Bearing The Sword

Description

What does it look like to follow Christ with a badge on your chest, a gun on your hip, and a target on your back?

In Bearing the Sword, Not in Vain, former Los Angeles police officer Shelley Alan Gale shares true, first-person accounts from nearly twenty-five years in law enforcement—patrolling South-Central L.A., surviving foot pursuits and high-speed chases, facing deadly force, processing crime scenes, and walking into homes where sin and suffering are on full display.

From his early days as a Coast Guard rescue crewman, to Bible college and pastoral training, to the moment he realized God was actually calling him to be a cop, Shelley traces how Scripture shaped his decisions, his reactions under pressure, and his care for victims, fellow officers, and even criminals.

Each chapter pairs a vivid story from the field with a biblical meditation and a “Think on These Things” section, inviting readers to wrestle with themes like calling, courage, justice, truthfulness, sobriety, prayer, fear, and the sovereignty of God.

Intended for officers, their families, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith and law enforcement, Bearing the Sword, Not in Vain provides a respectful, sober, and hope-filled perspective on a demanding vocation and the God who remains faithful through it.