Adventist Radio London. Inspiration for the song. We welcome the Talking Point with
Ray Sen You, Pedro Angeler discussing the hot topics and answering your questions Saturday's
five to seven pm on Adventist Radio London. It's talking Point. It's talking
Point. It's talking Point, it's talking Point, real conversations. You need
to have good evening, good evening, good evening. It feels like it's
been a while since I've been sat in this seat. It feels like it's
been a while since we've had a live program. But I'm sure that you've
missed us. We certainly missed you, and we're looking forward to the discussion
this afternoon. You're listening to Talking Point here on Adventist Radio London and we'll
be with you for the next couple of hours. Right as always, I
have got my trusted co host on zoom, Angela and Pedro is away at
the moment. He is supporting his wife who's doing a concert. And if
you've got the particulars, then I encourage you to pop across if you can.
I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time there as well. But it's just
us for today. Angie, and we've got a guest coming on a little
bit later as well. But how have you been. It's been a while,
so let's say hello and let listeners know how you've been. Welcome to
talking. Thank you so much for us, and I'll say it has actually
seen you. It did much much longer than that, so good to see
you. Good to see you in Hey, how have I been? Interestingly,
as we're talking about a topic, sorry for today, I have been
that person. It's a really really stressful week for various reasons. You know,
life happens, and you know things, you get into situations and what
happens. So it's been a really stressful, tiring, I have to admit,
but praise God we're here, this has gone very weekend. Always thankful
for Sabbath. And interestingly, the song that we reopened with that has came
on before by the Class Sisters less than highly favored, it really reminds me
of that kind of saying that we're too blessed to do stressed now, whilst
that's not entirely strictly true in that respect, because you know, unfortunately we
live in a simple world and stressful time is potentially going to come but we
know that somebody has got our back, and we are indeed blessed and highly
favored, got God's grace and mercy and just keeps us and all I can
say, I've got to this point for out the week, and can I
say it's any good? Yes, but you know, and I say that's
it's been stressful. There's been some good. Bit it's been a very up
and down week, but you know, generally I'm good and yeah, yeah,
lesson highly favored, so definitely. Well, we're talking a little bit
about I guess I've given a I've given away a bit of a clue about
what I saw. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, the topic is
what got stress, what stress got to do with it was Stress Awareness Month,
so we're sort of finishing off about that and looking at how we can
manage our stress. So yeah, so we're sure we're going to be sharing
some of our thoughts. I have favorite texts and music and things that we
can do. So yeah, that's been me. I'm quite glad for today
has actually been quite nice and otherwise. So I'm saying spring is in the
air a little bit because I was working up by the thunder and lightning this
week boy, and the torrential rain so and I know we are in no
way over here in the UK. We don't know half those extreme weather's in
like in some countries. But the way I felt the rumbles and saw the
lightning, I was like, oh, thankfully, I think place, I
think where I lived in London. Then there was a power I wasn't there.
So I have no idea whether my coy was effective, but yeah,
yeah, yeah, that was that was scary for some I think sunshine.
So I'm happy for that. I think. I am good. I am
good. Are you hearing me? Okay? I think so, yeah,
Okay, I I'm good. I'm good. You've said a lot there in
terms of I feel very much the same. It's been a you say it's
been a stressful week, but it's been I feel like a stressful start to
the year. And that's how life is, isn't It's it's a lot of
ups and downs and you just have to ride the wave, as it were.
But but God, that's my final answer. That's sometimes my status on
my What's app But God, full stop, that's where that's where the buck
stops. And I am grateful for life for him bringing me through and here
we are another Sabbath day. I hope everyone had a wonderful day of rest
of restoration. And yeah, we we just give God, thanks, We
give God thanks. Stress affects everyone. I mean, if you don't feel
you need the program today, I encourage you to just look back on the
podcast. If possible, there will be a moment a time in your life
where you'll need to maybe pull this one back up, because stress just it
has a way of just showing up often when you least expect it. And
there is a way to manage stress. And first and foremost it is our
relationship with God and our trust in Him that often gets us through. So
yeah, the sun. You talk about spring, I felt like spring came
and then it went, and then it, I don't know, sprung and
un sprung and sprung again. I really can't keep up. They always say
April showers, so kind of you know, in that respect, that's kind
of what's happening. And I was often met with it rains, but it
was cold. Did you feel I feel like it's been on season probably cold
a few days there where I thought, right, we're right back to winter.
Get your coats out. Indeed, cardigans and sweaters again and just be
like, Okay, a few days I've been completely caught out. You fund
pretty good checking the weather reports and the temperature, and like, okay,
I'm one blaring and carrying. And then there's a few days but I'm like,
oh, you know, goodness, I remember watching a TikTok and I'm
not sure who shared it or TikTok or Instagram or whatever it is. These
days with this gentleman, it's just like the four or five seasons. There's
five seasons in one day. So he's gone out with this jacket and then
the sun comes out, he's put his jacket back on. It's raining and
it's hail, and it's wind and it's and people who do not live in
the UK cannot relate obviously. Reason you watch experience, please come over,
you know, great place to be, lots to do, all seasons in
one day. Yes, yeah, so yeah, here we are here,
we are, indeed. But yeah, the topic for today is what's stress
got to do with it? And of course you're encouraged to get involved if
you've got stress tips that you want to share, or we're talking about scriptures,
we're talking about songs, we're talking about stress management and if you've got
a trick or two that you want to share with us, please do so.
It's text on eight triple to eight space hope and then your message,
or you can WhatsApp us now oh seven four or five nine six four two
eight nine eight, or you can email its studio at Adventist Radio dot London
and let us know how you manage stress or what are the indicators for you
that you're dealing with stress and what does your body say? What what happens
for you that makes you sort of go right, I need to take a
step back. Whatever you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you.
It's far too quiet every time we come on. We encourage you to
get involved because we'd really love to hear from you and it makes to show
much more interesting, much more interactive if you contribute. So we're looking forward
to hearing from you on that sense. Let's pray and then let's get into
We'll take a song and then we'll get into the conversation. Today, dearnly
father, we thank you for your goodness, We thank you for your mercy
and for your grace. Be with every aspect of the program today, with
the technology, be with our listeners, be with our guest, and be
with us as a talking point team. May everyone be blessed in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen. Right, what shall we here? Now? Let's
take this selection by Vanessa bell Armstrong. Today, let's go. He's a
good day. Decides smile happy, it's a good day. Decile theday,
It's a good day. Decile and happy. He's a good day. Design
No, listen, let me talk to you. I'm just slf woringabout with
your face. You know, the brown you were needs to be replaced.
You need some joy, you need some love in your space. Hear me
when I said today it's good, take the stile and the happy here today,
it's good. Take style, no reason. It's gonna take you the
sile and the happy. Yeah days. Good take sile, no love,
no worry. Know what you say, all the good that you do do
you real alive, that's coming back to you. No, you matter and
you can't be replaced even a say your side. It's good. Take the
stile and be happy today. Good take your believe today Today he happ come
hoday, He's a good day. Is come money lags. Stop pouring where
it's gonna be a it's got chip. Stop pouring. Stop, it's gonna
be all day. Stop pouring out, praying, it's gonna be a ding.
I'm pouring out what it's going to be? Your head all told me
it's gonna be a light he said to be. It's gotta be a being
going out to be the chota. Smile and be happy today. Yes,
this is a good day to spy, have a ready for real. It's
a good day to smile and be happy. You need to do. It's
a good day to file no wormy, let's go today. It's a good
day to si A smile happy today. It's a good day to file the
love me. Monday is a good day to smile and be happy. It's
a good day to file the love me. Listen, let me talk to
you. Find yourself, Riena, by what you think? You know?
The brown you were needs to be replaced. You need some joy, You
need some love in your space. Hear me when I say today, you
nay good happy today? Good day? Si no reason no good happy?
Yeah, hadday, good day? Sign no worry. Know what you say
all the good that you do, do you realize that's coming back to you.
No, you matter and you can't be refrained, can wait a shay
yourself beside. He's a good thing, Chile, be happy to day a
good danger. Don't believe today today danger and he's happy. Come on holiday,
he's a good Day's fine coach. He'll stop pouring. Its gon to
be yours. Got chet, stop pouring. It's gonna be all right,
Dak, stop pouring out pray. You know it's gonna be your light,
trading what it's going to be your hand to me, it's right, happy,
Yes, good day, every day you need to do, It's good
day. No worried today amazing. I'm really really loving that song. I'm
introduced to me by our guest Vanessa Armstrong with today and I remind her that
we just need to be happy. Whatever we're facing, God's got all back.
And I think that's what we touched on a bit earlier and she we
don't face our tomorrow's alone, so we can face them with a smile.
