How Can I Love You More? featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Love is the Way recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson
In the blog of April 21st, I shared a video of Loren Allred singing “Never Enough” on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Her performance was amazing and she received the “Golden Buzzer” from Amanda Holden.
I shared the story as I genuinely believed that no one before had realised that she was the voice behind Rebecca Fergeson’s lip syncing performance in “The Greatest Showman.” It really did appear that BGT had provided her with an opportunity to show the world “the face behind the song.”
However, it turns out that Loren was already well known as the singer of The Greatest Showman’s “Never Enough.” In fact, in early 2019 she joined Michael Bublé for a duet of “Help Me Make it Through the Night.” She also joined Andrea Bocelli for selected performances on his 2021 USA Tour.
So not quite the “fairy-tale “we were led to believe and, in any case, not in the same class as the one featured today, which although now 13 years ago, still never fails to delight.
Oh Lord Hear My Voice featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Where Would I Be Without You?” recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So, it’s just over two weeks now before the Premiere Staged Concert of Theophilus- The Musical. All are warmly welcomed to be part of an invited audience to watch and give feedback on this, Mustard Seed Songs’ new project. The venue is Bay House School and Sixth Form, Gomer Lane, Gosport starting at 7.30 pm on Saturday, May 14th.
West End and Broadway actor, Edward Baker- Duly, who has been helping me with the script for the past two years plays the part of Gospel writer Luke and in today’s featured video encourages you to attend with tickets by donation available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/293490627367
So here is the third part of my series of “Moments of Sunshine” to hopefully help lighten up our often dark and troubled world.
There are three “moments” I wish to share. The first took place on Easter Saturday when Risen! – The Musical was shown on the amazing large screen at Waypoint Church, Park Gate. It was just like seeing it in a top-class cinema – I and many in the audience were really moved, so many thanks to Jim and Waypoint for making it happen.
Second was when both the Manchester United and Liverpool supporters, historic rivals, stood as one in the seventh minute of their derby match on Tuesday to applaud Christiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez in a moving show of support on the death of their new born baby. Gary Neville used the word “class” of the Liverpool fans – I totally agree with him.
The third moment was on “Britain’s Got Talent” and as it the featured video – I won’t say anymore.
So here is the second part of my series of “Moments of Sunshine” to hopefully help lighten up our often dark and troubled world.
My brother Jack, whose lovely wife Eileen happens to be 90 years old this weekend- congratulations to her and looking forward to travelling to Hucknall this weekend for a small family reunion – sent me today’s featured video.
At first, I was convinced it was a scam – a set up with two West End singers taking part – one dressed up as a busker to create the “illusion.” I had seen similar “spoofs” one in which Christiano Ronaldo dresses up as a homeless person to take on people at football in the street.
However what Jack sent me was authentic and here is the story:
Steve Barry was singing songs from the musicals in London’s Covent Garden when he was approached by a woman to sing a duet.
The song she wanted to perform was ‘All I Ask Of You’ from Phantom of the Opera. Weary from randomers looking to perform with him, Steve was inclined to say no, when she suddenly volunteered some surprising information.
Steve explains ‘Busking in Covent Garden one evening, when a lady (who was pretty easy on the eye to be fair) in the audience asked me to sing ‘All I Ask of You’.
‘I had just sung a number from Phantom of the Opera.
‘With my most withering, scathing tone I informed her I can’t be doing two Phantom songs in a row (like duh). She replied with ‘if you do I’ll sing it with you’.’
‘Given my previous duet earlier that set was an enforced rendition of Flower of Scotland with a drunken Scotsman in a kilt I set my gaze to highly sceptical.
‘Obviously, I asked if she was any good – at which stage she casually dropped in ‘I’m currently Christine in Phantom at her Majesty’s Theatre.”
‘When I removed my foot from my mouth…. we did this…’
His singing partner turned out to be Celinde Schoenmaker who made her West End debut in 2013 in the role of ‘Fantine’ in ‘Les Misérables’ at the Queen’s Theatre in London.
