Road to Bethlehem 30 years of sharing Jesus
a christian perspective on the world today
In this issue December 2024 WHAT IN THE WORLD Pg 04 UNPACKING CHRISTMAS Pg 06 JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE Pg 12 THE JESUS THAT DEFIES DEFINITION Pg 18
TELLING THE STORY— FOR THE 30TH TIME
Road to Bethlehem Melbourne celebrates 30 years of impact. PAGE 32
MAKE A DIFFERENCE: GARDEN OF CONNECTION Pg 24 BROKEN IN A BOX Pg 26 A SMALL PART IN THE BIGGEST STORY Pg 40 WORRY, WORSHIP AND THE MOUNTAIN-MOVING GOD Pg 46 ASK PASTOR JESSE Pg 52
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BEING YOUR BEST YOU Pg 54 WHOLEGRAINS AND IMMUNITY Pg 60 SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE Pg 62
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46 FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2
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@SIGNSMAG
No longer a Grinch I used to be a bit of a Christmas grinch. Not the kind that lives in a cave on the mountain and goes around stealing all the presents off children to cancel Christmas, mind you. I was just a bit grouchy about the whole thing. Like, why are they playing Christmas carols in October? Add to this the fact that sometimes it’s hard to buy the right gifts, take part in the office secret Santa, let alone feel the sense of discontent after the anticipation is gone when all I’ve unwrapped is a pair of socks. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed the holidays and getting together with family (especially Christmas lunch) but I was still cynical about the materialism, the waste and the tinsel-coated selfishness of it all. Well, I think I’m becoming a believer. It could have something to do with having kids. Their joy and excitement is contagious. It’s not about me (not that it ever really was) but it’s about making them happy. And for whatever reason, seeing their joy has made me a little more susceptible to the flare of it all. Part of this softening might have come from attending some events that are becoming fixtures on our calendar—the Road to Bethlehem events held at our local Adventist schools. Started 30 years ago in Melbourne, RTB brings our community together and reminds us of the “true meaning of Christmas”—baby Jesus, born in a stable 2000 years ago. For years, Signs magazine has been handed out at these events. We love being able to partner with RTB every year. You can find out more about where RTB came from in this month’s issue (p32 & 40). Have a blessed Christmas. May the peace and goodwill of God be with you and your family this season. JARROD STACKELROTH Editor
VOL 138 NO 11
ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITORS Melody Tan Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsmag.com WEBSITE signsmag.com ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER IMAGE: Jessica Symes
WHAT IN THE WORLD
2024 Christmas trends Surveys show that consumers are predominantly thinking about four things this year as they buy gifts for their loved ones. 75 per cent of consumers want more sustainable options, driving demand for products made from natural and recycled materials. 68 per cent want to give gifts tailored specifically for their loved ones. Simplicity and minimalism have continued to gain ground, meaning companies have scaled back on gimmicky products in favour of high-quality items. 76 per cent said they prefer to give experience-based gifts rather than material goods.—Global Sources
Most popular diet in 2024 AUSTRALIA
79 per cent of Australians go meatfree at least one day a week. But among Australians, “meat reducer” was also the most popular dietary choice in 2024. 21 per cent of the population made the decision to reduce their meat intake due to increasing awareness of the health benefits and environmental concerns associated with eating meat. Many also reduced their intake due to budget constraints.—Food Frontier 4
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FREESTOCKS, SERGEY KOTENEV, ILIA-BRONSKIY, PRISCILLA DU PREEZ, HEATHER BARNES—UNSPLASH
UNITED STATES
15-minute city SWITZERLAND
Zurich, Switzerland’s capital, has been crowned the world’s best example of a 15-minute city. 99.2 per cent of its residents live within 15 minutes of essentials such as schools, shops and parks. A tiny fraction of cities worldwide are considered “15-minute cities”. Milan, Dublin and Copenhagen also rank high. For comparison, in Atlanta, Detroit and San Antonio, only about 2.5 per cent of residents live this close to essential services.—The Guardian
Most common date for break-ups AUSTRALIA
The holidays are meant to be a time of love and celebration. Yet it’s also when many relationships fall apart. Data shows that December 11 is the most common day for couples to call it quits, as it’s “close but not too close” to Christmas. Individuals often reflect around this time of the year, and those who assumed underlying issues would be resolved by now, tend to end the relationship to save carrying the same issues into another year.—Sydney Morning Herald
Global chocolate shortage PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Bad weather, disease and deforestation have resulted in a short supply of cocoa globally, causing the price of cocoa beans to skyrocket. One country that has been benefitting is Papua New Guinea. The road to a viable cocoa industry has been challenging for PNG. However, recent increased cocoa sales have paved the way for more local development. It is also providing more career pathways for young people. PNG produces less than one per cent of the world’s cocoa production but the country has ambitions to significantly increase its output, making cocoa farming a growing economic driver in rural communities.—Nine News DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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Unpacking
CHRISTMAS Each family’s Christmas traditions are different. What do they mean to you?
ELLY FAIRYTALE—PEXELS
KAREN HOLFORD
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very few years, our Christmas lasts for a week. My husband’s family rents a large house and four generations gather from England, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Netherlands, Chile and Argentina. This year there will be more than 30 of us—including two new babies. Bringing us all together is a challenge, but we’ve slowly learned how to manage it. We each pick a name and buy a small gift for one person. We bring board games and tell stories. Every evening, one family group creates a special meal from their culture. The Danes make their traditional meal for Christmas Eve. The dessert is always risalamande, a chilled rice pudding mixed with vanilla, whipped cream and slivered almonds, served with a swirl of cherry sauce. We eat the risalamande slowly. A whole blanched almond is hiding in one of the dishes. If you find it you mustn’t bite it, and you must keep it in your mouth and not let anyone know it’s there. When everyone has finished, we guess who’s hiding the almond in their mouth. The winner gets a box of chocolates. It adds a little suspense to the end of the meal, as well as time for people to slow down and relax.
managing differences
We’ve learned to make allowances for everyone’s differences and needs. We live far apart, so these Christmas gatherings are the only time we see each other. A few of us are introverts, and living with 30 people for a week can be overwhelming! It’s okay to disappear into your room, read a novel or walk in the woods to clear your head. Everybody understands and we choose to believe the best about each other.
sharing the load
After a couple of decades of different routines and honest conversations, we’ve found a good formula for minimising frustration and stress. Every day we rotate household responsibilities. Dishwashers need stacking and emptying. Family teams prepare dinners together. Evenings are slow and sociable as it takes a long time to feed so many people. Our son has created a mathematical formula for sharing the food bill fairly. Somehow it all works.
While we celebrate, there is also sadness as we remember those we have lost
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mixed emotions
While we celebrate, there is also sadness. We remember those we have lost, like great-grandfather Alec who started the tradition, and aunty
your Christmas
What is your experience of Christmas? Is it filled with joy? Or, perhaps sadness? Or, like me, maybe it’s a mixture of both. Reflect on your Christmas with these questions.
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What does Christmas mean to you? What’s the best Christmas you’ve had in the past five years? What made it so good? What does your family do well? How could you do more
of those things this year? What are the “must haves” and where are you flexible? How could you make a few adjustments to create some extra peace and good will?
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What do you enjoy? Raspberry pavlova, barbecues on the beach, being together, choosing presents for everyone? What can you live without? Too many new socks, flashing lights on the tree, complicated menus? What would you like to change? The traditional menu, always having Christmas at the same house, the expense and stress of buying lots of presents? What are your family’s stress points and conflicts at Christmas? Make an action plan to
ELLY FAIRYTALE—PEXELS
Alison, who recently died of cancer. A divorce has split one of our families. Occasionally I feel sad, because my family never had a celebration like this. Christmas with my family is one day with simple food in a cramped house. We’ll never have a week together with rough and tumble joy, and a magnificent feast every evening.
