Signs of the Times - November 2022

SOLVING THE

WORLD CUP

puzzle

LEAVING THE 9–5 FOR AFRICA

HOW MUCH IS A HUMAN LIFE WORTH?

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE

RUN TO WIN

NOVEMBER 2022

THE POWER OF A PEANUT

The life and faith of George Washington Carver who went from slavery to fame and fortune . . . all over his love for peanuts.

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CURRENT

04 WHAT IN THE WORLD 6

SOLVING THE WORLD CUP PUZZLE Moral questions around the World Cup

48 HAMSTRUNG BY

BELIEF? How sports stars find the balance between vocation and faith

54 THE GREATEST LOVE

Counting the cost of a sacrifice

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WELLBEING

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

32 HOW DISPOSABLE ARE

18 LITTLE BLUE SHED

46 BETTER HEALTH FOR

CULTURE

YOU? Measuring the value of a human life

EVERY BODY

60 THE BEST DIET FOR A

BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP

FAITH

12 SAVED IN THE SURF

Do you have what it takes to save yourself?

30 ASK PASTOR JESSE

Tanja Curcic leaves the corporate 9-5 to help women in Africa

38 CARDBOARD THERAPY

What tabletop games can teach us about life

FUN

62 CROSSWORD & SUDOKU

I love sport. Growing up, I'd watch AFL, motor racing and all sorts of other sports with my dad. When I was 11, I got onto the school basketball team (I wasn't very athletic but I was tall, something my coach was happy to exploit) and I've played almost every season since.

Sport is a great leveller. In unfamiliar social situations, sport is one of the topics of conversation I can hold my own in. I know enough about a whole lot of sports to be able to relate to and engage other people's interest. If they like basketball, rugby, football, soccer, we can bond, find common ground and friendly rivalries.

This November the world will once again stop for the World Cup. Called the "beautiful game" by some, football, or soccer, has been embraced by many parts of the world and is becoming more popular in Oceania.

While some people might have understandably mixed feelings about this World Cup (see our analysis on page 6), it will still make a mark on public consciousness. And it might be just the distraction people need, in a year that has been marred by sickness, death, war and difficult economic circumstances by many around the world.

The apostle Paul, who wrote many of the letters that make up the Christian New Testament in the Bible, recognised the universal appeal of sport and how it can speak to the human condition, teaching us about our selves.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24). My prayer for you this month is that you live well and find success in things more lasting than World Cup glory.

Jarrod

JARROD STACKELROTH Editor

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VOL 137 NO 11 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, $A26; 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:

alphaspirit—Getty Images

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FACTS 5 ABOUT THE WORLD'S MOST

WHAT IN THE WORLD

FAMOUS GAMES

THANK THE QUEEN FOR AEROGARD

BACK TO BIKES

AUSTRALIA

FRANCE

Queen Elizabeth II left behind many legacies during her reign. One claim to fame was how she made Aerogard an Aussie staple. An Australian scientist first invented bug repellent for troops in World War II. But the little-known repellent Aerogard only spread like wildfire after the Queen used it at a Canberra golf course on her royal tour in 1963. Journalists noted the absence of flies around her and her party. News of the miracle repellent quickly spread from that point on.—Daily Mail

CALIFORNIA

What if we could take our relationship with our pets further by communicating with them? The Californian organisation, Earth Species Project, thinks it's possible thanks to technology. Scientists are trying to decode animals' dialects using a form of artificial intelligence. They aim to make it publicly available so everyone will have the opportunity to converse with animals.—The Guardian 4

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LIUDMILA CHERN—GETTY IMAGES, ANDREA BRAMBILA, WOLFRAM BOLTE, ANITA JANKOVIC—UNSPLASH, FREEPIK

TALKING WITH ANIMALS

France has decided to give its citizens up to €E4000 to switch from cars to e-bikes. Paris, at the heart of the movement to become more environmentally friendly, aims to become the greenest city in Europe by 2030. The city is implementing a traffic reduction plan and has created 1448 km of extra bike lanes, perfect for those who take advantage of the offer to switch to e-bikes.—The Good News Hub

SYNTHETIC MILK

AUSTRALIA

Companies have invented synthetic milk due to climate concerns and animal welfare. Unlike the plantbased milks on the market made of nuts or legumes, synthetic milk has the same makeup as animal milk but is made using emerging biotechnology that produces biomass cultured from cells. This milk is said to have the same taste, look and feel as dairy milk.—The Conversation

1. Scrabble was created during the Great Depression by an unemployed New York man who thought Americans could use a bit of distraction during bleak economic times.

2. Senet, an ancestor of Backgammon, was discovered in an Egyptian tomb and is one of the earliest known board games dating back 5000 years. Rather than a dice, players would throw sticks or bones. The game was loved by such luminaries as Tutankhamun.

3. Erno Rubik, a young Hungarian architect, accidentally created the Rubik's cube in 1974 as he was looking for a way to model three-dimensional movement to his students. He wasn't sure it could ever be solved when he first invented it as it took him more than two months. Rubik still prefers to think of it as a piece of art rather than a toy, puzzle or game.

4. Monopoly helped prisoners escape the Nazis during World War II. The Germans allowed humanitarian groups to distribute care packages to soldiers in war camps. The British secret service conspired with a game manufacturer to hide actual bank notes among the Monopoly money, a compass and a silk map inside the game. Some soldiers were successfully able to flee their captors from this initiative.

5. The classic Nintendo game, Tetris, has been shown to reduce insomnia.

Researchers have revealed that the game engages a part of the brain responsible for storing memories and that people had fewer flashbacks about traumatic events after just 10 minutes of playing.

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SOLVING THE WORLD CUP

puzzle Not sure how to feel about this year’s football World Cup? Here is some information that can help you decide.

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f there was a theme that could be attributed to this year’s World Cup more than any other, it’s “murky ethics”. If you’ve got mixed feelings about 2022’s edition of the prestigious 92-year-old tournament, you’re likely not alone.

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On one side, Australia surpassed all odds to reach the tournament despite going through a rocky qualification campaign. The country seemed destined for the tournament early on—even setting a record for 11 straight victories—until a series of

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BY DANIEL KUBEREK

sloppy results meant they were unlikely to progress. Australians knew that after defeat by Japan on March 24—a game which I attended—there was slim chance of beating United Arab Emirates in a sudden-death knockout game, and pretty much no

hope of beating a strong Peru who awaited after that.

And yet they did, mainly thanks to new honorary “Grey Wiggle” goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, whose dancing antics against Peru in the final penalty shootout booked NOVEMBER 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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How, when and where should the general public choose to boycott things which go against their moral values? And why, in so many cases, do people fail to do so?

than 18-hour days; all in the hot desert heat. There have also been allegations of extortion when workers were brought in from overseas, reports of deaths in workers’ cramped living quarters, and those who did survive being significantly underpaid.

In May 2020, FIFA reported it was “unaware” of the situation and was not being “routinely notified” of remediation efforts.

If you weren’t previously aware of the staggering body count behind the tournament, you might have just acquired those mixed feelings I mentioned earlier. I had that same moment a few months ago.

trophy. The atmosphere is electric and it certainly becomes a daily conversation topic. Some of my best television memories include watching the controversial 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy, watching Germany beat Brazil 7–1 or seeing Australia punch above their weight against the world’s greats.

But I doubt that feeling will be there this time around. I assumed published reports of migrant exploitation wouldn’t be enough to stop me getting excited about the tournament. My mind quickly changed after watching a documentary on YouTube that showed what conditions workers had to live in.

love of the game

I love football. Currently, a miniature version of the World Cup ball, Al Rihla, sits on my desk. There’s a different vibe around the community when 32 of the best nations in the football world meet to determine who deserves the golden World Cup

moral compromises PEOPLEIMAGES fiGETTY IMAGES

the country’s ticket to Qatar. On the flip side, New Zealand narrowly missed out on a World Cup berth, falling to Costa Rica during their sudden-death qualification game.

