JAM MAG Issue 59 - Full Mag

Credits:

Editorial Team:

Peter Bell

Sara Bell

Design:

JAM Magazine

Contact details:

Emails: peter@jammag.co.uk

: sara@jammag.co.uk

Tel: 0161 439 5175

website: www.jammag.co.uk

twitter: @thejammag

facebook: jammaguk

Instagram: jammaguk

Contributors:

(In alphabetical order)

Tobi Bakare

Omar Beckles

Peter Bell

Sara Bell

Ricardo P Lloyd

Disney Studios

Illumination Entertainment

Marvel studios

Other thanks: Answers

Universal Studios & Warner Bros Entertainment for the use of photos

Buying JAM : Contact us directly for more details OR buy online @ www.jammag.co.uk

© ABIGCO Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of JAM Magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior permission of JAM Magazine.

Welcome to our new edition of JAM!

We hope you will like it!

The theme for this issue is ‘FOUND’ & is covered in the interviews & editorials to hopefully make you think & encourage you!

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Issue

Back copies available...

CONTENTS

FOUND You!

God is looking for you!

FINDING Myself

Interview with actor Tobi Bakare

FOUND it Difficult

Wakanda Forever - a look at the film

FOUND Treasure

Still Haven’t FOUND...

Have you FOUND what you are looking for...?

FOUND your purpose...?

A look Puss in Boots - The Last Wish

Just FOUND Out

Do you know that God loves you...?

FOUND a Mitsake

Wordsearch - What are you looking for? Quiz! Are you always looking for mistakes...?

FOUND your Passion

What is your passion?

FOUND a Clue

Quotes

FOUND it Funny

The power of the tongue & some jokes!

FOUND the Secret

Interview with footballer Omar Beckles

FOUND a Bargain

What is the best bargain ever...?

FINDING Peace

Trusting God when things are tough!

FINDING my Way

Interview with actor Ricardo P Lloyd

FOUND it Impossible...

Start with a single step!

FOUND it

Frustrating...

Dealing with anger & frustration...

FOUND Love

A look at the film Marry Me

Jesus said to him, I am the Way & the Truth & the Life!

Found you!

When I was young we often used to play ‘Hide & Seek’! Someone would count to 100 whilst everyone else ran & hid! Then you would wait in silence hoping you wouldn’t be the first to hear, ‘I’ve found you!’

Another variation was called, ‘Sardines’ which was when just one person hid & everyone else was looking for them. When you found them you had to hide with them until the last person found the group! We got really good at finding different places to hide & delaying the shouts of I’ve found you! I can still remember the excitement of finding someone & of not being discovered!

Sometimes it might feel like God is hiding from us, that he doesn’t want to be found or at least he doesn’t

care about being found. But the Bible paints a very different picture of a God who is always searching for us & wanting us to find him! In the Bible it puts it like this,

Matthew 7:7 & 8, Ask & it will be given to you; seek & you will find; knock & the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; & to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Jeremiah 29:13, You will seek Me & find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

God wants us to find him so if you haven’t already done so why not try searching for him...?

See if you can work out where the following might be found...?

1

Anvil

The Crown Jewels?

Manchester United’s

Colin the Caterpillar ground? Cake?

& Hammer in William Shakespeare’s The Daily Planet in your body? house? newspaper?

The Walk of Fame? The fastest train in the Guitars with names world? including Lloyd, Felix, Cyril Trevor, Keith & Nigel?

Worlds highest mountain? Lord of the Rings is filmed The Giants Causeway? here?

The Empire State European Mickey Mouse? The tallest building Building? in the world?

The Angel of the North? The house of the British Robin Hood’s hideout? Prime Minister?

FINDING Myself!

You may recognise Tobi Bakare from some of his acting roles, including Kingsman Secret Service & Golden Circle or from a 7 year stint as JP Hooper on Death in Paradise. It was great to have a chat with Tobi & find out more about his acting journey & how his faith & trust in Christ has worked & grown over the years. Read on to find out more.

Please tell us about your early life...

I was born & raised in Hackney, London. I am number 4 out of 5 children, with two older sisters, an older brother & a younger one. My parents migrated from Nigeria in the hope of finding a better life. I guess most migrants come to a country with the mindset to survive, thrive & help those back home. In most cases they come from a place where it is hard to survive & even the worst of the UK is sometimes preferable. My mum was very strict with us, she had to be with 5 kids.

Hackney was very rough back then so she wanted to keep us on the straight & narrow. Fear of our mother kept us from joining in with certain things. Our house was surrounded by estates & in those days each estate had its own gang but we were more afraid of her than the gangs! It definitely worked because all 5 of us are doing well. Europe is always glamourised as ‘The Promised Land’ but initially there were difficulties & trials for my parents, they sacrificed their careers in Nigeria for a better future & it paid off.

How would you describe yourself?

I am extremely emotional, I did not know how to cry till I discovered a relationship with God! I am extremely intense but equally I like to be the clown! I spent my school years being the class clown even involving teachers with it. I was quite cheeky & that side still exists. I also like to understand things from all angles & have a cautious nature!

What did you want to be when you were younger?

The first thing I wanted to be was a butcher! I’m not really sure why, I think I just liked the word! Around year 7/8 I wanted to be a dermatologist, again maybe I just liked the word. I was also very keen on football. Even now people who don’t know I’m an actor will ask if I still play! At school I was known as one of the main footballers. My dad used to be the captain of a team in Nigeria & several members went on to play professionally but his dad didn’t think it was a viable career! My brother is actually a football player in Finland’s Division 1 so football is big in my family. I did have trials with Millwall but wasn’t successful! Eventually around 15 I had to make a decision whether to pursue it or go for acting & I chose acting!

How did you get into acting?

I was good at football, playing for my borough & on trial with Millwall. Things seemed to be going well & I thought a football career might be a possibility but I also started attending Identity School of Acting. The founder came round schools inviting students to go along. I didn’t go to the first week but the next week a girl I knew invited me. There were lots of girls there so I decided to go back! After around 3 months I got the acting bug & started to really enjoy it. But then I had to choose between football & acting & I had decided it would be football. I went to the drama school for what I thought would be the last time, to tell the Drama Teacher that I was leaving. He looked at me & said, ‘Just stay!’ & I said, ‘OK!’ From there I never looked back. I didn’t really believe in God at that stage but that was a key God moment in my life! I went with the intention of doing one thing but ended up choosing the other – crazy!

How & why did you become a Christian?

I can look back to a few key moments. Around 17, when I had been part of the drama school for a few years, I was wondering what was going on in my life. I attended a New Year’s Eve service at church where we thanked God for the previous

year & asked guidance for the next. I’d been dragged along by my mum but I started to talk to God about acting. It’s not something I would recommend anyone to do but I asked God to show me a sign that I should carry on acting, or I would just give it up & move on. Pretty soon after that I booked an acting job at The Royal Court Theatre as the lead character & the play went on to win a Laurence Olivier award. So I found myself immediately in the limelight as the actor at centre of this big production. So that was one thing that made God real to me.

