[Footprints_E-News] December FOCUS

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Jennifer Smith

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Feb 12, 2008, 1:36:31 AM2/12/08

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Janet & Lawrence <jan...@tpg.com.au> wrote:

To: <Footprin...@yahoogroups.com>
From: "Janet & Lawrence" <jan...@tpg.com.au>
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:11:16 +1000
Subject: [Footprints_E-News] December FOCUS

Footprints FOCUS

December 2007

In This Issue

What's all the fuss about this holiday movie?

Lost in (cyber) space: your emails!

Wanted: Web Editor

More of what you love…

Why you should keep 29 March free!

Footprints – helping you to take time to FOCUS on God in the midst of your busy life!

We are called to be the salt, the flavour of the earth. However, when we, the church reach out, it is often with the entire block of salt, shoving it in their mouth and saying, 'suck on that,' and wondering why they don't come back.

Kerry Palmer, in the book Journey of a Princess by Carolyn Donovan (reviewed in the latest issue of Footprints)

Contact Us

www.footprintsaustralia.com

edi...@footprintsaustralia.com

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, opens in Australian Cinemas on Boxing Day. It is being hailed as the "must-see" children's movie of the season, complete with tie-in merchandising. However, you would have to be living on a different planet to have missed the stir it has created amongst Christians. So what IS all the fuss about?

The film is based on the first of three novels in the His Dark Materials series by acclaimed British novelist and atheist, Phillip Pullman.

The Story

The story begins in a parallel universe ruled over by a dogmatic and dictatorial global church called the Magisterium. Young orphan Lyra, and her daemon Pantalaimon, travel to rescue her best friend, one of many kidnapped children who are subject to cruel experimentation. They are guided by a truth-telling device called an alethoiometer (the "golden compass") and are gradually embroiled in plans to overthrow the Church. The latter books for the trilogy take place in both Lyra's world and our own, and end with Lyra and another child (the new Adam and Eve) helping to dissolve "the Authority" and killing the senile and oppressive God, Yahweh, who portrayed himself as the creator of the universe.

The Concepts

Due to its fantasy genre, a number of terms and concepts in The Golden Compass require explanation. The term "dæmon" will induce raised eyebrows from most Christians. Pullman's dæmon is an external, shapeshifting manifestation of a character's soul. Pullman asserts that this character concept arose purely from the literary necessity of having a constant companion for Lyra. However the dæmons, which act rather like a witch's familiar, feature strongly throughout the storyline.

Pullman's anti-theocratic stance is evident in his use of the term "Magisterium" as the name of the dogmatic ruling Authority. Non-Catholics may be unaware that this is the Catholic term for "teaching authority". Pullman insists that the Magisterium represents all theocratic belief systems which attempt to quash freedom of thought, however, the books are sufficiently anti-Catholic to have provoked high level requests for Catholics to boycott the movie. Pullman does not reserve his ire for Catholicism alone, but has a sympathetic character, an ex-nun, describe Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake".

The Author

Ultimately, an author's work will reflect their views, and as Pullman is a self-confessed atheist and agnostic, who has admitted that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief", Christian parents are right to be wary. Pullman has tried to downplay the anti-God emphasis, stating that he is condemning powerful, political religions, however, this doesn't discount his earlier assertion that "My books are about killing God". This stance has prompted one conservative columnist to describe Pullman as the writer "atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed".

Further concerns

The film on its own may not be overtly harmful. However, according to Bill O'Donohue, president of The Catholic League, the movie is based on the least offensive book of the trilogy, and has been suitably expunged of the nastier elements. Of greatest concern is that the movie will create interest in the books, which are far darker and more sinister. It is worth noting that not even Hollywood would begin the movie with an attempted murder by the "good guys", nor end it with the sacrifice of a child, things which DO feature in the book. Finally, of most concern is the books' rejection of religion: "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling".

By all accounts, The Golden Compass is an enthralling movie with a talented cast and spectacular visual effects. However, its dark content and anti-God themes should encourage Christian parents to research and prayerfully consider whether, or to what extent, they want their children to be exposed to it.

