Signs of the Times - December 2023 by Adventist Media

ALIENS WE HAVE

heard on high

WHEN CHRISTMAS ISN’T MERRY

HOLIDAY FILMS THAT BRING THE CRINGE

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE DECEMBER 2023

REST UP, AND LOOK UP

FUN

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but Christmas this year seems quieter. Advent calendars and fruit puddings arrived in shops months later than usual. People’s plans are, for the most part, more relaxed with many planning for nothing more than a low-key lunch with their family. Maybe it’s a result of a heavy year filled with news of wars, earthquakes, fires, floods and unfathomable loss. Or maybe it’s the barrage of podcasts, preachers and philosophers piggybacking off Covid-19 reminding us of the necessity to slow down, simplify life and focus on what’s most important: each other. Like you all, I have been devastated by the suffering in the world this year. We have seen humans at their worst but we have also seen them at their best—reaching out to those who have lost everything. As author Napoleon Hill wrote, “Times of disaster . . . influences man to recognise the blessings of becoming his brother’s keeper.” However you are celebrating the season, my hope is that people will be your priority. This issue’s first article highlights how sharing memories is food for our souls (p6). If you’re lost for things to do, you could do church (p26). Or, you could call some friends over to watch a cheesy Christmas film (p52). If you’re grieving these holidays—or know someone who is—there is hope (p44). As Olivia notes in her article, Christmas is our annual reminder that we have hope in Jesus (p32). So, as we reflect on the nativity scenes, may we also look to Him as our best example for how to love those around us well. Because whatever unfolds in 2024, we each hold an important role in this life to ensure that good prevails over evil.

62 CROSSWORD & SUDOKU

With love,

ALIENS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH How the thought of extraterrestrial life inspires a human emotion in all of us PAGE 32

CURRENT

26 WHY THE CHURCH?

04 WHAT IN THE WORLD 06 “REMEMBER WHEN?”

Memories connect

12 IS IT TIME TO CANCEL

CHRISTMAS? How to make your holiday period more meaningful

FAITH 18 A SLICE OF HEAVEN

Do you have your own Te Anau?

24 ASK PASTOR JESSE

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

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It’s been described as outdated, boring, hypocritical. But is there more to it?

WELLBEING 44 GOOD GRIEF, IT’S THE

HOLIDAYS! How to support a grieving loved one in the holidays.

60 LEGUMES: WHAT ARE

THEY AND HOW DO I COOK THEM? This wonder food can do great things for your health

CULTURE 38 THE TRUE SOLDIER

IN ALL OF US Sway the outcome of the battle

52 AND GOD SAID, “LET

THERE BE SNOW” Of Hallmark movies and their enduring message

Zanita

ZANITA FLETCHER Assistant Editor

VOL 138 NO 12 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama Nerise M cQuillan PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER IMAGE: Midjourney

@SIGNSMAG DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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WHAT IN THE WORLD WORLD’S MOST POLLUTED LAKE

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET?

AUSTRALIA

UNITED STATES

40,000 TREES FOR AFRICA ZIMBABWE

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is kicking off its 40th anniversary by planting 40,000 fruit trees across Zimbabwe to help mitigate the consequences of climate change and improve community health. ADRA inaugurated the #plantafruittree initiative by hosting tree-planting demonstrations and planting the first 1000 trees in the country’s schools, farms and homesteads across 10 provinces.—ADRA Press 4

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7INCHS— PEXELS, ZOE SCHAEFFER—UNSPLASH, VALERIA—PEXELS, SRIMATHI JAYAPRAKASH—UNSPLASH, MIDJOURNEY

When it comes to food advertising, what you see is rarely what you get. A flurry of lawyers in the US have been bringing class action suits against food companies, alleging that they’re misrepresenting food. Companies such as Taco Bell, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Starbucks are some of the few being targeted. The courts will have to draw the line between false advertising and “just” advertising—which might be trickier than it sounds.—9 News

Researchers measured the amount of tiny plastic particles in 38 freshwater lakes around the globe, including Australia’s Forest Lake. This urban reservoir on the outskirts of Brisbane is listed as the sixth most polluted lake in the world when it comes to microplastics. Some of the worst affected lakes had concentrations higher than those around vast garbage patches that have formed in the sea. Experts suspect other Australian lakes are likely to be in a similar state.—The Guardian

MORE WOMEN TO VOTE IN INDIA INDIA

India recently passed a bill to improve representation in parliament where women hold just over 13 per cent of seats. The aim is to reserve one-third of seats for women, almost triple the current number. Female political representation in India has long been a complicated issue and it is hoped that this move will transform Indian politics for the better.—Time Magazine

STRANGE CHRISTMAS FILMS

THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO SEE THESE HOLIDAYS. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) This Japanese anime takes place in Tokyo on Christmas Eve. It follows three homeless people who find an abandoned newborn baby and set out on a mission to find its parents. The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) You know Star Wars? The trilogy with the “I am your father” line and the girl with the cinnamon-bun hair? Well, this isn’t it. This special focuses on Chewbacca as he heads home to visit his family for Christmas. Strangely enough, their conversations aren’t subtitled, leading to long, awkward scenes where the family grunt and groan at each other. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) This film regularly appears on IMDb’s “Bottom 100” list due to its unabashed weirdness. The Martian parents are concerned their children are being negatively influenced by society and decide to let them have a little fun by abducting Santa and bringing him to Mars. Die Hard (1988) A group of terrorists hijack the Nakatomi Plaza around Christmas. This action-packed film is an unlikely festive journey, but is a break from the earnestness and cringe of most Christmas movies.

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“Remember

Why sharing memories is soul food. BY AMANDA BARNIER AND PENNY VAN BERGEN 6

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COTTONBRO—PEXELS

WHEN?”

telling stories draws us together

We share memories of the past for many reasons.1 By telling a sad or difficult story—perhaps a fond memory of someone we have lost since last Christmas—we strengthen shared connections, offer sympathy and elicit support. By telling a funny or embarrassing story—perhaps the time the dog ate the Christmas pudding—we share feelings of joy or recognition of difficulties overcome, large or small. By sharing similar or not-so-similar experiences, we empathise with and understand one another better. Talking about the past also helps create and maintain our individual and shared identities.2 We know who we are—whether as individuals, groups or communities—because our memories provide a database of evidence for events we have experienced and what they mean to us. Even when some people missed out on an event, sharing a memory of it can shape their identity. Developmental psychologist Robyn Fivush 8

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and her team demonstrated this when they asked American adolescents to recount “intergenerational” stories: events from their parents’ lives they learnt via memories shared within the family, often around the dinner table.3 Fivush found that the adolescents she tested could easily retell many of their parents’ memory stories. Most importantly, they made strong connections between these second-hand family memories and their own developing sense of identity: “My dad played soccer when he was young, so that got me started.” Children who showed these kinds of family memory-self identity connections reported higher levels of wellbeing.

teaching children to remember

For young children, telling stories teaches them how to remember. From as young as two years of age children begin to show signs of autobiographical memory: memories of themselves and their lives. Although these earliest memories often are fleeting (it is not until our third or fourth birthday that we start forming memories that last into adulthood), they are important because they show that children are learning how to be a rememberer. Research by developmental psychologists consistently shows that the way parents and others talk to young children about the past is crucial for their memory development.4 One of the best ways is to use

what we call a “high elaborative” style. This involves prompting the child’s own contributions with open-ended questions (who, what, why, how) and extending on and adding structure to the child’s sometimes limited responses. Together, the parent and child can then jointly tell a memory story that is rich, full and comprehensible. Consider this example from one of our studies where a mother and her four-year-old son reminisce about a favourite Christmas ritual: Mother: and you and Daddy put the Christmas tree up together, and then you put on decorations! What decorations did you put on? Child: Um, the Christmas balls! Mother: That’s right! Daddy bought Christmas balls and stars to hang on the tree. What colours were they? Child: Red and gold. Mother: Red and gold. Pretty red balls, and gold stars. Child: And there was the paper circles too. 5 Notice how the mother guides the progress of her son’s recollections. She is mindful too of letting him contribute as much as he is able, scaffolding his memories with appropriate, open-ended and informative cues. She also reinforces and praises his contributions. Not surprisingly, children whose parents use this elaborative reminiscing style subsequently show stronger and more detailed memories of their own past experiences.6

PATTY BRITO—UNSPLASH

amilies and friends share memories all the time: “You’ll never guess”, “How was your day?”, and “Do you remember when?” are rich daily fodder. Sharing memories is not only a good way to debrief and reminisce. We’re beginning to realise the process plays an important role in children’s psychological development and protects our memories as we advance in age.

