January 22

Table of Contents

January 22, 2004

Do You Know God by Name?

Many who believe in God do not know his personal name, or they hesitate to use it. What is God’s name? What does it mean to know God by name?

3 God Has a Name!

5 The Fight Against God’s Name

10 How You Can Know God by Name

16 Visit the World’s Largest Fish Market

24 Namaqualand’s Annual Miracle

26 “The Thousand-Star Hotel”

28 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 Ancient Buildings Display God’s Name

32 ‘It Cleared Up My Doubts About God’s Name’

How Can I Find Time to Do My Homework? 13

Are you often stressed-out because of too much homework?

Why I Believe the Bible​—A Nuclear Scientist Tells His Story 19

Read how a nuclear physicist reconciled his knowledge of science with his belief in the Bible.

God Has a Name!

What is God’s name? Humans all have personal names. Why, many people even name their pets! Would it not be reasonable for God to have a name? Having and using personal names is unquestionably a vital part of human relationships and interactions. Should it be different when it comes to our relationship with God? Ironically, millions who profess faith in the God of the Bible do not use his personal name. Yet, God’s name has been known for centuries. As you read this series of articles, learn of times when God’s name was widely used. More important, learn what the Bible says about getting to know God by name.

BY THE 17th century, several European countries were minting coins featuring the name of God. A German coin minted in the year 1634 prominently featured the name Jehovah. Such coins became popularly known as the Jehovah talers, or Jehovah coins, and were circulated for decades.

Jehovaha is a rendering of God’s name that has been recognized for centuries. In Hebrew, a language that is read from right to left, the name appears as four consonants, יהוה. These four Hebrew characters​—transliterated YHWH—​are known as the Tetragrammaton. God’s name in this form was also inscribed on European coins for decades.

God’s name can also be found on buildings, monuments, and works of art as well as in many church hymns. According to the German Brockhaus encyclopedia, at one time it was customary for Protestant princes to wear an insignia composed of a stylized sun and the Tetragrammaton. The symbol, also used on flags and coins, was known as the Jehovah-Sun insignia. Clearly, the deeply religious Europeans of the 17th and 18th centuries knew that Almighty God had a name. More significantly, they were not afraid to use it.

The name of God was no mystery in Colonial America either. Consider, for example, the American Revolutionary soldier Ethan Allen. According to his memoirs, in 1775 he demanded that his enemies surrender “in the name of the Great Jehovah.” Later, during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, several advisers made frequent mention of Jehovah in their letters to Lincoln. Other American historical documents containing the name of God are available for public review in many libraries. These are but a few examples of how the name of God has for centuries been prominently displayed.

What about today? Has the name of God been forgotten? Hardly. Various Bible translations feature the personal name of God in many verses. A quick visit to a library or a few minutes of research in your own dictionaries will likely reveal that the name Jehovah is widely accepted as the vernacular equivalent of the Tetragrammaton. For example, the Encyclopedia International pointedly defines the name Jehovah as the “modern form of the Hebrew sacred name of God.” A recent edition of The New Encyclopædia Britannica explains that Jehovah is the “Judeo-Christian name for God.”

‘But,’ you may wonder, ‘is God’s name a matter of concern to people today?’ The name of God, in one form or another, is still featured in many public areas. For instance, the name Jehovah is inscribed on the cornerstone of a building in New York City. In the same city, the name has also been found in Hebrew in a colorful mosaic decorating a busy subway station. It is safe to say, however, that of the thousands of people who have walked by these locations, few have attached any significance to the inscriptions.

Is the name of God important to people in your part of the world? Or do most refer to the Creator as “God,” as if this title were his actual name? Your personal observation might be that many people do not give any thought to whether God even has a name. What about you? Do you feel comfortable addressing God by his personal name, Jehovah?

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A King Who Made Known the Name of Jehovah

In 1852 a group of missionaries set out from Hawaii for the islands of Micronesia. They carried with them a letter of introduction that bore the official seal of King Kamehameha III, the then ruling monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. This letter, originally written in Hawaiian and addressed to the various rulers of the Pacific Islands, said in part: “There are about to sail for your islands some teachers of the Most High God, Jehovah, to make known unto you His Word for your eternal salvation. . . . I commend these good teachers to your esteem and friendship and exhort you to listen to their instructions. . . . I advise you to throw away your idols, take the Lord Jehovah for your God, worship and love Him and He will bless and save you.”

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King Kamehameha III

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Hawaii State Archives

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The Tetragrammaton, meaning “four letters,” spells out the personal name of God in Hebrew

The Fight Against God’s Name

HIS name was Hananiah ben Teradion. He was a Jewish scholar of the second century C.E., and he was known for holding open meetings where he taught from the Sefer Torah, a scroll containing the first five books of the Bible. Ben Teradion was also known for using the personal name of God and teaching it to others. Considering that the first five books of the Bible contain the name of God more than 1,800 times, how could he teach the Torah without teaching about God’s name?

Ben Teradion’s day, however, was a dangerous time for Jewish scholars. According to Jewish historians, the Roman emperor had made it illegal under penalty of death to teach or practice Judaism. Eventually, the Romans arrested Ben Teradion. At his arrest he was holding a copy of the Sefer Torah. When responding to his accusers, he candidly admitted that in teaching the Bible, he was merely obeying a divine command. Still, he received the death sentence.

On the day of his execution, Ben Teradion was wrapped in the very scroll of the Bible that he was holding when arrested. Then he was burned at the stake. The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “in order to prolong his agony tufts of wool soaked in water were placed over his heart so that he should not die quickly.” As part of his punishment, his wife was also executed and his daughter sold to a brothel.

Although the Romans were responsible for this brutal execution of Ben Teradion, the Talmuda states that “the punishment of being burnt came upon him because he pronounced the Name in its full spelling.” Yes, to the Jews, pronouncing the personal name of God was indeed a serious transgression.

The Third Commandment

Evidently, during the first and second centuries C.E., a superstition regarding the use of God’s name took hold among the Jews. The Mishnah (a collection of rabbinic commentaries that became the foundation of the Talmud) states that “one who pronounces the divine name as it is spelt” has no portion in the future earthly Paradise promised by God.

What was the origin of such a prohibition? Some claim that the Jews considered the name of God too sacred for imperfect humans to pronounce. Eventually, there was a hesitancy even to write the name. According to one source, that fear arose because of a concern that the document in which the name was written might later end up in the trash, resulting in a desecration of the divine name.

The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” The third of the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites states: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Exodus 20:7) Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

Surely, no one today claims that God would have someone burned at the stake for pronouncing the divine name! Yet, Jewish superstitions regarding God’s personal name still survive. Many continue to refer to the Tetragrammaton as the “Ineffable Name” and the “Unutterable Name.” In some circles all references to God are intentionally mispronounced to avoid violating the tradition. For example, Jah, or Yah, an abbreviation for God’s personal name, is pronounced Kah. Hallelujah is pronounced Hallelukah. Some even avoid writing out the term “God,” substituting a dash for one or more letters. For instance, when they wish to write the English word “God,” they actually write “G-d.”

