ISSUE 1042 APRIL 2018

On & Off Duty

cpauk.net | coact.org.ukLatest news from the Christian Police Association

The term ‘Hero’ can be defi ned as ‘A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities and in the opinion of others has special abilities or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal’. (extended from Oxforddictionaries.com)

In its true sense it is rightfully applied to those who, in the face of overwhelming odds, chose to act with courage and extreme fortitude with a conscious disregard for their own wellbeing; and others not only admire those actions but also to ask ‘how’ and ‘why’. Recent events in the news have revealed a myriad of examples of those, especially in the police and other emergency services, who have acted in ways where the welfare and protection of others is placed far above any thoughts of self, even in some tragic cases at the cost even of their own life. Each one a hero.

At Easter, many millions around the world remember a hero called Jesus who gave his everything for every person, yet this is often lost or ignored in the mix of traditions and symbols; where the central purpose of Easter becomes nothing more than being able to eat chocolate or enjoy a long weekend away from work.

Why should Easter be a time for egg shaped chocolate and Hot Cross (spiced) buns? Given that eggs are a

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”. John 15:13

Continued on page 2...

clear symbol of new life it’s probably not surprising that eggs have, over the centuries, been associated with Easter and the resurrection from death to life of Jesus Christ. Yet it is probable that in times past eggs at Easter may have come about from strict rules applied for fasting during Lent, such that Christians were not permitted to eat meat or animal products including eggs. As a result, eggs were stock-piled then hard-boiled and kept until Easter (which always follows Lent) when they were distributed to the poor and needy. So, over the centuries, the principle of giving Easter eggs, later decorated or painted, continued until in the early 19th Century. At that time, France and Germany took the tradition to new heights with the novel introduction of the chocolate egg. Although, in the UK, it wasn’t until 1875 that John Cadbury produced his fi rst chocolate egg.

The tradition of baking bread marked with an X can also be traced back to the Anglo Saxon Spring festival with the X then representing the four seasons and the wheel of life. However Christians readily adopted that X to a cross and as with many other pre-Christian traditions, replaced a pagan meaning with a Christian one. It is also probable that our modern day hot cross bun originated from St. Albans Abbey where Thomas

Easter – The story of a hero

We look forward to seeing the Merseyside CPA branch grow and we hold them all in our prayers as they encourage and support our colleagues in Merseyside Police.

On & Off Duty

2 Latest news from the Christian Police Association

It is appropriate that, in this issue, where we celebrate the new life that Easter brings, we also celebrate the recent launch of our newest branch - Merseyside CPA. We give thanks to Jonathan Kent and Tony Canning who have stepped forward as the local leaders and who organised the recent launch event.

Merseyside Chief Constable Andy Cooke QPM attended and spoke at the event. It was great that he was so supportive of Jonathan and Tony and the local team that he also gave a piece of scripture from Philippians 2, which he said refl ected the CPA’s support of offi cers and staff:-

“.. in humility value others above yourselves not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”.

Launch of Merseyside CPA

...continued from page 1Rocliffe, a 14th Century monk, developed a recipe called an ‘Alban Bun’ which on Good Friday in 1361 he fi rst began distributing to the local poor.

Through all the tradition and symbolism, for Christians, Easter will always be a time to remember a triumph - one that began with the tragedy of betrayal, followed by beatings, mock trial, public humiliation and the most terrible of executions. For all those at the cross that day this must have seemed like the end. This great man called Jesus was alone, held on high by iron nails. Yet, we now know that He could have vanquished those nails and come down from that place of execution. He could have stood at the base of that cross and declared himself invincible and all powerful – He could have and it would have been true.

And, in the eyes of many, that would have made him a hero, a victor against the Romans and all the odds. For Him that would have been so easy, but wrong. And so He resolutely chose what he knew was the only way and remained nailed to that cross with the burden of all our sin throughout all time heaped upon Him. And there He willingly gave up his life in the ultimate act of sacrifi cial giving - declaring in a way that those present could not comprehend that this was the ultimate statement of invincibility and power. So it was that only on that fi rst Sunday morning, when they found that the tomb was empty, that the realisation of what Jesus had

done was fi nally revealed and understood. He had died, but had now risen and in doing so had defeated the ultimate foe – death itself. He gave the ultimate sacrifi ce that others might live forever. Our hero, our God.

Dear Lord, Through Easter we see tragedy and triumph, despair and joy, death and life. We see your resolution to once and for all deal with sin and its consequences. You, God Almighty, chose to not only live amongst us, but to willingly suffer at the hands of those you had created and to die the cruellest of deaths. Yet from that darkest of days you brought forth light, hope and a new and everlasting life for all who believe. And that you should do all this for me is almost beyond my comprehension. Thank you Lord for your unconditional love which you showed not only through your death but also through your resurrection to everlasting life. Because you live I now live also. Amen.

