The Vine - December 2014

Edition 42, November 2014

Connecting Christadelphian Young People

People

FROM THE EDITOR The Vine is published quarterly by the Sydney Christadelphian Young People (SCYP) COORDINATOR Georgia Muir EDITORIAL TEAM Georgia Muir, Dan Blackwood, Naomi Joseph, Martin Russell and Isaac Pogson LAYOUT/DESIGN Isaac Pogson MASTHEAD DESIGN Alisa Thompson CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS (in order of appearance): Amanda Pooley, Lizzy Pooley, Jess Pooley, Eleanor Pogson, Dave Burke, Colin Hillman, Katie Norwood.

THANKS ALSO TO: Cameron Hillman & Cecelia Muir.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Amanda Pooley (pg 4), Lizzy Pooley (pg 6 & 7), Jess Pooley (pg 8), Ev Burgess (pg 10-13), Phill Hall & Cecelia Muir & Amy Norwood (all pg 14-15), Georgia Muir (pg 16-19), Katie Norwood (pg 21).

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Naomi Joseph The Vine is published to the Glory of our Heavenly Father, through whom all things are made possible.

Opinions expressed in The Vine are the authors’ and are not neccessarily held by the Editorial Team or the SCYP. All Bible quotations are from the New International Version (1978) unless otherwise stated. e: thevine@scyp.net To view past editions online visit: scyp.net/thevine & issuu.com/scyp

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Hey guys!

This is the last edition of The Vine for the year. We've had some great articles this year, looking at choices, gardening and DIY, health and now people. Thanks to everyone who contributed to make the year happen!

It's been awesome.

In this edition you'll find some photos from August Camp and the November Amazing Race activity, as well as fascinating articles from people with different views on life.

As always, you can check out scyp.net/thevine or issuu.com/scyp to see The Vine online! If you'd like to be involved in making next year even more awesome than this year has been (if that's possible!) get in touch with me either through Facebook or at thevine@scyp. net.

Have a great holiday break!

Georgia

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People contents

edition 42 _ september 2014

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My Insipration

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Samuel Enoch Pooley (My Life is not my own)

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Dog Love

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Event Review: August Camp 2014

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August Camp Photos

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November Activity Photos

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Studying Scripture

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Outreach Update

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Message From a Traveller

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SCYP Committee Vox Pops

23 Grapevine

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My Inspiration

- Amanda Pooley

A few weeks ago some of my family, friends and I walked in the annual LIGHT THE NIGHT - The Leukaemia Foundation's Annual Fundraising Walk.

More than 60,000 Australians are living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. Every day, another 31 people are diagnosed... Sadly, not everyone will survive.

Money raised through Light the Night helps the Leukaemia Foundation to continue to find and fund Australia's best blood cancer research. Light the Night allows walkers to shine a gold lantern to remember a loved one, a white lantern to reflect on your life with blood cancer, or a blue lantern to show support. (lightthenight.org.au) People walk inspired for many different reasons or perhaps walk because they were inspired by someone they know or knew.

Whilst walking the 10km from St Leonard's to Circular Quay I was approached by two lovely girls. They asked if I was from the Team "You'll Never Walk Alone" and if I was also walking for Luke?

[Photo from left: Amanda, Amy & Georga at Light The Night St Leonards, Sunday 19th October 2014] 4

I was from that Team, but I wasn't walking for Luke. I started the Team "You'll Never Walk Alone" in August 2013, soon after I was diagnosed. The name means a lot to my husband and I as it is the slogan for Liverpool FC in England, our favourite football team.

The girls were shocked, as this was also Luke's favourite football team; he was an avid supporter and watched all of their games until he passed away just under a year ago.

They told me their story. They met Luke while he was undergoing treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia at the Royal North Shore Hospital; (Amy is a lung researcher and specialist at RNSH). Luke was sent for tests with her before his bone marrow transplant. Sadly, the transplant didn't work for very long and he passed away. While she only knew him for a short time, he made such an impact on her and her friend Georga (who also knew him). They felt compelled and were inspired to fundraise and walk in honour and remembrance of him. Amy spoke of the enormous impact he had made on her life. His courage, bravery, integrity and good humour to the end was so inspiring to them both. At his funeral, which they both attended, his family sought her out to specifically thank her. He had often spoken about her and said how much her support and friendship had meant to him. During his final weeks she inspired him to write emails to his closest family and friends... his final goodbyes.

I felt compelled to share this amazing story. I was blown away by their example of love and inspiration. I feel so grateful and blessed to have met these two beautiful girls on this walk and to have been given the opportunity to get to know them now as friends and hopefully by the grace of God be a shining light and inspiration to them also.

Be so inspired in your own lives. Be inspired by someone. Be inspired by something. Be inspired to act. Be inspired to give. Be inspired to forgive and to love.

Be inspired to follow Jesus. Be inspirational.

"I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live." (Psalm 116 v1 & 2)

Want to be inspired to walk in next year's LIGHT THE NIGHT? Check out our video, on youtube.com made by Chris Pooley. "Light the Night Sydney 2014".

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Samuel Enoch Pooley (My Life is not my own)

by Lizzy Pooley

DOB: 13.03.14 Likes: Banana, strawberries and going on the swing Dislikes: Sitting still, getting cleaned and mummy’s hairdryer MY LIFE LESSONS:

Eating: Eating is hard. You start on milk and then before you know it you’ve got a big spoon shoved in your face with all sorts of things put on it. Then you’ve got to start picking things up yourself and putting them in your mouth! When I first started drinking milk it took so much effort to suck it in that I was so tired that I’d fall asleep afterwards. As you first start to learn about God it can be a bit hard to digest. Your stomach doesn’t like it and it comes straight back up. As you grow accustomed to the milk it gets easier to swallow, then you start on the meatier bits but you still need to have your milk. It has nutrients and immunity in it to help you fight infections.

It helps you to fight off doubts and keeps your relationship with God healthy. When you think you know everything about the Bible, and you’re on top of this milk thing, you find new things to swallow, then once you’ve swallowed it you have to digest it. Most of God’s lessons are hard to chew but you’ll get through it and it’ll make you stronger!

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Joy: I love playing with my trains! They make me happy. Sometimes in life you’ve just got to stop, sit down and play with your trains. You’ve got to laugh, it’s healthy! God doesn’t want us to be burdened and sad (yes sometimes things happen to make us sad) but overall He wants us to be content with what we have and be at peace in our lives. I find that the best way to make myself happy is to get all of my yucky emotions out in one go. When you’re happy be ecstatic and giggle, when you’re sad let it all out, tell God why you’re sad and then leave it with Him. He wants to know that you’re upset!

Patience: I spend most of my life waiting… I wait for Mummy, Daddy, dinner to heat up then cool down and for my legs to learn to crawl! God is patient with us and we have to be patient with God and with our parents. God doesn’t do things right now just because we think it’s the right time. God knows we need to eat and He will provide us food when it’s actually lunch time. It’s ok to get upset and let Him know that you’re hungry. He wants to know how we’re feeling even if it’s not pretty. Sometimes it’s part of a bigger plan and you have to wait. You might need to get home before you can have your afternoon nap. That way you can sleep for 2 hours instead of 30 minutes. Be patient, there is always a plan.

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DOGGOD LOVE

by Jess Pooley

If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I'm crazy about animals, especially dogs. I work as a vet nurse at the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). While my job involves more than just dealing with animal cruelty cases, the handling of such cases is what makes my job so rewarding.

Animals who have been abused and/or neglected present in such poor condition and we work with them to repair them physically and mentally. To not only witness but be involved in their journey to recovery is a privilege, and it's so satisfying to see them go to a new and loving home.

The thing that strikes me most though is that these dogs who have been abused, beaten and neglected will sometimes come in and look at us with joy in their eyes, wagging tails, and lots of kisses. After all they have been through they still trust us. They don't care what we look like, what gender we are, what colour hair we have, how we talk, whether they've met us before, or whether we have any disabilities, all they want is to be loved. This is one value that I love about dogs, their ability to look past all external things is a wonderful thing.

They've been mistreated by people but trust us the instant we meet them.

Mind you, this isn't always the case. Many dogs who come from these situations are initially terrified and may show aggression out of fear. But we teach them to trust us, and the majority of the time, they eventually do. I think we can learn a big lesson from dogs.

Don't judge and form opinions about other people based on how they look, where they're from, the way they talk, what skills or disabilities they have, what others have said about them and whether you've had problems with them in the past. Be like a dog, expect the best of everyone. Like some dogs, we might take a while to get used to this, but in the end it can be done.