Right. So the topic what stress got to do with it? And before
we even go on, we had Alison o Wuku on and she did a
presentation or series with us breaking down strongholds, and to close out Stress Awareness
Month, we did a recap of her the part I think was part two
where she spoke about worry, fear, and anxiety. So much of what
we say today may come as a reminder, maybe stuff that you already know
and that won't hurt because, like I said, if you don't need it
in your toolbox today, you certainly will at some point. We all do
face stress at various levels, and we handle it differently also, but she
sort of gives us a really good deep dive into that stronghold that we've face,
which is worry, fear, anxiety, which is very closely related.
And she spoke, she shared nuggets and so forth. I mean, we
were taking notes, scribbing down a few of those things that we probably have
on sticky somewhere about the house, but she sort of broke it down for
us. And we closed out last week with a recap of that program,
and Allison will be back. It's a good time to share that information now.
Allison will be back because we didn't quite finish the series. There were
some other topics that we thought were heavy enough to hold off on sharing them,
so she will be back to finish the Breaking Down Stronghold series with us,
and also she's doing something next week or in the next few weeks and
she we wanted to share a little bit about that too. Yeah, this
is actually next week, so herself and another another bad fairly recently Belnard Allen
are presenting a I guess the workshop type sort of presentation and time to share
called forty six Times and More. Now stress will come to us in many
different forms, but this is called six and forty six Times and More,
and it's based on and it's kind of inspired by the image of Diane Abbott.
She's a UK politician, black woman, standing four to six times in
Parliament to contribute to the debate that was happening on racism, and she basically
was being bypassed like nobody was hearing what she had to say. They were
talking about racism. The gentleman called Frank Hester. We said some let's not
even go into what he said. That's said some things about her and her
position as a black woman in public life. So that's what it's been inspired
by. And it says that often many mellanated women are triggered but directly triggered
by the circulation of Hester's hateful words and reminded of the way that they often
carry as part of their identity work. The coverage of her sitting and standing
and be ignored being feeling invisible, sitting and standing with a determination to have
a voice definitely provoked an important viewing of black African Caribbean African descended women in
our contemporary times. So they said, some of us were reminded of the
importance of having a faith that has for generations given us as women an ability
to helicopter a bathroom stand in spite of the micro and macro aggressive, racist
or sexiest reality is that often many women face. So this event is really
an opportunity for women and men to come together to contribute to the conversations that
are happening about committed to supporting a sisterhood and you know the process of healing,
because many people are dealing with stuff like this on a day to day
basis and sometimes don't really have a space or a voice or a place to
come. So it's verstations of presentations exploring how women from the Afghan Dies the
Asper have stood, do stand and can stand against the systems and narratives that
often try to silence them. So it's going to be an experience of sisterhood,
learning and healing. So you're invited to join. It's next week Sabbath
evening at seven point thirty. It's an online event via zoom and in terms,
I can give out the zoom details now and my bods share them at
the end as well. The meeting IDs eight two six nine to three zero
zero three seven seven two the past code of eight zero three eight sixty six.
We'll see if we can post the poster a flyer on the web,
the radio website if we can as well. But that's next week seventh evening,
maybe eleventh at seven point thirty, and that's called forty six times and
more. Also, I mean we if anyone either they didn't get that or
they really want to be a part of that, they need the information,
then they can always contact the studio and we'll be happy to pass it along
as well. So yes, so that's been presented by Alison, who's someone
you may have heard, as Sonia has said, presenting some great stuff.
So I see it's going to sound like it's a really interesting event, very
thought provoking. When I when she was on last time, I remember thinking,
you know, she's she's got perspectives that I've never really explored or it's
good to hear it again and all that. So it would be very very
if you've got the time. I think the prepairing of the two as well,
Yes, Alison being a therapist and Alan being as a sociologist in terms
of having very different perspectives on the subjects. So there's gonna be it's gonna
be a very well rounded conversation. So listen to our show first seven and
then you can zoom. I enjoyed all the six times all you can do.
Yes, absolutely. And also Allison is on Monday doing a program alongside
Cornerstone Counseling Service, which is our very own counseling service and we have done
some work with them as well, and it's relationships and mental health. I
believe that is to launch Mental Health Awareness Week, and that's on Monday,
thirteenth May seven to eight thirty pm. And again I can share those details
with you if you'd like them. I'll just quickly go through it. If
you've got a pen and paper, it's eight four seven double one zero three
seven one four eight and the pass code is three two eight eight four seven,
and I'm saying pen and paper, who uses that anymore? If you're
putting it to your phone, it's eight four seven one one zero three seven
one four eight and the passcode again is three two eight eight four seven.
If you've missed that and you would like to be a part of that,
then of course you can always get in touch with us and we'll be happy
to pass the information along to you as well. Yes, so that's important,
and that's what we wanted to share. And again it may very well
be a recap for you. But I think as we look at mental health
awareness, as we close out Stress Awareness Month, it doesn't hurt to look
at those issues again because, as I said, stress is something we face
on a daily basis, varying degrees, and persons deal with it differently.
What might stress me may not stress you, And how I cope may not
be how you cope. But there will be tools and tips here that will
I feel sit with everyone, now, Angie, if I'm going to put
you on the spot, as I like to do, what in your your
mind is stress? How would you define stress? What does stress mean to
you? Oh? I would say stress, And I'm just trying to think
of diferent descriptions. But I would say it's a human response to something that's
put on you. I'm just trying to think in terms of the definition,
well, in a layman's terms, Yes, I'm responding to the pressures of
life. Yes, So you know, it's often a feeling of emotional or
physical tension. It could come from any event or thought that might make you
feel frustrated, angery're nervous, it's your bodi's reaction to a challenge or a
demand. Interesting, And I remember really clearly, haven't we We've done several
wich we've done shows about stress before, and mental health obviously one of those
things, and we know we talked about and I remember having this conversation.
I can see it now way back when when parts of Rags with us.
Whilst stress is always seen in a really negative light, which you can be,
there's also kind of a positive aspect of stress as well. All you
can almost say there's positive stress, and they call it use stress. And
it's the kind of stress that can have motivating factors or that feeling of kind
of So for instance, I used to be a big lover of roller coasters,
not so much now. Because I don't think I can take it.
I'm too world for all of that. It feels like now, but that
kind of station, that kind of you know, as you're going up,
when the car is kind of going up the slope, and that sort of
almost fear and your body is under stressed because it was like, I don't
even know what's going to happen. I know what's going to happen, and
I'm going to get to the top and we're going to be as zooming down.
But it's that kind of you know, the excitement there almost fear kind
of factor on that. Or it can be quite a motivating factor in terms
of if you were going to sit in sam and take a test or something,
you know, we can kind of that it gives you a boost of
adrenaline to kind of keep you going. So there's a level of stress that
can be seen in a positive light because it motivates you, it gets you
going. It's part of sometimes that fight or flight response to things that might
be happening, so you get out of the way you need to do that
kind of stuff. But that only goes to a certain part and when things
get too much, that's when stress becomes really negative stress as it were home
and that kind of where it can start to lead to problems. I remember
Alison, you said fight or flight, and I remember her introducing a freeze
into that dynamic flight, flight or a freeze. And yes, it is
our body's way of responding to change or towards circumstance. And it is not
always, as you've said, something to be concerned about. That there's good
levels of stress and anticipation of something to be alert, to be aware you're
crossing the road. You don't want to just cross it willingly. You need
to be alert or where that there are potential dangers there, but you know
you don't. You cross the road and you move on to the next thing.
If you're still panicked or worried or anxious and you feel you can't,
then there might be a level a degree there that is of concern. And
so yeah, there's there are levels of stress and appropriate levels of stress depending
on what the issue of the matter is. Yeah, and it's you know,
it's a it's a normal human reaction and response to things. You know,
we've been designed in that way to be able to do things, to
respond to things, to keep us say to us respond appropriately to whatever comes
at us, and we need that, you know. I think, you
know, I kind because I kind of dik to myself if we didn't have
those kinds of functions, I wonder what things would be like. Yes,
you know, if you didn't. But as you said, and he goes
to a certain level, because if it's not and the thing is there,
we're gonna be talking a lot back today about how we can manage our stress.
And stress comes at as a different levels. There's different ways of managing
it, you know, And I think there's a level of self help that's
going to be in your own self care. It's going to play a big
part right through to getting professional help if you need it. It's becoming to
a point where you can't face this, you can't you know, you can't
deal with it yourself, and it's definitely having a strong impact on your life.
So yeah, you know, definitely a needed, a needed response that
we all will have and we need. Really, Yes, and stress is
if I remember it being broken down. I mean it could be in response
to pressures at work. I recently was alone in the office. My manager
had resigned, and I didn't know what I didn't know let's put it that
way. When she left and I was on my own, I realized there
were so many things that she'd done. Perhaps I don't think it was intentionally,
but she just got on with it. She'd been there for several years.
