“Jesus Lord of Lords” recorded live at Paulsgrove Baptist Church – The Mustard Seed Soul Band featuring Nicola Poustie and Mike Backhouse

It is great at Christmas time to see all the lights with some houses and even streets completely illuminated. In addition to Christmas trees I have seen lots of Santas with his reindeers perched on the top of chimney stacks, but my  friend Steve Rolls (Rollsey) took a step of faith and invested in the  manufacture of a  Christmas light with a difference – one that  displays the words JESUS KING OF KINGS as seen in the featured pic.

So who is more important at Christmas, Jesus or Santa Claus?  At my church two young people enacted the poem below which answers the question rather well I think.

WHY IS JESUS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS?

Santa lives at the North Pole …
Jesus is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh …
Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.
Jesus is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies …
Jesus supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited …
Jesus stands at your door and knocks, and enters your heart.

You have to wait in line to see Santa …
Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap …
Jesus lets you rest in His Arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi, little boy or girl, what’s your name?”…
Jesus knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our history and future, and He even knows our hearts and how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly …
JESUS has a heart full of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO …
JESUS says, “Cast your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa may make you chuckle but ..
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree …
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree, for you and me.
It’s obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember, WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas; JESUS is still the reason for the season.
Yes, JESUS is better, He is even better than Santa Claus.

Merry – CHRIST – mas

“For God So Loved the World” -featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard, sung live at the Kings Theatre, Southsea in  Mustard Seed Songs’ first musical “His Story.”

Christmas TV adverts seem to be becoming more and more popular. Last year John Lewis featured “Monty the Penguin” with the slogan “Give someone the Christmas they have been dreaming of.” This year they had “Man on the Moon” with the slogan “Show someone they’re loved this Christmas.” Sainsburys this year had “Christmas is for sharing.” And the Germany company, Edeka probably won the popularity stakes with their “Time to come home.”
Loneliness is the theme for the Edeka ad in which an elderly man is only able to get his relatives to visit him for Christmas dinner by tricking them into believing they were going to his funeral. It is also the theme for the “Man in the moon” in which a little girl’s gift brings happiness to a lonely old man on the moon. A recent newspaper article featured this ad to bring attention to the loneliness that many people suffer at Christmas time- it referred to a 95 year old man and his wife who made a 999 call because they were so lonely. The two police officers who called did not admonish the couple for wasting police time but instead spent time with them listening to the couples’ amazing stories of their experiences in World War 11.
I am most fortunate in having a loving family and friends and the only time I can ever remember feeling lonely is when, at the age of 10, I moved with my family from Gillingham in Kent to Portsmouth. In Gillingham I had friends all the way down our terraced housed street and could call on boys and girls any time I wanted to play cowboys and Indians, hop scotch, hide and seek , football or cricket. In Portsmouth, however I knew no one as we arrived at the start of the summer holidays. I remember spending day after day with no one to play with. My mum and dad were very loving and caring but I still felt lonely and yes it is a horrible feeling.
Because Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine I wonder if He ever experienced loneliness? He had loving parents and the Bible speaks of Him having brothers and sisters but is there anywhere in Scripture that’s indicates that He was lonely? We are told that he was sad and wept when He arrived at the tomb of Lazarus -but lonely? Could He have been lonely in the Garden of Gethsemane- possibly not as we are told that an Angel strengthened Him. (Luke 22:43) However when He cries out on the cross “My God, my God why have You forsaken me?” surely this is the cry of someone experiencing loneliness in the extreme – in this case caused by the fact that, for the first time in His life, He was separated from His Father.
So I am sure that if we, at any time, suffer loneliness we can feel reassured that if we come to Jesus He will comfort and strengthen us, not only because He is God, but also because He knows exactly how we feel.
Instead of the John Lewis advert I have chosen a “remake” created by Dan Rackham, a community worker at St Philemon’s Church in Toxteth, Liverpool. The video concludes with the words of John 3:16 which are the focus of this week’s featured song. Incidentally I have just discovered that these words conclude this current edition of “Every Day with Jesus” – coincidence or Godinstance?
All at Risen! – The Musical wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year

“In the Beginning Was The Word” – from Mustard Seed Songs’ first musical His Story -recorded live at the Ferneham Hall, Fareham

