The Upside 07 - February, 2018

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A CHANGE?

LoveMatters

ARGH! DID SOMEONE SAY VALENTINE’S DAY?!

Volunteers

PRAYER BAGS & PRIORITIES

CREATE A COMMUNITY CENTRE

About

A letter from the editor

Welcome to the new-look!

One of the best things about helping other people is that there’s no age limit to getting involved and lending a hand. Providing assistance for others can involve grand gestures, but it can also be seen in the small, everyday things we do. When you think about it, so many of us are really blessed with what we have.

The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” It also tells us to not only look out for our own interests, but the interests of others (Philippians 2:4) and that helping others is what pure religion is about (James 1:27).

Our main feature this month is about the Cooranbong Community Services Centre

Enquiries

and its team of volunteers, most of whom are retirees. The work they do is amazing and it has a far-reaching impact. I was inspired by talking with the centre’s President and meeting some of the volunteers. Hopefully you’ll be encouraged by what you read about them in this issue of The Upside!

We’ve also got a couple of feature articles about prayer in this issue, in part because the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northern New South Wales is hosting a prayer conference in March (9 to 11 — visit http://nnsw.adventist.org.au for more details). We hope you’ll be blessed by these stories too!

Adele Nash

WHAT DO ES IT TAKE TO MAKE A CHANGE?

It seems like nothing you do, no amount of money you donate or children you sponsor is going to make a difference to the problems faced in developing countries.

So why bother?

In Everyone A Changemaker, Bill Drayton says that the most important contribution any of us can make now is not to solve any particular problem, no matter how urgent energy or environment or financial regulation is. What we must do now is increase the proportion of humans who know that they can cause change. And who, like smart white blood cells coursing through society, will stop with pleasure when they see that something is stuck or that an opportunity is ripe to be seized?

The children of elite families grow up at home and usually in school being expected to take initiative, and are rewarded for doing so. This confident ability to master new situations and initiate whatever changes or actions are needed is in essence what defines the elite. Entering adult life with confidence and mastery of empathy, teamwork and leadership skills is what ultimately has given this small group control of the initiative and, therefore, of power and resources for millennia.

However, the other 97 per cent grow up getting very little experience in taking initiative.

Adults control the classroom, work setting, and even sports and extra-curricular activities.

And this situation, coupled with society’s attitudes, drums home the message to this majority: “You’re not competent or perhaps even responsible. Please don’t try to start things; we can do it far better.” Teachers, social workers and others are comfortably in control; and, in fact, most school and other youth cultures are not competent, and do not train, support and respect initiative-taking. Instead, the peer group culture,

not surprisingly, is resentful and in the worst cultures, quite negative.

Do these inarticulate, frustrated youth cultures bring analogous prior situations to mind? Over the past century, many other groups — including women, those with disabilities, even colonial peoples — had to make their way from debilitating stereotypes and little prior practice in taking the initiative to become fully-accepted, capable contributors. These groups, although very different from one another, had to travel strongly similar human and community transformation paths.

Young people are the last big group to set out on this journey. Therefore, it is essential that they be central actors — both in actually shifting to the new pattern (because the best learning comes from action) and in championing the change (because people are most likely to hear and trust peers).

To the degree they succeed locally, they give wings to the peers whose idea they have taken up, they encourage neighbours also to become change-makers, and they cumulatively build the institutions and attitudes that make local change-making progressively easier and more respected. All of which transforms their community, city and country.

To know more about Asian Aid’s change-making child and youth-focused programs, visit www.asianaid.org.au.

Note: This article is excerpted from a longer article that includes Drayton’s partnership with Youth Ventures and innovative ideas for social financing.

Source: (http://www.kosmosjournal.org/article/everyone-a-changemaker-socialentrepreneurships-ultimate-goal/)

— Pudens S, Asian Aid

It’s dusty and hot. Over-polluted, not to mention over-populated.

Volunteers create a community

If you’ve ever driven through the small-ish town of Cooranbong in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales, you will have probably noticed the Cooranbong Community Services Centre. Located on Freemans Drive — the main road through town — it’s a practical-looking set of buildings that house services that provide life-changing opportunities.