But, as fans of both countries can testify, the pain of missing out is temporary and there’s always next time.

However, this year’s tournament has particularly struck a nerve for many. Qatar was awarded rights to host the tournament by governing body FIFA amidst widespread allegations of corruption. According to the Daily Mail, 16 of the 22 officials who voted for Qatar to host the tournament have either “been banned, accused of or indicted for criminal corruption”. It left a sour aftertaste in the mouths of Australians, whose own government was also bidding for hosting privileges—$A45.6 million taxpayer dollars only gets you one FIFA official’s vote, it seems.

Hosting a World Cup requires massive investment in stadiums, and Qatar’s infrastructure work came on the back of large-scale migrant worker exploitation. A government study reported in The Guardian found 6500 workers from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and more, died in the country’s building program; a figure that is widely accepted to be “under-reported”.

Amnesty International’s study of 105 workers found almost all worked more than 14-hour days and seven day weeks, while half of women surveyed also reported working more

The 2022 World Cup will perhaps be subconsciously recognised as a tournament that challenges the morals of those who plan to watch it. On one hand, the Qatar-hosted tournament is far from the first to

cross the “moral line”. Allegations of corruption in determining tournament hosts extend back decades. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil also had a chequered history; eight deaths were reported in building accidents while the country’s citizens also cried foul about money spent on the tournament, despite widespread poverty. None of this stopped 1.01 billion viewers tuning in for the final, according to ESPN. It raises a broader question of how, when and where the general public should choose to boycott things which go against their moral values. And why, in so many cases, people fail to do so. Others may point out the hypocrisy in that comment. Unless one only shops for A+ clothing on Baptist World Aid’s Ethical Fashion Guide, only entrusts their money to companies with a clean record or eats food that hasn’t meant someone (or something) up the chain has been exploited, we have NOVEMBER 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit,” the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 9:1.

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Every day, humans take part in ethical decision-making according to the things that matter to them

the psychology of choice

Every person makes choices on a daily basis that align with their moral code. There are some obvious ones—for example, the choice whether or not to steal—and less obvious ones—like making a choice whether to support people or institutions with a history of causing hurt. The former seems pretty obvious as it’s likely enacted through a country’s legal constitution. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you might recognise these moral lines stem from the Bible’s 10 Commandments as described in Exodus 20.

But the latter is a trickier proposition because though the person or institution may be challenged in civil court, there may not be any rules governing what you choose to 10

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do about it.

Every day, humans take part in ethical decision-making according to the things that matter to them. Underneath the surface, psychologists have studied these processes. There’s Kidder’s “Ethical decision-making” checkpoints from his book Moral Courage, which encourages testing the issue in order to understand its implications. Others have broken down the components of how we make decisions into moral sensitivity, moral judgement, moral motivation and moral character. One point in a study led by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire simply suggests that “when education stops, moral development stops”. In the same way that I could’ve remained ignorant about the issues around the 2022 World Cup, I’m now more educated and also more cautious.

a critical-thinking God

There’s also the question of how a religious belief system can shape

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all inadvertently benefitted from moral or ethical corruption.

A sobering point to be sure, and one that should change the way we think about everything—not just the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

making right choices

this understanding of a “moral code”.

My high school religion teacher once made an interesting comment that helped shape how I understood God. “He allows freedom of conscience,” he told the class. That simple notion changed my picture of God from being a micromanager to a mentor figure. I no longer saw Him as a rulekeeper but as Someone who wanted the best for me and those around me.

Jesus' apostle Peter discovered this and wrote about it in the Bible.

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). God wants us to decide what’s right, and He gives us the Holy Spirit to influence our conscience on the path to good. “I

Speaking to TODAY directly after Australia beat Peru to qualify for the World Cup, well-known football pundit and human rights activist Craig Foster summed up the sentiment around the tournament. “It’s a highly controversial World Cup, but Socceroos fans won’t be worrying about that today, nor will the players.

They’ll have an opportunity around the World Cup to make some good social statements, I hope.”

In an increasingly complex and corrupted world, a football tournament held over four weeks may be one of the milder trigger topics.

And yet, it offers a glimpse into the plight of those who are less fortunate in other corners of the globe. While there’s tragically no way to bring back those who died, education about the factors that led to their deaths may reignite humankind to put pressure on those who put profit ahead of human lives. Hopefully it’ll lead to a future on earth where people won’t have to experience pain and suffering.

Daniel Kuberek is a former assistant editor for Signs of the Times magazine. He currently works in the Australian film industry.

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FA IT H

SAVED IN THE

SURF

BY BRADEN BLYDE

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MATTSTANSFIELD—GETTY IMAGES

A treacherous day of body boarding taught me an important life lesson. The only way to save yourself is to realise that you can’t save yourself.

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in no trouble at all. Why would we need help?

But as we turned back toward the shore, we noticed that we were not only a lot farther out than we had remembered but also several hundred metres farther down the beach than we had been. We had unknowingly found ourselves in a strong riptide and in reality, in a bit of trouble. We hadn’t noticed, but the lifeguards, who had been training off the beach, certainly had.

“Hang tight with your boards. I just need to drop two of these guys off so we can fit,” he said. “You’ll be all right.”

All we could manage in reply was a sheepish, “Yep, sure.” With tiring bodies caught in a strong and wide current, our situation could have quickly taken a bad turn—something we only came to realise when,

as we waited for the lifesavers to return, a large wave knocked both of our boards from underneath us and we were left anxiously treading water.

Fortunately, they soon hauled us into the inflatable and as we shook hands with our rescuers back on the shore, we realised just how desperately we needed saving that day.

what is salvation?

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rowing up on the sunny east coast of Australia meant summers at the beach. I was no surfer dude but the crash of waves and unmistakable squeak of hot sand was often a soundtrack in my adolescence. It’s easy to romanticise the white sand beaches and crystal blue hues of Australia’s coastal waters but now, particularly as a parent, I am aware of the danger that lies amongst the beauty—large swells, riptides that pull you from shore, and of course, the hyperbolic myth of sharks in the shadows. But as a young person, the beach is indeed bliss—until it’s not.

One moment in my mid-teens made me realise how quickly things can turn for the worse. A friend and I had gone to one of our favourite beaches an hour or so north of Sydney to bodyboard. It was a warm Sunday morning and we would paddle out, catch a wave and return, enjoying each other’s company and the surging waves behind us.

At some point, however, we realised that the breaking waves had deserted us. The waves rolled through and there was nothing to catch. It was at this moment we heard the growing hum of an outboard motor. The distinctive red inflatable of the Surf Life Savers was closing in on us with four bronzed volunteers at the helm. “Hey boys, you want a lift?” one shouted as they slowed their approach. His tone was firm and my friend and I looked at each other, slightly confused. We were just having fun in the surf and

The drowning-swimmer-at-thebeach experience isn’t universal. But the need for saving certainly is. The Bible highlights that from the very beginning, humanity needed a Saviour. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and ate from the one tree He had instructed them not to (Genesis 2:17), they demonstrated humanity’s ongoing ability to abuse the gift of free choice—a concept called “sin”. Exercising their ability

to sin, to choose their way over God’s way, was not part of the divine idea.

However, this human tendency did not take God by surprise. He had always had a plan.

Adam and Eve’s choice in the Garden led to eternal consequences— God’s law had been broken and by nature, humanity had entered a sinful state. The penalty for Adam and Eve, along with all their descendants (including you and me), was death (Romans 6:23).

We’d been designed with eternity in mind, but sin meant our lives would be finite—that eventually, our perilous swim in the sea of life would doom us all.

But salvation means we are delivered, that we are saved—and eternal life is a possibility. Like my friend and I in the surf that day, we may not even be aware of our need

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The drowningswimmer-at-thebeach experience isn’t universal. But the need for saving certainly is

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can I save myself?

Swimming against the riptide would not have brought my friend and me closer to the shore. We would have become more tired and drifted farther from safety. Saving ourselves was not an option.

Similarly, Jesus Christ is the only way to receive salvation (Acts 4:12).