Another moment was after I got baptised. When I was younger my older brother was my role model & inspiration. I used to try & copy him & his lifestyle, he was a bit of a ‘ladies man’ so I thought I’d try it too. He got baptised in 2006 so I got baptised the following year & decided I was going to give this Christian stuff a go! Two days later I got a call from a lady who I tried to hook up with three months before. It was so random that she would call after three months but it was a temptation which I fell for! I started a relationship with her & completely regressed on the partial commitment I’d made at my baptism. That relationship didn’t last long but after that I was dating women all the time & all that it involved. However I started to find that when I went to the station to meet someone I would get this nagging feeling not to go. It was so strong that I would be unable to go through with the date. This happened on several occasions. One time I managed to push past the station part & actually got to the house. Things were progressing physically but I had to stop & tell her I couldn’t carry on – she wasn’t impressed but I just couldn’t ignore the conviction! The more I listened to these

convictions the more they were pulling me towards Christ & I became more sensitive to the voice of God & what following him meant. I still had lots of questions but everything I asked was answered & that brought me to a place of surrender. I was invited to a church production that happened to be about Heaven & Hell! It did the job for me & when they asked people to go forward to give their lives to Jesus I went! I told my brother when I got home that I had decided to follow Jesus & so I wouldn’t be following his example any more. That was important for me to break the ties I had to that lifestyle.

So what effect did this have on your lifestyle?

The first thing was moving away from following my brother. He is actually a phenomenal man of faith now but he wasn’t then! I wanted to loose ties with anything that contended with God’s place in my life. It is not always the obvious things like money or status, it can be those people who influence you the most. He was an athlete, attractive to lots of women & I made an idol out of who I thought he was. I needed to find my own identity in God & follow him rather than my brother! It transformed my life as I started to choose God’s ways. Finding Jesus helped me find myself!

Can you please share how your faith in Jesus has helped in your industry?

I have had some phenomenal moments. Often they revolve around seeing how seeking Christ & putting him first in this industry has shaped me & those around me. 2013 was a phenomenal year. My biggest job to date was a TV series called The Tunnel & I had also booked a project for Sky 1

called The Smoke. The opportunity to audition for Kingsman - Secret Service had come around. Now that year, I had been working hard & most of my roles were quite clean-cut individuals that meant I had to keep my hair trimmed & neat. For some reason I wanted to leave my hair alone. Most of my life I had been insecure about my Afro Caribbean hair & I would wear a hat if it wasn’t cut. But for some reason, for this audition, I didn’t want to cut my hair & I even thought about going without shaving. As I was going downstairs I thought maybe I ought to at least shave but I felt a Bible verse drop into my mind: My grace is sufficient for you!

2 Corinthians 12 v 9

This stopped me in my tracks. At that point I just left with my hair as it was & did the audition believing that God’s grace was sufficient! Then a friend who was auditioning for the same job messaged me that he felt God was going to give me the job. So now I had a Bible verse & a prophetic word. I got a re-call & by now my hair & facial hair had grown more, I was dithering again whether to trim it but I re-read the verse & it continues,

‘In your weakness my strength is made perfect’ so I just went as I was. I booked the job! The whole experience broke the complex I had about my hair. This has happened quite a few times when I had certain insecurities & because I allowed God to be involved he used my journey as an actor to impact me & give me more confidence in myself.

Any answers to prayer you can share?

There was a time where I knew I was going to book a job 6 weeks before I actually did. This was for Sky Atlantic’s The Tunnel. I had been praying about it & felt the Holy Spirit ask me if I wanted the job...? When I said, ‘Yes’ he said, ‘Well, ask for it!’ I realised that I hadn’t actually been asking God for things. My attitude had been ‘I’ll take what you give me’ instead of asking! It became clear to me that I would book the job. I would contact my agent & ask if he had any news & he would be apologetic about still having to wait! And I was like, ‘Don’t worry I already know the answer!’ It happened over several weeks & I even rejected a couple of other jobs because I was sure I would get The Tunnel. A few days before Christmas I contacted my agent again & he said they would be in touch after the holidays. I was reminded of the Bible verse, Revelation 3 v 8, that says, ‘No man can close a door that God has opened’

so I prayed with that in mind. The next day they offered me the job! My agent was dumbfounded when I said God had already told me! It is good to express our faith & make decisions from that. Praying was reminding God about the job but also reminding me that God was on the case! I wasn’t waiting on the job but on God which can be difficult to remember.

How do you encourage others in the industry?

I run an actors Bible study group. We’ve seen quite a lot of actors come through the doors & give their lives to God. It is a difficult industry but we are a light shining in the darkness. It is good to walk with others & that is what church should be about. We should be sharpening & helping each other to rely on God not ourselves. The Bible study wasn’t something I was looking to do, in fact I’d hoped someone else would step up but God kept prompting me. It means I have to be sociable when my comfort zone is solitude. I was happy with acting & keeping my private life separate but God had other ideas. Through sharing on a personal level we can all grow in our faith.

What was it like playing JP Hooper on Death in Paradise for many years?

It was a good seven years. At first I wasn’t sure about it because I didn’t want to commit to 3 years which is a long time. My agent told me just to do it & I’m glad I did. My wife actually had a dream before we were married, & without knowing I was auditioning for the show, where she saw two wedding rings on an island. So when I got a re-call she was jumping up & down with excitement. Because of the dream I knew I would get the job before it actually happened. It’s exciting when things like that happen. From my time on the show I learnt so much about myself & my relationship with the industry. I’d always been keen to rush God into things but this was a project where I didn’t know when God was going to tell me to stop. I had to learn patience & to run my own race, without looking at other people & what they were doing. From that I have developed an acting/ coaching company, ‘Wrought Artisan’, with the purpose of creative integrity. From Death in Paradise I learnt to own my work from start to finish.

How did you know it was time to leave?

It was in my fifth year of doing the show. I had been asking God about timings from the start but after three years I began to just embrace it. In the fifth year whilst I was at a church service the pastor was speaking & mentioned 7 years & something

just clicked for me. I contacted my wife, who was in the UK, & told her I thought I knew when it would be time for me to move on. Without telling her what I thought I asked her to pray & see what she felt God was saying. The following day she called & said, “2020”, which was exactly 7 years from when I started. So we were in agreement!

In regard to family dynamics we had spent a lot of time apart. We got married in 2014 & in our first 6 years of marriage I was abroad for over two & a half years! We survived with good communication, really talking through our feelings & trying to spend quality time together however we could. We were also accountable to God as well as each other. When things were tough or wrong we needed to fix them, not just for each other but, to maintain our relationship with God.

How did you FIND starring with your wife in the series?

Working with her was great. I was a bit nervous & was very protective of her but she is a great actress & told me to just relax! She had a great time which was good because she’s had to make sacrifices over the years for our three kids. The whole production is very family orientated so it is a great show to work on. I have no regrets about doing it or leaving. I wouldn’t say it has

been difficult since but it has been new & financially uncomfortable but equally it has been financially liberating because our safety is purely in Christ. So we have had to grow in faith a lot.

Do you have a favourite Bible verse & why?

One that is for this season is Isaiah 54 v 2,3: Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right & to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations & settle in their desolate cities.

This has been really poignant for me this year because I have taken risks & trusted God to look after us.

Probably the most impactful though over time has been Deuteronomy 8 v 3:

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

It is God that keeps you going not physical things! I have returned to this often in life’s darkest moments. It is always good to go back & think about what God has said to you!

You can check out Wrought Artisan acting / coaching company : https://www.wroughtartisan.com/

Photo credits for Death in Paradise - BBC/Red Planet Pictures

All Photo Credits: Marvel Studios

Found it Difficult!

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER from Marvel studios is set to be another success for the franchise. But they must have found it difficult to carry on after the death of Chadwick Boseman, the actor who played the leading role as King T’Challa/ The Black Panther in the previous film. In this next chapter we see the Wakandans once again fighting to protect their nation.

But to date it is has been difficult to find out who will take on the role of Black Panther & what exactly the story line will be...Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) & the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), must all join together to protect Wakanda. They are helped by War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) & Everett Ross (Martin Freeman).