I i she didn't just she didn't share, she didn't teach, or
she didn't pass it on simple things. But once I was there on my
own, I realized, oh my goodness, I don't know how to do
that actually, or a question would come and like I've never f that one.
I don't know how to respond to that or what we need to do
about it. And it was a very stressful time. And those are some
of the things that you may be dealing with. Or maybe the job is
stressful full stop. You know, it's a high pressure, a demanding job,
and it takes its toll on you from day to day. Not everyone
can respond like that or can live in those sorts of dynamics. Some jobs
are just too stressful. I think I've given up on on those high pressured
environments. But some people thrive in that. So again that's the difference between
how people react and respond. Stresses can come from life changes. You know,
whether you may be expecting a baby, or there's something that you're buying
a house or moving home. Those can be stressful events for you, big,
big issue at the moment, and there's not so much talk about the
the isis at the moment. But money, money is a huge stressor for
so many people. And you know it's a matter of budgeting or perhaps you're
in a significant amount of debt, or maybe there are things that you'd like
to get but you just don't have the resources to do so. So yes,
money, money can be a significant stressor. And health is another one.
There's a saying that you spend your youth chasing wealth and your your later
days chasing health because we don't quite get that balance right. But health is
another significant stressor in people's lives, whether you are facing ability or a health
crisis or a challenge, or maybe it's just trying to maintain good health.
And sometimes we don't get the balance right there as well. You know,
we put so much pressure on ourselves. You know, if you miss an
exercise date or the gym one day or whatever it might be because of how
you've you've prioritized that that might be an issue for you and you felt well
Okay, I've missed a trick, or if you're dieting and you decided to
have candy that afternoon or a burger. Some people get really really wound up
over stuff like that. So yeah, that could be an issue as well.
And relationships another big stressor living with people and you know, you and
I exchange notes on our moms and the dynamics there. It can be.
It can be very stressful being a gear up supporting even love relationships, marriages,
parents, a ya yai. That could be very stressful. And one
thing that really jumped out in the midst of COVID. You know, health
and money and all that were key factors. But loneliness, Yes, and
we did we did a program. We did a program with our elderly and
that that very much came up. That's a program that you do at your
church, so where we're honing in on our elderly and our aged community and
the fact that loneliness really impacted them or even just people who just didn't get
a chance to go out or people didn't check on them because we were all
stuck in doors. I don't know if anybody remembers that time. Goodness,
it seems so very long ago, but almost surreal, like it didn't happen.
But yes, there was a COVID pandemic about and it really it really
highlighted that issue of loneliness and which was a very stressful time for so many.
So these are some of the issues that people face. Unfortunately, you
can be facing many. It's not just one. You know, you could
be a money challenge, a health challenge, and a relationship challenge all in
one bag. In fact, I often say that life was compartmentalized, you
know, and there are times when I feel there's never a moment where everything
is working correctly. I don't know if anyone else feels like that, but
there's always a compartment that's not quite right. You know, nothing's nothing.
There's never a time in my life when everything's working everything. You know,
we're cooking on old burners. It's never like that when when I get something
fixed in one compartment, then here goes you know, something else. So
life is for me, and I know we've always spoken about that anti but
life just always seems to have an element of stress to it. And I
think literally you said it because sometimes I think when things are going to well,
I'm almost and this is yes, me too suspicious of that? Yes,
like okay, this is almost Sometimes say somethings are too good to be
true? There is you know, sometimes do I I think? Am I
talking that into into existence as it were? Because you know, so a
man thinking, so is he that kind of concept? But sometimes I'm like,
I'm not sure I shouldn't really think like that. But you know,
you know, for honesty and transparency there. You know, the reality is
sometimes so many things are always happening that you just think, you know,
when you get a break from all of that, you have to wonder what's
going on? Yeah, you know, you know, as people are incredibly
resilient, you know, and I think that's one thing despite sometimes the stress
that we do face, we do have that ability to be able to cope.
And again, coping can be on so many different ways and so many
different levels. But you know, sometimes we get so used to it that
when things aren't stressful, dare I say that? You know, we almost
don't know what to do with ourselves kind of things. So yeah, so
it always feels like sometimes you can't have it both ways, you can't deal
with it both ways. So yeah, but I mean need us to say,
and I'm kind of having a look at some statistics, you know,
and out of some of the studies that you you know, you're, you're
I've been looking at, you know, at least you'd say, seventy five
percent of the population in many studies have felt stressed, so stressed that they
were unable to cope or to face what's going on. And then the kind
of effects that will happen, you know from that. In this study was
saying four to six reporter that they ate too much or they drunk unhealthily.
Twenty nine percent they started drinking or increased their drink. Lem seen many Christians
surdrink alcohol, but for many of those do that do that increased? Try
to jump in here and say many Christians don't drink alcohol openly? Is that
what you say? I mean something like this as well. You know,
I can imagine as well during the COVID time when you kind of lock down,
people were turned to certain things to be able to go on, you
know, alcohol, smoking, drugs, what have you, you know,
eating, eating excessively with those kind of things, I'm sure could have arted.
So yeah, I mean, as I say that, obviously, then
the stress can then lead to having psychological effects as well. This is a
mental health foundation of study which was in their two I was looking at a
twenty eighteen study, which is a few years ago and obviously was before COVID,
so I can imagine actually some of their figures would have been much higher
now. But fifty one percent of adults who felt stress reported that they then
felt depressed and reported feeling anxious. Sixty percent of those people who would express
that they'd experienced stress in their lives self harmed double that said they had suicidal
thoughts or feelings. And then as you mentioned, loneliness is definitely a factor
as well with that. So you know the effects of stress can have some
really serious implications and amplications. And as you said, you know, stress
can come from all sides for all different things, and as you said,
it's how we deal with it that's going to make it more difference. Just
as you said there, I mean, it's almost a vicious cycle, isn't
it, Because you're stressing about something and there's a consequence to that. So
you're talking there about maybe overeating, but then you're you're stressing about the overeating,
So the cycle continues, doesn't it, and like you said, there
is there are ways to self self help, but there are times when it's
beyond you and and there is a need to get interventional get professional professional help.
But you've highlighted there in the study the things that you can look out
for as you as you've listed them there the consequences or the the indicators that
you may be stressed, and you've rightly said overeating or oversleeping or not sleeping
enough or not eating enough. Those are some of the things that people can
Yeah, I mean your physical often stress can player and your physical symptoms that
can be kind of a really clear, kind of a bit of a clear
indicator that something is going wrong. Right if you start to be, you
know, frequently getting headaches, or you feel really fatigued and exhausted, if
there are changes in your appetite, how you're eating increase or not eating much,
you're having difficulty sleeping, or your sleep pattern will seem to be all
over the place, that can indicate that you are suffering from stress. And
what's often that you see is it's kind of like a it's a progressive thing.
If you've got quite if you've got like what you mentioned about work,
you've got quite a high pressure, stressful job. You know, you go
to work, do your job as things going on, and you know you're
managing, you're dealing with it. But if you then don't get a good
night's sleep, you then you know, a few hours, you get up,
you get ready, you go to work. Your body is slowly but
surely getting more and more fatigued, more and more stressed and sle whatever happens,
you know, that then can lead to emotional changes as well. So
you might have mood swings, or you might be more irritable, or just
completely feel feeling very overwhelmed and not showing. You know, sometimes if you're
struggling to make decisions about things and you you can't do something, and if
you can't, if you notice that you can't assally do things that you never
had any problem before, or you might think, actually, I don't feel
like doing anything. I don't feel motivated as well to stay at home.
I don't want to hang out with my friends or go to events and activities.
You know, those are the kind of things that can start to become
quite apparent, you know, increase sensitivity talk about work. You may not
do something too in the way that you like to you get really criticized for
it, but you're very sensitive to that now, you know, and suddenly
it feels like it's the end of the world to work. You know,
you might then start being very teary, emotional and feel quite hopeless and helpless
in situations. So you know these things, and again, sometimes these things
might come out of the blue, I don't really know what's going on,
and other times you just think, you know, you can see it a
direct result of something, you know, the situation. So yeah, so
physical science are definitely can be a good indicator. And often in the working
environment, I'm sure many people have heard of that b word burnout when it
gets too much that you're just like, okay, I really can't be cope
with that. You know, you may feel that, and it's just in
terms of you start to do things in a very different way. That's definitely
shown that you're not coping quite as well as you hoping you would like to.
