From: Teh, Ian

Sent: Tuesday, 14 May 2013 11:54 AM

To: ‘[ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ]; [ ];

Subject: Next steps

 

Hi All

We have been through a topsy turvy journey lately. I have not set out to “fight” without a context. It was on account of what appears to have been gross injustice to Jason.

In the face of an ongoing struggle to extract the complete truth, I’m not sure what the next step should be. Yes, we can keep fighting. We ought to keep fighting if we want to see justice done to Jason.

For my part, I want to again think about what I heard last Sunday, when Theresa and I attended Bridge Church.

The sermon (Joel Holm) was about acting courageously. The courageous act I was challenged to undertake, is to return to Jesus. That was in the context of my journey (and also Theresa’s) to find a new church. I am now also asking if it can also apply in this situation. For someone who cannot sit still when confronted with injustice, it takes courage to not act as per usual – and turn to Jesus instead.

It goes against my inner being – my DNA – to stop fighting. It is a big struggle, especially when I see more and more wrongs being committed, and against a brother who is so dear to me (and all of us). A brother who has acted magnanimously on all fronts.

I am however, at this moment, inclined to respond to what I heard last Sunday in Bridge Church, by turning to Jesus. This time, I would not act unless He gives me a clear answer. I accept that this would probably mean I will do nothing anymore because I have not received a clear answer in most of the decisions I have had to make in my 48 years on this earth.

But faced with the constant and determined effort by the board and Tham Fuan to keep this injustice going, I feel I am no longer doing battle in the normal course of things. It feels as though this battle really belongs to the Lord and Him only.

What I can safely say is I have done all that I could. And I think all of you have done what you could. I have been encouraged by your sense of justice, your commitment and courage to step up, and your friendship and fellowship you have shown to Jason.

So [ ], I am sorry if this sounds like I am giving up. I really don’t want us all to continue in this frame of mind where we feel under siege, and feel as though we are struggling against leaders who should be serving and helping us instead of causing us so much agony. I think if we all turn to Jesus, and in spite of this injustice, do nothing more than just turn to Jesus, we may be able to see this differently.

Not  differently in the sense of forgetting or ignoring this injustice, but differently in terms of rising above this injustice and carrying on in spite of the pain and hurt from this injustice. I don’t think we should forget though – because knowing what these leaders are culpable of, those who remain in LG must exercise ongoing vigilance and to call out wrong and to require right action even more.

Sorry for being so preachy, but I have been on a journey with all of you and I just can’t leave the ship without saying what is in my heart.

I hope we all find peace and rest in our Lord.

Regards

IAN TEH

T: 03 9200 4897

M: 0477 700 602

Related articles

• Be Still and Fight (craigmotor.wordpress.com)
• ‘Christians cannot be passive about hunger, sickness and injustice’ Tim Keller (resistanceandrenewal.net)

When I took the little fellow for a walk last night, it felt like winter has finally and truly arrived. It was chilly, dark and wet. My woolly jumper felt inadequate at the start of the walk. That fellow however, was excited as ever. He was just bobbing around and sniffing at everything. Occasionally I’d have my torchlight pointed at something he has his nose to, after I tugged the lead and he refuses to keep going.

I got home, watched some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s show on the EPL highlights program, and thought about reading when the Four Corners show came on. It was an intriguing mixture of a kid fraught with developmental issues, social adaptability, change, and a mother who in struggling to bring up a child with these challenges had a curious affinity for guns.

I sat enthralled as I hear the American journalist talk to friends of Nancy Lanza, the mother. She appeared to have been a normal devoted mother. She wanted what was best for Adam Lanza and did all she could for him. Adam had trouble adapting to his environment and was clearly having issues dealing with people around him. Yet, in spite of her recognition of Adam’s needs and challenges, she saw no issues with introducing him to firearms and even encouraged his interest in it.

Adam Lanza appeared to be a young man with a long history of psychological and even possibly mental challenges. Arm such a person with firearms and you have a very good recipe for unmitigated disaster. Adam as we all know, ended up shooting and killing 26 people including Nancy his own mother and many young children.

As I get ready for bed after that, I thought about the consequences of arming ill-equipped leaders with power and authority. I thought what a disaster – what carnage – this combination brings. The damage ill equipped leaders can bring is fearful.