Are you a manly man or a Motorsexual marvel?

When I’m not working on Sorted magazine, I can often be found putting together news stories for financial firms. As I foraged for inspiration this week, I found three stories that grabbed my attention.

Although finance-focused, these snippets challenged some of the stereotypes we have of ‘manly’ men in the UK. I think they’ll grab yours too – particularly if you carry a manbag, own a bottle of fake tan or hate DIY.

Motorsexual Men risk lives behind the wheel

While attractive women, beautiful views and Facebook can prove distracting for some male drivers, recent research suggests a new danger is on the horizon for men behind the wheel.

Obsessing over a hairdo, applying fake tan and posing are the most common causes of near-crashes among ‘Motorsexual Men’.

According to the More Than research, vanity-obsessed male motorists have caused an estimated 2.2 million accidents on the roads in the last 12 months. On average, a vanity-related crash results in £653.20 damage to the Motorsexual Man's car.

Whether styling their hair (23%), inspecting their complexion (19%), pouting and posing (15%) or checking the brightness of their pearly whites (10%), the rear view mirror is a hazard zone for male drivers.

Furthermore, an estimated 1.3 million Motorsexual Men regularly apply facial moisturiser, fake tan and even male foundation when in control of a moving vehicle.

Around 2.9 million male drivers check out their reflections between five and ten times in the space of a single 30-minute car journey. With roughly 4.8 seconds taken up each time they do so, male motorists could be spending up to 48 seconds with their eyes fixed on themselves rather than the road.

Matt Pernet at More Than commented: "We've heard a number of cautionary tales of women trying to apply make-up when driving, but until now men fawning over their own appearance behind the wheel was an unexplored area.

“This research shows that Motorsexual Men are significant in their numbers and are putting their safety and the safety of others at risk by valuing the importance of their own reflection over that of the road ahead."

What do you keep in your manbag?

Almost two-thirds of men carry a ‘manbag’ at least some of the time, and because men are four times more likely than women to carry expensive iPads, tablets and laptops in their bags, the precious manbag could be putting men at risk of theft.

Around 18% of men listed a tablet or laptop as their most valuable item as opposed to just 4% of women, but the high value does not stop them from carrying these items around in the beloved manbag.

Meanwhile, the Nationwide research suggests not all of the lost or stolen possessions were of significant material value. Unusual items stolen from people's bags include: a flag from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, an anorak, a blood donor card, hearing aids and a wetsuit. Items highlighted as most valuable by those surveyed included a kitten, a harmonica, secateurs and the manbag or handbag itself.

Martyn Dyson, Nationwide's head of general insurance, said: "People very often are unaware of how much valuable property they carry with them, especially given the increasing popularity of expensive smartphones, tablets and laptops.”

Home improvements or household headaches?

New research suggests very few men actually enjoy doing DIY. However, while less than 25% find it a pleasurable experience, around 75% say they would rather do it themselves than pay a professional tradesperson.

Around 6% say they would try to install their own boiler or double glazing to save money.

The Checkatrade survey showed that, on average, men in the UK plan to spend just over £4,000 on DIY over the next 12 months, and the most likely DIY project to be undertaken is redecorating. Interestingly, men in Sheffield are almost six times more likely to redecorate than those in Southampton.

If money were no object, a quarter of men would opt for a new bathroom or kitchen, although almost 50% believe an extension would add more value to their home.

Checkatrade managing director, Kevin Byrne, warns: “DIY is a tempting option, especially with the country in recession and bank holidays approaching. But be careful not to take on a job that really demands a skilled professional, otherwise it could cost more in the long run.”

Are you a Motorsexual man? Or do you consider yourself the absolute definition of masculinity? Feel free to share your stories/experiences in the comments below. And if you do carry a manbag, make sure it's got a copy of Sorted in it!

A ‘poor’ excuse

Guest blog by Tim Childs

We have seen in the last few months that the present coalition government has initiated cuts of all kinds, often to the detriment of the poorest and even the most vulnerable in society, and astonishingly at the same time introduced a tax break for millionaires who, if we’re honest, really don’t need any more.  

If you’re a Christian, what is the position you are supposed to take on these matters?  What if you are someone who is suffering as a result of these ideological cuts?  Should we accept what the ‘powers-that-be’ do and say, or should we challenge what we perceive to be injustice?  

These are tough questions, and who really has the answers anyway?  Have we gone too far in providing welfare, and has it become a lifestyle choice rather than a safety net? Is it only a problem when it’s poor, disabled and working class people who receive it, and not a problem when royals and peers in the House of Lords receive all kinds of benefits, subsidies and perks? Where do you stand on this?

As a Christian, and as someone who myself comes from a poor background, my view is that we should all be very careful how we judge other people, especially when those people are seen to be a problem in the way the poor and unemployed have recently been portrayed.  

If we’re honest, Jesus had more time for the ordinary people than He did for the great and the good; or for that matter, the particularly religious. 

