On Super Tuesday of this month, (February 5th) citizens of this great Union attempted to pull together their collective will from across 24 different states to determine who should represent their individual political party for the Presidential General Election that will take place this November.
Super Tuesday news filled the airwaves with strategies and exit polls as voters went to the polls to cast their choice for their party’s nomination. News commentators and their guest panels were all up in the air as interviews with the candidates, their discussions about who was a spoiler, who appeared to be the real front runner, and which party had a candidate that could win against the other. Yes, the air was filled on Super Tuesday with political tornados. The winds were blowing strong and it seemed there was no care in the world about whom those tornado winds would hit or destroy. Actually, with this presidential election process it seems like that this is exactly what folks are about. We’ve got winds blustering about which candidates are real conservatives, liberal and what each should look like should look like should you spot one.
All of this was true until about 7:30 p.m. when the real air began spinning in the paths of so many. Its unpredicted arrival left no time for a television break or message from commentators who would be back with the rest of their stories. The winds of change and the platforms of rain, hail, wind and lightning announced their own positions as tornados began to touch ground in Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. The real story was the unannounced arrival of life altering winds. No longer just political storms brewing, but rather real tornados on the ground where we walk and talk. Many were left, literally, running for cover while others could only witness the destruction.
I made a call on Super Tuesday because of the storms to Paducah to check on my family living there but I didn’t even think about my friend Rev. William Zik, his wife Brittany and young son, Liam who lives in Central City, KY. I didn’t think about him until the next morning when William called me and said, “Where are you and what are you doing?” After telling me that his father, Bob and brother, Joshua were there, he asked a second time,” Where are you?” I knew where I needed to be. I was in the car and on my way.
At the first of his call, William said he was in Owensboro. William has been the Minister to Youth at First Baptist Church Central City, KY for the past three years and he had just accepted a new position with the Macedonia Baptist Church where he will be the Minister to Students. There was no surprise until he said, “We lost everything last night. It hit us around 8:00 p.m.”
It was then I thought, “What was I thinking?” I had not even called him. I had not even thought about Central City. But, when I finally arrived and I heard William and Brittany’s story, I knew I had much to be thinking about now. I thought of God’s outspread hand of protection. For the Zik family it began as just another storm, but with the warnings going off they finally decided to just go downstairs. They stayed there for awhile until the winds didn’t seem to be sounding anymore and the storm seemed to have passed. It was then, as William walked out of the basement and opened the door that he heard a sound of a mighty rushing wind like he had never heard before. He yelled toward his wife, jumped down to his family and they covered themselves with couch cushions. “Within eight seconds it was all over,” William said. “I walked up the stairs of the basement and was looking into the sky, no roof, a few walls standing and everything gone.”
William grew up at Central Baptist Church in Corbin, KY. As a youth he was active in their youth ministries, a part of Gone Fishing, (a unique youth ministry that travel and performs). He was active in mission trips, a dedicated student to the call of Christ in his life. Even while attending the University of Kentucky he maintained his sense of service often making the trip from Lexington back to Corbin to be supportive and to use what he was learning to continue the cause of Christ locally.
He attended Seminary at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and even there continued maintaining his primary Christian relationships while expanding his friendships and ministry contacts. In Corbin he was a big soccer fan and team member of the CHS program. In Central City, he was a coach for the Muhlenberg North High School soccer program. It has been easy to follow his life and the patterns he has developed. He has been consistent no matter the winds that have blown or the storms that have come his way.
Today, a few weeks after the initial hit of 160-mph winds, and what the National Weather Service is classifying as a F3 Tornado, William is standing, exercising faith as his guide. While he has experienced for the first time in his life, the immediate effect of “here today, gone tomorrow,” he is confident of one thing for sure. If God really wants you to move faster than you are going from one ministry location to another, he will get you where he wants you to be. Don’t worry, he’s got enough wind to take care of packing and moving, faster than you could have possible ever imagined.
William shared with me that after the storm, Liam, their son, had been crying and was upset by the disturbance but, in just a few minutes, he was running around in the basement after his ball, playing basketball, even while everything upstairs he had ever known was destroyed. To William it was amazing to just have witnessed Liam and that moment after the storm. To me, it was amazing that God knew he could take everything and anytime. He decided to leave at least two things for Liam through this storm, his father and mother. For me that continues my praises in song through the storms of life, “God is so good!”
