Signs of the Times - Jan/Feb 2022 by Adventist Media

JUMPING HIGH:

THE ONE WHO INSPIRED ME AT

THE OLYMPICS WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN?

WHAT DO DREAMS MEAN?

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

JUMPING HIGH: THE ONE WHO INSPIRED ME AT THE OLYMPICS

How Nicola McDermott won

silver in Tokyo PAGE 32

CURRENT 4

WHAT IN THE WORLD WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN? The power of forgiveness

WELLBEING

12 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:

HARMLESS MOLE OR POTENTIAL SKIN CANCER?

Identifying dangerous skin moles 24 BETTER HEALTH FOR

EVERY BODY

Health news that

makes a difference

26 46 HOW WALKING 10,000

STEPS A DAY CHANGED HOW I SET GOALS

60 QUICK AND EASY LUNCH

IDEAS

18 THE RIGHT QUESTION

And the life-changing answer 26 WHAT DO DREAMS MEAN? Are you getting messages in your sleep? 40 THE GOSPEL OF DEATH What really happens when you die?

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

SCIENCE & TECH

52 THE CUTTING EDGE Engineering, science

and technology news

CULTURE

54 THE HARROWING OF

FAITH

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

/SIGNSMAG

HELL ASKS: WHO WAS JESUS?

A comic book that sheds light on Jesus

FUN

62 CROSSWORD AND

SUDOKU

Have you been paying

attention?

INSPIRED BY FAITH I remember watching the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The event was, at least for my little household, an inspiring, encouraging time where we could escape from the pandemic for just a moment and allow ourselves to be inspired by the stories of sportsmanship, overcoming and excellence. My wife loves the Olympics and was born in New Zealand so the Games were on most of the time as we cheered on the athletes, especially the medal winning performances from Australia and New Zealand. I remember watching the women’s high jump, in awe of Nicola McDermott and her focus between jumps, her positivity beaming out from our television. I was even more impressed by her post meet interview where she openly and proudly gave credit to God for His work in her life. It was refreshing to see an athlete talk about her faith and how it had changed her life and led her to the podium she was standing on. I’m so glad that we were able to secure an interview with Nicola and learn a bit more of her story, which we’re excited to share with you in this issue (p32). We hope you are inspired too. Almost two millennia ago, perhaps inspired by the early Olympic athletes himself, Paul the apostle wrote: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (1 Corinthians 9:25). Paul’s eyes were set firmly on the abundant, everlasting life that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection promised. As you run life’s race, may you find encouragement and strength from what you read in the pages of this Signs and may Jesus lift you to new heights, as He has Nicola.

Jarrod

VOL 137 NO 1/2 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniel Kuberek COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau'u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A26; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER PHOTO: Supplied: Nicola McDermott

JARROD STACKELROTH Editor

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

R RENT

WHAT IN THE WORLD BUY NOW, DEBT LATER AUSTRALIA

ILLEGAL BEAR PARTS TRADE AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Neither Australia nor New Zealand have any native bears, but a new study in Pacific Conservation Biology says 800 bear body parts were seized at the border between 2007 and 18. The parts come from a variety of endangered species, and are traded to be used in medicines as well as for hunting trophies. Both countries are amongst at least 33 countries reported to be part of the bear trade.—Phys.org 4

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

JONAS LEUPE, ZDENEK MACHACEK, PATRICK FORE-B, ANDREA DE SANTIS—UNSPLASH

Consumer experts are worried the expansion of Afterpay—a buy-now-paylater (BNPL) service—into the hospitality industry will only lead to rising debts. The lack of regulation on Afterpay and other BNPL services means they don't have responsible lending schemes like banks. Pubs and restaurants made the service available for use throughout Christmas, leading to concerns about multi-source debt at the start of this year.—The Guardian

STAYING SUN SAFE 90 per cent of melanoma skin cancers are linked to excessive sun exposure.—Sunsmart NZ MINORITY CHRISTIANS AT RISK MIDDLE EAST

Palestinian Christian communities in Israel, Jordan and Palestine— considered the "Holy Land" at the centre of biblical events—are reportedly at risk of verbal and physical attacks because of their faith. A report has outlined the Christian population is threatened by conflict, economic and migration factors.—Christian Today

STARVING? "EAT LESS" . . . NORTH KOREA

Amidst what is being described as a food shortage "emergency", North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly told citizens to eat less food until borders with China reopen in 2025. North Korea's food supply currently cannot meet demand and prices are soaring. Citizens had already expressed concern about surviving the current winter period with food shortages.—Toronto Sun

A 2021 study found melanoma is the most common cancer in Australians aged 15–39 years old. —Melanoma Institute Australia One person in Australia is told they have melanoma every 30 minutes, totalling 16,000 people every year.— Melanoma Institute Australia Age-standardised incident rates of melanoma in New Zealand are one of the highest in the world.—New Zealand Cancer Registry

R RENT

DGLIMAGES—GETTY IMAGES, I4GIVE.COM

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR

CHILDREN? On February 1, 2020, the Abdallah and Sakr families lost four children to a drunk driver. Two years on, i4give Day gives the community a chance to heal and reflect on the power of forgiveness. BY MELODY TAN

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

ven before my son was born, I was doing everything I could to protect him. Then Elliott was born and with that, I became a full-fledged mama bear. I surprised myself with the ferocity of my protectiveness. I’ve never been the kind who would protest if someone jumped the queue in front of me, but I’d be vocally assertive when it came to standing up for my son’s rights.

children were walking to a shop in Oatlands, a Sydney suburb, to buy ice-cream. These kids were old enough to perform that task by themselves. They weren’t being reckless—they were walking on a footpath. Then, out of a nowhere, an out-ofcontrol ute ploughed into and killed four of them— siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah,

“

Love him and keep him safe. You could pretty much sum up my motherhood goals with those two thoughts—and I’m sure most mothers would agree that those ideals would be at the top of their own priorities too. What would you do if protecting your children was out of your hands? Two years ago in Australia, seven 8

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9, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11. The driver was drunk (allegedly three times above the legal limit) and walked away uninjured. In the blink of an eye, your precious children, filled with so much promise and potential, won’t be celebrating their next birthdays, or any more to come. You know you’ve done a great

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What would you do if protecting your children was out of your hands?

job of protecting them. And at an age when it’s important for them to find their own independence, you’re slowly letting go. You’ve kept them safe and you’ve taught them how to be safe. When something like this happens, you know it’s not your fault. But the drunk driver? The one who was driving drunk at eight in the evening? The one who NSW police

your heart . . . and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5,6) and “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7)? Two days after the tragic incident happened, Leila Abdallah, mother of six, had this to say about the driver: “I know he was [allegedly] drunk, driving on this street . . . I think in my heart [I] forgive him, but I want the court to be fair. It’s all about fairness. I’m not going to hate him, because that’s not who we are.” The driver, Samuel William Davidson, was sentenced in March 2021 to a maximum of 28 years in jail.

what would you do if you could blame someone for hurting your children?

allege was travelling at more than 70 kilometres per hour over the speed limit when he hit your children? What about God? The One you pray to every day to keep your children safe? The One who is supposed to be all-powerful and strong enough to protect you and your family from the storms? The One who promises things like “Trust in the Lord with all

