Signs of the Times - October 2022

DON'T LET

MONEY CONTROL You MEGATRENDS FOR THE FUTURE

GOING PLANT-BASED

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE

OCTOBER 2022

YOUR NET WORTH IS NOT YOUR SELF-WORTH

Five steps to change your money mindset PAGE 38

CURRENT

04 WHAT IN THE WORLD 12 "LIKE OCEAN RIPS"

The megatrends that could define our future

FAITH

30 ASK PASTOR JESSE 32 LEARNING THE

LANGUAGE OF FAITH Help is here!

46 HOPE FROM THE PIT 60 WORD SPOTLIGHT

Greek word: sõzõ, save/heal

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

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50

WELLBEING

06 GOING PLANT-BASED

How to get more fruit and veg in you

18 LESSONS IN

COMPASSION Discovering the joy of suffering together

54 GRIEF AND

THE CHURCH How the church can help you in sorrow

52 BRAIN POWER

BOOSTERS Foods to help your brain work better

/SIGNSMAG

CULTURE

24 THE FAITHFUL SPY

Lessons from the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

44 THE HOSTESS WITH

THE MOSTEST Overcoming health issues and finding fulfilment along the way

FUN

62 CROSSWORD & SUDOKU

MARKUS SPISKE, BEN WHITE, JASON LEUNG—UNSPLASH

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A MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE When you look to the future, how does it make you feel? If you’re at all like me, it’s complicated. When I turn on the evening news, I’m almost always greeted by bad tidings. Whether it’s a war being fought in some far-flung corner of the earth, a disease outbreak closer to home or the revelation of some new political scandal, it’s sometimes difficult to imagine a hopeful future.

And yet, this is how we are invited to see the future through the lens of faith. In the apostle John's biography of Jesus' life, he recounts a moment where Jesus shares bad news with His disciples. He tells them that they will be evicted from places of worship, persecuted and even killed if they are found to be worshipping Jesus. At the end, even His disciples will abandon Him. But, Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

On page 12, we discuss some of the "megatrends" that will define our future. It's easy to approach such a topic with pessimism, yet I believe we don't have to.

One thing I love about Jesus is His (at times) brutal honesty. Yet, it's His honesty that confirms I can trust Him. I don't know about you but I struggle to trust people who say "everything's going to be fine" while ignoring the real challenges we face every day. The God of the Bible doesn't do that. He acknowledges the pain in our world yet assures us, "Your suffering isn't the end." Whether grief, health issues or worry about the future is on your mind, we believe there is something in this issue that can bring you hope, joy and peace.

Jesse

JESSE HERFORD Associate Editor

VOL VOL137 137NO NO10 4 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 Nerise Talia Valderrama McQuillan Nerise McQuillan PHONE +61 2PHONE 9847 2222 +61 2EMAIL 9847 2222 info@signsofthetimes.org.au EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist ADDRESS Media PO Box Adventist 1115, Wahroonga Media PO New BoxSouth 1115,Wales Wahroonga 2076 New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONEKelli +61Geelan 3 5965 6300 Australia/New PHONE +61 3Zealand, 5965 6300 $A26; Australia/New South Pacific countries, Zealand, $A41; $A26; South Other Pacific countries countries, $A51 $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of Published the Times since is printed 1886,11Signs times of the a year Times byisthe printed Seventh-day 11 times a Adventist year by the Church Seventh-day and is registered Adventist as Church a periodical. and is registered as a periodical.

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Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses Unless are otherwise from the stated, Holy Bible, Bible verses New International are from the Version®, Holy Bible, New Anglicised.

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COVER IMAGE: sesame—Getty COVER IMAGE: Images Clayton Gallego

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WHAT IN THE WORLD COFFEE CUP ROADS

AUSTRALIA

GREEN RAIN NEW ZEALAND

Bits of the Swift-Tuttle comet have recently been spotted flying through New Zealand skies. These bright green fireballs were travelling up to 60 kilometres per second, releasing enormous amounts of heat very quickly. It is believed they came from a giant meteor that exploded above the sea near Wellington weeks prior.—The Conversation 4

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WEX—GETTY IMAGES, STANISLAO-D-AMBROSIO, NASA—UNSP;ASH, NEOM—FACEBOOK, FRANKRAMSPOTT—GETTY IMAGES

A Sydney-based asphalt company is hoping it will soon be able to use discarded coffee cups to surface roads.

Used cups, lids and liners are shredded into small fragments and turned into cellulose to help bind a road surface together. A test strip has proven to be strong and able to withstand heavy trucks. The company is getting closer to using the product on actual roads in Australia with the goal to one day have a road made entirely of recycled material.—The Guardian

did

y ou know ?

FACTS ABOUT

4

MONEY

NO TREES WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING

SHADE ON THE MOON

UNITED KINGDOM

Lunar scientists have recently identified around 200 zones on the moon that are about the average temperature in San Francisco.

These shaded pits are perfect for humans to shelter from extreme temperatures found elsewhere on the moon. These spots could also shield astronauts from the dangers of solar wind, micrometeorites and be an ideal lunar base for future expeditions.—Live Science

Trees aren’t cut down to make the Aussie or Kiwi banknote. Australian and New Zealand notes are made of polymer, which has a waxy feel. Notes in the United States and many other countries are made of cotton and linen fibres. Some English notes even contain traces of animal fat (sorry, vegans).

GOT SALT?

Before money existed, other things were used as a form of currency. In Central America, they used cocoa beans. In India and Africa, they used seashells. Many parts of Asia used tea bricks and Holland used tulip bulbs. The term “salary” comes from the Latin term “salarium” meaning “salt money”, which was used by Ancient Rome.

THE ULTIMATE PEST-DETERRENT

FUTURISTIC MEGACITY

SAUDI ARABIA

Designs have been released for a $US500 billion futuristic megacity stretching over 170 kilometres. The zero-carbon city, clad in mirrors, will be located near the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and surrounded by lush hanging gardens. The structure aims to house nine million people, achieve complete sustainability and remove pollution by having no traditional streets or cars.—9 News

A few coins can deter those annoying slugs that are putting holes in your lettuce. The copper in coins repels insects who don’t like the bitter taste. A handful of coins in a zip-lock bag filled with water and put above your window or door can also keep insects away. Scientists say the reaction of water and coins combined reflects light in many different directions, interfering with flies’ vision.

WHOSE FACE MADE IT FIRST?

The Romans were the first to stamp the image of a living person onto a coin.

Though Julius Caesar took the lead imprinting his own face first, Queen Elizabeth II holds the record for appearing on more currencies than any other person in history.

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ELL B EING

Going

PLANTBASED

GPOINTSTUDIO—GETTY IMAGES

The myths, the reasons, the tips.

BY ALISHA CHRISTIE

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hen I was a kid, I grew up in a family that was vegetarian, mainly vegan but not excessively strict. My favourite food was avocado on toast (and still is today).

I went through my teen years introducing dairy and some meats, but in my early twenties I decided to return to my roots. It wasn’t until the past 10 or so years, however, that I had even heard the term “plant-based”. Now I know that’s how I was brought up and what I am today.

You’ve also probably heard the term “plant-based” by now—and you may too be wondering, Is it just another diet trend or is there more to it?

Like most things, there’s a lot of misinformation floating around about what plant-based eating involves, so let’s start by demystifying some of those false beliefs:

myth 1:

plant-based nutrition is unnatural

Plant-based nutrition is in fact the original Paleo diet. We once believed that early humans consumed a large proportion of animal protein in their diet. It is from that belief that, in the 2000s, the Paleo diet (mainly consisting of animal protein) became popular in the world of nutrition and diet.

We now know that the nutrition of bipedal primates and Homo sapiens was primarily composed of nuts, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds and water. Therefore, the “original” Paleo diet was in reality plant-based eating. We also see this affirmed in the Bible. The book of Genesis tells us that the original diet OCTOBER 2022

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Plant-based eating can be for everyone . . . the main idea is to add more vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and legumes.

myth 2:

plant-based nutrition is just a fancy term for a vegan diet

In the world of nutrition, plant-based eating is having a large portion of one’s nutrition coming from vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, wholegrains and also includes legumes or other plants. A spectrum of plant-based nutrition options is available. Some are very strict (vegan), others still add animal products like dairy (vegetarian), while at the other end of the spectrum are those who still eat meat, poultry and fish on an occasional basis (flexitarian). Plant-based eating can be for everyone, as the main idea is to add more vegetables, fruits, nuts, wholegrains and legumes.