Further Efforts to Hide the Name

Judaism is by no means the only religion that avoids using the name of God. Consider the case of Jerome, a Catholic priest and secretary to Pope Damasus I. In the year 405 C.E., Jerome completed his work on a translation of the entire Bible into Latin, which became known as the Latin Vulgate. Jerome did not include God’s name in his translation. Rather, following a practice of his time, he substituted the words “Lord” and “God” for the divine name. The Latin Vulgate became the first authorized Catholic Bible translation and the basis for many other translations in several languages.

For instance, the Douay Version, a 1610 Catholic translation, was basically a Latin Vulgate translated into English. It is no surprise, then, that this Bible did not include God’s personal name at all. However, the Douay Version was not just another Bible translation. It became the only authorized Bible for English-speaking Catholics until the 1940’s. Yes, for hundreds of years, the name of God was hidden from millions of devoted Catholics.

Consider also the King James Version. In 1604 the king of England, James I, commissioned a group of scholars to produce an English version of the Bible. Some seven years later, they released the King James Version, also known as the Authorized Version.

In this case too, the translators chose to avoid the divine name, using it in just a few verses. In most instances God’s name was replaced by the word “LORD” or “GOD” to represent the Tetragrammaton. This version became the standard Bible for millions. The World Book Encyclopedia states that “no important English translations of the Bible appeared for more than 200 years after the publication of the King James Version. During this time, the King James Version was the most widely used translation in the English-speaking world.”

The above are just three of the many Bible translations published over the past centuries that omit or downplay the name of God. It is no wonder that the vast majority of professed Christians today hesitate to use the divine name or do not know it at all. Granted, over the years some Bible translators have included the personal name of God in their versions. Most of these, however, have been published in more recent times and with minimal impact on the popular attitudes toward God’s name.

A Practice in Conflict With God’s Will

The widespread failure to use God’s name is based strictly on human tradition and not on Bible teachings. “Nothing in the Torah prohibits a person from pronouncing the Name of God. Indeed, it is evident from scripture that God’s Name was pronounced routinely,” explains Jewish researcher Tracey R. Rich, author of the Internet site Judaism 101. Yes, in Bible times God’s worshipers used his name.

Clearly, knowing God’s name and using it brings us closer to the approved way of worshiping him, the way he was worshiped in Bible times. This can be our first step in establishing a personal relationship with him, which is much better than simply knowing what his name is. Jehovah God actually invites us to have such a relationship with him. He inspired the warm invitation: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” (James 4:8) You may ask, however, ‘How could mortal man enjoy such intimacy with Almighty God?’ The following article explains how you can develop a relationship with Jehovah.

[Footnote]

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Hallelujah

What comes to your mind when you hear the term “Hallelujah”? Perhaps it reminds you of Handel’s “Messiah,” a musical masterpiece from the 1700’s that features the dramatic Hallelujah chorus. Or you may think of the famous American patriotic song “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” also known as “Glory, Hallelujah.” Surely, from one source or another, you have heard the word “Hallelujah.” Perhaps you even use it from time to time. But do you know what it means?

Hallelujah​—The English transliteration of the Hebrew expression ha·lelu-Yahʹ, meaning “praise Jah,” or “praise Jah, you people.”

Jah​—A poetic shortened form of the name of God, Jehovah. It appears in the Bible more than 50 times, often as part of the expression “Hallelujah.”

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God’s Name in Your Name?

Many Bible names are still popular today. In some cases the original Hebrew meaning of these names actually included the personal name of God. Here are a few examples of such names and their meaning. Perhaps your name is one of them.

Joanna​—“Jehovah Has Been Gracious”

Joel​—“Jehovah Is God”

John​—“Jehovah Has Shown Favor”

Jonathan​—“Jehovah Has Given”

Joseph​—“May Jah Add”b

Joshua​—“Jehovah Is Salvation”

[Footnote]

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Bible Terms for God

The Hebrew text of the Holy Scriptures uses numerous terms for God, such as Almighty, Creator, Father, and Lord. Yet, the instances in which he is referred to by his personal name far outnumber all of the other terms combined. Clearly, it is God’s will that we use his name. Consider the following list of terms as they appear in the Hebrew Scriptures.c

Jehovah​—6,973 times

God​—2,605 times

Almighty​—48 times

Lord​—40 times

Maker​—25 times

Creator​—7 times

Father​—7 times

Ancient of Days​—3 times

Grand Instructor​—2 times

[Footnote]

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A God Who Makes Things Happen

Scholars are not in full agreement as to the meaning of God’s name, Jehovah. After extensive research on the subject, however, many believe that the name is a form of the Hebrew verb ha·wahʹ (become), meaning “He Causes to Become.”

Hence, in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures,d the account at Exodus 3:14, where Moses asked God his name, is translated this way: “At this God said to Moses: ‘I shall prove to be what I shall prove to be.’ And he added: ‘This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, “I shall prove to be has sent me to you.”’”

That rendering is appropriate because God is able to cause himself to become whatever he needs to be. Nothing can stop him from fulfilling whatever role is needed to accomplish his will. His purposes and promises always become reality. Outstandingly, God proved to be the Creator, the one with unlimited ability to make things happen. He caused the physical universe to come into existence. He also created myriads of spirit creatures. Truly, he is a God who makes things happen!

[Footnote]

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A relief depicting the execution of Hananiah ben Teradion

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Places Where the Name of God Is Prominently Displayed

1. A church in Lomborg, Denmark, 17th century

2. Stained-glass window, cathedral of Bern, Switzerland

3. Dead Sea Scroll, in early Hebrew script, Israel, c. 30-50 C.E.

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Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem

4. Swedish coin, 1600

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Kungl. Myntkabinettet, Sveriges Ekonomiska Museum

5. German prayer book, 1770

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From the book Die Lust der Heiligen an Jehova. Oder: Gebaet-Buch, 1770

6. Stone inscription, Bavaria, Germany

7. Moabite Stone, Paris, France, 830 B.C.E.

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Musée du Louvre, Paris

8. Church dome painting, Olten, Switzerland

How You Can Know God by Name

A NEWSPAPER columnist received the following letter from a reader: “I have wrestled all my life with this question, and I hope you can provide an answer. What is God’s name? The Jews say the real name has been lost to the ages. The Christians call Him Jesus. The Muslims call Him Allah. . . . So, what is it?” The newspaper published the question along with this answer: “According to ancient Hebrew teachings, God is omnipotent, so He cannot be contained in any one name. I assure you, however, He (or She) will answer to any name you respectfully come up with.”

Such a casual attitude toward the name of God is not rare today. Although religiously inclined, many who believe in the Bible give little thought to the issue of God’s name. But how does God feel about it? Is it such a trivial matter to him?

Not a Trivial Matter

Consider the fact that the Bible mentions God’s personal name, Jehovah, thousands of times. In the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the divine name appears 7,210 times!a It was God himself who inspired Bible writers to use his name so prominently. One of these writers, the psalmist Asaph, wrote: “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18) David also wrote in a psalm: “Concerning the name of Jehovah our God we shall make mention.”​—Psalm 20:7.

