Awake!, December 8, 1979

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Awake! — December 8, 1979

Source: jw.org

Contents

Page Two

How Will You Be Spending Christmas?

How Christian Is the “Christmas Spirit”?

The Art of Being a Grandparent

From Frontier Shelters to “Dream” Homes

‘Attitude of Early Christians’

How a Living Hope Affects Their Lives

Lasers, Light and Communications

Meet Australia’s “Laughing Bird”

Is Yours a Sure Hope?

Watching the World

Paradise Lost

Where Did Cain Get His Wife?

Page Two

Christmas is celebrated around the world. Some have in mind the birth of Jesus. Others celebrate with equal fervor, having nothing religious in mind. Many who have faith in Christ raise serious questions about certain aspects of the celebration. Our correspondent in Germany considers the reasons why, in the following articles:

3 HOW WILL YOU BE SPENDING CHRISTMAS?

6 HOW CHRISTIAN IS THE “CHRISTMAS SPIRIT”?

How Will You Be Spending Christmas?

ARE you eagerly looking forward to Christmas, perhaps even counting the days? Millions of persons are. Or will you be celebrating only halfheartedly? or perhaps not at all? There are millions of persons who are not enthusiastic about the festivities. How will you be spending Christmas?

Many people consider Christmas to be one of the most beautiful times of the year. Though its many customs differ from land to land, yet each, in its own particular way, lends to the celebration’s popularity. In the northern hemisphere, it is the time to be “dreaming of a white Christmas”—the fragrant smell of fir trees; the festive air of crowded streets decorated with colored lights, and shoppers, loaded down with colorfully wrapped packages; the sound of familiar Christmas carols. In the southern hemisphere—in Australia for example—preparations are made for an open-air Christmas dinner, or, as is customary in Brazil, people head for the beaches.

Despite the popularity of Christmas, however, the number of persons celebrating it is decreasing. A European news agency recently reported that “for billions of people, this festival does not exist.” It explained that now that they have become independent some African and Asian countries have shaken off “Christian celebrations.” But even in the so-called Christian nations of Europe and the Americas many people have stopped celebrating. Why?

The Date of the Celebration

Obviously, a person not professing Christianity might object to celebrating what is commonly recognized as Christ’s birthday. On the other hand, persons who see in Christ Jesus a divine provision for man’s redemption from sin and death would properly be expected to show some kind of appreciation for this provision. Would not celebrating Christ’s birthday on December 25 be a fine way of doing this?

But was Christ really born on December 25? The New Catholic Encyclopedia answers this question by saying: “The date of Christ’s birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month.” A newspaper writer, based in London, noted: “Just about the only real point of agreement [in this matter] among historians seems to be that it [Christ’s birthday] wasn’t December 25.”a

This writer continued by saying, however: “What really matters is the significance of the event commemorated.” You may agree. But still, does it not strike you as strange to celebrate a person’s birthday on a day other than the anniversary of his birth? Is the correct date of no consequence whatsoever? Would a person not rather pick a date with at least some backing, rather than one with little or no backing at all?

The Event Being Celebrated

For the sake of argument, let us concede that “what really matters is the significance of the event commemorated.” That Christ’s birth was important no Christian would deny.

Yet, as important as Jesus’ birth was, it could not undo the Bible truth recorded at Ecclesiastes 7:1, which says that “the day of death [is better] than the day of one’s being born.” Viewed from God’s standpoint, these words are readily understandable. During a person’s life he can build up a fine record of service to his fellowman and to his God, a fine reputation that will not go unrewarded. Life starts out at birth like a question mark. It ends up at death like an exclamation mark, a person’s life pattern openly identifying him for what he really was.

In Jesus’ case, he had served God faithfully during his prehuman existence in the heavens. But after his birth as a human would he continue to do so, now that he would be thrown into the company of sinners and be subjected to Satanic pressure? His death in faithfulness answered that question in the affirmative, and assured him a resurrection back into heaven to an even higher position than he had enjoyed before. (Phil. 2:5-11) So in a very personal way, the day of Christ’s death was better than the day of his birth.

Bringing the rest of mankind into the picture—which day has brought them the greater benefit? Was it the infant Jesus’ taking up human life at birth that effected a ransoming of mankind, or was it, rather, the anointed Jesus’ laying down his human life at death?—Heb. 9:14, 15.

Keeping these facts in mind, we should not be surprised that Jesus commanded his followers to commemorate his death. (Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 11:23-26) This was to be done on Nisan 14, the exact anniversary of his death, according to the Jewish calendar. However, the Bible nowhere indicates that Christ’s birthday should also be celebrated.

Despite possible sincerity, the person celebrating on December 25 Christ’s birthday, instead of celebrating on Nisan 14 Christ’s death, is actually celebrating on the wrong date the wrong event! How did such a mix-up come about?

European Roots of Christmas

Our remembering that Christmas is chiefly a product of the northern hemisphere will help us to understand. When European pagans were being converted to Christianity, an attempt was made to put to Christian use some of their popular customs and ideas. On December 25, at about which time the days begin to lengthen again, the sun-worshiping Romans celebrated the birthday of the unconquered sun (natalis solis invicti). In the fourth century C.E., this was changed into the celebration of the birth of God’s Son. Later, the fir tree used by the pagan Germanic tribes in their winter solstice celebrations was adopted as a “Christmas” tree. Little by little, pagan and Christian ideas and customs became fused or united.