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myth 3:

plant-based nutrition is not for athletes

It was once believed that you needed to add animal protein in your meals to increase muscle mass.

Consider, however, that the strongest mammal is the gorilla. It has the ability to lift around 10 times its body weight. That’s equivalent to a 90kg human lifting 900kg! If other mammals can live a healthy and strong life on plant-based nutrition, we probably can too. Some studies on athletes have demonstrated that it is possible to increase muscle and be extremely fit on a plant-based diet.

For example, one of the best runners of all time—American ultramarathoner Scott Jurek—eats a plant-based diet.

So what are some of the reasons to consider eating more plant-based?

There are many, but here are the main reasons I chose to:

STURTI, VECTORMINE—GETTY IMAGES

given to humans was “every seed-bearing plant . . . and all the fruit trees for your food” (Genesis 1:29).

reason 1: improve your health

Most of us in Western countries consume double the recommended daily intake of protein which can cause issues with digestion. By reducing your intake of animal food, you will most likely reach the recommended daily intake of protein without surpassing it.

In addition, an increased consumption of vegetables, grains and beans will bring more fibre into your nutrition. Most Westerners don’t consume enough fibre, which can lead to inflammation of the digestive tract, constipation and haemorrhoids.

reason 2: less impact on the environment

The statistics on the huge environmental cost of industrialised animal farming are quite extraordinary. Ac-

cording to the UN, meat and dairy (farmed livestock) accounts for 14.5 per cent of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, animal agriculture uses nearly one-third of drinking water available. Worldwide, meat and dairy production uses 83 per cent of farmland but provides just 18 per cent of calories and 37 per cent of protein. And that’s not to mention the often suboptimal conditions and treatment of animals in the agricultural industry.

reason 3: succeed in weight loss and/or management

In general, individuals who are on a plant-based diet tend to consume fewer calories than other types of diets. That is because most of their calories are coming from healthier options and fewer calories per weight. Some studies indicate that

“

meat and dairy accounts for 14.5 per cent of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

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individuals who had a plant-based diet with reduced sodium consumption (1500–2300 mg a day) showed a reduction in blood pressure and increased weight loss. When you think about it, most plant-based whole foods are lower in calories and have a higher nutritional density than non-plant-based foods.

Simon Hill called The Proof and last but not least, the National Geographic study into the Blue Zones.

There are also some insightful documentaries you can watch, such as Game Changers and Forks Over Knives that will also provide tons of information if you’d like to learn more.

If you’re interested in giving plant-based a go, here’s a couple of suggestions to get you started.

reason 4: prevent or manage a chronic disease

tip 1:

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Choosing a plantbased approach to eating doesn’t have to be a complex commitment.

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Plant-based eating can be for everyone. The main idea is not to “diet” or remove something from your nutrition but to focus on adding more vegetables, fruits, nuts, wholegrains and legumes.

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Research demonstrates that individuals on a plant-based diet can prevent or manage chronic disease.

A report published by the World Health Organization recommended that a daily intake of 400g of fruits and vegetables would contribute to preventing chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity. For more research on this, The China Study is a great place to start, as well as How Not To Die by Dr Michael Greger, a podcast by

focus on adding, not eliminating foods

If you love your steak or burgers, you don’t have to completely eliminate animal-based food. Just start with reducing it by slowly adding more foods that are plant-based.

tip 2:

plan your meals in advance

I personally love having a few inspirational plant-based cookbooks on hand, like Food As Medicine or any of the Revive Cookbook series, to help me choose new recipes to try.

Start by just adding one plant-based meal a week and go from there.

tip 3:

use a shopping list

If plant-based eating is new to you, knowing what

you’re looking for when shopping can really help. A few go-tos in our family include tofu/tempeh, nutbased milks, nutritional savoury yeast flakes (give a cheesy flavour to recipes) and beans/legumes such as black beans or chickpeas. These foods are incredibly versatile and can be used in so many ways.

Whether you don’t like the thought of animals being killed, you want to get in shape or simply feel better, the plant-based approach is a great option for anyone who wants to be a healthier person. Choosing a plant-based approach to eating doesn’t have to be a complex commitment.

Here’s the simplest way to do it: Increase the amount of plant-based food on your grocery list and plantbased meals in your week. It’s as simple as that.

It’s not a diet but a way of living—so have fun with it!

Alisha Christie is a women’s wellbeing, mindset and pre-pregnancy coach. She writes from Toowoomba, Queensland where she lives with her two little boys and husband.

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"LIKE OCEAN

rips"

A CSIRO report identifies seven "global megatrends" shaping the twenty-first century.

A

round 3.7 million Australians have been unintentionally caught in an ocean rip. For the unprepared it can be a harrowing experience—but for experienced surfers, rips are a handy way to ride through the whitewash and out to the break.

We’re not surfers, but we work at

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CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency in “strategic foresight”, which you can think of as the study of the currents taking the world into the future. These currents are a bit like ocean rips: they present risks for those who don’t understand them but opportunities for societies, organisations and people who are

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BY STEFAN HAJKOWICZ & CLAIRE NAUGHTIN

prepared. We call the biggest currents “megatrends” and in a new report we examine the megatrends that will shape the next 20 years.

From learning to live in a changing climate and shrinking our ecological footprint to navigating geopolitical earthquakes and the rise of artificial intelligence, these seven

megatrends will transform many aspects of our lives over the coming decades.

our future world

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Australia to take early action in response.

The new report gives an update on where we’re at and where we’re going. It captures the impacts of the pandemic, among other trends and drivers.

Many of the issues we saw as possible or plausible in 2012 are now a lived reality.

Australia, like many other countries, is grappling with flooding, bushfires and extreme heat associated with climate change. Pandemics and infectious diseases, which were a footnote in our earlier writings, have had inescapable impacts in recent times. And the global economic restructuring we spoke of 10 years ago, mainly as an opportunity, has an increasingly important geopolitical dimension. These trends will have key implications for countries like

Australia seeking to maintain peace and stability.

So, what does the future have in store?

1. adapting to climate change

The first and perhaps most concerning megatrend we identified is “adapting to climate change”.

Weather-related hazards are becoming more frequent and more severe and many communities, industries and societies are not prepared for what lies ahead.

Heatwaves in Australia could be more than 85 per cent more frequent and last up to a month if global temperatures rise between 1.5°C and 3°C. Building resilience to extreme weather events will be critical over the coming decade.

Pandemics and infectious diseases, which were a footnote in our earlier writings, have had inescapable impacts in recent times.

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FEDRELENA—GETTY IMAGES, FREEPIK

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2. leaner, cleaner and greener

The second megatrend is what we call “leaner, cleaner and greener”: innovative solutions to meet demand for the world’s finite food, water, mineral and energy resources.

Renewable energy and low-emissions technologies, synthetic biology, alternative proteins and advanced recycling all allow us to operate within much tighter envelopes. Recent estimates suggest Australia is on track to generate half its electricity from renewables by 2025.

3. the escalating health imperative

The third megatrend is “the escalating health imperative”: ageing populations, high rates of chronic illness and a pandemic-driven surge in mental health issues are driving an unsustainable growth in healthcare spending. This spending is expected to grow faster than GDP in most OECD countries over the coming decade.

Infectious disease risks associated with pandemics, outbreaks and antimicrobial drug resistance will elevate into the future. There is an urgent need for innovation in the healthcare sector to find ways to do more with less.

4. geopolitical shifts

The fourth megatrend is “geopolitical shifts”: disrupted patterns of global trade, geopolitical tensions and growing investment in defence.

While the global economy shrunk

by 3.2 per cent in 2020, global military spend reached an all-time high of $A2.9 trillion. This expenditure coincides with growing geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the same time, we have seen increased co-operation between democratic countries, including the recent expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to include Finland and Sweden.

5. diving into digital

The fifth megatrend is “diving into digital”. While the digital economy has been growing rapidly for some time, the pandemic fuelled a boom in teleworking, telehealth, online retail, education and entertainment.