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it’s fine to disagree

Conversations about the past often require some degree of negotiation. Many studies highlight the value of collaborating in recall.10 That is, giving everyone a voice rather than letting one narrator dominate; particularly one voice that narrates other people’s memories as well as their own. But what if someone seems to be telling the memory wrong? You’ve probably experienced the frustration of a brother, sister or cousin down the other end of the Christmas table mixing up the details of an event you both experienced. Or worse yet,

claiming and recalling a childhood experience that you know happened to you and not to them. With young children still learning to remember, contradicting or ignoring their memory contributions—even if they contain source errors or inaccuracies—can shut the conversation down and discourage joint remembering. But as we get older, we realise that others may have a different perspective on events. We realise that 100 per cent accuracy is not the only or even the most important goal of remembering.11 As adults, disagreements about the past may in fact be a sign of a robust remembering system.12

scaffolding memory as we age

Sharing memories may also “scaffold” or support memory as we age. In another study, we first asked older adult couples (aged 60 to 88 years old) to individually remember various events experienced with their spouse over the past five years.13 All had been married for more than 50 years, making them long-term, intimate life and memory partners. One week later, we asked half of the couples to talk in detail with their spouse about their events and half to talk in detail with just the experimenter.

Compared with young adults, older adults working alone typically find it difficult to recall autobiographical memories in great detail. But when our older couples remembered with their spouse, their memory stories were more detailed than the stories of couples who remembered alone. Although collaboration did not lead young couples (aged 26 to 42 years old) to remember more, those who reported closer relationships with their spouse tended to recall more details of events shared with that spouse, even when they remembered alone. In other words, at this earlier stage of life, shared experiences and memories might primarily be serving intimacy and identity goals. For older couples who have invested in strong, intimate relationships, they increasingly might need and look for external memory scaffolding as their internal memory abilities decline. These older couples may then start to reap the cognitive benefits of what they sowed with their partner, families and friends in a long life of living and remembering together. If you have no immediate kin close by or close, do not despair. This research shows that it is how we talk about the past with loved ones

that counts, not simply the biology of who we talk to. So, this Christmas, come together with your “families”, whoever they are, and share one of the greatest, uniquely human, gifts of all: the gift of memory stories. Amanda Barnier is a professor of cognitive science and Australian Research Council Future Fellow at Macquarie University. Penny Van Bergen is a senior lecturer in Educational Psychology at Macquarie University. This article was originally published in The Conversation. To find this article and more, visit <theconversation.com.au> 1. <tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/741938207> 2. <tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/741938210> 3. <psychology.emory.edu/cognition/fivush/lab/FivushLabWebsite/papers/FivushBohanekZaman2010.pdf> 4. <srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.111 1/j.1467-8624.2006.00960.x> 5. <tandfonline.com/doi/ abs/10.1080/15248370903155825#.VJLF0VpWJ_t> 6. <srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.111 1/j.1467-8624.2006.00960.x> 7. <sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/ pii/0885201495900039; cambridge.org/core/journals/ journal-of-child-language/article/abs/encouraging-narratives-in-preschoolers-an-intervention-study/ CF7534A42C1CBEBB44AF35E8EFE8E91E> 8. <tandfonline.com/doi/ abs/10.1080/15248370903155825#.VJLF0VpWJ_t> 9. <emory.edu/news/Releases/familymeals1129128206.html> 10. <link.springer.com/article/10.3758%2FBF03193423> 11. <theconversation.com/total-recall-truth-memoryand-the-trial-of-oscar-pistorius-25496> 12. <cogsci.mq.edu.au/members/profile.php?memberID=509> 13. <sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S2211368114000540>

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RODOLFO—PEXELS

Preschool children who are exposed to this style of reminiscing also develop stronger comprehension, vocabulary and literacy skills.7 And because we tend to remember and talk about emotionally meaningful events—events that make us happy, sad, scared—elaborative reminiscing helps children understand and learn to navigate difficult emotions and emotional memories.8 These early practices have longterm consequences. Older children whose families narrate and discuss emotion-rich stories around the dinner table report higher levels of self-esteem and show greater resilience when faced with adversity.9

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IS IT TIME TO CANCEL CHRISTMAS?

BY ALINA KARTMAN 12

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MIDJOURNEY

Christmas involves a financial and, at the same time, an emotional expense. Even in times of crisis, the spending season lasts longer than the holiday itself.

luxury for all

Of course, the defintion of excess is different for different people. For you and I, “splurging” may look like purchasing a Dyson Airwrap, La Marzocco espresso machine or Versace handbag. If you’re rich and/or famous, it’s a very different matter. In 2015, Kanye West bought more than “150” gifts for Kim Kardashian. The year prior, Justin Bieber bought himself a brand-new jet for Christmas, estimated to have cost US$60 million. Or, if neither of those examples impress you, how 14

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about Dmitry Rybolovlev’s gift to his 22-year-old daughter Ekaterina? Nothing special—just a cool US$88 million apartment in Manhattan. In a 2007 speech, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the “materialistic mentality” of “the way Christmas is lived and perceived today”. Protestants have also felt the need to change the way they celebrate Christmas. In 2005, several Protestant megachurches in the United States closed for the holidays to allow staff to spend time with their families. However, their decision drew criticism, partly because that year Christmas fell on a Sunday, which meant cancelling two services.

cancelling Christmas?

However, discussions about consumerism and the secularisation of Christmas have a longer history. Throughout the Christmas tradition, there have been several periods and cultures in which people have complained that the holiday has become a monument to extravagance, contrary to its original purpose. In the 17th century, the Puritan priest Cotton Mather gave a famous speech against the holiday, which had become an occasion for “crazy fun”, “long meals” and “heavy drinking” suitable for worshipping “Saturn or Bacchus”—nothing new under the sun, except that the priest’s speech produced legislation that forbade the celebration of Christmas. The ban was in effect in the Massachusetts Bay Colony between 1659 and 1681.

Even after the ban was lifted, the problem did not end. After numerous court appeals in 1789, Congress agreed to hold the celebration again. It wasn’t until 1870 that Christmas was declared a public holiday. In the same century, Oliver Cromwell and Parliament banned the celebration of Christmas in England, also due to the secularisation of the holiday. An additional reason was the origin of the name “Christ’s Mass”, which reminded English Protestants of a Catholic past they wished to forget. Between 1642 and 1660, it was illegal in England to celebrate Christmas with secular events. What is clear in history is that despite attempts to stifle Christmas, it has survived—the good and the bad. Secularisation failed to completely swallow the holiday but did diminish its spiritual impact. Various contemporary attempts to restore the authentic spirit of Christmas have relied on updating its relevance to the present. In 2010, such an attempt was made to adapt the story of the Saviour’s birth to the language of the internet. The history of Jesus’ birth was reconstructed with the help of 140-character messages, posted daily on X (formerly Twitter). Share Creative, a UK-based advertising design company, partnered with the Evangelical Alliance to produce a social media campaign focusing on the event behind Christmas. Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, the magi of the East and King Herod were the

SANGGA RIMA—UNSPLASH

bout 20 per cent of US retail sales happen around Christmas. Perhaps, economically at least, this news would be positive, if it were not for the fact that at the end of the year, 14 per cent of Americans have unpaid instalments since the previous Christmas. The spending trap is catching on to others, not just Americans. The Capgemini advisory group estimated this autumn that Brits would spend £6.4 billion1 on online holiday shopping alone. The volume of internet sales will increase this Christmas by 16 per cent compared to last year. The online industry signals a new trend: earlybird shopping. According to a press release from <giftsguideuk. com>, one-in-four store customers started Christmas shopping in November. More than 75 per cent of them said the decision to buy early was motivated by the desire to catch the early-season discounts.

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“

The prospects of spending Christmas with family makes some as happy as would a holiday in a Siberian gulag. where’s the Christmas of old?

