Signs of the Times - June 2022

c i m s o C

ORIGINS RECOVERING FROM COVID-19

I WAS AN ANIMAL: JAYSON'S STORY

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE

JUNE 2022

THE TOWER DEDICATED TO PRIDE

For thousands of years, humans have attempted to reach heaven.

The recently delayed Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is the latest attempt.

PAGE 32

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CURRENT

32 THE TOWER DEDICATED

TO PRIDE The hubris of humanity

WELLBEING

26 A RETURN TO PEACE

Saying "no" to burnout 40 THE EASIEST —AND HARDEST—DECISION Book review of The Most Important Job in the World 60 RECIPE: CARROT CAKE PANCAKES Carrot cake and pancakes together; what's not to love?

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

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FAITH

EVOLUTION: A LEAP OF FAITH Does evolution require more faith than creationism?

18 JAYSON'S STORY: I WAS AN ANIMAL From gangs to Gospel 24 ASK PASTOR JESSE Your questions answered by a religious minister 46 EXPLORING THE INVISIBLE Exploring the strange world of dark matter 6

/SIGNSMAG

SCIENCE & TECH

52 THE CUTTING EDGE Engineering, science

and technology news

CULTURE

54 IDENTITY AT THE

OSCARS CODA, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story

FUN

62 CROSSWORD AND

SUDOKU

Have you been

paying attention?

OCEANS UNKNOWN

There's still so much we don’t know about the world and the universe. According to National Geographic, more than 80 per cent of the ocean has never been mapped, explored or seen by human eyes. That’s not even considering the vast expanse of what we call space, which has its own confusing categories as our article on dark matter explains (p.46).

Yet the simple fact that we live on a planet friendly to life is a miracle. While there is danger and death here, there is also extraordinary beauty. Things like: a blooming jacaranda, the warm morning sun, the taste of a ripe mango, a pool of cool water or the smell of a rose can bring joy and wonder if we take a moment out of our busy lives to allow them to work their magic on us.

The biblical writers noticed this beauty and intricacy and attributed it to a Creator God who cared about this tiny blue planet. King David, a Jewish warrior– poet, wrote these words thousands of years ago: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalms 19:1). Also in Psalms 104:24: “What a variety of things You have made! In wisdom You have made them all. The Earth is full of Your creatures."

It's clear when we look at the immensity and complexity of life that we can never know everything there is to know. But hopefully in the pages of this magazine, you’ll find some insight that will make you pause to think about whether it is possible that there is an intelligence behind it all, and that it might be possible to get to know that intelligence.

That is an opportunity worth exploring.

Jarrod

JARROD STACKELROTH Editor

VOL 137 NO 6 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau'u Talia Valderrama Nerise McQuillan PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 e-magazine $14 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 ILLUSTRATION:

solarseven­—Getty Images

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CU

R RENT

WHAT IN THE WORLD DARWIN'S NOTEBOOKS RETURNED Stolen over 22 years ago, two of Charles Darwin’s notebooks have been inexplicably returned to Cambridge University’s library.

Originally thought to have been misplaced in 2001, they were reported stolen in 2017. Dr Jessica Gardner, the university's librarian, launched a global appeal for their return in 2020. The books were left in a pink gift bag with a note reading: “Librarian, Happy Easter X”. The two notebooks contained his 1837 Tree of Life sketch, his first use of the metaphor that would go on to form the basis of his Theory of Evolution. The library staff were bemused but delighted.

—BBC UK

MOUNT RUAPEHU HEATS UP NEW ZEALAND

Mt Ruapehu in the Central North Island, New Zealand, is seeing an increase in volcanic activity. While the chance of an eruption is “very unlikely” according to GeoNet, the temperature of Te Wai ā-moe (Crater Lake) is steadily rising.

Climbers have been banned from the summit, with the Department of Conservation putting a 2-kilometre exclusion zone around the summit itself. —Stuff 4

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CONNER BAKER—UNSPLASH, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, DAMLA OZKAN—UNSPLASH, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ENGLAND

DAYS TO CELEBRATE IN JUNE! JAPAN'S GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS FALL TO 7-YEAR LOW

JAPAN

Japan, the world’s fifth-largest emitter of carbon, has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2050. 2020/2021 marked a 5.1 per cent decrease from the previous year, with an 18.4 per cent total reduction since 2013.

Following the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in 2011, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic Japan's reliance on fossil fuels increased, but they seem to be turning around.

—The Asahi Shimbun

04 Hug Your Cat Day

08

Best Friends Day

11 Corn on the Cob Day

HILLSONG CUTS TIES WITH HOUSTONS

AUSTRALIA

After a lengthy internal investigation, NZ-born Hillsong founder Brian Houston has stepped down from leadership. Wife Bobbie departed the church not long after. Houston has been battling charges of concealing the sexual abuse of children by his father. However, he has stepped down following revelations of two instances of inappropriate conduct.

—The New York Times

16 Fresh Veggies Day

21 National Smoothie Day (US)

FA IT H

EVOLUTION: a Leap of Faith

How much faith does believing in evolution really require?

BY MARYELLEN HACKO 6

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BILL NYE DEBATES KEN HAM­­—DEBATELIVE.ORG

F

or a century and-a-half, scientists and theologians have debated the theories of creation and evolution. One of the most famous debates was between Bill Nye “The Science Guy” and Ken Ham, CEO of the Creation Museum in Kentucky (USA) in 2014. Drawing international attention, the event sold out within minutes and received more than 3 million live views.

Although no score was kept, academics and commentators were quick to share their opinions. The scientific community generally agreed that Nye won, while the religious community praised Ham for his composed and

easy-to-follow arguments. Writer Michael Schulson, while siding with Nye’s scientific message, even said, “It was easy to pick out the smarter man on stage. Oddly, it was the same man who was arguing that the Earth is 6000 years old.”

While individual opinion was polarised, media organisations framed Ham’s arguments in a negative light.

The Biologos Foundation claimed the debate would “further alienate Christianity from science in the public consciousness”, while the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said it “drew world attention . . . on the US as the home of whacky Christianity”.

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The origin of life is a hot topic.

And with evolutionary theory increasingly being taught in schools and universities, creationism is often dismissed entirely, without regard for any of its claims.

Instead of trying to unequivocally prove either theory, this article will attempt to re-establish creationism in the “public consciousness”, offering it as a viable and beautiful theory that still speaks to how we choose to live life today.

evolution: a leap of faith

Creationism is often considered faith-based and “lacking scientific proof ”, but many creationists would argue that evolution has the same characteristics. In a roundtable discussion at the University of Waikato (NZ), evolutionist and resident biology professor Dr Carolyn King conceded that the evolutionary perspective requires faith. “The forms of faith are different, but you are right, both require trust. One in intellectual processes, and one in spiritual experience.”

As opposed to “supernaturalism”, evolutionary theory is founded on naturalism, which doesn’t allow anything outside the observable laws of nature to explain the origins of life and biology. Ironically, however, evolution violates approximately half a dozen natural laws of the universe.

Here are just two examples: i) The law of biogenesis The law of biogenesis states that life can only come from life. Yet, 8

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the process of life originating from non-living substances is an essential element of evolution. While the Miller-Urey experiment is often used as “evidence” that amino acids can be generated from inorganic compounds, it has been widely criticised and never successfully replicated.

Some scientists have suggested the experiment was a fraud.

Even if organic compounds could arise by chance, the process of evolution thereafter—where information is added to the genetic code over time—has never been observed in nature. On the contrary, genetic information is only lost from generation to generation. Further, species survival requires not only genetic information but an ability to decode it—two separate processes occurring in tandem. Breaking the law of biogenesis, which is necessary

WARRENRANDALCARR—GETTYIMAGES

to substantiate evolutionary theory, has never been observed naturally. ii) The laws of probability Another strong argument for intelligent design is the statistical impossibility of life originating by chance. The “Single Law of Chance” developed by French mathematician Emile Borel in 1962 states that “events whose probability is extremely small will never occur”.

Borel calculated that any event in the universe with less than a 1 in 1045 chance is effectively impossible—that is, no rational person would argue that the event could ever occur.

In comparison, evolutionist and Yale University professor Harold Morowitz calculated the probability of a single cell forming by chance as being 1 in 10340,000,000. A few years later, renowned evolutionist Carl Sagan made his own estimation

of life evolving on any single planet as 1 in 102,000,000,000. These calculations were made in the 1970s prior to the past several decades of complex scientific discoveries, and don’t include the probability of complex biodiversity, delicate ecosystems or human consciousness (something that scientists still don’t understand) forming over time.

The purpose of this article is not to provide an indisputable argument for or against evolutionary theory.

Instead, this brief exploration of evolution’s statistical impossibility, combined with its shaky scientific assumptions, are to show that believing in evolution requires an immense amount of faith.

Operating from this faith-based stance brings creationism back into the conversation. An interesting question to now ask is: which theory has more beauty or benefit to our world and society today?

creation—the answer to global issues

The biblical creation narrative reveals God’s original intention for mankind and the earth prior to sin and suffering. Applying the principles God instituted in Eden to our lives has the potential to restore harmony and address some major issues faced by humankind.

Mission Australia’s recent Youth Survey Report 2021—which surveyed more than 20,000 15-to19year-olds—revealed that Covid-19 (45.4 per cent), the environment JUNE 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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(38.0 per cent), equity and discrimination (35.4 per cent), as well as mental health (51.5 per cent) are among Generation Z’s greatest concerns in the Western world. The creation origin story addresses some of these issues:

1 One of the first characteristics

BY REINSTATING THE SANCTITY OF BEING HUMAN

ascribed to humans in the creation narrative is “made in God’s image” (Genesis 1:27). This isn’t necessarily from a physical standpoint, but may explain human consciousness, morality and emotion. God is described in the Bible as being gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). He is also described as being love itself (1 John 4:8).

Recognising that we are God’s workmanship, created to love others and do good works (Ephesians 2:10; John 15:12), can bring a sense of hope, peace and purpose to the chaotic, divided and sometimes violent society in which we exist.

In contrast to the evolutionary “survival of the fittest” narrative— where life exists by chance and the weak don’t survive, a creation outlook says that every human existence is intentional and precious; “knit together [by God] in the womb” (Psalm 139:13). This perspective combats discrimination and breaks down hierarchy by recognising every individual as equally valuable and infinitely loved.

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2As opposed to an evolutionary

BY COUNTERACTING EXHAUSTION AND BURNOUT

perspective where working hard is necessary for self-preservation and survival, a creationist perspective gives individuals generous permission to rest and enjoy life.

Before telling Adam and Eve to work in the Garden, the first thing God does is invite them to participate in Sabbath rest (Genesis 2:2,3).

Rest is not framed as a reward for hard work. Rather the creation framework provides insight into God’s original design for humans as requiring regular, rhythmical rest.

All attempts throughout history to change the length of a week have resulted in tremendous human suffering, sickness and burnout.

Unlike other measures of time— days (earth’s rotation), seasons (earth’s tilted axis), months (lunar phases) and years (earth circling the sun)—there is no planetary explanation for the existence of a seven-day week. In fact, the Britannica online dictionary says it is “associated with the ancient Jews and the biblical account of creation”.

Creation and Sabbath rest act as a reminder that a person’s work does not define them, and that God is the ultimate provider. Engaging in this mentality can provide numerous physical, mental and environmental benefits.

3In the creation narrative, God

IVANKO_BRNJAKOVIC—GETTYIMAGES

BY PROTECTING AND CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

takes Adam and “puts him in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Life in the natural world was meant to be experienced in abundance and work was intended to be a hands-on, organic, rewarding process.

Today, workers sit behind desks in large offices, removed from the natural world and often emotionally or physically disconnected from seeing their work come to fruition.

In the name of profit, multinational corporations have caused widespread pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and worker exploitation. Coca-Cola alone produces more than 3 million tonnes of plastic packaging per year, and according to National Geographic, less than 10 per cent of the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally is recycled.

While sustainability is slowly becoming more of an issue worldwide, there is a long way to go. Returning to an Edenic ideal for the planet, however, would stop environmental exploitation in its tracks.

The creation narrative, expressed in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, demonstrates

God’s original intention for mankind as being good, loving and hopeful.

While it is a theory grounded in faith, so is the theory of evolution.

So, would you rather exercise your faith to believe in a primordial soup origin story that leaves you with little purpose or hope for the future, or in a loving, creative God who made you intentionally and desires your wellbeing? Where will you direct your faith?

The choice is always yours but I encourage you to read and ponder the creation narrative. You might be astounded by its philosophical depth, scientific basis and purpose-filled practicality.

Maryellen Hacko is an artist and illustrator living in Sydney, Australia.

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W

ELL B EING

Recove ri n g FROM

COVID-19 Fatigue after Covid is way more than just feeling tired.

Here are five tips on what to do about it.

BY NATASHA YATES

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P

eople are often surprised by how fatigued they are during a Covid infection. Fatigue is more than being worn out or sleepy. It’s an excessive tiredness that persists despite resting or good sleep. It’s likely a result of our body’s strong immune response to the virus.

But in some people the fatigue drags on even when the infection is gone. This can be debilitating and frustrating. Simply resting more makes no difference.

Here’s what we know about postCovid fatigue and what can help.

Fatigue or tiredness? What’s the difference?

How big a problem is this?

Because there is no agreed definition of post-Covid fatigue, it is impossible to give exact numbers of how many people experience it.

Estimates vary considerably worldwide. One review of 21 studies found 13–33 per cent of people were fatigued 16–20 weeks after their symptoms started. This is a worryingly widespread problem.

When should I see my GP?

There are many potential causes of fatigue. Even before the pandemic, fatigue was one of the most common reasons to see a GP. Most serious causes can be ruled

PEOPLEIMAGES—GETTYIMAGES

The term fatigue can mean different things to different people. Some people mean their muscles are easily weakened. Walking to the mailbox feels like they have run a marathon.

Others describe a generalised exhaustion, whether they are moving or not. People can experience physical,

mental or emotional fatigue, or any combination of these.

The difference between tiredness and fatigue is this: tiredness can get better with enough rest, while fatigue persists even if someone is sleeping and resting more than ever.

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out when your GP asks about your symptoms and examines you. Sometimes your GP will investigate further, perhaps by ordering blood tests.

Symptoms that should raise particular concern include fevers, unexplained weight loss, unusual bleeding or bruising, pain (anywhere) that wakes you from sleep, or drenching night sweats.

If your fatigue is getting worse rather than better, or you cannot care for yourself properly, you really should seek medical care.

Is it like long Covid?

Early in the pandemic, we realised some patients had a cluster of debilitating symptoms that dragged on for months, which we now call long Covid.

Some 85 per cent of long Covid patients experience fatigue, making it one of the most common long Covid symptoms.

However, people with long Covid have a range of other symptoms, such as “brain fog”, headaches and muscle aches. Patients with long Covid therefore experience more than fatigue or sometimes don’t have fatigue at all.

Is this like chronic fatigue syndrome?

We knew about chronic fatigue syndrome, otherwise known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, well before Covid 19.

This often develops after a viral infection (for instance after infection

with Epstein-Barr virus). So, understandably, there has been concern around the coronavirus potentially triggering chronic fatigue syndrome.

There are striking similarities between chronic fatigue syndrome and long Covid. Both involve debilitating fatigue, brain fog and/or muscle aches.

But at this stage, researchers are still untangling any link between post-Covid fatigue, long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome.

For now, we know many people will have post-Covid fatigue but thankfully do not go on to develop long Covid or chronic fatigue syndrome.

What will help me manage my fatigue?

Expect you or a loved one may develop post-Covid fatigue, regardless of how unwell you or they were during the actual infection.

Vaccines help reduce the risk of post-Covid fatigue by lowering the chance of catching Covid in the first place. Vaccinated people who do catch Covid are less likely to report fatigue and are less likely to develop long Covid.

However, vaccination is not 100 per cent protective and there are plenty of fully vaccinated people who go on to develop longer term fatigue.

The evidence for what helps you recover from post-Covid fatigue is in its infancy. However, a few things do help. Turn over the page for our five top tips!

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5 TIPS to recover from post-Covid fatigue PACE YOURSELF:

adjust the return to normal activities to your energy levels. Choose your priorities and focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t.

RETURN TO EXERCISE GRADUALLY:

a gradual return to exercise may help your recovery, but you may need some support about how to manage or avoid fatigue afterwards.

Some therapists—occupational therapists, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists— specialise in this. So ask your GP for a recommendation.

