There’s a very popular hymn which is sung with gusto in churches around the country at Christmas time. Perhaps you have sung it yourself, it begins like this:
*Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king:
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Much loved broadcaster and author Pam Rhodes, is the familiar face of BBC Television’s Songs of Praise, presenting programmes from tiny country churches to huge outside broadcasts with interviews ranging from Pope John Paul II to Dolly Parton. Here she unpacks the backstory of this hymn and adds her voice to the festive conversation.
In the book Christmas VoicesPam writes: “You know that old saying, ‘If you want something done well, do it yourself’? Well this carol is proof that real perfection comes with teamwork. When the great Charles Wesley wrote this carol in 1739 the first line was, ‘Hark how all the welkin rings’. He knew ‘welkin’ meant the vaults of heaven but no one else did, so his ministry colleague George Whitefield tactfully changed that first line to ‘Hark! The herald angels sing.’
Then, 40 years later when Tate and Brady brought out their new hymn-book, they decided that this carol would be even better with the addition of the chorus that we all now know and love. And Wesley had stipulated that this carol needed stately sombre music – with exactly the same determination as, a century later Mendelssohn insisted that the melody he wrote to mark the invention of the printing press should never be partnered with sacred words. So, both men would have turned in their graves to know that, 15 years after that, William Cummings, a young English organist, picked up those words and that melody, and created one of the most perfect and best-loved carols of all! Teamwork won through in the end – and I can just imagine God smiling at the blessing it’s given us all.”
Photo credit: Val Fraser
Christmas Voicesis a sweet little advent book published by the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) with reflections by Claire Musters. Its tasteful burgundy red cover is reminiscent of a premium quality Christmas card adorned with golden holly, trumpets and a Christmas star. At 150 pages long, the compact size would fit nicely through the average letter box.
* Words by Charles Wesley (1707-88), adapted by George Whitefield (1714-70); music by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47), adapted by William Hayman Cummings (1831-1915).
Christmas Voices is a sweet little book. Its tasteful burgundy red cover is reminiscent of a premium quality Christmas card adorned with golden holly, trumpets and a Christmas star. At 150 pages long, the compact size would fit nicely through the average letter box, making it the sort of cheerful gift I would post out to a friend along with a personalised note.
Christmas Voices is ideal for those who enjoy pausing to reflect for a few minutes each day in the run up to Christmas Day or over their Christmas break. To that end the book is divided up into 25 daily readings which include some of the more traditional elements of Christmas such as bible readings, festive carols, poems and prayers. Each day includes a short reflection sensitively written by author, and host of the Woman Alive Book Club, Claire Musters. Claire’s writing is born out of life experience, it is thoughtful, helpful but never heavy. I can relate to every word she writes on Day 12! She says this:
“It can be difficult to think about joy when we are going through testing times. I have wrestled with God about this myself and am now convinced there is a joy that surpasses our earthly circumstances that God wants us to experience. One of the ways that we tap into it is through honest conversation with him.
In my own struggles I have often turned to the psalms, particularly those written by David. His writing, like the story of Hannah, seems to give us permission to be honest. David is up front about his emotions, his circumstances and his questions, but also speaks to his soul and acknowledges the sovereignty of God. He often turns to worship even in the midst of lament, which is something I have learned to do.
So much in our world has been shaken in recent years and for those of us who have lived in relative safety and prosperity, it has been a shock. In this psalm (30:5-8,11-12), David reflects on how invincible he had felt when everything was going well, it is all too easy to forget to rely on God when all seems to be ticking along fine. Pain reminds us to cry out to him.
David faced a range of highs and lows in his life – a successful king, he also had moments when he had to run for his life and when he endured God’s judgement. So his line ‘Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning’ seems to hold a wider, eternal perspective.”
Published by the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) Christmas Voicesis a warm and friendly book with additional insights and comments from 40 contributors from diverse backgrounds. Its clear, user-friendly structure makes it easy to dip in and out off between the hustle and bustle of the festive season.
There is a recurring hilarious/facepalm (delete according to opinion) scenario in my marriage. I start to tell a story and fairly quickly my wife Jen detects a slight change in the tone of my voice that few else in the room would detect. She then bites her tongue and squirms with visible waves of tension coursing through her body, as she awaits the inevitable. She knows that even though everyone else thinks I am telling a worthy, important story, I am about to reveal that the whole (often lengthy) preamble has been the set-up for a particularly brilliant/excruciating (delete according to…you get the idea) pun.
