Signs of the Times - March 2023

THIS WAS NOT

PAINTED

BY A HUMAN FINDING BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY

EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN!

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

TRULY HUMAN?

IN THIS ISSUE MARCH 2023 FAITH IN THE FACE OF DANGER

What Corrie ten Boom’s life can teach us about helping others in need.

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CURRENT

04 WHAT IN THE WORLD 32 CHATBOT, YOUR

LIMITLESS FRIEND How does artificial intelligence work and can we learn to embrace it?

FAITH

12 A TASTE FOR UNITY

Seeing beauty in diversity

30 ASK PASTOR JESSE

00 32

00 40

WELLBEING

06 THE JOURNEY TO

FINANCIAL FREEDOM A conversation with the Christians Against Poverty

24 GET YOUR BRAIN

IN SHAPE The benefits exercise has on our brains

52 HEALTH NEWS FOR

EVERY BODY

54 LET IT ALL OUT The 10 health

46 THE LORD’S SUPPER Remembering

benefits of crying

Christ’s death

60 FOOD SWAPS TO LOWER

BLOOD PRESSURE

CULTURE

40 THE CHOSEN: A CALL TO

SOMETHING DIFFERENT Is it more than just another cringeworthy Christian show?

FUN

62 CROSSWORD & SUDOKU

What does it mean to be “human”? This question has been asked by philosophers throughout history and in recent memory, the rise of artificial intelligence has made many reexamine their answers. Proponents of AI tell of a future where diseases can be diagnosed earlier than by a doctor and where automated processes will run farming, business and traffic. What use are we in a world where an algorithm can solve any problem better than any human could?

Alexander Pope popularised a phrase still used to this day: “to err is human”. In his estimation, imperfection is a reflection of our humanity. The phrase itself is taken from an ancient Greek phrase thought to be translated something along the lines of “to err is human, but only a fool persists”.

You don’t need to be a historian to see that our history as a species can often be described as a series of poor decisions.

And yet, there’s a passage in the Bible that pushes back against this reductive assessment. Psalm 8 describes humanity as being created “a little lower than the angels” and “crowned with glory and honour”. Then, surprisingly, the Psalmist says: “You (God) made them rulers over the works of Your hands; You put everything under their feet.” This statement reflects one made much earlier: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over . . . the fish . . . birds . . . livestock . . . and over all creatures’” (Genesis 1:26). Humanity, according to the Bible, is a race of beings created in the image of God with whom He has shared His power. As you read about the relationship between exercise and the brain on page 26, the rise of AI (p32) and the benefits of “getting it all out” (p52), I hope you come to appreciate your humanity. It’s what makes you unique, and deserves to be celebrated.

Jesse

JESSE HERFORD Associate Editor

VOL 138 NO 3 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau'u Talia Valderrama Nerise McQuillan PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical.

Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs.

Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide.

COVER IMAGE:

DALL-E by Open AI

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/SIGNSMAG MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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CU

R RENT

HOW

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS CHANGING THE WORLD (FOR THE BETTER)

WHAT IN THE WORLD RETIREMENT HOMES FOR BEES

RECORD LOW SMOKING RATES

UNITED KINGDOM

NEW ZEALAND

The world’s first bee retirement home has launched. Honeysuckle Beetirement Home, created out of recycled doll houses, is a safe environment for bees to live in and pollinate. It includes rooms packed with pollenfilled flowers, a sugar-water fountain for energy, tiny armchairs and a place for the hard-working creatures to relax.

Flower delivery service, Flying Flowers, created these sanctuaries to raise awareness about our reliance on bees and their declining population.

—Country Living

There has been a positive shift for Pasifika youth as daily smoking rates have dropped to less than two per cent for the first time in Aotearoa New Zealand. Smoking rates were at 5.3 per cent in 2017, but fell to 1.2 per cent in 2022. The number of Pasifika smokers is at an all-time low, which is a huge achievement for the community.—Pacific Media Network

ECO DOG

UNITED KINGDOM

AUSTRALIA

More Australians are receiving charges for possessing illegal 3D firearms, such as rifles, machine guns and handguns.

While these guns do not work as well as traditional guns, rapid improvements pose a big threat to community safety.

They can be built without a serial number and are not picked up by metal detectors. Investigations are underway to deal with gun manufacturing.

—The Conversation 4

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FLYING FLOWERS. EKIN KIZILKAYA, THARAKORN—­GETTY IMAGES, FACEBOOK

3D FIREARMS

A 13-year-old border collie named Scruff stopped fetching sticks one day and took an interest in plastic bottles. Upon finding one he would pick it up, play with it, then drop it in front of his owners. At the end of each week they take all the bottles to get recycled and post his clean-up adventures online under the hashtag #scruffsbottlepatrol. In 2022, Scruff collected more than 1000 bottles. His owners expect him to collect many more in 2023.—The Telegraph

PERSONALISED HEALTH AI will enable doctors and hospitals to analyse data better and customise health care plans to each patient’s genes, environment and lifestyle. It will also be able to pick up on things like tumours and cancers at an earlier stage.

LOWER CRIME RATES Police forces around the world are testing AI systems that could help lower crime rates.

This includes facial recognition technology and systems to make decisions about bail by predicting the likelihood of someone committing other offences.

NEW RETIREMENT PLAN AI will help older people stay independent and live in their own home longer by monitoring movement in their home, mowing lawns, washing windows, cooking healthy meals and helping with bathing and hygiene.

EMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE By detecting body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and lifestyle changes, AI can identify signs of deteriorating mental health before it gets too severe. Data scientists say it will be capable of offering emotional support and give helpful solutions to reduce depression and suicide rates.

DISABILITY SUPPORT AI will enable people with disabilities to step into a world where they have more freedom, with learning experiences that can be tailored to an individual’s specific needs, apps to help blind people “see” people’s emotion, tools to support physical accessibility and devices that can identify visual impairments so treatment can begin before the disorders cause blindness.

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W

ELL B EING

This article was taken from the Signs Radio episode 176. Many thanks to CAP Australia and Rosie Kendall for her time and expertise.

To listen to the full episode, head to signsofthetimes.org.au/podcast

THE

Journey

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

TO

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many are worrying about their financial future. So long as we continue to ignore the conversation, the small problems we let slip regularly will build up to substantial challenges. Talking about money is necessary if we want to turn our situations around.

ZANITA FLETCHER IN CONVERSATION WITH ROSIE KENDALL

PEOPLEIMAGES—GETTY IMAGES

M

oney . . . It’s the grease that makes the world go round, yet it’s one of the least chosen table topics of choice. With the rising cost of living, the price of lettuce being tripled and a seemingly never-ending list of things to pay for,

We sat down with Rosie Kendall, CEO of Christians Against Poverty Australia, to talk about budgeting, boundaries, values and having the hard conversations in order to find financial freedom.

So, to bite the bullet, we sat down with Rosie Kendall, CEO of Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in Australia. CAP is a charity that exists to equip Church churches with solutions to help people in financial distress by providing practical tools,

services and skills to the public.

Their services are free of charge and they function across all states in Australia, as well as in New Zealand, the USA, the United Kingdom and Canada.

“Money is a holistic issue,” MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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“

Kendall said. “It intersects with our relationships, faith, values and wellbeing.” Unfortunately, for most of us, it’s not an area we are well-educated or disciplined in. But there is hope. We can move towards financial freedom by setting up a budget, creating boundaries, defining our values and having the hard conversations.

A lot of us grow up thinking talking about money is like talking about politics, sex or religion.

creating a budget

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money is there for us to enjoy. But problems arise when we get in the habit of spending money we don’t have, or that isn’t ours,” Kendall said.

Having a budget allows us to decide where and how we spend our money. When we align our spending with our values (more on this later), we will make informed decisions rather than falling into impulse buying. In order for a budget to be effective, we must put systems in place. We can do this by looking at where our money needs to go, considering where we can increase income and determining what costs we can cut back on.

setting boundaries

Have you ever seen something online or in the shops, immediately thought, “I must have it!”, then thought, “oh, but it’s so expensive” and then justified your reasons and bought it anyway (maybe regretting

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The concept of budgeting isn’t new. “Yet statistically speaking, the majority of people who [read] this don’t have one. Those with enough money to pay for the things they want often think they can go without. But when the unexpected happens, they don’t always have the buffer they need,” Kendall said.

Others are uneducated about how or why to budget, think budgeting is limiting, are afraid of what they’ll find if they look at their finances, or simply lack the motivation to sit down and do it.

