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When King David got up from his bed to walk around on the roof of the palace on that cool spring morning, I do not believe he expected to see what he saw. According to the narrative, “From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful” (2 Samuel 11:2, NIV). What happened next would affect a number of lives in ways that not even David could have imagined: “And David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her . . . then she went back home” (vv. 3-4).

I thought of David as I reflected on how relatively easy it is to give in to what we feel. Inherent even in the best of us is the tendency to go after what catches our attention, especially if it does so in ways we find pleasurable. As Eve would probably testify after her experience with the serpent in Eden (Genesis 3:6), it is even more attractive if it satisfies a deep longing – real or imagined. In moments of stress and anxiety, such distractions can feel liberating. We know we shouldn’t, but we do it anyway. Even the apostle Paul was not immune from crossing the divide. In an amazing act of transparency and vulnerability, he disclosed to the brethren in Rome his desire to do good but struggled to do it due to the presence of evil within him; “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being, I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! (Romans 7:18-24).

What a perfect picture of the believer’s struggle! Some battles we win, others we lose. Some days are better than others. On the day in question, David lost his battle. When we look at his life, it was not his first or last loss. However, on every occasion, he got back up, dusted himself off, sought the unmerited favour of God, and kept going. God would not have made grace available to us if we were not going to need it. Instead of thinking we are failures and losers, in the Proverbs, we are reminded, “For a just [righteous] man falls seven times, and rises up again” (Proverbs 24:16). Maybe some people are perfect enough to not have fallen, but I know I have had to lay claim to that grace at different times in the past, the present, and certainly will have to do so in the future.

It is comforting to know that our God is a God of compassion and that He knows our humanity (Psalm 103:13-14). The times we fail we are not tossed aside, but as long as we are willing to get back up, dust ourselves off, and keep going, His arms are never too short to reach in and lift us out of the depths we have fallen. Having lifted us out, He then sets our feet upon a rock, steadying our steps and making them secure (Psalm 40:2). Awesome God! Amazing grace!

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It is a very common thing to have brush fires here in Florida.  They spread so quickly because of so much empty land filled with bushes.  It’s usually almost impossible to put out these fires quickly.   One bad move can cause millions of dollars of damage to acres of landspace from a brush fire and it is usually unintentionally started.

Michelle and I enjoyed a great day working from home and taking lunch together.  We finished out our working day and headed to church for a leaders meeting.  The meeting ended and Michelle stopped to speak with a friend as I waited.  The waiting seemed endless after a while.  Michelle walked out with her friend and headed in an opposite direction  from where we had parked our vehicle leaving me wondering where she was headed.  I followed and shouted “we are parked on the other side.”  Michelle then asked for me to get the car and meet her over on the other side as she finished her conversation with her friend.  I got a bit impatient and thought Michelle should have communicated better.  Michelle entered the car and started telling me about the conversation with her friend and ‘BOOM,’ I cut her off explaining she should have told me where she was heading.  It turned ugly for a moment as Michelle was turned off from finishing her story.  The cloud was very dark from then on and the night was gloomy.  I apologized and hoped for a change in the weather but not so fast.  I was a bit harsh and she responded harshly.  Fire erupted and there was no extinguisher that could put it out.  Thank God we made it right eventually after moments of unnecessary gloom and sadness.

Marriage relationships will have conflicts.  There is no way to avoid them because you are two different minds and personalities.  The tendency is to try to avoid conflicts and arguments.  It is a great approach but an even greater approach is to avoid an eruption from a small conflict to a house fire that burns it all down with harsh words.  ” A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger”

 

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The Arts Park at Young Circle was definitely the place Labor Day Weekend in Hollywood, Florida as thousands flocked to the 2023 episode of the Maestro Marley Cup.  This fun-filled event was one that combined a football tournament by day with a thrilling music festival by night that featured:  The Marley Brothers and family (Stephen, Damian, Julian, Rohan, Yohan, Shacia, KJ, Kastin); iconic reggae group – Inner Circle; I-Octane; Queen of Soca – Alison Hinds; dancehall legend – Spragga Benz; latin reggae artists – Locos Por Juana; Dominican Republic’s, Maffio; and Puerto Rico’s Farruko.  As always, there were too many notable attendees in the Arts Park to count, but to name a few:  Tanto Irie (of ‘Reggae Runnins’ on South Florida’s Hot 105 FM radio); conscious reggae musician/band – M.Pres; former national football league (NFL) standouts – the ‘Pouncey Twins’; veteran Jamaican dancehall deejay – Ninja Kid; Jason Panton – Dubwise Miami; Steve James – Reggaeville; Floyd and Aiesha Barrett – children of Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett (of Bob Marley & the Wailers) ; Kabaka Pyramid – 2023 Grammy award winner in the reggae category; and music mogul and one of this year’s event organizers, Abebe Lewis – son of Inner Circle’s Ian Lewis.