There is nothing we can do—or need to do—to earn it. The Bible puts it this way: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9, 10).

It is an oxymoron but the only way to save yourself is to realise you can’t save yourself—and put your 16

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faith in the salvation offered by Jesus.

It is a gift offered to all—a gift we call “grace” (Ephesians 2:8).

in time—past, present or future—but a day-by-day experience with God. Jesus’ sacrifice means His perfect life is exchanged with yours—the consequences of your sins have been taken already. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, your experience of salvation leads you to follow His perfect plan for your life.

The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8). His plan of salvation and the gift He offers each of us are simply an extension of His nature.

Jesus’ sacrifice demonstrates how desperately He wants to save all of humanity. He will leave no stone unturned to make sure every person has the opportunity to accept His gift of a better life now and for eternity.

My friend and I could have said no to the surf lifeguards, but to do so would have meant risking death. What will you say to God’s saving hand today?

the experience of salvation

If accepting the gift of God’s grace sounds easy, it is. But like anything that leads to change and growth, work and pain are often involved.

Accepting God’s gift means putting Him first, which challenges our selfish, sinful natures. Consciously

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Salvation is not a moment in time— past, present or future—but a day-byday experience with God

putting God and others first can be difficult, even for longtime believers.

God knew this so He sent the Holy Spirit as our Guide, Comforter and Encourager. When you accept God’s gift of grace and receive salvation, you say yes to the Holy Spirit working in your life.

As a result, salvation is always a lived experience. It is not a moment

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for it, but God has given us a way out. And that way has a name: Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death and resurrection are God’s gifts to save us from eternal death. Through Him, we have a chance at the eternal life God originally had in mind. We were created in love and have been saved through love: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). It was Jesus’ sacrifice that made salvation possible. His perfect life made a way for us to be saved. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Braden Blyde is a freelance writer based in Adelaide, South Australia.

If you’d like to find out how to know Jesus better, visit <discover.hopechannel.com/ try-jesus/> for a free online course—or contact us at <signsofthetimes.org.au/help>.

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LITTLE Blue SHED

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Tanja Curcic left the 9–5 corporate hustle to bring hope to girls and women living in rural Uganda.

BY ZANITA FLETCHER

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n 2007, born-and-bred Sydneysider Tanja Curcic took a three-month holiday to Africa to visit her sponsor child. What she thought would be “just another trip” fulfilling her nomadic, travel cravings turned into something much larger. Six years later Tanja started calling Africa home and to this day she is impacting many people’s lives through a social enterprise called Little Blue Shed.

It was almost instant love with this place known as “the pearl of Africa”. Despite having its share of poverty and suffering, Uganda has been ranked the friendliest place on earth1 and Tanja could see why.

She fell in love with the people and the community-driven spirit, with the way they’d yell “Karibu!” as they welcomed her to sit or eat with them multiple times a day. She fell in love with the beautiful landscapes, the fertile earth and the sunsets over the rich red soil.

Still, her heart broke for the struggles Ugandans lived with and she constantly found herself asking, “Why do I get to live a certain way when the people here don’t?”

a restless soul

When she returned from her holiday to her 9–5 corporate job in the city, she couldn’t focus. The job that once fulfilled her now seemed empty of purpose and joy. She spent the next few years completing a language course with a plan to return to Africa and offer free English lessons. But when she arrived in Africa, she met a man who asked her to visit his village where many females needed help.

“I was thinking I’d find something I could pour into and then leave,” she said. “Little did I know I would be starting my own project and staying for the long haul.”

Tanja spotted a little blue shed at the man’s village and thought, That’s cute. Inside, a woman was sitting at her sewing machine. The woman asked if Tanja could buy more sewing machines for the other women in the village to use. So Tanja used her money to provide more machines and give the shed a fresh coat of paint.

finding God in the bush

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I was thinking I’d find something I could pour into and then leave . . . Little did I know I would be starting my own project and staying for the long haul

her life to show her hospitality and kindness—because the next thing that happened was the development of Little Blue Shed.

a safe place

Tanja could see that the women in Uganda faced much adversity. On top of poverty, many are forced into early marriages, prostitution, trafficking and other dangerous things to survive—mainly due to a lack of education, skills and opportunities.

So Tanja set out to make the shed a place where vulnerable girls could come to learn and create. A place girls could learn physical skills (tailoring, shoe making, soap making, baking); business skills (budgeting, bookkeeping, marketing); and a place where they are reminded of their worth.

“I believe every female should

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little blue shed. Although Tanja desired to do more, she first had to go on a journey herself. She describes these first few years of living in Africa as “the most difficult but transforming time of my life”.

Before visiting Africa, Tanja did not have faith and, having grown up with a communist background, had a limited understanding of who God was. She had explored Buddhism and New Age philosophies and had become heavily dependent on drugs and alcohol to mask the pain she had experienced in her own life. But then, one day, she encountered God in the bush near Byron Bay, Australia. She committed her life to following Him and one month later took a leap of faith and headed to Africa with a oneway ticket, $A1000 and a small suitcase. Things didn’t go quite as she’d expected for those first few years in Uganda and she spent that time mainly dealing with her addictions, healing her pain and getting to know the God of the Bible.

“I was in a place where I knew nobody,” she said. “I didn’t understand the language and was in a completely different environment.

But God was preparing me and healing me so I could help the people around me.”

Throughout this time, Tanja nearly packed up and went home to Australia. Things weren’t going according to plan. But she now believes God had His hand on her during this time and brought people into

be valued and protected no matter what part of the world she lives in.

Our programs are based on identifying each girl’s gifts and talents and providing skills training and employment opportunities,” Tanja said. “Girls now know there is a place for them to come rather than the streets.”

Over the years, Little Blue Shed has grown to help more and more girls in Uganda. One philosophy Tanja imparts is that everyone has gifts they can use to serve others.

Girls are taught a range of skills and then encouraged to focus on the ones they are best at and most enjoy.

From this, unique, one-off products are made from local materials and sold online. With the primary goal of the enterprise being sustainability, the girls are also taught leadership, entrepreneurship, budgeting and

planning skills.

“One thing I can say is that God has and is using all my childhood experiences as a female for me to relate to the African girls,” Tanja said.

“I fell into drugs and alcohol for 20 years and now I’m doing addiction therapy in Africa. Everything I’ve suffered through, God is now using to help others.”

Recently the enterprise has purchased 1.2 hectares of land from the money earned from their business and extra donations. Instead of doing their activities under a tree or in an old blue shed, they plan to build bigger and better “empowerment sheds”. This will include a new blue shed for women, a separate shed for men and another shed for young people. The property will also have a drop-in centre for women seeking refuge from domestic violence, a NOVEMBER 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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counselling centre, clean toilet amenities, kitchens, childcare, a prayer room, and classrooms for teaching numeracy and literacy skills, among other things.

There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Little Blue Shed is more than just a safe place—it is a place where men and women can come to learn and grow mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and educationally. It is a place they can be mentored and mentor, a place they can use their gifts to give back to others.

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Zanita Fletcher is an assistant editor for Signs of the Times. She writes from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

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If you would like to learn more about Little Blue Shed visit <littleblueshed.info> 1. <bbc.com/travel/article/20170215-living-in-theworlds-most-welcoming-countries> SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • NOVEMBER 2022

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everyone has gifts they can use to serve others

2. <aa.com.tr/en/africa/ugandans-among-the-happiest-people-in-the-world/2540034>

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THE POWER OF A PEANUT

BY SHEA STANDISH

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George Washington Carver, also known as the man who found over 300 uses for the peanut, discovered his life's purpose in the dirt.

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He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world

George Washington Carver (front row, centre) poses with fellow staff members at the Tuskegee Institute (now known as Tuskegee University) located in the US state of Alabama.

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humble beginnings

Carver began his life as a slave.

Living on a plantation in the deep south, he had a less than illustrious introduction to life. Kidnapped by night raiders, the sickly child was unable to work in the fields yet was still treated as less than human. His early years left much to be desired.

