Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship Newsletter

April 2011

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

At a time when the disciples of Jesus were arguing about who was greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, He placed a child in their midst and told them that unless they possessed faith like a child, that they should not even enter the Kingdom at all. The trust, transparency, authenticity and humility of a child is what bypasses self-conscious deception and advances the optimism of truth. Fear is blinded by inner darkness. Faith lights the path that God’s grace has gifted us to follow. Some-one once said that Faith is like electricity – you can’t see it, but you can see the light that it produces. A childlike faith is filled with hope-filled expectation, and the confidence that our anticipation is life’s audition for the role God has picked us to play. It is the objective before the substantive reality of our destiny, the formulating fortitude of our future. It is what keeps us going in spite of opposition, and what maintains our focus when what is around us starts to dim and disappear.

It is easy to lose heart when disappointment, delay and denial discourage our will to carry on. But that is when the ardor of our resolve needs to take hold. CS Lewis said “Faith is holding on to things your reason once accepted in spite of your changing mood.” What differentiates us from animals is that we have the capacity to reason beyond our five senses, to transcend the obdurate, seemingly impassable hindrances and hurdles that complicate our path and cling to the conviction that this God ordained passion to patent the truth of our pursuit has already manifested its primary existence in our heart. Eli Wiesel, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, stated that “The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference… and the same is true of faith.” Giving up and ignoring the good future and hope God has promised those who seek Him, and the course of character building complications and conflicts which builds the stature for shouldering the burden of trust an inherited vision bestows, is walking away from the life God intends. When we rely upon Him Who gives the requisite grace we need for the life He has made us for, we inherit a security, satisfaction and significance that builds our faith and our future.

Frodo wished the evil ring that incorporated all power over Middle Earth had never come to him for bearing it to destruction, so heavy was its burden. Gandalf acknowledged the difficulty, but also that it was not up to us to decide such a thing. “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” As we begin to grow weary from the burden of trust that has been placed upon our shoulders, it is our natural way to doubt and question our resolve, and desire to turn away from the task of the time given to us. But when we decide to bear what we’ve been charged with to its end, we’ll find its pathway prepared, its resources adequate, God’s grace sufficient, and the assurance of His promise to finish the work that He began. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (v.6).

Coming up this year is another L.E. Israel Tour for 1st Responders, but anyone may participate. Phil Bozarth has put together and set up arrangements for another amazing and engaging foray into the Holy Land, set once again to engage with our counterparts there, as well as with the IDF, and the remarkable sights, sounds and sensations only this land can produce. It will deeply impact your life, and you will return different and grateful for the encounter. Each trip has produced a different experience, with unexpected opportunities that arise as a result of our interactions, not just with L.E.’s and soldiers but with the people and places we visit and impact. With world events affecting circumstances as they are in this area, if you’ve ever desired to go, you may not want to put it off if you can do it now. Registrations are currently being processed for this trip scheduled to embark in October. Check our website at www.sdclef.org. You can order from it, and communicate with me or Phil. There is also an option for an added post-tour cruise of Greece and Turkey, following the steps of St. Paul. Don’t waste time debating this for long before registrations close. Now is the time to make your move. You’ll always be glad you did.

I also want to thank you for your prayers about our Annual L.E. and Fire Prayer Breakfast. We engaged it yesterday with over 500 in attendance. The volunteer servers I needed, mostly from my church, came through just in time and did a beautiful job of reflecting Christ to all who came. The program prayers, speakers and food were God-graced and filled spirit, soul and body with Truth, encouragement, and seriously good food. Upcoming now is a new couples Bible study group, another marriage retreat in September, and lots of follow-up contacts. Bless…