How you hear a story depends on what type of story you think you are hearing. You might also say that how you hear it depends on what you are looking for from the story.
If all you are looking for is a bit of cheer at the end of a hard year, then that is probably all you will hear. Or if your only context for the Christmas story is that we are sinners and desperately need someone to sort out our sin, then whatever happens within the story will be fitted into that frame. If that is all you are looking for, that is all you will find. Where and when the story happens, and what else is going on at the time, is interesting, but to be honest just serves as Christmas decoration on the set of the central theatre.
But the spectacular and subtle entrance of Jesus into time and space did happen at a particular time and in a particular space. The first person mentioned in Luke’s telling of the great story is not Mary. It is King Herod. My dear friend and church leader John Good recently did a great job of sketching Herod’s ‘backstory’. This was no shy, retiring bureaucrat. On his father’s death, with the skill of a politician, he secured an appointment from Rome to be the ruler of Judea. Yes his ultimate authority came from Rome, but he ruled with an iron grip. He flexed military muscle with pleasure, expanding his territory into modern-day Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. He built great aqueducts and amphitheatres, earning the moniker “Herod the Great”. In fact his mantra was “Make Judea great again”. (delete #fakenews as appropriate)
However, none of his epic projects or conquests compared to the Herodium. This is a man who built a mountain to underline his greatness. Yes – a mountain. Built by slaves, with an artificial lake perched on top, no less, to commemorate his most famous victory against the Parthians. What type of man builds a pointless structure to massage their own fragile ego? I can’t imagine it happening today. Herod is a man who knows that appearance is everything, and if he looks powerful, he will be powerful. Herod’s grip on this power was enforced by remarkable cruelty, and his paranoia vented this cruelty even on his own family. There are few things more ugly than the combination of power and paranoia, and Herod lived right at their nexus, always fearing where the next challenge to his rule would come from.
So what’s the one thing you don’t ask this all-powerful, near-psychopathic King?
“Er, excuse us, your majesty. May you reign forever…and do you happen to know where the new King is?”
Have they a death wish? These men are not ‘wise’. They are unhinged. Suicidal. Or maybe just gloriously, worshipfully naïve.
The wise men thought they knew what power looked like. That’s why they headed to Herod’s palace. But then along comes a baby who looks the absolute opposite of powerful. Here comes a different kind of kingdom. Here comes a different kind of leadership. Here comes a different kind of politics.
Herod’s reign is a huge part of the context that Jesus steps into. Our world is not uncontested territory. This is not a pleasant story, set in a neutral space, to make everything a bit more colourful and kind. This is not just chaplaincy to power. This is a direct challenge to the status quo, and although the story is of course so much more than just political, that doesn’t stop it being very political. Herod is not thinking, “Ah – no challenge to me – that’s fine – another spiritual guru – another religious service provider – a more interesting player in the ‘faith sector’”. He senses the cosmic scale of what is happening.
And he wasn’t the only one. When Mary, the poor, shunned member of an oppressed people, told her cousin Elizabeth that God was ‘turning the world upside down’, she didn’t just mean the religious world. She meant the world. And boy do we still need that as 2024 beckons.
But Herod’s genocidal response to the news of Jesus shows how far people will go to cling to power. We must realise this is a battle. Not against flesh and blood, of course, but a battle nonetheless. There is nothing more scary to those who hold power than those who know where ultimate power resides.
So this Christmas, could we emulate my wonderful and mildly persecuted wife? Could we incline and train our ears to hear the political tone in the voice of the Christmas story? And moreover, could we refuse the easy answers of either abusing or eschewing power and instead walk the more complicated path of channelling it well? Much like the paradox of God as a baby.
Politics is dirty. So was that manger. The challenge awaits.
Main Photo Credit: Inbal Malca via Unsplash
The all-singing, all dancing e-book NOTES FROM THE SHALLOW END – vids, mp3s, images
Digital Editor’s Note: I’m excited and proud to welcome Rob Allwright as a Guest Writer here at the Sorted Magazine website. Rob brings a wealth of experience and is one of the most respected Christian reviewers in the UK. The energy Rob devotes to supporting and encouraging Christian creatives is staggering. His review show One Man In The Middle is broadcast by Branch FM, Heartsong Live and Hope FM. And I’m just a teensy bit excited that he has joined the wonderful peeps at the Manchester based broadcaster Konnect Radio!
