Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 1 Inside Life A magazine of understanding Volume 1, Number 2, April 2006 4 CONTENTS

Cover story: The Bible — Holy or 4 Holey?

Yes, Give it a Go! 8 Relieving stress by growing a garden 8

Is Anyone Helping? 10 Voluntary organisations making a difference

3 Are you a ―Can Do‖ Person? 12 Making the most of your potential

10 12 9

Inside Life PO Box 2709 Auckland Phone: 489 8910 14 Email: [email protected]

Editor: Rex Morgan Graphic Design: Lianne Trevarthen

Inside Life is a magazine of understanding. Rather than just reporting on life, Inside Life seeks to delve inside the marvellous mystery that is life, to discover what it is all about. What does life mean? Where did it come from? How can we make the most of it?

Inside Life seeks insight and answers to life‘s deep Our Cover: The Bible is revered by Christians questions and challenges, and aims to provide articles of as being divinely inspired, sacred, or holy. But lasting hope, help and encouragement for successful living many sceptics feel it is full of contradictions, in today‘s fast-moving world. errors, myths and legends, and rather than being

Inside Life is published four times a year, free of ―holy‖, it would be better described as ―holey‖. charge as a community service. Who is right? Our lead article examines this

© Worldwide Church of God 2006. All rights reserved. contentious but important issue. 2 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 en thousand copies of the mystery that is life, and to examine blindly believing the Bible without first issue of "Inside Life" what it is all about. What is the proving it. T were distributed to house- purpose of life? Why are human holds around New Zealand at the beings on the earth? Is there some Our last issue tackled the baffling beginning of the year. We‘ve had a plan behind it? Is there a God? question of ―What happened before pleasing response, with coupons, What happens after we die? "Inside the Big Bang?‖, concluding that the letters and phone calls coming in Life" plans to tackle the deep existence of the intricate creation from addresses ranging from Whan- questions of life, in a simple, under- around us is powerful evidence of garei to Invercargill expressing standable way. the existence of a Creator God. (If appreciation and requesting a you missed this issue and would like regular free subscription to the new Mankind‘s knowledge has increased a copy, please contact us at PO Box magazine. phenomenally in recent years! But 2709, Auckland.) so also have our troubles! We don‘t A recipient in Wellington said that seem to be able to solve the prob- In this issue, we confront the ques- the magazine was ―very interesting lems of war, marriage breakdown, tion of whether the Bible can be and easily readable‖. A Whangarei suicide, depression, crime, poverty – believed or not. Have a look at the reader wrote: ―What a wonderful these conditions are still rampant, evidence provided in our lead article, paper! Things I learned as a child despite our much vaunted techno- and see what you think. and adult came alive. Please logical advances. We hope you will find "Inside Life" continue to send it to me and after I "Inside Life" intends to dig deep and adds a fresh new perspective to life have read it I will pass it on to look at the issues right at the heart, that will cause you to pause for someone else‖. Another reader or the ―inside‖, of life, asking and reflection, and will be of practical noted: ―The content is very interest- answering the important questions help to you. We welcome feedback ing, photos and graphics eye ap- of our existence. We also plan to – positive or negative. Please feel pealing…‖ include articles offering practical free to write to us using the ad-

We will try to maintain a pleasing help and encouragement in living a dresses on page 2. appearance, but to the publishers of happier and more meaningful life. — Rex Morgan ―Inside Life‖, the content is the most How can we do this? The publish- important part of the magazine. We ers of "Inside Life" believe there is a intend this publication to have a spiritual dimension to life, and this unique approach. spiritual area holds the key to understanding the deep issues of Other magazines report on the our existence. We will seek to news, on the events, activities and explore this spiritual element of life interests of people. They generally by considering the Bible, which we provide information rather than believe is a handbook given by God insight. "Inside Life", on the other to answer the deep questions and hand, aims to be a magazine of challenges of life. But we have no understanding. Rather than just intention of being ―Bible bashers‖ reporting on life, "Inside Life" seeks with a ―holier than thou‖ attitude! to delve inside the marvellous And we don‘t see any value in

Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 3

The Bible — Holy or Holey?

By Rex Morgan one whole, with intricate themes Can the Bible be

interwoven all the way through it. trusted? Is it really the he Bible is the world’s best selling book – by far. It has Imagine taking say half a dozen word of God, as it claims T been translated into over authors from just one country, New to be? Or is it just a 2,000 languages, and is easily the Zealand, and giving them just one collection of ancient folk most widely read and distributed controversial subject, such as book in history, with hundreds of whether GE or abortions should be tales, fables and millions of copies sold every year. allowed. How much harmony and superstitions? agreement would result? But take But can the Bible be trusted? Is it any subject you like, including really the word of God, as it claims difficult questions of morality and alignment. It begins with a garden, to be? Or is it just a collection of ethics, and the Bible contains a river, a tree of life and an ancient folk tales, fables and comments all through it that add up invitation, and ends, many superstitions? Is it just like any to a harmonious picture. It has one hundreds of pages (and years) other book, written by men, consistent central message, and later, with exactly the same containing some good ideas and even the minor details are all in themes. some bad? Or was it divinely inspired by God? Is the Bible holy, or is it holey – riddled with mis- takes, legends and contradictions?