And again, all those things again can put strain on your into personal
relationships. You mentioned some of those things going to cause stresses, but whatever
you're dealing with just can kind of parle on that. Yes, you know,
you don't know how to kind of connect with people in the same way
you did, or you withdraw from people, or you get into conflicts,
or things just escalate. You know, something that may not have bothered you
before suddenly becomes a really big thing. So there's a lot of different and
this is the way which you keep people can be impacted as well. So
yeah, stress can. Yeah, it can be the causer of many things,
you know. And I remember doing a presentation actually and calling it stress
is stressful because it really is. Because whilst there are some positive aspects,
yeah, you get into the dignitigrity of the wall, it's stressful in itself,
you know, and what comes with that. So it can definitely be
a bit of a never ending cycle. As if you're going mind the circles
was one thing will have but derect effectively as from something else as well.
Yeah, and when I thought of the idea of what stress got to do
with it, I am personally. I remember going to the doctors and we
did a barrage of tests. You know, you do your blood tests,
your your this and that and the other, and when it comes it came
back the doctor said, but you're healthier than I am. You know,
all the indicators are fine, you know, Praise God. I mean,
there's nothing too high or too low, et cetera, et cetera. But
why am I feeling like this? Why? Why am you know? My
heart part to take? Or you know, I've got dizzy spells or whatever
whatever it might be. And a lot of times it's the stress when you've
got these symptoms and you can't quite put your hand on what or your finger
on what it might what might be the cause. A lot of times it's
stress. And it's often defined as the silent killer because it has such effects
on your body and an impact on your body, and quite frankly, you
don't realize that that is what's causing whatever you're dealing with. And like you
said, it can have far reaching impact. You know, if you're feeling
dizzy or tired, or you've got heart palpitations, or you know you muscle
problems and all that back problems, all of those things could be a consequence
of stress. So, like you said, it can have far reaching effects.
It has impacts beyond even what you think It might. Impacts your relationships,
it impacts your lifestyle, your livelihood, So it really is something that
you've got to look out for, and you've got to know yourself, because
when you're talking about it then and I'm thinking, well, what is And
I pitched that to our listeners and I'm hoping that someone will eventually chime in.
But what stresses you? It's good to be aware of what your stresses
are. And we're going to be coming on shortly to stress management. But
first you need to know what stresses you, what happens to you when when
you are stressed, and watch what other things to look out for to know
what. Okay, I'm getting very irritable these days, and I know it's
time for a break, you know, or yeah, I just said,
that's a good example of that. I remember, you know, I used
to you know, I used to be commuting all the time, traveling on
public transport in London. You know, London is a busy city during rush
hour, you know, you're pack jam packed, lots of people getting on
the train, getting on the bus, getting on the tube. And I
got to a point where I realized I was finding that whole process of commuting
really stressful. I could feel just not wanting to be within the crowds of
people. I didn't want to be crushed in a tube train squash up against
people. I found that really really overwhelming and just you know, and then
obviously people the way they respond and they talk. You know, I'd find
myself getting to work either feeling really angry, definitely very irritable and just really
hot and bothered. I just remember thinking I don't like this, and I
actually, if I remember right if I yeah, I actually changed my work
active. I was seeing the main bulk of the rushed out rush shine,
so I'd actually coming into work and started working a little bit later, so
you know, and also changing different forms of it as well. I was
just like i'd lother get the bus, which is not without its stress as
well, but it just wasn't going to be quite as packed a dissy.
So it got to some point where, you know, and I remember,
I don't know where that's necessary to do an age or experiences or what have
you, but I was like, I don't want to do that. You
know. Now that I'm living outside of London, it's a longer commute but
a very different type of journey. But as I come into London, I
think, oh, I've got to get on the tree I'm going to get
on the tube or what have you. I can feel the effects of that.
Your heart starts to raise. So just think, oh, I've got
to brace myself for what possibly may come. So yeah, definitely kind of
being aware of your own triggers as it were, or things that you know
are going to impact you. And then it's once you have identified for those
things, is then what can you do to mitigate that and to minimize it
because you may not be able to get rid of it fully, you know,
I have to commute into work. It is what it is. But
what can I do? You know, And I had, you know,
adopted some kind of strategy to kind of help me, you know, mitigate
for that, because I just I recognized that I didn't want to get to
work stress before being started, you know. So so that's a really good
point, you know there knowing and just said knowing yourself right about it.
I think this is a good point for a break. And I'm going to
actually throw in a couple of songs and then when we're back, we're going
to talk about stress management. And I am going to introduce our guest who's
been patiently waiting in the wings very patiently, and I'll ask him to maybe
give a little bit about what we've been discussing so far, but also to
talk about his real reason for being here. So do stay tuned and we'll
get into that very shortly. Our songs I've got lined up is I Smile,
Kirk Franklin, and I'm I'm talking about stress busting anthems here. Some
big tunes just get you in the right mood. Whenever I hear them,
it just really puts a smile on my face and you know, pep in
my step, as it were. And We've compiled a few songs, so
I'm going to share a few with you now and then we'll share a few
later. So it's Kirk Franklin, I Smile, and Kirk Franklin. Kirk
Franklin has to be on that playlist. If you're talking about stress busting,
it really has to be. It has to be Kirk Franklin. I'm sure
he's got a few of them, like so many I think, you know,
I think he's a great artist and incredibly talented. But also when I
was thinking about this, he's got you know, big songs, both high
energy and really kind of really uplifting but also some really deeply reflective songs as
well. So I think you know, in terms of you know, wherever
you are, we're talking about how you can manage your stress, and music
is a great way to help with that. You know. Kurt's got some
reference. It definitely would be on your planet, whatever side you go to.
So he's got coming some upbeat ones for this one. So yeah,
all right, So it's Kirk Franklin. I smile, Kirk Franklin again,
wanted through victory and Mary Mary. I don't know if you remember that one,
but shackles, Yes, depression, there was no sunshine and it started
in my heart and it feels like a cold night today's I know that where
Amo, where is the love and the joy that you pounds me? Tell
me? So ay, be honest with you. I most leave. I'm
p candy splay fell from heaven, take a shower when I think, come
much better. I'm gonna leave when this is over. Even though I see
I start, I know that it is working. So even though I'm beautiful,
what you do? I smile? Come on, smile South should hate
to sing again? Now, God's people you know so much shell wave your
smile so sod every day gonna be perfect, but it's still from me today.
Don't have come on today but there is no sunshine, nothing but clouds
and it still having a heart and it feels like a cold night. It
ain't easy, but today's you tell me wherever about Lucy? Where is I
love y'all? Love Joman that you promised me tell me is all right?
The truth is almost steve power and can't stay. It goes power with y'all
from a shower. I know we would hurt child, but still come home
even though I see you feel God is working so skill so much. Something
down so I hate to see it again cause people kill so much. Let's
whoa Can you just smile? Whatever you're in right now? Smile? Can
you just SMI and the people say you so much? You know so much?
You want so much? Say you want so much? And why you're
waiting you so yeah? And why you praying? Look at mirror, always
remember the stand why you must almost but it goes power. You'll turn out
harshas difficulties. Here's does this is what I do? This whateverels good.
It's like tell us all things are working still Sluija. I know it's hard
right now because you're a winner. Still look better tell us New Orleans,
come, Cleveland, Detroit. It's so much Dealers, Jersey, Hellen.
All the people say so much. See, I just don't want you to
be happy. I think you gotta have something help there. I want you
to have joy because can't nobody take that from you. I'll see you smiling.
Hey, y'all one too free, get up? We got big no
aping they grow heavy, you know they won't prosper Nah. Yeah, trust
I'm doing good. I'll say even bad. All I'm doing good. Should
be up pretty far. I'm really good. All the time you say God
is good, you go back down down downtem basa falling down down down,
the calling down. He's waiting on you. So what you're gonna do?
You know what to pray? Get up? We got says no, it's
and make pro y you know prospa na. This is quite how to pray.
Get up. We got it to a no and now like prossa now
stoeging. I see the world changing. No joy easy, I getting bea
down you down down, don't forget a thing. He's drove fasa falling down
down down your pay anything new. Jerry calls your waiting on down. He's
weighing on you. He's waiting and on you with vlument through. Now it's
on you so much you don't do come on to free. We got there
so they pro you know, I lout project now sorry too Gray. We
got the tip and now protect no churches that you can cry shadow up.
You're note sound cred thing. Seele take some of me. That's a party
to name see namesatory namesatory. Hey yo want to great we got but wish
the women sen that happen. You are too worried. Ye see I'm hand
so no, dont the gifts and all the people say. See the reason
why you're doing good is because what's ahead of you, it's redly than all
the things that were behind you. See you gotta understand. You gotta understand
that everything was already a danger or you've got this for you to do good.
See if your eyes have not seen it is I'm not hurt. You
neither happened God master for playing for a chief. I mean that's you love
it. Girls, you got a child, my brother. You don't understand
the all things to work? Yeah, shown No, I don't mind that's
great. No, I didn't know what you want to do. Yeah,
film what you don't do the con them mine. I just can't seem to
find a reason to believe that I can pray free, because you see,
I don't go along like a hope it's gone. But I never lift my
hands. I under say that I should raise to clear my name. Just
go praising, Just go praising. Fine, everything that could go wrong or
went wrong at one time, so much pressure fell on me. I thought
I was gonna mama. I thought, I know you want to see if
I will hold on through the trials, that I need you to lift this.
