Signs of the Times - September 2024 by Adventist Media

Daddy Issues in the White House a christian perspective on the world today

In this issue September 2024 WHAT IN THE WORLD 04 HOW TO MAKE LIFE LESS DIFFICULT FOR YOURSELF 06 NO CHANCE ENCOUNTER 12

DADDY ISSUES IN THE WHITE HOUSE

GETTING YOUR KIDS TO DO CHORES 18 PERSEVERANCE AND THE HUMAN SPIRIT 20

How the most powerful men in American politics were shaped by their fathers

WHAT MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION CAN DO FOR YOUR PAIN 26

PAGE 32

ASK PASTOR JESSE 38 THE FATHER OF ETERNITY 40 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE? 46

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? 54 THE PURPLE SWEET POTATO 60

SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE Pg 62

46 FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

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@SIGNSMAG

Fatherly protection One of my favourite movies is the 1997 Italian film, Life is Beautiful. It follows Guido, a goodnatured Jewish man and his family during World War II. After being taken to a concentration camp, Guido goes to great lengths to protect his son, Giosuè, from the horrors surrounding them. He tells him the entire thing is a clever game where they must complete challenges to earn points. Giosuè comes to believe that the numbers on their pyjamas are their player numbers and that they earn points when hiding or participating in labour. “It’s easy to lose points for being hungry,” his father says. “Just yesterday I lost points because I absolutely had to have a jam sandwich!” What is obvious to the audience goes over Giosuè’s head, who adorably dotes on and trusts his father. The film speaks to one thing we desire from our fathers—that they love and protect us in a world that can often feel frightening. As Jesse reflects on p32, when a person first becomes a parent, they’re consumed by trying to protect their child from all possible harms and not do anything that could potentially screw them up in the future. In light of Father’s Day, there are a lot of references to fathers in this issue. I hope many of you can join me in saying, “Where would we be without them?”, while also acknowledging that they’re human, and even the best of them will let us down from time to time. Thankfully, we also have a Heavenly Father who, just as in Life is Beautiful, seeks to love and protect us (p40). That’s why He’s referred to as “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). ZANITA FLETCHER Assistant Editor

VOL 138 NO 8

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 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 & TALIA VALDERRAMA

WHAT IN THE WORLD Data down the drain NEW ZEALAND

Statistically, we’re doing OK WORLDWIDE

Measuring emotions is tricky, but researchers at Gallup attempt to do it every year with the Negative Experience Index. Gallup interviewed 146,000 people in 142 countries and identified that humanity’s emotional health has returned to pre-pandemic levels. For the first time since 2014, the index dipped in 2023, suggesting fewer people are experiencing stress, sadness, anger, worry or physical pain.—Positive News 4

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PIXABAY—PEXELS, WIKICOMOONS, BAPTISTE VALTHIER—PEXELS, INCHES—PEXELS

You probably don’t give much thought to what you flush down the toilet. But wastewater provides valuable knowledge for researchers trying to understand communities and helps create positive change in the future. Such investigations are useful in understanding viruses, drinking habits and consumption of illicit drugs (which is often difficult to obtain accurate data on). Compared to other survey methods, wastewater-based epidemiology is much more unbiased, non-invasive, informative and near real time.—University of Auckland

Ban on child marriage SIERRA LEONE

Sierra Leone has now prohibited child marriage. The charity Save the Children (STC) said this “represents a profound change for the future of Sierra Leone’s children and a significant achievement in the fight for their protection and wellbeing”. STC estimates that 39 per cent of girls in the west African country are married before their 18th birthday. This denies them their childhoods, education and opportunities for a better future.—The Guardian

Silkworm satay, anyone? SINGAPORE

Singapore’s state food agency has approved 16 species of edible insects for human consumption, including grasshoppers, moth larvae and honeybees. The country says they are packed with vitamins and minerals and are a sustainable source of high protein.—CNN Travel

Demand for “dumb phones” UNITED STATES

Many have become aware of the costs of having the world at their fingertips and are calling for companies to create phones with fewer features. Individuals are transitioning back to “dumb phones”, a term for phones with basic functions like texting, calling and setting alarms. It’s not just the tech-stressed who are asking for them, but also concerned parents and farmers who need rugged handsets. However, despite the demand, few companies are heading in this direction.—BBC SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

How To Make Life Less Difficult for Yourself Self-sabotaging behaviours that keep us stuck and how we can set ourselves free.

SIPHOTOGRAPHY—GETTY IMAGES

ADRIANA WALES

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ave you ever felt a gnawing sensation in your body when life hasn’t turned out like you hoped? Moments turn into days, weeks or maybe even years and you feel like meaningful moments have been far less and fewer. Perhaps in your silent moments, your thoughts swirl endlessly as you doubt yourself, rehash regrets or compare yourself to others. Simply put, you feel stuck, dissatisfied and are losing hope. Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy. We might have grand ideals in our mind of what we want our lives to look like but fail to find ourselves inching any closer to those dreams. We might believe that someday we’ll be where we want to be, but we won’t take the actions required to get there. As time goes on, we play the victim of our stories. We justify why we’re in the position we’re in—whether it be our parents, our sickness, our health, our lack of friends—whatever it is that is “getting in our way”. We think we’ve been cursed or are trapped in a vicious cycle of bad luck . . . so it seems. But perhaps, we have as much potential and likelihood as everyone else we compare ourselves to, if only we learnt how to stop self-sabotaging.

what is self-sabotage?

We all knew a kid at school who was pretty smart but would fail tests because they wouldn’t study (maybe we were that kid). We might have set ourselves some dietary resolutions

in the New Year, only to completely binge on junk food because we fail so we might as well give up completely. There are three common types of self-sabotage that you may recognise—procrastination, perfectionism and self-medication. Self-sabotaging is an unhealthy state of mind that stems from disbelief in one’s worthiness. Typically, it revolves around fear and the faulty belief that one doesn’t deserve better. The individual may never see it or articulate it that way, but the truth is, if they really believed they had value, they probably wouldn’t have found themselves in this position. Trust me, life, luck, providence or an old man in the sky with a wand hasn’t single-handedly picked on you as someone to make life difficult for. You might be doing it to yourself. Thankfully, self-sabotaging behaviours have been rigorously studied. These studies show that there are strong connections to factors such as childhood trauma, low self-esteem, insecurities and fear. But they also show what we can do to change these thoughts and move towards the life we want for ourselves. Self-sabotaging can look different for everyone. For some people, it manifests as perfectionism: wanting everything to be “just right” or at least the way they’re used to. This person rarely tries new things, fears being a failure, and sees anyone flourishing or achieving goals around them as a threat. SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

For others it manifests as procrastination: heartfelt dreams lying dormant, putting off things that will help them reach their goals, saying they’ll get around to something when life slows down and they have more time. But typically, life doesn’t slow down, or even if it does, they fill it with other things. It also manifests as the “ultra-nice” person who does everything for everyone, never says no, wears 10 different hats, is the shoulder to cry on, the lifeline, the counsellor and the meal-service provider for anyone in need. This person doesn’t take days off because there’s always someone to help. Even if they’re stretched, you can always count on them to be cheerful, optimistic and full of energy (so it seems).

go wrong in your life, do you do an honest self-evaluation of yourself for areas you need to take responsibility for and grow in? Are you constantly replaying your past mistakes? Are you so afraid to change your ideas and opinions that you are isolated? Do you want to get fit and healthy but find yourself binge-eating, emotionally eating or skimping on your exercise plans? Do you want strong friendships that help you thrive and grow but spend all your spare time with people who drain you? Can you answer when people ask you what your hobbies are? Often, we find ourselves in self-sabotaging situations because we believe certain things about ourselves and what we should be doing. If you feel frustrated or down day after day, you don’t need to stay there. Progress is always attainable. Sometimes the solution is just a few questions away.

