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THE GOOD NEWS PAPER No. 422

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Ian McCormack and his wife Jane. RRETURNETURN FFROMROM TTHEHE DDEADEAD

aster, on the Christian calen- lymph glands. My right lung started dar, is celebrated as the time to be constricted. Perspiration was SStungtung ffiveive ttimesimes when Jesus Christ died and pouring off me, and it felt like a Erose again on the third day. branding iron had been put on my by box jellyfisyh box Butjellyfish Jesus is not the only person to arm.” have ever tasted death and lived to Miles from the nearest hospi- tell about it. tal, Ian struggled to get people to Near death experiences abound. understand the seriousness of his The big diff erence is that the Bible situation. Twice he heard a clear, teaches that Jesus came back in unknown voice instruct him. Once a new, eternal body that will live it told him not to close his eyes and forever and never die again. These a second time it told him to beg for other people, even the ones Jesus help. EASTER ANSWERS BIG QUESTIONS resurrected, like the well-known Soon Ian’s body went into mus- story of Lazarus, only came back cular contortions, spasming uncon- BY CHRIS BRENNAN “religious person”. It might be that at times they come bubbling to the in their own old bodies, which died trollably. Then an icy cold breeze we are letting go of some really surface despite our best e orts of again years later. blew through him. Dehydrated and S0, it’s Easter... again. It seems to important possible answers as busyness or intellect. Surfer Ian McCormack had a near paralysed, he felt death (necrosis) happen every year! I don’t expect we allow ignorance of theological Easter holds possible answers to death experience in 1982, at 26, in creeping up from his feet. things to have changed much since thinking to advance. both of them, even as we concern Mauritius. He knows what it is to When he eventually made it into last year either. Let me give an example. ourselves with chocolate and bunny glimpse beyond the grave but he an ambulance, Ian saw fl ashes of There will be advertisements fi lled A few weeks ago, I was confronted rabbits. also learnt the secret to, one day, his childhood. He thought, “If I die with chocolate and bunnies, and by a person whom I had not What happens after we die? getting a body that will never die. now, where am I going?” there will be news reports of schools, previously met. He was clearly Well, Easter says that there is a life The blond Kiwi had been surfi ng, A professed atheist, Ian “saw” a universities, and companies who for su ering from emotional pain, later after death, and the accounts of diving and hitchhiking around the vision of his Christian mother pray- the “good” of their students, clients attributed to physical and emotional Jesus speaking with people, eating, world for two years when he ended ing for him. She said, “No matter and customers have made the abuse. touching and being touched, after up on the island of Mauritius, just what you’ve done, Son, if you will executive decision to remove Easter The discussion began like this: His resurrection, supply us with off the coast of South Africa. There call out to God, He will hear you and from their spaces. “You tell me what happens after we an objective example of someone the Creole fi shermen taught him to forgive you.” Usually, this is couched in terms of die! You can’t can you, because no who has come back from the dead night dive for crayfi sh. Ian found out later, that at that reducing o ence, rather than more one has ever come back to tell us? with authority to declare what lies One night, Ian was stung a total moment, on the other side of the truthfully as an advancement of a We just die and the maggots get us.” beyond the grave. of fi ve times by box jellyfi sh, argu- world, his mother had been pray- di erent socio-political agenda. Perhaps without even realising it, And do we matter? ably the deadliest creature known to ing urgently for him as she sensed Sadly, we’ll end up swallowing the pain of his situation has caused Again, Easter o ers an intriguing man. It usually kills an adult victim danger. the action even though we are him to consider a huge philosophical answer. The Bible is clear that in 10-15 minutes. Ian spoke in his thoughts: “God, mostly savvy enough to spot the question. “What happens to me once Jesus died on that very fi rst Good “It felt like an electrical shock. I don’t know if you’re real, or if you motivation, because each little I die?” And perhaps even, “Do I have Friday with purpose. It was to take I was in excruciating pain,” he can hear me. But if You can I have moment doesn’t matter enough for a meaning?” a punishment due to ● remembers. “[Almost immediately] no idea what to pray. Please help us to act. These are uncomfortable others so that they Turn I could feel the toxin pumping up me.” Here is the thing for me as a questions that we mostly ignore, but might be spared. to page 3 through my system and up into my ● Turn to page 3

Teen NNoo Lessons Easter for aangelngel from a Kids talk GARETH sausage dog PAGE 8 BACK PAGE THOMPSON PAGE 11 PAGES 5,6,7 2 Challenge • Edition 422 EEssentialssential eelementlement Convincing evidence of life

A NOTABLE CONVERSATION BY ALAN BAILEY ABOUT WATER ON an average day, you and I use a A man sat on the side of a well in after death staggering 450 litres of it. Yes, it could the hot Middle East. A woman came to only be water— and we take it for draw water up in a bucket and carry it granted. It’s just there at thehe turn-turn- away. He asked her for a drink and this BY RICHARD W INNES ing of a tap. We not only drinkrink it, started a conversation that has gone we wash our dishes, ourselvesselves down in history. There was an amaz- MANY years ago a submarine sank and our clothes with it,, ing change of direction when he said off the coast of Provincetown. When water our gardens and he had water for her that would divers descended, they searched fl ush our toilets. Not to quench her thirst forever. This for any possible signs of life within. mention washing the car was hard for her to understand, as Listening closely, they detected a and fi lling the pool. it is for present day readers. slight tapping sound. Somebody was COMMON BUT His words were, “Everyone who sending a message in Morse Code NOT SO COMMON drinks this water will be thirsty asking, “Is there hope?” Our planet has water in again, but whoever drinks the water Facing death can be a terrifying abundance when seen as a I give him will never thirst. Indeed, experience – especially if there is no whole. The oceans are massive. Sev- the water I give him will become in hope of life after death. enty percent of the earth’s surface. him a spring of water welling up to For example, Voltaire, who spent But those that peer into the heavens eternal life.” most of his life fi ghting Christianity, and tell us about the rest of the solar Life that never ends is like a stream cried out with his dying breath, “I am system and the portion of the universe of water that goes on and on. People abandoned by God and man. I shall we know anything about, fi nd little everywhere are thirsting for a new kind go to hell.” water there. of life – a new quality of life. So many Sir Thomas Scott, Chancellor of Two gases, hydrogen and oxygen. thirst but do not fi nd. The woman in England, said as he was dying, “Until Simple chemically, but both common the story had tried in many ways to this moment I thought there was and rare. Plentiful but precious. fi nd what her heart craved. Jesus knew neither God nor hell; now I know BE THANKFUL FOR IT that and made the off er of a completely and feel that there are both, and I Life depends on it. Life could never satisfying answer to her need. The am doomed to perdition by the just have begun without it. Summer days off er stands today. Many have found judgement of the Almighty.” APRIL 8, 2018: A girl holds a candle in Gaza City during Easter celebrations. make us thankful for it. Cool water by experience what it means to tap into How diff erent are the words of (Photo Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images) to swallow down and shower in is a the eternal, to fi nd their inner thirst the followers of Christ who, when blessing. Almost like a luxury. It can quenched, to discover they need look facing death, have the hope of life only be imagined what it must be like no further. after death. John Wesley, father of the to the two disciples on the road to something had happened which had wandering in a blazing desert looking Christ came for the purpose of giving worldwide Methodist movement, said Emmaus, to all the apostles except utterly transformed their lives. for water. As the body dehydrates, us life. Our existence had been aff ected on his deathbed, “Best of all, God is Thomas, to the eleven disciples with “When questioned by their critics, delirium increases. The craving for by the pollution of sin. Spiritual death with us.” Thomas included, to the disciples the apostles had no hesitancy in water decreases as the system closes held sway. His death on the cross and Sir David Brewster, inventor of the at the Lake of Galilee, to the fi ve making reply. They accounted for down. Then a shrivelling corpse lies subsequent resurrection brought the kaleidoscope, said as he was dying, hundred followers to whom He gave their own boldness by attributing inert in the sun. In time it will be white availability of life without end. “I will see Jesus. I shall see Him as He the Great Commission, to James, to everything to the risen Christ.” bones in the glaring light, testimony to “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; is. I have had the light for many years. the eleven disciples at Bethany just In speaking about life after the fact that life cannot exist without and whoever wishes, let him take the Oh, how bright it is. I feel so safe and before His ascension to Heaven, and death, Dr Von Braun, elected in 1975 water. free gift of the water of life.” ● satisfi ed.” to Paul. President of the National Space It has been well said that nobody Charles McIlvaine, former chaplain Institute in Washington DC, said, “In ever repented of being a Christian on of the United States Senate, suggests our modern world many people seem their deathbed. that if Christ did not rise from the to feel that science has somehow However, the dead, His body must made such ‘religious ideas’ untimely or Crossword hope of life after have been removed old-fashioned. death is not based either by friends or by “But I think science has a real ACROSS 8 Made amends for 15 Arouse DOWN NOBODY EVER in what others enemies. surprise for the sceptics. Science, 1 Spanish capital 10 Sense of great elation 16 Large bird of the 1 Saying have said when REPENTED And how could for instance tells us that nothing in 3 70’s hairdo 12 Arm ornament pampas nothing Christ’s few friends nature, not even the tiniest particle, 7 Undertaking 14 Not paired? 