On the first anniversary of this horrific incident, Leila and Danny Abdallah, and the Sakr family launched “i4give Day”, a way to not only remember their children, but also to encourage others to consider the concept of forgiveness. Even after the events of 2020, Leila, a lifelong Christian, continues to trust God. “When you read the Bible, Jesus said, ‘Carry your cross and follow me.’ He didn’t say we are going to have a good life . . . He asked us to carry the cross,” Leila told Eternity News. It can sometimes be hard to fathom why God would allow tragedy to befall us, but perhaps we’re focusing on the wrong thing. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

It may not be so much about God “allowing” it than simply it being an inevitable journey we have to take, as painful as it may seem. The focus in this instance is on how much we continue to trust God and allow Him to continue to guide us. Over 20 years ago, I could have railed at God for “allowing” my father to die, leaving behind my mum to look after myself and my 10-year-old brother. Five years later, it would have been easy to again be angry at God for “allowing” my grandmother to pass away suddenly, causing our family, and especially my mother, further despair. Since becoming a Christian, there have been many instances in my life which have felt severely unfair. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t God’s fault,

because that cross that Jesus carried—it not only represents everything that’s wrong, it also speaks of forgiveness and healing. As Leila said at a launch ceremony in Sydney attended by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and then New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian, “Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and to others. . . . For non-believers, forgiveness frees up your emotions. It brings healing to a hurting soul and allows you to have peace in your heart.” Jesus used the cross to forgive humanity for their sins. We use forgiveness to heal our broken hearts and souls—and even our lives.

what would you do if you found a way to heal?

FIZKES—GETTY IMAGES

To the Abdallah and Sakr families whose innocent children died at the hands of a drunk driver,

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when you learn to forgive can you i4give Day is a way for the entire experience peace in the present and community to feel the freedom of hope for the future.” forgiveness. This is the power of forgiveness. “There’s new life after all the ways I have not felt the grief of losing we’ve gone wrong in this world. my child as a result of the misdeeds And that comes through forgiveness. of someone else—and I pray I never There’s nothing more healing or have to experience it like the family miraculous, than a moment of reconciliation, a moment of forgiveness. members of those tragic victims of the Oatlands crash. My heart breaks Our hearts that are frozen and dead for the Abdallah and Sakr families, from disappointment, bitterness, anger, separation and hatred can beat countless other parents who have had to bury their children, and everyone again,” i4give website says. else who has Dr Dick had to suffer Tibbits is the at the hands author of Forof another. give to Live, i4give which reveals Day won’t groundbreaktake away ing research We use forgiveness to the reality of that links the hurt and depression, heal our broken hearts pain we’ve all stress and had to—and heart disease and souls—and even will continue with our our lives to—experiinability to forgive. ence but the “Researchconcept of forgiveness is ers have a noble one found that that promises to bring healing not the word forgiveness is most freonly for us, but also for the world. quently used by people who seek to If you are struggling to forgive or have their sins forgiven by God—yet need to find forgiveness in your own you don’t need to be religious to see life, you can take a free course based the value of forgiveness or to deal on Dr Dick Tibbits’ groundbreaking with the hurts you’ve experienced research into forgiveness at <discover. because of what other people have hopechannel.com/forgive-to-live-forsaid and done to you,” he writes. “Forgiveness means giving up all giveness/>. hope for a better past and instead Melody Tan is editor for Mums at the Table. She planning for a better future. Only lives in Sydney, NSW.

“

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

ELL BEI NG

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:

RIDOFRANZ—GETTY IMAGES

e l o m s s e l m r ha or potential ? r e c n a c n i sk

Before you hit the beach, here’s how you can identify if any moles on your skin will cause future problems. BY H. PETER SOYER AND ANNA FINNANE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

KALI9—GETTY IMAGES

he earlier you find a cancerous mole, the easier the treatment and the better the outcomes. But it’s not easy distinguishing between harmless, benign moles and those that warrant further attention. In recent decades, the incidence of skin cancer has increased in Australia. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70 years old. Non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are the most common skin cancers but are less dangerous than melanoma. In 2010, melanoma was the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with 11,405 new cases diagnosed [for more recent statistics, see page 5]. It is also the most common cancer diagnosed in Australians aged 15–39 years. A number of characteristics are associated with an increased risk of melanoma, including: • Age • Number of moles • Skin type and colour (especially if you always burn and never tan in the sun) • Personal history of melanoma or other skin cancer • Freckles • Unusual-looking moles, larger than five millimetres • Red or light hair. High levels of sun exposure and history of sunburn also increase the risk of melanoma. Advances in treatment over the past three

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

decades have improved the chances of survival. The five-year survival rate has increased from 85.8 per cent to 90.7 per cent. The prognosis is better the earlier melanoma is diagnosed. By regularly checking your own skin, you may notice moles that are changing as well as identify new moles. A study of more than 3500 Queenslanders with melanoma found that almost half of the melanomas were detected by patients themselves and a fifth were found by partners. The features of melanoma to look out for are often referred to as the ABCD rule: • Asymmetry • Border irregularity • Colour variation • Diameter larger than five millimetres. Doctors and the wider population have used this rule for more than 25 years to identify suspicious moles. But with the increasing diagnosis of smaller melanomas and border irregularity being a feature of many benign moles, these features are not always good predictors of whether a mole is cancerous or not.

“

Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by 70.

In 2011, a simpler AC (Asymmetry and Colour) rule was proposed for wider use by the community. While normal moles tend to be symmetrical and uniform in colour, melanomas tend to be asymmetrical and display multiple colours. Using this rule, people without any professional health care experience were able to correctly identify 93 per cent of melanoma images. Not all melanomas follow these rules and some are very difficult to identify. In particular, a type of melanoma called nodular melanoma is a fast-growing, aggressive form of melanoma which has poorer treatment outcomes and survival. Researchers in Melbourne proposed the addition of “EFG” (Elevated, Firm and Growing for more than a month) to the widely known ABCD rule, to improve early detection of nodular melanoma. These melanomas often begin as a red nodule. While their appearance can be mistaken for a pimple, they are much firmer to touch. This should prompt further investigation.

If you’re concerned about moles with any of these features, consult your general practitioner (GP) who can refer you to a dermatologist if warranted. If you’re at high risk, based on the risk factors listed here, check your skin regularly. Have another person (partner, family member or GP) check hard-to-see areas such as the back, neck and scalp.

better melanoma detection

As awareness of melanoma has increased and consumers have taken a more active role in their own health care, the technological world has responded with new hardware to transform smartphones into diagnostic medical instruments and software designed to “autodiagnose” skin cancers. Astute entrepreneurs have developed numerous mobile applications aimed not only at educating and calculating individual risk, but also enabling people to document, track and analyse their own moles. But experts have raised questions about their accuracy. A recent study submitted images of 15 melanocytic

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

H. Peter Soyer is a Professor of Dermatology at the University of Queensland. Anna Finnane is a Post-doctorial Research Fellow at the University of Queensland. This article first appeared on The Conversation website and is reprinted under a Creative Commons licence. 16

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NATHAN DUMLAO—UNSPLASH

lesions (five melanomas and ten benign moles) to five different mobile applications, to compare the risk grade allocated by each app (low, moderate or high risk for melanoma) with the clinical diagnosis. Two of the five apps tested did not identify any of the melanomas. The other three apps detected 80 per cent of the melanomas. While the technology is exciting and it can be tempting to engage in this new mode of health care, be wary, particularly about applications costing money. The accuracy of many of these apps is questionable and could give false reassurance and lead to delayed diagnosis. Research is continuing into combining the use of mobile dermatoscopes, a device using a light source and magnifying lens that can be attached to a smartphone to examine the skin, along with specialist advice. Using such a device, people can take images of their own moles and store them to monitor changes in moles over time, as well as send them to a dermatologist for diagnosis. This process is called teledermoscopy. So far, studies suggest consumers are able to identify suspicious moles and take high-quality images that are adequate for a specialist diagnosis. But specialists are concerned that consumers may overlook moles that would have been worthwhile photographing. Researchers are now investigating the factors influencing wider application in the health-care setting. The benefits of consumer-led mobile teledermoscopy could include reduced waiting times, reduced costs, earlier diagnosis and improved treatment outcomes. Mobile dermatoscopes are likely to become a popular smartphone accessory in the future. Until then, the best we can do is regularly check our skin using the ABCD/AC and EFG rules, and show any suspicious mole to a GP or dermatologist.

