LIGHT

LIGHT
The Hebrew term ´ohr and the Greek term phos refer to that which emanates from a light-giving body such as a lamp (Jer 25:10) or the sun, as well as to the opposite of darkness, literally and figuratively. (Isa 5:20; Joh 11:10, 11) It is generally believed that light consists of energy particles that have wave properties. To this day, however, man still cannot give a complete answer to the question propounded over three millenniums ago by the Creator of light: "Where, now, is the way by which the light distributes itself?"—Job 38:24.
Light from the sun is a combination of colors, with each color having a different wavelength. The color of an object is determined by the particular portion of the light reflected by its surface. Thus light furnishes the many hues that delight the eye of man. It is also essential for earthly life—plant, animal, and human—to continue.
The Source of Light. Jehovah God is the Former of light and the Creator of darkness. (Isa 45:7) It was on the first creative day that he said: "Let light come to be." (Ge 1:3) Earlier he had created the heavens (including "the great lights"—the sun, moon, and stars; compare Ps 136:7-9) and the earth. (Ge 1:1) So the bringing of light into existence with reference to the earth apparently involved gradually removing whatever had formerly obstructed the sun’s rays from reaching this planet. And the "division" between light and darkness must have come about through the rotation of the earth as it moved around the sun. (Ge 1:4, 5) Much later Jehovah plagued the sun-worshiping Egyptians with darkness, a darkness that did not affect the Israelites. (Ex 10:21-23) In leading his people out of Egypt, he provided light by means of a pillar of fire.—Ex 13:21; 14:19, 20; Ps 78:14.
The Scriptures repeatedly associate light with its Creator. Stated the psalmist: "O Jehovah my God, you have proved very great. With dignity and splendor you have clothed yourself, enwrapping yourself with light as with a garment." (Ps 104:1, 2) This declaration harmonizes well with Ezekiel’s description of what he saw in vision: "I got to see something like the glow of electrum, like the appearance of fire all around inside thereof, from the appearance of his hips and upward; and from the appearance of his hips and downward I saw something like the appearance of fire, and he had a brightness all around. There was something like the appearance of the bow that occurs in a cloud mass on the day of a pouring rain. That is how the appearance was of the brightness round about. It was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah." (Eze 1:27, 28) Centuries earlier, just a partial manifestation of that glory caused Moses’ face to emit rays.—Ex 33:22, 23; 34:29, 30.
"God is light and there is no darkness at all in union with him." (1Jo 1:5) He is righteous, upright, and holy (De 32:4; Re 4:8), having nothing in common with the degrading and unclean practices commonly linked with darkness. (Compare Job 24:14-16; 2Co 6:14; 1Th 5:7, 8.) Therefore persons who are walking in the darkness by manifesting hatred for their brother and who are not practicing the truth could never be in union with him.—1Jo 1:6; 2:9-11.
Jehovah is "the Father of the celestial lights." (Jas 1:17) Not only is he the "Giver of the sun for light by day, the statutes of the moon and the stars for light by night" (Jer 31:35) but he is also the Source of all spiritual enlightenment. (2Co 4:6) His law, judicial decisions, and word are a light to those allowing themselves to be guided by them. (Ps 43:3; 119:105; Pr 6:23; Isa 51:4) The psalmist declared: "By light from you we can see light." (Ps 36:9; compare Ps 27:1; 43:3.) Just as the light of the sun continues to get brighter from dawn until "the day is firmly established," so the path of the righteous ones, illuminated by godly wisdom, gets lighter and lighter. (Pr 4:18) To follow the course that Jehovah outlines is to walk in his light. (Isa 2:3-5) On the other hand, when a person looks at things in an impure way or with evil design, he is in great spiritual darkness. As Jesus put it: "If your eye is wicked, your whole body will be dark. If in reality the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!"—Mt 6:23; compare De 15:9; 28:54-57; Pr 28:22; 2Pe 2:14.
Light and the Son of God. Since his resurrection and ascension to heaven, Christ Jesus, "the King of those who rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords," "dwells in unapproachable light." That light is so glorious that it makes it impossible for weak human eyes to behold him. (1Ti 6:15, 16) In fact, one man, Saul (Paul) of Tarsus was blinded by the light from heaven seen by him at the time the glorified Son of God revealed himself to this persecutor of Jesus’ followers.—Ac 9:3-8; 22:6-11.
During his earthly ministry Jesus Christ was a light, furnishing spiritual enlightenment concerning God’s purposes and will for those who would gain divine favor. (Joh 9:5; compare Isa 42:6, 7; 61:1, 2; Lu 4:18-21.) Initially, only "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" received benefit from that "great light." (Isa 9:1, 2; Mt 4:13-16; 15:24) But spiritual enlightenment was not to be limited just to the natural Jews and proselytes. (Joh 1:4-9; compare Ac 13:46, 47.) When the infant Jesus was presented at the temple, aged Simeon referred to him as "a light for removing the veil from the nations." (Lu 2:32) As Paul explained to the Ephesians, uncircumcised non-Jews had been in the dark respecting God and his purposes: "Formerly you were people of the nations as to flesh; ‘uncircumcision’ you were called by that which is called ‘circumcision’ made in the flesh with hands—that you were at that particular time without Christ, alienated from the state of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise, and you had no hope and were without God in the world." (Eph 2:11, 12) However, when the good news about the Christ was brought to the non-Jews, those who responded favorably were ‘called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.’ (1Pe 2:9) But others continued to allow the one who transforms himself into "an angel of light" or enlightenment (2Co 11:14), "the god of this system of things," to blind them so ‘that the illumination of the good news about the Christ might not shine through.’ (2Co 4:4) They preferred darkness, for they wanted to continue in their selfish course.—Compare Joh 3:19, 20.
Followers of Christ Become Lights. Those who exercised faith in Christ Jesus as "the light of the world" and became his followers themselves came to be "sons of light." (Joh 3:21; 8:12; 12:35, 36, 46) They made known to others the requirements for gaining God’s favor and life, doing so "in the light," that is, openly. (Mt 10:27) Similarly, John the Baptizer had served as a light when "preaching baptism in symbol of repentance" and pointing forward to Messiah’s coming. (Lu 3:3, 15-17; Joh 5:35) Also, by their fine works, by word and example, followers of Christ let their light shine. (Mt 5:14, 16; compare Ro 2:17-24.) "The fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth." It therefore exposes the baseness of the shameful works belonging to darkness (fornication, uncleanness of every kind, greediness, and the like) practiced by "the sons of disobedience." As a result these shameful works are seen in their true light and, in the sense of being manifested as things condemned by God, become light themselves. (Eph 5:3-18; compare 1Th 5:4-9.) Equipped with "weapons of the light," the spiritual armor from God, Christians wage warfare "against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places" and are enabled thereby to stand firm as approved servants of God.—Ro 13:12-14; Eph 6:11-18.
Other Figurative Uses. The Scriptures contain many figurative references to light. Ability to see is meant by the words "the light of my own eyes." (Ps 38:10) For God to "give light" to someone means that he gives them life or allows them to continue living. (Job 3:20, 23; compare Ps 56:13.) "Children that have seen no light" are those who are born dead. (Job 3:16; compare Ps 49:19.) "It is good for the eyes to see the sun" may be understood to mean ‘it is good to be alive.’—Ec 11:7.
Morning light is picturesquely described as ‘taking hold of the ends of the earth and shaking the wicked out of it,’ because dawn disperses evildoers. Darkness is their "light," for they are accustomed to carrying out their evil deeds under its cover, and this figurative "light" is taken from them by the literal light of dawn.—Job 38:12-15; compare Job 24:15-17.
As the light of the sun is clearly observable, thus Jehovah’s adverse judgments are obvious. This is alluded to at Hosea 6:5: "The judgments upon you will be as the light that goes forth."
The ‘light of God’s face’ means divine favor. (Ps 44:3; 89:15) "Lift up the light of your face upon us" is an expression meaning ‘show us favor.’ (Ps 4:6) Similarly, the favor of a ruler is referred to as "the light of the king’s face."—Pr 16:15.
Light may denote brightness or cheerfulness, the opposite of gloom. (Job 30:26) This may explain the words of Job (29:24): "The light of my face they would not cast down." Although others were gloomy and dejected, this did not cause Job to become of like disposition.
A bright prospect, such as salvation or deliverance, is at times referred to under the figure of light. (Es 8:16; Ps 97:11; Isa 30:26; Mic 7:8, 9) Jehovah’s causing his glory to shine forth upon Zion pointed forward to her deliverance from a captive state. As a result Zion was to become a source of enlightenment to the nations. (Isa 60:1-3, 19, 20; compare Re 21:24; 22:5.) On the other hand, for the sun, moon, and stars not to give their light would signify calamity.—Isa 13:10, 11; Jer 4:23; Eze 32:7, 8; Mt 24:29.