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anticipate and defuse these moments with gentle surprises, moments of wonder and talking about hopes. Or involve people in noncompetitive activities, such as walking the dog or doing a jigsaw. If you live alone and visiting family is impractical or emotionally complicated, what can you do instead of the traditional Christmas?
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What new ideas would you like to try in the future? Think about ready-made food, going to a restaurant or making reusable fabric gift bags to save paper. What about inviting a couple of lonely people to join you each year or spending the day helping a local charity?
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List everything that makes Christmas happen in your home. Who does each task? How long does it take? Is it enjoyable or stressful? What can others do to share the load? Think about writing Christmas letters and cards; choosing, buying, wrapping and posting presents; decorating the home; planning the menus, sourcing the food and preparing the meals, etc.
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Where can your routines and traditions be simplified? Is it okay to have dinner delivered, send email greetings or buy gift cards instead of shopping for hours? Try at least one new idea for simplifying the most stressful tasks.
Christmas on your own
Maybe you’re a long way from home or you can’t face your family this year—or you just want to try something different. Plan a fun day with others who are on their own and share the responsibilities. Volunteer for a charity that hosts Christmas day for homeless people or migrant families. Travel to a dream destination. Take a long walk in a beautiful place. Choose something that brings you joy and creates amazing memories, because you have been kind, generous, filled with wonder or laughed with your friends.
last minute tips! •
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Remember that no family or family gathering is every truly perfect—so, lower your expectations . . . no, even lower than that . . . just a bit more . . . that’s right! Blessed are those who don’t expect too much, for they will not be disappointed! Choose three simple goals you want to achieve at your Christmas celebration and try to make them happen. Plan
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three kind things to do during the day. Ask Aunty Annabel about her azaleas; buy a great game to play with the kids; help in the kitchen; the list goes on. Anticipate stress points and make a survival plan. Go for a walk. Turn the conversation towards gratitude or your favourite memories. Tell stories of kindness or moments of wonder. If the conversation is sliding downhill say, “Oh, I almost forgot! I brought this for us!” Pull out a box of chocolates and offer them around as a distraction. Play a simple game. Quieten the overly talkative by giving them sticky toffees to chew or ask them to help you. Create opportunities for the quieter ones to share their stories. Be kind, thankful and helpful, because these qualities help to lower conflicts. Laugh together! Even crazy Christmas crises can become classic family memories!
where Christmas started
The first Christmas wasn’t without stress. Imagine delivering a baby in a stable in a strange town. Mary and Joseph ate the old bread and dried fruits they brought from home. The stable was decorated with hay and oil lamps and perfumed by the scent of animals. Baby Jesus was dressed in strips of torn linen. And the shepherds turned up without an invitation. But at the heart of all this chaos was the most extravagant gift the world has ever known: God’s only Son. Jesus is a gift designed to bring peace, joy and love to everyone, everywhere. So, whatever shape your Christmas takes, how will you share a taste of that original peace, joy and love with those around you? Karen Holford is a family therapist who lives and works in Europe. Every year she tries one new idea to simplify her Christmas preparations and sometimes they work!
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JUST A LITTLE
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BIT MORE
The simple message of Christmas has, over the years, been corrupted by secularism and consumerism. How can we find a healthier way within our complicated world? EMMA DYER
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we call prudence. “This psychosis permeates even our mythology. The modern hero is the poor boy who purposefully becomes rich rather than the rich boy who voluntarily becomes poor.”1 In the past, people turned to God for purpose, identity and belonging but in the 21st century, our main purpose is to “get ahead”. We find our identity in our possessions: the clothes we wear, the houses we live in and the cars we drive. We hope to find significance and belonging by owning the right stuff. “Without a clear sense of self, a strong identity and a community of purpose, it seems our default mode is to identify ourselves by the things we own.”2 The new maxims, “Greed is good”, “It’s all about me” and “I want it now” have replaced old virtues of contentment, community and patience.3
MACIEJ SOJKA—GETTY IMAGES
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ohn D Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest men in history, was once asked how much money it takes to make a man happy. He famously replied, “Just a little bit more.” His comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek but it does put into words the mindset many of us subscribe to, whether we think so or not. I think we can all relate to how all-consuming the pursuit of wealth can be. It’s easy to get sucked into what modern marketing moguls want us to believe: that if we just had more money, we’d be able to buy the next thing (insert your consumer item of choice) which would make us happy. A world pushing constant accumulation feeds off our discontent. We are made to feel ashamed to wear last year’s fashion or drive cars until they are worn out. We pursue progress, aiming at bigger, better and faster. We call greed, ambition. Hoarding,
what will give us the most ultimate satisfaction?”4 Researcher Murray Sheard writes, “New responses are needed for the 21st century—responses that are difficult to make while we chase dreams dedicated to huge mortgages and personal entertainment. We need pockets of ‘prophetic simplicity.’ We need voices of dissent pointing to another way.”5
the prophet voice
[Jesus’] teachings were fundamentally at odds with the logic of a consumer society the new religion
Consumerism has become the secular god of the West. But consumerism, while promising the life we’ve always wanted, hasn’t really delivered, has it? Its predomination has had damaging consequences, wrecking our economy, our planet, our families and our very souls. “Many are now asking: is living with such economic aspirations and pressures what we really want, and
The word “prophet” may conjure up images of doomsayers predicting the end of the world. But Franciscan priest Richard Rohr points out that prophets say exactly the opposite! “They insist the future is highly contingent on the now . . . the prophet opens up human freedom by daring to tell the people . . . that they can change history by changing themselves.”6 Embracing simplicity is not only countercultural, it’s living prophetically. Simplicity has been practised by many down the ages. “It has been a recurrent vision throughout history.”7 Buddha traded a palace to live under a bodhi tree. Gandhi spun and wove his own clothing: 600 million followed suit. St Francis of Assisi reformed the Vatican and brought back the vow of poverty. Yoda raised an X-Wing from a bog and defeated an evil empire from his hut in Dagobah.8 And, most significantly, Jesus left the glory of heaven to be born in a stable. Jesus not only lived a lifestyle of prophetic simplicity—His teachings DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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were also fundamentally at odds with the logic of a consumer society. The relentless pressure of advertising tells us that “you do not have enough” and that you should worry constantly about what you eat and drink, what you wear, whether your future is secure, and more. Jesus said exactly the opposite.9 In Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen colour and design quite like it? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving” (Matthew 6:25–32, MSG*). Jesus also warned, “You cannot worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both” (Matthew 6:24, MSG). Jesus knew that worshipping money, believing it would give us the significance, belonging and purpose we long for, would ultimately leave our souls anxious, exhausted and 16
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unsatisfied. Jesus is about moving people towards freedom. The writer to the Hebrews further unpacks the teachings of Jesus when he counsels, “Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5, MSG). As the old hymn “Simple Gifts” goes: “‘Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free.” Practising simplicity frees us from anxiety and teaches us to be content with what we already have. “Simplicity involves a life of joyful unconcern for possessions. Neither the greedy nor the miserly know this liberty”.10
what we stand to lose—and gain Simplicity gives us back the options of time and money. We are able to grow in generosity when we embrace simplicity. “It’s all about me” and “keeping up with the Joneses” is replaced with making sure that the Joneses are okay—and learning that “caring for the poor is not just a moral duty but part of our own enlightened self-interest”.11 We realise that there is enough for everyone and that our own good is tied to the common good. But perhaps most importantly, living simply allows our souls to flourish. As the writer of the Psalm says: “Why is everyone hungry for more? ‘More, more,’ they say. ‘More, more.’ I have God’s more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day Than they get in all their shopping sprees” (Psalm 4:6-8, MSG).