Interestingly, each generation has felt the loss of true Christmas. How many people browse their memories to find at least a glimmer of that hope that permeated the childhood celebration? In the cold light of day, the loss of true Christmas is a timeless refrain for which no solution can be found. Many will agree that 16

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the external imposition of a Christmas behaviour doesn’t work. Looking even at the experience of the laws issued in the time of the Puritans, it is obvious that secularisation is not removed by legislation. Others will look to solutions like the one proposed by Share Creative and conclude that they risk trivialising the grandeur of the birth of Jesus.

the wonder of meaning

In addition to its true meanings and origins, the commercial Christmas also dispenses with the simple joy of spending time with loved ones. Christmas movies, despite their soft script, emphasise the dissatisfaction of many with the way they spend their Christmas (for a deeper dive, check out page 52). Movies are often a narrow mirror, in the reflection of which almost no-one can find themselves, but which everyone desires. The problem is that the perfect family that smiles at the happy ending of a Christmas movie, surrounded by gifts and an aura of happiness, is as fake as a shopping mall Santa’s beard. On the other hand, the prospects of spending Christmas with family makes some as happy as would a holiday in a Siberian gulag. The following are a few suggestions that can prevent celebrating with others from becoming an unpleasant duty, and hopefully provide more joy. • Identify the disappointments you usually experience during the holidays. Sometimes people associate Christmas with “traditional suffering” and

hate the holiday because they anticipate drudgery during this period. In many cases, people cannot accurately identify the cause of their pain and as a result, it is difficult for them to find a cure. They thus perpetuate their negative state. • Understand that people can disappoint but that this is not necessarily a relationship dead-end. Christmas disappointments often are all about people. For some, Christmas is a time when we have to deal with the disappointment that our loved ones do not understand us, do not respect us or do not love us as we would like. Christmas can put into the spotlight problems that already exist in relationships. The answers to these problems do not necessarily come during this time. • Give up too-high expectations. Unrealistic expectations about gifts, artificial desires inspired by movies or holiday slogans that proclaim instant positive change can all cause frustration if assimilated as fragments of reality. Change often requires time and effort and does not happen overnight, even if that night is Christmas Eve. While it may be helpful to remember the spiritual value of the Christmas of old, more is needed. In order for reform to last and not be affected by

circumstances, it must make sense. If the image of the vulnerable Son of God lying in a manger captivates the minds of us more than endless lists of gifts, and if we could learn how to respond to Him, then things could really change. Baby Jesus, in the arms of His mother, is a powerful image. Christ’s coming to earth as a man speaks of the priceless value that heaven holds for mankind. We forget, and this is why Christ’s journey from God to human for the good of all humankind needs to be constantly remembered. Pompous speeches should be left aside, because the birth of the Lord must remain a celebration that transforms people from within. Alina Kartman is a senior editor at Signs of the Times Romania and ST Network. A version of this article first appeared on their website and is republished with permission. 1. <fashionnetwork.com/news/Online-christmassales-seen-up-16-percent,130164.html>

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BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS—UNSPLASH

biblical characters who tweeted daily updates. Huw Tyler from Share Creative explained that the campaign’s organisers wanted to tell “the Christmas story in a way that is not only accessible, but also fun and relevant to the internet generation”. This is true. Through originality and courage, the campaign managed to refresh the story of Jesus’ birth. However, it cannot make up for the lack of that warm and meaningful Christmas that most Christians remember.

FA IT H

A SLICE OF

n e v a He BRIBAR—GETTY IMAGES

A tiny town in southern New Zealand gave me a glimpse of heaven in the most unexpected way. BY JESSE HERFORD 18

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SUPPLIED

everal years ago, I had the opportunity to tour south Te Waipounamu (the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand). Flying first into Invercargill, I made my way north, excitedly anticipating iconic tourist spots such as Queenstown, Milford Sound, Wanaka and more. However, on the way, the sleepy town of Te Anau caught me by surprise, captivating me in a way that I didn’t expect. Te Anau is a tiny settlement of fewer than 30001 inhabitants and it’s perched on the southern end of the Milford Track. Its second-most striking feature is Lake Te Anau, which is the second-largest lake in Aotearoa after Lake Taupō in Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island). The lake itself is 65km long and is fed by three fiords—the only inland fiords in New Zealand. Te Anau’s most striking feature is not the lake itself, but the mountains that encircle it. Mount Lyall, the Murchison Mountains, the famed Kepler Track and more can all be viewed from the waterfront, rising precipitously out of the lake and into the heavens. One evening, I and my travelling companions took a walk beside the lake and got to experience the incredible beauty of a Te Anau sunset. The sun sets in-between the western mountain peaks, with stray beams of light filtering through the mist and cloud that gathers at their peaks. What we experienced was a brilliant light show of gold, orange and purple. As I reflected, I had to ask myself: SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

Why am I so affected by this place in particular? There are surely more beautiful places in New Zealand, right? Most flock to Queenstown during the tourist season, skiing the slopes of The Remarkables, or to Lake Wanaka to capture a photo of the famous Wanaka Willow. Then there’s the Church of the Good Shepherd next to Lake Tekapo, surrounded (in summer) with the area’s iconic purple lupins. Or, on the doorstep of Te Anau itself is Milford Sound, the crown jewel of Fiordland National Park. But of all of the South Island’s qualities, it was Te Anau’s stoic grandeur that captured my heart. New Zealanders have a trademark understatedness about them. Even famous Kiwis like Burt Munro, Richie McCaw, Edmund Hillary or Sam Neill are known as much for their humility as they are for their outstanding achievements. To me, Te Anau epitomises this sentiment. Its simple, breathtaking beauty speaks for itself. It doesn’t need marketing or promotion. It is indifferent to human endeavour, is without insecurity and does not need to prove itself. Its awe-inspiring glory was here before I was born and will remain long after I’m gone.

prepping for doomsday

Another strange scene is unfolding not far from Lake Te Anau. In the hills surrounding Queenstown, a small, exclusive community is reportedly being built. Rumours abound

of wealthy Americans like Peter Thiel and James Cameron buying up remote properties for the purpose of constructing doomsday bunkers. Though denied by local authorities and construction companies alike, the rumours persist. Buoyed by the Covid-19 lockdowns when many wealthy Americans sought the shelter of affluent, out-of-the-way places like Queenstown, there seems to be a rising awareness in the ultra-rich of the need to have a place to shelter should the world go pear-shaped. This shouldn’t be surprising, given the current state of our planet. As if the Covid-19 pandemic wasn’t enough, since 2020 we’ve witnessed the so-called “Great Resignation”, a horrific (and at the time of writing, ongoing) war in both Ukraine and Israel, as well as a cost-of-living crisis that threatens to plunge the world into recession. Were you to ask the average person how they think things are going today, I’d suspect it wouldn’t be positive, overall. I’ll admit, even as a person of faith, it’s sometimes difficult to stay optimistic in the midst of it all. However, as a follower of Jesus, there’s an aspect of my faith that gives me perspective.

ancient hope, future expectation

If you were a Jew living in ancient Israel, there was a day you looked forward to with great expectation: the “Day of the Lord”. Influenced by the readings of the scrolls of Isaiah and Amos in the synagogue your whole life and coloured by your DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

“

SUPPLIED

When I experience such incredible beauty as what I saw that evening in Te Anau, I’m reminded that this is both how the world was made to be, and that this is how the world will one day be again.

everyday experience, it was a day you longed for. You would long for the empire that trod on your neck to be defeated. You would long for all the tyrants to be punished and their victims to be vindicated. You would long for the corrupt systems of government to be abolished and a new kingdom—the eternal Kingdom of God—to be inaugurated. In the first century, early Christians adopted this hope, with one notable addition. They began to see Jesus of Nazareth as the central figure of this impending day. His birth and ministry in the first century was the precursor to the ultimate time when peace would reign, evildoers will receive justice, and the world, broken and scarred as it was, would be forever healed. As John the Revelator says: “Then I saw ‘A new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Revelation 21:1–4).