(left to right – J Kent, Chief Constable Cooke QPM, T Canning, L Russell)

cpauk.net | coact.org.uk 3

It is an absolute pleasure to feature Nathan Blackaby’s latest book “Going Against the Grain” in this issue of On and Off Duty.

Nathan works for Christian vision for Men (CVM), an international movement reaching men with the good news of Jesus Christ. CVM is a valued Community Partner of the CPA and members of

CVM have spoken at a number of our local and national CPA events. CPA also support CVM’s event called “The Gathering” which is an extremely popular annual event.

In his latest book, Nathan talks honestly about the radical call on our lives to be Christians today and how we can allow our faith to transform relationships, hopes, aspirations and our overall views on what it is to live in this world.

Nathan comments that

“The reason I wrote Going Against the Grain is down to the fact that I often hear people say that being a Christian bloke is easy, an easy choice for men who need the hope religion brings. I can tell you that to really be a Christian man today is one of the most challenging, life changing and rewarding decisions I have ever made. For me, following Jesus is about is a choice to go against the grains in life and discover who and why ‘I am’ and even, why Jesus gave his life for me”.

The book covers three sections, and each chapter within those sections ends with a really excellent scriptural “Treasury” for further reading through the Bible.

Nathan talks about keeping the fi re in your heart. He describes this fi re as a deep stirring in our hearts about a message of hope that we love; about a man who gave everything to set us free (page 140). Quite appropriate when thinking of Easter within this issue of our magazine!!

Having read this book, which does focus on how the message, truth and hope of the Gospel can speak in to the lives of men, I feel that it is also equally relevant for women to understand how the truth of God can speak into the lives of everyone. I commend you take the opportunity to read it, pass it on to a friend or relative and pray that it will give them encouragement and support.

Going Against the Grain is published by CWR and can be purchased online via www.cwr.org.uk/store (ISBN: 978-1-78259-058-3)Lee Russell - MA, Executive Director

Going Against the Grain (A review)

Nathan Blackaby

Norfolk and Suffolk CPA Conference – a focus on Health and WellbeingRecently, the leaders of Norfolk and Suffolk CPA held a full day conference which focused on Health and Wellbeing. It was great to meet up with everyone and our thanks go to Marie Reavey, Barry Teare and the team for organising it all. Simon Pinchbeck (from CVM) spoke and gave an amazing testimony. Also, David Parkinson from Christians against Poverty spoke about their excellent work. Catharine Blacklock

from Norfolk and Suffolk Police - Wellbeing Lead, gave a really interesting presentation on Five Ways to Wellbeing. We hope to feature an extended article by Catharine in a future issue of On and Off Duty.

ON & OFF DUTY is the CPA monthly digest of news and articles. We also update a monthly Prayer Diary intended to inform and encourage those associated with the CPA. Please forward any items to offi ce@CPAuk.net by the 20th of each month. NB. All articles published will also be available for unrestricted viewing via the Internet. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the CPA Council.

On & Off Duty

4 Latest news from the Christian Police Association cpauk.net | coact.org.uk

President Sir Matt Baggott CBE, QPM, Chief Constable, PSNI (Ret’d) Chairman of Council Sgt Marie ReaveyExecutive Director Lee Russell Editor Allan Spencer Administrator Jackie White

Christian Police Association46-50 Rutherford Drive, Park FarmWellingborough NN8 6AX

Tel: 01933 409485Email: info@CPAuk.netSkype: cpaukhq

@uk_cpa /christianpoliceassociation

Registered Charity: 220482 (E&W) SCO43784 (Scotland)

OUR MISSION is to Be a National Voice for Christians in Policing. Encourage and support Christians in the Police Service. Communicate in words and action, the truth, message and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ to colleagues and the community we serve. Build bridges between the Christian community and the Police.

CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION

As always, I am grateful to all those who have contributed to this issue of On and Off Duty. Allan Spencer has provided an excellent update about Easter, with a thought provoking discussion about Jesus, the ultimate Hero, who laid down his life for all of us.

It was a real privilege to join Merseyside CPA at the launch of their branch, and also to join Norfolk and Suffolk at their Regional Conference.

Finally, I am grateful to Nathan Blackaby for providing such an excellent book to read and review. I do commend you to read it too.

The May issue of On and Off Duty will focus on our National Conference which takes place in late April.

Why not donate to CPA online?You can do so securely through give.net via the link www.give.net/CPA_National/oneoff

OUR VISION is to see The CPA as a national charity which actively leads on issues relevant to Christians in Policing. An active and growing branch of CPA in every Police Service in the UK and every Christian in the Police Service to fulfi l their potential in Jesus Christ. Colleagues and those we serve to know Jesus Christ personally. Police and Churches working together in every community to reduce crime and improve quality of life.

... and fi nally from the Director

CPA NATIONAL UK CONFERENCE 2018