THE ADVENTURE...

LIFE IS ARBITRARY AND CANNOT BE AVOIDED...
OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IS MERCIFUL TO US,
HE MAKES PROVISION WHEN WE REQUEST IT AS WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO!

THE PEACE KEEPER'S PRAYER.(AMPLIFIED AND EXPANDED FROM MATT.6:8-13)

OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, CREATOR OF US ALL, I GIVE THIS, MY LIFE,
    BACK TO YOU... SO THAT I CAN BE TRULY YOUR PEACE KEEPER...
        AND NOT JUST YOUR PROPERTY...
FULFILL YOUR NEEDS, OF ALL YOU NEED TO RECEIVE FROM ME,
    BY GIVING TO ME THE FOLLOWING...
GIVE ME YOUR KINGDOM'S RULE AND REIGN RIGHT HERE INSIDE ME...
    AND ALL AROUND ME...
GIVE ME YOUR WILL... YOUR PLAN IN OPERATION INSIDE ME...
    AND ALL AROUND ME...
GIVE TO ME ALL I NEED FOR THIS DAY... MY DAILY PROVISION...
    ALL I NEED TO COPE WITH THE ARBITRARINESS OF LIFE IN THIS WORLD...
        AND ALL I NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ASSIGNMENT UPON WHICH
            I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK...
FORGIVE ME WHERE I HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF YOUR DESIRES AND
    INSTRUCTIONS FOR ME, AND TO ME, IN EXACTLY THE SAME MANNER
        THAT I FORGIVE OTHERS WHO HAVE FALLEN SHORT IN RELATION
                TO ME...
LEAD ME, GUIDE ME, SO THAT I NOT FALL INTO TEMPTATION...
    TEACH ME ABOUT TEMPTATION AND TRAPS SO THAT I CAN RECOGNIZE
        THEM AND AVOID THEM...
DELIVER ME, KEEP ME FREE FROM EVIL IN ALL OF IT'S FORMS...
    TEACH ME ABOUT EVIL SO THAT I CAN RECOGNIZE IT... AVOID IT...
       PUT IT DOWN... AND ELIMINATE IT...
ENLARGE MY TERRITORY... YOUR AFFECT UPON ME... YOUR AFFECT
    UPON THIS WORLD THROUGH ME... AND KEEP ME IN YOUR COMPANY
        SO THAT I NOT CAUSE UNNECESSARY PAIN...
FOR THE KINGDOM, THE RULE AND REIGN IS YOURS... NOT MINE...
THE POWER, THE CAN DO FOR ALL THINGS IS YOURS...  NOT MINE...
THE GLORY, ALL SUCCESS AND ALL CREDIT FOR GOODNESS, IS YOURS...    
    NOT MINE...
I HAVE NOTHING THAT YOU DID NOT GIVE TO ME ALREADY...
I WILL NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING GOOD UNLESS YOU GIVE IT TO ME...
    FOR YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS GOOD AND USEFUL...
IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOREVER...
    AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THIS WAY FOREVER!!!   
SO LET IT BE AS I HAVE SPOKEN IT,
    YOUR WILL PERFORMED IN THIS LIFE YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME!!!...
        KEEPING ME SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL IN THE PROCESS OF IT!!!
                    AMEN!!! (SO LET IT BE!!!)

I had the opportunity to open The TwoBoatGuy  COUNTER-TERRORISM
CONFERENCE here in Virginia Beach with the above prayer.  For three days I
was in the company and presence of some of the most  useful and powerful
people in this world.  Most of them battle seasoned Peace Keepers of both
the military and law enforcement.  I was privileged to be among them for three
nights and two days.  The only available adjective to describe this experience is
awesome.  Included among them were several authors of well known books on
warriors and military history. 

Much very useful information was made available to us... Information that we can
use in the war on terror on both the home front and foreign fields.  As valuable as
the information was and is... it was also awesome to converse with and listen to
other Peace Keepers and gain from their experiences.  It was even more awesome
to renew old acquaintances from times past.

This was one of the most rewarding weeks I have ever journeyed through... and
also one of the most taxing on stamina and energy.  Long days... long nights...
little sleep... and some exhilarating surprises.