Let‘s take a look at some interest- ing facts about the Bible; some of the reasons people believe it is true.

1. The Unity of the Bible

The Bible isn't really just one book, but a library of 66 different volumes, written by more than 40 authors who lived over a span of 1500 years. These writers lived in 10 countries on 3 continents, and represented 20 different occupa- tions, from farmers and fishermen to statesmen and kings. They wrote in a variety of styles, from history and law to poetry and romance. The subject matter Abundance of Bibles: In 2004 members of the United Bible Societies alone contains many controversial topics distributed more than 390 million scripture portions, including 25 million complete capable of strongly opposing Bibles. Additional millions of Bible “aids” and reference books are printed every year. But is the Bible worth studying? From where does it get its remarkable opinions. Yet the book has a pulling power, and its staying-power through centuries of opposition to its remarkable consistency and unity message? The accompanying article points out reasons Christians find the Bible throughout. It is bound together as worthy of study.

4 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 2. Historical Reliability placed along with the very greatest the atmosphere and the hydrologic of historians.‖ water cycles of the weather, the Thousands (not just hundreds!) of suspension of the earth in space, archaeological discoveries have Another great archaeologist, William the spherical shape of the earth, the verified things written in the Bible. Albright, said: ―Discovery after countless numbers of stars, the Many of these finds have been discovery has established the importance of blood circulation, and catalogued in books such as The accuracy of innumerable details, and many groundbreaking principles of Bible as History, by Werner Keller. has brought increased recognition to good health. Halley’s Bible Handbook includes a the value of the Bible as a source of chapter listing discovery after history.‖ Do you have too many grey hairs? discovery that corroborates the Bible Would you like to do something writings. Websites such as christi- Nelson Glueck, a renowned Jewish about it? How about this for a ananswers.net list many examples. archaeologist, wrote: ―It may be recipe: ―To prevent the hair from Some of these instances have stated categorically that no archaeo- turning grey, anoint it with the blood confounded the critics. For exam- logical discovery has ever contra- of a black calf which has been boiled ple, it used to be claimed that the dicted a biblical reference.‖ in oil, or with the fat of a rattle- Hittites mentioned in the Bible never snake.‖ This recipe comes from the existed -- until the archaeologists Not only archaeology, but also the famous Papyrus Ebers, an Egyptian found their capital and records at writing of many historians, backs up medical book written in about 1552 Bogazkoy, in Turkey. what was written in the Bible. For B.C. Other remedies found in the instance, the famous Jewish Papyrus Ebers include lizards‘ historian, Flavius Josephus, who blood, swine‘s teeth, putrid meat, It used to be claimed was born in 37AD, wrote about stinking fat, moisture from pigs‘ ears that the Hittites ―Jesus, a wise man, a doer of and human excreta. wonderful works‖, and recorded his mentioned in the Bible crucifixion and resurrection. Do you have too many never existed -- until grey hairs? How about A number of other non-Christian the archaeologists writers of the first and second this for a recipe: “To found their capital and centuries also wrote about Christ prevent the hair from records at Bogazkoy, in and the Christians, including Cornelius Tacitus, Plinius Secundus, turning grey, anoint it Turkey. Suetonius, and Marcus Aurelius. with the blood of a Thousands of eyewitnesses of black calf which has Jesus‘ life were still alive when the New Testament was circulated, but been boiled in oil, or It was also claimed there was no we have no knowledge of anyone with the fat of a Assyrian king named Sargon as refuting the writings as ―fairy tales‖. recorded in the biblical book of rattlesnake.” Isaiah, because this name was not If someone wrote a book today known in any other record. Then, saying that New Zealand‘s wartime Sargon's palace was discovered in Prime Minister, Peter Fraser had The biblical writer Moses lived in Khorsabad, Iraq. been resurrected after his death, Egypt at about the time the Papyrus there would be lots of people around Ebers was written, but the principles Another king who was in doubt was to deny it! The Christians were of health and hygiene he stated in Belshazzar, king of Babylon, named hated and brutally persecuted by the Bible have proved to be far in the book of Daniel. The last king both the Jews and the Roman ahead of their time, principles that of Babylon was Nabonidus, government. If the New Testament are still valid today! according to recorded history. But writings were false, surely these two then tablets were found showing that groups would have produced a great For example, Moses‘ writings Belshazzar was Nabonidus's son deal of evidence to stop the growth provide for the careful disposal of who served as coregent in Babylon. of this ―sect‖, yet there is none. human waste underground. But in 18th century Europe human excre- One of the greatest archaeologists 3. Scientific Accuracy ment was regularly cast into the of all time, Sir William Ramsay, set streets of cities, giving rise to out to prove the books of Luke and Amazingly, the Bible made refer- epidemics of typhoid, cholera and Acts were unreliable, but after 30 ence to many facts hundreds or dysentery. One instruction recorded years of study he concluded that even thousands of years before thousands of years earlier in the ―Luke is a historian of the first rank; scientists recorded them. For Bible pointed the way to deliverance not merely are his statements of fact example, the Old Testament from those scourges! The imple- trustworthy … this author should be writings, dating from at least 2000 mentation of other principles of years ago, describe the circulation of quarantine and sanitation outlined in

Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 5 the Bible also led to the control of Leviticus (3:17) against the eating thunder by throwing a hammer at the dreaded diseases of leprosy of fat. his enemies, Maui pulled up the and bubonic plague, which over fish of the North Island when he hundreds of years had killed The very first sentence of the Bible millions of people in Europe. says, ―In the beginning God The Bible was created the heavens and the In the 1840‘s Dr Ignaz Semmelweis earth‖. It is instructive to compare transmitted down began instructing those in the this enlightened statement with the through the genera- Vienna hospital where he worked writings of other ancient cultures. tions in a unique way, to wash their hands thoroughly According to the teachings of the after patient examinations. There Egyptians, the earth hatched from and has been was a storm of protest at this a winged egg, and men originally preserved much more ―nuisance‖, but the mortality rate at hatched from worms found in the the hospital started reducing slime of the Nile after the annual accurately than any immediately. Opponents of his rains. When the Bible was written other ancient ideas attacked him fiercely, and it the Hindus are said to have taught document. was only after his death that it that the world was flat and rested became recognised that he was on the back of an elephant. The right! But thousands of years elephant stood on the back of a was in a boat, which became the earlier, God had given Moses great tortoise, and what that rested South Island. The Bible doesn‘t instructions about cleansing the on they didn‘t venture to suggest! contain any legends like this. Yet many people have called the Bible ―mythology‖!

4. Preservation and Survival

The Bible was written on perishable material such as papyrus and animal skins. It was copied and recopied hundreds of times to preserve it throughout history, because there weren‘t any printing presses or computer discs in Old Testament times! But it was transmitted down through the generations in a unique way, and has been preserved much more accurately than any other ancient document.

It was very important to the Jews -- it was in effect their national law and constitution -- so they really Diligent study: In 2005, more than 70,000 new Bibles and 40,000 copies of the looked after it. They had special New Testament were distributed in New Zealand by the Bible Society alone. classes of men whose sole duty Thousands of Christians purchase different versions of the Bible and study the was to preserve and transmit these Bible and other reference books diligently on a daily basis, in personal and even documents with practically perfect group situations. Is the Bible really worthy of such attention? fidelity, and who kept tabs on every letter, syllable and word. The hands under running water after Later, among the Greek philoso- phers, it was taught that Atlas, one Talmudists who preserved the text handling the dead, or infected living from AD 100 to AD 500 had rules patients. of the giants, or Titans, who warred with Zeus, was condemned to including the following: ―A syna- support the heavens, bearing the gogue roll must be written on the What should we do to avoid a heart world on his neck and shoulders. skins of clean animals, the length of attack? In relatively recent years each column must not extend less the medical profession has warned that 48 or more than 80 lines, the It‘s fascinating to look up against the build up of cholesterol breadth must consist of 30 letters. ―Mythology‖ in an encyclopaedia, in our veins since it may cause No word or letter must be written and read about the way the clogging and a heart attack. A from memory, the scribe not having ancients of all civilisations believed major source of cholesterol is looked at the codex before him… in gods of the sun, moon and stars, animal fat. Centuries ago, Moses Between every consonant the the sea god, the forest god, the god spoke in the Old Testament book of of war, and so on. Thor made