The Bible shows that Jehovah God examines our heart to determine how we feel about his name. The psalmist said: “If we have forgotten the name of our God, . . . will not God himself search this out? For he is aware of the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:20, 21) The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Give thanks to Jehovah, you people! Call upon his name. Make known among the peoples his dealings. Make mention that his name is put on high.”​—Isaiah 12:4.

God himself said: “They will have to know that my name is Jehovah.” (Jeremiah 16:21) On another occasion he declared: “I shall certainly sanctify my great name, which was being profaned among the nations, . . . and the nations will have to know that I am Jehovah.” (Ezekiel 36:23) Some of these statements point to a time when Jehovah will act with anger toward those who show disrespect for his name. The issue of his personal name is no trivial matter to God.

Jehovah God Is Not Far From You

How can you get to know God by name? What does it mean to know God by name? The Bible answers: “Those knowing your name will trust in you.” (Psalm 9:10) Clearly, knowing God by name involves more than just knowing what his name is. You must trust him. That means getting to know the kind of God he is and learning about his qualities and his thoughts. This will impel you to trust him.

Only conscientious reading and studying of the Bible can provide you with insight into the kind of God that Jehovah is. He promises to protect those who show affection for him and his name. Regarding one who does so, God says: “Because on me he has set his affection, I shall also provide him with escape. I shall protect him because he has come to know my name. He will call upon me, and I shall answer him. I shall be with him in distress. I shall rescue him and glorify him. With length of days I shall satisfy him, and I shall cause him to see salvation by me.”​—Psalm 91:14-16.

What a wonderful relationship Jehovah God has with those who know him by name! You too can enjoy such a relationship. In your heartfelt prayers, never be hesitant about calling upon him by name. He will answer because, as the Bible says, “he is not far off from each one of us.”​—Acts 17:27.

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God Knows You by Name

God said to Moses: “I do know you by name.” (Exodus 33:12) The well-known account of the burning bush verifies this. The Bible says that God “called to him out of the midst of the thornbush and said: ‘Moses! Moses!’” (Exodus 3:4) This is just one example of the numerous occasions when God addressed people by their personal name. Clearly, the Creator of the universe is interested in us as individuals.

The Bible says that God knows each one of the many billions of stars by name. (Isaiah 40:26) How much more so must he care about humans who worship him! The apostle Paul wrote that “Jehovah knows those who belong to him.” (2 Timothy 2:19) This implies more than simply memorizing names. God has intimate knowledge of his worshipers. We, in turn, should know God by name and acquire intimate knowledge of his qualities.

The last book of the Bible describes a figurative book in which God writes the names of all who have worshiped him throughout history. This book is called “the scroll of life” because Jehovah God will grant everlasting life to those whose names are written in it. (Revelation 17:8) This is a bright prospect for those who know God by name.

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They Proclaimed God’s Name

● Moses’ song just before Israel entered the Promised Land: “I shall declare the name of Jehovah.”​—Deuteronomy 32:3.

● David’s words to the giant Goliath: “I am coming to you with the name of Jehovah of armies.”​—1 Samuel 17:45.

● Job’s words after the total loss of his possessions and the sudden death of all his children: “Let the name of Jehovah continue to be blessed.”​—Job 1:21.

● The apostle Peter quoting the Hebrew Scriptures in a speech: “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”​—Acts 2:21.

● The prophet Isaiah: “Give thanks to Jehovah, you people! Call upon his name. . . . Make mention that his name is put on high.”​—Isaiah 12:4.

● Jesus Christ teaching his disciples to pray: “You must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.’”​—Matthew 6:9, 10.

● Jesus Christ praying to God: “I have made your name manifest.”​—John 17:6.

● God speaking to his people: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory.”​—Isaiah 42:8.

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Find Time to Do My Homework?

‘I’m a senior in high school, and I’m beyond stressed. . . . I have so many projects and presentations to do, it’s not funny. I have no time to do them.’​—An 18-year-old girl.

DO YOU feel overwhelmed by the stack of homework assignments you carry home from school each afternoon? If so, you are not alone. “As schools across the nation work to raise standards​—and standardized test scores—​they’re piling on the homework,” says a press report from the United States. “High school students report more than three hours a night in some places. One University of Michigan study suggests that young children are seeing up to three times as much homework as children did 20 years ago.”

Heavy loads of homework are not unique to students in the United States. For instance, while some 30 percent of 13-year-olds there reported doing more than two hours of homework per day, in Taiwan and Korea, the figure was 40 percent, and in France, over 50 percent. “Sometimes I get really stressed-out when my homework piles up,” sighs Katie, a U.S. university student. Her feelings are echoed by Marilyn and Belinda, who attend school in Marseilles, France. “We often spend two hours or more nightly on homework,” says Marilyn. “When you have other responsibilities, it can be hard to find the time.”

Where Can I Find the Time?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just add a few hours to the day when you need them so that you could finish your homework and take care of everything else you have to do? Actually, you may be able to accomplish something like that if you learn from the Bible principle found at Ephesians 5:15, 16: “Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves.” Although the Bible writer did not have homework in mind when penning those words, the principle can be applied to everyday life. When you buy something, you have to give something up in exchange for it. The idea here is that to find time for study, you’ll have to give up something. But what?

“Make lists of what you need to do first,” advises a youth named Jillian. In other words, establish priorities. Christian meetings and spiritual matters should be high on your list. And don’t forget your family responsibilities, chores and, of course, homework.

Next, try keeping a diary of how you really spend your time for a week or so. You may be surprised at what you discover. How much time do you spend watching TV? surfing the Internet? going to the movies? talking on the phone? visiting friends? Now, how does your diary compare with your list of priorities? It may be that you need to look no further than your TV-viewing, phone-calling, or Web-surfing habits to find areas from which you can buy out a lot more time!

First Things First

This doesn’t mean that you have to throw away your TV or become a hermit. You may need to establish the rule, “First things first.” A Bible text that can be applied says: “Make sure of the more important things.” (Philippians 1:10) For example, since your schooling is important, you can make a rule for yourself that you won’t turn on the TV until you have cared for your chores, studied for Christian meetings, and finished your homework. Granted, missing your favorite TV show can be disappointing. But honestly, how many times have you sat down intending to watch only your favorite show and wound up in front of the TV all evening​—accomplishing nothing else?

On the other hand, you need to give sufficient importance to attending Christian meetings. If you know, for instance, that you have an important test or homework assignment coming up, you might try working on it far enough in advance that it does not distract you from your meetings. You might even try discussing your situation with your teachers, letting them know how much you would appreciate advance notice of any homework assignments that could fall on a meeting night. Some teachers may be willing to cooperate.

Another helpful principle is taught in the Bible account of a friend of Jesus’ named Martha. She was a very busy and industrious person, but she did not have her priorities in order. On one occasion, she was wearing herself out trying to prepare what was probably an elaborate meal for Jesus while her sister, Mary, was listening to Jesus instead of helping her. When Martha complained about this, Jesus said to her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and disturbed about many things. A few things, though, are needed, or just one. For her part, Mary chose the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”​—Luke 10:41, 42.