As Christmas approaches, it takes courage to reject the anxiety, stress and ridiculous consumption that so often characterises this time of year. But Jesus, the Hero who left the riches of heaven above to enter human history as a wee baby, born in a manger in a stable, the very reason for the season, offers us freedom, contentment and peace. May we embrace God’s “more-than-enough” with joy this season. Emma Dyer writes from Upper Hutt, New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two very energetic kids. 1. Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1989. 2. Jim Wallis, Rediscovering Values: A Moral Compass for the New Economy. Hodder & Stoughton London, 2010. 3. Wallis, 2010. 4. Wallis, 2010. 5. Murray Sheard, Living Simply: Studies in learning to live as Jesus did. World Vision of New Zealand, Auckland, 1999. 6. <cac.org/daily-meditations/the-example-of-the-prophets-2022-10-16/> 7. Foster, 1989. 8. Sheard, 1999. 9. Wallis, 2010. *. Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 10. Foster, 1989.
ROMAN ODINTSOV—PEXELS
11. Wallis, 2010.
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the Jesus
that defies definition ARTPLUS—GETTY IMAGES
Who is Jesus? Well, it depends on who you ask. JESSE HERFORD
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ou have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38,39). When you read those words, what comes to mind? Did you think, “Liberal talking point?” Russell Moore, pastor and former senior administrator in the Southern Baptist Convention, has revealed there’s a good chance some Americans might interpret Jesus’ words that way. Speaking to NPR, Moore told of multiple pastors who had confided in him how church members had come to them after a sermon asking, “Where did you get those liberal talking points [from]?”, referring to quotations from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). “When the pastors said, ‘I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ,’ the response was, ‘Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak.’” Moore adds, “When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus Himself seems subversive to us [Christians], then we’re in crisis.”1 Is that who Jesus is—a liberal talking point? It depends on who you’re talking to. What’s certainly true is Jesus has been interpreted differently by many different groups through history. Muslims believe (mostly) that Jesus was a wise teacher, a miracle worker, that He ascended to heaven and, according to the Hadith, He even will return sometime soon—but as a follower 20
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of Muhammad. Jews (also mostly) believe Jesus was a great teacher and miracle worker (though some believe His power came from the devil). What Jews and Muslims can both agree on is that Jesus was not the Messiah foretold by the prophets. Then there’s the multitude of Christian groups who, throughout history, have made even more strange claims about Jesus. Gnostics believed Jesus had come to save humans from the creator God (referred to as the “Demiurge”) and to share gnosis (hidden knowledge) with them. Nestorius, an archbishop from Constantinople, was troubled by the notion of Jesus being fully human and divine at the same time. Therefore, he taught that Jesus was two people in one body—as though Jesus had split personality disorder. Appolinaris of Laodicea claimed Jesus had a human body and soul—but a divine mind. Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are three distinct Persons, rather than the traditional Trinitarian view.2 Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was created by God and is an angel, not Himself God.3 Then there’s modern confusion about Jesus. Some believe in a “hippie Jesus”, for whom everything is permissible. Others think of Jesus as a capitalist first and foremost, appealing to the Bible to justify their materialist ambitions. Still others assume the blondehaired, blue-eyed Jesus we see in European artwork and are uncomfortable thinking about Him as He
likely was: a dark-skinned man from the Middle East. So, with all the confusion, how can we truly know who Jesus is? Is it even possible to have a sense of certainty about His historicity, His identity and if possible, His divinity? As any good historian will tell you, the best way to find the truth is to go to the source material.
the historical Jesus
What historical sources can we trust to accurately report on the life of Jesus? The first place to start, perhaps surprisingly, are the Gospel accounts. I say “surprisingly” because many sceptics probably wouldn’t accept the four Gospels as historical fact. However, there are very few critical scholars today who would accuse the Gospels as being works of fiction. Some scholars might point out inconsistencies or contradictions (supposed or otherwise) but for the most part, both faithful and sceptical scholars alike accept the Gospels as reliable, historical biographies of the life of Jesus. As scholar Helen Bond pointed out in The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed, “Modern study of memory has shown how unreliable and fragile human
FRESCO MADE BY HIPPOLYTE FLANDRIN IN 1844-GWENGOAT—GETTY IMAGES
The Gospels reflect the impact Jesus made on His earliest followers
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that His following grew exponentially after His death. So, whether you’re a Christian or a sceptic, to deny Jesus’ historical existence is to go against clear evidence from both His followers and critics.
the identity and divinity of Jesus
Next, we must ask what Jesus believed about Himself and what His followers believed about Him. When Jesus was 12 years old, His parents took Him to Jerusalem for Passover. While they were there, He became separated from His parents. When they finally found Him at the temple, He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). From an early age, Jesus had a keen sense of His identity. Jesus’ first recorded words in Mark’s Gospel are, “The time has come . . . The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). John affirms Jesus’ eternal nature in the opening chapter of his Gospel (John 1:1–3). Later, Jesus says “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). When Jesus asks His disciples
CHRIST’S IMAGE (CHRIST AT 33) BY HEINRICH HOFMANN-POWEROFFOREVER—GETTY IMAGES
recollections can be, and how dependent it is on unconscious inferences and wider assumptions . . . The Gospels reflect the impact Jesus made on his earliest followers, and to a large extent this impact is the historical Jesus, or as close as we are ever likely to get to him. While we may be able to disentangle some of the clearly later elements in the Gospels (post-Easter theology, pastoral concerns reflecting the later church and so on), we will never be able to present an uninterpreted Jesus, completely cut free from the hopes and dreams of those who followed him. The Synoptics [Matthew, Mark and Luke], then, are an extremely good source for the life of Jesus, but we should not ask more of them than they can possibly give.” Beyond the Gospels, other contemporary writers of Jesus attested to His existence and the movement that formed around Him. Jewish historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus both agreed that Jesus existed, He gained a large following, was executed by Pontius Pilate and
who they think He is, Peter answers, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Perhaps the most significant statement of Jesus’ identity is found in John 5. Jesus is debating with a group of religious leaders and as He does, He makes a startling accusation. Jesus says, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39,40 NRSVUE*). In other words, the Bible, though it is God’s Word, cannot itself provide eternal life. Only Jesus, who God’s Word testifies of, can. No amount of Bible study, debate or meditation can reveal the way to eternal life. If we read the book and miss the Person it points to, all our study will be for nothing. The Christian faith is not about the Bible just as music is not about notes and rests. It would be a great tragedy to be able to perfectly read Bach’s Cello Suite No 1 in G Major, but never hear it performed by a great musician.
who do you say I am?
So, who is Jesus? Is He a liberal talking point? An angel? A wise teacher? Or just a populist spiritual leader executed by the Roman Empire in the first century? Such is the controversy surrounding Jesus Christ that we are still arguing about Him 2000 years later. I contend that our view of Jesus has been lessened
in the public discourse. The real power of Jesus is not in His ideas (though those certainly are powerful), but in His Person. If we take Him seriously, then we all must ask ourselves the question: “How will I respond to Jesus and His claims about Himself?” We may be able to sit on the fence for now, but we won’t be able to forever. His extraordinary claims about Himself are a direct challenge to each of us. Do I take His claims seriously and if I do, what ramifications do they have for my everyday life? Is it possible to keep living the same way if I am convicted that Jesus was not only a prophet, teacher and miracle worker—but the Saviour of the world, God’s only Son and the King of the universe? For Jesus’ first followers, everything changed when they became convicted of the truth. What might change for you if you also become convicted that Jesus really is who He says He is? Jesse Herford is a pastor and associate editor for the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times. He lives in Canberra, Australia, with his wife, daughter and miniature schnauzer, Banjo. 1. <npr.org/2023/08/08/1192663920/southern-baptist-convention-donald-trump-christianity>. 2. <churchofjesuschrist.org/article/what-mormons-believeabout-jesus-christ> 3. <jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/believe-in-jesus/> * [Scripture quotations are taken from] the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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make a difference
Garden of connection How a simple church garden changed its community.