Speaking of this development, a British Columbian newspaper said: “Christmas is the product of the early medieval church’s strategy of syncretism [an effort to reconcile and unite various systems of religious opinion] . . . The danger of syncretism and natural theology is that they open a two-way street. The intention is for Christian truth to supersede the pre-Christian beliefs they supposedly unfold, but inevitably the opposite happens as well. That is, Christian truth is colored by pre-Christian notions, and the net result is a genuine paganization.”

Perhaps now you can better appreciate why some persons who have great love for Christ and for what he taught have stopped celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday.

How About a Nonreligious Christmas?

Apart from any religious significance, some persons celebrate Christmas simply as a nonreligious holiday for the family, particularly “for the children.” They claim that doing so promotes a better family atmosphere and strengthens friendships.

The giving of gifts is a fine thing and no doubt it does deepen the bonds of love and friendship between friends and relatives. But are the appendages of Christmas, such as Santa Claus and Christmas stockings, really necessary before we can surprise our children, our relatives, our friends, with a gift?

Not all parents agree that humoring their children with the story of Santa Claus is a good thing. Problems can arise, as illustrated in the case of a seven-year-old girl interviewed in North America. She said: “Knowing Santa isn’t for real does sort of make me wonder whether Jesus is for real.”

A Canadian child of 10 was also disturbed: “I know there’s no such thing as Santa. When I saw the writing on presents supposed to be from Santa and it was my mom’s writing, then I knew. I told my folks. They told me it wasn’t a lie. They call it a fantasy. My father said: ‘I’ve never lied to you in my life.’ I said: ‘What about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy and all that stuff?’ He said there’s some things kids really like to believe in because it’s really fun. But I still kind of call it a lie.”

This should give grown-ups, particularly parents, food for thought. Might not a practical gift given at a time of need be more appreciated than one given on a predetermined date just out of a sense of duty? Furthermore, leading a child to think that he has received a gift from a mythical Santa does little to strengthen the bonds of love between parent and child.

In the light of this, it is not difficult to appreciate why some persons, although loving to give gifts and do fine things for their family and friends, have stopped celebrating, not only a religious, but also a nonreligious Christmas.

[Footnotes]

Check it out for yourself in the Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopedia Americana, or New Catholic Encyclopedia.

[Blurb on page 4]

“The date of Christ’s birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.

[Blurb on page 4]

“Jesus commanded his followers to commemorate his death . . . The Bible nowhere indicates that Christ’s birthday should also be celebrated.”

[Blurb on page 5]

‘In the fourth century C.E., a festival of the sun-worshiping Romans was changed into the celebration of the birth of God’s Son.’

[Blurb on page 5]

Said one young girl: “Knowing Santa isn’t for real does sort of make me wonder whether Jesus is for real.”

How Christian Is the “Christmas Spirit”?

A BOOK entitled “All About American Holidays” says that, although the commercialization of Christmas is undesirable, this negative feature is “offset” by “the fine spirit of friendliness . . . also the feeling of generosity” shown at Christmastime. This is commonly called the “Christmas spirit.” But is the so-called “Christmas spirit” really all that good? Does it make up for all the many negative aspects of Christmas? Is it Christian, if not in the religious, at least in the moral sense?

Let’s examine this matter in the light of qualities that the Bible shows to be characteristic of God’s spirit, and which should therefore be characteristic of the lives of true Christians. These qualities are highlighted in the boldface subheadings that follow. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Are they characteristic of the “Christmas spirit”?

Love and Kindness

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, then it should be characterized by love and kindness. Is it?

One might argue that the giving of gifts at Christmastime is in itself an indication of love and kindness. This is true, however, only if right motives are involved. Are they? Are those caught up in the “Christmas spirit” mainly interested in giving, or is the selfish motive of receiving very prominent?

If unselfish giving is the main consideration, why are not “Christian” businessmen influenced to promote increased giving by dropping their prices at Christmastime instead of raising them? Why do prices, at least in some places, tend to go sky-high at this time of year?

An Awake! correspondent from West Africa reports that the people living there love to receive gifts. Although about 60 percent are “non-Christians,” at Christmastime they are all caught up with the “Christmas spirit.” Moslem beggars, hands outstretched, greet passersby with a “Merry Christmas.” Workers in public services and public offices expect to receive gifts from their clients and customers and even remind them of this, lest they forget. Some postal workers have even refused to handle mail belonging to persons who would not participate in this custom of forced Christmas giving. This is more than opportunism; it is extortion.

A week before Christmas of 1977, the Toronto Star issued a warning about “purse-snatchers, shoplifters, pick-pockets, forgers and burglars. And . . . con artists with phony charities.” The article also mentioned that “shoplifting picks up pace at Christmas.” In fact, in the United States, a nationally known authority on security states that “almost 40 percent of each year’s inventory losses take place during the 10-week pre-Christmas season.”

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, why does it fail to deter, or at least cut down on, selfish, unloving and unkind acts at Christmastime?

Goodness and Self-control

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, then it should be characterized by goodness and self-control. Is it?

Think of the overeating, overdrinking and overindulgence connected with Christmas. How often Christmas parties degenerate into drunken bouts and revelries that encourage loose conduct and immorality!

