Pluck of the Irish

I read a story this week that warmed my heart, although it didn’t get off to a great start when a couple of Austrian fans visiting Dublin for their World Cup qualifier on March 26 were mugged the night before the game.

They were unceremoniously stripped of their wallets – which were lined with Euros and their precious match tickets – and sent on their way.

However, when the news of this injustice spread on social media sites Facebook and Twitter, a number of Ireland fans stepped in. Fan forum You Boys in Green (YBIG) started a collection for the two lads and the response was overwhelming.

The Austrians were issued replacement tickets by the FA and a special collection was taken up on their behalf before kick-off! In fact, so much money was promised, the two fans said they would give anything they received over and above what they had lost to Irish charities!

Of course, the recompense wouldn’t have been complete without taking the two Austrians for a knees-up the night before the game. I’m pretty sure they were treated to a Guinness or two by the local lads as they hit the town.

So well done to all the Ireland fans who helped out… But why am I telling you all this?

Well, because I think it’s really important to show kindness to people, especially those who have been mistreated. A lot of people would have felt sorry for the Austrian guys but wouldn’t have actually done anything about it.

                                          

There are so many people in the world who need help. Maybe your neighbour is suffering from depression and would appreciate a chat, or someone at work is moving house and needs someone to pack a few boxes for them. Easter is a great time to reflect on these things.

Perhaps your heart goes out to the homeless or victims of sex trafficking but you don’t know how to channel that concern into positive action. Sometimes a smile or a hug will do, but on other occasions you might need to put your hand in your pocket, or be prepared to invest time in a project that matches your cause.

Of course, the most important thing you can do this Easter – and, in fact, at any time of year – is to tell people about Jesus Christ. It’s important that we remember over the next few days that Jesus died to take away our sin, but let’s not keep this good news to ourselves.

The kindest thing we can do for any other human being is to assure them that God loves them deeply and has made away for us all to enjoy eternal life with Him if we simply accept Jesus’ great sacrifice for ourselves.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Happy Easter from all of us at Sorted magazine.

A whole new ball game

Unlike Match of the Day, Match for a Day is not a TV show. If it were, Jack Bauer would be all over it, as it involves a whopping 24 hours of greatness. Set up by Ambassadors in Sport (AIS), the footballing event starts at 10am on June 7 and ends at precisely the same time on June 8.

On the day, an AIS team will play against a new fresh team every hour at The London Soccerdome, a dedicated indoor football arena. Event sponsor State Street Bank has already agreed to put in a team, as have The Salvation Army Stratford and Frinton Free Church Essex.

Special guests at the event will include former Portsmouth FC defender Linvoy Primus, who will share his personal story and information about his latest project (www.linvoyprimus.com) as well as doing some serious talking on the pitch.

“When I was told about Match for the Day, I thought to myself, ‘That sounds cool and challenging’, and I wanted to hear more,” Linvoy tells Sorted.

“Once I heard the details, I expressed a desire to take part. The idea of playing football for 24 hours sounds crazy, but what a way to raise money for my ministry and charity.

“I've also asked a couple of ex-pros if they want to get involved – Dave Waterman, formerly of Portsmouth FC, and Trevor Benjamin, formerly of Leicester FC – and they have agreed to take part for their own personal charities.

“Since I retired from football, I'm always looking for new physical and unique challenges, and this is up there.” 

The two AIS teams will play in two-hour shifts, having just enough time to rest before they get back on the pitch. Teams will comprise eight players on half a full-sized AstroTurf pitch.

“At AIS our dreams are to see the lives of marginalised and vulnerable individuals and communities changed positively for good through football,” says organiser Stephen Read.

“The beautiful game provides a way of reaching out to people from all sorts of backgrounds in a non-threatening way. This builds a trusting environment where life-changing decisions can be made. We have sought to pioneer and develop exciting grassroots educational initiatives, focused around football, to transform people’s lives.

“These programmes include football club development, academies, soccer schools, tournaments, and work in prisons and schools as we seek to help young people, youth offenders, adults, the homeless and the marginalised.”

If you’d like to get involved, cost per team ranges from £150 per team to £350 (depending on the time slot you choose), and this includes post-match refreshments. If you want to go a step further (and avoid the hard graft) you could become a corporate sponsor. Packages range from kit sponsorship (£500) through to full event and naming rights (£4,000).

Visit www.matchforaday.co.uk or contact Stephen Read (sr@ais-uk.org) for more information.

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Christian men's magazine Sorted.