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t Havelife Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mangere Bridge, Auckland, something beautiful is growing—more than just vegetables. The B2BO (Back to Basics Organics) Community Garden Project, an initiative supported by ADRA New Zealand, is providing fresh produce to the community while also fostering meaningful connections and support for individuals who are vulnerable, especially the elderly. What started as a simple idea has blossomed into something much more. Pastor Moe Siaki, who leads the project, shares how the idea took root: “It all began after a visit with Papa Higgins, a local gardening expert. His passion for the land inspired me to create a similar space where our church and community could come together. It’s amazing to see how it’s grown, nourishing both bodies and souls.” One of the most impactful stories to come from the project is the relationship that has developed between the church and an elderly local man, Pram. The connection began when Pram stopped by the garden one day, admiring the vibrant vegetables. That moment sparked a conversation with 24
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Pastor Siaki, which soon grew into a meaningful friendship. Over time, church members started visiting Pram regularly, bringing fresh produce from the garden and offering support, especially as he faced health challenges, including cancer. The church’s care has not only provided Pram with much-needed food but also support. Regular and thoughtful visits and have built a lasting bond between Pram and the church. Havelife’s garden has also brought its members together. Pastor Siaki notes, “It’s not just about growing food; it’s about growing connections. Seeing Pram’s health improve and knowing we’ve been part of his journey has been rewarding for all of us.” The guiding principle behind the garden is rooted in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Through small acts of care, like a gift of fresh vegetables or a simple visit, Havelife is showing that it’s possible to create a stronger, more connected community. Is there a way you can connect with someone in your community who might be in need of friendship, support or even just a conversation? Sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest impact. We all have the opportunity to be a blessing to others, just as we’ve been blessed. Take the first step—look around, reach out and grow connections in your own way. Maranatha Fidow is the communications & connections coordinator for ADRA New Zealand.
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Broken
A broken porcelain doll changed the way I thought about Christmas. DENISA SELAGEA 26
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MIDJOURNEY
in a box
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hristmas marks the beginning of the end of the year and that means, for many of us, an occasion to pause and measure our growth in the past 12 months, be it measured in centimetres, wrinkles or experiences. Some facets of life will always surprise us with how quickly they change, while others insist on staying the same, making the passing of time a regret or a delight. But at a first glance, the past seems to have more flavour and weight, making the present paler and more diluted by comparison. When I was young, December was the longest month of the year, inflated with expectations of, “What presents am I going to get this year?” When I grew up, December became the year’s shortest month while the question dilated into an Excel spreadsheet, with multiple entries, sounding more like “What presents am I going to get this year for X, Y, Z?”. Securing presents at this time of the year has turned into a fight to survive, what with the crowds of Christmas shoppers, the tidal waves of wrapping paper and long nights spent writing Christmas cards. Often, Christmas morning finds me exhausted and discontented
with my attempts to be generous and caring. As I later realised, it’s because something was still missing—something that cannot be bought or manufactured.
biscuits and wrapping paper
When I was young, December was the sweetest-smelling month of the year. Mum would bake us cinnamon scrolls and gingerbread biscuits, apple strudel and poppyseed baiglis. Now, I have grown up to be mum and it is up to me to stay up late to bake and decorate everyone’s favourite Christmas sweet treats. It is a yearly exercise to prove myself to be a good mum, filling the table with home-baked goods. But when all the sweets are gone and the platters are washed up, there is a certain yearning that lingers on, long after everyone is asleep, that no amount of marzipan can satisfy. Then, there are decorations. You cannot have Christmas without decorations, at least not in our family. When the kids were young, our Christmas tree was the biggest eucalyptus tree branch we could find on the floor of our nearest forest. Then we would drag it home, paint it,
There is a certain yearning that lingers . . . that no amount of marzipan can satisfy
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broken porcelain
As the kids grew up, our Christmas advanced to motorised accessories, laser projectors and hundreds of metres of outdoor lights, leaving behind the simple and meaningful; like the nativity scene figurines, waiting patiently in a cardboard box for baby Jesus to be born again in our living room. Underneath the crumpled lid, hidden from the tumult of the 21st century, laid the unperturbed porcelain family, wearing the same clothes and assuming the same attitude as in years past. Baby Jesus was still a baby, forgetting to keep up with the time and grow up. His swaddling clothes, ceremoniously glazed, appeared impossibly white and rigid, hampering His growth, pausing time around Him. Next to Him, in the box, was Mary, leaning gently toward the pile of straw, missing an arm. How did that happen? It wasn’t in the
script. I looked around for the arm, still missing. How could I leave Mary to care for baby Jesus with only one arm? The tranquillity of the scene was forever crippled, as I was no porcelain healer. Joseph was there in one piece, as were the shepherds and the wise men. But Mary was broken and so was I, for I knew the end had come. I could not fill the void with any improvised prosthetic material and I could not leave baby Jesus with only a father to care for Him. One missing fragment broke the whole, sentencing it to the garbage, by no fault of its own. The Christmas wait became dimmed without baby Jesus on the windowsill, despite the thousands of lights pushing the night away. I stared into the glittering sky, thinking of a different reality, more real than the present and too often forgotten. It was a reality where I was the stubborn baby refusing to grow while clinging to my swaddling clothes and glue—all the while God was all grown up, trying to grow
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filling the void with faith. It always starts small, with a seedling of hope. Timid and hesitant at first, then determined and tough. The more I tug at it, with questions and dilemmas, the stronger it grows. Some years it grows slowly, others faster. This is the making of an organic, authentic and God-made faith with an indistinguishable flavour of peace, that cannot be bought or manufactured. Baby Jesus, the perfect Christmas seedling, was planted among us 2000 years ago, to grow and blossom into a life beyond time. Still reaching every soul, He permeates all cultures and traditions, uncontainable by human minds, but small enough to fit in human hearts. There, He breaks the clay, loosening the forces of life to germinate anew. He moulds and shapes the promise of the future into a daily present. He is the perfect kind of present. All wrapped up, just waiting to be opened. Denisa Selagea is waiting for Christmas to arrive in Melbourne, armed with tinsel, baking paper and lots of Christmas carols.