These influences are aptly described by the Boston Sunday Globe in connection with a group of persons who are particularly susceptible: “For a recovered alcoholic, or a person actively struggling against the disease, the holidays offer a test of will that few people could pass without support. It’s a time of year when people are expected to drink, when even social drinkers find themselves tipsy (or worse) more often than usual, due to a pervasive social ethic—eat, drink and be merry—that’s as much an imperative as an invitation.”

If truly Christian, why does the “Christmas spirit” fail to deter this loss of self-control, which is good for neither one’s health nor one’s pocketbook, and can actually be dangerous?

Joy

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, then it should be characterized by joy. Is it?

An article by I. R. Rosengard, M.D., in the 1977 December issue of Science Digest, said: “You’re not alone in feeling a ‘holiday depression.’ It’s a neurosis of epidemic proportions . . . and here are a doctor’s rules for avoiding the Christmas Blues.” He continued, saying: “Not everyone feels joyful on holidays—and some people feel far worse than usual . . . At Christmas time, unhappy people feel even worse because they are ashamed to be miserable when everyone else seems to be happy . . . Many of us . . . feel disappointed in ourselves because our Christmas emotions are something less than joyous.”

This explains why a medical doctor and doctor of philosophy quoted in a German religious journal said “that the number of suicides piles up on Christmas Eve.” If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, why does it so often fail to make people really joyful at Christmastime?

Peace, Long-suffering and Mildness

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, then it should be characterized by peace, long-suffering and mildness. Is it?

Of course, there is much talk at Christmastime about “peace on earth and good will toward men,” but the reality is that strife and family arguments become common at this time of year. The Sunday Oregonian newspaper reports that before Christmas “some parents and relatives are working up to fights that will make Christmas Eve one of the worst shifts of the year for policemen.” Explains a sheriff’s deputy: “Relatives get together and drink, and they start discussing past problems they’ve had and they begin digging up hatchets that had been buried and should have stayed buried.” And among low-income families, “the stress of providing a good Christmas for children increases tensions and tempers heat up,” says the Oregonian. “Sometimes a home’s Christmas can be destroyed in a marital melee, with packages used as projectiles and the Christmas tree left in a shambles.”

As regards peace on a global scale, a story is often told with misty eyes about Christmas Eve in 1914 when a British sentry heard the sound of voices singing “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” from German trenches 100 yards (91 m) away. British troops sang back: “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Then both sides left their trenches to sing carols together for a few brief hours. But they quickly returned afterward to the slaughter, so-called “Christians” all! Does this event reveal any truly peaceful “Christmas spirit”? Or, rather, does it not highlight a spirit of hypocrisy, in this case, carried to a chilling extreme?

Faith

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, then it should be characterized by faith. Is it?

Christian faith, according to its definition at Hebrews 11:1, is based on realities or facts. Since Christmas is based to a large extent upon tradition, myths and falsehoods, how could we expect it to promote strong faith?

A parish letter published in Germany said, in speaking about Christ and the early Christians: “His teaching was much more important to the people than the date of his birth.” It added: “The first Christians did not know such a thing as a birthday celebration.”

Of what benefit is it to believe that Christ was born if we neglect to believe in what he taught or to exercise faith in the value of his ransom sacrifice? Not much faith is needed to believe that Christ was born; much more is needed to believe in the value of his ransom sacrifice and in his position of kingship in God’s established kingdom. If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, why does it do little more than boost church attendance at Christmastime, and yet not succeed in motivating church members to bring forth real works of faith in imitation of Christ throughout the entire year?

In summary, if the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, then it should be characterized by the fruitage of God’s spirit. Is it? Galatians 5:22, 23 tells us that “the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” Is this what we have observed to be the spirit of Christmas? Or, as we have noted, are the works of the fallen flesh as described in the same chapter of the Bible, verses 19-21, more likely to fit what actually prevails during the Christmas season? “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. . . . Those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.”

Viewed from the overall standpoint of global and general celebration, rather than from the standpoint of possibly sincere individuals who may conduct themselves quite decently when celebrating Christmas, what do we find? It is apparent that the “works of the flesh” are all too often manifest and the “fruitage of the spirit” is all too often lacking.

Perhaps you can now better appreciate why persons interested in showing forth the fruitage of God’s spirit and avoiding the works of the flesh try not to get caught up in the “Christmas spirit.” We hope that these facts, when considered prayerfully, may help you to decide in a way pleasing to Christ, the Founder of Christianity, how you will be spending Christmas.

[Picture on page 8]

If the “Christmas spirit” is truly Christian, it should be characterized by the fruitage of God’s spirit. Is it?

The Art of Being a Grandparent

WHEN our son became a father, a new series of relationships began, one involving parents and children—and let’s not overlook grandma and grandpa. The wise man said at Proverbs 17:6: “Grandchildren are the crown of old age, and sons are proud of their fathers.”—The New English Bible.

A practical application of this scripture could be seen at a major maternity hospital in Sydney, Australia. The lift that took us back to the ground floor was crowded with an interesting cross section of grandparents who obviously had the responsibility of caring for grandchildren in families where new members had arrived. The patience, attention and affection, along with the gray hairs, identified grandma and grandpa. Today the grandchildren were in their charge, and it was obvious that most of them were pleased about it.