Staffed entirely by volunteers — many of them well into retirement — the centre began its life in 1972, starting off with two women by the names of Melva Lee and Betty Chapman who saw a need for a “swap shop” on the grounds of Avondale College (located further up the road). The precursor of the current Cooranbong Community Services Centre op shop was successful and grew to the point where more space was needed. Pastor Robert Abbott was the one who got things happening on the current site.

You could say that the rest is history, but the team of volunteers at the Cooranbong Community Services Centre are busy working on making the future brighter for those who need it the most. The centre isn’t just about an op shop and being able to buy pre-loved items at great prices. Everyone loves a bargain, but these bargains really pay it forward.

The centre uses almost all of the money it raises — apart from that required to operate and maintain the centre — to fund

community projects and assist those who need a bit of a hand. It’s not limited to the townsfolk either. Money goes to local and international projects. Some of these projects include Kidz4Him with Rob and Sheree Moodie in Zambia; and an orphanage in Kenya called Kisaru Nkera Initatives run by Barbara Parkins.

When cyclones tore through Vanuatu and Fiji in recent years, the Cooranbong Community Services Centre sent substantial sums of money out to the islands to assist with the recovery and care efforts. Vic Bonetti, the Chief Financial Officer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fiji, helped administer the distribution of the funds.

recently had a visit from someone from Vanuatu...they’d really appreciated how we had been able to help them.”

John Maxwell (pictured, cover), the current President of the Cooranbong Community Services Centre Association Incorporated, says, “We recently had a visit from someone from Vanuatu who had been helped by the funding we were able to provide, and they’d really appreciated how we had been able to help them.”

On the local front, the centre provides funding for the Allira

“We

community centre

Women’s Refuge. “They’re looking to start something of a fairly large nature and we’ve promised to help them on an annual basis,” says John.

The team also helps out people who are down on their luck. Dot Cottier assesses around 20 to 30 people every Monday and Wednesday for the welfare arm of the centre. Sometimes people need clothing or food vouchers. The team also works to find accommodation for those in need, along with furniture and kitchen goods. Often, people are starting their life over again — “particularly the women who come to us from the refuge,” says John.

In total, there are around 20 local projects supported by the centre on a regular basis. They assist the Rotary Club with their Immune Deficiency Project, and are keen sponsors of the Riding for the Disabled project and local Rural Fire Service.

Over the years, the centre has expanded a lot to counter the pressures of trying to fit too much into a small space. Furniture is their biggest department, covering a substantial area due to the size of the items stocked. The next largest department is ladies’ and children’s wear, with variety after that, followed by men’s wear. Various groups exist to assist with each department, such as the team of volunteers who do repairs, tagging and testing on the electrical equipment that’s donated to the centre.

In talking to John, it’s clear to see that the centre wouldn’t exist without so many people who give their time and talents so generously. He jokes that he himself ended up in the role of President of the centre in a “moment of weakness,” agreeing to take over the role after previous President Pastor Time Gorle retired due to health issues. “Claude Judd asked me and I said yes. I’ve been in the role around nine years now.”

John, who is in his early 80s, notes that many of the team of 85 volunteers are older than he is. He jokes, “Claude is 97 and only just stopped volunteering here. So really, to leave, you have to turn 97!”

He adds, “We do have younger people here who are about 70. There are some people in their 50s too. But we have more 80-year-olds than anything. Viv Fischer is 90-something and still works here, and David Judd is 90. They both contribute so much.”

“A lot of Seventh-day Adventist Church folk volunteer here, but we also have a lot of people who aren’t Adventist or even Christian here. We’ve had Muslim volunteers and people with no church affiliation. We could not run without any of them. It’s amazing what they do, and we thank them with an annual lunch and a Christmas gift. We try to make our volunteers feel special for the special work they do.”

(continued over page)

Making things special for people extends to those they help too. “I think for a lot of people who come to see us, we’re the only Christians they’re going to see,” notes John. “That’s what makes it so worthwhile. There are a lot of people who get no help from their families or the government. We try to think that, at the end of the day, we’ve helped people along the roadway of life. Whether they see us from a Christian perspective or not, we’re prepared to help them.”

