THE LAW

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."
Psalm 119:105 (NAS)

You have to KNOW the law in order to enforce it. You can't just go out there and make up your 
own statutes as you go along! There is a system of already determined laws in place that guide 
your decisions as you enforce the law.

Let's look at spiritual things from a similar perspective. If you believe in God, then you believe that 
what God says is LAW (spiritual law). Just as you cannot enforce the laws of our land without 
knowledge of what they are, you cannot implement the laws of God in your life if you don't know 
what they are. So you need to spend time finding out what God says!

The Bible contains God's words, His guidelines for our lives. It is meant to be referred to time and 
time again so that we can obtain answers and guidance in our everyday lives! We would be foolish 
to think we can all just make up our own rules for life without any consideration given to God or 
others! Our Creator has already set up the guidelines that will bring us the best outcomes!

Just as the laws of the land are intended to maintain peace and order, and to ensure freedom and 
happiness for citizens, God designed His spiritual laws to bring peace, order, freedom and 
happiness to our lives! Get into the Bible and really get to KNOW what God has to say about your 
life!

PRAYER: Father, thank you for providing us with your standard operating procedures within the 
pages of the Bible! Help your officers (and all Peace Keepers) to spend the time needed to really 
get to know your spiritual laws so that they can maintain peace, order, freedom, and happiness in 
their lives! In Jesus' name, amen.
******************************************************************************************************************
Copyright CopDevotionals, 2005. All rights reserved. May not be duplicated without permission, 
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PRINCIPLE - another name for law.  Principles and laws as far as our Creator is concerned, are
those things He put into motion in this world and they work for the ones who find them and put them 
to use.  Example - a loaded firearm... if it is mechanically sound... if it is loaded with ammunition...
if you activate the trigger the ammo explodes within its confined space... the expansion of gases
finds the path of least resistance and sends the projectile (bullet, slug) out the barrel... 
The projectile goes wherever the barrel is pointing.  The projectile has no brain.  It follows a principle.
It goes where it is directed until it hits something or expends it's energy.  A firearm is a tool.  It is
neither good nor bad... It is a tool that responds to how it is used.  It can kill an animal for food.
It can kill a person for it is a deadly weapon.  Firearms work because of laws or principles.

Lives work because of laws... principles.  Find the principles... obey them and be blessed with
health, success and prosperity.  Disregard the principles and what you have is not life but less 
than the best existence.  Learn and live.  Disregard and exist.  Disobey... and it leads to death.

We apply these principles daily in one way or another in law enforcement and military operations.
Both groups have taken an oath to follow the direction of law and support and defend the 
Constitutions of their jurisdictions... Local laws, State Laws, Federal Laws, National and local 
defense, enforcement of laws - principles.  Without laws and principles there is no life... there is
chaos... Nothing works well for very long... Death and destruction reigns...

Riots are chaos.  Mobs are chaos.  Guerilla war is chaos.  Destruction reigns... death and injury
happen to the participants... even to the good guys who are trying to bring order and peace.

This week we had twenty two Marines killed in Iraq... six one place... fourteen in another incident 
involving the destruction of an amphibious vehicle used as a troop transport... two others in 
separate incidents.

One of the fourteen was Sergeant Bradley J. Harper, a Marine reservist and a Virginia Beach 
Police Officer.  Along with his family and friends we personally mourn this loss because he was 
one of ours.  He was close to and with us.  He worked the same ocean front duty that I work.
He was one of the most zealous officers for the good of our city.  He is our brother... and we 
mourn his passing from this life.  We pray for his wife, his family, his friends, his Marine 
cohorts and ourselves.

The  war on evil is a mighty work that must be carried forth for the benefit of all of us.  
Occasionally the enemy imparts a terrible blow... and once more... and all too often... we are
drawn up to a place where we must stop and contemplate the cost... mourn the loss...
recommit... memorialize our dead... and get back into the fray.  We are wearing draped badges...
our flags are at half-staff... we are reminded every time we meet one another.  That black band 
across our badges demands our thoughts... our contemplation on the cost of this profession...
and we must evaluate why we are here.  Then in memory of all those like U. S. Marine Sergeant/
Virginia Beach Police Officer Bradley J. Harper... we stand tall against evil... to deter its 
success and create its demise to the best of our ability.

Oorah... Semper Fi... Thanks, Peace Keepers.  The rest of us will continue on to guarantee that
your sacrifice was not in vain... we will continue to remember and fight on.
=======================================================================
Including Bradley J. Harper, five police deaths are reported in PoliceOne, Officer Down... One of 
those deaths also involved the death of the officer's father who was riding with him at the time.
For detailed information go to PoliceOne.com and click on Officer Down in the left hand column.
=======================================================================
IRAQ 
U.S Troop deaths now exceed 1800
=======================================================================
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL FUND NEWSLETTER, 08/05/05

NLEOMF Launches National Effort to Protect Law Enforcement Officers from traffic-Related Deaths

Protect Your Peace Officers: They Protect You.