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PRIORITISE SLEEP:

rather than feeling guilty about sleeping so much, remind yourself that while you sleep, your body conserves energy and heals.

Disrupted sleep patterns are an unfortunate Covid symptom.

Having a strict bedtime, while also resting when you feel tired during the day, is important.

EAT A RANGE OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS:

loss of smell, taste and appetite from Covid can make this tricky. However, try to view food as a way of fuelling your body with both energy and the micronutrients it needs to heal.

Be careful not to spend a fortune on unproven “remedies” that often look good in small studies, but more robust research finds make little difference.

PCH.VECTOR—FREEPIK, CARLES RABADA—UNSPLASH

MONITOR YOUR FATIGUE:

keep a diary to monitor your fatigue, and look for a gradual improvement.

You will have good days and bad days, but overall there should be a slow trajectory towards recovery. If you are going backwards, get input from a health professional, such as your GP. Natasha Yates is the deputy lead of General Practice at Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. This article was originally published in The Conversation. To find this article and more, visit theconversation.com.au.

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FA IT H

I WAS

AN animal

One man's journey from dealing drugs and fighting on the streets of Auckland to a life of leadership and faith FROM HOPE CHANNEL NZ

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SUPPLIED

JAYSON'S STORY JUNE 2022

• SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU

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M

y name is Jayson, and this is my story.

My life was predetermined before I was born. I was born into slavery, a caged beast. The only difference was that I thought I was the predator; the one who broke the rules to attain true freedom, to take whatever I wanted to rule the world.

I was completely blind—I was, in fact, a slave.

I was initiated in to my first real gang in the early ’90s. It was all small stuff—petty theft and vandalism.

But I burned for fire. I’d set bins alight and watch from a distance the fire brigade come to the rescue.

While they were occupied fighting the flames, I’d set up for another fire nearby and sit back to revel in the chaos.

I was an out-of-control kid that nobody wanted. Even the police didn’t want to deal with me. Because of this, I was relocated at the age of 12. I remember the “tough guy tears” that I sobbed into my pillow in utter abandonment and loneliness. Even though I had no belief or religious background, I prayed. I prayed that God would bring me back to my family; that I could be somewhere I could belong. I wanted to go home.

Prayers aren’t always answered straight away. Even though I returned to Auckland a year-and-ahalf later, it wasn’t home. God had bigger plans for me, but it was all about timing—God’s timing—not my own. Of course, I fell straight back into old habits. It was the

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only world I knew. I hooked up again with my whole crew and went straight back into a life of crime; a life I believed gave me strength. My power only grew. By 1996 I began to grow and sell marijuana, but by 2000 I had tried meth. It didn’t take long until I was utterly addicted.

Not only did I revel in it, but I also needed a way to support my $3000-a-week habit so I began distributing, which opened a whole new portal for me. It was lucrative— so lucrative in fact, that at my peak I was part of a syndicate of three cooks and four workers who would bring in around $10,000 every few days. It was big business.

I was known for home invasions with sawn-off shotguns, kidnapping, extortion and road rage. I had a bad reputation in the underworld. Even the greatest undesirables knew not to mess with me. During the course of 11 years of distributing meth, I had become . . . an animal. Somebody that wasn’t to be taken lightly.

Somebody that you didn’t mess with.

Somebody out of control.

Then one day the tables turned when someone pulled a gun on me and two of my kids. It was an eye opener. I thought I was so hard that no-one would dare come near us.

And yet here I was with my kids at gunpoint. I was drowning but didn't realise it.

One day I was at a pool when a Samoan guy named Andrew approached me and asked if I’d be interested in joining a free

heaven.” It was confronting, because what treasures did I have? Here I was at this born-again Christian kickboxing program, still a drug dealer and a gangster, still broken and still trying to understand life. I was still trying to find out what my calling was; still wondering whether there was more to life than drugs and crime. Was this the best I could be? This gangster, this drug dealer, this person? What treasure did I have stored in heaven?

One day it finally clicked—my treasures were my family. They were my treasures for eternity. Through During the course of these training ses11 years of distributing sions, I’d learned that the only way to meth, I had become. . . heaven is through Jesus Christ. So how an animal. then, I thought, can I store my treasures in Heaven? How do I teach my family about God? The love that Andrew on earth, but up in heaven where showed me through simply meeting neither rust nor moth can destroy” me and introducing my family and (Matthew 6:19, 20). Me, being a I to Christ . . . that’s amazing. That’s newbie to the whole religion, faith and belief in God thing, left that powerful love. training session rather confused and It was then that the real battle thinking, What the heck is that all began. We’d been assets to the devil’s about? What does it all mean? cause for generations. And now . . .

I kept going back to Solid well, now Jesus was rocking the boat.

Community every week and trained Would I stay in my criminal comfort hard. I got better and better at street zone playing out my predetermined fighting and still after every training future? Or would I, could I, throw session, I’d be challenged by Bible it all away to follow Christ? Andrew texts and the same one would haunt asked if I would like to be a trainer me: “Store up your treasures in for the Solid Community: a trainer!

HELLO I'M NIK—UNSPLASH, ARTISTGNDPHOTOGRAPHY—GETTY IMAGES

community kickboxing program called “Solid Community”.

I went along thinking, Man, I’m going to be even more lethal at the game . . . at the street fighting that I already love and I’m passionate about.

I loved the class. I had a passion for street fighting. It made me feel in control and invincible. At the end of the session, Andrew read a thought for the day out of the Bible which said, “Lay your treasures not here

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because it wasn’t just teaching.

Everything they taught us they also showed us—PAPSDA embraced us on a level I never thought I was worthy of.

Years ago, a 12-year-old boy sobbed into his pillow, screaming out to God to bring him home. God answered.

Being around such positive, influential, supportive people at PAPSDA was life changing. Our family celebrated the largest baptism at church last year. Seven of us got baptised and our two youngest ones were dedicated, so nine of us in total gave ourselves to Christ.

My name is Jayson Rogers. I’m a business owner. I’m a kickboxing trainer. I’m a husband and a father to seven beautiful children. I know where my treasures lie. Do you?

This story was adapted from a video produced by Hope Channel New Zealand. Jayson now resides in Queensland with his family and is an active member of his local church.

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It was an opening, which was humbling.

Finally in 2015, I said to myself: It's now or never. I can’t live this double life anymore. Either I choose to keep on with the lifestyle I’ve always known, or I change sides and start a new life with Christ.

It was that day that I chose to follow Jesus Christ.

To become a trainer, I needed a first aid certificate, which the Papatoetoe Seventh-day Adventist (PAPSDA) Church was providing certification training sessions for.

I attended and met Karl, who introduced me to a lot of the other church members. I felt overwhelmed and welcomed, like I was already part of the family.

These Adventist people were different. I couldn’t get over the love they bestowed on us; on everyone.

I was amazed at how everyone had a part to play in making the world a better place. I was also amazed by their teachings on selfless service

S06/22

Hi! I’m Jesse and I don’t have all the answers. As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered over and over. They’re sometimes about theology and the Bible, but more often they’re about everyday life, and they can’t be answered easily or quickly. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the place to ask them, and I’ll do my best to respond honestly, authentically and biblically.

Do you think a relationship can work if the couple has differing spiritual beliefs? —Talia, NSW It’s always challenging to be in a relationship with people who share different values to you. Whether it’s a friendship or intimate relationship, these are often the things that cause the greatest amount of tension and disagreement. And while I do think in theory it can work, if you’re thinking of entering a relationship with someone who doesn’t share your spiritual beliefs, you should ask yourself a fundamental question: is my partner generous enough to not just respect, but support my beliefs, and

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SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU/ASKJESSE

can I do the same with them?

It’s all very well to respect your partner’s beliefs, but if you can’t support and defend them, it may not be worth the pain of being in a relationship.

Hebrews 13:8 says that God "is the same yesterday, today and forever." Does God ever change His mind? –Ryan, NZ It's a common Christian saying that "God never changes", but we only need to read the Bible to see that this isn’t true.

God changes His mind when deciding to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). He changes His mind about destroying the Israelites when they worship the Golden Calf (Exodus 32).

Finally, He decides not to destroy Nineveh after all, even though He fully intended to (Jonah 3). You may be sensing a pattern here: God does change.

So, what does the passage in Hebrews mean? Contextually, the passage is encouraging believers to persevere in their faith and not to give up. Jesus is One they can trust. In this sense, the passage is not so much saying that God never changes His mind; but that He is consistent in His character. Because He’s consistent, we can trust Him. How do you reconcile the violent and vengeful God of the Old Testament with the positive pacifist New Testament Jesus? —Ellen, WA It’s true that God is often perceived as being different in the Old vs the New Testament, but it’s a perception I think we should challenge. If you read long enough, you’ll eventually see the

Father showing behaviour you’d expect from Jesus, and vice versa. Take, for example, Jonah. After he’s disappointed at God’s forgiveness of the Ninevites, he complains: “I knew you were a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Jonah 4:2). By contrast, there are moments in Jesus’ life that are shocking.

Jesus once said “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34, 35).

On another occasion, He made a whip to drive out the merchants and money lenders from the Temple (John 2:15-17).

So, what’s going on here? Does God have a split personality? The truth is more complicated. For starters, there’s no getting past the fact that God uses violence to achieve His purposes in both the Old and New Testaments. In Acts 5, two new Christians are struck dead for the sin of telling a lie! Our 21st-century sensibilities recoil from this, but we would be wise to remember that the Bible was written in a time and place very different to ours. Imposing our cultural norms onto the Bible is like travelling to a foreign country and expecting everyone there to speak English! When we read the Bible, we do so as tourists, so perhaps we should approach it with more curiosity and fewer assumptions. Violence is sometimes a necessary option, but never God's first choice. Jesus Himself, who was and is God (John 14:7), rather than using violence to solve the problem of evil, allowed Himself to be killed on the cross.

This should remind us that sacrifice and love is what truly conquers evil.

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A RETURN TO

peace

Keeping the Sabbath just might save you from burnout.

BY JUSTIN BONE

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want to return to an office-based work system, and 72 per cent want a hybrid online/office model.1 Global events and the change in how we work have given rise to a new malady—Zoom fatigue. It’s the feeling of exhaustion and burnout after excessive engagement on video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Skype or Teams. Professor Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, insists that there isn’t anything inherently wrong with online video platforms, saying, “Videoconferencing is a good thing for remote communication, but just think about the medium—just because you can use video doesn’t mean you have to.”2 Screens aren’t the problem, as some suggest. The problem is the cognitive exhaustion that comes from being constantly “switched on” during intensive conferencing sessions. Instead of speaking with just one or two people at a time, you may have 50 or perhaps hundreds of faces online with you simultaneously.

Along with Zoom fatigue comes the fact that it is more difficult to draw healthy boundaries between home and work if you work from home. Jane Fraser, the CEO of Citigroup, says, “The blurring of lines between home and work and the relentlessness of the pandemic workday have taken a toll on our wellbeing.”3 Blurring those

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s I clicked the “Leave” button on my computer screen, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. At last, the day was done. Seven hours of Zoom meetings had left my eyes feeling like fried eggs. Even though I had been sitting all day, I felt physically and mentally drained.

My daughter wanted me to watch a TV show with her, so I tried to focus, but my eyes were stinging. I went to the doctor and was less than thrilled when he prescribed eye drops for me.

It’s a familiar tale to many people whose work is increasingly moving online. Even if you don’t have an office job, it’s likely you have spent more time using screens in the past few years. Don’t get me wrong: I’m grateful for the chance to work from home because not everyone is so lucky. It turns out most people actually prefer to work online if they can. Recent studies show only 12 per cent of workers

your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns” (Exodus 20:8–10).

I find it fascinating that God placed a command to rest in the heart of the Ten Commandments, God gives you a day off along with other important laws like In response to the blurring “Thou shalt not kill” of those lines, a and “Thou shalt countermovement not steal.” Society has arisen to give is familiar with the people the right to prohibitions against disconnect. Online killing and stealing communities such but has oddly as Reddit have also been the breeding ignored the resting Work is always ground for what is commandment, even present at home, now known as the though it is carved antiwork movement. which ... leads right alongside the This movement is others. God seems to stress and fighting for fairer pay to be telling us that exhaustion. and more rights for having a day off is workers, including just as important as the right to take time any of those other off without reprisal. In 2021, Portucommandments, and not just any day, but the Sabbath day. I can get gal made it illegal for a supervisor to behind a commandment that tells email, call or even text an employee me to have a day off! outside of office hours.4 The world seems to be getting However, this isn’t the first time increasingly busy. The small country that rest from work has been set town I grew up in essentially closed down as a law. In the Ten Comdown on Saturday and Sunday. mandments, written in stone and It was a time for picnics, family delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai, get-togethers and church. These days, the command to rest became the however, stores are open all weekend. fourth commandment. “Remember I’m not complaining; I love going the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. shopping with my family on Sunday.

Six days you shall labour and do all Sadly, though, culture now seems your work, but the seventh day is a to be moving toward normalising sabbath to the Lord your God. On the seven-day work week. We’ve it you shall not do any work, neither forgotten about the command to you, nor your son or daughter, nor lines means work is always present at home, which inevitably leads to stress and exhaustion. In such conditions, it is difficult to truly get away and have a meaningful break.

“

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only the Sabbath was made holy

But why is a specific day off so important? Couldn’t we simply rest anytime we’re tired? Exodus 20:11 goes on to tell us why God created the Sabbath. “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” The creation week started with God creating not only the earth, humanity and everything that fills, it but also a day of rest. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

It is God’s gift to us—a day of rest. From the very beginning, we needed that day. When was the last time you took a whole 24-hour period away from work, a day away from even thinking about work, away from all those things that worry and stress you throughout the week?

God said there is a day to put all those things aside, to remember His

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rest; consequently, we are collectively wearier for it.

In some cultures, the overwork ethic has reached catastrophic heights. A Japanese political journalist made headlines around the world after she passed away from congestive heart failure. Miwa Sado (aged 31) reportedly worked 159 hours of overtime in one month for her demanding job.5 Death from overwork in Japan happens so frequently it even has a name: karoshi.

We aren’t meant to work that hard. It injures our health. Longer work hours lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Long work hours usually mean less sleep, which causes our immune systems to deteriorate.6 Humans need a day of rest every week. Getting that day of rest provides health benefits such as reducing stress and decreasing the chance of obesity and heart disease.7 Resting increases productivity because it enables people to work at peak efficiency.

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creation, to remember Him and rest.

The seventh day of the week is God’s sacred Sabbath, created just for you. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday won’t do. You cannot keep a day holy that God did not make holy. According to the Bible, His special day begins at sunset Friday and closes at sunset Saturday. “From evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath” (Leviticus 23:32, NKJV*). This holy day of rest is observed by millions of people around the world.

I remember visiting Jerusalem on a Friday night. We passed the Western Wall, which was bustling with faithful Jews worshiping at the start of Shabbat (Sabbath). I was taken aback by just how happy they were that their day of rest had arrived. Dancing, shouts of joy and celebrations were breaking out all around me. The Sabbath is a gift from God and one to be celebrated as something precious He has given us—time off! Too often, I try to relax by collapsing in front of a different screen, which makes my day of rest anything but restful. I need to remember more often what Professor Bailenson said: just because the screens are there doesn’t mean I have to use them. When screens become work, rest from them is what I need.

Jesus made all the days of the week, but He singled out the seventh and set it aside as a unique time for Him to spend with His created children. According to the Bible, He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and I’ve

found that focusing on Jesus means that I feel truly rested by the end of the rest day. I find peace in the Sabbath God has created.