So last blog I talked about how cool Bear Grylls is and I also mentioned that it must be cool to be someone like a top sportsperson or musician, but who is the coolest person that has every lived?
What about a guy who:
• Was born fully human but also fully God
• At age twelve had more understanding than his teachers.
• Was at a party and could ensure that you never ran out of drink – and drink of the highest quality
• When at a picnic there was no need for anyone to worry if they had forgotten the sandwiches or if a whole load of extra guests arrived as he could provide for them all.
• Was in a small boat in the middle of a storm and was so unconcerned that he could have a nap on a cushion.
• When others worried about that storm could just say “Be still” and immediately everything would become calm.
• Taught the most amazing stories ever – each one with a hidden and significant meaning.
• Could go surfing and jump off his surf board and then surf on the waves without any need for that board.
• When someone was ill and all the doctors could not come up with a cure just had to say “Your faith has healed you” and that person was well.
• When at a funeral and everyone was grief stricken could just say “Get up ” and the dead person would come back to life.
• When being tortured, although he could have wiped them all out in a second, chose to forgive his torturers.
• Loves you so much that he died in your place for the wrongs that you and not he have committed.
• Died an horrific death but three days later came back to life
• Told you that he is the way the truth and the life and that by believing in him you would receive eternal life
• One day to whom everyone in the world will bow down.
I reckon you know to whom I am referring- why not post some of your own reasons for thinking there has been no one cooler in history than Him.
Happy Birthday Jesus
Happy Christmas Everyone

In earlier blogs   I have tried to make the point that it is easier to believe in something if you know that other people, who have similar interests to yourself, believe in that which you are considering believing.  One example was that of the golfer Zach Johnson who won the 2015 Open – if you play golf yourself then it is possible that you might wonder -Well if the winner of the Open is a Christian perhaps it is not such a weird idea after all.

I know that many people feel it to be uncool to be a follower of Jesus and call those that do such things as “Bible Bashers” or Jesus freaks.”  That was my point regarding Zach -surely it is cool to be a top sportsman? What about a top musician – many of those are Christians including Bono of U2 . What about a survival expert – surely that is cool? Well check out what Bear Grylls said at Holy Trinity Church in Brompton, London,  and who is cooler that Bear Grylls ?  I’ll offer my humble opinion next week.

“We Can Do Anything” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Precious” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

Continuing to answer the question – “Where does Risen!- The Musical go now?”  Well on Sunday I went to London to meet Ennio,  who directed the November production and I came back with a load of ideas. Basically I have revised the script to make the storyline easier to follow for someone who does not know the Easter and Resurrection story that well- one thing that is now different  is the inclusion of some spoken word rather than everything being sung.

Ross Gill of Global Fire Productions is creating a promo for us from footage taken at the November production and with that we hope to be able to promote a return to the New Theatre Royal next April.  Ross also recorded and produced this week’s  featured song “ We can do anything”

Risen!- The Musical – Back by popular demand for one performance only

 The 20 strong London Touring Cast together with the Portsmouth Gospel Choir thrillingly bring the story of the Resurrection to life with wonderful singing, dancing and acting.

Celebrate the Easter Season with this brilliant musical portraying, betrayal, anguish, doubt, amazement and joy as the story of the Resurrection unfolds.  The Bishop of Bath and Wells called Risen!- The Musical “Moving, uplifting and inspiring but Risen! is not just for those who go to church – it has also been described as  “Just like watching Jesus Christ Superstar Part Two!  More details from www.risenthemusical.com

Sunday, April 10^th 2.30 pm

Tickets from £7.50

Ken’s brother Jack – displaying his talent at our mum’s 102nd birthday party.

So where now for Risen!- The Musical ? Well I am in the process of booking  the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth for a return – April 7th – 9th  – but more of that later, however I am pleased to announce  that St Peters Church in Ravenshead, near Nottingham is  going to produce a concert format version of Risen! next March.  St Peter’s is the church in which my brother, Jack and his wife Eileen worship.  Jack has always been a fantastic encouragement and support to me and it is absolutely wonderful that his enthusiasm has been so infectious that the Vicar at St Peters, Chris Rattenbury, is at present holding meetings with the congregation to see the best way forward in terms of enlisting singers and musicians.

My brother himself has a particular talent and I have long been wondering how it could, in some way, be included in Risen!- The Musical. The featured video clip of my mum’s 101st birthday (it could have been her 102nd!) displays Jack’s talent rather well I think.  I am sorry to disappoint if you are considering enlisting  Jack yourself – we have already turned down Cameron Macintosh – it is a starring role in Risen!- The Musical or nothing!