HEAVEN

HEAVEN
The Hebrew sha·ma´yim (always in the plural), which is rendered "heaven(s)," seems to have the basic sense of that which is high or lofty. (Ps 103:11; Pr 25:3; Isa 55:9) The etymology of the Greek word for heaven (ou·ra·nos´) is uncertain.
Physical Heavens. The full scope of the physical heavens is embraced by the original-language term. The context usually provides sufficient information to determine which area of the physical heavens is meant.
Heavens of earth’s atmosphere. "The heaven(s)" may apply to the full range of earth’s atmosphere in which dew and frost form (Ge 27:28; Job 38:29), the birds fly (De 4:17; Pr 30:19; Mt 6:26), the winds blow (Ps 78:26), lightning flashes (Lu 17:24), and the clouds float and drop their rain, snow, or hailstones (Jos 10:11; 1Ki 18:45; Isa 55:10; Ac 14:17). "The sky" is sometimes meant, that is, the apparent or visual dome or vault arching over the earth.—Mt 16:1-3; Ac 1:10, 11.
This atmospheric region corresponds generally to the "expanse [Heb., ra·qi´a`]" formed during the second creative period, described at Genesis 1:6-8. It is evidently to this ‘heaven’ that Genesis 2:4; Exodus 20:11; 31:17 refer in speaking of the creation of "the heavens and the earth."—See EXPANSE.
When the expanse of atmosphere was formed, earth’s surface waters were separated from other waters above the expanse. This explains the expression used with regard to the global Flood of Noah’s day, that "all the springs of the vast watery deep were broken open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened." (Ge 7:11; compare Pr 8:27, 28.) At the Flood, the waters suspended above the expanse apparently descended as if by certain channels, as well as in rainfall. When this vast reservoir had emptied itself, such "floodgates of the heavens" were, in effect, "stopped up."—Ge 8:2.
Outer space. The physical "heavens" extend through earth’s atmosphere and beyond to the regions of outer space with their stellar bodies, "all the army of the heavens"—sun, moon, stars, and constellations. (De 4:19; Isa 13:10; 1Co 15:40, 41; Heb 11:12) The first verse of the Bible describes the creation of such starry heavens prior to the development of earth for human habitation. (Ge 1:1) These heavens show forth God’s glory, even as does the expanse of atmosphere, being the work of God’s "fingers." (Ps 8:3; 19:1-6) The divinely appointed "statutes of the heavens" control all such celestial bodies. Astronomers, despite their modern equipment and advanced mathematical knowledge, are still unable to comprehend these statutes fully. (Job 38:33; Jer 33:25) Their findings, however, confirm the impossibility of man’s placing a measurement upon such heavens or of counting the stellar bodies. (Jer 31:37; 33:22; see STAR.) Yet they are numbered and named by God.—Ps 147:4; Isa 40:26.
"Midheaven" and ‘extremities of heavens.’ The expression "midheaven" applies to the region within earth’s expanse of atmosphere where birds, such as the eagle, fly. (Re 8:13; 14:6; 19:17; De 4:11 [Heb., "heart of the heavens"]) Somewhat similar is the expression "between the earth and the heavens." (1Ch 21:16; 2Sa 18:9) The advance of Babylon’s attackers from "the extremity of the heavens" evidently means their coming to her from the distant horizon (where earth and sky appear to meet and the sun appears to rise and set). (Isa 13:5; compare Ps 19:4-6.) Similarly "from the four extremities of the heavens" apparently refers to four points of the compass, thus indicating a coverage of the four quarters of the earth. (Jer 49:36; compare Da 8:8; 11:4; Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27.) As the heavens surround the earth on all sides, Jehovah’s vision of everything "under the whole heavens" embraces all the globe.—Job 28:24.
The cloudy skies. Another term, the Hebrew sha´chaq, is also used to refer to the "skies" or their clouds. (De 33:26; Pr 3:20; Isa 45:8) This word has the root meaning of something beaten fine or pulverized, as the "film of dust" (sha´chaq) at Isaiah 40:15. There is a definite appropriateness in this meaning, inasmuch as clouds form when warm air, rising from the earth, becomes cooled to what is known as the dewpoint, and the water vapor in it condenses into minute particles sometimes called water dust. (Compare Job 36:27, 28; see CLOUD.) Adding to the appropriateness, the visual effect of the blue dome of the sky is caused by the diffusion of the rays of the sun by gas molecules and other particles (including dust) composing the atmosphere. By God’s formation of such atmosphere, he has, in effect, ‘beaten out the skies hard like a molten mirror,’ giving a definite limit, or clear demarcation, to the atmospheric blue vault above man.—Job 37:18.
"Heavens of the heavens." The expression "heavens of the heavens" is considered to refer to the highest heavens and would embrace the complete extent of the physical heavens, however vast, since the heavens extend out from the earth in all directions.—De 10:14; Ne 9:6.
Solomon, the constructor of the temple at Jerusalem, stated that the "heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens" cannot contain God. (1Ki 8:27) As the Creator of the heavens, Jehovah’s position is far above them all, and "his name alone is unreachably high. His dignity is above earth and heaven." (Ps 148:13) Jehovah measures the physical heavens as easily as a man would measure an object by spreading his fingers so that the object lies between the tips of the thumb and the little finger. (Isa 40:12) Solomon’s statement does not mean that God has no specific place of residence. Nor does it mean that he is omnipresent in the sense of being literally everywhere and in everything. This can be seen from the fact that Solomon also spoke of Jehovah as hearing "from the heavens, your established place of dwelling," that is, the heavens of the spirit realm.—1Ki 8:30, 39.
Thus, in the physical sense, the term "heavens" covers a wide range. While it may refer to the farthest reaches of universal space, it may also refer to something that is simply high, or lofty, to a degree beyond the ordinary. Thus, those aboard storm-tossed ships are said to "go up to the heavens, . . . down to the bottoms." (Ps 107:26) So, too, the builders of the Tower of Babel intended to put up a structure with its "top in the heavens," a "skyscraper," as it were. (Ge 11:4; compare Jer 51:53.) And the prophecy at Amos 9:2 speaks of men as ‘going up to the heavens’ in a vain effort to elude Jehovah’s judgments, evidently meaning that they would try to find escape in the high mountainous regions.
Spiritual Heavens. The same original-language words used for the physical heavens are also applied to the spiritual heavens. As has been seen, Jehovah God does not reside in the physical heavens, being a Spirit. However, since he is "the High and Lofty One" who resides in "the height" (Isa 57:15), the basic sense of that which is "lifted up" or "lofty" expressed in the Hebrew-language word makes it appropriate to describe God’s "lofty abode of holiness and beauty." (Isa 63:15; Ps 33:13, 14; 115:3) As the Maker of the physical heavens (Ge 14:19; Ps 33:6), Jehovah is also their Owner. (Ps 115:15, 16) Whatever is his pleasure to do in them, he does, including miraculous acts.—Ps 135:6.
In many texts, therefore, the "heavens" stand for God himself and his sovereign position. His throne is in the heavens, that is, in the spirit realm over which he also rules. (Ps 103:19-21; 2Ch 20:6; Mt 23:22; Ac 7:49) From his supreme or ultimate position, Jehovah, in effect, ‘looks down’ upon the physical heavens and earth (Ps 14:2; 102:19; 113:6), and from this lofty position also speaks, answers petitions, and renders judgment. (1Ki 8:49; Ps 2:4-6; 76:8; Mt 3:17) So we read that Hezekiah and Isaiah, in the face of a grave threat, "kept praying . . . and crying to the heavens for aid." (2Ch 32:20; compare 2Ch 30:27.) Jesus, too, used the heavens as representing God when asking the religious leaders whether the source of John’s baptism was "from heaven or from men." (Mt 21:25; compare Joh 3:27.) The prodigal son confessed to having sinned "against heaven" as well as against his own father. (Lu 15:18, 21) "The kingdom of the heavens," then, means not merely that it is based in and rules from the spiritual heavens but also that it is "the kingdom of God."—Da 2:44; Mt 4:17; 21:43; 2Ti 4:18.
Also because of God’s heavenly position, both men and angels raised hands or faces toward the heavens in calling upon him to act (Ex 9:22, 23; 10:21, 22), in swearing to an oath (Da 12:7), and in prayer (1Ki 8:22, 23; La 3:41; Mt 14:19; Joh 17:1). At Deuteronomy 32:40 Jehovah speaks of himself as ‘raising his hand to heaven in an oath.’ In harmony with Hebrews 6:13, this evidently means that Jehovah swears by himself.—Compare Isa 45:23.
Angelic dwelling place. The spiritual heavens are also the "proper dwelling place" of God’s spirit sons. (Jude 6; Ge 28:12, 13; Mt 18:10; 24:36) The expression "army of the heavens," often applied to the stellar creation, sometimes describes these angelic sons of God. (1Ki 22:19; compare Ps 103:20, 21; Da 7:10; Lu 2:13; Re 19:14.) So, too, "the heavens" are personified as representing this angelic organization, "the congregation of the holy ones."—Ps 89:5-7; compare Lu 15:7, 10; Re 12:12.
Representing Rulership. We have seen that the heavens can refer to Jehovah God in his sovereign position. Thus, when Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that the experience the Babylonian emperor was due to have would make him "know that the heavens are ruling," it meant the same as knowing "that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind."—Da 4:25, 26.
However, aside from its reference to the Supreme Sovereign, the term "heavens" can also refer to other ruling powers that are exalted or lifted up above their subject peoples. The very dynasty of Babylonian kings that Nebuchadnezzar represented is described at Isaiah 14:12 as being starlike, a "shining one, son of the dawn." By the conquest of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., that Babylonian dynasty lifted its throne "above the stars of God," these "stars" evidently referring to the Davidic line of Judean kings (even as the Heir to the Davidic throne, Christ Jesus, is called "the bright morning star" at Re 22:16; compare Nu 24:17). By its overthrow of the divinely authorized Davidic throne, the Babylonian dynasty, in effect, exalted itself heaven high. (Isa 14:13, 14) This lofty grandeur and far-reaching dominion were also represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream by a symbolic tree with its height ‘reaching the heavens.’—Da 4:20-22.