She won the role of ‘Christine’ in Phantom of the Opera in September 2015.
In Times of Trouble featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “I Look UpTo The Heavens.” recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson
The world is facing very troubled times of which today’s featured song “In Times of Trouble” is a reflection. However, in spite of so much darkness in the world, especially the tragic and horrific images we see of Ukraine, there are still “moments of sunshine” or to quote last week’s song “little bits of heaven keep breaking through.” So, for the next few weeks I want to celebrate some things that have made me smile and realise, despite everything, that there is still so much good in this world.
While Head of PE at Crofton School I tried to encourage an attitude of “play hard but play fair” and for a long time the PE noticeboard displayed a photograph (as featured) of a wonderful piece of sportsmanship by Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, now of Top Gear fame, but then an English cricketer. It was back in 2005 when, in the Ashes, “Freddie” famously consoled Brett Lee after he and the Australian team had been narrowly defeated.
And fast forward to 2022 and the Wales v Italy Six Nations Rugby Union match in which Italy won by one point -21- 22. Welsh winger Josh Adams won the “player of the match” award, but he made the wonderful gesture of offering his award to the Italian fullback Ange Capuozzo, whose stunning break in the final minutes of the game led to Italy’s first Six Nations win after 36 straight defeats- they also had not beaten Wales since 2007.
Adams won man of the match for scoring a try which had put Wales 21- 15 ahead and earlier in the game he also made a superb tackle to deny Italy a certain try.
You can see how much x appreciated Adam’s gesture and even though he felt he could not accept the award it was still what the sports media are calling a “classy act of sportsmanship.”
This is not Heaven featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album Uplifted recorded and produced by Bob Ross
When we take a long look at the world, especially the horrors of war in the Ukraine an obvious question is “Why is God allowing this to happen?” This question is pretty much the same as “Why does God allow suffering.” Back in 2016 I wrote about 12 blogs offering some ideas on this most difficult of issues.
During a recent sermon, the Vicar of Holy Rood Church, Stubbington pointed out that we, in the West seem to expect to have a life that is epitomised by “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”- this is our right and something is fundamentally wrong when we don’t get it. In other parts of the world, however people are much more realistic and accept that suffering is a part of this life and we should not be surprised when it happens. This does not mean that there is no God or that He does not care – it just means that “This is not heaven” – things will go wrong and His promise is not to take bad things away but to stay close to us through life’s challenges and yes, the sufferings.
Back in January 2016 I made a similar point referring to a chapter in John Young’s book “The Case Against Christ” (not be confused with Lee Stobel’s “The Case for Christ”)
Young writes that we live in “a world that makes itself”. He says that as science has shed more light on our world, we have discovered that the finely tuned processes which enable and sustain life are inevitably fragile; good outcomes contain risks. The movements of the continental plates- an essential aspect of our eco system- can also cause earthquakes. The weather system on which life depends is extremely sensitive and climatic events in the Artic can lead to hurricanes in New York.
God, continues Young, has created this amazing world with a life of its own – “a world that makes itself”. Accidents happen, they are not “sent”. We live in a beautiful and exciting world but it is unpredictable, often dangerous and sometimes downright terrifying. Perhaps the act of creation inescapably involves the fact of suffering. Can we have one without the other? Jesus Himself accepted suffering as an inescapable ingredient of life.
It would seem that it is impossible to come through this life without experiencing some form of suffering – so perhaps we should not be surprised when it does come our way- and perhaps also appreciate the good times more than we do.
Precious featuring Lucy Stimpson – Maynard from the album “Precious” recorded and produced by Ross Gill
Today I want to again share the amazing story of my mum becoming a Christian- it would have been her birthday on Tuesday, March 8th.
My mum, Audrey Lillian Shearsmith, had attended Chapel as young girl and I knew that she said her prayers without fail every single day. However, in 1997 I still was not sure how she would react to me telling her that I had become a Christian. I therefore showed her a little book from the Alpha course entitled “Why Jesus?” and we had a short chat before she told me to leave it and that she would read it later.
