Christian Family Services Ministry

6-13-2023 – A Word to the Wise – The purpose of some of these stories:

We forget why we are here. Perhaps a gentle reminder at times will help us understand our true purpose and explain some of the things that haunt.

We are warriors of the King. It is that simple. That means we must think, and act, and behave like warriors. Instead of complaining about our lot in life, we need to see the bigger picture of the battlefield and our place and purpose on it.

Battles are fought in many forms. Some are actual physical battles where one might engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. Some battles are emotional, our emotions or another’s. Some battles are intellectual, whether in the classroom, ministry, or battles with the forces of the evil one. Some battles are spiritual engagements, whether in prayer, or intercession.

One might serve as the soldier or police officer. These often find themselves in direct contact with the enemy. Others are prayer warriors fighting the enemy from within his camp. Still, others are teachers whose task prepares the student to engage the enemy in a variety of ways or discover intelligence about the enemy. Some engage the enemy emotionally tearing down walls and resolving a variety of conflicting situations.

Regardless, in the field of combat, we must show courage and faithfulness. We are dependent on our commander and his battle plan.

What are the are my arenas? The first was education, then ministry, substance abuse counselor, police work and finally family therapist. Often the activity intertwined and coexisting at other times very much separated. Many, at times fierce.

It’s our purpose here to reveal just one of those battlefields. Let me say upfront this warrior lost several major battles in this conflict without doubt those losses were caused by a lack of obedience, failure to follow instructions or withdrawing from combat.

I am offering a small taste of my battleground experiences as a police officer. As of this date, I have been a sworn officer for 45 years with the city of Dallas. I have obtained the highest certification, that of a Master Patrolman.

The stories summarized before, and below are only a small number maybe five percent of the major events experienced.

For the first 20 years, I worked as a patrol officer in the southern part of Dallas where the crime rate is the highest. Thia is where the Lord sent me, where at times the crime rate was the highest in the nation.

My records indicate in excess of 900 felony arrests, thousands of misdemeanor arrest, 84 high-speed vehicle chases, numerous assaults against me as a police officer, and four individual lives saved; a gunshot victim, a victim of a motorcycle accident, another rescued from a burning vehicle, and one a serious suicide attempt.

Many officers claim that they have never had to draw their weapons as police officers. I cannot make that claim. I no doubt have more than two hundred times used that threat to stop violent behavior.

But remember the purpose here is to reveal one type of battlefield.

Believe me it does not begin to touch on my battles in the pulpit, counseling office or interpersonal relationships stories which remain untold.

What is central is to cause the reader to believe the Lord does intervene in our lives, he is good, he challenges each of us as warriors to fight the good fight and finish the course assigned to us. Each time I went out to engage the enemy, I begged for the Lord’s guidance.

Even as I sit here at my desk this passage is before me: “ O God thou knowest my foolishness’s; and my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me, O Lord Jehovah of hosts; Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Isarel. (ASV).