Edition 40, September 2014
Connecting Christadelphian Young People
Men's Health
FROM THE EDITOR The Vine is published quarterly by the Sydney Christadelphian Young People (SCYP)
Hello!
COORDINATOR Georgia Muir
It’s September already! How did this happen?
EDITORIAL TEAM Georgia Muir, Dan Blackwood, Naomi Joseph, Martin Russell and Isaac Pogson LAYOUT/DESIGN Isaac Pogson MASTHEAD DESIGN Alisa Thompson CONTRIBUTORS
It opens from both ends, so make sure you open it from the right side!!! (or else bad stuff might happen to you!)
WRITERS (in order of appearance): MEN'S SECTION: Rosie Palmer, Tim Mogg, Kylie Shamwah, Mick O'Neill and Ben Joseph
Also, check out the online version at scyp.net/thevine or issuu.com/scyp for a FULL COLOUR reading experience!
WOMEN'S SECTION: Rosie Palmer, Chiss
Mogg, Naomi Joseph, Robyn Henry, Jen Hillhouse, Robyn Johnson and Mick O'Neill THANKS ALSO TO: Michael Pogson (Comic Corner), Cecelia Muir (art on pg 8) and Kylie Shamwah (art on pg 9) PHOTOGRAPHY: MEN'S SECTION: Georgia Muir (pg 10) and
Stuart Muir (pg 13-17)
WOMEN'S SECTION: Naomi Joseph (pg 2 &
14) and Georgia Muir (pg 10,12 & 15) COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Georgia Muir
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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This jam-packed edition is looking at health. Health is something I enjoy reading about - it’s fun to hear what works for other people (those amazing too-good-to-be-true fatblasting miracle pills always have such inspiring stories), and I like trying new things.
Enjoy! Georgia
Men's Health contents
edition 40 _ september 2014
4 Jabez 5
Men's Health: Sitting is the New Smoking
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Two of us
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A Bloke for God
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Stigma & Mental Health
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SCYP June Activity Photos: Ice Skating
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Jabez
by Rosie Palmer A Biblical Man “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” 1 Chron 4:10 (NIV) This prayer is composed of 4 parts. 1. Jabez asks God to bless him 2. He asks God to enlarge his territory or to increase his responsibility 3. He prays that God will be with him and stay close 4. Lastly Jabez asks that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain. So why is this important? The prayer of Jabez reveals that Jabez understands what many people do not – that there is one God and that he should be at the centre of our life. God wants to bless every life, but first we have to allow God into our life and let Him work through us. Whats important is that when we want to reach goals and accomplishments we have God on our side. Proverbs 16:3 says “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” It is important that we understand and practice this close relationship with God and equally important that we stay close to God and rely on His continued support and guidance throughout life. Jabez clearly knew and prayed specifically to the One who could protect him from evil and pain and at the end of the verse it's made clear that God approved of this faithful prayer by granting it. It's important to note that Jabez was passionate in his plea to God: “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel”. God wants to hear that we need him through passionate prayer. This prayer of Jabez reminds us that everyone struggles with choosing to rely on themselves or to rely on God. Life is a growing process, and it's clear that God is faithful in caring for those who seek him. Jabez set a good example of how God wants everyone to come to him in passionate prayer.
God answers prayers when you trust Him: “They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.” 1 Chron 5:20 Prayers to God also please Him: “The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. (Proverbs 15:8) 4
Men's Health: Sitting is the New Smoking
Tim Mogg
Hey Men! I’ve got a health related metaphor for you. This metaphor is drawn from the latest research about what it takes to stay healthy in life. The metaphor is a simple one. The spiritual message is this: It is through our behaviour that others see Christ in us. If we are to be effective Christians we need to make decisions that keep us healthy and active. We are meant to have the capacity to help others and we are also meant to actually help them. Like it or not, our bodies reflect the decisions we make. Your body is a temple, respect it. You are an amazing machine; don’t get stuck rusting away on the couch. Did you know that an Australian male who finishes high school this year is expected to die 5.6 years earlier than the females in his year? Man oh man! Why is this so? It is because, ‘Men’s denial and disregard of physical discomfort, risk and health care needs are all means of demonstrating difference from women, who are presumed to embody these “feminine” characteristics. These behaviours serve both as proof of men’s superiority over women and as proof of their ranking among ‘real’ men’? 5