6 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 space of a hair or thread must intervene. Should a king address him while writing he must take no notice of him.‖ (Davidson, Hebrew What famous people have said Text of the Old Testament, p89). about the Bible... The Massoretes, who copied the text from AD 500 to AD 900, treated Abraham Lincoln: “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever it with great reverence, and devised given to man. All the good from the Saviour of the world is communi- a complicated system of safeguards cated to us through this book.” against scribal slips. For instance, they counted the number of times George Washington: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world each letter of the alphabet occurs in without God and the Bible.” each book, numbered the verses, words and letters of every book, Queen Victoria: “That book is the secret of England’s greatness.” calculated the middle word and middle letter of each, and so on. Patrick Henry: “The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.” There are about 25,000 manuscript copies of the New Testament or Charles Dickens: “The New Testament is the very best book that ever portions of it extant today. It is was or ever will be known in the world.” fascinating to compare this with Woodrow Wilson: “When you have read the Bible, you will know it is other ancient documents. Herodo- tus, known as ―the father of history‖, the word of God.” wrote in about 450 BC, but only 8 Theodore Roosevelt: “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more manuscripts of his work have than a college education.” survived, the earliest dated 900 AD, about 1350 years after he wrote. William Gladstone: “I have known ninety-five of the world's great men Aristophanes, a Greek playwright, in my time, and of these, eighty-seven were followers of the Bible. The wrote 45 plays in about 400 BC, but Bible is stamped with a Specialty of Origin, and an immeasurable only 11 of these have survived, the distance separates it from all competitors.” earliest dating from 900 AD. Caesar‘s Gallic Wars was written Napoleon Bonaparte: “The Bible is far more than a book to me; it speaks about 50 BC and only 10 manu- to me as if it were a person. This book surpasses all others. I never omit scripts have survived, the oldest some 900 years later than Caesar‘s to read it, and every day with some pleasure. Alexander, Caesar, Charle- day. So it is with all of the ancient magne and I myself have founded great empires… upon force. Jesus writers; only a handful of copies of alone founded his empire upon love. None else is like him; Jesus was their work have survived. An more than man.” exception is Homer‘s Iliad, of which an amazing 643 manuscripts still Sir Isaac Newton: “There are more sure marks of authenticity in the survive. However, many people Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.” don‘t think Homer wrote it, and there are many differences between the Sir William Herschel: “All human discoveries seem to be made only for copies. But there are 25,000 the purpose of confirming more and more the truths contained in the manuscript copies of the NT, the Sacred Scriptures.” oldest dating from around 125 AD, only 50 years after it was written! Jean Jacques Rousseau: “Jewish authors would never have invented either that style nor that morality; and the Gospel has marks of truth so William Shakespeare wrote 37 plays great, so striking, so utterly inimitable, that the invention of it would be in the 17th century. Not even one more astonishing than the hero.” original manuscript has survived, and so the missing gaps in the Lord Tennyson: “Bible reading is an education in itself.” copies of his works were filled in Immanuel Kant: “I believe that the existence of the Bible is the greatest with "educated guesses" of textual scholars. There are differing benefit to the human race. Any attempt to belittle it, I believe, is a crime documents of each of Shake- against humanity.” speare‘s plays, with items in dispute Robert E. Lee: “In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never that materially affect the meanings failed to give me light and strength.” of the passages involved. But the Bible only has a few Victor Hugo: “England has two books; the Bible and Shakespeare. Continued on page 14 ... England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England.”

Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 7 Yes, Give it a go!

By Gael McInnes, RGON. RM. BHlth Sc.(Nsg)

ave you ever grown anything? Yes, of the H plant variety, flowers or vegetables?

In my last Inside Life article, ―Getting a Handle on Stress‖ (Issue 1/06), I outlined eight tips on handling tension and stress. This time, I want to elaborate on number 5, ―Learn how to relax and relieve tension.‖ I suggested various exercises you could do, and one was ―a bit of gardening‖.

I know this might sound rather foreign, or even boring ‗old world‘ stuff, or just hard work or impractical. Especially to those of you who work long hours and who must fit in all of your tomorrows today! You don‘t know what you are missing, and gardening just might open up a hidden talent, together with a by -product of fascination and relaxation. It doesn‘t matter if you have a Fruits of her labour: Gael McInnes, writer of the accompanying article, admires decent patch of dirt, or live in an metres, and as I write this, it‘s adds colour. growing dwarf beans, snow I guarantee you’ll get peas, 4 tomato plants, silver- Did you know that you can grow excited as you see beet, radishes, parsley, capsi- a tomato plant in a bucket-sized seeds beginning to cums and lots of lettuces – planter? It‘ll need staking as it poke through the soil various colours, and all at grows. Lettuces, radishes, varying stages of maturity. I try parsley, mint, basil or whatever and grow into edible to have lettuces growing all are your favourite vegetables fruit. through the summer and that can be grown in tubs or trough means planting 6 every month. type planters. Yes, I have done apartment. You don‘t need Tucked in between the tomato it, and with success too. It‘s much space to grow a few plants is basil, which not only really exciting. flowers or vegetables, or even a complements tomatoes, but also strawberry plant. Yum – is a companion plant and helps The plants will need a little strawberries! keep away the white fly (a pest). nurturing too, so they don‘t get I love growing vegetables. I Another companion plant is the stressed! Yes, same as us. have a small raised vege patch dwarf marigold flower. It not Like watering every day, – in fact it‘s only 2.7 by 1.7 only keeps away pests, but also perhaps a plant food occasion-

8 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 ally and sunlight. Put them on the patio – even in high-rise buildings – just make sure they don‘t blow away! SUNSET’S SYMPHONY I guarantee you‘ll get excited as you see seeds beginning to What better place than the garden at eve; poke through the soil and grow A hive of activity as the sun takes its leave. into edible fruit. You will see Silvereyes darting from plant to plant, creation at its best. Supping their last sip before retiring to trance.

You were born with five physical senses; each one essential to Two monarch butterflies synchronize their flight, your wellbeing, and a great way Soaring to treetops to bring on the night. to experience them in another Out come mosquitoes to chase me away. realm is through gardening. Not very likely, as I have the say!

1. Seeing – What a thrill to see Gentle breezes rustle the leaves, a tiny seed grow into a healthy Bright yellow petals fall with ease. plant! All those tiny leaves and Midges take flight from rushes below, fruit expanding before your Blackbird dives in for a last minute show. eyes, every day. The colours, shapes – all individual. You‘ll Sunset flushes kaleidoscopes of colour; even see butterflies, bees and Hues of reflection on plants do they hover. possibly some pests – they Late chirping birds fade with the dusk come to seek, pollinate and maraud. As crickets take score and shatter my trust.