Reggae King, Bob Marley’s Football Love ‘Ever Endures’:

The roots of Bob Marley’s love affair with football can be traced back to the 1960s in Kingston, Jamaica.  That decade in Jamaican football—particularly at the high school level—was very special indeed.   In the 1960s, Kingston College (‘KC’) was a powerhouse in the sports of football, cricket, and track and field.  During that era, some of the most popular sportsmen in Jamaica came out of KC.  Arguably, KC’s biggest and most talented top-football star back then was none other than Alan ‘Skill’ Cole, widely regarded as Jamaica’s greatest footballer of all time.  Cole described his relationship with the late reggae icon as:  “A great, great friend. A confidant.”

‘Skill’ Cole went to KC and, while there, his teammates and contemporaries included the likes: of  Neville ‘Sam Brown’ Oxford, Frank ‘Bowla’ Morant, Michael ‘Mouse Brown’ Vernon, Tony Keyes, and Trevor ‘Jumpy’ Harris.  Indeed, Bob Marley’s football connection to Kingston College was a special one in that he became very close to many of their top stars while playing the game with them.  And all throughout those years, Marley made strong connections with those KC schoolboy legends while playing pick-up games of football.   In fact, Cole became an integral member of the reggae legend’s inner circle, and also served as Marley’s road manager for the singer’s final tour in 1980.

And apart from the KC network, of course, there was also Tony ‘Gilly Dread’ Gilbert, who was not only Bob’s personal chef, but also a top sparring partner where playing football was concerned.  What’s more, Gilly was road manager for Marley’s Exodus Tour—which kicked-off at the Pavillon de Paris, Porte de Pantin in Paris, France, on 10 May 1977.

Live DJs, Music, and Fun in the Park:

Marley Family and Friends Delivered Stellar Concert Performances:

Following the daytime action on the football field, the Arts Park later that evening attracted the masses to enjoy a music concert that featured live performances delivered by an A-list of musical  star performers, legends and icons.  Meanwhile, backstage was an event in and of itself, as a number of big-name musicians, celebrities, and officials milled around and chatted while enjoying the festivities, including:  Zeke Don, Safaree Samuels, Yaksta, Yung Wylin’ and a number of others.

I-Octane – Jamaica

Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds – Barbados

Inner Circle – Jamaica

Spragga Benz – Jamaica

Marley Family and Musical Friends – Jamaica

The Maestro Marley Cup was founded in 2018 by Ky-Mani Marley and Big Hair Dave from the Dubplates with the mission aim of raising money for the ‘Love Over All Foundation’, as well as aiding the needs of communities through fusing sporting endeavors together with music.  And when the dust settled after this year’s 6 vs 6  Maestro Marley Cup episode, the Arts Park was filled with good vibes and comradery as well as the declaration of bragging rights until the next Maestro Marley Cup tournament is held.  More than that, the music festival component to the Maestro Marley Cup was epic in that musicians and performers came from far and wide to join the Marley family in celebrating Bob’s life, music, legacy, and entrenched love for the game of football, which was really a lot of fun for all those who played in the tournament.

All photos (except where indicated as file photo) by Nick Ford.

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Whether you were in the bleachers,  all the way in the ultra VIP, or maybe vibing in the comfort of your home, while watching someone’s Instagram live- there is no doubt that the Chris Brown and Friends’ concert was exceptional. From flashing lights, to pulsating music and dance moves that got everyone jumping in the crowd- the concert was nothing short of memorable.

While many anticipated the performance of international RnB superstar Chris Brown to be the highlight of the night, it was the spectacular performances of local acts that kept the energy high throughout the night.