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FA IT H

MELPOMWNEM—GETTY IMAGES

The Right QUESTION

Three Bible stories where people asked Jesus the wrong question; three examples where Jesus gave life-changing answers. BY DAVE EDGREN SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

neighbour as yourself ’” (Luke 10:27). It was the obvious answer. It was the law in a nutshell. It meant do everything in the Jewish teachings: keep the commandments, the law and the prophets. Jesus smiled. I’m sure He would have said, “You’re right! Do that and you’ll be safe enough” (author’s paraphrase). Not wanting to be outdone, the man added one more question, “And who is my neighbour?” (verse 29). Then Jesus told a story. A man was robbed, beaten and left for dead. Two men walked past the man as he lay dying. They were Jewish leaders, Jesus said: a priest and a Levite. The third man was not Jewish. He, a Samaritan, stopped and helped. He took the man to a safe place and paid for his healing. Finishing His story, Jesus said, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” (Luke 10:36). The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

the wrong question

In the 10th chapter of both Matthew and Mark, another man asks Jesus this same question. As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus recognised this man’s wealth

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hat must I do to be saved?” The man who had asked the question—finely dressed and leaning on a freshly oiled staff— smiled under his long, neatly groomed beard. It was a good question to start a good conversation. It was a question Jesus had heard before. In fact, it was one of the questions which Jesus made a special effort to answer carefully. Who was standing in front of Him? What would send this person away with deeper—better—questions? This man was a role model of Jewish piety. He was picture perfect—rich, intelligent and educated. Jesus started in familiar territory, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The law expert’s smile split wide. A true teacher! he thought. A question for a question. No, even better, two questions for one! Nice. Quoting Scripture, he answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your

had him bound. He was a good man. He was blessed by God. But, he was still searching. He still felt lost. Jesus said, “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother’” (Mark 10:19). Through his tears, the rich man cried, “Teacher . . . I’ve done these things since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). Two very different stories with the same outcome. Both men—the law expert and the rich man—walked away unwilling to change. But they acquired new clarity, knowing what they were missing. The first man was missing love for other people. The second was low on love for God. Both had put themselves first. Both were unwilling to change. Jesus met people on the road of their journey. He answered the question both men asked, even though their question was wrong. He could have corrected them. But they needed an answer that challenged their next step. An answer they could hear.

a crippled man. In all three times the story is told in the Bible, friends bring the man to Jesus. He heals the man and people praise God for the miracle. When the man is brought to Jesus, the first thing Jesus does is forgive his sins. He could have whispered it to the man. But, He didn’t. Everyone in the room heard it. “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20). Minds started to race, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (verse 21). Jesus knew their thoughts would go there. But, He also knew everyone in the room believed this man was paralysed because of sin. That’s what religious leaders had taught for decades. All deformities were a result of the sin of a parent or the person themself before birth. It was wrong, but Jesus didn’t attack their misunderstanding. Instead, He wrapped His truth around it.

the right question

There is another story that answers the right question. The story is about JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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Everything we need for salvation comes from "fixing our eyes on Jesus"

Jesus asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?" (Luke 5:22,23). And then the answer to the question everyone should have been asking. The ultimate truth Jesus brought to Earth. “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 5:34). Then He told the man, “Get up. Take your mat and walk!” This is the key point: Jesus wanted people to know He had the right and the power to forgive sins. Jesus forgives sin first. Then, to prove it is true, He changes your life from the inside out. This is God’s modus operandi—He starts at the heart. This is why Jesus forgave and healed the man without a word from him—Jesus already knew the man’s heart.

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This is also why Jesus did not tell the expert in the law and the rich man that they were asking the wrong question. He knew their hearts. “What must I do to be saved?” is precisely the wrong question. There is nothing you can do to be saved if by “do” you mean “something else to add to my list of tasks”. You can’t save yourself. These three stories show us who can help us in our struggles and offers eternal life. To the rich and the righteous, Jesus made it clear that it wouldn’t be obedience, savings or kindness. Only Jesus can save. Everything we need for salvation comes from “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus saves. Jesus alone. The wrong question focuses on self. The right question focuses on Jesus and His death on the cross. The question all of us need to ask before

we can be saved is not “What must I do to be saved?” but “Who can save me?”

the man on the mat

We are all broken, even if it can’t be seen on the outside. We are all paralysed—some by wealth, others by education, tradition, achievement and even obedience. Sin is the selfishness that overtakes us when we love anything more than we love God. Pride is an impossible place to climb down from. It requires a fall. Unexpected falls abound: bankruptcy, diagnosis, divorce or death. Or you can choose to fall. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). Fall to your knees. It’s that easy—and that hard. Jesus knew before it was written that “the wages of sin is death”. He also knew we would receive “the gift of God” which “is eternal life”

through His death and resurrection (see Romans 6:23) We all need Jesus. To receive all that God has for us, we need to realise we are the man on the mat. We are paralysed. We are being carried by others. We can do nothing to save ourselves. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23,24). Jesus forgives us. Jesus heals us. Jesus saves us. Look to Jesus. He is the answer. If you'd like to find out how to know Jesus better, try the free course, "Try Jesus". <discover.hopechannel.com/try-Jesus/>. Dave Edgren is a storyteller and writer. He lives in Victoria, Australia.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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BETTER HEALTH for every body WITH

DR SIMONE KOOKE

VITAMIN D LOWERS INFLAMMATION

FLU LINKED TO PARKINSON'S EGG BEFORE AGE ONE TO PREVENT ALLERGY

Minimising food allergies in children has long been a point of interest for parents, and emerging research has provided more evidence for the early introduction of eggs. Children who had egg introduced prior to the age of one—and maintained regular intake of it—were much less likely to develop an allergy to eggs than those who started eating this food later.—ACAAI 24

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American researchers have found that a bout of influenza could almost double your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, with this risk increasing 10 years after your illness. This provides even more incentive to stay healthy and continue your annual flu vaccine.—JAMA Network

ANDREA PIACQUADIO, HELENA LOPES, POLINA TANKILEVITCH, SHVETS PRODUCTION—PEXELS

Vitamin D has been demonstrated to have many health benefits, with scientists now exploring "how" it is able to do so. Researchers from the USA have been able to demonstrate that enough vitamin D accelerates the “switch” from the pro-inflammatory phase of the immune response (which fights off infections) to the anti-inflammatory phase of recovery. Given that most of the damage caused by infections is due to the body’s inflammatory response, this is another powerful tool that could soon be added to our arsenal.—Nature.com

