Malcolm Potts January 25th 2015 ~ Hearts open to Jesus. Eyes fixed on him.

Welcome to St Philips as 2015 gets under way.A special welcome to Paul and Gina and their families this morning as they bring their son, Benjamin, for baptism.  What a good way to begin a year, celebrating the hope of human-kind, Jesus, who was buried in death to pay the price for all that keeps us from the holy God.  We celebrate Jesus’ love, sacrifice, resurrection, Holy Spirit renewal and eternal hope in this baptism today.  Good news.The Parish Council have met already this year and the staff team spent a prayerful day together this week in preparation for the year.  We studied the scriptures together [Revelation 2 and 3] and worked on what we felt God was saying to us and what we should do about it?I am thankful that both our PC and staff team love Jesus and commit to serve freely and prayerfully within the framework of very busy lives.  We are very very privileged.  There is a mutual submission and accountability that enables us to wrestle and reason and get things done.  Much of what has been achieved is not visible day to day.  It is foundational stuff, not especially interesting or news worthy-unless foundations turn you on.  Hours have gone into developing a strategic plan and a complete remodelling of our financial systems following our last AMEP [AGM].As the staff met this week, and studied the scriptures and prayed, I had a picture - a picture of Jesus seated high and lifted up in the body of our church building.  I usually sense the words that come with such pictures rather than hear them and I sensed, “Fix your eyes on me.  Open your hearts to me - your humble, repentant, dependent hearts.”When I shared what I saw and sensed, it was one of those moments when everyone looked at each other and said, “Yep.  That’s right”.What’s right is that what we have to offer this year is a church leadership whose eyes are fixed on Jesus and whose hearts are open to him.  This is where we are stepping off from and we invite you to join us.Hearts open to Jesus.  Eyes fixed on him.Post it on your fridge.The bible teaches that, when Christians gather, Jesus is in the midst [Matt 18:20].One of us thought we should make this visual for a period this year – that’s why there is a blue chair.  It’s not empty.  Jesus is there.  Don’t sit in it.  So, whatever we do, it is a reminder to do it with eyes fixed on him and hearts open to him.Great to be with you in His Adventure.Malcolm