Gramps Morgan’s Blissful Serenade

Gramps personifies wholesome entertainment, feel-good vibes and he did not disappoint this time around. The smashing debonair, in his red suit, black hat and long-flowing locs tucked to the back gave us endless melodies. From ‘She’s Still Loving Me’ to ‘Psalm 23’, to the uplifting message that transcends, ‘People Like You’ the crowd sang along, swaying on the lawns of the National Stadium like palm trees in the wind.  To top it off, he brought along his son – Jemere, making for a sweet father-son moment. It’s clear to see that the legacy of Morgan Heritage still lives on and the smooth tones and cadence melted the crowd.

Aidonia

In true Jamaican fashion, ‘di man mash up di place!’ Aidonia’s performance had everyone screaming- especially the ladies. Dropping the hits that had hips gyrating, the crowd jumping and going as far as serenading a few lucky ladies in the crowd- his performance was a hit. Aidonia delivered high-energy balanced with vulnerability, as he shared his feelings with the crowd about the passing of his son. A mix of raw emotions and pure vibes, truly made this performance memorable.    Of course, the cherry on top was when he brought his wife, Kimberly Megan on stage, to share his unending love for her, and announcing that they are expecting another child. The ‘ooos’ and ‘ahhs’ of the crowd could have been heard from miles away. 

Ding-Dong

Jamaican dance culture cannot be spoken about without mentioning Ding-Dong. His performance was a celebration of passion, jubilance and arguably the best performance of the night. The superstar rolled out on a handcart. It literally doesn’t get any better than that. Paying homage to classic dances like ‘Signal di Plane’ to his original dance moves like, ‘Bounce’ to being supported on stage by at least 30 young dancers who gave us nothing but pure energy and raw talent.

TeeJay

Teejay caught the attention of the crowd with the singing of Jamaica’s national anthem to open his set. Then, he gave us drummers, vibes on top of vibes, dancing and top tracks from his catalogue- which certainly had us ‘drifting’ all night long.

Valiant

This performance was short, sweet and spicy. Valiant captured the crowd with his great stage presence, intense energy and catchy lyrics from some of his hit songs, like ‘Mad Out’. A great moment interspersed between Chris Brown’s set, that patrons really enjoyed.

The Chris Brown and Friends’ Under the Influence Concert was well-executed and arguably one of the best events in Jamaica’s 2023 entertainment calendar.

Photo – Sheldon Levene

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Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, a five-time Olympic champion, won the women’s 100-meter competition in Switzerland, at a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver competition, running the distance in 10.92 seconds for the best time of the season.

Olympic Sprint Double Titles

Thompson-Herah is the holder of back-to-back sprint double titles, winning at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo, respectively. She also has the title of the fastest Jamaican woman in history, running the 100 meters in a record time of 10.54 seconds in 2021. She has been coping with an injury to her Achilles tendon for almost five years and is using competitive events as part of her recovery strategy. She had not run since the Jamaica Trials on 6 – 9 July 2023, and stated she was happy with her victory and her season’s best time in Switzerland. She added that she wants to continue running races during the current season.

Thompson-Herah’s 2023 Season Performances

31- year-old Thompson-Herah won a silver medal with the Jamaican 4×100-meter relay team at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, running the second leg of the race in 9.90 seconds as part of her mission to regain her championship form. She is working on a positive trend sparked by her third-place finish at the 2023 Zurich Diamond League with a time of 11.00 seconds. Although she has been plagued by injuries during the season, she continues to find her way back to top performance levels and successfully matched the world’s 11th-fastest time for 2023.

Athletic Achievements

Thompson-Herah, who is from Banana Ground in Jamaica’s Manchester Parish, specializes in the 60-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter distances, and is considered one of the top sprinters of all time. She is the first female sprinter and just the second after fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt to win sprint doubles at consecutive Olympic Games. She is a six-time Olympic medal winner and is the first woman since Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988 to take gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Olympics. In 2021, she was named Laureus Sportswoman of the Year and the World Athletics World Female Athlete of the Year. She competed for Christiana and Manchester High Schools and in 2009, placed fourth in the Class 2 100-meter races at the Jamaican ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships with a time of 12.01 seconds.

Photo – Elaine Thompson-Herah’s Facebook Page

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