Often people will take the time to put together a spreadsheet or write out their budget but then will go out and start swiping their credit cards without thinking twice. This isn’t surprising when we live in a world that tells us we need certain things to be happy. We’re no longer programmed from a cultural perspective to wait for things. We have the means through credit cards or buynow-pay-later companies to purchase something the minute we lay eyes on it. “We need a roof over our heads; we need to feed our families, and

your decision later on)? Turns out we don’t always have as much control as we think. Kendall said setting up at least three gateposts can be a wise way to safeguard your spending.

Some examples of gateposts include:  Waiting two weeks before making a non-essential purchase. It’s amazing what time can do. In that time it’s very likely you’ll forget about it or decide you no longer want it.  Have someone in your life to share your expenses with. The simple act of knowing that, at some point, you will have to share your purchases with others, might stop you from making the purchase altogether.  Get rid of your credit cards. Not having easy access to money will limit your ability to buy things outside your means.  Avoid buy-now-pay-later companies. If you don’t have the

money for something, make it a rule that you don’t buy it until you do. Companies like Afterpay and ZipPay are making consumption more convenient but less enjoyable. “The joy that comes from saving for something you really want and have worked hard for is beautiful and wonderful. You get excited because you’re really proud and pleased with yourself. It’s an achievement. You miss out on that when you see something and buy it straight away,” said Kendall.

having the conversations

A lot of us grow up thinking that talking about money is like talking about politics, sex or religion. We’ve been discouraged from talking about it. But it is necessary if we want to turn our situations around.

Even if you’re not in financial distress, it is still essential to have someone to talk to openly and MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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There are few things that can cause joy, shame, contentment, anxiety and stress the way money does.

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aligning our values

Money is there for us to enjoy, but if we’re not intentional about it, it can easily steal our joy. When we follow the trends of what the world convinces us we need for our happiness, we will likely buy things we don’t care about or that don’t add value to our lives, leaving us feeling dissatisfied without knowing why. Research shows that the people who live the longest and are the most fulfilled are those who live with purpose. What we spend money on tells us a lot about what we hold dear. Whether it’s our family, material possessions, building community, generosity, our appearance, the list goes on.

So, since we spend much of our lives working, it would be wise of us to think about why we’re here and what we care about and align those things with our spending.

How do we do that? Kendall suggested “don’t make it a money conversation to start with”. First, get a blank piece of paper and ask

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intentionally about money. That could be a partner, a friend or a financial advisor. As Kendall said, “How money was handled when we grew up is instrumental in how we think about it and manage it.”

Having someone with a different viewpoint who can ask us why we do certain things with our finances and challenge our normalities can be very helpful. Changing a mindset is not something you just decide, but over time with accountability and support, you can form new habits and beliefs.

For those experiencing financial distress, loneliness often ensues.

Seeing people around you who have enough or more than enough can make you feel isolated or ashamed. Our instinct is to carry on and hope we can get out of a rut ourselves, but the best and most effective (and sometimes hardest) thing we can do is ask for help and admit when we don’t know how to get out of a situation.

yourself: what do I value? Narrow it down to the top three things you want your life to reflect. This might be challenging and take you some time to figure out, but if you start there, the money conversation becomes much clearer and easier. Next, ask yourself the following questions: does my spending reflect my values?

How/how not? What do I need to change in my budget so I’m living in alignment with my values?

It’s not just you, life is getting more expensive. More and more people in Australia are experiencing homelessness and financial stress than ever before. Our natural response in times like these is to hold our money and possessions

close. “But the Bible teaches us a completely different narrative . . . that God will provide for us and we don’t need to worry about tomorrow,” Kendall said. He calls us to live generously even when we don’t know where our money will come from or how things will pan out. Generosity will look different for all of us. For those who don’t have a lot, it might look like providing friendship and support to those struggling. For those who are more fortunate, this is the time to reach out to others, share our things, open our homes and offer meals. We won’t change the world immediately, but a few small acts of generosity can go a long way.

Korrena Bailie, consumer finance editor for Forbes Advisor in New York, says, “There are few things that can cause joy, shame, contentment, anxiety and stress the way money does.” We can all attest to stories or experiences where we’ve been stressed about our finances. But our circumstances can and will change for the better if we start to take small steps in the right direction. Knowing our values, creating a budget, setting boundaries and having the hard conversations are excellent places to start on your journey towards financial freedom.

If you would like to be matched with a money mentor, become a money mentor or learn more about CAP and its services, head to: <capmoney.org/>

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Seeing beauty and strength in so much diversity can be difficult—but if we embrace it, there is much richness to be had!

A TASTE FOR

UNITY

BY KIRSTEN OSTER LUNDQVIST

MELITAS—GETTY IMAGES

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hen was the first time you realised not everyone was like you? For me, it started in primary school. In Denmark, kids bring packed lunches to school consisting of bread and toppings. One day, my classmates asked me what I was eating. This was the 1970s, so food was bland and international cuisine hadn’t made it that far north—no American burger chains or pizza places existed where I grew up. Vegetarian food was seldom available in restaurants, let alone in shops. Here, my packed lunch had fig rolls and a vegetarian peanut product called Nutolene. Everyone I knew loved it, but my classmates had never heard of it and made fun of me for it.

Food is something that sustains all our bodies, regardless of whether it is a taco or taro, a pizza or potato. As I grew up a little more, I was blessed to be exposed to various cultures and learned to love cooking different dishes. I enjoyed it so much that it got to the point where I hardly ever cooked food from my own culture.

Throughout its 12-season history, MasterChef Australia alone has been broadcast in more than 170 countries (and that’s not even counting its American and UK counterparts). We wouldn’t watch it if all the

contestants cooked the same thing!

If you have watched any of these programs you know that contestants cook food reflecting many different cultures. Aside from challenges where they all must cook one dish, we are continually treated to a rich diversity of dishes every episode.

Some of them occasionally look “out of this world”, but the contestants are always being pushed by the judges to create artistic and exceptional gastronomical creations.

Living in Wellington—a city with a rich variety of culinary delights from around the globe—resonates well with my appreciation for a more international palate. Whether the country of origin is Ethiopia, Japan, Brazil or even New Zealand itself, there’s always an exciting cultural journey to be had when stepping into one of my city’s many restaurants. I find diversity a blessing and at times I have been nudged by friends to try new foods that looked a bit out of my comfort zone. It’s a healthy experience because it forces me to try new things and gain a new appreciation for different cultures.

It’s easy to recognise the richness diversity brings to our lives when we talk about food, but what about our communities? We seek out belonging MARCH 2023 • SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU

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“ to groups or people with whom we share values and enjoy uniting behind a cause or idea. Belonging is important. The question of: “why are there so many different churches in the world today?” is one I come across often as a pastor. If everyone worships the same God, surely only one would suffice, right?

Worlddata.info tells us that there are more than 2.2 billion Christians living today and according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, there are around 45,000 denominations.

There are historic reasons for different denominations to have emerged. These are often rooted in disagreements on power, politics and doctrinal belief. On an individual level, those of us who belong to a church usually gravitate toward people who see God in a similar light, speak like us, sometimes look like us and worship like us. With more than 45,000 different denominations in the world today, it seems an oxymoron that a core value in the Christian church is unity. If we’re counting just by numbers, it seems that Christians have failed.

As much as unity is a strong value 14

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for the Christian to strive for, we must also reckon with the fact that God created us all different. One of the poets recorded in the Psalms says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). The seeming paradox of unity and diversity in the church isn’t so much a paradox when we recognise that unity does not mean sameness or uniformity. None of us, not even identical twins, are created 100 per cent the same.

God has created each one of us unique and diverse: all in His image (Genesis 1:26). Hence, in our diversity we are all created in God’s image. How awesome is that when we consider the incredibly diverse characteristics of people across the globe? The notion that unity means sameness cannot be from the God who created such diversity. If God wanted sameness, all He would need to do was “copy and paste”. He didn’t do that.

It is my humble conviction that those of us in the West need to acknowledge that historically, “Eurocentric” Christianity has, through colonialism, been thought of as the “norm” across the world.

Eurocentricity is the tendency to

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Why are there so many different denominations?

view the world through a Western lens and in doing so, reject or ignore the perspectives of non-European people groups who don’t fit neatly into that box. Somewhere in church history, “sharing the gospel” and “colonisation” got blurred together.

To see how Christianity has misrepresented a diverse God by elevating Eurocentricity, one simply must look at the vast amount of art depicting a blonde and blue-eyed Jesus, when in reality Jesus was born to Jewish parents in the Middle East. Author Esau McCaulley writes in Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope: “Euro-American scholars, ministers, and lay folk . . . have, over the centuries, used their economic, academic, religious, and political dominance to create the illusion that the Bible, read through their experience, is the Bible read correctly.”