Helping people is the main driver for the volunteer team. Some people come in for two days a week, some one, some half a day. “There are people like Athne Stanfield,” says John. “She comes along early in the mornings, and does all the washing and ironing. She has a busy day! When she goes home, she looks after the gardens in the local Adventist Senior Living village.”

The social experience is a bonus, of course.

is that it’s not just an op shop. It’s a community hub.”

The thing about the Cooranbong Community Services Centre is that it’s not just an op shop. It’s a community hub. A lot of people come there for social interaction and doing something together in groups. In addition to this, the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church hires out a space at the centre to store the historic aeroplane, the Andrew Stewart. “We’ve also got groups who meet here on weekends,” says John. “And there is an art-lovers group who meets here, along with a karate club and a garden club.”

This community hub also extends to a pre-school. A manager is appointed by the centre administration to care for the pre-school’s day-to-day operations and John says the current one does an excellent job. There are 42 students

at the pre-school, and while day-care fees are not cheap, the centre receives some government assistance so they are able to pass that on in the form of subsidised fees for students whose parents aren’t able to afford the full fees themselves.

In addition to this, Southlake Marketplace operates from the centre, providing a food pantry service for those in need in the local area. Christina Mastello manages the marketplace, along with a team of helpers. At Christmas last year, they gave away 250 hampers to people who otherwise wouldn’t have had as happy a holiday season. The Southlake Marketplace team won a Lake Macquarie Australia Day award this year because of their community work.

It’s amazing what such a dedicated group of mostly retirees have been able to do for their community. If you’re in the Cooranbong area and would like to be involved, John says, “Give us a call on (02) 4977 2096 and we’d be happy to have you meet with us! Some people can do any work you give them, but then others are only able to do specific things. We try to give everyone a job that will suit them. Bear in mind that we’re all getting older! But we want to make life more interesting.”

So if you’re looking for a more interesting life, what are you waiting for?

— Adele Nash

“The thing about the Cooranbong Community Services Centre

PRAYER BAGS priorities AND

In 2017, the North New South Wales Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church held its annual prayer conference, but this time an unexpected idea came from it. Colin Hone, the Prayer Ministries Coordinator for the conference, “I was heading toward the chapel at the Stuarts Point Convention Centre to pray and I met two women there who told me they had asked God for a sign that if they ran into me there, they would ask if all the prayer conference attendees would pray for someone.”

This simple idea — how hard is it to pray for someone, really? — led to making a call to more than 300 people at the conference to write down the names of their loved ones, family and friends who had drifted away from church. These names were then put in a special “prayer bag” (really just a branded gift bag) and everyone made the commitment to pray for those names daily until the next prayer conference. The prayers would focus on helping the people named to reconnect with God.

Colin says, “When I got home, I started pulling out the pieces of paper with the names from the prayer bag. There were five, 10, sometimes 15 names on each piece of paper. There must have been more than 1500 people named in the prayer bag!”

He says that a “light came on” and God impressed him that this was something that every church and individual could do. He believes that everyone who currently attends church must know at least one person who has left the church, meaning there are thousands of people who could be prayed for. Making prayer for others a priority has the potential to change lives.

“I’ve had a call with an answer to prayer from the prayer bag initiative,” says Colin. “A friend of mine I’ve been praying for has come back to church a few times since the conference. There was also a woman who phoned to say she’d brought a friend with her to the prayer conference. The friend’s husband’s name went into the prayer bag. And now he’s back at church!”

If you missed the 2017 prayer conference, don’t worry. There’s one on this year. It’ll be held over the weekend of 9 to 11 March, with a theme of praying for people to reconnect with God. Colin’s encouraging churches and individuals to pray every day for people they know need to be blessed and have their lives changed.

Want to know more about how to pray for God to connect with people? Colin suggests these simple steps: 1 2 3

One-on-one time: reconnect with the person/people you’re praying for. Listen to them, encourage them, let them know you’re praying for them and ask them what you can pray about.

