YOUth - Issue #3 2015 by Wahroonga Adventist Youth

ISSUE 3 // AUGUST 2015 A WAHROONGA ADVENTIST YOUTH PUBLICATION

WAY TH YOU the

NEWS AND EVENTS | OPINIONS | GET TO KNOW YOU | HUMOUR | HOW TOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S & MORE

ISSUE 3: AUGUST 2015

WELCOME Editors Letter: Joel Raymond

contents OPINIONS Hallelujah! Passionate Prodigies Ways to Witness Words of Wisdom

REGULARS Upper Room Recap Bible Study Curly Questions Get to know YOUth Tell Me A’More Practicalities Starving Students Apps Health Hints Events and Updates

4 6 9 10

3 5 7 8 11 12 13 13 14 15

WahroongaAdventistYouth

Ready, steady… why did you stop in the first place?

ebrews 12:1-2 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,•fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Let’s picture it. You’re staring down the length of that 100-metre track. You’re heart’s racing, you’re breathing faster and you’re listening intently for that gunshot signalling the start. The shot is fired; you set off as fast as you possibly can towards the finish line, and before 20 seconds is up it’s all over (you may personally be able to run 100m sprint faster, but I feel like 20 seconds is long enough to be inclusive of most people with two functioning legs). Now in those 10 – 20 seconds where you’re running as fast as you can, what is running through your head? From memory, (as the last time I’ve done a 100m sprint since Year 6 was probably chasing after a bus I missed after deciding to buy sushi at Woolworths) the one thing that I kept thinking about was the final goal, the finish line, what I wanted to achieve. While I was sprinting, I never really thought about ‘Ooo was that a four-leaf clover?’ or ‘Wow, they really should mow the grass more often’ or ‘I think my lane is narrower than the others’. In fact, I don’t even think I used to look at the ground because my eyes were fixed on where I wanted to be: the finish line (not just for the prize, I think I just wanted to stop using so much energy).

theway.wahroonga@gmail.com DESIGN/ EDITORIAL Maryellen Fairfax Joel Raymond Photography: Robbie Fatt / Mitchell Ferris PUBLISHING Precision Printers Youth Pastor: Richard Reid | 0414 440 790 Youth Leader: Scott Fatt | 0421 743 001 If you'd like to advertise, create content or publish an opinion, email theway.wahroonga@gmail.com, or message WahroongaAdventistYouth on Facebook.

It was because I knew that the race would soon be over that sprints never really bothered me that much. Cross-country was another story – the finish line wasn’t always within view but you could still picture it in your mind throughout the race. But more than just concentrating on the end goal, you now had to keep in mind that you couldn’t run too quickly or you’d get tired and you couldn’t run too slowly because that is called walking.

You had to keep a steady pace at the perfect speed for you. You had to just keep on going until you made it (or if you’re like me, claim to have an asthma attack so you wouldn’t have to finish). Paul writes in Hebrews 12 to ‘run with perseverance’ and ‘fix our eyes on Jesus’ until we achieve that final goal. Our walk (or brisk jog) with God on this Earth is certainly not a series of sprints – there is no ‘I’ll spend an intense week with God this week while I’m not busy and then take a break for 5 weeks’. It shouldn’t be the Holy Spirit prompting us “Ready, Set, Go” every couple of weeks because we really shouldn’t have stopped in the first place. Our relationship with God is definitely more like a long cross-country race – we have a long distance to cover but once we find our steady pace of daily prayer and devotions with Him, the race becomes something that we can keep doing! And the finish line, you might ask? Well, if we fix our eyes on Jesus and His second coming, then we’ll certainly be heading in the right direction.

UPPER ROOM

RECAP

esus did not possess extraordinary talents or good looks. He was a ‘Nazarean’ - considered unextraordinary in almost every way. "Nazareth!" said Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" - John 1:46 But, Jesus allowed Himself to be led by the Spirit. He surrendered all to God, and this made him extraordinary.