ANY LANE—PEXELS
me into a better version of myself. I assumed Him to be cold and fragile, ready to chip or crack in a moment of negligence, just because I was like that. There I was, on my knees, trying to jam God into my recycled traditions, screaming in frustration because I couldn’t fold Him properly to fit in my box—even though He was the baby Jesus who grew up to fill the entire universe. I saw myself then, the infantile parent, often treating Jesus as my baby God; expecting Him to stay wherever I put Him, waiting for me to open the lid of His existence when convenient for me; ready to discipline Him when disobedient, like not answering my prayers when or how I wanted Him to. I would get angry, thinking He was ignoring me and throw a temper tantrum. I would stop praying for a while, or quit reading my Bible to punish Him, to teach Him a lesson. It was obvious who needed to do the growing up. At times, I may have purposefully broken an arm, or a leg, as pretext for not going back to Him, waiting to be forgotten, discarded and dumped. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not convince God to throw me away. Why? Because He delights in repairing me—every time, no matter how many times I break. He has bandages for all kind of ailments: pride, self-sufficiency, anger, disbelief. No heart is beyond repair. He recycles the time, sometimes in scars, but always in growth. He undoes the self-willed fractures in our mind,
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Telling the story
FOR THE 30TH TIME
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Road to Bethlehem has been telling the story of the birth of Jesus for 30 years. How did it all start and what does it mean for those who have participated over the decades? NATHAN BROWN
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here are so many versions of the “real meaning” of Christmas—kindness, generosity, neighbourliness; family, food and gifts; and, in our part of the world, end-of-year parties, carols by candlelight, summer holidays and trips to the beach or other outdoor adventures. All of these are good things, worthy to be shared and celebrated. But most of what we think of as “Christmas” is relatively recent in comparison with the 2000-year history of retelling the story of Jesus’ birth as the beginning of the central event in Christian faith. After all, we still count our years roughly from the year of His birth. Since that time, there have been various forms and celebrations of a season each year in which the story of His birth is retold. So, if we are looking for the “real” story of Christmas, we can’t get closer to the original than telling that story again. And perhaps spending some time thinking about why this ancient story has been so transformative in the history of our world and remains so powerful for so many people today.
community in a unique walk-through experience held over four nights on the grounds of Edinburgh College, Lilydale. The current chair of the organising committee for Road to Bethlehem is Alicia Ralph. She first volunteered as an actor in 2000 and has been involved ever since, including this being her third year serving as the committee’s chair. As she leads the team in preparing for this year’s 30th RTB, she promises some new features for visitors, but also feels she has come to appreciate the story of Jesus’ birth more intimately as a result of her time with RTB. “Each year, the committee begins meeting in February,” says Ralph of the almost year-long cycle, “and not only are we upgrading our website and new experiences, but we are also praying together and thinking and talking about the Christmas story. And I think there’s something very beautiful about that, which comes with spending more time than you typically would thinking about the story amid the busyness of all that happens in December.”
the early years
This year, similar RTB programs will take place in at least five other locations around Australia and New Zealand, although prior to the limitations of the Covid-19 years, as many as 10 other locations have run RTB programs in various years, all borrowing inspiration and adapting their formats from the original
Each year, a group of more than 600 volunteers in suburban Melbourne get together to create as “real” a Christmas as they can, titled “Road to Bethlehem” (RTB). This year is its 30th year and together they will retell the story of the birth of Jesus to about 15,000 members of their
going beyond Melbourne
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Melbourne program. It has also received awards from local governments and other entities over the years, recognising its creative contribution to their community. Road to Bethlehem began with two rain-soaked nights in December 1995, and with a team of about 30 people and some 700 visitors on what was an old church campground—which has since been redeveloped—in the Melbourne suburb of Nunawading. “The first year was very basic,” original RTB committee member Carolyn Dunne recalls. “With so much water gushing across the campground there were many discouraged team members, but somehow we saw the potential. We could see and feel there was something about this idea—and the
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difference between the first and second year was incredible.” Her father, Geoff Jones, had seen a news report of a drive-through Christmas experience presented by a church in the United States. Given the mild summer evenings in Melbourne, he suggested the idea could be adapted for a walk-through program in Australia and he talked with leaders at his local church. “The original committee of four had no idea what we were doing, no idea of how it would be received and no idea of what it could become,” Shelley Fairall explains. “But we saw the opportunity to share the story of Jesus with the community. Now I see that first year as a bit of a test—a reminder that we needed to trust God with this.”
the cast
Each year the lead role has been reserved for a roster of babies less than three months old, coordinated and cared for by Fairall for many of those years. “We are very passionate about using a real baby. There is something that connects with people when they hear a baby cry; they connect the story with a real human being, a live connection between the Baby in the manger with the Man who died on the cross,” she says. “So we’re always putting out a call for babies at this time of year. There was one year when we were low on babies and one of our team went to a local shopping centre and spoke to mothers about whether they would be prepared to share their baby with the community in this way.”
Road to Bethlehem began with two rain-soaked nights in December, 1995, with a team of about 30 people and 700 visitors
“We have all felt that this whole program has been so God-led,” Dunne adds. “In the early days there seemed to be so many miracles, so many ways God provided and encouraged us, so we have been very blessed in our years of working with this.”
three decades of impact
Thirty years later, more than 200,000 people have experienced Road to Bethlehem. The two years of Covid-19 restrictions were a creative challenge for RTB, with the program adapted into different online video formats with varying interactivity in each of those years. While these were not a complete replacement for the RTB experience, these were opportunities to connect with tens of thousands of people in diverse places around the world—and to continue to re-tell the story of Jesus’ birth, even in those challenging years. Another current member of the team is Shane Winfield, whose first RTB experience was as a visitor in 1999 but who ended up coming back each night for that week to help with kids’ face-painting and then to assist with packing the sets away at the end of the week. Over the years, he has played a variety of roles at the event and in its preparation each year, including creating the distinctive illustrations that RTB has used in its invitations, advertising and signage— and two of his children have played the role of the Baby in the manger in their respective years of birth. DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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While today much of his work is behind the scenes, his highlights have been when engaging with visitors as a welcomer. “It is such a joy to hear kids get excited about learning and seeing the nativity story come to life,” Winfield says. “It is a real buzz to see how much the public enjoys it.” For Winfield, RTB offers a contrast to so much of the other noise around Christmas. “Road to Bethlehem is different, because the focus is on the Baby,” he explains. “That is the main focal point of the whole RTB program: we are reminding or introducing people to the story of Jesus’ birth and what that means for them. It calls for a reflection on the gift God gave us through His Son and our response to that.” “There’s something that’s very special that happens in the manger scene,” adds Ralph, describing the 38
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culmination of the 45-minute walkthrough story where the visitors finally meet the newborn Baby Jesus. However, Ralph also recognises that, in our diverse community, different people will take different things from their RTB experience. “I think that one of the reasons Road to Bethlehem is so successful is you can take what you need from it.” In detailing the various elements of the RTB experience, she is demonstrating the intentionality that goes into its planning. “From the beginning, you’ve got this sense of being welcomed. And there’s a warmth in that front area where people are laughing. There’s music playing. There are things you can do regardless of your age or ability, whether it be to get into the photo booth, have some food, and to sit down and chat. “And then, as you walk through,
you can be entertained by the soldiers and some of the other characters you meet on the journey. Then there’s the invitation to be moved, and to open your heart to experiencing Jesus. And then there’s the opportunity to go to the prayer tent to be prayed for. “So, what am I hoping people get from it? You know, exactly what they’re looking for.” So in the 30th year of Road to Bethlehem, the team are preparing to tell the story again, but also sharing memories of the 30 years of experiences with their many volunteers, visitors and members of the community. “We’re planning some different moments where people can connect and reminisce,” says Ralph. With a program of such a scale and nature, there will be inevitable challenges, but organisers have
only needed to cancel programs one night because of weather over the 30 years. “There will also be opportunity for praise for the ways that Jesus has shown up for Road to Bethlehem over a long period of time,” she explains. “And there are so many stories of the weather forecast looking like serious storms, but the storms end up going around where Road to Bethlehem is located. “I think it’s such a nice moment to look back and praise God—to appreciate and recognise and celebrate, because there had been a lot of sweat and tears—and Jesus—in all of the 30 times.” Nathan Brown is a keen reader and book editor at Signs Publishing Company. For more information, to book tickets or to find the Road to Bethlehem program closest to you, visit <roadtobethlehem.org>.
