Sammy Davies, Ammanford

There are moments when relaxing on a desert island sounds appealing. But the truth is I love my family, my home and Premier League football too much to pursue a life like that. It would also be extremely difficult to be away from God’s people, my brother and sister here in Ammanford. So I’m grateful to desert island verses for allowing me to take a few snippets of Scripture to help me to stay grounded.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

Once, you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. 1 Colossians 1:21-22

When I’m asked to choose my favourite verse I always go back to Colossians 1:21-22 (mainly because I’m a rebel and like choosing two). I love these verses because they present me with such an honest and accurate picture of the power of God in the gospel. Paul starts off with a reality check about what I was before Jesus - alienated from God, hostile in thinking, a doer of evil. And Paul concludes with another reality check, our state after Christ - holy, faultless and blameless. Sandwiched in between is the crystal clarity over what has made the difference: Jesus. Physically intervening in my hopeless state in order for me to become something, or someone, that otherwise would have been totally out of my reach. Whether on a desert island or at my dinner table; that is something I need to be reminded of daily.

…And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left? Jonah 1:1-4:11

I’d also take the whole book of Jonah. It’s probably the book I’ve been privileged to spend the most time studying so it holds a special place for me. It’s once again achingly honest about who we are and concludes with the masterful question: “Shouldn’t God care?” I love how it forces us to confront our own pride/prejudices and to move forward into consideration of God’s grace and His love for the lost.

Isaiah 1:1-66:24

Finally, I’d take something a bit tricky with me to help keep the grey matter exercised. I’ve never really understood much of Isaiah (outside the obvious) so I presume that would keep me exegetically entertained for a good while.

Who would you like to find on the island for company?

Over the years I think my answer to this question has changed many times – mainly depending on my current footballing hero! But I’m not old enough for any of them to have died yet. Nor have any of my musical heroes who’d probably be next on the list.

So I’ll go for James Maxwell - not the coffee man, the one with equations for physics! One of the most awe-inspiring lectures I ever sat in during my university studies was an explanation of Maxwell’s laws and realising how beautiful the world of electromagnetics they describe is. So I’d love ol’ “Jimmy” to keep me company and talk me through his own thinking on the matter. We could also share beard oils. If there was sufficient sustenance to support three people I think I’d also like to invite Marie Curie - fun fact: first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize. But even more fun a fact: only person to win one in two different sciences. Smashed it Maz! Plus I reckon she’d be handier and hardier than me on a desert island. If there was still space on the dingy I’d ask Avicii to tag along - I still can’t quite wrap my head around how a person whose art brings such deep joy to me could have experienced sorrow in the world as he did. I’d genuinely love to say thank you and give him a hug.

Which song would you take to the island?

I’ll skip anything from Avicii because I’m sure he’d have some on his phone. The band which has meant most to me over the years are Coheed and Cambria so it would have to be one of theirs. I think my favourite is ‘Here to Mars’ but it’s a bit like choosing favourites amongst your children. A song released recently by Kings Kaleidoscope probably takes the title of “most loved on first hearing” of any song ever. The Rush (pts. 1-3) is just what music is supposed to sound like in my opinion and the lyrics are refreshingly honest and hopeful in Christ.