“What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter, Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? - Mark 6:2-3 Jesus believed what God told Him; He didn’t fight God’s will. He surrendered. Conversion isn’t the same as surrendering. Once you become a Christian, you are converted. But most of us fight God’s will for our lives - we’re scared to take the leap of faith; scared to defy the status quo. We want to control our futures; we desire security. But, as Pr Ed said, we need to stop letting our environments dictate who we are, and let God take the wheel; surrender completely. The Bible tells us to be ‘in the world but not of the world’. After all, His kingdom isn’t one of great expectations;- it’s a kingdom of greater expectations! And our God is so good, that if we let Him take control of our lives, He’ll give us what we desire anyway. So take that leap of faith, and surrender all!

GET TO KNOW Natalie Hankus Occupation Student - future English & Drama teacher, swimming instructor, chatterbox. To sum yourself up in 5 words… Talkative, Baking, Singing, Godloving, Weirdo.

Natalie Hankus

Hallelujah!

little while ago a friend of mine sent me a message that read ‘…in the Lord's Prayer it says "and lead us not into temptation Are there any hobbies you are particularly passionate about? but deliver us from evil". What does it mean? Because of course Passionate? Cooking and God won't lead us into temptation right? It doesn’t make sense!’ creating new dishes (my Instagram will attest), feeding people. Reading when I get the And that got me thinking. Why would Jesus pray for God not to lead us chance. And I like to into temptation? He is God and He loves us, so why would he lead us occasionally (when it is warm to be tempted? So I started doing some research. My first Internet enough) scuba dive. search lead to me an explanation that didn’t satisfy. It stated that we cannot escape temptation on our own, no matter how ‘good’ we are. Alter Ego? I’d like my alter ego to be And sure I agree with that statement but it still doesn’t explain why Jesus someone cool like super girl or would say what he did in the Lord’s Prayer. So I kept looking. Blake Lively, but according to play buzz.com, it’s Madame On biblehub.com I found a commentary that went back to the Greek Marie Curie which I’ll totally own because we’re both Polish word for temptation. It can mean temptation (drawn towards descent, and she was brilliant, something which may lead to evil) or it can mean trial, which means creative, academic (I try to be), to be tried and tested. The Greek word πειρασμος which means ‘into but worked hard for her trial’ is used in the Lord’s Prayer is signify temptations of another kind – achievements. persecution, spiritual battles, depression, negative thoughts, self-doubt, etc. which we face as follower’s of Christ. And while the mature Favourite Bible character? My favourite Bible character Adventist response to trials is ‘help us accept and overcome them Lord would have to be Ruth. She was for your glory’ it is equally mature to say, ‘Lord, I know my weaknesses, loyal to God, and her family I know that if this trial or temptation comes my way I may fail. So Lord (mother in law), worked hard and never took more than was place don’t let it come to that.’ offered. And ultimately she was praised and rewarded for her Jesus’ use of ‘lead us not into temptation’ echoes in another of His pleas, efforts and diligence. ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’ (Matthew 26:39). Jesus went through an Favourite Bible verse? immense trial, the cross. Even He, in His knowledge of who He was and Numbers 6:24 - 26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord who sent Him was afraid and didn’t want to go through it. But He knew make his face to shine upon you God had a plan – He surrendered, ‘not as I will, but as You will’. and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you But Jesus knows that we are human, we fall into temptation and are and give you peace. weak. So he taught his disciples, and us to pray for a solution. The prayer What are you most thankful for in doesn’t end with ‘lead us not into temptation’ but concludes with ‘but deliver us from evil’. In this instance evil is the devil. Jesus acknowledges your life right now? I’m most thankful for my uni that temptations come from the tempter and more importantly He career so far which has opened acknowledges that God is able to deliver us from the devil. up a position in the Honours program for me. While the answer to our prayer for deliverance may not always be You are to be banished to a avoiding the temptation or trial, God promises to provide an escape deserted island with only three in the midst of the trial. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, ‘… but God is faithful, items. Which items do you take? who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but A never-ending bottle of water, with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may an esky of never-ending mangoes, and a waterproof be able to bear it.’ Bible.