Small groups: invite people to a small group in your home. It’s a time for food, fellowship and Bible study, as well as prayer. Church: ask people along to church when the time is right.

— The Upside/Colin Hone

PAIN, PRINTERS AND PRAYER

I received a call one Wednesday morning recently to advise that my friend David’s friend Peter Blackwood was seriously ill and wished to update his will. I immediately confirmed that I would make myself available whenever Peter was able to provide me with instructions.

The next day, I received a call in the afternoon to let me know Peter was in hospital and would be able to give me instructions in the evening before he was given his medication for pain relief. I arrived in the late evening at the time arranged with my wife Julie. Julie found a seat and got comfortable with a book, and I went to Peter’s room.

Now for me, prayer is a mystery. I pray and pray often, but how it all works, I don’t really know. I’m the guy who doesn’t pray when the photocopier stops working because it’s run out of ink because I forgot to buy or refill it. I am very much a praywhile-you’re-running type of guy. So when Peter suggested we pray because the printer wouldn’t print, I became petrified — “I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!” I reiterated in silent prayer the words of the distressed father of his very sick boy (see Mark 9:24).

But what else could I do?

Peter looked quite pale and sickly. He was in considerable pain due to the cancer that was attacking his body. Despite this, he was quite pleased to see me and his face lit up as I entered his room. The only furniture was a seat in the corner, which I picked up and brought to his bedside. I followed his lead and we chatted for a while. He shared some life stories. We laughed together — although this caused him some discomfort — and the natural warmth and intimacy that comes with sharing matters of the heart grew between us. As I reflect on that moment now, and moments like it, I am humbled by the privilege that my work allows for me to meet such wonderful people and to use up that precious resource that we who are healthy often take for granted — time.

We continued to share and chat as I took his will instructions. I was ever aware that he was purposely delaying his medication that would provide him with pain relief. It was about 9.30pm and I set up the portable printer on the floor of the room near the power point to print the document.

But the usual whizz, bang, crunch, grind, beep sounds that come from an inkjet printer as it warms up were absent. Nothing but silence pervaded the room.

I made a few grunts as I checked the leads and connections, and then tried again. But again, silence. The first thought that came to my mind was, If this doesn’t work, I will need to write out the will by hand and my new friend will be in increasing pain for a lot longer!

How could this happen and why now? These typical questions when things go wrong were running around in my head as I began to worry. At this point, Peter realised there was a problem and made a suggestion. And to be honest, I was a little afraid.

Peter suggested we pray.

So I agreed and took Peter by the hand, and I prayed. I thanked God for the blessing of Peter’s life. I thanked God for the salvation that was brought to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. I thanked God for the special moments that he and I had shared, and I thanked God for the opportunity we had to meet each other now and the reality of getting to know each other better in the earth made new.

And then…

And then I prayed, “Lord, if it’s possible, please fix the prin…” And before I had even finished the word “printer,” the noise began and it started chattering away, and page after page came out as I finished my prayer with thanks to God for His demonstration of His love and care for Peter. That God provided this small miracle to allow Peter the pain relief he needed and — better yet — for Peter to know in his heart of hearts that in the last moments of his life, the Lord God was there with him, listening to him, caring for him, loving him. My friend Peter died the next day.

His family have given me permission to share this story and his name. Peter had given instructions to provide substantial funds to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northern New South Wales. These have been used to kickstart an outreach media ministry series on Daniel 2 and to create a fund for the new Adventist Community Services department, which was involved in helping those drastically impacted by flooding in northern NSW earlier this year.

I will never forget that moment with Peter. I will never forget the look of peace that came over his face as his faith (and mine) was affirmed in one simple act of God in a little hospital room that Thursday evening.

Surely God is Emmanuel.

— Pastor Rodney Woods

“Peter looked quite pale and sickly. He was in considerable pain due to the cancer that was attacking his body”

“...for Peter to know in his heart of hearts that in the last moments of his life, the Lord God was there with him”

CELEBRATE THE COMMUNITY Christmas carols

Avondale School hosted its third Community Christmas Carols event on 3 December, 2017, entertaining approximately 5000 people to a familyfriendly evening of Christmas celebration. Headlining acts included 2013 The Voice Australia winner Harrison Craig, and renowned Christian artist and former Play School host Colin Buchanan.