Worshipping Him, enjoying nature and spending time with fellow believers is something I look forward to all week long. It’s more than a day off to me; it’s a special day with my Friend and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Justin Bone supports and trains pastors and congregations around Victoria, Australia, for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is passionate about helping people understand the Bible better. If you'd like to find a local congregation of Sabbath keepers, simply visit <adventistchurch.com/locations/>. *Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1. “Moving Beyond Remote: Workplace Transformation in the Wake of COVID-19,” <slack.com/intl/en-au/ blog/collaboration/workplace-transformation-in-thewake-of-covid-19> 2. “Stanford Researchers Identify Four Causes for ‘Zoom Fatigue’ and Their Simple Fixes,” <news. stanford.edu/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatiguesolutions/> 3. “Remote Work: The Blurring of Business and Personal Life,” <forbes.com/sites/stephaniesarkis/2021/03/27/remote-work-the-blurring-ofbusiness-and-personal-life/> 4. “Portugal Makes It Illegal for Bosses to Email, Call or Text After Hours, and Australia Could Be Next,” <news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/ portugal-makes-it-illegal-for-bosses-to-email-callor-text-after-hours-and-australia-could-be-next/ news-story/318819d4b978fd30de317f70ae536ad7> 5. “This 31-Year-Old Japanese Journalist Died Holding a Phone After Working 159 Hours of Overtime in a Month,” <businessinsider.com.au/japan-nhk-journalist-miwa-sado-died-after-working-159-hours-overtime-2017-10> 6. “Long Workhours and Health,” Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment, and Health 29, no. 3 (2003): 171–188, <doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.720> 7. “A Day of Rest: 12 Scientific Reasons It Works,” Inc., January 1, 2017, <inc.com/rhett-power/a-day-of-rest12-scientific-reasons-it-works.html>

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THE TOWER DEDICATED TO PRIDE For thousands of years, humans have attempted to reach heaven through a myriad of means. The recently delayed Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is set to be the tallest in human history, but what does its construction mean?

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by Jarrod Stackelroth

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people were arrested as recently as August 2021. According to Al Jazeera, “Saudi nationals have long complained of rampant corruption in government and of public funds being squandered or misused by those in power.”1 With the current political instability and internal machinations, it is hard to see how construction will proceed to completion. Despite this, the developer, Thornton Tomasetti, still confidently assert the tower will one day be finished.

“Rising out of the desert at an expected construction cost of $US1.2 billion, Jeddah Tower will offer a luxury hotel, serviced apartments and condominiums, as well as prestigious office space. The 530,000m2 tower will anchor Kingdom City, a new $US20 billion multi-use urban development.”2 According to a BBC report, the future of skyscrapers in general is in jeopardy. There is worldwide decreasing interest in high-density

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eddah is different, at least according to its city motto. This Saudi Arabian port on the Red Sea is home to more than 4 million people and is a gateway to Mecca: the holiest city in Islam. Millions of pilgrims come through Jeddah to visit Mecca, some 65 kilometres to the east and Medina, Islam’s second holiest city, 360km to the north.

Jeddah’s aspirations are demonstrated by their plans to build a “great” tower. Construction of Jeddah’s tower started in 2013 with planning, investing and fundraising commencing before that. The Jeddah Tower (formerly Kingdom Tower) is set to be the first skyscraper in the world to reach 1km in height. Only about a third of the tower has been completed, however construction of the tower halted in 2018 after the Saudi Arabian purge—a mass arrest of politicians, princes and businesspeople. The purge was labelled by the ruling family as an anti-corruption campaign; however, 200 more

a tower to heaven

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There is a story in the Bible that comes from the same region and has many parallels with the story of Jeddah. It is a story about a tower that was meant to be the tallest ever built. Similarly, it is also a tower that was never finished, just like the Jeddah Tower. Biblical sources tie the building of the Tower of Babel to a powerful king named Nimrod. There are suggestions of this powerful king exploiting labour to build the project as well as using the project to turn humanity away from God. “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves;

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urban living since Covid-19 and empty offices have become the norm in cities around the world (although the report acknowledges that highrises were also declared dead after 9/11 and there have been more built in the past 20 years than before).3 For now, the foundations of the tower jut into the desert air: a monument to failed human ego and ambition.

Another concern around the construction of the tower of Jeddah is the exploitation of immigrant workers. Amnesty International has called out the poor treatment of low-skilled immigrant workers in the Arabian Gulf countries. The sad reality is that these kinds of workers are the ones often used and abused in construction projects such as this.4

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otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth’”. (Genesis 11:4) In the biblical account, God comes down to witness this great building project. With the possibility of the exploitation and evil expanding as humanity is working together, God confuses the workers’ languages and they all go their separate ways, fulfilling God’s commission of Genesis 1:28 to take care of the earth and multiply across it.

Thinkers and scholars have theorised over what the tower represented for thousands of years. While theories range from practical to outlandish, there is a common theme—pride and exploitation. Some suggest that those with memory of the Flood (Genesis 7) were trying to build a structure that could withstand a future cataclysm. Other commentators note that because trees and high mountains are symbolic in the Bible as a meeting point between heaven (divinity) and earth (humanity), the tower represented a symbol of a mountain, with humankind striving to reach an equal footing with God. Through this man-made tower, they were attempting to replace the divine with the human. As Judith Dupre, author of Skyscrapers: A History of the World’s Most Extraordinary Buildings, says: “Skyscrapers convey power, economic might, and technical prowess—attributes that are irresistible to nation builders.”5 36

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“

Allowing pride to drive us to compete with and compare ourselves to others is something that often leads to embarrassment.

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The Tower of Babel is an important story, as it sets up a theme that appears again and again throughout the rest of the Bible.

Both the ancient and modern stories remind us that while human beings are capable of incredible and unbelievable feats, it is always helpful to stay humble. Pride can often tempt us to replace the divine, God or even transcendent things with ourselves. The ancient Greeks are thought to have coined the phrase “hubris” to describe this exact concept. Excessive pride, especially in the face of the gods, always leads to divine retribution in the case of Greek tragedies. In the real world, disregard for the divine and elevation of self always leads us to hurt others, and ultimately ourselves.

Taking pride in our achievements is not a problem but allowing pride to drive us to compete with and compare ourselves to others is something that often leads to embarrassment, as well as other more serious consequences.

It can also lead us to exploit and manipulate others in order to achieve our goals. A repeated theme advocated for by biblical prophets is protection for the disadvantaged, such as in Ezekiel 34:10–16, and for foreigners, as in Amos 7:22–24.

Another common biblical theme is the reversal of the disruption and separation of nations. In the book of Acts, at the beginning of the Christian movement, there is a moment when the disciples are together, waiting for a symbol or sign that the time is right to take their message of hope and healing to the world. In an act that reverses the “curse” of Babel, the book records that the Spirit of God comes upon everyone who is present in the room, praying and waiting, and they begin to share the good news of Jesus with those on the surrounding streets. The crazy thing is that everyone who hears them understands the message in their own native language. At that time in Jerusalem there were men and women travelling JUNE 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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all nations, languages and tribes to become part of God’s family.

While the tower of Jeddah may never be finished, just like the tower of Babel, both situations are emblamatic. They remind us to stay humble, protect the innocent, treat those who are different to us respectully and to ultimately accept the invitation to become part of God’s inclusive, accepting family.

In my church and many others, I see the active reversal of the curse of Babel as people from every nation, language group and people come together and try to love one another.

If you haven’t found yourself a group like that, I encourage you to seek one out today.

Jarrod Stackelroth is the editor of Signs of the Times Australia/New Zealand and Adventist Record.

1. "More than 200 arrested in latest Saudi anti-corruption purge", <aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/10/ more-than-200-arrested-in-latest-saudi-anti-corruption-purge> 2. "Jeddah Tower, Thornton Tomasetti", <thorntontomasetti.com/project/jeddah-tower> 3. "Does the skyscraper still have a future?" <bbc. com/news/world-us-canada-59139998> 4. "COVID-19 makes Gulf countries’ abuse of migrant workers impossible to ignore", <amnesty.org/en/ latest/campaigns/2020/04/covid19-makes-gulfcountries-abuse-of-migrant-workers-impossibleto-ignore> 5. "Does the skyscraper still have a future?" ibid

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from every corner of the Roman empire. Some of those who hear the commotion make fun of the apostles, claiming they are drunk. But others hear the message of God and are convinced that this God is worthy of their wholehearted devotion. The apostle Peter claims the promise in the book of Joel that says “I will pour out my spirit on all people”, and that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, tells us that “about 3000 were added to their number that day”. Can you imagine speaking to a crowd and having that many people commit to what you were saying?

In the final book of the Bible, Revelation, the prophet John looks forward to the day when humanity has access to the Tree of Life which is “for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). The biblical story imagines a future where all people are brought together and regain access to God’s love and presence at the foot of a life-giving tree.

If it wasn’t clear before, it should be now that the biblical story is an invitation extended to people of

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THE EASIEST N IO IS C E D — st e d r a H d n a —

The choice of becoming a mother is more fraught than you think. Reviewing Gina Rushton’s The Most Important Job in the World.