However, as slavery was abolished and the culture began to shift, the owners of the plantation raised Carver and his brother James as though they were their own children.

Though the local public schools didn’t allow African-American children to attend, their adoptive parents taught the brothers to read and write. After getting a taste of knowledge, Carver wanted more. As he put it: “When just a mere tot in short dresses my very soul thirsted for an education. I literally lived in the

FRANCES BENJAMIN JOHNSTON, PUBLIC DOMAIN, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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ubbed the most prominent African-American scientist of the 20th century, George Washington Carver is a name many Americans recognise. Most commonly known for his work inventing and popularising uses for the peanut, Carver’s contemporaries affectionately nicknamed him “The Peanut Man”. Carver has been credited with revolutionising and saving the agricultural industry in the South by promoting crop rotation to regenerate soil, which was depleted of nutrients due to the constant planting and harvesting of cotton. Defying discrimination and the racism that was rampant in the southern states, Carver became a public figure. On his grave was written, “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.”

woods. I wanted to know every strange stone, flower, insect, bird or beast. No one could tell me. My only book was an old Webster’s Elementary Spelling Book. I would seek the answer here without satisfaction.”1 Travelling 15 kilometres to the nearest school for African-American children, Carver began his education in earnest. This was also where he began to shed the mentality of slavery. After introducing himself as “Carvers’ George”, he was told that from that moment onwards, he would be George Carver. He would be his own man.

After proudly graduating with his high school diploma, Carver searched for a college that would accept an African-American student.

After much thought and disappointment, Carver finally found his home at Iowa State University. He began his studies in music and art before

being redirected to agriculture when one of his teachers noticed and encouraged his talent. He would remain forever grateful for that direction, finding his life’s purpose in the dirt and the plants that had served as a comfort since his earliest years, and would continue to do so until his death.

Fostering this passion sparked Carver’s lifelong study of agriculture and farming that would bring about his best and most valuable work.

Finding creative uses for the peanut from flour to paper to soap, he reintroduced the humble product to the public eye as something practical and worthwhile. He also experimented with treatment for polio, massaging peanut oil into the affected limbs of patients. It was later discovered that the massages, not the oil, had the most beneficial effects.

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from peanuts to politics

At 57 years old, Carver had the honour of testifying to Congress on behalf of peanut farmers whose profits were being undercut by cheap plants imported from China. His time, set initially to 10 minutes, was continually extended as the Congressmen listened with rapt attention. By the time his testimony was finished, Carver had almost singlehandedly propelled Congress to add a tariff on imported peanuts, preserving the thriving industry. It was this event that originally thrust Carver into the public eye and began his journey to notoriety. His silver

tongue and quick mind were consistently his strongest points, leading him to help others while remaining humble even in his fame.

In recent years, environmentalism has been discussed and debated loudly and often. With climate change in the spotlight, modifying farming methods are an essential part of the conversation. Carver, a man ahead of his time, championed the improvement of farming through small, sustainable agriculture and replenishment of the soil. These methods are still used today, the most notable being crop rotation, which was popularised through Carver’s extensive efforts. Though he was born more than 150 years ago, his methods are still benefitting us today.

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The primary idea in all of my work was to help the farmer and fill the poor man’s empty dinner pail . . . My idea is to help the man farthest down

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the lives of many, reducing pain and strengthening the muscles that had been weakened by the disease.

Despite his popularity and the acknowledgement of his efforts that we see today, Carver was still a product of his times. Looked down upon because of his skin colour, he was exposed to the horrors of racism from a young age. At the age of 12 he witnessed the burning of an African-American man, accused of a crime and dragged to his death with no hesitation. More than 60 years later he wrote, “As young as I was, the horror haunted me and does even now.”2 Rejected by his very first college because of his race, even after he had been accepted and arrived on campus, Carver was told, “You didn’t tell me you were a Negro. Highland College does not take Negroes.”3 Despite all this, Carver remained dedicated to helping others, even those who had hurt him. As he said himself, “The primary idea in all of my work was to help the farmer and fill the poor man’s empty dinner pail . . . My idea is to help the man farthest down.”4

divine inspiration

Throughout his life, from humble beginnings to fame and fortune, Carver gave credit to God for his accomplishments. As described by a Time article published during his lifetime, “When [Carver] was younger, he got up at 4 am . . . [to] commune with God.”5 That faith did not falter, even as his fame grew and his fortunes increased. He often repeated the story of his first experience with God: “I was just a

mere boy when converted, hardly 10 years old. There isn’t much of a story to it. God just came into my heart one afternoon . . . A dear little white boy, one of our neighbours . . . told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed.

I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the loft, knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit. That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith.”6 Shea Standish is a student studying pre-law at Washington Adventist University, US. She recently completed a summer internship with Adventist Media in Wahroonga, Australia.

1. McMurphy, Linda O George Washington Carver: Scientist and Symbol. Oxford UP, 1981.

2. McMurphy, Linda O. George Washington Carver: Scientist and Symbol. Oxford UP, 1981.

3. Wilson, Ron, and Kay Ann Taylor. “The Quest for The Quest for Education: Racism, Paradox, and Interest Education: Racism, Paradox, and Interest Convergence in the Life of George Washington Carver.” Educational Considerations, vol 45, no 2, 2020.

4. Kremer, Gary R, and George Washington Carver.

George Washington Carver in His Own Words.

University of Missouri Press, 1987.

5. “‘Peanut Man.’” Time Magazine US, 14 June 1937.

6. Carver, George W. “G W Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman.” Received by Isabelle Coleman, 24 July 1931.

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FA IT H

Hi! I’m Jesse and I don’t have all the answers. As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered over and over. They’re sometimes about theology and the Bible, but more often they’re about everyday life, and they can’t be answered easily or quickly. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the place to ask them, and I’ll do my best to respond honestly, authentically and biblically.

As a child, I was taught to pray "Dear Jesus" but in my reading of the Gospels, Jesus seemed to always direct His attention to God the Father, as in His teaching the disciples to pray, "Our Father who is in heaven . . . " How should we pray?

—Graeme, Vic Jesus prayed often to His Father throughout the Gospels (the four biographies of Jesus' life written by His disciples). When He taught His disciples how to pray, He instructed them to pray to the Father. So, it would seem logical that we should pray only to the Father as Jesus

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SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU/ASKJESSE

did and as He taught His disciples. However, there's a mysterious wrinkle in this simple theory. As a Christian, I believe God is One, yet made up of three "co-eternal" (living together, forever) Persons. Jesus Himself said, "I and the Father are One" (John 10:30). When we think of God, we have the impossible task to relate to a Being who is fundamentally One, yet Three.

This is the Christian doctrine known as "The Trinity" and is a concept that has perplexed Bible scholars for centuries.

When Jesus gave His final command to the disciples (often called the "Great Commission") at the end of Matthew's biography, He instructed them to make more disciples of every nation and people. He also told them to baptise these new disciples in the name of "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). It is a noteworthy distinction.

God is my Father: He's a loving protector, guide and sustainer of all life. He loves me unconditionally, just like a good father loves their child unconditionally. He's utterly reliable, everpresent and dependable.

The Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Conscience. The Spirit helps me in my weakness, comforts me in my grief and helps me in my everyday life. He is that still, small voice at the back of my mind that tells me what I know is true. He is that warning sign that pleads with me when I'm making a decision I know to be wrong. I think of Him as my intuition, my conscience.

Jesus, on the other hand, is my Friend and Brother. He understands me better than I understand myself because He's stepped into the shoes of humanity. He understands my pain, my longing, my hopes, dreams and desires. Jesus told His disciples that "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14). This is why you may have heard a lot of people pray in Jesus' name.

Jesus is the member of the Trinity who relates best to us.

Jesus is also my King, my Lord. He is the Saviour of humanity and the One whom God the Father exalted so that "every knee should bow" in heaven and on earth, and "every tongue confess" that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9–11). When we pray to Jesus, we are praying to the One who rules over all creation.

