Seventh-day Adventist® Church

Leaving Cheltenham today, the Olympic Torch arcs round to Worcester, before heading off to Cardiff tomorrow. But it's not just the large towns and cities the torch will visit. Along the 8000 miles of journey through the UK and Ireland, the torch will also meander through some quaint villages, communities smaller than some housing estates in some cities.

It is one small village I want to consider now. Kingston Bagpuize is an Oxfordshire village, insignificant to me (and the Olympic Torch as it will not visit here), laying about 10 miles south-west of Oxford. But tonight 500 of the villagers will fill a cinema in Leicester Square, London, to watch a film they made.

I understand that a local writer had the idea of the village making a film. So they did. They raised the £800k to make it, starred in it themselves, offered locations free of charge, and on one night the Women's Institute made 1000 fairy cakes to feed the production team and "stars".

"Tortoise in Love" is a love story, a slow love story, because nothing happens fast in this village.

I have no idea if I will ever see the film, or if the critics will encourage viewers to flock to see it. What I do know is this small "insignificant" group of villagers, took an idea, made it their own, made it happen, and have made their contribution to the British film industry.

How insignificant do you feel? During the 70 days the Olympic flame tours round the UK and Ireland, you are invited to seek the presence of God, and to share your experience with others. You may feel like one individual at Uni, or one small worshiping group, or even a member of a large church in an even larger, engulfing, community, but you have the chance to do as these villagers did.

It is in seeking God, remaining in a time and place with the presence of God, that we can make a wider impression. The villagers of Kingston Bagpuize could have given up. After all it took them 3 years to get this far. But they have persisted to the end. They ignored their insignificance.

It is time to ignore your insignificance, after all, you are significant to God. Seek God with patience and persistence. Band together with others to ignore your corporate insignificance. It is in doing this, in investing time, finances, and other resources, that we can achieve. Just like this film will leave memories with the viewers, our witness of God's love for mankind will leave an impression on our listeners.

You are significant in God's eyes.
Jeremiah 31:3
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
((www.biblegateway.com))

- Pr Nathan Stickland
((Follow at BUC Youth Ministries Facebook page.))

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18186932