If you feel frustrated or down day after day, you don’t need to stay there

Sometimes all we need is a little introspection to our lives to help us see things clearer and make the right changes. This might require help from a professional therapist, counsellor or coach. But you can start by asking yourself these questions, and if you’re unhappy with your answer, keep asking why. How do you talk to yourself when you make a mistake? When things 8

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the internal reality

The issues that keep us the most trapped in life are not things that we often think about such as income, employment, time or beauty. Instead, they are usually things like insecurities, anxieties, self doubts and fears. We transform when we can no

EMILIA KOHN—GETTY IMAGES

assessing yourself

longer rely on our coping mechanisms, addictions or distractions to get us through life. Try to look at the imperfections in your life as an opportunity for you to grow and experience more from life. Breaking free from sabotaging cycles will require you to be proactive. It might feel uncomfortable, but with time, you will find yourself feeling more freedom, confidence and joy. Here are five practical steps to take: 1. Mental health support: Trauma, abuse, pain, grief and loss must be processed. You cannot carry around the crushing weight and shame of the past while expecting to create an uplifting life. Find a therapist who can help you identify distorted beliefs, work through trauma and create new thinking pathways. 2. Positive self-talk: If you pay

attention to the voices in your head, you might notice a lot of negative self-talk. Whether you realise it or not, this voice dictates most of our decisions. Have you ever found yourself thinking or saying the following: “I’m too (old, fat, young, slow/ugly)” “I’ll never be ______.” “I’m not that talented.” “I can’t . . .” “I always mess things up.” “Nobody cares about me.” “I’ll do it later.” “I don’t have time for that.” “Nobody will care if I _______.” “What’s the point . . .” The important thing to recognise is that you can unlearn some of those beliefs and harmful thought patterns. To start doing this, get in the habit of noticing when you are speaking negatively towards yourself. The next

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MAPODILE—GETTY IMAGES

step is to have a counter-narrative to push back against those thoughts that are coming up telling you you’re not enough; that your work isn’t worthy; that your voice doesn’t matter; that you’ll never be loved. Start speaking to yourself with more grace, as if you were speaking to a friend. 3. Prioritise your needs: Stop putting on other people’s oxygen masks when yours isn’t on. This might sound selfish, but if you don’t take care of your needs first, you likely won’t be doing a good job at meeting others needs. 4. Choose your inner circle carefully: Who you allow into your everyday life will greatly impact your mental health. Write down a list of the people you regularly spend time with and ask yourself if you want to become more like them. Do they SIGNSMAG.COM • SEPTEMBER 2024

lift you up or tear you down? Are they making wise choices? Are they trustworthy? This doesn’t mean that we need to completely cut out people who are struggling or who need support. But we should be spending the majority of our time in healthy relationships and we do need to have boundaries with those who are potentially destructive to us. 5. Stop filling gaps: There are likely a whole lot of people around you with problems and needs, but they’re not your responsibility. When someone is demanding or asking something of you, ask yourself: Is this something I have time for? Am I doing this because I feel like I have to or because

desperately wanted to keep doing what was familiar to me as venturing into the unknown made me feel guilty and afraid. The road was long and tiresome and I doubted my decisions at times. But it has been so worth it and I now experience so much more safety and security as a result. It is approaching 10 years since I left behind the habits and thinking patterns that kept me stuck. Sometimes my old ways surface and I have to remind myself of what’s true. But my life has never been more whole, healthy and full of joy. In many ways, it feels like my life has only just begun. If you’re stuck in a cycle of self-sabotaging, I’m here to tell you that doesn’t have to be your reality anymore. There are things you can do to get unstuck. Freedom awaits you, so go get it. Adriana Wales is a clinical nutritionist, wellness coach and writer. She lives in northern New South Wales with her husband Jade, and together they enjoy living the simple life and creating music for their band One Glory. If you need to talk to someone, you can do so at <signsmag.com/contact>. If you need resources on mental health, visit <ruok.org.au>

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LAYLABIRD—GETTY IMAGES

I want to? Am I enabling this person to continue making poor decisions? Will this interfere with my personal work or goals? Is this going to create a problem for myself long-term? Is this a pattern? If you still feel okay and confident after answering these questions, go ahead and help the individual. If not, it is okay for you to respectfully decline. Being raised in a family where self-sabotage was deeply ingrained, I know firsthand the disastrous effects it can have on one’s mental state and life direction. I watched the people I dearly loved repeatedly choose trauma, abuse and pain, even when wonderful opportunities for a better life were available to them. When I first started realising that life could be better, I started to make changes to break free from the vicious cycles of my family’s culture. What I had always known to be “normal” was so far from it. My mind and body

No Chance Enc

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How a little magazine left an enduring legacy TOBY CLARE

he sound of the shop bell jolted Ada from a rare moment of reverie. She felt the cool breeze blowing off the bay and down the hallway as she walked towards the shopfront. Standing just inside the doorway was a man she hadn’t seen before. Neatly dressed in working-class attire, he didn’t portray the image of the typical door-to-door salesman. Definitely not a local, she thought to herself. And it doesn’t look like he’s here for fruit and vegetables, either. With a beaming smile the man handed her a small magazine, titled Australasian Signs of the Times. A quick glance at the cover gave her the impression the content was religious in nature. Being a woman of faith, she accepted the gift from the stranger. Life was not easy for Ada and she thought she would enjoy some time reading about spiritual things, although finding that time might not prove easy for her. She placed the magazine on the kitchen table for later attention.

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ounter

new beginnings

A woman of diminutive stature, Ada had left her native England at a young age, bound for Melbourne and the opportunities it promised. Like thousands of other immigrants in the late 1880s, she wanted to experience the second-largest city in the British Empire and make a new life for herself. There, she had met and married Peder Halten, a Norwegian seaman who had decided to make Melbourne his home port. He was a complicated man who had decided to anglicise himself, becoming Peter Holton after he arrived in Melbourne. Peter and Ada went on to have seven children over the next 12 years. Due to Peter’s work as a seaman, he would regularly travel away from the family for months and sometimes years at a time. Wiring funds to support the family from the various ports he visited proved unreliable, so he set up a business at the family home in Middle Park, Melbourne. They sold fruit, vegetables, wood and coal to the local neighbourhood. Because Peter spent so much time at sea, Ada became a part-time single mother, juggling the responsibility of raising a family mostly alone and running the family business to make

ends meet. During the times Peter was home from the sea, his heavy drinking habit ensured her workload remained demanding. The economic downturn of the mid-1890s only added to her challenges. Ada’s visit from the man with the magazine was no chance encounter. This man was a member of the Windsor Seventh-day Adventist Church located about four kilometres from her home. Over the preceding 12 months, members of the Windsor church had put forth a concerted effort to share as much literature as possible, utilising Signs and other publications in their work. As a result, many people across the south of Melbourne had the opportunity to discover more about God and His love for them. In the early 1900s, Australasian Signs of the Times was a registered newspaper published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It contained articles on a variety of topics, ranging from current events at local and worldwide levels, scriptural and prophetic interpretation, church news, health and family life, children’s interests and even a short classifieds section.