Can you imagine a church where only one person shows up for Sunday services?
That was the beginning of the week.  One person with great need was all that came
to worship.  The need of that one was met on a personal, face-to-face basis, and
the time normally needed for worship and teaching was filled with God meeting a
critical need.  It was an awesome thing to see Him do just as He promised to do
when needs are brought to Him. 

At the conclusion an offering was handed to me in the form of a check which was
folded.  I placed it into my pocket without looking at it and was packing up my
things to depart when suddenly I was impressed to look at the check.  I have an
agreement with my Commander-in-Chief that I will be there as long as at least one
parishioner shows up for services... and the offerings received cover the weeks
minimum expenses... The check was for the exact amount of the week's minimum
expenses and I laughed so loudly that the departing person, who was already at the
front door of the church, rushed back to see why I had made so much noise.  In
response to their inquiry... and after I recovered from laughing, I gave the
explanation.

The Commander-in-Chief and I operate together on a very simple basis.  As long
as at least one shows up for each meeting of the church... and the offering meets
the minimum needs for the week no matter how many or how few people show up...
I will stay and continue the ministry in that location to that group of people.  If either
condition is not met I will know my ministry to that group is concluded.

Since my retirement I have been asking if I am to stay here and continue the ministry
He gave me here.  I must have definite, understandable information in order to know
His will for me.  The reason that I found the situation so amusing was that normally
the offering from this one person in that particular week would not be sufficient to
meet the minimum requirements.  If I were going to receive moving orders this was
the most prime opportunity to convey that information to me by not meeting the
minimum requirements... but the minimum requirements were clearly met to
the letter.  Many of His ways of communicating with me are very amusing... this,
then, was one of those amusing communications... and I laughed most heartily and
loudly.  Confirmation and guidance is always good to experience.

That was just the beginning of my week.  Monday brought yet another most enjoyable
event.  I was asked to attend an awards ceremony.  During that awards ceremony I
was awarded my Glock 17 service weapon along with a beautiful glass front wooden
case.  On the case is a very attractive gold plate with a picture of my badge and the
city seal engraved on either end of the heart warming words outlining my career. 
Friends within the department had gotten together and covered the expense of
doing this for me... I thank God for friends and their supportive actions.

Then Monday night I was invited to attend a gathering for expressing appreciation
to the supporters and special people involved in the Counter-Terrorism Conference
scheduled for the next three days.  I was blessed with fellowship with and in the
presence of some very great Peace Keepers and their supporters.  It was such joy
to be among them, communicate with them and listen to them... Such joy.

Tuesday morning brought the opening of the conference and my opportunity to
pray the above prayer for the invocation... and the furtherance of even more joy.

Classes were conducted by military back from Afghanistan and Iraq... by law
enforcement from the New York Port Authority Police who were there during
9-11-01;  from Florida and Louisiana who had been in fire fights, were wounded,
survived and overcame the perps... and by others who are well versed in the
subject and the situations we now face here and worldwide. 

On Wednesday night we attended a banquet given in the honor of Neil C. Roberts,
the battling U.S. Navy Seal who went down fighting to the last taking many of his
attackers to death as they overran him and took his life after he fell among them
from the rear door of his helicopter hovering above the battlefield.  We celebrated
Neil's son's fifth birthday and sang "Happy Birthday" to him.  Many awards
and much recognition was given to people who have made a difference for the
quality of life in this world from both the military and law enforcement.  The huge
room was filled with Peace Keepers... active and retired military... active and
retired law enforcement... numerous operators in security... several well known
authors of books and support information... and numerous providers of equipment
and support services.

During the awards ceremony, after I enjoyed the company of much personal
conversation with Peace Keepers and several beautiful ladies, I received another
of those breath-taking surprises...  I was called to receive a Silver Trident Battle
Knife and a boat oar with red, white and blue decoration covering the handle plus
mounts for the Silver Trident so that it can be wall mounted for display... 
Then I was asked to speak.  I am seldom at a loss for words but I found it so
breath-taking and emotional that I had a very difficult time expressing my joy at
receiving the recognition of appreciation for my service to law enforcement and the
military.  It is such joy to be here where I am among the Peace Keepers of this land
and this world.  You are my parish and I am so glad that you are...  Now I have to
make a place to display these precious awards, along with the Marine Kabar Battle
Knife and case that I received in June, so that I can view and enjoy them.

