The film ‘In Time’ is a science-fiction film set in 2169 where time is, literally, money: humanity has been genetically engineered to be born with a digital clock, bearing a year’s worth of time, on their forearm. At the age of 25 a person stops ageing, but their clock begins counting down; when it reaches zero, that person “times out” and dies. Time has been turned into the universal currency; one can give time for products or services, as well as transfer it to others. The country is divided into time zones based on the wealth of its population. The film focuses on two time zones: Dayton is poor, with a populace that has learned indifference to the timed-out bodies on its streets; and New Greenwich, the wealthiest zone where inhabitants enjoy the benefits of their immortality and wealth, but are constantly surrounded by bodyguards and spend their time worried about accidental death.

The film raises interesting thoughts about wealth (time is what is stolen rather than belongings, since this is the most precious commodity in this new world) and about time. The main character, Will Salas, has spent most of his three years as a ‘timed’ adult with one day to live at the most, and, as he says wryly to the mega-rich heiress he runs away with, “you can do a lot in a day.” He is a Robin Hood type character, stealing time from the rich to give to the poor when he realises that the rich are controlling time by continually increasing the cost of living in poorer districts, living by the mantra ‘For the few to be immortal, the many must die.’

Time is one thing we are all given by God. Ecclesiastes 3:1 TNIV says, ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens’. Psalm 31:15 TNIV reminds us ‘My times are in Your hands.’ Sometimes we feel that there is unfairness with time: some people live to a ripe old age; others die young; some times seem rich and prosperous; other times seem (as with Joseph) ‘lean’ and difficult. We can’t pick and choose our times. But the film’s insistent focus on ‘now’ as the only valid time we have has an excellent Biblical foundation. Jesus – the One who came ‘when the time was fully right’, ‘when the set time had fully come’ (Gal 4:4 TNIV) – urged His followers to live in the moment and not worry about tomorrow (Matt 6:25-34 TNIV), telling us that each day has enough trouble of its own. James echoes this advice in James 4:13-17 TNIV, reminding us that our futures are in God’s hands and we should not use our time to focus exclusively on looking after ourselves (as the rich inhabitants of ‘New Greenwich’ did) but should use our time wisely for God’s kingdom. Paul reminded the Corinthians of the urgency of the gospel, telling them ‘now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.’ (2 Cor 6:2 TNIV)

‘Now’ is all we have. We need to be wise in how we spend our time; we need to understand the times (Rom 13:11 TNIV); we need to accept the gift of today which God has given and use it wisely.

Work on refurbishing the kitchen at church started this week, with complete re-plastering being done.

Mark re-plastered the main worship room back in 2010 and has done other work for us since; we’re grateful for his skill.

Covering up before the start:

Even the ceiling was going to be done:

Starting work:

Nearly there:

Watch this space for further updates!

Because the bus companies have rescheduled timings, it’s more awkward for me to get to Goldthorpe in a morning to go swimming. I decided to use this time to walk instead, and not only is this giving me more exercise (about 3 miles there and back: there’s got to be some virtue in that, surely?!), it’s giving me a lot of time to pray and worship. I set off with my MP4 player each morning, able to get my ‘daily doses of realisation of the constant covenant love and good intentions of God’ (Charlie Cleverly) as I walk.

Songs that focus on God help me to start the day in the right frame of mind; there’s nothing quite like singing truth (at that time there’s no one around; I am free to sing without getting strange looks!) to get you thinking right thoughts. Today I was struck by two songs in particular, both of which really focus on the name of Jesus. Someone once said that you can tell a lot about a person from their Christology (what they believe about Jesus) and since Jesus said, ‘I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ (John 12:32 TNIV), it’s obviously important that Jesus is given the place of honour in our lives and in our churches.

“Who has the power to raise the dead?
Who can save us from our sin?
He is our hope, our righteousness
Jesus, only Jesus.

You will command the highest praise
Yours is the name above all names
You stand alone, I stand amazed
Jesus, only Jesus.” (‘Jesus, Only Jesus’, Matt Redman)
‘Jesus, Only Jesus’ (Matt Redman)

“We believe our God is Jesus,
We believe that He is Lord.
We believe that He has saved us
From sin and death once and for all.

Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light,
You are our salvation.
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light,
Your kingdom is forever.” (‘Once and For All’, Chris Tomlin)
‘Once and For All’ (Chris Tomlin)

So much of what we see and feel depends on our perspective. When we are discouraged or depressed, everything seems so much bigger than us and we feel there is no escape from the woes which surround us.