The question remains: can Christianity be unified and still be diverse?

Can we let go of our past mistakes and celebrate how we are all different?

Unity clearly was important to Jesus, as He prayed for it in His last prayer in the Gospel of John: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through

their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20, 21).

Yet, across the Christian landscape, Christian unity seems impossible. Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor emeritus of church history at the University of Oxford, certainly thought so when he, according to Live Science, claimed that “There’s never been a united Christianity”.

However, not all scholars agree. Dr Denis Fortin, former dean of Andrews University’s Theological Seminary, writes on unity: “Our common faith creates a bond of spiritual unity in Jesus Christ. Please understand: we already have unity in Jesus; we don’t have to create it . . . All who claim Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are already experiencing a spiritual oneness in Christ, however imperfectly it may be lived in reality. Whatever our denominational names, whether Lutheran, Baptist, Mennonite, Pentecostal or Seventh-day Adventist, our common relationship to Christ is more important than all denominational and doctrinal limitations, and we are one in Christ.”1 In God, we experience unity in diversity with other believers when it MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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ceases to be about “myself ” and “my way of doing life” and it becomes about God and how in Him we are one. It is not how we believe, but Who we believe.

Unity can only grow within the same space as diversity when Christ is in the middle of it. When we move our focus from God to us, we too often fall into the trap of uniformity.

In my experience, this is often how the concept of unity has been misunderstood: it’s not about sameness among humanity but about recognising that we all have been invited to become the humans we were created to be through the Messiah Jesus.

This oneness is as important today as when Jesus prayed for it some 2000 years ago. We become united in Him if we choose to become

His followers—a unity that grows beyond our individual reality to a global realm that welcomes diverse tastes and cultures. It’s a reality where everyone’s food isn’t blended into one bland smoothie but celebrated with its unique flavours. Let us unite in taste and see that God is good—that His creations can be diverse yet unified in their belief in Him as Lord and Saviour for all people of different nations, languages, cultures and cuisines.

Kirsten Øster-Lundqvist is a Danish pastor who resides in Wellington, New Zealand. She enjoys ministering in both secular and Jewish contexts.

1. <atoday.org/part-2-adventists-believe-in-christianunity/> To learn more about the amazing history of Christianity, try the free guide on the next page!

In God, we experience unity in diversity with other believers when it ceases to be about "myself" and "my way of doing life" and it becomes about God and how in Him we are one. It is not how we believe, but Who we believe.

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A

Faith D ANGER

Corrie ten Boom, known for her efforts to shelter Jews during the German occupation, left behind a legacy that we can be part of today.

BY BRIANNA WATSON 18

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IN THE FACE OF

s Corrie ten Boom watched a secret room getting carved out of her bedroom wall, she was well aware of the consequences of what she planned to hide inside, as well as what would happen if the Nazi secret police ever found out.

But she did it anyway. She was going to do what she knew to be right. She was going to do what she believed God wanted her to do, no matter the consequence.

On April 15, 1892, Cornelia Arnnolda Johanna ten Boom, otherwise known as Corrie, was born in Haarlem in the Netherlands. She was the youngest of four and grew up in a crowded home above her father’s watch shop with her parents, siblings and three maternal aunts. Her father, Casper, was so consumed with his craft as a watchmaker that sometimes he forgot to charge customers for his work.

As the youngest of four, Corrie was required to assist with the housework from a young age, while her older sister Betsie was privileged to work with their father in the store.

However, this all changed when Betsie came down with a cold one day and Corrie was enlisted to cover her shifts. It was an instant success.

Corrie found herself so fascinated with the business side of the operation that even upon Betsie’s return to full health, they never swapped back to their original roles. Corrie remained in the shop with her father and Betsie cared for the housework. Corrie was so committed to the business and her

father’s craft that she formally trained to become a watchmaker. In 1922, at 30 years of age, she officially became the first woman to become a licensed watchmaker in the Netherlands. This alone was quite the feat. Had her story ended here, she still would have had a footnote in history as a trailblazing woman who successfully entered an occupation which until this point men had exclusively dominated. But Corrie’s story doesn’t end here. It has only just begun.

The ten Boom family weren’t just watchmakers, they were Christians who attended the Dutch Reformed Church. As a dedicated Christian, Corrie’s faith drove her to establish a youth club for teenage girls. In this club, she taught the girls skills such as sewing, handicrafts and performing arts. Still living at home and being led by her parents’ example, the ten Booms opened their home to those in need, offering shelter, food and money. They practised what they preached and didn’t discriminate against those who needed their help.

In May 1940, Corrie’s life changed forever, as did the lives of her fellow countrymen. The Dutch defences were overrun and within four days of fighting, Nazi occupation of the Netherlands began. An initial consequence of the German invasion was the cessation of the youth club that Corrie had facilitated for more than a decade. Such gatherings were now outlawed.

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Any assistance they might provide was at their peril, and yet, they did not hesitate to risk their lives for the stranger on their doorstep.

the sound of the buzzer, their guests would cram themselves inside the false wall in Corrie’s bedroom. They would have to remove all signs of their presence in the house, such as extra dishes or bedding, as they ran to hide in their purpose-built cubby.

Corrie also assisted with smuggling Jews across the continent to safe homes outside of the reach of the ever-growing German territory.

By the end, Corrie helped rescue approximately 800 Jewish people throughout the war. As her involvement in the underground movement grew, so did the attention she garnered. This led to Corrie’s arrest on February 28, 1944, and her subsequent internment at Ravensbrück concentration camp alongside her sister Betsie. Despite the circumstances they now found themselves in, Corrie and Betsie

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them changed. They noticed regular customers started to disappear from the shop. They watched as their Jewish neighbours’ houses got raided, the occupants never to be seen again.

Two years into the German occupation, a Jewish woman unexpectedly arrived on the ten Boom family’s doorstep with her possessions bundled into a small suitcase. She had heard they’d previously assisted one of their Jewish neighbours and told them her husband had been arrested and her son was in hiding. She feared returning to her home and as such, she desperately needed shelter.

By this stage of the war, the Nazi attitude towards the Jewish people and anyone who assisted them was clear. For the ten Booms, any assistance they might provide was at their peril, and yet, they did not hesitate to risk their lives for the stranger on their doorstep. As Christians, they believed all people were created equal and loved by God. During the height of the German occupation, they opened their home to this vulnerable Jewish visitor. It was a daring risk considering they lived only half a block from the local police headquarters, which was now overrun with SS soldiers. This choice ignited a burning passion inside Corrie and led to their family’s involvement in the Dutch underground.

Before long, Corrie began distributing stolen ration cards to those in need and was harbouring displaced Jews inside her home. An alarm was installed inside the residence and at

continued to serve God despite the constant threat to their lives.

When Corrie arrived at Ravensbrück, she watched in horror as the women were forced to surrender their belongings, strip naked and walk defenceless past a dozen SS guards into the shower room. She looked down at the small Bible she clutched in her hands and prayed God would continue to protect the book so precious to her that had made it this far undetected.

She spotted an old wooden bench, shoved the Bible, vitamin bottle and sweater they had—their most prized possessions—behind the decrepit bench and proceeded down the line.

Once they had showered, Corrie reclaimed her items and shoved them down her thin prison dress, which barely veiled the protruding bulge.

But it didn’t matter. Though the

woman in front was searched three times, and Betsie searched after her, Corrie passed through without a hand touching her. Her bundle of goods was safe. She went on to use her Bible to share love and hope through worship services secretly held in their barracks each night.

Even in this horrendous and cruel concentration camp, Corrie believed God had not forsaken her.

Sadly, on December 16, 1944, Betsie passed away. Only 12 days later, having been imprisoned for 10 months, Corrie was miraculously released from the camp. She later found out that her release was due to a clerical error. Just a week following her release, all the women in her age group were sent to the gas chambers.

Corrie ten Boom’s belief in God resulted in an amazing life of service, no matter the consequences.

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Had her story ended here, she still would have had a footnote in history as a trailblazing woman.

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than stop to lend a hand. Each time you are presented with that choice, remember that the legacy of Corrie ten Boom was built each time she chose to help someone. Yours can be as well.

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While the world around her changed and practising her Christianity became more dangerous, her love for God remained strong and impacted those around her. Each day, whether she woke up in her own bed or on a rickety bunk in Ravensbrück, she decided to practice her faith. She was consistent in her love for each person she encountered and even returned to Germany two years after the war to forgive two German soldiers who served in Ravensbrück during her imprisonment.