Best foot forward

Buying a pair of flip flops rarely has a global impact, but it soon will if the Gandys brand continues to grow. As well as having an attractive product to sell, the company’s founders – brothers Rob and Paul Forkan – have an incredible story to tell.

After spending a wonderful year travelling around India, the Forkan family moved to Sri Lanka in 2004. They spent a few days in a small fishing town called Weligama over Christmas before continuing their travels; but unfortunately for the family, their trip was tragically cut short when the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami struck.

Kevin and Sandra did everything they could to keep the two youngest from drowning, and Rob was able to save himself and Paul. But unfortunately, the four children would never see their parents again; they were swept away by the powerful waves. Lucky to be alive, but devastated and shocked by what had happened, the siblings spent a horrendous week desperately trying to make it back to the UK without documents, money or protection.

We caught up with Rob to find out about the flip flop business that grew out of the brothers’ Brixton bedrooms. A percentage of each pair of flip flops sold is set aside to for their Orphans for Orphans initiative, which helps to build orphanages and care for the millions of children around the globe who are struggling to survive.

Was travelling a great experience before the tsunami?

It’s hard to put into words, it was literally incredible. Travelling around India experiencing different cultures, playing cricket on the beach and volunteering; trying out different foods… It was a long way from being a ‘normal’ classroom situation over here.

You and your three siblings had a torrid time getting help after this tragic event. What kept you going?

I still don’t know how anyone managed to do it. We just kept our heads up, kept motivated and made sure we got back to safety. We had to stay calm so we could deal with what was in hand.

How did you and Paul come up with the idea of Gandys?

We were at a festival and we kept hearing this urban term – “My mouth’s as dry as Gandhi’s flip flop” – and it escalated from there really. We changed the spelling because we didn’t want to make it controversial. We built the brand based on our own beliefs and on everything we had learnt as children.

I know your parents ran their own fashion company, but how qualified were you to set up your own shoemaking business?

They had a similar business model; it’s the way our family has always worked. It’s a little bit outside the box, but it’s nice because we are able to do our own thing. We’re not sat at a desk all day: we do a lot of university talks and travel quite a bit, and we do quite a lot of creative stuff as well.

When we told people about our England-based flip flop idea they thought we were crazy, but attitudes have changed towards it. A lot of people just follow the system and don’t think about stepping outside the box. It can be daunting, but it goes back to the life we had as children.

Tell us about Mango House...

We went to school and travelled all over India and we spent time in Goa, where there is this really good children’s home that provides education, medication and nutrition to children in the surrounding areas, including the slums. I’ve been out a few times and Paul has been a few times. It’s a smaller charity but it’s very transparent about its costs.

We set up our business so that it will be sustainable and can support projects like this. The more it grows, the more we will be able to continue to give this support.

What’s your long-term plan for Gandys?

We want to be a global brand, and we want our message to be global. Orphans for Orphans is quite a powerful statement, and it’s not just about orphans; it’s for any children in need. We’ve been in a third-world country with no food and no money so we understand.

We want to have global projects all over the world as well.

You can buy Gandys flip flops at Selfridges, House of Fraser, ASOS, Topman, Soletrader, USC, Schuh and many other retailers, as well as online at www.gandysflipflops.com.

Read the full story in the May-June edition of Sorted magazine.

Dealing with grief

This last week has been one of the toughest of my life. I won’t go into detail, but think back to the last cataclysmic week you had and you can probably identify.

I’m not telling you this because I want sympathy or have a burning desire to bare my soul. 

I’m sharing because going through these hard times has taught me two important lessons: 1) that God is good and 2) that one of the best ways to overcome grief is to help others.

God is good

When things aren’t going well, it’s easy to blame others, and sometimes even God. But the Bible says that He loves us, provides for us, comforts us, heals us and ultimately saves us. He turns our mourning into joy; our filthy rags into robes of righteousness.

During difficult times, it seems easier to bury our heads in the sand or to distract ourselves with the wrong things than to spend time praying, reading the Bible or just spending time resting in His presence. I’m learning that these are the times to press into God and to experience the peace that only He can give.

Psalm 23 is familiar to most people, and it’s no coincidence that it has become such a well-quoted scripture. It has really given me comfort this week to know that God is guiding me and that He has a plan for my future:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes 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 and 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 and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Serving others

It’s tempting to throw ourselves a huge pity party when bad things happen. I’ve been the life and soul of my own grief gatherings in the past, but I’ve never, ever felt better as a result.

Thinking about others when you’re suffering offers a distraction, but it can also really benefit you and the people around you. I’m sure you know someone who has a financial, practical or emotional need. You might not be able to solve it, but you might have the means to encourage them or alleviate their stress.