However, being a grandparent involves more than occasional baby-sitting. The long-range effect on the grandchild of things said and done, and the position of the parents, need to be considered. As is true of all relationships in this age, there can be problems, pitfalls and, sometimes, heartaches. To be a respected grandparent (for we cannot be loved on demand) offers a challenge.

Together, let’s consider the art of being a grandparent.

What About Gifts?

How often have you heard the lighthearted statement, “Oh, their grandparents spoil them”? In a desire to share the happiness of giving, most of us grandparents take pleasure in providing gifts or toys for the children, but some of us do it too often. In affluent countries, it is not uncommon to enter the room of grandchildren and find a veritable toyland of mechanical or cuddly creatures and even personal TV sets. Later there may be trail bikes, motorbikes and, as the children grow older, automobiles. In time it becomes evident in many such cases that, while there is happiness in giving, there is sadness in spoiling.

One father commented regarding the gifts the grandparents gave his children: “It embarrasses me, and often I get annoyed, because the children tend to expect toys every time my parents visit.”

Of course, life without gifts would be very empty. But when we give, we do well to try to make it something lasting, something that will contribute to the child’s mental or emotional development and, in most cases, something not too expensive. Along with other things, we may need to give more of ourselves and our time. Doing this with success requires communication.

How Well Do You Communicate?

Early communication is necessary, and not very difficult, for little is expected in the way of a reply from babies. Progressive communication through the teen years and into adulthood offers more of a challenge.

The “gift” of time plays a large part in communication. As grandparents, we need to take time to listen to our grandchildren’s problems and adventures of daily life. This is important to the development of their personality and lets us know where some kindly help might be offered. Proverbs 20:11 advises us: “Even by his practices a boy makes himself recognized as to whether his activity is pure and upright.”

Now, what if we learn that something our grandchild has done is not so upright? Scheming with him to hide it from his parents is surely no way to help him. On the other hand, getting excited, shouting and scolding is not a good way to communicate. He is going to make mistakes—perhaps some of them serious—even as we have done. Can we use these as opportunities to reason with him, to readjust his thinking, to help him to grow?

How well do you communicate with your grandchildren? Ask yourself: Do I talk with my grandchildren, not at them? Is my conversation based largely on do’s and don’t’s, or am I a good listener and then do I give reasons and explanations? As appropriate, do I share life’s experiences with my grandchildren, my failures, my joys, my love for them? Have we walked in the countryside together, by the sea, in a park or the garden? Have we observed and talked together about wildlife, the seasons, life’s dangers and life’s blessings? What respect, when together, have we shown for our Creator, for our fellowman and for each other?

A memorable occasion in the life of one grandparent occurred during a walk in the local park with his four-year-old grandson. At the base of a tree a large winged insect lay dead on the ground. The young boy was afraid of the insect. The grandparent picked it up, and a simple discussion of the subject of life and death ensued.

Are you looking for something that would interest your grandson? What boy is not attracted to grandpa’s toolshed, with its array of hand and power tools, items collected over the years? The opportunities to share in a special project of mutual interest are many. If you are not one who is handy with tools, what about reading? What a gift of lasting value it would be if your spending some time in reading together stirred in your grandchild a thirst for the knowledge and the fascination that good books offer!

And let us not forget grandma’s sewing room or kitchen. What little girl is not attracted by the colored cottons and fabrics, and the desire to make a doll’s dress, and, later, perhaps one for herself? As time passes, perhaps grandma can also share with her the secrets that she has learned about cooking.

We could all benefit from the mistake of a grandparent who did well in his grandchildren’s early years but who, as they grew older and got a broader education, felt that they no longer needed him. Sadly, his freeness of communication became impaired. He allowed their apparent mental maturity to squeeze out his emotional maturity and the lessons that he could share from the school of life. No matter what their age, we grandparents have much to offer younger ones. But we need to be good listeners too. And if we disagree with a view the younger ones express, there are times when we do well simply to share our thoughts and then let the children think about it. Even if we know we are right, it is not always wise to insist on it right now. Keep the door of communication open.

Are You Patient and Tolerant?

There is a saying, “You can’t put an old head on young shoulders.” Handling successfully the problems that arise between young and old takes patience and tolerance, and today’s society is experiencing a famine for both.

Young folks are often strongly influenced by the world around them. There is a natural desire to be accepted by their peers. They may feel that their parents stand in their way. As grandparents we can help. Since we are not usually so directly involved in the day-to-day matters of family discipline, the children may be more inclined to take to heart what we say. It often helps if we share with them some of the problems that we had along the same line in our youth.

In some matters we may find that we do not see eye to eye with our children in the way they are handling matters involving the grandchildren. But we need to remember that, according to the way outlined in the Bible, parents have the prime responsibility for upbringing. (Prov. 6:20; Col. 3:20) Damage to a precious relationship can occur if we grandparents, even with good intentions, interfere with the parents’ handling of such matters as eating habits, discipline, schooling, medical treatment and manners. A comment made by a father is worthy of consideration: “I do not react favorably when TOLD how to care for my family. After all, they are my children. However, I do appreciate suggestions made in a manner that conveys concern and tolerance for the problems my wife and I face as parents.”

It is indeed difficult to manifest patience and tolerance when we see situations develop that could lead to sadness. Yet if we as grandparents are to be respected, we must appreciate our proper role relative to the family circle, not trying to take the role that the parents properly fill. There are times, of course, when we need to be shown patience and tolerance—let us explain.