The lesson? Keep things simple. How might you apply this principle in your situation? Well, are you “anxious and disturbed about many things”​—perhaps trying to juggle homework and a part-time job? If you have a job, does your family really need the money? Or do you just like having the extra cash to buy things that you want but do not really need?

For example, in some lands young people are eager to buy their own cars. High-school counselor Karen Turner explains that “there’s an enormous pressure on young people today to have or earn money because it’s expensive to run cars.” Turner, however, concludes: “It gets in the way when you take on too many things such as extra-curricular activities, plus work, along with a heavy academic load. Then the student experiences overload.” Why overload yourself if you don’t have to? If your schoolwork is suffering, perhaps you can work fewer hours at your job or even quit.

‘Buy Out’ Time at School

In addition to looking for extra hours outside school, give thought to how you can use your time better while at school. “I try to get as much homework done as I can during study periods,” says Josue. “That way I have access to the teacher if there is something I didn’t understand in class that day.”

Another thing to consider might be reducing the number of elective classes you are taking. Also, you may want to discontinue some of the extracurricular activities in which you are involved. By making adjustments in these areas, you can open up extra study periods.

Using Your Time More Efficiently

All right, you have made sacrifices and adjustments and have squeezed out a bit more time for homework. How efficiently will you use that time? If you can get 50 percent more homework done in the same amount of time, isn’t that as good as having 50 percent more time? So here are some suggestions for improving your efficiency.

◼ Have a plan. Before you begin your homework, give some thought to such things as these: Which subject needs to be tackled first? How much time should the assignment take? What resources​—books, paper, pens, calculator—​will you need to accomplish it?

◼ Find a study area. Ideally, it should be free of distractions. ‘If you have a desk, use it,’ says a youth named Elyse. ‘It helps you to concentrate better when you’re sitting up instead of lying on your bed.’ If you don’t have your own room, maybe your brothers and sisters would be willing to let you have some peace and quiet during your study periods. Or perhaps you can use a park or a public library. If you do have your own room, don’t impede your efforts by playing the TV or distracting music while you are trying to study.

◼ Take breaks. If you find yourself losing your focus after a while, taking a short break may help you to get back on track.

◼ Don’t procrastinate! “I’m a chronic procrastinator,” says Katie, quoted earlier. “I just can’t seem to make myself get started on an assignment until the last minute.” Avoid procrastination by having a definite schedule for your homework and sticking to it.

Schoolwork is important, but as Jesus pointed out to Martha, the most important pursuits​—‘the good portions’—​are spiritual ones. Make sure that homework does not crowd out such important activities as Bible reading, participation in the ministry, and attendance at Christian meetings. These are things that will enrich your life eternally!​—Psalm 1:1, 2; Hebrews 10:24, 25.

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Trying to juggle too many activities can make it hard for you to find time for homework

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Good organization can help you find more time to do your homework

Visit the World’s Largest Fish Market

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN JAPAN

DO YOU enjoy the bustle of a market? One that might excite you and certainly attracts tourists from all over the world is Tsukiji, the fish market just a few minutes’ walk from the center of Tokyo. It boasts of being the largest fish market in the world.

The time to go there is in the early morning. While the rest of Tokyo is still sleeping, the market springs to life. Trucks deliver up to two thousand tons of fish a day, and all of it has to be unloaded early because by 3:00 a.m., the buyers start coming. The sellers rush to set out their boxes of fish, giving each box a label bearing a lot number, the weight of the fish, and the place where it was caught. The buyers are easy to spot. They wear rubber boots and caps that display their license numbers. Unlike the slow-moving tourists, the buyers race around examining the quality of the fish and deciding how much to bid. Those carrying a hook, flashlight, and towel are the tuna buyers. Their tools are indispensable for checking the quality of the massive tuna, and the towel is for wiping their hands after touching the fish.

Pandemonium breaks out at 5:30 a.m. From all directions comes the clanging of handbells as the auctioneers call the buyers to start the bidding. Auctioneers seem to be everywhere. In actual fact, there are seven wholesalers that conduct auctions simultaneously, but some have two or more auctioneers selling different products at the same time. All these auctioneers yell out the lot numbers in their own distinctive chant, and the authorized buyers bid against one another using unique finger movements. The bidding is so rapid that the price of each lot is decided in seconds. Some buyers bid with two auctioneers at the same time. Each shop is allowed only one buyer, so the buyers have to rush from one section to another to get the fish they want. Those purchasing large quantities and many varieties of fish for resale to several shops are, perhaps, the most frantic of all.

As soon as the price is decided, the buyers are anxious to get each fish to its destination as quickly as possible. Porters using handcarts and small trucks race around the narrow streets taking the fish away. Hustle, bustle, and noise are everywhere. To the onlooker, it appears to be mass confusion. In fact, it is controlled and organized down to the last detail. Within a couple of hours, over one thousand tons of fish are sold and hauled away. Some of the fish is taken to small shops located in another part of the market and will be sold during the morning hours to thousands of eager buyers.

As you can imagine, Tsukiji Market is huge. The seven giant wholesale companies that hold the auctions and over one thousand smaller merchants are registered to do business here. Throughout the year, they are kept busy serving at least 40,000 customers who visit the market each day.

Who are the customers? Among them are volume buyers for large hotels, restaurants, department stores, and supermarkets. Also, there are the proprietors of smaller food shops, neighborhood fish markets and, oh, yes, owners of quaint but thriving sushi shops. All these customers compete for the choice products. It is estimated that altogether, they buy some 600,000 tons of seafood a year, spending over $5 billion.

Actually, Tsukiji is not just a fish market. It is a wholesale market handling fruit and vegetables as well. It is one of 11 central wholesale markets in Tokyo that operate under the supervision of the Tokyo metropolitan government. The history of markets handling fresh food can be traced back as far as 1603. To ensure better hygiene and quality, in 1877 these markets came under government supervision. The Tokyo earthquake of 1923 devastated Tokyo’s markets, resulting in the formation of today’s Tsukiji Market, which began operating in 1935.

Since then, the market has grown tremendously. Where else in the world could you find this volume and variety of fish changing hands daily? It is estimated that such fish as salmon, cod, sea bream, mackerel, sole, and herring as well as sea urchin, sea cucumber, and shellfish​—as many as 450 varieties from all over the world—​are sold here. Some of the smaller shops in the market specialize in just one variety of seafood, such as octopus or shrimp.

One fish here, however, is king. It is the large tuna, flown in by jet from such distant places as the Mediterranean Sea and North America. No other fish can compare to it in volume or in price. One large tuna can cost several thousand dollars. Hundreds of fresh and frozen tuna are sold here daily. The buyers will cut up the tuna into convenient portions for the local merchants. The choice fatty portions called toro, taken from around the rib cage, will probably end up as delicious topping for sushi.

That the world’s largest fish market should be in Japan comes as no surprise. The country is surrounded by an ocean and three seas, and the Japanese learned to love sea products a long time ago. Fish is often the center of a delicious Japanese meal. Each year, the average Japanese consumes about 150 pounds [70 kg] of fish and seafood, and much of it comes from the Tsukiji Market. So if you ever visit Tokyo, why not join the increasing number of tourists who visit the world’s largest fish market?