I was really moved when someone who saw Risen!- The Musical said “You brought so much joy to everyone.” Well the joy was not confined to just the audience – here is the Portsmouth Gospel Choir in the changing rooms of the New Theatre Royal straight after the final performance of Risen!- The Musical on Saturday, November 7th – if this not portray joy born from a love of Jesus then I don’t know what does!
So where is Risen!- The Musical going? Well we have ideas we are working on right now and which I will begin to share with you next week.

The Name That’s On My Lips – featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Where Would I Be Without You” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who contributed to  the success of Risen!- The Musical at the New Theatre Royal November 6^th and 7^th 2015.

The London Touring Cast : Niamh McGuckin, Ennio Ficiur, Mikey Wooster, Jodie May Quirke, Claire Hutchinson, Caroline Wetherfelt, Leah Godbold, Katie Forge, David Murray, Johnny Fitzharris, Andrew Dovaston, Joshua Yeardley, Benny Bright and Jacob Collins.

The Portsmouth Gospel Choir:  Heaven Sarprong, Lauren Haizel-Cobbina, Maya Atrissi, Madeline Annan, Onisodemuya Mimi Avor,  Francine Agyemang,  Phillipa Brobbey Jimiroroso Ogun,  Abigail Mavodi,  Oyeniran Christos,  Seun Odeyemi,  Gamuchirai Gweza

Alicia Samuels, Lizette Ampofo, Nanumi Ononiwu, Ingrid Bukriwa, Georgette Boye- Campbell, Joel Prempeh, Sarah Ikediasji, Jessica Mamu, Lindelwe Diamini, Natassja Kirwan, Vanessa Dais, Lanre Gaffar.

Musical Director: Joffy Girling

Directors:  Niamh McGucking and Ennio Finicur

Choregrapher: Jodie May Quirke

Stage Manager: Claire Hutchinson

Technical Director: Adam Kemp assisted by Darren Ison

Lighting: Lee Wallis assisted by Andy Longley

The Risen!- The Musical  Programme Sellers : Shani Wilson, Schanel Manford, Cathryn Jackson, Leslie Essels, Francine Agyemang, Michelle Olumilua, Shannon Thwaites, Marcia Makumba, Lindi Dlamini, PJ Radcliffe and Dean

The New Theatre Royal team:   including Caroline, Lexi, Sheena. Luc, James,  Becky , Kayleigh, Sharan, Steve and Matt.

Programme and Poster design: Nikki Bovis Coulter of 2fishproductions.com

Risenthemusical.com-website: Darren Bovis- Coulter of 2fishproductions.com

Risen.org.uk– blog: PJ Radcliffe

Promotion: Peter Jeffs

The Queens Hotel– Especially Jason Wilson

The Brewhouse and Kitchen: Especially James and Jack

Zizzi’s at Gun Wharf

The Balti House in Albert Road

Select Coaches

Vision Travel

Aqua Cars

Sponsors: Hire cars of Spain and Banbury’s Bodyshop of Segensworth

Terry Powell of FM Express

Caroline Shearsmith: For her patience and support

Here are just some of the comments after Risen!- The Musical was performed at the New Theatre Royal by the fabulous London Touring Cast and Portsmouth Gospel Choir.

You brought so much joy to everyone

‘Risen’ was AWESOME

We all felt very blessed watching this amazing musical about our Lord’s life

Risen – Fantastic musical tonight. The Eucharist, the garden, the crucifixion each bought a tear to my eye. Thomas resonated with my own struggles.

Magnificent production !

Risen was fantastic – at one or two points I was crying – I found it moving and uplifting

A wonderful show which brought many of us to tears.  Never seen as many hankies out for a while. Absolutely wonderful and some brilliant singers.  Congratulations once again

What a triumph last night, I and my group really had a great and inspiring evening, and enjoyed seeing such a polished and great performance from everybody.

Joffy Girling and myself have been working on Risen!- The Musical for four years and tomorrow the stage premiere takes place at the New Theatre Royal. We have been so fortunate in having the production performed by the London Touring Cast together with the Portsmouth Gospel Choir. If you have not yet got tickets then please visit www.risenthemusical.com or www.newtheatreroyal.com We are so looking forward to what we are sure is going to be an amazing weekend. Hope to see you on Friday or Saturday.