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EVENT REVIEW: AUGUST CAMP 2014 August camp 2014 was fabulous! To those that missed out, or want to relive the memory, here's a quick summary of the events of the weekend: Friday night after our introduction to Bro Jon Fry we had a relaxing evening of beetle racing, pool table, ball games, hot drinks and chatting. In between the sessions on Saturday we split up into small discussion groups which also included personal reflection times.

The first main activity after lunch was a film/ advertisement making 'competition' in which creativity, acting, filming and editing skills were all put to the test. The videos are now up on SCYP's website (www.scyp.net) for your entertainment. The other main activity was a first time ever SCYP activity of 'paper bag making' which was a mixture of yelling, thought provoking, rebellion (led by Jono Smith), glue and blackened hands.

The music throughout the weekend was also great and fitting for the theme of the few days, especially with the constant additions to the band. The weekend in whole was a good time to relax and catch up with friends surrounded by peaceful bushland and slightly noisier wildlife. The sessions led by bro Jon Fry from Adelaide (previously Glasgow), principal of Heritage College Adelaide, were very insightful and relevant to our lives.

The subject of the weekend was The Letter to the Hebrews: Greater Than. Jon's sessions revealed the idea that the Letter to the Hebrews is a plea from the writer for us to stop playing with the wrapping paper, as we can with gifts, and grasp the gift of God - the Lord

Jesus Christ. The Old Testament was just the prelude ('wrapping paper') and introduction to Jesus Christ. The Hebrews writer also looks at creation being a process that is still ongoing - the creation within us that Jesus is working with.

Knowing that we need saving, God gave us Jesus as an intervention. His coming in the form of a human was important as it gave us someone that we could relate to and someone who could sympathise with our weaknesses.

We can choose whether we live in the past or present but we need to be looking to the future. Jon brought up a very fitting quote: "There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind" - C.S Lewis, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Jesus is the future. Jesus let his future define who he was. The writer of Hebrews is calling us to run the 'faith' race - to look ahead and see Jesus at the finish line. Faith doesn't just mean accomplishments - it's also about enduring. It's all about WHO we have faith in and having that faith as a living thing. Faith does not also mean there won't be pain. Instead, when there is pain, it can tell us that something is broken (or missing) and we can then use that pain to learn in order to help others.

Through faith God is calling us to not look back, but forwards, to where He is driving us into the future. What is God calling us individually to be better at? Some of us may not know yet, but, one thing we can be certain of is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Eleanor Pogson 9

AUGUST CAMP 2014

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More August Camp photos on the next page!!

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AUGUST CAMP 2014 13

NOVEMBER ACTIVITY

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THE AMAZING RACE

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Studying Scripture Key Words with Dave Burke Identifying key words can inform your understanding of the author’s motivation and message. Look for patterns in the use of certain words and phrases.

Are they frequently repeated? Do they have a certain connotation? Is the author trying to tell us something by his choice of these words? Note that a key word search is the only time when verse-byverse analysis is advisable.

The writings of John provide an excellent introduction to the study of key words (e.g. ‘light’, ‘darkness’, ‘word’, ‘the world’, ‘the Jews’). In John’s writings ‘the world’ is always a bad place, light is always positive, darkness is always negative, and ‘the Jews’ are almost invariably the Jewish rulers. In John’s epistles take note of words like ‘love’ and ‘children.’

Key words generally fall into one or more of the following categories: Repeated (‘rep’) Imagery (‘imag’) Emotional (‘emo’) Doing or being (‘verb’) Loaded language (‘load’) Joining (‘conj’) Relational (‘prep’) Let’s examine a couple of passages and see what their key words can tell us about the text.

I John 1:5-71 This is the message we have heard from him andcon declareverb to you: God is lightimag, load; inprep him there is no darknessimag, load at all.

Ifconj we claim to have fellowshipverb, load with him yetconj walkverb inprep the darknessimag, rep, load, we lieverb andconj do not liveverb by the truthload.

Butconj ifconj, rep we walkverb, rep inprep the lightimag, rep, load, as he is inprep the lightimag, rep, load, we have fellowshipverb, rep, load with one another, andconj the bloodload of Jesus, his Son, purifiesverb, load us from all sinload.