The event kicked off with a kid’s preshow at 5.00pm, with jumping castles, face-painting and a variety of food for sale from specialty locals, like Yummy Thai and Punjabeez Indian. This was also highlighted with an appearance of Santa from a helicopter. Performing artists also included Dan Murphy, Ashrae, Felix Quinn Music, The Promise, and a community band made up of many Avondale School staff and friends that led out in carols singing, putting the birth of Christ being the Reason for the Season as the focus.

“So much work of a lot people behind the scenes made the event a success. It was very much a team effort,” says Colin Chuang, Avondale School’s Marketing Communications Manager. “It’s important to mention that this was only made possible by the generous donations of many sponsors and the time and effort of many, many volunteers.”

The Community Christmas Carols had barely concluded on Sunday night when social media began to light up with thanks and praise from locals. The night was capped off by a

“There was a great atmosphere, the weather was fantastic...and did you see the moon!” Marketing Assistant Terrina Mesaric said. She added, “Fireworks at the end of the night topped off a great event.”

Sponsors included local and other businesses: Grow Up Group, Tubby Signs, Avondale Early Learning Centre, Morisset City and Cooranbong Central Real Estates, Abbot Design, Beyond Sound and Lighting, MobileStagez, J&C Hill Pty Ltd, Accent Software, Bodywise Smash Repairs, SpecSavers Morisset, and Cooranbong Specialist Tyre and Exhaust Centre.

“The Community Christmas Carols were well supported,” Principal Dr David McClintock reflects. “We were incredibly blessed with the weather when you think of the rain either side of the day. We had an amazing array of artists, wonderful sponsorship support from our local community. A chance for our local community to come and enjoy food, fun and celebrate the birth of Jesus and Christmas.”

Special thanks also to the RFS in Cooranbong and Dora Creek for their logistical expertise in assisting with the parking, and to RhemaFM for broadcasting the event.

— Colin Chuang

fireworks spectacular, with a soundtrack composed by a former Avondale School teacher.

Photos: Terrina Mesaric

WELLBEING A FLOURISHING FOCUS FOR MACQUARIE COLLEGE

During 2017, the Macquarie College Executive initiated the development of a cultural framework that clearly articulates the vision for the college as a place “where people flourish in a community of learning.” The college is committed to delivering high-quality and well-resourced programs for its staff and students in which nine elements of flourishing will be embedded in daily practice, and result in meaningful outcomes for all involved in their education and teaching experience at Macquarie College.

In this context, Macquarie College is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Brown as the Director of Wellbeing, a role that commenced this year (2018). Josh has been instrumental in leading the development of student wellbeing programs during his time at Macquarie College, notably founding The Invictus Wellbeing Program for Year 9 students. This program has been adopted now by 12 Australian and New Zealand Schools.

The Invictus Wellbeing Program is endorsed by the Deakin University and Lake Macquarie City Council, and is being delivered in schools across Australia and New Zealand.

REUNION A CHANCE TO CATCH UP

In 2018, Macquarie College will host the Invictus Wellbeing Conference on Monday, 21 May. Guest speakers include acclaimed practitioner and author Dr Arne Rubenstein, Cat Lamb and Dr Darren Morton.

As part of a delegate sponsorship program, made possible by Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing, two conference delegates will give a short presentation outlining the ideas and initiatives that they have implemented at their schools. The conference will appeal to Directors of Wellbeing, Year Coordinators, Heads of House, Invictus Coordinators, Pastoral Care Teachers, Counsellors, Youth Leaders and Teachers.

Registrations are now open at theinvictuswellbeingprogram. com/events.

— Michelle Slack-Smith

In 1977, a group of five HSC graduates left Newcastle Adventist School — now Macquarie College — to take on the world! And on Sunday, 19 November, four of these graduates reunited at the college, along with some classmates who shared their education journey with them at various stages between Year 7 (1972) to Year 12 (1977).