When she was 102 years old and was living in the wonderful Chesterholm Lodge Care Home mum asked me what a Christian was and how you could become one. I simply said that to become a Christian you ask God to forgive you for all the things you have done in your life that have displeased Him and to ask Jesus to come into your life. She then smiled her special smile and pointed to her bag and nodded for me to look in it. And there it was -the “Why Jesus? book that I had given her five years before. I told her that there was a prayer in the book that she could say if you wished to become a Christian. Mum immediately read out the prayer aloud. I was sitting on the bed beside her overjoyed, but at the same time almost not believing what was happening, in fact so much so that I told her that just saying the prayer was not enough she had to really mean it; so, she said it again, but this time with even more meaning in her voice! I noticed, Mandy, one of her Carers who worships at my church was outside mum’s room, so I went out to tell her the good news. “Halleluiah” Mandy cried out before telling me that she was not in the least bit surprised because mum had been talking about Christianity for some time. So, mum became a Christian at the age of almost 103!
A few days before she died in August, 2006, I was with her on my own. She looked at me with so much love, smiled that wonderful smile again and told me that I was precious.
The day after she said “precious” to me I was looking at Psalm 116 and the word “precious” jumped out of the page. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” I read in the concordance that “precious” means, not only highly valued, but also carefully looked after – I can’t tell you how reassuring it was to know that in mum’s last days she was being carefully looked after by God. And she was; all those who were with her will testify to how much at peace she was. She was in no pain whatsoever and was as sharp as always. She left this life in a very gentle and serene way – there is no doubt that she was indeed being carefully looked after and watched over by God.
The day after reading Psalm 116 it was a Sunday and I sat at the back of Holy Rood church with no one on the one seat beside me. Beryl, a retired Curate, came in, which was a bit of a surprise because normally on a Sunday morning she worships at an associate church; coming to Holy Rood for the evening services. Although we are good friends I had not sat with Beryl before, but on that Sunday, she asked if she could sit on that one free seat by my side. She knew that my mum was very unwell from the church notice sheet and when she asked me, I told her that mum was, in fact dying.
At the end of the service Beryl told me that she had prayed for my mum and me and that during the service God had given her a picture. She had seen a beautiful meadow in which stood a rock- a rock that had been very “precious” to her friends and family. The rock was also “precious” to God. Beryl saw the earth around the rock become disturbed and God taking this “precious” rock up to heaven to be with Him.
Mum died the very next day.
Out of the Depths featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album Love is the Way recorded and produced by Bob Ross
I don’t think I need to say or share anything regarding the horrors that are taking place in the Ukraine- instead I offer this song – this lament taken from the Book of Psalms and Isaiah.
“Out Of The Depths”
Out of the depths I cry out to You oh Lord,
Won’t You please hear me do not hide Your face,
My soul is in anguish, it pleads “Why oh why Lord”
I’m worn out from groaning, I’m drenched in my tears,
Sorrow pervades me, Lord please don’t forsake me,
For You are my comfort, You are my strength.
Save me with Your unfailing love,
Hold me as only You can,
I put my trust in You my Rock,
Though so much I do not understand.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
So, Your ways are higher than my own,
Lord in Your mercy please draw near,
Do not let me walk alone.
Save me with Your unfailing love,
I surrender to Your plans,
I know that You are good,
And that one day I will understand.
Words slightly revised from song lyrics
If I Say I Love You Jesus featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So, Tuesday of this week, February 22nd was the 25th anniversary of me becoming a Christian.
Here’s what happened on that day 25 years ago.
I had been attending an Alpha course and had started to think about becoming a Christian – I felt reassured by the words in John’s Gospel, Chapter 3 verse 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” Eternal Life – that is what I needed to take away my fear of death. Not something to be earned but something to be accepted as a gift. Perfect – apart from two problems 1) did I have enough faith to accept Jesus” gift” with any degree of sincerity? 2) If I did ask Jesus into my life what would my mates say- how much ridicule would I have to endure? Let me have a look at problem no 2 first.