17 Flowering shrub they are dying, OF BEING A 2 Unruly but on Christ’s have stolen His body can disappear without a trace. outburst own resurrection CHRISTIAN ON from the tomb? The “Think about that for a moment. 4 Basic, from death. THEIR DEATHBED eleven apostles  ed Once you do, your thoughts about foundational As the through fear when life will never be the same. Science 5 A curiosity Scriptures explain, Christ was taken. has found that nothing can disappear The remaining few without trace. Nature does not 6 Hollywood “The fact is that women and Joseph know extinction. All it knows is hopeful Christ did actually rise from the dead, and has become the fi rst of millions of Arimathea (who donated the transformation! 9 At minimum tomb) could hardly have rolled away “Now if God applies this expense who will come back to life again someday. the massive grave stone and stolen fundamental principle to the most 11 College “Everyone must die because all Christ’s body when the grave was minute and insignifi cant parts fi nance of us are related to Adam, being so zealously guarded, under Roman of His universe, doesn’t it make o cer members of his sinful race, and authority, to prevent anyone from sense to assume that He applies 13 Fertiliser wherever there is sin, death results. stealing the body. it also to the masterpiece of His product But all who are related to Christ will And had the enemies of Christ creation – the human soul? I think rise again … When Christ comes back, stolen the body, they would have it does. And everything science has all His people will become alive again.” been delighted to disprove Christ’s taught me – and continues to teach “But I’ve never seen anybody rise resurrection for all time – by me – strengthens my belief in the from the dead,” somebody said, “so I producing the dead body. This they continuity of our spiritual existence don’t believe such a thing is possible.” never did. after death. Nothing disappears SOLUTION That’s understandable! Thus the empty tomb is further without trace.” PAGE 11 However, 100 years ago very few evidence of Christ’s resurrection. According to God’s Word, “we have people would have believed that Additional evidence is seen in this assurance: Those who belong television, telecommunications, the the dramatic change in the fearful to God shall live again. Their bodies Sudoku 61 7 3 internet, and nuclear weapons were apostles. shall rise again! Those who dwell in possible simply because they hadn’t “Within fi fty days of the death the dust shall awake and sing for joy! 36 4 of Jesus Christ, and the apparent For God’s light of life will fall like dew Fill in the grid so seen these either. Obviously, this collapse of His cause,” wrote Rev G H upon them!” that every row, every didn’t prove they couldn’t happen. 479 Lunn, “the city of Jerusalem rang with And who are those who belong to column, and every 3x3 And because we haven’t seen the clarion cries of men who, with God? They are not the self-righteous box contains the digits 93 anyone rise from the dead doesn’t 1 through 9. prove that it can’t happen. all boldness, declared that God had do-gooders. They are those who raised Christ from the dead, and that admit their failures, their sins and Puzzle Level: Medium 1465However with Christ’s resurrection there were many who saw what they were His witness. their need of God. They are those who 26 happened. On at least ten occasions “Craven cowards were changed believe that Jesus died on the Cross 6 3 8 Christ appeared to His followers after into courageous confessors, and rude for their sins and who, in their hearts, 21 6His death and burial. unlettered fi shermen from Galilee have committed their lives to Christ 4 2 9 He appeared to Mary Magdalene had become royal heralds of the King, and have become His true followers. 571 in the garden on Easter Sunday. He so that all who saw and heard them Jesus said to His followers, “Because I 7 5 1 appeared to the other Mary, to Peter, were compelled to acknowledge that live, you will live also.” ● SOLUTION PAGE 11 82 54 • Edition 422 3

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BY CHARLES GARDNER was crucifi ed, and where Jesus (GOOD NEWS) walked out alive three days later. trip to Jerusalem at Easter “I was really struck by the so convinced an army offi cer reality of the empty tomb – that Jesus really did rise from the fact that Jesus did not stay Athe dead that he was changed dead.” forever. God did something powerful The dramatic experience took in Tim’s heart. He wasn’t the place when Major General Tim Cross same man afterwards. was in Israel with his wife Christine “Back in Cyprus we had a while on leave from a peace-keeping very good Army padre (chap- post in Cyprus in 1981. His Christian lain), and within two months faith is now the driving force of his I was a committed Christian. The Garden Tomb site in Jerusalem where Tim life. Meanwhile, Christine had had his remarkable encounter He was raised in what he describes started attending a Bible study as “a typical middle-class British and committed her life to Jesus – the call to fi ght for justice and to civilian agencies establishing refu- home”, attended a Church of England Tim Cross independently of me. be a force for good in the world – is gee camps after the Kosovo War. He primary school and, like many peo- “Everything changed from a rooted in Christianity, and still is, received a CBE from the Queen. But ple, assumed he was a Christian. He erally considered to be built over personal point of view – it changed despite today’s political attempts to he says: “I just gave the orders. The even took the unusual step of being Jesus’ tomb – and then attended the way I led and commanded, it secularise the Army. men under my command did all the confi rmed while at Sandhurst (the a service at St George’s (Anglican) changed my view of the world, and He also told the BBC in 2008 that, hard work.” military academy), took communion Cathedral where it was suggested I the way I saw myself.” as a community, “the British Army Challenge during his wedding and had his three visit the Garden Tomb, As to whether faith recognises the issues of spirituality, In a 2009 interview he said: “If you children christened. But there was no not far from the bus should mix with fi re- goodness, righteousness, justice, lose the moral component, you lose relationship with God. station. FAITH HAD arms, he admits to evil and wrong, probably far more everything. I think we – collectively But when the opportunity came for Grave taking stock of whether than most”. in the West – have gone through a short break in Israel over the Easter “Our guide, a retired TO BE PART it was appropriate to While at college in the late 1980s, 30-40 years of pretending that this weekend, he and Christine hitched military offi cer called OF ... HOW I continue in the mili- his director wrote of him: “This guy is is not important, and that I do not a ride on a United Nations plane to Colonel Dobbie, tary. He prayed about a very committed Christian; he does need to have a Biblical foundation in take in the sights of the Holy Land. showed us a round … COMMANDED it, spoke to others and not bash people over the heads with my life. And I challenge that.” “I remember going past the bus He read the Gospels studied the Bible. He it – just lives it out.” Now 66 and retired, Tim and station near the Damascus Gate and [the Bible’s accounts of concluded that there is The General added: “Faith had Christine live in Aldershot and run noticing the hill behind it looking Jesus’ life] and, most nothing in the Bible to to be part of who I was, how I com- their own company – speaking and like a skull” (thought by some to be importantly, pointed out the empty say that you can’t be a soldier and a manded, the way I spoke and the advising on “morally courageous the location of Jesus’ crucifi xion. tomb cut into the rocks on the edge follower of Jesus. decisions I took.” leadership”. He is also a visiting Referred to in the Bible as Golgotha of the garden. I had a look inside.” On the contrary, Tim believes that CBE professor at three universities, a lay – ‘the place of the skull’). The tomb looked exactly like the Christians are needed in the Army, During his third tour of the Balkans preacher in the Anglican Church and “On Easter Sunday we visited the Bible’s description of the grave where and everywhere. in 1999, Tim was a brigadier in charge a trustee of the Bible Society. ● Church of the Holy Sepulchre – gen- Jesus’ dead body was laid after He He says that the ethos of the Army of 5,000 multi-national troops and From an interview for New Life Publishing. Used with permission.