The film also sees the introduction of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), king of a hidden undersea nation.

We will all find difficulties in life, no one is immune. We can either let them prevent us from moving forward or we can push through them & find ourselves stronger on the other side.

Whatever you are facing today, however difficult it seems, remember that you are not alone! The Bible tells us that God is with us whatever our circumstances & he will help us!

Matthew 28 v 20

Jesus said: I am with you always, remaining with you perpetually, regardless of circumstance, & on every occasion, even to the end of the age.

Found Treasure!

Many people have searched for treasure buried by ancient civiliazations such as the Inca’s, Aztecs, Mayans & Egyptians. Archeologist Howard Carter uncovered the magnificient tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. These Egyptian treasures had lain undisturbed for around 3,000 years. Can you imagine the excitement there must have been when they first broke through into the tomb...? I can still remember queueing with my family to see those treasures when they were first displayed in London in 1972, when I was still at primary school. They were buried with him because the Pharaohs, like many others, believed they would be needed in the After-Life.

The Bible however takes a different approach. It teaches that we can’t take treasure with us & that we should be concerned with living lives that are pleasing to God rather than concentrating on gaining material things!

In Luke 12:18-20 it says, Jesus told them a parable, saying, “A rich man said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I know, I will tear down my barns & build larger ones, I will store all my grain & my goods. I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink & be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; then who will own what you have prepared?’

Matthew 6:20

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, where thieves do not break in or steal.

Can you find the ‘FOUND’ phrases in the grid?

found a bargain found a clue found a job found a mistake found a passion found a way found God found guilty found innocent found it found Jesus found love found meaning found myself found nothing found out found the answer found the secret found treasure found wanting found you lost and found the founder to be found

Photo Credit: Robert Thiemann on Unsplash

FOUND your Passion

The film RISE is only available on Disney Plus but I thought it looked like a good story so I took a look!

Charles & Vera Antetokounmpos travelled from Nigeria to Athens with the hope of finding a better life for themselves & their family. Leaving their eldest son with grandparents they undertook the journey not realising the difficulties they would face. It was a struggle to survive & provide for their subsequent children as well as living with the threat of deportation because getting Greek citizenship was not easy.

They survived by selling souvenirs to tourists & the boys played basketball in any spare time they had. They found they had natural talent & worked hard to become world class athletes. With the help of an agent Giannis entered the NBA draft in 2013 - a move that would change his & the families lives.

The 2021 season saw him & Thanasis playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, helping bring them their first championship ring in 50 years whilst another brother, Kostas, was playing for the previous seasons champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

This would have seemed an impossible dream for the young family who found themselves struggling to survive let alone thrive. But the whole family were not afraid of working hard to pursue their passion.

What is your passion or goal?

What do you want to do with your life?

It might be a big goal like playing sport or music at a top level, doing well at school or getting a good job. Or it might be a seemingly smaller goal like just getting through the day or being kind to others.

Whatever our passion is let’s remember that time is a precious commodity that we only have a limited amount of! It can’t be re-used or recycled, once it’s gone you don’t get the option to use it better.

So make each day count as you pursue your passion!

Photo credits: Disney Enterprises Inc

Found a Clue

Have a look at the quotes on FOUND & see if you agree wth them...

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.

Thomas A. Edison

We need to find God, & he cannot be found in noise & restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon & the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Mother Teresa

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

Greg Anderson

I have a friend from school who has been a Scene Of Crime Officer for years. She has seen some understandably awful situations. It is the SOCO’s job to look for physical evidence at the crime scene such as samples of fibres, hair, fluids & of course finger prints. They have to do all this whilst being careful not to contaminate the scene with their own DNA.

We all leave evidence behind us wherever we go in terms of physical DNA but we also leave emotional & social impressions. How we behave & interact with people leaves traces behind.

So what traces do we leave...?

Do we leave feelings of love, concern, empathy & kindness?

Or do we leave traces of irritation, anger, dismissiveness & boredom?

Do we leave people feeling valued & accepted or mistreated & worthless?

I’m sure we all know people that leave us feeling on edge or inadequate, who make us feel uncomfortable or unloved.

So maybe we need to ask ourselves how we make people feel...?

What impressions are we leaving...?

Try & leave this world a little better than you found it, & when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.

Robert Baden-Powell

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous & the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.

Vincent Van Gogh

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, & have found their way out of those depths.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I found I could say things with colour & shapes that I couldn’t say any other way - things I had no words for.

Georgia O’Keeffe

Courage is found in unlikely places.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than in a whole one.

E. B. White

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.

Anne Lamott

I found the purpose of my existence, & also the purpose of my circumstance. There’s a purpose for why you’re in the fire. If God can use a man without arms & legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!

Nick Vujicic

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

Abraham Lincoln

Tomorrow is only found in the calendar of fools.

Og Mandino

In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... selfdiscipline with all of them came first.

Harry S Truman

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings.

Helen Keller

Lost time is never found again.

Benjamin Franklin

Our heavenly Father understands our suffering, disappointment, pain, fear, & doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts & help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped.

Charles Stanley

I’ve always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way & you’ve got to have that drive & determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish.

Chuck Norris

Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; & behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him.

Pontius Pilate

People are usually more convinced by reasons they discovered themselves than by those found by others.

Blaise Pascal

How often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else.

R. Buckminster Fuller

A recent police study found that you’re much more likely to get shot by a fat cop if you run.

Dennis Miller

Authors by the hundreds can tell you stories by the thousands of those rejection slips before they found a publisher who was willing to ‘gamble’ on an unknown.

Zig Ziglar

I have found that I always learn more from my mistakes than from my successes. If you aren’t making some mistakes, you aren’t taking enough chances.

John Sculley

Don’t become too attached to your own myopia. Just because you’ve found a way to do things doesn’t mean it’s the way to do things. There are so many different ways in which to navigate this so-called life. Be open to experiencing more than one.

Scientists have found the gene for shyness. They would have found it years ago, but it was hiding behind a couple of other genes.

Sterling K. Brown

To what greater inspiration & counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?

Queen Elizabeth II

Jonathan Katz

The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Thomas Babington Macaulay

FOUND It Funny!

It is good to have a laugh! Laughter is good for your mental & your physical health. Many studies show that laughing helps release stress & makes you feel better.

In the Bible, Proverbs 17 v 22 says,

A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom & doom leave you bone-tired.

Being able to laugh at stuff gives you a different perspective & enables you to keep going even when it is tough. We discovered this to be true when we had my mum staying with us. She has severe dementia & some of the things she got up to were horrendous. Although cleaning up after her was hard we managed to keep going because we were able to laugh at the awfulness of it. If we hadn’t been able to see the funny side I think we would have spent a lot more time crying!

Then there are times when things are so funny that you laugh & cry at the time same! Have you ever laughed so much that you end up crying...? Or have you ever been in a situation where you know you shouldn’t be laughing but something sets you off & you have to bite your lips to stop yourself...?

I remember a school concert where one of the pupils playing the clarinet was so awful that I just wanted to laugh. What made it worse was that everyone

else looked like they were enjoying it & hadn’t noticed the dreadful sound! I was so relieved when it was finished. Even now if I am feeling a bit down I remind myself of that occasion & it never fails to make me feel less gloomy!

BUT there are times when it is not good to laugh. I’m talking about those times when someone is making fun of someone else & trying to make themselves look better or bigger by humiliating the other person.

