First of all its great to see two men looking to the God who is there when most of their contemporaries around the world except George Bush look elsewhere particularly in Europe. Last year Dr Os Guinness from America an advisor on ethical issues to both George Bush and Tony Blair visited Canbera. We were fortunate enough to have dinner with Dr Guinness at L'Abri Australia in Elderslie and he gave us some incredilbe insight into the current direction our postmodern post-Christian world is heading down and the reason why he though this was so. I think all other things aside the biggest issue confronting our leaders is the postmodern context and what that exactly means. Dr Os Guinness who was influenced by the teachings of Francis A Schaeffer is a world leader when it comes to understanding the various world views held in society whether they be religious or non-religious views and the logical conlcuions of such positions. When Dr Guinness came out here he gave advice to Howard's government concerning the moral issues that arise out of these other world views particularly the stem cell research debate. John Howard made this statement in the media, "We need absolutes in society otherwise society will collapse." Francis A Schaeffer correctly said that if we remove absolutes from society, then society is god or absolute. John Howard was alluding to this fact. All the sciences lay claim to a better story on origins than that offered in the bible and they do it through our education system. Accidents of evolution or chemicals of the DNA template or the big bang theory of Hawkins. John Howard has been considering the implications of our postmodern post-Christian society for some time now and Kevin Rudd still has to learn of these things. Kevin is a great man as is John Howard, but Howard has been dealing with the idea of absolutes in society which he see's as the most important aspect of human living. Jean Paul Sartre correctly said, "Finite things are meaningless without an infinite reference point." If both men were dealing with the same issues that I believe confront them as Christians, which are the questions of metaphysics and of morals, then either could build a very strong base for a serious audience.

Thank you for this broadcast from the PM and opposition leader. Having missed it on Thursday night it was good to catch up with it. My question to Mr Rudd would have to be: Do you have the same authority to govern the country as does the current PM or are you like your predecessors - just a puppet on a string. I have a gut sense that if this country votes Labor then we will see a repeat of the 70/80's. I was one of those young people who swallowed the dream - fortunately for us, the Lord did watch over us and I survived to keep my house by the skin of my teeth. Many others less fortunate didn't. I am concerned for my children and grandchildren. In the end it is we, the taxpayers, who have to pay for the added benefits everyone wants. My prayer is: Open their eyes Lord, before it is too late.

It was good to see that both these leaders are competing for the Christian vote. And they both said nice things too, as expected. But we are voting for a political team, not Howard or Rudd. Politics suffers from a culture of hypocrisy and deceit and obviously there's not enough Christians in either of these parties to overcome these corrupt standards nor offer anything worthwhile for Christians.
Better to trust in God. Regardless of how much governments mess things up (as history shows they do) Christians should trust in God instead.

Enjoyed listening to the programme on 963 last Friday night. Good to see that both leaders showed a sense of humour. I think whoever wins,whenever this election is officially announced, we will be in good hands.