2. Smelling – Even vegetables What better place than the garden at eve; have different smells, and A hive of activity as the sun takes its leave. certainly flowers do. Some A God given place for creativity. pleasant, some not so pleasant. The place for reflection and tranquillity.

— Gael McInnes 3. Feeling – Shape, texture,

sensations – all different – some same again. Will f l o w i n g furry, prickly or smooth. save you a dollar or two as well. spring.‖ (The Living Bible version.) 4. Hearing – I haven‘t heard a All too often we take our five plant cry out yet, but some senses for granted. Gardening Perhaps a ―bit of gardening‖ on ‗weep‘ from the ends of their the side is what you need. is a great way to experience leaves, and I have heard that these senses in a different Yes, give it a go! plants thrive on being talked to. domain, and with daily nurturing Yes, I talk to mine, encouraging of your plants you are actually them and telling them how great de-stressing your body as well. they are! My small courtyard is You take your mind away from alive with many a bird and the stresses of the day – tend to insect and they get their feed ―another‘s‖ (your plants‘) needs too – mainly pests. and get to see and taste the end

product. How good is that? Gael McInnes, who lives 5. Tasting – This is the best The biblical book of Isaiah in South Auckland, is a part. What a delight to taste the recently retired nurse fruit of your labours. Oh, so (58:11) states ―The Lord will and midwife, experi- fresh, and the taste divine. No guide you continually, and enced in holistic care. insecticides or pesticides satisfy you with all good things Gael worked in diverse …and you will be like a well health arenas and taught sprayed all over them. Bought at tertiary level. vegetables will never taste the watered garden, like an ever-

Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 9 Is Anyone Helping?

By James Smith

t seems an almost daily occurrence in our neighbourhoods. Someone is either bashed, I beaten, attacked, assaulted, raped, robbed, stabbed, shot or killed. Often the driving force is drugs or alcohol, and it is worse if expressed from behind the wheel of a lethal modified racer. Road rage is a name that has taken the media's fancy. Neighbours argue and hassle over minor issues so that we have "Neighbours from Hell" on our TV screens. Was life ever so complicated?

Families are under threat. The government seems confused over what a family is... what was that about Arthur and Martha? Sometimes one is inclined to A helping hand: Teams of trained Drug-Arm staff go out into the city streets of NZ’s largest cities until the small hours of the wonder whatever happened to marriage (between a morning in street vans, offering whatever care or practical help man and a woman). The internet is ready to invade they can. innocent unsupervised brain space with brain dulling games and pornography. Schools are pressured to hand out condoms to teens prior to the end of the teens, The White Water Rafting Years, and they school ball. Why do parents (even solo parents or appeared on Close Up with Susan Wood last year. caregivers) not know where their children are so much They often speak on Radio Rhema and are quoted in of the time? Families are pressured by advertising, other media outlets. into unmanageable debt. The Churches Education Commission sounds like an Work takes an increasing slice of our time. It is no edifice of an organisation, but it works away in the longer 9.00 am to 5.00 pm — when you add in travel background helping in two major areas of children‘s time, it is often 7.30 am to 6.00 pm, ten and a half lives. The first is training and placing volunteer hours of work every day, if not more. teachers in schools to impart values and ethics to our primary school children -- a programme known as Some churches even seem confused Bible in Schools. The second about right and wrong. involves training and placing Neighbours argue and chaplains in schools, who will listen In this article I want to pay tribute to to children's problems and help individuals and organisations who hassle over minor them figure out what they should are trying to make a difference for issues so that we have do. In a world where it seems good in our New Zealand communi- "Neighbours from nobody has time to spend with ties. It will not be an exclusive list so children this service is a great please do not feel bad if your friend Hell" on our TV benefit. It is also available to or organisation is not mentioned. screens. everyone in the school community.

Ian and Mary Grant have been running Parents Inc Another non-profit organisation (formerly Parenting with Confidence) for some years. doing its bit for the community is Children’s Bible Their work includes holding seminars for struggling Ministries. CBM provides training and equipping for parents with information about bringing up girls and helpers working with children, and runs fun camps for boys successfully. They also speak to High Schools youth at its Raglan site, where values are taught as about the evils of drugs, pre-marital sex, and encour- well as the provision of eye-opening activities. age a positive attitude to life. Reading material is produced to back up what they say. The whole focus Drug-Arm is a voluntary organisation that works on of their work tends to counteract the evils described at our city streets, doing all it can to help individuals and the beginning of this article. In addition they do the community deal with problems caused by drug answer people's questions. Ian has written a book on and alcohol abuse. These diligent and compassion-

10 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 ate volunteers provide community based educa- tional programmes and support for the families of those caught up with drug and alcohol abuse. Teams of trained Drug-Arm staff go out into the city streets until the small hours of the morning in street vans, offering whatever care or practical help they can. It may be as simple as a hot cup of coffee or it might involve an ambulance alert. The vans are stocked with food, drinks, clothes, blankets, first aid and mobile phones.

Prison Fellowship contrib- utes to a better world by reaching the spiritual needs Happy Family: A family rejoices outside their brand new home in Clendon, Auckland, one of of prisoners and their five homes built during a 7-day “blitz build” by 200 Habitat for Humanity volunteers in March families and helping 2005. Habitat for Humanity has built 261 houses for needy NZ families in the past 12 years. prisoners determine not to Photo by John Cowan. re-offend on release. names offer help to people who Is anyone helping? Yes, never The Salvation Army is well known find their income does not meet forget all the people making a for its contribution to social service their expenditure. How often this difference in these and other needs in the community. Other happens! And how often the organisations. But when there is so Church organisations have pressures of advertising, and the much bad news every day there is offers of 'easy' credit make it easier always a need for more helpers. There’s just no way to get into financial trouble! With the help of trained voluntary What could you do? of measuring how budgeting counsellors, people are much good able to find hope, and a balanced If you would like more information budget. on volunteering in your area, visit Christians have www.volunteernow.org.nz. contributed and Focus on the Family provides much information and help for families. continue to Habitat for Humanity partners with families to house them decently. contribute daily to And who has not heard of World our society! Vision? One final mention for Michael Jones who helps youth find government contracts to provide purpose in New Lynn, in West specific needs in their communities. Auckland.

Stepping Stone Trust, a mental These organisations are Christian James Smith lives in West Auckland health services provider run by the or heavily staffed by Christians. with his wife Jennie and 2 sons Spreydon Baptist Church has There‘s just no way of measuring Jonathan (17) and doubled its staff to 120 in the past how much good Christians have Robert (14). He helps at Auckland Central year, and the number of client beds contributed and continue to Budgeting, Bible in has risen by 60% in just 12 months! contribute daily to our society! Schools, and has Spreydon Baptist Church is now worked with Drug one of the largest non-government Maybe it seems like all the bases Arm. He is qualified in providers of social services in are covered, but the newspapers banking and Christchurch. tell us every day that there is lots to accounting, and can do. be contacted at Budgeting services under various

Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 11 Are you a “Can Do” person?

Many Kiwi teenagers dream of being in the All Blacks one day. Obviously we can't all be All Blacks! But we can all be good at something! This article is written especially for teenage readers.

By Dexter H. Faulkner

ndy came home from school, mumbled a greet- A ing, and immediately went into his room. Instantly his mother knew something was wrong. As she knocked on his door, the muffled sniffling from inside stopped. ―What‘s the matter, son?‖ ―Nothing.‖ Opening the door, ―Really? …But I think you‘re not happy about some- thing.‖ ―I‘m not good enough! All the other guys are so much better than Photo courtesy Nelson Bays RFU. me.‖ about as much confidence as a cat and What Colour is Your Para- in a room full of rocking chairs? chute?) that can help us analyze our As they continued to talk, Andy re- likes and dislikes, and point out our vealed how deeply disappointed he Many times we lack confidence be- strong points. By capitalizing on was in not making the school rugby cause we see others who seem to these strong points, we can be more team. He had even dreamt of one do better at something than we do. able to enjoy success in our career day making it to NPC level. Gently, or vocation. We can avoid becom- his mother pointed out that even if So, how can you develop more con- ing the proverbial square peg in a he wasn‘t the best footy player, he fidence in your abilities? Well, the round hole. We can avoid the frus- was good at other things - chess first step in developing the right kind tration of believing ―everyone is bet- and music, for a start. Also, he was of confidence is to stop comparing ter than I am‖. good at managing time, and espe- yourself with others. cially good at diffusing an explosive Andy may not be the best loose for- Rather than looking at what others situation among friends, without ward around, but he can play a few can do, focus on your strong points - anyone feeling embarrassed or hurt. decent pieces from Richard Clay- those things you do well or like do- He was good at lots of other things, derman‘s latest album and win ing the most. The second step, then, she reminded him. some chess games with his friends. is to focus on your abilities. So many times we - like Andy - only Step three in nurturing your confi- As Andy‘s mother pointed out, he think about those things that we dence is to set goals for those apti- was good at many things. Okay, don‘t or can‘t do well, and forget the tudes you have. Andy doesn‘t play rugby as well as things we can do. other guys. Perhaps he needs to Maybe Andy aspires to be a per- Sounds familiar? Have you ever had practice more or maybe he isn‘t as forming pianist, playing in a world one of those days when you had talented in that area of sport. There famous concert hall. If so, he needs are books (like Choosing a Vocation to work toward that goal step by

12 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 step.

Oddly enough, as you practice and Be yourself! develop your abilities, whatever they are, you‘ll find that there is an important side benefit: confidence. What type of person would you really like to be?

Confidence allows you to play An outgoing, extraverted ―party animal‖? A thoughtful, reflective rugby and not be upset because ―intellectual‖? A real ―go-getter‖? A stable, cautious, detail-minded, you don‘t play as well as someone else. Confidence allows you to try reliable, ―behind-the-scenes‖ worker? A reassuring friend and new things realizing that you may confidant? A networker? A promoter? A thinker? A source of wise not be the best, yet knowing that counsel? there are other things you do well. The person we each really ought to be most like is… ourself. Confidence can turn a negative ―I can‘t‖ person into a ―can do‖ posi- There‘s every chance you‘re something like one of the above tive individual. descriptions already. So why not enjoy being that person to the full?

Remember, you can build that Life would be pretty dull if we were all the same. And it gets pretty confidence by: dull, and fraught with frustration, when we try to fit ourselves into some mould-of-the-moment or someone else‘s idea of who we ought 1. Not comparing yourself with to be. others, 2. Focusing on your abilities and God made you to be the person you are, not someone you‘re not. 3. Setting goals for your aptitudes. Think about the things you enjoy, are good at, and naturally tend towards. These are the ways we experience, understand and share So what if you can‘t spike a volley- ball? You might play a pretty mean life. You don‘t need to be like someone else, any more than they game of chess. And your friends need to be like you. Sure, we can learn from others‘ examples and always know they can count on strengths, but we can't be them. Enjoy who God made you to be. you for a listening ear. Celebrate the good things about yourself.

King Solomon, said to be the wis- est man that ever lived, made this point, recorded in the Bible nearly A “Can Do” person: 3,000 years ago, ―Whatever your December 2005 hand finds to do, do it with all your Abraham Lincoln might‖ (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3 4 You may not do as well as some- Abraham Lincoln suffered a business failure in one else at one thing, but at some- 1831. He was5 defeated6 7 in an8 attempt9 10 to be11 elected to the legislature in 1832. The next year, thing else you may really excel. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Each of us is unique, and each of he suffered a second failure in business. He us has some important strengths. went through19 a nervous20 21 breakdown22 23 in24 1836. 25 He Concentrate on making the most was defeated for Speaker in 1838, defeated for Elector in 1840, of your potential, not somebody defeated for Congress in 1843,26 and27 again 28 in 1848.29 30In 185531 and else‘s. Go on, you can do it! again in 1858 he was defeated for Senate, and in 1856 he was defeated for Vice President. In 1860 he was elected the sixteenth

President of the USA.

Dexter H. Faulkner and his wife Another way of saying Shirley live in “Whether you southern Califor- “Can't”: nia. He is a re- think you can or tired journalist who Can contributes to sev- think you can't, you eral publications After worldwide. If you desire to corre- are right.”

spond with him his Numerous email address is — Henry Ford [email protected] Tries

Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 13 a leader of the Church, is famous The Bible — Holy or Holey? for publicly denying his Lord three times. Discord and troubles in the … Continued from page 7 churches are openly confronted.

But the Bible only has a few Bible Society used his press and 2000 years ago the disputed textual readings, none of house to produce stacks of Bibles! Bible made prophecies them affecting any doctrines or important details. The greatest indication of how that are stunningly accurately the Bible has been accurate predictions of No other book has withstood more preserved came in 1947 with the vicious efforts to stamp it out than discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls in trends and events now the Bible. In AD 303 the Emperor a cave near Jericho. These scrolls occurring worldwide. Diocletian issued an edict to stop of the Old Testament had been Christians from worshipping and to hidden there for nearly 1900 years. destroy their scriptures. All meeting Matching them up with the manu- If the Bible writers were trying to places were destroyed, the property scripts that had already been found, encourage people to believe and of Christians confiscated, and they were almost exactly the same, follow something they had invented, Bibles burned. Anyone found with with just minor spelling differences. it is very unlikely they would be so a copy or even portions of the Bible The Dead Sea scrolls are dramatic open about the problems. And it is received a death sentence. evidence that the Bible has been difficult to believe so many of them Ironically, 25 years later the new accurately preserved down through would have died, often in excruciat- Emperor, Constantine, instructed the centuries, in a truly amazing ing agony, for what was just an that 50 copies of the scriptures way. invention! should be prepared at the expense of the Government! 5. Honesty and Character The quality and character of the Bible‘s moral and ethical teaching is The French literary genius Voltaire, The Bible is remarkably candid in another strong evidence of divine who died in 1778, said that 100 describing the lives of its heroes inspiration. The Bible has formed years after his time Christianity and heroines. It doesn‘t try to cover the basis for much of our western would have been swept from up their problems. King David of world‘s legal system. Whether we existence and the Bible would only Israel is recorded as being a read the Ten Commandments, the exist in museums. Ironically, only murderer, adulterer and liar. Peter, wisdom of the Proverbs, or Jesus‘ 50 years after his death the Geneva one of Jesus‘ closest disciples and Sermon on the Mount, there is a clear and confident standard of moral conduct presented that is timeless in its principles.

6. Fulfilled Prophecies

If you were asked what you think world conditions will be like 2000 years from now, around the year 4000, how would you answer? Do you feel you could make a pretty good guess? Will a nuclear war have destroyed everything by then, or will we be living on other planets? Who has a hope of knowing what will be happening at that time? It‘s hard enough to predict tomorrow‘s weather, let alone conditions 2000 years ahead!

Yet 2000 years ago the Bible made prophecies that are stunningly accurate predictions of trends and events now occurring worldwide. Pondering the future: What will Auckland be like a thousand years from now? So At a time when the most powerful many things might happen in the course of a decade, let alone several hundred years, weapon was a two edged sword or how would it be possible to know? Yet it is a fact that prophecies written in the Bible accurately predicted the rise and fall of many cities and empires hundreds of years a battering ram, Jesus Christ before they happened. predicted that mankind would

14 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 develop the capability to destroy all person, Jesus. How likely is it that human life. He prophesied wars it was just by chance that Jesus Millions of lives have and rumours of wars, famines and fulfilled all of these predictions? been changed for the earthquakes in different places. Peter Stoner, in the book Science He predicted that the Christian Speaks used the science of better because of the gospel would be published all over probability to find that the chance teachings of the Bible. the world. He said that many any person could fulfil a particular people would be hated, persecuted 8 of the prophecies was 1 in 10 to and killed because of him, and that the power of 17, and the chance of this really does happen. Millions of is exactly what has happened and one man fulfilling 48 of the lives have been changed for the happening in many places around prophecies was calculated at 1 in better because of the teachings of the world right now. If Jesus was 10 to the power of 157, an almost the Bible. And they have all been an ordinary human being, that infinite number! changed in very similar ways. would be a pretty egotistical thing Christians who believe in and try to to say! It was clearly impossible for Jesus follow the Bible all report that their to deliberately go about fulfilling all lives are happier and more Think of it for a moment. Is there of these prophecies. Firstly, he meaningful as a result! Thousands anybody alive today who would would have had to ensure he was of criminals have reformed, drug have the gall to say that people in born of a virgin. As if that wasn‘t addicts have been cured, selfish the year 4000 will be dying hard enough, he would have to be people have become generous – because of him or her? sure it happened in Bethlehem, lives have been transformed by the But Jesus didn‘t only make and of the line of David. Then, scriptures! The Bible talks about somehow he would need to benefits, such as deep inner joy At a time when the engineer his crucifixion and burial and peace of mind, that arise from most powerful weapon in a rich man‘s tomb! a personal relationship with God, was a two edged and for those who have experi- There are lots of other Bible enced this, no further proof of the sword or a battering prophecies we haven't considered Bible is needed! ram, Jesus Christ yet. A number of prophets predicted the destruction of various So these are some of the reasons predicted that mankind cities and the rise and fall of Christians believe the Bible is true. would develop the empires. Imagine the difficulty of Any one of these can stand on its capability to destroy all taking a city such as Wellington own as a strong argument, but and predicting that it will be when you add all seven of them human life. destroyed, and outlining exactly together, it makes a very powerful how and when? This is what a case! prophecies – He fulfilled them too! number of Bible prophets did, in And not just one prophecy, but the case of ancient cities such as If you would like to learn more literally hundreds of them! Tyre, Sidon, Samaria, Petra, about the Bible and how to make Nineveh, and Babylon, and it can sense of it in today‘s world, why A prophecy by Micah in about 700 be shown that the prophecies were not make a visit to a local Church BC predicted a Saviour would be fulfilled in amazing detail. and meet some of the people who born in Bethlehem. Isaiah‘s believe in it? If you‘d like to read prophecy of 650-750 BC said he 7. Personal Experience more first, please feel free to write would be born of a virgin. A for our article ―Why would anyone prophecy made in the book of Perhaps the most important believe Christianity?‖ Genesis (49:8) almost 2000 years reason Christians believe the Bible before Christ was born, saying he is true is that they have practiced would come from the tribe of what it says, and have found that it

Judah, was right on the button! works! Rex Morgan, the editor of “Inside Life”, Other prophecies said he would The Bible presents a code of and his wife Marilyn live on Auckland’s developNorth Shore. the Rex capability produced 264 to issues destroy enter Jerusalem riding on a colt, challenging spiritual laws requiring allof a humanfamily newspaper life. from He the prophesied age of 12 he would be sold for 30 pieces of love, purity, peace, honesty and warsthrough and19, and rumourshas contributed of articles wars, silver, which would be used to buy faith. Millions of Christians have faminesto a number andof earthquakes in a potter‘s field, lots would be cast tried to live by these principles, publications since. differentRex can beplaces. He predicted that for his garments, his hands and and although no one is able to thecontacted Christian at : gospel would be feet would be pierced, and he keep them perfectly, the Bible [email protected] all over the world. He would be raised from the dead. promises help for those who try to said that many people would be keep them, and people report that hated, persecuted and killed In all, there are 332 Old Testament because of him, and that is exactly prophecies fulfilled by this one what has happened and is develop Inside Life, Issue 2/2006 15 Coming up in future issues of Inside Life...

Time Management  Coping with Change  Is there a Purpose for Life?  Steps to Financial Security  Making the Most of your Time  Valuing Teen Age Marriage  Why Does God Allow Suffering?  Depression — the Black Plague Nature  Keys to Success  Who Is Jesus?  Astrology and the New Age Happiness  How to be Truly Happy  The Answer to Crime Why suffering?  Giving the Gift of Encouragement  The Marvellous Human Mind  Overcoming Loneliness  Would “God Defend New Zealand”?  After Death — Then What? Family

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16 Inside Life, Issue 2/2006