A small part in the biggest story Wonder what it’s like to participate in a Road to Bethlehem? Get an insider’s look at the realities—and rewards—of getting involved. NATHAN BROWN
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here are three main qualifications I have as an amateur Road to Bethlehem actor: I am tall, I am prepared to wear a funny hat in public and I have committed to making myself available to do it each year for a week in December over the past 10 years. In that time, I have played the roles of each of the wise men and have taken a couple of turns as the high priest, repeating my few lines as many as 30 times each evening as the groups come and go from the scenes in which I am involved. Between groups and between scenes, there are quick chats with fellow cast members—many of whom I might not have seen in the past 12 months—fine-tuning of the scene with production managers, drinks and snacks, updates on the crowd numbers for the night—and how many more groups to go. Some early summer evenings, we are looking for a cooling breeze as we sweat in our costumes; others we are sheltering from a passing shower, coping with the wind in our sets and microphones, or even shivering with cold as the sun sets. But there is rarely time for much distraction. When the groups are moving through smoothly, another 150 to 200 people arrive at the scene every seven minutes, each group having its unique experience of the story. When we have settled into our routine—the group of actors in a scene might be different each night—I have often taken the DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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opportunity to glance out over the crowd, occasionally recognising someone I know but most often simply taking in the diversity and good spirits of the people with their families and friends who are making this part of their Christmas experience. Occasionally an overexcited youngster will answer back to the actors or provide commentary on the story, but generally the crowds are generous in their appreciation of our amateur acting—many of my fellow actors are very good at what they do, particularly after the first few run throughs—and of the obvious work that has gone into building sets, adding lighting and other production features, and all the other elements that make this experience special. But these long nights and the many shorts breaks between my few lines with each group have also given me plenty of time to reflect on the larger story of the birth of Jesus, why it matters and why so many people— even just in the context of this program—would spend time sharing it again year by year. In our telling of the story, the characters of the wise men and that of the high priest are minor charac-
ters and certainly serve as colourful backdrops to the larger action. But these strange exotic visitors “from the East” suggest that something larger is afoot, that this is not just another baby, but One who was born to be a king, of sorts. And it is the high priest, in our telling of the story, who delivers the answer from the Hebrew prophets as to where the Baby would be born—as we have simplified it: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the saviour of my people, Israel” (see Micah 5:2). It is a signpost on the Road to Bethlehem, directing the visitors’ ongoing journey, but it is also a pointer to the larger truth that will be delivered by the angels to the comically startled shepherds in just a couple of scenes’ time. As I look over each successive group as they crowd together in front of our small stage, I am awed and gratified by the message that the angel gave to those unlikely shepherds: “‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10, NLT). As unlikely as the shepherds were as recipients of this first
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people”
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message, “all people” also includes the few hundred of us together in that moment, on a summer evening in suburban Melbourne more than 2000 years later retelling the story in a language that had not been invented yet. Often when the last group of the night has passed our scene, I will head back to the costume room, take off my funny hat and put on some warmer clothes. But before heading back to my car, I will slip into the back of the manger scene and watch the last couple of groups of the night arriving at the culmination of their journey, where they finally meet the baby Jesus. 44
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For all the hiccups there might have been in the program that night, the weariness of another night of the program, perhaps with yet a couple more nights to go, the busyness of all the other things there are to do as we near the end of the year, I pause to remember this simple story and the life-changing, world-transforming assertion: “The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11, NLT). Nathan Brown is a keen reader and book editor at Signs Publishing Company.
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Worry, worship and the mountainmoving God 46
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There are uncountable sources of worry in our everyday lives. But, the God who moves mountains is even bigger than our biggest problems. DR KEN LONG
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he Bible, as well as being a sacred repository of wisdom, contains many stories that hinge on choice. From the Garden of Eden’s pivotal moment (Genesis 3:6) to Joshua’s resolute declaration of serving God (Joshua 24:16), choices are the thread that weaves the tapestry of our lives. In the current context of escalating cost-of-living pressures faced by Australians, New Zealanders and the rest of the world, this article explores a choice framed by two “Ws”—worship and worry. In Australian sports history, Anna Meares emerges as an inspiring figure, illustrating triumph over anxiety. A decorated Australian cyclist, her journey encountered a critical crossroads when a harrowing crash left her with a broken neck. Fuelled by anxiety and fear, Meares grappled with the haunting “what if” thoughts, contemplating the grim consequences of a clean break. In her anxiety, her coach offered
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a wide perspective, prompting her to shift from “what if” to “what is”. This shift, focusing on the reality of the present, changed Meares’ outlook. Embracing gratitude for the slim margin that saved her life, she rekindled her determination and eventually secured a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.
what if?
In the reality of our daily lives, we are bombarded with a relentless stream of “what if” thoughts that revolve around the ever-increasing cost of living. Concerns about meeting mortgage payments, maintaining job security and safeguarding our health consume our minds. This persistent worry and uncertainty increases our anxiety levels as we grapple with the “what if” of not being able to afford crucial expenses like housing, healthcare, education and even basic necessities. The pressure to keep up with rising costs
breeds a sense of inadequacy and the constant dread of falling behind further intensifies anxiety. Conversely, anxiety itself can contribute to financial strain as it hampers productivity, job performance and our ability to make wise decisions, thereby hindering our ability to attain stable employment and financial wellbeing. According to Beyond Blue, anxiety is the most prevalent mental health condition, affecting one in four individuals. The ongoing strain of constant worry gradually erodes our energy, vitality and joy, highlighting the critical importance of the conscious choice between worship and worry.
the choice between worship and worry
it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). This call to rejoice isn’t contingent on circumstances—it is an unwavering declaration to find joy in the Lord, irrespective of external pressures. Do not be anxious about anything—direct and unwavering, this command challenges us to forget about worry. It emphasises that anxiety serves no purpose and directs us to focus on God’s providence. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25). Paul also encourages us to pray. The ACTS prayer formula, which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanks and Supplication, offers a simple—yet profound—framework for structuring our prayers. It also serves as a powerful antidote to the grip of worry. Often, when we pray, our primary focus is on supplication —meaning, earnestly asking God to intervene, solve our problems, heal relationships, provide protection and grant security. Even if you don’t have faith, chances are you’ve prayed
By making worship a focal point, we anchor our thoughts in the tangible reality of God’s presence and faithfulness
Drawing parallels with Anna Meares’ shift from “what if” to “what is”, the Bible encourages us to constantly rejoice in the Lord. If you’re not a person of faith, this may be difficult. Try it anyway—what do you have to lose? By making worship a focal point, we anchor our thoughts in the tangible reality of God’s presence and faithfulness. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
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before—whether to the universe or God. While it is natural and important to bring our concerns and needs before God, this singular focus on supplication can inadvertently magnify the weight of our worries, transforming them into seemingly impossible mountains. By incorporating the ACTS prayer formula into our lives, we can find balance and cultivate a more holistic approach to our conversations with God.