I’m sure we have all been in situations when someone makes an unkind comment to raise a laugh. It can be so tempting to laugh & join in but what if you were the object of the comment...? What if it was you who was the subject of the joke...? Would you find it funny then or would you be hurt & upset...?

Next time you are tempted to laugh at someone else try & remember to be kind instead. Try to remember the words from Proverbs 18 v 21,

The tongue has the power of life and death. What we say can either bring life & joy to people or it can destroy them. Let’s be those who are known for the encouraging rather than laughing at others.

Have a look at these jokes that I have FOUNDhopefully they will make you laugh!

Photo Credit: Naseem Burass on Unsplash

Just found out that "Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhh" isn't a real word.

I can't tell you how angry I am!

I came home & found that my wife has been on Ebay the whole day.

If she's still on there tomorrow, I'll have to lower the price!

Just paid $350 on a limo, but found out it didn’t include a driver

All that money with nothing to chauffeur it!

My wife found out I was cheating after she found the letters I was hiding She got mad & said she is never playing Scrabble with me again!

I found a book on how to avoid procrastination... I think I'll read it tomorrow!

I bought a diamond ring on St. Patricks day but found out it was a fake They gave me a sham rock!

I found a Land Rover whilst metal detecting today It was a lovely discovery!

I was at a climbing center the other day, but found that someone had stolen all the grips from the wall. You couldn’t make it up!

Chinese takeaway – £27.50. Petrol to get there –£3.25. Got home & found that they didn’t give you one of the containers – riceless!

When I found out my toaster was not waterproof... I was SHOCKED!

I only recently found out that Albert Einstein was a real person..

All this time I thought he was only a theoretical physicist!

Went to the doctor for an ear infection & now I’ve found out I’m actually going deaf. That news was pretty hard to hear!

Three hunters found a set of tracks in the forest. The first hunter says, "These are deer tracks". "No", the second hunter says. "These are wolf tracks".

The third hunter is about to say something, when they are all hit by the train!

When I was at the grocery store, I asked an employee where the cereal was, he said, “I’ll see.” Then walked off. 5 minutes later, I asked another employee about the cereal, he too said, “I’ll see,” & walked off.

I eventually found it myself. It was in aisle C!

I had to clean out my spice rack & found everything was too old & had to be thrown out. What a waste of thyme!

Found out my wife is leaving me because I keep pretending to be a Transformer. I said, “No, wait! I can change!”

I found a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!

Found the Secret...?

You might think that the life of a professional footballer is easy & a guarantee of happiness. But for many the secret to happiness still eludes them. Having his dream job & doing what he loves wasn’t the answer for Omar Beckles. A long & at times difficult journey has been made easier by what he thinks is the secret to happiness though –Finding your worth, value & purpose in Jesus. Read on to find out more about his football & faith journey...

Please tell us about your early life –where are you from, family etc. I was born in Leytonstone but have lived in Walthamstow most of my life. I have a younger brother, an older sister & an older half-brother. I was born into a church going family so Christianity is all I have ever known. For us Sunday was about going to church & spending time with family & friends. I have happy memories of those times. When I was growing up Walthamstow was reasonably rough & there were issues with gang culture & knife crime. My older brother, even though he was raised in church, ended up going to prison. I grew up knowing there was a God but going through adolescence testosterone kicked in & I found myself distracted by girls & many other things & maybe made some wrong decisions.

Did you always want to be a footballer?

Football was always a focus but I was quite late to the party! I didn’t join my first Sunday league team till year 9. Maybe that gave me a freshness because I hadn’t been doing it for years & so hadn’t got bored of it, instead I was quite hungry and focussed. Arsenal was my team & Henry was a massive inspiration for me. I fell in love with football & was able to channel myself & focus on it. I had played at primary school but I wasn’t an ardent fan; I didn’t watch much TV & Sundays were for Church, my dad was a pastor, so it just wasn’t really on my radar earlier on.

Was it an ‘easy’ journey to becoming a professional footballer?

I always felt there was a chance of making it my career. I had various affirmations from others that I was good so I believed it was possible but it hasn’t been plain sailing! There have been a lot of disappointments on the way. I had a few trials for under 16 teams & signed for Millwall. I did my scholarship with them & had interest from another club, which helped help me believe I could make it. I was at Millwall for 2 years but didn’t get a pro contract so went to Spain for 18 months which was an amazing experience! When the funding for that finished I came back & played for non league teams like Kettering. They were planning to go full time & were building a team but 2 months in they couldn’t pay our wages! I came back to Boreham Wood & found myself at Histon the next season. Again it was a mix of full time/ part time but they couldn’t then pay wages after January. It felt like I was chasing the dream but it wasn’t really working out. Dealing with disappointment was really hard. I felt I was good enough but lacked opportunity to be able to express & prove myself. So I decided to head back to London to try & just enjoy my football. I set up a little football business & began to enjoy the game again, going from non-league to League 1 in 4 years. I went from playing at

Hornchurch, to St Albans, then Aldershot & Accrington Stanley! The year after I was at Shrewsbury Town & playing in the League one play-off final at Wembley! The climb was phenomenal but that was after a good 6 year period of struggling, being in non-leagues & being disappointed.

How & why did you become a Christian?

Christianity became personal when I was dealing with disappointments in life & football. There was a lack of fulfilment & a constant void in my heart. I began to question what I was doing & what life was about. I asked my father lots of questions & he was pivotal in helping me on that journey from a second hand relationship with God to a personal one. I decided to really start following Jesus instead of just talking about it. I read my bible for myself instead of just listening to sermons, I prayed about things & I attended church regularly. I was surrendering to God & in the process I got to know & encounter Him. I lost my father in 2015 which was really difficult & I again questioned God as to why this was happening. But at the same time I can honestly say I felt God’s peace & presence in those hard moments & this helped me realise I wanted to live a life sold out for Christ.

Can you please share some of the high / low lights of your career & how your faith in Jesus has helped?

I struggled with internalising some of my feelings after my dad died – I knew God’s peace but I started to put this weight & burden of responsibility on myself as the eldest son. I guess it was a cultural thing that I did almost without knowing I was doing it. I found myself getting really stressed which affected my sleep & became a bit of a burden. I ended up going to the doctors because I was clenching my jaw so much that I had lockjaw!

It was all definitely a challenge in terms of mental health. I went from the Ryman League to Conference South & then to League 1 & dealing with successes is just as hard as the challenges you face from setbacks! I was sad not to be able to share my journey with my dad, I was dealing with my own ego & with the new expectation of success which can be hard. We got to Wembley twice that season & lost both times. I began to wonder what was happening but I had to realise that life isn’t always rosy, God isn’t a vending machine that just gives you what you want. There is sacrifice & dealing with hardship too that we have to endure in our walk. It is tough & it took me a season to recover & walk it out with God. It was like a pruning process of getting rid of all the stuff that wasn’t healthy for me.

The season after that I heard from another manager that my manager was looking to get rid of me. He denied it & I did well in the pre-season. Someone then got injured & I was in the team for every game. The opportunity came up for me to go to another team but I felt God tell me to stay where I was. It didn’t make much sense because I felt that the manager didn’t really want me but I felt it was good to stay & serve as best I could. That’s what I did & God was faithful & I was able to show God’s love to those around me.

What about playing for Grenada?

That was definitely a highlight! I was able to play because my dad was born in Grenada. I got married in 2018 & in 2019 we had a ceremony for family in Grenada. In previous years they had contacted me about representing them but I was thinking that maybe I could play for a bigger team like Jamaica or England! After the loss of my father I felt it had more meaning to represent them & I actually have more family in Grenada that I am aware of than in Jamaica. It is an absolute privilege to do so.

