The young preacher finally had a chance to preach when he was asked to say a few words at an elderly gentlemen’s funeral. Using an allegory of a pecan he said, ”What we see here lying before us is only a shell. The old nut has gone.” Sometimes, what we really want to say doesn’t quite come out right. I can assure you that you will be leaving your present job. I can also assure you, that you will be leaving this […]
By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon We all have drawn, or at least received, a picture of a “Heart” as a symbol of love. We have said, “that breaks my heart” or “I surrender my heart,” but have you ever thought about what the “Heart” actually is. In scripture, the bible says the Lord looks at the heart. The heart of man is the center of his being. It is your Mind, Will, and Emotions. Your deepest Thoughts, Desires, and Feelings. It is who […]
The Christian Police Officer – By: Officer Johnathan Fontenot I am a Christian, but I am also a Police Officer. The challenges of being a Christian or a Police Officer are in and of themselves diverse, but being both at the same time has proved to be more challenging than I could have ever imagined. My journey with God began in the summer of 2009. My life was completely transformed, and God gave me an intense desire to know more about him. So, […]
Companion of Fools Proverbs 13:20 – “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” Have you ever got into trouble because you were with someone not doing right? As a child, I received quite a whipping from my Dad because my older brother played with matches and caught a tree on fire. I was a victim of association. I was only watching. When his foolishness blew up, I caught the shrapnel. That’s what the wisdom […]
Are You a Creature I’ve known a few people who fit the Creature moniker better than others, but the truth is we are all creatures. We cannot think of anything or anyone not having a beginning. Creatures are created; Period! It is beyond my understanding to reasonably think there is no God, yet far more brilliant minds than mine reason that very thing – you may be one of them. It is because human reason cannot explain God. It is a Spiritual […]
John Ashcroft, former United States Attorney General, once delivered a powerful speech while speaking at Bob Jones University in 2001. He discusses choosing the source of your character in the following speech: A slogan of the American Revolution which was so distressing to the emissaries of the king that it was found in correspondence sent back to England, was the line, “We have no king but Jesus”. Tax collectors came, asking for that which belonged to the king, and colonists frequently said, “We […]
Editor’s Note: I loved this the first time I read it. Speaking with friends this weekend made me want to share it again. God bless them & you. By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon: Years ago I went to a Christian school training, and I never forgot what one of the speakers said – “Honesty is not the best policy. It is the only policy.” If we allow ourselves an option, we will always find certain situations produce a convenience to be dishonest. Jesus […]
Building Momentum For Your Life It is said that you can take a 4”x4” block of wood and place it in front of a steam engine train and it cannot move. Let that same train build up its speed to 50 mph, and it can blow through a 10’x10’ steel reinforced block of concrete. That is the power of momentum. Obstacles are a part of life; we all deal with them, but those that are successful in life are people who keep […]
Do You Want Justice Or Mercy A lady went to a photographer to have her picture taken. When she saw the finished product, she didn’t like it. She asked the photographer to take her picture again. The photographer said, “Well lady, what’s wrong with it?” She said, “It doesn’t do me justice.” He looked at it, then looked at her and said, “Lady, you don’t need justice, what you need is some mercy!” Which shall it be; Justice or Mercy Anyone ever […]
By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon Thibodaux Police Department Louisiana, USA Years ago I read a true story of a beautiful little town in Maine. Because of a Hydroelectric plant being built, it would eventually be destroyed by flooding. The news media did a special report on the town, and pointed out its beauty. One year later, the media did a follow-up report before the city flooded. The once beautiful town now was dirty and run down. One of the reporters stopped a gentleman […]
By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon Thibodaux Police Department Louisiana, USA Years ago I went to a John Maxwell Leadership Seminar. I was a young preacher looking to be more effective in helping people and leading the Church I pastor. From what I had heard, Maxwell was the man who could help me. On my arrival to the seminar, one of his opening remarks went like this: Methods are many, Principles are few. Methods always change, Principles never do. He then taught 10 […]