Until then
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Deputy Sean Pursifull Killed "Line of Duty" Pineville Sun; Middlesboro Daily News
The Bible says in the Book of Matthew, “Blessed are the peace makers”, and the death of Bell County Deputy Sheriff Sean Pursifull causes me to remember that the community of law enforcement members are considered blessed according to God’s Word because of their profession and calling as instruments of peace and order.
I am humbled in service and been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies and emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. I began as Chaplain of the Bell County Volunteer Fire Department beginning service in 1979. I assisted and served Sheriff Charles “Monk” Green on many accidents, dispatched calls and rode alongside Ted Mayes and Big John Davenport many a night. When I returned to Bell County I began serving as Chaplain for Jailer Jimmy Hoskins in the Bell County Detention Center and did so for six years. I also served our present Sheriff Bruce Bennett and the Bell County Sheriff’s Department as Chaplain which I was too honored to be a part of for a time.
In Fort Worth, Texas, at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, trainings sessions about crisis management and seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplaincy but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008. Bell County Sheriff Department Chaplain Bill Jenkins and Pineville Police Department Chaplain David Peters did professional jobs with dignity and displayed great respect for a fallen peace maker that in service God’s word calls blessed.
The death of Deputy Sean Pursifull on that Thursday night was a sacrifice that he had mentally and emotionally dealt with having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service and he was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities and Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through this career choice and he was right. Departing life is not something that is settled because we dwell upon it for one day, but rather it is something that we prepare for our entire lives, little by little, day after day. Understanding our own individual level of comfort and adjusting our lives to the demands of duty is what brings honor to our lives, by the way we live and depart life as a witness.
My last memory of working alongside Sean was at an accident at Brock Hollow, in which a car over turned and a young child was strapped in their car seat and with the car now resting turned upside down in the middle of the road, we worked to free the child and bring peace to that moment of panic and fear at the scene.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice for our safety in performance of their duties as law enforcement officers who have proudly served our communities. Here in Bell County we should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers and remembering emergency service personnel who gave their all for us.
Let us remember the Bell County Sheriff Department:
Joseph Manning, age 37, Deputy, Line of Duty, Sunday, July 14, 1901;
Richard W Slusher, age 30, Deputy, Line of Duty, Thursday, April 11, 1902;
George Thomas Fisher, age 58, Chief Deputy, Line of Duty, Tuesday, December 17, 1940;
Laith Warren, age 46, Deputy, Line of Duty, Thursday, September 18, 1952;
Horace Hall, Jr, age 44, Deputy Major, Line of Duty, Thursday August 14, 1980;
Sean Pursifull, age 31, Deputy, Line of Duty, Thursday, January 10, 2008;
K-9 Unit “King”, Line of Duty, with Handler Sean Pursifull, Thursday January 10, 2008;
Let us remember the Pineville Police Department:
George Coovert, age 36, Assistant Chief, Line of Duty, Tuesday September 9, 1890;
Robert Woolum, age 38, Chief, Line of Duty, Monday, October 18, 1926;
Henry Jackson , Night Chief, Line of Duty, Monday, October 11, 1937;
Our County should have great thanks for these listed who gave their lives. Robert Woolum had just began his service and served only 38 days as Chief of the Pineville Police Department before his death. The details of the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for these men happened while serving warrants, attempting to make arrest, accidental gunshot, shootings outside bars in the City of Pineville, one officer was returning from testifying in Frankfort at trial, an automobile accident and some of these resulted in man hunts, one that ended in the State of Virginia. While honoring these men and the sacrifices their families also made we can give thanks that the Middlesboro Police Department has never lost an officer in the Line of Duty. It would be our prayer that this Department would never experience such a loss as the Bell County Sheriff Department and the Pineville Police Department have.
It maybe that only family members of fallen officers and those closely related remember such experiences, but that should not be our case here in Bell County. I have prior to this moment in time support the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation through gifts and purchase of the special license plate honoring our fallen, but we should go farther than this personal gesture. As a county we should have a memorial that remembers the sacrifice of all those before this time, and the endeavor should be something for all of Bell County, which I will remind us includes all our cities, the City of Pineville and the City of Middlesboro.