Last year we qualified for the Gold Cup for just the second time in history. We didn’t manage to win a game but we are a very small nation compared to the likes of the USA & other giants. It is a lovely place & it has been great to go out there & connect with family members as well. I haven’t played as much recently because I need to keep my team place & don’t want to risk injury but I am hoping it is something I can continue.

Congratulations on the League 2 PFA player in the community award – could you tell us more about what you do & why?

Thank you. There is so much I want to address including mental health issues. I guess it stems from my desire to give back to the community. When I moved back to London & was playing nonleague football at Hornchurch I set up a football coaching business. It actually developed into a passion for charity & helping those who are less fortunate. I set it up thinking I could fill a niche for those kids that can’t for safety reasons cross borough lines, whose dads maybe aren’t around & who have never been to a proper match. I used the profits to buy tickets for an England/ France game

so the kids could experience their first ever game. It was a process of me walking with God & allowing him to challenge my heart for those in need. When I started playing it was still an accessible sport but it is becoming less accessible now with fees & paying for sessions. The trouble with that is that kids don’t then have a safe place to go & can end up choosing ‘alternative’ routes that lead them down negative paths. I coached that Sunday league team even when I moved to Aldershot full time. That is the bigger ‘why’ of what I do. People were there for me & I want to do the same. My dad was a great example of that he was in a band that were good enough to be on Top Of the Pops but he would lend out his equipment to people so they could gain experience. It was a big deal & I wanted to embody that & do my best for others. Football is not my purpose, it is a platform that I can use to do other stuff that I am called to do, namely serve others. I really believe that my passion for people has been cultivated over the years & being a footballer enables me to be a role model & try to give back. So that is the reason that I speak out on topics like mental health. Earlier in my career I didn’t really understand it & would be quite dismissive of others. Don’t be silly! What are you on about! Etc.!

But then I had my own issues which made me more empathetic. It made me want to speak up & get rid of the stigma around mental health so ever since then giving something back is, for me, a massive part of being a light for Jesus wherever I am.

Have you any answers to prayer that you can share with us?

I guess my whole journey has been an answer to prayer! I am always praying & seeing answers along the way. An example of this was when I was at Shrewsbury Town. The pandemic had struck & my wife was pregnant so it was not a great time to move club, but after some problems I didn’t feel it was right to accept their offer of a 2 year contract. It seemed everyone was urging me to accept it & have security but I prayed & just felt it wasn’t for me. Other people encouraged me to follow God’s leading & provision, some had prophetic words for me, so I did. In that process of turning down that & other contract offers I had to rely on God to direct me & I found myself at Crewe Alexandra in the same league. In hindsight I look back & thank God for providing, especially at a time when lots of others couldn’t find teams.

Has being in community with others helped your Christian walk?

I first got in touch with Linvoy Primus from Christians in Sport & he really helped me to step out & connect with others, even with people in my own dressing room that I wasn’t aware were believers. I also got connected with ‘Ballers in God’ & that has played a massive part in my journey. It can be isolating as a footballer because you often don’t get a chance to settle in a church due to moving teams etc. It is vital to be planted in good ground where you can experience God’s presence with others. John Bostock is phenomenal at leading & gathering people. There is also ‘Christians in Sport’ & F3 – Football, Faith & Fellowship. I am connected on all these platforms & they have played a big part in growing in my faith & providing accountability.

Do you have a favourite Bible verse(s) and why?

There are different ones but 2 stand out. The first was pivotal at the start of my faith journey.

Matthew 6 v 33 says, But seek first his kingdom & his righteousness, & all these things will be given to you as well.

Up until that point I had been searching for ‘all those things’ instead of seeking God. I began to realise that I needed to have God as my priority not stuff!

Currently it is from the same chapter & forms part of the Lord’s Prayer, v 10 says, Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I really want that to be my story, that wherever I go I want to be walking in obedience to God & making an impact! A guest speaker at a ‘Ballers in God’ session said, ‘You are not called to be the best, you are called to make an impact.’

What is the best thing bargain you have ever found?

What Jesus did on the cross is the best answer I can give!

Is there anything you have found out recently that you feel that you really should have known before? Or wish you had known?

I have really been challenged at church by a message about bridging the gap between what you know & how you live your life. The passage was about forgiving others as God forgives you. There are people in life that I have found difficult to forgive because of what they have done. I have carried bitterness & harboured some level of unforgiveness. I don’t hate them but equally I wouldn’t go out of my way for them or pray for them. I realised that I should be showing them the same grace that God has shown in forgiving me. Forgiveness enables us to walk in freedom & I wish I’d started that journey sooner!

Follow Omar on : @omarbeckles

Omar is part of ‘Ballers In God’ (BIG) – an organisation that aims to bring Christian footballers together & support them in their day to day lives, as well as reaching out to other players to introduce them to the Christian Faith.

You can check out BIG @ballersingod or to find out more about their work go to : www.ballersingod.com

You can also check out Christians in Sport - @christians_in_sport or

FOUND A BARGAIN

Surely everyone likes a bargain...?

Who doesn't like saving money...?

But sometimes our bargains aren't quite what they seem!

They might be cheap but:

Do I really need it?

Is it good quality or cheap 'tat'?

Is it just a passing fad?

Am I going to get a lot of use out of it?

Have I already got enough of whatever it is?

The best bargain story I know of is the bargain that God offers each one of us...

We have all messed up & yet God offers us forgiveness & a fresh start. It is like being brought before a judge at court & even though we are guilty we are allowed to go free because the judge himself pays the penalty for us.

You would have to be lacking in common sense to turn down the offer & say you’d rather just pay the price yourself. who would do that...?

But that is what so many of us do! God offers us freedom & forgivenss but we think we can pay for it ourselves. If we do the right things & ‘work’ hard at being good then surely God will be pleased & let us off.

We need to answer all these questions before determining whether we have in fact found a bargain or not!

I'm not much of a shopper these days but I remember as a kid going to the Boxing day sales & things were at bargain prices, not just the stuff that they haven't managed to sell during the rest of the year! Sometimes you can get an absolute bargain but other times you can end up wasting your money! Buying something that is cheap may look like a bargain but unless you are actually going to use it then it is still a waste of money!

A bargain by definition is getting something that costs a lot for far less than you should have paid for it!

But the Bible puts it this way though in John 14 v 6:

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by through Me.

God offers us a bargain but we have to accept it. We have to admit that we have messed up & ask him to help us live the life he wants us for us.

We all have the opportunity to accept his love & forgiveness. This bargain offer is open to everyone - you don’t have to belong to a church or be a certain age or gender. But it is a time limited offer because none of us know when our time will be up.

Have you accepted his bargain offer...?

I Still Haven’t Found What I am Looking For!

There is a great song by U2 that is called 'I still haven't FOUND what I am looking for' which has been brought to a younger audience through the film Sing 2. Ash, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, sings it & reclusive Clay Calloway, voiced by Bono himself, FINDS his confidence again to join in!

Life can often feel like we haven't FOUND what we are looking for! We can feel uncertain or as if we are missing something even though we aren’t sure what!

This can be in simple things like not being able to FIND our keys, phone or item of clothing. In our house this often involves me, Mum, having to search as no one else seems capable of looking properly! I have lost count of the times I have FOUND something that one of the family has lost, often in a place they have already 'looked'!

Or it could be a deeper sense of not knowing what we are even looking for...?

What is life about? How do I FIND happiness? Why do I always feel the need for more? What happens when we die?