Around 40 per cent of Australians now work remotely on a regular basis. The digital workforce is expected to increase by 79 per cent from 2020 to 2025.

6. increasingly autonomous

The sixth megatrend we identified is “increasingly autonomous”. As the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have surged, it has found applications across practically all industry sectors.

AI research is taking a growing share of global research and development spending and peer-reviewed research publications. These developments are opening up opportunities to boost productivity and address some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

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The final megatrend is “unlocking the human dimension”. Issues relating to trust, transparency and environmental and social governance are of particular importance.

While Australia saw a temporary boost in public trust in institutions in 2021, this trust bubble was short-lived. Societal trust in Australia dropped below the global average yet again in 2022.

Our study of the current state of global megatrends presents a sobering view of the future and the challenges ahead of us. But this knowledge also equips us with the power to shape this future, by understanding the ocean rips we want to ride or survive.

As we look to the future of this work at CSIRO, we will focus on working with industry, government and academia to tackle Australia’s greatest challenges. Using these 16

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This knowledge also equips us with the power to shape this future, by understanding the ocean rips we want to ride or survive. megatrends, we can focus our science and technology on the big things that matter the most and create real value for all Australians.

Stefan Hajkowicz is a senior principal scientist, strategy and foresight, Data61. Claire Naughtin is a senior research consultant in strategic foresight, Data61.

Data61 is CSIRO's data and digital specialist data sciences arm. This article was originally published in The Conversation. To find this article and more, visit <theconversation.com.au>.

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7. unlocking the human dimension

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positively different From family LIFE to physical HEALTH, sacred MUSIC to vibrant SPIRITUALITY, Faith FM programs will brighten your day and guide you on the way.

tune in

TODAY!

F041-R1

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

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ELL B EING

lessons in

COMPASSION

Uncovering the strangely healing act of willingly suffering with others.

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BY LINZI AITKEN

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T

he year 2019 was not great for my family. Among the many trials of that year, our lowest moments came when my daughter was hospitalised, my husband broke his collarbone and a good friend passed away.

In hindsight, one could be grateful this all happened prior to the 2020 pandemic, but I digress. When my daughter was admitted to hospital with pneumonia, we were told a parent would need to stay with her and that we could expect to be there up to seven days. I was thankful I could stay but figured I needed a good book to pass the time, so I turned my attention to the shelves of the hospital bookshop. My brow furrowed trying to select the right book—there were so many options but none seemed to fit with how I felt. Eventually, I picked up a book called, The Question That Never Goes Away by Philip Yancey. Curious, I scanned the back cover to find the question: “Where is God when it hurts?” Given how I was feeling, the book had chosen me well. I bought the book but did not read it at all during our hospital stay. It was too difficult to read while my little girl struggled to breathe.

My child’s healing progressed each day and we were finally discharged from hospital. Grateful to rest in the quiet and comfort of familiar surroundings, our peace was quickly shattered when a call came through from my husband. He had come off his bike, broken his collarbone and

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required surgery.

During his recovery at home he picked up the book I’d purchased and read it cover to cover in a day. He insisted that I read it too.

Reading through the first few pages I was taken with Yancey’s explanation of the etymology of the word compassion—a Latin-derived word meaning “co-suffering” or “with one who suffers”. It suggested more than kindness; that compassion had a meaningful physical and emotional impact on a person. Yancey refers to a university research study which recruited volunteers to test how long they could keep their feet in buckets of freezing water. Researchers observed that when a companion was allowed in the room with the volunteer, the volunteer could endure the cold twice as long as those who suffered alone. The researchers’ findings concluded “the presence of another caring person doubles the amount of pain a person can endure”.

When someone is suffering through a tough time, I always worry that I might say the wrong thing or otherwise make them feel worse. I tie myself up in a knot of self-doubt to the point that I either avoid the person or avoid the topic. With this new information, perhaps this fear was unfounded? It is a struggle to overcome that sense of inadequacy when someone is suffering—it is uncomfortable and awkward.

However, I have learned that this discomfort may be crucial to honouring a person’s pain and

“

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Compassion is a Latin-derived word meaning "cosuffering" or "with one who suffers".

understanding compassion. Yancey cites numerous tragic events that resulted in communities coming together to “be with the ones who suffer” and he demonstrates the many ways in which people have shown compassion to others in the wake of tragedy. The underlying message to those suffering, he states, is simple: “You are not alone.” I won’t spoil the book by sharing too much from its pages. Instead, let me tell you about Alex*.

My husband and I had a great friend, Alex, who passed away shortly before his 31st birthday. We met Alex through our local cycling club when we were all quite young. He was a generous person with a welcoming smile. He made friends easily and always made you feel like you were the most interesting person he had ever met. He was described by family and friends as the “labrador”

of humans—always happy to see you. Alex’s funeral, however, was an anxiety-inducing event for the many cyclists who were his friends.

I recall my husband receiving phone calls and text messages from friends who were unsure whether or not they should attend the funeral.

Many were competitive riders who were once close yet had drifted apart over the years. The many reasons to miss the funeral were, at times, foolish—some weren’t riding anymore and had lost fitness, others now had grey hair and wrinkles and a few had divorced. However, I believe the real reason behind these vain excuses hid underneath the surface. The heartache was almost unbearable as the circumstances of Alex’s passing were beyond our understanding. Nobody wanted to feel the magnitude of such grief, especially not alone in the midst of broken relationships.

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God knew our hearts needed to be repaired with hope and love.

On the day of the funeral, we witnessed mates who had not seen each other in years put aside their insecurities and old rivalries to embrace and console one another. Side-by-side they comforted each other. My husband and I were comforted by their arms around us. Finally, we could “suffer with” each other and relieve some of the pain for ourselves but most importantly honour the grief of Alex’s family who found strength and encouragement in the presence of more than 400 mourners that day. I believe God moved all of us to rise above our insecurities in that moment because there were more important things at stake. God knew our hearts needed to be repaired with love and hope. He knew that together we could better endure this unspeakable pain. It wasn’t because of one person’s effort but rather the interwoven compassion of many, that in our discomfort we would find His comfort. Anxious, hurting, but side-by-side with our arms around each other, it was a blessing and, to me, tangible proof of God’s presence 22

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when we suffer.

Looking back on our daughter’s time in hospital with pneumonia and my husband’s broken collarbone, I am grateful for the many visits from friends and family. They were compelled to go out of their way and change their routine just to comfort us. Parents from school provided our family with homemade meals.

Colleagues from work sent a heartwarming gift. Friends and family visited us. When my husband came off his bike, his mate took him to the hospital and stayed with him in the emergency department, visiting each night while I was home with our children. Our friend changed his plans, inconveniencing himself.

Another drove our car home, safely stored the undamaged bike and blessed us with a pot of soup. Once again, a special out-of-the-way effort.

The offer from family to mind our children while I visited the hospital was a godsend. My parents cleaned my house and cooked for us. The compassionate acts of friends and family going out of their way—

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without expectation of reward or recognition—combined to help us withstand a double-portion of heartbreak and distress.

From these experiences came an epiphany—true compassion is uncomfortable and difficult because it is supposed to be. Compassion is to “suffer with”. It honours the one who is hurt or suffering when we humbly and prayerfully show up for them in their time of need. We can welcome any feeling of inadequacy knowing that it is God’s effort, not ours alone, that will be used for good.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” This goes some way to answering the question of, “Where is God when it hurts?”

God shows up through us. When someone is experiencing hard times

and we change our plans to help them, when we sit with them in their pain and when we help carry their burden, we bring God’s comfort to them. The Message paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 1:4–7 reads: “He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” Yancey notes, “Jesus never delivered sermons about judgement or the need to accept God’s mysterious providence when people were experiencing the pain of tragedy. Instead he responded with compassion and comfort and healing. God stands on the side of those who suffer.”

The year I’d rather forget delivered a powerful lesson—to be with the ones who suffer, to accept that it will feel uncomfortable and to remember that God knits together our compassion so that it honours, carries and heals those who suffer. My prayer is for God to continue His work on our hearts to be compassionate, so there is never any question where God is—He will be seen when we show up for the lonely, make food for the exhausted, clean house for the grieving, mind children for the injured, pray with the heartbroken and sit with them in uncomfortable silence when there are no words. *Not his real name.