[Picture Credit Line on page 16]

Fish artwork: From the book L’Art Pour Tous, Encyclopedie de l’Art Industriel et Decoratif, Vol. 31, 1861-1906

[Picture Credit Line on page 17]

James L. Stanfield/NGS Image Collection

[Picture Credit Line on page 17]

© Jeff Rotman/www.JeffRotman.com

[Picture Credit Line on page 18]

Courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market

Why I Believe the Bible​—A Nuclear Scientist Tells His Story

AS TOLD BY ALTON WILLIAMS

IN 1978 two significant events took place in my life. In September I received my degree as a nuclear physicist, and in December, I was ordained as a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

When people learn that I am a scientist as well as a Witness, they often wonder how I reconcile my scientific knowledge with my belief in the Bible. Granted, for years I too wondered whether scientific knowledge and belief in the Bible could go together. Eventually, though, I became fully convinced that the Bible is in harmony with scientific fact. How did I reach that conclusion? Please allow me first to relate how I became a scientist.

A 19-Year Project

I was born in 1953 in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A., the third of 11 children. Our family was poor. We often had to move from one house to another because my parents could not pay the rent. We received most of what we ate through a government food-subsidy program, and the secondhand clothing we wore was given to us by people for whom my mother cleaned houses and offices.

My parents often reminded us children that the only way out of poverty was to get a good education. As a result, at a very early age, I set my mind on obtaining a college degree. I started school at the age of six, and I continued my schooling without interruption for the next 19 years. I enjoyed science and mathematics, so once I entered college, I began to pursue a career as a scientist.

While in college, I met a young woman named Del. A science professor had referred her to me so Del could get some help with a science course she was taking. Soon, though, our conversations went beyond science, and we fell in love. We were married on January 10, 1974​—during a two-hour interval between classes! Four years later, in 1978, I finally received my doctorate.

I had achieved what I thought was the key to success. I was a scientist​—and a nuclear physicist at that! With my newly attained degree in theoretical nuclear physics in hand, I could begin to reap the fruitage of my long studies. I was eager to make a name for myself in the scientific arena. In addition, I could now choose a job from among the many lucrative offers made by private companies and government institutions.

However, a few months later, on December 30, 1978, I took a step that soon proved to have even more influence on my life and future than my newly attained degree. On that date, I symbolized my dedication to Jehovah God through water baptism and thus became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. How did that step come about?

A Book Sparked My Interest

In the latter part of 1977, while I was studying at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, two Witnesses knocked on the door of my apartment. I was away, but my wife was at home with our children, a three-year-old and a newborn. Del invited the Witnesses in. After a pleasant conversation, she agreed to have the Witnesses visit her once a week to conduct a Bible study with her.

When my wife informed me of this arrangement, I immediately opposed her. I didn’t mind that she wanted to join a religion​—but not Jehovah’s Witnesses! Actually, I did not know much about the Witnesses, but I had a preconceived idea that they were a strange group that used the Bible to deceive people. So, in an effort to free my wife from what I considered to be the grasp of the Witnesses, I thought that I would use my scientific knowledge to discredit their teachings.

One week I took a break from my research work at the university and went home to be present during my wife’s Bible study. However, I arrived home later than I had planned, and the woman conducting the Bible study was about to leave. She gave me a book entitled Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?a Also, she told my wife that during the Bible study scheduled for the following week, they would consider a Bible prophecy showing that 1914 was a significant year. That was exactly the opening I needed! I told the Witness that I would be at home for the next Bible discussion. I wanted to check the mathematical accuracy of what she was going to discuss about the year 1914.

That same night I began reading the book that the Witness had left. Frankly, the contents impressed me. It was written in a logical manner, and it contained numerous scientific references concerning the subject of evolution. To my surprise, I learned that the Bible contains much more exact information regarding creation than I had previously realized. I finished examining the book in a few days and had to admit that what the Bible actually states about creation does not contradict the known scientific facts concerning life on earth.

Determined to Find Inconsistencies

Nevertheless, I was still skeptical about the teachings of the Witnesses, and I was looking forward to doing a mathematical check of the Bible prophecy concerning the year 1914. I thought that this approach would no doubt intimidate the Witness and, hopefully, help my wife to see the error of the beliefs taught by the Witnesses.

The following week the Witness returned accompanied by a man who was one of the elders in the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The elder conducted the Bible study. He considered the prophecies found in chapters 4 and 9 of the Bible book of Daniel, concerning the appearance of Jesus as Messiah and King. My mind was set on finding mathematical inconsistencies in the presentation, but I found none. On the contrary, I was again impressed by the logic of the information contained in the Bible.

Up to that point, I thought that faith in God was based more on emotion than on reason. How wrong I was! I thanked the Witnesses for the informative discussion and said that I would like to continue participating in the weekly study. So from then on, I continued my studies at the university and, together with my wife, my Bible studies with the Witnesses. Also, my wife and I began to attend the meetings of the Witnesses held at the Kingdom Hall.

Within a few months, I learned many new Bible truths and soon qualified to join the Witnesses in the door-to-door ministry. This I did even though I was in the final stages of earning my doctorate at the university, which absorbed a great deal of my time. I finished my dissertation in the summer of 1978 and moved to the state of Alabama, where I began teaching physics at the Alabama A. & M. University in Huntsville. We quickly contacted the Witnesses in our new locality, and an elder and his wife continued to study the Bible with us. A few months later, my wife and I were baptized, both on the same day.

Active as a Scientist and a Minister

For me, being a scientist has proved to be compatible with being a Witness of Jehovah. In 1983, I began working as an astrophysicist at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), also in Huntsville.b I worked in both the experimental and the theoretical fields associated with an X-ray telescope. (In 1999 that telescope​—the Chandra X-ray Observatory—​was successfully launched into orbit by the space shuttle Columbia.) I enjoyed working on that project, which involved the analyzing of X-rays emitted from various stars and galaxies in an attempt to understand the physical universe better.

My work was doubly enjoyable to me because not only was I working on a scientifically challenging problem but I was also coming to a deeper appreciation of the power and wisdom of the Creator. In fact, Jehovah’s words through the ancient prophet Isaiah took on special meaning for me. The Creator says: “Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has created these things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by number, all of whom he calls even by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26) The more I ‘raised my eyes high up’ to peer at the vastness, the complexity, and the beauty of the universe, the more I appreciated the work of the intelligent Designer who brought all of it about and established the laws that keep it all together.

During that time, I kept busy publishing new material in scientific journals based on my research in X-ray astrophysics. However, I was also active in the Christian congregation. I served as an elder and spent some 20 hours each month in the public preaching work. Meanwhile, my wife engaged in the Bible education work on a full-time basis.

After working some four years at NASA, I felt a growing need to volunteer more of my time to help others learn the wonderful truths found in the Bible. But how could I do so? After discussing my desire with my wife and taking the matter to Jehovah in prayer, I realized that I had to make some important decisions.

