Signs of the Times May 2025

The mothers

of the mothers a christian perspective on the world today

In this issue May 2025 WHAT IN THE WORLD 04 WHY DO FRIENDSHIPS END? 06 The hard truth.

SOPHIE SCHOLL: THE TEEN WHO DEFIED THE NAZIS 12 Emblamatic of the White Rose movement, Sophie’s life and legacy are far-reaching.

THE MOTHERS OF THE MOTHERS

Reflections on the highs and lows of

motherhood from six different women.

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WHAT CREATION TELLS US ABOUT US 18 The never-ending story.

LIFE LESSONS FROM FRANK THE DOG 24 A small dog in a big dog world.

ASK PASTOR JESSE 30 HOMELESSNESS: IT ENDS WITH US 40 Fighting for a future without homelessness.

FOUR RED FLAGS TO WATCH IN YOUR TEEN’S RELATIONSHIP 46 No need to panic.

FAITH, POLITICS AND PROPHECY: WHY EVANGELICALS ARE OBSESSED WITH ISRAEL Short answer: it’s complicated.

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FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

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THE GREATEST SCAM EVER 54 Don’t believe the lie.

TOP FOODS FOR GOOD EYE HEALTH 60 It’s not just carrots.

SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE 62

@SIGNSMAG

A mother’s love Watching my wife become a mother has been an amazing experience—especially this year as our eldest has started school. It’s next level. The routines are starting to be put in place and there are numerous things we need to keep track of from day to day, from different uniforms to any number of other items. Every night before bed, she packs a lunch and makes sure our bags are ready for the next morning. Weekends aren’t really a break, with church and social commitments.

The calendar on the fridge is full and keeps the family somewhat organised. But it is my wife who is often most on top of things.

Don’t get me wrong, I pull my weight around the house. But there is something special—and sacrificial— about a mother’s love. They put their own health and needs on the back burner as they go into mum mode.

Their offspring stretch and strain their bodies and then stretch and strain their patience and sleep patterns. But still, mothers love with an unconditional love.

My wife isn’t perfect. None of us are. And I know not every mother is a good mother. However, many of us have experienced that sacrificial love of a mother (or mother figure) in our lives and it is a big part of who we are today. Whenever you read this article, even if Mother’s Day is in the past, take this as an encouragement to thank your mother, your wife or a mother figure in your life for their self-sacrificial love and everything they have done for you. In the everyday bustle of life, it is easy to lose touch with our mothers and forget to show them our appreciation and love. In this issue, we pay tribute to our mothers; Zanita brings us some wisdom from older mothers (p32); and as a team, we say thank you and Happy Mother’s Day. JARROD STACKELROTH Editor

VOL 139 NO 4

ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITORS Melody Tan Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsmag.com WEBSITE signsmag.com 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: Zanita Fletcher

WHAT IN THE WORLD Rise in homelessness AUSTRALIA

The number of people sleeping on the streets, in parks and living in cars has surged well above prepandemic levels across Australia.

In New South Wales, rough sleeping has grown by 51 per cent since 2020. The University of New South Wales identified escalating pressures in the rental sector as the primary drivers of worsening homelessness. Median rent has increased 51 per cent since the pandemic and the shortage of social housing has continued to intensify. The fastest-growing cohort affected within the population have been Indigenous people and persons aged 65plus.—UNSW

Home Kitchen London restaurant Home Kitchen was born out of the pandemic when a soup kitchen manager and a Michelin-starred chef thought to start a restaurant staffed by rough sleepers. Today, the restaurant serves the finest food and gives staff full-time jobs, a full-time wage, travel cards and catering training to give them the best chance to change their lives and avoid returning to homelessness. Cofounder Alex Brown said, “[It’s] about giving opportunities to people that need them “Sometimes in life you need a second chance . . . or a sixth chance, to start again.”—The Guardian 4

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TIMUR WEBER, PIXABAY, ETHAN BROOKE— PEXELS

UNITED KINGDOM

Can a mountain be a person?

NEW ZEALAND

The New Zealand mountain, once known as Mount Egmont, has been renamed Taranaki Mounga.

It is the country’s most climbed mountain and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for local Māori, who consider it an ancestor.

Parliament has granted Taranaki Mounga legal personhood, making it the third natural feature in New Zealand to receive the same rights, responsibilities and protections as a human. A new entity, which includes local Māori tribes, will serve as the mountain’s “face and voice”, working to uphold its health and wellbeing.

This recognition acknowledges the mountain’s historical theft from Māori during British colonisation in the 18th century.—BBC News

Exercise and alcohol UNITED STATES

No matter what you’re dealing with, exercise has long been known to offer relief, and new research suggests it may also help with alcohol use disorder. In a recent study, one group participated in aerobic exercises, resistance training and yoga, while another group had no intervention. Those who exercised reduced their alcohol consumption, experienced less anxiety and improved fitness.

Researchers believe exercise helps by lowering stress, improving mental health and stimulating the brain’s dopamine system, which controls the release of dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone. Since alcohol activates this system, exercise may provide the dopamine boost people with alcohol use disorder need.—Inverse MAY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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WHY DO

friendships

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end?

Losing a friend can be a painful experience, but it can also be a chance to learn, heal and become better at the art of loving well.

MODODEOLHAR— PEXELS

JENNIFER JILL SCHWIRZER

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t’s hard to admit, but some of the many friendships I’ve enjoyed in my life have ended. These estrangements resulted in a series of emotions, including an acute sense of failure. I teach relational health for a living so I hate to admit failure at something I teach. But someone out there needs the hard-earned wisdom I can offer, so I’ll try to be honest and helpful. Knife-in-the-back analogy notwithstanding, let me take a stab at this.

the importance of friendship

I believe that God, the great Designer, organised human life like an educational curriculum. The course makes us experts in how to love and be loved—our calling and purpose as beings wired for relationship.

The science of human development reveals this plan. Each stage of life features a unique relationship building on the foundation of the previous stage. These stages follow a process something like this: mother bond, father bond, sibling bond, friendship bond, spouse bond, parent bond, grandparent bond. If all goes according to plan, each subsequent trust bond more densely wires our brains for relationship until we’re geniuses at love. What a beautiful design!

Notice that friendship is the first relationship we form outside our family of origin. Friendship serves as a bridge from our family cocoon to the broader world. And friendship skills play heavily into our effectiveness as humans. Life hands us our 8

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families, but friends we must work for. Our families are pretty much stuck with us but our friends have no legal, logistical or biological incentive to stay. For this reason, friendships help us grow in new ways. They can also be more fragile and require more effort to maintain.

If the previous stages of relational learning went awry, we come to the friendship stage with a disadvantage.

A high-conflict, abusive, addictive or detached family of origin can deprive us of the benefits of healthy bonding.

Unfortunately, people with these adverse childhood experiences face a steeper climb toward stable, secure relationships. But there’s good news, too: this challenge can be met with extra effort and intentionality, and we can acquire as adults what our families did not teach us as children.

In other words, the art of friendship can be learned.

But not every friendship will thrive. I can think of three main categories of reasons for friend breakups.

Allow me to share them, along with some encouragement.

Unresolvable conflict: Some friend breakups involve good, honest people who, try though they might, cannot resolve their differences. During the Covid-19 pandemic, two best buddies came down on different sides of the vaccine issue. They loved each other but sharply disagreed and try as they might to harmonise their views, failed. These two friends decided to take a vacation from each other, praying and thinking through the issues. Once the issue passed the crisis point and they’d both made adjustments to their thinking, they successfully circled back to their friendship.

But even though these two took the sensible approach, thousands of

Each subsequent trust bond more densely wires our brains for relationship until we’re geniuses at love people did not. Friendships became permanently estranged, churches split, communities polarised. As humans we need a robust understanding and acceptance of the complexity of our subjective view of matters and a disposition to give a wide berth to others. What matters most in conflict is not the what, but the how. If we approach conflict with grace, wisdom and a disposition to assume the best, some of the necessary “friend breakups” in which we must part for a time, need not MAY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

ADAM THOMAS—UNSPLASH

three reasons for breakups

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Unbalanced investment: Sometimes one person does all the giving and the other all the taking. This works fine in a parent-child relationship because children are, well, children. But a mature adult parenting another adult? That won’t work as well. A certain fatigue sets in when one individual’s problems become the main fare of the relationship.

We are to live “with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1,2), but if we give and give to one relationship such that we have nothing left for anyone else, it may be time to erect a boundary.

