Signs of the Times - October 2023 by Adventist Media

The power of

STORY A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE OCTOBER 2023 THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF VLAD MALLEY One man's incredible journey through hell and back PAGE 32

06 00

38 00

00 44

CURRENT

FAITH

CULTURE

04 WHAT IN THE WORLD

18 ASK PASTOR JESSE

38 CONQUERING CRUELTY

12 THE WORLD GAME

26 YOU'RE GIFTED—

From football to faith

WELLBEING 06 HURRY UP, WE'RE LATE!

A trip to Singapore revealed a part of me I needed to confront

WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT Unlock your secret gift!

44 OF SPEEDING FINES

AND LAWS DIVINE Many laws seem arbitrary—until they become life savers

20 FACING FEAR—

AND WINNING Conquering fear's hold over you

60 THE FANTASTIC FIVE

Five food heroes

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

MAKE A DIFFERENCE 50 FOOD FOR HUNGRY KIDS

How one op shop is pushing back against child malnutrition

@SIGNSMAG

WITH LOVE An unlikely icon

52 IN SEARCH OF THE

CREATOR AI, robots and our sense of humanity

FUN 62 CROSSWORD & SUDOKU

THE POWER OF STORY You may notice a bit of a theme in this issue. We value variety and diversity in our magazine, so we often don’t do themed issues but this month might be as close as we get. A few powerful and interesting stories came across my desk at just the right time, so we decided to feature them this month. Ever since I was young, I’ve loved a good story. Stories are an almost universal mode of expression and are one of the most effective communication methods we have. Did you know that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts? As a writer I’ve always tried to share my own story. I’ve seen the impact it has, as it cuts through barriers with others and helps me to process the things I’ve lived through. We all have a story. Some of us may not write it down or share it with others but the story of our lives is important and when we share it with others, who receive it, who are interested and listening, our story can become our legacy. There are lessons to be learned and lives can be changed—all by the power of a simple story. In this issue we meet an amazing woman who was faithful in the darkest prisons and willing to love through everything (p38); we meet a man who held onto his faith through Stalin’s famine and the Nazi regime to eventually find his way to Australia (p32); and finally a professional footballer who suffered loss and injury setbacks but eventually found fulfilment in knowing Jesus (p12). What is your story? Share it with someone today. You can also share the inspiring stories in this magazine with someone you think would appreciate them.

Jarrod

JARROD STACKELROTH Editor

VOL VOL138 ###NO NO10 # ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Pau'u Talia Valderrama Nerise M cQuillan PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER COVER IMAGE: IMAGE:

— Midjourney Getty Images

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R RENT

WHAT IN THE WORLD THE CULTURE CURE

DENMARK

THE RISE OF THE TIGER BHUTAN

Tiger populations in Bhutan have risen by 27 per cent from 103 in 2015 to 131 in 2023. The country has implemented strategies to increase populations, including conservation interventions, a robust ranger workforce and community partnerships. While it is still the most threatened big cat species globally, Bhutan has shown that tiger populations can recover.—World Wildlife 4

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COUNTING CORALS, THOMAS B, VALERIYA KOBZAR—PEXELS, TOWFIQUE—UNSPLASH

Denmark is testing out a 10-week course called the Kulturvitaminer (culture vitamins) Programme for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression or unemployment. This innovative approach aims to enhance mental health through cultural activities like music, drama, dance, nature walks and history tours. Such outlets have been shown to foster community engagement and reduce isolation, as well as enhance emotional expression and wellbeing.—The Guardian

ADDICTED TO COFFEE

AUSTRALIA

Highest fears in different countries Research shows that culture and history make different countries have different fears.

You’re stuck on a desert island and can only take three items. What do you choose? If you’re one-in-four Australians, chances are you’d take a coffee machine. A recent survey of more than 20,000 people found that 24 per cent of Aussies can’t survive the day without coffee. For many, it has become an essential and muchneeded component of their daily routine.—McCrindle

–Australians worry most about health outcomes, with cancer, dementia and heart attacks at the top. Following this, they fear bushfires and floods wiping out their towns. Other common fears are sharks, hackers, dentists and the fear of falling in love and being unable to maintain it (philophobia).

UNDERWATER SCULPTURES

–After fearing corrupt government officials, Americans fear the illness or death of loved ones. One survey showed only 29 per cent were afraid of dying themselves, while 58.1 per cent were afraid of a loved one dying. America was also the country most fearful of public speaking, with 77 per cent of the population saying they’d rather not do it.

FIJI

A series of steel artworks on Nacula Island's coast is growing coral in the hope of creating more climateresilient organisms. The installations are part of a conservation effort to help grow and restore reefs as they face the threat of bleaching due to warmer seas. It consists of 137 structures and houses 30 species of coral. It was designed to rehabilitate coral and collect genetic material from the organisms that could help develop more climate-resistant varieties.—The Guardian

–In Africa, famine, disease and violence is what haunts the people's minds. One of the most widespread causes of violence is tied to practices of sorcery. Witchcraft practices are substantially more prevalent in many African countries, with low-quality governance. Africans are also quite afraid of snakes and crocodiles (understandably).

–The thought of growing old doesn’t sit well with the Japanese, with many wondering what life will look like in retirement. Two-thirds of Japanese are concerned they will not have enough money in their old age. Following that is the worry of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis.

ELL B EING

IMAGE SUPPLIED

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

Hurry up, we’re late! An overseas trip made me confront some uncomfortable truths about my own propensity to hurry in everything. BY MARYELLEN HACKO

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SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

a profound lesson

I’ve always been a highly-strung person. As an eldest child and stereotypical “high achiever”, something I’ve really had to work on in my adult life is my tendency to rush. My progress in this area is strong evidence of God’s work in my life and I frequently mention the “slow living” movement and spiritual implications of hustle culture in my writing and social media presence. But I have a confession to make. I’m a fraud. One of the reasons I love travelling is the profound lessons you learn about yourself. And this one hit me hard. As I stood on a street corner in the middle of Chinatown, surrounded by the scent of durian and freshly baked pandan cake, I realised that for all my philosophical growth in the area of slow living, I was still the same, flawed human: because there, lagging 20 metres behind me, were my sisters. For what seemed like the 50th time that day, I’d walked ahead, impatient to get to our next

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hree sisters, eight days, 6300 kilometres. It was the trip of a lifetime, a spontaneous decision to pack our bags and trade Sydney’s bleak winter for lush greenery, ripe humidity, and some of South-East Asia’s most exceptional attractions. The destination was Singapore and my sisters and I were ready to holiday hard. We rode bikes along the city foreshore, ate dinner atop Marina Bay Sands, sat mesmerised by the light show at Gardens by the Bay, and shopped ’til our bank accounts said “Absolutely not”. We drank freshly squeezed orange juice from vending machines, ate some of Singapore’s best vegetarian food and scraped the flesh from fresh coconuts almost daily. It all sounds idyllic—and, in many ways, it was—yet something wasn’t right. Through it all, I felt a sense of impatience and discontentment, like I was itching inside my own skin.

destination and had to wait for them to catch up. Feeling frustrated, I checked my watch: a quarter-past-two. If we didn’t visit the hawker markets now, we wouldn’t have time to . . . to . . . To what? Despite having nowhere to be and no expectations on us whatsoever, I was in a hurry. And in that moment, I became acutely aware of my overwhelming sense of urgency to do absolutely nothing at all.

a learned behaviour

It’s no secret that today, our world is more connected and fast-paced than ever before. Multitasking, side hustles, habit-stacking and productivity culture are all praised, while the word “slow” is vilified and synonymous with being boring, useless, lazy or even intellectually challenged. Most of us aren’t aware of the profound impact that this narrative is having on our perceptions, values, expectations and thought processes. I think of my dad, who often

hurried us out the door to church on Saturday (ironically our “day of rest”), reminding us that we were “running late” to leave for holidays, and who—to this day—likes to walk ahead of the pack. Clearly, the apple doesn’t fall far. But regardless of where the behaviour is learned—through family, friends, teachers, productivity books, movies, social media—we’ve all been lied to. From instant noodles to instant messaging, we’ve been led to believe that hurrying will make us successful and improve our quality of life. But in truth, being in a hurry doesn’t get you anywhere faster.1 Take it from me: Hurrying to finish my degree didn’t help me “get ahead” in my career; it robbed me of friendships and a rich university experience. Hurrying to get married didn’t get me down the aisle faster; it made me stay in the wrong relationships for too long. Hurrying to build my business didn’t make me more successful; it made me neglect my health. OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

want to be so compassionate that we lose motivation to change in the first place. Luckily, Jesus offers a solution.