If helping others doesn’t come naturally to you or you’re struggling for inspiration, Christian charity Stewardship might be able to help. It is challenging people to ‘do Lent generously’ this year by taking part in 40 simple acts of generosity.

Instead of giving something up for 2013, the 40acts challenge offers suggestions such as donating blood, living on a fiver and becoming a mentor. More than 7,500 people have already signed up to take part, and it’s not too late to join!

Debbie Wright, head of content at Stewardship, says: “Lent marks a pivotal point in the history of the church, when Jesus prepared to give himself up as a sacrifice for all mankind. 

"Traditionally we mark Lent by giving something up, but what if it could be more than that? What if Lent was a preparation for a lifetime of big-heartedness?”

“Small acts of generosity, performed by thousands of Christians across the UK, have the power to make a big change to our communities, to our churches and ultimately, to our world.”

Today is the first day of the 40acts challenge, and the opening task is to make a generosity kit. Find out more and sign up here: 40acts.org.uk. 

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Sorted magazine - out soon!

Be my Valentine…

I’ve never been the romantic type, so Valentine’s Day comes as a bit of a shock to the system every year. Few experiences are more painful to me than standing in Clinton Cards trying to pick something out that doesn’t make me want to spew… which is why the ones I choose normally say things like “Resistance is Futile” (I actually sent this once) rather than “I love you more than life itself, snookums”.

One year I absolutely excelled myself. I had been seeing someone for a month or two and thought Valentine’s would be a fairly low-key affair. We were having dinner together, but I felt it was too early for cards or any of that kind of carry-on.

On the way to the venue, I bought him a Cadbury’s Creme Egg. Because to me, there’s no better way of telling someone you like them than by producing that delightful piece of chocolaty goodness. The only problem was, I had to get the bus… and by the time I had trekked to the bus stop, I was hungry.

I turned up to find that my beloved had been rather more considerate than I; his thoughtful gifts were laid out beautifully, and not one of them had even the tiniest of nibble marks. I guiltily handed over the scraps of Creme Egg foil, muttering something about the thought counting. It wasn’t my finest moment – although he later revealed that he didn’t like Creme Eggs (???!), so I felt slightly vindicated.

Perhaps, like me, you are a little romantically challenged… Do you leave it till the last minute and then grab the first card you see, triumphantly scooping up a manky rose at the counter as a special bonus? Have you had any Valentine’s disasters you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear them!

Anyway, if you struggle every February 14 to find something romantic to do, we might have a little idea up our sleeves for you. Pixengo has launched a new iPhone app that allows you to add a personal recorded message to a still image. You could use it to record a funny message, whisper sweet nothings to your Valentine or even propose! (It’s only a personal opinion, but popping the question by recorded message may not fulfil all her proposal dreams.)

If you’ve already bought a gift, the free app allows you to personalise it in a modern, thoughtful way. For example, you could book a table at your Valentine’s favourite restaurant, take a picture of the venue and then use the app to invite her there for a romantic meal. It’s a small gesture, but we women love the personal touch.

There is even scope for you to send silly messages: the example Pixengo gives on its website is of a man in a mankini accompanied by a cheeky message. Of course, you can make it as fun or as serious as you like.

Now I’m not encouraging you to be lazy or forgetful; it’s good to show the people that we love exactly what they mean to us at least once a year. But this ingenious little app could act as a get-out-of-jail-free card if you are a little less organised than you had planned to be. 

If you didn’t quite get round to ordering that necklace or picking up that special box of chocolates, take a funny picture of something else and let her know that the real gift is on its way! And if you do send a Pixengo message, let us know what you sent and how it was received!

Click here to download the free app from iTunes… and Happy Valentine’s to you all.

(PS you can’t say you forgot now, because we just reminded you!)

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Sorted magazine.

If only someone in China could do my job for me…

Wouldn’t it be nice to get paid a decent salary without having to lift a finger? No doubt that’s what went through the mind of a US software developer when he decided to outsource his job to a company based in Shenyang, China.

The 40-something American was reportedly paid a six-figure salary but spent his day surfing the internet while the Chinese company did his work for a fifth of the price. My first thought was, ‘What a genius idea!’

I mean, we already wear clothes that are made in China and sit on furniture from the Far East. So why shouldn’t we take advantage of the cheaper labour offered by its ever-growing workplace?  