God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answer calls, assisting motorist broken down along our county road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which work behind the scenes, undercover, covert, and without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, of which begin a career in Law Enforcement and never experience such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God”, Matthew 5:9.
The work continues and the wiliness to be an ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection and to follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important, and honoring those among us today even more important.
Until then
I am humbled in service and been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies and emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. I began as Chaplain of the Bell County Volunteer Fire Department beginning service in 1979. I assisted and served Sheriff Charles “Monk” Green on many accidents, dispatched calls and rode alongside Ted Mayes and Big John Davenport many a night. When I returned to Bell County I began serving as Chaplain for Jailer Jimmy Hoskins in the Bell County Detention Center and did so for six years. I also served our present Sheriff Bruce Bennett and the Bell County Sheriff’s Department as Chaplain which I was too honored to be a part of for a time.
In Fort Worth, Texas, at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, trainings sessions about crisis management and seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplaincy but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008. Bell County Sheriff Department Chaplain Bill Jenkins and Pineville Police Department Chaplain David Peters did professional jobs with dignity and displayed great respect for a fallen peace maker that in service God’s word calls blessed.
The death of Deputy Sean Pursifull on that Thursday night was a sacrifice that he had mentally and emotionally dealt with having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service and he was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities and Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through this career choice and he was right. Departing life is not something that is settled because we dwell upon it for one day, but rather it is something that we prepare for our entire lives, little by little, day after day. Understanding our own individual level of comfort and adjusting our lives to the demands of duty is what brings honor to our lives, by the way we live and depart life as a witness.
My last memory of working alongside Sean was at an accident at Brock Hollow, in which a car over turned and a young child was strapped in their car seat and with the car now resting turned upside down in the middle of the road, we worked to free the child and bring peace to that moment of panic and fear at the scene.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice for our safety in performance of their duties as law enforcement officers who have proudly served our communities. Here in Bell County we should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers and remembering emergency service personnel who gave their all for us.
Let us remember the Bell County Sheriff Department:
Joseph Manning, age 37, Deputy, Line of Duty, Sunday, July 14, 1901;
Richard W Slusher, age 30, Deputy, Line of Duty, Thursday, April 11, 1902;
George Thomas Fisher, age 58, Chief Deputy, Line of Duty, Tuesday, December 17, 1940;
Laith Warren, age 46, Deputy, Line of Duty, Thursday, September 18, 1952;
Horace Hall, Jr, age 44, Deputy Major, Line of Duty, Thursday August 14, 1980;
Sean Pursifull, age 31, Deputy, Line of Duty, Thursday, January 10, 2008;
K-9 Unit “King”, Line of Duty, with Handler Sean Pursifull, Thursday January 10, 2008;
Let us remember the Pineville Police Department:
George Coovert, age 36, Assistant Chief, Line of Duty, Tuesday September 9, 1890;
Robert Woolum, age 38, Chief, Line of Duty, Monday, October 18, 1926;
Henry Jackson , Night Chief, Line of Duty, Monday, October 11, 1937;
Our County should have great thanks for these listed who gave their lives. Robert Woolum had just began his service and served only 38 days as Chief of the Pineville Police Department before his death. The details of the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for these men happened while serving warrants, attempting to make arrest, accidental gunshot, shootings outside bars in the City of Pineville, one officer was returning from testifying in Frankfort at trial, an automobile accident and some of these resulted in man hunts, one that ended in the State of Virginia. While honoring these men and the sacrifices their families also made we can give thanks that the Middlesboro Police Department has never lost an officer in the Line of Duty. It would be our prayer that this Department would never experience such a loss as the Bell County Sheriff Department and the Pineville Police Department have.
It maybe that only family members of fallen officers and those closely related remember such experiences, but that should not be our case here in Bell County. I have prior to this moment in time support the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation through gifts and purchase of the special license plate honoring our fallen, but we should go farther than this personal gesture. As a county we should have a memorial that remembers the sacrifice of all those before this time, and the endeavor should be something for all of Bell County, which I will remind us includes all our cities, the City of Pineville and the City of Middlesboro.