But I can't take it by any found every kind of word God broken
gam Well The Talking Point with Ray Senor Changeler discussing the hot topics and answering
your questions, Saturdays, five to seven pm on Adventist Radio London. It's
talking Point. It's talking point. It's talking point, it's talking point.
Conversations you need to have. It's talking point, real conversations. Now we
need that voice. Now you need to hear. I tried to try it.
And good evening to Petro if he is in fact listening. Yes,
wherever you are good night to you. Right, So we're talking stress.
The topic in fact is what stress got to do with it, And we've
come to the conclusion everything and it just kind of mingles in every aspect of
your life. And we really have to keep a really keen eye on stress
our stressors or triggers and just make sure to manage them as best as we
can. And that's where we are at the moment. We are talking stress
management, and very very quickly we're going to talk about a few of the
self help and listen, you can go online and be careful of dr Google.
Let me first say that, because you might end up down the rabbit
hole. But if you've got reliable sources like the NHS website. Mind has
a lot of information on their Mental Health Awareness UK, So try to get
to reliable sources and once you are online, there is a plethora of information
on stress, what it is, what causes it, how do you manage.
Just be aware. Information is key. Knowledge is power. And when
we are talking about and stress management, we're talking about and the things that
you can do, Angie, you can jump in with a few as well,
getting outdoors that especially well when if on the off chance that the weather
is good, get outside and get active. I mean you hear that every
every time, and it's not just in terms of stress. It has wonderful
effects in all that's bits of life, exercise, getting active, getting outdoors,
gardening. I mean I only have a patio, but getting my hands
dirty and you know, seeing the flowers and the colors of spring really brings
me really good vibes. So get outside. You may have a plot,
or you may have a garden, or you may have the space to get
dirty and get you know, planting. Do that because it's really really good
for you. Another thing that you could do is read, reading, particularly
reading the Word, reading the Bible. There's lots of scripture and we're going
to get into that as well. That you know, promises that reassure us
of God's goodness, of his greatness. He's in control and we need to
be able to trust trust in him. CBT is one of them. What's
cognitive behavior behavioral therapy, And it's just about changing the way you think and
how you process and a lot of well, I can't say a lot,
but most of how we deal with stress and how we think of stress has
to deal with maybe our experiences our past. We talk about trauma. So
maybe if you change your thinking and you mentioned that before, Angie as a
man thinks, so changing your thinking could be half the battle. How you
process what you're dealing with and how you think about what you're dealing with could
change how you react to it. And also we're talking about meditation, reflecting,
praying, that's paramount some people. I remember looking at a quote that
says, through life, some people think of prayer as their spear tire,
as opposed to their steering wheel. There is a need to put prayer first.
It isn't the last resort, you know, when all has fallen apart,
when you can't do anything, when you're at rock bottom, that's when
you start looking up and looking to God. It should be the first,
our first point of call, a port of call, praying. For some
it's meditation. But for us as Christians, we understand that we're spending time
in the Word and spending time in prayer and spending time connecting with God.
Have you got any others that you can think of? I mean, as
you mentioned about the beginning with you're saying that you know, don't trust.
There is there is a lot of stuff online. There's some really good,
kind of really good resources. But if you don't really know where to start
and you're having challenges, go to your GP, go to your doctors and
have a talk to them about about something. And the key thing there is
talking as well, because actually talking to trusted people, friends, family,
colleagues really faster pasts your GP in terms of you know, make sure you're
checking yourself out there's no other medical concerns as well, or even contacting a
helpline, you know, and helpline like say like the Samaritans one of the
trained listeners and you know they're there to kind of listen. You've talked about
loneliness or talk about some of these things. Sometimes you haven't got people to
connect with, or you feel that you're isolating yourself on people, you know,
that could be a good way of doing that. But actually having that
kind of social trying to keep your social connections right can be really can be
a really good way to manage your stress. Can I just jump in and
share some information again, if you've got your phone to hand, and it's
also very much available online. Samaritans is one one six, one two three.
There's also Shout It's geared more to our young people. And it's a
text line which is eight five two five eight. That's eight five two five
eight. And of course Cornerstone, which is our very own Christian counseling service.
It's all three hundred one three three two four nine to five. And
another thing actually, maybe just as I was thinking about the song that we
just paid Kurt Franklin about smiling. Having smiling and having a good laugh can
be a great way to you know, relieve some of your stress. Now
it may not solve the problem about what's happening, but laughter is definitely a
good form of exercise. You know, some of these activities that you may
do. What you're aiming to do is bring some joy into your into your
being with what you're doing. It will hopefull you. Really you want to
do things like going to release those I often call them happy hormones things mean
serotonin, Yeah, to kind of lift your lift, to give you a
lift and a bit of a boost. So all the things you mentioned,
you know, getting some sunshine, getting outside, smiling, you know,
happy things that we're going to make you laugh, whatever that could be.
It's funny because of YouTube or there's comedy shows or you know, good healthy
things or call it somebody who know is gonna out for love as well,
doing some really good breathing exercises as well, just really into you know,
we breathe. You know, God has given us life, so we are
breathing. But some actually real deep breathing. If you are feeling a moment
of stress, one way to kind of calm things down, and there's different
basically take the way in which you're breathing. In terms of breathing in.
You may hold it for a certain time and then a really deep breath out
and do that for a few minutes. I can definitely help to kind of
reduce that feeling of overwhelm, especially in the moment as well. And I
wanted to I think end and I'm going to preempt in case you were going
to go there in terms of art and music music, but I was going
to go into the idea of creative arts, and I say, I said,
I must say creative arts. Then doing something that kind of is a
creative way to express yourself. So about writing, journal journaling, crafting,
knitting, sewing, all of those kind of creative things, there's a good
way to kind of you know, you're utilizing your hands, your cognitive skills.
You're doing that as well. Often with some of these things you might
have a finished product at the end, so that can actually make you feel
quite good, especially if you're learning something new and you know, something like
crochet knitting, you you can make something for yourself or somebody else, you
know, so there is a real sense of achievement when you have done that,
especially for the first time. Music art, all of those things can
be very creative, and there's lots of different ways in which you can do
that as well. Something like coloring, there's a great way to really stress
if it helps you just to focus momentarily. Colors, you know, all
of those things can be good for you as well. Things like sense and
aromatherapy can be really good as well. So fragrance, utilizing fragrances, essential
oils. You know, you might have a burner or a scented candle.
All of those kind of things can help to relieve stress as well. You're
creating a sort of a different environment and feelings are sort of warmth and you
know, a calming effect. I shall plug the eucalyptus and the lavender right
here. Yes, amazing and you'll have to find what works for you.
But yes, definitely it's amazing. But I think you know, the key
thing is to kind of try something, find the things that work for you.
We're giving you suggestions here. It's not saying to do everything we possibly
can't, but one of two things. And I have to when I sometimes
when I know I'm talking to my students about sort of self care and you
know, finding things that will help you leave it your stress. One of
the key things I often mentioned is about how you think about how you manage
your time. So, oh, yes, your time management skills can tell
me really helpful, whether that's kind of splitting a huge task into smaller chunks
or giving yourself about how much time you can do things. Plan ahead,
so if you know you've got like a big thing coming up, think about
what you can do to prepare for that as well. You know a bit
of planning can be really helpful. Just a kind of perspective on stuff.
You know you're to do, lists and what have you. Before we talk
a bit more about the arts, and it's going back a little bit about
the positive thinking. Sometimes we can feed ourselves really negative messages, but people
are getting stressful and challenging, and sometimes it's about reframing that that could be
focusing on some of God's promises, and there are so many bubble texts that
will remind you just how good, how good God is, what He's got
in store for you. The plans like Jeremiah nine eleven, you know,
plans not to see your halves as a good thing, and we want to
we want to end with some of that because I think that would be a
very good final word. Part of that can be, you know, thinking
about what you're grateful for, other things that you have achieved and done,
so you know, creating your own sort of daily gratitude list is a great
way to kind of help to release from your stress because it can kind of
remind you that maybe not all things are that bad. Yes, you know,
and okay, it's on different levels, but it's definitely something to try.
But definitely creativity can be a great way to manage stress. And that's
where I think we're going to go to the next time that Indeed, indeed,
Alan Glenn Allen is in the house. Mister Allan, how are you.