1.    It’s dishonest. If someone is paying you to do a job and you are palming off someone else’s efforts as your own, you are lying to them. This also applies if you are in management and take the credit for someone else’s work or ideas. Or if you plagiarise someone else’s research for a university assignment and pretend it is your own endeavour.

2.    It’s exploitative. If the person providing the work is producing a product or service that is of the same standard you would, then they deserve more than 20% of your salary. Whether it is someone in the Orient or a member of your own workforce, we should value people as highly as we value ourselves and ensure that they are paid accordingly.

3.    It’s lazy. If you’ve been given a job to do, you should do it to the best of your ability. This guy was obviously capable of doing the work he was given, but instead he chose to sit around watching YouTube videos. Instead of reaching and even exceeding his potential, he was happy to just ‘get away with it’. There's no pride in an easy ride.

The Bible says a number of things about work: 

• Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”
• 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat”
• Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established”
• 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

So even if your job is tiring or mundane, you should do it to the best of your abilities; not looking for plaudits or a pat on the back, but knowing that God sees and honours what you’re doing. 

It’s also worth remembering that the American chap got fired for his little scam if still you’re tempted to follow suit!

Anyway, that’s my cue to get back to proofreading the latest issue of Sorted. 

Featuring an exclusive interviews with Sir Anthony Hopkins, you’re in for a real treat! Just imagine if he or one of your other heroes had sat around with his feet up rather than fulfilling his potential!

The real daddy day care

Neil Sinclair has served as a Royal Engineer Commando, a PE teacher, a security guard for the UN in New York and a PCSO in the Metropolitan Police Service. 

So what's the most difficult role he’s ever undertaken? Fatherhood, by a long stretch! According to Neil, bringing his first son home from the hospital for the first time was the scariest thing he had ever done.

Neil joined the army straight from school, serving for six years in total. The training was vigorous and the work itself – which included tours in Norway, Iraq and Belize – presented daily challenges.

When he joined the forces, Neil had hoped to become a Physical Training Instructor (PTI), but unfortunately about 50% of the recruits had the same idea and positions were limited. So when he left, he decided to do “the next best thing”; to teach physical exercise. “When I got into schools I really enjoyed it and had a good rapport with the kids,” recalls Neil.

And he obviously had a good rapport with his fellow teachers, too, because he met his wife, Tara, at his first teaching post. When Tara was offered an interview with Burson-Marsteller in New York, they were both excited. Neil was able to get a job as a security officer at the UN and the couple settled in New York and had their first two children – Samuel and Jude – across the pond. But fatherhood didn’t come as naturally to Neil as he had hoped; an experience shared by many new parents.

“I put my little boy down hoping my wife had visited the stork of knowledge,” he says. “I had no clue. We had two degrees between us but no idea about being parents. I could have delivered my own son, I knew so much about childbirth, but I hadn’t given much thought to actually having a child at home. If someone offered me £1 million to redo the first six weeks, I’d say no chance! It was a nightmare.”

Having returned to the UK before their daughter Liberty was born, Neil started training as a childminder. This enabled him to spend plenty of time with his own three but also to look after other people’s children. There was a financial benefit, but it was also great for his daughter to have children her age to play with.

Neil has been childminding for around 11 years now, and when he started out there was good deal of suspicion about guys that wanted to be stay-at-home dads, not to mention childminders. “It still goes on today,” he claims, “but there are far more stay-at-home dads now. I was an oddity when I started dropping the kids off at school. Also when I became a childminder. It’s still very rare to see a male in that environment.

It was while he was still childminding that Neil wrote his first book, Commando Dad: BasicTraining, the content of which is based on his own experience of fatherhood, particularly the first time around.  “The idea came out of fear and ignorance,” Neil explains.

“What underpins Commando Dad is being prepared,” Neil explains. “I’ve written the book I wish I’d had when I was a first-time dad.” The book deals with the ‘due to deploy’ period – six weeks prior to the birth, ‘base camp’ – the feeding station and a range of other critical issues such as bulky item storage, and what dads need to take to hospital when their wives or partners go into labour.

Unlike many other parenting books, which tell you what you should be doing at precisely 11am on the third day of the fifth week, Commando Dad isn’t prescriptive. It simply offers tips and advice on how to handle the issues that arise and how to prepare for them. The only section that specifically tells readers what they must do is the first aid segment. “All the rest is based on my experience as a stay-at-home dad and a childminder. There are no case studies or statistics.”

If you’re about to become a dad or know someone is, make sure you get hold of Commando Dad! Read the full story in the March-April issue of Sorted magazine - now available in WH Smith and Sainsbury's, as well as online.