Or is it some other reason? Some more stats for you: • The leading cause of death for Australian males in 2008 was 1) ischaemic heart disease (including angina, heart attacks and blocked arteries of the heart), 2) trachea and lung cancer and 3) stroke. • Men are more likely to die from transport accidents, skin cancer and diseases of the liver. • 15% of all males have a chronic condition caused by injury. • Almost half (44%) of Australian men will be diagnosed with cancer before they are 75, compared with under one-third of women. • Only 4.8% of men meet the recommended guidelines for vegetable and fruit consumption. • Only 33% of men meet the National Physical Activity guidelines. (Data from the ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey and ABS Causes of Death, Australia, 2008) The reasons for this difference in life expectancy are multifactorial. A small percentage may be due to genetic factors, but the large amount of this difference is purely social. Men do things that harm their longevity. Is that part of your definition of ‘being a man’? ‘Being a man’ is a complex thing. And something that a single Vine article cannot even scratch the surface of. So… as you lean back in your chair in a manly and confident, yet relaxed way, after your hard day of whatever-it-was-that-you-did I would like to discuss one thing in detail with you: Sitting is the new smoking. Studies estimate that every hour of (seated) TV watching we do cuts about 22 minutes from our life span. This contrasts with estimates that smokers shorten their lives by about 11 minutes per cigarette. So… that episode of {insert name of popular trashy sitcom} you watched the other day did not waste 60 minutes of your life. It was more like 82! A man who sits more than six hours a day has an 18 percent increased risk of dying from heart disease and a 7.8 percent increased chance of dying from diabetes compared with someone who sits for three hours or less a day. Scared straight out of your chair? Good. Because the remedy is as simple as standing up and taking activity breaks. Interrupting your sedentary time as often as possible and making frequent posture changes is important. Even breaks as short as one minute can improve your health. Sitting for an extended period causes your body to shut down at a metabolic level. When your muscles, especially your leg muscles, are immobile, your circulation slows. Poor circulation and inactivity leads to poor control of blood sugar and cholesterol levels, among other things, which all increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. This means that sitting down for nine hours a day is bad for your health whether you hit the gym or go straight home. It is bad whether you are morbidly obese or marathon-runner thin. What is critical and maybe even as important as going to the gym, is interrupting all that sitting time. Although exercise is very good for you, if you spend the rest of your waking hours sitting, the health benefits are reduced. In a study of more than 17,000 people over 12 years, researchers found that the more time people spent sitting, the earlier they died—regardless of age, body weight, or how much they exercised. 6
It appears that Albert Einstein was right! (Check him out in the quotes at the end.) We are meant to keep moving. You are either improving or getting worse. Staying still for too long is not a good idea. I think that Jesus understood the benefits of positive thinking and that this is linked with the limitless nature of God’s power and grace. This is encapsulated in the simple phrase, ‘Seek and you shall find’. I apologise for the negativity of this article thus far. Afterall, this is an article about health, not sickness. So I have five ‘Positively Healthy’ tips for you. I have also provided the negative equivalent for clarity, but if you are going to focus on something, I recommend that you focus on the positive. As you read the list, think about how each point can be applied in a ways that would positively benefit your physical and your spiritual health. Positively Healthy 1) Stay active. (Don’t just sit there.) 2) Fuel the machine. (Garbage in = Garbage out.) 3) Work to consistently improve. (Don’t fall over more times than you get back up.) 4) Make friends. (Don’t go it alone.) 5) Respect the past, plan for the future, but most importantly, enjoy the present. (Don’t worry about what you cannot change, because you will end up not enjoying what you have.) God bless your health, Tim. Health and intellect are the two blessings of life. –Menander Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. – Plato Garbage in garbage out – George Fuechsel Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God, and value it next to a good conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of; a blessing that money cannot buy. -Izaak Walton Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. -World Health Organization
The part can never be well unless the whole is well. – Plato Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. – Michael Pollan We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle 7
Two of us HEZEKIAH & ISAIAH
Hezekiah and Isaiah were friends long ago in the Nation of Judah. Hezekiah’s health is the stuff of poetry. Really.
organising our Psalms. I hope my writing survives to help others in their trials. Maybe, even, the Promised One.
HEZEKIAH: Speaking of health, my friend Isaiah steered me through a terrible crisis. As I grew up, I was aware that Isaiah watched me with interest. He was pleased when I worked on restoring the temple, and its services, and when I arranged for some of Solomon’s proverbs to be recovered and copied out. All good. However, my connection with Isaiah became most intense when two things happened at once. First of all, the Assyrian commander Sennacherib brought an army into Judah and they surrounded our city. 8
Well, as you will know, the Assyrian army died overnight. However, there was another deliverance too. My health. I will let my friend Isaiah tell about that.
ISAIAH: Being a prophet is not always easy. Actually, seldom easy. We have grand visions, but sometimes it is very hard to see where it is all going, like: having a good king so disfigured that he is hard to look at. That was Hezekiah. And worse, God sent me to Hezekiah to break the news that his disease was terminal. Hezekiah, sad, stricken, disfigured, turned away, faced the wall, and cried. I hurried from the room. But a miracle happened! Before I was out the door God told me to go back to tell the king that his tears were seen, and his prayer was heard, and the Assyrian army would be destroyed, and the King’s life would be extended. Fifteen years extension! What a relief. And to show that this would happen, we were given a sign.