heaven, now

There are certain moments in life that provide a glimpse of that future reality. When I experience such incredible beauty as what I saw that evening in Te Anau, I’m reminded that this is both how the world was made to be, and that this is how the

world will one day be again. For all our art and architecture, money and machines, politics and progress, very little has the power to overawe and amaze like the beauty of God’s good world. When I think of the night sky with all its billions of star systems, supernovae and celestial phenomena, any satellite or space station we’ve constructed seems, by comparison, a child’s toy. When I consider the inner workings of the human body, any electronic device or piece of code seems, by comparison, a crude cave drawing. When I witnessed the still, grand beauty of Te Anau and its surrounding lakes, hills and mountains, I was reminded that one day soon, everything in this world will be remade to be like the scene in front of me. Not a carbon copy to be sure, but to the same standard: pristine, untouched—perfect. Every victim of injustice, tragedy and disaster will be

vindicated on that day. Every broken heart, abused body and downcast mind will be healed. And every cutdown tree, mine-blasted mountain and contaminated river will be made anew in the Day of the Lord. I can’t wait for that day. And when it comes, I don’t want a mansion, a penthouse apartment or a private island. All I want is a little cabin perched on the edge of Lake Te Anau, where for eternity, I’ll be able to enjoy God’s good earth remade— just as it was meant to be. Jesse Herford is a pastor and associate editor for the AUS/NZ edition of Signs of the Times. He lives in Australia with his wife, Carina and their miniature schnauzer, Banjo. 1. <nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7979>

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As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered more than once, sometimes about the Bible but usually about everyday life. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the right place. I’ll do my best to respond authentically and biblically! Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?—Bryan, Woodville NZ I hate to break it to you—but Jesus almost certainly wasn’t born on December 25. The best guess we have on Jesus’ birth is that He was born somewhere between three and four BC. Some scholars put the day at either the end of December or the beginning of January, though others assert mid-September to early October. The celebration of Jesus’ birth began around the second century AD and by all accounts, seems to have been (at its conception) a grassroots tradition. A century, later, we see the first celebration of Jesus’ birth take place in Rome, as recorded in a text produced for a wealthy Christian named Valentinus. In the Eastern church, it began to be celebrated on January 6 in connection with an event known as “The Epiphany”. Later the birth of Jesus took prominence in this celebration. 24

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Early church fathers in the centuries following attested to December 25 as the date to celebrate, for a number of reasons. Traditionally, Jesus’ conception was observed on March 25, with December 25 being exactly nine months later. The Roman winter solstice was also celebrated on December 25. The problems with calculating the date of Jesus’ birth are multitude. First, the Gospel writers don’t give us a date. Second, we must contend with the changing calendars that took place in that time. Third, we need to recognise that tradition often dictated when certain celebrations took place in the ancient world. The winter solstice and their association with the sun caused many Christians to conflate many traditions into one. The only holiday that survived on the other side is Christ’s Mass, or what we today call Christmas. Does the Christmas focus on giftgiving overshadow its deeper significance?—Pam, Melbourne Aus You raise a good point about the commercialisation of the Christmas holiday and it’s one I think we should grapple with. The reality is, whether you live in a big city or in the middle of nowhere, at one point or another you’re going to be advertised to. Around the holiday period, every company in the world competes for your attention—and hard-earned cash—all at the same time. It’s worth acknowledging that the vast majority of these corporations only care about you inasmuch as you buy their product. I’m not saying that to be cynical—that’s just how it is.

The real question for each of is, how can we focus on what’s important during Christmas despite its commercialisation? Here are two thoughts: (1) The people you love. Focus on the people you care about. The first Christmas centred around a small family of three (and possibly a few farm animals) so take a cue from that barn in Bethlehem and decide who you want to spend time with. Make that time count! Don’t stress over the food, decorations or making sure your Secret Santa gift matches the quality of your sister-inlaw’s. Put people first. (2) God in a body. This may be more challenging if you’re not a person of faith, but regardless I’d invite you to consider what it would be like for God to become a human. As Jesus’ friend and biographer John says, “The Word became flesh and dwelled among us” (John 1:14). To believe Jesus is to believe He became a human. The only way I know how to respond to that is with wonder and awe. How did Christmas traditions like gift-giving or Santa Claus become part of the holiday?—Hope, Auckland NZ Check out the December 2022 issue of Signs of the Times! In it, we explore deeper into the character we know and love today as Jolly St Nick. You can also read the article by scanning this QR code. DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FA IT H

WHY THE CHURCH? Church can be a complicated topic for many people today. Can a more ancient understanding of it change our mindset?

JOHN CAFAZZA—UNSPLASH

BY ZANITA FLETCHER

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COTTONBRO—PEXELS

’m sure you’ve heard the statement: “I’m all about Jesus, but I’m not interested in church.” I’ve heard this many times and have even found myself saying it during certain periods of my life. Church makes a lot of sense for people who grew up with it. However, for many, the concept is strange. Even among those who profess to be Christian, church is treated as something you could take or leave. When we look at attendance statistics worldwide, it seems culture at large is saying: “It’s not really that important anymore.” In America, 63 per cent of people say they identify as Christian.1 Yet less than 28 per cent attend church regularly.2 When you look at other countries, the numbers SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

don’t swing much on either side. There is a large sum of people who don’t go to church simply because their beliefs don’t align. Many have had negative experiences. Others believe it’s expendable, think they’ve risen above the need or have difficulty finding one they resonate with. Then some think the church is full of hypocrites and side with Gandhi, who said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” There is also a group of people who love what the church stands for—community, communion and connection—but for a multitude of reasons, still don’t attend. With the rates of church attendance being lower than ever before and many people experiencing God and finding community elsewhere, it begs the question, why church? Does it still serve a purpose? And if so, what is it?

what the stats tell us

The decline in church attendance is in line with the decline of Christianity in the West. The Pew Templeton Global Religious Project showed that in more than 95 countries asking

nearly 200,000 people about their religious identities, beliefs and practices, people are overall becoming less religious.3 For example, in 2007, 78 per cent of Americans identified as Christian. In 2021, only 63 per cent did.4 Western Europeans are less religious than Americans, and the same secularising trends are found in other economically advanced countries like Australia and New Zealand. Religious observance has also fallen in surveys asking adults how often they attend religious services, how frequently they pray and how important religion is in their lives. Since 2000 there has been a 23 per cent drop in people who claim to attend a church. One in five members attend online, yet 57 per cent of those who classified themselves as churchgoers didn’t go at all in a given month.5 This means most “churchgoers” are not attending any services at all, either in person or online. This is the first time Gallup polls have found that most Americans do not belong to a church.6 Yet the studies show that those who claim to “love Jesus but not the church” still experience God through practices like prayer, time in nature, spiritual books and meditation, and find community in places like pubs, sports teams and interest groups.7

our misunderstanding

Part of the problem is in our conception of what church is. Typically, when non-believers think of

the church, they think of a building characterised by straight-backed pews, where suits and ties are worn and angry preachers shout outdated messages. Meanwhile, many Christians see it as a vending machine of religious goods and services that should benefit them, sucking them in to a consumerist parasocial relationship. Yet when we open the Bible, nowhere do we find a plea to “go to church”. The New Testament does not talk about it as a building. It describes it through metaphors such as a “body”, a “bride”, a “flock of sheep” and a “family”. We discover that it rests, has ears, receives edification, can communicate and can know and teach—all things that buildings in themselves cannot accomplish, but people can.

getting to the root of it

In the Bible, the Greek word ekklesia translates to the word church which means “the called out ones”, or in another translation, “the gathered ones”.8 When the Bible was written, the word ekklesia had a secular, political meaning describing a community or assembly of people who met with a purpose. So, when the Bible speaks of it, it refers to a group of people with a common unity (community) in God. The early New Testament Christians had a common belief in communion, community and commission (Acts 2:42–47). They gathered to eat, share, worship and DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

encourage each other to love and do good (Hebrews 10:24). They gathered to foster their relationships with God, with each other and with the world. During this period, family and friends were already living in deep, meaningful connection with one another. They met primarily in homes and, as they grew, met wherever they could: riversides, temple grounds, private spaces and mountaintops. But as time progressed, they yearned for a place big enough to gather. Had they been offered a building with toilets, a kitchen, a sound system for their message to be heard by everyone, a consistent meeting place they could bring new believers and a roof under which they could meet to pray when it was wet or cold outside, they probably would have been thrilled.

EDWIN ANDRADE—UNSPLASH

getting it straight

Essentially, church was not about where they worshipped, but having a place to worship helped. Church was about who you worshipped and how your worship was evidenced in your life and relationships. Church was a gathering of people who came together to experience God, love each other and bring hope to the world. And that is what church is SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

still supposed to be today. When we substitute the church as a place we go for a few hours on the weekend now and then, we lose a fundamental piece of what it means to be Christian. Jesus says in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with them.” That means church can look like a million different things. It’s going for a hike and appreciating the wonder of God’s creation with others. It’s feeding the homeless man down the road. It’s sitting at a café with your friend and discussing your doubts. It’s coming together to support an individual and their family after a death or accident. It’s having a meaningful conversation around a table of food. And it is also coming together on the weekend to sing, pray and study the Bible. Hebrews 10:25 says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” So, while it’s not about the building, having a place where we can come when we are in need at a consistent time each week is a blessing. The early Christians longed for such thing.