<><>"I think most people recognize how dangerous it is for an officer to face gunfire in a dark alley, but
they don't realize that automobiles can be deadly weapons too," said NLEOMF Chairman Craig W.</></>
Floyd. "This campaign will enable us to promote crucial safe driving habits among the general
public." In 2004, 153 officers were killed in the line of duty. 73 of those 153 officers lost their lives in
traffic related incidents -- which amounts to 48% of the total death for that year.

Historically, automobile accidents have always been the second leading cause of officer fatalities,
but in the last three decades, the number of officers killed on the road has risen by 40%. Be sure to
visit www.nleomf.com next week to sign the Drive Safely Pledge and to learn about ways to take
part in the campaign.
=======================================================================
Please excuse all the extra stuff missing in this issue that I usually include from many sources.
My confuser (my word for computer) is acting rather rudely today and will not perform any of its
usual operations.
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When I read Denise's article this morning it just went to the heart of what was on my heart to share
with you.  Her article is used by permission.

In the vein of Laws - Principles I must repeat something I learned so very, very long ago;

HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IF YOU DESIRE IT

POWER   (THE CAN DO OF GOD AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR YOUR JOURNEY)

(           ) Refers to references in STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE

(1410) DUNAMAHEE - To be ABLE, POSSIBLE, CAN DO.
                ROM. 16:25, EPH. 3:16 MIGHT

(1411) DUNAMIS - FORCE - SPECIAL MIRACULOUS POWER, ABILITY,
    ABUNDANCE, MEANING, MIGHTY POWER, STRENGTH, VIOLENCE
    (OVERCOMING FORCE SUFFICIENT TO ANY NEED), MIGHTY WORK.
    LUKE 9:1-2,  10:19B, 24:49, ACTS 1:8, 4:7, 4:33, 6:8, 8:10, ROM. 1:16,
    15:13, 2 TIM 1:7, 3:5, 1 PET. 1:5, 2 PET. 1:3-4

(1849) EX-OO-SEE’-AH - I AM (ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE AND NOT
            CHANGEABLE), FROM OUT OF, THE POINT WHERE IT BEGINS, IT IS
            RIGHT.  ABILITY, PRIVILEGE (TO DO, TO BE, TO ACT), FORCE,
            CAPACITY, COMPETENCY, FREEDOM, MASTERY, SUPERHUMAN.
            AUTHORITY, JURISDICTION, LIBERTY, POWER, RIGHT, STRENGTH.
            MT. 10:1, 3:14-15, MARK 6:7, LUKE 10:19A, JOHN 1:12, ROM. 13:1-5, REV. 2:26

PRESCRIPTION FOR WISDOM - SUCCESS

DISCIPLINE - learning by careful examination and observation, adhering to a
standard.

DEVOTION - setting yourself, single minded, single goal oriented, no deterrence
allowed.

EDUCATION - gaining the body of knowledge pertaining to your single goal.

APPLICATION - doing voluntarily that which the body of knowledge you have
gained has revealed to you.

= WISDOM - learning... what works...  When to use it... how and where it applies.
    The ability to use what you know.
    You do not know a thing until you can retain it - repeat it and apply it!
========================================================================
Peace Keepers, law is the basis of our being... Man's Law.  Most of Man's Law was derived from
God's Law as displayed in the Bible.  Many of our Founding Fathers specifically stated that for this
Nation to be successful that we must learn and abide by the basis of all law.  We must recognize
what brings peace to society.  Law and order are the only basis for a peaceful society.  Peace
Keepers stand for Law and Authority.  We swear that we will uphold Law and Authority... yet like
most of the rest of our society we neglect our own education in the basics of all Law... we neglect
education in the ancient texts handed down to us to see how man has been destructive whenever
Law was ignored... and how society flourished when Law governing orderly society was practiced
and obeyed.

Think on it. 

"Be careful out there."  Be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.  Be careful of zeal and enthusiasm
that they be carefully governed in order for you to practice the best safety possible.  Do not neglect
your Spiritual education and preparation.  You will have a great need for it sooner or later.

Pray for us here and all Peace Keepers and their families.  We will pray for you.

As it has always been... So it still is...
"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN."  Sun tzu

ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!

WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
Chaplain D. R. Staton (Don - C1) VBPD, VSP ALUMNI,
RETIRED Officer, Instructor, Senior Chaplain, Director of Chaplains
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
=================================================
Copyright: CHAPLAIN CORNER (DRS) 2005. All rights reserved. May not be
duplicated without permission, except to be forwarded with copyright and
all source information for any quotation intact.
 
To subscribe to this free e-mail message for Peace Keepers, 
write to Chaplain D. R. Staton at chpln1@verizon.net or at 
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.

If you are a Peace Keeper you may subscribe to the BLACKWATER
TACTICAL NEWSLETTER  by going to the website at BLACKWATER USA