Page 50 - December 2018

Honoring a Hero
Father Dan Brandt
he CPD Chaplains are available T 24/7 to our officers, retirees, civilian employees and their families. We provide pastoral care and around-the-clock crisis ministry to all of the above. One of our pri- mary jobs is to remind our members that you are doing God’s work. In many of the neighborhoods where you serve, you are the only face of God that people see in the course of a day.
dom you might read, you’ll find passages instructing you on how to live and live well. One of my favorites is from the Old Testament (the Jewish Scriptures): Micah 6:8. Paraphrasing, it tells us if we want to please God, then we must love what is good, do what is right and walk humbly with Him.
This past year, we buried two officers whose lives were sto- len from us by evil men. Both Commander Paul Bauer and Of- ficer Samuel Jimenez followed the words of Micah: they loved what is good, did what is right, and walked humbly with our God.
Now, may they enjoy the heavenly banquet that awaits them. And may their families know that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Unfortunately, God’s work sometimes can be ugly, but Sam, Paul and 581 other Chicago heroes died doing it.
God bless them for that! And may God protect you in your most sacred work.
times of need, and we must have faith and believe that this too shall pass.
It was by faith that Enoch did not see death. Hebrews 11:5 states: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” You see, Enoch believed God! He believed that if you walked in fellowship with God every day, then God would look after and care for him. Because of Enoch’s unwavering faith, God granted him his desire and even conquered death for him. When Enoch was ready to go be with God, God did the remarkable by transferring Enoch right into heaven and directly into His presence.
It is our faith in the promises of God that sustains us and keeps us in our right minds. It allows us to get up and func- tion, to come to our jobs and provide for our families even in the most difficult of times. John 41:10 states: “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”
Words of Inspiration from the Chicago Police Chaplains Ministry
Your Chicago Police Chaplains offer stories, passages and scripture to give officers strength during this time
Increased violence on our streets cou- pled with unprecedented scrutiny of this most noble profes- sion cause stress that no other lifestyle knows. And yet here you officers are, reporting daily to walk into the hell that awaits
you. Thank you for that!
In the sacred scriptures, whether they be the Old Testament,
the Holy Quran, the New Testament, or whatever divine wis-
Joseph Jackson
I ’ve often been asked how I deal with all the tragedies that I face on daily basis as a Chaplain for CPD. Well, my answer is
very simple: it is by faith.
Death is a part of life, and the CPD fam-
ily has experienced great sorrow in the un- timely and tragic deaths of Commander Paul Bauer and Officer Samuel Jimenez. These two individuals were great assets not only to their family and friends, but to
CPD and the city of Chicago as a whole. We struggle with try- ing to make sense of their deaths, yet there is nothing rational about them.
Proverbs 12:25 states: “Heaviness in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” We must seek comfort in the word of God, for it is the only thing that can give us peace that surpasses all understanding. 1 Peter 5: 6-7 states: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you.” God is our ever-present help in
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