RETURNING FROM THE DEAD Easter ● From page 1 and wondered why the was only light, only good. hospital sta had turned “If this is God,” thought Ian. “He must be able He saw words appear in front ff out the lights. He groped to see everything I’ve done wrong. I shouldn’t be answers big of his eyes, “Forgive us our tres- around feeling for his bed. here. I’m not a good man.” passes and sins,” which is part of The darkness had a cold, As Ian began to retreat in shame, a wave of light the famous prayer Jesus taught came towards him and, instead of throwing him questions His disciples. Ian thought God evil presence. Voices in into the darkness, it just embraced him with love couldn’t forgive him; that it was the dark started shouting and acceptance. “Why are you loving me, God? ● too late and he’d done too much at him. “Shut up.” “You From page 1 Don’t you know what I’ve done?” Ian wept. The wrong. His mum (in the vision) deserve to be here.” Where? response was just more and more waves of love. As Jesus, God the Son went to said: “Pray from your heart.” But he asked. “You’re in hell! Eventually Ian felt surrounded and fi lled with light, the cross, God absorbed within he felt his heart was like stone. He Now shut up!” healing, purity and peace. Himself the punishment due to took the plunge: “I don’t know if Ian didn’t believe in hell. Pushing through the brilliance, Ian beheld a man humanity for rebellion against the You can forgive me, God, but if If there was one, he thought in white robes with a face he couldn’t see because it creator, so those who put their You can, please forgive me.” it would be a giant party. was shining so brightly. Then he glimpsed a place trust in Jesus would not have to Then the words appeared: But now he knew that he Ian McCormack as a young man. of absolute perfection and beauty, which he knew suff er it. “Forgive those who have tres- wouldn’t want even his was heaven. Jesus asked if he wanted to stay or Do we matter? passed and sinned against you.” worst enemy to be here. return. Ian initially felt he had nothing to return Well, we matter enough to Ian thought he could do that, until the faces of Then a radiant beam of light cut through the for until he remembered his mother, who had God that He would wear what we those who had just refused him help came to him. darkness and touched Ian’s face. He felt this awe- loved and prayed for him all his life. He knew how deserved so that we might enjoy “I don’t want to forgive them, but if You can for- some presence go through him and his body was broken she would be thinking he was in hell, and life with Him eternally. We matter give me for all I’ve done wrong, I’ll forgive them,” plucked up and rose into the light beam. It was like he chose to return. enough that the Creator of the Ian prayed. passing through a tunnel at supernatural speed and On waking, Ian gave the medical sta a terrible world would die for us to bring us Then the words came: “Thy will be done on earth Ian felt fi lled with warmth, joy and comfort. ff fright. He’d been dead for 15-20 minutes and had back to Himself. Now I know that as it is in heaven.” He agreed: “If You spare my life, When he emerged from the tunnel his vision been removed from all the machines, However, many will scoff at what I say here. which will take a miracle, I will follow You for the was fi lled with light radiating from a central core God’s power moved through his body and he There will be sniggering about rest of my days.” of power like a white fi re. From it emanated all miraculously got total movement and feeling back. sky fairies, and scoffi ngs about At that he “saw” and prayed the whole Lord’s goodness and strength. Then it spoke to him: “Ian, He walked out of hospital the next day, scaring the record that stands against the Prayer and understood each line as he said it. Ian do you wish to return?” Ian recognised the man’s some of the locals, who thought he was a ghost. religious, but what’s your answer realised he was talking to God and incredible peace voice as the one he had heard earlier, and realised Since then Ian’s outlook and motivation have to the big questions when they are fl ooded him. He understood later that it was right it was Jesus. been completely di erent. No longer did he want asked of you out of pain? then he became reborn in his spirit - a new crea- Ian stood there grappling with reality wonder- ff women, drink and drugs. He read the entire Bible, Would you share a “hope” ture, forgiven by God. ing if he was in fact dead. He replied to the voice: for the fi rst time, in six weeks and later became a in a future of maggots and At ER Ian fi nally got the doctors to understand “I don’t know where I am. If I’m dead, I want to Christian minister, telling everyone what Jesus meaninglessness? And, will that that he needed urgent attention. At this stage he go back to my body.” The answer came: “If you go did for him. satisfy when the questions become was paralysed from the neck down. He closed back, you must learn to see in a new light.” Ian says now he knows, regardless of what any- your own and the chocolate his eyes because of the sweat pouring into them, “Are you the true light?” Ian asked. Again he saw one else believes, that when he dies (again) he will and bunnies are not distraction breathed out and died. Ian was pronounced dead words in front of him: “God is light. And in Him is go straight to heaven because he has made peace enough? At the very least, Easter and his body was moved into the morgue. no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5.” This interested Ian with his Maker and been forgiven. holds out a meaningful and But Ian didn’t realise he was dead. He thought because every other religion taught that god had ● See Ian’s whole astonishing account on Youtube or check out signi cant alternative worthy of he was asleep. both light and dark in him, both good and evil. This his website and book both called A glimpse of Eternity. In 2014 proper and personal consideration, The Perfect Wave Then he felt he was standing in the pitch black Being knew Ian’s name and his inner thoughts and his story was made into a movie, entitled . don’t you reckon? ● 4 Challenge • Edition 422 DefyingDefying thethe devildevil FROM PORN TO PASTOR

rystal Bassette shot her David Ridenour spent many years fi rst porn scene at the age of twenty-one. From there, studying witchcraft and delving into the Cshe would spend over ten years in the industry and feature darkness of the occult, until one day he in over one hundred ‘adult’ fi lms. She lived in Malibu, California, where she earned six-digit pay realised that he had become possessed! checks and owned a mansion, seven cars and a nightclub. avid was a wild youth, get- At church something sinister and She had everything money ting drunk every weekend scary happened to David. could buy. Yet, she was with friends, lacking a strong “From being so deeply involved in miserable. Dmoral compass at home, the occult, a demon down inside of In regards to her fi rst shoot, sleeping around, lying, stealing and me actually spoke to me and would Crystal tells, “I sat in a shower entertaining a not let me move and I was bawling my eyes out, strong hatred for my own body even crying, for two hours. I felt so Christians and though I desper- gross and dirty.” anything that ately tried!” he Crystal shares that, growing had to do with remembers. “Sud- up, she was an honour roll stu- God. denly, the occult dent and a varsity cheerleader, “My father was no longer however, she went through some was an outspo- undiscovered sci- dark times. ken atheist sailor ence. Instead, I She was sexually abused by who would mock saw that I was a two diff erent people at the ages God,” David fool who was in of fi ve and seven. “I think it was says. “I was over his head in a huge impact as to why I got into never in a church dark things that the adult industry,” she admits. Crystal Bassette after leaving the porn industry. with either of he should not have “I was constantly seeking for my parents ever. messed with. male attention – attention that I taking pain medicine and drinking ing pain medicine or anything like There was never “This terrified did not get as a kid.” alcohol to get through scenes. It just that. Everything was sinking in. It a prayer said in me because I saw Her family also suffered from became this daily routine for me was horrible.” our home or a that if demons extreme poverty so, when Crystal where I would drop my son off at Afterwards, Crystal left Nadia Hil- Bible present. were real, then became pregnant at sixteen with her school in the morn- ton and her persona I did not know Photoart picture of hell was also son, Justin, she moved away to Hol- ing, go do a shoot and lifestyle behind how to say one David Ridenour real. I knew I was lywood. “I wanted to give him the life and come home. It and has not looked sentence with- doomed to go I never had.” was like a regular 9 I CONSTANTLY back. out cursing. [In fact], the little that there since my body was under a But living in California was expen- to 5 job. “Now I am not I had seen of organized religion demon’s control! For the fi rst time, HAD TO KEEP sive and, soon after, Crystal started “My mind was so worried about my seemed terribly boring, strange and I was really willing to stop running stripping to make ends meet. One messed up … I just UP THIS IMAGE outward appear- judgemental.” my own life and let God have my life.” day, an agent discovered her and lived for myself and OF BEING A ance, I am not wor- When David was 14, he became Under his breath, David begged convinced her to try ‘adult’ fi lms. my son and I did not ried about money, interested in studying witchcraft Jesus to “please, please help me!” Enticed by the amount of money really think about the FAKE, PLASTIC I am worried about which “I viewed as, not supernatural, Immediately, a woman came over to off ered her, Crystal thought, “Oh, consequences.” BARBIE DOLL. helping people,” she but only undiscovered science. It him and touched his shoulder. wow. I can do this for a month and be In 2014, Crystal smiles. fascinated me.” “The very moment she done with it.” But, a month went by, received a wake- Later, she met a Later, David joined the touched me, the demon and she went back to it again. up call when she young pastor named navy and became very left me!” David says. “I “JESUS, As she