Ed's Note: Special thanks to Footprints Team member Nicola Saad for her report on this latest Hollywood offering.

Lost in (Cyber) Space …

We had some problems with our server earlier this month, and lost a lot of our emails. So if you have sent an email to Footprints in the last few weeks, it would be a good idea to try again – even if I did respond at the time!

Special thanks must go to Deb & Neil of Yass NSW, for all their technical help and support!

Position Vacant

Cate Russell-Cole has also done a fabulous job as our Web Editor Extraordinaire in 2007, but has had to relinquish this responsibility due to ongoing health issues. We thank Cate for all her efforts and ask that you join us in praying for God to bring her into full health and vitality.

Unfortunately, Footprints Team Members no longer have the time or the expertise to keep the website current – so we are putting out an SOS - we are looking for a new Web Editor! Can you help these damsels in distress? We can't offer you any pay – like all positions at Footprints, it's unpaid – but the benefits are out of this world J ! Is God nudging you to bless women across Australia and beyond with your tech savvy giftings? We'd love to hear from you!

Get more Footprints in your life!

HOW? Well I'm so glad you asked! If you enjoy our monthly FOCUS ezine, then you may also be interested in these other great resources from Footprints:

- The quarterly Footprints magazine. For just $12, you will receive 4 issues in the post over the next year; or $30 for 12 issues (3 years). Got a group? Sign up for together and save $$$! Ask us about our bulk discounts. On a pension? Finances tight? We have a number of wonderful readers who give over and above their own subscription fees, so that YOU can be blessed. All you have to do is ASK!

- Clues to your Calling, the first Footprints book, released in 2003. Written by editor Janet Camilleri, Clues is full of inspirational yet practical tips to help you discover and enter into God's perfect will for your life! Just $15 incl p&p.

- The first Footprints message on CD is now available! The topic is God's Permissive Will, and is a recording of a message preached by Janet recently. Just $5 including postage.

- And coming in 2008, DECADENCE: treat yourself to 10 years of Footprints. If you've only recently discovered the joys of Footprints, then our anthology is a must-have! Catch up on some of our favourite articles and stories from years gone by and glimpse how we have grown, changed and improved over the past decade!

You can pay by any of the usual Footprints methods – cheque, money order, at any Westpac branch, by internet banking, or carefully concealed cash. Our banking details are: BSB Number 034070, Account Number 197158.

We have a WINNER!

Congratulations to Ann Pitt of Albany Creek QLD, who correctly identified the mistake on the cover of our latest issue (#40). So what WAS the mistake? Well that would be telling, wouldn't it! If you haven't noticed it, far be it from us to point it out J!

Ann has been a loyal subscriber since our very first issue, and has chosen to bless a friend, Christine, also of Albany Creek QLD, with her prize of a free one year subscription to Footprints magazine.

Testing the Waters …

Well this is the last FOCUS for 2007 … 2008 will be a HUGE year for Footprints as we celebrate our 10^th birthday!!! Plans are well underway for the DECADENCE anthology, but also to launch it with a fanfare at a fabulous "meet the magazine" morning or afternoon tea. Venue & date are yet to be confirmed, (in Brisbane somewhere!) but you might like to pencil SATURDAY 29 MARCH into your diary. As with all things Footprints, rest assured we are keeping an eye on cost and plan to give you great value for money … under $20 a head for sure! Lucky door prizes – special guest speakers – meet the Team and some of our covergirls – it'll be a hoot! If you ARE planning to come along, could we ask a BIG favour? Would you mind emailing edi...@footprintsaustralia.com ASAP to let us know? Being our first ever "meet the magazine" occasion, it would really help us with our planning! We look forward to seeing YOU there. Why not organise for your ladies group to come join the celebrations?

Most of our new subscribers are from further afield, so most likely won't be able to join us at our 10^th birthday celebrations … nevertheless, please join me in giving a great big warm Footprints welcome to:

Jess, Ravenswood QLD

Sharelle, Masterton NZ

Christine, Albany Creek QLD

Robyn, Eastwood NSW (4)

Lynne, Donald VIC

Kerryn, Donald VIC

Til next month (and next year!!!)

