James Duff April 17th 2016 ~ Significance

This week we had Julie Bishop visit St Philips.  The reason for her visit was to view our hall and the plans we have to use the government’s $20k grant.  Before she arrived, her bodyguards trawled the building making sure everything was kosher.  It was surreal introducing myself to her entourage and them replying with their names and “from the Ministers office.”  I found Minister Bishop to be kind, polite and she even laughed at a few of our jokes.I have been wondering how much of a priority visiting a suburban Anglican church would be for the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party?  Was she really interested or did she just hop back into her Audi SUV with her entourage and simply forget about us?  Were we just more faces and hands to shake in a never-ending line of people to meet and greet?I frequently think of St Philips - about its people, the building etc.  I think the church is a vital part of the community and I guess for that reason I want Julie Bishop to see how important it is as well.  I want her to see what I see, to really experience St Philips.  I want her to meet the people, the groups that we are in, hear a sermon, sing a song, see Toddler Jam, sew a stitch with the sewing group, share a meal with the Elvira Oikos, etc.Bill Hybels wrote:There is nothing like the local church when it’s working right.  Its beauty is indescribable.  Its power breathtaking.  Its potential is unlimited.  It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community.  It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused.  It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned.  It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world.  Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness.  Still to this day, the potential of the local church is more than I can grasp.  No other organization on earth is like the church.  Nothing even comes close.Although I would like Julie Bishop to see what I see, my motive for this is completely wrong.  I want her to see how important we are because we do important stuff!  Can’t she see we represent the true leader, Jesus, to a watching world?  For goodness sake, I want her to know we are special, that we are not an insignificant old decaying institution asleep amidst Cottesloe apathy!  I want to boast!Oh, please have mercy on me, Jesus.  Have mercy on me as one who looks for satisfaction in what you give instead of you only.  Have mercy on me, as I fall for that unending fruitless search for significance outside of who I am in you and what you have done for me.  Lord, I thank you that we are not the great I AM but we are who we are.For by grace we have been saved through faith, and this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so no one may boast.  For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life  (Ephesians 2:8-10).Blessings,James