Hi Church,

Hey its good to be back as of Tuesday. And As I have travelled some 3000 km down to Melbourne and back via Eden and Canberra, over the last week I have been enjoying the positive feedback that has been happening for the ministry at Grace Church while I was away. I praise God for that! Because it’s the sign of a healthy church that good ministry and great encounters happen without the reliance on one ministry person alone.  We have a great team here at Grace and I thank Ps Debbie for leading while I was away, and I thank all those who contributed to the preaching Exec Leader Paul Betenson and Ps Kerry Medway. Their messages I’m sure will live on in people hearts for months to come.

Some sad news this Sunday we say goodbye to Kalista Klomp. Kalista will be taking up a new role with The Point Church. Kalista has been with us since the beginning of 2021 and helped us navigate some tough times administratively especially through Covid. She has also helped us achieve three big events of two church conferences and a Carols at Sovereign Hills. Kalista leaves a legacy of a church well administered. We are greatly thankful for her contribution, and she will be greatly missed by all the staff.

Some good news we have special guest preacher this Sunday, Mark Raymond, former snr Pastor of Awaken Church Canberra and current Navel Chaplain and soon to be father in law to my Son Peter.

On a more serious note. We are now entering a time in our nation where an opinion is being asked to be expressed by all voting age people. No doubt your opinion has been called upon in recent times by friends and family. The problem has been of course where do we go to get the best information for our opinion. We don’t want “old mates” opinion from next door, or at the mechanic, or at the hairdresser to be shaping how we vote.

We certainly don’t want fear from right wing news outlets to define us and we don’t want emotional guilt being poured over us from left wing spokespeople, shaming us into an opinion without knowledge and understanding. We need truth.

Jesus was often asked for his opinion on all manner of topics sometimes to trick him and sometimes for genuine understanding. Sometimes he answered with a straightforward explanation, sometimes he answered with a question back at the asker or even a parable, so that we could work it out ourselves.

So where do we go. First of all we can go to God and His word. Prov 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord and Lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways Acknowledge Him. The Book of James says if we ask for wisdom God will freely give it to us. So, we are to study and pray and ask God for discernment.

Second, we go to those who have faith in Jesus and have a proven reputation for thoughtful advice. People like the Rev Tim Costello who has been the head of World Vision Australia and who has been working with the poor and marginalised in this nation for many decades. You can read his open letter here,   but search up responses to the letter to get a full idea. I found what he said helpful https://www.tearfund.org.au/stories/an-open-letter-from-rev-tim-costello-to-church-leaders-on-the-voice

Third we listen to both sides of the argument, read the pamphlet prepared by the Electoral Commission with its arguments, of Yes and NO explained and try and place yourself in the shoes of either side to hear what is being said objectively without prejudice. And can I say anyone who is 40 and over carries some racial prejudice whether we realise it or not, why? because we absorbed it from our culture. So that must be filtered through Kingdom culture of 1 Cor 13 and the call to live the most excellent way of love. Likewise, Ill say to those 40 and younger don’t just follow your heart and do what’s trending on Social Media, examine carefully the content.

Some Scriptures to guide us include Matthew 25:45 where Jesus calls us to really consider very closely how we treat the “least of these” because and without doubt, our first nations people fall into that category in comparison to white Anglo middle class people of majority Australia. From their point of view the current system is broken and they are looking for a better way to be heard and problems resolved.

We may also consider the words of Dr Martin Luther King Jnr who said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by their character.”  The reality today there is a shortage of people with good character and as a result people are resorting to identity politics to bring clarity around how we should treat each other but sadly it just brings greater hurt and division, as we stop listening to each other and seeing value in each other regardless.

In conclusion I’m not going to tell you how to vote but I am going to ask you to listen, pray, consider, love, read, examine your heart, walk in compassion, reject fear, and do what Paul said in Romans 14:5  One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind……. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Church pray for Australia, our Nation needs the Lord more than ever. The potential for disastrous racial relations is extremely high going forward, no matter what the outcome of the referendum is. Only the Lords loving kindness and Grace can save us from ourselves. Lord, have mercy.

With you Church Ps Greg and Amanda