It's a good point to introduce you to our listeners. We have been
alluding to having a guest, and it's now eighteen minutes past eight and them
like half past six, and they're like, where is this guess that they've
been talking about. It's it's good to have you. Thank you very much
for taking the time out to be a part of the conversation. Thank you
for having me. It's been an interesting topic to listen to. It's not
easy with the word stress when it comes to mind, everyone kind of goes,
you know, But in life, we just have to use the things
that the tools that we have been given and we can be able to move
forward. Yes, absolutely, I am. I was going to ask you,
I mean, you don't look like a man that's been stressed before women,
but of course I'm sure. I mean, when we spoke offline,
you said it was a really busy day for you. We kind of just
touch base on what we wanted to discuss today, and you said that you
had so many balls struggling. And that's often the case with us in this
modern day way of living, that we do have so many things going on.
We do, like Angie, we talk about it all the time.
I don't even know. Sometimes I listen to you, Angie I'm tired because
just hearing what you've got to do on a daily basis, or what you've
got to do just on a sabbath or whatever it might be. So we
really do spread out ourselves very thin. And you've just talked talked about time
management as one of the issues. We've really got to manage your time better.
But it just goes to say that we we live very busy lives.
And speaking of which, tell us a little bit about yourself and what do
you do on a day to day basis? So how can I bring it
down? I am Can I correct you a little bit? So it's not
Glenn Allen's Gleberg Allan gl But who am? I? Married? Man?
One wife? Okay, that's good. So one is enough, you know,
keep your balance already. But I have Do you have kids? I
have children, girls, one boy. Wow. So you're talking about busy
NonStop, you know, And what do you do? What do you do
for a living? Living? And I'm a cater I'm a chef okay,
my first love, passion, That's what drives me most everything. Pay the
bills as well, pay the bills, that's catering, and then do events
and different things. Do you have a restaurant or you work for you just
prepare and in the making man, in the process. That's the plan of
the long term, go having my own own base on restaurant. But for
now it's catering and just catering and doing events, events and what types of
food. I mean, you're Caribbean man, some good and all the rest
of what is I was when I studied there was international cops you do in
your English Italian. But then I went and worked in the city and then
I said, okay, it's time to me to go back to my roots.
And I went to study, well not study, because I grew up
in it. So you know, the food, the culture, and that's
why I've been doing things with Caribbean food. And where do you hail from
at so our listeners will know beautiful island of monster Rat. So you know
I'm from been here a little boy, a young man growing up so here
noway, excellent, we're both from ans Rat. So so forgive me if
you've just put a smile on my face. And it's really good to see
you. It's been been a while, and I hope everyone as well.
The reason we've sort of brought you in on this. This conversation is we're
talking stress management, and I she has sort of shared a lot of really
good tips as to how we can self manage. And a little later we'll
talk some more about what we can do and where we can go if we
need more professional or more assistance, more help, more support. But the
two things that stuck out for me here was how art and music can be
such a critical part of that self care, that self help mode that we
can use to destress debunk. And when I saw you shared a flyer with
me many moons ago about a paint and praise event that you were doing,
and in fact you're having another event shortly, and I thought this was a
good time to bring you on and you can share a little bit of backstory,
but also share about the event that you're having. Is it Monday?
Monday? Monday will be the next next event events putting on. So tell
us a little bit about art and worship. We're art of worship. It's
combining. In my head, it's combining art with worship. That's what it
says on the tin. But tell me how how did this come about?
Have you always loved art? I know you love you talking about being a
chef and loving the kitchen. But where does this stem from? Where does
this stem from? Well, two thousand, I've always wanted to do events,
so that's been my field being a Christian. For one, there's always
been a thing of where can we go, what can we do I hear
that, you know, to be stressed or find somewhere that I feel safe
and I feel I can be myself. So that's one of the things.
That's a key thing. I mean, I feel like you should say that
again, Yes, definitely. But Art of Worship was born in two thousand,
twenty twenty and that was COVID, Yes, COVID, So the first
one was put out, unfortunately had to shut it down because COVID K.
Then it kind of went quiet, nothing was going on, and just I
think the first one was last year that I did twenty twenty three. So
it's just something I'd say. It was just a space that I was creating
for like minded people who just wanted somewhere to go to be comfortable with who
you are, celebrating Christ, celebrating whatever you're going for, just to be
at So that's why it came about. Kind of why art, what why
you know, it's a place where you can escape. It's whatever you want
in that picture is where you want to be. So that's one of the
things that I wanted to put out there. Yes, I do. We
sometimes have themes, and the last one we did was amazing, Like I
put a theme out there and the things that people put onto their canvases.
You how do you get that out of this? Drawing from what I said
and someone else did this, and you think, okay, so we all
come in along the same journey. We may see the same things, but
how we do deal with it is different. But at least we got to
express that feeling that we had inside of us, you know. So it
was really nice. Good. Well, can I ask what the theme was?
You remember so many of us are walking a lung of the journey and
we don't really know there's a song through God size, isn't there. Maybe
I'm I'll see if I can find it, But yes, I think I've
heard it. It's just it's like to three people come out. It was
did The feedback was wonderful. Everyone was like, you know, I've been
looking for something like this where I can just go and just kind of at
least a distress and really relax and feel just chilled, you know, And
that was really an amazing feeling. I had to see it fulfilled. And
so there's an art element, and you're talking about people having campus and just
expressing themselves and and that's an important part of distressing. But there's a worship
element. So you've got a Christian background, are you? S d A.
My church is Edmonton, so shadow Edminton seventy Adventors. You know,
I've been I grew up in the church and I've stayed in the church,
and I love the church. I couldn't see no other way. Pray for
me personally. It keeps you grounded to something because you know, you just
it's a crazy world so much to draw you far away and then you kind
of thing why, But yeah, it's just trying to be the best perversion
of yourself to be a Christian. So how do you introduce the worship?
But what do you have? Bad? Do you have people singing? How
do I have a righte guest artists? We will have have life DJ there
that's spending some nice, very good music we have I'm already interested. We
have a sing along moment, we have our pastor Mike moment where the last
one was, hey, don't judge a book by its cover, guys,
because some of the people that was singing, you wouldn't think, how did
you do that? You know what I mean? So it was amazing.
It was really good. The music. We had a prayer session, you
know, literally in the moment happened. And it's not just for seven Adventus.
It was open. It was open doors to everyone who is a believer
of God, and that's all I wanted to see a room full of that
and it was it was good. Wow, that's amazing. And do you
have a question or anything to add I was gonna say, it's interesting as
you said that you when we were talking about creative you know, utilizing creativity
as well, and the idea that people can come and kind of utilize that
space to express themselves. Were we a lot of people when they came.
Were they kind of people that were interested in asks or were they people who
did never necessarily were done anything like that before this was the first time.
What was the kind of says the range of people who were there, and
you know, from theatritically inclined or from the feedback that I got it was
all around them. So you had people that just wanted some food and to
chill, people that just came. Let's they wanted some bospel music. They
came, they didn't want So there was two tickets to form of tickets that
you can come and just paint or you can just come and worship people.
So we had people that was just they say, they came in and they
did it's on the table to listen to gospel music. And it was like,
do you sure you don't want to do nothing? No. When I
did it, I didn't think like, oh, you look kind of weird.
But it was beautiful. It was wonderful because they came and it took
part, so it was every bit of a bottle. Some people came,
some real artists showed up. That was like, okay, I think this
is not your level, but you were amazing and everyone was inspired by it.
Everyone. But it was all one environment of just putting out your feelings
onto your campus. And do you did you just to feedback on that question,
did you have a range of ages as well? So do you get
most of young people or For me, I don't know, I was a
bit selfish. I kind of went for my age group. You know,
I wanted to get young people. So it was the age group was from
twenty one up, so because you know many a time, that's the that's
the area where now you want to go and find other things to do.
So I was just thinking, what could we draw these young people to do.
And it was it was a mixed room. I had fifty plus,
I had twenty plus. You know, it was a mix. It was
really good. So it was not I didn't It was not just aimed at
one particular age or one youthful. You would just come and have a good
time, wow, and this worship and let's do something while we're worshiping instead
of you know what does it? Love? Sorry, I love the idea
that it was quite intergenerational as well, because I think there's something to be
said about making those connections, Yes, enridging the gap. Yeah, I
can come together, be inspired of each other, learn from each other,
and enjoyed spending time with each other as well. You know we're talking about
connections, family, church, all those things. So yeah, I love
that. And art and music does that? Isn't it that they they are
great connectors, you know, any any culture, any age, any religion.
You know, there's there's a h a combining or bringing together that ye
art and music does a music is It didn't even go there yet, but
yeah, you know, music doesn't how old you are, how your age
is. Because I had some people were dancing, like literally putting the chair
aside and they were dancing. And these were not young people. These are
not old people, but these were the people enjoying theirselves. And I was
just like, okay, you know, the DJ was, you know,
if you read in the room, we had our worship session, and I
said, we had we had a prayer board that kind of was born in
the moment, and I was when I did it, I was like,
okay, I don't know how it's gonna go. But by the time the
board reached the end of back to me, I was before yeah, And
you know, we said a prayer over it, and I just hope and
pray that whatever they put on there, that God answered their prayers because they
were earnest and honest in that they could have said, no, I'm not
sure, because you know, when no one really asks what religion you are,
all they need to know is your follow of Christ. And that was
one of the things that I was really watching that environment for and I was
so proud. They say, I follow God. So it was good.