Linzi Aitken is a risk officer for Risk Management Services in Sydney, Australia.

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THE FAITHFUL SPY LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF

Dietrich Bonhoeffer He’s "the faithful spy" and a modern martyr, but Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life and teachings are more than just historical monuments—they’re lessons for us all.

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BY BRADEN BLYDE

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t takes a brave man to stand up to a dictator and perhaps an even braver one to stand up to your church.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been held up as a hero of the cause of justice and equality, and a statesman of modern Christian theology. For some readers, these two things might not seem a natural fit. But for Bonhoeffer, the two things weren’t just parallels on paper but a singular guide for life.

In fact, it was his faithful commitment to others that carried him to the point of death.

It’s been more than 80 years since Bonhoeffer was murdered by the Nazi regime, but the lessons he lived and taught mean just as much now as they did at the height of World War II.

from thought to action

Born in 1906 to a prominent German family, Bonhoeffer fit perfectly with Hitler’s Aryan stereotype—he was tall and inherited his mother’s blue eyes and blond hair.

But the affinities between Bonhoeffer and the Nazis stopped there.

It was at the age of 14 that Bonhoeffer decided that he was going to be a theologian—and that’s exactly what he did and evidently, did very well. By the age of just 21 he had graduated with a doctorate in theology.

After completing his studies, Bonhoeffer worked as a pastor at a German-speaking church in Barcelona, Spain. Then he travelled to the United States for study, which at the 26

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time he found shallow and uninspiring. However, the African-American churches he worshipped at impressed him, particularly their zeal and their attitudes and actions towards the racially motivated social injustices they endured at the time.

Within two years of returning to his home in Germany, he had become one of the first to speak out publicly against Hitler.

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In fact, it was his faithful commitment to others that carried him to the point of death.

a new way

Bonhoeffer’s view was not a popular one—many German Christians, encouraged by Hitler’s manipulative use of Christian language, saw him as the nation’s saviour.

Undoubtedly impacted by his time worshipping in African-American churches, Bonhoeffer spoke against the persecution of the Jews.

And, when Hitler demanded the churches swear loyalty to him,

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Bonhoeffer spearheaded the creation of the Confessing Church, who despite political pressure declared that Jesus Christ was its head, not the FÜhrer.

Sadly, Bonhoeffer gained only limited support. Heartbroken for Germany and his people, Bonhoeffer moved to London where he pastored two German-speaking churches. He continued to build connections and

speak out against the horror occurring in his homeland.

When Bonhoeffer returned to Germany, he was quickly denounced as a pacificist and enemy of the state.

In 1937, he became involved in training pastors of the Confessing Church. His resistance was gaining traction. The Nazis were taking note.

resist

Bonhoeffer knew full well that

refusing to swear allegiance to Hitler at the time could lead to execution.

In 1939, he received an invitation to teach in the USA. He took up the opportunity, escaping German conscription and the threat to his life. But once he arrived in the States, Bonhoeffer realised that he could not be away from his people during such a dark and dangerous time.

“I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of the Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share in the trials of this time with my people,” he wrote. “Christians in Germany face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that civilisation may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying our civilisation.

“I know which of these alternatives I must choose; but I cannot make that choice in security.”

Two weeks later, he was on a boat returning to Germany.

As war broke out, Bonhoeffer found himself drawn to the patriotic movement that was working to overthrow Hitler. And so, working to avoid conscription into combat, Bonhoeffer joined the German military intelligence agency. Here he found many who shared his concerns and passion—the organisation included many who were opposed to Hitler.

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to the point of death

Despite the dangers that lurked around every corner, Bonhoeffer

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lived in hope for the future and in 1943, he proposed to Maria von Wedemeyer. Shortly afterwards however, he was arrested and imprisoned —his role in helping Jews escaping to Switzerland having been uncovered by the Gestapo.

After a short time in prison, Bonhoeffer was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. Despite the severe punishment he received, he continued to practise peace, grace and kindness to those around him, including the German guards.

Two years after his arrest, Bonhoeffer was linked with an old plot to assassinate Hitler. His execution was ordered. On April 9, 1945, he was hanged, along with 5000 others across the country. Faithful to the end, Bonhoeffer’s last recorded words were, “This is the end—for me the beginning of life.”

It was just two weeks before the camp was liberated and World War II came to an end.

Some would argue that Dietrich

As the horrors of the Third Reich continued to grow, Bonhoeffer found himself reluctantly concluding that the assassination of Hitler would be the lesser of the evils.

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military. In reality, he used his time to find support for the German resistance.

The church pastor had become a double agent.

His quiet and outspoken resistance placed Bonhoeffer on the edges of various plots to assassinate Hitler.

For a Christian, such actions were morally and spiritually burdensome.

But as the horrors of the Third Reich continued to grow, Bonhoeffer found himself reluctantly concluding that the assassination of Hitler would be the lesser of the evils.

“If I sit next to a madman as he drives a car into a group of innocent bystanders, I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe, then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”

Bonhoeffer could have lived a quiet, safe and happy life if he had not spoken so radically against the Nazis.

But, when your convictions and faith are as strong as his, to not act, to not speak out on behalf of others and to not prayerfully work for the cause of peace, would be anything but joyous.

While we may not be living under tyranny to the extent of Nazi Germany, his call to be boldly faithful to our beliefs and to resist misplaced authority for the sake of others rings just as true today as it did 80 years ago. There are some real life lessons we can learn from Bonhoeffer:

1. life is best lived for others

Ultimately, Bonhoeffer’s selflessness brought about his demise. But his faith drove him to see service to others as life’s purpose, both individually and collectively. “The church is church only when it is there for others.”

2. focus on what really matters

Amongst the noise of war and politics Bonhoeffer was able to home in on the things that really count, and he encourages us to do the same. “There is hardly anything that can make you happier than to feel that you count for something with other people.

What matters here is not numbers but

intensity. In the long run, human relationships are the most important thing in life . . . Everything else is very close to hubris.”

3. embrace optimism

Even when he was surrounded by the cold concrete walls of prison Bonhoeffer found reasons to hope.

“I read, meditate, write, pace up and down my cell—without rubbing myself sore against the walls like a polar bear. The great thing is to stick to what one still has and can do— there is still plenty left—and not to be dominated by the thought of what one cannot do, and the feelings of resentment and discontent.”

4. don’t just think—do

Faced with the opportunity to escape with his life, Bonhoeffer turned around and returned to Germany, knowing that any moment he could be arrested, imprisoned and killed. “Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.”

5. see the world from below

In both word and action, Bonhoeffer encourages us to see “the great events of world history from below . . . from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed and reviled, in short from the perspective of the suffering.”

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

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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.

Are serious mental health conditions like dissociative identity disorder, paranoid schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder actually demonic?—Ellen, WA

I think this comes down to how you see the world and the ideas you use to explain it. In ancient near-Eastern cultures, scientific terms like "mental illness", "dopamine" or even just "the brain" were not in the common vernacular. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that we saw the birth of what we'd consider modern science. So, when confronted with any of these mental disorders, it 30

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should come as no surprise to us that when ancient people witnessed such afflictions, their immediate instinct was to attribute them to a spiritual/demonic source.

There are numerous biblical accounts of such things that might today be attributed to mental illness.

For instance, King Saul of Israel is described as having "an evil spirit from God" that caused him a great deal of suffering. Only David's playing of the harp was able to cause the "spirit" to depart, bringing the king relief (1 Samuel 16:14–23). Commentators have speculated that the intention of the text isn't to suggest that God sent a demonic spirit to Saul; rather that we should think of it more as a "bad or gloomy mood". Additionally, because this chronologically takes place after the prophet Samuel denounces the king in the previous chapter, we can interpret this "mood" as a form of depression or foreboding. Saul knows God's prophet and by extension, God has withdrawn the blessing from Saul.

Jesus Himself was accused of both being "out of His mind" and "demonpossessed" by the religious leaders (Mark 3:20–22). Even in the ancient world, there wassome distinction between the two states, though they nevertheless seem to be linked.