Rob writes: If you have never come across the husband and wife duo Salt of the Sound then this is a great EP to introduce to you. They have a wonderful way with working with a song to make it feel like an incredibly personal experience and use ambient and atmospheric qualities to open up the soundscape beyond the room around you. This EP is a few years old and their sound has continued to develop since then, but there are still many of those qualities in this release along with some familiar tunes and the beautifully haunting vocal from Anita.
The first track is the familiar O Come, O Come Emmanuel which is a great opener because it is nice and familiar, you can compare it to other versions of the song and decide if this is something that you like. For me, I love it. It’s one of those tracks that you never really want to end! Sadly it ends all too quickly at just one minute and 37 seconds, but then we are into the original compositions. The first of these is a different look at the idea of Christ being the light of the world as Shine So Bright describes a room with no windows or doors, until Christ comes like a candle into that room pushing away the darkness, and the song concludes with us reflecting Jesus to the world around us. This is all set against a percussive background of musical twinkling and the atmospheric vocals. White Forests is an understated track which whispers in the background talking about Yule as the name for Christmas as the sense of longing for hope and peace.
The music and the effects aren’t just background in Salt of the Sounds tracks, they tell the story in their own right, even in those tracks that have lyrics the music is given space to be explored, but it comes into it’s own when there is a full instrumental track. From Afar is one of these that takes you on a journey that it yours to interpret, whatever you make of it, it’s a beautiful trip! The title track Waiting for the Dawn uses the familiar words Silent Night, Holy Night with a different harmony to open up the world waiting for the Saviour to be born. It talks about a lonely and weary world but the dawn brings a new hope to those who are waiting for the dawn. The repeated name of Emmanuel and a recap of the idea of a weary world then leads into the final track which is their own take on the chorus of O Come Let Us Adore Him but with a subtitle of The Day Has Dawned which leads us from the night of the shining star and those waiting, to a call to worship Christ as the promised hope and Saviour now that the daylight has come again!
This brings a whole reflective journey to the Christmas celebrations and I have had the pleasure of setting aside some time to listen to this for personal meditation and it really is a beautiful and ambient sound that allows for this. It sits in the back of the consciousness providing a little direction as you dwell upon Christmas. It also makes excellent background music that can just wash over your soul. For a few pounds this EP is available to add to your collection you can thank me later, once you have thoroughly chilled out, which is normally badly needed through the weeks of advent!
The movie The Great Escape is always featured on television during Christmas. That classic film about the Second World War is enjoyed by even those who dislike war films. 2023 will mark 60 years since it was released and, rather surprisingly, it’s become a seasonal classic.
In case you’re one of the people who’ve never seen it, The Great Escape is a fictionalised account of the mass breakout from the Stalag Luft III prison camp, which, spoiler alert, largely failed. Nevertheless, it’s an engrossing film with some great actors, including the dominating performance of Steve McQueen and his motorbike. It is also a reminder of the days when stunts were achieved by real people in the real world rather than by pixels in computers, and when war’s butchery was hinted at rather than depicted in every detail. I remember first seeing it 50 years ago as a teenager and it left a deep impression on me.
Why, though, for all its achievements, has The Great Escape, which barely mentions Christmas, become such a seasonal favourite? Oddities like this intrigue me because they often highlight what people are thinking. My take is that the idea of a prison-break connects at a deep level with everybody, for the simple reason that many, perhaps most, of us feel trapped in different ways. Perhaps we are stuck in the same dull job, perhaps we see life slipping past as we go nowhere.
I think this sense of being trapped, imprisoned, is made worse in our time because the world itself is becoming increasingly closed. A hundred years ago or more it was possible, at least in theory, to start a new life: to sail to Australia and a new beginning, to vanish without trace or take a boat to some blank space on a map in South America. But the world itself is no longer big enough to escape into. The white spaces on the maps have long been filled, opportunities fenced in by bureaucracy, and with a mobile phone you are never alone. There is, too, a sense of cultural claustrophobia where our digital world often seems to know more about us than we do. There are other forms of being trapped: some people feel trapped in their own bodies, some imprisoned by their own psychology, still others held hostage by their past. And all of us are prisoners bound by time, ageing and death. It’s a disturbing thought that The Great Escape is indeed 60 years old and that death has now claimed all the twelve lead actors. Outside any sort of faith, existence is a prison camp from which no one escapes alive.