became more well-known, received a DWI [Driving While David Bassette at her church. They involved in the occult. was very shook up but not Crystal took on the stage name, Nadia Intoxicated] in the wake of a bad eventually got married and had a He spent many years PLEASE, yet saved. I knew nothing Hilton. “People recognize you all over accident. son, Carter. When David was asked practicing it and seeking about Jesus or why He let PLEASE She got behind the wheel whether Crystal’s past aff ected him to be fi lled with what he people crucify Him.” of a car drunk, hit a guard- in any way, he replied, “Not at all. I thought was an imper- HELP ME!” Then David overheard rail and flipped her car. do not listen. That is what Christ is sonal force of darkness. the preacher praying for “I broke my nose and had all about: forgiveness.” All the while, he had someone to see they would stitches down the side of Crystal went back to school to “a growing, strong and never be good enough to my face.” earn a degree in law. She also went unreasonable dislike” against all be right with God, that only the shed That is when Crystal real- to Bible College to train as a pastor. Christians. blood of Jesus could wash away all ised that her life was out of However, fi nding a job in that fi eld This was reinforced by meeting their sins and that to be made right control and that something was not easy. “My past kept coming “certain hypocrites who wore crosses with God was a free gift. needed to change. up and people would not hire me. I and read from a stolen Bible”. David “As I heard him pray, I knew it was She started to go to got turned away from so many dif- says that he found a passage in the the truth,” David recalls. “My heart church with her sister and ferent jobs because of that.” Scriptures that said the penalty for grabbed onto that like a drowning read the Bible while she While she did end up getting a job witchcraft was death. His anger man. I instantly felt the forgiveness was on set. as a legal assistant, going to church towards God increased and once, he and love of God wash over me.” “The day I was saved, I was diffi cult as she got much nega- “even tried to pick a fi stfi ght with a Shortly after, David heard the felt like the preacher was tive attention from the attendees. Christian!” whole story of Jesus’ life, death and just speaking to me,” she Later, David and Crystal ended up “All this time, while acting cool, resurrection. “I then simply believed recalls. “It was like he was leaving that church and starting their confi dent and sarcastic, I really felt in His sacrifi cial love for me and preaching to only me and, own, New Beginnings Christian Life, very insecure and alone inside,” Jesus revealed His perfect love and that day, I felt God was in New York. David admits. “I would never open His absolute forgiveness. I became talking to me through his “I can help abused women in the up my true self to anyone for fear of what I once hated – a Christian!” preaching and everything adult industry,” she says. “Speaking rejection.” David went from “having a heart Crystal Bassette in Nadia Hilton days. he said felt right. I got and being able to reach out to people After he got out of the navy, David full of bitterness, coldness, violence, down on my knees and was who are broken and lost is a calling.” decided that the only real thing in the distrust and pride to having a heart the place. It was just weird, because praying to God to release me from For Crystal, it makes it easier for world was making money. “It seemed full of a love I had never known when you think about it, they are everything and my mum was there her to talk to others with broken lives to me that the quickest way to get lots before. Through knowing that Jesus recognizing me because of something and my sister came over and we were because of her own past which “has of money was through criminal activ- loves and accepts me, I have been that is not talent.” all crying.” made me who I am today.” ity,” he shares. healed and now I am free in Jesus. She would not walk outside her It was then that Crystal decided And Crystal’s story, full of inspira- David was on his way to New Jer- David encourages others, “Your house without “showing cleavage, to leave the porn industry for good. tion and encouragement, is an exam- sey to set up his scheme when, on the past, no matter how bad or dark, does having a belly shirt on, and high- After her conversion [accepting ple of how God’s love can change a way, he stopped in Ohio to help his not matter! God has a plan of good- heels. I constantly had to keep up Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of her person, from the inside out. parents move house. ness for you. If you will surrender this image of being a fake, plastic life], Crystal still had two scenes left A verse from the Bible, Romans While there, a cousin asked him to your life to Him and trust in Jesus’ Barbie doll.” to fi lm before the end of her contract. 8:28, seems a very fi tting description go to church with her. “Church was fi nished work for you, God will wash While, on the outside, it looked like Even though she went to the set with for her life, “And we know that the last place on earth I ever wanted you clean from all your sins.” she had it all together, on the inside, her Bible and read it in between all things work together for good to be!” David recalls. “So I opened David went on to become a pastor. Crystal was battling with guilt and takes, she describes the experience to them that love God, to them who my mouth to tell her ‘absolutely not’ He is now retired and living in Ohio, shame. as “excruciating”. are called according to His purpose.” but, to my utter surprise, ‘okay’ came but he still loves to tell the story of “I was numbing myself through “I hated it because I was not tak- ● out! This freaked me out but I was too how Jesus saved him “because it proud to back out.” illustrates God’s great mercy”. ● 8 • Edition 422 FFromrom wwherehere ddoo we get our valuee? get our value?

BY JIM DENISON (ABRIDGED) in 1998, competitions were cancelled the next year “due to FORTNITE is an astounding lack of interest from Mercedes’ cultural phenomenon. More competitors.” The car is one of than 125 million people only twenty-fi ve ever built. play the online video game In a similar vein, a home in worldwide. Georgetown is coming on the Are parents worried about market for $22 million. The the violence of the game current owner bought or its addictive the property in nature? For many, 2008 for $11.8 the answer is million. Its claim no. They’re to fame: Ted worried that Kennedy their kids are once lived losing. there. So, Speaking according of prominent effery McCall had struggled with I am. I’m in the wrong body. “It was almost as if God, that summer, to the Wall families, same sex attraction from the age of “I thought, I’m going to have the surger- stripped away everything I learned from Street Journal, Fortnite characters. thieves stole 12. As a 15 year old he plunged head- ies and transition into a woman and this is the church, from the LGBTQ community, they’re hiring two crowns long into the homosexual lifestyle, what’s going to make me happy.” from everyone and said, ‘Everything Fortnite coaches for their and an orb from the Swedish J seeking love in many relationships and But soon Jeff ery found himself at rock you’ve heard, just throw it out and I’m children. One contracting site royal family’s collection heavy drug use. bottom, crying alone late going to lay a clear founda- has hired out more than 1,400 recently. The items belonged At the age of 23, Jeff ery decided he was at night. tion for you’.” Fortnite coaches since last to King Karl IX, who died in in the wrong body and began living as a “I was just weeping. I Jeffery’s walk with March. 1611, and his wife, Queen woman. As ‘Scarlett’ he began drinking spoke to God, through my God continued when he One mother explains: Kristina, who died in 1625. heavily and prostituting himself. crying and weeping, and I made a Facebook live “There’s pressure not to just They are so valuable because However, during those two years, said, ‘God, I know people video to publicly cut the play it but to be really good at they are so unique. he was secretly watching sermons on live for you, not just go to ties with his previous life it. You can imagine what that The best advice I’ve ever YouTube by a Christian preacher, which church on Sunday, not just and acknowledge Jesus was like for him at school.” received is this: always convinced him he needed to live for God. play a religious game, like as his Saviour. It was A 1998 Mercedes-Benz remember the source of your Jeff ery has told his extraordinary life- something happened and viewed thousands of times was recently auctioned by personal worth. story to Christian news site cbnnews.com. their life was transformed.’ and messages poured in. Sotheby’s. It had its original Our culture determines our “From 18 to 23, I lived in Nashville, “And I said, ‘Will I ever Friends and even family tool chest, owner’s manuals, value by our performance. Je ery at a Freedom March Tennessee. And in those years, my whole live for you?’ My voice abandoned him, saying spare keys, and fi rst aid kit. Beginning in childhood, we are identity was in being homosexual. went silent. My thoughts ‘You can’t leave homo- The starting bid was a mere taught that we are what we “I just partied and would shop, and stopped. And I heard God say, ‘Yes, you sexuality. You’re transitioning.’ $4,250,000. do, whether on video games, that was my life, shopping, partying, and will live for me,’” he recalled. But Scarlett was gone forever. Why? The AMG CLK GTR athletic fi elds, or academic whoever was my boyfriend at the time. I This led to a diffi cult decision to reject “All of a sudden, I had a peace and joy I is a street-legal version of a tests. was addicted to drugs. I was taking a ton everything that was Scarlett - the hair, the hadn’t had since I was a little, little, little race car that was so successful As we grow older, we value of Xanax and smoking crystal meth.” makeup, the clothes and the shoes. boy – that peace and joy of like everything ourselves by what we own. The He moved to Georgia to attend college “I went to a dumpster and I just threw was lifted.” more unique our possessions, but still couldn’t fi nd the love and happi- my whole life away. And it wasn’t a joke Despite hatred, opposition and ridicule, the better. ness he was seeking. to me. It wasn’t something I took lightly. Jeff ery helps lead Freedom marches of ex- All the while, our Lord values “The summer after graduating, I did my I was planning to transition and have sur- gay and transgender people who want the us by Whose we are. Just as the fi rst drag show. I had grown up around geries and change my body. So throwing community to know it is possible to live AU.CHALLENGE.NEWS former home of Ted Kennedy a lot of transgender, transsexual drag that away was a huge step,” he said. lives of chastity to honour Jesus Christ. Testimonies Children’s pages is more expensive because he queens because I had a family member “And I thought maybe I’ll just give God “My whole life’s purpose now is to Lifestyle articles Sports lived there, we are valuable Published 11 months of the year by Challenge who did shows,” Jeff ery said. a chance. He did speak to me and said I continue to share Christ’s love. It’s like Literature Fellowship (ABN 98 206 125 814) because our Father made us, in association with the international family of “I would start dressing up and I started was going to live for Him. And that sum- having the best thing you could get in the Challenge newspapers. His Son died for us, and His Editor: Carl Carmody. even dating men as Scarlet. And so, from mer the Lord and I began to try to have a world and you want everyone to have it,” Jody Bennett, Ainsley Gaebler. Spirit, if we invite Him to, lives 6WDϑZULWHUV there, it fed it even more that this is who relationship. he said. ● PRICING in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). au.challenge.news/pricing/ Now we must choose to Order Challenge from Challenge Literature Fellowship value ourselves and each day PO Box 978 Cloverdale WA 6985 Call 08 9453 3311 we live as He does. ● Email: [email protected] FINDING A CURE FOR CANCER

BY JODY BENNETT makem it cheaply available and ease as much suff ering as you can? Wouldn’tW you off er it to everyone you know who had cancer and CANCER is everywhere. My father urgeu them to try it? died of brain cancer, my mother If you were a cancer suff erer wouldn’t you beg for help and survived breast cancer, my brother spend all you had for such treatment? had skin cancer removed and my What if you just had a small bit of cancer? Would you say, “No, grandmother died of bowel cancer. no,n I don’t have as much cancer as the next guy. He needs the I myself have a suspected slow- treatmentt but not me.” growing lung cancer and can think It would be stupid to be too proud to admit you needed of six people off the top of my head whom I treatment. It would be stupid to ignore the cancer, thinking it know are currently fi ghting or have recently battled the disease. would go away on its own, when it is well known that cancer I’m sure most of you can too. spreads – often rapidly. Now comes an astounding announcement from a team of And yet, we all have the cancer of sin. Some of us don’t realise it Israeli scientists that they have discovered the fi rst true cure for all yet because we haven’t seen the tell-tale symptoms in our lives – types of cancer! One of them told The Jerusalem Post, “We believe although others probably have! We are all in need of a cure for our we will off er in a year’s time a complete cure for cancer.” rebellion against God and terminal selfi shness and pride. He added, “Our cancer cure will be eff ective from day one, will Jesus died and rose again in order to pay for a fi nal-solution Delivery Address: We are looking forward PSSM Mailbox Club to hearing from you! last a duration of a few weeks and will have no or minimal side- for every type of sin for everyone who asks for treatment. He can PO Box 357 (07) 5433 1628 eff ects at a much lower cost than most other treatments on the cure all types of sin, however clinical trials have found that His Morayfi eld 4506 [email protected] market.” cure is not always eff ective immediately, takes a whole lifetime to Queensland pssm.com.au The scientists describe their discovery as a kind of cancer complete and has several life-altering side eff ects. antibiotic and hope to begin clinical trials almost immediately. Those who are part of the clinical trial though (myself included), Could the miracle of a fi nal solution for cancer really be true? I report miraculous results! I encourage you to read the Bible to imagine there will be hundreds of people  ying to Israel hoping to explore in-depth God’s diagnosis of our human condition and be part of the trials or to have their sick children or spouses on it. explanation of His wonderful cure. Imagine if you created such a drug. Would you sell it at And as for cancer, how poetic if its total cure comes from the astronomical prices and live in luxury forever? Or would you land that saw the birth of sin’s cure too! ● FFaithaith atat FromellesFromelles LLegendaryegendary ssingeringer llosesose• Editions 422 9 - anan ANZANZAC storACy storywwifife afterafter 6655 yyearsears

BY MIKE SPENCER Jack Ridley was beloved by offi cers and men.” (The Whale Oil Guards, p. BY MICHAEL IRELAND, PPat and “AFTER passing over rough ground 119) ASSIST NEWS SERVICE Shirley covered with the bodies of the dead After his return to civilian life, he (AMENDED Boone and wounded, strewn with barbed trained for the Baptist ministry, but wire and pocked by shellfi re, the suff ered a nervous breakdown as a IN an era where nearly nineteen-year-old sergeant led his result of his wartime experiences. half of marriages end men into a water-fi lled ditch which While recovering, he went west with in divorce, even among had at one time passed for a German the intention of becoming a jackeroo, so-called Christians, a trench. Then, as he inadvertently but instead, he became involved 65-year marriage, and raised his head a bit too high, a bullet in an itinerant ministry to isolated a happy one at that, is quickly found its mark . . . As he communities, using a horse-drawn remarkable. And for such began thrashing about in the water, wagon. He was joined in this ministry a marriage to last in the two of the sergeant’s men grabbed by his new wife Dorothy, whom he entertainment indus- him to keep him from drowning. married in 1926. The pair continued try is nothing short of They worked desperately to staunch for nine years, until the birth of their astonishing. the fl ow of blood from the wound daughter, Ruth, put an end to their Legendary entertainer in his throat and travels. Pat Boone, who was popu- to keep him from John Ridley went lar in the 1950s and 60s, choking on his own on to become had just such a marriage, blood and mucus. one of Australia’s which ended on January By strenuous eff ort most famous and 11, 2019 with the death of and little surgical beloved evangelists. his wife Shirley at age 84. nicety, the two men His preaching People Magazine and friends, he stated: “Dear Shirley Following her death, Pat, 84, who managed to apply was forceful and reports she passed away at the BOONE doesn’t dwell in Beverly Hills once famously said “When you get a fi eld dressing and graphic. In addition Boone’s home in Beverly Hills, Cali- now – she’s just been warmly wel- married you forget about kissing drag their wounded to his preaching, fornia. She had been suff ering from comed into a beautiful new mansion other women” told PEOPLE maga- leader back to their own lines.” Thus he published 13 books and four vasculitis, an infl ammation of blood in Heaven, prepared specifi cally for zine that he will meet his long time Robert Linder describes John Ridley’s volumes of poems. After serving as a vessels, for less than a year. her and her husband by Jesus Him- love again. introduction to the Battle of Fromelles chaplain in World War Two, he joined As she passed from this life to the self, who said ‘that where I am, you “I expect to join her one day. I’m (The Long Tragedy, p. 20). The young with others to form the Australian next, Shirley was surrounded by her may be also.’ Rejoice for her, she’s very confi dent of that,” Pat added. Christian sergeant would suff er the Institute of Evangelism later known as husband and their four daughters, begun her eternal life. She loves you “That took the sting out of what hap- eff ects of that injury for the rest of his Ambassadors for Christ International. who were by her bedside singing too, as I do.” pened today because we know we’re life. He died in 1976. hymns to her. Author and Christian minister gonna be together again and have a The Battle of Fromelles was the On 14 November 1932, Ridley The couple’s Christian faith was a Shawn Bolz said the Boones have whole new beginning.” fi rst major battle fought by Australian preached on the subject of Eternity. key factor in their strong marriage, been a force for God in the entertain- Pat and Shirley began their love troops on the Western Front. It was His words, “Eternity, Eternity, I wish and is now a sustaining force in Pat’s ment industry. story at 16-years-old. “We were very intended primarily as a diversion to that I could sound or shout that word grief. “Behind the scenes, they have led much in love,” Pat revealed. draw German troops away from the to everyone in the streets of Sydney. “We lived a wonderful, blessed some of the most famous people in It wasn’t until they were 19 when Somme off ensive further south. In the You’ve got to meet it, where will you life together for 65 years. I’ve parted entertainment and music to know Shirley’s family planned to move event, it was a complete disaster, with spend Eternity?” struck a chord with a with my better half for a little while… Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. away, that Pat realized it was time the Australian 5th Division suff ering member of the congregation. He was but we don’t die, we just move on to They have hosted more events, Bible to ask her father — country singing 5,533 casualties between 18 and 19 a former derelict alcoholic, who had another place, and today was mov- studies, and prayer meetings at their legend Red Foley — for permission July 1916. been converted to Christianity two ing day,” Pat said of his high school house than probably anyone else to marry Shirley. John Ridley recovered from his years previously. His name was Arthur sweetheart. in Beverly Hills in history,” Bolz “He tearfully asked me one thing, wounds and