Of course, there are many situations in the biblical text where demonic possession is mentioned and no alternative interpretation is offered (Matthew 9:32, 33, 17:14–20, Mark 5:4,

5). A modern reader might attribute a more clinical explanation to one or more of these situations but the fact remains that ancient people had no words to describe such supernatural things.

Though I've never experienced demon possession firsthand, I've heard enough from people I trust to believe that there's a spiritual battle happening around us. If you were to speak to a Christian in the Pacific Islands or Africa, you'd soon find that demonic activity is commonplace. If you're a Westerner you might be skeptical but to those people, it's very real.

What I have experienced firsthand are people suffering from schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and manic depression/bipolar disorder.

Those I've come into contact with are all different and suffer for different reasons. As a Christian, I believe that we are integrated beings; that is to say, our mental, spiritual and physical health are connected. Some people's mental health certainly is affected by their spiritual health and vice versa. What I wouldn't call someone who suffers from a mental health disorder, though, is demonpossessed. We're lucky in our day and age to have the benefit of both spiritual and medical wisdom for those who need it. I've learned to not be too quick to judge someone and their situation, nor to assume their circumstances fit into a neat little box. Rather, my advice to you if you know someone who suffers from a mental health condition is to be patient, discerning and above all else, compassionate.

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LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF

Faith

Learning a new language is hard work, but did you know that there’s a Helper available to you to learn the language of faith?

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BY JUSTIN BONE

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are sitting there something like a flame appears and then splits into little flames, resting on one of those present. Then out of nowhere they start speaking in other languages, so they do the logical thing: burst out onto the streets, telling people the story of Jesus. The language barrier isn’t there anymore, so they speak freely to people they could never communicate with before. I wish I could get something like that to learn Japanese!

The language biblical author Luke uses to describe what happened in that room is metaphor and analogy—it was “like” a wind and “like” a flame. This is the story of the Holy Spirit coming to the early church and giving them what they needed to share the message of Jesus.

The language Luke uses in the book of Acts is as close as he can get to describing what happened. When God moves and does things, it can be hard to describe, but what is not

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’m trying to teach myself Japanese.

I’ve been interested in the land of the rising sun because of its cuisine and culture for a little while, so I decided if I were ever to visit I would like to know a little of the language.

I got myself a couple of books and some handy apps to teach myself.

It turns out that Japanese is one of the harder languages to learn. As opposed to our English alphabet of 26 letters, written Japanese is constructed using two syllabaries.

Each of them has around 46 characters, and in addition there are thousands of individual Kanji to learn, which are logographic pictures with different meanings. The US Foreign Service Institute has the role of teaching foreign languages to US Government employees posted overseas and according to them, the hardest languages to learn for an English speaker are Arabic, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese. (If you were wondering, the easiest are Danish, French, Italian, Spanish and Swedish.)1 The average time to learn Japanese as taught by the professionals in the Foreign Service Institute is 88 weeks. I started to worry that my app and I might take a little longer. Funnily enough, it reminded me of a story in the Bible.

A group of believers are sitting around feeling uncertain. Jesus has been resurrected but is now gone, taken up in the clouds and there’s a feeling of “Now what?” in the room.

Suddenly, everyone hears a noise like that of a loud wind and as they

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The Spirit gives us gifts for a purpose . . . to do the work God has given us and build God’s church up.

in doubt is that God was there.

Often the Holy Spirit is elusive, hard to define. The Spirit of God is written about everywhere through the Bible but is harder to connect with than a Heavenly Father or a Saving Son. But Jesus had told His disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16, 17).

When Jesus left His disciples, He made sure they knew they were not going to be alone and assured them that the Holy Spirit would always be with them. The Holy Spirit is the actual presence of God that dwells within the followers of God. Jesus also made sure to say the Holy Spirit was a person, and rather than say “it” made sure to use “Him” pronouns.

So, when Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit, He wasn’t referring to some ineffable, intangible spirit but instead intended that the presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit would be given to those who were believers after He had gone. That’s what we see happening in that room with the disciples—the Holy Spirit arriving in a powerful way! So, what was the Holy Spirit getting up to in there?

gifting

When the Holy Spirit gave the gift of languages to the disciples on that day in the room, they didn’t stay in the room; they got out to tell people about Jesus. The Spirit gives us gifts for a purpose. That purpose is to do the work God has given us and build God’s church up. That’s not to say it means languages is the only gift given. There are a few places in the Bible that talk about different gifts.

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guiding

The Holy Spirit isn’t only about helping others but also about changing us in a meaningful way.

John, one of Jesus’ disciples, says, “But the Father will send the Friend in My name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you”(John 14:26). I didn’t really understand what that meant until one day I was driving home from work. There on the side of the road was someone slowly pushing their car along, then suddenly jumping in the car and trying to start it. They hadn’t got it started by the time I came alongside, so I wound my window down and offered help. Soon the two of us were belting down the road pushing his car as fast as possible and quickly he got his car started and running because of my help. I was relieved but also a little proud I had done a good thing and helped someone in need.

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so I could impress her and show off my good behaviour a little. Then words popped into my head that I hadn’t read for a long time from the Bible, these words from Matthew 6:1: “Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” I knew exactly what it meant. I shouldn’t show off in front of my wife. In fact, I should keep my mouth shut and never talk about it. If I boasted it meant that I had my reward for it, and in my heart I knew it would be better to do a good deed for the right reasons, not just to show off. Once I got home it took me about fifteen minutes before I buckled and told my wife about the man I had helped. I thought I was going to feel good, but instead I realised I had let myself down. I determined from then on to keep my good works quiet and not to do them for praise but for the sake of doing good in the world alone. The Spirit had reminded me how to act and I hadn’t listened, but it would have been better if I had! If you hear that voice inside telling you the right thing to do I encourage you to listen it just might be the Spirit.

comforting

As well as guiding and gifting, the Spirit is also called “the Comforter”.

Jesus calls the Spirit our “Friend” or “Companion”—Someone who will always be with us and never leave us. This year is my 20th wedding

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gifts include having wisdom and strong faith. Healing is mentioned, as well as other miracles and sharing prophecy from God. The apostle Paul even says that each of us will receive our own unique gift. Also, each of us will be given different gifts. Paul says, “There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people”(1 Corinthians 12:6).

anniversary and knowing my wife is my constant companion gives me a sense of security. Often we can read each other’s thoughts, and like most couples, have a shorthand with each other. We can say volumes to each other without a word because we know each other so well. The Spirit is also my companion and, remarkably, knows me even better than my wife.

It is an enormous comfort knowing that God is interested in my life and wants to be a daily companion in my journey.

He isn’t there any more. Maybe you don’t feel the Holy Spirit is with you.

Well, the good news is you can ask for the Holy Spirit. “You are sinful and you know how to give good things to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:132). While the Spirit hasn’t yet given me the gift of languages, I know He has given me many other things and He can give those things to you too if you ask. So why not ask today?

asking

Justin Bone supports and trains pastors and congregations around Victoria, Australia, for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is passionate about helping people understand the Bible better.

Today I left my watch at home.

I’m in the habit of wearing it so when I was halfway to work I noticed my wrist felt funny. It was too far to turn around to go back for, so all day I’ve been looking at my wrist expecting my watch, but it has not been there. I think the Spirit can sometimes escape our notice until

1. <livescience.com/32644-what-is-the-hardest-language-to-learn.html>.

2. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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The Holy Spirit isn’t only about helping others, but also about changing us.

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YOUR NET WORTH IS NOT YOUR

Self-Worth Five steps to change your money mindset.

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BY ZANITA FLETCHER

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78 per cent of Australians reported poorer mental health since the pandemic.

One of the leading causes of this was financial distress.

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those who took their lives, money had become far more than just money. It was the building block of their lives, the thing they placed their security, identity and value in. They couldn’t bear the thought of living without it because without it they didn’t know who they were.

Though it wasn’t as extreme as the Great Depression, Covid-19 caused many people to lose income.

According to a Black Dog Institute report, 78 per cent of Australians reported poorer mental health since the pandemic. One of the leading causes was financial distress.

On top of that, current markers show our society has the highest inflation in over 20 years. The Australian dollar has lost 20 per cent of its value in 10 years. In Turkey, inflation has increased 70 per cent in one year and in Zimbabwe, inflation increased 200 per cent in just two months.

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D

o you remember the man who was supposed to marry Rose in Titanic? He dressed exceptionally well, had slick brown hair and was from a family of great wealth.

His character was based on the life of a man named Caledon Hockey. He survived the shipwreck but not the Wall Street Crash. When the stock market fell in 1929, Cal’s money and everyone else’s plummeted in value to the point that people were bringing horse carriages of cash into town only to afford a loaf of bread.

Overnight, Cal lost his wealth and in response shot himself. He wasn’t the only one to do so. So many people ended their lives due to the crash that the Ritz Hotel in New York had to ask guests whether they were booking a room to sleep in or jump from. This devastating response highlights an issue still present in many of our hearts today: the value we place on money. For Cal and

We can work hard our entire lives, only to have our wealth reduced to nothing in the blink of an eye.

We’ve seen it happen again and again throughout history. How would you react if that happened to you? Do you know who you are beyond your ability to make money? Would you, like some before us, fail to see a life worth living without it?

The solution to our money problems is not to do away with it or pretend we don’t care. It’s valid to worry about it. We need it for food, housing, education and healthcare.

But many of us can improve our relationship with it. So, whether we have a lot or not much at all, what steps can we take to build a healthier money mindset?

#1 What is most important to you? Does your spending align with GET CLEAR ON YOUR VALUES

what you care about? Our values are the things that truly matter to us and are what guide our decisions and behaviour. When you are unaware of your values, there is a high chance you are making decisions you’re not satisfied with, spending money on things that aren’t important to you and living according to other people’s standards. This will cause you to feel discontented, frustrated and unhappy. People who know what they value in life and align their money with those values tend to be more satisfied and have a stronger sense of financial and personal wellbeing. Identifying your

values helps you live meaningfully.

Research professor Brené Brown said, “Living into our values means that we do more than profess our values, we practise them. We walk our talk—we are clear about what we believe and hold important, and we take care that our intentions, words, thoughts and behaviours align with those beliefs.”

#2 How we think about money is usually created when we are IDENTIFY YOUR BELIEFS

children. For some of us, these beliefs still affect how we relate to it today.

We don’t need to blame anyone but thinking about how money was handled in the household we grew up in will help us understand the foundation for our beliefs. One of the easiest ways to figure this out is to consider how you think and talk about money. Do you think you’ll never be debt free? Do you see making money as the singular purpose for life? Does the topic make you squirm? Is money your metric for success? Once you are aware of the beliefs you hold, ask yourself if you want to continue to live by them or if you want to change them.

#3 When you’re clear on your values and beliefs, you can

ALLOW YOURSELF TO DREAM

allow yourself to dream about the future you want. Often, we get stuck thinking about our debt as if we’ll never get out of it. Sometimes, we normalise our current situations and OCTOBER 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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And remember, even in the face of scarcity, you are enough.

struggle to imagine anything else. If we allow ourselves to dream, we will be motivated to manage our finances better. That might mean putting aside a small portion of money so one day you can go on a holiday or get a bike so you can ride to work or upgrade your dining table so you can host more people for dinner or sign up for a course that will help you move towards doing what you love.

We don’t want to get into the habit of building wealth for the sake of building wealth, so we need to dream and start being intentional with where our money goes.

#4 Dan Gilbert, a psychology

DIFFERENTIATE WANTS FROM NEEDS

professor at Harvard University and author of Stumbling on Happiness said, “Once you get basic human needs met, a lot more money doesn’t make a lot more happiness.” Studies show that happiness and income are not directly related and that happiness plateaus before annual income 42

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even reaches $100,000. Advertising constantly sends us messages that we need certain things and when we get the “thing” we’ll be happier, prettier, more loveable and more successful.

Most of the time, we’re not sold on the product but on what we think the product will give us. To foster a healthier mindset around money, we must resist the messages that tell us what we need for our happiness and discover that for ourselves. We can do this by thinking before spending and asking ourselves if we are buying out of necessity, values or want.

#5 Sometimes our stress can simply result from a lack of underEDUCATE YOURSELF

standing as to how we can change our current situation. Educating yourself will help you steward your money more confidently and could be a great first step if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Remember it’s OK to reach out for help too. Some banks offer financial counselling, and you can also seek a financial advisor to

support you. There are many good books such as The Richest Man in Babylon, The Barefoot Investor, Nudge and Counsels on Stewardship.

Christians Against Poverty is a company with money coaches who provide tools to build a budget and improve your financial wellbeing.

Too often, we allow our self-worth and identity to get defined by how much we do or do not have. But our net worth is not a qualifier of our self-worth. We can lose everything we have worked for, but we cannot lose who we really are.

As it says in Matthew 6:19–21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal . . . Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

We know money can be stressful.

But we can significantly reduce that stress by defining our worth beyond our money and creating healthier habits. As author and success mentor Darren Hardy said, “The slightest adjustments to your daily routines can dramatically alter the outcomes of your life.” So, go on the journey to change your money mindset: figure out your values, challenge your beliefs, dream, learn and seek advice.

And remember, even in the face of scarcity, you are enough. Keeping up with the Joneses will not make you any more happy, or human.

Take The Next Step To Find

Financial Freedom

Have you been feeling stressed about money? Overwhelmed?

Confused? Well, you’re not alone.

Money is one of the biggest causes of anxiety in our society today, and it's no surprise why.

Once you’ve got a healthy mindset around money you can start taking better steps towards financial freedom. Download this ebook for 12 practical tips to help get you started on your journey. We cover topics such as: emotional spending, budgeting, paying off your debt and so much more.

The Beginner's Guide to Financial Freedom: 12 Simple Steps

by Zanita Fletcher

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

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was in hospital and rehab for eight months having to learn how to do everything again: walk, talk, speak, make a cup of tea.”

Andrea was born legally blind. But she never let it stand in the way of her dreams.

“I had great jobs and was loving life,” Andrea says. “And then suddenly, my life changed dramatically.”

Andrea was on her way to work one day when she knew something was seriously wrong.

“I couldn't get myself up on the platform at the train station,” says Andrea. “I walked myself to the hospital.”

This was the start of a gruelling eightmonth journey.

“I had so many MRIs, EKGs, CT scans and brain operations,” Andrea says. “I was having seizures where I was frothing at the mouth. I didn't understand what was going on. No-one could give answers.”

Andrea finally got her diagnosis: alpha-methylacyl-coa racemase deficiency, a rare disorder that causes a variety of neurological problems.

“There’s ten in the world with this illness, and two out of that ten is me and my older brother.”

With ongoing care requirements, Andrea was placed in an aged care facility for two years. Finally, with help from her mum and support worker, Andrea began living independently.

But no longer able to work, independent living was lonely. Andrea

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the Mostest was at risk of social isolation so her support worker introduced her to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

“The first time I walked in the door I knew I was going to be comfortable and happy.”

Andrea volunteered at ADRA Croydon, Victoria, helping to prepare and serve community meals. When an ADRA Op Shop started in Boronia, Andrea was asked to help out there too.

“The more I was there, the more I was helping myself,” she says. “I've loved every moment. Everybody’s so friendly and makes everybody feel welcome. So that's what I love about ADRA.” Volunteering with ADRA was the first step in Andrea putting herself out there again.

“I'm doing social groups now as well,” she says. “I get the nickname ‘Hostess with the Mostest’. My life is starting to get better.”

Andrea is looking to move into her own apartment and she celebrates each birthday like it’s a milestone. She is so grateful for the role that ADRA played in kickstarting her life after her diagnosis.

“Everybody needs somebody to help them. I just want to say thank you. I think I’m very lucky.”

ADRA supports a wide variety of ministries and initiatives throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Ashley Stanton lives in Sydney, where she works in its communication and marketing team. Signs of the Times is a proud partner of ADRA.

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THE PIT One of the strangest scenes in biblical prophecy offers a surprising lifeline for you and I.

BY JESSE HERFORD

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True love necessitates freedom, which is of course a double-edged sword.

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into the abyss

The section of Revelation 20:1–6 scholars call The Millennium or The 1000 Years is bookended by two dramatic moments. In Revelation 19, we see the triumph of Jesus over the “beast and the kings of the earth” (the union of spiritual and human forces into a profane confederacy).

In the latter part of Revelation 20, the Devil makes his final stand and is subsequently defeated and cast (his followers with him) into “the lake of fire” (the ultimate resting place of evil). These two scenes have, alongside the Norse Ragnarök, been the inspiration for Armageddon in our modern imagination. In the middle sits the oft-overlooked Millennium.

“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:1, 2).

Right off the bat, we’re confronted with some striking imagery. An angel, holding a key to the Abyss,

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ire falling from the sky. A massive tsunami. An abandoned city. Let’s be real—it’s probably Los Angeles or New York (although sometimes Sydney or Hong Kong make a cameo).

These are the images we most often associate with the end of the world. Whatever comes to mind for you, no doubt it has been shaped in large part by literature, art and of course, Hollywood. Humans have a morbid curiosity with the apocalyptic, as well as a tendency to explore it in our stories, songs and art. If I’m being honest, films like The Day After Tomorrow or 2012 hit closer to home now than they did upon first release.

Many of us who have gone through lockdowns due to Covid-19 have felt like we’ve been living through our own personal apocalypse. It might come as a surprise to you, then, to discover that one of the important apocalyptic scenes in the book of Revelation in the Bible doesn’t involve any of the above tropes—but a pit, a chain and the devil himself.

who locks up the devil for 1000 years. What does it all mean? I’ve found it helpful to frame this scene in the context of one of the most fundamental forces in the universe: freedom. I’ve been asked many times by well-meaning people: “Why does God allow evil?” After all, if He was truly loving, wouldn’t He put an end to suffering once and for all?

Though that sounds nice initially, the question’s dark side is an assumption many of us make about freedom.

True love necessitates freedom, which is of course a double-edged sword. The freedom God gives you and I must also extend to those who choose to abuse it. The power to only do good, with the threat of divine intervention looming over us if we slip up, isn’t truly freedom. It might be a bitter pill for us to swallow, but the fact remains that though freedom risks the possibility of abuse, love must also honour that freedom, regardless of the consequences.

time's up for evil

The good news is that this moment in Revelation marks the end of the devil’s free reign on earth.

For the entirety of human history, the alluring powers of darkness have posed an existential threat to humanity. From Eden, to the Tower of Babel, to Babylon, their mode of operation has remained the same. They have tempted humans to seize power for themselves, with little regard for those at the bottom, ultimately seeking to redefine good

and evil to suit those with power (Genesis 3:4–7). In our pride, humans believed ourselves to be the masters of our own destiny when in reality, the dark powers behind the scenes (Ephesians 6:12) were the ones calling the shots the whole time.

For thousands of years, the devil and his forces have had a neverending supply of humans to torment, but after the triumphal victory of Jesus in Revelation 19, they are suddenly rendered powerless. The image here echoes the promise given to Isaiah thousands of years ago (Isaiah 24:21, 22): though evil is allowed to persist for a time, God will eventually bring it to an end.

But where it’s bad news for the devil, it’s good news for Jesus’ followers.

“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God . . . They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years”(Revelation 20:4).

At the very moment that the enemy loses his power, those who have lost their lives (the Greek term is broader than “beheaded,” probably meaning “executed”) for the sake of their faith are elevated to rulers with the Messiah Jesus. This group probably is the same one mentioned in both Revelation 6:9–11 and 14:13.

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be glorified just as Jesus was (Philippians 2:5–11).

But they don’t simply receive exaltation and the responsibility to “judge” because of their self-sacrifice.

There is deep restoration happening in this scene, and we’re all invited.

It’s bringing us back to where it all started: to the Garden of Eden, and to vocation.

the role you were destined for

When we think of Adam and Eve’s vocation in the garden, many of us assume “gardener” or “caretaker”. However, the biblical authors thought differently. Take for example the opening passages of Genesis where humans are created in the image of God Himself (Genesis 1:26). Or, the Psalmist who declares in wonder how humans were created “just a little lower” than the heavenly divine beings (Psalm 8:5, 6). When we consider these passages, we begin to see God’s original intent for humanity. We were not created, as ancient near-Eastern cultures assumed, to be servants to the gods.

Nor are we, as some modern thinkers believe, the result of a cosmic accident. To view humanity through the lens of the biblical narrative is to see us as divine dirt creatures: formed in the image of God Himself—a God who generously shared His glory with us so that we could be His co-rulers over creation. Our job was not to simply weed gardens or plant trees. We are mirror images of our Creator and our vocation as a species 50

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is to reflect His majesty, creativity and love. It’s during the Millennium that God restores the vocation of His lost sons and daughters. Those who hold onto Jesus and who have lived as “new Creation people”, even to the point of death, are restored mind, body and soul alongside Jesus.

Scholars have theorised that during these 1000 years, these glorified humans will be given time to explore God’s plan of salvation to see how God has worked with humanity during earth’s history. It’s during this time that God is vindicated—His plan will be confirmed to have been good, just and compassionate the whole time.

The Millennium invites you and I into the story of God’s restoration of humanity and creation. It’s a story where personal choice matters. Freedom is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, but as the saying goes: “Freedom isn’t free.” Our choices matter and will have consequences far into the future. The good news is this: if you choose to put your trust in Jesus, you can have hope that one day evil will be dealt with once and for all. The future has already been written. Jesus has won, and death will not get the final say.

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.

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R E CI P E

BRAIN POWER BOOSTERS

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hen it comes to feeling great, a whole-food, plant-based diet comes out on top. Fruits, vegetables and grains are ideal foods for nourishing your body and your brain. To help fend off the fuzzies and keep your memory sharp, give these 10 brain foods a try.

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FOODS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR THINKING CLEARER AND YOUR MEMORY SHARPER.

GARLIC Eating garlic does more than ward off coughs and sniffles. Research shows that the phytonutrients found in garlic may help prevent the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL The pantry staple olive oil is the perfect choice for everyday cooking and salad dressings. It is not only full of good fats but also rich in phytochemicals that help to enhance blood flow in the brain.

LEAFY GREENS It’s no secret that green, leafy veggies, such as spinach and kale, are great for your health. They not only help support the immune system and keep an ageing brain sharp but also are a source of iron and a rich source of folate.

BERRIES Little berries pack a serious nutritional punch. They are bursting with antioxidants and phytonutrients, which help boost cognition, coordination and memory. So, whether you’re after a healthy snack or something to boost your morning smoothie, a handful of berries is a no-brainer.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES Don’t let the name scare you off! The cruciferous vegetable family includes everyday veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. This versatile bunch is rich in vitamins and minerals that may help improve memory.

WHOLEGRAINS Wholegrains are rich in phytonutrients and the B-group vitamins that are important for cognition. They’re also an ideal energy source for maintaining concentration throughout the day.

POMEGRANATES There’s a reason why you see the delicious pomegranate in healthy salads and it isn’t just because it looks good. They are packed with powerful antioxidants that help protect your brain and memory.

NUTS Don’t let brain fog get the best of you— enjoy a handful of nuts per day to improve your mood and help with clear thinking.

SEEDS Seeds such as linseed and chia contain vitamin E (an antioxidant) and omega-3 fat, which may help your brainpower. You can sprinkle them on salads or add them to your favourite cereal to be ready for a busy day.

TOMATOES Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene. It’s the nutrient that makes them red and it also has potent antioxidant properties that may help combat the development of dementia.

Article courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium.co.nz and subscribe to Recipe of the Week for a delicious plant-powered recipe in your inbox each week.

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ELL B EING

We all experience hardship. The only question is: do you have a loving community to support you when pain comes knocking?

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BY VICTOR PARACHIN

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GRIEF AND THE

CHURCH

Trigger warning: the following story contains references to death and suicide. If you need to talk to someone, you can call 24/7 Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14, or in New Zealand at 0800 54 33 54 OCTOBER 2022

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rituals to heal

These begin with the funeral service. Shortly after a death, a spiritual leader is present to help with a 56

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funeral service. At the service, prayers are offered, scriptures are read, a eulogy is given and a sermon on faith and hope is delivered. At times, those without a faith affiliation tend to minimise and even eliminate the funeral ritual. This can create unhealthy grief. In his book, Death and Grief: A Guide For The Clergy, Dr Alan Wolfelt said, “Clinical experience suggests that when the funeral ritual is minimised or distorted, that mourning often becomes minimised or distorted. Likewise, when no funeral ritual occurs, the mourner often adopts a complicated response style of delayed or absent grief.” A church can be effective in providing these healing rituals.

emotional release

There are not many places in our culture where grief is readily permitted, but one place where people can grieve openly is in the church. It was Jesus, after all, who promised a

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Church can be an invaluable asset to the bereaved.