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BY MELODY TAN

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The Most Important Job In The World

by Gina Rushton (2022, Pan Macmillan Australia)

D

id you wrestle with your decision to have children? Or did you know motherhood was for you from a long time back?

More than six years ago, I found myself wondering about children.

I couldn’t really find a “point” to having children. “Underpinning all of these [ideas] was the knowledge that the world is overpopulated and under-resourced,” I had written.

Back then, the reasons whether to become a mother or not seemed simple to me. I thought a woman simply had to make the choice for or against having children. Reading Gina Rushton’s The Most Important Job in the World has made me realise from how much a privileged position I had formed that view. Deciding to become a mother sometimes has nothing to do with personal choice.

The catalyst for The Most Important Job in the World was a medical emergency that impacted on her fertility. The irony lies in the fact that Rushton had decided she didn’t want to be a mother a decade earlier.

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Yet, faced with the possibility of involuntary infertility, she suddenly had doubts. So began her journey investigating the role of motherhood in society today, and the reasons for and against it. The Most Important Job in the World was “the book that she needed” the back cover declares.

Rushton is an award-winning journalist, recognised for her years of reporting about reproductive rights.

She writes with confidence and in-depth knowledge. The book lays out the facts together with interviews with experts and individuals, but it’s also deeply personal and personable.

She bravely and vulnerably lays out the struggles, dilemmas and questions many grapple with when it comes to mothering the next generation. When I started reading The Most Important Job in the World, I thought I’d find the answers to the questions I’ve been wrestling with, such as: - Should we have children knowing they will inherit a planet devastated by climate change?

- Is it worth sacrificing my career for children?

- Why do we even believe it’s “natural” for women to have children, to be mothers?

What I learned however, was that what I took for granted—motherhood—can in fact be a highly political, highly controversial subject.

More often than not, as Rushton repeatedly points out in her book, societal constructs, government policies and subtle discrimination influence the decision to have children, not personal choice.

the problem with the world today

The Most Important Job in the World is separated neatly into seven chapters, each dealing with the different problems women face as mothers and potential mothers: 1. Reproductive rights (or abortion access) 2.

3.

Climate change Reproductive justice (or

racism and poverty) 4. Work (or the career-family juggle and how gender bias affects child raising) 5. Emotional labour (or the mental load women have and the dangers of masculine behaviours) 6. Legacies (or the fear of raising a child under the shadow of one’s neurosis or genetic problems) 7. Fertility (or the stigma surrounding infertility and the legislations dictating who can

have children) In some chapters, Rushton raises points I had never considered—such as the discrimination Indigenous women face when it comes to having children and caring for them. “Medical institutions that might represent safety or support for non-Indigenous mothers are still sites of hyper-surveillance and racism for Amy [an Indigenous mother],” Rushton writes in her chapter on reproductive justice.

“Sexuality, pregnancy and motherhood are ‘deeply racialised experiences’ . . . we [need to] stop assuming our experiences are universal and common, stop pretending there is nothing to interrogate, encourage communication between women, help de-marginalise women of colour, secure racism as a priority issue, look back on what we have prioritised and ask which women it benefits, and include mothers and would-be mothers.”

In other chapters, Rushton battles familiar struggles head–on: “Time with family is compromised by the boundless nature of work as we now know it, while progression in the workplace is hindered by having anyone to care for but yourself.”

finding hope

The sad thing, I feel, in Rushton’s book lies in an underlying anti-Christian attitude. However, it doesn’t surprise me.

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accompanied such an upbringing. As an adult, she has reported extensively on reproductive rights.

She has stood outside abortion clinics, a favourite hangout spot for pro-life and ultra-conservative picketers. She has spoken to patients of those clinics, heard the reasons behind their decisions, and witnessed their private struggles and pain.

The Christianity Rushton has experienced has a specific bent, one in which abortion is frowned upon regardless of reason, gender norms are forcibly perpetuated, and there’s a focus on what one should or should not do, in fear of spiritual (and eternal) repercussions.

On the other hand, the Christianity I wished Rushton—and the rest of the world—knew accepts, includes and loves first. I believe that only through acceptance,

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“

It is my belief that only through acceptance, inclusion and unconditional love we are able to find hope.

inclusion and unconditional love we are able to find hope.

Hope that God will help us through the struggles.

Hope that will give us strength to advocate for the weak and disadvantaged.

Hope that where we fail (ourselves or our children), God is there to help us succeed.

Hope that there’s a better world in store for us, be that on this Earth or the next.

Hope that loves trumps every tradition, every belief, everything.

making the decision for children

The reasons why we shouldn’t have children are boundless if we look for them. In fact, they’re pretty easy to find thanks to the state of the world today. But Rushton’s mission isn’t simply about finding what’s wrong with the world. Rushton also speaks with those who have or want children to find out what spurs them.

It’s a hope that drives us, a hope that God has placed in all of us, whether we believe in Him or not.

“There is such hope and joy in babies and young children,” says Dr Sophie Lewis, commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, in The Most Important Job in the World.

Chris, an evolutionary and conservation biologist who has just found out his wife is pregnant, puts it another way: “[The problem of climate change] is incomprehensibly big and it is more than any individual can take on and while I think people should live responsibly, I don’t think they should be racked with guilt for choosing to have a child which is a totally natural decision to make.”

From when God gave the instructions to our first parents, “Be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 1:28), most of humanity have had an innate desire to have children. It perhaps explains why despite all the arguments against—and even all the realities against—having children, we often still feel “called” to become mothers, become parents.

It’s a calling that won’t subside for many of us, despite societal or political constraints. But it’s a calling that we can help bolster through acceptance, inclusion, unconditional love and hope.

Melody is project manager of Mums At The Table. She lives in Sydney with her husband and their son. To connect with Melody or find a community group for mums, head to <mumsatthetable.com>.

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IBLE THERE IS SO MUCH IN OUR UNIVERSE THAT REMAINS MYSTERIOUS AND UNKNOWN. DARK MATTER IS ONE OF THOSE MYSTERIES, BUT IN RECENT TIMES NEW LIGHT HAS BEEN SHED ON IT.

BY DR SVEN ÖSTRING

JUNE 2022

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eality, as Mark Twain has observed, is sometimes stranger than fiction. This is not only true of our tangled human history, with all of its surprising twists and turns. It is also true about something as big and physical as the universe— our cosmic home.

The 20th century was a time for massive discoveries about the universe. For the first time in human existence, science pointed significantly towards the fact that the universe had a beginning. This conclusion was a result of the Big Bang theory, which was based on Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Then, cosmologists discovered that the universe was finely tuned for galaxies, stars, planets and even life itself to exist. The more we learned about the universe, the more special it seemed to be.

curious cosmic phenomena

But then cosmologists started to notice that some things didn’t seem to be adding up. For example, consider the speed at which stars travel in galaxies. Spiral galaxies are enormous collections of stars speeding around a supermassive black hole located at the galactic centre. As scientists measured the speed of stars travelling out on the edge of a galaxy, they were surprised to discover that these far-flung stars were travelling at pretty much the same speeds as stars that were located much closer to the centre.

This didn’t make sense—these stars 48

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shouldn’t be travelling that fast because they were further from the centre.

Then, as astronomers studied images they had taken of galaxies, they noticed unusual arcs and rings of light. If there wasn’t anything between the galaxies and our telescopes, these light features shouldn’t be there. Arcs and rings of light would only appear in pictures of galaxies if some intruder was present acting as a giant lens we could not see.

hints of dark matter

Based on these unexpected observations, scientists like Swedish astronomer Knut Lundmark proposed that there was a lot more matter in the universe than what we could actually see. They called this type of matter “dark matter”.

The matter that we can see is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons and quarks. The reason we can see this type of matter is because it does things to light. In other words, it interacts with light rays. Light bounces off visible matter. This type of matter may also absorb light or even generate its own light. However, dark matter is completely different.

It does not do anything directly to light. That’s why we can’t see it. We can only indirectly observe the effects of dark matter.

So, if dark matter is not made up of the “normal stuff” that visible matter is, what are its basic building blocks? Scientists have suggested that it is made up of another type

MARGARITA BALASHOVA—GETTYIMAGES

of exotic particle called a WIMP. Perhaps that’s why dark matter is too scared to come out into the light!

Based on their calculations, scientists have estimated that 27 per cent of the universe is made up of dark matter, which is about a quarter of the universe. That doesn’t sound like a significant amount, except for the reality that, according to their calculations, only about 5 per cent of the universe is visible matter. There is something else at work out there.

hints of dark energy

As cosmologists studied the expansion of the universe predicted by the Big Bang theory, they expected that the pull of gravity would start slowing the expansion of the universe down. This could mean that the universe could ultimately collapse in on itself. However, what they discovered was the opposite. Instead of slowing down, the expansion of the universe appears to be accelerating.

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proposed that something else existed in the universe which they called “dark energy”. Their calculations show that dark energy makes up 68 per cent of the total energy in the universe.

It's relatively easy to give “dark energy” It's relatively easy to give a name. The “dark energy” a name. challenge is to The challenge is to figure figure out what it actually is. out what it actually is.

Some scientists have suggested that dark energy is sort of like a fluid that fills the entire universe. careful review of the scientific This fluid has been called quintesliterature shows that scientists are not quite as presumptuous and conclusence.

Together with dark matter, this sive. They recognise that dark matter means that we cannot see what 95 and dark energy are just proposals per cent of the universe is made up to explain things we observe. They of. To think that we have yet to really acknowledge that dark matter observe 95 per cent of the building and dark energy may not actually blocks of our cosmic home is quite exist. Some scientists have written humbling and thrilling at the same academic papers explaining why time. they don’t think that dark matter and dark energy need to be invoked to explain why the Big Bang theory shadowy hypotheses does not seem to predict everything There is one significant challenge, we observe in the universe. though. While popular media chanFor example, the strange things nels like National Geographic claim that we observe, like stars travelling that scientists are confident that dark too fast around the edge of a spiral matter and dark energy exist, a 50

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POBYTOV—GETTYIMAGES

galaxy, may be because we don’t fully understand the nature of gravity and its effects. If this was the case, though, it would significantly modify or even replace Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

This, in turn, would mean that the Big Bang theory is possibly not the correct model to understand the universe’s origins. If the Big Bang were not true, then the universe itself may be much younger than 13.8 billion years old. As all cosmologists know, there are many other cosmological models that can fit the cosmological data that we observe.

You might be wondering how we can see stars that are far away, if the universe was much younger than 13.8 billion years old. This is called the starlight travel-time problem.

What you may not be aware of, though, is that the Big Bang theory has exactly the same problem—it is called the horizon problem. Scientists have proposed several ways to solve the horizon problem for the Big Bang theory, such as cosmic inflation

or a variable speed of light. If these solutions work for the Big Bang theory, they will work just as well for a younger universe.

insights from dark matter and dark energy

There are some important lessons that we can learn from dark matter and dark energy, even if they do not actually exist. What they reveal is that there may be things in the universe that we are not aware of.

Also, there may be things causing these physical phenomena which we cannot see.

This includes God. Just because we cannot see Him does not mean that He does not exist. The beginning of the universe and its finetuning point to the fact that He exists.

Also, if we turn to history itself, we find evidence of God’s supernatural power and nature in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is thrilling to explore whether dark matter and dark energy exist, even if we cannot personally observe them. It is even more thrilling to explore whether God exists. To think that He might care about us so much that He would come and live with us in the Person of Jesus is breathtaking.

Why not take the amazing opportunity to carefully explore whether He exists and to get to know Him personally?

Dr Sven Östring is the director of ministry and strategy at the South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

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JACINDA ARDERN BANNED FROM RUSSIA The Kremlin has released a ‘blacklist’ of NZ figures, including Ms Ardern, 120 members of Parliament, the Governor-General, and intelligence officers. This has followed the government’s condemnation of Russia, as well as heavy tariffs on imported Russian goods. —Stuff

RUSSIA USES KILLER ROBOTS IN WAR There has been evidence unearthed recently that Russia has used LAWS (Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems) in its war with Ukraine. Such robots use AI to perceive targets, identify them as hostile, and take lethal action without any human involvement.

—Last Week in AI

AOTEAROA INNOVATION 52

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FORTNITE RAISES $144 MILLION FOR UKRAINE Fortnite developer Epic Games has raised US$144 million to aid humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Other gaming companies have followed suit, with Riot Games raising US$5.4 million, Itch.io raising US$6 million, and Humble Bundle raising US$20 million.

—The Verge

FUTURISTIC FERRIES The NZ government is spending NZ$27 million for two electric ferries for Auckland harbour. With a top speed of 25 knots and range of 40km, they are supposedly going to displace around 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

—Newshub

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, 3QUARKS­—GETTY IMAGES, FORTNITE, MASTER1305, DANIEL BALAKOV, ­AKACIN PHONSAWAT—GETTY IMAGES

TECH AND UKRAINE

CLEAN ENERGY AND HUMANITY HUMAN AGING CLOSER TO BEING SOLVED Humans typically decline rapidly around the age of 80, and for years scientists haven’t been able to tell us why. A new study from the Sanger Institute at Cambridge suggest that the speed of genetic damage; specifically, somatic mutations (any alteration in DNA that occurs after conception) could be the key to survival. If scientists can find a way to slow down somatic mutations, they could possibly find a way to slow down the aging process. —Yahoo News STARTUP ENGINEERING "SUPER TREES" A startup organisation called Living Carbon is trying to engineer trees to grow faster and capture more carbon. Using pumpkin and green algae genes, they’re increase the efficiency at which trees photosynthesise oxygen. If successful, they would be able to engineer a tree that loses less energy and retains more carbon. —Fast Company

SOLAR ENERGY... IN THE WATER, AND AT NIGHT? Stanford University engineers have developed solar panels that can generate electricity even at night. The panels are fitted with a thermoelectric generator, which is able to suck electricity from the miniscule difference in temperature between the solar cell and air. Researches at Sweden's Chalmers University have also found a way to stor solar energy in water, and scientists at Shanghai's Jio Tong University have developed a way of reusing it. —India Times

LIBRARY UPGRADE Wellington’s city library is about to undergo a transformation. The planned upgrades will cost NZ$188 million, and will greatly expand the building’s footprint. It will also be raised 600mm to protect from flash flooding, and is set to reopen in 2026. —RNZ

ANTARCTIC INVESTMENT NZ’s Scott Base in Antarctica is being redeveloped this year, to the tune of NZ$344 million. It is intended to create a “sustainable research facility… for the next 50 years.” It is also designed to house 100 people, up from its current 86 inhabitant cap. It will take until 2028 to complete. —Te Waha Nui JUNE 2022

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LT U R E

BY MARK HADLEY

IDENTITY

AT THE OSCARS identity entertainment

Who are you—really? Are you a member of a community, a social grouping, a family first and foremost?

Maybe you see yourself as the summation of your character traits—an ISFP? An ENFJ? Or possibly you are defined by your desires, the drives that direct your decisions. Most of us might want to hedge our bets and say a little of each. However, not all these definitions of identity sit well together. In fact, the struggle for which takes precedence has produced the comedy and conflict at the heat of this year’s most celebrated films.

The 94th Academy Awards may be better remembered for its live action displays than its attempts to reward on-screen efforts. However, a significant proportion of its top rating titles centre their drama on how we go about defining ourselves. It’s not surprising when you consider the real-life issues that have been fighting for our attention. National struggles in the Ukraine, widespread debates over sexuality and demands to choose everything from gender to ethnicity all have identity at their cores. Tim Keller, the former lead pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian 54

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Church, says the West sees the right to self-define as integral to a healthy life: “Modern people have taken a perfectly great idea, and that is democratic political self-determination, and we have elevated it to an ultimate spiritual reality and the very meaning of life. I have to be me, I have to live my own way, I have to live as I decide is right or wrong, and if I don’t have the freedom to live as I want, my life is meaningless.”

The cinemas have historically been a place for road-testing such philosophies. So, it should come as no surprise that the award for Best Picture was given to a story about a young woman who finds her meaning for life through the process of deciding who she is.

CODA

CODA is the story of Ruby Rossi (played by Emilia Jones), a hearing Child Of Deaf Adults. Her father, mother and older brother all live in the silent world of the hearing impaired. Teenage Ruby works in the family fishing business, providing a social bridge for her parents for everything from catch prices to doctor’s appointments. As a high school student, she is also struggling with normal desires to fit in. However, these are exacerbated by a widespread mockery of her family’s disabilities, and a rejection of her as an individual. So, when an opportunity to develop her singing hobby promises

both a boyfriend and the chance at a college education, Ruby is set on a collision course with family priorities.