God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answer calls, assisting motorist broken down along our county road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which work behind the scenes, undercover, covert, and without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, of which begin a career in Law Enforcement and never experience such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God”, Matthew 5:9.
The work continues and the wiliness to be an ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection and to follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important, and honoring those among us today even more important.
Until then
Peace Makers - Killed "Line of Duty" Corbin Times Tribune
The Bible says in the Book of Matthew, “Blessed are the peace makers”. The death of Bell County Deputy Sheriff Sean Pursifull causes me to remember that the communities of law enforcement members are considered blessed according to God’s Word because of their profession and calling as instruments of peace and order.
I am humbled in service and have been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies, emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. At Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary I participated in trainings sessions about crisis management, seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplainry, and participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008.
Deputy Sean Pursifull’s death and ultimate sacrifice on that Thursday night was one he had mentally and emotionally considered having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service. He was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities. Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through his career choice and he was right. Thinking about death is not something that you prepare for in a single day, but rather it is something that you prepare for little by little, day after day. Our individual level of comfort and adjustments to such thoughts of duty brings us to places of honor by the way we live our lives and depart this life in front of others.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice in Bell County. Since 1890, a total of nine officers have been killed in the line of duty from the Pineville Police Department and the Bell County Sheriff Department.
The Tri-County also shares in this list of fallen heroes that God’s Word calls “blessed” because they are peace makers. We should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers. Bell County’s loss should cause us here in the Tri-County to properly remember and honor our list of fallen heroes. It is appropriate during this hour for us take time to focus and consider our responsibility to say thanks to the extended family members of those who gave their all for us years ago in the line of duty.
To properly do so it may be that we need to acknowledge our thanks to a child of one of our “blessed”. It may well be that we are friends with a grandchild or great-grandchild of one of those that gave their all in the line of duty. While we may have never known the fallen, we can still honor them by saying thanks to their families that we do know. Consider our “fallen heroes” here in the Tri-County area:
Knox County:
Charles West, age 42, Jailer, Line of Duty, Friday November 23, 1923;
Barbourville:
James C Smith, age 43, Chief, Line of Duty, Friday, July 20, 1962;
Corbin:
Charlie W. Howard, Policeman, Line of Duty, Friday June 30, 1933;
Glenn Scalf, Police Officer, Line of Duty, Tuesday, July 1, 1941;
Whitley:
Elvin Patrick, Sheriff, Line of Duty, Saturday, January 17, 1959;
Laurel:
William Harrison Reams, Deputy, Line of Duty, Friday, November 24, 1854;
Fred B Mason, age 44, Sheriff, Line of Duty, Monday, August 3, 1936
At the memorial service honoring this latest fallen Kentucky hero, the Tri-County communities can be humbled by the services tendered by our local law enforcement. There was representation by the Knox, Whitley and Laurel Sheriff Departments. Officers from the Corbin, Barbourville, London and Williamsburg Police Departments also participated. There was a heightened sense of duty and honor at the services because 550 different agencies, departments and organizations chose to attend the services. Their participation brought dignity, respect and representation of brotherhood to the memorial service. While honoring fallen heroes, we give thanks that the London Police Department and the Williamsburg Police Departments have never had such an experience within their departments.
God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answering calls, and assisting motorist broken down along our road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have working behind the scenes, undercover, in covert operations, without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” who have careers in Law Enforcement and who have never experienced such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
The work continues and the willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection. Follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important. Honoring those among us today is even more important.
Until then
I am humbled in service and have been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies, emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. At Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary I participated in trainings sessions about crisis management, seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplainry, and participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008.
Deputy Sean Pursifull’s death and ultimate sacrifice on that Thursday night was one he had mentally and emotionally considered having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service. He was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities. Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through his career choice and he was right. Thinking about death is not something that you prepare for in a single day, but rather it is something that you prepare for little by little, day after day. Our individual level of comfort and adjustments to such thoughts of duty brings us to places of honor by the way we live our lives and depart this life in front of others.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice in Bell County. Since 1890, a total of nine officers have been killed in the line of duty from the Pineville Police Department and the Bell County Sheriff Department.