I was so relieved at my double deliverance that I wrote a poem about it. And I renewed my efforts in
We had a kind of sundial in the city that told the time by the sun’s shadow moving down some stairs. Well, the
And secondly, just when I felt the need for God most, I was struck down with a terrible disease, which prevented me going into the temple! I was childless, excluded, sick.
shadow ascended ten steps. Yes, it went backwards! I was told to lay a bunch of figs on Hezekiah’s sores, and he would recover. And he did. After that, Hezekiah married, and had a child, although I will not be around for some time to find
out how that child turns out. (Just as well. Ed.) Hezekiah wrote about his salvation, and I read it and thought: “this writing is good, I will put it with my own writings, and write it out again, as seen from our viewpoint”.
I know now that one day there will be an even more victorious king of our nation, I wonder how all these aspects of suffering and glory will work out in that King’s life.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kylie Shamwah (with acknowledgements to “Good Weekend”) Hezekiah’s writing is in Isaiah Chapter 38/9-20 and Isaiah’s adaption of it in Isaiah Chapter 53. Isaiah’s wondering about its significance is inferred from 1 Peter 1/12. The note of Hezekiah’s men copying out proverbs of Solomon is in Proverbs Chapter 25 v1. The picture of Isaiah laying “a lump of figs on the boil” is picked up in his poem in Isaiah Chapter 53 verse 6 as “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”, and in such New Testament writings as 1Peter 2/24: “bore our sins”. The Psalms have fifteen “Songs of Ascents”, (Psalms 120 to 134) , the same number as the years added to the Hezekiah’s life when he was given a sign that he would “ascend into the house of he Lord”.
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A bloke for God Interesting idea, being a “bloke for God”. I s’pose it means being someone who loves God and longs to do what He wants but also be true to who and what they are – a bloke. I’m the kinda guy who loves camping, 4WDing, fishing, cricket, football (all 4 codes) and tinkering in the garage or garden shed with the radio on and the dog at my feet. Give me a power tool (especially a chain saw) and I’m loving it. …and then there’s the fam. There is NOTHING like playing with my kids or
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Mick O’Neill
spending hours of an evening talking to my wife! I have been truly blessed with these 3 individuals and my life couldn’t be better. But I s’pose the key thing is when you look at all of the above, none of those would be possible without God. I reckon that’s the key. We need to acknowledge that without Him there would be nothing else and therefore no enjoying all of the things we do. Therefore, thank you God for my family and all that comes with it (and power tools).
S
tigma &
M
ental
As some of you may know, I’m coming to the end of a 4-year Social Work degree. A degree where I’ve written thousands and thousands of words, throughout several well researched, and academically referenced, tedious-to-read, and laborious-to-write essays. Many of these essays were about mental health and its affect on individuals and communities in our current society. And even after all this hard work in studying the emerging phenomena of mental health issues, I still have no one-size-fits-all answer of how to overcome, understand, deal-with, ignore, accept, endure, withstand, or prevent the issues that arise when I, or someone I know experiences episodes of mental illness. So what to write to you?… First things first… Let me say straight away (and I’m not joking or being patronizing) – if you or someone you know has been regularly feeling down or depressed, if you feel as though you have no-one to turn to, if you feel alone or unwanted, if you’ve been battling dark thoughts & feelings, if you often feel anxious or get easily upset… there are people who genuinely want to hear how you are feeling. People who can really help with those thoughts and feelings you’ve been having. It’s important to know that while your thoughts are unique and your feelings are real, you are not abnormal, and you are definitely not the only one experiencing these feelings. At the end of this article, I’ve listed a few websites and phone numbers of people who want to hear what you have to say. The first step of asking for help and direction is often the hardest, but the rewards of calling or connecting are often immeasurable. Did you know that attending to our mental health is something that each and every one
H
ealth Ben Joseph
of us will need to do at some point in our lives, regardless of medical condition, age, sex, race, relationship status or spiritual connection??? Every one of us deals with ups and downs of mental wellness throughout our days, weeks and years. There may be degrees to which each of us experience these if you often feel moments, but it’s a anxious or get common, universal easily upset… experience that there are people all people face who genuinely at some point in their lives, often on want to hear how you are feeling. multiple occasions. Yet, the term ‘Mental Health’ has one of those connotations that for some reason conjures up an image of someone in a padded cell, wearing a white straight-jacket and a muzzle. And the question I’d like to explore is - why is that? If it’s a common experience for people to face moments of mental illness in life, or for someone you’re close to to face these issues… Why is there still a stigma attached to mental health throughout not only the general society, but also our closely connected Christian community???
