For the month of August, I shared four videos with you that, for different reasons I had found powerful and encouraging.
It was not my intention to carry on sharing videos in September but I received one from my dear friend Mr Mill that I thought I had to share. Also, as I was flicking through TV channels the other day, I came across the Edinburgh Tattoo- now Caroline and I have been to Edinburgh Castle where it takes place so I thought I would take a brief look, even though it is not really “my thing”.
It turned out it was a recording of the 2018 Tattoo as Covid had caused the 2020 event to be cancelled, however I was absolutely knocked out with a drum performance and was even more knocked out when I discovered that the drum band are private and not military – “The Top Secret Drum Corps.”
Should have some up to date info next week of our forthcoming Acts- The Musical
For the month of August, I have been sharing four videos with you that, for different reasons I have found powerful and encouraging.
So, the fourth video is of Edward Baker- Duly singing an extract from a Show in which he starred – “The Bridges of Madison County.” The beautiful song is “It All Fades Away.” Edward sings it wonderfully and I am delighted to say that he has been recording the part of Theophilus in our forthcoming “Acts -The Musical.” Edward has performed in Broadway and the West End so it really is a pleasure and privilege to be working with him.
For the month of August, I am sharing four videos with you that, for different reasons I have found powerful and encouraging.
So, the third video is Mustard Seed’s second virtual choir video “Still in Tears” which is an extract from our forthcoming “Acts- The Musical.” It portrays the feelings of members of the church of Ephesus as they watch Paul – who had been with them for two years- sail away to Jerusalem, distraught as they knew that they would never see him again.
Many thanks for all who took part and to Joffy Girling (JoffyJames) for the recording and edit.
For the month of August, I am sharing four videos with you that, for different reasons I have found powerful and encouraging.
So, the second video is Risen! The Musical with subtitles in Vietnamese. This is “hot off the press” with many thanks to Gina Truong for the translation and to Alex Serban for the subtitling.
Where Would I Be Without You? featuring Lucy Stimpson – Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill
For the month of August, I want to share four videos that, for different reasons I have found powerful and encouraging.
So, a short rest from writing and even quoting – thus allowing time for you to please take a look at the videos.
It is also my lovely wife Caroline’s birthday yesterday and it is our wedding anniversary on Sunday – hence the featured song is “Where Would I Be Without You”? – one of Caroline’s favourite Mustard Seed songs and also, of course having very appropriate lyrics.
Happy August to all.
Do not let your hearts be troubled – from the album Risen! The Musical recorded and produced by Joffy Girling
These are most challenging and difficult times for us all, but as lockdown eases and most are beginning to return to work – those working in the entertainment industry are still a long, long way off from returning to anything that resembles normal.
Actor Max Panks, who played the part of Jesus so wonderfully sensitively in Risen! The Musical, is an example of this. Max was taking part in musical theatre on a cruise ship when all on board were quarantined off Tampa Bay, Florida. Max had to stay isolated in his cabin for more than 2 weeks and it was much longer before he was eventually repatriated to England.
Max is recording the part of Saul/Paul for our forthcoming production “Acts The Musical”– he also featured in our, soon to be released, second virtual choir video “Still in Tears.” However Max is forging out another career – that of an artist. You can check out his beautiful water colours at https://www.facebook.com/maxpanksart/
Short blog this week as I am running, for the 28th year, the Crofton Summer Sports Week. Normally we have up to 100 children taking part in all manner of sports and physical activities but this year, in order to comply with government guidelines on social distancing, we have a limited attendance of 40 children aged 8- 13. It’s really good fun but at the same time really tiring !
Quote of the week
“God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”
Heavilyn Sarpong conducting the Portsmouth Gospel Choir recording at Challow Park
I was so very chuffed when my very good friend, Pastor Darren Bovis- Coulter, asked if he could use “How Great Are His Signs” for Limbrick Wood Baptist Church’s teaching series from the Book of Daniel.
The song has been used in three different formats. The first was as a chorus for a song written during a very difficult time for Caroline, my wife and me. It was called “Allow His Loving Arms” and was sung by Ross Gill for the Mustard Seed album “The Season of Singing.” The lyrics of the verse were inspired by a card sent by a friend to express her condolences. The chorus I took from the Book of Daniel.
Allow His loving arms to wrap around you,
Know His heart has been broken too,
And in the darkest night of doubt and pain,
Let Him comfort you- just whisper His Name.
For great are His signs,
And mighty His wonders,
His Kingdom’s eternal,
And His dominion endures,
For He is the Living God,
He rescues and saves,
He comforts and heals,
And in Him we can trust.
I always thought that the chorus could stand alone and could be made more “anthem” like and so Joffy our MD and I used it for Risen! The Musical. Here it is sung by the disciple Thomas with the song building over four choruses as more and more of the Risen! cast join in.
Heavilyn Sarpong, from The Portsmouth Gospel Choir, and I were looking at songs that could be “gospelised” for a EP to support the work of Mustard Seed Songs in building a church in Southern Nigeria- “How Great” was an obvious selection. The arrangement by Joffy, Heavilyn and David Ohene- Akrasi is, I hope you agree, wonderful. It was recorded by 29 members of the Portsmouth Gospel Choir and produced by joffyjamesaudio at the Challow Park Studios (see featured pic.)
Quote of the week
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot
The Gospel of Christ – from the album “Heart and Soul” featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band – recorded and produced by Ross Gil
I have always liked the manner of the TV football host, Dan Walker and was interested to learn that he is a devout Christian and on many occasions has made it clear that he will not work on Sundays as his beliefs are more important than his job. Indeed In an interview for Radio Times, he said that even if he were to be offered the top job in broadcast sport, presenting BBC Sports Personality of the Year, he would have to turn it down as it is on a Sunday night.
