So regular readers of this blog will know that a) I support Manchester United football club and b) I love to share when I discover that well-known sports people are Christians. In previous blogs those I have spotlighted include Marcus Rashford, Phil Mikelson, Zach Johnson, Lewis Hamilton, Maro Itoje, Jurgen Klopp and Romulu Lukaku.
So today I’d like to share a little of Manchester United centre forward – Edison Cavani
Cavani was born in Salto, Uruguay on 14 February, 1987 to Luis Cavani and Berta.
When asked in an interview with the Spanish paper El País if he is an athlete of Christ, Cavani replied: “No, no, no. I am an athlete for Christ. That’s why I play for Him, to give Him glory, to thank Him for giving me the ability to play football and be able to compete in a league like the Italian one, for giving me that divine gift that I am trying to manage more and more. We belong to the Evangelical church. I don’t like the term athlete of Christ.”
Cavani says his family were not rich enough that they “could drink Coca-Cola or anything like that” but they had food on the table and clothes to wear. His interest in religion increased after he moved to Italy to play football- he said “I read the Bible every day, study it, and share with my wife the blessings of faith. I understand that there is a time for everything: for the sacrifice, the rewards and goals.”
Asked whether it had been difficult to refrain from some of the temptations on offer for a modern-day footballer, he answered: “Football puts everything at your fingertips. And I was raised in a way that focused everything on looking after your family. Faith really helped me realise that the temptations that you have on hand will give you joy, enjoyment, whatever, but only for a short while. And after that it is all gloom.”
“Theophilus – it is your humble servant Luke” – an extract from Theophilus – The Musical
A VERY HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL BROTHER JACK.
So, what can I say about my beloved brother Jack?
As I am sure you appreciate (or at least, hope you appreciate!) my brother is more than a “tad” older than me- so much so that my mum was way past child bearing age when she found out that she was pregnant with me. I remember her telling me that on hearing the news she actually cried, but later always said that I was sent for a reason and those that have followed this blog for some time will know how close mum and I were.
I did not really know my brother when I was growing up as he was either in the Merchant Navy or on National Service with the RAF (as in the featured pic.) I do remember looking forward to him coming home to visit as he always brought me exciting presents. I particularly remember some special toy cars that I think came from Germany and also a book called “Gidappy,” about a young horse, which I still have and treasure.
There are so many stories I could share about my bro since we have both grown up. One thing I will not share is his jokes as they are usually pretty awful, but I have to say I do occasionally laugh “as it is the way he tells them.” I also thought about sharing some of his poems which really are very good, especially those he has written about our relationship, but I probably will not as they are too personal and precious.
Anyway, here’s one of my favourite stories. I had become a Christian and, at the age of 103, so had our lovely mum Audrey Lillian (see blog http://www.risen.org.uk/?p=2018) I drove somewhere “up north” to visit Jack in hospital as he had just had a hip operation. I remember sharing my new faith with him (well sort of) and saying to him that now, when I died and went to heaven, I would meet mum there (she had by then peacefully passed away.) I told Jack that I expected mum would say to me when we met in heaven– “Lovely to see you Ken, but where is Jack?”
I am not sure how much that resonated with Jack but it certainly did with me and I started thinking how I could help ensure that we would all indeed meet up again when we die. I found out that there was an Alpha Course (https://alpha.org.uk/ ) taking place near where Jack and his lovely wife Eileen (see featured pic) were living and contacted the Vicar to see if he would visit Jack – not necessarily to invite him to an Alpha Course straight away, but to simply welcome him into the community.
Well that all worked out really well and Jack and Eileen did go on an Alpha Course, but did not at the time, make a commitment to become followers of Jesus. Jack and Eileen did, however begin to attend another local church. Jack would tell me when I visited that he wanted what some members of the congregation had – by that he meant their inner peace and joy. I remember telling him that he needed to take a step of faith and ask Jesus into his life and that there was a prayer he could say in a red Alpha book that attendees receive– a prayer that mum herself had prayed (see above blog) I was not there when he and Eileen said that prayer but I was overjoyed when they told me that they had. You see I now know that one day (hopefully not yet!) Jack and I will meet up with mum in heaven and she will be able to say “Lovely to see you both”
“The Day of Pentecost” an extract from Theophilus- The Musical
Regular followers of this blog know that I love to write of famous and successful sportspersons who are Christians- this week it is the turn of Phil Mickelson who last week won the US PGA Championship- at aged 50 becoming the oldest player in history to win a Major.
Here are some of his career facts and figures:
Philip is nicknamed “Lefty” and has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six major championships: three Masters titles (2004, 2006, 2010), two PGA Championships (2005, 2021) and one Open Championship (2013).
Mickelson is one of 12 players in the history of golf to win three of the four majors. He has won every major except the U.S. Open, in which he has finished runner-up a record six times.