Some Christian denominations have recently criticised the government for its attacks on the poor and also for the rhetoric and cruelty that often goes along with such attacks; certainly for its old trick of setting one group against another: in this case the working against those not working.  

Are these alarm bells to warn Christians that something isn’t right, or what exactly?  Is British society basically fair but occasionally unjust, or is it badly out of kilter?  

I believe that we live in a fallen world, and often even the supposedly ‘best’ societies reflect that fallen status; people are fallen and make mistakes and can even be downright evil. Systems are fallen and can be abused; democracy itself, although a very good idea in principle and sometimes even in practice, can be ignored and abused.  

No human or human system is ever going to be perfect. But what happens when people wilfully and even cruelly attack others, making them scapegoats for problems that the scapegoated didn’t create?

I have believed for a while that some of what passes for Christianity in Britain is more of a social religion than real Christianity; more about being a glorified social club for those who think they are better than everybody else, rather than a life-affirming, life-transforming and ultimately personal relationship with our Creator.  

I don’t say this lightly, and I don’t say it is the case with all Christians, but I think many use their faith as a mask of respectability or hide behind it to control and ruthlessly exploit other people, sometimes even in the name of religion.  

This is not the reason Jesus came to earth, nor is it Christianity as it should be practised. There is religion and the world ‘out there’ and there is an ‘inner reality’, the truth we hold in our hearts and the relationship we have – or should at least be working on – with Jesus.  

If a person is truly a Christian, and not using religion for their own ends or selfish agenda, sooner or later we will know them simply by what they do, as opposed to what they might say. It is up to us, then, as simple Christians who merely want to serve the Lord each day with a whole heart, to understand that sometimes our faith can be used by the ‘great and the good’ for their own purposes. Often these purposes have nothing to do with Christianity and nothing at all to do with God.

Click here to read more blog entries by Tim Childs.

What does the car you drive say about you?

I’m writing a book about driving at the moment, and was intrigued when I stumbled upon a press release that claimed a person’s name could have a direct bearing on the type of car they drive.

The research from MoneySupermarket.com shows that while Stephen Fry famously drives around in a black taxi and Jess Ennis was handed the keys to a brand new Jaguar following her success in the Olympics, people named Stephen are most likely to drive a Land Rover, while Jessicas are most to likely drive Ferraris.

Prince William and Kate Middleton thrilled crowds around Buckingham Palace on their wedding day when they went for a spin in a blue Aston Martin belonging to Prince Charles. However, drivers named William are most likely to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, while Kates prefer the elegance of a Maserati. Elizabeths are most likely to drive a Suzuki, while drivers called Charles are most likely to drive a Mazda.

Meanwhile, celebrity magazines claim Justin Bieber and Harry Styles share a penchant for fast cars. The analysis shows men named Justin are most likely to drive Porsches; not worlds apart from Justin Bieber's real choice of motor, a Fisker Karmer. However, while Harry Styles has recently been seen driving a white Ford Capri he bought on eBay, most UK Harrys prefer the Bentley.

Damiens and Vincents are most likely to drive a Porsche, while Jades and Garys have the greatest affinity with Ford brands. Moving off-road, Bruces and Donalds are more likely to own Jeeps, while Nigels and Rogers prefer Land Rovers.

Those who topped the charts for souped-up Subaru drivers were called Shane, Dale and Carly, while those most likely to drive Skodas are named Norman, Roland and Valerie. The names most commonly associated with Jaguars are Bernard, Malcolm, Audrey and Janet, while those named Jeremy are most likely to drive an Aston Martin; taking after Top Gear’s Mr Clarkson himself!

Do you share one of these names, and if so, do you follow the trend? Or is it all a load of nonsense?

Maybe it’s actually your social outlook that affects the car you drive: the size of your wallet, your age or the number of children you have. Or maybe you want to give people a certain impression in the car that you drive. (You can find out what your car says about you by taking this very scientific, test.)

When we look at a car, we instantly make certain judgements: taking in age, colour and whether it’s in good nick. We also do this with other humans; we can’t help it. It’s the way we process information about people. But this can also be dangerous, because people often leap to the wrong conclusions.

Some people drive great big fancy cars/wear expensive designer gear, but maybe inside they are insecure, depressed and hurting. Others drive battered wagons/wear Tesco clothes but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are inadequate/unworthy. 

While certain vehicles seem to attract certain types of behaviour (what comes to mind when someone says “Audi driver”, for example?), there is always more to a person than what they look like or what car they drive.

The make or model of car you drive does not define who you are as a person. But what you do, say and think when you’re behind the wheel does. Do you revert to type when you’re driving? Do you behave in a way you wouldn’t if you weren’t encapsulated within a metal shell?

Would you drive the way you do if God was in the passenger seat (He is, by the way, seeing as He’s omnipresent and all that)? If so, you auto know better!

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

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!