Twelve former students and several spouses gathered for a special occasion to share memories, reminisce and catch up on the past 40 years. Canteen staff provided a delicious lunch, after which the former students enjoyed an informative tour of the college. According to reunion organiser Mark Vodell (now Principal at Gilson College in Victoria), the concept of the reunion was inspired by the premature passing of a former classmate and the death of his old headmaster Pastor Ernie Krause. Mark emphasised that it is important to “get together whilst you still can.”

— Michelle Slack-Smith

Present photo Back row left to right: Mark Vodell, Loren Watts, Darrel Nelson, Shane Felk, Bill D’Costa Middle row: Margaret (Jones) Jobber, Susan (Greenstreet) Beattie, Kim (Rodger) Clarke

Front row: Rose (Durrant) Blair, Sharon (Robinson) Vodell, Jenny (Davy) Strahan, Joy (Arthur) Guy

MEET OUR

Ministry Team

Pastor Paul Geelan is the General Secretary (basically the Vice President if you’re wondering what that job title means) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northern New South Wales. He met his wife Vanessa at Avondale College and his first job after graduating was at the South Pacific Division of the church. While he likes to relax by playing jazz piano at home, Paul is most passionate about “my God, my family and my church — in that order!”

Have you always been a Christian? If so, what’s your experience been like?

I’ve attended an Adventist church almost every Saturday of my life, however that doesn’t necessarily make one a Christian. I was quite a nominal and cultural Adventist prior to my early 20s, when I fell in with some good friends in Sydney and started taking my faith seriously, doing a lot of reading and studying on what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.

How did God guide you into ministry?

After my first conversion experience in my early 20s, there were still many rough edges the Lord had to deal with. I had another “re-conversion” experience in my early 30s, and was feeling restless in my spiritual and career journey. I was working as a Financial Planner at the time and was also active in my local church. I just felt that God was calling me to do more. Through a series of clear miracles, I ended up at the Amazing Facts College of Evangelism in Denver, Colorado, in early 2004. This deepened my relationship with God and gave me some practical ministry skills as well. The Seventhday Adventist Church in Northern New South Wales was then crazy enough to offer me a job as a church pastor!

What led you to your current role in the church?

After entering ministry the first time, I only lasted for 10 months and returned to financial planning. I call the following two years my “wilderness experience” in which God continued to work on my heart and faith. His call back into ministry was very clear — the conference President called to invite me to consider moving back into ministry just an hour after I had prayed to God and left the decision in His hands. I commenced

pastoring the Lismore Church at the beginning of 2008 and was appointed by the constituency meeting of September 2011 to the role of General Secretary.

What dreams do you have for what the Seventh-day Adventist Church can do in this region?

Coming into this role, it took some time to really get my head around it and the way the conference operates. Justin Lawman, Russell Halliday and myself went through a process of clearly articulating the Seventh-day Adventist identity, and then prayerfully considered God’s calling for this conference. We figured that if we were doing what Jesus did, we couldn’t go too far wrong. My dream is that we are effectively preaching the everlasting Gospel, making committed and active disciples, and serving humanity. The last element of those three has recently exploded in this conference and I think it will lead to much fruit in the other two areas.

What advice do you have for anyone in leadership — whether it’s on a small scale or a big one?

Stay connected to Christ through a personal devotional life; stay balanced by making time for family and friends; stay healthy by eating well and exercising often.

What keeps you inspired/uplifted in ministry?

The thought that maybe something I do can help the “front line troops” be more effective in what they do. The conference motto is “We Invest in Others” and this is always very much top of mind as I work. Secondly, I love getting out to churches, particularly small country churches, and just experiencing their warmth and generosity and hospitality and Christlikeness.

Bad news sells, and unfortunately we can’t avoid it. In the media, our communities and personal lives, we are constantly reminded of things that are going wrong. On the upside, the Bible shows us what can go right and offers hope in seemingly hopeless situations. To learn more, simply post this completed form to receive FREE “The Prophetic Code,” an ongoing series of beautifully-illustrated lessons. Topics include “The secret to Success”, “Life After Death” and many more. Experience this life changing opportunity, obligation FREE, today.