As a Christian I believe that satisfaction, a sense of worth & meaning come from knowing God. Knowing that I am loved, forgiven & accepted makes all the difference. It gives me hope & security no matter what life might bring.

FINDING things can be about knowing where to look. So where might you FIND God...? Is he deliberately hiding & making it difficult for us to FIND him...?

The Bible says, in Matthew 7 v 7&8: Ask & keep on asking & it will be given to you; seek & keep on seeking & you will find; knock & keep on knocking & the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, & he who keeps on seeking finds, & to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.

If you aren't sure what you are looking for, if life seems confusing & without meaning then why not try talking to God...?

Maybe he is who you are looking for...?

Photo Credit: Illumination Entertainment and Universal Studios

Puss in Bootsthe Last Wish!

I can’t believe it has been over ten years since the last installment from the Dreamworks Shrek Universe. This year sees Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) return as the daring outlaw, with little regard for safety & a love of adventure. But his wild ways have seen him lose 8 of his 9 lives so he must embark on one more epic adventure. This time we find him travelling through the Black Forest, to find the legendary Wishing Star, & to hopefully regain his lives. Because he only has one life left he reluctantly needs to ask his former partner & nemisis, Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek), to help. They are joined by Perro (Harvey Guillen), a chatty & cheerful mutt who maybe isn’t as helpful as they’d like. Along the way they need to outwit Goldilocks & the Three Bears Crime Family, as well as Big Jack Horner & the Big Bad Wolf.

Will Puss in Boots manage to regain his lives...?

What will he do with them if he does...?

You will have to go & see it to find out!

Photo credits: Universal Pictures & DreamWorks Animation LLC

Photo Credits: Universal Pictures

‘What do you want to do with your last life?’

We only get one life so it is even more important that we ask ourselves the same question! What are we going to do with the life that we have been given? Are we going to make the most of it or are we going to waste it?

Sometimes it can be tempting to think that we have all the time in the world & we can do what we like, when we like. But to be truthful we never know what each day will bring. Every day has opportunities to be the best that we can be but we have to see and take them!

We can’t change the past but we can change the future by making the most of every day & opportunity that comes our way. We might not be as adventurous or heroic as Puss in Boots but we can all play a small part in making life better.

Have you Found your purpose...?

You might not have any big plans yet or found the answer to what you want to do in life. It can be a difficult decision & you might change your mind multiple times over the years. But whatever your answer is to the question of what you want to do with your life I hope it includes making a positive difference rather than a negative one. I hope it involves choosing to follow what God wants for your life & not just going after things that only benefit you personally...

SO...

What are you going to choose?

What are you going to achieve today?

Who are you going to help today?

What impact are you going to make today?

JUST FOUND OUT!

On the internet there are several articles about stuff that people have only just found out even though they are adults. Things that seem so obvious when you know yet obviously not so simple for others! Sometimes I think it’s just a question of how you see things but other times you can’t believe that people really can’t see or understand things! ‘How could they be so stupid?’ But we all have things that we just don’t get or see. Maths is a good example of how some people see things straight away & for others the penny never drops! Art is similar, some people can transfer what they see into art & others just can’t! We are all wired differently but for each of us there will be moments when we think ‘I get it!’

I think it can be the same with God. We might believe in God, we might even call ourselves Christians but knowing things about God & his love for us doesn’t mean we actually feel it or understand it. I was thinking, just this morning, about how much God loves us & even though we can know the fact it is often difficult to really believe it & live in it. We might think that He loves everyone else more, or that we aren’t good enough, or that we are just a number, yet the Bible tells us over & over that He loves us. So much so that he sent Jesus to die for us!

John 3:16 says,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one & only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Whether it is the first time or maybe one of many times that you have read that verse why not spend a few minutes just letting it sink in. Don’t spend another moment not realising how much God loves you!

Have a look at some of the things that people didn’t realise from the internet:

Photo Credit: Czapp Botond on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Cristiano Pinto on Unsplash

I was 44 when I realised a cartwheel is named that way because as you tumble with your hands & feet spread out you look like the spokes on the hub of a cart wheel!

A penknife isn’t actually a pen-shaped knife, but rather a knife for sharpening the feathers used in old fashioned quill pens.

I thought a birthday suit was just your favourite outfit. Like, you save this special outfit for a celebratory occasion. I always got weird looks when I told people I was going shopping for my birthday suit. I wish I was joking!

People didn’t know artist Flo Rida got his name by splitting Florida into two words!

My boyfriend was astounded that I had no idea where Adrians Wall was, & I would say I am good at Geography!

I have no idea where Adrian’s Wall is either. Hadrian’s Wall however, now that’s another matter!

A friend was forever looking for a place in the USA called “Ellay”. He’d heard of Los Angeles but hadn’t realised “L.A.” was an abbreviation for it & thought Los Angeles” & “Ellay” were separate places.

It took me ages to work out why you text film to the number 241 for a Buy One Get One Free cinema ticket!

Tinder gets it’s name because it’s purpose is to help spark a connection with a match.

The Disney logo doesn’t start with a fancy backwards ‘G’.

That the coffee shop Central Perk in Friends was a pun on Central Park.

Lot of people on Facebook now realising that Titanic wasn’t just a movie.

I’m not a wine drinker but was dragged along to a wine tasting. I received a lengthy “not sure if serious” look from the guy behind the counter when I asked him what made some wine white & some wine red...?

I used to just put my hands under the hand dryers & wonder why it was taking so long, but then I saw one of my friends rubbing their hands & I felt stupid!

The division symbol (÷) is just a fraction with the two dots representing numbers!

The Domino’s pizza logo is a domino!

I used to love reading Winnie the Pooh - but I was about 30 before I realised that Eeyore’s name was the sound a donkey made.

Inflammable is not the opposite of flammable!

Photo Credit: Angelo Casto on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Federica Giusti on Unsplash

FOUND A

When we put a magazine together we spend hours going over it looking for spelling & grammar mistakes as well as checking the articles make sense! We can look at the same article multiple times before spotting a mistake & often end up wondering how we missed it before! We have even ocassionally gone to print & then noticed a mistake when it was too late!

With work it is a good thing to be diligent & aim to do your best but it can become a problem if we cross the boundary into desperately seeking perfection in everything.

Whilst perfection is good it can rob us of so much enjoyment if we only accept perfection from ourselves, others or our surroundings. Instead of enjoying the good moments we concern ourselves with what could have been better, or instead of accepting people for who they are we critisise things about them, or we can even become very self-critical & put ourselves under immense pressure not just to be good enough but to be perfect...

The Bible tells us that there was only one person who lived a perfect life & that was Jesus. In our own strength we can never achieve perfection but the good news is that God accepts us & our mistakes when we turn to him & ask for his forgiveness. We can live a life that is free from constantly seeking approval & acceptance from others when we know we are loved by God!

Why not take the quiz & see whether you are always looking for mistakes...?

Do you like to always look your best ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

Do you like to have everything in it’s place ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

Do you find yourself always wanting the latest ‘…’ rather than being ok with what you have ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

Do you find it easy to see faults in others ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

Do you find it easier to critisise than praise ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

Do you find it difficult to change the way you do something ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

MItsAKE?

Do you find it difficult to find the perfect outfit ...?

B) No

C

C) Sometimes

Maybe you got a mix of answers or maybe one really stood out as your dominant response.Take a look at the answers below to see what you are like.

Do you feel uneasy trying new things ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes Do you find fault with whatever is dished up for tea ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

Do you tend to compare yourself with others rather than being happy as you are ...?