SUPPORT OTHERS, BOOST YOUR HEALTH

NIGHT OWLS AT HIGHER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

It turns out that the early bird does more than just catch the worm. British researchers have found that going to bed after midnight rather than turning in before 10pm, increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It seems that night owls not seeing the morning sun and allowing their body clock to reset is detrimental. And they’re sleepy the next day as well. No more incentive needed. —European Society of Cardiology

Helping a friend in need can do more than just make you feel good. Researchers from the USA have found that provision of social support to others can also lower your markers of systemic inflammation, with this effect being observed more in women than men. With inflammation underlying most chronic disease, this provides another strategy to improve one’s own health.—Science Direct

Dr Simone Kooke is a Sydney general practitioner and mum of two who loves to help her patients and family make simple, practical lifestyle improvements that will increase their longevity and quality of life. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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WHAT DO DREAMS MEAN? 26

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Ever awoken from sleep with an overwhelming sense that a dream meant something? You might be right—and here are a few ways to tell.

PONYWANG—GETTY IMAGES

BY JARROD STACKELROTH

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ast night I had one of those dreams. You know the kind you wake up from and remember. Basically, there were a lot of things that were unusual, but people and places that were familiar. I was supposed to conduct an interview to be broadcast online (something I do every week for work), but there were challenges relating to the pandemic, Wi-Fi availability, and finding a venue that was quiet and would give us uninterrupted time. There were several things I was anxious about, and it was clear when I woke up that my subconscious had been working overtime, figuring out problems and wrestling with things that were concerning me, all while I slept. But what did it all mean? Was it a message of some kind? Should I take action?

the purpose of dreams

According to scientists, we all dream every single night. In fact, on average, we have two to three dreams a night. Some of us up to seven! It’s just that we don’t remember most of those dreams the next day. To remember a dream, it must take place in the REM (rapid eye movement) part of the sleep cycle. REM sleep is a time when your brain activity increases and your eyes move around, even while closed. It is often 90 minutes or so after you’ve fallen asleep. But what is dreaming for? There are different schools of thought. According to a TIME magazine article, dreaming could be an 28

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information dump, threat simulation Solomon, Joseph the father of Jesus, (like a fire drill for your brain to and the apostle Peter. And while keep you sharp), wish fulfilment and many of the dreams recorded in the Bible are sent to those who follow problem-solving practice. Studies God, He also sends dreams to those have been developed in each of these who don’t follow Him. areas and the reality is that dreams In the first book of the Bible a probably fulfil all these functions. young man, Joseph, with a history And we’ll probably discover more as of having and interpreting dreams, researchers study and develop dream is asked to interpret Egyptian ruler theory further. After all, it’s hard Pharoah’s troubling dreams. The to study something that happens dreams point to seven years of plenty entirely in the brain while subjects before a are asleep. seven-year Yet, many famine that of us are will decimate fascinated by Egypt and the dreams and surrounding what they nations. might be Pharoah actelling us. We On average, we have link dreaming cepts Joseph’s to the search interpretation two to three dreams a for meaning and places night. Some of us up to and underhim in charge of saving standing. We seven! up grain for may even be the famine. tempted to Pharoah look to the becomes rich internet for by Joseph’s interpretation foresight and leadership, and the of our dreams, but this will not story ends happily for Joseph who is usually provide us with the right reunited with his lost family. answers. Still in the Old Testament, the Yet dreams can be important, book of Daniel heavily features especially recurring ones. dreams and visions. Daniel is taken captive as a young man and enslaved dreams in the good book in Babylon. At the time, Babylon was Dreams feature heavily in the strongest power in the Middle the Bible. God uses dreams to Eastern region. Daniel served in communicate with people. Famous biblical dreamers include Jacob, King the court of Nebuchadnezzar II JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

RON LACH—PEXELS

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(642BC?–562BC), a conquering, empire-builder who had pillaged Daniel’s homeland. In Daniel 2, we learn that the king is disturbed by a dream, but he can’t remember what it is about. So he asks all his counsellors, priests and wise men to reveal his dream and then interpret it for him. And if they don’t, they will be killed! All the counsellors are understandably afraid. “It’s impossible,” they claim. But the king is not swayed. When Daniel hears about the situation, he goes to the king and asks for a day to provide the answer. During that 24 hours, Daniel and his friends abstain from food and pray that God will reveal the dream. God answers their prayers, and Daniel returns to the king with details of the dream and its meaning. Daniel tells the king that the dream has been sent by God. It features a giant statue of a man, with a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a belly of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of mixed iron and clay. A rock from the heavens crashes into the feet and obliterates the statue, taking its place and filling the whole earth. Daniel goes on to explain to the king that the different metals represent different kingdoms that will follow one another. The head of gold is Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom of Babylon. Following Babylon will be a lesser empire and so on until God’s kingdom arrives. Nebuchadnezzar confirms to 30

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Daniel that the giant statue was in his dream. It is a risky thing to tell an emperor that his dynasty, his kingdom, will not last forever, but Daniel is honoured by the king. In fact, the king says to Daniel, a slave in his court, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery” (Daniel 2:47).

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We can safely assume that God still sends dreams today

Scholars have since agreed that the kingdoms in the dream were Persia, Greece and Rome, and history shows that these empires did succeed one another. What does it mean for us? According to the theologians, we are now living in the era of the feet and clay, at the end of earth’s history. This means that God’s kingdom is not far away.

Yes. In the New Testament, leader of the early church Peter reminds the people of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit and send dreams: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old

men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). Therefore, we can expect that God will still send messages through the form of dreams. In fact, there are reports of people from countries where Christianity is banned who have met Jesus through dreams—and they have been described in books like Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi and The Insanity of

God by Nik Ripkin. While God doesn’t always use dreams to communicate with people, and not all dreams are messages of some kind or even come from God, we can safely assume that God still sends dreams today. And what’s more, we can see from the dreams and visions recorded in the Bible that God knows the future and cares what happens to us.

If you’d like to know more about the dreams in the Bible and what they mean, you can access a FREE online course to discover for yourself how the dreams and the visions in the Bible can teach us about the future: <discover.hopechannel.com/the-other-side-of-crisis-coronavirus/>. Jarrod Stackelroth is editor of Signs of the Times magazine. He lives in Sydney, NSW.

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does God still use dreams to communicate today?

R RENT

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JUMPING HIGH: THE ONE WHO INSPIRED ME AT

Nicola McDermott’s silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was a historic and record-breaking moment for the country. But it was only the second most important thing to Nicola that day. BY DANIEL KUBEREK JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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THE OLYMPICS

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won all her events. Scouted out to appear in the Little Athletics program, it was there she discovered high jumping. “I just fell in love straight away and said, ‘This is what I’m going to do’,” she said. “I’m going to jump two metres one day. I’m going to go to the Olympics.” McDermott was determined, but it was going to be a

long road. Linking up with experienced coach Matt Horsnell, she was now equipped with the mentorship necessary to develop her raw talent. “When I started with my coach, I think it was 1.36m [that I was jumping],” she said. Alas, two metres needed to be the goal if she was to get anywhere close to touching a polished Olympic medallion.

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hat does it take to be the best? Most people will tell you it’s a combination of hard work and talent. Ask Australian high jumper Nicola McDermott, however, and you’ll quickly realise it’s a mental thing. It’s absolute belief that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. If you watched the Tokyo 2020 Olympics you may be familiar with McDermott. The 25-year-old athlete grabbed the world’s attention as she soared over a two-metre bar at the Tokyo National Stadium. A silver medal was just reward as she became the Oceanian record holder. But as I talked to McDermott on a video call—she was in hotel quarantine after arriving back in Australia from her European competition cycle—I was more interested in the ingredients that created that moment. What she told me exemplified her Australian spirit—to be beaten down, but never counted out. “I had experienced a lot of bullying in my time,” she told me. “I was almost [1.82m], even in Year Six.” With her height, however, came a few advantages. She recalls a key moment in her childhood—her school’s sports carnival—where she

announced on home soil

the world only a few years later. But As McDermott’s career progressed, something was missing. Was she fuelled by all the “haters”? so too did her improvements—at a Those who mocked her height meteoric rate. The 2018 Commonwealth Games were held on the Gold growing up? Not really. McDermott is hardly the brooding type. Her high Coast in Queensland, providing the jumps are her artwork, and every perfect platform for Gosford-born brushstroke is filled with overfloodNicola to present herself to the world. ing joy and happiness. Experiencing “That’s the competition that bullying from a young age, though, did provide a catalyst for another key moment. “The beginning of my faith really began when I was in Year Six,” she told me. “My parents decided to send me to a Christian school. “I was expecting The 25-year-old athlete people to treat me how I’d always been grabbed the world's attention as treated. When I she soared over a two-metre bar walked into the school, I just encountered this love from not only the teachers, but even the students. “I said, ‘How changed everything,” she told me. “I could somebody love me like this?’ won the [bronze] medal and jumped And they said, ‘We love because Jesus a personal best of 1.91m, which now loves us.’ And that day I really enis almost a starting height. But back countered the love of God that wasn’t then it meant the absolute world to based on outward appearances.” me.” McDermott doesn’t put her Re-energised with a new sense of Christian faith into a separate box; belief, she had all the vital ingredients it’s dispersed throughout every part in the metaphorical dish of athletic of her being. Her belief that she genius that she was about to serve can hit two metres is only surpassed

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by her faith that she has a loving God supporting her. And the act of jumping over a bar? That’s just an outward expression of her returning love to God. “Some people sing really well. Some people write amazing sermons and people use what they’re given— and I know I’ve got high jumping,” she said.

Tokyo 2020

Trusting in God wouldn’t remove the challenges in her way. The Tokyo Games’ original schedule in 2020 was moved by a year, throwing McDermott’s training and preparation into disarray. Discouraged? Hardly—she was on a war path to silverware and postponement would give her the extra time she needed. “All things work for the good of those who love God,” she told me, paraphrasing Romans 8:28. “I did some of the hardest training in my entire life. Every day, hours and hours of training. “We knew that we weren’t doing it for one Olympics. It was a process, to not only be able to jump two metres . . . but to do the best that I possibly could because, who knows, maybe there’s a world record in me.” Successfully making it through the heats, McDermott prepared for the Olympic final, the timing of which meant it would be a Saturday night in Australia. With much of the country in lockdown, she knew many people would be watching. 36

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“I felt the weight of the nation,” she recalled. How do you deal with that? McDermott devised a way. “While I was in my room, I’d be spending time with God in prayer and asking that [my competition] would be a sign of hope and perhaps an encouragement for every person that was watching.” A far cry from the roars that she would hear as she jumped astonishing heights in competitions around the world—it was the quiet moment alone with God that meant everything. “I remember writing in my notebook, God, what if it rains? What happens then? What happens if my shoes break or what happens if I wake up and everything’s sore the next day?” she said. “The more time I spent alone in my room, the more I realised those doubts are so insignificant.” What might seem like an incredibly lonely moment was the opposite—McDermott knew she was there with God, “pruning” and “quieting myself ” for the big moment. That period of peace would be fundamental for what came the next day.

the final

“If there’s the slightest doubt that’s going to show, that can potentially derail everything you’ve been doing,” Nicola tells me, adding that she’d noticed more than 16 cameras were fixated on her every move. Rather than letting it get to her, she instead focused on how far she’d come and

ANDRIUS SIMKUS—PEXELS

the task at hand. “I had this winning mindset that I was going for the gold and not settling. I’m like, silver would, [but] bronze wouldn’t do. “Even if I was alone out there, I wasn’t. I knew that God was with me and it’s almost like worship back to Him . . . so I’m singing out there. The TV [luckily] didn’t quite catch that because I’m not an Olympic singer. “It got to the chorus and [the loudspeaker] is like, Nicola McDermott. I’m like, oh man, they’re interrupting my song right now. And then I just heard the voice of the Holy Spirit tell me, ‘Nicola, this isn’t interrupting your worship. This is continuing your worship.’” With a perfectly timed run, step and jump as she soared over the two-metre bar—a feat that she had never achieved in competition—McDermott had done it. An Olympic silver medal would be a proud testament to the years of blood, sweat and tears she had willed into perfecting her craft. While Russia’s Mariya Lasitskene would walk away with golden honours that day—having narrowly surpassed McDermott’s 2.02m with a 2.04m—the latter was nonetheless the pride of Australia and a bright hope for the country’s efforts in the sport. But if you ask McDermott what moment really mattered that day, you might be surprised by her response. “I had this speech on my JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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winning feat, but her love for God. So when McDermott tells me about her ambition to achieve gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, one thing is clear. It’s not about glory, fame or money. As she also grows her Everlasting Crowns initiative—a non-denominational Christian group aiming to introduce fellow athletes to God—she acknowledges her achievements on the track are just part of a “larger goal”. “When I think about the mandate and calling on my life that could potentially change nations, I do it for God,” she said. What McDermott has found is a recipe for victory, regardless if one is capable of jumping over a two-metre bar. She’s a God-loving woman first, one who just happens to be able to scale the highest heights. Daniel Kuberek often writes about the efforts of athletes in Australia, New Zealand and around the globe. He is assistant editor for Signs of the Times magazine and lives in Sydney, NSW.

WIKICOMMONS

heart . . . [and] if I was a gold medal winner, I was really going to use that platform to share that,” she said. “My good friends that are believing in Jesus said, ‘as soon as you mention your faith, [the media] are going to cut’ . . . But for me, I thought, you know what? I’m going to share what’s in my heart . . . I told the interviewer exactly what was on my heart. I had a message I knew could move the nation, but even if it only meant moving that one [interviewer’s] heart, I knew it was worth it.” It was there that McDermott provided one of Australian television’s most famous expressions of faith as she outlined her desire to one day see stadiums filled with people worshipping Jesus. To her surprise, the interview gained significant airtime on Australian television and social media. Nicola recalled thousands of messages flooding her phone from people feeling touched and inspired—not only by her medal-

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The Gospel RAWPIXEL—GETTY IMAGES

OF DEATH

What really happens when a person dies? The truth might be different than anything you’ve heard anywhere else. BY DANIEL MATTEO SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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t was the late 1970s. My mother and father were engaged to be married and my father was studying the Bible with my mother’s pastor, Pastor Graeme Christian. As they were studying together, Pastor Christian opened the great themes of God’s Word to Dad, who was loving every minute of it. One day they studied a very important and mysterious subject: what really happens when a person dies? Dad thought he already knew something about this subject, but he was

hell or purgatory immediately at the moment of death. Somehow Dad knew that not all of these ideas could be true at the same time, so he was very interested to try to find out which idea was the truth, if any. What he saw in the Scriptures that day was very different to anything he could have thought or even imagined. There were passages such as Ecclesiastes 9:5,6: “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have

“ Until that day death is an unconscious

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state for all people

holding some contradictory ideas in tension. He lived in a haunted house, so he felt that he knew for a fact that it was possible for the spirits of the dead to return to either harass or to help the living. He also believed in reincarnation where people are reborn into new bodies when they die. Plus, he’d been raised attending a Catholic Church, so he had heard that people go straight to heaven, SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun.” There was also Job 7:9,10: “As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore.”

He learned that, over and over again in the Scriptures, Jesus Himself referred to death as being like an unconscious “sleep” (see Psalm 13:3; John 11:13), from which He intended to wake His people and take them to be with Him “at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23, cf John 14:1-3), not as soon as they die (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). He learned that the dead do not return to haunt their houses and that the “ghosts” in his home were actually deceiving evil angels, not dead people—for “Satan even transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He learned that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27), so we do not die and reincarnate over and over again. Basically, Dad learned a great biblical theme: “The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord . . .”1 The difference and blessing that the biblical understanding of this truth made in our family while I was growing up is something that I am only now beginning to grasp. Popular media

such as books, films, music and video games have always been replete with spiritualism and supernatural themes. The subjects of death, ghosts, spirits, demons and the supernatural are expounded tiringly through TVs and computer screens, and it was no different when my sister and I were growing up. The enemy’s purpose in this is, I believe: to educate us to develop unbiblical ideas about the spirit world, and so allow channels through which to deceive. When we spend between 10 and 20 hours a week on screens consuming media compared to the time we spend with God, whose ideas are likely to be victorious in the battle for our mind? The more I talk with people, the more I realise that when we don’t know the truth on this subject—our minds are open to all kinds of attacks and deceptions from the enemy. Luckily for us, when we had a question about the afterlife as children or happened to see some ghosts or spirits on TV, my mother and father always encouraged us not to be afraid, explaining to us the biblical truth on this subject. What’s more, they always pointed us to turn to Jesus in prayer for protection when we were afraid and, crucially, encouraged us not to watch or read things that were filled with untruths and errors. I remember my friends at high school being scared stiff because they watched some horror movie or because they had experienced some haunting supernatural manifestation. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

Jesus is that His victory over death is complete and eternal. He is called the One who “holds the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:18). This mighty King has given us His resurrection as a down payment to guarantee that “Because I live, you too will live” (John 14:19). One more thing you should know about me is that I was named after the prophet Daniel. For that reason, when Gabriel speaks to the prophet in Daniel 12:13, I hold his words closely to my heart: “But you, Daniel go your way until the end; for you shall rest, and then at the end of days you will arise to receive your allotted inheritance.” I plan to be there on that day when the sleeping saints arise to be with Jesus. Do you? Daniel Matteo is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor in Tasmania, Australia. He is married to Katy and has two children, Grace and Samuel. 1. <adventist.org/death-and-resurrection>.

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This is even more common today. I always knew that I had Jesus on my side “who is above all principalities and powers” (Colossians 2:10), and that if I called out to Him in prayer there would be “no fear in love; for perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18). What this teaching means to me today can be summed up in the words of 1 John 2:28: “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” The most important thing in the whole world is to live our lives in Him through a real and living relationship. Because of His death and resurrection, I can know that I am saved from the fear and uncertainty that often accompanise death and can joyfully anticipate His soon return. What this teaching tells me about

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HOW WALKING 10,000 STEPS A DAY CHANGED HOW I

set goals

Combine someone who hates exercise with a daily step challenge, and you’re going to need creative ways to stay motivated. BY MARYELLEN HACKO SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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have never been the type of person who enjoys exercise (Phew, it feels good to get that off my chest). No matter how hard I try, I always find that something (injuries, weather, appointments or fatigue) interrupts my routine, or that I simply lose interest after about two or three weeks. I’ve tried running, Pilates, ocean swimming, weights, HITT, rock climbing, and just going to the gym and trying out random machines— you name it! Despite my best efforts, nothing has ever really stuck. That is, until I found *drum roll please*: walking. Specifically, walking 10,000 steps each day. I know, I know, walking barely counts as exercise, right? We can debate that later . . . Eight weeks ago, I started consistently walking 10,000 steps every day and I’m still going strong. Yes, I’m shocked too. For those of you with active jobs—hospital wardsmen, personal trainers, teachers and tradesmen—10,000 steps probably doesn’t sound that impressive. But as someone who works an 8 to 5 office job every day (and used to walk an average of 2000 to 3000 daily steps), I’m pretty proud of myself. Apart from one day when I was sick and my own wedding day, I haven’t missed a single day of walking (and even on those “skipped” days I got an above-average step count). So what’s made it stick? By happy accident, I seem to have uncovered the secret to achieving any goal—not only when it comes to exercise, but in all areas of life. SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

enjoy the process

No bells and whistles, no fancy calendars or apps, no motivational talks or online courses. The secret to getting sustainable, long-term results in anything is simply to enjoy what you do. Of course, the fact that we don’t enjoy everything that we want to do is where we run into problems. But there are a few ways you can hack it. Here’s what I’ve learned, broken down into steps:

Step 1: Find an initial motivator that forces you to form a habit Eight weeks ago, I received an email from work encouraging employees to register for a six-week “10,000 Steps Challenge” (an annual initiative they run to combat the sedentary nature of office work). Desperate to find some motivation to exercise, I enthusiastically signed up and was put in a team with four other people. The goal was to accumulate the largest number of steps for the six-week period by working as a team. I’d found my motivator. Within the first week, I’d accumulated more than 100,000 steps and my team was placed second on the leaderboard. This excited me, so I just kept walking. And walking, and walking. Every day, without fail. I was squeezing steps into every crack in my schedule: waking up before the sunrise to walk, walking during my lunch break at work and even marching on the spot in front of my office’s

standing desk. I was determined, and the healthy competition forced me to achieve higher numbers, and eventually led me to form a habit. Practical tip: Accountability and competition are great initial motivators in your journey to forming healthy habits. Find a friend who can be an accountability buddy, join a local competition or download an accountability app to help motivate you.

Step 2: Pair your routine with something you enjoy A few days into the challenge, I began to suspect that my motivation would soon wane if I didn’t make the process more interesting. To address this, I challenged myself to walk a different path every day. I then began taking photos and filming some of the process. And when that started to get tedious, I began to pinch plant cuttings from the footpath to grow at home. I also listened to lots of new podcasts, discovered new tracks and albums on Spotify, prayed a bunch, watched YouTube videos occasionally and smiled at strangers. I sometimes even stopped at the park to try out the swings or meditate on Bible verses. As an added bonus to all this, I got to know my way around my new neighbourhood very well. By coupling

my walking with activities I enjoyed, I came to crave my daily walks. They became a space where I could learn, create and meditate by talking to God. Throughout this process, a secret I learned to staying motivated is this: don’t force yourself to do something if it feels like a waste of time. Practical tip: make your walking time productive and enjoyable. Find walking-friendly activities you enjoy. Once you find it, make a note of it in your calendar or journal—plan it out—to keep yourself excited.

Step 3: Don’t track results, track consistency The quickest way to lose motivation is to see that you are going backwards. For anyone who’s tried dieting, weight-lifting or other forms of measured exercise, you will know that starving yourself and working hard only to put on a kilogram is the lamest thing in the history of

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all things. It also becomes the best excuse to quit, ever. But we don’t want to quit! We want to stay motivated—so how do we do that? The secret: instead of tracking results or progress, track consistency. Rather than asking yourself, Did I lose a kilo today?, ask yourself Did I show up today? And rather than tracking how fast your kilometres are, track how many days you ran consistently and reward yourself for that instead. In BJ Fogg’s book Tiny Habits, he says that the trick to create longterm change in your life is to break everything down into the tiniest of habits—habits that can be executed consistently (i.e. every day). Instead of focusing on the seemingly insurmountable marathon you’re training for, breaking the activity down into the smallest possible component is much more sustainable. Making your goal to “Run 100 metres” or “Put on running shoes” is something you can tick off your list every day. As the theory goes, once you run 100 metres, you’re more likely to run a few kilometres simply because you’ve already started. When I was walking, 10,000 steps was a realistic goal. I wasn’t aiming to run 10 kilometres each day. Walking

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10,000 steps is something nearly anyone can do. It’s the consistency that was the real challenge for me. Practical tip: break down your big goals into smaller steps that you can tick off your to-do list every single day. Don’t worry about what the scales or the stopwatch says; only worry about showing up. Your body will do the rest. So I guess the question is, did my team win the 10,000 step challenge? *Drum roll* No . . . but we finished in second place! (The winning team happened to be made up of marathon runners, so they did have a bit of an advantage). The fact that we all received a second-place prize was awesome, but the real prize was being able to look back on my calendar and feel a sense of pride in my achievements. I’d showed up for myself; I’d done something I never thought I’d be able to do so consistently. That feeling of pride and accomplishment is simply addictive. And now that I’ve felt it, all I want to do is keep walking! It’s created this interesting snowball effect and I’m absolutely stoked! Maryellen Hacko is a writer, graphic designer and artist. She runs a Youtube channel and paints in her spare time.

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CLEARING THE AIR ON POLLUTION

LINK TO DEPRESSION Air pollution has already been linked to respiratory illnesses, but new research has shown people with high exposure to air pollution are at risk of depression. Scientists have developed a polygenic depression risk score to help them determine people who are at risk based on their genetics.—Inverse

MICE FERTILITY Researchers have found that air pollution has an adverse effect on sperm count in mice. However, the same researchers have also concluded this is due to inflammation markers in the brains of mice, which they are hoping to resolve with therapy and apply to other conditions.—University of Maryland

REACHING FARTHER INTO SPACE 52

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LOCKDOWN IMPACT Researchers from Sciences Advances have claimed that global Covid-19 lockdowns have reduced air pollution related deaths by 95,000. In parts of Asia, March 2020 lockdowns reduced nitrogen dioxide by 50 per cent, microscopic particulate matter by 30 per cent and ozone by 28 per cent.—UPI

THE ARTEMIS MISSIONS The Artemis project will be fulfilled in three missions—the first, an uncrewed lunar orbit around the moon before returning to earth—is expected to be launched this month. A four person manned flyby will occur in 2024, followed by the two-person landing in 2025.—Spaceflight Now

CLEANING THE ENVIRONMENT THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE SNATCH Non-profit organisation Ocean Cleanup is aiming to rid 90 per cent of ocean plastics by 2040, and has started by focusing its efforts on the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The company has launched a device—nicknamed "Jenny"—which catches and funnels plastic into a net. So far, the device has captured more than 9000kg of plastic, a positive step to retrieving the 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic floating around in the Pacific Ocean.—Yahoo BUTT IT OUT Dutch entrepreneurs Edwin Bos and Martijn Lukaart have created a prototype "BeachBot", which finds and collects dropped cigarette butts. The duo cite damning statistics as inspiration for the project—4.5 trillion cigarette butts litter the environment each year, themselves containing more than 30 toxic chemicals and taking 14 years to disintegrate. So far, the artificial intelligence robot rover has completed demonstrations on Scheveningen beach, but there are plans for future tests.—Microsoft FROM VIDEO GAMES TO CLEAR OCEAN Video game hardware company Razer is continuing its Green Fund initiative by partnering with startup company Clearbot to clean the ocean. Part of the collaboration is a newly designed robot capable of detecting plastics in rough waters and collecting up to 250kg loads of rubbish—all while being powered by the sun. Both companies are committed to clearing the ocean of 11 million tonnes of plastic by using cutting-edge technology.—PC Gamer

ASTRONAUT LANDING IN 2025 The launch to the moon will mark the first humans landing there since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. NASA has also pushed its date for a manned mission to Mars by a year, targeting to have astronauts on the moon in 2025. The Artemis flight program is expected to cost $US11 billion.—TIME

WI-FI AND MAN ON MARS The mission's key objectives include landing the first female on the moon and eventually launching humans to Mars. NASA is also conducting a study exploring the possibility of building a lunar Wi-Fi network and assisting transmissions between the Artemis basecamp and Earth.—Business Insider NOVEMBER 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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THE HARROWING OF HELL ASKS:

WHO WAS JESUS?

BY RYAN STANTON

PETEWILL—GETTY IMAGES

Jesus and His actions have been interpreted and debated over centuries. Unexpectedly, the graphic novel The Harrowing of Hell might add a new perspective.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

here is perhaps no historical figure who is more frequently the topic of debates than Jesus Christ. Was He a prophet or a conman? Divine or human? Martyr or a madman? While most would concede there is sufficient evidence to validate the existence of a historical figure often called Jesus Christ—though some do continue to argue otherwise—this is about the only fact that can be agreed on. Regardless of your perspective, it’s undeniable that Jesus’ life has had a significant impact on the modern world. And yet when I look around the world at preachers and followers of Christ who seem to contradict the message of Jesus, it makes me wonder: Who was Jesus really?

the harrowing of hell

This was the question at the heart of a recent graphic novel The Harrowing of Hell (written and illustrated by Evan Dahm), which “reinterprets one of the most important religious figures in history, before He was the god of the wealthy and powerful, before He was recast as the warrior worshippers preferred”. The book is a retelling of the event from which it receives its name—the Harrowing of Hell refers to a story which takes place after Christ’s crucifixion and follows His descent into and return from the underworld—or Hell— culminating in Jesus’ resurrection. While not discussed in the original gospels found in the New Testament of the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), this is a belief common in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity. At first, I was drawn to the book because of its interpretation of this event. I, like many Protestant Christians, believe that Hell is not a literal place but refers to an eternal death—an existence separated from the Creator and sustained life being an impossibility rather than a physical place filled with eternal suffering. As a result, I was interested in reading this fascinating reinterpretation which draws from a wide array of sources including the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus—a text that is not included in the Bible—in order to see what insights it might have about Jesus that can be

applied in the modern age. To my surprise, I found a great deal to think about. I found Dahm’s depiction of Christ to be one which felt extremely authentic—closely representing the image I see when I engage with His story in the Bible. More specifically, I believe Dahm’s depiction highlights three aspects of Jesus which are often overlooked in many other depictions.

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Jesus was a storyteller

One of the things which Jesus is known for are His parables. Throughout His time on earth, Jesus told many stories which He used to represent truths about the world, God, heaven and a variety of other topics. When asked why He did this by His disciples, the Bible tells us that Jesus responded stating, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables. Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Matthew 13:11-13). Dahm’s interpretation expands on this, highlighting the eternal nature of stories. His depiction of Jesus describes the stories as the seed of the kingdom. When one of Jesus’ disciples Thomas counters that a kingdom is made from “stones, labour. . . warfare and law” Jesus

points out that this perception of what a kingdom constitutes is itself a story, and that unlike this story “the Word will last forever”. The way Dahm highlights the storytelling aspect strongly appealed to me. He hits on one of the core truths I believe about Jesus: He was an intensely relational man who attempted to connect with people in ways they would understand. That’s why Jesus spoke in stories: there is nothing more universal than a compelling narrative.

Jesus refused to be defined by others

Jesus was a man whose message contained a revolutionary humility at its core, something that the Bible makes extremely clear. Despite numerous temptations, He remained steadfastly dedicated to His mission. At one point while fasting in the desert, Jesus was tempted by Satan to abandon His Father in exchange for power and status—but Jesus rejected this temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). Similarly, before He was crucified, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that there may be another way to complete His mission—but when confronted with the fact that there was not, He accepted this and sacrificed Himself to show His love (Matthew 26:36-56). In Dahm’s story, another temptation plays out near the climax of Jesus’ journey. Jesus is confronted by the “adversary”, a ruling figure who claims that should Jesus kneel, they will give Him a new name and JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

a tool or figurehead for their purpose. power. The adversary claims that He is, and always was, defined by His their kingdom is the one which actions and His mission, not by what mankind recognises: “the crucifying others project on Him. kingdom”, one of war, and violence The encounter also highlights and force. The adversary hopes to one of the turn Christ unfortunate into a symbol results of of this the diverse kingdom, perspectives something on Jesus in which He the present rejects. day: some While this Christ shows a new way indeed use encounter is the name not drawn of living, one which is and image from the of Jesus for Bible like the focused on humility and evil, twisting temptations kindness to all around us it to be mentioned something it previously, it is not. maintains the ring of truth. Like in biblical accounts, Jesus steadfastly rejects the at- Jesus does not force us to believe tempts of others to mould Him into Following on from the

“

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

DOVILE RAMOSKAITE—UNSPLASH

confrontation with the adversary, Dahm depicts a meeting between Christ and Adam and Eve, the first humans to sin, who are imprisoned in a prison at the lowest depths of Hell. While Jesus claims that His actions have freed them from damnation, physically opening their cell and providing them an exit, they refuse to believe Him—instead choosing to stay in their cell. This is an event with no basis in mainstream Bibles but is included because it speaks to a specific interpretation of Jesus—one I would argue does have a biblical basis. This is the idea that Jesus’ sacrifice is universal and anybody who chooses to believe in Him will be saved. This idea is summed up in one of the most famous Bible verses, John 3:16, which states: “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Belief—by its very nature—is

unable to be coerced or forced. While historically some people have attempted to convert others and used this as an excuse to justify atrocities, this is not in line with the true Christianity put forward by Christ. Christ shows a new way of living, one which is focused on humility and kindness to all around us. But He will not force Himself on us. As Revelation 3:20 puts it: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Are you interested in opening the door for Christ? Learn more with the free course Truth Link at <discover.hopechannel.com/truthlink>, or contact us with any questions at <info@signsofthetimes.org.au>. Ryan Stanton is a PhD Student at the University of Sydney.

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

R E CI P E

QUICK & EASY

LUNCH IDEAS Let’s face it, lunch isn’t always given the love it deserves. But your midday meal matters—in fact, it’s critical if you’re aiming to eat the recommended five serves of veggies a day.

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

ILLUSTRATED BY PHIL MCKAY

TOP IDEAS FOR YOUR MIDDAY MEAL A quick-prep vegetarian lunch can be tasty, inexpensive and healthy. Plus a good lunch is going to give you all the energy you need to power through the afternoon. Using lots of fresh salad ingredients, tinned beans or legumes, tofu and pre-cooked noodles or quick-cook rice is a good starting point for a quick-prep lunch. Nourish bowls are really popular and ideal for a quick lunch because you can use what you have handy. You can start with the carbohydrate, something like a brown rice sachet that you can cook in the microwave for 90 seconds, and start building your bowl from there. Add loads of salad or raw vegetables, any beans you like, or marinated tofu. Some sliced avocado and a sprinkle of nuts adds some healthy fat. Top with a variety of seeds, a good squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. It really takes no effort at all. And it’s going to be a lot cheaper than buying it from the local shop. LEFTOVER LOVE It’s a great idea to deliberately make more dinner than you need and have the leftovers the next day for lunch. Often, less than two minutes in the microwave is all you need to have a hot, tasty lunch ready to go. Pastas, salads and quiche all make easy next day lunches. As well as helping you to stick to health goals, lunching on leftovers is a great way to save money. Let’s face it, lunch isn’t always given the love it deserves. But your midday meal matters—in fact, it’s critical if you’re aim-

ing to eat the recommended five serves of veggies a day. But, remember not to eat in front of your computer. By eating while distracted, we don’t always recognise when we’re full, and can easily consume much more than we actually need. Try to sit down at the table and enjoy your meal undistracted, and hopefully with some good company. TO PROTEIN OR NOT TO PROTEIN Some good news when it comes to quickprep lunches—there is no need to go out of your way to look for high protein options. Having some plant protein included is a good idea, such as tofu, legumes and nuts, but almost all foods contain protein, including vegetables and wholegrains. WHY LUNCH MATTERS The Better Health Channel says people who cook at home are likely to eat smaller portions, leading to a healthier weight. And that’s true for all meals, including lunch. It’s also important for our metabolism that we eat at regular intervals throughout the day. The US National Weight Control Registry found that the individuals most successful in maintaining their weight ate lunch every day—and ate it at lunchtime, not at 3pm. PREP AHEAD Got a few more minutes to spare? Set aside just a little time, buy some good quality containers to fill with your lunch, and you’ll have all the quick, healthy lunchtime options you could possibly want. Check out our website for some

Recipe 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. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FUN

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!

CARL NENZEN LOVEN—UNSPLASH

Hint: 3 Across

EDUCATION.COM

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2021

CROSSWORD CLUES

ACROSS 2 When something is impossible to bend 3 Multidisciplinary sporting competition held every four years 5 Annual festivals of performance, art or sport 6 Religious belief in place of cleansing before heaven 7 Books that don't appear in most Bibles 10 Small brown spots on skin 13 Leader of a state or country 14 More than a hypothesis; less than a theory

SUDOKU EASY

4 5

6 7

6 9

6 3

4 6

1 7

HARD

DOWN 1 To be reverent 4 When something cannot be avoided 8 Type of skin cancer where cells divide without control 9 A practice run or military exercise 11 Member of tribe that assisted Jewish temple priests 12 Popular digital audio streaming service

5 1 9

5 4

8 9

3 3

1 7

5 6

9 2

SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU OCTOBER 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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

Signs of the Times - Jan/Feb 2022

Articles inside

THE HARROWING OF HELL ASKS: WHO WAS JESUS?

THE GOSPEL OF DEATH

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE HARMLESS MOLE OR POTENTIAL SKIN CANCER?