The needy individual may respond to an honest conversation. Judging will likely cause them to retreat in shame, but a request for change may succeed. Try something like, “When we talk, we pretty much focus on your problems. I’m feeling kind of overwhelmed. I would like to have a listening ear some of the time.” This may provide enough of a course correction to make the relationship more comfortable. A gentle suggestion to seek counselling or mentoring might also yield a good outcome. In some cases, the kindest attempt will fail and the person will walk away with hurt feelings. Let them go. You did your best.

Unhealed betrayal: Some friendships suffer a more devastating rift— that of betrayal. There are Judases in

the world and almost nothing bewilders more than their cold-hearted treachery. The Psalmist cried, “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend” (Psalm 55:12,13).

Sometimes an honest conversation will yield a positive outcome and the betrayer will realise what they’ve done. If not, you must make a hard decision. Can you afford to remain proximal to a person who would only use that proximity to exploit you? To give exploitative people opportunity to do harm is ultimately to harm them as well as ourselves.

take an inventory

In the space afforded by a friend breakup, we can take a moral inventory in which we identify our own contribution to the problem.

Rather than dwell on their wrongs toward us, which we cannot change, we should think of how we can better conduct our friendships in the future. Friendships, which add so much to our lives, are not bulletproof. Love can be fragile. But what remains, even in the wake of a friendship ending, is our capacity to learn from our pain and carry on with a deeper determination to love and be loved.

Jennifer Jill Schwirzer is a musician, counsellor, wife, mother and lover of Jesus. She is an international speaker, has written 14 books and runs workshops to improve people’s relationships. Abide.Network is a mental health coaching and education ministry serving clients virtually.

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be permanent and need not leave us with a bitter taste in our mouths.

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Sophie Scholl: the teen who defied the Nazis An ordinary German girl, Sophie Scholl beame legendary when, at a young age, she became an integral part of the White Rose resistance movement.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

EMMIE WILLIS

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ophie Scholl was born in Forchtenberg, South Germany, on May 9, 1921, the fourth of six children. At the time, Germany was in turmoil. The people felt betrayed by their leaders following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, which devastated the once-thriving country. Throughout WWI, German leadership had maintained that they were the superior power and would defeat their enemies, even when it became clear they were losing the war. Because of this, when the war ended and the Germans signed the treaty, harsh sanctions were imposed on Germany. Vast tracts of land were taken away and the Rhineland (Germany’s industrial heart) was occupied by Allied troops. The German army was reduced to a maximum of 100,000 men. All Germany’s colonies were seized and most damaging of all, reparations were imposed upon Germany to compensate the Allies for damages incurred during the war.

It’s understandable that everyday Germans felt bitterness and resentment. They felt they were cheated of their rightful victory, that they were sold out by their leaders. Into this political climate came the National Socialist German Workers Party (also known as the Nazis) with promises that they make a better Germany— that they would make Germany great once more.

the seed of resistance

While many supported them, not all Germans embraced the Nazis.

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Sophie Scholl was raised in a Christian household. Her parents believed in speaking up for truth, even when it was painful to do so. The Scholl household hosted many political discussions.

A few months before Sophie’s 13th birthday, the Nazis were voted into power. They brought with them a lot of change, not least of which was a rush of youth groups popping up with the aim of supporting Nazi values. In addition to the official youth groups were some not officially affiliated with the Nazi party, whether because they existed before youth groups became a political platform or because they wanted to explore their own way through Nazi values without having to follow the official rules and their emphasis on military training. The Nazis did not like unofficial youth groups, however, and soon a law was implemented banning any such groups. However, some defied the law and kept going. Sophie, as well as her brothers Werner and Hans, who supported the Nazis against their parents’ wishes, were part of one such group. Because of this law-breaking, Hans and Werner were arrested in 1937, along with other members of the illegal youth group. Werner and the others were soon released with a warning, but Hans was detained for longer. This prolonged time in prison made him start to think hard

sophie’s struggle

Those questions stayed in the back of Sophie’s mind as she tried to fulfil her dream of studying at university. However, when WWII broke out, a law was implemented that only those who had served time in National Labour Service would be given leave to seek higher education. At first, Sophie quit school to take on an apprenticeship as a kindergarten teacher in the hopes that this would satisfy the requirement.

However, when she realised it would not, she joined the National Labour Service and found it to be arduous. The strict discipline with no room for personal expression did not suit her and she chafed at it. But eventually, she was able to enrol in the University of Munich where she studied biology and philosophy while also studying religion as much as she could.

Her brother, Hans, also attended the University of Munich after having completed his conscription services as a medic on the eastern front. When Sophie heard some of the stories he brought home of the cruelties of the Nazis in their treatment of captured enemies, she felt the injustice of it and wanted

to do something. It wasn’t until she came across a pamphlet one day that she had any idea what she could do.

This pamphlet contained information about the ugly truth the Nazis were trying to contain as well as a call to action for the citizens of Germany.

It was highly illegal and if the Nazis found out who wrote it, the perpetrators would be killed for treason.

Sophie recognised the writing and knew immediately that Hans was involved.

the White Rose

When she confronted him, he tried to keep her out of it because of the danger—but she was adamant that she be included. Thus, she became a member of the resistance group known as the White Rose. It was a small group of mostly students and one professor bent on fighting back with the power of truth. Most of the members were Christians, unable to turn a blind eye to the cruelty happening in their country. They still had faith in the German people and formed the White Rose to tell the truth about what was happening and spark a fire of resistance that they hoped would defeat the Nazis and end their reign of injustice. They wrote pamphlets and mailed them to people encouraging them in whatever resistance efforts they could manage, from sabotaging ammunitions factories to publicly speaking out against the Nazis.

At the time of the release of their sixth pamphlet, it was increasingly MAY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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about what the Nazis were doing, comparing them with the values he knew to be true, and when he was finally released, he brought those questions home with him.

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the New York Times, about German students protesting the Nazis. This helped boost morale near the end of a very long war. They also managed to get a copy of the sixth pamphlet, which they copied and dumped over Germany from planes, scattering the passionate call to arms.

Sophie never resorted to violence; she held true to the belief that truth would set them free. She was loud during her lifetime, ensuring her voice and those of her fellow conspirators would be heard far and wide. But she was even louder in death, holding her head high in the face of injustice. Many books, movies and plays have been written to tell her story, ensuring that her courage in speaking the truth will not be in vain and that Sophie Scholl will never be forgotten.

Emmie Willis is an avid student of literature; always looking for new ways to describe the impact of God’s love in her life.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

clear that the Germans would lose this war also. This emboldened the White Rose, and they took increased risks, hand delivering the pamphlets around their university. Sophie was in the corridor between classes when she realised that there was a stack of these pamphlets that would go to waste if she didn’t act so she grabbed them and threw them down the stairwell. Unfortunately, a janitor who was loyal to the Nazis saw her and reported her. She and her brother, as well as their friend, Christoph Probst, were arrested within hours. At the time, Hans was carrying the draft for their seventh pamphlet.

The three were executed for treason on February 22, 1943. Sophie was just 21 years old. To the very end, she held true to their cause. This wasn’t the end of the impact of the White Rose however, as the Allies heard of the executions and ran stories in their newspapers, including

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What Creation tells us about us The story of existence is still being told to this day.

NATHAN BROWN

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FATINMARK—PEXELS

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order from chaos

So, if we turn back to the first couple of pages of the Bible, we will find an expanded description of God’s originating activity of the world as we know it. It is a poetic description of how something was brought out of nothing, detailing a process by which order was brought out of disorder or chaos, and insisting repeatedly that God was the active agent: “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).

As we were alerted in Hebrews 11, then we hear the voice of God. Every movement of creation begins with “Then God said . . .” and concludes with God’s declaration of the goodness of what had been made. This is described over six days until we hear a final declaration of blessings over the newly created human beings and a seventh day of rest (see Genesis 1:28; 2:3). This first part of the story culminates with God surveying all that had been made “and he saw that it was very good!” (Genesis 1:31).

Human beings are designed in relationship to what is around us. We exist in contexts.

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a second story

The second section of this origin story (see Genesis 2) is a re-telling of

COTTONBRO STUDIO, RAFAEL PAUL, OLIVER SJÖSTRÖM, ALEX ANDREWS, ZETONG LI, PIXABAY—PEXELS

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t seems that one of the requirements for any sustainable worldview, philosophy or faith is that it should have some account of origins.