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Is it fair that this stigma against those experiencing symptoms of poor mental health exists within our circles? Is it fair that we ostracise people because of something that is often not even in their control? I’m sure you know what I mean when I ask these questions… The times when we avoid people who seem down or depressed, all because we don’t know what to say when they’re acting that way... When we avoid people who behave differently, who make us feel awkward or they don’t quite ‘get’ social cues… What about the chatter behind people’s 11
backs, or even the derogatory comments meant to be “just” overheard (using loaded language like – Spastic, Retard, Dumb, Stupid, Strange, Bipolar, Embarrassing, Boring, Weird, etc)… The times when we exclude people from social activities because we don’t want it to be awkward for the other, “more important” people… This behaviour can often be so subtle we don’t even realise we’re doing it. This attitude develops from and contributes to social stigma. And that’s not a good thing. Stigma is a social concept that works to discriminate between people who are accepted as ‘insiders’ and people who are rejected as ‘outsiders’, it’s the “us” vs “them” mentality. There are so many examples of groups that have experienced social stigma over the centuries – Jews living in 1940s These are Germany, Muslims examples of catching flights people who overseas at the turn of were shunned by the century, Christians society but Jesus currently living in focused on the northern Iraq, HIV/ fact that these AIDS sufferers, Women stigmatized who can’t give birth, people were wearing God’s children. Women the hijab, Refugees escaping by boat, Conscientious Objectors during the World Wars, the list goes on… I’d like to put it to you that people experiencing symptoms of poor mental health also experience discrimination, stigmatisation and marginalisation.
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Here’s an interesting example: it’s commonly assumed that people with a mental illness such as schizophrenia are more violent than other people and so we need to steer clear of them for safety reasons. However, interestingly, the facts are that the most violent group within society is young men aged 18-30 who’ve been drinking… not someone living with schizophrenia. My point is, that we (the insiders) have the power to create “outsiders” not based on facts, but based 12
on an idea that a group of people is different. It’s interesting when we bring this discussion into a context of ‘following Jesus’. In Jesus, we see a man who experienced the rejection of society first-hand. In one story Jesus was even accused of having the power of the Devil (or Beelzebub)! Jesus also told his Disciples to expect to be rejected because of Him. But even though Jesus felt this rejection, he also sought out and developed relationships with those who experienced stigma, discrimination and marginalisation. People like The Samaritan Woman, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, The Leper, The Blind, The Demon Afflicted, The Bleeding Woman and of course – Legion. These are examples of people who were shunned by society but Jesus focused on the fact that these stigmatized people were God’s children… Beloved of God. And Jesus treated them so. And so I have a suggestion that may help make a change within your own circles when it comes to stigma and mental health. It springs from an article written by the Salvation Army (2011, p.62). Its all about the idea of ‘selfishness’ – thinking of yourself before thinking of others (Classic ‘insider’ behaviour!). Give your attention to [addressing] one other devastating demon of the soul: the anti-god force of selfishness. If God is love and God’s great command is to love, then selfishness is the greatest life-denying, oppression-inflicting, injustice-creating force in our world. Selfishness is catastrophic. Selfishness restricts life to the boundary of selfinterest Selfishness imprisons people within their own little worlds Selfishness damages people in the swath of its desires Selfishness denies justice and the rights of others Selfishness ignores people victimized by poverty Selfishness excludes the marginalized
Tragically, selfishness blinds its victims to a life worth living. Love, on the other hand, is life-giving. To live is to love and to love is to live. It is God’s love and God’s love in us that advocates boldly for the vulnerable and the unlovable. The ethic of love refuses to muzzle the truth The principle of love includes the excluded The emotion of love inspires creativity, generosity and risk The morality of love seeks justice for all The boundaries of love are set far beyond self-interest Fortunately, there is more love in God than there is selfishness in us.
References: The Salvation Army 2011, ‘Jesus and justice’, International Social Justice Commission, viewed online 3 August 2014. Lifeline – 13 11 14
Headspace – www.headspace.org.au
Beyond Blue – www.beyondblue.org. au
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SCYP June Activity: Ice Skating
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Wellbeing
Robyn Johnson
I think that the key to wellbeing is contentment. Contentment with what you have, where you are, who you are with and who you are. It’s easy to look at other people and see how they are smarter (or dumber) than we are, are better (or worse) looking, have fabulous clothes (or not), are more popular, more musical and/or have a better job/house/dog/phone/TV/sibling than we do. It is not easy to overcome these feeling of envy or superiority, particularly when the media continually encourages us to want the next new thing and to look down on people who do not. In psychology literature, wellbeing has two definitions. One emphasizes ‘feelings of pleasure, happiness, satisfaction and the presence of a positive mood’ in people, while the other emphasizes ‘experiences of greater depth such as meaning, purpose, importance, fulfillment …’. It is interesting that science has shown that although meaningful tasks or interactions may not give us pleasure, they can contribute to our sense of wellbeing. Paul gives us excellent advice in Philippians 4: ‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ Contentment is an active state of mind, not a passive one. Paul says he has ‘learned to be content’. I think he explained the secret of contentment in the previous verses, where he tells us to meditate on whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. This list is very similar to the second definition of wellbeing – Paul recommends we focus our minds on meaningful things to improve our wellbeing, rather than the things we find so much easier and more interesting to think about. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul begs two sisters, Euodia and Syntyche, to stop arguing and be ‘of the same mind in the Lord’. The fullest wellbeing we will experience will be in the Kingdom, but there is plenty of time to practice now! If we work together in the way Paul suggested, focusing on both the pleasurable and meaningful aspects of wellbeing, to ‘rejoice in the Lord always’, to let our ‘gentleness be known’ and to bring our troubles to God, then ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’. That seems like true wellbeing to me. References:
18 Monnot, M. J., & Beehr, T. A. (2014). Subjective Well-Being at Work: Disentangling Source Effects of Stress and Support on Enthusiasm, Contentment, and Meaningfulness. Journal of Vocational Behavior.