Corrie was not born a hero. She became a hero through her small but persistent choices to love and serve those around her, as she believed God had called her to do. Her story reminds us that we, too, have a choice to make each day. We can choose to focus only on ourselves, or we can choose to impact the lives of those around us positively. While the two are not always mutually exclusive, there will undoubtedly be times in our lives when it will be easier to ignore someone in need rather

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ELL B EING

GET YOUR BR AIN I N SH A P E For a long time we’ve exercised for our physique.

But studies are showing more and more the mindblowing benefits exercise has on our brains.

DROGATNEV—GETTY IMAGES

BY ZANITA FLETCHER

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beautiful people in front of us, it’s nearly impossible not to pick ourselves apart and wish some part of us looked better. We are set up for disappointment and conditioned to be dissatisfied with our appearance, which works great for an industry that thrives off weight-loss products, supplements, health foods, gym memberships and diet programs.

For some, constant exercise becomes a slap in the face because it doesn’t produce their desired results.

Others exercise out of guilt or shame after eating something contrary to their diet plan. Many get discouraged that their hard work isn’t paying off and stop caring for themselves altogether, saying, “it just doesn’t work for me”.

But there are many benefits we get from exercising that have been undermined by our fixation on our appearance. Studies show that exercise is one of the most transformative things we can do to improve cognitive abilities. It improves focus, increases creativity, enhances memory, improves learning, improves reasoning, reduces depression and anxiety, and boosts mood.1 According to the Nutraceutical Business Review, stress and sleep have been the fastest-growing global food supplement categories for the second year in a row, increasing by approximately 60 per cent in the past two years. Adaptogen herbs, medicinal mushrooms, CBD mints, and sleep gummies containing magnesium and melatonin have been selling

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There are many benefits we get from exercise that have been undermined by our fixation on our appearance.

GPOINTSTUDIO—GETTY IMAGES

E

ver since I can remember, people have been motivated to exercise out of a desire to look good. We know being fit is associated with overall good health, but for a long time, the main thing that has gotten us off the couch and moving has been the vision of our dream body: the six-pack, the thigh gap, the lean legs . . . whatever your goal is. But a shift is happening in how people are thinking about exercise. Rather than it being solely about our physical appearance, people are becoming aware of its incredible benefits on our brains.

Back in the day, we didn’t hear Jane Fonda in her striped and belted leotard yelling at us to move our bodies for clarity of mind. Instead, we heard things like, “that’s right, get sexy”, and were told, “a big mirror to exercise in front of is essential”.

None of us fell for the Ab Swing on the television commercials because we were thinking about improving our anxiety. Neither were we putting pictures of models running on the beach on our vision boards because we thought they would inspire us to do something to lower our chances of developing Alzheimer’s.

Let’s get one thing straight: the desire to want to look good is not a bad thing. But we run into problems when we participate in exercise only for our appearance. The reality is that many people never come face-to-face with their dream body.

Despite your efforts, have you? With the media constantly presenting

like hotcakes.2 This highlights that our health problems as a culture are centred around stress, anxiety and sleeping disorders. The fact we have supplements and medications that can help is amazing, but they will fail us if we rely on them alone.

In his book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John J Ratey says, “At every level, from the microcellular to the psychological, exercise not only wards off the ill effects of chronic stress; it can also reverse them.

Studies show that if researchers exercise rats that have been chronically stressed, that activity makes the hippocampus grow back to its pre-shrivelled state. The mechanisms by which exercise changes how we think and feel are so much more effective than donuts, medicines, and wine. When you say you feel less stressed out after you go for a swim,

or even a fast walk, you are.”

Essentially, he’s saying exercise is one of the best ways to manage and reduce stress. It’s no coincidence we feel better after a good workout. Moving our bodies raises chemicals in the brain, such as endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and oxytocin. These all produce feelings of pleasure and benefit us in a whole host of ways.3 As Ratey puts it, “Exercise is medicine.”

Physical movement also boosts the brain’s natural antidepressants.

It triggers the release of chemicals in the brain that promote a more balanced and relaxed mood.4 For those who are experiencing depression or anxiety, regular physical exercise can result in improvement as effective as medication but without the side effects and costs. A review published in 2022 found that two-and-a-half hours a week of brisk walking was MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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But when we understand the benefits it has on our happiness and wellbeing, we can create healthy habits and realistic benchmarks. We remove the chance of failure and shame because with exercise, you really can’t lose. You get benefits if you do it once, and you get even more benefits as you do it consistently.

Exercise won’t completely cure you and antidepressants and therapy aren’t a scam. Your worries won’t disappear after you go for a walk, and you won’t become a genius after a session at the gym. But studies show the effects of exercise on the brain are far more astounding than we thought.

So, make exercise a daily habit and keep it at the top of your priorities . . . for the sake of your brain! One

and brain growth] push through the blood-brain barrier, a web of capillaries with tightly packed cells that screen out bulky intruders such as bacteria,” he says. Meaning, we need to get our blood pumping and our heart rate up so our brains get the hormones they need for alertness, motivation, logging new information and developing new cells. Just one workout can improve your ability to focus, giving you immediate benefits that last for at least two hours after 30 minutes of exercise.7 When we have such high standards about our appearance, exercise can become an unsustainable means to an end. Fixating on how you look can easily result in burning yourself out with exercise and not nourishing your body with enough food.

FG TRADE—GETTY IMAGES

related to a 25 per cent lower risk of depression.5 Even if you have no symptoms of anxiety or depression, regular exercise is extremely beneficial to the body and mind of young, old, healthy and ailing people. It translates into significant mental advantages, sometimes even bringing out better results than counselling and therapy.6 Thinking about our cognition, Ratey says, “exercise is the single most powerful tool you have to optimise your brain function”. Regular exercise boosts the size of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, the parts of your brain involved in memory and learning and the areas susceptible to diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. “During exercise, [the hormones needed for learning

“

Moving our bodies raises chemicals in the brain, such as endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and oxytocin. These all produce feelings of pleasure.

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day you might wake up and see that Baywatch body looking back at you in the mirror. But even if you don’t, you’ll be in a healthier headspace and you might be able to keep putting on that red swimsuit in your old age— maybe not looking exactly how you imagined, but happy with who you are and glad to be alive anyway.

We must remember that God gave us these bodies for our joy and movement to contribute to our health and happiness. When we’re in a healthier body, our mindset will be more positive too. The long-term benefits and the good physique are icing on the cake.

Zanita Fltcher is a life coach, writer and assistant editor for Signs of the Times magazine. She writes from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

1. Nedley, N. (2013). The Lost Art of Thinking: How to Improve Emotional Intelligence and Achieve Peak Mental Performance. Oklahoma, Nedley Publishing.

2. <https://nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/news/ article_page/Stress_and_sleep_supplements_more_ than_a_fleeting_post-pandemic_trend/205384>.

3. John J Ratey (2013). Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. New York, Little, Brown and Company.

4. Science Daily. (1999). "CU Studies Suggest Exercise Protects Body Against Negative Effects of Stress From Brain to Cell." Available from: <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/10/991027072350.htm>.

5. Pearce M, Garcia L, Abbas A. (2022). "Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." JAMA Psychiatry. Available from: <https://jamanetwork. com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2790780>.

6. Tkachuk GA, Martin GL. (1999). "Exercise Therapy for Patients With Psychiatric Disorders: Research and Clinical Implications." Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.

7. Mandolesi L, Polverino A, Montuori S, Foti F, Ferraioli G, Sorrentino P and Sorrentino G. (2018).

"Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Functioning and Wellbeing: Biological and Psychological Benefits."

Front. Psychol. Available from: < https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509/full>.

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FA IT H

As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered more than once.

They’re sometimes about the Bible but usually they’re about everyday life. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the place to ask them. I’ll do my best to respond honestly, authentically and biblically.

Did Jesus really exist? If so, what historical evidence do we really have that He was more than a first-century Jewish rabbi?—Ingrid, South Australia When dealing with ancient history, it's important to recognise that our modern lenses often colour the way we see events from long ago. It's also important to reckon with the fact that a modern reader is usually concerned with different questions than an ancient person was.

Take, for example, historical accuracy. If I was telling you about a car crash I'd witnessed, I'd do my best to describe the details according to my best recollection.

However, if someone else described the event from their

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SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU/ASKJESSE

perspective, no doubt some of the details would change.

Does that make one of us right, and the other wrong?

Not at all! The reality is, it's impossible for any one person to "objectively" describe facts devoid of perspective, bias or agenda. It's just how we are as humans.