Perhaps we could think about it simply as a necessary element of a good story. It is certainly one of the recurring tropes of superhero sequels or sci-fi epics that at some point we will come to better understand a character—whether hero or antihero—if we can learn more of where they came from and how they came to be that way.

So it is hardly surprising that the common Hebrew and Christian scriptures begin with a story of creation. A later Christian writer would summarise the story like this: “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen” (Hebrews 11:2). The appeal to faith recognises that there is some mystery in the Bible’s story of origins, but it also directs those of us who come to believe in God back to that story for further insights into what God intended for that creation—how the world ought to be—and what this means for who we are and how we ought to live, even in a world that we will discover is not all that it was created to be.

the creation of human beings with greater detail, greater intimacy and further implications for their—and our—roles and relationships. There seems to be something of a hiccup for a moment when the original man (Adam) is found alone, but the ongoing process of creation is resolved by the further intervention of God, who then created “man and woman” from the single entity, together reflecting the image of God as anticipated in the first narrative: “In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Together, these first humans were assigned the role of gardeners and caretakers—“to tend and watch over” the garden that was representative of the newly created world into which humanity was intended to grow (see Genesis 2:15).

This is our picture of the world we understand—by faith—that God created and a depiction of what that world was intended to be. In contrast to primeval chaos, it was a world that was carefully and intentionally ordered. Day and night, sky and earth, sea and land, populated by sun and moon, birds and fish, plants and animals, with human beings and regular cycles of days, weeks and seasons, that would function as a whole, with each playing its part.

This relationality was the foundational structure of creation. All created life and systems of life were interdependent and indivisible. No individual life, creature or component, could flourish for long if taken MAY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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God–human: In the biblical origin story, this is the first and initiating relationship that defines what it means to be human: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us’” (Genesis 1:26).

God created this relationship by making human beings. It has been suggested that this might have been the primary reason for creating anything, so as to be in relationship with that creation and particularly with that part of the creation that was most “like us”.

We see this relationship as the first to be broken when the story went wrong in Genesis 3. Replacing the close relationship between God and these first humans, they heard God walking towards them in the garden but “they hid from the Lord God among the trees” because they were afraid (Genesis 3:8, see also verse 10).

Human–self: In Genesis 2, the man is first depicted by himself, given

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away from its designed context.

This is also an important, intended and inherent insight into what it means to be human in such a creation. Human beings are designed in relationship to what is around us.

We exist in contexts. Not only do we struggle for meaning, but we will struggle for existence apart from those contexts. While theologians argue about various explanations of what being created “in the image of God” might mean, the theological concept of God as trinity—three Persons in so close a relationship as to be one God—suggests human relationality might be a vital aspect of that image.

Reflecting on key elements within the Bible’s creation stories and the story of that creation going wrong, commonly known as the Fall as narrated in Genesis 3, there are four cardinal relationships for which we are designed.1

autonomy and responsibility. He was at home in the garden God planted and, together with the woman at the end of that episode, they were unashamed (see Genesis 2:25). Again, this relationship was disrupted by their choice to distrust God and their first reported emotions were fear and shame, recognising they were naked (see Genesis 3:10).

Human–others: While God undoubtedly knew what He was doing, it is presented almost as an afterthought that “it is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

That the two resulting humans were part of each other demonstrated how essentially and closely we are and should be inter-relational. When that relationship was strained, the man and the woman immediately began blaming each other (see Genesis 3:12). However, our relationships in all the different parts of our lives continue to be key components of who we are.

Human–creation: Intriguingly, the second origin story portrays God creating all the animals and birds in relation to the man, who then exercised his caretaking role by naming each one of them (see Genesis 2:18, 19). The portrayal of creation as a garden showed the ordered relationships the human beings were to have with all creatures, plants and systems within the creation. And the disordering that came as a result of their broken relationship with God included a more difficult relationship with that wider creation, as

presented in the “curses” or implications of the Fall (see Genesis 3:17–19) and their eventual banishment from the garden (see Genesis 3:23).

Both human origin stories presented in the Bible emphasise the intention, order and goodness of creation and the relationality of all things, but particularly of the human beings who are portrayed as having special relationships with God, each other and all of the rest of creation.

We see this in the positive descriptions of creation and in the details of what was lost. Again, we discover an origin story that is helpful to understanding who we are and how our world had gone wrong, even offering insights into how we can work towards its repair: “The biblical story explains how every community’s story began and why their stories are full of pain, injustice and struggle at the same time that they are full of joy, loving relationships and hope.”2 This is about why the world was made, how it ought to be and how we ought to be within it. And it is the beginning of the Bible’s larger story of God’s plan of restoration and re-creation, beginning with reconciling these relationships. Like any good origin story, the seeds of the future chapters or episodes of the story were already there in the beginning.

Nathan Brown is book editor for the Signs Publishing Company, based in Warburton, Victoria.

1. These four relationships are set out in Bryant Myers’, Walking With the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Orbis Books, 2011.

2. Ibid, Myers.

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Life lessons from Frank the dog Sometimes, being a big dog isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

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BRUCE MANNERS

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astor and author Ed Gungor reckons he’s learned a lot about life from Frank, his small white-haired terrier. So much so that he has entitled his book One Small Barking Dog: How to Live a Life That’s Hard to Ignore.

In his words, “He may be small, but he lives large in the Gungor family.

He thinks he’s one of us and believes his is the role of protector.”1 We all have an innate desire for the spectacular, to take on the world.

Instead, says Gungor, we should “fall in love with life—the everyday, normal kind. The beauty of a small dog is that he doesn’t worry about being small. He’s ready to take on the world.”

falling in love with life?

Psychologist Mark Travers tells us that if we feel like we’re stuck in a rut, “just going through the motions”, that sometimes “a simple detour is all it takes to rediscover joy”.2 He has five suggestions to help with your detour: 1.

2.

3.

4.

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Rediscover old hobbies, but add a new twist or approach. For instance, if you used to love painting, try a new style or medium.

Embrace the unexpected. You never know what it may add.

Learn a new skill. Something you always wanted to try, ranging from origami to a PhD, to . . . it’s about what fits you.

Transform passive interest

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5.

into active pursuits. Instead of reading about or watching television about things, go investigate comparable interests live—that could include historical sites, cultural events or whatever fits your interests.

Have mini adventures. They can be spontaneous quick getaways or more extensive projects. You choose.

Or you can simply follow the Frank method. Gungor notes, “No matter what life delivers, Frank throws himself into it. And he’s a blast to watch. Whether it’s front-door guard duty, eating, sleeping, going outside or playing, he is fully present in the moment.”

Fully present in the moment is an excellent goal.

the big-dog lie

Gungor warns that: “The youneed-to-be-a-big-dog-to-matter story leads one to believe that worth is determined by beauty, money, position, etcetera. If that’s true, then we are compelled to do all we can to get as much of that stuff as possible.

“Before you buy into the big-dog lie, give it careful thought. Big dogs put their confidence in things that impress other big dogs. Admittedly, such things are easy to notice, but they are external. They don’t tell you who a big dog really is on the inside.

It’s what’s inside that counts most.

And there’s another problem: when

externals matter too much, it makes you weird.”

The big message? “Forget about big. Abandon your longing for the spectacular.”

How we see ourselves is important. “Research tells us that healthy relationships are key to our wellbeing, but we often overlook the one that we all have in common: our relationship with ourselves. Our relationship with ourselves is so ubiquitous that we may take it for granted, though arguably it might be the one that we should attend to the most.”

Having said that, Dr Susanna Wu-Pong Calvert, psychologist and leadership coach, confesses that,

“Even if someone had told me years ago that I should care for myself as I would any other cherished loved one, I’m sure I would have had to discover it the hard way.” She has since forgiven herself for her weakness back then. “Now, like a good friend, I do not make assumptions about what my true self wants, needs or feels.

Rather, I really stop and listen to my heart and soul.”3

being who you are

As Gungor has emphasised, we all have an innate desire for the spectacular, to take on the world. With Frank, he’s discovered that “the small dog exhibits the kind of endurance that will make a difference in the world; it refuses to cash in—it pushes past quitting points. What are some of those quitting points? And how do we learn to keep going—or just hang on—when everything in us wants to give up?” It’s who he is.

The message? Whether you’re a “big dog” or a “small dog” it’s who you are that’s important.

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Forget about big.

Abandon your longing for the spectacular.

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And being who you are pays off, says counsellor Suzanne Degges-White. That begins with “feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin takes a lot less effort than play-acting someone else’s idea, or your idea, of who you should be”.