How to Handle Us Grandparents

The seasons of the year provide quite a contrast, and have been likened to our changes in life. Some cope with seasons better than others do.

Problems can arise as we grandparents grow older. Some of us get more difficult to deal with as the years go by. What we do may seem to interfere with family arrangements. We may become more irritable and less patient and tolerant. Some of us, sad to say, are affected by varying degrees of senility. If, in earlier days, we have sown patience, tolerance and love, we have reason to hope that we will reap these qualities in return.

We grandparents, however aged, like to be made to feel that we are still part of the family. Truly, a relationship bonded with continuing communication and a realization that old and young can enrich each other with life’s experiences is truly satisfying. When there is mutual love and respect, all three generations—grandparents, parents and children—can, even in a turbulent world, enjoy many of the blessings that God purposed when instituting the family arrangement.—Contributed.

From Frontier Shelters to “Dream” Homes

By “Awake!” correspondent in Canada

A NEW generation of log structures is capturing the attention of an increasing number of people in Canada. This renewed interest has prompted the erection of “dream” homes, community halls, public libraries, museums and even a few Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses—all constructed with logs.

Why this resurgence of interest in log structures? There are several contributing factors. Many are attracted simply by the natural beauty of the logs. Also, economic factors have caused some to take a serious look at log construction. For others, who desire a return to nature, a log home expresses their rejection of the concrete and plastic world that has engulfed them.

Brief History

The history of the development of log building in Canada helps us to appreciate that log structures are by no means necessarily just shacks. For example, in 1605 at Port Royal, Nova Scotia, skilled axmen constructed a large log home that French architects had designed and that became French explorer Samuel de Champlain’s “Habitation.” It was such a lovely home that a visit today to the rebuilt replica of it might well start you dreaming about the one that you would like to build.

In later years, other craftsmen contributed further to the development of log buildings in Canada. For example, Scandinavian immigrants brought with them refined knowledge and skills. Unlike the French style, which held that vertical posts should carry structural weight, Scandinavian style called for structural weight to be carried mainly by horizontal logs. Instead of having vertical posts at the corners into which logs were tenoned, Scandinavians lapped and notched the intersecting logs, having their ends protrude past the corners.

What is claimed to be the largest log building in the world was constructed in 1930 at a site between Ottawa and Montreal. “Le Chateau Montebello,” a Canadian Pacific Railroad hotel, has a central hexagonal hall that measures 30 m (98 ft.) across, with an impressive stone fireplace reaching 20 m (66 ft.) high. From this central hall six dwelling areas radiate outward like six spokes of various sizes, containing 200 rooms and suites for guests. The 3,500 builders who worked on the project fitted some 10,000 logs in place and completed the project in a remarkable four months’ time. The finished structure has an overall length of about 136 m (446 ft.), and is three stories high. What a magnificent log structure it is!

Ingamo Hall at Inuvik, north of the Arctic Circle, in the Northwest Territories, is a recently completed log building that maintains these traditions. A four-year construction project, this Indian-Eskimo community center has been so masterfully put together by two log craftsmen (using Finnish building techniques) that it is a challenge to try to slide a piece of paper between the logs.

One more modern-day example is the attractive Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Masset, in the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, one of several log Kingdom Halls in Canada. Some of its logs are 15 m (49 ft.) long!

Projects like these are establishing the credibility of log building as a modern construction practice. Many are coming to the realization that the new-generation log home need not be just a log cabin with a dirt floor, drafty walls and a leaky sod roof. The new breed of dedicated log builders has been promoting old but refined log-building methods combined with modern construction technology, making the log “dream” home a comfortable reality today.

Should You Build a Log Home?

The current enthusiasm for log structures perhaps raises an interesting question for you. Should you build a log home?

There are many factors that need to be considered realistically. One cannot overemphasize the need for careful planning. There are several ways of going about it. A few people have painstakingly dismantled existing log houses and reassembled them on new foundations and with new roofs. Some choose the option of ordering a “packaged” log home and then putting the prefabricated pieces together themselves. Still others prefer a hand-fitted log home. Due to the excellence of workmanship required for a satisfactory log home of this kind, many have found it wise to hire a professional log builder. But there is room for a word of caution here, too. One should know beforehand the abilities of the craftsman. Examine closely his previous work.

For those who would like to enjoy the work of their own hands, here are a few practical suggestions:

Time: There is a general tendency to underestimate what it will cost in terms of time. For example, skilled log builders sometimes can place only two to four logs a day. What could an unskilled person accomplish?

Money: Some also tend to underestimate the financial cost. Since there are so many variables (from the availability and price of the logs to optional features such as fireplaces), the cost of each home should be carefully calculated in advance.

And from the standpoint of construction here are some more tips:

Safety: Because each log will weigh hundreds of kilograms, extreme caution must be used when handling them. The use of log-building tools, such as the power chainsaw, axes and other sharp cutting tools, also calls for extra safety. Wear eye protection and rubber-soled, steel-toed shoes. Never proceed with any operation till you have a sure footing and your work area is clear of obstructions and spectators. Always think in terms of safety so as to avoid turning your project into a nightmare because of a serious accident.