The same can be said of history. Our best records of Jesus' life and death are through the Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Additionally, the apostle Paul wrote much of the New Testament and though he never met Jesus during His ministry in Israel, Paul did encounter the risen Messiah and went on to document much of the early church's work in its first few decades of life. It is easy to accuse these early proponents of bias—after all, surely His disciples had a vested interest in spreading the message of Jesus, even if it was a lie, right? The only problem with this accusation is that there was never any debate in the ancient world as to Jesus' historical legitimacy. Jewish historian Josephus references Jesus twice in his writings, as well as the Jesus movement many more times. Syrian satirist Lucian of Samosata and Greek philosopher Celcus both dismissed Jesus as "a scoundrel". Jewish rabbis post-AD thought of Jesus as an illegitimate child of Mary and a sorcerer. Tacitus records for us that Jesus was executed under the watch of Pontius Pilate. For his part, Tacitus believed the Jesus movement to be a destructive superstition whereas his contemporary Pliny the Elder thought of

it as a "pig-headed obstinacy". Notably though, any doubts as to the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth didn't exist in the first or second century. The only people who have issues with this concept are those who are willing to ignore the historical record in order to confirm their bias.

The more important question in my mind is the second part. Was Jesus more than just a good teacher? This requires a little more faith; I'm not afraid to admit that. A man dying then being raised from the dead? That hasn't ever happened to me, or to anyone I know! In Acts 5, some of the disciples have been put in prison.

The religious leaders want blood but one well-respected Pharisee makes a case for their cause. He reminds them of previous "Messiahs": men who gathered people to them, tried to lead a revolution and ultimately failed. He says: "if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God" (Acts 5:38, 39). The reality is, the movement that started around a poor first-century Jewish Carpenter should not have succeeded, nor should it have gained the worldwide following it has today. What can we attribute this to? In my mind, the only answer I have is that there's something different about Jesus than any other messiah that came before, or came after.

I'm conviced that Jesus was more than a first-century Jewish rabbi. If you meet Him, I think you'll come to that conclusion too.

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CU

R RENT

CHATBOT, YOUR LIMITLESS FRIEND

Artificial intelligence has taken the world by surprise with its newest star: a robot called CHATGPT that can write and have conversations. How does it work and how can we embrace it?

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BY FLAVIUS E M IOSIF

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What if a computer could understand you just as if you were talking with another person?

a lonely writer, develops a romantic relationship with Samantha, a virtual artificial intelligence (AI) assistant trained to imitate feelings. Their love story flourishes, only to end when Theodore realises that Samantha is talking with and dating hundreds of people at once.1 Until now, this sounded like a distant prospect. Sure, we had search engines and social networks. We even had bots able to interact with users.

However, we all know they paled in comparison to human-to-human conversations. This was the case up until a few months ago when an AI research company took the world by storm when they launched

ANTONIO_DIAZ—GETTY IMAGES

magine your life helped by an all-knowing, tireless, personalised assistant and, more so, one that is free. Let’s say it comes in a chat box on a computer or phone, where you can request the completion of any task using your natural speech. No more “OK, Google” or “Hey Siri” requests voiced in an exasperated tone to a phone that doesn’t seem to want to complete a simple task like picking up a call or turning down the volume. What if a computer could understand you as if you were talking with another person?

This idea is not new. It has mesmerised the masses since antiquity through legends of artificial beings endowed with intelligence and consciousness by a master craftsman: Frankenstein’s monster and Pinocchio, just to name a few. It was even present more than 2700 years ago in the works of the Greek Poet Homer that told stories of autonomous bronze statues, the Talos, tasked with defending the island of Crete from invaders. More recently, the dream of living creations continued with movies like Terminator, I, Robot, Blade Runner and Ex Machina imagining a world where cognitive robots challenge human supremacy.

We had the more classic example in Marvel’s Iron Man where the billionaire inventor, Tony Stark, decides to upgrade his human-butler into an artificially intelligent system so he can continue serving him past his life. Or, on a different spin, we had the 2013 movie Her where Theodore,

ChatGPT, the latest communication bot. The company’s mission was to create friendly AI—and it did.

In just five days from its launch, it gained more than a million users and shocked millions more with its uncanny ability to understand language and hold believable conversations while delivering original responses to almost any question.2 Do you need to respond to any of your emails, negotiate a new deal, write a contract, an essay, or outline a marketing plan? Easy! Prompt the assistant and it will immediately generate a response that would make any business owner jealous. Do you want to receive detailed, specific ideas on the design options for a new apartment that you are renovating? Have a conversation with a therapist? Or perhaps you want to write a Bible study plan, invent a story for your child, summarise a text or create an application in a programming language? Just explain your wish to the assistant, and it will instantly come up with a solution

that would have otherwise taken hours. It can create news articles, write e-books, explain profound concepts and brainstorm ideas. It can even converse human-to-machine, friend-to-friend. The launch created such a shockwave amongst Silicon Valley’s executives that it even prompted Google to declare Code Red for its business, namely an existential threat to its highly dominating search engine.3 So, how does it work? In terms of functionality, the bot is a language synthesiser that uses words with the same ease as using numbers. I can try explaining it further, but instead I thought I’d just ask ChatGPT. Here’s what it said:4 “As an artificial intelligence, I work by processing and analysing large amounts of data, and using that data to make predictions, recommendations or decisions. For example, if you ask me a question, I will search through my database of information to find the most relevant and accurate information MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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Personal computers, smartphones and self-driving cars seem doable for today’s science. Revolutionary shifts that in the past took generations, such as the transition from radio to TV, now seem only to take a couple of months: email to chat, chat to video calling, video calling to social networks, and social networks to virtual reality. Additionally, technological innovation is not the only thing rising exponentially. The speed at which newly developed technologies get adopted by consumers is also faster than ever. The perfect illustration of this happened during Covid19. We went to sleep one night to a familiar version of our world, only to wake up the next day to the unknown: working from home, Zoom meetings, QR code scanners, location trackers, and so on.

Whether this is the future, we don’t know. Some have already started adapting OpenAI’s bot to their businesses, asking it to write

DALL-E BY OPEN AI

and use machine learning algorithms to analyse it and improve my performance over time.”

In other words, just like a chess engine trains by playing billions of games against itself to discover the best chess strategies, ChatGPT trains itself by having conversations with itself. Or again, in the words of ChatGPT: “To train me, my creators fed me a large dataset of text and provided me with a set of instructions, or algorithms, to follow. Based on these instructions, I was able to learn patterns and relationships in the data, and use that knowledge to generate responses to questions or perform tasks. Over time, as I was exposed to more and more data, I was able to improve my performance and become more accurate in my responses.”

In the last 30 years of the internet era, we’ve grown accustomed to significant changes.

The launch created such a shockwave amongst Silicon Valley’s executives that it even prompted Google to declare Code Red for its business.

blog articles, ads and translate texts.

Others are resisting and deciding not to go near it. Even so, it’s only the beginning. ChatGPT is, according to Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, “an early demo of what’s possible . . .

Soon you will be able to have helpful assistants that talk to you, answer questions and give advice. Later you can have something that goes off and does tasks for you. Eventually you can have something that goes off and discovers new knowledge for you.”5 Not everyone is happy about ChatGPT and for understandable reasons. On the other hand, myself and many others find it exciting and are mesmerised by its ability to understand language and handle conversations. I caught myself

dreaming of the utility of such a tool, using it to aid my job and personal life, easing my work significantly.

Time will tell if we experience the same soberness felt with the rise and fall of optimism in the internet and if we will regret, like so many times before, transitioning to the next step of online evolution.

So how can we avoid this and the potential dangers of a human-like AI? Are there certain principles such a creation should hold? Turns out AI researchers have endorsed a list of ethical principles, which they say are like the 10 commandments of technology (though there are hundreds).

I asked ChatGPT to give us just 10 of the rules for the builders and users of future AI chatbots: MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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6. Thou shalt not exploit users or their data for personal or financial gain.

7. Thou shalt not use AI to plagiarise or steal the work of others.

8. Thou shalt strive to prevent the spread of fake news or misinformation through your AI chatbot.

9. Thou shalt regularly review and update the AI’s programming to ensure it aligns with the values outlined in these commandments.

10. Thou shalt actively seek out and address any negative consequences or unintended consequences of your AI chatbot.

Flavius E M Iosif is an orthopaedic nurse based in Tweed Heads, NSW. Originally from Romania, he decided to move to Australia with the hope of having a pet kangaroo.

1. <https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/her2013>.

2. <https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chatgptgained-1-million-followers-224523258.html>.

3. <https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/21/technology/ai-chatgpt-google-search.html>.

“

Soon you will be able to have helpful assistants that talk to you, answer questions and give advice. Later you can have something that goes off and does tasks for you.

4. <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/11/chatgpt-is-a-marvel-but-itsability-to-lie-convincingly-is-its-greatest-danger-tohumankind>.