New heavens and new earth. The connection of the "heavens" with ruling power aids in understanding the meaning of the expression "new heavens and a new earth" found at Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 and quoted by the apostle Peter at 2 Peter 3:13. Observing such relationship, M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia (1891, Vol. IV, p. 122) comments: "In Isa. lxv, 17, a new heaven and a new earth signify a new government, new kingdom, new people."
Even as the "earth" can refer to a society of people (Ps 96:1; see EARTH), so, too, "heavens" can symbolize the superior ruling power or government over such "earth." The prophecy presenting the promise of "new heavens and a new earth," given through Isaiah, was one dealing initially with the restoration of Israel from Babylonian exile. Upon the Israelites’ return to their homeland, they entered into a new system of things. Cyrus the Great was used prominently by God in bringing about that restoration. Back in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel (a descendant of David) served as governor, and Joshua as high priest. In harmony with Jehovah’s purpose, this new governmental arrangement, or "new heavens," directed and supervised the subject people. (2Ch 36:23; Hag 1:1, 14) Thereby, as verse 18 of Isaiah chapter 65 foretold, Jerusalem became "a cause for joyfulness and her people a cause for exultation."
Peter’s quotation, however, shows that a future fulfillment was to be anticipated, on the basis of God’s promise. (2Pe 3:13) Since God’s promise in this case relates to the presence of Christ Jesus, as shown at verse 4, the "new heavens and a new earth" must relate to God’s Messianic Kingdom and its rule over obedient subjects. By his resurrection and ascension to God’s right hand, Christ Jesus became "higher than the heavens" (Heb 7:26) in that he was thereby placed "far above every government and authority and power and lordship . . . not only in this system of things, but also in that to come."—Eph 1:19-21; Mt 28:18.
Christian followers of Jesus, as "partakers of the heavenly calling" (Heb 3:1), are assigned by God as "heirs" in union with Christ, through whom God purposed "to gather all things together again." "The things in the heavens," that is, those called to heavenly life, are the first to be thus gathered into unity with God through Christ. (Eph 1:8-11) Their inheritance is "reserved in the heavens." (1Pe 1:3, 4; Col 1:5; compare Joh 14:2, 3.) They are "enrolled" and have their "citizenship" in the heavens. (Heb 12:20-23; Php 3:20) They form the "New Jerusalem" seen in John’s vision as "coming down out of heaven from God." (Re 21:2, 9, 10; compare Eph 5:24-27.) Since this vision is initially stated to be of "a new heaven and a new earth" (Re 21:1), it follows that both are represented in what is thereafter described. Hence the "new heaven" must correspond to Christ together with his "bride," the "New Jerusalem," and the "new earth" is seen in the ‘peoples of mankind’ who are their subjects and who receive the blessings of their rule, as depicted in verses 3 and 4.
Passing away of former heaven and earth. John’s vision refers to the passing away of "the former heaven and the former earth." (Re 21:1; compare 20:11.) In the Christian Greek Scriptures, earthly governments and their peoples are shown to be subject to Satanic rule. (Mt 4:8, 9; Joh 12:31; 2Co 4:3, 4; Re 12:9; 16:13, 14) The apostle Paul referred to "the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places," with their governments, authorities, and world rulers. (Eph 6:12) So the passing away of "the former heaven" indicates the end of political governments along with Satan and his demons. This identification of "the former heaven" harmonizes with the fact that shortly before the statement concerning the ‘former heaven having passed away,’ John had seen a vision of the complete defeat of Satan’s forces and the casting of Satan into "the abyss." (Re 19:19–20:3) The earthly subjects of Satan’s rule are destroyed prior to his abyssing, as shown at Revelation 19:17, 18. (Compare 1Jo 2:15-17.) The description of a fiery destruction of heaven and earth at 2 Peter 3:7-12 corresponds to the visions in Revelation.
Abasement of That Which Is Exalted. Because the heavens represent that which is elevated, the abasement of those things that are exalted is at times represented by the overthrow or the ‘rocking’ or ‘agitating’ of the heavens. Jehovah is said to have "thrown down from heaven to earth the beauty of Israel" at the time of its desolation. That beauty included its kingdom and princely rulers and their power, and such beauty was devoured as by fire. (La 2:1-3) But Israel’s conqueror, Babylon, later experienced an agitation of her own "heaven" and a rocking of her "earth" when the Medes and Persians overthrew Babylon and her heavenly gods proved false and unable to save her from the loss of her dominion over the land.—Isa 13:1, 10-13.
Similarly, it was prophesied that the heaven-high position of Edom would not save her from destruction and that Jehovah’s sword of judgment would be drenched in her heights, or "heavens," with no help for her from any heavenly, or exalted, source. (Isa 34:4-7; compare Ob 1-4, 8.) Those making great boasts, wickedly speaking in an elevated style as if to "put their mouth in the very heavens," are certain to fall to ruin. (Ps 73:8, 9, 18; compare Re 13:5, 6.) The city of Capernaum had reason to feel highly favored because of the attention it received by Jesus and his ministry. However, since it failed to respond to his powerful works, Jesus asked, "Will you perhaps be exalted to heaven?" and foretold instead, "Down to Hades you will come."—Mt 11:23.
Darkening of the Heavens. The darkening of the heavens or of the stellar bodies is often used to represent the removal of prosperous, favorable conditions, and their being replaced by foreboding, gloomy prospects and conditions, like a time when dark clouds blot out all light day and night. (Compare Isa 50:2, 3, 10.) This use of the physical heavens in connection with the mental outlook of humans is somewhat similar to the old Arabic expression, "His heaven has fallen to the earth," meaning that one’s superiority or prosperity is greatly diminished. Also similar is the modern German expression, "Aus allen Himmeln fallen" (literally, to fall out of all heavens), conveying the idea of bitter disappointment and utter disillusionment.
Upon Judah such a day of darkness came in fulfillment of Jehovah’s judgment through his prophet Joel, and it reached its culmination in Judah’s desolation by Babylon. (Joe 2:1, 2, 10, 30, 31; compare Jer 4:23, 28.) Any hope of help from a heavenly source seemed to have dried up, and as foretold at Deuteronomy 28:65-67, they came into "dread night and day," with no relief or hope by sunlit morning or by moonlit evening. Yet, by the same prophet, Joel, Jehovah warned enemies of Judah that they would experience the same situation when he executed judgment upon them. (Joe 3:12-16) Ezekiel and Isaiah used this same figurative picture in foretelling God’s judgment on Egypt and on Babylon respectively.—Eze 32:7, 8, 12; Isa 13:1, 10, 11.
The apostle Peter quoted Joel’s prophecy on the day of Pentecost when urging a crowd of listeners to "get saved from this crooked generation." (Ac 2:1, 16-21, 40) The unheeding ones of that generation saw a time of grave darkness when the Romans besieged and eventually ravaged Jerusalem less than 40 years later. Prior to Pentecost, however, Jesus had made a similar prophecy and showed it would have a fulfillment at the time of his presence.—Mt 24:29-31; Lu 21:25-27; compare Re 6:12-17.
Permanence of Physical Heavens. Eliphaz the Temanite said of God: "Look! In his holy ones he has no faith, and the heavens themselves are actually not clean in his eyes." However, Jehovah said to Eliphaz that he and his two companions had "not spoken concerning me what is truthful as has my servant Job." (Job 15:1, 15; 42:7) By contrast, Exodus 24:10 refers to the heavens as representing purity. Thus there is no cause stated in the Bible for God’s destroying the physical heavens.
That the physical heavens are permanent is shown by the fact that they are used in similes relating to things that are everlasting, such as the peaceful, righteous results of the Davidic kingdom inherited by God’s Son. (Ps 72:5-7; Lu 1:32, 33) Thus, texts such as Psalm 102:25, 26 that speak of the heavens as ‘perishing’ and as ‘being replaced like a worn-out garment’ are not to be understood in a literal sense.
At Luke 21:33, Jesus says that "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away." The sense of this expression seems to be like that of Matthew 5:18: "Truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away [or, "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away"; Lu 16:17] than for one smallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away from the Law by any means and not all things take place."
Psalm 102:25-27 stresses God’s eternity and imperishability, whereas his physical creation of heavens and earth is perishable, that is, it could be destroyed—if such were God’s purpose. Unlike God’s eternal existence, the permanence of any part of his physical creation is not independent. As seen in the earth, the physical creation must undergo a continual renewing process if it is to endure or retain its existing form. That the physical heavens are dependent on God’s will and sustaining power is indicated at Psalm 148, where, after referring to sun, moon, and stars, along with other parts of God’s creation, verse 6 states that God "keeps them standing forever, to time indefinite. A regulation he has given, and it will not pass away."