My best advice is not to worry too much about getting the etiquette exactly correct. In Romans 8:26, the apostle Paul says: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." What a comfort to know that even if our prayers are nothing more than wordless groans, they are heard and understood by God! He knows us better than anyone and hears the cry of our heart every time. So call out to Him today!

If you need prayer but don't know where to start, you can send your request to <signsofthetimes.org.au/help>.

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W

ELL B EING

HOW

disposable

ARE YOU?

How much is a human life worth, really?

ALEUTIE, FEODORA CHIOSEA, KYIVNATALIS—GETTY IMAGES

BY BRUCE MANNERS

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what value would you give your baby the first time you held them in your arms?

notes, “In some of the early work, it was pointed out that we don’t put a dollar value on an individual life.

The example was, if a girl falls down a well, we don’t say, ‘Sorry, it’s going to cost $10 million to go down there and get you, and you’re not worth $10 million, so good luck.’ We just don’t do that.” Banzhaf also noted different choices individuals make compared to those made by governments.2 For parents, what value would you give your baby the first time you held them in your arms? Priceless is about right.

In his book Disposable People, Kevin Blades estimated that a few years ago, a human slave cost a mere average of $US90 worldwide.

Allowing for inflation, it may be $US100 by now. According to the World Population Review, there are an estimated 46 million slaves on earth.3 Slavery is abhorrent on so many levels, but it’s a reminder

of how undervalued some humans are—the equivalent of a useful tool that can be disposed of when it’s no longer useful. So we must ask ourselves, what is the value of a life? $100? $10 million? Priceless?

the abortion question

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ow do we value a human’s life?

Should we rate lives on their value to their community?

That would mean a life-saving surgeon would have more value than someone living on the street. Or is it potential—which would make a baby more valuable than a 50-yearold? What about the value we place on those later in life versus those at the end?

Economists have put a monetary value on a human life for very practical reasons. Betsey Stevenson from the University of Michigan explains, “What would it even mean to think about people as having infinite value [in a monetary sense]? We’d spend all our resources on saving one person.

People wouldn’t make that decision.”

The notional dollar value of a human life is $US10 million.

For instance, this was the figure used to decide whether the United States should shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic. “As an economist, I don’t say it’s worth it at any cost. That’s not true,” Stevenson said.

“I mean we could die of something else—starvation. So, it’s not at any cost, but here, it’s worth giving up a lot. It’s worth shutting the economy down for three, four months because there were so many lives being lost.”1 It’s also why safety features are mandatory in our vehicles, including seatbelts that beep if we don’t put them on and reversing cameras, particularly on SUVs. So, there is value in the process.

Economist Spencer Banzhaf

The recent decision of the Supreme Court in the United States to take away abortion as a constitutional right was of little surprise because the decision had been leaked several weeks earlier. It’s now up to the various states to decide whether to ban abortion or not—with half indicating that they will.4 Pew Research reports that 61 per cent of adults in the United States say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.5 Surprisingly, one judge said that the constitutional right to contraceptives and gay marriage could also fall on the same basis.

As I write from afar, I’m not here to be either a critic or a supporter

of this decision. But the real test this decision has created is ensuring there’s care and support for the mother (occasionally a child herself ) and the baby—particularly when they cannot care for themselves. That will demonstrate the value we place on a life.

the Plan 75 plan

At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, reviewer Rachel Handler watched Chie Hayakawa’s Plan 75 and reports that when it had finished, “much of the audience (including me) was in tears and on their feet”. They’d been impacted by “the Japanese filmmaker’s quietly devastating feature debut”.6 The storyline is simple. In an alternate Japan, citizens aged 75 years and more are given the option and encouraged to be euthanised— for free.

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population 65 years of age or older, intolerance, what would it look primarily women. The cause comes like?”8 Her conclusion was Plan 75. from Japan’s high life expectancy and “On the face of it, the government’s low fertility rate, which is impacting Plan 75 is full of goodwill and so many that the population is exfriendliness and pragmatism. But pected to fall from 127 million (2015) in truth it is both very cruel and to 88 million in 2065.7 According to shameful.”9 Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott in In Japan, a nation with a history their book, The 100-Year Life, a baby of sacrifice, she fears it may become born in Japan today has a 50 per cent accepted in the future, particularly chance of living to 109 years. when there’s a common feeling that When Hayakawa returned to no one wants to be a burden.

Tokyo in 2008 “What after living in worries me a lot New York for is that we’re in 10 years, she a social reality saw her home that would very country through much favour fresh eyes. “I such a radical We value human life was surprised by solution,” said how intolerant Hayakawa. “It’s in a way that assumes Japan had scary.”10 we possess a sacred become. There And that was this new raises the something not found idea of ‘self-requestion: Does in beings like lambs, sponsibility’ age take away that was being the value of a turkeys or mosquitoes talked about life? And as you everywhere, and answer, don’t the implication confuse value seemed to be that the marginalised with usefulness or ability, or you should find a way to fend for will fall into the trap of condemning themselves.” anyone with a disability or age as less She became enraged after Tokyo’s than human.

2016 Sagamihara stabbings when a young man killed 19 people at a care the "why" question home for disabled people and said he Philosopher Jonny Thomson asks, was trying to “ease the burden” on “Why do we value human life?”11 He their families. puts it this way, “We value human She asked, “If Japan were to life in a way that assumes we possess accelerate down this path of a sacred something not found in

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beings like lambs, turkeys or mosquitoes.” But why is that?

His response is that much of the value we give to human life comes from religion. “Even if you or your country are not explicitly religious, the traditions, legal codes and values you hold stem, at least indirectly, from religion.”

He comes back to two kinds of value outside of religion: Instrumental value: this is value for what something does. For instance, “We might claim that a human life can be measured by the good it gives the world . . . If so, is it not perfectly OK to harvest organs from vagrants and friendless scoundrels in order to keep dozens alive?”

Inherent value: this is valuing life because we always have. It assumes a “collective unconsciousness that assents and reaffirms the sanctity of life. By the stories we tell, good parenting and moral education, we teach each generation that human life is valuable beyond all else. We establish it as the sacred myth of our time—a myth we need to constantly maintain if we want it protected.”

For Christians, the answer to the why question comes not in the form of a myth but in the reality of Jesus.

If He was, as the Bible claims, the Son of God, His presence on our planet changed everything. John 3:16 tells us, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (NLT).

God felt we were worth dying for! Each and every one of us—no exceptions. And not because there’s anything sacred within us, but because God, the ultimate Sacred One, thought we were worth it.

How Jesus treated others is a test and example for us. He valued the weak and strong, the rich and poor, the well and infirm. When few others saw individuals’ value, He did.

When we ask about the value of a life, the challenge for us is to see individuals as Jesus did.

Bruce Manners is an author, retired pastor and former editor of Signs of the Times based in Lilydale, Victoria.

1. Interview transcript, “Lives vs the economy,” <npr. org/transcripts/835571843> 2. Adam Rogers, May 11, 2020 “How much is a human life actually worth? <wired.com/story/how-much-ishuman-life-worth-in-dollars> 3. <worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/ countries-that-still-have-slavery> 4. <nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supremecourt-wipes-away-constitutional-guarantee-abortionrights-over-rcna18718> 5. <pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/06/13/about-sixin-ten-americans-say-abortion-should-be-legal-in-allor-most-cases-2> 6. Rachel Handler, “Chei Hayakawa’s Plan 75 quietly devastates Cannes,” <www.vulture.com/2022/05/ chie-hayakawas-plan-75-quietly-devastates-cannes. html> 7. <europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/ EPRS_BRI(2020)659419> 8. Handler, Op Cit. 9. Cited in Carl Samson, <news.yahoo.com/japanese-film-imagines-killing-seniors-232933323.html> 10. Cited in Carl Samson, Op Cit 11. Jonny Thomson, “Why do we value human life?” <bigthink.com/thinking/value-human-life>

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For an increasing number of people, tabletop gaming is a passionate hobby that most of us have no idea about. What is most surprising, then, are the lessons it can teach us about life.