so . . . what’s the fix?

a biblical answer

You might say: “Well, can’t you just walk slower?” Though that’s a water-tight argument in theory, the issue flows much deeper. At its core, this is a conversation about compassion and shame. What bothers me most about my Singapore trip is how ironic it was. Going there, I was acutely aware that this holiday was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my sisters and I: all able to take time off work, all still without kids, all healthy. I needed to make the most of every moment. And yet, this mentality made me trade the things I could replace— sightseeing, good food, material items—for something I couldn’t. As it turns out, activity is a terrible trade-off for intimacy. Realising this started me in a shame spiral of unhelpful thoughts: “Being so uptight makes you a horrible person”, “You’ll never overcome this, it’s who you are”, and worst of all, “God hasn’t really changed you, you’re a fraud of a Christian”. In life, one of the most difficult things we can navigate is this tension between self-improvement and self-compassion. On one hand, we need to be compassionate when we fail to meet a goal or standard (after all, hating ourselves never leads to lasting change), but we also don’t 10

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My experience reminds me of a famous story about hurrying in the Bible: the tale of Mary and Martha (Luke 10). Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, while Martha runs around anxiously, showing hospitality to her guests. Standing on that Singapore street corner, I felt like Martha. Just like I was living a once-ina-lifetime experience, Martha had Jesus in her house! Both Martha and I felt the need to take charge. Both Martha and I wanted to maximise the experience for everyone. And yet, both Martha and I totally missed the point. I’ve always resonated with Martha’s busyness and read Jesus’ response to her as a rebuke: “Mary’s right, Martha’s wrong, end of story.” But looking closer at the text, Jesus’ response is actually one of compassion. In Semitic languages, the repeating of someone’s name—in this case, “Martha, Martha” (verse 41)—is seen as compassionate. Jesus wasn’t scolding Martha. In fact, the Greek word used to describe her hospitality is diakoneo, which is used positively in every place it shows up in the Bible. Jesus wasn’t saying that Martha’s work wasn’t helpful or important, or

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And now, being in a hurry to see everything in Singapore made me neglect the real reason I was there: quality time with my sisters.

that being responsible, organised, efficient or taking charge is inherently bad. Rather, He was highlighting our human tendency to prioritise what’s important over what’s most important: Him. Jesus was reminding Martha that her worth was not dependent on her work; her value was not determined by her hospitality, efficiency or output. Rather, it was inherent. As a child of God, infinitely loved and created in His image, she had nothing to prove. Just like Mary, she was allowed—and safe—to sit at Jesus’ feet and just be. In our modern world where work equals worth, and where busy schedules build busy souls, this reality that Jesus offers can feel unfamiliar and even uncomfortable. Under the guise of “urgency”, we might prioritise work over family, service over spirituality, cleaning over connection—and in my case, seeing Singapore over quality sister time—just to satisfy the discomfort of our busy souls. In the words of one of my favourite authors, John Mark Comer, “We must learn the unforced

rhythms of grace”.2 In our modern world, rest is an act of resistance against existing powers and social structures. It’s not something that comes easily, or naturally. And that’s okay. If Jesus can show compassion to Martha—a hurried and anxious woman trying to prove her worth and do the right thing—then we should also show compassion to ourselves, and others. While I sometimes find this challenging, I also take courage in this promise: “That he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). After all, being in a hurry to stop hurrying doesn’t make much sense. So I’m trusting God’s timeline instead. Maryellen Hacko is an artist and illustrator living in Sydney, Australia. 1. With the exception of running to catch a plane or bus. Perhaps this should read: “anywhere meaningful”. 2. Comer, John Mark, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World, Waterbrook Press, 2019.

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THE WORLD GAME

Lucy tried to fill the hole in her heart with relationships and football but didn't find what she was looking for until she met God. BY KYMBERLEY MCMURRAY SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

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ucy Martin described her life before knowing Jesus as a “tumultuous journey of trials, tribulations, ups, downs, heartache, success, fear, love and many, many, lessons”. Growing up on the west side of Adelaide, South Australia, with her family, Lucy—who was raised as Greek Orthodox—had little to no relationship or true understanding of who God really was. Sport was a massive part of her life; her Dido (grandfather) was the chairman of Football South Australia and recognised for leading football (soccer) in the early days of the game in that state. “My dad was a talented athlete and had natural skills in soccer and football in his younger years,” Lucy said. “My parents ran the Adelaide Eagles football club for the first few years of my life, so my siblings and I naturally found ourselves in the club rooms, the canteen stealing lollies and running amok around the football fields, completely immersed in the soccer environment.” After watching her older brother play football and rugby, Lucy no longer wanted to be on the sidelines. She described her first football game at the age of six: “[I] was finally allowed to play due to a shortage of players, [it was] the best day ever. My team scored two goals and one point; I kicked both goals for their team,” she recalled. “It was clear that I had my dad’s natural talent and the sporting bloodline from my mum’s

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side, so from that moment on I pursued sport (soccer and football).” Lucy went on to play in school teams, state rep teams, playing in the boys’ league until 13 years old and then moving to under-17 women’s at 14 years old where she continued to work her way up. “I’ve won titles, golden boot awards, I’ve captained teams, trained in elite programs and pathways to become a Matilda (Australian women’s team). I’ve played in multiple states, winning a title with South Melbourne, and the biggest achievement, playing professionally at Adelaide United Football Club,” Lucy said. “I was known as Lucy Adamopoulos ‘the soccer player’. I used my soccer player identity to filter the way I perceived my life.” While she experienced one success after another in her professional life, her personal life was far from perfect. “Many life-altering events took place between the ages of 15 and 23, which interestingly commenced when my parents separated,” Lucy said. “As a young teenage girl, I witnessed cheating, separation, divorce and deceit. I experienced the messiness of a broken family. “The pinnacle of my early childhood experiences was when my mum decided to leave with another man without telling anyone where she was or if she would ever return. Words can’t fully describe the loneliness I felt after she left.” Lucy described how this event led her down a path of damage and destruction: “My relationships

mimicked those of my parents, I formed unhealthy attachments in an attempt to avoid the pain of someone leaving me again.” Not only has Lucy suffered psychological and relational trauma, but she has also experienced a number of physical injuries from her sporting days and as a result of car accidents. At one point a near-death experience left her in a coma fighting for her life. “There have been moments where I’ve had to start back at square one, learning how to walk again, building muscle memory connections from my brain to my body in an attempt to function and move normally.” According to Lucy, the turning point in her life was when she met her husband Trent Martin. “Trent’s family have been a saving grace, supporting me from the very beginning,” she said. “The first time I got down on my knees to pray was July 2019 while I was in a cast with a broken leg. I was reading The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren, a book that Trent’s mum Tania sent me as a get-wellsoon gift,” Lucy recalled. “The book said if you take Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour get down on your knees and pray it. So I did. And that day marked a change, the day I said yes, the day I was saved, the day I was set free of my sins by the power and blood of Jesus Christ. “Since retiring [from football], I have discovered I was selling myself short and that there is so much more OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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to me than just a football player, and the perception of being valued in the sporting world. “Since choosing to follow Christ my life has completely changed. I still face trials and convictions, especially as I grow as a Christian and as I unpack my past and childhood, but it’s different now. “I have God on my side and by my side, someone who fully understands me, who provides me with comfort

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when I’m hurting, who shows me unconditional love regardless of what I do, and most importantly Someone who speaks the truth.” Lucy was baptised on June 18 at Mernda Seventh-day Adventist Church, Victoria, where both she and her husband currently attend. Kymberley McMurray is communcations officer for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia.

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As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered more than once, sometimes about the Bible but usually about everyday life. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the right place. I’ll do my best to respond authentically and biblically! Is this life all there is, or is there an afterlife?—Sangita, Perth Australia Many Christian groups believe in an afterlife of some sort but most of them hold to a Platonic view of life after death. If that seems like gibberish to you, it simply means that they believe that the soul is a separate entity to the body, and that upon your demise, your soul will either float up into the clouds to heaven or down into the fiery depths of hell. Of course, most Christians would probably want to express a more nuanced explanation than this, but when it comes down to it, this is essentially the view. Simply put, I believe that there is life after death but it isn't how most imagine it. I don't believe that your relatives are looking down on you from heaven (that's creepy) or looking up at you from hell (that's disturbing). Ecclesiastes 9:5 tells

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us that "the dead know nothing", which encapsulates well my view of death— namely, that it can be best thought of as a kind of sleep. The soul is not immortal, we are an integrated being and when we perish from this world, so does our soul. However, the great hope I have is not in eternal death but in eternal life. I'm so thankful that one day soon, Jesus will return to restore all things to their perfect original state. Everything will be made new—our minds, bodies and world. The dead will rise and we will be reunited with all our dearly-departed love ones. Then our true afterlife will begin—the life we were always meant to live. Religion often seems so outdated! Does it have anything to add to today's conversations on ethics and philosophy?—Ali, Mangere NZ Often, the philosophical conversation revolves around postmodernism. However, we don't live in a postmodern world anymore. Post-postmodernism, also known as metamodernism, is the new "hot topic" in philosophy and it has more interesting ramifications on religion and spirituality than its predecessors did. So, what is metamodernism and what does religion have to offer? Metamodernism encompasses many viewpoints but for the sake of our discussion here, I'm going to focus on three: (1) Metanarrative, (2) Spirituality and Idealism and (3) Paradox. (1) Metanarrative: Though it is critical of modernism's absolutist metanarratives, metamodernism also recognises that postmodernism's rejection of these ideas

without providing solid alternatives is ultimately unhelpful. Religion can provide a compassionate metanarrative that gives meaning and direction to a person's life. (2) Spirituality and Idealism: Metamodernism rejects the nihilistic tendencies of postmodernism. Instead, it seeks for meaning in spirituality and human connection. Through understanding and empathy, religion can fill the void created by postmodernism and provide deeper purpose in the arenas of relationships, economics, community and more. (3) Paradox: Like postmodernism (and unlike modernism), metamoderns embrace paradox. However, unlike postmodernism, paradox is not seen as evidence for a broken system that must be either repaired or critiqued. Rather, it is seen as a companion that must be lived with, even if doing so is uncomfortable. Religion at its best does the same. How can God be three-yet-one? How can He become a human, then die and rise again? How can people be set free from the power of death and evil, yet still be subject to its effects in day-to-day life? Answering such questions often creates more questions and yet, metamodernism doesn't seek to "pin down" once and for all a "correct" answer. Rather, it seeks to discover how living with paradox can enrich one's inner life. Religion, being that it deals with some of the most complex philosophical questions humanity can conceive of, has a great tradition of grappling with said questions with grace and thoughtfulness.

OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

ELL B EING

COTTONBRO STUDIOS—PEXELS

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

Fear is an emotion we all experience at some point. It’s sometimes helpful but when it’s not, here are five ways you can come out on top. BY VICTOR PARACHIN

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ear has only one beneficial purpose—to protect us from impending danger and keep us safe and alive. However, fear is unfavourable and disadvantageous when it interrupts life with anxiety, loss of sleep, panic attacks, constant tension and eroding inner peace. That may be the reason philosopher Bertrand Russell said, “To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” Though fear will not magically disappear there are skilful ways to downsize it. Here are five spiritual pathways to disable and overcome fear.

NIJWAM SWARGIARY—UNSPLASH

1. cut back on news consumption

The advice of the apostle Paul is for us to fill our minds with “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). Sadly, many of us do the opposite, filling

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our minds with an excessive volume of news—which is a leading cause of fear. While being informed is useful, consuming news constantly can become an addiction which produces not only fear but anxiety, anger, division and intolerance. Novelist Rolf Dobelli says that news is “toxic to your body”, adding that “it constantly triggers the limbic system. Panicky stories spur the release of cascades of glucocorticoid (cortisol). This deregulates your immune system and inhibits the release of growth hormones. In other words, your body finds itself in a state of chronic stress. High glucocorticoid levels cause impaired digestion, lack of growth (cell, hair, bone), nervousness and susceptibility to infections. The other potential side-effects include fear, aggression, tunnel-vision and desensitisation”. Not only does Dobelli advise against news consumption, but claims avoiding it reaps great benefits:

“I have now gone without news for four years, so I can see, feel and report the effects of this freedom first-hand: less disruption, less anxiety, deeper thinking, more time, more insights. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.” Though cutting back altogether is impractical for most of us, reducing our intake is a good idea.

2. tap into spiritual wisdom

Spiritual warriors from the past also faced and overcame fear. Their experience and wisdom can provide great encouragement for you and I. Some examples include: Thomas Merton: “I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” Florence Nightingale: “How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” Edith Stein: “Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. Trust in God—all will be well.”

“

Are you managing your mind or is your mind managing you?

Joan of Arc: “Lay all your cares about the future trustingly in God’s hands and let yourself be guided by the Lord just like a little child.” Francis de Sales: “Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.” Mary MacKillop: “Courage, courage, trust in God who helps you in all things.”

3. practise mind management

Popular cultural wisdom asks, “Are you managing your mind or is your mind managing you?” How we think can either support or distort reality. This was something observed by British poet John Milton: “The mind is its own place and, in itself can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven.” Evidence of the mind falsifying reality can be seen in an incident from a novice monk meditating alone in the forest as the sun was setting. All was peaceful until he heard the sound of an animal rustling nearby. He knew that most jungle animals were harmless, but he had also heard stories from villagers about large tigers, elephants and bears attacking humans. So, he began listening carefully to the approaching animal. By the sound, he determined it was a small creature. “Nothing to worry about,” he told himself as he reOCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

COTTONBRO STUDIOS—UNSPLASH 24

sumed meditation. Soon, the animal moved closer and became louder. The young monk was becoming a little more concerned. He practised “mindful” listening and soon realised he had underestimated the size of the creature. “From the way I heard it move through the jungle underbrush, it sounded like a mid-sized animal,” he recalls. Still, nothing to worry about so, again, he resumed meditation. Then the animal drew closer and the noises became louder. “I could tell by the crunching of the leaves on the ground and the cracking of twigs of wood that this was a large animal, a very large one, and that it was coming right toward me.” He stopped meditation. His heart was pounding, and in a panic he reached for his torch to scan the jungle for the approaching tiger, elephant or bear. In the beam of his light, the terrifying creature was revealed—a tiny forest mouse. Here’s the mind management lesson the monk discovered: “I learned that fear magnifies things. When you are frightened, the sound of a mouse resembles a man-eating tiger. Fear magnifies things. Think about how we let that happen routinely—a cat scratch could become rabies, a headache may be the sign of a brain tumour, a meeting with a supervisor means one’s being fired, and the list goes on.” That’s why practising strong mind management is vital for reducing fear.

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4. challenge mental distortions

“One of the most life-changing realisations you can have is, ‘I don’t have to believe my thoughts,’” says author and psychologist Tara Brach. Her insight is a reminder to challenge mental distortions when they appear and thereby keep them from having a negative influence over us. We tend to be easily drawn toward thoughts that heighten fear, lower confidence, fuel anxiety and generally make us feel miserable. Therefore, it is critical that we challenge that type of thinking quickly. Peter Grinspoon, a physician and author, makes this observation: “A big part of dismantling our cognitive distortions is simply being aware of them and paying attention to how we are framing things to ourselves. Good mental habits are as important as good physical habits. If we frame things in a healthy, positive way, we almost certainly will experience less anxiety and isolation. This doesn’t mean that we ignore problems, challenges or feelings, just that we approach them with a can-do attitude instead of letting our thoughts and feelings amplify our anxiety.” Making such mental corrections is advised by both Jesus’ disciple Peter: “Get your minds ready for good use. Keep awake” (1 Peter 1:13, New Life Version Bible) and the apostle Paul: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

5. connect to the God who cares

Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God speaks these reassuring words: “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up” (Isaiah 41:10). An earlier biblical verse contains the same reassurance: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Similarly, the apostle Paul advised: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7). Whenever fears emerge, pause to pray. Express yourself honestly and clearly offering a prayer like this: “Loving God, in moments of fear grant me courage; in moments of anxiety, peace; in moments of weakness, strength; in moments of uncertainty, confidence; in moments of confusion, clarity; in moments of frustration, patience and at all times a deep, abiding trust in your wisdom and love. Amen.” Victor Parachin is an ordained minister and the author of several books about bereavement including Healing Grief and The Lord is My Shepherd: A Psalm For the Grieving.

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COTTONBRO STUDIOS—UNSPLASH

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God has done something amazing—He has given you special gifts. Discovering your place in His plan changes everything. BY KAREN HOLFORD OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FREEPIK

here’s something lying on a massive table. It’s a huge picture. You move closer and see that the design is made up of individual pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle. But the pattern is unusual. It’s not an image you recognise, such as a Swiss mountain or a bouquet of tulips. As you focus on the details, you notice the pattern is constantly moving and changing in an almost imperceptible way. The tiny pieces are connected by an intricate web of activity, like the nervous system, blood vessels and muscles of your body. In the very centre of the design is a heart that glows with pure light, pulsating fresh supplies of love through the arteries, veins and capillaries. The muscles move and the nerves transmit messages. Everything works together. Every piece is vital. Now imagine that everyone who follows Jesus has been given at least one piece of this puzzle. Together, we create a picture of God’s character, His amazing, kind, nurturing and generous love. When all their fragments are interlocked, they create something far more incredible than they could on their own. But imagine that some pieces are missing. If someone hides their piece, loses it, doesn’t bother to unwrap it or keeps it in a pocket, the amazing picture will be spoiled. The other pieces will need to be adjusted so that the flow of God’s love is uninterrupted. The isolated pieces find it harder to reflect God’s character on their own.

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experiencing God

This incredible jigsaw puzzle is a metaphor for the interconnectedness followers of Jesus have. No one person can perfectly reflect God’s character because we’re all flawed. More importantly, none of us alone can reflect God because His love is experienced in relationships. God’s character is perfectly revealed in the mysterious collaboration between God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Also, love can be experienced only when it’s put into action. God created us to live in

relationships—family, church and community—because He knows it isn’t good for us to be alone. We need each other so we can experience God’s love with human arms, ears and voices. We need each other so we can experience God’s love flowing from them to us and from us to them. Every Christian is like a small piece of the puzzle that helps others to experience more of God’s character.

unwrapping spiritual gifts

Spiritual gifts are the special presents God gives us when we choose to belong to His family. It’s as though He takes the huge jigsaw puzzle of His love out of the box, including all the things He does for us, such as being generous with us, helping us, teaching us and guiding us and divides them into bite-sized chunks that human beings can manage more easily. Then He distributes them to suit our situation in life, our personal preferences, the things that bring us joy, the needs of our

communities, our natural talents and the skills we’ve learned. We cannot see how God distributes these gifts, but He always sees the ever-changing big picture. He keeps His eye on each of us, each church and community, and He’s continually remixing His spiritual gifts to create the greatest web of blessings for the whole world. How God choreographs it all is beyond my comprehension, but I don’t need

to know how it all works; I just need to make sure that my piece in the jigsaw puzzle is vibrant and growing.

my piece of the puzzle

I was six years old when I knew I wanted to be a writer and eight when a piece of my creative writing was published in our local paper. At first, writing was just something I enjoyed. Then, I thought maybe it was a talent God had given me. When I learned about spiritual gifts, I didn’t see “writing” on the Bible’s lists (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4), but some of the most amazing moments in my life have happened when I’ve been asked to write on a topic that has never crossed my mind before. I sit in front of my laptop, wordless, not knowing where to start or what to say. All I can do is pray, asking God to show me what He wants me to write, opening myself to be a channel of His love to the world. And then the words come, the ideas flow and I know that what I’m writing is totally from Him. The experience is beyond words. Today, writing is my talent and my work, and my favourite times are when I know God is using my writing as His spiritual gift in my life.

your piece of the puzzle

You can search the internet for various questionnaires to help identify your spiritual gifts. Sometimes the biblical names for the gifts OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

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can be confusing because they are generic names describing a range of gifts, and you might not be quite sure where you fit in. So how can you know? If you’re already a follower of Jesus, think about what you do just because you love God and want to help others experience His love. Think about the times when you’ve experienced a peaceful, joyful sense

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If you choose to become a Christian, God will help you discover your gifts.

that you’re doing just what God created you to do. Think about those times when you’ve felt fulfilled, when you had a sense that you were being 100 per cent used by God and a sense that you were “living out your purpose” through every vibrant inch of your being. It’s in those moments of sheer, connected inspiration that you can truly discover your spiritual gifts.

If you’re not a follower of Jesus, there’s good news: if you choose to become a Christian, God will help you discover your gifts. Maybe, intuitively, you already know what they are. They’re the things that make you happy when you use them and other people feel blessed when you do. The more you use your gifts, the stronger they’ll be. Once you’ve identified the ways you share God’s love with others, you’ll begin to see where they fit into one of the biblical categories of spiritual gifts. However, you may have other gifts emerging that don’t fit neatly into the original biblical categories, like the gifts of communication, graphic design, music, art, crisis management, disaster relief, conflict resolution, counselling and yes, writing! When the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, Corinth and Ephesus, his lists of spiritual gifts were different, so maybe they’re meant to be suggestions rather than a constraining list of specifics. Perhaps the best way to make sure your pieces fit into God’s jigsaw puzzle is to let Him reveal His character to you and through you. He can use you to create a clear picture of His love in a confused and hurting world. Karen Holford is a family therapist with a background in occupational therapy and developmental psychology.

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CU LT U R E

THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF

IMAGES SUPPLIED BY AUTHOR

Vlad Malley

Through a multitude of dangers from Nazis and Soviets, Vlad's life was difficult. But despite the danger, his trust in God preserved him.

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BY RYAN GREENLAND

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IMAGES SUPPLIED BY AUTHOR

rowing up, I had a wonderful grandpa. I remember him as a kind, hardworking and incredibly selfless man. He was also a quiet, reserved man—as you might expect of someone who lived through World War II. However, on a few occasions he opened up and shared with us some incredible stories. Vladimir Malamuzh (later Vlad Malley) was born in 1925 in Adzhamka, Ukraine, to his father Kiril and mother Khrystyna. They, along with his two elder sisters, were a Seventh-day Adventist family— perhaps among the first in Ukraine. At age five, he and his family were victims of Stalin’s famine—the Holodomor. Vlad and his father left their home desperately seeking work and food. Upon their return, they sadly discovered that his mother and sisters had died of starvation. Following the famine, they moved to Kirovograd, where they tried to rebuild their lives. His father remarried a kind lady called Paraskovia, then started and ran a school in a small room behind their house, which Vlad attended. Much to his lament, his schooling ended when he was 14 at the outbreak of World

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War II in 1939. Soon after, Vlad was conscripted to build and repair roads for Nazi vehicles, driven daily to exhaustion by the heavily supervised work.

from famine to farm

In 1942, at age 17, he and other young Ukrainian men from Kirovograd were rounded up onto a goods train. This was the last time he would ever see his father and stepmother again. He remembered waving to them as the train left the platform. Along with the other men, he was crammed into the carriage with livestock and taken to Germany, where they were all to be gathered and assessed by the Nazis. At that age, Vlad had light, golden brown hair and blue eyes, and was considered to be handsome. He remembered the soldiers singling him out, saying, “Keep him. He is good-looking and strong. He will be useful.” They then fired upon all of the other men, executing them in front of him. Vlad was deemed to be strong to work and visually fit their racial ideal, so he was sent to labour on a farm in Kraftsdorf in the state of Thüringen. On the farm, he was set to work as a ploughman in the fields and in the orchards as a gardener. The supervising family was initially very dismissive, making him sleep in their barn. For food, he relied on fallen fruit and other scraps. Despite these hardships, he recalled a great fondness for the oxen in his charge, Hans and Fritz.

The family’s eldest son Franz was a conscript of the Hitler Youth. Between his periods of service, he would chat with Vlad on his visits home. He privately admitted to Vlad his disapproval of the Nazi regime and wished not be involved in their horrors. Franz became friends with Vlad and spoke highly of him to his parents and siblings. Soon after, the family noticed Vlad’s honesty and diligence in his work and their attitude towards him began to change. Eventually, the matriarch of the family at last brought Vlad a cooked meal to eat. However, the food was a pork dish and though keen to eat something other than scraps, he politely declined the meal. He explained that as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, he could not eat pork. The mother was insulted, thinking he was being fussy and ungrateful for her cooking. This caused the family’s scorn to return, for a time. Vlad had wanted to show them the reason for his beliefs in a Bible, but the family didn't have one and he had no belongings of his own. Despite this setback, Vlad resolved to work even harder and remain a trustworthy worker. Over time, the tensions eased and a com-

promise was reached. Vlad requested vegetarian food and was given boiled potatoes to eat for most of his meals.

a country unraveling

After his tenure as a labourer had ended, the owner of the farm wrote Vlad a letter of reference to help him find better employment. Showing the high regard they had for him by then, the family offered Vlad a pistol and ammunition—despite him being “the enemy” and a risk to themselves. As Germany was destabilising, they suggested he take the pistol both to defend himself with and to take revenge on any Nazis he might encounter. Vlad declined the gun and instead insisted that he give them his Bible. He had likely purchased it by saving up his ration cards. The family accepted it and Vlad eagerly turned to Leviticus to show them why he would not eat pork, reassuring the mother that he did in fact appreciate her cooking.

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Vlad harboured no grudges towards the family. Likewise, his reputation in their eyes had grown to the point where each party considered the other as friends. Particularly Franz, who Vlad wrote to and received letters from for many years thereafter. In the final year of the war, Vlad attempted to cross from East to West Germany with a group of other displaced people. They were stopped at a border checkpoint, where Nazi fortifications prevented them from continuing their journey. Barbed wire prevented climbing and armed guards stood at the gate and on top of the border wall, shooting on sight anyone attempting to break through the blockade. Even at night, huge spotlights scanned for any would-be escapees. The group stayed hidden near the gate, observing the guards’ daily routine. One guard in particular stood out to him, a “hideous large woman with a machine gun, barking dreadful orders” strutting back and forth atop the wall. He further described, “Oh, that ugly, yelling woman! I was glad it was night!” He had seen her shoot people attempting to force their way past the gate. There was never a moment the checkpoint went unguarded as guards stood at the post in shifts. One night, Vlad recalled what he could only describe as a miracle. The group had been praying for an opportunity to pass through the blockade and were quietly singing

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hymns. Suddenly, they noticed that no-one was guarding the gate or manning the wall. The group seized the opportunity and, holding hands, carefully passed the blockade. Between 1945 and 1948, he spent time in West Germany learning English and some French in addition to German, Polish, Russian and his native Ukrainian. He was also baptised during this time, as he had never gotten the chance throughout his childhood or during the war. In 1947, he worked at a printing press in Munich. In 1948, he obtained a certificate for immigration to England.

Vlad's travels

Once in England, he worked as a wardsman at the Watford and District Peace Memorial Hospital, built as a memorial to peace in the wake of both World Wars. He also joined the Watford Seventh-day Adventist Church. After working in England for two years, he decided to emigrate to Australia after hearing positive reports from friends. He appealed to Australia House to obtain a visa, and eventually succeeded with the assistance of the French embassy. In November 1951, Vlad finally left England. He crossed through a storm on the English Channel and landed in northern France, catching a train to Paris. In Paris, he attended the 1951 Seventh-day Adventist Youth Congress as an English delegate. After the event, he again took the train to Marseille, where he

boarded a ship. The ship travelled through the Strait of Gibraltar and crossed the Atlantic, docking briefly at the island of Curaçao in the Caribbean. It then sailed into Puerto de Cristóbal in Colón, Panama, for three nights. The voyage resumed through the Panama Canal into the Pacific, where stops were made in Papeete, French Polynesia, then Vanuatu and finally New Caledonia. From New Caledonia, Vlad flew for the first time on a Qantas jet to Sydney. He arrived in Australia on January 13, 1952. In Australia, he briefly lived and worked in Victoria, first for the Sanitarium Health Food Company’s Warburton branch, then at a hospital in Melbourne. Following this he moved to Cremorne, Sydney, and again worked for Sanitarium at their Lewisham branch. It was here that he met Ivy Smith, my grandmother. This was when he anglicised his name to Vlad Malley. Vlad and Ivy were married at Woy Woy Seventh-day Adventist Church and lived in Epping. Later, they moved to Hornsby, then Mount Colah. Given everything that he experienced, it is no wonder that Vlad’s favourite hymn was “Great Is Thy

Faithfulness” and that one of his most cherished Bible verses was Psalm 55:22, which in the King James Version reads, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Despite the hardship of his life, my grandpa remained an honest and humble worker in all his endeavours. I saw for myself how hard he worked for his family. What amazes me was his focus on God, his appreciation for simple blessings and his kindness. I’m glad that God spared my grandpa throughout the war, and I’m glad that I can reflect on his story and example today. I hope that I too can practice my beliefs and values as he did, whether through hardship or peace. Ryan Greenland is a digital press operator and history buff living in Sydney, Australia.

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LT U R E

CONQUERING CRUELTY WITH LOVE

Courageous Ahn Ei Sook chose the most unlikely weapon. BY BEATRICE LĂPĂDAT

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MIDJOURNEY

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n cell number eight in a prison in Pyongyang, a few frozen and emaciated prisoners had to endure an additional torture—the pungent smell and wild screams of an untamed creature. This creature had not hesitated to murder her husband and cut him into pieces, leaving behind a young child who was taken away by the authorities. The person responsible for bringing this tortured soul into their cell was prisoner number 57—Ahn Ei Sook—she had requested that the “brute” be brought to her. Once there, the prisoner unleashed her full power, pouring out all her anger on the one who had disturbed her isolation. For hours, Ahn fought (even physically) with the woman, trying to calm her down.

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The other prisoners watched on in fear and disgust. It wasn’t much easier for Ahn herself, but one thing kept her strong: she thought what Jesus would have done if He had been in her place. On that gloomy day, kindness surpassed Ahn’s innate sensitivity and delicate physical constitution. When the one whom all the prisoners and staff feared as a dangerous beast finally fell asleep, Ahn performed an unimaginable gesture of tenderness. She took the feet of the dehumanised woman sleeping in front of her, encrusted with hardened excrement, placing them against her chest to warm them. Ahn extended her help to her new cellmate in this manner for three consecutive days, during which the exhausted and completely debilitated woman slept without interruption. When she woke up, instead of gratitude or words of praise, Ahn received curses and further attempts of physical aggression. However, Ahn remained undeterred, continuing to feed and warm her without expecting anything in return. Slowly, the criminal began to reveal what no-one else had the courage to listen to. On the day of her execution, the woman, resigned and with a peaceful countenance, uttered a sincere and warm “thank you” to Ahn.

MIDJOURNEY

when living means dying

This incident is just one among many stories that bear witness to the sacrificial spirit, extreme courage and unconditional love that Ahn displayed in her journey. Fragile and sensitive, Ahn had a strict, yet wise upbringing provided by her mother. She learned to turn weakness into strength, which aided her in circumstances she couldn’t have imagined back in her days in the classroom of the Christian school where she taught music. The story that turned Ahn into a model of Christian resistance against oppression began in the 1930s when, compelled by the Japanese authorities, she refused to worship Amaterasu, the sun goddess, on Mount Namsan. As a result of this act of disobedience, she was forced to hide in Shin Ei Joo, a Korean village near the border with Manchuria. Here, encouraged by her mother, she trained herself physically, mentally and spiritually for a harsh life, knowing that prison would eventually cross her path. The gruelling lessons through which Ahn taught herself to endure extreme hunger, cold and illness were accompanied by the constant practice of gratitude and prayer. During this brief period of freedom, she memorised thousands of Bible verses and Christian hymns. Additionally, the visits from hidden believers in the mountains proved to be valuable lessons for a future filled with obstacles and pitfalls.

“What was life? It could be beautiful if it were righteous, whether it was long or short; but it was the same as that of an animal if it was lived against God’s law. While young and pretty and fresh and bold, I would give my life to God honourably and without reservation. I would keep the truth to the end. I would die telling others of the love of our blessed Lord.”1 These were the thoughts that troubled Ahn when she began to seriously consider the prospect of going to Japan to advocate for the rights of Christians in the face of authorities. Convinced that God had chosen her to join the ranks of martyrs prepared to die for freedom, the young woman set off for Japan alongside another fervent missionary, Elder Park. Without any compromise, Elder Park, who had been her spiritual mentor for a while, taught her through his words, actions and unwavering faith that it wasn’t enough for Ahn to merely want to live for Christ. Rather, she had to constantly think of herself as someone who had already died for Christ. Drawing on her Japanese education received at an early age, Ahn became the voice through which Elder Park addressed the Japanese authorities. They appealed via a story found in the biblical book of Daniel, wherein three Jewish friends stood up to the Babylonian king, declaring that “we will not serve your gods” (for the full story, see Daniel 3). OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

Because they formally demanded that the authorities abandon Shintoism in favour of Christianity as a state religion and immediately cease the oppression of Christians, the two were arrested in March 1939, with Ahn being sent back to Korea and imprisoned. Outraged by the inhumane and abusive behaviour of the guards, she lodged an official complaint with the authorities, detailing the physical and moral torment endured by the prisoners. Her courageous gesture did not go unnoticed: the brutal guards were replaced and the treatment of prisoners underwent a nationwide policy change.

back to Pyongang

Transferred to the prison in Pyongyang in September 1940, Ahn experienced hell on earth. Beyond the episode with the deranged inmate on the brink of madness, Ahn seized every opportunity to be of assistance to those around her. When Pastor Power Chae was ruthlessly beaten by the guards, despite her own frail physical condition, Ahn pleaded with them to punish her instead. Her habit of donating her food and tirelessly caring for all those in physical or moral suffering remained unwavering until the end of her detention. During the trial, Ahn boldly declared before the court that Japan would pay for its excesses and arrogance. Determined and resolute, this seemingly physically feeble woman 42

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pushed herself beyond all limits in her struggle against the violence of the guards, hunger, filth and cold. After her encounter with Elder Park, Ahn stopped waiting for miracles through which God would fulfil the work prepared for her. “To live for Christ means to die for Christ” became her motto until her last days.

relief at last

A notable aspect of her autobiography is that the author does not beautify the moments when she felt on the verge of breaking down. When a law requiring worship at Shinto shrines became mandatory in all institutions under Japanese authority, Ahn believed that, due to her visibly deteriorating physical state, she would not withstand the pressure. God did not perform a miracle regarding her physical condition, but He worked in other ways. Due to an American attack (as by this point, WWII had reached the shores of Korea and Japan), the governor cancelled all plans for the eighth day of the month designated for altar worship. Once again, Ahn passed the test of faith, much like her favourite biblical hero, Daniel. Her modesty, ability to lucidly recognise her own weaknesses and avoidance of any plan that seemed unwise according to the Bible helped her survive. On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allied powers. The 13 Christians who remained alive in Pyongyang

MIDJOURNEY

at the end of the war were liberated but the tragic history of Korea thwarted their temporary joy. North Korea, falling under Soviet influence, separated from South Korea at the 38th parallel. The Russians sowed terror in their sphere of influence, primarily through physical violence and sexual abuse targeted at women and subsequently, Ahn was abducted. However, she managed to escape and joined a group of Christians who risked their lives to cross into South Korea. Later, she was warmly received to the United States. Alongside her husband, Pastor Kim Dong Myung, she established a church in Los Angeles and established a Christian foundation. Taking on the name Esther Ahn Kim, she seized her freedom to passionately advocate for the same principles she had upheld

under torture, even in the darkness of the prison cells. Ahn desired to rather die for Jesus than to give in. Nevertheless, she cherished the life God had given her. Ahn passed away peacefully, surrounded by love at the age of 90. She forever remains an example of a Christian who knows when to speak out fearlessly against abuse of power, when to lend a hand to a helpless neighbour and when to joyfully express gratitude. Active, cheerful and generous until the end, Ahn serves as an inspiration for us to lead our lives in a manner that allows us to say, like her, “I have finally discovered the true purpose of my existence.”2 Beatrice Lăpădat originally wrote this article for ST Network and it has been republished with permission. 1. Esther Ahn Kim, If I Perish, Moody Publishers, 1977. 2. Ibid, p. 80. OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FA IT H

OF SPEEDING FINES AND

Laws Divine

Laws can sometimes seem arbitrary—until they save a life. BY JUSTIN BONE 44

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ecently, I discovered an easy method of starting an argument. Simply ask people if they think traffic laws are fair! Instant disagreement ensues—from those who express disgust at the number of traffic cameras on the road all the way to people who say, “I don’t speed, so it’s not a problem.” Some will tell you that the laws are good, and others will tell you that laws are about controlling people. The people who say the laws are good are criticised for being too compliant. Those who say the law is controlling are accused of really meaning “laws stop me from doing what I want”. I understand, truly. For most of my life, my mode of transportation has been public transit. It has only been since I got a job that required a lot of travel that I gave in and bought a car—a rusty, broken-down, cheap one, but a car nonetheless. Since that first concession to the auto industry, I’ve owned several cars but only one new car. It was a Holden SV6 in Peter Brock blue. It was so comfortable and modern, and the handling was amazing. I learned that obnoxiously loud road noise and tyres slipping in the rain weren’t normal parts of driving. There’s nothing like a new car! The first time I put my foot down, I thought I was going to fly to my destination. I reached what felt like the speed limit only to look at the odometer and realise I was actually 20 over. In shock, I planted my foot on the brake and brought it back to the OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

legal limit. But then it felt like I was And there is a part of me that says I just crawling down the road. can be trusted with my own freedom I was puzzled. Why would they to disobey the law. Here’s the interdesign a car to easily do twice the esting thing—there is a third part posted speed limit if I would never of me that tells me I should listen to be able to legally drive it that fast? the first part rather than the second It turns out that speeding is one part. It is clear we all have that third of the biggest contributors to motor part because when someone accuses vehicle accidents. Statistics from us of doing something wrong, we New South Wales, Australia, show immediately try to justify it. If I that excessive speed is responsible were pulled over by a policeman for for about 41 per cent of car fatalities speeding, I might try and explain my and 24 per cent of serious injuries reasons for breaking the law, not only annually.1 With to avoid a fine but 2022’s numbers in also to continue Australia showing the illusion that more than 1100 I am a good people around and law-abiding the nation dying person. Even if we on the road that believe in “right” year, the figures and “wrong”, Laws are good quickly add up2 many of us will and the number of often decide to do for us and those fatalities has been the wrong thing around us. rising in recent anyway. years. Author CS So, it makes Lewis called this sense to have laws the “law of nature” that slow cars down for the public’s or the “law of doing right or wrong”. safety. Speeding laws save lives, even In his book Mere Christianity, he though it feels like they take away suggests that this built-in morality from the fun of fast driving. Laws are that all humans possess—the impulse good for us and those around us. I’m that we should choose the right honest enough to admit that while thing—is evidence that there is an it might be fun to drive fast, I may external “something” that instilled not have the requisite skills to do so this impulse in us. Otherwise, how safely. would we have it? That greater external “something” do the right thing is, of course, God. This raises an There is a part of me that knows interesting question. If we all have that obeying the law is a good thing. this sense of morality—the belief

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that there is right and wrong and that we should do the right thing— what does that tell us about God? This impulse is a significant indicator of what God is like.

so, what is God like?

First, that moral impulse tells us that God believes in freedom. Even when I know something is wrong, I still have the freedom to do it. God doesn’t appear in front of me like a celestial policeman ready to issue me a fine. He allows me to ignore that part of me that tells me I should do the right thing and disobey to my heart’s content. However, although we are free, the Bible says this about our freedom: “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. . . . Not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). We have freedom, but not everything we choose is good or will turn out well. Also, the understanding that we all know we should do the right thing tells me that God is good. Since God is the one who has put the conviction to do the right thing in us, it tells me that He wants me to choose good, not bad.

tablets in the sand

Knowing that God gives us freedom but wants us to do the right thing tells us that God must like laws. The Bible certainly confirms that view. Even when I choose to do good things, I can’t always rely on my own ideas. For me, speeding felt

pretty good, but in fact, it’s dangerous, and the law reminds me of that. So, what has God told us is good? Early in the Bible narrative, we find the children of Israel in the desert. They have recently been freed from being slaves of the Egyptians and are camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. However, they have forgotten what God is like or how to follow Him, so He gives them laws. The centrepiece of these laws is what we call the Ten Commandments. God carved them into stone with His own finger. They are recorded in Exodus 20: 1. “You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 3. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 5. “Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 6. “You shall not murder. 7. “You shall not commit adultery. 8. “You shall not steal. 9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 10. “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:3–17, NKJV). They sound so simple! I wonder what the world would be like if everyone chose to live by these com48

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

mandments. Imagine if there was no theft, no murder and no infidelity. What a very different world we would live in. Do you think it would be a better world? The first four laws are about the relationship we have with God, and He makes it clear He wants our relationship to be exclusive—no other gods! The last six guide how we are to get along with other people. Again, these laws may appear to limit our freedom, but in reality, they instruct us how to best use our power of choice. They protect us, they protect others and they strengthen society. For example, if no-one is envious of what I own, they won’t want to steal it. These aren’t the only laws the Bible mentions. But by the time of Jesus, the Jewish people had expanded the number of God’s laws to 613, composed of well-intentioned but man-made regulations called the mitzvot.3 As you can imagine, this meant that the law was something the people in Jesus’ time worried about a lot. With so many to keep, there were whole classes of religious leaders whose only job was to explain the law. But something interesting happened when the Pharisees asked Jesus about them—they asked which was the greatest commandment. Jesus answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is

like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37). Rather than make the law more complicated, He showed us that the very foundation of the laws given in the Bible—the Ten Commandments—could be boiled down to just two: love God supremely and love your neighbour as you love yourself. This is what God has told us is right. It tells us that God’s laws are about love and that He is about love as well. Love is the law, and the law is love. When you choose to love God, it follows that you will choose to embrace His Ten Commandments. That is real freedom! Justin Bone supports and trains pastors and congregations across Victoria, Australia. He is passionate about helping people understand the Bible better. 1. “Driving Too Fast,” NSW Government, accessed June 1, 2023, roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/ speeding/index.html. 2. Jordan Mulach, “Australian Road Toll Hits Five-Year High: Why Speed Cameras Aren’t Saving Lives,” Drive, February 2, 2023, <drive.com.au/news/australianroad-toll-2022-highest-since-2017>.

WESLEY TINGEYS—UNSPLASH

3. “The 613 Mitzvot,” James Madison University, accessed June 1, 2023, <jmu.edu/dukehallgallery/ exhibitions-past-2018-2019/the-613-mitzvot.shtml>.

OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

KIDS

D IFFE R

IMAGE SUPPLIED

FOOD FOR HUNGRY

The ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) Op Shop Toowoomba is helping to feed children who have come to school without eating breakfast. The op shop is partnering with two schools in the area to run breakfast programs—Darling Downs Christian School and North Toowoomba State School—and the food programs operate differently in each school. “We currently run a breakfast program at Darling Downs Christian School on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” says Lisa Booth, manager at the ADRA Op Shop Toowoomba. “But we’re looking into doing it every day because many of our kids go without on the other days we’re not here.” The breakfasts are coordinated and distributed by a group of dedicated senior students who have taken on the program. The food is served in individual packs with Weet-Bix, a fruit cup, a muesli bar, either soy or regular milk, and a bowl and spoon. Crucially, the breakfast is offered to all students. “Making the breakfast available to all puts everyone on the same level so noone feels singled out,” Booth says. “Those who haven't had breakfast are sitting with the ones that have, so they're all eating together.” The Darling Downs Christian School breakfast program was introduced in term two of 2023 and although it’s a new initiative, it has gained a lot of traction. SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

Booth says, “A senior student at the school approached me and said, ‘I'd really love to do a special breakfast once a term.’ She told me that there are so many kids who are not eating breakfast, who then on sports days have to do a threekilometre run on an empty stomach.” Looking ahead to big event days on the school calendar, the plan is for the op shop to source the food and supplies with the senior students helping to prepare and serve the food. “We can provide shake-a-pancake mix with fruit and toast and spreads, and the seniors will cook the toast, they'll flip the pancakes—they'll serve it all,” Booth says. “It’s really important to the success of the program that they have taken ownership.” At North Toowoomba State School, breakfast and lunch is offered every day in a discreet manner for students who would otherwise go without. In collaboration with SecondBite, food is delivered to the community liaison officer, Vida Suhan, who is well-known by the students. “We have many students and families here who struggle to provide breakfast or lunches on a daily basis,” Suhan says. “The economy is getting worse and our families are struggling with everyday expenses as it is.” If a student is sent to school without any food, they can seek out Suhan who will provide them with a sandwich, a

piece of fruit and a snack item like a muesli bar or packet of potato chips. “(ADRA) provides extra care and food, so our students can come to school to learn and be happy,” says Suhan. ADRA Op Shop Toowoomba also partners with Darling Downs Christian College for its Christmas hamper. A basket is left in each classroom and students are invited to contribute an item to go into the Christmas hampers. “I did a talk at the school last year and gave them ideas of what to contribute to the hampers,” Booth says. “So, don't just donate a tin of baked beans, donate something you'd like to eat on Christmas Day. Something that kids will unwrap and go, ‘Yay! I get some chocolate biscuits.’” The Christmas hampers are distributed to families doing it tough so they can have a Christmas celebration. “The tears flow every time someone comes to pick up a hamper,” Booth says. “It makes such a difference.” The ADRA Op Shop Toowoomba is one of more than 100 Australian community projects run in collaboration with local Seventh-day Adventist churches. To learn more, visit <adra.org.au>

OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

LT U R E

IN SEARCH OF THE CREATOR 52

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

A new science-fiction film explores the issues of consciousness, humanity and artificial intelligence. It also asks the same questions on the origins of life that humans have been asking for millennia.

MEDIA PACK

BY MARK HADLEY

OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

he director of Disney’s benchmark Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One, has come back from a galaxy far, far away to tell a new tale about earth’s not too distant future. The Creator asks us to imagine a world in which humanity is in a life-and-death struggle with a sentient robotic race that has spread across large parts of the globe. At the centre of this fictional story is a very real feeling that our creations are destined to surpass us, becoming as—if not more—human than we are. But real-world science reveals we can only mimic, not recreate, the Creator’s work. The Creator’s story opens in 2065,

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

10 years after a nuclear detonation in Los Angeles, a catastrophe that leads the developed world to recoil from artificial intelligence (AI). The globe is now divided into Western nations like the United States and a range of less-developed countries that have merged into what is now called New Asia. This conglomerate has so embraced AI that it has become a haven for a range of robots from mechanical automata to life-like human replicants. Here, various types of AI live in harmony with human beings. However, the rest of the world is desperately afraid of where this technological evolution will end and a war begins with the right to exist as the prize. This grand scheme is the setting for one man’s struggle to understand what it means to be human. John David Washington plays Joshua, a former special forces agent who is recruited to hunt down and kill “The Creator”. This shadowy figure is thought to be the architect of all advanced AI and more importantly, the inventor of a new weapon capable of ending humanity. Joshua’s mission takes him deep into New Asia, where he discovers that the weapon that will end the war is a robot child. Alphie, short for Alpha-Omega, is a

it all led to this

Writer/director Gareth Edwards is no stranger to this journey of human discovery. He says his development of The Creator’s storyline was inspired by films like Apocalypse Now, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Rain Man and Blade Runner. Rather than shoulder the cost of creating expensive sets, Edwards decided to set his film in Thailand and layer in the science fiction elements afterwards. This gives the film a heightened real-world feel, with the added benefit of anchoring its storyline in current AI debates. At the heart of The Creator is the question of how deserving its robots are of being said to possess “life”. Joshua is a biological human with inhuman actions burdening his conscience. Alphie exudes holiness but has a computer where her core self should be. Their conversations regarding their humanity rise to the level of religious reflection: Alphie: “Are you going to heaven?” Joshua: “No, you have to be a good person to go to heaven.” Alphie: “Then we’re the same. We can’t go to heaven, ’cause you’re not good and I’m not a person.” Edwards says this is no accident. His advanced creations struggle to understand the implications of

being alive in much the same way their human counterparts do. “There are a bunch of concepts and ideas that used to be the sole realm of religion and spirituality that now, because of the way AI is heading, are going more into the reality of these advancements in science,” Edwards told Total Film. “For instance, reincarnation is alluded to in our film, the idea that you can essentially copy and paste yourself.” This is part of what Edwards refers to as today’s “melting pot” that contains both the ancient past and the advanced technological future. Edwards’ robots worship their creator and are interested in deep questions of being—some even becoming monks. The idea is that if we progress far enough, we will create beings that are confronted with the same metaphysical questions that face every human being—and maybe even lead us to the truth. But is AI really likely to bridge the gap between the purely mechanical and the inherently spiritual? Or, to put it another way, will a robot ever rise to the level of becoming human? Unfortunately for a science fiction addict like myself, the experts suggest not.

ghosts in the machine

The first problem is self-awareness. Regardless of the stunning breadth of knowledge and computational power, current AI are much more like tools than people. Diagnostic OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

MEDIA PACK

powerful innocent played by Madeleine Yuna Voyles. She and Joshua set out in search of the Creator and, in so doing, map out the common territory held by humans and AI.

programs can compare millions because of the way they respond of lung scans with your own to questions, but when it comes medical imagery and better to even the most advanced AI, diagnose the early stages of there’s “no-one home”. The best life-threatening conditions than they can do is imitate humanity. your doctor might. But that In The Creator, Edwards does not mean they possess imbues the child Alphie with the same type of intelligence as emotional reactions. She sees human beings. Professor John a village of robots and humans Lennox is Emeritus Professor of being attacked by Western mathematics at the University of forces and she desperately wants Oxford and Emeritus Fellow in to help them. But emotion, philosophy it seems, of science is another at Green uniquely Templeton human College and characteristic the author that technolof 2084: ogy is unable Artificial Into replicate. telligence and Dr Rosalind the Future of The best [AI] can do Picard is Humanity. Professor of is imitate humanity. He says it all media arts comes down and sciences to conat the Massciousness: sachusetts “Some Institute of people think that they’re going Technology—MIT. She is also to construct a conscious artifact. the founder and director of the Now that is so far away from Affective Computing Research any reasonable hope, for a very Group at the MIT Media Lab. simple reason: no-one knows She says she is an optimist what consciousness is. And but believes that movies have so it’s very difficult. That’s the ultimately misled us about what big barrier in the way of truly robots will be capable of doing. constructing something that Some can express emotions, a represents the kind of intellifew can detect emotions but gence we humans have.” them experiencing emotion is as He says current AI might give unlikely as achieving consciousthe impression of consciousness ness:

“

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MEDIA PACK OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

MEDIA PACK 58

“Human emotion is much more than a set of small signals that our technology can detect. We can infer what you might be feeling through outward expressions, but we don’t know exactly what you’re feeling. We do not have, through technology, insight into your innermost feelings, into your experience. The technology does not give that. Even through brain scanning, we can see changes in blood flow, changes in electrical activity. But it does not mean that we know what you’re really feeling inside.” For some, technology offers the hope that human beings will one day be able to lift themselves out of whatever present condition we find ourselves in. In The Creator, technology is the key to discovering a renewed form of humanity. Alphie replaces the love that Joshua has lost—through her, he finds his way

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

to a better self. But in reality, created things do not surpass their creators. Robots will not replace human beings, and neither will we replace our own Creator. The mysterious way in which God has woven us together is not something people can piece together. And it is the very mystery at the heart of our creation that is meant to lead us, like Alphie and Joshua, to seek Him out. As the apostle Paul puts it in Acts 17, “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Mark Hadley is a media and cultural critic who lives with his family in Sydney. Please note that discussion of a media product in Signs of the Times does not imply an endorsement or recommendation.

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nuts

Did you know that eating at least 15 grams of nuts and seeds a day can help reduce the risk of heart disease? That is why the Heart Foundation recommends eating three to four small handfuls (about 30 grams or ¹⁄³ of a cup) of nuts and seeds every week. They are good sources of fibre, polyunsaturated fats, magnesium, vitamin E and antioxidants.

tofu

As a soy food, tofu packs a healthy protein and fibre punch. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. But, perhaps most importantly, tofu can be an incredibly versatile addition to your meals. There are four main varieties—extra firm, firm, soft and silken—allowing it to be added to any number of dishes, from curries to cakes.

POLINA TANKILEVITCH—PEXELS

leafy greens

Some of the most popular leafy greens are lettuce, spinach and kale. But watercress, Chinese cabbage and Swiss chard are also worth adding to your shopping list. Dark leafy greens are packed with magnesium, which can improve your mood, combat tiredness and help produce energy. Many leafy green veggies also contain fibre, folate and a range of carotenoids, which some researchers believe may reduce the risk of cancer. Leafy greens can be added to any meal, including your breakfast smoothie, so they are a simple addition to your weekly diet that will have a positive impact on your health.

legumes

Legumes such as beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas are not only delicious and versatile but are also high in fibre, low in saturated fat and contain iron, zinc, folate and magnesium. According to the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council, eating more legumes has been shown to help manage cholesterol and blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It may also help in weight management. Contrary to popular belief, dried legumes are not hard to cook. However, if you prefer, canned beans, lentils and chickpeas are a great alternative. Legumes also make a terrific, healthy snack. Keep a tin of baked beans in your bag or whip up some homemade hummus for an afternoon pick-me-up.

wholegrains

Wholegrains are nutrition powerhouses—they are packed full of different fibres, vitamins, minerals and protective phytochemicals. There are loads of options to choose from— wholegrain wheat, brown rice, rolled oats, buckwheat and barley, to name a few. Research shows that eating whole grains helps protect against heart disease and stroke, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and improves bowel health. Just three servings of wholegrains could lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 34 per cent.

OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU

FUN

CROSSWORD

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

Hint: Down 4 Across 1

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • OCTOBER 2023

CROSSWORD CLUES

DOWN 1 What Isaac Asimov and Will Smith have in common 2 Another term for postpostmodernism 3 Mythological founder of the city of Carthage 7 A fruit banned in Singapore's public transport system 9 Birthplace of Vladimir Malamuzh 11 The one food Vlad refused to eat ACROSS 4 Japanese sun goddess 5 Once said that news is "toxic to your body" 6 Australian racing legend 8 Culture vitamins 10 A metaphor for the interconnected nature of Jesus' followers 11 City where Ahn Ei Sook was imprisoned

SUDOKU EASY

9 4

1 5

7 1

9 4

1 5

HARD

4 3 3

8 2

7 6

8 9

1 2

7 2

3 9

8 4

SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU OCTOBER 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU