Through The Eyes of a Cop

Here is a look at the picture that will be on the cover of  The Book of Proverbs Through the Eyes of a Cop.

I was blessed today to have opertunity to record a radio show with Hurst PD Sergeant and radio host, Jimmy Meeks.

The show will air on KDKR – 91.3 FM in the Fort Worth, Texas area. KDKR also airs on 97.5 in the Dallas area, and 99.9 in the Irving, Texas area. The interview will be on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The show is called Community Services Information, or “CSI.” It can also be heard online at KDKR.ORG. The show can also be heard in the following places…
Eustis, Florida on 90.3
Fulton, Alabama on 89.3
Weston, Ohio – 88.9
Brunswick, Ohio – 91.9 
Wallace, Idaho – 97.5
Commerce, Texas – 91.3
Spokane, Washington – 97.3
Decatur, Texas 91.3
Yucca Valley, California- 88.1
Potlatch, Idaho – 103.5

Why Proverbs?

 BRIEFING: How confident are you in the law? Are you comfortable making decisions based on the law of your jurisdiction?

 Dispatch (Assignment): You have a law book that you can read and review to brush up on and re-familiarize yourself with the laws you are responsible for enforcing. Do you have a resource you can go to for increasing or familiarizing yourself with wisdom?

On the Street: Why write a police devotional book on Proverbs? The answer is simple. Proverbs is a book about wisdom and discipline. We could all use a little more of both.

I see a lack of wisdom in law enforcement today. These days of political correctness and liability decision driven departments are a cancer on the criminal justice system. Decisions are not based on right or wrong but legal advice and attempts to lesson liability. I know some departments that seem to set their goals as to not offend anyone.

There is a blue print for wisdom that has been in existence for thousands of years, it is the Bible. Our society shrinks back from the principles found in the Bible, not because they don’t work but because they are offensive to those who feel convicted by the standards the Bible sets.

Case in point; John 3:19-21, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

It is time for the criminal justice system in this country to return to the truth and lead with wisdom and light.

Proverbs was the first book of the Bible I ever read. When I was 13 years old I went to a summer church camp. The pastor of my church was Pastor Ron Horton. He lead a group of kids in a discussion about why it was important to read your Bible and know God’s Word. After the group broke I asked Pastor Horton where in the Bible should I start? He suggested that I read Proverbs. I did not like reading and was not very studious. The Lord opened my heart and mind to receive Proverbs and the course of my life was changed forever.

Years later, when I was in high school, the wisdom of Proverbs was again fresh on my heart and mind. I can remember praying every night for God to grant me an extra measure of wisdom. I still pray for wisdom today. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Brothers and sisters in blue, let us seek God’s wisdom and become the earthly authority that will make our Father proud. We need to get back to the Biblical principles of proverbs and wisdom.

Highlights from the Read: If you have been in law enforcement for any length of time you have been involved in training. If you have been involved in training you have been given “training materials” and documentation. In 20+ years of being in law enforcement I have taken many training classes. I can’t think of a time when I ever had an organized training class that I did not take stuff home. The book of Proverbs is our training manual for gaining wisdom.

Investigational Resources: The book of Proverbs.

Officer Safety Principle: Proverbs has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. Make it a habit of reading one per day.

Here is a recent radio interview from October 2012. It is from the Jon-David Wells radio show 660AM.

Interview Part 1 

Interview Part 2 

Here is a recent radio interview on August 12th, 2012 with 93.1 KSTV, Grieg Mayberry.

Jesus calls everyone to live as a Christian around the clock. Most law enforcement academies teach the law but not how law enforcement officers can exemplify the characteristics Jesus came to teach—love, compassion, integrity, ethics, morals, and values—when on duty. In The Gospel of Matthew through the Eyes of a Cop, author Charles Gilliland provides a daily devotional for anyone working in the criminal justice system. This guide provides training in basic, critical, and often neglected attributes that law enforcement officers must possess. Gilliland sets up each lesson so that it mirrors a law enforcement officer’s shift. The briefing section offers an idea of how to apply the lesson to daily duties, presenting a question or short statement on how the lesson relates specifically to law enforcement. The dispatch section lists the Bible verses for the lesson and prompts further reflection or research. The guide then goes “on the street,” getting to the heart of the lesson. Finally, each section concludes with a brief commentary to shed light on the passage studied. Whether used for individual or group study, The Gospel of Matthew through the Eyes of a Cop helps law enforcement officers put into practice the lessons Jesus taught. Following this devotional, they can find a way to do so effectively for the benefit of all.