Ada’s visit from the man with the magazine was no chance encounter

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Ada thoroughly enjoyed what she read in Signs of the Times. Before long, the man returned with another issue, this time accompanied with an invitation to a tent meeting soon to be held in a neighbouring suburb. Although Ada didn’t attend the tent

meeting straight away, she continued to read Signs and what she learned convinced her of the importance, and the blessing, of the seventh-day Sabbath; a day set aside by God for rest from work and for spending time with Him. Ada decided to attend the tent meeting and learned more SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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from reading to reaction

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about what the Bible taught on a wide variety of topics. This experience challenged her understanding of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. Ada had been baptised as an infant into the Anglican faith and was a regular attender of her local church but her conviction about Sabbath and her desire to follow Jesus’ example of being baptised by immersion changed her life. Ada decided to publicly declare her wish to follow God’s will for her life and was baptised on April 12, 1905, by Pastor JH Woods at the Windsor church. Ada was actively involved in her church community and became a foundational member of the newly-formed East Prahran Seventh-day Adventist Church, following the merger of the Windsor and Malvern churches in 1936. Her daughter and grandchildren also became foundational members of the East Prahran church at this time. Tiny Nan, as Ada is known to those of us descended from her, instilled a love for Jesus and a determination to persevere through challenges in her children and grandchildren. She is remembered as a kind-hearted, SIGNSMAG.COM • SEPTEMBER 2024

patient woman who went the extra mile to support her children and grandchildren. Ada lived a long life, passing to her rest in February 1953, aged 87. She had also passed on a habit of reading Signs magazine, with her daughter, Halma, known to be a lifelong reader of Signs. My earliest recollection of Signs was at my grandparents’ home, flicking through the pages and finding articles of interest. My grandparents were most likely the source of the Signs magazines that often made their way to my family’s home, being read by myself and my siblings. Like everyone who follows Jesus, my journey with Him has included many different experiences, some of which were intergenerational in nature. I’m very thankful for the unknown person who shared that first Signs magazine with my great-great-grandmother. Today, around 120 years later, some of Ada’s descendants still enjoy reading Signs magazine. Toby Clare is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, outdoors enthusiast and tinkerer with old cars. He writes from Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.

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how to win at parenting

Getting your kids to do chores You wouldn’t think so, but whether

children do chores is one predictor of

LIUDMILA CHERNETSKA—GETTY IMAGES

“Involving children in household tasks

their future happiness and success.

at an early age helps them learn values

accustomed to doing chores are more

says Dr Marty Rossmann, emeritus asso-

Why? Children who are already

teamwork and respect.

likely to take initiative, be able to work

independently and adapt to difficult cir-

cumstances. Many of the chores children

and empathy as well as responsibility,”

ciate professor of family education at the University of Minnesota.

Kids from as young as two should be

are asked to do are life tasks they’ll need

encouraged to help around the house.

also models the important values of

ways to get your kids doing chores.

to survive one day. Having kids do chores

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Impossible, you think? Here are five simple

1. Start them young

4. Keep it consistent and fair

are dying to be just like Daddy or Mummy

regular schedule of chores so that the

Younger children (under six years old)

and often offer to help. This is a golden opportunity. Use it.

2. Make it age-appropriate Begin with simple, safe

For older children, try to maintain a

expectations are clear. Children will

notice (or imagine) differences in

responsibilities between their sib-

lings. Be ready with your reasons or

be ready to adjust the chores regime

tasks under supervision.

if your child has a legitimate point.

alongside them longer

5. Keep it interesting

envisioned. Be

for a particular chore—they’ll hate it

You may have to work than you originally

flexible—you can pull back from allowing

A child will often develop a dislike

even more if they feel permanently

saddled with it. One strategy is to

a child to do a particular

swap chores from time to time—it also

strength, coordination or maturity.

range of household tasks.

task if they clearly don’t have the physical

teaches kids how to complete a wider

Older children will respond to compe-

3. Keep it positive and relational

titions and challenges. If the stakes are

what a good job they’ve done. Empha-

or a looming deadline, so

Thank them for helping and tell them

sise the positives, but also point out the

negatives. You’re developing resilience— teaching your child how to deal with criticism.

heightened by the prospect of a reward much the better. For regular daily chores

a star chart is a good way for children to

track their progress towards a goal.

Melody Tan is project manager of Mums At The Table. She lives in Sydney with her husband and their primary-school-aged son.

Want a list of age-appropriate chores and a chore chart you can personalise for your children? Head over to <mumsatthetable.com/chore-chart>. SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

Perseverance

and the Human Spirit What Derek Redmond can teach all of us about endurance

PROFESSIONAL SPORT / CONTRIBUTOR—GETTY IMAGES, JACKY WATT—UNSPLASH

DR KEN LONG

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o matter how you look at it, 26-year-old athlete Derek Redmond captured the Olympic spirit when he hobbled around the Montjuic Stadium in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, supported by his father, to complete his lap of destiny. The British record holder tore his hamstring muscle after just 150 metres of the 400-metres semi-final. After collapsing in agony, he stood up before a disbelieving stadium—and a television audience of millions—and began to stumble along in his designated lane. Two-thirds of the way around the stadium, his father burst onto the track and supported him the rest of the way. To the cheers of the spectators, the pair crossed the finish line. “All I wanted to do was to finish my race,” an emotional Redmond said after he crossed the line. “I was out of the Seoul Olympics and I came here saying I was going home with something—making the final, maybe even getting a silver medal. “The way I started in the race I thought I was going to run 44 seconds. Then my hamstring went, and I went down. I saw these people coming with a stretcher and I thought there was no way I was going to be stretchered out of the

stadium. Then my father came. I didn’t know it was him at first. He put his arms out and I shoved him away.” Redmond and his father broke every rule in the book by finishing the lap together. In a race that is over in a brief 45 seconds, the five minutes it took them to complete the 400 metres seemed an eternity. “I heard him call my name and I knew I had to finish,” Redmond said. “Some people thought I was an idiot; some thought I was a hero.” His actions will live in Olympic history. They represent everything about the Olympic spirit in one unscripted moment.

MATHEUSFERRERO—PEXELS

“I heard him call my name and I knew I had to finish.”

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the arena of life

As an individual committed to achieving your goals, you enter life’s stadium determined to reach your ultimate prize. You say to your fellow athletes, “Let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on the goal” (Hebrews 12:1). You know your prize and your destiny. Then the race begins and you confidently get into your stride. The rhythm is perfect. Your feet feel like they are hardly touching the ground. You begin to feel self-reliant, self-sufficient. You compare your performance with that of your fellow athletes—and, of course, you compare favourably. As you look

call my name and I knew I had to finish.”

share the load

In your case, a loved one or friend calls to you. They want to share your burden and your crippling load. You know you need to share your wants, joys, sorrows and fears with someone you trust. You won’t burden or tire them—they care deeply about you. Their heart is touched by your struggle and in many ways, they see themselves in you. Though you’re reticent to burden someone else with your pain, the reality is nothing is too big or too small for them to handle. They see your challenges and every joy you experience. They know you intimately. They encourage you to finish what you started and achieve your goals. When you fall, they lift you up, wrap you in their love and support you every step of the way.

MATHEUS FERRERO— PEXELS

back, your metaphorical hamstring tears and you crash to the ground. Your race seems to be over. You try unsuccessfully to lift yourself from the ground. It is of little value. You are crippled. You could be crippled by pride, anger, family or financial circumstances or a hidden flaw. Perhaps your experience has been impaired by emotional, sexual or physical abuse. Maybe guilt is destroying your sense of self-worth. Yet, there is a resolve within you to finish the course. You see the ambulance personnel approaching. Your pride tells you that you must finish. Slowly, painfully, you rise on your uninjured leg and begin to hobble towards the finish line. You stagger a few steps and then you feel an arm around you. Proudly, defiantly, you push the arm away, but then you hear your name. As Derek Redmond said, “I heard him

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NAPPY—PEXELS

The story of Derek Redmond resonates deeply because it mirrors our own struggles. Life is rarely a smooth sprint to the finish line. More often than not, it is a series of challenges, setbacks and moments of intense personal trial. Yet, it is in these moments that the human spirit shines brightest. Our perseverance, our ability to rise after a fall and our determination to keep moving forward, even when the odds are against us, define who we are. Consider the journey of anyone facing a debilitating illness. Each day

SIGNSMAG.COM • SEPTEMBER 2024

becomes a race of its own, filled with physical pain, emotional struggle and the constant threat of losing hope. Yet, many find within themselves a deep reservoir of strength. They lean on the support of family and friends, much like Redmond leaned on his father. Every step they take, no matter how small, is a testament to their indomitable spirit.