NAME (MS/MISS/MRS/MR):

ADDRESS:

STATE: POSTCODE:

PHONE:

MY DETAILS

NAME (MS/MISS/MRS/MR):

ADDRESS:

STATE: POSTCODE:

EMAIL:

OR SEND A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO SOMEONE SPECIAL (please also fill out your details above)

NAME (MS/MISS/MRS/MR):

ADDRESS:

STATE: POSTCODE:

PART FOUR: The EMOM Workout

In the exercise world, there are weird names for everything! EMOM stands for “Every Minute, On the Minute.” This is probably my favourite way to create a quick and effective workout.

How it works:

Choose how long your workout will be, for example 10 minutes. It’s preferable if you have an app or timer that beeps on the minute every minute for the set amount of time. Choose two to three exercises and how many reps you want to complete of each within 60 seconds.

For example: plank hot hands (10 reps), squat jumps (eight reps) and triceps dips (five reps). Your aim is to complete

a set of the exercise and reps as fast as you can within 60 seconds. Whatever time is left within each 60 seconds is your rest. As soon as each new minute begins, do the same exercises and reps again as fast as possible.

Continue “Every Minute, On the Minute” until time is up. You can choose whatever exercises you like depending on your goals and fitness abilities. You’ll know you’re doing it right if you’re working up a sweat within the first few minutes!

The most important thing is to have fun with it.

2 3 1

10 reps

8 reps

5 reps

Squat Jumps Plank Hot Hands

Triceps Dips

Ingredients

Lemony roasted carrot dip

– 500g of carrots

– Salt and pepper to taste

– A little oil

– 2 cloves of garlic, minced

– 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt/sour cream/vegan alternative such as coconut yogurt

– Juice and zest of one lemon

Roasted chickpea topping

– 1 can of chickpeas, drained

– A little oil

– Salt and pepper to taste

– A few pinches of cumin

– A pinch of chilli powder

When the weather’s hot and Summer days are still long, it’s nice to have a lazy option for dinner or if you’re entertaining friends. The platter can be made as simply or elaborately as you wish.

Avocado-pea smash

– 1 large ripe avocado

– ½ cup of peas (fresh or frozen)

– Salt and pepper to taste

– A nice handful of fresh mint, chopped

– A squeeze of lime juice and zest

– Handful of roasted, salted pistachios

Grazing platter

– Assortment of cheeses

– Assortment of crackers

– Fruit — dried and fresh

– Nuts

– Veggies — tomatoes, cucumber, anything else that takes your fancy

book review AN

ENDURING VISION

BY AUSTIN COOKE

When Andrews University theologian Dr William Shea read the manuscript for this work, he described it as “the best commentary on the book of Revelation to come out of Adventism.”

This verse-by-verse, in-depth exposition is very readable and easy to understand, as well as being one of the most extensive and well-documented volumes on Revelation I have seen.

Austin Cooke was a very effective public evangelist in the South Pacific. He was a thorough student of Scripture, history and the Spirit of Prophecy, and his long association with and love for the Book of Revelation has resulted in this inspiring work. It is rich in history and thoroughly establishes the historicist interpretation of the prophecies of John’s Apocalypse.

In documenting the fulfilment of the prophecies of Revelation, Cooke quotes from sources as far back as the eighteenth century, as well as utilising current media resources. In his work as an evangelist, he has used the content of this book to convince many of the veracity of Scripture, and people have become Seventh-day Adventists from reading it.

An Enduring Vision was originally published in 2015 as a glued binding at $55. It sold more than 1000 copies in the South Pacific region. A revised edition has just been released with excellent updated material on current developments in the religious world. It has 730 pages in a hard cover with stitched binding. Printed in India, it now retails for just $30 — a price that makes it very affordable and available for all seeking a greater understanding of the only biblical book that pronounces a special blessing on the one who “reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1: 3).

