I wanted one of our Regional Chaplains, Chaplain Daryl Dilworth of Region 5, to share a message for this Christmas season.  If you know Daryl, you know him to be a man of faith, a wonderful listener and a man who knows something of your Law Enforcement issues as he, too, is a Commissioned Law Enforcement Officer.  Sit back and enjoy his quiet demeanor and wise words for this time of year.

Have you ever considered yourself as different from most other people?  Well, in a very real sense, you are.  Though we all have our similarities as people, each of us has been “called out” from the crowd in some way.  As the early church was considered “the called-out ones (ekklesia), so each of us is called to our special purpose in life.

Many issues come to each of us during our lifetimes, but one certainly will come to all of us, that we will lose someone we love.  It’s a natural thing to lose a loved one, but how we deal with it depends on many things.  In this podcast we’ll look at maybe a way that will help with it.  We’ll still have to go through a death but perhaps this will be helpful to see the blessing of our loved one’s life more than the fact that they are now gone.

“Brother’s Keeper?”

Have you ever used the phrase, maybe in joking when asked where so and so might be, and we jokingly say, “Who am I, my brother’s keeper?” (we can also insert Sister for Brother.  Well, this month’s blog is about that, but it’s also about why we need to watch out for each other.  There’s some information we don’t usually talk about, that we need to really begin taking and thinking about more.  Get into the blog to hear what it is.

Whether or not you celebrate the Easter season, this month’s podcast will probably apply to you.  Each of us, from time to time, have problems with our tongues and mouths – usually when we are callous with them against another person.  The idea of “character assassination” is all around us these days.  But that has always been around – whether to build someone up or tear someone down, and usually in a cowardly way behind that person’s back.  Sounds like a real downer, doesn’t it?  Listen to the end and find out how we have been redeemed through the actions of the One.

Are we takers, keepers or givers?  At this Thanksgiving time, an ancient, recorded story reminds us that in being thankful, giving is just as important.  Happy Thanksgiving

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of our State Park Police Officers doing the great work of keeping our Park resources and the many people from all over the world who visit our parks safe and enjoying a wonderful experience.  I had the honor of sitting down around the table with some of our finest.  They, of course, had wonderful stories to tell and memories of their time working with TPWD State Park Police Division.  I think you’ll enjoy this podcast/blog as they seriously but lightheartedly share what serving in this capacity has meant and means even today.

If you watch Lone Star Law at all, you’ll know the name and face of Game Warden Mike Boone.  What you may not know is how he feels about kids and “family.”  He has been an inspiration to many new Game Wardens, as well, when they come out of the Academy.

It was a lot of fun sitting down with Mike and I think you’ll learn some interesting things about this “gentle” man!

This month, I had the honor of interviewing a dear friend, Assistant Commander Cody Jones.  When Cody graduated from the Academy, he and his family joined the church I was pastoring in Austin.  He was, literally, the first Game Warden I had ever met.  But he and his family became dear friends of ours. Also, it was the dream of many that the Chaplaincy Program become a reality and that is how I came to be the Lead Chaplain for Texas Game Wardens and State Park Police Officers.  Because Cody became the Administrator of the Chaplaincy Program as well as the CIT (Peer-support Team), I thought it would be a good idea for you to hear Cody’s heart to help and facilitate our officers with the difficult challenges our officers come up against routinely.

The podcast for this month is and interview with two wonderful Game Wardens who partner in leading our Critical Incident Team.  Of course, these are also two very large personalities who make me laugh when I am with them – very gregarious people.

I wanted to hear from their hearts why they see leading our CIT is such a crucial area of service.  But I also wanted each of you to know that there is this very important resource dedicated specifically to you and your needs in a time of crisis.  We have about 30 CIT members around the state.  This number includes Texas Game Wardens and State Park Police Officers.

I think you might learn something from them that will help you reach out to our CIT if you ever find yourself in a peer-to-peer need.  They will explain about the privacy issues, as well, so you can feel comfortable knowing that your issues stay with you and your peer.

Please listen as they explain in great detail what CIT means for you when you need them.