She adds: “One of the powers of authenticity is that we don’t worry so much about the people who don’t like who we are. When we’re not trying to be someone else, we can accept that not everyone will appreciate who we are and what we stand for.” And there is this bonus, adds Degges-White: “‘When you do you’ it gives those around you the opportunity to be themselves, as well.”4 That’s a winwin situation.

you do matter

“It’s hard for us to grasp the idea that we matter just because we are, not because we stand out in some unique, masterful way,” says Gungor.

“Even Frank isn’t loved in our family because he’s the most amazing 28

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dog on the planet. Sure, he knows some cool tricks and he does sing along when we sing (which makes us laugh), but that’s not why we love him. We love him because he’s Frank.

He’s our puppy—an old one—but still our puppy. And we love our puppy.”

Mattering is important for humans too. Writer Polly Campbell writes that research shows “that those who believe they count for something are more capable of achieving their goals. They are happier in their relationships and act with greater self-compassion. On the flipside, those who don’t feel as though they matter to anyone are more likely to suffer from burnout, anxiety and depression. They also run the risk of aggressive behaviour and self-harm.”

Mattering helps in “both increasing your sense of value and letting others know they matter to you—it’s about participating. Show up consistently. Elevate the energy in every room you enter. You don’t have to be loud or boisterous to make a

live a life that matters

Gungor reckons that we ordinary humans can—and should—follow Frank’s approach. “Frank loves his life. He doesn’t dread Mondays, and he doesn’t live for the weekend. In his world, every day is a new opportunity, something to look forward to, and a new day to experience happiness, contentment and joy.”

That’s Frank—he’s living a life that matters to him.

Where are you at with what matters?

Psychology professor Lizabeth Roemer says that “by reflecting on what matters to us, we can actively choose to add in actions that are more rewarding. We can take a moment to connect to someone on our way to work, or add reading or physical activity into our daily routines, or pause to notice our environment in the midst of a busy day.

“Being clear about what matters to us can also bring a sense of satisfaction to daily tasks. We can approach making breakfast or doing the dishes as a chore, or we can connect

these tasks to caring for ourselves, our home, and/or our families and experience a moment of satisfaction as we act consistent with this value of care.

“Taking time to reflect on what matters to us can help us to make choices in moments throughout our day that enhance our lives.

“So, take a few moments to reflect on various domains in your life—in relationships, at school, at work, in community, and with regard to self-care and fun—and see if you can identify one or two (non-goaloriented!) values you hold that can serve as a compass for you.”6 Gungor adds the following as a challenge: “Decide that your life is going to matter—no matter how big or small you are. Act, speak and engage using all the persistence, courage, vision and faith you can muster—master the small-dog life, and you will live a life that’s hard to ignore.”

And it’s a good reminder that you don’t have to be a big dog to make a difference.

Bruce Manners is an author, retired pastor and former editor of the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times. He is based in Lilydale, Victoria.

1. Ed Gungor, One Small Barking Dog. Simon and Schuster, 2010.

2. <psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202409/5ways-to-fall-in-love-with-your-life> 3. <psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-heart-of-healing/202309/path-to-your-true-self-the-relationship-withyourself> 4. <psycholgytoday.com/intl/blog/lifetime-connections/202107/ you-do-you-how-being-yourself-pays> 5. <psychologytoday.com/au/blog/imperfect-spirituality/202311/do-you-matter> 6. <psychologytoday.com/au/blog/mindfully-doing-what-matters/202302/clarifying-what-matters> MAY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

EGOR MYZNIK—UNSPLASH

positive difference, but adding value by making others feel noticed and appreciated is an active thing.”

Sharing gratitude and appreciation fits here as does helping others and allowing others to help you. In short, Campbell urges us to understand that “everyone counts. Everyone is important. When we remind others that they matter then we matter too.”5

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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 think this question still needs explaining to understand my perspective as an agnostic.

We know God is all knowing, all powerful and all loving. We also know the conditions to going to heaven are to believe in God as your personal Saviour, worship Him and love Him. Everything that will ever happen is part of God’s divine plan.

Using this lens, when something bad happens, it’s considered part of God’s plan. This means that regardless of what happens, everything will play out how He knows it will.

Knowing all of this, God still made a large portion of humanity knowing they would go to hell. Just by using statistics we know that [around] 33 per cent of the world is Christian. This means that more than six billion people (75 per cent) are headed for hell. So, God’s holy plan is as follows: make billions of people knowing they go to hell so that the minority praises Him in heaven?

We are simply calculated collateral damage made for His glory. I cannot reconcile with that. I’ve talked to a lot of Christian friends and family but no-one can answer the clear contradiction of God’s love when faced with hell.

—InevitableArt3809 on <reddit.com/ DebateAChristian>. Question has been shortened for brevity.

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God’s power is immense. Nothing is too difficult for Him (Genesis 18:14); He can do whatever He wants (Jeremiah 32:17) and He can even use evil for His purposes (Acts 4:28). However, God does have His limits. He can’t lie (Numbers 23:19); He can’t do anything evil; although, He does sometimes change His mind (Numbers 14:12).

God’s knowledge is also “beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5); nothing is beyond His sight (Hebrews 4:13); He even knows the future (Acts 2:23).

So, is God really “all knowing?” While His knowledge is unparalleled, as with God’s “all power”, we should not presume to assign God a category He Himself never claims.

“All loving” is a little easier to imagine, as numerous biblical authors speak to it (1 John 4:7–9). Plus, knowing what we know about God, it makes sense that He truly is “all loving”.

The philosophical categories we’ve created to describe God are sometimes helpful in imagining the unimaginable—but if we hold onto them too tightly, they will limit our view on God and may even cause us to create problems that aren’t consistent with the biblical story. Consider this: even if God truly is all powerful, all knowing and all loving, He still chooses to limit Himself—if only for the reason that He chooses to work through flawed humans.

One thing I must push back on is the idea that everything, good, evil and benign, is all “part of God’s plan”. To be sure, this is a position some Christians hold to—but it’s not

biblical. As we’ve already established, God’s power, knowledge and love are unparallelled—but I don’t believe the Bible supports the view that God has a “pre-determined” plan that is currently being mysteriously worked out as we speak. It’s unhelpful to think of your dad’s cancer diagnosis or a genocide on the other side of the world as “all part of God’s plan”.

It’s not comforting to believe that all suffering is somehow all part of some grand plan. Make no mistake: God does have a plan—but not how we might think of it. The very fact that God has entrusted “this treasure in jars of clay” (human frailty; 2 Corinthians 4:7) speaks to His commitment to partner with unpredictable humans. The disciple Peter says that God is patient, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”

(2 Peter 3:9).

God’s heart is for all peoples in all times to come to Him—but it’s not for us to put boundaries around where and how God acts. From a pastoral perspective, I am convinced that even in the darkest corners of our world, God is still active. As Christians, we consider it a privilege to carry the good news of Jesus to all corners of the globe—but that doesn’t mean God waits for us before acting. Though we can’t see it, He’s always working.

Want to get your question published in the next issue? Ask Jesse a question by scanning this code!

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The mothers

of the mothers

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After decades of raising children and seeing them become parents themselves, six women reflect on the highs and lows of motherhood—and the things they wish they’d known from the start.

INTERVIEWS BY ZANITA FLETCHER

What was it like when you first became a mother?

I think it’s overwhelming for every woman because you don’t know what’s ahead. I remember my mum warning me, “Rhonda, it’s not an easy path!” You hear it all, but it’s not until you experience it that you understand.

What’s been your favourite part?

All my son’s life was really good.

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My name is Rhonda (71). I have one son and two grandchildren.

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me with the other side of things.

He used to do everything he could to help me. When he grew up, he learnt to cook which was nice. One day he even burnt the kitchen down while frying chips on the stove. That memory will stick forever. [Laughs].

What was most helpful for you during those early years?

I went through a rough time with depression after my marriage ended.

Just getting up in the morning was hard. It was like I had this robotic energy. To add to that, my son didn’t sleep for years and I was working nights at the time. But my sister and mum used to take him on weekends so I could get some sleep. Without their support, I don’t know how I would have survived.

If you could go back and tell young Rhonda something, what would you say?

Don’t take so much on yourself! I wanted to be perfect as a mother. I tried to be as a wife, but that didn’t work. We all try to be the best, but being perfect always requires more than we can give and leaves you feeling like you have nothing left in the tank for yourself.

