Stu Cameron

The women came to Jesus’ burial place ‘while it was still dark’. To their astonishment they discovered empty grave clothes and an empty tomb. God does his best work ‘while it’s still dark.’

Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told.

These days are dizzying and difficult. What possible relevance could a story 2000 years old have for our 21C world? So, so much. My Easter reflections here: open.substack.com/pub/stucameron…

Suffering comes to us as an interrogator. It asks, ‘Who are you?’ (David Fiensy) My friend Helen shared this quote in a reflection she led for our executive team yesterday. I’ve been pondering it ever since, especially given the substance of Holy Week, Good Friday especially.

Google Reviews like this one left for the Railway Hotel Lidcombe show the real and tragic consequences of the poker machine 'industry'. @ChrisMinnsMP needs to do much more! @CameronStu @TroyStolz @Jim_Wackett @ReformGambling

Everyone pays for gambling harm. A @VicGovAu report estimated the social cost of gambling for Vic in 2022-23 was $14.1B. Total gambling tax for 2022-23 was $2.47B. For every $1 in gaming tax the economy is hit with $5.70 in costs. Imagine the figures for Australia as a whole!

It was a privilege to meet with @DavidPocock - as well as @WilkieMP @SimonKennedyMP and @ChaneyforCurtin last week in Canberra to talk all things gambling reform. It’s been 1006 days since the Murphy inquiry was tabled. C’mon @AlboMP - let’s get to it!

Never would I have thought one day I’d be interviewed by the Women’s Weekly, our nation’s most widely read publication. Nor that the subject would be the terrible public health impact of gambling harm in Australia. What amazing privileges this ‘job’ provides.

A new ANU authored study proves the causal link between gambling harm caused by pokies and higher rates of domestic and family violence (Link in comments). We must #putpokiesintheirplace in NSW - starting with powering down poker machine venues between midnight and 10am.

It’s been 1000 days since the report and recommendations of the Murphy Inquiry into online gambling was tabled in Federal Parliament. And still we wait for a response. Enough is enough. Roll out the ad ban now and implement the other 30 recommendations in full. Please, Albo.

I have such a loooong way to go with this.

What an amazing privilege it is to exercise a gift of leadership in serving others. The weight can be overwhelming, but when you serve with a gifted, committed and passionate leaders who complement the grace you’ve been given, as I do at @wesleymission ,there is a special joy.

Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness. (John Chrysostom)

Kudos to federal cross-benchers for pressing for gambling harm to be framed as a public health issue. It makes sense, and will make a difference.

‘When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’, he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.’ (Martin Luther)

It’s also a break with our theologic/liturgical heritage. The result is a diminishment of our progress in sanctification and pursuit of holiness. It cheapens God’s amazing grace. 2/3

Opportunities for confession and repentance are mostly missing in modern ‘low-church’, evangelical worship. It’s a striking omission given the frequent call of NT writers/leaders specifically for believers to do so. 1/3

It's International Day of Social Justice. $24.8M is lost to pokies every day in NSW. 1.8M people in NSW have experienced gambling harm. It's why @wesleymission is campaigning to power down pokie machines between midnight and 10am. It's a simple solution that reduces harm.

I have a wayward, shopping trolley heart that's in constant need of corrective maintenance. I'm discovering repentance is the oil that greases the wheel. Would love you to read my little reflection. open.substack.com/pub/stucameron…

Sabbath affords a rest by which we are not so much rested but re-storied. (John Koessler)