It's really good that a good event, tell me, because we've we've touched
on it a little bit, but not in full. You're saying that there's
good food to be had at the event as well. Well. Is the
food part of it is a blessing because you're lucky to have to hat wear
two hats. I'm an entertainer and I feed the people, so that's covered
by by myself, which is Emo Spice. That's my other company name.
But so if you are looking cateristic, you know, and you'll be blessed.
But they were, Yeah, it was covered. We have vegans with
the vegetarian, you know, we cover for the meat and the chick.
You know. We did it all and it was it went down well.
It was all good. Feedback from maybe one with what happened that day fabulous.
I want to ask another question as well, in terms of help and
support, because you're one man sat in front of me, and it sounds
like you are operating as a team of twenty. What who do you my
team? What you know? Who do you thank at the end of the
day. Thank my family, my family, you know, they've had my
back from this moment of entering the world of events. So my family,
my wife for one, she's been amazing. And I'd probably drive a crazy
doing that, like always thinking of ideas, but I have to say,
you've redeemed yourself. But yeah, you know, we pushed it, we
pulled, we pulled together, and we get it done. When I call,
get it when they feed the phone call coming, they know what time
it is and they just jump up and they support me all the way through.
Wow. Appreciated of that. Thank you very much to my family for
that. Okay, good good stuff. All right, let's take another quick
break, some more and some more stress busters. Angie, I want you
to maybe share a little bit. You had a story that we were you
were sharing offline, and we can share it with our listeners. The story
behind this next track. It's Jordan g Welch and it took the internet by
storm. There's a little clip that was shared maybe a few weeks ago and
it just kind of resonated with so many And that's the thing about music as
well, it just hits you a little differently to ending on where you're at
and what your struggle may be, and you spoke about that this week open.
Yeah, you know sometimes that many people, you know, you're scrolling
through on social media and I do come across that clip. But you know,
because some of our listeners may know this as well, I've you know,
put with my mum who is living with those times at the moment,
and a full time care as well as holding down a full time job.
At the moment, I'm really struggling with my work and I've got very behind
and just not in a great place of all of that. So I've had
a really tough week this week trying to sort of, you know, get
back on track and get to a place where you know, ideally have Probably
if I could give up work and you're caring full time, I probably would,
But there's so many listen, there are millions. I was looking at
the statistics, there are millions of us out there unpaid cares. But yeah,
you know, I solute to hold it down, and it's you know,
it's a struggle, and at the moment, I'm really struggling. And
you know, I remember sort of sitting, you know, I work from
home, and I remember sitting taking a bit of a break and scrolling through
and I came across that clip, but it was actually linked to a lady
that I follow on social media who's in a similar position, caring for her
mom with Alzheimer's, and she was it was basically a clip over where she
was offering some kind of support to her mum. I think she was kind
of rubbing her back and massaging her hands, and it was just a really
poignant moment, that kind of thing, you know, which she might not
know, and her mother is much more forign advance and say my mom is,
but it was almost like, you know, I don't necessarily know what's
going on because her mom is can't communicate, but she knows that when she
sings and when she's kind of you know, after touch, because she was
massaging her hands, it really made a difference. And then hearing that song
over it was just so poignant and I just remember thinking, oh, my
goodness, I know, despite whatever's going on, there are other people who
are in a similar situation. But that piece of music and the words and
the way the ladies sung it, which just almost brought me to tears because
you put everything to perspective to say, you know what as much as things
are stressful, God is there and he's saying to you know, open your
eyes, open your heart, you know, quite in the noise that's in
your mind, and listen to me because I'm here. So for me,
that song has been on repeat all week because it just made me stop for
a moment because you know, you get very panicked, you get very stressed,
and you feel overwhelmed, but you know, God is saying to us,
you know, open your heart, open your mind, open your eyes.
You know, he wants us to see him and when we do,
he's right there and He's always there. We know that sometimes and sometimes we
get his messages in strange ways. So you know, thank you Jordan Jee.
And then I kind of got into a bit of a I'm listening to
loads of the stuff that she does. Is a great worship leader. She
brings people together to sing, and just seeing all that was just really inspirational
in that moment. So yeah, that's my full story behind us that sometimes
it is about the uplifting, but sometimes it is about quieting and a gentleman
and the reflection, the moments of reflection. So we've shifted the mood a
little bit. We had upbeat earlier, but now it's just moments of reflection.
Uh. Can I call you Glenn? All right? You chose more
than this, City Winans. Is there a backstory to that or it's just
one of your favorites? I are you thinking of the music more than this?
God is more than this? And that's what I thought. I thought,
there's nothing more better than this. Hey man, That's that's enough.
All right. Let's hear from Jordan g Welch and City Winans. Hope Billy
us from my heart, Lord Hopillius and my heart. I want to shee.
I want to see Hope Bius am my heart, Lord, hoping us
my heart. I wanna see. I want to see silence the noise in
my mind, Lord and hoping the eyes of my heart. I wanna see.
I want to see silence, the noise in my mind, hoping the
eyes of my heart. I wanna see. I want to see. To
see you high and lifted it up, shining in the light of your glory.
Pour out Cha power and love as we seen, Holy Holy Holy,
to see you hide love dead, shining in the light of your glory.
Pour outch power and love as we sing, Holy, Holy, Holy,
So hopingly to my heart, hopingly as my heart. I want to see.
I want to see hopingly eyes and my heart lor hoping lead of my
heart. I want to see. I want to see. I want to
see. I want to see. I need to eat. Oh all,
I want to hear. I want to know. I want to love you.
I want to see. I want to see. So halleluyah, God
he loud, Halleluyah, oh Man, Halleua found the food read five okay
to Hallellua fine is your glory hallea, oh hallelua. Fine. Till I
reach my goal and I see your face, I will forever about and worse
till I hear it in my assignments through I will forever bound any worship.
I'll give you more more than this. I'll give it b more than this,
not just the little, not just the power of me. So you
a all tears and there's no more. Okay. I will forever bud anywhere
sat you till you quet this guy and the daddle rocks. I will forever
and worlds shall you said. I'll give you an I'll give you a call
more than this, not just the little, not just the car, not
just the not just the car and everything. I will lay it down,
ay of my whole I've poured out at all for Lor right here and now
a line easier read. I'm lay down my line for how man or worn
lor I here written. Now, oh easy, I'll give you a ball
or that miss. I'll give you more than this. I'll just come down
now just go car, get you. I'll getting your ball more than listen.
I don't mean I'm getting you all. I'm just a lout. I'm
just a a hard chriss. Hold lord you my life is old to word
shoop you my hard crises or Lord you are my life is too words my
cor so holy Lord, you love my fans a cho ship lord, no
class, Lord you know fans to ship you come. Everybody say that gives
a lad up words and ship time, way up, chill ship. Why
is some good boys h say holada wall tell you what. I'll give you
a mo. I'll give you more more than this. I trust a little,
I trust uh me, but I'll give you a m I'll trust a
little. Give it one more time saying I'll give you. I'll give you
just not just come on and get along right, Sorry about that. Just
working out some technical bits and pieces. I think we're live on our individual
Instagram accounts, so we're going to work out how we can also be live
on Adventist Radio. But for those joining us, happy to see you,
wonderful lovely guys, say something testing testing, make sure that you're class good
evening, good, good evening. Yes, and thank you for joining us.
We are live on We are live on Live Redio London. Thank you
for joining our show. Talking points, Gosh, we're live everywhere and we
have been Yes. So we've been talking about stress today and how we can
manage our stress, and we've been sharing some of our own tips and things
that we do. Have been sharing music, which is a great way to
release some stress, and then we have segued nicely into talking a little bit
about how creativity and the arts can help leave it our stress, which is
where our guest with us today, Glenn is sharing an event that he has
is putting on and has put on before. So Glenn was, then you've
got anything that's done that No, because our time as usual is fast spent.
Glenn tell us a little bit about paint and praise, which is the
event you're having to on Monday. Paint and Praise this Monday, start at
eleven thirty, finish at four o'clock. You can go and purchase tickets.
Still they're still an they are going very fast. While I've been here,
God is moved and I've just seen some tickets vider shifting. Hey, if
you are interested, go on too, event, write and type, painting,
praise and the rest is up to you. Look forward to seeing you
all. Thanks for having me on this radio station today with you a talking
point. I appreciate it all. I know you're going to come back.