The Tri-County also shares in this list of fallen heroes that God’s Word calls “blessed” because they are peace makers. We should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers. Bell County’s loss should cause us here in the Tri-County to properly remember and honor our list of fallen heroes. It is appropriate during this hour for us take time to focus and consider our responsibility to say thanks to the extended family members of those who gave their all for us years ago in the line of duty.
To properly do so it may be that we need to acknowledge our thanks to a child of one of our “blessed”. It may well be that we are friends with a grandchild or great-grandchild of one of those that gave their all in the line of duty. While we may have never known the fallen, we can still honor them by saying thanks to their families that we do know. Consider our “fallen heroes” here in the Tri-County area:
Knox County:
Charles West, age 42, Jailer, Line of Duty, Friday November 23, 1923;
Barbourville:
James C Smith, age 43, Chief, Line of Duty, Friday, July 20, 1962;
Corbin:
Charlie W. Howard, Policeman, Line of Duty, Friday June 30, 1933;
Glenn Scalf, Police Officer, Line of Duty, Tuesday, July 1, 1941;
Whitley:
Elvin Patrick, Sheriff, Line of Duty, Saturday, January 17, 1959;
Laurel:
William Harrison Reams, Deputy, Line of Duty, Friday, November 24, 1854;
Fred B Mason, age 44, Sheriff, Line of Duty, Monday, August 3, 1936
At the memorial service honoring this latest fallen Kentucky hero, the Tri-County communities can be humbled by the services tendered by our local law enforcement. There was representation by the Knox, Whitley and Laurel Sheriff Departments. Officers from the Corbin, Barbourville, London and Williamsburg Police Departments also participated. There was a heightened sense of duty and honor at the services because 550 different agencies, departments and organizations chose to attend the services. Their participation brought dignity, respect and representation of brotherhood to the memorial service. While honoring fallen heroes, we give thanks that the London Police Department and the Williamsburg Police Departments have never had such an experience within their departments.
God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answering calls, and assisting motorist broken down along our road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have working behind the scenes, undercover, in covert operations, without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” who have careers in Law Enforcement and who have never experienced such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
The work continues and the willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection. Follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important. Honoring those among us today is even more important.
Until then
Peace Makers - Killed "Line of Duty" Barbourville Advocate
The Bible says in the Book of Matthew, “Blessed are the peace makers”, and the death of Bell County Deputy Sheriff Sean Pursifull causes me to remember that the community of law enforcement members are considered blessed according to God’s Word because of their profession and calling as instruments of peace and order.
I am humbled in service and been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies and emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. At Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I attended for my M.Div., I participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, trainings sessions about crisis management and seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplaincy but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008.
The death of Deputy Sean Pursifull on that Thursday night was a sacrifice that he had mentally and emotionally dealt with having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service and he was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities and Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through this career choice and he was right. Departing life is not something that any dwells for one day, but rather it is something that we spend our entire lives preparing for little by little. Understanding our level of comfort and adjusting to the demands of duty brings honor by the way we live our lives and depart this life.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice in Bell County. A total of nine officers have been killed in the Line of Duty beginning in 1890.
Here in Knox County we too share in the list of fallen heroes that God’s Word calls “Blessed” because they are peace makers. We should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers who gave their all for us.
Knox County:
Charles West, age 42, Jailer, Line of Duty, Friday November 23, 1923;
Barbourville:
James C Smith, age 43, Chief, Line of Duty, Friday, July 20, 1962;
Corbin:
Charlie W. Howard, Policeman, Line of Duty, Friday June 30, 1933;
Glenn Scalf, Police Officer, Line of Duty, Tuesday, July 1, 1941;
God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answer calls, assisting motorist broken down along our county road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which work behind the scenes, undercover, covert, and without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, of which begin a career in Law Enforcement and never experience such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God”, Matthew 5:9.
The presence of our Sheriff and others from the Knox County Sheriff Department, the Barbourville Police Department and the Corbin Police Department, joining alongside 550 other Sheriff Departments and Police Departments brought a sense of pride, dignity and respect for Knox County because of their loyalty to brotherhood and service to mankind.
The work continues and the wiliness to be an ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection and to follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important, and honoring those among us today even more important.
Until then
I am humbled in service and been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies and emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. At Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I attended for my M.Div., I participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, trainings sessions about crisis management and seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplaincy but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008.
The death of Deputy Sean Pursifull on that Thursday night was a sacrifice that he had mentally and emotionally dealt with having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service and he was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities and Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through this career choice and he was right. Departing life is not something that any dwells for one day, but rather it is something that we spend our entire lives preparing for little by little. Understanding our level of comfort and adjusting to the demands of duty brings honor by the way we live our lives and depart this life.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice in Bell County. A total of nine officers have been killed in the Line of Duty beginning in 1890.
Here in Knox County we too share in the list of fallen heroes that God’s Word calls “Blessed” because they are peace makers. We should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers who gave their all for us.
Knox County:
Charles West, age 42, Jailer, Line of Duty, Friday November 23, 1923;
Barbourville:
James C Smith, age 43, Chief, Line of Duty, Friday, July 20, 1962;
Corbin:
Charlie W. Howard, Policeman, Line of Duty, Friday June 30, 1933;
Glenn Scalf, Police Officer, Line of Duty, Tuesday, July 1, 1941;
God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answer calls, assisting motorist broken down along our county road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which work behind the scenes, undercover, covert, and without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, of which begin a career in Law Enforcement and never experience such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers”, because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God”, Matthew 5:9.
The presence of our Sheriff and others from the Knox County Sheriff Department, the Barbourville Police Department and the Corbin Police Department, joining alongside 550 other Sheriff Departments and Police Departments brought a sense of pride, dignity and respect for Knox County because of their loyalty to brotherhood and service to mankind.
The work continues and the wiliness to be an ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection and to follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important, and honoring those among us today even more important.
Until then
Friday, February 15, 2008
Performance on Broadway with Blue Apple Players
One of the great rules of life as presented in the Bible is that you and I should treat others as we want to be treated. Another great rule of life from the Bible is the teaching that it is more blessed to give then receive. A personal application for me in life is that being good to folks; even those we don’t know should be standard treatment policy. Giving of ourselves is also a part of that application. Using our talents as God given and developed bring peace and confidence in our relationship to Him, knowing He has a plan and it is still working.
The weekend of February 22; 23; will be an exciting time for me as I have been invited by the Blue Apple Players in Louisville, Kentucky to participate in their yearly Broadway Production of selected musicals performed throughout the year by their performers and cast members. The difference during this event weekend is that the Producers have invited special guest from all across Kentucky to take the lead roles in their various numbers, of which I have been asked to participate by singing from the musical, “The Greatest Hero’s”.
Last year I participated and sang from the Musical “The Cumberland Gap”. I sang the lead song, “The Cumberland Gap” a song about the early pioneers who traveled to that unique corner of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia and the words represented their experience of seeing the Cumberland Gap for the first time in their lives. My 5th Great-Grandfather John H. Bingham crossed The Cumberland Gap with Daniel Boone and the ancestors of my 2nd Great-Grandfather Thomas Jefferson Mills followed from North Carolina, so the song had personal meaning not to mention the pride I have and share about the Historical Cumberland Gap and her importance to America. Dr. Thomas Walker named everything after the Duke of Cumberland so we who live here in the mountains have much to be excited about because of Dr. Walker’s discovery in Bell County at that unique three state area. We got not just the Cumberland Gap, but the Cumberland Mountains, the Cumberland Ford, the Cumberland Plateau, the Cumberland River, the Cumberland Falls, and the list of Cumberland’s just goes on and on.
This year’s song is about what makes someone a hero. Not sure what your characteristics would be if you named them, but I’ve got some thoughts and the song I will be performing on Broadway with the Blue Apple Players is on target with what really makes a hero.
The song, “The Greatest Hero’s” is about treating others as you want to be treated, which is good Bible teaching. Giving up a place in line; extending a helping; being considerate of what others would feel if they heard what you said; all great starters and landing spots for one’s life. Real heroes do without thinking of the cost to themselves which makes them real givers and not takers. The songs says to often in life heroes are the winning quarter backs of football games, or the guys that hit the grand slams in a baseball game, and the question for each of us to answer is what will we say at the end about the life we have lived, will it measure up to real hero standards and not just the worlds view of someone popular that did something we all remember?
Tough question I know, but this is a perfect time for me as I am going to perform this musical number on Broadway to ask myself, what will be said of the way I have given of myself, used my talents, and spent my energy? I pray that the characteristics I believe to be valuable will be able to be applied to my life at the end. My hero is Jesus, I have no other that can forgive sins, re-establish and set one up on solid rocks out of sticky clay. The world offers plenty of heroes to choose from. Some select as their hero’s in life jobs; other perceived family status; positions in the community; authority over others; money held in a bank or salary paid; Lots of choices the world offers if you are looking for a hero, but I would strongly suggest you consider a friend that will always walk beside you and never leave you or forsake you. His name is Jesus.
Until then
The weekend of February 22; 23; will be an exciting time for me as I have been invited by the Blue Apple Players in Louisville, Kentucky to participate in their yearly Broadway Production of selected musicals performed throughout the year by their performers and cast members. The difference during this event weekend is that the Producers have invited special guest from all across Kentucky to take the lead roles in their various numbers, of which I have been asked to participate by singing from the musical, “The Greatest Hero’s”.
Last year I participated and sang from the Musical “The Cumberland Gap”. I sang the lead song, “The Cumberland Gap” a song about the early pioneers who traveled to that unique corner of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia and the words represented their experience of seeing the Cumberland Gap for the first time in their lives. My 5th Great-Grandfather John H. Bingham crossed The Cumberland Gap with Daniel Boone and the ancestors of my 2nd Great-Grandfather Thomas Jefferson Mills followed from North Carolina, so the song had personal meaning not to mention the pride I have and share about the Historical Cumberland Gap and her importance to America. Dr. Thomas Walker named everything after the Duke of Cumberland so we who live here in the mountains have much to be excited about because of Dr. Walker’s discovery in Bell County at that unique three state area. We got not just the Cumberland Gap, but the Cumberland Mountains, the Cumberland Ford, the Cumberland Plateau, the Cumberland River, the Cumberland Falls, and the list of Cumberland’s just goes on and on.
This year’s song is about what makes someone a hero. Not sure what your characteristics would be if you named them, but I’ve got some thoughts and the song I will be performing on Broadway with the Blue Apple Players is on target with what really makes a hero.
The song, “The Greatest Hero’s” is about treating others as you want to be treated, which is good Bible teaching. Giving up a place in line; extending a helping; being considerate of what others would feel if they heard what you said; all great starters and landing spots for one’s life. Real heroes do without thinking of the cost to themselves which makes them real givers and not takers. The songs says to often in life heroes are the winning quarter backs of football games, or the guys that hit the grand slams in a baseball game, and the question for each of us to answer is what will we say at the end about the life we have lived, will it measure up to real hero standards and not just the worlds view of someone popular that did something we all remember?
Tough question I know, but this is a perfect time for me as I am going to perform this musical number on Broadway to ask myself, what will be said of the way I have given of myself, used my talents, and spent my energy? I pray that the characteristics I believe to be valuable will be able to be applied to my life at the end. My hero is Jesus, I have no other that can forgive sins, re-establish and set one up on solid rocks out of sticky clay. The world offers plenty of heroes to choose from. Some select as their hero’s in life jobs; other perceived family status; positions in the community; authority over others; money held in a bank or salary paid; Lots of choices the world offers if you are looking for a hero, but I would strongly suggest you consider a friend that will always walk beside you and never leave you or forsake you. His name is Jesus.
Until then
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Learning Life from Computer Issues
I am certain that many of you will understand when I say “sorry that you have been missing the column”, but I think I have it corrected now with a new computer. I am certain that I need to say thanks to you for your concern about where I have been, but I’m confident now with the physical possession of such an instrument and tool as the computer I now have I will be able to consistently provide the column “until then”.
During this time of absence of a computer, I have attempted several remedies to keep up with the demand of writing weekly columns, but have found myself coming up short even with the best of intentions. I can however recall now some of the errors of my thought way in fixing the problem, and I believe they are worthy of sharing.
First, I underestimated the problem. I would guess I am the only person who has ever done such, but boy did I miss it right at the start. I thought, ok, one missed week will not be so bad, I will fix this issue this week, but one week grows to two weeks, then two weeks becomes a month with the blink of an eye, and you are still standing with outstretched arms empty.
Second, I believed I could fix the problem instantaneously, when I was ready, but that just wasn’t true. My best effort to take care of this was really more closely connected with someone else’s ability to provide for my needs then me being able to fix this by myself. I guess we have all heard it said, “your emergency is not mine”, well that is/was so true in my desire to get a computer. I was counting on next day shipping, not to mention having the necessary software ordered and installed.
Third, I thought it might be that no one would even miss the column but that wasn’t true at all either. My thoughts of I will just ease back into this without notice hasn’t worked either. I could share that I attempted several remedies like using my mother and father’s computer but without DSL available I found myself frustrated because of speed and access as one more reason for delay. I attempted to use my friends’ computers but discovered they had updated Word Programs, and on several of my sends the receivers could not even open the files because of that ‘doc.x’ type document. That was frustrating because I never even knew to look for such, which is always embarrassing when you think your knowledge is on top of the issue or game to start with.
So what lesson from such an experience you might ask do we learn? What type of spiritual lesson have I drawn from these past three weeks? In can sum it up best in two statements of learning.
One, always remember when you need help don’t delay. I can only think and remember how many times I have needed to follow the teachings of Hebrews 4:15-16 and run boldly quickly and without delay.
Secondly, I believe this learned point is on equals with the previously mentioned truth because in order to remedy our needs we must go to the resource that is able to deliver on time. The real answer for our every need is Jesus Christ and He always delivers on time if we are in the center of His will.
Not sure what problem you have that is placed in a delay hold pattern by yourself, but I’m certain there are some just as there has been in mine. Today is a perfect day to address the need issues in your life and Jesus Christ is the perfect resource for all your needs. Best offer is that He ships His answer without a shipping charge, so pick up the heavenly phone and make that call today to order the equipment you need and the software necessary for you to function and provide as God has called you.
Until then
During this time of absence of a computer, I have attempted several remedies to keep up with the demand of writing weekly columns, but have found myself coming up short even with the best of intentions. I can however recall now some of the errors of my thought way in fixing the problem, and I believe they are worthy of sharing.
First, I underestimated the problem. I would guess I am the only person who has ever done such, but boy did I miss it right at the start. I thought, ok, one missed week will not be so bad, I will fix this issue this week, but one week grows to two weeks, then two weeks becomes a month with the blink of an eye, and you are still standing with outstretched arms empty.
Second, I believed I could fix the problem instantaneously, when I was ready, but that just wasn’t true. My best effort to take care of this was really more closely connected with someone else’s ability to provide for my needs then me being able to fix this by myself. I guess we have all heard it said, “your emergency is not mine”, well that is/was so true in my desire to get a computer. I was counting on next day shipping, not to mention having the necessary software ordered and installed.
Third, I thought it might be that no one would even miss the column but that wasn’t true at all either. My thoughts of I will just ease back into this without notice hasn’t worked either. I could share that I attempted several remedies like using my mother and father’s computer but without DSL available I found myself frustrated because of speed and access as one more reason for delay. I attempted to use my friends’ computers but discovered they had updated Word Programs, and on several of my sends the receivers could not even open the files because of that ‘doc.x’ type document. That was frustrating because I never even knew to look for such, which is always embarrassing when you think your knowledge is on top of the issue or game to start with.
So what lesson from such an experience you might ask do we learn? What type of spiritual lesson have I drawn from these past three weeks? In can sum it up best in two statements of learning.
One, always remember when you need help don’t delay. I can only think and remember how many times I have needed to follow the teachings of Hebrews 4:15-16 and run boldly quickly and without delay.
Secondly, I believe this learned point is on equals with the previously mentioned truth because in order to remedy our needs we must go to the resource that is able to deliver on time. The real answer for our every need is Jesus Christ and He always delivers on time if we are in the center of His will.
Not sure what problem you have that is placed in a delay hold pattern by yourself, but I’m certain there are some just as there has been in mine. Today is a perfect day to address the need issues in your life and Jesus Christ is the perfect resource for all your needs. Best offer is that He ships His answer without a shipping charge, so pick up the heavenly phone and make that call today to order the equipment you need and the software necessary for you to function and provide as God has called you.
Until then
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