5. <https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/ dec/05/what-is-ai-chatbot-phenomenon-chatgpt-andcould-it-replace-humans>.

ARTEMISDIANA—GETTY IMAGES, FREEPIK

1. Thou shalt prioritise the ethical treatment of all individuals and the promotion of social good over any other goals or objectives.

2. Thou shalt strive to minimise the potential for AI to perpetuate or amplify biases or prejudices.

3. Thou shalt be transparent about the capabilities and limitations of your AI chatbot and make efforts to educate users about how it works.

4. Thou shalt not use AI for propaganda or to manipulate or deceive users.

5. Thou shalt prioritise security and protect against vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.

Right now, we’re only catching a glimpse of the impact ChatGPT will have on many aspects of society.

Integrating it into our work and our lives will bring many changes. There are of course reasons to be sceptical and a little scared, but AI is here to stay, so let’s embrace it. If we use it in a responsible, wise, ethical way, we could, together, make a world of difference.

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CU

LT U R E

THE CHOSEN:

A CALL TO SOMETHING

BY JESSICA KRAUSE

THE CHOSEN—PRESS IMAGES

Different

With ratings of 9.3 on IMDB and 100 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, The Chosen is proving to be far more than another cringy Christian series. But what’s the fuss all about?

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Carpenter from the first century AD. After all, this was a man who drew thousands with His words, compassion and sacrifice, according to multiple historical texts. Yet He seems very far removed from what we see on screen.

So when a video popped up on my YouTube recommended list advertising The Chosen, a new television series centred around the

“

Christian media can often be guilty of depicting a sterilised, unfamiliar, and at times offensive representation of society and the lives of people within it.

life of Jesus, I was sceptical.

Directed by Dallas Jenkins, son of Jerry B Jenkins, author of the Left Behind series, The Chosen is presented as an invitation to “[d]iscover Jesus as seen through the eyes of the people who knew him best”. The series is not Jenkins’ first work. In 2017 he directed the film The Resurrection of Gavin Stone before releasing

THE CHOSEN—PRESS IMAGES

I

have a complex relationship with Christian media. Don’t get me wrong—as someone who genuinely believes an encounter with Jesus Christ can be life-changing, I maintain that excellent and inspiring media should reflect the impacts of such an encounter.

However, I’m regularly underwhelmed with the quality of the Christian film industry. Christian movies and TV often leave me with more questions than answers, whether it’s the poor cinematography, the sub-par musical accompaniment or the patchy lighting.

It leaves me longing for something that reflects the brilliance, creativity and majesty of Jesus, the Person on whom Christianity is based.

I primarily find myself at odds with the storylines of such media.

Between the demonisation of the world in general, a tendency to be preachy rather than follow a narrative structure or presenting a “pray and the troubles go away” kind of reality, Christian media can often be guilty of depicting a sterilised, unfamiliar, and at times offensive representation of society and the lives of people within it.

However, my biggest qualm with Christian media is its depiction of Jesus—whether it be a Jesus who doesn’t smile, a Jesus who says more “thous” and “thys” than William Shakespeare, or a Jesus with a British or American accent. I have often struggled to reconcile famous depictions of Jesus with the Jewish

The Shepherd, a short film based on the traditional nativity story.

This short film led to The Chosen becoming “the largest crowdfunded media project in ‘history’”, generating more than $US10 million towards the first season. Since then, funding has been steadily provided by various independent investors worldwide. At the time of writing this article, funding had been provided for approximately three full seasons, with fundraising currently occurring for season four.

As of January 2023, The Chosen boasts more than 458 million worldwide views. On IMDB, it holds a rating of 9.3 out of 10, and on Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 100 per cent. It has a solid social media presence, with viewers tagging their photos with #bingeJesus and #getusedtodifferent. There is evidently strong support for this series.

But why?

Upon viewing The Chosen, there is immediately a contrast to the bemoaned Christian media I mentioned previously. The acting is solid, the costuming refreshingly realistic and the set design easily transports its audience to the Middle East in the first century AD. A 15-minute “single take” (that is to say, the scene had no cuts in post-production) within season two also speaks to a more refined cinematography.

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Like any television series, The Chosen 44

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has not been without criticism. The first episode of the series feels, at times, unnecessarily long, and the background CGI graphics in some scenes are not always of the highest quality. Certain characters are not found in the Bible and some narrative points are moved around or not included, which may create confusion for those unfamiliar with the original stories. Furthermore, some critics have chastised The Chosen for adding dialogue and scenes not included in the Gospels.

It should be noted in this regard that a disclaimer at the beginning of The Chosen informs viewers that: “The Chosen is based on the true stories of the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed.

Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical contexts and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the Gospels . . .”

Jenkins further speaks of how The Chosen “is not a replacement for Scripture” and repeatedly directs people to further read the Bible for themselves. It may not placate all critics but does provide an idea of intention, an important factor in determining any communication medium.

The Chosen is not without fault, but it should be commended for its ability to address tough topics

and make Bible stories relatable.

Whether it be severed relationships with family members, anger issues, mental health issues or even demon possession, the series dives right in and intentionally chooses not to offer cheesy solutions. It’s a show of hope, healing and redemption for those who may be struggling with what the characters are.

Nathan Clarkson, actor, director and writer of Christian films such as Confessions of a Prodigal son, states that: “Until [Christians] say that we want art that more accurately reflects the beauty of a perfect God with high standards, more realistically shows the human condition, and more effectively shows the world in an honest and connective way, then we will be sentenced to clean, family-friendly, badly-made art.”

The Chosen offers us the human condition, gritty realities and a chance to reflect on challenging questions. And for this, at times disillusioned writer, it provides a reminder that there is an ever-present, ever-loving Jesus who is worth following.

“

It’s a show of hope, healing and redemption for those who may be struggling with what the characters are.

Jessica Krause is a lawyer from the Central Coast, New South Wales who is currently studying a Master of Law. In her spare time she loves travel adventures, trying new foods and spending time with friends and family.

THE CHOSEN—PRESS IMAGES

and humorous when needed—a feature often lacking in Christian films.

However, it is the characters within the ensemble of the series that draw the audience. In biblical culture, Matthew is traditionally only known for his career as a tax collector. He is instead represented as a highly intelligent young man on the autism spectrum, creating an opportunity for representation and narrative depth in this character that I have never seen before. Mary Magdalene, a traditionally almost caricatured character, is developed as a woman with real struggles whose life is transformed after interacting with Jesus.

But it’s the character of Jesus, superbly performed by Jonathan Roumie, of The Mindy Project and Chicago Med, who shines. Unlike the stilted, ethnically ambiguous and solemn depictions of Jesus found previously, Roumie’s Jesus is a breath of fresh air. He’s a Jesus who laughs and jokes with His disciples, a Jesus who sits comfortably in silence and offers compassionate advice to those with questions and a Jesus who confronts oppressors with firm but gracious words. Most importantly, He’s depicted as a regular, lower class, Middle Eastern man from the first century who draws people to Himself simply because of who He is. In other words, He’s the type of Jesus I read about in the Bible.

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FA IT H

THE

LORD’S SUPPER:

REMEMBERING CHRIST’S DEATH

TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, JESUS ASKED US TO REMEMBER THE LORD’S SUPPER. WHAT MADE IT SO SPECIAL? JESSE HERFORD

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the people with the feasts

In stark contrast to the capricious gods of the surrounding pagan nations, God directed the Israelites to take part in ceremonies that celebrated His saving work on their behalf. These rites became a central part of their daily lives. The Old Testament books of Leviticus and

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umans have practised rituals for millennia. Ancient cultures on almost every continent performed various rain-making rituals, calling upon the gods to water their crops. We know that ancient Mesopotamian people sacrificed animals (and sometimes their own people) to appease the gods.

Deuteronomy detail many of these feasts and the associated celebrations. We are told about the feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread; the feast of First Fruits, the festivals of Pentecost and Trumpets, the observance of the Day of Atonement, and the feast of Tabernacles.

These ritual feasts were instrumental in two ways. First, they served to help the Israelites regularly practise praise, gratitude, remembrance and repentance. Second, they were reminders of the covenant that the people of Israel had with God. The feasts engaged all of the senses: taste, smell, sound, sight and touch.

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the Passover Lamb

Centuries later, when Jesus stepped into the pages of history, He was proclaimed to be the “Lamb of God” that the temple’s sacrificial lamb pointed to. He taught that His presence on earth was the fulfilment of the promised Messiah; the One promised to rescue Israel and establish a new order of peace on the earth. He made it clear that He had come to build His kingdom in the hearts and lives of all people, including those outside the family of Israel! It was a radical message, but it caught on, and Christianity was born.