If you answered mostly A – Well, you are always looking for mistakes & feeling dissatisfied with the way things are. Whilst this can be a positive thing, it can quickly & easily become a problem. You can become so centred & focused on problems & mistakes that nothing ever lives up to expectations. People will make mistakes, things won’t always be perfect but they can still bring happiness if you let them. Don’t be so concerned about perfection that you miss out!

If you answered mostly B – You seem to live a very even, well balanced life. You don’t let problems or mistakes get to you. You might see them as inconvenient or slightly irritating but you don’t let that ruin your mood or day. For you mistakes are something to learn from rather than concentrate on, whether it is as a result of your own doing or someone else! Keep it up & don’t let other people try to change your perspective!

Do you spend ages trying to perfect your school work ...?

C) Sometimes

Do you analyse in depth what someone has said you ...?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Sometimes

If you answered mostly C – Most of us will probably be in this category. We can happily take some ‘mistakes’ in our stride but others leave us flustered or annoyed. Or it may be that some days we can deal with them & others we are too tired or feeling pressured to not let them get to us! The occasional mistake or unusual behaviour we can cope with but not all the time. When things get tough remind yourself that God loves you & with him you can handle anything!

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod & your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely your goodness & love will follow me all the days of my life, & I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Finding Peace

Psalm 23 is a well known Psalm that talks about Jesus being our shepherd & leading us to green pastures & peaceful, quiet waters where we can feel restored & refreshed. But it also talks about going through valleys & how we can still know God’s peace & presence with us in difficult times. It is easy to feel peaceful when we are in a good place, with pleasant surroundings & everything is going well. But what about when we face hard or uncertain times can we still, like the Psalmist, know God’s peace...?

We have had a tough few months. Having had a cancer diagnosis in late March I’ve had bits cut out, not been able to use my arm properly for 3 weeks, had to wait on results, all twice! That moment when the doctor first said, ‘It’s cancerous!’ was unnerving, so was being recalled because they weren’t sure they had removed it all. Waiting for them to do further tests was a very long ten days & finally having a scan to confirm their findings was like walking through a valley. Thankfully they did give me the all clear.

What kept me going though when my mind wandered to the ‘What ifs...? was people praying for me & spending time with God for myself. Whenever those thoughts came

into my mind I had to re-focus my mind on Jesus & his words. I had to receive his peace & allow it to fill my mind rather than worries & anxiety.

Here are some verses from the Bible about peace that hopefully you will find useful...

Psalm 23 v 4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod & your staff they comfort me.

Photo credit: Biegun

Wshcodni on Unsplash

Psalm 4 v 8

In peace I will lie down & sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

2 Thessalonians 3 v 16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times & in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Romans 5 v1

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 8 v 6

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life & peace.

Isaiah 26 v 3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

John 14 v 27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled & do not be afraid.

Philippians 4 v 7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5 v 7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Isaiah 54 v 10

Though the mountains be shaken & the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Romans 15 v 13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace as you trust in him.

Proverbs 3 v 5&6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him & he will direct your path.

Matthew 11 v 28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary & burdened, & I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you & learn from me, for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Isaiah 43 v 1-3

But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; & when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Philippians 4 v 6&7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God & the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 4 v 8

In peace I will lie down & sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Finding my Way

Ricardo P Lloyd is a British actor and presenter. He began his career in theatre, appearing in productions by Shakespeare’s Globe and since then has built up his resume with a number of different projects. He is considered to be one of Britain’s leading talent’s, In 2020, The Voice newspaper named him one of the Top 20 to watch out for and more recently was awarded by Anglia Ruskin university for his cultural impact. In 2022 Ricardo presented his own documentary for BBC Radio 4. We first interviewed Ricardo before the Coronavirus pandemic and were delighted to catch up with him again to FIND out what the pandemic was like for him, what he’s been up to since.

Photo credit: Julia Buchalska

Was acting something you always wanted to do?

I have always performed & been creative. I was performing from a young age but it wasn’t till my teens that I took it more seriously in terms of pursuing it as a career. At school I went down a bad path, hanging around with the wrong crowds trying to fit in, which led to getting into some fights & failing most of my GCSEs. I turned my life around, retook some GCSEs. After sixth form I went on to get a degree in Performing Arts; Film TV & Stage followed by an MBA.

How & why did you become a Christian?

I have always had a feeling of wanting to know more about life & find meaning from it. I was always wondering why we are here & searching for the truth. In my late teens I found my path with Christ through my uncle & his wife introducing me to faith. That was the start of my own journey. I began to believe in myself & have hope again. I had lost that sense of hope & was frustrated, confused, and dealt with depression and anxiety. When I came to Christ there was a change in my heart & life as I started to love & see the world differently.

What was your acting journey like up to the pandemic?

I did some work with Intermission Youth Theatre in 2019, we worked with Shakespeare texts and got to work alongside established actors like Mark Rylance. I did ‘Shakespeare walks’ which involved doing different pieces in various locations around London. In ‘Excluded’ I played the part of Romeo. I felt my career was moving forward & things were looking up. There was some attention & buzz around me but then everything got put on pause due to lockdown. I’d got some projects lined up to go into schools with another theatre company but they were obviously cancelled. Like many actors I had different jobs whilst waiting to get a ‘break’ but those were in the hospitality sector & those stopped too! So life was quite stressful & difficult financially. I went through some really tough situations but now, like lots of people, I’m rebuilding. As an actor a lot of self assurance can come from the work I do so when I’m not being creative it can be difficult. But with the Christian faith we know that trials can strengthen you, producing character & faith through perseverance. Part of my purpose is acting but I would describe it as my life mission is to generally inspire, empower & impact people.

Please tell tell us a little bit what life was like for you during the pandemic & how your faith helped?

God is always there even if you feel like you are in the pits! Isaiah 41:10 says:

‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I also like what David says in Psalm 23.3-5: He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod & Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil.

I went through a lot of stuff like losing friends, betrayal, being on the streets which was all difficult & negative but even then I knew God was still there guiding & helping me.

There is a verse in Psalm 40 v2 which resonates with me. It reads : He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of miry clay, & He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps & establishing my path.

When you have God’s hand on you & his light you know that he will never leave or forsake you. Knowing that I can hold onto God as HE gives me strength but it is a work in progress. A lot of us are proud & want to do stuff ourselves, often thinking we have achieved stuff whereas in reality God has had his hand in it!

Photo credit: Tamzin Morris

The world has changed in recent years & people have had to reassess what is important, like care & community. Through the pandemic I think we saw the best side of humanity helping each other & reaching out. When you are in crisis you need to hold on to something stronger than yourself & for me that was holding onto God. When you are suffering your prayers become more real because all you have is God! You have to keep trusting that He will make a way even when you can’t see it! You can either let negative stuff overwhelm you or let it become a stepping stone or building block. It is good to know that when you have God on your side He will never let go of you, even when you are drifting from him in terms of finding it hard to read the Bible or go to church. Somehow he works things out so you are exactly where you are meant to be so even when it doesn’t feel like it you can have faith in Him!

After the pandemic has it been easy to find work?