Mickelson has spent over 25 consecutive years in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He has spent over 700 weeks in the top 10, has reached a career-high world ranking of No. 2 several times and is a life member of the PGA Tour. Although naturally right-handed, he is known for his left-handed swing, having learned it by mirroring his right-handed father’s swing. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012.
Phil is a self-proclaimed Christian who has spoken openly in public about his Christian faith and how it has changed over his lifetime. In an article on The Gospel Project, Mickelson touches on the subject of feeling the emotional burden of living up to the Christian standards. He claims that Christianity is ultimately what has helped him find joy in his life and truly appreciate all that he has accomplished in his golfing career. He attributes his attitude to golf on his belief structure.
The featured song is an extract from our forthcoming “Theophilus- The Musical” celebrating the Day of Pentecost which as last Sunday, May 23rd
In a few days’ time it will be six years since Risen! The Musical premiered at the Coventry Pentecost Festival.
Here is a reminisce of what I wrote back then:
It was an unforgettable day, the cast from the London College of Music were absolutely brilliant, not just in their performance but also for being such a great bunch of people to be with. So, a huge thanks from me to them for everything that made the day so special – the “flash mob” in the Lower Precinct – Jodie managing a great performance even though poorly sick- the impromptu singing of “Jesus is My Lord” in the Marquee, with that pretty much straight after you arrived after a two-and-a-half-hour journey. I will never forget the way that “jaws dropped” when people heard Leah open up the song – they obviously had no idea of how good the cast would be but they certainly found out in those opening few notes! And of course, all the commitment, patience and good humour in rehearsing with such a short time available – oh and I nearly forgot, for helping me drink a few glasses of Prosecco!
Tremendous thanks also for the amazing organisation that took place from the Festival Organisers “Hope for Coventry” – Andrew, Angus, Matthew and of course my great mate Darren. Also to Jo the Manager of Holy Trinity Church’s Prayer House; some parts of this inspiring building were built in the 15th Century and the cast had the privilege of using it for their changing rooms. Just behind us was Coventry Cathedral, which is so impressive with the new building standing side by the side with the original that was bombed in World War Two.
Biggest thanks, however must go to Niamh McGuckin, our brilliant Director who also played Mary Mother of Jesus. With very little time to rehearse she worked tirelessly to ensure that the production was of the highest possible quality. Her humility was also really apparent when she looked so shocked when the cast presented her with a bouquet of flowers in thanks for all her efforts.
So many people said such kind things about Risen! -The Musical but here is a quote from Andrew – one of the organisers:
“Risen! – The Musical” was a wonderful climax to the Coventry Pentecost Festival -we were treated to an uplifting portrayal of the story of Holy Week to Pentecost through amazing songs, word, action and dance by a highly professional team who conveyed the hope of the Gospel very powerfully. We felt truly blessed and privileged to host the premiere of this inspirational musical and everybody I spoke to was blessed by it. We wish you all God’s blessing in the future, and that “Risen!” will bless many thousands of people in the months to come.
Precious featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill
I have told this amazing story before I know, but this time it is in memory of dear Rev. Beryl Stares who recently died.
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.
Beryl led mum’s thanksgiving service.
So, thank you dear Beryl for all that you did for me personally and for all the innumerable people whose lives you so lovingly touched and blessed.
A few of weeks ago I said that Mustard Seed Songs’ current musical project is Theophilus -The Musical.
I have shared one of the songs featured in the Musical – “Amazing Love” sung by Luke and portrayed by West End actor Edward Baker- Duly. Last week I shared Demo Reel 2 which takes still images from Risen! The Musical to give an idea of what Theophilus -The Musical will look like on stage (it is planned to use the same “cross” stage set) This “demo reel” also features the song “He is the Image of the Invisible God” sung by Paul and taken from Colossians 1: 15-17.
This week it is the turn of Demo Reel 1 which features extracts of the music and lyrics.
I hope you enjoy it and agree that we have been blessed with some amazing singers
A couple of weeks ago I said that Mustard Seed Songs’ current musical project is Theophilus -The Musical. I also shared one of the songs featured in the Musical – “Amazing Love” sung by Luke and portrayed by West End actor Edward Baker- Duly.
The script is complete and we are now in the process of completing the guide vocals. Our dream is for Theophilus- The Musical to be filmed in a similar way to Risen! – The Musical. To help create interest from Christian TV networks (mainly in the USA) we are producing three “demo reels.” Today’s blog features the second of the three which takes still images from Risen! The Musical to give an idea of what Theophilus -The Musical will look like on stage (it is planned to use the same “cross” stage set) The “demo reel” also features the song “He is the Image of the Invisible God” sung by Paul and taken from Colossians 1: 15-17.
In the forthcoming weeks I will share “demo reel” 1 which is 26 mins long and features extracts of music and lyrics and demo reel 2 which features video extracts.
“Do I Need To Worship”? – featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album “His Story” recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So, tomorrow is St George’s Day – so what do we know of the patron saint of England?