Foundation: Due to the extra weight of logs, a heavier foundation is required. Whereas standard frame walls of a 102-m2 (1,100-sq.-ft.) house might weigh 3,600 kg (4 tons), the walls of a log house would weigh approximately 12,700 kg (14 tons). To prevent settling and to satisfy building inspection departments, a steel-reinforced foundation wall, 25 cm (10 in.) thick, with a 61-cm (24-in.) footing might be required. These figures would change with varying soil conditions.

Selection and Preparation of Logs

Many problems can be avoided by choosing reasonably straight logs with little taper. Size, too, is important for home construction. Logs with 35- to 43-cm (14- to 17-in.) butts and 25- to 30-cm (10- to 12-in.) tops provide good appearance, structural strength and sufficient insulation. Different varieties of trees may be used, but professional log builders seem to prefer pine, spruce, fir or cedar.

The best time to cut logs is in the winter when the sap is low and the logs can be skidded on the snow, reducing damage. Peeling off the bark is best left until the logs are ready to be used. Indeed, some experts feel that logs are best used soon so as to allow them to “cure” in place in the building. If they must be stored, they should be piled straight and kept off the ground to allow for air circulation and to keep them away from moisture. When the logs are in place, wood preservatives can be applied.

Fitting and Notching

Once you have your logs selected, on the site and peeled, the next step is the erection of the walls. This requires planning, resourcefulness, ability, hard work and care. Each log must be selected carefully and fitted into place. One common method of placing logs involves careful “scribing”—fitting each log to the one below it and notching the corners where the logs intersect.

A very important factor to consider is the settling that takes place while logs “cure.” When installing doors and windows and any frame partitions or stairs, extra vertical space must be provided equal to about 6.25 cm per m (3/4 in. per ft.) of height. Framing must not be fastened directly to the logs but be secured to a vertical member “floating” in a groove in the logs. If this is not done, serious problems may develop as the logs settle.

If you wish to do your own building, it would be wise, if possible, to take advantage of any courses of instruction offered or to arrange to work alongside someone who is proficient in these skills.

Insulation

Log walls provide good insulation if they are properly constructed and of large enough logs. For example, a wall constructed of tapered logs with 25-cm (10-in.) tops and properly fitted has an insulation R factor approximately 20 percent higher than a 5 by 10 cm (2 by 4 in.) frame wall with nine cm (three and a half in.) of fiberglass insulation. Of course, it would be even higher if larger logs were used and the underside of each log were grooved so that resilient insulation could be hidden between the logs.

Another plus for log walls is their heat-retaining capacity. The type of wall described earlier has about five times the ability to hold heat that frame walls have. This contributes to a more constant temperature and, hence, a more comfortable living condition. The same principles for insulating the roof and floor apply as in standard construction; otherwise the insulating advantages of log construction will be lost.

Plumbing and Wiring

An area where foresight saves a great deal of work later on is in making provision for installations such as plumbing and electrical wiring to be done while the logs are being put in place. Care in concealing these services presents a more pleasing appearance.

It should be obvious that much is involved in the construction of a log home. Perhaps you could first construct a toolshed or similar small structure. In doing so you would gain skill in log work and would only have to live with your mistakes and not in them. You would also be in a better position to determine whether your new “dream” home should be built of logs or not.

[Pictures on page 13]

dovetail corner notching

saddle corner notching

round corner notching and insulation groove

‘Attitude of Early Christians’

In his book The Ancient World, Willis Mason West wrote: “The attitude of the Christians toward society added to their unpopularity. Because Christ had preached peace, many of them refused to join the legions, or to fight, if drafted. This seemed treason, inasmuch as a prime duty of the Roman world was to repel barbarism. Moreover, the Christians were unsocial; they abstained from most public amusements, as immoral, and they refused to illuminate their houses or garland their portals in honor of national triumphs.”

How a Living Hope Affects Their Lives

MANY people consider the present world conditions to be hopeless. Granted, there seems to be little promise of a radical change for the better. However, despite this fact, hundreds of thousands of persons look confidently to a bright future. Why?

This is because they have accepted the promises that Jehovah God has made in his Word the Bible. They look forward to the time when he will act to remove all crime, violence, oppression and injustice. (Dan. 2:44; 2 Pet. 3:13) But this is not all. Regarding what the Most High has in store for humankind, Revelation 21:4 says: “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” By means of a resurrection, even the dead will be able to share in these blessings. (John 5:28, 29) What a grand hope this is! And, because it originates with God, it is certain of fulfillment.

To help others to appreciate the grand hope set forth in the Scriptures and to strengthen it in themselves, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding a series of “Living Hope” conventions, scheduled to be completed early in 1980. The conventions continue to provide abundant evidence that a Bible-based hope has tremendous power.

Even outside observers have noted the good effect of this hope. For example, in the Netherlands, a high-ranking policeman, though off duty on Sunday, wanted to be on the convention grounds to help to direct traffic. He had so much enjoyed the orderliness and fine spirit of the Witnesses that he volunteered his services on his day off.

A Challenge

How a people whose hope unites them in genuine brotherhood can deal with unexpected obstacles was demonstrated in connection with the “Living Hope” convention in Hollywood, Florida. About two weeks before the gathering was to begin at the Sportatorium, a Witness, while making home visits, met a man who did maintenance work there. He expressed wonderment as to how it would be possible for Jehovah’s Witnesses to begin their convention on Thursday morning, July 5, since a rock concert had been scheduled for the night before and would continue until 11 p.m. Immediately the Witness alerted those in charge of preparations.

