July 2000 Volume 81 Number 7 "serving the protectors"
SA Police Chaplains
By Bob George

Arguing The Point

f you want to buy an argument, just mention anything to do with politics, religion or football... and you’re away. The current confusion over the GST offers plenty of scope for a lively discussion. The resurgence of the Adelaide Crows and the demise of Port Power elicits plenty of comment... and then there is religion.

A well-known AFL footballer died and went to heaven. The person on the big turnstiles in the sky said: “Is there anything you would like to get off your chest before you come in?”

“Yes,” said the footballer. “I used to play for St Kilda, and during a closely-fought grand final match against Collingwood I scored what I thought was a point, but the umpire allowed it as a goal. That score won us the flag.”

“Don’t worry about it,” said the heavenly gatekeeper, “I saw the whole thing from up here and it was a clear goal if ever I saw one.”

“Thank you, St Peter,” said the footballer, “you’ve set my mind at rest.”

“Oh, I’m not St Peter,” said the gatekeeper, “I’m St Kilda!”

Unlike any lesser being, God is infinitely fair and just, as well as concerned for the ultimate good of every person. This is often hard for us to fully comprehend when we are part of an imperfect world, where innocent people suffer and crime appears to pay. If, when tragedy strikes, you are tempted to ask: “Why?”, or blame God for the evil around us, stop and ponder for a while the fact that God does not cause the wrong of this world. Evil results when human beings act irresponsibly and right does not occur.

While we may want to argue the complexities of the existence of God, the yet-to-be-experienced benefits of the GST, or whether the Crows will ever win another premiership, the real issue is: what am I doing about the particular patch in which I live?

John, one of Jesus’ early followers once said: “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Living a life of faith should have the flow-on effect of caring for people, as well as their environment. If each person considered the needs of others before themselves, we would all be better off. Working for a just and equitable world is the responsibility of every person. In this, there is no argument at all.

Welfare Section 58	David Marr	8364 3567
	Senior Police Chaplain.
Academy 8	Mark Thomas	8296 9616
Adelaide: Angas Street 158	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide: Hindley Street 62	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Adrian Stephens	8398 2510
	Office:	8398 2517
Berri 212	Vacant
Ceduna 214	Bob Borgas	086 253 503
Christies Beach 20	Vacant
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke	088 423 681
Communications 172	David Hand	8295 6992
Elizabeth 52	Stephen Brooks	041 884 0739
Far North 210	John Folkman	08 8672 5011
Focus 21	Richard Lawton	08 8362 4936
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke	085 222 288
Glenelg 22	Malcolm Thomas	8377 0772
Henley Beach 18	Brenton Daulby	8443 8286
Holden Hill 44	Rod Dyson	8365 1170
Kadina 71	Vacant
Kingston 208
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth (w)	087 231 353
	(h)	087 252 537
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill	085 325 536
Naracoorte 208	Bruce Cliff	8737 2457
		0417 811 702
Norwood 60	Lynton Wade	8362 2227
		0418 831 703
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald	085 621 011
Plympton 14	Ian Dempsey	8210 8108
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake	8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Steve Ardill	8632 3977
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Vacant
Port Lincoln 214	Vacant
Salisbury 53	Vacant
South East	Terry Natt	8571 1114
Sturt 12	Chris Beal	8278 9578
Tea Tree Gully 48	Bob George	8395 9363
Thebarton Barracks 32	Joe Grealy	8338 3225
Transit Division	Wayne Shepherd	8443 4895
Unley 28	Max Bowers	8272 8324
Whyalla 218	John Dunkley	0886 452 500

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