I discovered these interesting facts that I thought I would share.
1) St George was not English – he was actually born in the 3rd century AD – more than 2000 miles away in Cappadocia which is modern day Turkey.
2) Although George is often depicted in popular culture as a knight in shining armour, the truth is less fanciful. Whilst St George was depicted from the 11th century as a chivalric knight or a warrior on horseback, it is more likely that he was an officer in the Roman army.
3) Like many saints, St George was described as a martyr after he died for his Christian faith. It is believed that during the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian in the early 4th Century, St George was executed from refusing to make a sacrifice in honour of the pagan gods.
4) Although St George never visited England, his reputation for virtue and holiness spread across Europe and his feast day – the 23rd April – was celebrated in England from the 9th century onwards. He became popular with English kings. Edward I (1272-1307) had banners bearing the emblem of St George (a red cross on a white background) and Edward III (1327-77) had a strong interest in the saint and owned a relic of his blood. The St George cross was not used to represent England until the reign of Henry VIII.
5) The story goes that St George rode into Silene (modern day Libya) to free the city from a dragon who had a taste for humans, but it is a story which post dates the real George by several centuries. Images of George and the dragon survive from the 9th century – 500 years after his death. Originally these may simply have been representations of the battle between good and evil, but the story was developed and popularised in the Middle Ages.
6) St George was canonised in AD 494 by Pope Gelasius, who claimed he was one of those ‘whose names are justly revered among men but whose acts are known only to God.’ A feast day of St George has been celebrated in England for hundreds of years on 23 April, which was possibly the date of his martyrdom.
7) England is not the only country or region that claim George as its patron. England shares St George with Venice, Genoa, Portugal, Ethiopia and Catalonia that have their own celebrations and ceremonies in his honour.
8) During the Middle Ages, people believed that St George was one of the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’ – a group of saints who could help during epidemic diseases. St George’s protection was invoked against several nasty diseases, many fatal and with infectious causes, including the Plague and leprosy. From around 1100, St George’s help was also sought to protect the English army. In William Shakespeare’s Henry V, the monarch calls on the saint during his battle cry at the Battle of Harfleur in the famous “Once more unto the breach, dear friends” speech, crying “God for Harry! England, and St. George!” Five hundred years later – during the First World War – a ghostly apparition of St George is said to have aided British troops during their retreat from Mons, and the naval commander of the Zeebrugge Raid cited the saint as inspiration.
9) The Order of the Garter (founded by Edward 111 in 1348) is the highest order of chivalry in the country and the St George’s cross appears on the Garter badge and his image is the pendant on the chain. In 1940 King George V! created a new award for acts of the greatest heroism or courage in circumstances of extreme danger. The George Cross named after the King bears the image of St George vanquishing the dragon. The image of St George also adorns many of the memorials built to honour those killed during WW1.
It is with deep sadness that I write of the sudden death of Pastor Patrick Okoi. Pastor Patrick was a dear friend who ran the church that Mustard Seed Songs’ built in Southern Nigeria- a church they named after our musical – “The Risen Christ Central Chapel” (R.C.C.C.) Pastor Patrick died of a stroke on Easter Sunday. He leaves a widow, Elizabeth and two adopted children. Elizabeth, who is also a Pastor, will continue the R.C.C.C, ministry.
As part of Pastor Patrick’s legacy, Mustard Seed Songs would like to provide water for the R.C.C.C. At present, even to flush the toilets we built, water has to be brought from the town in buckets. Our vision is for a borehole to be drilled and then a tank installed with piping leading to the R.C.C.C. and adjoining toilets.
If you would like to support us in this vision, please visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/MustardseedsongsPastorPatrick
Here you can also read Pastor Patrick’s story in full.
Many thanks indeed
Quote of the week
All you need is a mustard seed of faith and nothing is impossible
Taken from Matthew 17:20
Last blog I said “Mustard Seed Songs’ first musical was “His Story,” the second “Risen! The Musical” and we are working on our third musical right now- it was originally titled “Acts The Musical” but has recently been retitled “Theophilus-The Musical”…. but more of that next week.”
So here we are this week introducing “Theophilus The Musical” aka “Acts -The Musical.” This musical has been over 5 years in the making – of course fully supported by the amazing skills of our MD, Joffy Girling.
My old mate Darren Bovis-Coulter had designed the fantastic logo and so we are now definitely “Theophilus The Musical” rather than “Acts the Musical” – this is very important as the musical is not just a re-enactment of the Acts of the Apostles but also a journey of faith of Theophilus, with whom we have taken poetic licence, portraying him as symbolic of members of the audience, themselves on journeys of faith.
“Amazing Love,” one of the songs from “Theophilus The Musical,” is featured today, beautifully sung by West End and Broadway actor, Edward Baker- Duly, performing the part of Luke.
Quote of the week
The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.