Love,

Janet xxx

and the Footprints Team.

(Please feel free to forward this email to others who may be interested).

Janet Camilleri
Author, Editor, Public Speaker
www.footprintsaustralia.com

"Every man's life is a fairy-tale written by God's fingers." Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875)

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	Footprints FOCUS
December 2007
In This Issue What's all the fuss about this holiday movie? Lost in (cyber) space: your emails! Wanted: Web Editor More of what you love… Why you should keep 29 March free! Footprints – helping you to take time to FOCUS on God in the midst of your busy life! We are called to be the salt, the flavour of the earth. However, when we, the church reach out, it is often with the entire block of salt, shoving it in their mouth and saying, 'suck on that,' and wondering why they don't come back. Kerry Palmer, in the book Journey of a Princess by Carolyn Donovan (reviewed in the latest issue of Footprints) Contact Us www.footprintsaustralia.com edi...@footprintsaustralia.com	The Golden Compass The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, opens in Australian Cinemas on Boxing Day. It is being hailed as the "must-see" children's movie of the season, complete with tie-in merchandising. However, you would have to be living on a different planet to have missed the stir it has created amongst Christians. So what IS all the fuss about? The film is based on the first of three novels in the His Dark Materials series by acclaimed British novelist and atheist, Phillip Pullman. *The Story* The story begins in a parallel universe ruled over by a dogmatic and dictatorial global church called the Magisterium. Young orphan Lyra, and her daemon Pantalaimon, travel to rescue her best friend, one of many kidnapped children who are subject to cruel experimentation. They are guided by a truth-telling device called an alethoiometer (the "golden compass") and are gradually embroiled in plans to overthrow the Church. The latter books for the trilogy take place in both Lyra's world and our own, and end with Lyra and another child (the new Adam and Eve) helping to dissolve "the Authority" and killing the senile and oppressive God, Yahweh, who portrayed himself as the creator of the universe. *The Concepts* Due to its fantasy genre, a number of terms and concepts in The Golden Compass require explanation. The term "dæmon" will induce raised eyebrows from most Christians. Pullman's dæmon is an external, shapeshifting manifestation of a character's soul. Pullman asserts that this character concept arose purely from the literary necessity of having a constant companion for Lyra. However the dæmons, which act rather like a witch's familiar, feature strongly throughout the storyline. Pullman's anti-theocratic stance is evident in his use of the term "Magisterium" as the name of the dogmatic ruling Authority. Non-Catholics may be unaware that this is the Catholic term for "teaching authority". Pullman insists that the Magisterium represents all theocratic belief systems which attempt to quash freedom of thought, however, the books are sufficiently anti-Catholic to have provoked high level requests for Catholics to boycott the movie. Pullman does not reserve his ire for Catholicism alone, but has a sympathetic character, an ex-nun, describe Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake". *The Author* Ultimately, an author's work will reflect their views, and as Pullman is a self-confessed atheist and agnostic, who has admitted that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief", Christian parents are right to be wary. Pullman has tried to downplay the anti-God emphasis, stating that he is condemning powerful, political religions, however, this doesn't discount his earlier assertion that "My books are about killing God". This stance has prompted one conservative columnist to describe Pullman as the writer "atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed". *Further concerns* The film on its own may not be overtly harmful. However, according to Bill O'Donohue, president of The Catholic League, the movie is based on the least offensive book of the trilogy, and has been suitably expunged of the nastier elements. Of greatest concern is that the movie will create interest in the books, which are far darker and more sinister. It is worth noting that not even Hollywood would begin the movie with an attempted murder by the "good guys", nor end it with the sacrifice of a child, things which DO feature in the book. Finally, of most concern is the books' rejection of religion: "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling". By all accounts, The Golden Compass is an enthralling movie with a talented cast and spectacular visual effects. However, its dark content and anti-God themes should