The words of Psalm 102:25, 26 apply to Jehovah God, but the apostle Paul quotes them with reference to Jesus Christ. This is because God’s only-begotten Son was God’s personal Agent employed in creating the physical universe. Paul contrasts the Son’s permanence with that of the physical creation, which God, if he so designed, could ‘wrap up just as a cloak’ and set aside.—Heb 1:1, 2, 8, 10-12; compare 1Pe 2:3, ftn.
Various Poetic and Figurative Expressions. Because the physical heavens play a vital part in sustaining and prospering life on earth—by sunshine, rain, dew, refreshing winds, and other atmospheric benefits—they are spoken of poetically as Jehovah’s "good storehouse." (De 28:11, 12; 33:13, 14) Jehovah opens its "doors" to bless his servants, as when causing manna, "the grain of heaven," to descend upon the ground. (Ps 78:23, 24; Joh 6:31) The clouds are like "water jars" in the upper chambers of that storehouse, and the rain pours forth as by "sluices," certain factors, such as mountains or even God’s miraculous intervention, causing water condensation and subsequent rainfall in specific regions. (Job 38:37; Jer 10:12, 13; 1Ki 18:41-45) On the other hand, the withdrawal of God’s blessing at times resulted in the heavens over the land of Canaan being "shut up," becoming, in appearance, as hard and as nonporous as iron and having a copper-colored metallic brightness, with a dust-filled, rainless atmosphere.—Le 26:19; De 11:16, 17; 28:23, 24; 1Ki 8:35, 36.
This aids one in understanding the picture presented at Hosea 2:21-23. Having foretold the devastating results of Israel’s unfaithfulness, Jehovah now tells of the time of her restoration and the resulting blessings. In that day, he says, "I shall answer the heavens, and they, for their part, will answer the earth; and the earth, for its part, will answer the grain and the sweet wine and the oil; and they, for their part, will answer Jezreel." Evidently this represents Israel’s petition for Jehovah’s blessing through the chain of things of Jehovah’s creation here named. For that reason these things are viewed as personified, hence, as if able to make a request, or petition. Israel asks for grain, wine, and oil; these products, in turn, seek their plant food and water from the earth; the earth, in order to supply this need, requires (or figuratively calls for) sun, rain, and dew from the heavens; and the heavens (till now "shut up" because of the withdrawal of God’s blessing) can respond only if God accepts the petition and restores his favor to the nation, thereby putting the productive cycle in motion. The prophecy gives the assurance that he will do so.
At 2 Samuel 22:8-15, David apparently uses the figure of a tremendous storm to represent the effect of God’s intervention on David’s behalf, freeing him from his enemies. The fierceness of this symbolic storm agitates the foundation of the heavens, and they ‘bend down’ with dark low-lying clouds. Compare the literal storm conditions described at Exodus 19:16-18; also the poetic expressions at Isaiah 64:1, 2.
Jehovah, "the Father of the celestial lights" (Jas 1:17), is frequently spoken of as having ‘stretched out the heavens,’ just as one would a tent cloth. (Ps 104:1, 2; Isa 45:12) The heavens, both the expanse of atmosphere by day and the starry heavens by night, have the appearance of an immense domed canopy from the standpoint of humans on earth. At Isaiah 40:22 the simile is that of stretching out "fine gauze," rather than the coarser tent cloth. This expresses the delicate finery of such heavenly canopy. On a clear night the thousands of stars do, indeed, form a lacy web stretched over the black velvet background of space. It may also be noted that even the enormous galaxy known as the Via Lactea, or Milky Way, in which our solar system is located, has a filmy gauzelike appearance from earth’s viewpoint.
It can be seen from the foregoing that the context must always be considered in determining the sense of these figurative expressions. Thus, when Moses called on "the heavens and the earth" to serve as witnesses to the things that he declared to Israel, it is obvious that he did not mean the inanimate creation but, rather, the intelligent residents inhabiting the heavens and the earth. (De 4:25, 26; 30:19; compare Eph 1:9, 10; Php 2:9, 10; Re 13:6.) This is also true of the rejoicing by the heavens and earth over Babylon’s fall, at Jeremiah 51:48. (Compare Re 18:5; 19:1-3.) Likewise it must be the spiritual heavens that "trickle with righteousness," as described at Isaiah 45:8. In other cases the literal heavens are meant but are figuratively described as rejoicing or shouting out loud. At Jehovah’s coming to judge the earth, as described at Psalm 96:11-13, the heavens, along with the earth, sea, and the field, take on a gladsome appearance. (Compare Isa 44:23.) The physical heavens also praise their Creator, in the same way that a beautifully designed product brings praise to the craftsman producing it. In effect, they speak of Jehovah’s power, wisdom, and majesty.—Ps 19:1-4; 69:34.
Ascension to Heaven. At 2 Kings 2:11, 12 the prophet Elijah is described as "ascending in the windstorm to the heavens." The heavens here referred to are the atmospheric heavens in which windstorms occur, not the spiritual heavens of God’s presence. Elijah did not die at the time of such ascension, but he continued to live for a number of years after his heavenly transportation away from his successor Elisha. Nor did Elijah upon death ascend to the spiritual heavens, since Jesus, while on earth, clearly stated that "no man has ascended into heaven." (Joh 3:13; see ELIJAH No. 1 (Elisha Succeeds Him).) At Pentecost, Peter likewise said of David that he "did not ascend to the heavens." (Ac 2:34) In reality, there is nothing in the Scriptures to show that a heavenly hope was held out to God’s servants prior to the coming of Christ Jesus. Such hope first appears in Jesus’ expressions to his disciples (Mt 19:21, 23-28; Lu 12:32; Joh 14:2, 3) and was fully comprehended by them only after Pentecost of 33 C.E.—Ac 1:6-8; 2:1-4, 29-36; Ro 8:16, 17.
The Scriptures show that Christ Jesus was the first one to ascend from earth to the heavens of God’s presence. (1Co 15:20; Heb 9:24) By such ascension and his presentation of his ransom sacrifice there, he ‘opened the way’ for those who would follow—the spirit-begotten members of his congregation. (Joh 14:2, 3; Heb 6:19, 20; 10:19, 20) In their resurrection these must bear "the image of the heavenly one," Christ Jesus, in order to ascend to the heavens of the spirit plane, for "flesh and blood" cannot inherit that heavenly Kingdom.—1Co 15:42-50.
How can persons in "heavenly places" still be on earth?
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of Christians then living on earth as though they were already enjoying a heavenly position, being raised up and "seated . . . together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus." (Eph 1:3; 2:6) The context shows that anointed Christians are so viewed by God because of his having ‘assigned them as heirs’ with his Son in the heavenly inheritance. While yet on earth, they have been exalted, or ‘lifted up,’ by such assignment. (Eph 1:11, 18-20; 2:4-7, 22) These points also shed light on the symbolic vision at Revelation 11:12. Likewise it provides a key for understanding the prophetic picture contained at Daniel 8:9-12, where what has previously been shown to represent a political power is spoken of as "getting greater all the way to the army of the heavens," and even causing some of that army and of the stars to fall to the earth. At Daniel 12:3, those servants of God on earth at the foretold time of the end are spoken of as shining "like the stars to time indefinite." Note, too, the symbolic use of stars in the book of Revelation, chapters 1 through 3, where the context shows that such "stars" refer to persons who are obviously living on earth and undergoing earthly experiences and temptations, these "stars" being responsible for congregations under their care.—Re 1:20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.
The way to heavenly life. The way to heavenly life involves more than just faith in Christ’s ransom sacrifice and works of faith in obedience to God’s instructions. The inspired writings of the apostles and disciples show that there must also be a calling and choosing of one by God through his Son. (2Ti 1:9, 10; Mt 22:14; 1Pe 2:9) This invitation involves a number of steps, or actions, taken to qualify such a one for the heavenly inheritance; many of such steps are taken by God, others by the one called. Among such steps, or actions, are the declaring righteous of the called Christian (Ro 3:23, 24, 28; 8:33, 34); bringing him forth (‘begetting him’) as a spiritual son (Joh 1:12, 13; 3:3-6; Jas 1:18); his being baptized into Christ’s death (Ro 6:3, 4; Php 3:8-11); anointing him (2Co 1:21; 1Jo 2:20, 27); sanctifying him (Joh 17:17). The called one must maintain integrity until death (2Ti 2:11-13; Re 2:10), and after he has proved faithful in his calling and selection (Re 17:14), he is finally resurrected to spirit life.—Joh 6:39, 40; Ro 6:5; 1Co 15:42-49; see ANOINTED, ANOINTING; DECLARE RIGHTEOUS; RESURRECTION; SANCTIFICATION.
Third Heaven. At 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the apostle Paul describes one who was "caught away . . . to the third heaven" and "into paradise." Since there is no mention in the Scriptures of any other person having had such an experience, it seems likely that this was the apostle’s own experience. Whereas some have endeavored to relate Paul’s reference to the third heaven to the early rabbinic view that there were stages of heaven, even a total of "seven heavens," this view finds no support in the Scriptures. As we have seen, the heavens are not referred to specifically as if divided into platforms or stages, but, rather, the context must be relied upon to determine whether reference is to the heavens within earth’s atmospheric expanse, the heavens of outer space, the spiritual heavens, or something else. It therefore appears that the reference to "the third heaven" indicates the superlative degree of the rapture in which this vision was seen. Note the way words and expressions are repeated three times at Isaiah 6:3; Ezekiel 21:27; John 21:15-17; Revelation 4:8, evidently for the purpose of expressing an intensification of the quality or idea.