This posed a real problem. How could hundreds of Witnesses enjoy the program if they had to spend the night in readying the convention site?

In a marvelous demonstration of brotherly love, the Spanish-speaking Witnesses, who were to have their convention at the same place but not until the following week, responded. Upward of 1,000 volunteers eagerly cooperated, starting work at 2:30 a.m. on July 5. They moved huge piles of debris, swept up litter and washed all 14,000 seats. When the floor-washing machine broke down, they mopped the entire area by hand. At 5 a.m. the place was spotless, and platform construction could begin. The last loudspeaker was connected just seven minutes before the opening session.

After the second convention, the one in Spanish, was over, an official for the Sportatorium management was moved to say: “It was really upbuilding to see how all of you smiled, and how you greeted one another in such a warm, loving way. Only kind words could be heard during the time of your two conventions—no fights for seats or places, only orderly lines. This place has never been so clean and tidy.”

Truly, the love and unity that come from sharing a common hope made it possible to meet a big challenge successfully.

Efforts to Attend

Often an individual’s attending an assembly presents a personal challenge. Yet thousands of Witnesses proved that they were willing to meet it. Why? It can be attributed to their Bible-based hope, a desire to keep that hope strong and their concern for the spiritual welfare of others.

Take the case of Anita, whose husband is not a Witness. To maintain a normal family life for her mate, she, with her three children, arranged to spend only two days at the first convention in Corvallis, Oregon, and then another two days at the second convention in the same city. By driving over 200 miles (320 km) round trip every day, she was able to care for the needs of her husband and family in the evening. Not only did this arrangement enable her to benefit from the entire convention program, but she had the joy of aiding other Witnesses in like circumstances to attend with her.

Regarding her own efforts to be present at the “Living Hope” convention, one delegate said: “I was determined to attend this assembly. Being without a husband and low on money, I decided to be resourceful. I bought a 15-foot (4.6-m) travel trailer from a fellow Witness and financed it through the bank, where I am employed. Since I was to travel a long way, I took a course in auto mechanics. With that knowledge, I tuned up the car and installed new brakes. Another Witness and her children joined me. With our four children and trusting in Jehovah all the way, we successfully completed our trip of 500 miles (800 km) over high mountains.”

Not Discouraged by Tragedy

In a number of cases, Witnesses faced very discouraging circumstances that put their Bible-based hope to a test. For example, about a month before the first convention in Puyallup, Washington, a Witness lost her husband in death, leaving her a young widow with three small children and one older son. On Thursday morning, the day the convention started, the house caught fire, destroying all their clothes. With only their bathrobes, the family escaped the fire. Fellow Witnesses quickly responded to the needs of this mother and her children, providing ample clothing, so that they were able to attend the sessions on Friday.

Regarding her desire to be present for the start of the convention, she commented: “I wanted to be there to let the brothers and sisters know that I’m still alive. However, I just couldn’t make it. I am thankful to Jehovah for having been able to attend from Friday onward. I really benefited. It was almost as if Jehovah God said, ‘Sit down, I have something to tell you.’ That’s exactly what I did. I listened, and it was most encouraging.”

When the Unexpected Happens

Similarly, other Witnesses came to appreciate more fully the wisdom of committing their cares to Jehovah God. For example, in connection with the convention at Woodburn, Oregon, food supplies began to run short by the second day of the gathering. Therefore, Witnesses in charge of getting provisions assembled that evening and arranged to contact suppliers in Portland. All were encouraged to pray about the problem. But efforts to obtain food proved to be in vain.

Meanwhile, however, a Witness arrived unexpectedly at the assembly hall. He had taken a wrong exit from the freeway and found himself about 12 miles (19 km) off course. It so happened that he had recently begun to work for a food wholesaler in Vancouver, Washington. In view of his being in the vicinity of the assembly hall, he decided to check whether there was any need for supplies. Learning about the problem, he contacted his company and found that it had on hand a good stock of the major items needed and at a price comparable to or better than what had been paid previously. The question was: Just what caused this Witness to take the wrong exit at the right time?

Aid for the Program from a Variety of Sources

As the Witnesses listened to the discourses and observed the Bible dramas at the conventions, few realized that sometimes what they heard and saw had been made possible through aid from a variety of sources.

Because of flooding in Texas, many Witnesses encountered problems in getting to the convention at Houston. On account of the situation, the part of one of the speakers was canceled in the morning and rescheduled for two o’clock in the afternoon. To get to the convention, he and his son waded through water up to four and a half feet (1.4 m) deep, the father carrying a change of clothing in a plastic bag. A car that was scheduled to pick them up did not arrive. So they hitchhiked. One automobile took them part way. Then another ride was procured. The driver was a ham radio operator and therefore had something in common with the speaker’s son. Hence, the driver took both of them directly to the convention site.

One of the dramas at the “Living Hope” convention depicted life in Egypt during the time of Moses and included a scene of Moses at the burning bush. The couple responsible for procuring the needed props were amazed to find how help came from inside and outside the congregation. For the burning bush it was decided to use aluminum polycarbonate moved by air, with a light shining on it. One Witness donated a furnace fan; another provided the bush, and still another lent two 1,000-watt photo flood lamps. Merchants in the area supplied ideas and help in making the best use of the available props.