getting up again

Think about the challenges faced by those in pursuit of academic or professional excellence. The path to

communities through the toughest of times. In a professional setting, mentorship plays a crucial role in fostering perseverance. Seasoned professionals, having faced and overcome numerous challenges themselves, provide invaluable guidance to the younger generation. Their wisdom, encouragement and practical advice help mentees navigate their own challenges with greater confidence and resilience. Finally, let’s not overlook the everyday heroes—those whose acts of kindness, though seemingly small, have profound impact. I’m talking about a teacher who stays after school to help a struggling student, a neighbour who checks in on an elderly resident or a stranger who offers a comforting word to someone in distress. All these actions contribute to a tapestry of support and compassion. Derek Redmond’s story is not just about an athlete’s determination to finish a race. It is about the human spirit’s unwavering resolve to overcome adversity, the strength we draw from those around us and the importance of supporting one another through life’s inevitable challenges. Whether on a grand stage like the Olympics or in the quiet struggles of everyday life, it is this spirit of perseverance and solidarity that defines our shared humanity. 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. SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

NAPPY— PEXELS

success is often littered with obstacles—failures, rejections and moments of self-doubt. However, those who succeed are not necessarily the ones who never falter—but those who refuse to give up. They keep pushing forward, drawing inspiration from their mentors, peers and sometimes even their competitors. In the context of relationships too, the journey is seldom easy. Marriages, friendships and family ties can be fraught with misunderstandings, conflicts and periods of emotional distance. But it is through the act of reconciliation, forgiveness and persistent effort to rebuild bridges that these relationships are strengthened and sustained. Community support networks are another powerful example of collective resilience and shared expertise. When communities come together in times of crisis—be it natural disasters, economic hardships or social upheaval— their combined efforts can move mountains. Volunteers, aid workers and local leaders often emerge as the pillars of strength, guiding their

SIGNSMAG.COM • SEPTEMBER 2024

What mindfulness and meditation can do for your pain Pain is an often-misunderstood and troubling feature of everyday life. Can mindfulness and meditation help you reduce it?

KELVIN VALERIO— PEXELS

LACHLAN TOWNEND

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esus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). In other words, stay present! In the modern world we call this mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present and engaged in whatever we are doing, free from distraction or judgement. The ability to “not worry about tomorrow” and be present in the moment has a myriad of health benefits. One benefit that might come as a surprise to you is the reduction of pain. To understand how mindfulness works to reduce pain, it is important to have a basic understanding of the science of pain. You might have to concentrate for a few minutes—but stay with me.

danger message from the body than a pain message. Pain is produced once the brain analyses these danger messages and decides that there is a significant threat. Of course, this all happens within moments and involves both conscious and unconscious processing by the brain. The brain’s role in producing pain helps us explain the poor relationship between pain and damage that we have all experienced. You know those bruises that mysteriously appear? Clear damage, no pain. Or that paper cut that hurts much more than when you cut your finger open? Little damage, lots of pain. Or the pain that intensifies in the days or weeks following an injury? Less pain at the time of damage but more as time goes on. Pain is complex.1 A key to understanding pain is that the mind and body interact to produce it. It is a two-way street, not a one-way street from the body to the brain, as commonly thought. The concept that pain is a protective output of the brain based upon perceived threat helps us understand why mindfulness can alleviate pain. If pain was simply determined by the amount of damage inflicted on the body, mindfulness would only help us deal with the secondary consequences of pain such as psychological distress. It wouldn’t alleviate the pain itself.

Pain is complex

how pain works

Modern pain science describes pain as a protective output of the brain after the brain has analysed the threat of incoming messages from the body. These messages include noxious sensory input that occurs during injury. The noxious input to the brain and spinal cord via the nerves is called nociception. Nociception has previously been used synonymously with pain, but modern pain science has discovered that this is only one piece of the puzzle. Nociception is better explained as a 28

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plausible mechanisms behind the effect of mindfulness for pain but the important thing for those experiencing pain is that mindfulness does help. One study that included 115 participants showed that mindfulness reduced pain severity for up to three months after an eight-week mindfulness program.3 This research supports the idea that the mind and body are inextricably linked and both have a role to play when it comes to pain.

As a physiotherapist who has completed studies in pain science, I believe that mindfulness reduces the output of pain by considering the incoming danger messages from the body as less of a threat. One possible mechanism of how mindfulness leads to reduced pain is through its ability to reduce inflammatory markers . . . the same markers that are known to increase pain.2 There are many

So, how do we develop mindfulness? I personally feel present while I’m running in the rain, watching dolphins in the surf, spinning the pedals of my bicycle, walking down the street on a European holiday or simply enjoying a good meal. If you think hard enough you will be able to think of your own moments when there was no world or time beyond the present moment. You, like me, are probably quite fond of these moments but sadly, they are often drowned out by the chaos of modern life. One way to train mindfulness in your everyday is through the practice of meditation. And no, it doesn’t have to be weird. While mindfulness is the ability to be more present, SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

KAROLINA KABOOMPICS— PEXELS

developing mindfulness

Meditation is one way we can start becoming more present and less distracted in everyday life. 30

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mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates [emphasis added] on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1–3). Meditation helps us develop the skills to follow the advice of Jesus to “not worry about tomorrow” and it enables us to savour more of the joyful, peace-filled moments where the entire universe revolves around what is in front of us . . . not to mention a more pain-free life. If you want to find out the secret to living a longer, healther life, check out this article:

Lachlan Townend is a physiotherapist and founder of <physiopaincoach.com.au>. His mission is to help people reclaim what pain has taken from them. In his spare time, he loves surfing, basketball, travel, reading and hanging out with family. He lives on the Gold Coast with his wife, Emily and dog, Otis. 1. David S Butler & G Lorimer Moseley, Explain Pain, Second edition. NOI Group, 2013. 2. Stuart Porter, Psychologically Informed Physiotherapy: embedding psychological perspectives within clinical management. Elsevier, 2017. 3. <psycnet.apa.org/buy/2014-03888-001>. 4. Headspace Guide to Meditation, episode 1: “How to Get Started” <netflix.com/watch/81304924?trackld=255824129>.

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MAPODILE—GETTY IMAGES

meditation is a way in which we can get better at it. There are many ways we can do this. You might want to try a few different methods to see what works best for you. Meditation is one way we can start becoming more present and less distracted in everyday life. The goal of meditation is not to empty the mind but to let our busy thoughts come and go. The analogy of sitting and watching the traffic go by is often used to describe meditation. The cars in the analogy are your thoughts. The idea is to let your busy thoughts come and go like passing cars. A great way to train this ability is to focus your attention (commonly on the breath) so to have an anchor to bring your mind back to when you get distracted. The idea is not to escape your thoughts but to allow yourself to return to a state of calm, focused attention. Meditation changes the brain to enable us to be calmer and more present in everyday life.4 For some, meditation is seen as a science-based tool for improving wellbeing, for others it’s “woo-woo” and for a minority it’s even considered an evil eastern religious practice. I see meditation as exercise for the brain, like lifting weights is for the muscles. If you’re religious, you should consider the words of the poet who said, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of

Daddy Issues in the White House

MIDJOURNEY

Some of the most powerful men in recent memory were shaped— in large part—by their dads. What can we learn from them?

JESSE HERFORD

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powerful man in the world”, I think of the man in the White House. Whether you agree with his politics or not, current (at the time of writing) US president Joe Biden is unique compared to his predecessors. He loved his dad and his dad loved him.

