of his life. Remember in our weakness He is made strong.
The government officials decided to release Paul and Silas. Paul refused. What?! They beat a Roman citizen without a trial. V39 “They came to appease them and escort them from the prison.” Now Paul is now in complete control. He left on his time, after visiting the church at Lydia’s house.
My point here is this: Most of us like to be in control of our lives and future. God does not want it that way. Sure we can and should work hard and strive to succeed. But God’s view of our lives is vital.
The best way to gain control and not suffer disappointment is to put God in full control of our lives. In Romans 10:9-10 when Paul said, “If you confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord” you will be saved, he is directly referring to placing total control of our lives into God’s hands. Have you?
So, whose in control.
A
`
Last week Andrea (my middle child) and Rhodes her friend were playing Bocce’ ball on the beach. With my Bocce ball set. The uneven, soft in some spots and hard in others sand, punctuated by rocks makes it a whole new level of competition. (Mark you know its on with you this summer.) A flying rat…a.k.a. Seagull, kept interfering with Andrea’s and Rhodes game. Every time Rhodes threw the little ball the bird pecked it. (You throw out the little ball and whoever get’s closest to it with the big balls wins points.) Finally out of frustration (I think Andrea also must have scored some big points on a throw) Rhodes did what most juvenile delinquent men like me would do. He threw the little ball at the seagull. He missed. The bird fluffed his feathers, looked at Rhodes with an evil little bird smile, squawked a few times, muttered something to himself about doing flyby pooping’s on people smarter than Rhodes and Andrea and ever so calmly picked up the ball in his beak and flew away. As the bird looked over his shoulder, flying just out of Rhodes reach and flew just fast enough to elude the future Navy Seal, he must have laughed to himself. He clearly chirped “I have the ball and the control.” Rhodes chased the bird out of sight. Andrea almost vomited from complete convulsions lying in the sand gasping for air. Not finishing the game was a big disappointment. Telling me a seagull stole my ball made it worse.
The Romans were control freaks. Acts 16:16 – 40 is an interesting story about control, the loss of control and regaining meaningful control in the end. Paul, Salis, Doctor Luke and others were preaching in a Roman colony. A slave girl who had a “spirit where she could predict the future” followed them around shouting these men are servants of the highest God.” It annoyed Paul. So he cast out the spirit. She lost her ability to predict and make money for her owner. They took Paul to court and rather than being just the Romans beat them and threw them in prison, to control them. The jailer was told to guard them carefully. (No more escapes like Jesus) So he put them in stocks and chains. A gigantic earth quake took place and the fetters fell off. (Total loss of control) Paul and his men stayed. The jailer threatened to kill himself. Paul instead brought him to the Savior. By having lost total control of his life he was able to gain eternal control of his life. Remember in our weakness He is made strong.
The government officials decided to release Paul and Silas. Paul refused. What?! They beat a Roman citizen without a trial. V39 “They came to appease them and escort them from the prison.” Now Paul is now in complete control. He left on his time, after visiting the church at Lydia’s house.
My point here is this: Most of us like to be in control of our lives and future. God does not want it that way. Sure we can and should work hard and strive to succeed. But God’s view of our lives is vital.
The best way to gain control and not suffer disappointment is to put God in full control of our lives. In Romans 10:9-10 when Paul said, “If you confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord” you will be saved, he is directly referring to placing total control of our lives into God’s hands. Have you?
So, whose in control.
A
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