BY JESSE HERFORD

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CARDBOARD THERAPY

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in Monopoly, slowly driving everyone else bankrupt. Let’s be honest— Monopoly is a game that outstays its welcome no matter if you’re a casual or hardcore gamer. After the ordeal is over, you swear you will never again play the game, only to pull it out again next Christmas.

gaming has changed

The tabletop gaming scene has changed significantly since my childhood. From Wingspan, a game about collecting gorgeous birds that has sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide 1,to Ticket to Ride, the ever-popular train game, to the unfortunately in-theme co-operative title Pandemic. No matter what you find enjoyable, there’s likely a game that can scratch your particular itch.

If you’re into heavy economic market manipulation, there’s Brass or Food

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o, is it like Monopoly?” The response is often amusing when a family member, friend or acquaintance discovers I’m “into board games”. Most are taken aback, shocked that an otherwise seemingly well-adjusted adult man would find so much enjoyment in a children’s hobby.

Many of us still have a copy of Risk, Balderdash or Cluedo decaying in some obscure cupboard of our home, untouched unless we bring one out on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Games like these occupy a nostalgic space in our lives. Like tree forts, mud pies or LEGO, they transport us to a simpler time without smartphones, streaming services or Tik Tok. They’re a reminder of how we used to connect with each other before modern distractions . . . that is, until your brother gets a lucky roll

Chain Magnate. If you like collecting pretty things, there’s Splendor or Point Salad. If the idea of laying down tiles next to each other appeals to you, there’s Cascadia or Patchwork. If you just want something fun to play with a large group of people, Codenames and Anomia are consistent crowd pleasers. Heck, if you want to play games solely about trains and manipulating the value of the companies that operate them, there’s an entire sub-genre dedicated to it.2 This doesn’t scratch the surface of the hobby, which is as deep as it is wide. From mass-market appeal to the most obscure, there’s a place in tabletop gaming for almost anyone.

Board gaming has been incredibly helpful for my own personal growth.

I’ve played video games since I was a kid and get nostalgic for Age of Empires, Crash Bandicoot and Goldeneye

“

Games like these occupy a nostalgic space in our lives. Like tree forts, mud pies or LEGO, they take us back to a simpler time

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007 but it wasn’t until adulthood that I was introduced to titles such as 7 Wonders, Agricola and Carcassonne.

These and a few others opened my eyes to what tabletop gaming could be and disabused me of the notion that it was a hobby for only children.

The hobby has also taught me some surprising lessons.

learning to pivot

Whether in a board game, video game or a sports game, we’ve all experienced “that guy”. He (or she) takes the game far too seriously and when they inevitably experience the disappointment of losing, they don’t take it well. “Sore loser”, “spoilsport”—the nicknames aren’t endearing and neither is the awkward atmosphere their behaviour instils.

It’s easy to fall into this trap playing board games—whether a dice roll didn’t go your way, you drew the wrong card or another player performed an action that hurt your strategy, there are a million things that can go wrong. Learning to cope with such challenges is integral to playing well. If you can’t pivot your strategy mid-game, you may be at the bottom of the pack when final scoring happens. Sometimes the winner isn’t the one who executed their strategy flawlessly from start to finish but rather the one who recognised the changing game state and shifted their plan to exploit it.

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learning to include

What do a pastor, an autoelectrician and the lead singer of a heavy-metal band all have in common? However unlikely, there was one thing that brought us together: Scythe. It’s a grand strategy game set in an alternate-history 42

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version of WWI-ravaged Europe.

Oh, and there’s also giant mechanised robots. Yes, the concept is bananas— but it’s also glorious. Just after New Zealand’s first Covid-19 lockdown had lifted in 2020, a small group of us embarked on a staggering eight-session game, following a gradually unfolding narrative (known

table cemented us into an unlikely group of friends.

When you share common ground with someone, it is much more difficult to see them as an other— someone who you wouldn’t normally associate with. As a consequence, you may not come over to their side of thinking, but it may give you an

of the insidious effect mobile gaming has on my peers and I. That’s one of the other reasons I’m so fond of tabletop gaming. It’s a much more analogue experience in an increasingly digital world. The simple tactility of wood and cardboard flies directly in the face of the flashy, overthe-top nature of mobile games and

added layer of appreciation for their point-of-view. It also naturally increases the empathy you feel toward them. This is important, as empathy is one of the first hurdles we face in overcoming prejudice.

their predatory systems designed to manipulate our dopamine response.

Whereas mobile gaming rewards quick decision-making, tabletop games reward careful planning, forward thinking and interacting cleverly with your fellow players.

Though the games I play are often beautifully produced and aestheti-

“

How often do we miss out on opportunities in our professional life, relationships or spirituality because we’re too stuck in our ways to make a necessary change?

colloquially as a “legacy game”).

After two months of isolation, we were eager for the opportunity to do something—anything, with other human beings. What grew out of this was a game group made up of people from many different walks of life. We didn’t always agree with each other, but the sacred bond we shared at the

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but also features one central activity all players must complete if they wish to win. Toward the end of the game, my friend Michael picked up a bonus that made it so that any time one of us performed said central activity, we would lose one point and he would gain one point. Though it may seem small, this attritional bonus cascaded as Michael slowly robbed us of points, giving him the win in the end.

Life can be like that game of Gugong—our ability to pivot often determines our success or failure. I lost that game because I stubbornly stuck to my strategy and didn’t change my game plan when I should have. How often do we miss out on opportunities in our professional life, relationships or spirituality because we’re too stuck in our ways to make a necessary change? As the apostle Paul once said, “Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days” (Ephesians 5:16, GNT). There are few guarantees in life and though Paul’s outlook might seem bleak, he has a point. Far better to live life to the full than to resist change and come to the end of your time on earth with regret.

learning to connect

As a millennial, I am all-too-aware

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Living the life you want to live

“

Like a thoughtfully curated dinner party or an intimate café, participating in tabletop gaming opens people up to talk about the important things in life

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I’m okay with that because it allows me to stretch my brain, explore new ideas and connect with people I may never have otherwise had the chance to. I hope I’ve inspired you to go beyond what you know and try a new game. At the very least, the next time you meet someone who is into board games like I am, you’ll have something more meaningful to add to the conversation than “So, is it like Monopoly?”

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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. <slate.com/culture/2021/08/wingspan-board-game-elizabeth-hargrave-review-profile. html> 2. <nopunincluded.com/npi/18xx?rq=18xx>

We all dream of what we want our life to be.

 @hopechannel 

cally modern, they still possess an old-school sensibility.

This act of slowing down also provides space for connection. I’ve had some incredibly meaningful conversations around the table both during and after the game. Like a thoughtfully curated dinner party or an intimate café, participating in tabletop gaming opens people up to talk about the important things in life. Many people I’ve played games with haven’t shared my faith beliefs but for whatever reason, they are often more willing to talk about spirituality after we’ve spent time racing plastic miniature bicycles in Flamme Rouge or building space colonies in Terraforming Mars.

Tabletop gaming is a hobby like many others. It is expensive, time-consuming and yes—nerdy.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE

SEND THIS COUPON TO : Community Manager Hope Channel Locked Bag 1115 Wahroonga NSW 2076

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BETTER HEALTH

WHAT DOES YOUR WALK SAY ABOUT YOU? How fast an older person walks has been used as a marker of their ageing brains and bodies for years.

Whether or not they can get out of a chair quickly and how long it takes them to cross a room are measures of their physical function. Scientists followed more than 1000 New Zealanders from birth to age 45. They found that the fastest walkers were the healthiest. The slowest walkers tended to have poor biomarkers, signs of ageing in their brains, and their immune systems, teeth and lungs tended to be in worse shape.

Previously thought to be a helpful test only in older people, walking speed could be a quick, useful indicator of how healthy someone is at any age.