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Is there something you want to pass onto your grandchildren?

I think everyone needs to teach their children respect, reliability and responsibility. Values are a bit different these days. It’s all about me first and everyone else later.

How is life for you today?

I’m single and retired and can look around and say, “Wow, I’m happy where I am.” As you age, you really start to appreciate that you’re still here, because many haven’t made it. I always say to my son, “I’m so grateful to God to wake up each morning with my feet on the ground.” That’s a big thing for me, especially after having a stroke a few years ago.

My name is Mihaela (62). I have three children and two grandchildren.

Your granddaughters are only a few months old. How are you finding being a grandparent so far?

It’s better than being a parent! I think everyone will say that. You’re wiser and get more time with them.

What were things like for you when you first became a mum?

I had my three boys in Romania during communism. I had a cot, a

communism mentality. People were stressed about life. It was like they thought, You’re having too many children . . . times are already hard.

I felt that shame with every child. I don’t think I even have a picture of being pregnant. And my husband didn’t get to see any of the boys be born because family wasn’t allowed in the hospital.

Were there any golden moments during that difficult time?

There were days we knew our aunties were visiting, and we’d make a special cake, boil the tea and get out the knitting needles. It was nice to have all the children—but it was also hard. Everything took time. We didn’t have hot water, we washed our clothes by hand, cooked everything from scratch.

Are there aspects of life in Romania that you’ve tried to hold onto within your family?

In Romania, everything was about talking to people—in the park, in the shops—it was all you had to do. We learnt everything from our mothers and grandmothers—that was the only way. Nowadays it is harder because our phones are with us everywhere.

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pram and a milk bottle—that’s it.

My in-laws would visit from Austria every now and then and bring a pack of nappies. They were so precious we’d save them for Saturdays.

Was that the most difficult period of parenting, during communism?

I think so. The country was drained and there wasn’t much for people to eat or buy. We had to queue for butter and milk and the shops only had a few things. Petrol was limited too, so we couldn’t go far.

My husband and I had to leave our three boys with their grandparents and go to Austria. We didn’t know when we’d see them again, but five months later, to our surprise, communism fell and we were reunited.

Why did you have to leave?

In Romania, they were making life very difficult for Christians. They started having school on Saturdays and made it compulsory for boys to join the army. I knew I couldn’t go through that with three boys. Even now when I think back to leaving them, my heart breaks. But it was the best decision for our family’s future.

My sister-in-law lived in Austria, which is why they let us leave. First, my husband went over. Then I went by myself. Had we gone together with our boys, they wouldn’t have let us through. They would have known we wouldn’t go back to Romania.

Wow. Do you remember what it was like having your first child?

I had my first at 19. I didn’t tell my friends until I was showing, because I felt ashamed. I think it was the

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Now you all live so close, yes?

Yes! My parents, some of my siblings and my three boys are in the same town. Each Friday night we all have dinner together. Every now and then, someone says to me, “Do you realise how lucky you are to have everyone so close to you?” I’m very fortunate. Maybe I did something right. [Laughs] . . . I don’t know.

What do you want to pass on to your children and grandchildren?

To do their best and to prioritise family. Even now, I’m looking at my windows thinking, “Ugh, they look disgusting.” But I either stay home and clean windows or I go spend time with my granddaughters.

grandchildren came to live with my husband and I and we raised them.

I was overjoyed to have them in my company again. One has since moved out, but we still have Jess, who is 25 and she has Down Syndrome.

Jess has such a big heart!

She does. Sometimes you have to give her a bit of time to do things, but she’s a good kid.

What is something you’ve tried to uphold in your family?

To love each other no matter what. In my family, nobody ever hugged you or said, “I love you.” I’ve tried to change that, as I never got that and always wished I did.

What does life look like now?

I do lots of gardening and look after my chickens. My goal is just to stay healthy and be here for Jess as long as I can.

My name is Dawn (77). I have three children and 10 grandchildren.

Your children are all grown up, but you’re still very much parenting.

Yes, when my son’s marriage separated, his kids moved away with their mum. I was devastated because I was really close with them. I cried for about six weeks and then out of the blue I got a call saying their mum wasn’t coping. So, two of my 36

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My name is Gillian (70). I have four children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

You have a bit of a commune here.

Yes. We have one son on one side, another son up the hill and on the other side we have our daughter—

which made me a bad mum. If I was watching them, [it meant] I wasn’t being a good wife and cooking dinner. I felt like I couldn’t do anything right. I remember one day crying to God, “I can’t please anyone . . . I get everything wrong.” Yet, I used to work so hard to get everything done. But I heard God say to me, “Gill, I’m pleased with you.” So, when mine do things I don’t agree with, I just try to love them. I don’t try to project anything they should be. God never did that to me.

What’s been important for you to teach your children?

Animals know they’ve got to raise their cub to be able to go out and survive. We don’t do that. We entertain them and make them selfish, lazy and entitled—we don’t teach them how to truly live. And I believe the happiest place is when you are giving. The happiest my grandson has ever been was when he was making me food, keeping me company and trying to help his grandma live.

What kinds of things do you like to do with your grandchildren?

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and all their families, of course.

Did you always dream of living communally with your family?

I went to New Guinea on a surf trip when I was young and I felt at home in the village. Nobody was lonely. They did everything together.

To me, the secret of raising children is to be with them. Children don’t care if you’re old or frail—they just want someone who is available.

What do you remember about first becoming a mother?

I was only 16 when I fell pregnant.

But I loved it. I felt like this was my fit. I used to bathe my daughter a few times a day because I just liked looking after her. In those days, your only goal was to be a wife and mother.

Is there a memory you cherish with your children?

When you have a baby, there’s all this love in your heart for this tiny thing that really doesn’t bring anything except a lot more work, but you don’t want to be anywhere else. You can make their life like there’s no bad in the world. And you’re not going to spoil them with love at that age!

Did you have much support in those younger years?

No, my mum had 13 children and went through a nervous breakdown.

I was the sixth child, so she was too busy when I was having children.

So, you did OK? Well, not really. We lived with my husband’s parents and they were really hard on me. If my kids were in the bath and I wasn’t cooking dinner, [it meant] I wasn’t watching them

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We make origami creatures, go for walks in the bush, draw what we’re thankful for and we pray for other people, which encourages them to be interested in someone else’s life.

What advice do you have for other mums out there?

When I was young, I was surfing, I had four children and a nice home, but I wasn’t happy. Now, I can barely leave the house. I have terrible asthma and incredible pain. But my life is full of joy! There’s a beautiful quote I hold onto: “God has made ample provision for His children that if we rely on His strength, we will never be the spoil of circumstances.”

I love that.

I should say, I didn’t know all these things when I was younger. That’s why you have to be gentle on your children and grandchildren when they make mistakes.

My name is Cherry (63). I have four children and 11 grandchildren.

How did you find becoming a mum?

It was scary! The first baby was the most difficult because I didn’t know what I was doing. But I found my way, 38

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just taking one day at a time.

Do you have a favourite memory?

We used to play touch football together and our whole family was a team. It was a lot of fun!

Do you still play together now?

No, but we still get together every year and play lots of games. It’s the best. Nothing beats being together.

How has it been seeing your children become parents themselves?

Oh, fantastic. It can also be difficult because you want to offer advice, so they won’t have to experience all you had to. But they don’t always take it, so sometimes you have to watch them suffer the consequences. All you can do is tell them, “This is what worked for me.” It’s up to them to decide. They just need to know that you are backing them up and that you will support them no matter what.

What is life like for you now?

It’s nice to have freedom from the stress of being a parent. But it can also get lonely. Having a church family has been a huge blessing. Now my life is about trying to help those in our community. I’ve also been able to travel and that’s been really

My name is Nerida (70). I have three children and 10 grandchildren.

What were your first impressions of becoming a mother?

It was the best thing! It’s almost a spiritual thing to have a baby. You know, it feels sacred. To have this bump, then suddenly a new life in your hands that you’re instantly in love with. It’s a sad thing that the men never get to fully experience it.

Which phase did you enjoy most?

When they’re babies, they can be so needy of you that it can be quite exhausting. When they’re toddlers, they’re of course so cute. But when they’re adults they become a friend.

You become equals and you start looking up to them for things.

Your family has travelled a lot.

We spent a year travelling with the kids in a motorhome through Europe and the Middle East. After that, we lived and worked in Russia

as missionaries for a few years before returning to Australia. We grew a lot together during our travels, explored so many cultures and met new people every day.

Do you think that’s why your family is so open and close?

We’ve tried to be big talkers with our kids. My parents weren’t good communicators. When my husband and I were courting, his mother would sit me down, give me a drink and a piece of cake, and ask all these questions to get to know me. I just loved that.

What do you hope to pass down?

I believe the biggest influence we can have on our family is to lead by example. We spent many years doing volunteer mission work and have taken some of our kids and grandkids on trips to help people in other countries. We’re very conscious of showing them the love of God, meaning we try to encourage them to love others and look outward, not inward.

Zanita Fletcher is the assistant editor for the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times.

She writes from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

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amazing. I just got back from a trip in Europe with my son and his children—travelling is exhausting with young children. I’d never do it . . . but they weren’t mine. [Laughs].

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Homelessness:

IT ENDS W

Homelessness isn’t something that just happens to “other people”. It can touch any one of us, at any time—and in a country as wealthy as Australia, it’s a reality we can and must change.

SALLY-ANNE CLARK

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JONATHAN KHO—UNSPLASH

WITH US

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people, not data

Picture a married couple. They’re homeowners, run a successful business and have three teenage sons in private school. The family is 42

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heavily active in their local AFL club, involved in their church and they love camping together. Yet they find themselves in a situation they never imagined. The marriage breaks down due to mental ill health, substance misuse and domestic violence. After a traumatic sequence of events, the family become homeless.

This experience was my experience. Thanks to the generosity of friends, my sons and I were able to couch surf. But we were separated for several weeks while staying in other people’s homes. Meanwhile, my husband found himself in various unstable environments, including boarding houses and crisis accommodation services.

Homelessness is just that: an experience of not having a home. It’s not simply about having a roof over your head.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines homelessness by this notion of “home”-lessness, not “roof”-lessness. It’s about lacking the core elements of a home as understood in Anglo-American contexts: a sense of security, stability, privacy, safety and control over one’s living space.

Homelessness is, therefore, the absence of one or more of these fundamental things that make up “home”.² It’s important to note that homelessness stems from systemic and structural issues like poverty, low income, and a lack of safe and affordable housing. While it is structural and systemic issues that have

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ccording to Professor and author Cameron Parsell, “The presence of homelessness constitutes evidence of societal failure. People who are homeless in wealthy, democratic societies with a welfare state powerfully demonstrate the numerous and interacting problems concerning how we organise society.”¹ While homelessness is a complex issue with many contributing factors and potential solutions, it’s important that we understand why so many Australians are experiencing it—and why the numbers continue to rise.

It’s not a problem we can afford to ignore.

I’m not going to focus on the data.

We’ve seen the statistics, over and over. The cost-benefit analysis of ensuring Australians have access to affordable housing has been completed. It’s shown that providing people with affordable housing and support costs less than allowing them to remain homeless. The cost of homelessness to individuals, our communities and the economy is enormous—and it only increases the longer someone remains homeless.

For whatever reason, governments and communities have not been listening to the numbers. So, let’s talk about the human story.

caused homelessness in Australia, some groups are more at risk. These include those who have experienced family and domestic violence, young people, children on care and protection orders, First Nations people, individuals leaving health or social care settings, and older Australians.

what comes to mind for you?

What do you picture when you think about homelessness? Maybe it’s the men and women sleeping rough on the streets of your city. Perhaps it’s the young people you see moving from place to place in groups, or the couples staying in tent cities in coastal towns. You might think of someone experiencing mental ill health or substance misuse, who talks to themself and sleeps in the park.

If we’re going to change the homelessness crisis in Australia, we need to stop thinking about people experiencing homelessness as “those people” or “others”. They are not “others”. They are your mum, your friend, your uncle, your daughter, your neighbour.

It’s your friend in her mid-50s who recently divorced and doesn’t have enough income or savings to rent or buy a home of her own and needs to live in shared accommodation. It’s your elderly aunt who can no longer afford to live independently. It’s the teenager who can’t live at home due to abuse. It’s your colleague who had to leave a violent relationship and is now in accommodation where she

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what is the way forward?

There are multiple solutions that have been presented, discussed and 44

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actioned across Australia and the globe. They include rental subsidies, more social housing, designing and building appropriate housing models like supportive housing and Housing First, investing in tenancy sustainment services, improving renters’ rights and local laws, and ensuring we have live data while working collaboratively to make homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring.

These are good solutions. But unless we change Australia’s dominant paradigm, how is there hope for lasting change?

If we don’t see housing as a basic human right for all Australians, how will we gain the momentum to change? If we don’t stop “othering” people, how can we ever create homes for everyone?

When the majority of Australians see housing as a human right for all—not just for people they think “deserve” it because they work hard, don’t take drugs or contribute to society—that’s when we will start to see lasting change.

That’s when people will support more funding for housing supply and support services. That’s when homes will stop being seen as a way to increase personal wealth and start being viewed as a way to build healthy communities. That’s when local councils, state and federal governments will write policies differently. That’s when banks and corporations will step up to help people stay in their homes.

TIMUR WEBER— PEXELS

doesn’t feel safe or have any control over who visits. It’s the middle-aged teacher so overwhelmed by the stress of mortgage repayments who, out of shame, leaves his family and lives in his car. It’s the young families who can’t afford the few rentals available on the market. The young tradie who moved interstate for a fresh start, only to find accommodation is unaffordable and now sleeps in his ute. And yes, it’s also people struggling with mental ill health and substance misuse. But let’s not forget—those experiences happen to people who are housed too.

If we’re honest, homelessness has touched many of us in one way or another—perhaps now more than ever, as the cost of housing in Australia becomes increasingly unaffordable. If you haven’t experienced any of these things yourself, take a moment to think about the people around you who have. And consider how easily it could one day be your own story.

Many times, I’ve heard it said that people choose homelessness. If someone is choosing that, the most probable explanation is that the other choices they have access to are far worse. Think of the young person with abusive parents or the older man who can only afford a boarding house where his belongings are repeatedly stolen and he’s beaten up.

will you change the paradigm?

Ending homelessness in Australia is possible. And while that might sound like a lofty dream to some, it’s already being achieved in other parts of the world, like Finland.³ Ending homelessness means creating a system where any experiences of homelessness are brief, rare and non-recurring.

My experience of homelessness was brief, rare and non-recurring.

That was partly due to the fact that housing was more affordable and available back in 2011. But it was also because I had a community of people who supported me. Many others aren’t as fortunate. Their experiences of homelessness are long-lasting, life-threatening, debilitating and expensive—for them and for society.

For those who want to know the rest of my story: my three sons now have their own lives, homes and families. They’re successful in their careers, but more importantly, they’re successful at life. They care about

justice. They care about people.

And they never walk past someone sleeping rough on the street without offering some human interaction or practical support—because they know that it could have been them. It was them.

Let’s shift the paradigm. Let’s contribute to ending homelessness by making it brief, rare and non-recurring in our communities. Let’s stop seeing people as “different”, when we really are much the same.

It may seem overwhelming. But we can turn this around. There are solutions. But it needs to end with us.

Sally-Anne Clark has worked in homelessness, housing and domestic and family violence for the past 18 years. She holds qualifications in social welfare, management and more recently a master’s degree in leadership. She’s passionate about leading people to change the way we serve and see our communities.

1. Cameron Parsell, Homelessness: A Critical Introduction. Polity Press, 2023.

2. <abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/estimating-homelessness-census/latest-release> 3. <homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/SystemsResponses-ebook.pdf>

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Four red flags to watch in your teen’s relationship 46

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NOAH CLARK—UNSPLASH

how to win at parenting

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oung love can be intoxicating, exhilarating and filled with passion. While many young relationships are healthy and positive, some can take a concerning turn.

As your teen ventures into the world of dating, they may struggle to differentiate between passionate affection and controlling behaviour.

Our daughters aren’t the only ones at risk. Anybody can be a victim of coercive control, male or female. If we want our kids to enjoy healthy relationships, here are some warning signs they should watch out for, as shared by counsellor and author Daisy Turnbull.

1. Love bombing

There is so much love and so much affection moving rapidly, making you feel incredibly adored and whole with this person. While there can be other indicators and red flags, this one, when intentionally applied, can camouflage all the others.

2. Isolation from friends and family

Isolation doesn’t just come in the form of “your mum is a whackjob, I don’t want to have lunch with your family today”. It might be that the partner makes it difficult for your teen to see their friends. They might say a friend should be a “solo friend”

who your teen sees on their own, and then ensure there is never time to see them. This happens slowly.

It happens incrementally and the victim is the frog in the pot. They do not realise they are being boiled.

3. Controlling movements

A lot of this happens online.

Checking when someone has been online on a chatting/social media app, or getting alerts whenever they tweet or post online are forms of surveillance that can tell someone exactly what another is doing. Apps such as Find My iPhone or Find My Friends, designed to keep us safe, can also keep us very controlled.

4. Invasions of privacy

Invasions of privacy can go handin-hand with controlling someone’s movements. They can also be part of love bombing. “He likes me so much he wants us to share our locations with each other.” Sometimes this is perpetrated in ways that can appear coincidental, such as becoming friends with your friends or finding new points of contact that embed the person in your life further.

Melody Tan is a passionate advocate for empowering mothers through connection, faith and digital engagement. She is project manager of Mums At The Table. She lives in Sydney with her husband and their primary-school-aged son.

There are five more red flags teens should watch out for in their relationships. Read about them at <mumsatthetable.com>.

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Faith, politics and prophecy:

why Evangelicals are obsessed with Israel 48

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EMMA DYER MAY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

OLEKSII LISKONIH—GETTYIMAGES

Evangelical Christian support for Israel has surged in recent years.

What caused this phenomenon and what can it teach us about Bible prophecy?

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United States’ relationship with Israel as a whole. Donald Trump characteristically geared a rally speech to his audience in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on August 17, 2020, when he declared, “We moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem. That’s for the Evangelicals.

The Evangelicals are more excited about that than Jewish people.”

Even though Evangelical Christians are only 14 per cent of the population,1 they make up a third of the Republican Party base. Elizabeth Oldmixon, a University of North Texas political scientist who studies Evangelicals and their relationship to Israel, has estimated that about a third of Evangelicals are likely to put Israel policy at the centre of their electoral decision-making.2 I’ve often wondered why Americans, particularly Evangelicals, are among Israel’s most vocal supporters and I’ve discovered that for many, their investment in Israel is informed by their understanding of the Bible and in particular, their interpretation of prophecy about end-time events.

LEVI MEIR CLANCY—UNSPLASH

t’s been more than 20 years since I visited Jerusalem in a tour group with my church here in New Zealand. As we wandered the markets of the old city, tried our hand at haggling and bought gifts and souvenirs, one thing really surprised me. In many of the stalls were merchandise with American flags, “Israel loves America” logos and even pictures of American airforce planes.

Clearly as a Kiwi, I wasn’t their target customer, but these shopkeepers had no qualms marketing their goods to the thousands of American tourists who visit Israel each year. It was such an overt and jarring reminder of the complex relationship between Israel and America.

As war continues to rage in the Middle East, it’s interesting to note how American Christians, particularly Evangelicals, have become a major driving force for US foreign policy. Many Christians in the United States are staunch supporters of the state of Israel—and that Evangelical support has a huge impact on the

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One of the flashiest of these was made famous by the Left Behind series of books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins. These books became New York Times bestsellers and were also made into movies in the early 2000s. The key event in these stories is the “secret rapture”, when all Christians in the world disappear (up to heaven). This view of prophecy is called Dispensationalism. It views the restoration of a Jewish State in Israel as one of the dominos that needs to fall before the Rapture, the seven years of tribulation, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, the Battle of Armageddon and finally the return of Jesus and His believers to reign on earth for 1000 years. Evangelicals feel their role is to work and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Dispensationalists hold a “Premillennialist” view— that is, that Jesus will return before the millennium (1000 years).

Another view held by a growing number of Evangelicals is what’s called “Post-Millennial Reconstructionist” theology. They believe that

the church will bring in the kingdom of God by reconstructing society through social and political activism.

They see America, in particular, as key to bringing in a millennium of peace and prosperity, faith and righteousness prior to the return of Jesus.

Christian Reconstructionists are joined by Prosperity Gospel advocates who believe that the “kingdom” (of God) is now and that the prosperity promises of the millennium can be experienced in the present.3 The Prosperity Gospel comes from Pentecostal tradition and its adherents tend to be pro-Israel too—but for very different reasons to Dispensationalists. They tie support to Israel to their theology, believing that God will bless you to the extent that you bless Israel. This is based on a verse in Genesis 12:3 where God says to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Because Israel is key in both Premillennialists and Postmillennialist views held by American Evangelicals, they are highly motivated to use political activism to support Israel.

For many Evangelicals, their investment in Israel is informed by their understanding of the Bible and end-time prophecy

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The word millennium is not actually used in the Bible but is a term for the 1000-year period described in Revelation 20. This chapter is the sole descriptor of the biblical Millennium. For this reason, any information about the events of the Millennium must be derived primarily from this passage. In Revelation 20, two key events are described as happening during the 1000 years.

(1) Satan is bound and unable to deceive the nations and, (2) believers who have been resurrected at the first resurrection (at Christ’s second coming) are seated on thrones to judge. They are called “priests” and reign with Christ.

Nowhere does this chapter say that this reign with Christ will happen on earth or in Israel as the Dispensationalists believe nor does it imply that it is spiritually happening on earth in our current age as Postmillennialists believe. It is the resurrection at Jesus’ second coming that brings His followers up to meet Him in the clouds, as the apostle Paul affirms in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.”

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Before Jesus returned to heaven, He reassured His disciples that, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2,3).

These resurrected believers are described in Revelation 20 as those who “come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years” but in heaven, not on earth. It isn’t until after the 1000 years that God and His people return to earth, Satan is destroyed and “God makes his dwelling with men” (see Revelation 20:5,9 and 21:2,3).

At the end of the 1000 years, Revelation 20:5 tells us the rest of the dead will come to life—that is, those who were not resurrected at Jesus’ second coming. But before they are resurrected to receive their final destruction, Revelation 20:12 describes a courtroom scene: “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life.

The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” This judgement occurs during the Millennium while God’s people are reigning with Jesus in heaven as judges and priests. Before the final destruction of sin, sinners and Satan, there is a judgement period and it is Jesus and His people doing the judging. It is a process that

PHIL MCKAY—SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

so, what does the Bible say about the Millennium?

will allow all to see that God is fair and loving in all His dealings.

It is a final vindication of God’s character.

Revelation 20:15 says, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”, which as the previous verse explains is “the second death” (an ultimate, final death). Seventh-day Adventists are among the few Christians who believe this particular interpretation of Revelation 20.

They hold to a Premillennialist view (the Millennium takes place after Jesus’ return) but emphasise that the Millennium does not take place on earth in Israel. Rather, the Millennial reign of God’s people will be in heaven.

This view of the Millennium is more concerned with a revelation of God’s loving character and how every human is given the freedom to choose or reject Him. It reveals God’s full transparency in the judgement and allows all to see that He has honoured each individual’s free choice and is loving, merciful and fair in all His dealings with humanity.

Emma Dyer (nee Weslake) from Upper Hutt, NZ, is currently enjoying being a stay-at-home mum to her five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son.

1. <theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/06/evangelical-christians-republicans-2024-israel-palestinians> 2. <vox.com/2017/12/12/16761540/jerusalem-israel-embassy-palestinians-trump-evangelicals> 3. <drtimwhite.net/blog/2018/4/3/postmillennial-and-christian-reconstructionism>

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THE GREATEST SCAM EVER

It’s all about you—or is it?

KEN LONG

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TIMA MIROSHNICHENKO— PEXELS

the lie of self-sufficiency

One of the biggest lies in today’s world is the belief that we can find true happiness, purpose and identity all by ourselves. This idea, which comes from a focus on individualism, tells us we don’t need guidance from anyone else—whether it’s from religion, shared values or even our communities. Instead, we’re encouraged to “look within”, create our own version of truth and take control of our lives without relying on anything bigger than ourselves.

At first, this sounds empowering.

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way of thinking often leaves people feeling stuck in what he calls “the immanent frame”—a view of life that is limited to human experience and shuts out anything transcendent.

While this approach may seem freeing, it can leave people feeling disconnected and searching for meaning in a world that feels cold and indifferent.

The appeal of this lie comes from the fact that it’s partly true. Humans are incredibly creative, intelligent and capable of achieving greatness.

But the idea that we can build a meaningful life without acknowledging something greater—whether it’s God, a sense of community or shared moral values—often leads to shallow material pursuits or fleeting achievements that don’t satisfy deeply.

And that’s the core of the greatest scam ever: convincing us that we are complete on our own, even as loneliness, anxiety and a lack of purpose grow all around us.

twisting truth to deceive

Deception, particularly through distortion of truth, is a key component of this scam. We see this not only in spiritual narratives but also in broader cultural dynamics. The modern marketplace, for instance, excels at twisting needs into desires and marketing those desires as essential. Advertisements tell us that happiness can be purchased, that success is a luxury car or the latest gadget, and that self-worth is tied to our social media metrics.

JACKSON SIMMER—UNSPLASH

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hroughout history, one of the most successful deceivers has never needed an elaborate disguise or intricate plot. Without being seen or heard directly, his influence stretches far and wide. His tactics are subtle, yet the damage he causes is profound. Known by many name­s­— Satan, the Deceiver, the Father of Lies—he is the orchestrator of what can only be called the greatest scam ever.

But this is not simply a religious notion; it’s a reflection on the cultural forces shaping the human condition. Beneath the surface of our modern lives lies a profound deception that plays on our deepest insecurities and aspirations.

Whether one considers this deception spiritual, psychological or societal, its impact is undeniable.

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This mirrors the ancient tactic of misusing truth for manipulation. In the biblical story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, Satan quotes Scripture to justify reckless behaviour (Matthew 4:1–11). Similarly, in today’s world, noble ideas—like self-improvement or freedom—are often misused to justify harmful behaviours. The pursuit of wealth, power or recognition becomes an all-consuming goal, masquerading as the path to fulfilment.

The result? Many people become caught in a cycle of striving for things that fail to deliver the promised satisfaction. The very tools meant to liberate—technology, consumer goods or personal autonomy—often bind us further in cycles of discontent and longing.

shame and the inner critic

Another powerful element of the scam is the voice of accusation, which convinces us we are unworthy of love, connection or acceptance.

In psychological terms, this is the inner critic, a pervasive voice that fuels self-doubt and shame. It echoes in our minds, reminding us of past failures or shortcomings and keeps us trapped in cycles of perfectionism or despair.

This phenomenon is not new.

Ancient texts describe Satan as “the accuser”, a force that seeks to undermine our confidence and immobilise us with feelings of guilt. In secular terms, shame has become a defining feature of modern life, amplified by 58

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social media and cultural pressures to present a flawless self-image.

Shame, unlike guilt, does not critique our actions but attacks our identity. It tells us that we are fundamentally broken, unworthy of joy and incapable of change. But recognising this voice for what it is—a manipulative deception—can free us to seek help, forgiveness and connection.

disguising harm as good

One of the most insidious aspects of the greatest scam ever is how harm is often disguised as good.

Modern culture frequently romanticises behaviours that ultimately lead to harm, portraying them as empowering or fulfilling. For example, addictive behaviours are marketed as harmless indulgences.

Excessive drinking is positioned as “celebration”, overworking becomes “grinding”, and materialism is framed as “treating yourself”. Similarly, the endless pursuit of online validation through likes and follows masquerades as connection, even as studies show it contributes to increased feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.

This dynamic aligns with the apostle Paul’s warning found in 2 Corinthians 11:14: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

Whether or not one interprets this literally, the principle remains relevant: harmful influences often present themselves as attractive, beneficial—or even virtuous.

how do we resist the deception?

Resisting the greatest scam ever requires both awareness and intentionality. Whether one approaches this from a spiritual, philosophical or psychological perspective, there are practical steps we can take to guard against deception.

Cultivate discernment: In a world inundated with information, discernment is more critical than ever.

We must ask ourselves: what values are shaping my decisions? Are these values aligned with enduring truths, or are they shaped by fleeting cultural trends? Reading widely, engaging in meaningful conversations and reflecting critically on our choices can help us develop this skill.

Rediscover community: One of the greatest antidotes to self-reliance is genuine community. In isolation, it’s easy to fall prey to the lie that we must navigate life alone. In contrast, meaningful relationships remind us of our interdependence and provide support, accountability and encouragement.

Pursue meaning beyond material: As Taylor argues, the search for meaning is a universal human drive.

Yet, in a secular age, this pursuit often becomes fragmented or stifled by distractions. Finding meaning requires reconnecting with sources of transcendence—whether that’s through faith, art, nature or acts of service.

Reject shame-based narratives: Recognise the difference between

constructive self-awareness and destructive self-criticism. The former helps us grow; the latter keeps us trapped. Learning to show ourselves grace and seek help when needed is essential for breaking free from cycles of shame.

Ask bigger questions: Finally, we must dare to ask the big questions: who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? These questions, while daunting, lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.

The greatest scam ever is not just a spiritual phenomenon; it is a cultural reality. It manifests in the stories we tell ourselves, the pressures we internalise and the values we adopt without question. It thrives on our insecurities and our longing for meaning, offering temporary fixes that never fully satisfy.

Yet, recognising the deception is the first step toward freedom. By questioning the narratives we are fed, seeking meaning beyond the material and embracing the complexity of our humanity, we can resist the forces that seek to diminish us.

The scam is powerful—but it is not invincible. Whether you view this as a battle for the soul or a quest for authenticity in a fragmented world, the antidote is the same: seek truth, live intentionally and remember that you’re not alone in the struggle.

Dr Ken Long is a business consultant and Christian writer. He has authored The Giving Equation, The Model Steward Canvas and The Model Steward Canvas Workbook.

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TOP FOODS FOR GOOD EYE HEALTH

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he foods you eat can play a big role in maintaining the health of your eyes. Eating a wide variety of wholefoods, fruits and vegetables are key as each contains a unique bundle of nutrients at

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different levels. The team of Sanitarium dietitians have shared some of their favourite foods, which contain the eye-loving nutrients you need to support good eye health.

MICHEILE HENDERSON—UNSPLASH

Growing up, were you ever told to eat your carrots so you could see better? Turns out, there’s some truth to that tale.

1. Spinach

4. Strawberries

2. Sweet potatoes/kumara

5. Avocado

3. Walnuts

6. Sunflower seeds

Containing vitamin A, betacarotene, riboflavin and vitamin C, spinach is an eye-loving powerhouse to help keep your eyes healthy.

Spinach is also a source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which can help protect eye tissues from sunlight damage and reduce the risk of eye changes related to ageing.

Your body needs fat to absorb lutein and zeaxanthin, so enjoy your spinach with unsaturated fats such as extra virgin olive oil and walnuts.

While carrots are great for your eye health, sweet potatoes/kumara are another orange veggie to have on high rotation. Both are rich in betacarotene, the pigment that gives them their vibrant orange colour.

Sweet potatoes/kumara are also loaded with additional antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to support eye health, particularly vitamin A.

Nuts are great foods for eye health because they’re rich in nutrients like vitamin E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, chia seeds and extra virgin olive oil. Walnuts and other nuts also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which can increase the risk of the common eye disease glaucoma.

Strawberries are a surprising source of vitamin C, which is essential for your eyes. The good news is achieving your recommended dietary intake for vitamin C as adults is achievable with a balanced diet. You want to aim for 45mg per day. For example, one-quarter of a capsicum contains approximately 200mg of vitamin C. If strawberries or capsicum aren’t your thing, other vitamin-C containing foods include broccoli and citrus fruits.

Avocados are a source of lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as monounsaturated fatty acids, and they have been found to increase macular pigment density in older adults, according to research. Avocados are great for promoting eye health as lutein prevents macular degeneration, cataracts and other age-related eye issues.

Tiny but mighty, sunflower seeds are a source of vitamin E and so simple to add to your diet. Sprinkle on your salad at lunch, or on your cereal for brekkie.

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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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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udent resistance group that he Nazis. ment believes society must be

ed through social and political

Across: 4. A trait that helps navigate the downs of motherhood.

7. The belief that the Jewish stat

must be restored before the e

crossword clues DOWN 1 German student resistance group that opposed the Nazis.

2 This movement believes society must be transformed through social and political activism before Jesus returns.

3 Humans reflecting their Creator.

5 This leafy green is packed with lutein and zeaxanthin.

6 A manipulative tactic where an abuser showers their partner with exessive affection.

9 Ed Gungor’s dog.

12 The “father of lies”.

ACROSS 4 A trait that helps navigate the ups and downs of motherhood.

7 The belief that the Jewish state of Israel must be restored before the end times.

8 A fundamental human need.

10 The act of violating trust in a friendship.

11 The crime for which Sophie Scholl was executed.

SUDOKU easy

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