NATURE

NATURE

The basic makeup or constitution of something. It can refer to what a person is by birth, also to hereditary qualities along with general practice. At times it refers to the physical urges of an organism. Translators generally render the Greek words phy´sis and phy·si·kos´ (the adjective form) as “nature” and “natural,” respectively.
Men and Animals. That there is a nature belonging to man different from that of wild beasts, and that even wild beasts are not all of the same nature, is shown by the statement at James 3:7: “For every species [Gr., phy´sis, “nature”] of wild beast as well as bird and creeping thing and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humankind [phy´sei tei an·thro·pi´nei, “nature belonging to the man”].” This difference in “nature” reveals the variety in God’s creation and is maintained because of the divine law that each produces according to its own kind.—Ge 1:20-28; compare 1Co 15:39.
Divine Nature. Also, there is a different nature belonging to those in heaven, spirit creatures of God. The apostle Peter speaks to his fellow Christians, spiritual brothers of Jesus Christ, of “the precious and very grand promises, that through these you may become sharers in divine nature [phy´se·os].” (2Pe 1:4) That this is a sharing with Christ in his glory as spirit persons, Peter shows in his first letter: “God . . . gave us a new birth [a·na·gen·ne´sas he·mas´, “having generated us again”] to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you.” (1Pe 1:3, 4) “Divine nature” requires a change in nature through death and resurrection, as made plain by the apostle Paul at First Corinthians chapter 15. He explains that the Christian must die and must be resurrected in a different body, a spiritual one, which requires a change.—1Co 15:36, 38, 44, 49, 51.
Inherent Nature. Paul speaks of his fellow countrymen the Jews, calling them “Jews by nature,” that is, born of Jewish parents, of the children of Israel, or Jacob.—Ga 2:15; compare Ro 2:27.
In the illustration of the olive tree, he calls the fleshly Jews the natural (ka·ta´ phy´sin, “according to nature”) branches of the garden olive. He tells the Gentile Christians: “For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature and were grafted contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much rather will these who are natural be grafted into their own olive tree!” (Ro 11:21-24) The wild olive tree is unfruitful or produces very inferior fruit, but it is common practice in Mediterranean countries to graft branches of cultivated olive trees into the wild olive tree to produce good fruit. However, if the wild olive branch is grafted into the cultivated tree, it produces only the poor fruit of the wild olive tree. Therefore Paul calls this latter grafting “contrary to nature.” It serves to emphasize the power of God as well as his undeserved kindness to Gentiles in bringing them in to replace “natural branches.” The Jews had been ‘cultivated’ by Jehovah for centuries, but the Gentiles had been “wild,” not having the true religion, not bringing forth fruitage to God. Not naturally, but only by God’s power could they be made to bring forth fine fruit. Only Jehovah, therefore, could accomplish this ‘grafting’ successfully.
Also, in his argument to the Galatians to prevent their enslavement to Judaistic teachings, Paul said: “When you did not know God, then it was that you slaved for those who by nature are not gods.” These false gods they had worshiped were by their very origin and production not truly gods; it was impossible for them to come into such a status. Not merely did they have no authority to be gods, but they did not have such qualities in their intrinsic nature or makeup.—Ga 4:8.
Conscience. Certain traits or qualities inhere in mankind from birth, actually having been placed in man from the beginning. The apostle Paul comments on the conscience, or at least a vestige of such, that still persists in fallen man, even though in many cases he has strayed from God and does not have his law. This explains why all nations have established many laws that are in harmony with righteousness and justice, and many individuals follow certain good principles. Paul says: “For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused.”—Ro 2:14, 15.
In discussing the matter of headship with the Corinthian congregation, Paul called attention to the rule that a woman should wear a head covering when praying or prophesying before the congregation, as a sign of subjection. In illustration, he says: “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him; but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? Because her hair is given her instead of a headdress.”—1Co 11:14, 15.
Paul’s reference to “nature itself” evidently included more than “custom,” which he mentions in verse 16 in connection with the use of a head covering by women. Hereditary characteristics also likely had a bearing on what Christians in Corinth viewed as natural. Among Europeans (such as the Greeks), the hair of women, when left uncut, usually becomes considerably longer than that of men. But this is not true of the straight hair of Orientals and Indians or of the woolly hair of Blacks and Melanesians.
In addition to their awareness of hereditary qualities among them, the Christians in Corinth knew that it was the general practice for men to clip their hair to a moderate length. This was common also among Jewish men; so the long uncut hair of Nazirites marked them as men who were not following the general custom. (Nu 6:5) On the other hand, Jewish women usually wore their hair quite long. (Lu 7:38; Joh 11:2) And in the Greek city of Corinth, shaving a woman’s head, or clipping her hair very short, was a sign of her being a slave or of her being in disgrace for having been caught in fornication or adultery.—1Co 11:6.
So, when saying that “nature itself” taught them, Paul evidently had in mind various factors that would influence their attitude as to what was natural.
In saying “Does not nature itself teach you . . . ?” Paul was not personifying nature, as though it were a goddess. Rather, God has given man reasoning powers. By observing and reasoning on things as God has made them and the results from using these in various ways, man can learn much as to what is proper. It is really God that teaches, and the man with his mind properly oriented by God’s Word can view things in their right perspective and relationship, thereby rightly discerning what is natural or unnatural. By this means the individual can have a trained conscience in this respect and can avoid a conscience that is defiled and that approves unnatural things.—Ro 1:26, 27; Tit 1:15; 1Co 8:7.
Natural Use of Bodies. It is wrong for men and women to use their bodies in any way that is out of harmony with the functions for which God created them. What is unnatural in that sense is sinful. The Scriptures describe the uncleanness and condemnation coming upon those who practice these things: “That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural [phy·si·ken´] use of themselves into one contrary to nature; and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.” Such persons lower themselves to a beastlike level. (Ro 1:26, 27; 2Pe 2:12) They go after wrong fleshly things because, like a beast, they lack reasonableness, having no spirituality.—Jude 7, 10.
Birth. Another Greek word often translated “natural” is ge´ne·sis, literally meaning “birth” or “origin.” James speaks of “a man looking at his natural face [literally, the face of the birth of him] in a mirror.” (Jas 1:23) James also says that “the tongue is a fire” and that it “sets the wheel of natural life [literally, the wheel of the birth] aflame.” (Jas 3:5, 6) James may here be alluding to a wheel, such as that on a chariot, that could be set on fire by a hot, glowing axle. Similarly, the tongue can set aflame the whole round of one’s life into which he came by birth, making life become like a vicious circle, possibly even resulting in his own destruction as by fire.

ORGANIZING HOUSEWORK

ORGANIZING HOUSEWORK;

Make it a habit to return evething in its proper place and remind others to do so. If you do this daily, it takes less time than waiting until the situation is out of control. An even bigger bonus is that you needn't spend time looking for out of place items or objects. Do small chores as their need occurs so thatthey occupy little time. For example, laundry left until the weekend can consume the weekend; instead, start a load before breakfast, put it in the dryer after breakfast, and its done. In planning the week's chores, try to set aside a free day (or at least a few hours) for yourself to do whatever you want--whether its a day out of the house or time alone to finish that book you started several months ago. Use labor saving gadgets or appliances whenever they'll really save time. But don't overdo it-- chopping an onion with a knife may take no longer than using a food processor or then having to take the machine apart and wash and dry it. Leave some slack in your day for surprises, interruptions, or emergencies. Some activities will take longer than expected, no matter how carefully you plan or allow for delays.

Think before you act--even before you do routine jobs. The way you perform simple, basic tasks is usually the resulf of a habit, not logic. There may be a better way.

Why does a half-hour job often take twice as long as you thought it would? Probably because you estimated only the actual working time and didn't take into account the preparation--getting out and putting away tools, for instance. Tackel big tasks a bit at a time. Straightening every closet in the house might take days; one closet especially one that hasn't gotten to cluttered, may take no longer than 15 or 20 minutes.

SEVEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALE.

HERE ARE SEVEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALE OR TAG SALE:

1. check with your local government ot see whether you need a permit
2. assemble items to be sold. if you don't have enough, ask friends and neighbors to participate
3. run an ad giving time, place, date and rain date. Post notices at supermakets, bus stops, and on any trees and poles if permitted by authorities.
4. price ggods with tags or tape (use different colors for different owners.) when in doubt price lower.
5. Group similar items together; put clothes on racks, books in boxes, miscelaneous items on card tables.
6. Be prepared to bargain; after all, you're trying to get rid of everything. Reduce prices during the last 2 hours of the sale.
7. Give any leftovers from the sale to your favorite charity. Take down all posters.
8. Clean up your mess when done.

Have a great Garage sale. Make some money and get rid of the clutter.

ODDS AND ENDS

ODDS AND ENDS

To help keep clutter under control, set aside one bowl or basket in a central location to temporarily house small objects that have no current home.

Assign convenient permanent locations for small restless items that would ohterwise end up on a tabletop or be mislaid: a hook near the door for keys that you always take when you go out; a small dish on the bureau top to collect loose change or earings; a mug on the desk to hold pens and pencils.

If messy housemates are a problem, toss their out of place belongings in a big cardboard box. When asked where you put an item indicate the box.

This should make them think .....Is she throwing this away ....ummm I better pick up the box and take it to my room or else..........

And my thought is you are absolutely correct!!!

ATTACKING A MESSY CLOSET

Attacking a messy closet: Key questions when cleaning a closet:
As you weed out a closet, consider each item individually and ask yourself:

1. Have I used this item in the past year? If the answer is yes, its worth keeping another year, if no, discard it.
2. Does it have either sentimental or monetary value to me? Yes?Then keep it.
3. Might it come in handy someday? if you answer yes but have nothing specific in mind, better put the article into a throwaway or giveaway box unless you have aple attic room or basement storage space. A yes answer usually means taht you're hanging onto clutter.

OH you clutter bug, what are we to do? :

When the enthusiasm strikes to clean, start from the outside in. Take care of the clutter scattered around the room before digging into the closet. Starting with the closet first makes a double mess.

If you're faced with an overcrowded closet, schedule an hour to work on it. Writed it on your weekly list as a project. But don't try to finish the dloset in one session. When the hour is up, quit. Schedule another hour and then another until the closet is done.

To keep mess to a minimum, before you begin cleaning a closet, arrange four boxes nearby to categorize those things that shouldn't go back in. Label them for "charity, trash, belongs elsewhere, and decision pending."

Work on one small section of a closet at a time. Do not empty an entire c;ittered c;pset at once. The resulting chaos is sure to set you back or put you off entirely.

If you absolutely can't bear the thought of throwing something away, take it to Goodwill industries, the salvation army, a thrift shop, or a rummage sale. Anything but just don't keep it if you have to. Hello!

Or have a garage sale or a tag sale--yourself, it's a terrific way to dispose of a lot of discardable items. If you've never had one before, consider hiring a professional (freinds usually can help you) to help you.

A move to a new home is ideal time to sort and throw out. As you do so, organize the possessions you're taking with you in cartons according to their new storage locations--attic, garage, coat closet, and so on. Using a large marker, writer where they are to go on the outside of the box.

I will be sending another post on successful garage sales soon so please look for it soon. thanks.

FIGHTING THE PACK RAT SYNDROME

ARE YOU A PACK RAT, IF YES, LETS FIX THAT AND GET RID OF THE SYNDROME.

Go through your house periodically, eliminating items you no longer want. One possible criterion: when you no longer notice a decorative object such as a picture, it may be time to get rid of it.

You might consider a trade-off system. Whenever you add a new item to the household inventory, discard an old one.

Caution!! Do not throw out someone elses things unless they ask you to do so. Suggest and encourage, but don't take over. This applies to your parents spuse, and any children over 4 years old.

Be ruthless with your own possessions. Discard all unused junk. When in doubt, throw it out. ( hey that will make a good sign or mantra)It takes up space, and you will just wind up cleaning it and moving it around.

WHERE TO PUT THINGS

It all comes down to a place for everything and everything has its place.
Just as soon as it comes into the house.

Otherwise, you'll put it somewhere "for now", but it will really be their forever.

Before you buy something, ask yourself,"Where am I going to put it?" and make sure that you have a clearly defined place in mind.

An "I don't know-what-it-is" box can be a tremendous help. This is for orphan socks and gloves and all those important-looking but unidentifiable machinary parts, nuts, and bolts you find lying about. From time to time, sort the contents and dump whatever appears useless into the trash. Kepp items used together near one another--for example, tennis rackets, balls, sneakers, and other tennis equipment together. Store these related items at or near the place where you use them.

YOUR CHILD'S ROOM

YOUR CHILDS ROOM:

Remind your kids that 5 or 10 minutes of effort a day willkeep their rooms in pretty good shape. If they save all their straightening up for saturday, it will take an hour or two and will surely be met with groan and complaints.

Modify children's rooms so that they can help maintain them. Supply child-sized features, such as a low dresser with nonstick drawers and a closet with hangers and hooks at a child's height.

Once you've helped put a child's room together, the room and the objects in it BELONG TO THE CHILD. If you take over too much responsiblility for keeping it neat, the child will feel that the room belongs to you and not to him/her, and she/he might not take care of it.

A child as young as 6 years old can at least spread up a bed--it doesn't have to be perfect! Using comforters or quilts on beds will make the job easier.

Ideally, older children's rooms (especially those belonging to adolescents) should be off-limits to any adult interference. Unless the room has reached a level of messiness that threatens to infect the rest of the house, the best policy is hands off.

MOTIVATING KIDS TO HELP

Motivating kids to help

Include your youngest child in the housework; it may slow progress, but it's an essential first step in helping that child feel part of the home work force....(this is a great idea). Have your young child dust and sweep along with you at first. The youngster will feel grown up, and you'll get more work done.

(Now, Now, don't be yelling at him/her when they are giving all they effort to help in the family work force and don't be too demanding on a young child either.)


Some household jobs a 5-year old can do:

1. Make her/his own bed every day. It may be a little sloppy at first, but it'll improve in the course of time.
2. put clothes back in the closet or proper dresser drawer.
3. Put toys back in the toy chest.
4. water houseplants.
5. feed the dog, cat or goldfish (if she/he is reminded,) or any other pet they have.
6. set the table.
7. clear the table, one thing at a time.
8. help you empty the garbage
9. help you load the dishwasherhelp you sort laundry

Teach your child step by step how to do whatever job you ask of him/her. Don't assume that the task will be completely learned by watching.

SHOW, TEACH, TRAIN.........

Once you've given your child certain definite jobs with clear-cut instructions and or responsibilities, let him or her work without constant supervision. Check the result when he/she is finished and compliment him.

Clearly define the time of day when a child's job is to be completed--either before school, right after school, or by dinner. (choose one of these.) Don't let tasks hang over into the evening.

On weekends, make up a list of chores and negotiate assignments over a leisurely breakfast. Break a big job down into steps and be sure the kids' ages and abilities are equal to their assignments.

Assume that boys and girls will do the housework in equal amounts and without sex designations. Assign their chores accordingly.

Don't redo a chore that a chold has just completed. If you insist that a task be done ony your way, then do it yourself and be done with it.

Redoing is destructive to a childs ego. Just think back at at ime when someone redid something you had just completed!

Don't expect a youngster to put in a full day's work. An hour is about all that can reasonably be expected of an 8 year old. A 14 year old can probably achieve almost as much as an adult, but this depends on the responsibility level of the teenager.

SOME HOUSEHOLD JOBS A TEENAGER CAN DO:

(in addition to the chores of a younger child.)

1. empty wastebaskets and ashtrays (if you smoke)
2. carry out trash cans
3. vacuum rugs and floors.
4. clean and sweep the kitchen floor
5. iron his/her own clothes, and the family napkins and table cloths
6. polish silver, brass or copper (if you have these items)
7. carry in wood and lay fire (if you have a fireplace)
8. vacuum the inside of the car
9. wash the car.
10. do dishes
11. take trash out
12. straighten room

SHARING THE BURDEN/VARYING STANDARDS

Try discussing the chores each member of the family likes least and work around them accordingly. One person may hate to scrape the dishes but may not mind taking them out of the dishwasher. Rather than arguing, find something each person enjoys doing instead.

Design: CHART:

Design a revolving circular chore chart to assign mealtime chores such as setting the table and washing the dishes.

AVOID AVOID AVOID the BOSS SYNDROME.

As soon as youngsters become proficient at a job, back away and let them be responsible for the results. Resist Resist Resist temptation to keep checking up.


VARYING STANDARDS:


let family group pressure maintain standards as much as possible. When a chore isn't properly done, hold back for a while and give others a chance to gripe and solve the problem themselves.

Be sure that you're not imposing too high a standard. When work is honestly shared, all partners are entitled to say in how well it has to be done. If you're the only one who wants a job done better, reexamine your expectations and perhaps make some adjustments.

If your family is uncooperative, consider whether your standards are too high. If you lower your expectations somewhat, it may be easier to get chores done.

THE NIGHT BEFORE/MAKING LIFE EASIER

cut down the morning chaos by doing as much as you can the night before. Write absence notes, bus notes, trip permission slips. Lay out clothes, fix lunches, distribute lunch money, book-order money. It doesn't take long.

While you are cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, set the table for breakfast, put out jams, cereals, and any other non-refigerated items; you'll have that much less to do in the morning.


Making life easier:

Allow time for making up the beds and tidying the house in the morning.(As well as, the children making their beds in the morning.) It makes coming home much more pleasant---and sets an example for others in the household.

Keep a bookcase near the back door. Assign each child a shelf on which to assemble lunch, homework, gym clothes, and so on. In the morning, they can pick up everything quickly as they depart the house; in the afternoon, they can drop their belongings there.

Setup a way station:

Set up a way station for the consolidation in one place of schoolbooks, laundered clothes, toys, mail and other odds and ends. Once a day, have your kids pick up thier belongings from the way station and take them to their rooms. Designate a chair, box, or basket for this purpose and locate it where they can't ignore it.

Designate one bookshelf specifically for library books and make sure your children return all such books to this shelf. This saves a lot of searching for library books that might get scattered around the house or mixed with your own.

Keep a money dish handy for your small change so that you won't be caught short when someone going out the door suddenly needs last minute funds.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION....

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION:

Instead of spending hours a year trying to remove felt tip marker writing and drawing from walls, spend a couple of minutes putting the markers out of reach of small children. It's also a good idea to restrict potential troublemakers, such as crayons, paints, and clay, to a specified area.

To avoid frequent cleanups of your oven or your range top, choose large enough pots and pans for your recipes so that the food doesn't boil or slop over.

Confine eating and drinking to certain specified areas in your home. Supply coasters for drinks and small plates for snacks. Don't fill glasses or cups to the rim.

When your entertaining guests, try not to serve crumbly or drippy finger food.

COMPANY'S COMING

sSave time and concentrate on high-payoff cleaning---work on the most conspicuous areas, such as entrance halls and living room rugs. Have you ever noticed how much cleaning you can do in the hour before company comes?

If company's coming and things aren't quite up to par, bring out the candles, dim the lights, and serve up good food and conversation. As long as soil and disorder don't force themselves on one's attention, no normal person will seek them out.

Once you've attended to the basics, such as cleaning the bathroom, concentrate on what shows the most. Any home will pass muster if the clutter is contained, the surfaces are clean, and your best possessions are polished.

Practice cosmetic strategies taht fool the eye. Keep the white chair clean, and people will assume that the black one is also clean. If you have fringed rugs, vacuum the fringe so that it lies straight and neat. Guests will assume everything else is equally orderly. For a last-minut cleanup of the bathroom after the family has used it of course, go quickly over all surfaces with a spray window cleaner or other bathroom spray and a paper towel.