I had to have faith & go looking for it. Sometimes you have to step out with God’s guidance & push doors. Often things that are good & worth while don’t come easily but at the same time I know I am blessed & that God is going to make a way for me. People often think when people succeed that it has just been given to them or down to luck but it is often hard work & persistence paying off. I got to do a documentary

for BBC Radio 4 called, ‘My Name is Ricardo P Lloyd’ because I put in the work behind the scenes and I brought the idea to them. There were hitches along the way but I kept going. It was played on Radio 4 on July 18th & is now on BBC sound! I wanted to explore race, diversity & inclusion issues in the UK, particularly in the media. Historically a lot of black actors have to go to the USA to gain recognition. It is not something that is talked about but it is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed. Just because we might have a black Dr Who star doesn’t mean that everything has changed, there is still a lot that needs to be done. We need to raise awareness for things to really move forward. For the documentary I did a lot of the work myself which was hard especially as I didn’t really see anyone who looked or sounded like me in those spaces, but also a great experience to put on my CV! We can all suffer from Imposter Syndrome where we don’t feel good enough but I am learning to counteract that by remembering that in God I have a purpose & can do all things! People will often try & tell you that you can’t, it’s impossible, it won’t work or you just aren’t good enough but I’m rebuilding my self-esteem in Jesus.

Do you have a favourite Bible verse(s) and why?

Romans 8 v 28 says:

All things work together for good for those who love God!

I think that sums up everything we have been chatting about!

Also Jeremiah 29 v 11 says:

I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you & not to harm you, plans to give you hope & a future.

We need to hold onto these things because the world will make you feel like you are nothing but God has a purpose for us. It is important for me to give a sense of hope & light to people, I want to lift people up rather than knock them down. Our actions & words should give people hope & encouragement.

Have you any answers to prayer that you can share with us?

I prayed before & during the documentary with the BBC because it was difficult! I asked God to give me a platform & he did. I’m glad that I got the right people to take part & we were able to cover various issues. I am always asking God to elevate me so I can affect & bless other people. I see answers to that all the time & am always looking for opportunities to unfold for me.

Where would you like to find your self in say 5 years time?

Geographically I would like to go to LA. The Arts & entertainment are big out there so it makes sense to be in the USA. I hope to be better known & have a

Photo credit: BBC

global platform so I can demonstrate that wherever you are from it is possible to succeed & I’d also love to have the opportunity to bring hope & empowerment to others.

Where do you find the strength from to keep pushing on?

Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to go on but I know God is with me & that He has a purpose for me, that is what keeps me going! As an actor you have to learn about other people & you have to do it without judgement. You really don’t know what other people are going through but by taking on different roles you can begin to have more empathy & compassion. As an artist & public figure I want to be someone who people can relate to & who they can connect with.

Is there anything you have found out recently that you feel that you really should have known before?

I learnt a lot about myself in the pandemic as well about relationships & friendships. I learnt that putting my trust in God is much better than putting my trust in people. Relying on God is more stable & fulfilling than solely relying on people who can hurt or betray us. I think the pandemic has brought a lot of that stuff to the forefront.

What is the best thing or bargain you have ever found?

I don’t really do a lot of bargain shopping but I guess you could say when I found God! When I didn’t have God things weren’t clear & I felt directionless but when I found God I found a sense of direction & clarity!

Follow Ricardo on Instagram / Twitter : @ricardoplloyd

Website : https://ricardoplloyd.com

To listen to Ricardo’s documentary : https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00199vv

Photo credit: Julia Buchalska

FOUND it Impossible...?

I’m sure if we could go back in time & explain to people from early in the 20th Century about some of the things that we have now they would find it impossible to believe! Space travel, mobile phones, planes, nuclear power, computers would have all been impossible for them to imagine, yet today they are just part of life.

But they didn’t just magically appear there was a lot of work that had to go into developing them. I’m sure there were many failures & disappointments along the way too.

The next step in our lives can seem impossible too. Whether it is choosing GSCE subjects or a new school, choosing friends or a new hobby, even choosing what to wear or eat can sometimes leave us wishing someone else would make the choice. We might find it impossible or difficult to choose. I was reminded of this just the the other day when we were out for a meal with our eldest daughter. When she was little we went to Disneyland, Paris, & before we left we allowed our three children to choose something from the toy store. The younger two chose Mickey & Minnie Mouse very quickly but Abi spent ages trying to decide. With so much choice she found it impossible to make a definite

decision. After an awful lot of changing her mind she eventually chose a Jasmine dressing up outfit but she certainly didn’t find it easy. I was reminded of this because the restaurant we went to had a large menu & she just couldn’t decide what to have. She would have much preferred a smaller menu so she had less choice.

Sometimes it is easier if we can break down our decision into smaller steps or chunks. I guess even the scientists who develop such amazing technology have to start with something simple & then add to it. I have found writing this article difficult as I just couldn’t get started. Often when I write it just flows but not this one. I have kept putting it off & finding other things to do. But sometimes you just have to launch yourself into a task or decision & see where it takes you!

There is an old saying that:

‘Every journey starts with a single step!’ So next time you are finding it impossible to choose or decide on something try & work out one little step that you can take. Don’t aim to take a huge step because often that is just too scary & you will end up not doing anything. Just take little steps & what you found was impossible will start to become a reality!

Photo credit: Carolina Boyadjian on Unsplash

FOUND it

Frustrating...?

It is all too easy to find ourselves getting frustrated, irritated, angry or annoyed at things or people.

The person who isn’t behaving how we would like,

The situation that isn’t changing quickly enough,

The shop assistant that isn’t helpful enough,

The parent who doesn’t agree with us,

The game level that we can’t quite master,

The teacher who doesn’t realise we have other more pressing things to think about,

The app that isn’t loading quickly enough,

The friend that has let us down so we have to change our plans,

The weather that seems determined to spoil our fun...

We can take deep breaths & allow them to calm us,

We can go for a walk or at least remove ourselves from the situation,

We can do some exercise to promote our endorphins,

We can talk to someone about how we are feeling instead of bottling it up,

We can try & see things from someone else’s point of view, rather than just concentrating on our own,

We can make sure we are getting enough sleep,

We can think about what we can do to improve rather than escalate the problem,

And the last two which probably should be have been first,

We can be grateful for all our blessings, We can pray about stuff & ask God to help us!

There are just so many things that we can find frustrating so what can we do...?

The movie, Marry Me, looks at the relationship that develops between music superstar Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) & Charlie (Owen Wilson), a divorced high school teacher. Kat had been ready to marry Bastian, the other half of the music power couple, in front of a huge audience of fans as part of their promotional tour for their single ‘Marry Me!’ But just as they are about to go on stage Kat’s entire world is rocked when she discovers that Bastian has been cheating. As she arrives on stage she sees Charlie holding a ‘Marry Me’ sign & asks him up on stage to accept the ‘proposal’! But can they really make a go of it or are their worlds too different for ‘love’ to succeed...?

‘Marry Me’ was in cinemas earlier in the year but you can probably still stream it. It caught my attention because it looks like it will be a fun, easy watch but it also hi-lights for me the very warped sense of love that we are fed by the media in general. Unfortunately we are often fed a diet of lust & self promotion rather than love. TV shows like Love Island, Married at First Sight, The Bachelor etc all portray relationships in a very one dimensional way & imply that physical attractiveness is the main thing. People are encouraged to rush into relationships for what they can get out of them instead of what they can give. Partners become trophies to boast about & relationships become physical far too quickly. The words ‘I love you’ are said with little meaning or commitment.

FOUND LOVE...

Finding love isn’t easy & there is no magic formula to it. But it does require respect, commitment & work. There will be days when you don’t feel ‘it’ but you still have to show up & persevere. Relationships should be based on friendship not just what you can get from them. Loving someone means wanting what is best for them not just you!

This passage from the Bible shows a different idea of love. It is from I Corinthians 13 & is often read at weddings.

I hope that this is the sort of LOVE that you will give to others & look for in return rather than being caught up in the lust trap that so often fizzles & dies very quickly!

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy & can fathom all mysteries & all knowledge, & if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor & give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.