I've already. I mean, I shamelessly asked all our guests to be prepared
for a part two. But tell us just just a little bit of the
details. So Paint and Praise happens where where? Where is the event actually
going to be physically house, It's a church in Edmonton off Montaviue Road.
So doors open eleven thirty. It's a day brunch. If it's a day
to relax, day to onwine, leave the you know, somebody to come
and distress yourself. Come and just meet like minded people. I have conversations
with different people that you wouldn't have because this space, I must say it's
open to all. So when the people that come, it's all a blessing.
Everyone has the story, everyone has something that they can enhance learn from.
Okay, and this is you come. You get food is included,
and you get your canvas and your painting supplies. Yes, so yeah,
so you have There is two styles of tickets, so I do have not
want to get no food. You can just get your tickets and just come
and paint and enjoy the atmosphere and the music. And if you do your
food, it's a package to get food, canvas, music and the environment.
All right, and please can you collect me with the Gospel DJ.
I want to have a word please, no problem, No problem. I
will tell you who that in a straight after this. Indeed, Glenn just
I mean, I know we spent a little bit on the show, but
for anybody who's been joining up Live, tell us a little bit about what's
been your inspiration as to why you've put this, why you're putting this event
on. So the whole reason for this is just a space for Christian people
to go. I you said most places where to go it's either you know,
secular places environments where you're not going to hear the music you want to
hear, or you just want to stay in a certain mind. You go
to church, you leave church, and then all of a sudden you hear
boom boom boom in your head. How do how do you transition to just
stay in a certain space. So instead of going and getting into a certain
space, I create a space where you can come and wear ships and here,
certain testimony. Here. Yeah, just a space for people who just
wants to be in a Christian environment. So you're talking timony Christians. It's
not just for Christians. It's just it's a Christian based event. But anyone
can come, right We Christian followers may go to other events. This is
open to everybody. If I try my best to food, music, and
entertainment. So what else would anyone want? It's there for you. It's
not just for you to be If you know a follow up christ, it
doesn't matter. You still can come and be a part of this and you
can be who you want to be. And that's it. Oh wow,
it sounds amazing, It sounds amazing. I'm really looking forward. If I
can't be at this one coming Monday, I certainly will keep keep an air
out. How do people find out? How do people connect with you?
So, if you're if you're listening to us right now, I wanted to
take your phone. I know you have your phone in your hand. Of
course I need to type in art of Worship. Once you go into Instagram,
type art of Worship and you will find more information there. If you
want to contact me, I can give you my number which is zero seven
five. Sorry, go back five one zero seven six one zero. I'll
say it again, zero seven five one. Oh my goodness, apologies.
Tell you what? Tell you what? Give me your information. If anybody
wants to get in touch with you, they can come to us here at
Adventus Radio. Also they can DM you. I love to say it,
Oh my gosh. They can slip into your DMS and get to you directly
anyway. So once they're on Art of Worship they'll be able to connect with
you there. And of course you do catering, so I'm just plugging for
you. If anybody has an event or anything like that that they'd like some
good, good home cooked Caribbean food, then they can also connect with you
there too. That a big conversation, you know, for the healthy eaters,
I do meal preps. So if you want your your whole weekly plan,
I do all of a dat everything my barket and it's been a journey
in events and trying to build myself to be the person I want to be
for Christ. Of course, dresses and things come along the way it was
with their story. But you have to find ways to tap into the resources
are there? Do you listen to the show? There's places you can go
and get help and people to talk to. Don't don't hold it in.
Hey, you know very important type circle who you can trust. And yeah,
I just to reiterate as our time always always just flies by the last
minute. You if if these self help tips and strategies we've shared with you,
maybe you've exhausted them all, maybe you've tried and you feel that you
need more help than that. Please tap into your GP go and have a
word. They'll be able to refer you or signpost you. We also have
our Christian Connection where you can zero three sorry zero three three zero one three
three two four nine five connect with someone who you can speak to. They're
a qualified therapist on board. Also very easily you can pick up the phone
one one six, one two three for Samaritans, and you can also connect.
There are several charities, et cetera that provide support. If you are
struggling, you feel your drowning, and you know self help isn't quite working
for you, then do not, as Glenn said, struggle alone. And
again there are events such like his that you can go to and just meet
like minded people, just unwind, take your mind off the issues and struggles
and just have a really good time. And you were running out of time,
why don't you leave us with a few scriptures and maybe a prayer to
close? Well, there were so many. I mean, we've talked again
on many of our shows about how God just gives us so many words of
encouragements, messages of things that we can do. It just remind us us
how great He is. As I thought of one ten says, so do
not fear that I am with you. Do not be displayed, for I
am your God, and I love this one. This is all of my
favorite texts. I will strengthen you, and I will help you. I
will help you. I'll hold you with my righteous right hands. I visualize
God holding my hands, picking me up, clutching me, holding me.
When I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And in Philippines four, verse sixty seven,
it says, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition and thanksgiving, present your requests to God. He's
saying, to tell him everything. And the peace of God, which transcends
all understand, will guard your hearts, on your minds in Christ Jesus.
And then to remind you that you know we are to turn to Him in
times of trouble and stress, he says, humble yourselves, therefore under God's
mighty hands, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all
your anxieties, your cares, your worries, everything on him because He cares
for you. And that's first Peter five, verse six or seven. There
are so many promises. I mean, I could be here for hours going
through praise God. So want to I want to encourage anybody who's listening,
and thank you for joining us on talking point today. Thank you Glenn for
the work that you're doing and the inspiration for the event that you're putting on.
And just to remind anybody who there is struggling, there is there are
people to help you. God has blessed people with gifts to be able to
be great listeners, people who can support you, people who can lift you
up. So do reach out to them if you feel but ultimately know that
God is there with you. He will bring you through those times of trouble
and He will be able to encourage and support you, and He loves and
cares for you. And if you don't know God and you're listening to this,
you know, try him. He can be a blessing to you.
So I'm gonna thank you again for joining us life. This is an exciting
moment. Oh my goodness. So you know, and you know, even
things like this, you know sometimes it can be stressful, but you know
there is always a way, there's always a solution, there's always ways to
leave it stress. So I want to encourage you as you go through the
rest of this evening, think about how you can get closer to people,
met those connections and think about how you can do those things. So leave
it at your own stress. So I'm going to close Talking Point show to
today with the prayer and do John's again next week from five till seven Adventist
Radio London. Do get in contact with us. We'd love to hear you
and if you have a story that you'd like to come on the show about
something that you're doing to impact the community, get in touch with us.
Do you want to give us a detail, I certainly can. It is
studio at Adventist Radio dot London. Or you can text eight triple to eight
hope space and then your message, or you can what's up on zero seven
four five nine six four two eight nine eight. Okay, let's pray,
Father God. I want to thank you so much for being such a wonderful
God. I want to thank you for being there for us no matter what,
Dear Lord, and I pray that the things that we've been talking about
today will be a blessing, will be an inspiration to those who have been
listening. Dear Lord. We lead a stressful often many of us lead a
stressful life, Dear Lord, and sometimes we never know what's going on.
But as you said, you know the plans that you have for us.
You have plans for to prosper and not to harm us, plans to give
us hope for a future. We sometimes don't know what's happening, Dear Lord,
and there are so many those things that around that sometimes make us waiver
with our trusting you. But thank you, Dear Lord, for the other
promises that reminds us that you are there for us and that we can put
our full trust and hope in you. I thank you, Dear Lord,
for those people who are there who can support anybody who's going through troubling times,
Dear Lord, and I'd encourage anyone to reach out to them as well,
to get the help that they need and recognize that they don't have to
struggle alone. I thank you for everything you are doing for everybody in their
lives, Dear Lord. I thank Glenn for being with us today, and
I pray that you bless his event tomorrow, that that will be a witness
to just how good you are and how you can inspire people to make a
difference themselves. I thank you God everything. I ask the blessings for this
new week that's coming up, and I pray to Lord that you bless and
keep everyone here. I thank you for hearing and answering, because you are
indeed and awesome God. This is my prayer. Amen, Amen and amen,
Thank you guys, and that yeah, luckily you're spilling into Saturday night
praise, so that's all good. That's with me, So I believe there
was a show ahead. God bless you and goodbye. R Are you struggling
to cope with life? Conflict, bereavement, fear, relationship, anger,
depression, negative thoughts, trauma and uncertainty can all cause emotional imbalance. Don't
struggle alone. CCS, your trusted confidential counseling service, is here for you.
Call our listening line on zero double three zero one, double three two
nine four five, our office line for appointments on zero two zero double seven
two three eight zero five zero, or visit our website www dot CCS Counseling
dot org dot UK. Our counselors speak various languages. CCS a shoulder to
lean on. We are here to listen. Adventist Radio, London inspiration for
the song h