encourage Christian parents to research and prayerfully consider whether, or to what extent, they want their children to be exposed to it. Ed's Note: Special thanks to Footprints Team member Nicola Saad for her report on this latest Hollywood offering. Lost in (Cyber) Space … We had some problems with our server earlier this month, and lost a lot of our emails. So if you have sent an email to Footprints in the last few weeks, it would be a good idea to try again – even if I did respond at the time! Special thanks must go to Deb & Neil of Yass NSW, for all their technical help and support! Position Vacant Cate Russell-Cole has also done a fabulous job as our Web Editor Extraordinaire in 2007, but has had to relinquish this responsibility due to ongoing health issues. We thank Cate for all her efforts and ask that you join us in praying for God to bring her into full health and vitality. Unfortunately, Footprints Team Members no longer have the time or the expertise to keep the website current – so we are putting out an SOS - we are looking for a new Web Editor! Can you help these damsels in distress? We can't offer you any pay – like all positions at Footprints, it's unpaid – but the benefits are out of this world J ! Is God nudging you to bless women across Australia and beyond with your tech savvy giftings? We'd love to hear from you! Get more Footprints in your life! HOW? Well I'm so glad you asked! If you enjoy our monthly FOCUS ezine, then you may also be interested in these other great resources from Footprints: - The quarterly Footprints magazine. For just $12, you will receive 4 issues in the post over the next year; or $30 for 12 issues (3 years). Got a group? Sign up for together and save $$$! Ask us about our bulk discounts. On a pension? Finances tight? We have a number of wonderful readers who give over and above their own subscription fees, so that YOU can be blessed. All you have to do is ASK! - Clues to your Calling, the first Footprints book, released in 2003. Written by editor Janet Camilleri, Clues is full of inspirational yet practical tips to help you discover and enter into God's perfect will for your life! Just $15 incl p&p. - The first Footprints message on CD is now available! The topic is God's Permissive Will, and is a recording of a message preached by Janet recently. Just $5 including postage. - And coming in 2008, DECADENCE: treat yourself to 10 years of Footprints. If you've only recently discovered the joys of Footprints, then our anthology is a must-have! Catch up on some of our favourite articles and stories from years gone by and glimpse how we have grown, changed and improved over the past decade! You can pay by any of the usual Footprints methods – cheque, money order, at any Westpac branch, by internet banking, or carefully concealed cash. Our banking details are: BSB Number 034070, Account Number 197158. We have a WINNER! Congratulations to Ann Pitt of Albany Creek QLD, who correctly identified the mistake on the cover of our latest issue (#40). So what WAS the mistake? Well that would be telling, wouldn't it! If you haven't noticed it, far be it from us to point it out J! Ann has been a loyal subscriber since our very first issue, and has chosen to bless a friend, Christine, also of Albany Creek QLD, with her prize of a free one year subscription to Footprints magazine. Testing the Waters … Well this is the last FOCUS for 2007 … 2008 will be a HUGE year for Footprints as we celebrate our 10^th birthday!!! Plans are well underway for the DECADENCE anthology, but also to launch it with a fanfare at a fabulous "meet the magazine" morning or afternoon tea. Venue & date are yet to be confirmed, (in Brisbane somewhere!) but you might like to pencil SATURDAY 29 MARCH into your diary. As with all things Footprints, rest assured we are keeping an eye on cost and plan to give you great value for money … under $20 a head for sure! Lucky door prizes – special guest speakers – meet the Team and some of our covergirls – it'll be a hoot! If you ARE planning to come along, could we ask a BIG favour? Would you mind emailing edi...@footprintsaustralia.com ASAP to let us know? Being our first ever "meet the magazine" occasion, it would really help us with our planning! We look forward to seeing YOU there. Why not organise for your ladies group to come join the celebrations? Most of our new subscribers are from further afield, so most likely won't be able to join us at our 10^th birthday celebrations … nevertheless, please join me in giving a great big warm Footprints welcome to: Jess, Ravenswood QLD Sharelle, Masterton NZ Christine, Albany Creek QLD Robyn, Eastwood NSW (4) Lynne, Donald VIC Kerryn, Donald VIC Til next month (and next year!!!) Love, Janet xxx and the Footprints Team. (Please feel free to forward this email to others who may be interested).