cool in
the Furnace
Prior to the production recently put on as fundraising for the Liverpool BEC my favourite memories of Cool in the Furnace were listening to it on an old mono tape deck in the back of mum and dad’s Blue VW Combi Bus (THE Dac Dac). It was a production that was put on by a youth group in the States and it was great. The bloke who played Nebuchadnezzar was brilliant at the time and it was fantastic to sing along to the songs as a family. Therefore, this recent one…? It had to be good!
It was AWESOME! I was transported back to the 70’s to the back seat of the Dac Dac and I was once again singing those great songs with my family (I was a ‘bit’ older and they were HEAPS younger) but we were all singing. Nebuchadnezzar (TJ Reding) for some reason even sounded like the American bloke who played the part on my old tape, how astounding is that!? Although he did scare the living daylights out of my son, I thought he was spectacular. Stuart Muir did a great job as Daniel and the reading from the book made it seem more like ‘story time’ which was great. Nita Lawrie as always did a fantastic job with the music and a BIG thank you must go to her and her young (mostly) band. Jacqui Shaw and Rosie Russell did a wonderful job with the choir and with guiding the rest of us plebs through the congregational song. Daniel’s friends were weird and the Angel grooved a little too much for my piece of mind but the whole night was a brilliant success. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful talents within our Spiritual family. I can’t sign off without thanking our Heavenly Father for giving us such wonderful gifts. Thank you Father. Mick O’Neill 15 19
Women at the Well
is an annual weekend retreat for
ladies to spend time together; learning, socialising, chatting, sharing, encouraging, and building stronger relationships between each other and God. This year it was held in May on the Central Coast, which provided a lovely setting for what was a spiritually uplifting and revitalising weekend. Jenelle Joseph spoke about Mary, and how her life was both incredibly difficult and extremely blessed by God. It was interesting exploring the concept of ‘being blessed’, and how that looks in God’s eyes compared to what we might expect. Janelle’s ideas, combined with other presentations and discussions, helped to prompt thought-provoking conversations that really added to the spiritual side of the weekend. The ladies who attended this year came from a huge range of backgrounds and were at all ages and stages of life, so there were always a variety of opinions in each discussion. It was really refreshing to hear personal stories about how each woman viewed the world and reconciled God’s plan within her own life.
The whole weekend was run with a very relaxed, warm and inviting atmosphere. Being on the Central Coast, most took advantage of the free Saturday afternoon to explore the local shops and beachfront in beautiful weather while others stayed at the hotel and relaxed.
Women at the Well is holding a day event on Saturday, 30th August in Castle Hill, and next year’s weekend away is scheduled for 15th17th May. Put these dates in your diary and keep an eye out for 12 20
more information. We’ll see you there!
Jen Hillhouse
COMIC CORNER
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Choices When I was a teenager most girls left school by the age of 15. Very few girls even considered going to University. If one dared, school teaching was regarded as the safest option. This attitude remains amongst some Christadelphians. Two young ladies told me recently that they had been told that having tertiary training was unnecessary for girls because they would have to leave work and be at home mums soon after they were married. Most families would now allow their daughters to consider other options. Fifty years ago art and design were not considered to be career options ( for either sex). For girls, dressmaking was a career option and a very desirable female skill. Rather than checking out Forever New or Zara, for example, a new outfit was whizzed up for Saturday night. At school, girls were also encouraged to learn to cook. Boys could not chose dressmaking or cooking. ( Maybe they could in France and Italy because men excel in those areas there. ) Choices for sport? Netball, Hockey or Softball. Tennis if you wanted to meet boys on the court when you left school. Women's soccer was unheard of!!! Oh, yes, if you were lucky you could learn to ride a horse. Marriage was accepted as the natural step around the age of 21. After all, one had been out of school for 6 years and it was time to move on. Backpacking O/S was almost unheard of for a girl. That came after marriage or with a friend when you were much older. So, choices were much more limited and role models more clearly defined. and, most of us just got on with it! 22 10
by Robyn Henry Being a young woman must be very exciting now. There are so many options open to you: • a wide variety of subject choices at school • heaps of career options social freedom • the chance to travel • the choice of when or if to marry • the decision about when or if to have children...and how many • the opportunity to work for as long as one wishes in adulthood and to pursue interesting careers. The list goes on and on. And society says that these are YOUR choices. Adults are there for advice only. Because if you dream your dreams you can reach the stars. In my practice I see lots of motivated, confident and happy young women. They are making exciting choices and enjoying their journey. But I also see some for whom the choices have proven to be overwhelming. They are standing at crossroads, unsure about which turn to take. This can lead to anxiety or depression. The years between 16 and 25 are the healthiest, physically, that a woman will ever be. They are also the years when emotional instability is quite common. If you feel anxious or depressed, talk to an older person (more life experience) whom you trust. Your friends may be overwhelmed by your sadness and move away, give immature advice or talk to other people about your dilemmas. The idea of freedom was God's idea from the very beginning. He really only gave Adam and Eve one rule. Peter said: "live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil." (1 Peter 2:16). Jesus said in John 14: 21: “Anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them". Quite a promise to help us make exciting choices. 11 23
What does it mean to be a 21st Century Christian Man or Woman? What an incredibly heavy question! As a guy - what is expected of you? To own a ute? Shovel dirt? Earn a lot of money? Support a family? Make the perfect cup of tea? Speak at church? Is it your job to do the dishes? Is it your job to admit you are wrong? Are you allowed to be vulnerable? Is it ok to have a big sensitive heart? Do you have to pay for dinner?