returned to active Stace. Upon leaving the meeting, “We didn’t have the perfect mar- explained. ‘Will you take care of my girl?’ and I service. He organised a Bible Circle Stace, who was barely literate, riage, but it helps to marry a magnifi - Susan Stafford, former host of said I would,” Pat explained. for the 53rd Battalion, and many proceeded to chalk the word ‘Eternity’ cent woman,” Pat told PEOPLE. “You Wheel of Fortune, said: “Shirley is In November 1953, the pair eloped diggers found Christ as their Saviour. in beautiful copperplate writing, on make your commitments to God and no longer in pain, but Pat will be for and then settled in Teaneck, New For bravery under enemy fi re, he was the street pavement, a feat that he each other, and in troubled times, some time. Saying goodbye to so Jersey, where they welcomed their awarded the Military Cross. repeated about 500,000 more times you hang on to the commitment to many causes us to focus on what is four daughters in fi ve years. Chaplain John J. Kennedy, said of over the next 35 years. ● God, and to your kids. You see the important in this life so we can be Together, they supported each Ridley, “He is one of the most perfect From One People, One Destiny: problems through and you fi nd you’re prepared for the next. Eternity is other, as their lives and careers were Christians I have ever met . . . Brave as A Christian History of Australia stronger because of it.” forever, it just happens to begin on established — Pat was working his the bravest, cool and manly in action, www.facebook.com/onepeopleonedestiny In an announcement to family earth.” way through rigorous Columbia University (he graduated cum laude) and battling with Elvis for the hearts of America’s teenagers, while Shirley focused on raising their four girls. They eventually moved to Beverly FINDINGFINDING LOVELOVE AFTERAFTER WARWAR Hills together, where they resided for more than 50 years, watching their four children, 16 grandchildren, and just beginning to explore faith seriously when ten great-grandchildren grow up. The war in Syria made Yaccoub Syria’s civil war began. “That was the turning point In addition to being by her sweet- in my life,” he says. “The war started, and for me heart’s side for more than half a cen- an atheist. there was no God. I became a total atheist.” He even tury, Shirley was also a best-selling got a slogan tattooed on his arm proclaiming that was walking home and a bomb fell on The aftermath of a bomb in Syria, in February 2019. author, recording artist, television there was no life after death. a school bus, right in front of me,” Yac- Photo: MUHAMMAD HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty hostess, and humanitarian. Watching innocent children killed on their way coub says. She started a billion-dollar Chris- to school was the fi nal nail in the coffi n of his child- aunt’s love for him, Yaccoub came to believe in The shell killed every one of the chil- tian ministry, now called Mercy hood faith. And yet it also left him hungry to fi nd Jesus Christ again. “I Corps, one of the most promi- dren, and Yaccoub saw it all. Some of them were out what life might mean. It left him thinking “that “When I was intellectually searching for God, I as young as four, the oldest no more than seven. nent worldwide hunger relief there was some kind of power at work”, but one he also had the life example of my aunt with me and Yaccoub was about 14 when the war started, organizations. didn’t understand. that was the main reason that I decided to follow and not much older when he came face to face “[Mercy Corps] started from her One day Yaccoub’s aunt invited him to church, Jesus,” he says. And today he has a vision to take with death. tears and her conviction that we and he started meeting with a Christian who talked both the intellectual and the loving life example to “The whole bus blew up and burned,” he says. could do something,” Pat said. “She to him about his beliefs. his generation back in Syria. No one would be surprised to learn that such a was always ready to interrupt what But Yaccoub got so angry with him that he threw “Most of my friends are outside of the Church, horrifi c experience as a teenager destroyed Yac- she was doing and help somebody the man out of the house. and I was like them. I know how they think and I coub’s faith in God. But today, he is committed to else.” “I went back to church convinced that there was know why they have this hatred towards God and going back to Syria to serve God as a missionary. And that desire to give back was no love there. But when I got there, the person I had towards religion in general,” he says. The Baptist Times online reports that Yaccoub is one of the things Pat says he will kicked out of my house was the fi rst person to greet Yaccoub has a passion for reaching out with studying theology at a college in another country in remember most about his wife. me. And after the service he was the fi rst person to love. And he has a vision to use social media and the Middle East, and aims to return to Syria to serve “She had an honest, deep, earnest come and hug me. This really touched my heart.” fi nancial support to impact young people. He is his people and share the love of God with them. love for people,” he said. “She was Thanks to the prayers and love of his aunt, Yac- only 21 years old himself, but wants to bring hope What turned him back to faith? so easy to love because she loved so coub began to read the Bible and research into and love to a nation destroyed by war. ● Yaccoub grew up in a Christian home and was easily and so naturally.” ● whether it was true. Through his studies and his www.bmsworldmission.org 10 • Edition 422 TThehe hhummingbird:ummingbird: Wise up! As April Fool’s Day approaches, creacreattion’sion’s ssuperherouperhero speaker and author J. John explains what real foolishness is…

In 1758, the great biologist Linnaeus decided to give human Homo sapiens BY SCOTT GILLIS beings the species name , meaning ‘wise man’. It’s a decision that has been questioned ever since. History THE men at the retreat were asked what and our own personal experience tell us that human wisdom their favourite animal was. One called comes mixed with folly. out, “Lion!” another, “The eagle!” Stunned The Bible twice makes a strong statement on human silence followed when I exclaimed, “The foolishness: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” hummingbird!” Apparently that answer (Psalms 14:1 and 53:1). This may strike us as a puzzle. After all, was not ‘manly’ enough. “Why in the some – but not all – of the noisiest atheists are far from fools world would you pick the hummingbird?” in the normally accepted sense of the word; they are very they asked. In a ‘glad you asked’ tone, I educated men and women with degrees and academic titles. explained aspects of this bird’s incredible Are they really ‘fools’? design. The answer to this puzzle lies in the fact that what we HUMMINGBIRD FLIGHT consider to be intelligence is, in reality, not a single thing It would be enough to only mention the but a group of separate and very diff erent abilities. So there obvious: the incredible speed at which this is a ‘mathematics intelligence’, an ‘artistic intelligence’, an tiny bird fl aps its wings. When hovering, ‘emotional intelligence’ and so on. the wings beat at 50–80 fl aps per second,1 This idea shouldn’t be a novelty; whether from stories or even increasing to as many as 200 during personal encounters we are all aware of people such as the a short courtship chase. They utilize a brilliant scientist who dazzles in astrophysics but gets lost on fi gure-8 pattern, in which the wings flap the Underground, or the artistic genius who struggles to hold forward and backward, generating lift with a conversation. both motions (75% on the forward stroke To these types of intelligence, Christians and others would and 25% on the back add ‘spiritual intelligence’: the ability to sense the spiritual stroke2). This is world, to hear God’s voice and know something of His will. very unlike the This spiritual intelligence is what the Bible considers the most ‘up and down’ valuable of human abilities – wisdom. motion of most As the Bible reminds us, the pursuit of wisdom should be birds with typical the goal of every life (see, for example, Proverbs 3:3, 4:6-7, aerofoil wings. This 16:16; Ephesians 1:17). And there’s an excellent defi nition of unique ability to hover wisdom in the Letter of James: “But the wisdom that comes precisely in one position, from heaven is fi rst of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, and fl y backwards or take submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” off vertically, was not the hummingbird tongue operated by thus, heat (in addition to that of muscle (James 3:17). completely understood simple capillary action, like ‘wicking’. metabolism). For comparison, fast man- Wisdom is far more important than anything else and to lack until recently. However, biologists from the University of made machines need sophisticated it is disastrous, both for this life and the next. Connecticut discovered that the tongue cooling systems. The brisk fl apping There are two important features of wisdom or WING DESIGN works more like a micropump.9,10 The motion allows these birds to dissipate spiritual intelligence. The fi rst is that it occurs completely The ultra-fl exibility of hummingbird tongue is about twice as all that generated heat from their body independently of all the other types of intelligence. So the hummingbird’s unique wing strokes long as its beak, allowing it to probe deep across their rapidly fanning wing. Other someone who is a renowned academic genius may be utterly requires a very specialized design—not into fl owers. It is composed of two long modes of heat dissipation include rapid defi cient in spiritual intelligence, while someone else who is just of the bones, muscles, and tendons narrow tubes that ‘unzip’ in segmented air respiration, heat exchange through the uneducated may be rich in God’s wisdom. but also of the brain and nervous system fl aps when in contact with liquid nectar. skin and bill, and water bathing. The second and more important fact is that whereas many controlling them. The fl exibility of the Then the fl aps retract to ‘pump’ the nectar, Evolution cannot explain the of the other types of intelligence