I’d like to finish with a story from the Bible. You probably know it. It happened a very long time before Jesus walked on the earth and it happened to a man named Job. Bear with me if you’ve already foreshadowed where I’m going with this. Job 1:9-11 says, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’, Satan replied. ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household? … But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ While Satan tells God to take away everything Job has, God’s reply isn’t that He would do it but rather He allows Satan to do his worst, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’ (Job 1:12). Satan not only took away Job’s income, livestock, home and health but also his family – and Job 1:22 tells us ‘in all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong’. God knew that Job could stand against the trials Satan would put him through, so He allowed them to happen, blessing Job with a spirit of contentment and peace. Job was able to say, ‘The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord’ (Job 1: 21) and ‘I will hope in Him’ (Job 13:15). Sometimes God allows trials to come to us. But in them He sends His spirit to bring us solace and peace. He will not allow us to face more than we can handle, and He will help us along the way so that come what may, we can still say Hallelujah! Please listen to the incredible Scott Kabel and Anna Beaden’s Pay Stub on Youtube (follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=AD1_jfU9tK8 to find the song directly).

BIBLE STUDY

what do to when God seems distant God has a plan and a purpose for you, but often that purpose isn’t clear. Sometimes it feels like God is distant, and doesn’t care. Many characters in the Bible struggled with this too: Abraham, Job, David, Peter, and many others. So, what can you do when God feels distant? How can you re-ignite our passion, and learn lean on him? The story of Job is testament to the fact that we, as humans, don’t always feel like God is close by our side. Sometimes it feels like we’re trekking through life all alone. In a very short period of time, Job lost everything - his family, his home, his livestock, and livelihood, and for 37 chapters, God said nothing. And yet, the Bible is filled with promises that God never leaves our side. READ: Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalms 37:28, John 14:16-18, Hebrews 13:5 QUESTION: How can you reconcile God’s promise that He is always with you, when He so often feels far away? God has a plan for you, and he promises to give you a bright future. Often, we are so focused on our problems that we forget who he is and what he’s done for us. READ: Job 23:8-10, Psalm 51, James 4:4, James 1:1-18 QUESTION: Does God ever test you by being distant, to grow you into the person he wants you to be, or does this contradict his character? Or, is this separation simply a result of sin separating us from God? It is often argued that David had one of the most intimate relationships with God in the Bible, and yet he frequently complained that God felt distant. READ: Psalms 10:1, Psalms 22:1, Psalms 43:2, Psalms 44:23 QUESTION: How can you praise God when he feels far away? How can you praise God when he feels far away? The answer is this: you do what Job did - you fall on your face and surrender to him. Tell God how you feel. Trust me, he’ll be able to handle anything you throw at him. Focus on his loving and unchanging nature, remember what he has done for you, and trust him to keep his promises. READ: Psalms 116:10, Job 13:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, QUESTION: Why is it so easy to forget God’s perfect, loving character, and all that he has done? Often, worship today is about seeking an experience rather than seeking God, and this can be the root of the problem. When you seek an experience; a spiritual high, but don’t receive it, you may feel that God is far away. But he isn’t. His promises are true. He is always with you. So why does he sometimes feel distant? Maybe it’s to remove these experiential feelings, to make you rely on our knowledge of his character. Maybe God is more concerned that you trust him, rather than that you feel him. Or, maybe it’s something different entirely. Send your opinions to theway.wahroonga@gmail.com!

PASSIONATE PRODIGIES tobias jackson

1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

LISTENING…

Many others too are involved in the shaping of a musician: support of parents, the skilful guidance of teachers, the encouragement and competition of musical peers. Likewise each musician is the sum of a set of experiences: concerts and services, practices and performances, playing together and alone, for people and to oneself, with great seriousness and intention to amuse, or merely for the sheer joy it can bring.