As a girl - what is expected of you? To enjoy craft and baking? Are you expected to have a career? Play music? Is it your job to provide for a family? What about having babies? Are you expected to be endlessly positive? Can you rely on your boyfriend to fix the updates on your phone? Or is that being unhealthily dependant?
Naomi Joseph I think as young men and women, we are exposed to many many images of what is expected of us... and as Christians we can feel other kinds of pressure as well that come with a questioning mind, open heart and a faithful conviction.
There is a story about Jesus visiting some friends in a town called Bethany. Jesus was often passing through this city during his years of teaching and would often stay with these friends. They were three siblings: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The story in Luke 10 features the two sisters: Mary and Martha. It starts with the sister Martha who opens her house for Jesus and his disciples. Martha then heads off into the kitchen to start cooking up a storm. The other sister Mary sits down with Jesus and invests in a deep and meaningful conversation. As Jesus and Mary are chatting, Martha comes storming out of the kitchen…”Lord don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” It’s kind of a funny situation, I can just imagine Martha in the kitchen juggling a couple of pots, slamming a few cupboard doors, sighing and muttering away, then - she’s had enough. She storms out of the kitchen, cooking utensil in hand and apron flying - “Lord...tell my sister to get in here and help me!”. Jesus and Mary, mid sentence look up with open mouths... Then Jesus says: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things”... How’s that for validation! Martha - you are stressed out, busy and exhausted… “but only one thing is needed and Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her”. Basically Jesus says to her - when I come round, essentially, there’s only one thing that is necessary, there’s really only one thing that I need - I’m basically here to spend time with you, I’m basically here for relationship. You’re busy and worried and stressed, but please don’t feel you need to do that to impress me. Really, all I want is relationship. I think this is a really interesting story because Jesus challenges the traditional serving role of women in an ancient culture to make the point that what he really wants is for his followers to be open-hearted, broad-minded and true to their conviction. Interestingly, this story is juxtaposed with the parable of the Good Samaritan which highlights the importance of serving others and interestingly...it is a man who plays this nursing/caring role…(again perhaps slightly unconventional). But what is really highlighted in these stories is an importance of action that is motivated by belief; change that comes from a conviction of faith, hope and love. 248
Living as a 21st Century Christian Man or Woman means that you have chosen to live deliberately based on a set of beliefs and values. And so as Christians, I think it’s important to not get caught up in trying to fill a role, but to dig deeply into what we hold dear and what motivates us to live authentically. We will all find ourselves playing roles sometimes - as a son or daughter, an employee, a team member, a friend, a brother or sister, a partner, a leader etc. But when we find ourselves in these roles, I think what is important is not embedded in how successfully we fill them, but how authentically we live them. To live intentionally means you have to know what you value. It means you have to have a picture in your head about the kind of person you want to be in the future. It means thinking - Do I want to be someone who nurtures and cares for others? Do I want to be someone who is outspoken about faith and conviction and justice? Do I want to be someone who is closed about my feelings or do I want to be the person who others find approachable? Do I want to be someone who has a good relationship with my family or do I want to be independant and selfreliant? It’s all about what you value. When we decide to accept Jesus as our master, we don’t suddenly get to just stop living out the roles we find ourselves in. Accepting Jesus is more about committing to a shift in thinking from an old life of reactions and passions, to living a purpose-filled, God-centred life. And Paul says that this choice to rise above the our natural reactions is a kind of freedom like no other. He says it’s like a death to one way of living and a new life - a whole new way of seeing the world, turning over a new leaf, a fresh start. Romans 6v3-5 That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country. Paul says that baptism is like dying to this old way of living and rising again to a new life. It doesn’t mean that we will not encounter the same trouble we would have otherwise. It just means that we have committed to looking at our situation through the lense of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Accepting Jesus means that you have chosen to live from a place of conviction. Paul says that when we identify as Jesus-followers we should “start living like those being alive from the dead” (Romans 6v13) - start living like you’ve been given a new life, start living like you get to create a new world, start living like you’ve been called to be part of God’s kingdom. So as young men and women, in whatever role we find ourselves, let’s stop getting caught up in the expectations that are hurled at us, let’s stop being concerned about the image we portray as a perfect student, or boyfriend, or wife, or employee. Instead let’s start thinking about what motivates us to love and good works. Let’s start living authentically. Let’s start living the way we want God’s kingdom to look like now. 25 9
In my personal experience I’ve encountered two main attitudes towards health amongst women. – On the one hand, women’s health is becoming a popular lifestyle choice and is some what of a fashion or fad. Being able to say ‘I do Bikram Yoga’ before I make my kale and chia smoothy while wearing my new Lorna Jane tights and my $450 Garmen heart-rate-monitor enabled watch that keeps track of how many calories I burn while I’m having this conversation’ seems to make women feel as though they are enriched individuals and wellness warriors – a goddesses, taking care of their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing (and spending lots of $$$ to do so). – At the other end of the spectrum I have encountered many females who demonstrate absolute apathy towards their health and fitness and are at a loss to see why other women value it and spend time pursuing an active lifestyle and health diet. Common things I’ve heard said amongst these girls include ‘I eat what ever I want’, ‘Diet??? Pass me the Doritos’ and just a general ‘ain’t nobody got time for that’ attitude whenever some one talks about a balanced diet or exercise. Now I am not criticizing either group’s attitude towards health and fitness – especially since at different times in my life I have adopted both of these views as well as other attitudes to healthy living. It can be confusing to know to what degree to care about and put time/money/effort into your health as a woman, let alone to decipher the mountains of information that exists about how to achieve health and wellness as a female. We are all brought up a certain way in a certain household that has certain attitudes towards health and fitness. Then there is the media, your friendship group, popular culture…all of these things contribute to our perspective on what we should be doing to take care of ourselves. Well, when I’m confused about the right path to take in life or how much to care about an issue, I think the most helpful thing that we can do as Christians is to search out the answer from the one who gave us our life and bodies in the first place. I.e. - what does God think about all of this? Did he intend for us to get so carried away with health and fitness? Or is apathy closer to the correct choice? In 1 Cor 3:16-17 & 1 Cor 6:19-20 Paul explains that Your body is a temple of God, and that we need to give it the treatment it is due so that God can dwell in us. So we know that God wants us to take care of our bodies. They are a gift that He has given us and looking after our health and physical wellbeing is part of upkeeping these temples and respecting this gift. We know how to take care of our bodies – even on a basic level. We know that what we put into our bodies is what we will get out of them. God showed us the value of a healthy diet in the story of Daniel. Daniel and his friends didn’t give in to the gluttony of endless celebrations and gorge themselves on wine and pig out on the lavish food supplied in the palace. They ate vegetables and water (i.e. the equivalent in that time of a health and YES portion-controlled diet) and as a result were the healthiest and strongest individuals in the kingdom. It is also essential to take care of your physical fitness. Paul uses the metaphor of ‘running the race’ and ‘disciplining your body’ with exercise and training to demonstrate the positive values and ways of thinking that these things teach you to adopt….endurance, temperance, self-control, respect, peace and so much more. 266
While there is no doubt that God values our physical health and wellbeing – and that as a result we should be putting in effort as women to eat well and be physically fit, the challenge is finding the balance. It is oh-so-easy (particularly for women as health is more of a fashion choice than ever these days) to get carried away and swept up into this world of health and fitness. A common criticism of women who pursue health and fitness is that they are vain – spending too much time on themselves and not focusing on others. Pouring time and anxiety into health and fitness, and particularly viewing it as a tool to “look good” and “keep up” with others can be detrimental to our spiritual focus. BALANCE is key. God reminds us to keep things in perspective when it comes to worrying about what we will eat or what our bodies look like. Jesus says in Matt 4:4 Man does not live by bread alone. Remember that while it is so important to eat a balanced diet, the most important diet you should worry about is your spiritual one. Make sure that what you are putting into your mind is a healthy selection of good, godly influences that will give you the energy you need to do God’s work and to prevent spiritual “illness”. In 1 Tim 4:8, Paul reminds us that while physical training is of some value, the most important type of training you will ever do is training yourself in godliness. This means giving your spiritual muscles a workout – being proactive, getting off the “couch” and doing good things for others, spreading God’s word, working-out your willpower against making dodgy decisions and in favour of serving and enriching those around you. As women living in a society where we are bombarded by an ever-evolving and expanding cascade of health and fitness tips and influences, the most important thing to remember is who is in control. God wants you to be healthy, and yes that does mean using self-control and discipline in relation to diet and exercise and not polluting his temple by putting harmful substances (think cigarettes, alcohol, an over-indulgence in unhealthy fats and sugars) into your body. God also has a bigger picture in mind extending beyond your personal physical health. He has given us access to healthy food, He has given us capable bodies, He has given us education and understanding about the benefits of health and fitness. He DOES expect us to take care of ourselves with these blessings. He also wants us to then, as healthy individuals, carry on with His much more important tasks of spreading the love and good news of the Kingdom of God to everyone – to be a walking example of His love and kindness. A few final thoughts to motivate your with your physical and spiritual health pursuits: Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Acts 17:28 In Him we live, move and have our being.