—Duke Research & Innovation

for every body WITH

DR SIMONE KOOKE

EATING YOUR WAY TO MEMORY LOSS Studies have found that eating high-glycaemic, processed foods such as chips, muffins and white bread may increase the risk of dementia. After only four weeks of consuming a highly processed food diet, ageing rats demonstrated both signs of brain inflammation and memory loss in behavioural experiments. Research indicates that this kind of diet negatively affects the function in the brain’s hippocampus—a region associated with both memory and appetite control. This explains why junk food so easily becomes an addiction that fuels itself.—Science Direct 46

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VKUSLANDIA, KWANGMOOZAA—GETTY IMAGES, KRZYSZTOF HEPNER—UNSPLASH, BRIANAJACKSON, HAPPY_LARK—GETTY IMAGES

SOAK YOUR GRAINS The century-old process of soaking grains is being brought back into the light after studies have rediscovered the benefits. Grains, legumes and beans all contain phytic acids in their outer layer or bran.

Phytates interfere with our digestion and block the absorption of key minerals, and removing them helps with the absorption of zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium. The solution is to soak grains in water and a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice for 12-24 hours before cooking. This will ensure maximum nutrition and digestibility.

—Journal of Food Science and Technology

OPTIMISM FOR HEART HEALTH We know that optimism is good for the brain and our mental health. But did you know that if you are optimistic, you are also more likely to have a healthier heart? A study by researchers found that those who were more optimistic had a 35 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to the most pessimistic people. That was a similar reduction in risk to other heart disease factors such as diet and exercise.—My Doctor

HEALTH HACK Sick of buying expensive plant-based milk?

Here is a cheap, dairy-free milk alternative that does not require soaking, straining anything or buying more kitchen appliances.

Simply get a can of coconut cream and dilute it with 3–4 cups of water. Then give it a good shake and store it in the fridge for up to a week. Perfect for smoothies, cereal, curries, soups . . . anything really! Half the price and just as creamy.—Signs staff

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Holding to your convictions becomes harder in difficult circumstances. But many sports stars have to walk that line.

DYMTRO AKSONOV

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BY NIGEL BYNG

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Elite athletes, having invested their lives at the expense of personal pleasures, live for the chance to validate years of training

because of injury or a decline in his powers. No, Carlos Roa walked away from the sport he loved, because he believed the end of the world was near in 1999. It was a personal conviction based on his own interpretation of apocalyptic Scripture. It was a tough decision to understand, even for me—an Argentinian fan and a fellow Seventh-day Adventist—but the sporting world does not wait for anyone. In later interviews Roa has admitted to regretting his temporary retirement from the game he loved, but not so much the religious reasons behind it. I would love an opportunity to interview Roa one day. His story must be a fascinating one.

choosing faith over glory

Refusing to compromise on your faith is a tough ask. Christians

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aith and sports are strange bedfellows, and with the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, it is perhaps the only time in the world that more prayers are offered up to any god, as nearly half the planet will tune in to watch the tournament. Like most committed sports fans, I will be one of those billions hanging on to every moment, making earnest, desperate, supplications for a favourable outcome.

When the question arises in the mind of an athlete over a political, social or religious position which may conflict with their beliefs, it can be a very unforgiving proposition. As I was writing this piece, my memory was jarred by the story of Carlos Roa, the Argentinian goalie who played in the 1998 World Cup. A devoted Seventh-day Adventist, Roa was the exception to the rule as far as Adventists in global sports in the 1990s was concerned. He had been privileged to play at a World Cup, ascend to the heights of being one of the best shot-stoppers in the global game, and just when he was at the pinnacle of his career and the financial offers were beginning to come his way, Roa made a decision that sent shockwaves across the sporting landscape. He quit. Not

would cite specific Bible passages to justify such a stance.

Moses, Joseph and Daniel are three biblical characters who were all placed in compromised situations that tested their resolve to their religious creed, and they notably chose faith over glory. But for an athlete, especially one who has devoted all their lives perfecting their craft, waiting for such an opportunity, only to have it snatched away, it can have a very detrimental impact on their faith and their mental health. Quoting Bible verses, despite their ability to soothe a troubled mind, usually help when looking back, rather than addressing the immediate pain and disconnect that they must surely feel.

Elite athletes, having invested their lives at the expense of personal pleasures, live for the chance to validate years of training. Perhaps all of them can tell tales of monetary loss, leaving behind family and friends, giving up academic or even romantic pursuits, in their quest for

glory. Many athletes even struggle with the natural end of their careers.

But it is a much more traumatic experience if they are asked to give it up prematurely.

the psychological Impact

Keiann John, a Christian author and mental health professional, says the burden for athletes who have religious convictions and public expectations adds a different dimension. “The animosity they can feel from opposing fans, while it can be used to fuel the competitive desire, will rub even the most determined pacifist the wrong way,” she says. “Then there is also the guilt associated with the reproach that may be directed their way when certain behaviours do not align with their faith. Conservatives can be a tough crowd, much more so than the painted faces that scream insults from the stands.” She concedes that making that career-ending decision can be a very traumatic experience.

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instability and of course, after years of what they believed defined their nature, being taken away from the sport they love, results in a loss of identity for many.”

money cannot ease your conscience

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It is a difficult conundrum finding the right balance between vocation and faith in most career choices

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A former promising soccer player who now works as a college athletics coach said the decision was taken out of his hands. His parents’ beliefs denied him certain opportunities to pursue his dream of a professional sporting career. Now on the verge of starting his own family, he has a more moderate approach to things.

“I would manage my kids’ aspirations differently. The system allows for a wider integration of young athletic talent from diverse backgrounds.”

But on certain social justice issues of the present day and the past, he is adamant that should he have to make a choice now, he would choose his faith. “Money cannot ease a man’s conscience,” he admits.

These decisions are nothing new.

Social issues that challenged Muhammad Ali had to do with religious convictions and his opposition to the Vietnam war, which led to him being stripped of all his titles. Tommie Smith and Jon Carlos raised their fist at the ’68 Summer Olympics and became instant pariahs. Recently, US women’s football star Megan Rapinoe lent her significant social presence to causes that could change the state of play for women in sports and other social issues, and received unfair and unjustified criticism. Of course, who

could forget NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick choosing to kneel in protest at racial injustices in America, which divided sports fans as the conversation was mercilessly hijacked and twisted into a debate about patriotism. Then there is the heart warming story of Scottish runner Eric Liddell, who famously skipped the 100m qualifiers at the 1924 Paris Olympics due to his religious beliefs and returned to win gold in the 400m several days later.

The ability of sports to unite all means it also has the potential for the opposite effect. Today, it may be a personal stance on the rights to free speech, or perhaps a very antagonistic stance on gay rights, like football's fullback Israel Folau, or being on the wrong side of a politically polarising position related to a government’s foreign policy, as so many Russian and Belarussian athletes have discovered. Whatever side of these very dividing narratives they sit on, the answers are difficult as it would be impossible to please everyone.

When faith is thrown into the mix, however, only the athlete must be at peace with their decision. In this uniquely personal dynamic, it is their walk with God that influences their choices, and no matter how much we as adoring fans may agree or disagree, it is their call to make.

It is a difficult conundrum finding the right balance between vocation and faith in most career choices.

For mega sporting stars, however, the decision comes with the added

burden of fan expectation, national representation, multi-million-dollar endorsement offers, foregoing the possibility of displaying their talent on the world stage at major events like the World Cup, or the once-ina-lifetime opportunity at winning a title. As believers, these individuals can be challenged by the paradox of using the best of their God-given talents for His glory, or rejecting the pursuit of sporting legacy to satisfy the rules of their faith. As a result, scores of athletes find themselves hamstrung by belief. But like most hamstring injuries, the setback is only temporary; Carlos Roa did return to topflight football, managing to honour the Sabbath while earning a living using his God-given talent. He now coaches in the US. Eric Liddell’s ministry and legacy was immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire because he stood for God. And Muhammed Ali emerged from his five-year setback to become the greatest boxer of all time, a global phenomenon and inspiration to countless millions. Every setback is the springboard to a glorious comeback.