an ACTS to grind
Adoration invites us to direct our attention to the goodness of God, acknowledging His sovereignty, love and worthiness. It shifts our perspective from the magnitude of our problems to the magnificence of the Creator of the universe. Through confession, we acknowledge our shortcomings, regrets and areas where we fall short, seeking forgiveness and cleansing. This step fosters humility and invites God’s transformative grace into our lives. Thanks is an opportunity for expressing gratitude and cultivating a heart of thankfulness. It is a time to reflect on God’s blessings, generosity and faithfulness in our lives, recognising His hand at work even in the midst of challenges. By intentionally focusing on gratitude, we shift our attention away from the size of our problems and redirect it towards the abundance of God’s goodness. Finally, supplication is the stage where we present our specific 50
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requests and needs to God. However, by engaging in adoration, confession and thanksgiving beforehand, we approach supplication with a renewed perspective. We can come before God with a humility that recognises His sovereignty, a grateful heart that acknowledges His faithfulness—and a mindset that recognises His ability to provide. This balanced approach to prayer helps prevent our worries from overwhelming us, as we trust in God’s wisdom and timing, knowing He is in control. Incorporating the ACTS formula into our life empowers us to intentionally shift our focus from the mountains of worry to the magnificence of God, the mountain mover Himself. It reminds us of His power, gentleneness and generosity, enabling us to approach our problems with a renewed sense of confidence. By embracing this framework, we can experience a deeper connection with God, finding peace, hope and love as we navigate the challenges of life. By prioritising worship over worry, we reframe our concerns within the context of God’s goodness. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). This verse underscores the transformative power of prayer, where supplication is accompanied by gratitude, shifting the focus from worry to worship. The assurance is that choosing worship over worry brings an inexplicable peace and
protection. It frees you to grasp hold of this anxiety-freeing promise: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). If worship becomes central, then the peace of God, surpassing human understanding, will guard our hearts and minds. This conditional promise hinges on making worship foundational, resulting in a peace that serves as a safeguard against the onslaught of anxiety.
the ultimate choice
The choice between worship and worry is a lifestyle choice that influences your perspective on challenges, uncertainties and the increasing pressures of the cost of living. The question echoes—are you choosing to focus on your mountain of worries or the mountain mover? In a world inundated with anxiety, the biblical principles of worship and prayer emerge as a timeless remedy. The choice is presented—embrace worry as the centre of life or let Jesus be at the core. The promise is clear— choosing worship over worry brings peace, protection and a perspective anchored in the eternal. It’s your choice. Dr Ken Long is a business consultant and Christian writer. He has authored The Giving Equation, The Model Steward Canvas and The Model Steward Canvas Workbook.
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As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered over and over again. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions, this is the right place. What should I tell my children about Santa Claus? Nellie, Auckland, NZ Many parents like keeping the “magic” of Saint Nick alive until their kids are older—sometimes until they’re old enough to figure it out for themselves! Santa Claus is a central feature of the collective fiction we’ve constructed around the Christmas season. Like many of the collective fictions we participate in (actively or passively) as a culture, it’s easy as an adult to parse the true from the false— but for children, it’s not so easy. Ultimately it’s up to you what you tell your own kids but I’ve found it helpful that when navigating collective fictions to lead with the truth. No serious adult believes in magical reindeer, elves or the Claus’ home base in the North Pole. Yet, in giving gifts, erecting a Christmas tree and baking gingerbread men, we all play a part in the pantomime. The only difference between us and crazy people is that we know we’re participating in a fiction. Kids find it difficult to operate with those nuances, so proceed with caution (and prayers!). If you’d like to find out about the man behind the myth, you can read the true story of Saint Nick by scanning this code. 52
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Who is Krampus? How is he related to Santa Claus? Nigel, Mildura, Australia Krampus is not related to Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas in any way, shape or form. Some scholars believe he has ties to Scandinavian myths. We see him in Germanic myths as a way for parents to make their naughty children behave. As the stories go, Krampus would kidnap or even beat the naughty child with sticks. I guess we could think of him as being Santa’s “evil twin”. Not very nice at all! But kind of on-point for German fairytales. 1 Corinthians 15:29 bothers me. What does Paul mean when he talks about the “baptism for the dead”? Lawrence, Melbourne, Australia The apostle Paul’s interlude in 1 Corinthians 15:29 certainly is strange. It reads, “Now if there is no resurrection,
what will those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised for them?” It seemingly has no precedent and Paul offers no clarifying details to help us understand what he’s talking about. As with many passages in Scripture, Paul is assuming knowledge— knowledge that we simply don’t have. New Testament scholar NT Wright points out that 1 Corinthians 15 addresses “the question lying underneath so much of the letter. The Christian way of life depends at every point on the belief that with Jesus’ resurrection God’s new world really was born, and that those who belong to the Messiah must live in the present in the light of their own assured future”.
In other words, the resurrection is the pivotal pillar upon which all Christian hope rests—the resurrrection of Jesus in the first century, certainly—but also our hope of resurrection in the future. Scholars have offered numerous interpretations of this verse, but there are two I find interesting. First, it may be that some people were getting baptised because a Christian family member or friend had died, and the person being baptised wished to ensure they met their loved one in the afterlife. Think of this as them “covering all their bases”. The second is that there were Christians in Corinth who had died before being baptised. If this were the case, a family member might undergo the ritual on their behalf, again to ensure they would be reunited with their loved one in the age to come. No matter the truth, we can be assured the practice didn’t last long. Perhaps it was an oddity of the Corinthian church or a hangover from an old religious tradition. Either way, baptism for the dead doesn’t make it beyond the first century. However, we can say that baptism was a vital practice in the first century church—and today. It symbolises a person’s commitment to following Jesus and their desire to begin a new life with Him. That’s worth celebrating! Want to get your question published in the next issue? Ask Jesse a question by scanning this code! DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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BEING YOUR BEST YOU Is “you do you” the best you can really do? BRUCE MANNERS
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week before he left for college, megachurch pastor Steven Furtick’s oldest son asked him, “Out of everything you’ve taught me, what’s the best advice you can give me right now?” “In that moment,” writes Furtick, “no profound answer came to my mind. The very idea of ‘the best’ freaks me out a little, like I’m expected to condense the world’s wisdom into a sentence and chisel it onto a stone tablet.” He adds, “I don’t know the best advice, but I do know what the worst advice would have been. ‘Just do you.’ “Okay, maybe it’s not the absolute worst advice in the world, but it’s up there. Why? Because ‘you’ is someone you haven’t fully met yet. Certainly not by the time you graduate high school.” He admits that “doing you” isn’t easy because it’s about being
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yourself. And he questions whether we can really know ourselves when we’re 18? Or 28? Or even 80? “I’m not saying don’t do you. I’m not saying to be somebody else. Being your full, authentic, unique self is a solid goal to strive for and a healthy place to be. And letting go of the pressure of constantly comparing yourself to others is liberating. So, I’m all in favour of self-acceptance. Who else would you be, after all?” The problem he’s discovered is that when we try to fix this we tend to climb onto the “future you” treadmill. Future you? “It’s you, but with better friends, a flatter stomach, total financial freedom and near-absolute perfection in every moment. Future you is the shiny, perfect version of you. It’s who you wish you could be. “Unfortunately, there are two
problems. Too often it’s a mirage that stays just out of reach.” And then, it doesn’t come from inside you. “It’s more like a highlight reel of everyone else’s supposed strengths and successes. You only see their highlights, though. You don’t know what’s hidden inside them—or hidden inside you.” His point is, you need to be you, to be . . . you!1
living your values
Psychologist Melissa Gerson goes further by emphasising the importance of living according to your values because, “When you live by your values, you’re living your best you.” That’s important when you begin to think about being you—your best you. “Put simply,” says Gerson, “values are statements about what matters most to you. Like a compass, values give you direction, reminding you
Future you? “It’s you, but with . . . better friends, a flatter stomach, total financial freedom and near-absolute perfection in every moment
of your hopes, your priorities and the things in your life that move or inspire you. “When your life is driven by values, there is never a start or finish line. At any moment, you can act on your values or ignore them. What’s important is that you’re in total control. Although you can never guarantee that you’ll accomplish a goal or fulfil a resolution, you can make the choice to live according to your values each and every day.”2 Lisanne van Marrewijk in her post “How to Live Your Values”3 agrees, saying that “values are your driving force”. These become guiding influences in your life. In the same post, psychologist Jasmijn Eerenberg adds, “By taking an intentional approach, you get more clarity about what you want and what’s less of a good fit . . . If you have an idea of what’s important to you and what your values are, you’ll be better at navigating your way through life. That ends up being pretty satisfying.” “To start living your values,” adds van Marrewijk, “you can begin by addressing the areas of your life that feel particularly important to you right now”. “Next, it helps to figure out concrete ways to integrate your values into your life. Suppose you think connection is important—what would you want to achieve with this? Set a goal for yourself and establish some (small) steps you can take to make this a reality.” DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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what’s important? a reality check
Brooks Adams kept a diary from a young age. When he was eight years old, he wrote in his diary: “Went fishing with my dad, the most glorious day of my life.” At the time, his father, John Adams, was serving as the US Ambassador to Great Britain. He was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and a founding father of the United States who served as its second president from 1797 to 1801. He also made a note in his diary about that day fishing: “Went fishing with my son, a day wasted.”4 Wasted? Ouch! There’s something so wrongheaded with that “wasted day” comment that’s difficult to reconcile with the realities of what makes a good family. What values are missing here? And please don’t dismiss this incident as natural in a “children should be seen and not heard” era. Yes, it’s easy to momentarily sit in judgement and then move on. It’s better for us to ask ourselves how we are treating those who are important to us and how we can demonstrate that they really are significant. That’s the challenge to be your best you for them.