A personal friend and supplier at the conference also furnished to me a barrel
mount flashlight and laser sight for my tactical 870.  I thank my Commander-in-
Chief, my friends and Peace Keepers for my gifts and the accompanying blessings. 
I am most grateful.  I also thank U.S. Navy SWCC, Chief Steve Bronson (Retired)
for his ongoing efforts to conduct the conferences, publish magazines and convey
all the other helps he is responsible for to Peace Keepers everywhere.  Steve's
efforts are always FIRST CLASS ALL THE WAY.  Thanks Steve for the priceless
privilege to be involved in your programs and what you do.

If any of you ever get the opportunity to attend one of Steve's TwoBoatGuy, "90
Miles An Hour With My Hair On Fire" COUNTER-TERRORISM CONFERENCES
PLEASE ATTEND.  YOU WILL BE GLAD THAT YOU DID.

Thursday brought great effort to catch up on office work, e-mail and accounts that
needed attention...

Thursday afternoon we met at our training center for a memorial service...
The Memorial Service was for the Celebration of Life for Virginia Beach Police
Officer/U.S. Marine Sergeant Bradley J. Harper who was among the fourteen
Marines killed when the amphibious personnel carrier was blown up in Iraq a few
weeks ago.  It was a most moving Celebration of Life with a reception following...
Thank God for the Peace Keeper/Warriors of this world like Bradley J. Harper
and those who have given their all for all of us this week;
================================================================
PoliceOne. com

Officer Down
Indiana Officer will be remembered - 08/26/2005
Jason Scott - [McCordsville, Indiana]
Off-duty Philadelphia narcotics officer shot to death - 08/26/2005
Terrence Flomo - [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]
S.C.: Head-on crash kills reserve Dorchester County deputy - 08/23/2005
Keith R. Burns - [St. George, South Carolina]

NYPD greatly strengthens anti-terrorism arsenal
The New York Police Department may soon be swooping down over the five
boroughs in helicopters armed with super-powerful sniper rifles that can disable
trucks, explode concrete barriers, and blast through the glass of airplane
windshields ... Full Story

Related article:
Terrorists may pose as homeless for surveillance, government says

PoliceOne Training Tip:

Weapon retention training(Secure- law enforcement only)
by Managing Editor Scott Buhrmaster & In the Line of Duty In the Line of Duty's video
training program, "Weapon Retention Training" (Vol. 9, Program 2) shares a
series of important tips for combating an offender who is trying to disarm you.
The video clip posted here ... Full Story

Milwaukee officer kills teen suspect who tried to take his gun
By BOB PURVIS, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed early Sunday while reaching for a Milwaukee
police sergeant's gun, police said. Police refused to identify the boy or the 42-year-
old sergeant who killed him.

According to a department news release:

The sergeant was patrolling the area Sunday when he was flagged down by
residents in the 2300 block of S. 28th St. The officer saw the boy and a female
fighting ... Full Story

Related articles:
Cases of officers killed by their own guns likely will not change R.I. policies

PoliceOne Training Tip:

Reflective clothing & cars (Secure - Login Required)
Submitted by United Kingdom Patrolman Tim Knowles, Humberside Police
I have noticed something quite alarming amongst US officers when they make
traffic stops on Highways and at night. I base my observation on viewing TV news,
COPS and other "reality" shows and a recent vacation and in the US which
included 5 states
... Full Story

Want to be covert? Be creative:
12 props that can make you "invisible"
by Managing Editor Scott Buhrmaster
(Secure- law enforcement only)

The recent government caution that terrorists may pose as homeless people
during surveillance to avoid attention is a great reminder that this same type of
creativity can be very effective when used by the police.

"The key to good surveillance is positioning and blending," says Pat McCarthy,
a surveillance expert and producer of the Street Cop ... Full Story

Your turn signal can keep you safe on stops
Submitted by:
Dpty. Mike Gross, Boone Co. (KY) SD
08/24/2005

There is a trick I use to keep myself safe on the side of the highway. We have
over 28 miles of I-75 and I-275 in my county, so I am on the Interstate a lot. When
I tell guys of my little trick they look at me funny and wonder why they didn’t think
of it.

 

What I do on my stop or if I am backing another officer is activate my left turn
signal. This makes motorists think I’m trying to get back into traffic, thus making
them merge into the opposite lane to give me a great cushion. I have guys tell
me all the time how amazed they are at how effectively this works!