Reading this book will consolidate your faith in Scripture and in the messages of the Three Angels of Revelation 14 that we must proclaim to the world. It will also motivate you to be faithful to Jesus Christ and His truth in these very faith-testing times. To quote evangelist Pastor Geoff Youlden, “If you want to be inspired and encouraged, then read this book.”

— Reviewed by Dr Allan Lindsay

Golden Muscatel — $7.65 2L Flagons

$43.60 6pk Flagon cases

CRAFTER

Make the most of the summer weather and head off to the beach! There are so many beautiful shells found at the beach or lakeside. So much fun is had collecting them, sorting them, wondering over their beauty. It would be nice to take them all home, wouldn’t it? But, why not try doing something special like this with the pick of your bunch!

Collect your shells. While you’re collecting your shells, you might want to look for:

☐ most unique pattern on a shell

☐ biggest shell on the beach

☐ tiniest (this is a great one for close and careful looking!)

☐ shiniest

☐ most intact

☐ most worn by the sea

☐ one with a live creature inside (but don’t take this one home!)

If your shells are looking a bit grubby, give them a scrub with a dampened toothbrush and a little bicarb soda. Rinse them well.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Pick a beautiful day to spend at the seaside!

The best shells you collected at the beach

Bicarb soda

Toothbrush

Paint/nail polish

Paintbrush

Self-adhesive jewels

DECORATED SHELLS

LoveMatters

Christmas Holidays are behind us, New Year’s resolutions are beginning to fade (yeah, I can be a cynic) and now we are rushing into Valentine’s Day, school for the kids, back to work, and… Argh! Did someone say Valentine’s Day?!

No pressure people, no pressure at all, but besides young lovers who seem to know what to do, what are married couples supposed to do with Valentine’s Day? Isn’t this just rank commercialism designed to part a fool and his money?

with Pastor Neil Thompson

While commercialism is certainly part of how our culture celebrates love, your celebration of each other’s love need not be.

Here are some different ways you can celebrate your love for each other —not just on Valentine’s Day, but on any day of the year. The key is to invest time and energy into the quality of your relationship, and to also use events like Valentine’s Day to remind you to invest in each other, to declare to each other and reaffirm to each other your love.

Paint the shells using paint or nail polish. Nail polish gives a beautiful glisten or glitter to your shells

• Go to a local rose garden together, gather all the spent rose petals you can (not the dead ones) and place them into a basket. Go home, and together sprinkle the petals and otherwise decorate your bedroom to create a “love-nest.” Select your favourite background music and set it playing. Get a bunch of post-it-notes each and write a different reason you love your partner on each note. Take turns to read your messages to each other. Then not so finally, grab some massage oil and set about giving each other a stress-release full-body massage.

When the paint is dry, stick on some adhesive jewels to tizzy it up some more!

3 4 5

Display them on your window sill, as a centrepiece on the dining table or at your front entryway — as a reminder of a wonderful, beachy summer day

• Pack a picnic tea complete with a poetry book and/or Bible. Drive to your favourite beach or park (or just pick one that looks good,) and then go for a slow stroll together — bodies touching, arms around each other’s back. As you walk, begin sharing with each other why you love and respect your partner so much. Be sure to dig deep and trust that you will have great things to say. If in doubt that you can’t easily come up with 10 things to say, get out some paper well before your date and write one reason you love your mate each day. Be specific in your expression of love. After your walk, enjoy your picnic and then take time to read poetry together and/or Song of Songs from the Bible. Finish off your time in worship together thanking God for your love and asking Him to bring you even closer together with Him — and each other. Be sure to pray for each other.

• Sit down as a couple and remember all your firsts. First place you kissed, first place you went out for a date, first holiday, first motel and so on. Then set about revisiting those places, and remembering and sharing the stories from each one. Turn this into a project that you will work on over the next three months or longer — visiting a place or completing an activity each month.

This is a great way to rekindle your love. After knocking your list over, why not write a new list of firsts of things you would like to do together, but have never tried and then, over the next three months, set about doing them together!

By Michelle Villis, Amelia Magazine 2018

What other ways can you think of for making Valentine’s Day special that will translate into things you can do all year ‘round?

Share them with us on the @ NNSWAdventists Facebook page.