September 2007 - Journal summary

News and information from this journal ... plus the full editorial (at bottom of page).

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Salt Shakers Journal September 2007

Editorial (in full below)

Thirteen years ago this month we made a decision that changed our lives. Many of you will know that was when Jenny and I approached our Senior Pastor at Crossway Baptist Church and said we thought God was calling us to start this ministry.

Well, ministry was not really what we had in mind - more like a simple one page A4 news sheet for our own church. One year later, with 1,000 people on our ‘mailing list’, a regular 20 page monthly Journal, the media camped on our door step (well, I exaggerate but they were contacting us regularly), and our first of many appearances before Senate and other government Inquiries under our belt, the ‘ministry’ was born.

Christianity and Socialism
Dr Murray Adamthwaite looks at the differences between Christianity and Socialism and how the latter is not compatible with Christianity.

News Update
Embryo stem cells; Cannabis Research; Interfaith/Multifaith/Progressive; Vic: Abortion

Intelligent Design
Jenny Stokes looks at the ID movement and reviews Professor Tom Woodward’s recent presentation in Australia on the topic.

Election Focus: The West Wing
Peter Stokes looks at the upcoming election via the lense of popular American television series, The West Wing.

Smoking in cars
Jenny Stokes analyses the danger of passive smoke and reports on the latest campaign to ban smoking in cars.

Local, National and Global
John Tary looks at our society today through the lense of Greek culture when Paul was witnessing in Athens. He uses the City of Athens, the Agora and Areopagus to talk about the media and our role in society.

Overseas adoption by homosexuals
The government announced in late July that they planned to introduce legislation to ban adoption of overseas children by same-sex couples. The legislation was first proposed in 2004, prior to the last federal election but was never passed. [The Age, 3/8/2007]

Ongoing Campaigns
WA: Human Rights; Federal: homosexual rights; SA: EO Bill; X-rated pornography; Vic: Relationships Registers/IVF

Dangers of internet pornography and a radical solution
Steve Cornell analyses the danger of pornography and takes a look at a prominent theologian’s fall from grace because of his addiction.

UK: Discrimination against Christians
Peter Stokes looks at the latest attempt by the government to force the normalisation of homosexuality on Christians.

World News
Spain: Make a choice; USA: Hate Crimes; USA: Firefighters in Parade; Malaria and DDT

Editorial (full version)
Thirteen years ago this month we made a decision that changed our lives. Many of you will know that was when Jenny and I approached our Senior Pastor at Crossway Baptist Church and said we thought God was calling us to start this ministry. Well, ministry was not really what we had in mind - more like a simple one page A4 news sheet for our own church. One year later, with 1,000 people on our ‘mailing list’, a regular 20 page monthly Journal, the media camped on our door step (well, I exaggerate but they were contacting us regularly), and our first of many appearances before Senate and other government Inquiries under our belt, the ‘ministry’ was born.

As by now we hope you have noticed, we have made some changes to celebrate this anniversary and to look to the future.

Our focus has also been clarified with a new slogan “Helping Christians make a difference”.

We are not a lobby group, although we will continue to lobby both governments and the media for Christian values, but we are focused on helping and equipping the church. It is grass roots activism that is most important today.

Although there is always a desire to leave it to others, that is not the best way to get things changed. Tieneman Square still sticks in everyone’s mind as a symbol of what one man can do. Wilberforce is also a much older but equally valid example of the ‘power of one’. Neither were really about one person. They were not alone, they had friends, encouragers and supporters, but they were the one without whom the end result would not have happened. Each of us is the ‘one’ that matters - without you, others may not be empowered to take the step that finally makes the difference.

We want to help YOU be the person who makes a difference even though none of us might be the one that stands in front of the armoured tank.

It is all about empowering and equipping and supporting each other.

We want to help you make a difference - in your home, your community, your nation. Big things only happen when little things happen. If you want to move a mountain you have to start one shovel full at a time.

There is a huge battle ahead. At ‘MAKE IT COUNT 2007’ (9 August) we heard the two major party leaders speak. Some of what we heard we liked and some we certainly did not, but it is not just about them, as we point out on page 8. They are Party Leaders, not Presidential candidates. Most of us do not even get to vote for them directly.

We all DO have our own representatives in parliament and we have individual choices to make as to who we vote for. We have local councils to work with to shape our community, we have school councils to work with to shape the education that determines our children’s future. It is up to us. We cannot afford to leave it to someone else. We need to be equipped to make a difference.

Mr Rudd said on 9 August “If you oppose you must propose”. We must have answers, not just complaints; we need to have our facts right and be able to give appropriate Biblically-based answers.

We see our role is to help you - not do it for you. We are committed to do that.

Yes, we continue to need your help to help us help you make a difference!

Together, relying on God’s help and inspiration, we can do it.

Yours in His service
Peter & Jenny Stokes