Weighty Decisions

I approached my immediate supervisor at NASA and told him that I wanted to change my workweek from five days to four days. Of course, I would accept a reduced income. I explained to my supervisor that I wanted to spend the other three days of the week in connection with my ministry. My supervisor agreed, although this arrangement was unheard of for scientists at NASA. However, he told me that I needed to talk to his supervisor. I did so and was pleasantly surprised when this upper-level supervisor also agreed with my request. So in September 1987, I began my career as a full-time minister, spending some 90 hours a month in door-to-door preaching and other features of the ministry.

Later, a supervisor from the Alabama A. & M. University in Huntsville called me. He offered me a teaching position in the physics department. I replied that I would accept the job only if it would enable me to use the bulk of my time for my ministry. I assured him, though, that my activities in the ministry would not detract from the quality of my work in teaching classes. The supervisor agreed. Today, I still teach at that university and also serve as a full-time minister. I even had time to learn Spanish. Presently, my wife and I serve in a Spanish-speaking congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Huntsville.

Science and Faith

In my years of doing scientific research, I have never encountered a conflict between a proved scientific fact and a teaching of the Bible. Often, seeming conflicts are caused by a lack of knowledge​—either of a scientific teaching or of what the Bible really says. For example, some scientists and others erroneously think that the Bible teaches that plants, animals, and humans all developed on earth within six literal 24-hour days. This would be in conflict with known scientific facts. But the Bible does not teach that. Rather, it reveals that the creative “days” encompass thousands of years.c

Confusion also arises from the mistaken idea that faith in God is merely an emotional experience. Far from that, faith in God and the Bible is based on facts that can be verified. As defined in the Bible, “faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration [or, “convincing evidence,” footnote] of realities though not beheld.” (Hebrews 11:1) Yes, faith is based on evidence. Hundreds of prophecies have been fulfilled in the past and in our day. Thus, even applying the scientific method used by all scientists to establish a scientific theory, we can have complete confidence in the fulfillment of Bible prophecies that pertain to future events.

One such prophecy includes the promise that we will be able to enjoy Paradise conditions on earth in the near future. The devastating effects of old age, sickness, death, wars, and injustice will be no more. (Revelation 21:3, 4) Then we will have time to explore and study in detail the wonderful creations of Jehovah God and the many laws that he established to govern this awe-inspiring physical universe.

I am grateful to Jehovah God for helping me to find the key to true happiness​—the wonderful truths found in his Word, the Bible. It is my prayer that still many others, including scientists, may find that precious key.

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 20]

I thought that faith in God was based more on emotion than on reason

[Blurb on page 22]

I have never encountered a conflict between a proved scientific fact and a teaching of the Bible

[Picture on page 21]

I support my family by teaching part-time

[Pictures on page 23]

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in orbit and an X-ray image of a binary star system black hole

[Credit Lines]

NASA Photo

NASA/CfA/J. McClintock et al.

[Picture on page 23]

My wife and I enjoy the full-time ministry

Namaqualand’s Annual Miracle

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Flowers of all colors spill onto the open plain as far as the eye can see. Often visitors can barely contain their excitement as Namaqualand’s annual miracle unfolds before their very eyes. “At first glance,” marvels one traveler, “the flowers look like molten lava oozing from crevices, filling every nook and cranny with luminous orange.”

What, though, makes this particular springtime floral transformation so awe-inspiring? Namaqualand is a vast arid region in the northwestern corner of South Africa. Beyond the mountains to the north, the Orange River is the northern border of this region. Namaqualand, an area larger than Switzerland (about 20,000 square miles [50,000 sq km]), stretches south for about 120 miles [200 km], just over half way to Cape Town. For most of the year, temperatures on the barren landscape reach as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit [40°C] during the day and plunge to an icy 18 degrees Fahrenheit [-8°C] at night. With virtually no surface water and limited brackish underground water, Namaqualand can seem uninviting​—until the annual miracle, that is!

Each year, shortly after the rains from early August to the middle of September, the normally arid Namaqualand plains turn into a riotous floral display. Whole fields burst into bloom with orange, yellow, pink, white, crimson, blue, and purple blossoms. Since the display lasts for only a few weeks each year, anticipation builds as visitors from all over the world prepare to feast their eyes on this exuberant floral bouquet.

The secret of a truly spectacular display is the right amount of rain followed by a good dose of sunshine. Then everyone hopes that the sweltering east winds do not come, for they would quickly scorch the life and color out of the delicate petals.

Namaqualand’s wonderland is also the result of prolific seed production. However, many of the flowers do not germinate every year​—they unlock their beauty only under specific climatic conditions. While some seeds germinate after just one year, other seeds lie dormant for a number of seasons, awaiting just the right conditions for growth. “Some seeds,” explains one visitor, “are protected by a safety mechanism that prevents premature germination. Rather than sprout in response to one rainfall when it is hot, those seeds germinate only when it is both cool and moist​—just right for growth and survival in this harsh environment.”

Depending on the delicate balance of rains and the absence of scorching winds, each year has its own unique display, with some years yielding more spectacular displays than other years. “Because each species has its own specific temperature at which germination takes place,” explains the book Namaqualand​—South African Wild Flower Guide, “and the first showers may fall from April to July (months with different temperatures) different species germinate from year to year, depending on when the first rains fall.”

What a variety of blossoms there is​—over 4,000 species, each with its own peculiar shape, color, and method of germination! In some areas, from 10 to 20 different species of flowers can be seen in an area of just ten square feet [1 sq m]. The grandeur of the scene makes an artist’s palette seem like a drab monochrome. Even the most grandiose words seem inadequate to describe Namaqualand’s breathtaking splendor.

Nevertheless, artists, poets, and writers are inspired by such awesome floral displays. “It was the earth’s great sowing-day,” mused South African poet D. J. Opperman, “when . . . through a hole in the Lord’s best bag of seed the precious contents leaked.” Wrote one ardent admirer: “It looked as if the rainbow had shuffled across the desert wilderness, shedding patches of colour everywhere.” One visitor reflected: “Such unending beauty makes one appreciate the overwhelming generosity and wisdom of our Creator, Jehovah.”

What is more, the splendor of Namaqualand’s annual miracle reassures us that the Creator can use such biological mechanisms to restore Paradise conditions earth wide​—to the eternal pleasure of his faithful and appreciative servants. (Psalm 37:10, 11, 29) Then on a grand scale, “the desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands.”​—Isaiah 35:1, Today’s English Version.

[Picture on page 24, 25]

Whole fields, covering about 20,000 square miles, burst forth with blooms

“The Thousand-Star Hotel”

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN FRANCE

THERE are many like me who would willingly swap a night in a four-star hotel for an evening in the desert, gazing up in wonder at the starry sky. That is how I felt after my trip to the magnificent south of Tunisia, North Africa. There I enjoyed the amenities of the so-called thousand-star hotel​—the desert tent of a nomadic shepherd.

Throughout man’s history, millions of people from as far apart as the Asian steppes, the Sahara, and North America have lived in such “thousand-star hotels.” Although numerous tribes have been forced to abandon their tents over the last century, thousands of nomads continue to roam the deserts. Their legendary hospitality makes a day spent in their company unforgettable.