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The three key words in this passage are 'light', 'darkness' and 'fellowship.' References to light and darkness invoke the prologue of John's Gospel,2 where they represent the same spiritual contrast found here.3 John's insistence that there is no darkness in God may be intended to refute a dualist heresy (Wuest suggests Antinomianism4) of the sort which would later give rise to Gnosticism.

To be 'in the light' is to be a true Christian, while to be 'in the darkness' is to be in sin. The two concepts are mutually exclusive; there is no middle ground. Although those in the darkness can feign a walk in the light5, their efforts are in vain, since a life in the darkness precludes Christian fellowship ('κοινωνία') and denies access to the purifying sacrifice of Christ.

True fellowship can only exist where all parties are united by truth,6 and there is no salvation outside Christian communion. John's warnings comprise an exhortation to honesty and spiritual introspection.

Key: rep = repeated, imag = imagery, emo = emotional, verb = doing or being, load = loaded, conj = joining, prep = relational.

2 John 1:4-5, 'In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.'

3 Cf. I John 2:8-11.

4 'That teaching followed out to its logical conclusion results in the two things John is combating in verses five and six. The first is that there is evil in God. The second is that the person who lives in sin may still have fellowship with Him.' Wuest, K. S. 1997. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English reader (1 Jn 1:5). Eerdmans: Grand Rapids.

5 Cf. II Corinthians 11:14, 'And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.'

6 Cf. John 4:23, 'But a time is coming — and now is here — when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers.'

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I Timothy 6:17-19 Commandverb those who are richimag inprep this present worldload not to be arrogantemo nor to putverb their hopeemo prep in wealth, which is soconj uncertainemo, butconj to putverb, rep their hopeemo, rep inprep God, who richlyimag providesverb us with everything forprep our enjoymentemo.

Commandverb, rep them to do good, to be richimag, rep in goodrep deedsverb, andconj to be generous and willing to shareverb.

Inprep this way they will verb lay up treasureimag, load forprep themselves as a firm foundationload prep for the coming ageload, soconj that they may take holdverb of the life that is truly liferep.

The three key words/ phrases in this passage are 'command', 'this present world' and 'rich.'

Paul's use of 'command' ('παραγγέλλω') affirms the urgency of his instruction; this is an uncompromising imperative, requiring Timothy to assert his leadership.

It is directed at the wealthy (probably rich Christians, though Wuest believes non-Christians are in view7), and Paul breaks it into two parts:8 (a) put your hope in God instead of material wealth; (b) use your riches for the benefit of others.9 These are complementary instructions; the former results in the latter. Paul plays on the word 'rich' to contrast temporal possessions with meaningful action ('rich in this present world... rich in good deeds').

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The 'present world' ('αiών') denotes an era rather than a geographic location; these wealthy people are rich in everything valued by Greco-Roman society, yet Paul's reference to 'the life that is truly life' implies they are dead men walking unless they act now to establish a sure spiritual foundation.

Bibliography Wuest, K. S. 1997, Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English reader. Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, Michigan

'He is thinking here of those who belong to the unsaved portion of humanity and are part of this age system, and who think that the material wealth which they possess is the sum of all existence.'

Wuest, K. S. 1997. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English reader (1 Ti 6:17). Eerdmans: Grand Rapids.

8 This allows him to repeat 'παραγγέλλω', perhaps for greater rhetorical force.

9 Cf. Matthew 6:19-21, 'Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'

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Outreach Update - Christadelphian Aged Care There's a Church in the US which has an annual "Be Rich" campaign where they encourage everyone to live out this verse: Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Tim 6:18) ... in fact before you read on take a couple of minutes to watch this clip: http://vimeo.com/110065537 ... go on, I'll wait!

Paul is talking to "those who are rich in this present world" - I hope you appreciate that while you're (likely!) not the richest person in Australia, you're in the top couple of percent in the world. Paul's challenge is to ask what are you putting your hope in? In riches or in God? And if you want to put your hope in God, the response is to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. It's core to the way God works - his generosity is shown in lots of ways - in his grace to us, in how he lavishes beauty in our world.

It's with that kind of spirit of generosity and willingness to share that a group of Christadelphians started an aged care home in 1946. It was a project initiated to help Christadelphians who needed care with places for just 10 people. Nearly 70 years later 20

Christadelphian Aged Care (CAC) with God's blessing has grown to care for nearly 1,000 residents from the wider community - many who are in a very vulnerable stage of their lives.