Moral values

Moral Values That Merit Respect
Throughout history, brave men and women have taken a stand contrary to the popular thinking of their times. They have endured political, religious, and racial tyranny, often giving their lives for their cause.
THE EARLY Christians were particularly courageous. During the severe persecutions of the first three centuries, many of them were put to death by the pagan Romans for refusing to worship the emperor. Sometimes, an altar was set up in an arena. To gain their freedom, the Christians would merely have had to burn a pinch of incense in recognition of the divine nature of the emperor. Few, however, compromised. The majority preferred to die rather than renounce their faith.
In modern times, Christian Witnesses of Jehovah take a similar position in regard to political neutrality. For example, their firm stand in the face of Nazism is a matter of historical record. Before and during the second world war, approximately a quarter of the German Witnesses lost their lives, mainly in concentration camps, because they remained neutral and refused to say "Heil Hitler." Young children were forcibly separated from their Witness parents. In spite of the pressure, young ones remained firm and refused to be contaminated by the unscriptural teachings that others tried to force upon them.
The Flag Salute
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not generally the target of such bitter persecution today. Nevertheless, misunderstandings sometimes arise as a result of young Witnesses’ conscientious decision not to share in patriotic ceremonies, such as the flag salute.
Children of Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught not to discourage others from saluting the flag; that is for each individual to decide. The position of the Witnesses themselves, however, is firm: They do not salute the flag of any nation. This is certainly not intended to indicate disrespect. They do respect the flag of whatever country they live in, and they show this respect by obedience to the country’s laws. They never engage in antigovernment activity of any kind. In fact, Witnesses believe that present human governments constitute an "arrangement of God" that he has permitted to exist. So they consider themselves to be under divine command to pay taxes and to respect such "superior authorities." (Romans 13:1-7) This is in line with Christ’s famous statement: "Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar—and to God what belongs to God."—Matthew 22:21, Catholic Jerusalem Bible.
‘But why, then,’ some may ask, ‘do Jehovah’s Witnesses not honor the flag by saluting it?’ It is because they view the flag salute as an act of worship, and worship belongs to God; they cannot conscientiously give worship to anyone or anything except God. (Matthew 4:10; Acts 5:29) Therefore, they appreciate it when educators respect this conviction and allow Witness children to abide by their beliefs.
Not surprisingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not alone in believing that the flag salute is related to worship, as the following comments show:
"Early flags were almost purely of a religious character. . . . The aid of religion seems ever to have been sought to give sanctity to national flags." (Italics ours.)—Encyclopædia Britannica.
"The flag, like the cross, is sacred. . . . The rules and regulations relative to human attitude toward national standards use strong, expressive words, as, ‘Service to the Flag,’ . . . ‘Reverence for the Flag,’ ‘Devotion to the Flag.’" (Italics ours.)—The Encyclopedia Americana.
"Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the [Roman] emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag or repeat the oath of allegiance."—Those About to Die (1958), by Daniel P. Mannix, page 135.
Again, Jehovah’s Witnesses intend no disrespect for any government or its rulers by a refusal to salute the flag. It is just that they will not, in an act of worship, bow down to or salute an image representing the State. They view it as similar to the stand taken in Bible times by three young Hebrew men who refused to bow down before the statue raised up on the plain of Dura by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel, chapter 3) So then, while others salute and pledge allegiance, children of Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught to follow their Bible-trained consciences. Thus, they silently and respectfully refrain from participating. For similar reasons, Witness children choose not to participate when national anthems are sung or played.
The Parents’ Right
Nowadays, most countries respect the parents’ right to give their children religious instruction in harmony with their convictions. All religions support this right, as illustrated by the canon law still in force in the Catholic Church: "Having given life to their children, parents are under the very strict obligation to educate them, and have the right to do so; that is why it behooves parents primarily to provide their children with a Christian education according to Church doctrine."—Canon 226.
Jehovah’s Witnesses ask nothing more. As caring parents, they try to instill true Christian values in their children and inculcate in them love for neighbor and respect for other people’s property. They desire to follow the counsel the apostle Paul gave to the Christians in Ephesus: "Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction."—Ephesians 6:4, Today’s English Version.
Religiously Divided Households
In some families, only one parent is a Witness of Jehovah. In such a situation, the Witness parent is encouraged to recognize the right of the non-Witness parent also to instruct the children according to his or her religious convictions. Children exposed to different religious views experience few, if any, ill effects. In practice, all children have to decide what religion they will follow. Naturally, not all youths choose to follow the religious principles of their parents, whether Jehovah’s Witnesses or not.
Children’s Right to Freedom of Conscience
You should also know that Jehovah’s Witnesses attach much importance to the individual Christian conscience. (Romans, chapter 14) The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989, recognized a child’s right to "freedom of thought, conscience and religion" and the right "to express his or her opinion freely and to have that opinion taken into account in any matter or procedure affecting the child."
No two children are exactly alike. Therefore, you may reasonably expect some variations in the decisions that young Witnesses or other students make when it comes to certain activities and assignments at school. We trust that you also subscribe to the principle of freedom of conscience.
[Footnotes]
Regarding children of interfaith marriages, Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D., in his book Raising Jewish Children in a Contemporary World, observes: "Children are confused when parents live lives of denial, confusion, secrecy, and avoidance of religious issues. When parents are open, honest, clear about their own beliefs, values, and patterns of celebration, children grow up with the kind of security and sense of self-worth in the religious realm that is so crucial to the development of their overall self-esteem and knowledge of their place in the world."
[Box on page 20]
Respect, but Not Worship
One morning in a school in Canada, an 11-year-old Witness girl named Terra noticed that the teacher took a fellow student out of the classroom for a few moments. Shortly thereafter, the teacher quietly asked Terra to accompany him to the principal’s office.
As she entered the office, Terra immediately saw that the Canadian flag was draped across the principal’s desk. The teacher then instructed Terra to spit on the flag. He suggested that since Terra did not sing the national anthem or salute the flag, there was no reason why she should not spit on the flag when ordered to do so. Terra refused, explaining that although Jehovah’s Witnesses do not worship the flag, they do respect it.
Back in the classroom, the teacher announced that he had just tested two students, instructing them to spit on the flag. Although the first student did participate in patriotic ceremonies, she nevertheless spit on the flag when ordered to do so. However, even though Terra did not sing the anthem or salute the flag, she refused to dishonor it in this way. The teacher pointed out that of the two, Terra was the one who showed proper respect.
[Box on page 24]
Some Moral Principles That Jehovah’s Witnesses Follow
With regard to moral values, Jehovah’s Witnesses teach their children to keep separate from conduct, practices, or even attitudes that, although common in the world today, can bring harm to themselves or to others. (James 1:27) So they inform their children about the dangers of drugs and other practices, such as smoking and the abuse of alcohol. (Proverbs 20:1; 2 Corinthians 7:1) They believe in the importance of honesty and industriousness. (Ephesians 4:28) They teach their children to avoid foul language. (Ephesians 5:3, 4) They also teach them to live by the Bible principles on sexual morality and to have respect for authority and for the person and property of others. (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Titus 3:1, 2; Hebrews 13:4) They sincerely believe that living by those principles is in the best interests of their children.

BUSH
[Heb., si´ach].
A low, densely branched shrub or a cluster of shrubs. The Hebrew word si´ach occurs only four times, at Genesis 2:5; 21:15; Job 30:4, 7. Some trees in the Palestine region may properly be designated as bushes, including the dwarf juniper, the thorny lotus, the broom tree; while others are often or usually shrublike in size and appearance, such as the acacia, myrtle, storax, tamarisk, and willow trees.
In the wilderness of Beer-sheba, despairing Hagar threw Ishmael under a bush (Ge 21:15), while Job describes persons living in a waterless region "plucking the salt herb by the bushes" and crying out from among the bushes.—Job 30:4, 7.
The burning bush by which Jehovah’s angel attracted Moses’ attention and spoke with him is understood to have been some type of thornbush (Heb., seneh´). (Ex 3:2-5; De 33:16) In referring to this event, the Christian writers of the Greek Scriptures employed the Greek word ba´tos, which means a bramble or any thorny bush. (Mr 12:26; Lu 20:37; Ac 7:30, 35) In Greek the blackberry is called ba´ton (derived from ba´tos), and hence some lexicographers connect the thorny bush (seneh´) with the blackberry bush (Rubus sanctus), which is common throughout Syria and much of Palestine. It is not found growing wild in the Sinai Peninsula in modern times, however. For this reason others favor an association with some type of acacia tree, as these thorny, often bushlike trees are very common throughout the Sinai region. However, no certain identification can be made.



. One day Moses was busy caring for his sheep near a mountain when he saw an amazing thing. A thornbush was on fire, but it was not burning up! Moses went closer to get a better look.
Do you know what happened?— Moses heard a voice calling from the middle of that burning thornbush. The voice called out, "Moses! Moses!" Who was saying that?— It was God speaking! God had a lot of work for Moses to do. God said: ‘Come and let me send you to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and you bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.’ God promised to help Moses do this.
But Moses said to God: ‘Suppose I come to the sons of Israel in Egypt and say that God sent me. What if they ask me, "What is his name?" What shall I say?’ God told Moses to tell the sons of Israel: ‘Jehovah has sent me to you. Jehovah is my name forever.’ (Exodus 3:1-15) This shows that God was going to keep the name Jehovah. He would never change it. God wanted to be known by his name, Jehovah, forever.
When Moses went back to Egypt, the Egyptians thought that Jehovah was just a small god of the Israelites. They did not think that he was the God of the whole earth. So Jehovah told the king of Egypt: ‘I am going to make my name known in all the earth.’ (Exodus 9:16) Jehovah did make his name known. Do you know how he did that?—
Well, he had Moses lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. When they came to the Red Sea, Jehovah made a dry path right through it. The Israelites marched safely through on dry land. But after Pharaoh and all his army entered the dry seabed, the waters that had been held back on both sides fell upon the Egyptians, and they all died.
Soon people in all the earth began to hear what Jehovah had done at the Red Sea. How do we know they heard about it?— Well, about 40 years later, the Israelites came to Canaan, which is the land that Jehovah had promised to give to them. There two Israelite men were told by the young woman Rahab: "We have heard how Jehovah dried up the waters of the Red Sea from before you when you came out of Egypt."—Joshua 2:10.
Today many people are just like those Egyptians. They do not believe that Jehovah is the God of the whole earth. So Jehovah wants his own people to tell others about him. This is what Jesus did. Toward the end of his life on earth, he told Jehovah in prayer: "I have made your name known to them."—John 17:26.
Do you want to be like Jesus? Then tell others that God’s name is Jehovah. You may find that many people do not know that. So perhaps you can show them the scripture in the Bible at Psalm 83:18. Let’s get the Bible right now and find that scripture together. It says: "That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth."
What do we learn from reading this?— Yes, we learn that Jehovah is the most important name there is. It is the name of Almighty God, the Father of Jesus and the One who made all things. And remember, Jesus said that we should love Jehovah God with our whole heart. Do you love Jehovah?—
How can we show that we love Jehovah?— One way is by getting to know him as a Friend. Another way is by telling others what his name is. We can show them right from the Bible that his name is Jehovah. We can also tell about the wonderful things Jehovah has made and the good things he has done. This makes Jehovah very happy because he wants people to know about him. We can have a share in doing that, can’t we?—
Not everyone will want to listen when we speak about Jehovah. Many people did not listen even when Jesus, the Great Teacher, talked about Him. But that did not stop Jesus from speaking about Jehovah.
So let’s be like Jesus. Let’s keep talking about Jehovah. If we do, Jehovah God will be pleased with us because we show love for his name.
Now read together from the Bible a few more texts showing the importance of God’s name: Isaiah 12:4, 5; Matthew 6:9; John 17:6; and Romans 10:13.

Rocks That Fly
HAVE you ever seen a shooting star blaze across the sky on a clear night? It may be just a matter of time before you do. According to scientists these fireworks of nature trace their paths across earth’s skies some 200,000,000 times every day!
What are they? They are simply chunks of stony or metallic matter known as meteoroids that light up in white heat as they enter the earth’s atmosphere. The bright streak of light they trace across the sky as observed from earth is known as a meteor.
Most meteoroids burn up completely before they reach the earth, but some survive the intense heat and reach the earth’s surface. These are known as meteorites. Some scientists estimate that each day some 1,000 tons of this flying rock is deposited on earth.
These crashes are seldom dangerous to humans, mainly because of the relatively small size of these flying rocks. In fact, most meteors are caused by meteorites no larger than a grain of sand. (See box, "Rocks From Outer Space.") But what about the thousands of larger rocks flying in space? Take, for instance, the one known as Ceres, which is about 600 miles [1,000 km] in diameter! And there are about 30 other known rocks with a diameter greater than 120 miles [190 km]. These larger rocks are actually minor planets. Scientists call them asteroids.
What if one of these asteroids were to crash into the earth? This apparent threat is one important reason why scientists study asteroids. Although most asteroids orbit in a belt between Mars and Jupiter, some tracked by astronomers actually cross the orbit of the earth. The threat of a collision is reinforced by the existence of huge craters such as the Meteor Crater (also known as Barringer Crater) near Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.A. One of the theories for the extinction of the dinosaurs is that a large impact altered the atmosphere and plunged the earth into an extended period of cold weather through which the dinosaurs could not survive.
Such a catastrophic collision today would likely destroy mankind. However, the Bible indicates that "the righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it."—Psalm 37:29.