“Houses of Hair”

In order to visit a nomad camp​—or a douar, as it is called in North Africa—​my guide and I drive through the desert in an old Land Rover. After asking some shepherds for directions, we finally see in the distance the silhouette of several blackish-brown tents. Once out of the car, we are impressed by the deep silence of the desert. The Bedouin say that this silence clears the mind. We are greeted warmly by our host, who invites us into his tent. It is about 40 feet [12 m] long, 16 feet [5 m] wide, and 7 feet [2 m] high. We enter the section of the tent that is reserved for men and guests and sit down on handsome rugs. The other side of the tent, hidden from view by a curtain when guests are being entertained, is reserved for the family and for cooking. As we talk, our hostess kindly brings us some traditional mint tea, while the daughters, who have remained in the kitchen part of the tent, knead dough to make flour cakes. These delicious flour cakes are cooked on the hearth in an earthenware casserole.

In the course of conversation, I ask my host how the roof and walls are made. He is more than happy to tell us. Actually, the panels used are made up of, not a single piece of cloth, but several strips roughly 50 feet [15 m] long and 20 inches [50 cm] wide that are stitched together. Some larger tents have 12 or 13 strips. How are these strips of fabric made?

During the bright, sunny afternoon, I see one of my host’s daughters sitting on the sand in front of the tent with a spindle in her hand, deftly transforming animal hair into a thick yarn. This yarn is woven into long strips of fabric on a horizontal ground loom. Loose weaving ensures good ventilation. However, when it rains, the threads swell, closing up the weave and making the cloth waterproof. Without a doubt, the Arabic name for a tent, bait esh-shaar, meaning “house of hair,” is appropriate.

Upkeep

How long does a tent last? The nomads take good care of their desert homes. My host tells me that the women in his household weave at least one strip of cloth per year. Generally, each year the most worn-out strip is replaced with a new strip. Thus, a panel with eight strips will be completely renewed in as many years. In some places the strips are unstitched and turned over so that the better-preserved interior surface faces the outside.

How is the tent supported? The middle of the tent is held up by four poles of apricot wood, although other woods are sometimes used. The two central poles are about eight feet [2.5 m] long. One end of each pole is driven into the ground, while the other end of each pole fits into a decorated hardwood ridgepole that is one and a half to two feet [45-60 cm] long. The ridgepole is slightly curved, giving the top of the tent the shape of a camel’s hump. The sides and back of the tent are supported by several smaller poles. To see how the tent is fastened, we go outside. We see that guy ropes, which are made of goat hair, are used to anchor the panels to the ground.

Behind the tent, a thick hedge of dried bushes gives protection from wild animals. Not far from the tent, the family’s ass is tied to a peg. Just beyond, in a round enclosure, is a herd of sheep and goats, which are carefully tended by our host’s daughters.

A Simple Life-Style

By now the flour cakes are ready, and after being dipped in a fruity olive oil, they are a delicious treat. Looking around, I am struck by the simplicity of the nomads’ life-style. For furniture, there is only a wooden chest and some woven bags, rugs, and blankets. My host’s daughters are proud to show me their simple equipment for carding and spinning wool. But apart from that, they have few material possessions. This reminds me of the wise saying of the poet-shepherd David, who lived for a while in tents: “One piles up things and does not know who will be gathering them.”​—Psalm 39:6.

Many nomads​—probably inspired by their surroundings—​are poets, and they love to take part in poetry contests. They are also very fond of stories and proverbs. For my part, I quote some proverbs from the Holy Scriptures that are full of the perfect wisdom of “the One who is stretching out the heavens just as a fine gauze, who spreads them out like a tent in which to dwell.” (Isaiah 40:22) The time has come to take leave of my hosts. I thank them warmly for their hospitality and wonder when I will next have the chance to spend time in one of these charming “thousand-star hotels.”

[Picture on page 26]

Flour cakes being cooked on a hearth

[Picture Credit Lines on page 26]

Musée du Sahara à Douz, avec l’aimable autorisation de l’Agence de mise en valeur du patrimoine et de promotion culturelle de Tunisie; camels: ZEFA/ROBERTSTOCK.COM

Watching the World

Monkey Business

Some have theorized that an infinite number of monkeys pecking away on an infinite number of typewriters would eventually write the complete works of Shakespeare. So researchers at Plymouth University in England gave six monkeys one computer for a month. The monkeys “failed to produce a single word,” reports The New York Times. The six monkeys at Paignton Zoo in southwest England “produced only five pages of text,” primarily filled with a lot of s’s. At the end of the document, the monkeys typed a few j’s, a’s, l’s, and m’s. They also used the keyboard as their community toilet.

Endangered Monarch Butterflies

On January 13, 2002, a storm swept through the mountains of Mexico where monarch butterflies winter in pine and fir trees. Temperatures dropped, and the combination of wet and cold caused the death of an estimated 500 million butterflies, which lay in piles up to three feet [1 m] deep beneath the trees. “In one terrible day, 70 to 80 percent of all the monarchs that return to the Eastern United States in the spring were dead,” says the international edition of The Miami Herald. But now, another threat is looming. In spite of the Mexican government’s creation of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, the butterfly habitat is being eroded by illegal logging. Some 44 percent of the reserve has already been affected. Although these hardy creatures survive a 2,500-mile [4,000 km] migration, only time will tell if they are able to survive the gradual loss of their wintering grounds.

Struggling Farmers

According to one report, “the green revolution that boosted farm outputs around much of the world came at a price: millions of the world’s poorest farmers in Africa became poorer,” says New Scientist magazine. How so? From the late 1950’s on, high-yield varieties of wheat and rice were introduced to stem the tide of an anticipated famine caused by the world population boom. However, these high-yield varieties produced a grain surplus that caused prices to fall. “Farmers who could afford to plant these new varieties made up for lower prices with improved yields, but those who could not lost out,” says New Scientist. In addition, the new grain varieties did not do well in African conditions because the grains were developed for cultivation in Asia and Latin America.

Danger! Sleepy Drivers

“Driver fatigue or sleepiness is a widespread and serious problem within our society,” states a study reported in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA). According to researchers, “studies have attributed more than 20% of road accidents to driver sleepiness.” The study report in MJA says: “The typical fall-asleep accident involves a sole driver driving at night or in the early afternoon ‘siesta’ period at relatively high speed. As with other causes of MVAs [motor vehicle accidents], fall-asleep accidents are more common in men under 30 years.” At risk of falling asleep at the wheel are people who suffer from a common sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The journal states that OSA affects “about 25% of middle-aged men.” People with OSA may be unaware of how close they are to falling asleep when driving.

Melting Glaciers

At a time when water levels of reservoirs elsewhere in the Punjab in India were low because of delayed monsoon rains, the water at the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River reached almost double the previous year’s level. Why? The main tributary of the Sutlej passes through an area that has 89 glaciers, states the magazine Down to Earth. “Monsoon failure has resulted in increased glacier recession. Since there are no clouds, sunlight reaching the glaciers is much more intense. This, combined with very high temperatures, is leading to the rapid melting,” explains glacier specialist Syed Iqbal Hasnain of Jawaharlal Nehru University. Experts feel that the melting may lead to overflow of glacial lakes. Moreover, smaller glaciers would mean that future water supplies would be reduced, negatively affecting energy production and agriculture.