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Dorcas/Tabitha
by Rosie Palmer A Biblical Woman
“Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which when translated in Greek is called Dorcas): This woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.” Acts 9:36 We only meet this woman Dorcas briefly in Acts but we today can learn fantastic lessons from her. Dorcas lived in a town called Joppa, a town on the Mediterranean coast about 30 miles from Jerusalem. Dorcas was among a group of people that followed Christ and was among the first gathering groups of Christians. The Scripture mentions and remembers her for her abounding deeds of kindness and charity – an amazing thing to still be remembered for 2000 years later. Imagine how extraordinary she must have been! In Acts we read that the community was so upset about her death that they summoned Peter to come. Peter turned to her body and said, “Get up, Tabitha.” “Then she opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.” (Acts 9:40 -42) Dorcas was clearly a faithful servant of the Lord. It seems that Dorcas was always willing and ready to extend herself and was a true comfort to those around her. Interestingly enough, she is the only woman in the Bible to be given the label of “disciple”. If we look at what disciple means, we discover that the work comes from Greek and English words that like it to the verb “to learn”. Dorcas had learned all she could from the life that Jesus led and became a true follower. A disciple listens and learns. Dorcas listened, learned and then went out with what she’d learnt and lived out the traits she’d learnt from Jesus. We aren’t told much about Dorcas in the Bible, but the main thing that we can learn from her is that she was a passionate woman. Passionate as a doer and follower of Jesus and was given the title of Disciple. Wouldn’t we love to have the words, “she was a disciple” spoken about you, long long after you were gone? Dorcas was a woman living in desperate times, and yet she found a way to live passionately for Christ, serving and tending to the needs of those around her. She didn’t just do for others sometimes or when she was in a good mood, she did it continually. She was the one that noticed who needed what and simply did what she knew to do. She chose to DO, all the time. Dorcas lived a life that glorified God. The account given in Acts tells us only that she was a believer and that was enough God to use. She was a willing vessel that God could work with. If you were no longer around, what would those around you say about you? Would they attach descriptions such as merciful, gracious, hospitable and kind to your name?
Maybe you have an example of Dorcas in your life? A woman passionately pursuing Christ by using her gifts? Thank her. Take time out of your week to extend yourself to someone in need. Just a simple act of kindness can go a long way. “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward 28 you.” Matt 6:3-4
Women’s Health: Healthy Living Chriss Mogg
Healthy living means different things to different people, depending on their age, gender, culture, their family context and so much more. When I ask my Year 1/2 class what being healthy is all about, they talk about things like eating fruits and vegetables, running and stretching to keep fit, and taking medicine when you are sick to get better. The male perspective on healthy living is different again. In my experience, men’s health is focused largely on their physical fitness and ability i.e. how heavy an object can you lift, how good is your aim and agility on the sporting field etc. When it comes to “wellness”, diet and sickness prevention men are less concerned – ask them to go to the doctor to check their prostate and most will think it unnecessary, invasive and not a priority of their health and fitness. What about us as ladies? Teenage and adult females in the Western World arguably have the widest range of sources influencing their attitudes towards healthy living; the media, the world of celebrity exercise and diet fads, the other women in our social circle and families (who hasn’t been told by their grandma or mother about multiple obscure “old wive’s” remedies for warding off illness?) and so many more. The women’s health industry itself is booming with new information about all aspects of women’s health and wellbeing coming from all different studies, research, surveys and is ever changing and expanding the notions of what it means to be healthy as a female.
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BIRTHS Jarvis Gilmore (Phil and Bonny) Audrey Diliberto (James and Charlotte) Charlotte McClure (Cara and Tim) BAPTISMS Courtney Shaw (Southern Highlands) Stephanie Leckey (Punchbowl) Natalie Kunkler (Kemps Creek) Alyse Pogson (Newcastle) Jersuha Chand (Newcastle) Ashleigh Hewer (Moorebank) Naomi vanLeeuwen (Castle Hill) ENGAGEMENTS Jo Lynch and Johnny Connelly Scott Morgan and Tamar Diepenheim WEDDINGS Emily Collins and Brenton Stokes Sharniie Kirkwood and Seth Tunnell Fraser Jose and Amy Carroll
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Women's Health contents
edition 40 _ september 2014
2 Grapevine 4 Dorcas/Tabitha 5
Women's Health: Healthy Living
8
What does it mean to be a 21st Century Christian Man or Woman?
10 Choices 12
Women at the Well
13
Comic Corner
14 Wellbeing 15
Cool in the Furnace
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Edition 40, September 2014
Connecting Christadelphian Young People
Women's Health