Nigel Byng is a freelance writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida.

1. All Bible quotes in this article are from the The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers..

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Sacrifice always costs something but sometimes the cost is worth it to make the world a better place.

CHRIS WOODRICH—WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

BY JARROD STACKELROTH

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T

he word sacrifice is not really a pleasant word. When you hear it, you may think of weird archaic rituals involving blood and animals.

You may think of giving up something you love or like to save money or to save your waistline. Sacrifice is not a word we use often, and it’s often used with negative associations. But in a strange twist, the action of sacrifice is well regarded in popular culture and our collective societal imagination.

Popular movies, including the recent cultural phenomenon that was the Marvel Avengers saga, highlight sacrifice as a hero’s fate. We don’t mind if our heroes are killed off as long as their death has a greater meaning and purpose. We almost idolise the hero’s sacrifice in popular culture but in real life, it’s much less attractive—to the point where most of us set up our lives (or strive to) to avoid any form of sacrifice or pain.

In our national culture we’ve mythologised the hero’s sacrifice.

I was visiting the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. This beautiful sandstone structure has a solemn reverence and gravitas that causes anyone who visits to become quiet and reflective.

I was surprised to see that the inscription at the centre of the shrine was a familiar Bible verse: “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13, KJV).

While Anzac Day has more pomp and marching, Remembrance Day has always seemed more sombre and

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The author finding his great-uncle's name on the wall of remembrance in Canberra, ACT.

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Those who survived through persecution and sacrifice found a kind of character-building perseverance that helped them see things in perspective and value the truly important things

seems to emphasise the sacrifice of the men who went off to World War I, still innocent and unsullied.

Remembrance Day marks the end of that severe conflict and in some ways the loss of innocence. Theirs was still a sacrifice that meant something. And on November 11 at 11am (so I’m told, I haven’t actually been there at that time), the sun shines through the edifice in such a way that it lights up the verse engraved on the floor—highlighting Jesus’ words as recorded by John, more than 2000 years ago.

These words were not originally used in a concept of war, as they are here, but in commendation of friendship and love for others. In the verse prior to this one, Jesus commands His followers to love one another. So He’s really saying that His followers should be so loving they are willing to set aside their own agendas and comfort to put others before themselves. And it was not something that Jesus was unwilling to do Himself.

Christians believe that not only was Jesus an example for all to follow, but that He was divine, lived as a human (even a peasant) and without all the trappings of heavenly power and kingly dignity. Not only did He not exercise the power at His disposal, but allowed His lifeblood to be spilled, eventually dying at the hands of the very people He had come to reconnect with God. His innocent sacrifice has been emphasised by Christians down through the years and they continue to spend their resources and their lives helping

to make the world a better place.

The Christian concept of sacrifice has a long history. However, it is often misunderstood.

The early Christian church was familiar with sacrifice. Many were killed in the amphitheatres of Rome for refusing to give up their beliefs.

An early Christian writer who wrote the book of James reflected on how testing could build character: “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything” (James 1:2–4).

James understood well that those of his friends and family, and even himself, who survived through persecution and sacrifice had found a kind of character-building perseverance that helped them see things in perspective and value the truly important things.

It is not that Christians seek sacrifice out as some kind of twisted badge of honour (although some groups in history have). But that they are willing to sometimes put their selves in harm’s way for others. Historically, Christians were responsible for modern day nursing, hospitals and aged care, and are, in general, incredibly generous in supporting charity and NGO work.

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positively different From family LIFE to physical HEALTH, sacred MUSIC to vibrant SPIRITUALITY,

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Sacrifice always costs something but sometimes the cost is worth it . . .

There are Christians in your local area who are following the way of sacrifice, following Jesus in abandoning claims to power and control, and laying down their lives for their friends.

If you would like to be part of a group like that, this is your sign to contact <info@signsofthetimes.org. au> and we will put you in touch with someone local to you.

Jarrod Stackelroth is editor of Signs of the Times magazine and lives in Sydney, NSW, with his wife and toddler.

tune in

TODAY!

SOLSTOC fiGETTY K IMAGES

mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and financial health is necessary to help and serve others. Water can only be poured out of a full jug. Yet being willing to put creature comforts, your own luxury, diminishing your power, not claiming your rights or what you could impose over someone else, this is the love and sacrifice that Jesus demonstrated and encouraged.

Sacrifice always costs something but sometimes the cost is worth it to make the world a better place.

In this often frantic world, it is a rare thing to find someone who is willing to sacrifice their comfort, their money or their time for people they barely know. Yet we find many Christians and church groups giving their time, money and comfort to at least try to help make the world a better place. They don’t always get it right but that is the nature of humanity—imperfect.

Faith FM programs will brighten your day and guide you on the way.

F041-R1

Find your nearest station or listen online at WWW.FAITHFM.COM.AU

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new research review has found that our diet could have a big impact on how well we sleep at night. It revealed that a restful slumber might come down to eating the right types of carbohydrates and fats.

WHAT DID THE RESEARCH REVEAL? People who ate more quality carbohydrates and good fats slept well. “Quality” carbs mean fruit, veggies, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains, or minimally processed, lower-sugar foods made from those ingredients. These are also known as complex carbohydrates and are higher in fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Higher fibre foods and anti-inflammatory foods were linked to better slumber as well. This, again, includes plenty of plant foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

The researchers found people who had higher-fibre diets had a longer and deeper night’s sleep.

On the flip side, people who consumed a lot of highly processed carbohydrates or sugary foods and drinks were more likely to have poorer quality sleep overall.

When it came to protein, it was all about getting the amounts right. Science supported the fact that diets higher in protein (without being “high protein”) were associated with a better night’s sleep. These diets included about the same amount of protein as our guidelines recommend: 46 grams per day for women and a little more for men.

THE BEST DIET FOR A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP

BY SANITARIUM HEALTH FOOD COMPANY

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FIZKE—ISTOCK

Inability to sleep affects many of us, but if tossing and turning in the early hours is your nightly ritual, it might be time to look at what’s going into your shopping cart.

WHY DOES DIET AFFECT THE QUALITY OF SLEEP? While more research is needed, the authors of this review commented that plant-based diets helped the body produce more serotonin and melatonin—two hormones essential for sleep.

They also pointed to the gut-brain axis— the link between the gut and the brain.

Plenty of fibre and good fats are important for a healthy gut microbiome because they help to nurture a wide variety of gut bacteria. Emerging research has linked a healthy gut microbiome with longer, less disrupted sleep.

Aiming for a diet with plenty of plant foods and good fats, as well as less saturated fat and sugar is a good starting point to help you feel and sleep better.

A Mediterranean diet is an ideal starting point.

SOME SIMPLE SHOPPING SWAPS Switch white bread for delicious grainy loaves.

Grab a can of beans like a four-bean mix or kidney beans. They’re always a handy pantry staple to help bump up the fibre and protein of a meal.

Make sure you have breakfast. Shop for wholegrain or high-fibre cereals to start the day right with quality carbs.

Stick to canola oil or olive oil for cooking and avoid butter or coconut oil.

• • • •

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 Watersport equipment used on waves 3 Exercising power and autonomy over one's life 4 Deliverance; the focus of soteriology 5 Freedom over possibilities 7 Philosophical approach assessing practicality 11 Protection against insects endorsed by royalty 13 To turn around

AFIF KUSUMA—UNSPLASH

Hint: 8 Down

EDUCATION.COM

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ACROSS 2 Abusing a power imbalance to extract a benefit 6 The termination of a pregnancy 8 Tasty legume often mistaken for a nut 9 To relinquish something; to give up 10 Cultivating plants or animals 12 Board game used to aid prisoners of war escape captors 14 To firmly decide a course of action

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Signs of the Times radio is being enjoyed all across Australia and New Zealand on Faith FM and online. The Signs of the Times team discuss the latest in current world events, faith and wellbeing with experts and guests. Ready to feel informed and inspired?