A Fireball on Videotape
Some meteors are unusually bright and large. They are known as fireballs. On October 9, 1992, the fireball shown in the above photograph streaked across the skies over several states in the United States. The fireball was seen first over West Virginia and appeared over a 430-mile [700 km] stretch of land. One fragment, weighing about 26 pounds [12 kg], landed on a parked car in Peekskill, New York.
What is unique about this event is that because of the grazing angle at which the meteoroid entered the atmosphere, a bright fireball was produced that lasted more than 40 seconds. This afforded an unprecedented opportunity to record it on video, and this was done from at least 14 different points of view. According to the magazine Nature, "these are the first motion pictures of a fireball from which a meteorite has been recovered."
The fireball broke into at least 70 fragments, which appear in some of the videotapes as individual glowing projectiles. Although just one meteorite from this event has been found, scientists believe that one or more other fragments may have pierced the earth’s atmosphere and crashed on land. That is all that may be left of the large meteoroid that previously weighed about 20 tons


Rocks From Outer Space
Asteroid: Also known as a planetoid or a minor planet. These extremely small planets travel in an orbit around the sun. Most have irregular shapes that may indicate that they are fragments of once larger objects.
Meteoroid: A relatively small chunk of metallic or stony matter floating in space or falling through the atmosphere. Some scientists think that most meteoroids are fragments from asteroids produced by collisions or by the rocky debris from extinct comets.
Meteor: When a meteoroid penetrates the earth’s atmosphere, the air friction produces intense heat and a bright glow. This trail of hot glowing gases is momentarily visible as a streak of light in the sky. The streak of light is known as a meteor. Many call it a shooting star or a falling star. Most meteors are first sighted when they are about 65 miles [100 km] above the earth’s surface.
Meteorite: Sometimes a meteoroid is so large that it does not burn up completely when entering our atmosphere, and it crashes into the earth. Meteorite is the term for such a meteoroid. Some can be very large and heavy. One meteorite in Namibia, Africa, weighs more than 60 tons. Other large meteorites weighing 15 tons or more have been found in Greenland, Mexico, and the United States.



Ida and Its Baby Moon
While photographing an asteroid named Ida, the Galileo spacecraft, on its way to Jupiter, made an unexpected discovery—the first documented example of a moon orbiting an asteroid. As reported in Sky and Telescope, scientists estimate that this egg-shaped moon, named Dactyl, measures one mile by three quarters of a mile. [1.6 by 1.2 km] Its orbit is about 60 miles [100 km] from the center of asteroid Ida, which measures 35 miles by 13 miles [56 by 21 km]. Their infrared color properties suggest that both Ida and its tiny moon are part of the Koronis family of asteroids, which are thought to be fragments of one single, large rock that was shattered by a collision in space.



The Bible’s Viewpoint
Will a Cosmic Disaster Destroy Our World?
ON March 12, 1998, newspaper headlines, TV screens, and Internet sites around the globe spread the ominous news: "Mile-wide asteroid on course for near-miss with Earth." Scientists and laymen scrambled to assess the actual danger. Astronomers soon concluded that the chance of an impact was zero.
However, amid the hubbub, a new awareness has emerged. "The most remarkable thing about the false alarm may be that, however scary it was, many people treated it as no huge surprise," said U.S.News & World Report. "The notion that we on Earth should be watching for more such objects—and planning to do something about them—would have been outlandish a decade or more ago, but now scientists and even some politicians think the threat, while slim, is real."
Some astronomers believe that about 2,000 celestial objects large enough to cause a global catastrophe are hurtling on paths that either intersect earth’s orbit or come close to it. Even if a relatively small one of them struck the earth, researchers say, the explosion would be equivalent to the power of many nuclear weapons going off at once. The consequences of such an impact would be catastrophic for our planet and its inhabitants, human and animal alike.
The one opinion that is often left out of such grim predictions and calculations is that of the Creator of the universe, Jehovah God. (Psalm 8:3; Proverbs 8:27) In the Bible he has clearly made known his will and purpose for the earth and the human race. Will he allow a cosmic disaster to destroy our world?
A Universe Under Divine Control
Since Jehovah is the almighty Creator of the universe, it is reasonable to conclude that he has the ability to exercise complete control over the forces that govern celestial bodies. Wise King Solomon said that Jehovah has "solidly fixed the heavens in discernment." (Proverbs 3:19) The prophet Jeremiah declared that God is "the One who by his understanding stretched out the heavens."—Jeremiah 51:15.
Jehovah has set in motion the laws and forces behind the movements of the heavenly bodies, including stars, planets, comets, and asteroids. (Isaiah 40:26) However, it appears that he allows the stars and planets to go through their natural cycles of metaphoric birth, life, and death without his constant intervention. This includes some terrific collisions of heavenly bodies. One recent example is the July 1994 collision in which fragments of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 slammed into the planet Jupiter.
There is geologic evidence of large rocks from outer space impacting the earth in prehuman history. But will such an event ever take place on our populated planet? What might happen, for instance, if a mile-wide asteroid collided with the earth? Astronomer Jack Hills predicts that its impact would unleash energy millions of times that of the bomb that leveled Hiroshima. If it hit the ocean, the tidal waves would flood the coastlines. "Where cities stood," Hills says, "there would be only mudflats." The worst scenario predicts the complete annihilation of the human race. How does this doomsday forecast fit in with our Creator’s will for the earth? The Bible shows that this planet has a special place in Jehovah’s purpose.
Our Earth—Made for a Purpose
Regarding our planet, the psalmist states: "The heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men." (Psalm 115:16) Isaiah describes Jehovah as "the Former of the earth . . . , the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45:18) The earth is the inheritance Jehovah has given to mankind. And since our Creator has in mind an eternal future for God-fearing humans, the earth will remain forever as their lasting home. Psalm 104:5 assures us: "[Jehovah] has founded the earth upon its established places; it will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever."
True, God has allowed some great disasters on our planet, resulting in death to large segments of humankind. Some of these catastrophes—such as wars, famines, and epidemics—have in whole or in part been caused by the greed, foolishness, and cruelty of humans. (Ecclesiastes 8:9) Others—such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and storms—have been caused by natural phenomena not fully understood by mankind. Contrary to God’s original purpose, humans are no longer perfect; they are sinful. As a consequence, on an individual basis, we cannot at this time count on divine protection from so-called natural disasters.
However, in no case has Jehovah permitted man’s existence on earth to be seriously threatened. Since the creation of man, confirmed history contains no incident of a natural catastrophe that threatened the existence of all mankind.
Survival of the Human Race Guaranteed
From the beginning of human history, our Creator’s purpose has been for man to "fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28; 9:1) He has promised that "the righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 29) Regarding his promises, Jehovah confirms: "My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do."—Isaiah 46:10; 55:11; Psalm 135:6.
The Bible does not completely rule out the possibility of a small-scale earthly calamity caused by cosmic phenomena. However, we can rest assured that Jehovah will not allow any cosmic disaster to thwart his stated purpose for the earth and mankind. On the basis of Bible promises, we can be sure that our planet will remain inhabitable forever—yes, it will be the home for humankind to time indefinite!—Ecclesiastes 1:4; 2 Peter 3:13.
[Footnote]
The Flood of Noah’s day was a means of divine execution, but Jehovah made sure that some humans and animals survived.—Genesis 6:17-21.



Plundering the Oceans
"In a frantic race to find new and potentially lucrative drugs, ‘bioprospectors’ working for pharmaceutical companies are taking too many organisms from the oceans without any idea of the consequences," states New Scientist. According to Mary Garson, a marine biochemist at the University of Queensland, Australia, 98 percent of the collected samples are discarded without detailed analysis. For example, 990 pounds [450 kg] of acorn worm and 5,300 pounds [2,400 kg] of sponge yielded only 35 millionths of an ounce [1 mg] each of an anticancer substance, 3,500 pounds [1,600 kg] of sea hare produced 350 millionths of an ounce [10 mg] of a peptide used for treating melanoma, and 1,900 pounds [847 kg] of moray eel liver were needed to isolate just 12 millionths of an ounce [0.35 mg] of ciguatoxin for study. "We cannot simply remove large volumes of an organism from the ocean—however useful—unless we know for sure that we are not wiping it out," said Garson.
Planet Discovered by Accident
A small planet was recently discovered by amateur astronomer George Sallit of Bradfield, a village in England, through a telescope in his garden shed. "It was a complete accident," he admitted. "I took a picture and when I looked closer I realised it was a planet moving slowly across the frame." Sallit One, as the new planet is now called, is only about 20 miles [30 km] in diameter and is some 400 million miles [600 million km] from the earth. Its orbit takes it between Mars and Jupiter. The telescope used is a 12-inch [30 cm], computer-controlled model costing $7,000 but employing software equipment designed for use on the Hubble telescope, reports The Times of London. There may be thousands of such minor planets, or asteroids, in our solar system.
A Surprise for Rice Farmers
For years rice farmers in Asia have sprayed their crops heavily in the early part of the season to kill off the larvae of leaf-folder moths, which decimate the rice plants’ leaves. Recent experiments suggest, however, that the rice plants can afford to lose up to half of their leaves without any effect on the amount of rice they produce. Some Vietnamese farmers were convinced to go without the early spraying—which accounts for 30 to 50 percent of all the pesticide Asian farmers use—and found that crop yields were not hurt at all.
Thumbs Down on Religion and Politics
According to the newspaper The Australian, "the typical Australian adolescent" has no real interest in either politics or religion. This conclusion is based on a survey of students 13 and 16 years of age, which was compiled by University of Sydney lecturer Dr. Jennifer Bowes. The youths’ priorities went in this descending order of importance: "having close friends, getting a good education, having a secure job, developing my talents, being close to my family, preserving the earth for future generations, protecting animals, having a nice home, travelling to other countries, earning a lot of money, doing something to stop pollution, getting married, helping those who are less fortunate, helping my country, doing something worthwhile for society, having some influence on other people." The two least important of the 18 values listed were "following the principles of my religion" and "being active in politics.