hastily finished my spaghetti and salad and dashed up the stairs. I reached the doors of the concert hall, and no-one was around. I peered around the corner – perhaps it was another door? – but all doors seemed as shut as the first. A strange set of circumstances brought me to this unexpected concert – a delayed and ultimately fruitless administrative meeting, a poster by the door, an Musicians playing together are a miracle of human unexpected lunch with an old friend. Finally, I caught communications. At first there are the mundane the eye of the usher, quickly disappearing into the practicalities: setting up, working together, following dim light of the hall. a collective beat. A musician must learn their role in ‘Come in, quick!’ she a group and in each piece, learning sometimes to said, beckoning me lead and sometimes to follow, as well as the subtle with a smile. I smiled tacit communication in which musicians engage – a back, quickly entered, glance here, a breath there, or a subtle gesture, the and took my seat, just system of symbols inherited from those who have in time for the concert gone before that provides the initiation to musical to begin. company. Finally they must learn to become part of

IS ANYONE AMONG YOU

SUFFERING? IS ANYONE CHEERFUL? LET HIM SING

PSALMS James 5:13, NKJV

a whole, to act, play, and breathe together, and, The wind quintet - a most fundamentally, to listen. flute, an oboe, a clarinet, a horn and a Musicians themselves shape and are shaped by the bassoon - began to music they come to know, and are defined by the play, such a wide instrument they choose to master, a fabulous range of sounds contraption developed through hundreds of years of blending together to create a colourful whole, yet listening and refining, created by craftsmen with each instrument retaining its unique character. As technical skill to produce the most beautiful sound. instruments are unique, so are their musicians, behind And the music of which they become a part is an whom stand the hundreds or thousands of hours of equally complex system. Classical music is also practice, exercising subtle intricacies of tone, renowned for its rules and conventions, developed expression and beauty, muscle memory and dexterity. over many centuries, systems that teach us how

instruments should be used individually and together, how melodies should be constructed to fit with one another, and how notes can be arranged to form harmonies and to move from one harmony to another in the most beautiful way. The products of centuries of listening, these things are not arbitrary rules but have bases in the unchangeable physics of sound. Based in physics and ordered through millennia of listening, music is a collective product of the human imagination. It belongs to no-one, and was invented by no one. It is a tradition, developed rather than created: a complex collection of miracles. In any one performance of any one piece of music – let alone the many other facets of our lives, fearfully and wonderfully knitted together – we stand at the unique intersection of innumerable phenomena. These seemingly chance convergences produce music, if only we will listen. Listening is thankfulness, and thankfulness is listening. Thankfulness, like listening, means being open to experience the results of the convergences of small miracles which we are uniquely placed to experience. It is a mindset, and a skill, developed by practice, which both changes us and our outlook on the world. As these thoughts crossed my mind in that concert hall, my mind was drawn back to the quintet on stage. It seemed a bizarre coincidence that I was here, let alone anything else being here too! But I must not think too much. The music was there, and all I had to do was listen to it.

HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING

BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME

ALSO, HE HAS PUT ETERNITY

IN THEIR HEARTS, EXCEPT THAT

NO ONE CAN FIND OUT THE

WORK THAT GOD DOES

FROM BEGINNING Ecclesiastes

questions

James 4:13-15 "Come now you who say, 'today or tomorrow we will go to such a city and spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit'; whereas you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say 'if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that'."

QUESTION: Some say that stress is the result of taking life into your own hands, and that peace is found by letting God take the wheel. But is there an in between? Is it possible to control some areas of your life while letting God control others, or must you fully surrender everything to Him? Does God micro-manage? Further, does ‘God’s will’ pertain to every aspect and action your life, or only the major events and decisions? Email your opinions (you can remain anonymous) to theway.wahroonga@gmail.com and you could be featured in the next issue!

TO END 3:11, NKJV

GET TO KNOW OLIVIA SAVAGE

DAVID WILLIAMS

Occupation I’m a year 10 student at Hills Adventist College.

Occupation I’m currently in my second year of studying a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Occupation I work as an educator at a before and after school care, and am in my first year studying education.

To sum yourself up in 5 words… I am a shy, sporty, musical, weird, retarded (at least I think I am) 20 year old male.

To sum yourself up in 5 words… Enthusiastically energetic (as well as lazy), eccentric, bouncy, basic, tiny.

To sum yourself up in 5 words… Happy, lively, enthusiastic, curious and quietly confident. Are there any hobbies you are particularly passionate about? All sorts of sport. Favourite Bible character? Deborah is my favourite Bible character, because she was a leader as well as a prophetess and a judge and achieved greatness for The Lord in a time where men were dominant. Favourite Bible verse? Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” What are you most thankful for in your life right now? Good friendship connections. You are to be banished to a deserted island with only three items. Which items do you take? A library, an all you can eat buffet and a friend.

Are there any hobbies you are particularly passionate about? My hobby that I’m passionate about is music. Alter Ego? Will Smith, just because he’s the complete opposite of me in terms of personality. I hate being shy. Favourite Bible character? My favourite character is Jesus, because He’s the person who I look up to and try to copy, in a way. I just find it amazing how someone could help and love so many people no matter who they are or what they’ve done, without hesitation.

Are there any hobbies you are particularly passionate about? I have a very rich motivation to pursue utter bliss when I sit down and have the pleasure of being in the company of Harvey Spector, Mike Ross, Donna and Rachael. Yes, I am guilty of being an absolute sloth who watches TV shows whenever uni work is too demanding - which is the majority of the time (hehe). No but seriously, I do enjoy a good adventure, whether it be road tripping to unknown destinations or bushwalking, or just getting lost. Alter Ego? The Queen. Actually nobody, because my life is like Hannah Montana’s. I get the best of both worlds.

Favourite Bible verse? Psalms 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you.”

Favourite Bible character? Joseph, because he showed all his bro’s that he started from the bottom, and now he here… there... then… yeah, you get me.

What are you most thankful for in your life right now? The thing I am most thankful for in my life is when God showed himself to me and helped me become the person that I am now.

Favourite Bible verse? ‘God works through different (wo)men, in different ways, but is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all.’ - 1 Corinthians 12:6

You are to be banished to a deserted island with only three items. Which items do you take? If I was on a deserted island, I would take: my bible, phone and a huge bottle of water.

KRISTINE GONZAGA

What are you most thankful for in your life right now? Solid and amazing friendships that keep me sane and loved. You are to be banished to a deserted island with only three items. Which items do you take? A never-ending supply of toilet paper, MIGORENG, and Bear Grylls.

WAYS TO WITNESS Jessica Bridcutt

YOU’RE NOT ALONE Witnessing can be hard. It can be really scary to talk to someone about your beliefs, especially in today’s secular society, where we are encouraged to keep our views to ourselves and ‘go with the flow’ (after all, with so many other religions and ideologies, we wouldn’t want to step on any toes!). Not only is there pressure from society to keep our mouths shut but it’s tempting to take the easy road. Why cause any unnecessary controversy? We wouldn’t want to ‘Bible bash’ now would we!

being cheerful and having a smile on your face! As Romans 12:6-8 explains, we all have our different gifts and talents that can be used to witness to others.

ROMANS 12:6-8

prophecy service teaching encouragement leadership kindness

But there’s good news! You don’t have to ‘Bible bash’ in order to witness to others! Not only that but one of the best ways to witness to others is just through the way you live your life (no I’m not joking, it can be as simple as that!). As 1 Peter 4:10 says, we all have gifts that we have been given by God. The best thing about this is that no matter what your talents are, they can all be used as a way to demonstrate God in your life.

But that doesn’t mean your alone! If you don’t know how to use your gifts to witness to others about God, worry not. All you have to do is turn to the Bible. It is jam packed full of people who all have different gifts which they use for God. Dorcas would witness through service, Moses through leadership, Daniel through prophesising, David through music. No matter what your gift is, they can all be used to demonstrate God and His love to others; all gifts are special and specific to you, making you the best One of my greatest fears is public speaking. person to use them! Standing up in front of people, feeling their eyes watching me; it’s just something I don’t enjoy. And the great news is that these gifts are free! However, I’m a good listener and I use this God has blessed you with these talents that talent often as a way of witnessing to God. can be used for witnessing, so use them! When people are sad or have stuff going on in their lives, I’ll listen to them the way I know God listens to me when I’m in a rough spot. It’s such a good feeling knowing I’m able to use what I’m good at to serve God and demonstrate his character to others.

GOT SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE?

However, while my weakness is public speaking, others are born to be in front of people, witnessing to many people, sharing their beliefs and testimonies. Others find that they witness best through acts of service or through donating and giving to the less fortunate. Believe it or not but you can even witness just through

SEND IT TO US:

theway.wahroonga@gmail.com Next-issue submissions close September 31 All opinions, advice, funny rants, questions, and constructive criticism welcome.

WORDS OF WISDOM Fernand Lombart The Bible speaks about the importance and benefits of meditation. The word “meditate” and “meditation” appear 20 times in the Bible, (18 in the henever you turn on the TV to watch the news, Old Testament and 2 in New Testament). Its you can’t help but see the suffering in war torn important to understand that Biblical meditation is countries. You see thousands of families fleeing completely different from any other form of their homes for fear of persecution or even death. meditation. The type of meditation that most people Yet there is war that is taking place daily in our lives talk about and practice has its root in Hinduism. This and minds, and most of us are not even aware that form of meditation is self-centered (looking inward). it is occurring (Ephesians 6:12). It is dangerous and can open up your mind to satanic attack. If I was satan (please no comment), I would target the senses of our young people. I would keep them Whereas, Christian meditation is completely the so busy with their studies, spending hours on opposite. Biblical meditation is God - centered, we Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, television, movies etc, empty our minds in order to fill it with God’s word. so that when they did find time to read the Bible and Psalms 77:12 “I will meditate on all your works and pray, it became routine and almost a waste of consider all your mighty deeds.” Psalms 1:2 “But his precious time. delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he

WHAT IS BIBLICAL MEDITATION?

meditates day and night.” Joshua 1:8 “Do not let E. White reminds us in the book Testimonies For The this book of the Law depart from your mouth; Church Vol 1: 295, “Satan leads many to believe that meditate on it day and night, so that you may be prayer to God is useless and but a form. He well careful to do everything written in it.” knows how helpful are meditation and prayer to keep Christ’s followers aroused to resist his cunning What does the word mediate mean? and deception.” In Ephesians 6:12 the apostle Paul reminds us that this battle is not a physical battle but The Hebrew word for meditate is hagah. Thayer’s spiritual one. In order for us to win that battle we need lexicon defines hagah as “ to moan, growl, utter, to fight it with spiritual power. (Ephesians 6:13-18). muse, meditate, devise, plot or speak”. Therefore to meditate on God’s word is to think about it over and So how can we win this daily battle? I would like to over again during the day, reflect upon it, mutter suggest to you that spending a few minutes reading over it and applying it to your daily practical life. Its the bible daily and a quick prayer to God on our amazing that as you memorise a bible verse, think knees will still leave us vulnerable to satan’s attacks. about it, pray over it and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and apply it to your life, you’ll find A soldier will not enter the enemies territory unless he that your faith will get stronger and your relationship is fully armed to defend himself . Likewise we need with Jesus more intimate. to be fully armed in order to defeat the enemy daily. We have to remember that: “whoever controls your The ultimate goal of meditation is to internalise and mind will control your destiny.” I would like to suggest personalise the scriptures so that's truths can affect that meditation is another weapon that we need in our thinking and transform us into the image of Christ. order to fight the enemy. Sadly, its one of the most Philippians 2: 5 “Let this mind be in you which was neglected disciplines in the Christian life, yet so vital also in Christ Jesus.” to help us in that war against satan and his evil angels.

TELL ME A’MORE Dear Aunt Agatha, I’m having trouble with my new girlfriend at the moment. She is great and all but she is absolutely useless with technology newer than her Nokia. I met her at a museum and thought it was really cool that she didn’t check her phone constantly when we were talking, but now I know why. I have to do everything vaguely technological for her: emails, Facebook, Wiki! She can’t even use a smart phone! It’s becoming ridiculous and it’s really getting on my nerves. Is this something we can work through or would it be safer to jump ship before I lose my sanity?

Dear Fond-of-Fossils You must really dig this girl or I think you would have given up already. Just to clarify, did you meet her at the museum, or was she in one of the exhibits? In any case, if you don’t work through this, your relationship will soon be facing extinction. Now let’s think about your technologically illiterate friend. I’m not suggesting she’s stupid but if she can’t use a smart phone, then she’s probably not the sharpest tool at the archaeological dig. I’m almost 90 years old now and old birds like me still know how to tweet the daily deets | #hipstergran #instagran #hipreplacement | In her defense, her Nokia might be more of a tool for selfdefense; you never know when you’ll need a brick in your handbag. On a more serious note, because she is probably a lovely person, this is the perfect opportunity to teach her that the answer to ‘What type of computer do you own?’ is not ‘a white one’ and that Wi-Fi is a fundamental need, just like food. It’s also the perfect time for you to learn some patience and have a conversation with someone that involves eye-contact and using your larynx, and not just your fingers on a screen. In any case, I think this is definitely something that you can work through, but if your relationship does dissolve then tell her to contact me. From the sounds of her technical abilities, she’s probably around my age and I can always do with new friends. I’d ask her to email me or give me a call but from what you’ve said, maybe she’d be better off with homing pigeons.

Aunt Agatha

Yours Truly,

PRACTICALITIES HOW TO:

1 pick a place Pick a place where you will spend your time with God everyday. This could be indoors or outdoors, however keep in mind that bad weather can get in the way of routine. It doesn’t have to be pictureperfect, but it does have to be somewhere you enjoy spending time, comfortable, peaceful, quiet and not prone to interruptions. Ladies, if you’re into interior decorating, why not buy some colourful cushions, candles and a blanket to set a peaceful tone?

4 2 3 schedule goal self directed discipline a time Schedule aside time for God each day. If you use a calendar app, set a reminder and stick to it! If it seems like a burden, always remember that God created you and gave His life for you, so sacrificing a few minutes of your life each day hardly compares. If you’ve never done this before, set aside 10 or 15 minutes at first, and slowly increase. Breaking up your time into increments of prayer, study, meditation, music and journaling, for example, can give you direction.

Decide what you want to achieve with your time. If you want to improve your prayer life, spend more time in prayer. If you want to increase Bible knowledge, follow an online Bible study or the Sabbath School lesson. If you want to improve an aspect of your character, focus and pray about that. Write down practical Bible promises that help your personal growth and meditate on them. When you keep these goals in mind, you will be more likely to follow through.

Eliminate distractions and turn off all technology. Use a paper Bible if you can. and practice being ‘in the moment’ with God. Remember, it takes 21 days to build a habit, so do your best to maintain consistency. Don’t let anything get in the way of this time! If you miss it, make it up later. As Rick Warren says, “...there is nothing more important than developing a friendship with God.” He longs to be your friend, but the truth is, you are as close to God as you choose to be.

STARVING STUDENTS Choc-Peanut Butter Mud Mug

Ingredients 1 egg 1 Tbsp brown sugar 2 Tbsp peanut butter 1 Tbsp flour 1 Tbsp cocoa 1/4 tsp baking powder A small handful of choc chips

Relive your childhood with this decadent chocolate and peanut butter mud cake. And no, I’m not talking about the organic, earthy, leaf-ridden, shove-it-inyour-sibling’s-mouth-and-watchthem-cry kind of mud cake. I’m talking about the oh-mygoodness-I-can’t-believe-I’veeaten-three-of-these-already kind of mud cake. Yes, you know what I’m talking about. True to form, it’s easy to make, cheap, and perfect for students. All you need is a sugar craving and a microwave, and your unconscious will do the rest. It’s a no brainer! P.S. Most definitely contains traces of nuts.

Method Grease a large mug and stir Time: 5 min | Serves: 1 | Cost: $2 the egg, brown sugar, peanut butter, flour, cocoa and baking powder with a fork. Stir in the chocolate chips until the mixture resembles a batter. Microwave for 1 minute. Eat straight from the mug, or invert onto a plate.

APPS: Price: FREE Rating:

If you have never read Ellen White, I strongly encourage you to do so. Her writings not only illuminate aspects of the Bible and bring the gospel to life, but contain practical advice for young people. Yes, YOUNG PEOPLE! There are so many lessons on almost every single aspect of life: dating, health, family and friendships, your relationship with God, the church, how you should live your life and so much more. EGW Writings, groups all of her writings in one place for easy download. Read them on the train, when you’re bored, or before bed. If it doesn’t change your perspective on life, there is a 100% money back guarantee. Which is nothing. ‘Cause it’s free ;)

I recommend beginning with Steps to Christ. I know that might sound a little cliché, but it will absolutely transform your relationship with God. If there’s one religious book you should read, it is this. As well as this, Letters to Young Lovers has some great dating advice, and Messages to Young People talks about all the trials that we face as youth, and how we should ‘be in theway.wahroonga@gmail.com the world but not of the world’. All in the name of tastebuds, send us your recipe and it could be featured Other amazing books include: The here. Just think of the fame! You could soon be known as the most talented Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and foodie around. All vegetarian savoury and dessert recipes appreciated. Prophets.

HAVe A RECIPE TO CONTRIBUTE? SEND IT TO US:

HANDY HEALTH HINTS apple cider vinegar

I know it doesn’t sound glamorous, but Apple Cider Vinegar has some easy, inexpensive and effective health and household uses. It can act as a skin toner, cleanser, cleaning product, tummy helper, kitchen ornament and conversation starter! Don’t be fooled by its ‘acidity’. It actually neutralizes pH in the body, which is the secret to how it works.

skin 1

If you’re prone to break outs and can’t figure out why, it’s probably because the pH of your digestive system is in arrears! Eating processed foods can imbalance the acidity of your stomach and cause you to break out. To tackle this, dilute a 50/50 ACV solution in water and apply to the skin once daily after washing. As well as this, add a about 1 Tbsp ACV to your water bottle daily. It should be acidic enough to notice, but not to acid that it burns your throat. Your mouth soon adjusts to the taste and you’ll end up drinking more over a 24 hour period.

lose weight 3

high amounts of acetic acid, Apple Cider Vinegar contains

which has been proven to reduce the glycemic index of foods, which is the rate at which sugars are released into the bloodstream. This suppresses appetite. Further, a Japanese study published in 2009 in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, found that obese people who consumed between 15ml and 30ml of acetic acid – the major component of vinegar – diluted in water every day, experienced significant decreases in body weight and waist circumference.

2 hair care

Rather than using fancy shampoos which falsely claim to transform your life through your scalp, why not give ACV a go? After shampooing as normal, make a paste of baking soda and rub into the scalp and hair, before rinsing with water. Then, mix a 50% ACV solution, pour over hair, let sit, and then rinse with water as normal. It softens, removes dandruff and gives you glossy, tame-able locks!

4 face ‘n’ feet

If you’re a sceptical person, the following uses of ACV will probably give you a giggle (you’re welcome), but multiple testimonies online say that they work. First of all, ACV can be used as a natural toner. Because it regulates the pH of skin, it is much healthier than using many harsh cleansers and toners which contain sodium laureth sulphate and other chemicals. Simply dilute a solution and use it on your skin after washing. Further, it eliminates food odor, so wipe those stinky shoes with ACV and let them dry! And last, but not least, if you have bad breath, gargle some good ‘ol ACV. Keep in mind that it is very acidic, and if left on the teeth for too long, can wear away the enamel, so dilute and gargle through the mouth for a minute or two. Combine it’s use with au-naturale baking soda toothpaste, and wallah! You’ll be the weirdest, freshest smelling, most blinding babe around!

EVENTS & UPDATES SEP 5

AUG

EVERY FIRST SABBATH OF THE MONTH Contact Nicole Fatt: 0416 442 093 Come and serve the Redfern community by preparing food and worshipping with them! An experience not to be missed. Contact Nicole Fatt via facebook if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to help!

Youth

BIBLE STUDIES

Every Friday Night

7:30PM YOUTH ROOM DOWNSTAIRS