Three of my very special friends are Barry Stares, Dave Conchie and Ian Beacham. Barry I have known since Junior School and Dave and Ian since PE College. We regularly meet for a drink and something to eat (yes curry) At one curry Ian said “You will never guess what’s happened to Mick” He was referring to another ex-PE College friend, Mick Mellows who played football for Pompey and who is now a Director of the charity Faith and Football -www.faith&football.org.uk . I thought Ian meant that Mick had been struck down with some horrible illness but no that is not what he meant at all. He continued “He’s only gone and become a Christian!” To which Dave replied “No – and he was such a good bloke!”
Could I face that sort of comment if I “admitted” to becoming a Christian? I really doubted it.
As for problem no 1 re did I have enough faith? – Well thankfully someone told me I only had to have faith as small as a mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds in Biblical times.) I simply had to focus on what I believed not on what I did not – simply had to trust – simply had to take a “leap of faith”
During the Alpha course I had been given a little red book entitled “Why Jesus?” At the end of the book there is a prayer so I knew an opportunity was coming up for me to take that leap of faith and to say this prayer asking Jesus to come into my life. I felt it really difficult to sleep with my two “problems” constantly churning around inside my head. The weekend came when I knew I had to make a decision – as part of the Alpha Course I was at the Holy Rood Vicarage with the Vicar, Michael Christian- Edwards and his lovely wife Merlyn. When the others in my group were having a coffee break I escaped into the village to go through in my head what I was going to do. On my return sure enough Michael gave everyone the opportunity to say a prayer asking Jesus to forgive us for all the things we had done wrong – to ask Him to come into our lives- and for us to be filled with His Holy Spirit. I remember asking Michael if I could say the prayer twice. He seemed surprised but said that was fine and so that lunchtime on Saturday, February 22nd 1997 I asked Jesus into my life and became a Christian.
Why did I want to say the prayer twice? Well there was Mr Mill and his dad that I also wanted to be there on such a momentous occasion. So that evening in Mr Mil’s apartment in Titchfield I sat between the two of them confessing out loud all the things I had done wrong and again asking Jesus into my life. Some of the things I had done wrong were pretty big – one had been a real burden for many years but after I had confessed it the burden lifted- I know that sounds amazing and too good to be true but amazing is what it was and too good not to be true!
So I thought “micky taking” here you come, but I decided to be pro-active and tell people before they found out through the grapevine. First off was Barry who I had known the longest -he was surprisingly supportive – so too was Ian – but I could not tell Dave, it was Dave who had made the comment about Mick Mellows – he was sure to let me have it with both barrels. A couple of months later Barry and Ian told me that Dave was really upset with me for not telling him. So I took Dave out for a curry (of course) and felt pretty emotional when Dave told me that he loved me (in a bloke way!!) and that he would always support me in anything I did and that he was upset because it seemed that I did not believe I could trust him. So big apology from me and really all the worries about people “taking the mick” turned out to be groundless- mind you I think my two sons James and Chris took a bit of stick at school.
So did my fears of dying die (sorry) If I am honest not entirely – but I did have God’s promise to hold on to and you can’t have much more than that. In fact later I wrote a song called “It’s From the Lord” which is on our CD “Heart and Soul” – the last verse of which is “When your time on earth is ending and you look up to Him on high and your see His promises sparkling spelt out in stars across the sky and open arms reach to embrace you to welcome you home then you know, yes you know it is the Lord.”
I also wrote a song which was a sort of autobiography of me becoming a Christian and being worried about what people would think – this one is on the CD “Precious” and is called “If I Say I Love You Jesus” I did actually once sing it live myself at a Mustard Seed Concert but here it is sung by the fantastic Lucy Stimpson-Maynard.