 

Related tip: Reflective clothing & cars

 

Related article: 7 tips for officer roadside safety
================================================================
Street Survival Newsline No. 764
 Officer's winning mindset and calming self-talk saved his life after
terrifying ambush

He admits he had become somewhat complacent when it came to breaking and
entering calls. The Lansing, Michigan, Police Department responds to dozens of
such calls every week and most of them turn out to be nothing more serious than
an estranged boyfriend returning to the apartment for his belongings. Many times,
a parent gets a child to call in claiming the "intruder" has a gun so police will arrive
faster.
(go to newsline@calibrepress.com for the rest of the story.  It is very informative
reading. DRS)

More on today's story...

What does it feel like to be shot?

Officer Vargas says that's the question he is asked most frequently by both
rookies and experienced police veterans.

"The best way I can describe it is to tell you to take your index finger and tap it on
your arm," he said. "When your adrenaline is pumping and you're trying to find
cover, your body protects you from the pain."
==============================================================
IRAQ as of 8/23/05 icasualties.org

Total U.S. Troops killed - 1819
Total U.S. Troops Wounded - 14120
==============================================================
An old and very dear friend just sent the following to me.  I think it most
appropriate... Please read.  Thanks Ron.

CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS?

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.  He constantly
advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to  work on farms
along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the
Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady
stream of refusals.   Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age,
approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.

"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although
puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.

The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the
farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.  Then one night the wind howled
loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern
and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the
little man and yelled, "Get up!  A storm is coming! Tie things down before
they blow away!"  The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No
sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.
Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he
discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.  The
cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were
barred.  The shutters were tightly secured.

Everything was tied down.  Nothing could blow away.  The farmer then
understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also
sleep while the wind blew.

MORAL: When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you
have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? 
The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the
farm against the storm.  We may secure ourselves against the storms of life by
grounding ourselves in the Word of God.  We don't need to understand, we just
need to follow His instructions and trust in HIM to have peace in  the midst of the
storms.  I hope you sleep well!  May God Bless You and Yours.
===============================================================
No man has ever been more blessed than I am blessed.  I sought for twenty years
for the answer to a peace filled, fruitful life.  He placed the right man in my path who
gave to me a most simple explanation and told me how I could have that which I
sought.  That meeting was thirty seven and one half years ago and it has simply
gotten "gooder and gooder" as I learned and followed the directions after the face-
to-face meeting with my eternal Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Life was good
before Him but I was empty.  Since meeting Him I am no longer empty.  I am filled
with peace and all else that I have needed because I believed Him... received Him
and His simple instructions for life... and put those instructions to use according to
the prayer we are instructed to pray daily.

I have lived several different stages of life since my birth in 1940.  Each stage
could be called a life time in itself.  Moses lived three distinct life times and I believe
we are called to be all we can be by receiving Him and His directions... and
applying those directions to the best of our abilities.

Make no mistake... I am a Peace Keeper/Warrior.  My collar simply means that I am
a voluntary bondservant of Jesus Christ.  I serve where I have been called and
planted... and I have been planted among you.  Some people think the collar means
one thing... some think it means another... but no matter what it means to anyone
else it does not hinder me from serving with you and for you.  If I am on duty with you
I am your backup.  I heard a fellow Chaplain express it so well on Thursday.  He said,
"Jesus Christ has the heart of a soldier." (Chaplain Jim Ullian, VBPD) and I whole
heartedly agree.  As His representative I will do all I can with you and for you just as
He would... Also like Him, I would not force you to do anything you are not willing to
receive.  Backup means I will do all I can to keep you safe and to keep peace and
safety around you and us.

You... all of you and each of you are my assignment and my care and concern.
Thank you for who you are and for what you do and have done as Peace Keepers. 
My Commander-in-Chief and I are most grateful for your service.  Your service has
not gone without notice.  It has been minutely noted and remembered.

Be careful out there.  Take great care of you in all facets of life... not neglecting
your spiritual life.  The spirit of man must be fed as carefully and as diligently as
we feed the physical part of us.  Please do not neglect the spiritual part of you.
One day, possibly very soon, you will need for it to be strong and vital in order for
you to be successful and survive.  If I may be of service to you please ask.

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.com