Signs of the Times
April 2004
Jason Stevens: NRL Enigma
It is rare in sports to find someone who’s played more at the highest rung than at the next step down. But Rugby League’s Jason Stevens is one, having played seven Origin games for NSW compared with 16 international outings for Australia. A variety of factors impact upon such a statistic but it is also testament to Stevens’ determination to be playing his best at the serious end of the season.
The Role of Jesus
Although I had grown up in a Christian home, heard the much-loved stories of the Bible and learned such classic Bible songs as “Jesus loves me,” nothing prepared me for seeing His face on film. “Him,” as in Jesus!
Teens Managing Money
All teens, even responsible ones like me, need to learn good money-management skills before trouble looms—trouble that may follow them the rest of their life.
What mistakes did I make, and what can others learn from them?
Reasons for Easter
The media coverage of Easter events is a kaleidoscope of images. Stories range from the delights of the egg-delivering bunny to the death, resurrection and (eternal) life of the God-man, Jesus. Accounts of the success of children’s Easter bonnet parades are mingled with accounts of another parade, the re-enactment of a parade following a man bearing a cross through the streets of Jerusalem.
The Fall Before Humility
The minister invited his congregation into an adjacent room where small bowls of warm water were neatly placed on the floor in front of a circle of chairs, each draped with a small towel. An old man, perhaps about 80 years of age, approached me and said, “Son, can I serve you by washing your feet?”
Death Predictions
As a person who lived and breathed, Jesus Christ is perhaps the best-known person from antiquity. In his book, Jesus, Malcolm Muggeridge called His walk on earth ”the most stupendous event in human history.” Although most know of Him only because of Christmas, many remember Him because of the Easter story.
The Disappearing Kingdoms
It may be that soon, if you want to see the “king of beasts,” you’ll have to visit a zoo. Recent reports place the lion under the threat of extinction. In Africa, predator numbers in general are plummeting as farmers attempt to protect their herds and flocks from carnivores, whose habitat is shrinking. The threat to wildlife is universal, but especially so for the big cats. The tigers of most Asian countries, which once roamed from India to Sumatra and Siberia, also face extinction, despite being skilful hunters themselves.
Control: Eat Right!
Most people aim to live healthier lives and enjoy it. Yet we don’t! But a good place to begin to take control is by thinking about what we eat.
Heroes of Faith: The Scots
The Scots have for millennia been independent-minded, today demonstrated in a national yearning for political independence. But these courageous Celts, along with their beloved heather, pipes and tartan, have also held a strong Christian faith.
Elvis in Vanuatu
We were sailing with Pacific Yacht Ministries (PYM), a Queensland-based humanitarian medical ministry to needy Pacific islands, which operates Elvis. (Its tender is called, Love Me Tender!) PYM is the result of the vision and drive of Steve Woodward and his dedicated and long-suffering wife, Kath, who own the boat. Its aim is to bring physical relief to unserviced, remote island communities.
A Well-Proportioned Life
With an appropriately solemn demeanour and immaculately dressed in a dark suit, he directs the funeral; now he’s stripped to trunks, his beautifully proportioned, muscular body shimmering beneath a film of oil and perspiration, waiting for the lights to signal a successful lift. This is Paul Newberry, who owned and operated a major funeral home in Whangarei, New Zealand, for more than 30 years while simultaneously a selector and coach of New Zealand’s Commonwealth and Olympic Games weight-lifting teams.
Reality Check!
When a group of teens from Port Macquarie (NSW) decided they’d like to join the “reality” craze, they chose to be refugees in a simulated refugee camp. The idea was to develop awareness of the difficulties of being a refugee, and also to raise money for relief work in the area.
Famous First Words
I’ve been flipping through The Baby Book, trying to find out if it is normal for a 16-month-old child to form a religion based on household appliances. Every morning and every evening our infant son grabs my wife or me by a finger and drags us to the cupboard where we keep our vacuum cleaner.
SIGNS REGULAR COLUMNS
Trends:
A Word for Thieving Neighbours
Our Times:
Robo boffin, James Bond a reality, royal wedding, it's da fuzz and more . . .
Book Review:
The Passion: Lessons From the Life of Christ
Bible Discovery:
Jesus: Answer to Life
Food Matters:
Fooled by Fast Food
Food Matters Recipe:
Falafel Wrap
Medical Hotline:
with Dr James Wright
Lifeguide:
with Deanna Pitchford
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