In a world that is pulling apart, the church still serves a purpose. And by church, I mean communities of people who gather frequently with the commonality of God, love, faith, hope, purpose, service and mission. Chances are, you won’t find that if you are merely a part of a cycling club, a homemaking group or with your mates for an evening at the pub. In his book Woven: A Faith for the Dissatisfied, Joel McKerrow said, “It will take community to get through things. True community. If you are from a Christian tradition, it takes a church that can help you walk the rocky path. Or if the church you are part of does not help you, there will be people within the church who may. Look for them. Talk to them. Be honest with them. When you find these people, when you come to know your tribe, do not let go of them. Sometimes this is the only thing that will get you through the desert.” I get that the church isn’t perfect. I’ve seen and had a fair share of negative experiences. But I’ve also been blessed by it. I’ve done life with others who love God. I’ve witnessed people step out of the building and provide, sustain, accept and love those in need.

I have come to see church as a beautiful thing. An unequivocal, unqualified, universal invitation that rings true of Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). And I’m telling you, it’s the closest thing to heaven on Earth that I’ve experienced. I hope you get to experience it someday too. Zanita Fletcher is a life coach and assistant editor for the AUS/NZ edition of Signs of the Times. She writes from the Gold Coast, Queensland. 1. <pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/howu-s-religious-composition-has-changed-in-recentdecades/> 2. <pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/03/22/ more-houses-of-worship-are-returning-to-normaloperations-but-in-person-attendance-is-unchangedsince-fall/> 3. <pewresearch.org/religion/2022/12/21/key-findings-from-the-global-religious-futures-project/> 4. <pewresearch.org/religion/2021/12/14/aboutthree-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/> 5. <pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/03/22/ more-houses-of-worship-are-returning-to-normaloperations-but-in-person-attendance-is-unchangedsince-fall/> 6. <news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx> 7. <barna.com/research/meet-love-jesus-notchurch/> 8. <biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/ekklesia. html> DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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UFOs, aliens and paranormal activity capture our fascination. But do they also reveal something about our need for hope? BY OLIVIA FAIRFAX 32

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WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

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LEO S—UNSPLASH

ALIENS 33

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the United States had been aware of “non-human” activity since the 1930s and was intentionally covering it up. He alleged that the US is in possession of nonhuman “biologics” and is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects.3 José de Jesús Zalce Benítez, director of the Health Science Research Institute of the Secretary of the Navy, bolstered Maussan’s claims at the Mexican congressional hearing, explaining that, “Based on the DNA tests, which were compared with more than one million species . . . [the corpses] are not related to what is known or described up to this moment by science or by human knowledge.”4 These alien remains have gone viral on social media, with various theories proposed as to the authenticity or origin of these beings. Many claim these aliens to be fake, while others firmly support Maussan, arguing that claims of the aliens being fake are attempts to cover up the truth. So, is this all a hoax? Or, just maybe, could it all be true? Unfortunately for all my con-

spiratorial friends, upon further examination, these remains have been declared a hoax by many scientists. Those who performed the carbon dating of the corpses were not involved in actually collecting the sample that was tested, nor had they come into contact with the full specimens, allowing the possibility for false samples to be provided. Julieta Fierro, a scientist at Mexico’s National Autonomous University’s Institute of Astronomy, declared that the carbon dating of the samples instead indicated that the specimens were related to brain and skin tissues from different mummies who died at different times in history.5 Further, she asserted that scientists would need more advanced technology than X-rays to determine if the bodies were “non-human”. Maussan has been involved in many controversies surrounding his claims, repeatedly being exposed as a fraud. In 2015 he revealed a body which he claimed to belong to an alien. It was later proven to be the remains of a human child that had been tampered with. Again in

RODRIGO—PEXELS

e all love clickbait, whether wrap. Maussan told Congress the we like to admit it or not. remains were recovered in Cusco, That’s probably one of the Peru near the ancient Nazca Lines reasons you flicked to this article formations in 2017. This area of (gotcha!). We are fascinated by the Cusco is known for the gigantic bizarre, the impossible and oddities and mysterious figures carved into that defy explanation. And as we the earth. These engravings can scroll through social media, I am only be seen from a bird’s eye view sure each of us can admit to stopping and extend over an area of 500km1. for a second or two when we see Though some argue these carvings an article that tickles our curiosity. must be the result of ancient indig“Octuplet mum shares her secret to enous communities, many believe removing stretchmarks” or “Make they are evidence of extra-terrestrial $50k a day with life. this secret trick!” Researchers or “Conjoined at the National Twins fall pregAutonomous nant—but who University of is the father?” or Mexico used “Alien remains carbon dating to proven to have determine the Is this all a hoax? Or, non-terrestrial remains to be DNA.” Our about 1000 years just maybe, could it imagination old. Maussan tesall be true? is captured tified under oath and tantalised that these figures momentarily as are “non-human we ponder whether the impossible is, beings that are not part of our well, possible! Could all these bizarre terrestrial evolution”, and claimed claims actually be true? that X-rays had revealed one of the On September 13, a Mexican figures to have “eggs” inside it.2 The journalist and self-proclaimed researchers presenting to Mexican “UFOlogist”, José Jamie Maussan, Congress came from Mexico, the presented two non-human corpses United States, Japan and Brazil, each to Mexico’s Congress claiming them supporting the finding that these to be of alien origin. The two corpses alien corpses were authentic. The looked unbelievably cartoonish, Mexican Congress heard these findhaving three extremely long fingers ings just two months after a similar on each hand, a huge skull on a hearing in the US Congress where child-sized body and wizened grey a former US Air Force intelligence skin covering the figures like cling officer, Major David Grusch, claimed

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mystery. We are fascinated by the bizarre, the impossible, oddities that defy explanation. We are drawn to believe that the impossible is actually possible . . . and we call this hope. We are willing to suspend disbelief that we might be able to own a home in 2023. Despite contrary evidence, we hope that our sports team will win the grand final. And more solemnly, we earnestly hope that the people we love can be healed of serious disease—even something as deadly as stage four cancer. Because deep down, we know that the impossible can be possible. Why? Because we’ve heard the stories. Because we have seen it with our own eyes. We have seen people beat all odds, seen disease disappear and seen miracles happen. Christmas is evidence of this. It is our annual reminder that we have a reason to hope, because the impossible has happened before. More than 2000 years ago, a young virgin gave birth to the Son of God and Saviour of the world. Impossible, right?

Wrong! Under an oppressive Roman regime, a heavily pregnant young virgin and her husband travelled to his hometown, a small Jewish town called Bethlehem, for a census. Caught up in the scandal of unwed pregnancy, the young couple were not welcome at the homes of their relatives. They had to instead find shelter elsewhere. Overcome with emotion, the young woman went into labour and the couple urgently sought shelter from the local inn. But alas, there was no room at the inn. The young woman had to instead give birth to her child in an animal’s stable. In shame, humility and poverty, this Child entered the world. The promised Messiah, King of Israel, God incarnate and Saviour of the world . . . born to a virgin enmeshed in scandal . . . in a smelly stable. Christmas is a time of hope. It is a time when we put aside all our worries and embrace optimism, joy and wonder. It is a time when we can all embrace personal hope as we marvel

at the miracle of God coming down as a baby to bring peace on Earth. It is a time to celebrate with loved ones because of the unique hope and special truth we have. Christmas is a time when the impossible becomes possible. Olivia Fairfax is an eager student in all things psychology, theology and literature She enjoys spending her time writing, learning and investing in people. 1. <smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alleged-alienscorpses-displayed-to-mexican-congress-did-notconvince-scientists-180982900/> 2. <abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ ufos-green-men-mexican-lawmakers-hear-testimony-existence-103166991> 3. <apnews.com/article/ufos-uaps-congress-whistleblower-spy-aliens-ba8a8cfba353d7b9de29c3d906a69ba7> 4. < reuters.com/world/americas/close-encounter-with-alien-bodies-mexico-2023-09-16/> 5. Ibid 6. <smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alleged-alienscorpses-displayed-to-mexican-congress-did-notconvince-scientists-180982900/>