Joe Biden Sr

Joseph Biden Sr was apparently wealthy early in his life, though following World War II, found it difficult to find work. Due to this, the young family experienced financial instability for several decades. Eventually, Biden Sr became a successful used-car salesman. Integrity seemed an important value to the elder Biden, who got out of the industry altogether when his son got into politics because “he didn’t want a United States senator to have a usedcar salesman for a dad”.4 Ironically, he got into real estate. He wasn’t perfect, though. Biden Sr had issues with alcohol, as have SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

WIKICOMMONS

ecently, I became a dad for the first time (that is, if you don’t count my miniature schnauzer, Banjo). Ever since my daughter was born, I’ve had a single thought going through my head: how do I ensure I don’t mess up my child? Body image, bullying, boyfriends: all these and more are fertile ground for success— and failure—in fatherhood. While there is no right way to be a father, there seems to be a thousand wrong ways. The presence—or absence—of a father figure in a child’s life makes a massive difference in the early years and into adulthood. Girls look to their dad for their sense of selfesteem, whereas boys look to him as their first role model.1 Research also suggests that boys who spend large quantities of time with their father during adolescence are less likely to become substance abusers later in life.2 In general, children who have an engaged, loving father have better self-worth, resilience, emotional capacity, physical health and social maturity.3 None of this should be surprising if you have even the most cursory understanding of fatherhood. What may surprise you is how deeply fatherhood has shaped our modern society—in particular, some of the most powerful men in recent history. The politics of the United States of America has—even for those of us living thousands of kilometres removed—significantly influenced the world we live in today, for better or worse. When I think of “the most

the president’s brother Frank and son Hunter. President Biden pointed to this as the reason he doesn’t drink to this day. “There are enough alcoholics in my family,” he said in 2008. As professor of journalism Chris Lamb points out, “Biden’s relationship with his father contrasts with perhaps every president in the last four decades, who had either absent or distant fathers or abusive or alcoholic fathers or stepfathers.”5 Though we don’t have time to go through the numerous examples of this in US presidential history, we can contrast Biden’s upbringing with his most notorious political rival: Donald Trump.

from Friedrich to Fred to Donald In his book Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life, Donald admitted why (in his words) he’s so “screwed up”: “I had a father that 34

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pushed me pretty hard”.6 Donald’s father Fred Trump Sr was born in New York City in 1905 to Friedrich and Elisabeth Drumpf (who later changed their name to Trump to conceal their German ancestry). Friedrich was in the construction and real estate business so by the time Fred was born, the Trumps were already wealthy. Fred Sr went into business with his mother following the death of Friedrich, quickly becoming one of New York’s wealthiest property moguls, with The Brooklyn Daily Eagle called him the “Henry Ford of the home building industry”. Like Henry Ford, over the years, Fred Sr built an empire through a combination of ruthlessness and unscrupulous business practices. This is to say nothing of Fred Sr’s parenting style, which from all accounts appears to have been “handsoff” in nature. One biographer of

Donald Trump relates how Fred Sr taught his children to be “killers” in business and life—but that they were expected to learn such lessons “by osmosis”.7 Any lessons the young Donald learned early in life were purely by accident. But that doesn’t mean Fred Sr had no plans for his children. He was an empire builder and he had very specific ideas about how he was to pass his empire on. Donald wasn’t initially “first in-line for the throne”—his eldest brother, Fred Jr, was his father’s first pick. However, Fred Jr’s disposition was ill-suited to his father’s empire. Friends and family often said of Fred Jr that he was everything Donald wasn’t—softly spoken, playful, often jovial.8 Fred Jr also wanted nothing to do with the business—he wanted to be a pilot. After years of bullying from both Fred Sr and Donald, Fred Jr eventually gave up on his dream

and went into business with the Trump Organization. However, the pressure took its toll and following many years of alcohol addiction, in 1981 he had a heart attack and died. His family members blamed his death on his alcoholism but as Donald later told CNN, “Freddy just wasn’t a killer.”9 In her book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, Donald’s niece claims that Donald’s character was in large part shaped by witnessing the abuse inflicted on his brother at the hands of Fred Sr. “Freddy simply wasn’t who [Fred Sr] wanted him to be . . . Fred [Sr] dismantled his oldest son by devaluing and degrading every aspect of his personality and his natural abilities until all that was left was self-recrimination and a desperate need to please a man who had no use for him.”10 SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

WIKICOMMONS

Any lessons the young Donald learned early in life were purely by accident

biblical dads

FOTOSTORM—GETTY IMAGES

Sadly, history is strewn with bad fathers—and so is the Bible. Noah saves his family from the cataclysmic flood, but then becomes an alcoholic and pronounces a curse on his grandson (Genesis 9:18–27). Jacob’s relationship with his own father Isaac created a devastating family conflict in his early years (Genesis 27). His favouritism toward Joseph caused jealousy between Joseph and his brothers, resulting in them almost murdering Joseph then selling him into slavery (Genesis 37). King David made a series of disastrous decisions that led to infidelity and murder and caused Israel turmoil. Furthermore, his inability to effectively parent his sons led to more conflict and the eventual division of his kingdom. Of

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course, I’m cherry-picking moments from the stories of these men, all of whom God used despite their weakness to accomplish great things. Noah saved humanity despite his drunkenness. Jacob became the namesake of the entire Jewish people after he famously wrestled with God. David became known as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) and unified a fragmented Israel from years of turmoil under his predecessor Saul, marking a golden age for the kingdom.

me and you

As I reflect on the past, one thing is certain: for those of us who are dads, our legacy is far more significant than we realise—for better or worse. Not all of us will live “great”

lives in the eyes of the world. However, many of us will father “great” young men and women. Whether your kid grows up to be a teacher, an employee or the leader of a nation, your responsibility and mine remains the same. We each have an opportunity to instil in our kids the tools they’ll need to become great people in their own right. This is perhaps even more important when we consider “true greatness” in the way Jesus defined it. Fred Trump Sr’s version of greatness perhaps could be described in terms of material wealth or political power—however you’d prefer to see it. Jesus sees it differently: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26–28). Perhaps your child will grow up to be a world leader. Even if they don’t, they will still have an opportunity for greatness—in their home, their workplace, their community. True greatness, as Jesus defines it, doesn’t require human power—but a humble, others-centred perspective. What your kids do in life is their choice. How they turn out while they’re doing that, in large part, depends on the example you set for them. What’s frightening, though, is that the reverse is also true. It doesn’t matter what you think of Donald Trump or Joe Biden politically—each

serves as a contrast for what fatherhood can do. Biden has been accused of being too “weak”. Conversely, Trump has projected the image of a “strong man”, being accused of inciting violence against those he opposes, either politically or ideologically. Both are the result of the example set for them by their dads. All we can do is be the best we can for our kids right now, hoping that what we instil in them today will serve them well tomorrow. You never know: perhaps the stories your nation’s leader will tell in 40 years’ time will be about you. If they do, what kinds of stories would you want them to tell? 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, newborn daughter and their miniature schnauzer, Banjo. 1. <childpsychotherapy.org.uk/resources-families/understanding-childhood/fathers-understanding-vital-role-fathers-father-figures>. 2. <ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8923429/>. <thefatheringproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ Research-Report-final-1-09-FINAL.pdf>. 3. <thefatheringproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ Research-Report-final-1-09-FINAL.pdf>. 4. <marieclaire.com/politics/a33573986/who-was-joseph-rbiden-sr/>. 5. <theconversation.com/joe-biden-a-fathers-love-and-thelegacy-of-daddy-issues-among-presidents-159601>. 6. Donald Trump, Bill Zanker: Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life. HarperCollins US: 2010. 7. <politico.com/magazine/story/2016/03/2016-donald-trumpbrutal-worldview-father-coach-213750/>. 8. <washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-pressured-hisalcoholic-brother-about-his-career-now-he-has-regrets/2019/08/07/58ec2d70-b216-11e9-8f6c-7828e68cb15f_story. html>. 9. <theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/the-mind-ofdonald-trump/480771/>. 10. <washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/07/09/real-villainmary-trumps-family-tell-all-isnt-donald-its-fred/>.

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This month, I’ll share a taste of our most popular articles from <signsmag.com>. Read them in full by scanning their code! Hell Hell may be real, but not in the sense you’re probably thinking. Hell as a concept is largely a product of the medieval Catholic Church, as well as Greek philosophy and medieval figures like Dante Alighieri. The Bible itself doesn’t have a unified stance on life after death. There are certain passages of the New Testament that seemingly portray hell as a place of eternal suffering (Luke 16:19–31), but their literary structure means we can’t accept them as literal. Elsewhere in the Bible, death is conceived of as a sleep (Job 14:10–12; Ecclesiastes 9:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13). When we take

these passages in their context, they certainly seem to suggest that our collective post-mortem fate is sleep. Hell is mentioned (at least in a roundabout way) in Revelation 20 as a lake of fire into which the devil, his angels, evildoers as well as death and the grave are thrown. In this passage, these beings (or metaphysical concepts) don’t suffer eternally—they are permanently destroyed. Read “There is no hell” by Jarrod Stackelroth: Flat earth theory Ancient Jews believed the world is made of up three layers: the earth, the waters beneath and the firmament 38

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above. The firmament was essentially a dome, which is a popular image for flat earthers: a flat disc enclosed by a dome. Such a conception shouldn’t be surprising considering ancient neareastern peoples had no categories for modern astronomy or geology. Another common piece of “evidence” is the “four corners of the earth” referenced in places like Revelation 20:8 or Isaiah 11:12. If we are to take this literally, we’d have to assume that not only is the world flat, but it is also square. I don’t think even the most die-hard of flat earthers would go that far. We could go through many more such arguments (and there are hundreds), but I think the most compelling evidence against flat earth theory is the fact that the Bible doesn’t definitively promote a specific cosmology. Any attempt to create a

specific cosmology based on the Bible requires taking individual verses out of their context and making them say what their original authors never intended them to say. Read “Does the Bible affirm flat earth theory?” by Eliza Vlădescu: The Antichrist Presidents, Popes, the United Nations and more have all been accused of being the antichrist at various times. It’s important to note that the Greek term antikhristos in the New Testament is only ever used as an adjective. That is to say, a person can be described as “an antichrist”, but the biblical authors

never specify who the antichrist is. Christians throughout the ages have identified certain individuals and institutions as “antichrist”. First-century Christians viewed the emperor Nero as the antichrist, which makes sense given how intensely he persecuted them. Tertullian believed the dissolution of the Roman Empire would make way for the antichrist. Athanasius believed his rival Arius of Alexandria would become the antichrist. In the medieval period, Pope John XV was accused of being the antichrist as was Pope Gregory VII. The real issue at the heart of the antichrist is its abuse of power in union with religious authority. Where Jesus is generous, the antichrist hoards wealth and power. Where Jesus gives of Himself, the antichrist only takes. Where Jesus gives us freedom, the antichrist oppresses, taking that freedom away. The antichrist is everything Christ isn’t. Whether it’s a world power, a political or religious figure, or something else, as Jesus said: “you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20). Read “Who is the Antichrist?” by Laurenţiu Moţ:

Want to get your question published in the next issue of the magazine? Scan here:

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The Father of Eternity Who is God? Is He a Man in the sky, a vengeful deity or something else? I’d argue that He is so much more than what we could ever imagine. JARED MARTIN

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MIDJOURNEY

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wo brothers. Two fathers. Two inventors. We meet them at the beginning of the Bible: “Jabal was the father of those who raise livestock and live in tents. His brother’s name was Jubal, the father of all who play the harp and flute” (Genesis 4:20-21). But what is significant about these men with peculiar names? My grandma once gave me an old book called Manners and Customs of the Bible. It was published in 1874 and it describes what life was like thousands of years ago in the cultures of the Middle East (Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Israel, etc). Back then, when someone invented something, they were called the “father” of that particular thing. For example, a great warrior might be called “the father of war”, a great blacksmith would be “the father of steel” or a man with a long beard “the father of beards”. In case you were wondering, the Guinness World Record for the longest beard is held by Hans Langseth (1846–1927) from Norway. His beard was 5.33 metres long and when he died it was put in a museum—that’s what he’s remembered for! Throughout history it has always been a sign of honour and prestige to be called the “father” of something— that thing’s inventor, originator or creator. Famous examples include: Albert Einstein: The Father of Relativity. Benjamin Franklin: The Father of Electricity. Alexander Graham Bell: The Father

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of the Telephone. Hippocrates: The Father of Modern Medicine. Galileo Galilei: The Father of Physics. Alan Turing: The Father of Modern Computer Science. Sigmund Freud: The Father of Modern Psychology. Stan Lee: The Father of Comic Books. So, coming back to our Bible verses: What were Jabal and Jubal the “fathers” of? Jabal pioneered the nomadic farming lifestyle that the Israelites became famous for and Jubal invented the harp and flute.

Father of eternity

Why are Jabal and Jubal in the Bible? Are they there for simple historical interest? Or do they point to something greater? We get a clue from the prophet Isaiah. He writes, “For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [emphasis added], Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Who is Isaiah talking about? Jesus. Most English Bibles say, “Everlasting Father” but directly translated from Hebrew it reads “Father of Eternity”. Jesus is the Creator and Inventor of eternity itself. He is, according to Christian tradition, the “Father of Eternity”. But wait, are we talking about Jesus or God? Both, actually. The Bible says that in the beginning, Jesus already existed. Jesus

was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Jesus and Jesus gave life to everything in the universe (John 1:1-4). According to Isaiah, He “lives in eternity” (Isaiah 57:15) and Jesus Himself said, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). Jesus and the Father are so in-tune with each other that their will is one-and-the same. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us so that whoever believes in Him will be able to share eternity with Him (John 3:16).

Father of all

who troll us on social media and those who hurt us with their words and actions: God made them all—and the crazy thing is He loves them just as much as He loves you and I. As Jesus was dying on the cross, He thought of them just as much as He thought of you. Why? Because God is the everyone’s heavenly Father. He created all of us and when people hurt us and the ones we love, Jesus’ message to us remains the same. “Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Be loving.” Why? Because God is not the Father of some; He is the Father of all.

Jesus gave life to everything in the beginning with God

The apostle Paul tells a group of Christians living in the ancient city of Ephesus, “Live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. . . . There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all” (Ephesians 4:1-6). God is also the Father and Creator of every single person on planet earth. Our family, friends and colleagues—even the people who cut us off when we are driving, those

Father of good gifts

James, the brother of Jesus, once said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). God is the Father of good gifts. He’s the Creator of the heavens and earth, stars and galaxies—everything that is “good and perfect”. He created it all for us. When my little daughter sees stars, she bursts into “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at the top of her lungs. She loves stars. Whenever she sees one, she points to it in amazement and says its name. She loves SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

Father of mercy

In the beginning, God made a good and perfect world, but humanity rebelled. Because death can’t exist alongside God’s perfection, the first humans should have died—but God is the Father of mercy. In Genesis 3:15 we find a promise of mercy. It’s the promise that God

will one day deal with the problem of evil forever—but that in doing so, He will be wounded in the process. Instead of leaving humans with their own problems, God promised He would save them—even if it would cost Him personally. As the apostle Paul reflects on this promise, he writes: “God is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4). Who is the Father of mercy and endless comfort? God is. And no matter what hits us in life—whether it is the cost-of-living crisis, families being separated, jobs being lost, our health, the health of someone we love or a spiritual battle—whatever is happening in our lives, whatever is dragging us down, whatever is making life tough, we can always come to God. As Paul says, “He is the Father of mercy and endless comfort.” As we celebrate our fathers and father figures this Father’s Day, may we remember the Father of eternity, the Father of all, The Father of good gifts and the Father of mercy. He’s never forgotten you. Jared Martin is the senior pastor of Coastlife Seventh-day Adventist Church in Queensland, Australia. In his spare time, Jared loves playing tennis and working out at the gym.

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MAPODILE—PEXELS

trees, flowers, birds and rainbows. As a child, she appreciates what many of us don’t—that all these are “good and perfect” gifts from God. They are there for our delight, our enjoyment. What about you? Do you see God’s gifts or are you too busy to notice? Do you have trouble practising gratitude? Do you sing at the top of your lungs about all the amazing things God has given you? Maybe you should try it. From the warm sun to the smile of a toddler to the fluffy fur of a golden retriever, sometimes we need to stop what we’re doing to notice all the “good and perfect” gifts God gives us every day.

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What does the Bible teach about mental health and suicide?

Mental illness is a difficult subject—especially when experienced by faith leaders. However, the rise of suicidal ideation among all kinds of people means we ignore it at our peril. ASHLEY STANTON

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COTTONBRO—PEXELS

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arrid Wilson, Darrin Patrick, Andrew Stoecklein, Isaac Hunter, Ed Montgomery, David Treadway, Teddy Parker Jr. Some of these names may sound familiar to you. That’s because they made the news as pastors who have died by suicide. The death of anyone by suicide is shocking and heartbreaking. But when it’s a pastor—a spiritual leader—the aftermath is even more devastating. 48

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Jarrid Wilson (pictured) was an associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. He was a mental health advocate and spoke openly about related issues. On the morning of September 10, 2019, Wilson tweeted: “Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure suicidal thoughts. Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure depression. Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure PTSD. Loving Jesus doesn’t always

He even went so far as to say that if you have faith with no doubt, your faith can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). So it’s understandable that Christians would apply this logic to mental health struggles. Surely if the afflicted prays fervently enough and has faith, God could cure their mental illness. It’s important to note the biblical authors don’t write about mental illness in the same way we talk about it today. But they do frequently mention times people had been struck down by physical illness: lepers, a woman who bled for 12 years, paraplegics and more. If you’ve read the stories, you’ll know Jesus healed many of these people because of their faith in Him. In the case of the woman who bled for 12 years, this is what Matthew, a disciple of Jesus, said of her affliction: “A woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’ Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment” (Matthew 9:20–22). This is one of many examples of how someone was healed because of their belief that Jesus was capable of healing them. God’s healing hand is not limited to the stories in the Bible. I have met people who are walking miracles—people who have defied a SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

KELVIN809—PEXELS

cure anxiety. But that doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t offer us companionship and comfort. He ALWAYS does that.” Later that night, Jarrid Wilson ended his life. Many responded to the news online, questioning Wilson’s faith and his decision to take his life. These are just a handful of tweets and Facebook comments: “When you are full of Christ, there will be no room for depression or frustration. The fullness of Christ in you will choke it out.” “Truly, Jesus could have delivered you from all those afflictions but you decided not to let Him take control of your situation and rather you focus on what your human eye saw. Now you have many believing this . . . not true!” “He’s in hell, man.” “Did [Jarrid] have the Holy Spirit?” Not every response was like this. Some offered sincere condolences to Wilson’s family, shared their fondest memories and thanked him for how he had helped others overcome difficulties. But when Jarrid Wilson took his own life, it sparked a discussion online in comment sections and opinion pieces alike. At the root of many of these conversations were people trying to reconcile Wilson’s faith in God with his final action. Was there truth to the sentiment that he just didn’t love God enough? Jesus spoke quite radically about the power of prayer. He said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

I won’t pretend to understand why God intervenes on behalf of some and not others doctor’s prognosis that “they should be dead”. I know these people had committed Christians all around the world praying for their recovery. And recover they did. But I have also met people who lost loved ones despite the committed Christians who prayed “without ceasing”. I’ve heard stories of people’s faith being shattered because they truly believed God would save their loved ones—and yet death still took them. I won’t pretend to understand why God intervenes on behalf of some and not others. It’s something I have brought to Him in prayer 50

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many times myself. What I can offer is a little perspective. A believer’s heartfelt prayers may not have saved their life on Earth, but we believe that by God’s grace we will see them again. Death is never easy. But for Christians, this is when the promise of what comes after death comes in. In the end, what really matters is where that person sits with God. As a follower of Jesus, I have hope that death is not the end and I will see my loved ones again one day—in a world free from death and suffering. Just like physical health, there are things you can do to improve your mental health: healthy eating, moving your body, adequate sleep and rest. And from a spiritual point of view, spending time in prayer and immersing ourselves in God’s Word can also be beneficial. But sometimes—like when treating broken bones or cancer—a healthy lifestyle isn’t enough. Just like Christians fighting cancer

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may pray as part of their treatment, most also seek out medical support. Ellen White was a prolific author and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as well as an advocate for healthy living. She encouraged Adventists to open healthcare facilities,1 recognising the importance of medical treatment when natural preventatives fail. She saw that God has equipped humans with incredible bodies that, if treated well, treat us well. But she also saw that God has given us the gift of medical knowledge and that there is wisdom in combining healthy habits with medical treatment. This logic also applies to mental health. This topic is especially close to my heart. I was 21 years old when my mental health hit rock bottom. At my lowest, I wished that I could cease to exist. I never fell so deep into my depression that I tried to follow through on that desire, but I can certainly see how someone could. It’s important to note that mental illnesses, like depression, are not always cured with practising gratitude, eating well or having a healthy relationship with God. While mental illness can be caused by external pressures like trauma, stress, substance abuse and environmental factors, it can also be caused by biological factors such as genes, brain chemistry or hormonal imbalances.2 When healthy habits aren’t enough to squash dark thoughts, the next step is often medical treatment. Therapy, medication or both may be SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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ical illness, mental health treatment will look different for everyone. So, back to Jarrid Wilson. How does faith in God intersect with suffering from ? The replies to Jarrid’s tweet imply that if he truly loved God, he would still be here—that he just needed to try harder. I believe those replies missed the point entirely. Mental illness is just another part of a world filled with suffering. Rather than judging each other and arguing in the comments section, we should be supporting one another through the tough times of life. Every person is precious to God. And if being a listening ear or a helping hand in a time of need can save someone’s life on Earth, then it’s something all of us should be striving towards. Ashley Stanton lives in Sydney, where she works for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the supporter engagement team. To learn more about depression and suicide, visit Beyond Blue at <beyondblue.org.au>. For crisis support or suicide prevention, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (AU), 0800 543 354 (NZ), 1543 (Fiji), 3260011 (PNG) or Lifeline’s equivalent in your local country. 1. <adventisthealth.org/white-memorial/about-us/history-of-caring/ellen-g-white/>. 2. <health.gov.au/health-topics/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention/about-mental-health>.

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prescribed to treat mental illness. What pulled me from my dark pit was a combination of treatments. I vividly remember leaning into my faith, clinging to the Psalms and certain promises God makes to His people, and finding a sense of peace and relief from those passages. But I also paired this with practical steps to help improve my wellbeing. I removed study stressors by doing a semester of university via distance so I could live at home with the support of my family. I started seeing a psychologist and made good progress with her. But it soon became clear I needed additional support and so I began to take anti-depressants. After a few months, colour returned to my life. I would make it a day without crying, then two and then my life returned to the usual ups and down one can expect when their world isn’t tainted by depression. For someone who has never experienced poor mental health, a journey like mine is almost impossible to grasp. Most people are shocked when they learn of my mental health struggles because, from all they see, I have a sunny disposition. But it is not as straightforward as choosing to be happy. Trust me, no-one feeling those levels of despair would choose to feel that way if feeling happy was an option. Mental illness is a health condition that needs treatment in the same way that physical illness needs treatment. And just like phys-

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Who is the

Holy Spirit? The backstage member of the Trinity Who does more than you might think. ZACH TAN

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YANKRUKOV—PEXELS

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hen you think of God, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a bearded man sitting on a bed of clouds or preaching to a crowd on a hill. God the Father and His Son Jesus are the most recognisable members of the threefold divine community we call God. There’s even a dedicated worldwide annual holiday that honours the birth of Jesus. A side of God that is less talked about, but no less equally important, is the Holy Spirit. But who is the Holy Spirit? If He really is a member of the Godhead, then He must be important. To fully appreciate the Holy Spirit, we must understand who He is, what His roles are and how He impacts our lives. Thankfully, the Bible provides no shortage of information about Him.

1:2). Having established His divine nature, we must now investigate His personhood. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal magical force that can be manipulated. Rather, He is a being with His own thoughts and personality. He can be lied to (Acts 5:3) and can express sorrow when we hurt others (Ephesians 4:30-32).

what does He do?

Having established who He is, we can now better understand His purpose. The Bible establishes clear roles for each member of the threefold God. God the Father is the Creator and Ruler of everything (Genesis 1:27) and the One responsible for sustaining all life (Acts 17:28). Meanwhile, God the Son—Jesus—is the Rescuer of the world, and who was also involved in its creation. Through Jesus we have been forgiven—that is, freed from the weight of our past mistakes (1 John 1:7)—and are reconciled with God the Father (Romans 5:10). The Holy Spirit’s role, on the other hand, is more “behind-the-scenes”—but no less important. When you watch a stage play, there are many people running

The Holy Spirit’s role is more “behind-thescenes”—but no less important

who is the Holy Spirit?

First, we must understand who the Holy Spirit is. To start, we must establish His divine nature. The Bible presents the Holy Spirit as being equal with God the Father and His Son Jesus (Matthew 28:19) and was present with Them during the creation of the world (Genesis 56

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around in the background working to keep the audience’s attention focused on the star performers. They make sure the lights are working, create the costumes, move props in-between scenes as well as a bunch of other tasks. Without these people working in the background, a play can’t work as smoothly as it should, if at all. The Holy Spirit plays a similar role. Although Jesus enables us to have right relationship with God the Father, the Holy Spirit helps us know right from wrong (John 16:8) and draws us closer to God despite our conflicted nature (Romans 5:5). We won’t be able to fully explore every role of the Holy Spirit here but at the very least, we should understand three of His roles in our lives. Namely, that He is our Helper, our Comforter and our Intercessor.

Helper

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One of the most important roles of the Holy Spirit is to help us understand God’s words found in the Bible (John 16:13). Ever since the Bible was written, many strange theories about its interpretation have arisen, leading to the formation of many different sects and sub-cultures. So, how do we determine which teachings align with God’s character and which ones don’t? This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Recalling that He helps us differentiate between right and wrong, the Holy Spirit takes this a step further and convicts us as to which teachings are consistent with God’s character. Have you ever SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

if we’re on a faith journey, the Holy Spirit helps us grow “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18). The Holy Spirit is there every step of the way.

Comforter

read the Bible or watched a sermon and suddenly you had a “Eureka!” moment—as if something you had been struggling to understand for so long finally makes sense? That’s the Holy Spirit guiding you. If you wish to know whether your inspirational moment is really from the Holy Spirit, the Bible presents a simple test. Simply search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11), check if the teaching proclaims the divinity and humanity of Christ (1 John 4:2,3) and, after confirming them, stick to teachings proven to be true and are consistent with the rest of the Bible. (1 Thessalonians 5:21). There might be mistakes made along the way, but an important thing to remember is that 58

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Next, The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Each one of us goes through stages of grief or heartache at some point in our lives, whether it is from the passing of a loved one, regret over our actions (I know for sure that there are some regrets I would like to erase from my memories) or something else. During these times, He comforts and encourages us. More than comforting us, He also empowers us to move forward. Jesus faced many hardships in His life, yet it was through the Holy Spirit’s comfort and empowerment that He was able to push on with His ministry (Luke 4:14).

Intercessor

Finally, The Holy Spirit acts as an Intercessor, advocating on our behalf. Sometimes we do not understand what we should be praying for or if what we want is beneficial for us. I’ve already lost track of the times where I can’t find the right word to use for a specific request I have when praying or have asked for the wrong thing. This is where the Holy Spirit steps in. He takes our prayers, intercedes on our behalf and ensures that we get what we need even if it’s not readily apparent to us at that moment (Romans 8:26,27).

Now that we understand His role, we can grasp how He impacts our lives. All relationships change people in some way, whether it is a friendship or something more special. Thankfully, we have already explored some of His impact. He gives us the ability to understand the Bible. He intercedes on our behalf, bringing us closer to God. He is also comforts us in our sorrow and pain.

The most visible impact the Holy Spirit can have on us, though, is the manifestation of desirable personality traits in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22)—collectively referred to as the “fruits” of the Holy Spirit. You may have heard of people who have led broken lives or felt lost and empty before finding Jesus, leading to a renewed life. This is an example of the fruit of the Holy Spirit working through them. The same transformation is freely offered to you if you choose to follow Jesus. For a “background player”, the Holy Spirit is more important to the Christian faith than most of us often realise. Wherever you are on your faith journey—whether you’re decades along or haven’t even started yet—you can always count on the Holy Spirit to have your back. As you spend time with Jesus, why don’t you invite the Holy Spirit to join you as well? You may find you’re all the better off for it. Zach Tan is a writer based in Melton, Victoria. He has an eccentric sense of humour and is constantly on the lookout for new things to write about. SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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how does He affect us?

THE PURPLE SWEET POTATO

It’s delicious, nutritious and a vegie that adds an impressive pop of colour to every meal. It’s no wonder the purple sweet potato has been crowned “Vegetable of the Year”.

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the secret of the Okinawans’ longevity These vibrant purple tubers are a staple of the Okinawan diet, one of the five Blue Zones, and have become an important part of their culture. The vegetable is rich in anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant that gives it a deep, purple colour as well as many anti-inflammatory properties. Because inflammation plays a role in a number of chronic diseases, these compounds may have the potential to help protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer. Purple sweet potatoes are also a good source of fibre and potassium which can help lower blood pressure, as well as vitamin C to help support a healthy immune system. About 60 per cent of the calories in a traditional Okinawan diet comes from sweet potatoes with the rest of the diet emphasising other vegetables and soy products alongside low GI carbohydrates, some fish and small quantities of meat. Much of their longevity advantage is thought to be related to this traditional diet.

family goodness If you don’t have access to purple sweet potatoes, there are many other varieties more readily available around the world that offer wonderful nutritional benefits. Sweet potatoes of all colours—purple, reddish purple, orange, white, cream—offer a range of nutrients similar to the purple sweet potato like vitamin A, B and C, potassium and fibre. While the purple sweet potato’s violet hue offers the antioxidant anthocyanins, the orange sweet potato is richest in beta-carotene that similarly plays a role in overall health and disease prevention. The white sweet potato is less sweet and can be more easily switched for the standard potato. When picking your sweet potatoes in the supermarket, look for the versions that are most vibrant in colour, as they offer the most nutritional benefits. Happy eating!

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 plantpowered recipe in your inbox each week. SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

GETTY IMAGES, ISRAEL PALACIO—UNSPLASH

Google searches for “purple sweet potato”, also known as purple kumara, are on the rise, initially spiked by the popular Netflix documentary series Secrets of the Blue Zones. The series focused on five areas of the world in which people live exceptionally long lives, including the Seventh-day Adventist community of Loma Linda, California.

Crossword Puzzle

CROSSWORD

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

4 5

7 8

eone just banned this -day Adventist Church Ada helped

in Barcelona going against your best interests ur child learns when dealing with

Across: 5. 6.

8. 9.

son of Jim Redmond former associate pastor of Harv

Fellowship a danger message from the bod this Brooklyn newspaper compa Trum Sr to Henry Ford

DOWN 1 Sierra Leone just banned this 2 Seventh-day Adventist church Ada helped found 3 Stadium in Barcelona 4 Actively going against your best interests Stadium in Barcelona 7 What your child learns when dealing with criticism ACROSS 5 Son of Jim Redmond 6 Former associate pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship 8 A danger message from the body 9 This Brooklyn newspaper compared Fred Trump Sr to Henry Ford 10 Fred Trump Sr’s firstborn son 11 The Holy Spirit is a Helper, Comforter and ... 12 The father of modern medicine

SUDOKU easy

9 6

3 6

8 1

9 3

3 6

2 1

hard

4 4

2 5 7

8 2

3 2

Hint: 4 Down

5 7

4 9

8 8 2

2 6

SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 • SIGNSMAG.COM

AARON BLANCO TEJEDOR—UNSPLASH

crossword clues

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