In reality, I think the sense of being trapped and needing our own great escape goes deeper than any psychological claustrophobia. The philosophy of our age not only offers no jail-break but indeed screams that there is none. Life, we are told, is an escape room with no exit, a snakes-and-ladders board with serpents on every other square and a cell with no tunnel out to the free world.
One problem with this sense of being trapped is that often people seek an escape but choose a disastrous escape route. They assume a second marriage will solve the problems of the first, a new job will relieve the tedium of the old, a new home away from the hustle and bustle of the big city will bring calm.
The good news is that Christmas is about the big escape, not from the family and relatives! It’s the idea at the very heart of Christmas, that in Jesus, God was entering his own world with the intention of rescuing us. God has not just spoken but has acted. In a way inevitably beyond understanding, the infinite and the eternal somehow became one of us – entering our existence to the point of being human. And he did it not simply to show solidarity or to learn what we endure, but to be one of us and lead us out.
In the introduction to John’s gospel we get some profound thinking about what the nativity means. The eternal Word, God himself, becomes one of us; the infinite takes on flesh and heavenly light comes into earthly darkness. The closed system is broken open. We are promised that there’s even an escape beyond the impregnable walls of death. Jesus, dying in order to destroy death, doesn’t burrow his way out of the prison camp through a tunnel, but strolls out from the open tomb.
For the believer in Christ, Christmas points the way to our own escape from all that binds and entraps us. Jesus offers us the greatest of escapes into freedom, friendship with God and a future. Let’s take it!
“What’s the difference between an organist and a terrorist?”
“You can negotiate with a terrorist!”
It’s an old joke for sure, but it never fails to raise a chuckle! If you’re wondering how to melt the hard-working heart of your steely church organist this Christmas Deck the Hall by Andrew Gant is sure to have them drooling over every musical tale and factoid. This book would make a delightful gift for anyone who enjoys traditional church music and those who have a serious interest in the social history behind our favourite Christmas carols.
Notable composer and conductor, Andrew Gant, teaches music at St Peter’s College, Oxford and has directed many leading choirs, include those of the Guards’ Chapel, Selwyn College, Cambridge and Her (now His) Majesty’s Chapel Royal based at St James’s Palace in London, where he led the choir at many state events. Gant’s friendly, rhythmic writing flows with an easy, effortless charm yet his voice never misses a beat and remains firmly confident and authoritative. These stories, which do gallop along at a fair old pace, are underpinned by Gant’s serious research and sound professional knowledge. For the serious reader looking for something significant to get their teeth into, it’s a very pleasing, well structured, composition.
The meaty hard back book is beautifully bound and, at well over 300 pages long, is not for the faint-hearted. Gant shares tales and anecdotes behind twenty-seven carols from a variety of traditions and places of origin. Chapter Six is dedicated to that much loved carol In the Bleak Midwinter. Gant writes: “One of our most hallowed Christmas traditions, alongside mince pies and a sherry at Auntie’s, is the annual competition to find our favourite carol. Magazines and broadcasters regularly run a festive countdown, voted on by readers or listeners, or by a panel of experts who probably give the exercise more or less attention depending on whether or not they’re being paid. Results vary depending on what’s included: congregational items only, or choir carols as well? Folk songs, or newly composed pieces? Sacred or secular? What about a wassail? Noddy Holder as a write-in? And how about Jingle Bells?
“There are trends and consistencies in the results. Top of the list of favourite English carols is often O Holy Night, which isn’t remotely English but French to its Gauloise-blushed fingertips (even the English translation hails from America, not England; the words are an un-English mixture of Catholicism and Unitarianism; and it’s an aria, not a choral piece). More of that in a later chapter.
“A Top Thirty in the November 2022 edition of the UK’s Classical Music magazine described its chosen winner as ‘nigh on perfect’. Viewers of BBC TV’s Songs of Praise at Christmas 2020 put the same song a respectable third. A 2008 poll of leading choral directors placed it first. Broadcaster Classic FM gave this carol unique honours in 2018 ranking it third and sixth.”
Extract from the Foreword of The Last Laugh by Steve Legg: It was one of those “Is this God speaking to me?” moments that many followers of Jesus experience. A thought surfaces, seemingly from nowhere, and its persistent luminosity makes us wonder if the Holy Spirit is broadcasting on our personal wavelength. Some believers insist their lives are punctuated with daily, even hourly, revelations. I haven’t found God to be quite so chatty. So when I do sense his nudge, I usually dash into crisis mode. Is this thought racing around my mind just my wishful thinking, is it truly the divine voice, or is it merely the aftereffects of last night’s chicken tikka masala? I wish God would speak with a louder, clearer voice, but perhaps he whispers because he wants us to draw closer, that we might hear.
Back to my inner nudge. Halfway through a Sunday morning service, I was just about to preach when the thought surfaced again: “Take a look at my beautiful people.” So I did. I looked around at the sea of faces that was our congregation, and recalled some of their stories. Over there was John, who married after desperately longing for a soulmate for decades, only to lose his darling in a drunk driver-caused crash. Towards the back was Sally, who had poured her heart out on a lonely mission field. Not many responded to her life of kingdom service, but she stayed the course until retirement. Now she feels somewhat lost, surplus to requirements. I look her way but she is unaware, for her eyes are shut tight, her hands raised in worship. Beautiful indeed.
And the whisper confirmed the truth that God who flings stars into being with a word, daubs drab skies with rainbows and paints deep sea fishes in stunning colours that no human eye will ever see – this God of ours finds the greatest delight when he sees hearts that trust him through mystery. In recent months, I have pondered yet another dazzling sight. Our dear friend Steve has been given a terminal cancer diagnosis. A tearful oncologist delivered the dreaded news that he had just months to live. There are hopeful possibilities with some radical treatment options, but he, Bekah and the whole family are treading a bewildering path: the remote possibility of a medical solution and their belief in a miracle-working God who can heal in a moment, all entwined with a visit to a hospice to discuss end-of-life care. But Steve and Bekah have decided. Even when life is threatened, it still goes on.
The weekend after the dark diagnosis, Steve, a brilliant evangelist who uses comedy in his Tricks and Laughs presentations, performed at four outreach events. He is also the publisher of Sorted, an outstanding Christian magazine for men. Bekah continues to lead Restored, a non-profit dedicated to helping victims of domestic abuse. Recently, during a transatlantic phone chat, Bekah spoke of some of the good things they are celebrating, even as they pass through the valley of the shadow. “There is so much beauty to be seen, even in this horrible season,” she said. “We don’t want to miss the lovely things that God is surely doing.” That’s when we had to pause for tears because, in celebrating treasure that can be found even in darkness, Bekah and Steve have themselves become quite beautiful in their persistent faith and faithfulness. In the intense and unwelcome roller-coaster ride that suffering brings, they are clinging to God through the white-knuckle ride. They are, in short, a stunning sight.
Often we focus on what’s wrong with the world and with the Church. Fixated on the failures of high-profile Christian leaders, we sink into despair. Preoccupied with the picky pettiness that breaks out when someone suggests moving the pews, we wonder if there’s any future for a people so resistant to change. But all around us today, there are quiet yet glorious examples of tenacious dedication. If you’re one of them, know this: your love for Christ surely turns his head.
In this warm, authentic book that is rich in wisdom and void of cliché, you will find hope and inspiration. As you trace Steve’s journey, you’ll peer into the shadowland of suffering and discover that the light of Jesus shines brightly there. As you read, please say a prayer for Steve and Bekah, and their lovely family. And if you’re preoccupied with ugliness – in yourself, in others, in our broken world and imperfect Church – then know this: there’s beauty to be found in the most surprising places. Go on. Turn the page, and look again.
“How long have I got, Doc? Five days? Five weeks? Five months? Five years?”
“Months,” the oncologist replied.
When he heard this devastating news, Steve Legg and his wife Bekah made a bold decision – they would get busy living and get busy laughing.
Yes, there were tears that day and in those that followed, but Steve is a funnyman and a man of faith. He was never going to give cancer the last laugh.
In his latest book, international baffler and funny guy, Steve Legg, faces the no-joke reality of the diagnosis of a terminal illness. An engaging read throughout, the book will lead you to the most wonderful of all conclusions: that we are never, ever alone, and never, ever forsaken.
But this is not just Steve’s story; he draws lessons that can change not only the way we view our death – but also our life.
Hope. Heart. Humour. Humanity. This gripping story has everything.
Digital Editor’s Note: I’m excited and proud to welcome Rob Allwright as a Guest Writer here at the Sorted Magazine website. Rob brings a wealth of experience and is one of the most respected Christian reviewers in the UK. The energy Rob devotes to supporting and encouraging Christian creatives is staggering. His review show One Man In The Middle is broadcast by Branch FM, Heartsong Live and Hope FM. And I’m just a teensy bit excited that he has joined the wonderful peeps at the Manchester based broadcaster Konnect Radio!
Rob writes: Over the years Matt Maher has released a number of Christmas singles, but this album is his first collection of Christmas songs, this album isn’t just about Christmas itself though, it’s about the build-up, the anticipation and the message of hope that is prevalent through this time. The album itself is made up of a few familiar festive songs, and many more original songs to bring us to a total of 13 tracks in all.
The album starts off with Gabriel’s Message which is a surprisingly traditional track for this collection. It’s not a Christmas carol that I am terribly familiar with, but I have heard it sung by the traditional Anglican choirs. This sets out the beginning of the Christmas story as Gabriel brings God’s message to Mary which is as good a place to start in thinking about advent. Matt keeps a fairly traditional feel to this track with a choral emphasis on the Gloria refrain. Matt follows this up with a version of He Shall Reign Forevermore which Matt wrote with Chris Tomlin, previously featured on Tomlin’s 2015 Adore album. Both of these tracks work well with Maher’s vocals with some great emphasis put behind parts of the verses bringing these to life. These first few tracks are on the serious side of Christmas considering what the Jesus’ birth means for us and for humanity. Born On This Day is the third of these as it considers the meaning of Emmanuel as God with us and how Christmas paves the way for our forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.
Next there is a slight change as we get that song that is so full of Christmas meaning, Jingle Bells. It’s got a bit of a Jazzy feel to this version, it’s not quite Bing Crosby but it’s quite enjoyable none the less. Another well known carol is up next with the gentle track of The First Noel, this version does have an additional chorus which doesn’t really add much to the original, but it works reasonably well. The main focus for this track is the vocal, backed for the most part of the song by just a piano, Matt carries this song well. Then we are into one of the key tracks on this album which is Hope For Everyone and it expresses just that in an upbeat style. Advent is about hope, Jesus’ incarnation offers something new, from the Angel’s declaring the birth, the wise men seeing the sign in the sky and for everyone waiting for the promise of a saviour amongst men. Don’t let the chorus catch you out on this track as the first couple of lines seem to be sung in isolation with no music or other sounds between them making you wonder for a split second if something has paused the playback.
Glory (Let There Be Peace) could almost be sung in church at any point. Other than the references to Emmanuel and the Angel’s song it doesn’t really sound like much of a Christmas song. Of course the next track O Come, O Come Emmanuel is incredibly Christmassy and Maher has done a great job of breaking this out from the Christmas hymn that can at times be quite slow into a very upbeat and joyful song. He has even managed to insert sleigh bells into the recording which works really well. There is just one guest vocal on this album that is credited and that is found in Always Carry You. It’s by none other than Amy Grant who brings a great vocal to this track which blends really well with Maher’s voice. The issue I have with this song is that it doesn’t really make a huge amount of sense to the listener, well not to this listener anyway. Perhaps its about Mary carrying Jesus and holding these things in her heart, but I am not totally convinced! Love Came Down To Bethlehem is another co-write, this time with Jon Guerra. This track sounds like a traditional Christmas Carol and certainly seems to borrow some phrases from other places making this seem more familiar than it actually is.
Moving the style more towards a folk sound it seems that Matt has taken a page out of Rend Collective’s book for the very upbeat Hark The Herald Angels Sing which features an Irish whistle and flute along with the acoustic guitars. It is at this point that it seems Matt has allowed himself to let his hair down a little and Little Merry Christmas is much more a tongue-in-cheek look at the trappings that go with Christmas. Trees, twinkly lights and hopefully silent nights if the kids go to sleep, of course the theme is that being with the one that you love at Christmas is the best thing that can happen. The last song also fits with a different aspect of Christmas, reminding us to spend it well and remember those that are no longer here to celebrate it with us. There are memories to be made and a hope to remember as Matt wishes us a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Matt has done well to incorporate many aspects of the season of advent into this album. He’s definitely kept the message of the hope that Jesus Christ is for the world through many of these tracks but also the joy of the time of year. There are some songs that don’t work as well as others, but it seems that Matt has had a lot of fun to re-imagine some of the traditional and well known songs. I love the way that he brings a swing flavour to Jingle Bells and although it’s been done before it still sounds great. I really liked the version of Hark the Herald Angels Sing as well. Of the original tracks there are a number that work well, but a couple that just didn’t quite work for me. It’s my first Christmas album for the year so I have enjoyed this selection, but there are definitely tracks that wouldn’t make it onto my Christmas playlist!
This is actually true but you’d have to eat a lot of carrots for it to happen. Carrots contain beta-carotene and if you consume too many, the excess beta-carotene enters your bloodstream where it is not properly broken down. Instead it is deposited in the skin, leading to an orange skin discolouration called carotenaemia. It is a common and harmless condition that typically affects infants when they begin eating solids since carrots are a popular choice among new parents.
Eating Turkey Makes You Sleepy
This is true. Turkey is rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that your body turns into a B vitamin called niacin. Niacin plays a key role in creating serotonin, a brain chemical that is associated with sleep. It is not just the turkey that makes you sleepy. It’s also the stuffing and potatoes because eating these carbohydrates allows the tryptophan to easily enter the brain speeding up the serotonin production. If you add alcohol into the mix as well, it is no wonder you can hardly keep your eyes open.
You Can Detoxify Your Body
Although an appealing idea, this myth is false. For doctors to know if a detox therapy works they need to know two things. Firstly, they need to know what toxin is being removed from the body and secondly they need to know how it will be removed. Researchers found that companies simply renamed ordinary processes like cleaning or brushing, calling the “detoxifying”. They used “detox” as an advertising buzzword. Legitimate detoxification happens in a hospital, usually when something has seriously gone wrong such as a patient with heavy metal poisoning or treatment of an alcoholic.
Exercise Makes You Smarter
This is true! It is not just your body that benefits from exercise but your brain too. Your body produces a chemical called irisin during endurance exercise. This activates genes related to learning and memory and results in new neurones being created. Exercise also lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Eating Late at Night Makes You Gain Weight
Another true myth … in general late-night eaters tend to weigh more and have a higher body mass index than those who eat earlier in the day. It is thought that this is because eating at night can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Vitamin C Stops You Catching The Cold
This is false. Vitamin C does not stop you catching a cold but there is some evidence that it may reduce the duration of symptoms by a day or two if taken in high dose (1000mg daily).
You Should Wash Poultry Before Cooking
This is definitely false. Poultry should not be washed before cooking as this can increase the risk of food poisoning with campylobacter, a nasty bug that causes bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and severe tummy cramps.
Fresh Vegetables Are More Nutritious Than Frozen
There are conflicting opinions on this one. If eaten within a few hours of picking, fresh produce is the most nutritious. However most “fresh” produce in shops is actually several days or even weeks old and the nutrients start to break down from the moment the produce if picked. On the other hand, many frozen vegetables are quick frozen very soon after picking and this preserves more of the nutrients. So unless you can grow your own vegetable and use them as soon as you pick them, frozen vegetables may be more nutritious.
All Fat is Bad For You
This is false. Healthy fats are essential for good health and have been shown to protect from a range of chronic diseases especially heart disease. Healthy fats include monounsaturates and polyunstaurates, found in nuts, seed, olive, olive oil and avocados. They also include omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish, linseeds, flaxseeds and soyabeans. You should minimise saturated fat intake; butter, cheese, red meats.
Eating Carrots Improves Your Eyesight
This myth has been about since World War Two when rumours circulated that pilots ate lots of carrots to optimise their vision. In reality, unless you a very deficient in vitamin A, more carrots won’t make any difference to your vision.
Natural Sugar Alternatives are Healthy
False. We all know eating too much sugar is bad for us, so it’s not surprising we convince ourselves natural sugar alternatives are healthy. However, our body still sees it as sugar. Agave syrup, maple syrup, honey and brown sugar are still sugar and although they may have more micronutrients than refined sugar, these are in such small quantities to make no meaningful difference. Sugar is sugar. The World Health Organisation recommends limiting daily added sugar to less than five per cent of energy intake (this equates to six to seven teaspoons).
Chocolate is Good For You
This is true; if it is dark chocolate and you limit it to two squares per day!