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woman struggled with severe depression for many years.

During that time, she saw several therapists and was hospitalised three times. Unable to see any hope for her situation, she ended her life. The death was devastating to her husband, but as he dealt with the ensuing grief, he discovered something invaluable: his faith community. “Prior to this time, I had been spared any great tragedies in my life. And I had regarded religion in times of crisis as just another prescription for crutches. I surprised myself at just how comfortably I used those crutches. Surrounded by other worshippers at a service, reciting traditional prayers or singing in unison, it was comforting to find that when my faith was running low, I could turn to another faith which had stood the test of thousands of years. If that faith and the people who trusted in it had survived, then so would I.” A church can be a big help to the bereaved. In the Bible, God commands faith communities to care for those who grieve. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). “Comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow” (2 Corinthians 2:7). Here are more ways the church can help someone who is grieving:

blessing to those who are bereaved: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Grief specialist Reverend Edgar Jackson commented on Jesus’ teaching about mourning. He said, “The ability to mourn may not seem to be a major asset in life. Yet as one of the Beatitudes puts it, ‘Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.’ A wise nature and spiritual resources together make it possible for us to face the emotional amputation of death and emerge from the experience as wiser and stronger persons.” The church becomes a catalyst for grief expression because it is there where mourners can shed tears of grief without being judged.

comfort

Despair often emerges when there’s been a death. The church teaches that there are sources of comfort to get through the hardest of days. A grieving person would be

greatly comforted by these biblical passages: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

And, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you” (Isaiah 41:10). Even when experiencing a significant loss, the church can be there to remind individuals that they are not alone and that there is a God who can guide and strengthen them daily.

perspective

Rather than being consumed by loss or devoured by bitterness, the church promotes hopeful and optimistic ways of thinking. In the church, women and men are encouraged to count their blessings. One woman whose husband shot himself stressed how the faith she learned in her church helped her. “Naturally, we all have questions, and I, too, have asked questions and yet I can

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see that no matter how hard things are it could be harder. He could have taken us with him . . . he could have killed the children . . . he only took himself. So, I see how many blessings I have. Maybe out of it all, something good will come.”

community power

The individual grieving can be empowered by the strength of a larger faith community. The simple act of partaking in religious rituals—singing, reciting prayers, taking communion, sharing silent moments and corporate prayer—can be healing for someone grieving.

Even when bereaved individuals are isolated at home due to illness or grief, the church can offer visits, help, prayer or online services from a pastor or other church members.

social opportunities

There is a natural tendency for grievers to withdraw and isolate when they are experiencing a lot of pain. A church offsets those tendencies by offering opportunities to meet with others in worship, small groups, prayer meetings, social activities and service projects. While there is a valid need for solitude while grieving, there is an equally valid need for social support of which the church can be.

specific grief support

More and more churches offer bereavement support groups. One church newsletter inviting grievers 58

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to participate said the support group “offers a safe environment, enriched by our faith, where we meet to share our sorrow, our stories and our victories over sadness. As a community of faith, we find comfort in the promise of Jesus to be with us always. If you have recently lost a loved one to death, consider attending a six-week bereavement support group designed for widowers and widows.”

inspiration

This can come from a sermon, a song or an interaction with someone.

One woman named Barbara Bartocci found her grief momentarily lifted by looking through her church’s stained glass windows. The year of her husband's death had been difficult, but one morning she shattered a glass on the kitchen floor. She stared at the broken fragments and burst into tears. “My life is like this glass, I thought, shattered into pieces,” she said. Then another image came to her mind—the picture of her church’s stained-glass window that was also made of pieces of broken glass. The image brought her a healing insight. “I realised I could create a new reality out of the shattered pieces of my life. It wouldn’t be the same one John and I had shared, but it could still be beautiful.”

service opportunities

Every faith community has opportunities to serve. When grievers take advantage of this, they take some focus off themselves and their

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pain. In the process, they begin to feel better. Reverend Norman Vincent Peale said he was attending a Rotary Club meeting at a New York hotel when he saw the widow of a friend and fellow-Rotarian “sitting forlornly in the lobby”. When he asked why she was there, the widow replied sadly, “I come and sit here every week on Rotary day because I know that this is where Fred used to be.” Peale says he asked her to go with him to his church. She agreed but asked why. He said, “I told her there are some overworked women down there addressing envelopes.

They need help and you’re going to give it to them. Fred would much rather have you do something like that than sit in a hotel lobby feeling sorry for yourself!” The woman went with him to the church and later told Peale that the sense of “companionship and usefulness” she

received from serving eased her grief more than anything else.

company of people with similar experiences

In every faith community, other people have lost loved ones to death.

These individuals can respond with empathy, give support and model healthy grief recovery.

The church can be a hospice for the hurting and a haven for those who feel hopeless. If you are experiencing a loss and would like support, get in touch with your local church.

If you are a part of a faith community, be sure to look out for those who may be grieving.

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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FA IT H

SAVE /

Heal

verb: σῴζω | sõzõ [sode'-zo] Greek

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Greek word can sometimes have several meanings that are translated by different English words. Take, for example, the Greek word sõzõ. This word means “heal” but it also means “rescue” or “save”. Translators, of course, have to choose only one option when they translate, but first century readers of works that make up the Greek New Testament would have been alive to all the different possible meanings of words that they were reading, including the different possible meanings of sõzõ.

Take, for example, the saying of Jesus that grew out of the incident when the woman with a flow of blood touched Him (Matthew 9:20–22; Mark 5:25–34; Luke 8:43–48).

The woman had been suffering from a continuous flow of blood for 12 years (Luke 8:43).

She thought that Jesus might have the power to heal her and sure enough, when she touched Him, the flow of blood ceased and she was healed. Jesus stops in the crowd and asks, “Who touched me?” and the woman confesses. He then says these important words to the woman: “Your faith has healed you” and in doing so, uses the perfect tense of the verb sõzõ, which translates into English as “has saved”. But the Greek-speaking reader also knows that the word sõzõ means “to save” as well as meaning “to heal”. Thus, the Greek-speaking reader would read, “your faith has healed/saved you”.

There are several important things to note here. The first is that Jesus is at pains to make sure that His followers know the basis of His miracles: they are based on “faith”, on belief in God and His goodness, not on some magic that comes from touching Jesus and His clothing.

Second, according to the rules of purity, Jesus should have become unclean when the woman touched Him (Leviticus 15:2–27). Instead, in being healed of her affliction, the woman became clean. In this and other stories in the New Testament (eg Mark 5:1–43), Jesus makes the unclean clean! Finally, every miracle of healing in the New Testament is also a testament of Jesus’ ability to save. He can save those who are ill from their sickness. He can save those who are lost in sin. As the apostle Paul says, “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, RSV; “will be saved” is a translation of the future passive tense of sõzõ).

Robert McIver, PhD, is the editor for Scripture, Spirituality and Society Research Centre, Avondale Academic Press at Avondale Seminary in Cooranbong, Australia.

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FUN

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How closely have you been reading?

Each keyword in this puzzle is also contained within this edition of Signs of the Times.

Happy digging!

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SOPHIE TURNER—UNSPLASH

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Hint: 7 down EDUCATION.COM

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CROSSWORD CLUES

DOWN 1 Vegetables that include cauliflower and broccoli 2 To "suffer with" 3 Riding your bike 6 Hitler's favourite people 7 Australian member of the kingfisher family 9 An international military alliance consisting of 30 nations across Europe and North America 11 A fire-breathing lizard 13 The average number of weeks needed to learn Japanese 14 Country whose currency increased 200 per cent in two months due to inflation ACROSS 4 My heart will go on 5 Sayings attributed to Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount 8 The Norse "end of the world" 10 Once stood on Ettersberg Hill 12 A diet typically consisting of only meat 15 Any grain that contains the endosperm, germ and bran

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