Colossians 3:1-2 TNIV offers us an alternative way of looking at things: ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’ Ephesians 2:6 TNIV offers us a similar view: ‘God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.’ Things don’t look quite the same from that vantage point!

When we were in Oxford (‘the city of dreaming spires’), we had the rare opportunity to go to the top of the Arco building at Keble College and stand on the roof there. The views from so high up were completely different to what we could see from the ground.

This is from the ground:

This is from the roof:

Often, it’s not the situation itself that needs to change, but our perspective of it. The song ‘Voice of Truth’ looks at two Bible stories: Peter walking on water and David and Goliath. Initially, the perspective is what we might call the ‘natural’ one: fear and doubt: ‘the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me’, ‘the giant’s calling out my name and he laughs at me/ Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed’. That is often our perspective and it’s a discouraging one. However, the song goes on to remind us:

“But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves, they don’t seem so high
From on top of them looking down.
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me.” (‘Voice of Truth’, Casting Crowns)
‘Voice of Truth’, Casting Crowns

Let’s remember who we are in God and from what perspective we can view life!

The football season is in full swing again and news of possible transfers fill the airwaves. Apparently Manchester United are considering a move for Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, 27, now that their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas has come to an end and Tottenham Hotspur have made an approach to Roma to sign £15m-rated midfielder Miralem Pjanic, 23. THe amounts of money involved in such transfers are truly staggering – a long way from the £100 paid by Aston Villa in 1893 for Willie Groves and even a long way from the first £1 million transfer in the UK (generally thought to be Trevor Francis, though apparently it was only VAT which made it more than £1 million!)

A long time ago I was involved in leading assemblies and lessons at local schools and drama was one of the ways we communicated the gospel. One sketch we wrote involved a football player (‘Meet Sid!’) who was about to be transferred from one team to another. I remember the sketch particularly because it started with Sid doing press-ups to music; I was in charge of fading the music out, but I got so engrossed in the action that I forgot to do so, meaning that Sid had to carry on with press-ups till he was almost too exhausted to complete the sketch! The point of the sketch was not really about football, but about how we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light when we are born again.

Our studies of Ephesians 2:1-7 TNIV have brought out this transfer of ownership vividly. We used to belong to the ‘ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air’, but now, when we are born again, we belong to the kingdom of God. We used to be separated from the life of God because of our sins, but now we have put on the robes of righteousness offered us by Christ (Eph 4:17-24 TNIV).

When a football player is transferred, a large fee is usually involved. Similarly, when we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, a huge price was paid. We don’t need to pay a penny, but Christ paid the transfer fee with His own body, with His own blood. When a football player is transferred to a new team, he has to wear a new strip, new colours. We too have new clothes to wear: robes of righteousness, garments of praise, spiritual armour to put on. Even more amazing, we have new life: God’s Spirit living within us, making us new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17 TNIV.)

You might never think of yourself as a millionaire, but the price paid for you can’t be measured in money. We have inestimable worth to God and when we are born again, we have new life and a new team to play for!

We also have a new boss who owns our lives. Our lives are no longer our own.
‘All Yours’, Kutless

There was a variety of news to pass on last night.

Missionary news
Frederick and Reeba are missionaries we support in India. Recently we sent £3500 to them to support the ministries in which they are involved and we have received a ‘Certificate of Partnership’ and letters thanking us for our support. The money has been used to buy 2000 Bibles and also to support a teaching programme that aims to teach women various skills (eg sewing) which will enable them to earn a living. Please continue to pray for their work in India.

Steve & Katuska Davies have arrived safely in Mozambique, where they will be teaching at the Bible college there. Their three sons have started school and their first prayer request is that they will be able to buy a car to help them get around and get to know the area.

Food Bank
Mark updated the church on the food bank we continue to support. People have been donating clothes, bags, shoes and belts which are then taken to a ‘Clothes Exchange’ point and the money from this used to buy food. The last time this was done raised £46.80, which bought a whole trolley-ful of goods to be given to those in need. Great Houghton Methodist Church continues to support us in this and we are currently buying sleeping bags and torches which will be needed when the colder weather comes. The need is great; even people in employment are struggling to make ends meet and the Salvation Army projects in Goldthorpe are helping a vast number of people. Food banks have also been set up in Barnsley and Cudworth, so we are grateful for all that is being done to help needy people. Please keep supporting this project, by giving tinned food, baby food, money to buy goods or old clothing, blankets, bags, and shoes.

Building work
Work on the refurbishment of the kitchen will start this week, so please be aware that there will be labourers in the building over the next three weeks and kitchen cupboards have been cleared to allow this work to go ahead.

We also had a birthday to celebrate: