ATHEISM AT WAR a christian perspective on the world today
Your True Value
In this issue April 2024 WHAT IN THE WORLD Pg 04 SIX HABITS THAT ARE KILLING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS Pg 06 HARA HACHI BU: EAT SLOWER, LIVE LONGER Pg 12
ATHEISM AT WAR
How the defection of a prominent atheist is causing havoc among sceptics PAGE 32
BROTHERS, NEW AND OLD Pg 20 THE TRUTH ABOUT PORN Pg 26 CYCLONE GABRIELLE: ONE YEAR LATER Pg 38 THE COMPASS THAT GUIDES US HOME Pg 40 CONFLICT: IT’S EVERYWHERE Pg 46 ASK PASTOR JESSE Pg 52
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DECODING THE EU’S PLACE IN BIBLE PROPHECY Pg 54 FIVE EXERCISE SNACKS FOR BETTER HEALTH Pg 60
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SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE Pg 62
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@SIGNSMAG
I don’t know about you, but there are days I wrestle with my value. Perhaps there are days where you feel like you’re not good enough, not productive enough, not providing enough for your family. Maybe you don’t feel smart enough or holy enough or attractive enough? Many of us struggle. Whether it’s a difficult experience from our childhood, social isolation or something passed down from our parents, many of us live with internal voices that question our worth in one way or another. We don’t want to believe the lies but they can be persistent and cutting. To combat this, we build certain competencies or identity markers that help us to feel, if not powerful or connected, then at least hidden enough to get by. The problem comes when those things that we’ve anchored our value in get taken away. Many of us find our value in our career, our status, our family, our attractiveness or physical prowess. This is dangerous. All those things can be lost or taken. If you place your value in something that can be stolen, destroyed or timed-out, you will risk losing that value all over again. This is why we need to base our value on something that can’t be taken away, be destroyed or come to a natural end. For me, that thing is God. My value needs to be anchored in Him. In the book of Psalms, the author praises God saying, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it” (Psalm 139:14, NLT). The Bible tells us we are made in God’s image and He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). He knows and cares about each of us. He gives me the value I seek. He can give you the value you’re looking for, too. JARROD STACKELROTH Editor
VOL 139 NO 3
ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons
ANZAC ANZAC DAY DAY
WHAT IN THE WORLD The Tiny House Movement NEW ZEALAND
Amidst soaring mortgage rates and rent prices, more New Zealanders are embracing tiny houses as a lifestyle choice and a financially prudent path to a more content life. The Tiny House movement spans a wide demographic, from young professionals to retirees, to single parents and families. The growing community is a symbol of innovation and adaptability. —Stuff.co.nz
Alcohol and your genes UNITED STATES
A common misconception about addiction is that it is simply a result of low willpower. Yet, recent data shows that alcohol can turn certain genes on and off, as well as directly influence areas of the brain that help drive memory, reward responses and impulse control. Thankfully, studies show that changes to gene expression in the brain aren’t always permanent, meaning individuals can benefit from healthy lifestyle practices, medications and reduced alcohol consumption.—Science Alert
ENGLAND
According to the European Environmental Bureau, about 75 per cent of products on the market in Europe have a sustainability claim, but more than half lack proper evidence. A new law will regulate claims, prohibiting retailers from making general environmental and sustainability claims such as “eco”, “environmentally friendly” and “natural” if their credentials don’t stack up.—The Conversation 4
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How Un-Australian COTTONBRO STUDIOS, KEVIN MALIK, CATRINA SOUSA, JIM RITCHTER—PEXELS
Ban on product labels
AUSTRALIA
The South Australian government has been called “un-Australian” for removing the names of national holidays from its Holidays Bill. Anzac Day was replaced with its date, April 25. Many said this was an insult to the veterans who served in the armed forces. The state premier responded by saying Anzac Day will never change and encouraged Australians to continue to commemorate it. —SBS News
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Each year on April 25, we pause to remember the men and women who embarked upon their first major military action in World War 1. The troops, sent in to help our British allies, went up against all odds with pride, bravery and a sense of mateship. Below are some ANZAC facts. • 2024 is the 109th year since the soldiers landed at Gallipoli. • During World War 1, red poppies were among the first flowers to bloom on the battlefields of northern France and Belgium. Soldier folklore created a poem saying the poppies were vivid red from the blood of fallen soldiers. • The dawn service originates from the army’s “stand-to” routine, which was in preparation for attack. Troops associated the routine with courage, endurance and mateship. • During World War 1, mothers, wives and girlfriends became concerned about the nutrition their men were getting on the front. A group of women came up with a biscuit (based on an old Scottish recipe) that had a high nutritional value to send to the soldiers. The original biscuit was square in shape and rock-hard, necessary to improve shelf life. As such, the men would often grind them up and eat them as porridge. • Although we only play “The Last Post” on Anzac and Remembrance Day, in the town of Ypres, Belgium, it is played at 8pm every evening.
Six Habits
That are Killing your Relationships Replace the habits that hurt relationships with healthy ones.
C
atch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Solomon 2:15). These were the loving words of Solomon, king of Israel, to his bride. The king was known for his great wisdom and understood that it’s the little habits that eat away at our relationships and keep us locked in cycles of unhappiness. These “little foxes” are
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still running through our relationships today—and they need to go. But we will only succeed at getting rid of them if we replace them. “‘Something better’ is the watchword of education, the law of all true living.”1 The six “little foxes” that are most common in relationships are criticism, escalation, invalidation, defensiveness, withdrawal and
misinterpretation. Often, these things become habits that we barely notice we are doing, but once we become aware of our tendencies, we can form better habits.
criticism
Some criticism can be expected but too many of them, over time, depletes the relationship’s “emotional
bank account”. Patterns of excessive criticism predict divorce in marriage and breakups in dating. The replacement behaviour for criticism is affirmation. This includes things like encouragement, praise and compliments. To move into the affirmation zone, ask the question, “What is right about my partner and my relationship?”
ANASTASIIA CHAIKOVSKA—PEXELS
JENNIFER JILL SCHWIRZER
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escalation
What we call “losing our temper” involves explosions such as yelling, shouting, throwing things and, God forbid, physical aggression. Anger causes emotional “flooding” and it compromises higher brain function. As we rage, we may feel that we’re finally “speaking our truth” but, in fact, we’re often warping the truth. We “see red” when reality is actually red, blue, yellow, orange, green and purple. And as a result, we say things that cause damage, sometimes in the long-term. The most common cause of anger is an external locus of control. This is a sense that “everything that impacts me is outside of me”. We forget that while we hate what our partner does, we have a choice as to how to react to it. Prayer is a great way to reinstate an internal locus of control. In the moment of temptation, “go vertical”, shooting a prayer up to heaven. A replacement for escalation is timeout. A couple can agree ahead of 8
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time that when the issue begins to escalate, either one can “call it”. The person who calls the timeout agrees to take responsibility for rescheduling the conversation. This way, neither partner feels abandoned.
invalidation
Invalidation can be described as a put-down, usually pertaining to the feelings and experience of your partner. Because of its subtle nature, invalidation can be hard to explain. So, let’s look at some examples: Ordering: “Smile!” “Be happy!” Isolating: “You’re the only one who feels that way.” “It doesn’t bother anyone else, you know.” Ridiculing: “You must be kidding!” “You can’t be serious!” Reason: “There’s no reason for you to feel that way.” “You’re not being rational.” Judging and labelling: “You’re a cry baby.” “You’re too sensitive.” Should-ing: “You should be happy.” “You should be thankful.” Sarcasm and mocking: “Oh, you poor thing. Did I hurt your little feelings?” “Well, I wish I had your problems.” Guilt-tripping: “Don’t you think of anyone but yourself?” “What about
my feelings?” Philosophising and clichés: “Time heals all wounds.” “Every cloud has a silver lining.” Religion-ising: “God will help you.” “The Lord knows.” The truth is, many of these invalidating statements are true and valuable in their rightful place. But they become invalidation when the speaker does not also listen effectively and empathise. Skipping the listening step ultimately turns potentially helpful input into invalidation. The replacement for invalidation is careful listening and validation of what your partner feels before launching into a response.
defensiveness
Self-defence has its place. Falsely accused? Misrepresented? We must at times stand up and speak up. But as with most things, we overdo it. Marriage expert John Gottman calls defensiveness one of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” that wreak destruction in marriage. Defensiveness is a pattern of self-protection, a readiness to challenge or avoid criticism . . . and criticism can indeed be difficult to receive. What the defensive person may not realise is that their behaviour also hurts the criticiser, because the criticiser feels unheard. Often, we become defensive because we have foundational underlying misbeliefs like, “I should
The most common cause of anger is an external locus of control be perfect”, “People should never find anything wrong with me”, “No-one should ever criticise another person,” or “Every criticism is an assault on my character”. Those unrealistic expectations lay a foundation that makes it almost impossible to receive reasonable feedback graciously. The replacement for defensiveness is openness. You heard that right. The very attack that you perceive as destructive to your happiness may be
TIMUR WEBER—PEXELS
The ideal affirmation-to-criticism ratio has been identified by many, including Harvard Business Review, as at least five to one—five affirmations to one criticism.2 In the Bible we read the advice to “comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The word edify comes from the same root word as “edifice” and means, literally, to build up. Build up your partner and you will both reap benefits.
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a blessing in disguise. Try to “eat the meat but leave the bones”. Take what that person is saying and extract from it the valuable part.
withdrawal
We sometimes need a break from one another. The problem is that withdrawal can take on a life of its own. Little spates of silent treatment can grow into total retreat. And in extreme cases, some spouses live in total, chronic withdrawal. How sad when this occurs. Partners stand on opposite sides of the broken bond, unable to cross over. What’s missing in this scenario? A robust repair system in the relationship. Repair is the replacement for withdrawal—a calm conversation complete with good listening and appropriate apologies. Once the habit of repair is established, it becomes easier to navigate.
misinterpretation
A man said to his wife, “You look beautiful in blue.” She said, “Oh! You think I look ugly in red.” He said, “I love your curves.” She said, “You think I’m fat.” He said, “They say that gentlemen prefer blondes, but I love your long, dark hair.” She said, “How often do you think about blondes?” He kept trying to give compliments to his wife, but she kept negatively interpreting them. Finally, he stopped trying. 10
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The replacement for misinterpretation is checking in. Checking in involves seeing if the way you’re interpreting your spouse is actually correct. If your partner says, “I love you in blue,” you might say, “Are you saying that I don’t look good in other colours?” And your partner would have an opportunity then to correct that misconception. “No, no, I’m not saying that at all. I love you in all colours, it’s just that I especially like you in blue because it brings out the blue in your eyes and I love your eyes.”
further help
I’m sure we’re all guilty of these behaviours from time-to-time. But the more we are aware of these habits and how they hinder the quality of our relationships, the more steps we can take towards having healthier relationships. Please note that we have only scratched the surface for the solutions we can start to apply in our relationships. Many couples will need coaching or counselling to assist in implementing these changes. Jennifer Jill Schwirzer is a musician, counsellor, wife, mother and lover of Jesus. She is an international speaker, written 14 books and runs workshops to improve people’s relationships. Abide.Network is a mental health coaching and education ministry serving clients virtually. 1. Ellen White, Education, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2020. 2. <hbr.org/2013/03/theideal-praise-to-criticism>
If you’d like to love better, check out this course on relationships! APRIL 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
DIVA PLAVALAGUNA—PEXELS
The more we are aware of these habits . . . the more steps we can take toward having healthier relationships
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Hara Hachi Bu:
Eat Slower, Live Longer BATPISTE AZAIS—UNSPLASH
The Japanese Okinawans have a peculiar way of eating that supposedly extends their lifespan. What can we learn from them? ZANITA FLETCHER
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parents for their discipline tactics, for had they not done anything, we probably would have had nutrient deficiencies, low energy or become very picky eaters. But somehow, over time—be it from increased practise with a knife and fork or just from adopting a more hurried lifestyle as an adult—the time I spent eating a meal drastically decreased. Nowadays, my default seems to be to swallow things in a matter of minutes . . . a habit that isn’t unique to me. Part of the busy life we’ve adopted in the West has seen a normalisation of eating breakfast at the wheel and lunch at the desk. If you’ve ever observed people in a food court, you may have realised that most people eat quickly, unless they’re also trying to feed a child. We’ve heard both “hurry up and eat your food” and “slow down and chew your food”. We’ve known it from the perspective of time and manners, but the pace at which we eat also affects our health. If we
could find the time to eat at a steady pace and the discipline to slow down, we would reap many benefits. Something that has been practised for generations by the centenarian inhabitants of the people of Okinawa, Japan, is a concept called Hara Hachi Bu. This can be translated as “eat until you’re 80 per cent full” and is believed to be one of the secrets to their longevity that surpasses much of the world’s population.1 The Okinawans only know they are 80 per cent full because they eat slowly and pay attention to their body’s signals of fullness. Their trick is to stop eating as soon as they feel satisfied but not to the point they feel stuffed. So, what are the benefits of eating slowly and how did the people of Okinawa become centenarians because of it?
Contrary to what most people think, digestion starts in the mouth, not the stomach
better digestion
Contrary to what most people think, digestion starts in the mouth, not the stomach. Minesh Khatri, associate professor at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, says a simple way to improve your digestion is to eat slower. When we chew our food, we turn it into smaller particles and our bodies start producing enzymes 14
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and hydrochloric acid that help break down food.2 The main reason we eat is to get the nutrients our bodies need to stay alive and healthy. If we don’t chew our food properly, we limit our nutrient intake and risk discomfort such as gas, bloating and constipation.3 In Ayurveda, a school of medicine founded in India thousands of years ago, slow and thorough chewing is considered essential to digestive health, helping you to separate a food’s indigestible components from necessary nutrients.
no more burps or burns
Have you ever felt a burning sensation in your chest or an intense pressure behind your breastbone? Heartburn is caused when the lower oesophageal sphincter, which acts as a valve in the oesophagus, opens too often or doesn’t close tightly enough when swallowing. This causes the stomach acids to flow back into the oesophagus, producing heartburn. This is often triggered when—you guessed it—we eat too quickly.4 Another symptom is burping, which is the body’s way of getting rid of extra air in your stomach—also often happening when you eat quickly.5
GETTY IMAGES
W
hen my siblings and I were young, we used to eat at the rate of snails. As we sat around the dinner table, we’d be busy telling each other schoolyard stories and fighting over minute things and, every now and then, would pick up a noodle or take a bite of a potato, before diverging on yet another tangent. I know some parents have to tell their children not to gobble down their food and to eat slower, but my parents were dealing with a different issue—making sure we ate at all. They even purchased a 60-minute kitchen timer in the shape of a rooster that would sit in front of us at mealtimes. If the rooster crowed after 60 minutes and we hadn’t finished what was on our plates, we were sent to bed and our dinner was put in the fridge for us to finish at breakfast. If we didn’t eat it for breakfast, we’d sometimes find it on our school sandwiches. I hold no grudges against my
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Time and time again, scientists have found that one of the biggest problems with the Western diet is overeating. In Australia, two-thirds of adults and a quarter of kids are overweight. This doesn’t just come down to the foods we are eating, but also the quantities.6 Not only does slowing down improve digestion, but it also helps us recognise the point at which we’ve had enough to eat. Studies have shown that people who eat faster are more likely to consume more calories and as a result, gain more weight, increasing the risk of developing numerous health problems such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes.7 In recent decades, it has become common in dietary programs to include advice about eating slowly or chewing thoroughly. This is because fast eaters are 115 per cent more likely to be obese than those who eat at a steady or slow pace.8 The idea behind the Confucian-inspired adage hara hachi bu is that by eating slower, you consume fewer calories. Typically, we reach for seconds or thirds as soon as we’ve finished. We think we can fit in a little more because it genuinely
feels that way. That is, until moments later we regret our decision and find ourselves in a food coma. That’s because it takes between 15 and 20 minutes for the satiety signals to be sent to the brain to tell the stomach that it’s reached capacity. By eating until you feel 80 per cent full, you’re giving your brain time to catch up and you’re giving your body enough fuel to function optimally without overloading it.
Have you ever slaved away for hours in the kitchen over a meal for family or friends, only to have them inhale it in what seems like seconds? When I first moved out of home and started cooking for myself more, I began to find joy in making dishes from the produce of my garden. Suddenly, it seemed like an offence to scoff something down without noticing the flavours and the textures of what I had made. Often, we miss the satisfaction of “mmm’s” and “wow this is good’s” we could experience because we’re too focused on doing or getting to the next “thing”—or are distracted. If you’re spending hours preparing food each day, take the time to slow down
By eating until you feel 80 per cent full, you’re giving your brain time to catch up
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increased enjoyment
and enjoy the labour of your work. If you’re not doing the cooking yourself, take a moment to appreciate its flavours and thank the hands that prepared it. In Spain, it’s normal for dinner time to last two or three hours with people enjoying the flavours of their meals with a glass of wine. Eating is not seen as something they have to do to survive—it’s something they get to enjoy multiple times a day. Though I don’t drink alcohol, I can definitely get behind this philosophy of eating. Super Bowl winner Bill Walsh said, “If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead.” Here are some things we can implement to help us eat slower and, as a result, less: • Eat with chopsticks or smaller utensils to reduce the volume of food you eat with each mouthful. • Step away from your screens. A report published in the April issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed how attention and memory affect food intake. The studies showed that being distracted or not paying attention to a meal tended to make people eat more and that paying attention to a meal was linked to eating less.9 • Make less and serve less, then you will likely eat less. • Eat with others. Conversation forces us to slow down. If there’s someone at the table who eats at a steady pace, try to mirror their pace. • Put down your utensils between bites.
RON LACH, VALERIA BOLTNEVA, COTTONBRO STUDIO—PEXELS
weight management
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• Avoid extreme hunger. It’s hard to eat slowly when you’re starving. • Choose fibrous foods that require more chewing. The more fibre, the better but it’s also typically harder to chew. So, dose up on fresh vegetables because they’ll by nature take you longer to chew. • Follow the hara hachi bu rule and wait 20 minutes before going for seconds. Horace Fletcher (no relation), a self-proclaimed “economic nutritionist” from the early 20th century, once recommended chewing each bite to the point of liquefaction, which took a minimum of a hundred chews per bite.10 Scientists are yet to discover the ideal number of chews per bite (though most agree around 30 is good). I’m not suggesting you liquify your food or count every chew. Personally, I think that would only incline me to want to eat faster. However, some extra time to chew your food, to hara hachi bu, appears to be a good idea. Not only will you enjoy your food more, but you’ll feel better and you’ll do your body a favour in the process.
your monthly source of
gent-action-is-needed/tzkxqa5uu>
Health and Hope
7. <pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34063439/>; <medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313130> 8.<pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21802566/> 9.<ajcn.nutrition.org/content/97/4/728> abstract> 10.<amazon.com/Gulp-Adventures-Alimentary-Mary-Roach/ dp/0393348741>
Practical Tips Inspiring Stories Wisdom for Daily Life
Zanita Fletcher is a life coach and assistant editor for the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times. She writes from the Gold Coast, Queensland.
2. <intestinal.com.au/chewing-food> 3. <webmd.com/digestive-disorders/good-digestion> 4. <webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/understanding-heartburn-basics>; <webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/triggers#1> 5. <mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/ in-depth/gas-and-gas-pains/art-20044739> 6. <sbs.com.au/news/article/researchers-say-the-numberof-australians-eating-a-healthy-diet-is-alarming-and-ur18
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HIMANSHU CHOUDHARY—UNSPLASH
1. <bluezones.com/2017/12/hara-hachi-bu-enjoy-food-andlose-weight-with-this-simple-phrase/>
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BROTHERS, NEW AND OLD The story of family drama and reconciliation is a tale as old as time. It’s no less relevant for us today than it was thousands of years ago.
EDUARDO BARRIOS—UNSPLASH
DAVID EDGREN
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power of forgiveness. Let’s journey through these narratives together.
the prodigal
Our journey begins with the parable of the prodigal son, told by Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel of Luke. This story tells the tale of a wayward son who demanded his inheritance from his father (while his father was still alive), wasted it recklessly and subsequently found himself in emotional and material ruin. Luke captures the essence of the son’s rebellion: “The younger one said to his father, ‘Give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he
had, set off for a distant country, and there squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15:12,13). As the young man hits rock bottom, he comes to his senses. The son realises the consequences of his actions and decides to return to his father to penitently admit his mistakes. This decision is a turning point in his life. The narrative paints a profound picture of the son’s return. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). This parable beautifully captures a parent’s joy when a child returns home. According to Jesus, this is the way God the Father feels
when a lost son or daughter puts their trust in Jesus. What a happy reunion! Theologian Henri Nouwen, in his book The Return of the Prodigal Son, summarises Jesus’ parable perfectly: “The story of the Prodigal Son is the story of a God who goes searching for us, runs toward us, and welcomes us back with open arms, regardless of our past.” As I read about the prodigal son’s return, I couldn’t help but think about the character we often miss—the older brother who stayed home. He had faithfully continued serving on the family farm while his reckless brother was off squandering his share of the inheritance. You can understand how resentful he
MAKSIM ROMASHKIN—PEXELS
W
hen I was 12 years old, I was asked by my church’s pastor to give a talk in front of the whole church. He recommended I dress as a biblical figure and act out the story. A few weeks later, I stood before the congregation dressed in brightly-coloured robes, sandals and a headscarf and enacted the story of the prodigal son. I invited my uncle, who was not a believer, to come hear my story. To my astonishment, on the day, he was there in the audience. As I reached the climax of the story, I noticed tears running down my uncle’s face. It was a profound moment that set my life on a new course. I didn’t fully understand what I had done that day, but whatever it was, I knew I wanted to keep doing it. Have you ever had to forgive someone who wronged you? The themes of forgiveness and reconciliation transcend cultural boundaries and are often found in stories about siblings. From Romulus and Remus to Thor and Loki, many of the world’s oldest stories focus on siblings—many ending in tragedy. Today, we are going to delve into two such narratives—except these have happy endings. One was told by a first-century Jewish rabbi and the other is a foundational story of an ancient religious text. I am, of course, referring to the aforementioned parable of the prodigal son as well as the story of Jacob and Esau. These timeless tales offer profound lessons about love and the transformative
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The themes of forgiveness and reconciliation transcend cultural boundaries stealing from your brother
Now, let’s turn to the narrative of Jacob and Esau in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. This story portrays a tale of deception, sibling rivalry, estrangement and ultimately, reconciliation. In ancient near-eastern cultures, typically the eldest son of a family could expect to inherit the lion’s share of his father’s wealth. In this story, Jacob, the younger brother, deceived his blind father Isaac into blessing him with his inheritance 24
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rather than allowing it to go to his older brother, Esau. The depth of Jacob’s deception was revealed when Isaac said to Esau, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing” (Genesis 27:35). This act sowed deep discord between the brothers. Esau, understandably hurt and betrayed, “held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob’” (Genesis 27:41). In modern English, “Once dad is dead, so are you!” Fearing for his life, Jacob fled to his uncle Laban’s house, where he lived in exile for many years. The relationship between the brothers remained deeply broken. Twenty long years after Jacob’s betrayal, in a moment of divine grace and transformation, the two brothers reconciled and Esau forgave him. Genesis 33:4 beautifully captures this moment, “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.” Of course, there are many more details. If you want to discover the entire tale, check it out in Genesis for yourself.
beyond the story
Both stories emphasise the importance of recognising our mistakes and seeking reconciliation with those we have wronged. They also speak to the nature of God’s character. Just as the father in the prodigal son parable embraced his wayward son, God’s
love is unconditional and His mercy knows no boundaries. These stories remind us that no matter our capacity for mistakes, God’s capacity for forgiveness exceeds it. The Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis once said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” Forgive as you have been forgiven. When he realised the heart of Esau was filled with forgiveness, Jacob declared, “To see your face is like seeing the face of God” (Genesis 33:10). This profound statement underscores the idea that reconciliation and forgiveness are inherent to God’s character. When we extend forgiveness and experience reconciliation, we catch a glimpse of God. In such moments, we experience Divine love and mercy. I encourage you to carry these lessons with you. Whether you find yourself in the role of the prodigal son in need of repentance or like Esau needing to extend forgiveness, may you choose God’s way of love. May you, like the brother who chose forgiveness over resentment, be ready to forgive. May you recognise the face of God when you receive forgiveness from others. And, may you experience heaven’s profound joy every time the Father calls for a celebration! Dave Edgren is a storyteller and writer. He lives in Victoria, Australia.
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ASKAR ABAYEV—PEXELS
was when his father welcomed his brother home, no questions asked. He was jealous when his father was generous. He was selfish when his father was celebrating. This bitter brother reminds us to join the Father in celebration, generosity and grace when a lost child comes home. As the father in the story reminds his eldest son, “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32).
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The Truth About Porn DANIELPRINCIPE.COM.AU
The myths surrounding porn, the devastating effects it has on women and girls, and how it is shaping our culture to become less empathetic and more violent. A CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESSE HERFORD, JULIANA MUNIZ AND DANIEL PRINCIPE FROM COLLECTIVE SHOUT.
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and it isn’t leading us to have healthy, fulfilling, loving relationships or to care for one another. Jesse: I think intuitively we accept that we live in a sex-inundated culture. It’s everywhere. What is the big-picture image you think of that we should be concerned about? Daniel: One of my mentors and friends, Professor Robert Jensen, says, “Pornography is what the end of the world looks like.” It strips us of our humanity and the research is clear that the combination of social media and sexualised media has a very seriously negative impact on people’s capacity for empathy. If we lose empathy, what do we have? I would suggest, barbarism. The most extreme human rights violations become someone’s erotic fantasy. During the beginning of the Ukrainian war, the most trending things on porn sites were Ukrainian girls. [These are people] with dignity that we owe respect, care and love to. More than 90 per cent of Australian men have been exposed to porn, 20 per cent consume it daily and 40-60 per cent every week. Yet, most men have never stepped back to recognise what is happening to the people on the screen and what that says about themselves. We pride ourselves in becoming a more enlightened, progressive, equal, caring society. And yet, this content that has become more ubiquitous, has also become more extreme, racist, sexist, violent and depraved. What does that say about us?
Juliana: Is there such a thing as ethical pornography? Daniel: I would say no, for several reasons. What’s claimed to be ethical makes up less than one per cent of this industry. For me, it’s just such a distraction that the industry uses to not reckon with the harms being done that are demonstrated across the board. We must look at the harms to the performers themselves. We must look at harms to the consumer, which is easily provable because government reports are clear. Can you say it’s ethical if it leads you to not being able to have a healthy relationship or sexual relationship with the person you’re committed to? What about the consequences broadly for society through the normalisation of pornography and its harms? And lastly, what about the drive for demand for things like human trafficking? Most people that enter the industry have been involved before they were 18. If we look at all those categories, it’s hard to say that this is not doing any harm. So, the onus would be on the person making that claim to define ethical porn, prove it exists and then prove it’s not doing any
Pornography is what the end of the world looks like harm in any one of those categories. Jesse: Could you talk a little more about what it’s like being “in the industry”? Daniel: For heterosexual women who’ve entered the industry, 50 per cent of them were either at or below the poverty line the year before they entered it and 70-to-80 per cent of them have post-traumatic stress disorder. That’s a higher rate than returning army veterans. Most of APRIL 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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Jesse: Welcome, Daniel. Could you tell us a little more about Collective Shout. Daniel: Collective Shout is a grassroots movement against exploitation. We campaign against the objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls. I spend most of my time working in schools and communities educating people on the harms of pornography and how that’s shaping our views of men, women, sex, sexuality, violence, respect, consent and so on. Jesse: So some light-hearted stuff. Daniel: That’s right. Don’t invite me to polite dinner parties. Jesse: It’s not really a small talk kind of situation. But it’s an incredibly powerful thing that you do and something we feel is important to talk about. Daniel: This is something that affects everybody and I admire the courage of any organisation, institution or individual who says, “Hey, this is hurting people and relationships and we want to do something about it.” Jesse: Give us a bit of a background. How is this personal for you particularly? Daniel: I do this work in part because of my own story of being exposed to pornography at 11 years old. It shaped my ideas around a lot of significant topics because it acts as an educator. If all media influences our beliefs, then pornography does that on steroids. Porn is dehumanising. It harms men, harms women,
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parents can do to prevent their children from becoming addicted, even though they will probably be exposed to pornography? Daniel: It’s about making sure that we have healthy, non-fear, nonshame-based conversations so that when kids are exposed to harmful things online, we can minimise the impact. We need to normalise children speaking about it rather than getting stuck consuming something in silence that they feel they’ll be in trouble for. A big message I tell people is, “You’re not bad, you’re not in trouble, you’re not wrong or evil because [you’ve seen pornography].” Usually, it’s because of a pop-up or because someone else has shown them. It’s not a poor reflection of your parenting or of your child. We as a society have put the interest of the billion-dollar industry ahead of the wellbeing of children. And that has to change. Juliana: I have a lot of single friends who struggle in the dating world because pornography is such a big issue. Is there any hope for people that are looking for a loving relationship these days? Apparently approximately 76 per cent of young Christian adults have actively searched for porn. Daniel: Thank you for acknowledging that. Yeah, it’s fraught. I have a lot of single female friends and sometimes they say, “I’m on date three Dan. When do I ask the porn question?”
I think we need to ask better quality questions to understand it. Not just, “Do you or have you consumed it?” but, “What has it taught you? What journey have you been on? What have you done to adopt a healthier vision of sexuality, of bodies, intimacy and love? Where are you now?” That shows your capacity for self-reflection, both emotionally and intellectually. For anyone thinking about dating, please have those conversations. We know psychologically, physically and sexually that no-one is fully healthy. So, it’s about trying to find someone who is at least honest and transparent about their journey. Jesse: Let’s talk about the recovery process. Particularly for young men, not being under the burden of porn seems like an unattainable goal. Daniel: Everything seems unattainable until you do it. A guy came up to me at a conference and said, “I’ve done everything.” I asked him, “Have you seen a therapist or gone to a sex addiction fellowship?” He said “no” to both. So, I said, “Well, you clearly haven’t done everything.” If you’re going to give up hope, at least do everything you can. It’s not just about wanting to be post-porn or anti-porn or quit porn. It’s coming up with a vision of your life that’s worth aspiring to and fighting for. And then taking a stocktake: what do I need to put in place so that I can [reach that]? I know hundreds, if not thousands of men who have quit pornography
and everyone’s got a different story. One of the best guys I know was struggling with it. He brought this into his marriage. It wasn’t until his wife was screaming at him that he knew he needed to do something about it. Don’t wait for it to get that bad. Don’t kid yourself about the harms. The good news is, he’s been sober for four years and they have welcomed a child into the world. But how did he get there? He realised he needed to do something serious, joined a sex addiction fellowship, went to a therapist and put accountability in place. Jesse: Well, I think that’s a good place to cap this off, Daniel. I really appreciate the time you’ve been able to spend with us. Daniel: Thank you for the conversation. This is done from a place of hope. I remind people the reason we talk about this is because we care for people, we love people, and we want them to thrive and flourish in themselves and in their relationships. So, thank you for letting the light in on this. Daniel Principe is an educator, speaker and coach. You can connect with Daniel at <lastoftheromans.org> or <collectiveshout.org>.
This article is an excerpt from the Signs Radio podcast. Listen to the full episode and more!
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them had experiences of childhood sexual abuse and have drug and alcohol addictions. Those are some serious layers of disadvantage. I have met and listened to enough stories of these women who have said they were approached in very vulnerable times, usually by a charming individual who was using this trusting, love-bombing method, yet who was ultimately looking to exploit them. Even if someone does tell you that they consented to everything, you don’t know if they’ve got a gun in the room, if they’re under the influence of drugs or what kind of coercive pressures or threats they’re under. Juliana: Data says that by 14, 94 per cent of children have seen porn. I’m not a parent, but when I see these statistics, I think about the day I’ll become one. What is something
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Atheism
at War
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the famous “fifth horsewoman” of New Atheism, has surprisingly turned her back on her former ways—and friends. What does this mean for atheism and Christianity? JESSE HERFORD 32
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Logan International Airport at 7.45am bound for Los Angeles, California. However, at roughly 8.20am, five men hijacked the plane, diverted it off-course and at around 8.46am, crashed the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York. Angell, his wife and all 90 others on-board were killed, along with thousands in and around the World Trade Center. Little did any of us know how profoundly the world would change after that brisk autumn day in Manhattan. The Western world, which had seemed so safe and secure in the idyllic and economically prosperous 1990s, suddenly felt more vulnerable than it ever had before. What would follow 9/11 was a tightening of security throughout the entire world, increased paranoia and xenophobia, as well as a decades-long “war on terror”, resulting in unimaginable loss of life and deep scars in the Middle East that will take generations to heal.
trying to find meaning
In the wake of this attack, millions struggled to make sense of this senseless act of violence. Christian fundamentalist leaders claimed that God was “angry with America” on account of its tolerance of feminism, secularism, homosexuality and abortion, to name a few.4 Others responded differently. On September 12, grad student Sam Harris began writing a book that would eventually be titled The End of Faith. The book
WIKICOMMONS
A
s the rising sun brought life and light to the east coast of North America, it was greeted by a brisk autumn morning. Hurricane Erin was on the move in the Atlantic, creating heavy rainfall from Newfoundland to Bermuda. A cold front saved most of the eastern seaboard from the hurricane’s destruction and the resulting high-pressure front produced clear skies—perfect conditions for air travel.1 As those in Washington, Philadelphia and New York were putting on their slippers and pouring cereal into their bowls, the airline industry was already in full-swing. Three high-profile passengers were scheduled to board an aircraft departing from Boston, Massachusetts that day. The first was David Angell, a TV producer, Emmy Award winner and creator of the sitcom Frasier. The second was Seth MacFarlane. Also in the TV business, MacFarlane was most known for creating the irreverent and often-controversial animated show Family Guy. The third was actor and hip-hop artist Mark Wahlberg. However, through random chance, neither MacFarlane nor Wahlberg showed up for their scheduled flight. MacFarlane was hungover from a heavy night of drinking and, to make matters worse, his travel agent had given him the wrong time.2 For his part, Wahlberg had had a last-minute change of plans and didn’t show up either.3 Of the three, only Angell and his wife Lynn boarded American Airlines Flight 11, departing from
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becoming an activist, politician and advocate for women’s rights. After reading Dutch philosopher Herman Philipse’s The Atheist Manifesto shortly after 9/11, she became an atheist as well as both a fierce critic of Islam and religion in general. She later met the new atheists, upon which Dawkins bestowed upon her the title of their fifth “horsewoman”. Recently, however, Ali has turned on her atheist friends in the most bizarre way: by becoming a Christian.
[Ali claims that] the West finds its economic, religious, judicial and cultural roots in Christianity
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conflict in paradise
In an unexpected essay published in late 2023, she reflects on the particularly harsh version of Islam she grew up with. “On this earth,” she says, “the greatest achievement possible was to die as a martyr for the sake of Allah.”5 She and her childhood friends rejected all Western identity markers, served “the poor, the old, the disabled and the weak”, demanded that non-Muslims convert and “cursed the Jews multiple times a day”.6 One can understand why the new atheists were so attractive. Compared to her childhood coloured by fear and hatred, Dawkins and Hitchens were as equally confident
in their “rightness” as the Muslim Brotherhood but the way they lived their lives was, by comparison, much freer. They were also clever, intelligent and fun. Ali’s beef with her former friends was not so much intellectual as it is pragmatic. She sees the West as being under threat from three distinct areas: (1) The rise of authoritarianism embodied by both China and Russia, (2) global Islam and (3) woke ideology. In the face of these looming threats, Ali believes atheism to be an insufficient unifier. Citing Tom Holland’s (the historian, not Spider-Man actor) book Dominion, she makes the case that whether we like it or not, the West finds its economic, religious, judicial and cultural roots in Christianity. “I have also turned to Christianity because I ultimately found life without any spiritual solace unendurable—indeed very nearly self-destructive.”7 Ayaan Hirsi Ali needs Christianity—not because she claims its specifics to be true, but because she sees it as (1) a
necessary ally in the imagined wars of the future, whether cultural or real and (2), an escape from the existential dread of nothingness implicit to the atheist worldview. As it turns out, she’s not alone. Figures like self-help guru Jordan Peterson likewise insist on the cultural and psychological importance of Christianity—all the while struggling to answer if he truly believes whether it’s true or not.8 In the same way, pundits like Ben Shapiro, Steven Crowder, Dave Rubin and more routinely defend Christianity while at the same time behaving in ways that undermine its core teachings. All this brings me to an uncomfortable place. It’s that in all these culture wars, the person I agree most with is Richard Dawkins.
terms of engagement
Shortly after Ali’s essay, Dawkins responded with an open letter. In it he addresses many things, but the point that made me side with him is his statement, “What matters is APRIL 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
WIKICOMMONS
was a scathing critique of religious belief and was well-received by most sceptics and unbelievers. It was not so well-received by religious groups. But with the release of his book, Harris did more than just stir up an intellectual hornet’s nest. In 2006, two years after The End of Faith was published, Professor Richard Dawkins published The God Delusion. A year later, Christopher Hitchens put out God is Not Great. In the wake of 9/11, a new movement critical of faith began to gain real steam. These three men, as well as philosopher Daniel Dennett, went on to form the “Four Horsemen of New Atheism”, a title as ironic as it is foreboding. For several years, these “horsemen” have terrorised the believing world through podcasts, lectures and many, many books. However, this article isn’t about them. It’s about their fifth “horsewoman”. Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia and grew up in Kenya as a devout Muslim. She emigrated to the Netherlands in 1992 to avoid an arranged marriage and it was there that she abandoned her Muslim faith,
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Christian than I am.”10 Though I am not willing to guess at Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s personal beliefs, the one note that rang true in this entire conversation is Dawkins’ insistence on the terms of battle. Whereas those concerned for the preservation of “the West” (whatever that means) are more than happy to support Christianity, even if they don’t believe it to be true, die-hard atheists like Dawkins still, in 2024,
(From left to right) Richard Dawkins, Ayaan Hirsi Ali
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don’t believe that’s good enough. And, for what it’s worth, neither do I. Although my convictions differ significantly from Dawkins in almost every aspect, I can appreciate his dogmatism on the fundamental question, “Is it true, or not?” If the truth claims Christianity puts forth are false, then we should rightly abandon it, regardless of how culturally useful it is. A lie is a lie, no matter how much comfort it brings. However, if it is true, that makes Christianity not only the foundation of “the West”, but of all reality—past, present, future. Many arguments have been made on the importance of preserving the Christian institution for the sake of “social order”, the “soul of the nation” or whatever other real or imagined threat societies have faced in the past. If we’ve learned anything from the past, we’d recognise that untruths, no matter how well-intentioned, still do more long-term damage than short-term good. For those of us who do believe, what should matter is whether the claims of Christianity are true or not. Whether we need Christianity to fight “rampant wokeness”, Xi Jinping or radical Islam is irrelevant. Scripture is for everyone, not just Christians but as Jesus Himself said to the corrupt religious leaders of His day: “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” (John 5:39*) I can’t speak to the sincerity of
people like Peterson or Ali and the hopeful part of me wants to believe that their explorations of faith are genuine. Nor, should I add, can I intelligently refute every argument levied against Christianity, but I know one thing for certain. I do not want my faith to rise and fall on its cultural or political usefulness, nor because I need the comfort of the eternal in the face of the cold vacuum of the universe. I certainly don’t want Christianity to thrive simply so that “the West” is better equipped to combat Vladimir Putin. If I’m to believe in something, I want to believe on the basis that it’s the truth. Nothing more—and certainly nothing less. Jesse Herford is a pastor and associate editor for the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times. He lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife, Carina and their miniature schnauzer, Banjo. 1. <cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/remembering-9-11weather-and-its-role-in-the-september-11-attacks/> 2. <nytimes.com/2004/07/07/arts/young-guy-family-guy30-year-old-s-cartoon-hit-makes-unexpected-comeback. html?pagewanted=all> 3. <web.archive.org/web/20131102202329/http://www.foxnews. com/entertainment/2012/01/18/mark-wahlberg-said-wouldhave-defeated-11-terrorists-on-flight-3/> 4. <theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/19/september11.usa9> 5. <unherd.com/2023/11/why-i-am-now-a-christian/> 6. Ibid 7. Ibid 8. <churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/1-april/news/world/jordan-peterson-describes-his-difficulties-with-christianity> 9. <richarddawkins.substack.com/p/open-letter-from-richard-dawkins> 10. Ibid * 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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what you believe.”9 Dawkins notes the conspicuous lack of faith confessions in Ali’s essay. “Christianity makes factual claims, truth claims that Christians believe, truth claims that define them as Christian.” He then goes on to mention the concepts of the resurrection, the virgin birth, the existence of hell, among others. He accuses Ali of not actually believing any of it to be true. He concludes by saying, “Ayaan, you are no more a
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make a difference
Cyclone Gabrielle: One Year Later
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someone’s home that we realised how bad the damage was,” Luana reflects. ADRA’s volunteer team arrived in Hawke’s Bay at the start of June 2023, four months after the cyclone. “People were just expected to move on with their lives. They had lost their homes and still had a long road to recovery ahead but little help,” Luana recalls. While there was great devastation, there were also many people ready to respond. “I met Martha, the leader of the ‘Hawke’s Bay Clean-Up Crew’, who inspired not just me but the many others who stepped forward to volunteer their time.” Thanks to the volunteer team, families in Napier, Eskdale and other regions of Hawke’s Bay received help cleaning their homes from the remaining silt and debris. “Serving others as the hands and feet of Jesus when they had lost almost everything gave me so much joy.” After experiencing a week of service, Luana was inspired to go into full-time work with ADRA. “I asked my prayer warriors to start praying that God would reveal an opportunity for me to do His work,” Luana shares. Now working with ADRA, Luana equips churches to help serve their own communities where it’s needed most. Sarah Ryan-Timu serves as ADRA New Zealand’s marketing officer. She lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand. To learn more about ADRA, visit <adra.org.nz>.
IMAGE SUPPLIED
February 12 marked one year since Cyclone Gabrielle swept through New Zealand, devastating homes and families alike. Luana Tupou was one of the eight people who stepped forward to volunteer with ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), helping clean and restore homes in the Hawke’s Bay region. Today, she works full-time with ADRA, ensuring Seventhday Adventist churches in New Zealand are disaster-ready and equipped to respond to their local communities during and after emergencies. When Cyclone Gabrielle hit New Zealand, ADRA quickly responded, mobilising church leaders to identify families most in need and distribute emergency cash assistance. The cash assistance allowed families to respond to their own greatest need, whether food, medicine or temporary accommodation. Months following Cyclone Gabrielle, the need for support remained. While many families had received immediate help, damaged homes, destroyed cars and accommodation, as well as uncertainty about the future, all meant there was a long road of recovery ahead. In June 2023, Luana, alongside seven other keen volunteers, gave up a week of her time to volunteer in Napier, Hawke’s Bay. “We didn’t know what to expect. We had seen photos on the news but it wasn’t until our team was standing up to our knees in silt in the middle of
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The Compass that Guides us Home God’s law is often perceived as stilted, legalistic or arbitrary. But when we’re lost, it can provide a much-needed centre.
NEOM—UNSPLASH
SISI TORO
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FREEPIK
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ears ago, my friends and I got lost hiking. As we trudged through the bush, every tree appeared eerily similar to the last, causing our disorientation to grow. During a break, a friend joked that without service, our phones were useless and we should’ve brought a compass. After wandering in circles and retracing our steps multiple times, we finally managed to safely find our way home. This experience reminds me of life’s perplexing journeys where we often feel lost and need direction. Just as a compass leads hikers back to safety, the law of God is our guide. But what does that mean? God’s law—the list of precepts and commandments found in the Bible—is not just a list of “dos” and “don’ts”, but a framework for living a life in harmony with our Creator and fellow human beings. Understanding God’s law is essential for anyone seeking a deeper connection with God and a more meaningful life. If that’s you, good news! The principles embodied in God’s law provide a foundation for love, justice and integrity. The word for “law” in Hebrew is Torah, which translates as “instruction” or “showing the way”. Often we
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think of it in legal terms, whereas ancient Jews would have thought of it as I previously described—a set of precepts for living well with God and other humans. The verse, “Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89) highlights a foundational truth: God’s law is unchanging. This law is deeply embedded in the very essence of God Himself, serving as a reflection of who He is. Many see it as a burden or something that restricts freedom, but it’s actually a declaration of His immense love. As author Ellen White once wrote, “The glory of Christ is revealed in the law, which is a transcript of His character” (Selected Messages 1). It’s crucial to make a clear distinction between two types of laws presented in the Bible: the moral law and the ceremonial law. The moral law, found in the Ten Commandments, is a timeless, universal guide for virtuous living. On the flip side, the ceremonial laws were highly specific to the ancient Israelite community and had the distinct purpose of pointing toward the long-hoped-for Messiah. These ceremonial laws with their rituals ceased their purpose when Jesus gave up His life on a Roman cross in
God’s law is not just a list of “dos” and “dont’s”
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showing our flaws and guiding us toward right living, as articulated again by Paul: “Through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20). Without the law, we wouldn’t see our need for Jesus. White emphasises the indispensable role of the law in the spiritual life of believers when she declares, “It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people” (The Great Controversy). The law is important for deep faith and practice. As we approach even more tumultuous times, the law of God can take on an even more profound significance. It’s not just a guideline but a standard for judgement. White issues a sobering warning on this subject, stating, “We have been given great light in regard to God’s law. This law is the standard of character. To it man is now required to conform, and by it he will be judged in the last great day” (The Gospel Herald, January 1901). Though this sounds scary, it shouldn’t be. If we have begun to be transformed by God, our hearts will naturally want to live according to His way. If you’re troubled by the state of the world and want to find a centre in the midst of the chaos, grasping the eternal principles of God’s law and integrating them into daily life is an essential discipline. It’s not about following rules—it’s about aligning with Jesus’ will to be more like Him.
Far from being a burdensome obligation, living according to God’s instruction can, in fact, be a joyful and liberating response to the incredible grace that He has extended to us. As Jesus said to the religious leaders on one occasion, the entire summation of the requirements of Scripture rest on “loving God with all your heart” and “loving your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:34–40). We don’t simply live God’s law because “He said so”—it’s a blueprint for the best life you could ever live. Living by God’s law gives us peace and joy. Such positive emotions aren’t arbitrary; they are the natural result of aligning our lives with the will of our Creator. This can become a powerful story to others of God’s transforming love. Life can be complicated but God’s law serves as a compass to guide you back to your true path. The next time you feel yourself feeling adrift, turn to His law for direction. It’s not merely a list of rules; it’s a blueprint for living a fulfilling life. “For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life” (Proverbs 6:23). There it is—a guidebook for ethical living, provided to us by God. Always remember, when uncertainty arises, the law of God is your compass and it will guide you home. Sisi Toro is a Hawaiian-based health educator and speaker who promotes a plant-based life. She enjoys creating recipes, hiking mountains and going to the beach.
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GARRETT SEARS—UNSPLASH
The law of God is like a mirror showing our flaws and guiding us toward right living
AD 33. The apostle Paul captures this in his letter to the Colossians: “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13,14). So, though the moral law remains vital for Christians, ceremonial laws were fulfilled by Christ’s rescue on the cross. There exists a common argument that the law of God became obsolete following Jesus Christ’s sacrificial act on the cross, asserting that grace (aka, the free gift of eternal life offered through Jesus) has now superseded the law. But this misses the bond. White offers a clear explanation in her book Reflecting Christ: “Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience.” Grace doesn’t cancel out God’s law but changes us from the inside-out. Similarly, Paul, in his letter to the Romans, strongly affirms the enduring relevance of God’s law, even in the light of Jesus. He asks, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law” (Romans 3:31). Paul confirms that far from abolishing the law, faith serves to uphold it as a critical component of the Christian walk. The law of God is like a mirror
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Let’s assume the following log line: A soldier trapped alone in the desert must overcome his fear and break through enemy lines to rescue his friend. The external conflict is the enemy that stands in the soldier’s way. But the internal conflict is the fear that the soldier must overcome to save his friend. Challenging the external conflict won’t be possible without overcoming the conflict inside. Our human attraction towards stories of conflict is because it’s everywhere around us. It’s something we become attuned to—even if only subconsciously— from the moment we’re born. If you believe in a Creator God—which I do—then you’ll find it curious that the way humans interact is often a reflection of something larger. As a filmmaker, I find it exceptionally interesting that this trickles down into the details of how we do life—and in my case— the art we create.
Any screenwriter will tell you conflict is the basis for a good story
Conflict is everywhere: in our books, movies, TV shows. But every conflict is a mere shadow of the controversy that the entire world is embroiled in. DANIEL KUBEREK
the source
You may have heard the term “conflict-avoidant” used to describe people who have a negative reaction when faced with conflict. APRIL 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
MIDJOURNEY
CONFLICT: IT’S EVERYWHERE.
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passed the second draft of my short film script along to a friend and fellow filmmaker, looking for his honest feedback. “It’s good”, he said, “but it lacks conflict. And because of that, it’s not interesting enough.” Any screenwriter will tell you conflict is the basis for a good story. Next time you turn on your TV or head to the cinemas, pay keen attention to why any given scene is interesting. It’s likely steeped in dramatic tension and that’s a result of conflict. Whether it’s Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt riding his motorbike off a cliff in the latest Mission Impossible movie or Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides leading a violent uprising against the evil Harkonnens in Dune, each of them are fighting against something—and they’re also fighting for something. No doubt you just noticed that there’s two types of conflict in every narrative film—external and internal conflict. If the movie is clever, the first element reveals the second, and overcoming internal conflict solves the external conflict.
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desired to dethrone God and take His place. So convinced was Lucifer of his mission that he began conniving with his fellow angels, looking to gain their support for his insurrection. Then he led them into battle against God: the first external conflict. “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven” (Revelation 12:7,8). What’s described here is a level of conflict above anything we can comprehend as humans. The highest form we’ve experienced is “international conflict” (countries fighting against each other) but it’s nowhere near the scale of the cosmic conflict. The “Great Controversy” as it’s called was also the first ever war. Lucifer then headed to planet Earth, which God had recently
The “Great Controversy” as it’s called was also the first ever war created along with its first two human inhabitants, Adam and Eve. Everything was perfect the way God had intended and Lucifer’s arrival— now referred to as “the enemy”, “ha-satan” or simply, “Satan”—had the malicious intent of hitting God where it hurt. He intended to attack God’s new creation. God was privy to this and allowed Adam and Eve to make a choice. He knew that without choice, human beings would be no
MIDJOURNEY
It’s actually described in psychology as a negative term, whereas the healthy alternative is confronting conflict, knowing when and how to make a stand for what you believe in. Planet Earth and human existence here actually stems from conflict. Believe it or not, the Bible has some answers for what happened in the first place. The first ever interpersonal conflict on record actually took place in heaven—between God, who is eternal, and Lucifer (“the morning star”), one of the angels He created who was described as “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). This became the catalyst for the universe’s first internal conflict. Lucifer’s greed meant he wanted more. He was jealous and resentful of God, who was all-powerful. And most of all, he
different to slaves or robots. And thus, God took the greatest risk the universe had ever witnessed. Adam and Eve were living in a garden called Eden. In the middle of the garden were two trees. One was called the “tree of life” and the other the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Adam and Eve could do whatever they wished in the garden, but the latter tree came with a warning: “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:16,17). That warning perhaps would have been heeded had Satan not intervened. The story tells us that a mysterious fallen spiritual creature slithered out of the wilderness in the form of a serpent and confronted Eve about God’s claim. “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3: 4,5). The enemy’s vain ambition in heaven—to be like God—was now his core persuasive argument to Eve. Satan knew it wouldn’t end any differently the second time around, but he was so bitter towards God that he was willing to use anything, or anyone, as collateral. Had Eve rejected this advance, there’s a high likelihood our world would have remained perfect, with no death, suffering or decay. But Eve chose poorly: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for APRIL 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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Uncover the Power of Gut Health food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Genesis 3:6,7). And that’s how the concept of “sin” entered Earth, through choosing to be “wise in her own eyes”, not relying on the wisdom of God. Humans, unwittingly, had joined the Great Controversy—but not at the behest of God. Humans had personally invited the conflict into our world.
an end to conflict
Every level of conflict you see around us in some way reveals the ongoing war between God and Satan that’s still raging today. But it was another key action that sealed victory for God—sending His Son Jesus down to Earth to walk among its people, care for them and eventually die for them on a cross. This act meant that while the heavenly conflict continued, there would come a time when God would return and destroy Satan and restore the earth to its original beauty—the realm humans were originally intended for. The great internal conflict for all of us boils down to which side we 50
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decide to choose. Siding with Satan is easy. It actually happens automatically through apathy, disregard or straight-up rejection of God. “Conflict avoidance” in the Great Controversy will only end one way. But choosing God’s side is ultimately more rewarding. More than just being about transformation into a body without pain, disease or weakness, God invites us to spend eternity with Him. One of the most exciting parts is that we’ll also be given the opportunity to see and understand why Earth’s history transpired the way it did. We’ll be able to see how Jesus’ actions on Earth changed the trajectory of human history, and we’ll come faceto-face with the decision we made in response to Jesus. All cosmic history boils down to a personal question for you. Will you continue with life “as normal” after this article concludes, or will you take a stand for your Creator and ultimately, the One who saved your life? Daniel Kuberek is a husband, writer and filmmaker living in Sydney, Australia.
DEBBY HUDSON—UNSPLASH
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As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered over and over again, sometimes about the Bible but usually about everyday life. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the right place. I’ll do my best to respond authentically and biblically! Christians talk about sin a lot. Modern thinkers say that sin is a monstrous belief. How can you justify the concept of sin as a Christian? Roger, Sydney Australia Sin has certainly been one of the most misunderstood and difficult theological concepts in Christian history. Many have decried the idea that we are “born into it” and are hopelessly lost without the intervention of Jesus’ death and resurrection. While you, if asked, might say you believe you’re a “good person”, I doubt any of us would deny that there is something seriously wrong with the world today. Wars, systematic oppression, genocide and more all point to a sickness in the human psyche. These aren’t just random events—they’re symptoms of a deeper problem. In the biblical story, sin is conceptualised as a looming, cosmic, existential threat. When the first brothers in the story—Cain and Abel— are in conflict, Cain fantasises about killing his brother. God warns Cain that sin “lurks at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7). In this story, sin acts as a prowling big cat. Cain is its prey but God warns 52
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him that if he doesn’t master it, it will devour him. This is how sin operates. It promises power, prestige, wealth and control. More than anything else, it promises that, to quote Frank Sinatra, it will enable me to do it “my way”. The only problem is, “my way” is often fraught with bias, inconsistency and selfishness. When I do “what is right in my own eyes” (Genesis 3:6, Judges 21:25), my concept of what is “right” can clash with yours. One religious extremist may view a suicide bombing as “right” in their eyes, just as another religious extremist might see a school shooting as “right”. Pro-Russian supporters might view the Ukraine war as “right”, just as Christian Zionists might justify the horrors perpetrated against the people of Gaza. Of course, most of the issues I’ve just listed are as
complex as they are horrific but in my view, those who rationalise and excuse evil are just as horrific. By renegotiating the definitions of good and evil, we can conveniently characterise everything certain groups do as “good”, even though if it were perpetrated by another group, we would label it as “evil”. That’s sin. It’s a cosmic sickness that has infiltrated our world and fooled us into thinking that in order to have “the good life”, we must throw off the parameters God has put into place for how we should live. Like Cain, we think that it will give us power, autonomy and comfort but also like Cain, if we let it, it will devour us.
Are Christians opposed to science? Caroline, Thames New Zealand That’s certainly the perception, though I’d contest it. Historically, Christians were responsible for the first schools, universities and hospitals in the West. Some of the first scientists were people of faith and that tradition continues to this day. Many don’t know that the founder of modern genetics was Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian friar, nor that the Big Bang was first theorised by Belgian priest Georges Lemaître. Other prominent scientists of the medieval period including Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton and Johannes Kepler—all were Christians. Also, contrary to modern belief about the period, the vast majority of medieval scholars affirmed that the earth was round, not flat. Science historian Noah Efron
believes that Christianity provided the “tenets, methods and institutions of what in time became modern science”. Whatever you believe about modern science, one thing is for sure: it wouldn’t exist without Christianity. Want to get your question published in the next issue of the magazine? Ask Jesse a question by scanning the code below!
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Europe is more divided than ever. What does that mean for our reading of biblical prophecy? JARROD STACKELROTH
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ith news that the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) has won the election in the Netherlands, once again there is talk of an exit from the European Union on the horizon—this time being called “Nexit”. Geert Wilders, the politician with extreme views on immigration and Islam, is the leader of the PVV and (at the time of writing) is still struggling to cobble together a coalition to lead the country.1 When the UK voted to leave the Eurozone in 2020, it was the only country to do so. Now there is talk in the Netherlands of a referendum that would vote on the same question.
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European unity?
While, for a time, it seemed the European Union was going to succeed in its goal of creating a united Europe and ushering in peace and prosperity for the Eurozone, the reality has unfolded very differently. European unification seems a distant reality—more so now than ever before. But did biblical prophecy predict that the European Union was an experiment bound for failure all along? There is no doubt about the current power of populist politics and the momentum being gained
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DECODING THE EU’S
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whose dream will win?
The dream of a peaceful and united Europe grew out of the horrors of the world wars of the 20th century
The dream of a peaceful and united Europe grew out of the horrors of the world wars of the 20th century. Yet, more than 2000 years ago, the king of a great empire based in the region we would now call Iraq had a dream that revealed his destiny and the destiny of the Euro-Asian continents. King Nebuchadnezzar, sovereign of the Babylonian empire, was a conqueror and had amassed wealth and power by despoiling the nations around him. Babylon was the world power of its time, nestled in a fertile river valley and perfectly poised to install an eternal 56
kingdom. At least that’s what King Nebuchadnezzar believed. Yet, within two generations, its power would be lost to a powerful coalition of Medes and Persians, an alliance that would usher in the age of conflict between Greece and Persia that would see Greco-Roman influence rise and Mesopotamia and the Middle East wane for a time. The Greeks would later fall in 146 BC to a fourth empire: the Roman republic would eventually give way to the ancient Roman empire, which would go on to dominate the region for the next 500 years. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is recorded in the Old Testament book of Daniel chapter 2. In it, he saw a statue made of different metals— gold, silver, bronze, iron—and clay. In the dream, a giant rock, not cut by human hands, came crashing down from heaven into the feet of the statue, destroying it and growing into a huge mountain that filled the earth. He didn’t know it yet, but King Nebuchadnezzar had just witnessed both centuries of world history and a glimpse at the end time in the short space of a single dream. Unsettled by this vision of the
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future, Nebuchadnezzar pleaded with, threatened and pushed his advisors to tell him what it meant. No-one could, except an Israelite slave named Daniel. Daniel, from the nation of Judah that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered, had been enslaved and dragged into service in the king’s court. Unable to interpret it himself, Daniel prayed to God to reveal what it meant. Sure enough, Daniel’s dream unveiled the meaning of the king’s own dream. Now, with the benefit of historical hindsight, we know that Daniel’s prophecy came true. Each of the different metals represented world empires: the Babylonian empire (gold), the Medo-Persia empire (silver), the Greek empire (bronze) and the ancient Roman empire (iron), each following one after the other and each stronger than the last. Let’s turn our attention to that last part.
feet of iron and clay
After the legs of iron, we hear about the feet of iron and clay. “Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay” (Daniel 2:41). Iron and clay are two substances that don’t mix well together. We also have remnants of the iron from the Roman empire, which influenced both Western Europe and the East. After the Roman Empire began
to decline, opportunistic tribal groups pillaged much of what remained, ushering in what many refer to as the “Dark Ages”. The Holy Roman Empire, the last remnants of what remained of Rome, tried to hold back the tides and for a time under the auspice of Charlemagne, Christendom was in ascendency throughout Europe. In the east, the Byzantine Empire likewise held on to aspirations of empire, referring to themselves as Romans. Both Charlemagne and the Byzantines attempted a revived Roman empire, but both failed. Bible scholars have long held the view that any attempt to unite Europe would end the same way the Carolingian and Byzantine empires ended. Scholars of Bible prophecy have likewise made the claim that no world government will rise again in the same way as those empires of old.
GHISLAIN BUKURA—PEXELS
by the far-right on the world stage. The pendulum swings back and forth in politics and while most regular people might feel more comfortable in the middle, political debates, campaigns and decisions are pushing our societies into becoming more and more polarised, and often dehumanising anyone who disagrees with the prevailing opinion. Many have thought of this as a problem unique to the United States, with European leaders being caught off-guard by the growing support for fringe politics in their own countries.
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hope for the future
Daniel continued explaining the interpretation of the dream: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces” (Daniel 2:44,45). God’s kingdom will be ushered in and it will be an eternal kingdom that cannot be destroyed and will no
The dream for peace and unity is not in vain
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researcher Frank Hasel recently said, “Daniel 2 reminds us that the history of this earth is in God’s hands and that we don’t have to fear the future.”2 While the European experiment may not succeed, we all hope for a better, more equitable world. And we can work to make the world a better more peaceful place. We must. But human nature seems to dictate that we will always be tempted to take advantage of someone else; we will always protect our own interests and the interests of our family and our tribe in front of others. And so, it seems it is an impossible dream to achieve peace and prosperity for all in our lifetimes. Written more than 2000 years ago, the book of Daniel continues to ring true today. It is also an invitation. We don’t know the future, but we can know the God who does. Even though the world is an uncertain place, the Scriptures describe a future filled with hope and a God who invites us to join Him in it. Jarrod Stackelroth is the editor of the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times and Adventist Record. 1. <news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/huge-blow-forwilders-as-major-party-snubs-coalition/news-story/037148db06aaef00fca113a7b79e6720> 2. <adventistreview.org/ feature/have-we-rightlyunderstood-europes-role-indaniel-2/>
Check out this free masterclass on discovering the secrets of the future! AUC
That hasn’t stopped some from trying, though. In 1798 Napoleon, in an attempt to create a new European empire, took the Pope captive. Like others before him, Napoleon had aspirations for a revived Roman empire but his empire too ended in ruin. Since then, others have tried to conquer Europe—communists and fascists alike. Hitler tried in World War II, Stalin tried in the Cold War and figures like Vladimir Putin are trying today, though the terms are different. These figures have tried through warfare, coercion, as well as diplomacy, the European economic community or a “spirit of cooperation”. But the dream for peace and unity is not in vain.
longer allow rulers who enslave and exploit. All are welcome in. It will not be ruled by a Pax Romana (Roman peace) but by true peace, equity and justice. That’s because its ruler will not be a despot, dictator or degenerate: Jesus Christ, the Son of God will rule over all creation. Jesus Christ, the One who suffered under the boot of the Roman Empire and who gave Himself as a sacrifice for the world. Jesus Christ, the risen Lamb who will return as a conquering Lion. It’s an inspiring idea—but will it come true? Well, everything else in the dream has. Daniel gives this guarantee. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy” (Daniel 2:45). King Nebuchadnezzar could have sent Daniel away. Instead, he said this: “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery” (Daniel 2:47). “Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men” (Daniel 2:48). The same God who sent the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar, who knew the history of the world’s empires in advance, has set in motion a plan to reclaim the human race from the hurt and disease and death that we inflict on each other. As biblical
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As the seasons change, it’s the perfect time to shake up your exercise routine and move your body more.
1. Take the stairs Have the choice between stairs and an elevator when you arrive at work? Choose the stairs for an exercise snack straight off the bat. Taking the stairs will burn more calories and because your heart will be pumping when you walk through the door, your body will be flooded with endorphins and your mood will be boosted as well!
It is recommended that we do at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate weekly physical activity for good health—but that doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym three times a week. There’s growing evidence through 60
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new research that even short bursts of exercise or “exercise snacks” could be good for your fitness and overall health. These new studies reinforce the health and lifestyle benefits we can
2. Walk the dog Like us, dogs don’t like to sit still for too long. Let your pooch be your excuse to get up off the couch for a hit of fresh air and feel-good vibes alongside your exercise. Research shows walking every day can be more beneficial than people think, warding off heart disease and stroke. And if your pup picks up the pace in excitement on the way to the park, join in on
the enthusiasm. The more quickly you walk the better the health benefits. 3. Vacuum the house Household chores are the quintessential incidental exercise. They need to be completed and if we do them with gusto—keeping in mind the activity is helping to boost overall health as well as keep the house sparkling—the benefits will be twofold. 4. Enjoy music while you cook Whether you like to bake or only cook to eat, adding some tunes into the mix will get your foot tapping and your heart pumping. Make it something upbeat and groove to the music while you flit around the kitchen making your meal. Moving while you cook will “up the vibe”, release endorphins and burn more calories. 5. Plant a veggie patch Whether you live on acreage or have a tiny courtyard, there’s likely a place for a veggie patch in your home (or window sill). Gardening not only helps to keep you active—with all that digging, planting and harvesting—but it works wonders for your mental health too. Plus, time spent outdoors provides a hit of vitamin D.
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. APRIL 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
LUIZ FERNANDO—PEXELS
Five Exercise Snacks for Better Health
learn from the world’s longest-lived populations. Those living in the world’s Blue Zones have been exercise snacking for years. It’s only now that the rest of us are catching on to the beauty of this simple, yet beneficial approach to living. The people of the five Blue Zones: Loma Linda, California; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; and Nicoya, Costa Rica ensure they move their body every 20 minutes or so, integrating movement into their day. Try these five exercise snacks to help you stay healthy and happy.
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Crossword Puzzle CROSSWORD 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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