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ARTEM PERETIATKO—GETTY IMAGES

2017, he claimed to have discovered specimens in Nazca, Peru, which had elongated skulls and three fingers on each hand. These figures were later declared to be “manufactured dolls” with paper and synthetic glue used to create a skin-like covering.6 Time and time again, Maussan has been exposed for his deceptions, this being his most convincing one yet. And yet . . . strange and unexplainable events still occur—things that cannot be explained by science (unlike these fake alien remains). While science can answer many of the curiosities we encounter in life, it doesn’t provide an answer for everything. For example, science hasn’t been able to explain where black holes begin and end, how ball lightning occurs (look it up!), or shapeshifting and supernatural occurrences. There are bizarre things in our universe which we simply cannot comprehend. Unexplainable phenomena occur despite the impossibility of it. And we are a curious bunch, us humans—we love a good

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THE TRUE SOLDIER IN ALL OF US Is there more to being a soldier than simply following orders? MIDJOURNEY

BY TYLER VAN DER VEER

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of Allied infantry and armoured divisions as they approached the coast of France; the overwhelming barrage of gunfire that rained upon the landing craft from heavily fortified emplacements overlooking the beaches; the treacherous beach-clearing that was made further difficult and dangerous by barbed wire, metal tripods and wooden stakes littering the shore. When the scene ended, I reflected on what I’d just seen. I couldn’t help but appreciate how each of these soldiers profoundly understood the importance of their individual responsibility, and how it contributed to ensuring good triumphed over evil. These men, and their passion for the good, provide a great inspiration to that true soldier in all of us. Coincidentally, I also came to read that this November was the 80-year

and the end of World War II. This leadership strength was certainly used with great effect in the D-Day invasion with Eisenhower’s June 6, 1944, order of the day, issued to rally and impress on his troops the importance of the mission: Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, you’re about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have striven all these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. Eisenhower’s inspirational brilliance is no better captured than in the below photograph as he addresses the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). This was one of the airborne divisions comprising approximately 13,100 American paratroopers tasked with conducting parachute drops over Normandy. Its mission was to block German approaches into the vicinity of the amphibious landings at Utah Beach—the day prior to D-Day,

MIDJOURNEY, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

like to watch war movies, and recently, as I was surfing through Netflix, I decided to re-watch one of my favourites: Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. Although the award-winning film was released back in July 1998, the creative cinematography and masterful storytelling ensure it still holds up, in my honest opinion, as one of the most brutal depictions of war. This is due to one of the more enduring parts of Saving Private Ryan, something that has been collectively etched in each movie-goer’s mind: the opening scene that depicts the Omaha Beach D-Day landing. This 24-minute scene is unmatched in film history in its ability to viscerally transport you to June 6, 1944. It captures the nervously trembling hands and stress-induced vomit

anniversary of the Tehran Conference, the strategy meeting between Joseph Stalin, Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, that eventuated in a commitment from the British and Americans to launch the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Soon after the Tehran Conference, on December 23, 1943, President Roosevelt appointed US General Dwight D Eisenhower the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. Eisenhower had an impressive list of World War II awards and decorations, and his consideration for the position was certainly bolstered by his role in overseeing the invasions of North Africa and Italy. But, he was ultimately picked over more experienced generals. This was partly because of his affable leadership that allowed him to have serious disagreements with British allies—Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery—without upsetting their important relationship. However, I believe Eisenhower’s greatest strength as a leader was his ability to help his men recognise and understand how each individual soldier’s order engaged in the larger cause. How the little battle he fights fits into the larger battle. How, like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, with the experience of death and destruction all around them, their personal efforts are contextualised as part of something that is contributing to the triumph of good over evil: the liberation of Europe, the surrender of Nazi Germany

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times of crisis. These judges’ ranks in Israel were like that of Eisenhower in World War II. However, even more profoundly, the judges served as God’s reminder to the people of Israel as to how the little battle they fight—whether that was against the Canaanites, the Midianites or the Philistines—fits into the larger battle: the spiritual struggle for the kingdom of God. One great example is the fifth biblical judge, Gideon. Gideon is introduced as he threshes wheat in a winepress, cowering away from Israel’s present enemy, the MidianThe true ites. Despite soldier fights his obvious not because he shortcomings, Freedom and truth stir hates what is God sees in in front of him, him “mighty a chord within each but because he valour” (Judges one of us that is worth loves what is 6:12). Gideon behind him.1 is elected to protecting. lead Israel to Both overthrow the Eisenhower Midianites, and Chesterand his faith, ton should come as a reminder of humility, obedience, perseverance the “true soldier” in all of us. That and wisdom inspire his vastly outis, knowing the place we all hold numbered army to decisive victory, in propagating the good. And also, liberating the Israelites. that freedom and truth stir a chord Judges like Gideon showed the within each one of us that is worth Israelites the importance of their protecting, no matter the enormity individual acts of good. That by colof evil and suffering that faces us. We lectively living uprightly, Israel would see this in the biblical stories of the become an inspiration to the world, judges: those individuals who served standing against the corruption to roles as military leaders in Israel in make good prevail. It is as Chinese

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general and strategist, Sun Tzu, wrote in his classic work The Art of War, “He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.” The name given to the judges finds its proper context in Hebrew (mō-wō-šî-a‘)’: “deliverer”. The judges, therefore, had an important spiritual role in reminding Israel of their responsibilities and inspiring them that one soldier diligently and passionately living for the good has the power to sway the outcome of the battle. My hope is we can all be reminded—particularly as we watch movies like Saving Private Ryan—that leaders like Eisenhower and the biblical judges can be an inspiration to us all, showing us that small, but compounding acts of love and kindness lay the foundations for victory of the good in all our lives. Tyler van der Veer works in marketing. He enjoys spending time on a board in the ocean, cooking meals inspired by travels around the world and reading books about 20th-century history. He writes from Auckland, New Zealand. 1. GK Chesterton, Illustrated London News, January 14, 1911.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

shortly before they parachuted into France. It took nine months of meticulous planning and execution to coordinate the largest seaborne invasion in history . . . only to be distilled to orders that would last less than a few minutes to these 20-something-year-old paratroopers: “I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle.” This style of empowering military leadership motivates what the English theologian GK Chesterton called the “true soldier”:

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ELL B EING

GOOD GRIEF, IT’S THE

Holidays! LUCENTIU—GETTY IMAGES

What should you do in the holidays if someone in your life is sad when everyone else is happy? BY JENNIFER J SCHWIRZER

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PAVEL—PEXELS

any years ago, a dear friend of mine lost her husband and two oldest children to a plane crash. After the crushing blow, this young mother carried on with her two youngest, meeting the hardships of life without her spouse. If I ever need a definition of endurance, I think of her. But I notice that around the anniversary of the crash, this brave friend mourns. She also hurts during what-might-have-beenbirthdays and holidays. She says, “Some grief is not resolved this side of heaven. We carry it deep in our souls until Jesus comes.” Grieving may be normal—even a sign of deep love and a normal component of human thriving. But in 2013, the Diagnostic Manual of the American Psychiatric Association took the grief exclusion out of the criteria for major depressive disorder. This meant that grief could be considered a form of depression. In response to this, some argued that failing to distinguish between the two makes grief a disease rather than a normal human response to loss. And yet, as rabbi and grief counselling expert Earl A Grollman says, “Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity. It is the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”1 But grief feels a lot like depression. Despairing emotions flood the body. The future looks empty. Hope seems lost. The ability to function is impaired. A person eats or sleeps less SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

or more than normal. Isolating from others is common. It can be hard to concentrate. Fatigue seems to set in easily. Patience and stamina flounder. Grief can become prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a condition associated with depression and post-traumatic stress. How can we assist those who might be in danger of developing these conditions? Human contact, a helping hand and kind words can go a long way. Also, the support of a religious community can be very helpful. In other words, a church family can be a great blessing to the mental health of the person who is grieving.