During His ministry, food featured quite regularly in Jesus’ life. He shared a meal with Levi, the infamous tax collector-turned-disciple (Luke 5:29). He admonished a hostess for focusing too much on her five-course meal (Luke 10:38–42).

He healed a man at the dinner table of a Pharisee (Luke 14:1–5) and fed 48

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thousands of people at a time—not once, but twice! (Luke 9:14–16; Matthew 15:36–38). Many of Jesus’ most memorable moments occurred around food.

Perhaps the last mention of food before Jesus’ death is the most significant one. He and the 12 disciples gathered for an evening meal during the Festival of Passover. During the course of their dinner together, Jesus spoke directly and frankly with His friends—noting His impending betrayal at the hands of Judas, Peter’s denial of Him and more. Any one of these would have been enough to shock the disciples, but the primary focus of the moment was on a new ceremony that would go on to be practised by His followers for the next 2000 years.

devoted disciple, was aghast at this act of humility and said: “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”

Jesus replied: “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing” (verse 8, The Message1). In the world Jesus was planning, Peter needed to be able to receive the generosity Jesus was extending to him, even if it challenged his conception of authority and power. Jesus was teaching His disciples that by washing each other’s feet, they were remembering that God had called them to be servants to all men.

“

the second ceremony: the bread and the cup

Later in the evening, amidst friends and traitors alike, Jesus offered up two more symbols. Luke tells us that Jesus “took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ’This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me’ ” (Luke 22:19). Then, “he took the cup, saying, ’This cup is the new

Humble service to each other creates an ideal space for repairing broken relationships.

the first ceremony: foot washing

The average first-century Israelite probably wore some type of sandal footwear. At the end of the day, their feet would be filthy—coated in dust, dirt, mud and whatever else had been trodden in during the course of the day. The responsibility for cleaning their feet typically fell to servants.

So, when Jesus “got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist” (John 13:4), it confused His followers. What He did next horrified them. “After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (verse 5). Peter, Jesus’ most

Today, when we wash each other’s feet, it is an act of both humility and reconciliation. We are reminded that no-one is lesser or greater than anyone else in Jesus’ kingdom, and humble service to each other creates an ideal space for repairing broken relationships.

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In participating, every Israelite was invited to stay faithful to the covenant and renew their devotion to God. Passover, the earliest of these feasts, reminded Israel of how God had rescued them from Egypt, brought them through the Red Sea and defeated Pharaoh. The unleavened bread and the blood of the slaughtered lamb served as a reminder of their forebears’ experience and helped keep the story fresh in their hearts and minds.

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Though the disciples were unaware of it, Jesus was describing in explicit terms the brokenness that He was about to endure physically. His body would be broken by flogging and then He would be subjected to a Roman cross. His blood would be shed for the “forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38, NIV). But Jesus didn’t focus on His physical torment—He was thinking of what His sacrifice would mean symbolically.

He made these declarations within the context of the Passover meal to intentionally link the Last Supper with the Exodus. Just as the unleavened bread was cooked in haste as the Israelites prepared to leave Egypt, Jesus was at this moment stressing the

urgency with which He was carrying out His mission. In a similar way, the blood that He was just about to give in His crucifixion harked back to Exodus 12:5–8 and the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. Jesus was renewing the covenant between God and humanity in an exciting new way.

Even though Israel, God’s chosen medium through which to communicate His plan of rescue to the world, had failed to embrace the Messiah, their failure did not foil God’s plan to save humanity. On the contrary, the Lamb of Calvary became the Passover lamb for the entire human race—Jews and non-Jews alike. Every human from every tribe and tongue has been invited into the family! You and I are no longer outsiders. Because of Jesus’ broken body and spilled blood, we are now included in His new exodus.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who

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covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’”(verse 20).

What are we to make of these strange gestures? Jesus’ disciples certainly didn’t know what to do with them, as the Bible tells us.

They were squabbling over power and status and their position in the new kingdom they believed Jesus would be establishing. Though they didn’t understand the significance of the bread and grape juice at that moment (nor the washing of their feet, for that matter), in the years that passed following Jesus’ death and resurrection, the deep symbolism of this ritual gradually began to reveal itself.

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“

It may seem strange to continue this ritual more than 2000 years later, but we do so because people are prone to forget.

believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).

do this in remembrance of Me

If you find yourself in a Seventh-day Adventist church today, you may come across this drama playing out in real time. At least four times each year, Seventh-day Adventist churches remember Christ’s sacrifice through the symbolism of unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice.

They drink the grape juice and eat the bread in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross. They remember that He died for every human being who has ever lived. They remember that in Jesus, we are all one family, brothers and sisters in the Messiah.

It may seem strange to continue this ritual more than 2000 years later, but we do so because people are prone to forget. Jesus knew this about human nature and went out of His way to help us remember His supreme sacrifice. He said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). It is incredibly meaningful to take part in the Lord’s Supper and contemplate Christ’s sacrifice so that you can have new life. Your local Seventh-day Adventist church invites you to join us in the ceremony and see for yourself!

Jesse Herford is a pastor and associate editor for the Australian/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times.

He lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, Carina and their miniature schnauzer, Banjo.

1. Scripture quotations marked The Message are from The Message, copyright ©1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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HEALTH NEWS for every body

REVERSING THE AGEING PROCESS In 2008, Wyss-Coray, a professor of neurology at Stanford University, and a group of researchers started giving young blood to old mice. Their experiments revealed that old mice that received young blood showed signs of regenerating the brain, muscle and other tissues and boosting cognitive and physical performance. After all these years, researchers are confident that their efforts will soon translate into new therapies to slow or reverse cognitive decline in humans.—Stanford University

DANCING AND SURFING FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH The National Health Service in Great Britain is doing trials to see if activities like surfing, gardening, rollerskating and dance classes can help people feel less anxious and depressed. In parts of England, 600 people aged 11 to 18 (all on waiting lists for care) are participating in these activities to see if they will improve their mental wellbeing. The activities were selected as they have been shown to increase a person’s social connectedness and enhanced confidence and self-esteem. The trial is trying to find non-medicalised ways of helping individuals find a way through the challenges they may be experiencing. However, they are not to be substituted for other types of support such as talk therapy.—The Guardian 52

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GILAXIA REDMARK, WHITEMAY TYLIM—­GETTY IMAGES, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ALARM BELLS ON FALLING VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION We know fruits and vegetables are essential for our health and wellbeing; however, statistics show that 91 per cent of Australians are not eating the recommended five-plus serves a day. More alarmingly, new studies have illustrated that 17 per cent of Australians eat fewer vegetables than pre-Covid, with one in four only eating one serve of veg or less a day. But it’s a new year! Let’s “try for five” each day, as the Nutrition Australia campaign would say.—Nutrition Australia

HEALTH HACK: KEEP YOUR SKIN IN THE GAME! Did you know when you peel vegetables like carrots, beets, potatoes and zucchinis, you’re missing out on a bunch of fibre, vitamins and minerals? Turns out the skin on these vegetables is loaded with good stuff. For example, 20 per cent of the nutrients like B vitamins and trace minerals are in the skins of potatoes. So give your vegetables a good scrub, but keep those skins on! You’ll save time and get more bang for your buck.—Healthline Media

NO MORE GUINEA WORM A global Guinea worm eradication program led by the Carter Centre is close to being complete, with only nine cases of the disease remaining worldwide. If the program is successful, Guinea worm will be only the second human disease in history to be eradicated, after smallpox. The Carter Centre began eradicating the disease in 1986 after it had infected an estimated 3.5 million people across 21 African countries.

That number has been reduced by more than 99.9 per cent. Today, the program wipes out disease, steadily reducing the number of cases, stopping transmission, and ensuring optimal surveillance and reporting.—The Carter Centre MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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10

Crying is the natural response humans have to many different emotions. Yet many of us try to hold back our tears believing that it’s a sign of weakness. Turns out, there are a lot of benefits to letting it all out.

LET IT ALL OUT:

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CRYING

BY VICTOR M PARACHIN

J

esus wept.” - John 11:35

When people experience frustration, loss, sadness or stress, some immediately put up emotional barriers and force themselves to be strong. Others, however, give themselves permission to shed tears and cry away. Many of us try to hold back the tears, but the reality is that letting them out can be good for us.

It can take away some of the pain, help us process emotions and make us feel better. Here are 10 reasons why letting it all out could actually be good for us:

1.That’s something noted by social

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CRYING IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY VALVE

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worker Leo Newhouse, who wrote in the Harvard health blog: “Crying is an important safety valve, largely because keeping difficult feelings inside—what psychologists call repressive coping—can be bad for our health. Studies have linked repressive coping with a less resilient immune system, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety

and depression. Crying has also been shown to increase attachment behaviour, encouraging closeness, empathy, and support from friends and family.”

2.

Many people express feeling better after a good cry. This is spoken CRYING IMPROVES MOOD

of in the Bible: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5, NIV). There is science which supports this human experience. Scientists categorise three different types of liquid in tears.

The first two are called “reflex tears” and “continuous tears”. They aim to remove irritants such as smoke and dust from the eyes and lubricate them to prevent infection. Their content is 98 per cent water. The third category is “emotional tears”.

They flush toxins out of the body and release endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals that ease physical and emotional pain.

3.

When we are seen weeping, it rallies support from the people CRYING ELICITS SUPPORT

around us. This is known as an in-

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4.After a major loss, such as the CRYING HELPS US MOVE ON QUICKER

death of a loved one, crying can help you heal faster and move on. Tina B Tessina, PhD, a psychotherapist and author of It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction, says: “Everyone needs to know how to grieve and how to be sad in order to get over difficult events. There are a certain number of tears you must cry to let go, and getting on with crying is the fastest way.”

5.The main reason we hesitate to cry CRYING STRENGTHENS RELATIONSHIPS

in front of others is to avoid feeling vulnerable or emotionally weak.

Rather than feel shame or embarrassment over tears, try to remember that they can strengthen your significant relationships. When we can cry in front of others, we allow them to see a different side of us—one that is softer, gentler, sensitive, vulnerable and uninhibited. A deeper, stronger emotional bond can be established between our family and close friends through those emotions.

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“

Crying has also been shown to increase attachment behaviour, encouraging closeness, empathy, and support from friends and family.

6.That’s the observation of Dr

for and receive help. Our culture places a strong emphasis on being independent and self-reliant. While those may be good virtues, there are times when we simply need a helping hand to lift us up. When others see us weeping, there’s a high probability they will come over and respond with comments such as, “I can see you’re upset . . Would you like to talk?” Or, they may embrace us or gently touch our hand, arm or shoulder. This social support makes us feel better quickly.

CRYING IS IMPORTANT SELF-CARE

Judith Orloff, author of The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People and a psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles, Psychiatric Clinical Faculty: “Crying and honouring your own needs and sensitivities is a critical part of self-care and being loving with oneself, being aware of one’s needs and honouring them to benefit the health of the body, mind and spirit.”

8.

“A good cry can also be a good way to kill bacteria,” says CRYING KILLS BACTERIA

7.This is stated in the Bible: “The

CRYING IS A WAY OF GETTING HELP WITHOUT ASKING FOR IT

eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 35:15). As adults we often find it difficult to ask

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terpersonal or social benefit. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests people cry to gain comfort from others, even if the person weeping isn’t aware they’re doing that.

The study explains that crying “is a key attachment behaviour intended to elicit care and comfort from close others throughout life”.

health writer Lizette Borreli. “Tears contain the fluid lysozyme—also found in human milk, semen, mucus and saliva—that can kill 90 to 95 per cent of all bacteria in

just five-to-ten minutes. A 2011 study published in the journal Food Microbiology found tears have such strong antimicrobial powers they can even protect against the intentional contamination of anthrax.

Lysozyme can kill certain bacteria by destroying bacteria cell walls— the rigid outer shell that provides a protective coating.”

9.

Most people experience a zen-like moment after a good cry, CRYING MAKES YOU CALMER

and they’re calmer and even feel blissful. That’s because breathing stabilises the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. One study revealed that 88.8 per cent of people feel better after crying, with a mere 8.4 per cent feeling worse. The simple fact is that crying is physically calming.

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CRYING CAN BE A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

by writers Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, directors of the website Spirituality and Practice. They make this observation: “We weep with gratitude over all the amazing gifts from God that come our way. We cry when we share moments of great elation with others. Tears enable us to get in touch with our deepest feelings. They help us express our grief at endings and the loss of those who are precious to us. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He also wept over the city of Jerusalem and in our time, we weep over Jerusalem and Baghdad and Kabul and the refugee cities in Palestine and the Sudan and

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88.8 per cent of people feel better after crying . . .

elsewhere . . .Tears are a gift of grace from God.” So, when you feel tears welling up, don’t feel like you must hold them back. “There is nothing wrong with crying,” says author Terry Brooks.

“Your feelings tell you who you are.

They tell what is important. Don’t ever be ashamed of them.”

Victor Parachin is an ordained minister and the author of several books about bereavement including Healing Grief and The Lord is My Shepherd: A Psalm For the Grieving.

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10.

That’s a perspective promoted

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s p a w s Food W

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the kidneys to move sodium from the blood into the urine and out of the body.

Including natural sources of potassium in your diet is as simple as eating more fruit.

Bananas, oranges and pineapple, as well as dried apricots, dates and figs, are all outstanding sources of potassium.

TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

SWAP FROM WHITE TO WHOLEGRAIN BREAD There’s no need to avoid carbs, but it is important to switch to whole grains.

Refined grains such as white bread and sugary cereals tend to have higher levels of added salt. By switching to whole-grain options, you’re not only cutting back on salt but also getting extra health benefits.

Whole grains help maintain your heart, brain and gut health. They can help not only lower your risk of high blood pressure but also reduce high blood pressure if it’s already an issue. When you shop, look for high-fibre breakfast cereals such as Fiber One or All-Bran Buds, wholegrain pasta and bread, and grains such as brown rice, quinoa and amaranth.

Try these four tasty alternatives and target optimum blood pressure.

BY SANITARIUM HEALTH FOOD COMPANY

H

igh blood pressure is a risk factor for some of our most worrisome health problems, such as heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. And it’s not as uncommon as you might think. Too much salt, smoking, not enough exercise and carrying too much weight are all common culprits that send blood pressure rising. There are no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure. In fact, you can have it without knowing it!

This is why it is so important to get your blood pressure checked regularly by a health professional. They can also provide advice for managing your blood pressure if it is elevated.

If you know you have high blood pressure, you are probably already watching your salt intake. But what other dietary changes can you make to help? Besides cutting back on salt, increasing your intake of certain minerals can help keep your blood pressure under control. Here are four tasty food swaps to try:

While too much sodium in your diet can increase blood pressure, too little potassium can have the same effect. Potassium helps our bodies get rid of salt by signalling to 60

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ALATIELIN—­GETTY IMAGES

SWAP COOKIES FOR A BANANA

SWAP CHIPS FOR NUTS Instead of nibbling on salty chips and crackers, reach for a handful of unsalted nuts. This is another lower sodium swap with big benefits. Studies have shown that regularly eating a handful of nuts a day can lower your risk of high blood

pressure by 30 per cent. Almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews also contain magnesium. This important mineral helps regulate many of the body’s systems, including blood pressure and blood glucose. Magnesium can also be found in leafy greens and some legumes, including chickpeas.

SWAP TO A PLANT MILK WITH CALCIUM Many plant milks are naturally low in saturated fat, making these already a helpful swap for heart health. However, did you know that more than maintaining healthy bones and teeth, adequate calcium is also linked with lower blood pressure? It helps the blood vessels relax and contract when they need to.

So, if you’re following a low- or nondairy diet, make sure you are choosing a plant milk that’s fortified with calcium.

Simply check the nutrition information on the package and look for a plant milk that provides at least 225 milligrams of calcium per 8 ounces and is low in saturated fat (200 grams or less per 8 ounces).

To learn more about your own blood pressure, talk with a local healthcare provider who can provide you with a personalised assessment.

Article courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium.co.nz and subscribe to Recipe of the Week for weekly recipe inspiration in your email inbox.

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FUN

CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD CLUES

How closely have you been reading? Each keyword in this puzzle is also contained within this edition of Signs of the Times.

Happy digging!

DOWN 1 Everyday footware for a first-century person 2 A bee retirement home 4 Is good for you in more than 10 different ways 8 Has been broadcast in more than 170 countries 11 Promoted the Ab Swing 12 Exercise can help improve this

SOPHIE TURNER—UNSPLASH

Hint: 4 Down

EDUCATION.COM

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ACROSS 3 Portrays a MiddleEastern carpenter on TV 5 Nazi concentration camp 6 Not the same as uniformity 7 Corrie ten Boom's profession 9 Vegetables' most nutritious component 10 A plastic bottlecollecting dog 13 A celebration of the Exodus 14 An AI chat bot 15 A financial plan most people don't have 16 Home of The Little Mermaid 17 An automaton tasked with defending a Greek island

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