It's a vulnerable stage, but it's also a stage where they have time to talk and a life of experiences to share - good and bad. Experiences that make spending time with them a real blessing - sometimes joyful, sometimes sad and often profound.

I've been involved with CAC for a few years in various ways, but my favourite time is the hour or so I spend at Southhaven on Sunday nights.

I think about it as a way of understanding what's really important in life. What's left when when you can't get through life with your physical strength.

What have I learned? There are some really beautiful people who have managed to grow old gracefully. Their contribution to our community isn't economic, but it's their ability to lift one's spirit with a joyful greeting and to share something that's been important in their lives. And they're able to do that even though they're living with physical difficulties which

restrict their lives and mean they have to live with support.

Even if my contribution is just a couple of sentences to ask how they're going, their response - the smile on their face - keeps me wanting to come back!

Paul finishes that paragraph saying, "In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (I Tim 6:19). In one sense that might seem selfish - I'm just doing that to earn points. I'm thinking it's saying something different.

When I connect with people, talk to them and encourage them, I'm connecting with God's core purpose. I'm laying up a foundation, a treasure - not because I'm earning something but because I'm living the God way. I'm more in tune with God. I'm bringing a glimpse of the kingdom into now and making it real in my own life ... and blessing those around me, and helping them see what God really is about.

There's literally a lifetime of experience in each resident in CAC. Learn how to "be rich" and tap into it!

Colin Hillman

Message From a Traveller Katie Norwood Hey fe Hope a

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Intern ationa l trave thing. l is B ler ove eing a first a strange rseas w timer The Vi tr i can te ne, ll you th just one f avel, r n i eye op ener bu ot only is it end I t you an much!

84 Sh exp W aftesb throug e're literally erience so ury R h oad res an cities, lang zooming ua d Burwo that h borders! One ges, cultuo d, NS as been t W 278 particu hought mind 3 lately l a r l y A o is to b ustral e appre n my ia ciative ..

... of what you have at home, especially the little things. You don't realise until you're away for a significant amount of time what it really means to have a nice clean private hot shower ready for your use whenever you want it or to be able to have freshly cracked pepper on your delicious home cooked meals. Whilst travelling is still worth the communal showers and lack of freshly cracked pepper (at least in my opinion), it sure does make you appreciate the comforts of your own home and makes you realise how blessed you truly are. So the next time you jump in that hot steamy shower, have that home cooked meal or anything that you take for granted say that extra thank you and show your appreciation for the little things in life.

Love from across the seas, Katie 21

SCYP Committee Vox Pops Making Nachos - Sam Hughes It’s a secret - Jono Smith

What’s your secret talent?

Giving high-fives to train guards - Cecelia Muir

Mission Impossible 4 - Lachie Cubbin

“I’m sorry.” “That’s nice, I’m Chris.” - Chris Pooley

“There will be thousands of people in the city tonight.” “Why?” “Because they live there.” - Annabel O’Toole

Eragon - Stuart Muir

Which movie deserves a sequel?

The Other Guys - Jake Pooley

What’s your best dad joke?

There are 2 major benefits of dementia.

1. Y - Nicola Fenger

Hark 10,000 Thousand Voices - Phil Pooley Fair Thee Well - Deacon Jones - Nita Lawrie

What was the last song you listened to?

State of Dreaming - Marina and the Diamonds - Amaliah Muir 22

A+E - Clean Bandit - Cameron Hillman

BIRTHS Claude Alan Errington (Belinda Errington and David Philp) BAPTISMS Taelicia Wills (QLD) Isaac Powell (Mt Colah) Laura Sheed (West Ryde) Johanna Dangerfield (Gosford) ENGAGEMENTS Renee Bourke and Matt Payton Steph Jamieson and Patrick Tappouras Gordon Gong WEDDINGS Joh Lynch and Jonny Connelly Deb Collins and Matt MacKinnon Lainie Strempel and Glen Verdich Gordon Gong

Lemon meringue pie with raspberry coulis - Lauren O'Toole

What do you think would make a good ice-cream flavour?

Bacon - Lachlan Fenger

Double mango cookie dough sorbet Vanilla - Isaac Pogson - Dan Blackwood 23

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