January 22, 2013 in Featured, Leadership, Posts by Chief Scott Silverii, Ph.D. Who can forget Robert Duval’s advice to a young LAPD Officer played by Sean Penn in the 1988 movie “Colors?” While Duval’s character may have been referring to operational efficiency more than chronological age, the point is that better results are often associated with maturity. Oakland’s Chief of Police Howard Jordan recently announced increasing the Police Department’s minimum hiring age from 20.5 years to 25 years old. I hope this […]
By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon Thibodaux Police Department Wouldn’t you like to have a filter on your brain that helps filter what is and what isn’t important? Well, you do. It’s called the Reticular Activation System, or RAS. It’s the part of your brain that automatically filters out what isn’t important to you, and brings your attention to things that are important to you. We all have it. A mother can pick out their child’s voice among the noise of many other voices. […]
Know What To Do & When To Do It By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon From: Thibodaux Police Department Several years back, I read where an Oregon middle school was having problems with girls applying lipstick and kissing the bathroom mirrors. One day, the principal gathered the girls she believed to be involved, and stood them before the kissed mirrors. The principal told the girls, “Please help me to stop this problem. It is so hard for our janitor to clean this off. Watch, […]
No Man Is An Island. No Man Walks Alone In honor of Black History Month, Chief Scott Silverii and the Thibodaux Police Department honors the legacy of a man still fondly remembered more than 20 years since his passing. Preston “Jake” Jacobs began his career with the Thibodaux Police Department in April of 1969. He was only the second black man to join the agency, and was hired by then Police Chief Earl Melancon Sr., who spoke very highly of Jake at […]
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 Returning to graduate school even before Max was born, he has only known a dad engaged in reading, writing and the joy of education. In addition to the prayers we share at this old table; reading and writing is a passion “we” now both enjoy. And what did my dad do? He was a teacher. Train up a child….
The week of February 11 thru 15, 2013 is “People I Love” Week. Day 1 – Long-term loyalty and commitment Day 2 – Wisdom and spirituality Day 3 – Fearless Christian leadership Day 4 – Forgiveness and reconciliation through prayer Day 5 – Mercy and healing This week of Valentine is traditionally reserved for romantic love. Often times the target of ones affections change and the next commercially driven day of “love” allows opportunities for a new target and new purchases to […]
Waverly Mercy and Healing This is the greatest love of all. The love God shows me. I have been obedient at times in my life and I have been downright rebellious in my life. God always loves me. Even when I walked away. In 2006 my son was born. The delivery came fast and complicated. After a rushed surgery, a beautiful screaming baby boy arrived. He was perfect, and yet there was a sense of “what if” amongst the hospital staff. The next […]
The week of February 11 thru 15, 2013 is “People I Love” Week. Day 1 – Long-term loyalty and commitment Day 2 – Wisdom and spirituality Day 3 – Fearless Christian leadership Day 4 – Forgiveness and reconciliation through prayer Day 5 – Mercy and healing This week of Valentine is traditionally reserved for romantic love. Often times the target of ones affections change and the next commercially driven day of “love” allows opportunities for a new target and new purchases to impress. […]
MCR Forgiveness and Reconciliation This is a tough one to share for several reasons, but often times saying “I love you” requires […]
The week of February 11 thru 15, 2013 is “People I Love” Week. Day 1 – Long-term loyalty and commitment Day 2 – Wisdom and spirituality Day 3 – Fearless Christian leadership Day 4 – Forgiveness and reconciliation through prayer Day 5 – Mercy and healing This week of Valentine is traditionally reserved for romantic love. Often times the target of ones affections change and the next commercially driven day of “love” allows opportunities for a new target and new purchases to impress. […]
Bill Cassidy Fearless Christian Leadership I was crossing a highway in south Louisiana following the blessing of the fleet ceremony about two years ago. Stopping to say hello to the deputy directing traffic I heard a conversation between he and another person I did not know. They were talking about exercise, and I naturally jumped in. We continued our conversation while walking off the highway leaving the deputy to his duties. Within moments, the conversation turned to Christ. He was on fire […]
The week of February 11 thru 15, 2013 is “People I Love” Week. Day 1 – Long-term loyalty and commitment Day 2 – Wisdom and spirituality Day 3 – Fearless Christian leadership Day 4 – Forgiveness and reconciliation through prayer Day 5 – Mercy and healing This week of Valentine is traditionally reserved for romantic love. Often times the target of ones affections change and the next commercially driven day of “love” allows opportunities for a new target and new purchases to impress. […]
People I Love Week Renee Brinkley I love my sister Renee Brinkley for her friendship, spirituality, wisdom, and grace. Renee and I began a friendship in grade school, and continues today. Her depth of spiritual connection and conviction holds me in awe of each word she shares. She is blessed with a natural beauty, drawing people to her. They are immediately struck by her positive energy, honesty, and sincerity. In all our years, I have never heard her raise her voice, though […]
The week of February 11 thru 15, 2013 is “People I Love” Week. This week of Valentine is traditionally reserved for romantic love. Often times the target of ones affections change and the next commercially driven day of “love” allows opportunities for a new target and new purchases to impress. This week’s theme is about love that endures. There are traditionally three types of love originating from the Greek language and referenced in God’s word. Eros is romantic love or physical attraction […]
People I Love Week Dave Paul Thibodaux I recently published a book based on my doctoral dissertation research, A Darker Shade of Blue: From Public Servant to Professional Deviant. It is the culmination of 7 years in graduate school while earning a Master of Public Administration and a Ph.D. This is a commitment I made to sacrifice my time and energies in pursuit of something special to me; education. My friend and dear brother, Dave Paul “DP” Thibodaux also made a commitment, […]
The week of February 11 thru 15, 2013 is “People I Love” Week. This week of Valentine is traditionally reserved for romantic love. Often times the target of ones affections change and the next commercially driven day of “love” allows opportunities for a new target and new purchases to impress. This week’s theme is about love that endures. There are traditionally three types of love originating from the Greek language and referenced in God’s word. Eros is romantic love or physical attraction […]
The images were taken first hand as we responded to Hurricane Katrina. Third Day’s “Cry Out to Jesus” was the only song fitting to use. My dear friend Rachelle Hitt Bilbo created this piece and shared a disk with me in 2005. I watched it once, then put it and the memories away. It is a beautiful testimony to the compassion of law enforcement officers as we drove buses, gave water, comforted the old and young and helped bring a slice of […]
The images were taken first hand as we responded to Hurricane Katrina. Third Day’s “Cry Out to Jesus” was the only song fitting to use. My dear friend Rachelle Hitt Bilbo created this piece and shared a disk with me in 2005. I watched it once, then put it and the memories away. It is a beautiful testimony to the compassion of law enforcement officers as we drove buses, gave water, comforted the old and young and helped bring a slice of […]
At Buddy Walk Fund Raiser supporting Down syndrome group, Blessed By Downs. I was asked to welcome the large, excited group at the last minute. Coming up empty for words (a rarity) I handed the microphone to Max. What else does a Prayer Warriors do?
“Step forward now, policeman,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in hell.”
An Act of Not-So-Random Kindness I regularly contribute to Law Enforcement Today that hosts a members and internal messaging section. I have become connected through e-mail with a California Police Department’s Chaplain, having exchanged a few messages for personal introductions. This week while praying over a difficult situation, I happened to log onto LET to receive the message included below. I’ve removed his name and contact information, but leave his simple gesture and act of kindness. I consider it not-random because I […]
The Most Powerful Sermon My son and I moved to the city where I accepted the chief of police position. I (we) are always on the go and the weekends together are spent making up for everyone and everywhere we miss. I will share with you that he has Down syndrome and was 5 years old at the time. He does not know the days of the week, the hours of the day, and relied on sign language due to underdeveloped verbal […]
I Love You… There, I said it. Actually, I said it Wednesday night to my entire agency during our annual Blue Summit. I am not a “tree-hugging” chief of police, but I do believe that a key part of sincere leadership is allowing yourself to be human to your staff. I also remind them that I prayed with expectancy before accepting the position, as God led me to this city to serve Him, them and our citizens. Sharing the vision, the bigger […]