In another recent interview with “Sorted” Magazine, the Football Focus host explained that his faith plays a “very significant part” in his life and shapes his behaviour. “I don’t take much seriously in life except for my faith and my family. I believe that if you have a strong faith in Jesus Christ, it has to make a difference to how you live your life. “It informs who I am and who I would like to be, where I’m going, the way I talk, the way I act, hopes, dreams, aspirations etc. It is a significant part of every day I live.”
He went on to say that he can’t imagine his life without Jesus, as his belief in Him is where he finds his identity and it informs how he engages with society.
“If you are a Christian, that has an impact on your decisions, your language, the way you think and speak and go about your daily business.
“I would like to think that it reduces pride and self-obsession and makes you think more carefully about the people around you, and the impact you’re having on the community and society around you.”
“For me, it underpins everything I am and want to be.”
Walker movingly described how he is still coming to terms with the death of his friend, Wales manager Gary Speed, who he interviewed on BBC1’s Football Focus hours before he committed suicide in 2011.
Walker said: “I still struggle with the fact that he’d memorised the fixtures. I still think about that day an awful lot actually. I can remember it in intricate detail. He came in and, within a heartbeat, he’s like, ‘How are you? How are the kids getting on?’ Then he ran me through the fixtures and dates, the team, what he was worried about, what his hopes and dreams were.
“Then the programme finished. We had a really good laugh, went upstairs and sat in the Match of the Day office. Alan Shearer was in there. He and Gary knew each other really well. We were having a giggle about the game, and I think Alan said, ‘Gary, call me next week and we’ll organise for the families to get together next weekend in Newcastle.’ Gary said, ‘Yes, that’d be great, really looking forward to it.’
“Then Gary said, ‘Right guys, I’ve got to go and watch a game.’ He said, ‘Dan, give me a ring on Monday and we’ll organise a get-together with the kids.’ I went, ‘Perfect, let’s do it.’ I was in church the next day and my phone was going absolutely bonkers.”
He went outside and Shearer was on the line and broke the news.
“We just talked about how is that possible? Still now it’s hard to get your head around. I don’t think we’ll ever know.”
Quote of the week
It’s the heart that’s afraid of breaking that never learns to dance
Bette Midler
Love is Patient Love is Kind featuring Lucy Stimpson Maynard from the album Love is the Way – recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson
I know last week I said that today I would be sharing some news of Mustard Seed Songs’ second virtual choir video but that is still not quite ready so instead this week I want to share a poignant story. Below is a letter, left by a Christian woman, to be read to her family and friends after she died.
Hi Everybody
I hope you are well and enjoying all these beautiful days you’ve been given. Its amazing to me how much God loves us and how He has purposed His whole design for Creation around that love! Knowing Him personally has been the most incredible experience I could have ever imagined.
As you well know I tend to me pretty “unconventional” so this letter may not take you by surprise. Rick and I have had an extraordinary and beautiful life together. These past two years have been nothing less than amazing with the changes God has allowed. Our friends and family have been a huge blessing and our move to East Tennessee has been like a little “taste of heaven on earth”. We have no regrets or dreams left unfulfilled, just incredible thanksgiving! Christ has proved Himself faithful and gracious beyond measure. My desire now is to lift a burden from my husband so that he can face other responsibilities and begin to heal. I ask that you continue to lift him up in prayer knowing that God is with him and will guide him all the days of his life.
As for me REJOICE!! for I am now with my Redeemer, my Saviour, my Lord. No more sin, no more shame, no more suffering, no more pain! By the purity of Christ’s blood, I am now in His presence. The Breath of life is with me and I am with Him. My family and friends are here; those who also believed in God’s way and put their trust in Him. The family of God surrounds me, together we worship our Lord, forever and ever.
I pray to God that I have lived worthy of my calling and is some small way have been a blessing to you.
For you have been a blessing to me and I am eternally grateful
Quote of the week
Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy it does not boast….
1 Corinthians 13:4
A Worship Song featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So as promised last week – why did we get another dog?
Well Genna our lovely black Labrador will be 2 years old in August. Although she won’t be having puppies, we always thought that she would make a great mum- we also thought it would be nice for her to have a play mate.
The next part is a bit of a long story but basically we had two house rabbits that lived on the top floor of our house- (we are fortunate to have 2 floors) Rabbits, as I am sure you know, need hay and we found the best hay was to be found at a local farm. The local farm had a black male Labrador and a female Border Collie- both who were able to be parents. (!) Well at the time that the Border Collie was fertile the farmer left a gate open and the Labrador took his opportunity with the result being a litter of 5 puppies. When Caroline, my wife went to buy some hay she fell in love with “Angus” the only boy in the litter. At the same time Caroline discovered that the daughter of the farmer loved rabbits and so Caroline “soft soaped” me for a few days until I succumbed and we swapped two rabbits for one “Borador” ( the trendy name for a Lab/Collie cross.) Some money also changed hands- in the direction of the farmer not us!
“Angus” did not stay “Angus” for long – we toyed with lots of names but “Dylan” is a Welsh name and we love going to Wales for holidays – it also means “Son of the Sea” and as we live opposite the sea that almost clinched it – when we realised that “Dylan – The Villain” was also extremely apt “Dylan” he became!
You may be thinking is there a point to this story? Is this some sort of parable – where is the hidden meaning. Well in fact its just a true story – simple as that!
Next week back to the music with info on our second virtual choir project.
