Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Devotional Before Oath of Office
(Summary)
for
Officer Cameron Worley
Belvidere Police Department
Boone County Sheriff’s Department
City Hall
Belvidere, Illinois
January 6, 2017
I was going
to say what I’ve always said at these times - that I’ve been a Kopp all of my
life - but nobody ever laughs; and I realize some folks just want me to get on
with it and say a quick prayer so everybody can get going.
Please
don’t think that I’m singling you out; because that’s how most folks feel when
I preach on Sundays.
Well, I
won’t take too long because I’ve also got things to do; but this is a special
day for Cameron and we should savor it with him as we are reminded of our
fraternity dedicated to the health and welfare of Belvidere and Boone County
America and the special qualities required for our ministries of law
enforcement and crime prevention.
Today, I
want to encourage Cameron and remind the rest of us about the emotional,
intellectual, and spiritual balance required of “shepherds” like us who are charged
by God through our oaths of office to protect citizens from the wolves ready to
ravage them.
Jesus
explained the balance like this, “You are called to protect sheep from wolves;
so be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove.”
To be “as
wise as a serpent” is to recognize there are predators in our world and
dedicate ourselves to prayer, training, vigilance, and teamwork to protect
people from them.
To be “as
gentle as a dove” is to remember there are many more good people than bad
people in our world and that the overwhelming majority of them are praying and
rooting for us with thanks to God.
I like how
Martin Luther King, Jr. explained this balance: “We must combine the toughness
of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.”
He went on,
“The shape of the world today does not permit us the luxury of
softmindedness…[but]…Toughmindedness without tenderheartedness is cold and
detached…Jesus reminds us that the good life combines the toughness of the
serpent and the tenderness of the dove.
To have serpentlike qualities devoid of dovelike qualities is to be
passionless, mean, and selfish. To have
dovelike without serpentlike qualities is to be sentimental, anemic, and
aimless.”
Jesus says
we must join Cameron and all of our sisters and brothers in law enforcement and
crime prevention in being tough and tender; for one without the other makes us
imbalanced.
If you are
one without the other, you are an imbalanced Kopp/cop with a K or C.
Remember,
there are wolves out there.
Our job is
to protect people from them and put them out of business.
Remember,
there are sheep out there who are praying and rooting for us to succeed/fulfill
our call to law enforcement and crime prevention.
Be tough.
Be tender.
Be
balanced…and you’ll always tip the scales of justice for righteousness’ sake.
Let us
pray.
Thank You,
God, for the privilege of law enforcement and crime prevention as a sacred
calling to honor You by protecting the health and welfare of citizens entrusted
to our care. As we thank You for Cameron
and his particular call to this shared ministry and pray every encouragement
for him, bless his partnership with our Mayor and Council, municipal employees,
firefighters, police, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Sheriff, State’s Attorney,
Judges, public servants, and citizenry dedicated to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness as endowed by our Creator, guided by Holy Scripture, and
ultimately redeemed by grace through faith in Jesus as we pray in His name. Amen.
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Blessings and Love!
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Salt! Shine! Leavenate!
Look up! Stand up! Speak up! Act up for Jesus!
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