the church as grief support

Therapy groups have long supported people through a host of problems. Groups specifically designed for sufferers of grief and loss have successfully included three factors: social support, interpersonal learning and meaning-making.2 A church family can certainly provide help in these three areas. Social support comes easily in a church context because, at its best, the church is a loving family! Notice the use of the family metaphor. Jesus called “whoever does the will” of His Father, His “mother” and “brothers” (Matthew 12:49, 50). We, the “household of God” or the “household of faith,” treat older men as fathers, “younger men as brothers, older women as mothers and younger women as sisters, in all purity” (Ephesians 2:19; Galatians

6:10; 1 Timothy 5:1, ESV3). While the church family, human as it is, does fall short of the loving support God idealises, it can also succeed wonderfully. Interpersonal learning is what our walk with God within His family is all about. When a fellow believer suffers a loss, we don’t see them as cursed or defective but as potentially wiser for the cross they must bear. The wise man said, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). The grieving among us remind us all of the fragility of life and our need for God. The biblical authors know this and want to teach us that hardship facilitates growth: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV). Meaning-making is something the Bible embraces more than any other text in the world. One of the most affirming aspects of its message is the beauty-from-ashes principle—that God can transform human brokenness. One way He does this is by leading us to minister to others out of our own pain. The Bible says that God “comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). We don’t suffer in a vacuum. Our suffering can open DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

channels of benefit to others, lending our lives, and even the suffering itself, rich significance.

doing our best to support those who are grieving

ANDREA—PEXELS

How do we, as individuals, help people through grief-triggering holidays? We will need to avoid two ditches: either trying to fix grief or sinking with the grieving The fix ditch. Should the bereaved express any sadness or fear, we may feel compelled to fix those feelings. This is a normal, albeit unhelpful, human behaviour. Typically, we issue platitudes such as: “You’ll see them again in heaven” or “God will help you through this”. These statements, while true in themselves, nevertheless clatter to the floor as useless or even harmful because the bereaved interprets them as “Get better, now. Your sadness bothers me.” In the Bible, you see Job’s friends tried very hard to fix him, didn’t they? Sometimes, especially when the pain is fresh and acute, simply coming alongside the person, even sitting with them in silence, is the perfect response.

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

The sink ditch. The other mistake, while it may seem more virtuous, is no less harmful. It might be called the “sink” approach. This approach offers empathy but fails to encourage and redirect the person’s thoughts even when it would be appropriate to do so. Prolonged grief may be prevented by instilling hopeful thoughts—sharing Bible promises with the struggling ones, pointing them to a God of love and His plan to restore all things. Fortunately, there is a balanced middle. A model of bereavement therapy called dual-purpose bereavement group intervention (DPBGI) resembles the biblical balance. Researchers gave a group of 125 Chinese senior citizens one of two treatments for bereavement: One approach focused on grief support alone, and another approach oscillated between grief support and a focus on restoration after grief. While both approaches helped resolve symptoms, the dual approach did so more effectively.4 Doesn’t the Bible promote this dual approach? It frankly admits human loss and suffering, giving

numerous examples of biblical will help with finding a local licensed characters expressing emotional professional in Australia, or <nzccp. pain (have you read the Psalms?) yet co.nz> in New Zealand. If you sense offers hope of restoration both in this that suicide may be an issue, for world and the world to come. Let us example, if the person drops comlook at a few Bible texts: ments such as, “The world would be “In this world you will have troubetter off without me” or “I wish I ble. But take heart! I have overcome could die”, go ahead and ask, “Have the world” (John 16:33). you ever thought of taking your own “Though you have made me see life?” Don’t be afraid—asking does troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths not increase the likelihood of suicide of the earth you will again bring me but rather reduces it! If they indicate up” (Psalm 71:20). any suicidal intention, connect the “I will repay you for the years the person immediately to a professional locusts have who can help eaten—the or call Lifeline great locust in Australia and the young on 13 11 14 locust, the and 0508 826 other locusts 865 in New and the locust Zealand. swarm—my great army that I sent a summary among you” Get better now. Your Let’s close (Joel 2:25). with a simple sadness bothers me. Armed summary with both of ideas for empathy and helping the hopeful promperson who ises, we can is grieving come alongthrough the holidays. side those suffering holiday grief, Help the grieving person plan hear and share their pain, and then ahead. The traditions carried on by gently point them toward heaven. everyone else may be triggering sad get help if things get worse memories in the bereaved. Encourage If the grieving person seems to the person to feel free to opt in or stay depressed long after the holidays out of those traditions as they wish. are over, or if you worry about them Encourage the bereaved to let other in any other way, you may want to people know their needs and preferencourage them to find help. The ences. Help them exercise self comwebsite <psychologytoday.com.au> passion and, if they need to, place

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DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

LUCAS—PEXELS 50

limits on their contribution to parties, meals and other events. Give the grieving person permission to talk about their feelings, letting them know you’ll be there to listen and not judge. Encourage them to ask for any help they may need. Finally, affirm that, as author Franchesca Cox says, “Grief only exists where love lived first.”5 Remind them that the same God who put that love in their hearts loves them as well. Offer to pray with them, asking God to heal their sore and aching heart. Open up to them the wonderful promises of God for a better world, saying with the apostle, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14). Assure them that Jesus “will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

Christ will rise first” (verse 16). How good it is to know that God will one day wipe every tear from our eyes, ending grief, loss and death forever (Revelation 21:4). Jennifer Schwirzer loves God and people and lives to bring them together through the written, spoken and sung Word. 1. Earl Grollman, “Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers: Excerpts From the Book of the Same Title,” MADD Canada, 2000, <madd.ca/english/services/ straight_talk.pdf> 2. Alexander Rice, “Common Therapeutic Factors in Bereavement Groups,” Death Studies 39, no. 3 (2015): 165–172. 3. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 4. Amy Y. M. Chow, Michael Caserta, Dale Lund, Margaret H. P. Suen, Daiming Xiu, Iris K. N. Chan, and Kurtee S. M. Chu, “Dual-Process Bereavement Group Intervention (DPBGI) for Widowed Older Adults,” Gerontologist 59, no. 5 (October 2019): 983–994, https://doi. org/10.1093/geront/gny095. 5. <pinterest.com/franchesca_cox/h-ea-l-i-n-g/>

LT U R E

MIDJOURNEY

AND GOD SAID,

The season of cheesy, saccharine-sweet Christmas movies is upon us. Most of us will be subjected to one or more this season, but have we ever stopped to think about what they say about our perception of Christmas? BY MARK HADLEY SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

“LET THERE BE SNOW” UPDATE TEMPLATE 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FREEPIK, MIDJOURNEY

very Christmas film is a crisis. Will she see him for who he is? Will he get back home? Will the present arrive in time? And, most of all, will belief in the magic of Christmas be maintained? Of course, plots change. This time it’s about an estranged father; next time it centres on two cat lovers. The goal, though, is the same. There is a Christmas wish that must be fulfilled—and nowhere is this more certain than in the Hallmark Christmas movie. The Hallmark Christmas movie is an institution for viewers of satellite and streaming television channels. Each November it arrives complete with sugar-sweet characters, glittering settings and family-friendly plotlines, all tied up with a bow. At least that’s how it seems. What sits behind this televisual confectionery is an industry that has honed Christmas cheer to a razor’s edge. It might surprise you to know that the Hallmark Channel produces not one but dozens of full-length holiday feature films each year. In 2018 alone, no less than 37 original Christmas movies rolled off its production line. Unsurprisingly, this cavalcade dominates Hallmark’s offerings from November to early January. Those movies lucky enough to receive the channel’s “Hallmark Hall of Fame” stamp of approval also SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

make the rounds on other channels around the world, courtesy of big players like Amazon Prime and Foxtel. And viewers who dip into this nearly endless supply of Christmas cheer will not only find warm, fuzzy feelings but a structure that’s just as familiar. The first rule for a Hallmark film is the title: Christmas hope with a touch of cheer. Top-raters like An Unexpected Christmas (2021), Let It Snow (2013) and Three Wise Men and a Baby (2022) make the point. The second commandment? Thou shalt not neglect the snow. Hallmark’s Christmas production schedule runs all year round, regardless of whether or not that scintillating white stuff is falling. A Hallmark scriptwriter interviewed by Entertainment Weekly affirmed that snow must be on the ground: “We really wanted to do one where the basic conflict was a fear that there will not be snow on Christmas. We were told you cannot do that, there must be snow. They can’t be waiting for the snow, there has to be snow. You cannot threaten them with no snow.”