Wanting to Look Good

In the Australian state of New South Wales, “2850 new skin cancer cases are diagnosed each year, and 340 people die of skin cancer,” reports The Sydney Morning Herald. A study by the Victorian Cancer Council revealed that in an effort to look good, a quarter of Australia’s population is actively sunbathing​—a 10 percent increase in three years. The paper continues: “Alarmingly, the researchers found more than 60 per cent of teenagers were deliberately seeking a tan, with a third of people saying it made them feel healthier.” Supermarket sales of some tanning lotions rose by 18 percent in the past year, while sales of sunscreens did not. Dr. Robin Marks of the Australasian College of Dermatology notes that some people believe that acquiring a tan gradually is not dangerous. However, “skin cancer experts say it is a great misconception to think that any sunbathing, including light tanning without burning, is safe,” says the paper. Dr. Marks warns: “A tan is like a callus​—it shows there is something wrong.”

Japanese Language in Crisis

A deluge of foreign words is flooding Japan, leaving particularly the older Japanese confused about their native tongue, reports The Japan Times. Foreign terms, mostly English words, now make up 10 percent of entries in some dictionaries. “[Japanese] is becoming incomprehensible,” lamented a 60-year-old woman. “Sometimes I feel like I need a translator to understand my own language.” Youths, politicians, the media, and people in sports, fashion, and high-tech industries eagerly adopt foreign words, which “tend to evoke novelty and excitement.” However, these introduced words are written in katakana, a script primarily reserved for foreign words. Hence, these terms “remain ‘foreign,’ presumably for ages,” says the paper. According to The New York Times, some Japanese are becoming “incensed over the thought that entire sentences can be strung together in contemporary Japanese using nothing but Western-derived words, save for an occasional Japanese verb or particle.” One social consequence is a widening communication gap in some households.

From Our Readers

Math I enjoyed reading the article “Math Is for Everyone.” (May 22, 2003) I have always been intrigued by numbers. As you stated, Jehovah is the Great Mathematician, and no doubt in the new world, all of us will learn more about the logic of numbers. Thank you very much for the practical information.

G. C., Britain

This article really helped me. At school, math is the subject I hate most. Even if I listen and take notes, I cannot understand it. But after reading this article, I feel that I can master it. I am grateful that you published this article. I am 13 years old.

Y. I., Japan

This article was just for me! I am 15 years old and not good at math. When I look at math problems, I say to myself, ‘This isn’t going to be of any use to me as an adult, so there’s no point in learning it.’ Because of this article, however, I see that math is useful in many ways. So I have now decided to try harder and not to give up. Please continue to print more articles like this!

M. N., Japan

Worms I enjoyed the humorous cartoons that illustrated the article “The Fascinating World of Worms.” (May 8, 2003) I particularly appreciate them as a memory aid. Thanks to these drawings, I can easily remember the contents of the article.

M. Z., Italy

I am 11 years old, and I’ve always wondered why worms are so slimy, but now I know why. And I always thought that there was just one kind of worm. I never imagined that there were over 1,800 species of earthworms! Keep writing informative articles like this.

T. C., United States

Injury Thank you for the article “How an Injury Changed My Life.” (April 22, 2003) Brother Ombeva expressed my feelings exactly. I suffer from fibromyalgia and other illnesses, and at times the pain is so intense that all I do is cry. I have had to put my full trust in Jehovah to give me the strength to endure. As Brother Ombeva said, meditating on scriptures that bring comfort is of great help. Also, my husband has been a rock in my times of distress. Thank you for such articles.

C. F., United States

My husband has a herniated disk as a result of an accident at work. Brother Ombeva’s struggle with negative feelings is all too familiar. We felt crushed by a situation over which we had no control. It tore my heart apart to see my husband in such excruciating pain and to know that there was next to nothing that I could do to alleviate it. Two years have passed, and he still endures episodes of pain but not like before. During the very difficult period, Jehovah bolstered us up, and he continues to express his loving concern through articles such as this one. Thank you so much!

A. S., United States

Young People Ask I am 16 years old and in my first year of high school. I am facing challenges and pressures that I have never faced before. I really feel the effects of peer pressure. The “Young People Ask” articles have helped me realize the importance of Bible reading and study. I truly appreciate the concern that you show for teenagers, which I often feel is directed to me personally!

S. R., United States

Ancient Buildings Display God’s Name

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN SLOVENIA

Over the centuries, churches and monasteries were erected on hilltops all across Europe. These ancient buildings range from the Romanesque style of the Middle Ages​—with its typically thick walls and heavy, curved arches—​to the ornate and dramatic baroque of later centuries. Interestingly, inside many of these buildings can be found the Tetragrammaton, the four Hebrew letters of God’s personal name.

For example, consider the abbey of Stična, one of the oldest Cistercian monasteries, located in Slovenia. It was built in 1135, only some 40 years after the Cistercian monastic order was founded in France. Although the abbey has been renovated a number of times, it retains its original Romanesque style, now with baroque embellishments. The interior is decorated with various paintings and statues. One side altar is decorated with the large gold letters of the Tetragrammaton framed by a ring of silver.

The town of Slovenj Gradec is first mentioned in written records as far back as the tenth century. A Gothic church-hospital was built there in 1419. An entire inside wall is devoted to a 15th-century fresco depicting 27 Biblical scenes. It begins with the resurrection of Lazarus and concludes with Pentecost. In another location in the same building, the name of God is displayed in Hebrew in black characters on a gold background.

In the northwest region of the country is the town of Radovljica. In the 1400’s, the small settlement was encompassed by walls and a moat and consisted of a castle, a church, and various other buildings. A gold plaque on one of the church altars bears the Tetragrammaton.

Near the small village of Podčetrtek stands an ancient monastery that traces its origin to the 17th century. Inside, a careful observer will find a fresco embellished with the divine name.

The Tetragrammaton can be seen in many other ancient Slovenian buildings. Hence, while admiring the craftsmanship and artistry of the past, tourists may learn that inhabitants of bygone days were familiar with the name of God.

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Side altar of Stična monastery

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In Sveti Duh church in Slovenj Gradec

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Slovenj Gradec-Cerkev Sv. Duha, Slovenija

‘It Cleared Up My Doubts About God’s Name’

A Spanish-speaking man from San Diego, California, said the above in a letter to the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States. He explained: “Although I am not a member of your organization, I enjoy reading your literature. I am writing now to congratulate you. Three days ago a brochure that had been thrown in the trash caught my attention. I picked it up, although it was wet. It was entitled The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever. After drying it, I examined it carefully.

“Never before have I been so fascinated by a publication. I don’t think that there is anything like it in the entire world. It cleared up all my doubts about God’s name. I am already using this damaged copy to teach my religious friends about the divine name. I ask them, ‘What is God’s name?’ but they can’t answer! Then I show them the brochure. Please send me three new copies in Spanish.”

You may request a copy of the 32-page brochure The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever by filling in the accompanying coupon and mailing it to the address provided or to an appropriate address listed on page 5 of this magazine.

□ Without obligation, I request a copy of the brochure The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever.

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