20180201 God ‘has our backs’!

“The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard”

Sometimes it’s hard work reading through a book like Isaiah; it causes the reader to reflect on the earthy reality of what it means to be human in this world – broken, imperfect, discouraged, discouraging.  The chapter starts in typical fashion – God’s people’s inadequacies listed, as they work not in God’s strength, but in their own.  Then, a not so gentle reminder that God’s way is perfect, and living in that plan is transformational, for the believer’s own life and for those people around them, the transformation is plainly obvious.

“… your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” ​Isaiah 58:8b

And then there is this wonderful statement of hope (captured in the verse above), a hope rooted in the character of God.  God has our backs, he honours those who live out faithfully his call on their lives.  He has our backs, he will protect us.  His name will be advanced.  He expects us to move forward in faith instead of backing up and worrying about what’s behind.

As a Christian school for Christian families, it gives us great optimism and a certainty of hope for the plans God has in store for our community this year.  Welcome to all the families who have joined us in 2018, and welcome back to all our returning families.  We trust that our community will be a blessing to all; as we do life together, with the growth of our young ones to adulthood under God our central preoccupation.  Please join my prayer of thankfulness for how God has brought us all together at this time – I believe we have significant blessings to look forward to this year.

Regarding Religious FreedomAt a National level, faith communities such as ours have been contending with news of the review into religious freedom being conducted at a Federal Government level.  As a College, we will be making a submission to the review panel.  In our submission, we will be telling our story of why DCC was set up; how faith shapes our educational expression; and why religious freedom provides the essential framework for the realisation of those goals.  So, too, will our network, Christian Education National.  And, our peak body, the Australian Association of Christian Schools has been and will continue to make political representations on our behalf.

We are encouraging families, at an individual level, to make their own representations, as they see fit.  We suggest that families should explain why they have chosen a Christian education.  You can access the submission page at the following URL: https://pmc.gov.au/domestic-policy/religious-freedom-review/submission or email religiousfreedom@pmc.gov.au – whichever suits you better.Submissions are due on 14 February.

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