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Eerenberg cautions: “Remember that you can’t turn your whole life around in a day.” She also recommends taking small steps. “Even small steps can bring about lasting change.”
knowing what’s important to you?
There are two classic ways of working out what’s important to you—these are your values. The first is to take a pen and paper and write down what matters to you in your life. Remember, you aren’t attempting to create a ranking of significance; that comes later. This is an anything-goes list. When you’ve finished, that’s when you begin to rank them by their importance or significance. For instance, a health goal would rank more highly than, say, watching every episode of a television series. The other oft-mentioned way of working out what’s important to you is to imagine what you want people to say about you on your 80th or 90th or 100th birthday. How do you want to be remembered? The goal with this approach is to begin living in ways now that will continue through your life.
living intentionally
“Identifying your personal core values is one thing, but really living your values is a powerful way to lead an intentional life,” says Jessica Dowches-Wheeler from Bright
Space Coaching. “Living your values brings more stability and authenticity to your life, because you know who you are and what you stand for (or won’t stand for). Living in alignment with your values also helps bring you closer to finding your life purpose and how you can serve the world.” She illustrates with an example of having a “core value” of balance in your life. “You could choose an action like exercising for 20 minutes three times per week”, if you know this is what you should be doing. Or it could be “to start a search to look for a job that will give you more flexibility to work from home”. She admits that there will be times when you will sense that you’re out of alignment with a value. However, “aligning back to your core values is one way to touch back to who you are and what’s important to you. It’s one way to help you work through the chaos and confusion and make decisions or take actions that bring you back to yourself.”5 And that helps you to be your best you.
engage both the head and the heart
Educator Sussana Wu-Pong Calvert from Virginia Commonwealth University tells of how she, in her young adult years, “fixated” on a personal formula for success. “My head was satisfied with my accomplishments, but I felt neither happy nor successful because I never
listened to my heart while making decisions. “On this path of following my head’s list for happiness, my energy and health were also depleted. I pushed through my exhaustion to meet my goals, at great and unsustainable personal expense. In short, I was trying to be someone I was not.” Calvert puts it this way: “To create a happy heart and energised body, wherever possible we should pursue activities that cause happiness, joy, satisfaction and excitement, and are energising and engaging. Using and building on our natural tendencies while in pursuit of meaningful activities is a powerful way to feel fully alive and engaged.”6 Being your best you is also about your head and heart working together—and finding your place in your world. Bruce Manners is an author, retired pastor and former editor of the Australia/New Zealand edition of Signs of the Times. He is based in Lilydale, Victoria. 1. Steven Furtick, Do the New You, Hachette Book Group Inc, 2024. 2. <psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-road-to-recovery/202301/choosing-to-live-according-to-your-values> 3. <openup.com/self-guided-care/blog/live-your-values> 4. Steven Furtick, 2024. 5. <brightspacecoaching.com/blog/how-to-really-live-yourvalues> 6. <psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-heart-of-healing/202210/4-ways-to-become-your-best-self>
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WHOLEGRAINS AND IMMUNITY When we think of foods to help keep the sniffles at bay, we normally think of fruit and vegetables, but another helpful pantry staple to consider is wholegrains. Examples of wholegrains include wheat, oats, buckwheat, rye, barley, sorghum and quinoa, and the foods made from them. Enjoying a balanced diet including foods rich in prebiotics, such as wholegrains and high-fibre foods, helps to support 60
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our immune system to fight and avoid common infections like cold and flu. Here are three ways wholegrains help support immunity and keep you feeling great:
1. Packed with nutrients
Wholegrains are made up of fibre-rich bran, nutrient-packed germ and starchy endosperm. It’s the combination of all these elements that provides more than 26 nutrients and powerful plant compounds, including dietary fibres, vitamins, minerals and a range of protective phytonutrients.
2. Improved gut health
Wholegrains are one of the best ways to get nutrients that play an essential role in immune function, including folate, thiamin, niacin, magnesium, iron, zinc and protein. Did you know? Our immune system and our gut microbiota (the bacteria in our gut) work together to defend our bodies against invaders —preventing harmful bacteria, or pathogens, from living in our gut.
3. Good mood food
Our gut health can also influence our mood. Most wholegrains contain resistant starch, a type of dietary fibre that acts as food for the good bacteria in our gut. The good bacteria then produce beneficial substances known as short-chain fatty acids, which may play a role in regulating our mood among many other beneficial effects, including supporting our immune system and maintaining overall health. Research suggests that following a Mediterranean diet high in plant
foods such as wholegrains, legumes, polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables, nuts and olive oil is associated with better overall mental wellbeing, increased concentration and lower likelihood of depressive and anxiety disorders, most likely due to the anti-inflammatory nature of the diet. While there is no one food on its own that will lead to great immune health, it is clear that wholegrains play an important part in supporting our immune system.
need some help to get more wholegrains into your diet? •
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Top your smoothie bowl with a generous sprinkle of wholegrain breakfast cereal. Choose wholegrain bread or wraps for lunchbox favourites. Try wholegrain crackers with peanut butter or avocado as an afternoon snack. Simple dinner swaps start with switching white pasta and rice for wholemeal pasta and brown rice. If fussy eaters are hard to please, slowly introduce the wholegrain versions with a 50-50 mix. Add grains like quinoa or buckwheat to a winter salad and make soups extra hearty with a handful of pearl barley.
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. DECEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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CROSSWORD How closely have you been reading? (Almost) every keyword in this puzzle is also contained within this issue of Signs of the Times. Happy digging! 1
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Across: 2. a Seventh-day Adventist
crossword clues DOWN 1 Claimed Jesus had a human body and soul— but a divine mind 4 A program that portrays the story of Christmas 6 Asking God for what we need 9 Australian cyclist who broke her neck 10 Has become a “15-minute city” ACROSS 2 A Seventh-day Adventist church in Mangere Bridge, Auckland 3 Works with your immune system to defend your body against invaders 5 Statements about what matters most to you 7 Santa’s “evil twin” 8 A Danish rice pudding 11 King who tried to kill the baby Jesus 12 A confection made from sugar and almond meal
SUDOKU easy
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