are the result of either the shoulder joint is a unique design, allowing in less than 1/20 of a second, in rapid appearance of the fi rst bird, nor how lottery of genetics or upbringing, spiritual intelligence is a gift the wing to twist into extreme positions succession, thousands of times each day. a slow process of gradual adaptation of God and can be sought and found. not found in other birds. However, unlike brought about all the complex structural As James again says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should the wing structure of all other birds, the HUMMINGBIRD EVOLUTION components needed to hover and extract ask God, who gives generously to all without fi nding fault, and ‘elbow’ and ‘wrist’ joints are rigid, making IMPOSSIBLE vast amounts of energy from fl owers, it will be given to you” (James 1:5). the wing more like a stiff paddle.3 The The evolutionary explanation of slow, all with wonderful and awe-inspiring I suspect one reason why many people who are considered relatively huge breast muscles that step-by-step addition and modifi cation precision and beauty. It makes more sense intelligent by the world have overlooked the pursuit of manipulate the rapid wing fl aps represent of these components over millions of to explain the brilliant hummingbird spiritual intelligence is that their rich gifting of other types of a massive 40% of the bird’s total weight. years fails to explain the way these birds’ design has solved a daunting challenge design as created by a brilliant divine intelligence has allowed them to feel that they don’t need it. FUEL REQUIREMENTS presented by the laws of physics. You see, Designer. At the heart of an enormous amount of atheism, if not all of it, The metabolism of the hummingbird is the blindingly fast fl apping and twisting My friends’ stares and chuckles turned is pride. the highest among all vertebrates.4 When motion of the wing structure generates into nods of amazement and agreement as Sometimes you can be so clever that one thing you can’t active, its heart rate is up to a staggering an incredible amount of friction, and I summarized some of the unique design believe is that you lack wisdom. Now that’s really foolish! ● 1,200 beats per minute, while the and extraordinary features This article first appeared in Good News respiratory rate even at rest is up to 250 (a) that make the hummingbird 5 breaths per minute. unlike any To support such ‘breathtaking’ nectar tongue other of God’s protrusion metabolism, this marvel must eat almost creatures. ● constantly to get the energy needed. Every (b) day, it extracts nectar from up to 2,000 collapsed fl owers.6 If humans were able to operate at tongue that energy level, we would have to ingest grooves almost 1,300 hamburgers a day just to (b) Left: Detail keep up! Furthermore, “our hearts would of the beat 1,260 times a minute and our body hummingbird’s nectar fl ow cylindrical tongue. temperature would rise to 385°C [725°F] tongue grooves and we would burst into fl ames”.7 Although nectar is the main fuel source References and notes 6. Doolan, R., Created to fl y! Creation 16(3):10– to keep the bird’s metabolic engines 1. Dreves, D., The hummingbird: God’s 14, 1994; creation.com/created-to-fl y. ‘humming’, it also eats the occasional tiny miracle, Creation 14(1):10–12, 7. Citing John Morton of Wildbirds Unlim- insect for protein. 1991; creation.com/hummingbird. ited, Vancouver Sun, 3 May, 1991. 2. Warrick D.R., Tobalske B.W., and 8. Unwin, M., The Atlas of Birds: Diversity, UNIQUE TONGUE DESIGN Powers D.R., Aerodynamics of the Behavior, and Conservation, Prince- Even the hummingbird’s tongue used hovering hummingbird, Nature ton University Press, 2011, p. 57. to gather this nectar (more than its body 435(7045):1094–1097, 23 June 9. Rico-Guevara, A. and Rubega, M.A., The 2005 | doi:10.1038/nature03647. weight,8 in a mind-boggling number of hummingbird tongue is a fl uid trap, not 3. Burgess, S., Hallmarks of Design, p. a capillary tube, Proc. National Academy sips per day) is such a complex design that 134, Day One Publications, Leom- of Sciences 108(23):9536–9360, 7 June it seems di cult to conceive how it could inster, UK, 2015. Return to text. 2011 | doi:10.1073/pnas.1016944108. ever be explained by slow and gradual 4. Suarez, R.K., Hummingbird fl ight: Sus- 10. Rico-Guevara, A., Fan, T.-H., and taining the highest mass-specifi c meta- Rubega, M.A., Hummingbird tongues steps as required by evolution. bolic rates among vertebrates, Expe- are elastic micropumps, Proc. Royal Until 2010, most biologists believed rientia 48(6):565–570, 15 June 1992. Soc. B 282(1813), 22 August 2015 5. Burgess, S., Ref. 3, p. 136 | doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.1014. • Edition 422 11 Lessons from a DOESDOES GODGOD FEELFEEL MYMY GRIEF?GRIEF? sisters – Mary and Martha - are BY ROB FURLONG Galilee at one point in His ministry. there, along with many other rela- sausage Speculation was rife about whether tives and friends. “NO ONE ever told me that grief or not He was the Messiah - it seems We are told that when Jesus saw felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but everyone had an opinion about who the grief of those gathered at the dog (Part 17) the sensation is like being afraid. He might be. tomb that He “was deeply moved The same fl uttering in the stomach, Then right in the middle of all of in spirit and troubled”. Another way BY JODY BENNETT the same restlessness, the yawning. this, Jesus receives some devastat- of describing Jesus’ response is to I keep on swallowing.” ing news. say that He “groaned in His spirit”. I DON’T think my little dog, Carrie So wrote C. S. Lewis as he pro- His cousin, John the Baptist, has It is a way of saying that Jesus was But we are also told that He did has very good eyesight. The other cessed his grief when his wife died. been beheaded by Herod the tetrarch. experiencing deep, deep emotion in this for us! evening, just as it was getting When people experience devastat- Upon being told this, we read that, His being for those around Him in Among the many things Jesus did towards dusk, she started barking ing loss – the death of a husband or “Jesus withdrew privately to a soli- their time of loss. for us at the Cross, one of them was and whining at the picture window wife or someone very close to us – it tary place.” We are also told the He “wept.” that “He carried our sorrows…” that looks onto the front yard. It is common for many to accuse God I am convinced that Jesus did this Jesus is certainly not unfeeling or One writer has described what was her “cat whine” and she was of being unfeeling and indi erent in order to process the grief He was ff indiff erent to grief – whether it be Jesus did in this way: desperate to be let out to chase toward them. now feeling at the loss of His beloved His own or others. “Great though His grief was, He what she thought was a cat out from The life of Jesus tells us quite cousin. We know very little about the April is the month in which we went to the cross and the person who under the front bushes (she clearly another story and when we refl ect childhood of Jesus but I am sure that usually celebrate Easter. acknowledges Jesus as king of their hasn’t learnt from the scratches she upon it, we discover something very memories of growing up and spend- Many of us set aside some time life receives forgiveness of sins and got last time!). diff erent indeed. ing time with John came fl ooding to refl ect on and give thanks for the a personal relationship with Jesus. I looked and saw that it was just Jesus was a “trending topic” in back to His mind as He mourned death and resurrection of Jesus. This bond is particularly meaningful a piece of junk mail that had got John’s death. One of the descriptions provided in grief, because Jesus shared our trapped under the bush, not a cat. I And I am also convinced that Jesus for us about Jesus is that “He was a earthly experiences, including suf- tried to tell her, and then to ignore slipped away quietly in order to give man of sorrows, acquainted with fering and death. He is able to help her, but the dog was insistent that Himself much needed time on His grief…” us and sympathise with us.” she needed to be let out to deal with own as He grieved. In haunting language we are told Rather than being unfeeling and the intruder. Eventually I put down On another occasion, we find that Jesus knew intimately the real- indiff erent to our grief and loss, Jesus my book and got up to let her out – Jesus standing before the tomb of ity of grief, sorrow and loss. He knew knows just how we feel! sure enough she rushed under the His dear friend, Lazarus. Lazarus’ rejection, He knew loneliness and And His heart for us perfectly bushes only to fi nd that the cat was all the anguish of soul that comes expresses God’s heart for us in our a cat-alogue! She sni ed all around with that. times of loss. If you want to know how just to make absolutely sure that a And at a crucial juncture in the God feels about you and your grief, feline was not anywhere in the front history of the world, He experienced just look at Jesus. garden and then conceded to come How can I become His greatest heartbreak of all – It is the very heart of the Easter inside. abandonment by God. story. ● “I told you so” isn’t very satisfying a Christian? when said to a dog! But it did make me think that Anyone can gain the eternal life off ered though Jesus Christ sometimes I too get a bee in my bonnet about something that I want, We read in God’s word: “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Peter Meadows answers or want to do and pray fervently for that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) Ask Y: your questions about God that thing to happen. I insist that I know what is going on, that my OUR Separation from God PROBLEM: “Everyone has sinned. Nobody is good enough because perception of the situation is correct God’s standards are perfect” (Romans 3:23) ADMIT QUESTION: If Jesus was such a good person and that nothing is going to change my mind. GOD’S Jesus died on the cross how come He ended up being executed? I think sometimes, like I did REMEDY / “God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we with Carrie, God says “OK, I know were still sinners, Christ died for us” BELIEVE SOLUTION: (Romans 5:8) YOU are so right. No one even a bone of his body you’re wrong but go and fi nd out could ever say Jesus • He would be buried in a rich man’s for yourself.” He allows us to make Trust Jesus by receiving Him was anything other grave - and would rise again from the mistake or experience the “To all who received Him, to those who believed in than ‘good’. And that the dead OUR His name, He gave the right to become children disappointment because we are RESPONSE: has to be the greatest Imagine the odds for any one of God” (John 1:12) COMMIT being so pig-headed about the issue. understatement of all person living a life that matched Carrie probably didn’t understand time. even a few of these prophecies. Here is an example of how you can pray. me saying that the shape under the So how come He died Yet Jesus fulfi lled them all. Without bushes wasn’t a cat (all she heard Dear Father in Heaven. I come to you now because I want to be saved. strung up like a common doubt He was THE one. was ‘cat’!) but there are times I have Please, forgive me of my sins. I believe that you sent your Son Jesus Christ to criminal? The answer – And God took all that trouble die for me and that you have raised him from the dead. I now ask Jesus Christ just refused to listen to contradictory amazing as it must sound – is that because of what the death of Jesus to come into my life as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Please advice or warnings from God’s Word this was God’s plan from the start. was designed to accomplish. He make me the person You created me to be. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen or His people about something I The signifi cance of Jesus’ death was to die as a sacrifi ce to pay the was stubborn about – and of course The Lord Jesus says: “I tell you the truth. Everyone who believes in me is ultimately wrapped up in who debt all of us owe to God for failing I ended up being hurt and wasting has eternal life.” (John 6:47). He gives life of a wonderful quality that continues forever. He was and what He came to do. to live His way. e ort and time. AS A NEXT STEP : You see Jesus didn’t stumble onto The picture comes clear when There is a verse in the Book of the stage of history. The script had you take account of what happened If you prayed If you have NOT prayed Psalms that I think is one of the already been written – with Him as at the time Jesus died. The record the above prayer, the prayer at this scariest in the Bible. It concerns tick this box stage, tick this box the central character. shows that at midday the sky went God’s dealing with the Israelites Jesus was to be the kingpin of black – as black as midnight. I have prayed I would like to God’s rescue plan. The one who Again this had been foretold. in the desert, when they moaned this prayer. think about this. would deliver us all from the mess Over 800 years before a Jewish about the food and demanded meat. “They did not wait for His Please send me: Please send me: we’ve created. prophet, Amos, wrote, “‘In that day,’ The Jewish scriptures had been declares the Sovereign LORD, ‘I will counsel, but lusted exceedingly in Bible More information as I am inquiring the wilderness” according to Psalm about being a Christian. promising such a deliverer for make the sun go down at noon Some ‘starting off ’ literature 106 so, says verse 15 “He gave them I have a problem (see att ached lett er) hundreds of years. They made clear and make the earth dark in broad Information on a helpful church statements – prophecies – recorded daylight.’” their request but sent leanness into centuries before Jesus was ever That darkness points to the their soul.” * Please tick and write clearly * born. This included specifi c details magnitude of what was taking That terrifi es me! The thought that about the one who would come as place. It was a picture of the way God might give in to my demands Name ______the deliverer, such as – Jesus su ered due to our sin. As that some physical, carnal, tempo- Address ______• He would be born in Bethlehem Jesus became the curse of the rary request be fulfi lled, but at the and of a virgin world He drowned in our sin on a cost of my spiritual health and my Phone ______• He would be betrayed by a friend midnight afternoon. relationship with Him. That is why - realising that I understand God’s Age and occupation (it helps) ______and sold for thirty pieces of silver And all for us. To make our • He would be struck and spat on forgiveness possible and so we can purposes and plans about as well as my dog understands quantum phys- Challenge Literature Fellowship Fax (08) 9453 3006 or email • While his hands and feet would be be clean to enter into God’s holy ics - I now always pray, as Jesus did, PO Box 978, Cloverdale WA 6985 [email protected] pierced – and so would his side presence. But, of course, that calls • The soldiers would throw dice for for a response from us – that we “This is what I want ... ‘but not my will All overseas enquiries are referred onto someone in their own country his clothes but would not break hand our lives over to God. ● but Thine be done’.” ● WWrestlerrestler GGarethareth wwasas nnoo aangelngel

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BY CHRIS EYTE though, and I was bullied at school.” “I decided at that point to give this Gareth says he was thrown out of a shot. I gave my life to Christ.” he crowd roars as the con- home at 15 and worked as a window His faith was almost immediately tender raises his arms and cleaner. tested when his grandmother died gets ready to grapple with his “I lost my job quickly and spent in March 2011, on the same night as Topponent in the ring. the next eight weeks his wedding. Not many people would know that sleeping in a skip before “I almost instantly wrestler ‘Gareth Angel’ had off ered finding myself at a retreated from God, feeling to pray for his opponent before the homeless hostel.” ‘PRAY, hurt and blaming Him for fi ght began. Nor would they realise Gareth met his fi rst EAT, her death. I thought things MAIN PHOTO: Gareth Angel, with his trademark slogan, in the ring. that for Gareth, the real grappling wife there and they WRESTLE, were supposed to be better INSET: Gareth takes every opportunity to display his faith. happened when he was younger - moved to his hometown once you were a Christian. I surviving sexual abuse and sleeping where they struggled REPEAT’. wasn’t looking at things the homeless in a trash skip. with their relationship right way,” Gareth admits. Gareth Thompson, to use his real and debt. His wife later left him for Beth, and infused his wrestling with performing in front of crowds, with name, recalls that his childhood was One day, on the way another man, further add- new purpose. Jesus in my heart, and be leading one long struggle to survive. to get some piercings, the couple met ing to his troubles. “I chose the name ‘Gareth Angel’ others to know Him. I am blessed “My parents divorced when I was friends who invited them to church. However, a friend from church to refl ect my faith and having grown beyond my wildest dreams. Thank six and after this my mum hit the “This church was diff erent – no helped Gareth regain his identity in with Jesus. I’ve also evolved as a you, Jesus, for not giving up on me.” drink hard, she became abusive and pews, no organ. A live band, open Christ and get out of debt. He later character, quoting Scripture, pray- Gareth says he’s a work in pro- unhinged. space to worship and dance, you made peace with his parents, as well ing before my matches and doing my gress ‘as we all are’ but he has three “My dad wasn’t to be seen at all. could interact. During the service, as his now ex-wife. best to be a positive role model and things he has learnt already: I would often have to take my two I felt my heart ripped open in the The issue of his sexual abuser ambassador for Christ.” 1. There is hope for us all and with younger brothers to school, feed worship. I caught myself crying, and stuck in his mind however and he Gareth has launched his own Jesus, anything is possible. them, and fi nd my mum in pubs to a real sense of home and love that I prayed about it. One day, Gareth was ministry (gtministries.co.uk) with 2. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you get the house keys from her.” had never felt before came over me. working in a shop when the man, Christian Vision for Men and per- are a doormat, if someone is hurting Gareth’s only escape was staying released from prison for his deeds, forms at churches. you, its ok to cut them from your life. with his Christian grandmother suddenly stood in front of him. He added: “My T-shirts say: ‘Pray, 3. Forgiveness is for the benefi t of on Friday nights, who prayed with “Here I was, face-to-face with the Eat, Wrestle, Repeat’. the forgiver, to release YOU from the him. His mum went out at weekends man who caused me so much pain, “I never imagined that I would be burden of unforgiveness. ● and left Gareth with babysitters. and changed the course of my life One of them sexually assaulted him forever. My fi rst thought was that I between the ages of seven and eight. could hurt him, make him feel what “This made me withdrawn, very I felt, I wasn’t a little boy anymore, I meek and placid. I was confused, was a man and I had been wrestling hurt and scared. I didn’t know what for a little while at this point. My to do, how to stop it. I fi nally plucked second feeling: fear and trepidation. up the courage to tell my mum one But ultimately I had two choices – night. make a move or make an excuse. “This was November 11, 1995. I “I handed him his DVDs, looked remember clearly because of the him in the eyes and said, ‘I forgive poppies that everyone was wear- you.’ ing. That night I was taken to the “I felt a huge weight lift off me. hospital, examined, and my abuser I was freaked out yet it was okay.

was arrested. Shortly after, there From that moment on, I started DISTRIBUTED BY: was a trial and once it was all out taking God seriously.” in the open I thought things would Gareth’s life got better and he now improve. Gareth Angel with the British runs programmes in his church, Wrestling Championship “My mum took it really hard has married a woman he met there, Print Post Approved 10001398. Published by Challenge Literature Fellowship (Aust.) Inc. of belt he won in 2018. PO Box 978, Cloverdale WA 6985. Ph (08) 9453 3311. Email: [email protected] - Printed 04/2019