Can you be a Christian and a cop?

This was the question posed at Cost Coffee, Snow Hill in the centre of Birmingham by the West Midlands Christian Police Network on Tuesday 25th September 2012. Three members of the network Detective Chief Inspector Matt Markham, Detective Chief Inspector Shaun Edwards and Sergeant Gordon Blake shared a little of their life journeys and talked about how they balanced their Christian faith with their roles within West Midlands Police.

The resounding response was yes, all three officers were in agreement that their job gives them a great opportunity to demonstrate the attributes of Jesus Christ; love, compassion, justice, standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves and seeking to make people’s lives better.

The evening was broken up by live music performed by a local group of musicians and singers who gave excellent performances of such tracks as Emile Sande’s ‘Read all About It’ and Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ plus a number of other numbers old and new.
 

The event was well received by all who attended a mixture of serving officers and staff, friends of officers and members of local church communities. The network will be looking to continue with similar events around the force area.

Faithful

I love the song ‘Faithful’ by Chris Tomlin; it is taken straight out of scripture and serves to remind us of the faithfulness of God, the lyrics are printed below take time to read through them, think about them and let their meaning encourage and inspire you, click on the link to listen to it while you read.

Faithful   (click to follow link)

Faithful, forever You are faithful

Father to the fatherless

You uphold the one who feels forsaken

You are faithful, God

Faithful, forever You are faithful

Lover of the wounded heart

You defend the poor and the forgotten

You are faithful, God

And I will sing to the maker of Heaven and Earth

God, You reign forever and Your love will endure

Faithful and true is the name of the Lord

You are faithful, God

Faithful, forever You are faithful

Shelter for the fragile soul

You lift us up, You hold us all together

You are faithful, God

 

You are there in every season of my soul

You are there, You're the anchor that will hold

You are there, in the valley of the shadows

You are faithful, God

Artist – Chris Tomlin

Album – ‘And if our God is for us...’

The truth of this message and the message I posted a few weeks ago ‘Our Hope in Christ’ has been very real to me personally over recent weeks as I have suffered some personal tragedy. God is faithful no matter what we are going through, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in it doesn’t change the nature of our Father God. For him not to be faithful would mean he would have to deny his very nature. “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9.

God will never change his mind about you; he loves you and loves you eternally “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

Whatever you may be facing God is interested and wants to help you through it let the faithfulness of God be your strength and encouragement.