the white stuff

It’s not only the snow that’s white, either. As a rule, Hallmark’s casts are predominantly Caucasian. 2017 included three films where African-Americans featured prominently—Danny Glover held a key role in The Christmas Train (2017)—but these are almost always supporting

roles. The average storyline is about a single white woman who finds love at Christmas, or a white family that reunites, or even a white working woman who gives up her career to spend more time with her white kids. The third, and possibly most significant rule, is the sense of wellbeing a film must generate. Hallmark Christmas films don’t delve into dark family stories. Divorce is as far as it goes. The storylines must resolve in a way that’s comforting for the conservative viewer. Vox culture writer Emily St James notes that Hallmark Christmas movie aren’t religious by nature but their roots reflect what was originally a Christian television network. That, combined with its family-friendly outlook, produces a certain kind of longing: “Hallmark Christmas movies feel nostalgic for something half understood, like those episodes of The Twilight Zone where somebody travels back to the 1890s or the 1910s in hopes of chasing some America that has been lost to the mists of time. Except, where The Twilight Zone traveller eventually realises the error of his or her ways, a Hallmark protagonist comes to love living in the bubble—or the snow globe, if you will.” But Hallmark films are not the only Christmas productions that chase something that’s barely understood, yet persistently appealing. Each year sees a mainstream Christmas release that sells surprisingly well at the box office, despite our increasDECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

family bonds

Hallmark has made a trademark out of the reuniting of family members at Christmas. There are now no less than five sequels to its original Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas (2018)—just substitute “you”, “us”, “them” and “him” for “me” and you’ll know what to search up. There is an undeniable attraction to the idea that Christmas unites families with an unbreakable, unfrustratable bond. The Internet Movie Database lists no less than 14 movies and shorts that share the title I’ll be Home for Christmas.

fellowship

A mirror to this longing for family is the desire for an end to isolation. Christmas comedy classic Home Alone (1990) features a boy forced to protect himself from burglars because his family has left for the holidays without him. Though he seems to be doing well, his ultimate happiness rests in their return. Even more obvious is the animated hit The Grinch (2018). Dr Seuss’s villain who stole Christmas does so because it reminds him of his own feelings of isolation each year. The audience warms up when the Grinch finally feels included. 56

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

an end to work

Arguably one of the most famous Christmas stories of all time, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, has been translated to the big screen in countless forms. At the heart of each telling, though, is a version of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who works so much that he has lost the joy of Christmas. The audience applauds internally when our protagonist finally leaves his counting house for the joy of Bob Cratchit’s home.

the perfect gift

So much Christmas entertainment centres around the giving and receiving of gifts—and not just any sign of grace but the one that suits the receiver best of all. Jingle All The Way (1996) stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as an absent father who seeks to mend his relationship with his son by giving him the toy he longs for most. Likewise, Arthur Christmas (2011) tells the story of a young Santa’s attempts to deliver a misplaced present. The arrival of this much-longed-for gift restores a young girl’s faith in its giver.

peace

Christmas tales regularly focus on the cessation of hostilities. It might be the peace that descends on a household when a father and son finally connect, as in A Christmas Story (1983) or when nations set aside their enmities for a single night, as in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969). Seeing Christmas as a time of peace

can take the strangest forms—action classic Die Hard (1988) proves that not even terrorists can overcome a Christmas homecoming.

hope

Three Christmas classics represent this best. In It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), a man contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve learns that the life he has lived is full of more hope than he dreamed possible. In Miracle on 34th Street (1947), there’s still room for hope when a court rules and a little girl realises that Kris Kringle really is Santa Claus. And The Little Drummer Boy (1968) shows that there’s hope for the renewal of a boy’s heart, regardless of the pain he has suffered. Considered individually, these themes just look like potential plot points for another Hallmark Christmas. But combined, we can begin to see where this seasonal longing comes from. The original Christmas offers humanity the opportunity to come home to the most important family of all. There, we find an end to all loneliness, as well as rest

FREEPIK, MIDJOURNEY

ingly secular culture. Regardless of their North American feel, there are certain intangibles that still play well to Australian audiences. Consider if you will, the following.

DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

from our labours. Jesus’ manger con- story. We fail to realise this because tains the gift we not only desire, but our world is increasingly attempting sorely need. The Christ-child signals to separate the gift from its giver. God’s offer of peace to all on whom But it does not make the offer of His favour rests. And His coming grace any less compelling because it signals persistent is surrounded by hope for a fallen so many counworld. terfeits. Once The first it is understood Christmas story and fully emis not another braced, the true saccharine-sweet Christmas story Jesus’ manger tale to be gobbled offers a peace down during the that surpasses contains the gift we festive season. It any Hallmark not only desire, but is the prototype dream. from which all sorely need. other Christmas stories take their lead. All of these themes have power Mark Hadley is a media and cultural critic who lives with his family in Sydney. Please note that discussion over us at this time of year precisely of a media product in Signs of the Times does not because they reflect that original constitute an endorsement or recommendation.

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SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

Ad?

R E CI P E

LEGUMES: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO I COOK THEM? WHILE MANY OF US ARE AWARE OF THE BENEFITS OF EATING MORE FRUITS, VEGGIES AND WHOLEGRAINS, THE HUMBLE LEGUME OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED!

Legumes are a powerhouse of nutritious goodness, not to mention delicious, budget-friendly and easy to use. So, here’s all you need to know about legumes, why they’re good for you and how to use them.

WHAT ARE LEGUMES? “Legume” is a broad term that refers to all types of lentils, beans, pulses and peas from the Fabaceae (or Leguminosae) botanical family. These include chickpeas, butter beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, lentils and soybeans (plus many more). They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours—you can buy them canned or cooked, frozen or dried, and even ground into flours or made into milks. In fact, there are nearly 20,000 different species of legume.

HOW DO I COOK LEGUMES?

ALESIA—PEXELS

It all depends on how you buy them. • Canned: One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to enjoy them is by buying canned legumes so you have them on hand and ready to go whenever you need them. Simply drain, give them a quick rinse, and they are ready to go! • Frozen: You can also buy some varieties frozen and ready to cook such as peas and edamame. • Dried: Not all legumes need to be soaked in advance. However, dried black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, navy beans and white beans are among those that you will need to soak before

you cook them. It helps them cook faster, more evenly and helps our bodies digest them. • Ready-made: You can buy a variety of tasty, ready-made legume dishes in your local supermarket including hummus, baked beans, tofu and readymade veggie burgers.

ARE LEGUMES GOOD FOR YOU? They can provide: • Nutrients such as B vitamins, iron and zinc for energy, plus calcium and magnesium for bone and muscle health • One of the best sources of plant protein • Gut-friendly fibre, including prebiotics fibres to support a healthy digestive system • Phytonutrients (powerful plant compounds) and are low GI Research on legumes has linked regularly eating the humble bean to some big health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, some cancers, better weight management and living longer.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I EAT LEGUMES? You should try to enjoy a serve of legumes (approximately 100g) at least two–to–three times per week. But you don’t need to stop there—if you’re already enjoying legumes, try including them in more meals to make the most of their health benefits. A serve could be one cup of cooked kidney beans, half a can of drained chickpeas or about half a block of tofu.

Article courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium.co.nz and subscribe to Recipe of the Week for a delicious plant-powered recipe in your inbox each week. SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FUN

CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD CLUES

How closely have you been reading? Each keyword in this puzzle is also contained within this edition of Signs of the Times. Happy digging!

Crossword Puzzle Hint: 11 4 Across Across

5 6 7

9 10

SHELLEY PAULS—UNSPLASH

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • DECEMBER 2023

Across:

DOWN 1 Grief that can be a form of depression 2 The monotheistic people group responsible for the Old Testament 3 A type of dating used to determine the age of remains 4 Type of remains that have recently gone viral on social media 6 A feeling associated with Hallmark Christmas movies 7 The largest seaborne invasion in history 9 This Greek word means “the gathered ones” 12 The essence of forgiveness ACROSS 5 Helps children’s psychological development and strengthens connections 8 Sixth-most polluted lake worldwide for microplastics 10 A term used to describe a well-intentioned but unhelpful approach to grief 11 A type of lentil, bean, pulse or pea from the Fabaceae botanical family

SUDOKU EASY

5 5

8 5

4 1

5 1

4 6

HARD

7 7

3 1

2 8

4 5

7 4

6 3

8 6

6 7

SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU DECEMBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU