Signs of the Times
November 2006
Why Is Andrew Denton in This Magazine?
What is an atheist like Andrew Denton doing on the front cover of a Christian magazine? Denton sees religion as the central cause of most of humanity’s woes. He fears that fundamentalist religion will plunge the world into a maelstrom of such gigantic proportions that previous world stoushes will look like schoolyard squabbles in comparison. As such, Denton is hostile to all organised religion. So how did his face get onto the cover of Signs?
ONLINE BONUS - Review and Ticket Giveaway: God on My Side
Death at the Oscars
When Australian cinematographer Dion Beebe won an Academy Award (an Oscar) in March for his work on the movie Memoirs of a Geisha, he made news in another way as well. In his acceptance speech, he enthused, “Mum, I know you’re up there somewhere.” Media outlets were trumpeting the award—and commenting upon his “tribute to his late mother.” But there were two problems with those news reports: fact-checking and theology.
Six Dieting Myths Busted
While the age of information has its advantages, it has also resulted in misinformation and confusion regarding diet, nutrition and weight control. False theories about dieting can result, at the least, in dissatisfaction with the results of our efforts, and at worst can be dangerous to our health. Let’s explore some of the most commonly taught myths and the truth that will help our health!
The Search for Meaning
The giant computer Deep Thought in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It was asked to find the answer to life, the universe and everything. After seven-and-a-half million years it came up with an answer—42. But by then no-one could remember the question.There’s no question that, in the search for life’s meaning and purpose, God helps provide a more satisfying answer than 42.
Family Smarts 
We all know them: those perky mothers and fathers who zip through the grocery shopping, two birthday parties, a soccer game and Pilates, all on a Sunday—while you’re zonked after merely getting the kids fed and dressed. Yes, these hyper-parents are annoying. But, no, you shouldn’t strangle them. Why? Because we’re going to let you in on their secrets! Check out these peppy-parent tips from on-the-go parents like you.
Betting on God
Many people in society today have an interest in, or even a passion for, things to do with probability, chance and gambling. Whether it is trying to win the lottery, playing bingo, placing bets on the horses or making trips to the casino in order to play games like poker, craps or roulette, there always seems to be those who try to beat the odds. This has been a common pastime for centuries. Pascal argues that if the existence of God, which could not be proved or disproved, was hypothetically based on a 50-50 chance, which way would you want to place your bets.
Representing God
Random interviews of the public concerning their observations on the church, draw typical answers such as: “It’s a ghetto of hypocrites.” l “It’s only out for our money.” “It’s caused all the major wars in this earth’s history.” Sadly, a number of these observations from time to time prove to be true of some congregations and church organisations. They are not, however, a description of what the church is from God’s perspective. Far from it.
Life in a Nutshell
I’ve heard it said that anything that can be put in a nutshell belongs there. So, I’d like to invite you into my nutshell. It is a shrinking nutshell that used to encompass the globe, but is now so rarely entered into that I fear, at times, I myself am an observer from outside the nutshell. But, I like to call it my nutshell, nonetheless.
Where’s the Miracle?
Bad phone reception is something that irritates us at the best of times. So imagine a phone line crackling and crunching as you attempt to decode the words of your devastated son as he tells you life-altering news. In the middle of a shopping centre in Penrith (NSW), Steve struggled to hear his son as he explained to his father that he had cancer. Over and over, he had to ask Andrew to repeat what was being said. However, despite Andrew’s repetition, Steve couldn’t grasp it.
On Time
One person said, “Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.”1 While the cynic says, “The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.” If you live in some cultures of the world, time seems to mean little. And yet in the advanced commercial world where “time is money,” maybe time rules us with a rod of iron that, in time, induces stomach ulcers.
Sending the Right Signals
Adventist World Radio (AWR) is able to reach into places that missionaries are not allowed to go or simply cannot reach due to terrain or time requirements. By sending their broadcasts over shortwave radio, AWR is able to be heard by people who would never be reached by other means. It is also a welcome addition to the spiritual diet of many people throughout the world.
A Quest for Peace
I work with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) as a community-based conflict resolution and peace-building volunteer. But my work in peace building began with a personal experience.
Buckets of Trouble
I wiped my brow, cricked my neck and psyched myself up like an Olympic weightlifter about to attempt for gold. I gripped tight and—Three . . . Two . . . One . . .
Signs Regular Columns
Trends:
A Suggestion for Mel on Mago
Internet Insider
The Case for Personal Integrity Online
Food Matters Recipe:
Chickpea and Sweet Potato Koftas
Our Times:
February 30! when? where?, thumbing terrorists and more. . .
Food Matters:
Plant Foods Keep the Pressure Down
Bible Discovery:
the mystery of death
Medical Hotline
Pressure monitor, feeling faint and more
Lifeguide
A tale of depression
Home - Archive - Topics - Podcast - Subscribe - Special Offers - About Signs - Contact Us - Links
 |
 |
|
Copyright © 2006 Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ACN 093 117 689