Ruby is on a journey to define her identity. Will she be a dutiful child, tempering her ambitions so that they don’t hamper the success of the Rossi’s fledgling business? Will she be a successful student, keeping her commitments to teachers at the expense of her family responsibilities?

Will she be a singer, set free to express herself in a world of sound that her parents cannot appreciate? Her struggle is made more difficult by a mother and father who clearly know who they are—and their identity threatens to overwhelm hers. When Ruby and her brother get into an argument, her father castigates both for forgetting their essential unity.

“You wanna fight?” he signs. “Go fight those [expletive]. Our family sticks together.”

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Ruby’s internal struggles resonate with audiences because we live in an age where our roles are regularly in conflict. Previously unchallenged national, ethnic and family identities are now threatened by the rising power of individualism. CODA appeals to Western audiences, though, because it suggests that these competing concerns can be resolved in a loving environment.

Ruby chooses to respect her parents’ needs and stay with the family business. Her parents, on the other hand, cannot abide her sacrificing her music and so encourage her to leave home to pursue it. The sub-text is that true love will set someone free to find their own identity. But it’s not that hard to see how the opposite might be true. What if Ruby was on her way to making an unwise, even destructive decision? Wouldn’t true love require her parents to deny her self-definition? It’s also questionable that competing identities can be so easily rationalised.

Other Academy Award winners present an altogether different outcome to a similar storyline. In The Power Of The Dog, Phil Burbank cannot reconcile an identity defined by his past with his new relationship as a brother-in-law. In West Side Story, lovers Tony and Maria sing the anthem “Somewhere” in which they express their hope that, “there’s a place for us, somewhere a place for us”. As the story unfurls, though, it becomes clear that their competing identities as Polish and Puerto Rican, 56

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Lincoln Square and San Juan Hill residents, Shark and Jet affiliates are not so easily resolved. In fact, following in the footsteps of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story doesn’t have a fairytale ending.

If conflict and loss are the more likely outcomes to competing identities it begs the question, where should we look to find our primary identities? The ones to which we give most weight? Psychologist and Cambridge research professor Brian Little suggests that when we pare away the traits we share in common with others, the truly uncommon characteristics remain. These are “free traits” that are produced by our heart’s core project, the ones that best define us: “What is it that makes us different? It’s the ‘doings’ that we have in our life. We enact a script in order to advance a core project in our lives.

Don’t ask people what ‘type’ you are, ask them what are your core projects in your life?”

Little’s research reflects a principle taught by Jesus in the first century AD. In warning His disciples about false teachers, He expressed the fundamental truth that our true identities are revealed by the actions they initiate: “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Thus, by their fruit you will

recognise them” (Matthew 7:16).

James, the brother of Jesus, picks up on the idea that our actions best define us when he criticises people who identify as Christians but lack the heart-motivation to act on their beliefs. As he says, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26) It is ironic that in a society where members long to be defined by their deepest desires, the very identity that emerges might condemn them.

Here, however, another celebrated film might help us. This year’s The Secrets of Dumbledore has been taken by some to be a celebration of the hero’s (and the villain’s) homosexuality. However, it’s worth noting that Dumbledore doesn’t allow that heart desire to rule him. Rather, he rejects his motivating desire in favour of doing what is right. And so it seems that it is not just our true identity that produces our actions. It also works in reverse. Our choices can open up for us a new identity altogether.

the power of the dog

Nominated for 12 Academy Awards and winner of Best Director, The Power of the Dog is a psychological thriller set in 1925 in the American West. The film is based on the book of the same name by Thomas Savage and helmed by New Zealand director Jane Campion. Two brothers, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George (Jesse Plemons) are running a successful cattle ranch.

Phil is a hard man satisfied with their hard life. However quietly spoken George marries Rose (Kirsten Dunst), a widow the charismatic Phil doesn’t approve of. What follows is a series of manipulations designed to drive George’s new wife and her son Peter off the property.

Phil Burbank is a man whose identity is defined by a past that colours every toast he makes and tale he tells. He is fixated on a man called Bronco Henry who was responsible for teaching him everything he JUNE 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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knows about the West. The more we learn about Phil’s fascination with his mentor, though, the more uncomfortable we become. Phil despises anyone who doesn’t live up to Bronco’s memory, particularly young Peter. However, there is hope in the film’s title. The Power of the Dog takes its name from a reference in Psalm 22 where King David appeals to God to save him from even the most mean-spirited enemies.

west side story

Nominated for seven academy awards and winner of Best Supporting Actress, West Side Story is Steven Spielberg’s loving re-make of the award-winning Broadway show and 1961 film classic. The musical tells the story of star-crossed lovers Maria (Rachel Zegler) and Tony (Ansel Elgort) who come from different sides of struggle street. Maria is Puerto Rican and lives with her brother, Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks street gang. Tony lives in the basement of a friendly shop owner and is the co-founder of the Jets street gang. When the Sharks and the Jets go to war, Maria and Tony’s love story is caught in the middle.

If the plot sounds familiar, that’s 58

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because the show, created by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents takes its inspiration from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The story assembles a raft of identity issues. Gang leader, Rif, takes his identity from the geography his thugs control.

“Lieutenant,” he tells a police officer, “what’s a gang without turf?”

Whereas rival Bernardo draws his identity from ethnicity and family.

He tells his sister, “Find one of your own kind—stick to your own kind!”

There is a sense of inevitability about the racist clashes that follow—“You know, I wake up to everything I know getting wrecked or being taken over by people I don’t like, who don’t like me”—but it should not be so for at least one subsection of this lower-class community. Maria wears a cross around her neck, reflecting her religious South American culture.

And one thing Christ pioneered in this world was creating a community where every outsider is welcome.

Mark Hadley is a media and cultural critic who lives with his family in Sydney. Please note that discussion of a media product in Signs of the Times does not imply an endorsement or recommendation.

AD? 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?

R E CI P E

CARROT CAKE

PANCAKES Great for grab-and-go during the week or a lazy breakfast on the weekend, these pancakes are a sweetly-spiced way to start the day. Plus, they're an excellent source of wholegrains and fibre which are important for good gut health.

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PREPARATION TIME: 10 MINS COOKING TIME: 10 MINS SERVES: 1 INGREDIENTS

2 Weet-Bix™ Cholesterol Lowering wheat biscuits, finely crushed ¼ cup wholemeal or spelt flour ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 tbs chopped unsalted walnuts, pecans or sunflower seeds, divided 1 large carrot, finely grated (approx 11/4 cup) 1 egg, whisked ½ cup So Good™ Unsweetened Almond Milk 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil METHOD

1. To a large bowl add the crushed Weet-Bix, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and half the nuts/seeds. Stir to combine.

2. Add grated carrot, egg, So Good almond milk and oil. Stir well.

3. Preheat a non-stick pan over medium and spray lightly with oil. Using a ½ cup measure, scoop batter onto pan and gently flatten tops of pancakes.

Cook for 3–4 minutes until golden. Flip and cook a further 2–4 minutes.

4. Serve pancakes with yoghurt, berries and the remaining nuts.

TO SERVE

1 tbs low-fat Greek yoghurt 3–4 strawberries, sliced

TIP:

If you don ’t cholestero have elevated l, you cou ld swap Weet-Bix Choleste rol Lowering with Weet-Bix .

Nutrition Information PER SERVE: Energy (kJ) 1890; Cal 452; Protein (g) 17; Fat (g) 21; Saturated fat (g) 3; Carbohydrate (g) 23; Sugars (g) 14; Fibre (g) 12.7; Sodium (mg) 465; Potassium (mg) 999; Calcium (mg) 285; Iron (mg) 5.3 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.

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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!

HERBERT2512—PIXABAY MARGARITA BALASHOVA—GETTYIMAGES

Hint: 7 Across

EDUCATION.COM

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CROSSWORD CLUES

ACROSS 3 A profitable return 6 Without a doubt 9 A philosophical grounding in the tangible 10 Acquirement through force 12 One's understanding of self 13 Relinquishment over entrusted entity DOWN 1 One way of looking at things 2 A limitation for protecting something 4 Refined; exemplary; epitome 5 Individually owned but grouped properties 7 Science of the origin of the universe 8 Arrogance 11 Feeling of tiredness 13 Descend; to illuminate

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SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU JUNE 2022

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