The wife who was to get the jewelry for the drama told what happened: “In our congregation there wasn’t enough fancy jewelry for one Egyptian, let alone all of them. I mentioned our drama to an old lady at a little grocery store. Surprisingly, she knew a woman who had much costume jewelry. The owner of this jewelry contacted me and brought over $350 [U.S.] worth of costume and real jewelry and also demonstrated how it could be used to best advantage.”

Effect of the Program

Up to now 1,342,117 have attended the series of “Living Hope” conventions world wide. Again and again expressions were made on how encouraging the program was. One elder, with many years of experience, commented: “The program reached not only the mind but also the heart. Everyone was very much impressed by it.”

Another elder stated: “This program is very personal. It deals with the individual, with his need to improve not only his relationship with God and with the brothers, but also with his own self, the inner man.”

Regarding the drama entitled “The Need of the Fatherless Boy,” one Witness said: “This drama was filled with vital points—elevated wisdom regarding problems that people in the world might not even think about.”

Hope in Action Among Those Getting Baptized

A prominent feature at the “Living Hope” conventions was a mass baptism. Interviews with those getting baptized revealed that Bible-based hope had stirred them to action.

Among those baptized at Saarbrücken, Germany, were a married couple and their son. The parents had lost two children through sickness and accident. The only comfort that their clergyman could give them was to tell the father: “Lord, thy will be done.” “This did not seem to me to be much comfort,” the father said. Later, through a study of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, the family was greatly strengthened. As the father put it: “Now we have a marvelous hope through God’s Word, the Bible.”

One who stood up to get baptized at the convention in Nuremberg, Germany, was a man whose childhood had been spent in a series of homes, including one for juvenile delinquents. When he was only 21 years old, policemen found him in the streets suffering from alcohol poisoning, and took him to the hospital. He continued to drink, however, and was on the verge of delirium tremens. Concerning this period of his life, he said: “My hands and arms were almost paralyzed. I wondered why I was alive.” Nevertheless, by means of a Bible study, he was able, as he himself said, “finally to find out the meaning of life.” Encouraged by the Scriptural hope, he gave up drinking and smoking, married the girl with whom he had been living and stopped mistreating her.

One of the newly baptized Witnesses, a 26-year-old, at Landover, Maryland, had the following to say:

“Sitting in the Washington Capital Center among the 121 candidates for immersion and looking about at the 13,176 persons in attendance—all listening intently to the speaker and sitting peacefully together—was a deeply emotional experience for me. I had come to the convention in handcuffs with two armed guards from the Maryland State Penitentiary in Baltimore, where I have already served more than 27 months of a 25-year sentence. As I look back, I can see how I squandered and wasted my youth, but, by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, I now have a bright and happy future. Within a few hours, I will be going back to my confinement. Of course, I do look forward hopefully to possible parole and release. But whether this ever comes in this old system, I will never again be confined spiritually, for, indeed, Christ has set me free.”

At the convention in Niagara Falls, an 87-year-old woman was among those seeking to be baptized. With only one leg, blind in one eye and with defective vision in the other, and afflicted with diabetes, this woman has been able to maintain a good disposition. It took half a dozen men to lift her from her wheelchair and lay her gently into the water for baptism. As she was lifted back into her chair after baptism and wheeled out, a beaming smile could be seen on her face.

Reporting on the event, the Buffalo News stated: “The woman’s action was typical of some 10,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses present at their annual district convention Saturday. While none could match the drama of the elderly woman’s baptism, the men, women and children milling around the convention center showed a similar singleness of purpose.”

What helped the 87-year-old woman and the many thousands who attended the “Living Hope” conventions to have such “singleness of purpose”? This woman’s comments provide the answer: “Jehovah has been very good to me. He saved me a good memory. Even though I’ve lost much physically, I’m very grateful. I love Jehovah. All the brothers and sisters are one large family. I haven’t had a family in years, and now I have one. This brings me closer to Jehovah. The living hope has helped me to endure and overcome my problems.”

Surely Bible-based hope does motivate. It helps us to appreciate that our Maker, Jehovah God, has deep love for us, that he has in mind our enjoying a grand future. This draws us to him, prompting us to conform our lives to his ways. That is why Jehovah’s Witnesses are eager to help as many as possible to embrace the hope set forth in the Scriptures. If you are not presently studying the Bible with them, we encourage you to do so.

[Pictures on page 17]

A widow having a problem with her son

Bible dramas emphasized loving concern for fatherless boys and deciding how to use one’s life

Moses at the burning bush

Lasers, Light and Communications

by “Awake!” correspondent in the British Isles

LIGHT—how precious and vital it is to man! Our very lives depend on it, for with no light from the solar system’s great powerhouse, the sun, all life on earth would eventually cease. Owing, no doubt, to the great beauty of light with its endless variety in colour and form, man has pursued from earliest times a deeper understanding of its nature. Along with this he has sought ways of producing and using light for his greater benefit.

Of all his ideas one of the most fascinating came to reality in the 1960’s, catching the imagination of many even outside the world of science. It was the invention of the laser. The first successfully operated laser, in 1960, employed ruby as the working material and produced a red beam, but today many different materials can be used: carbon dioxide, water, helium, argon—each producing its own characteristic colour of light.

How does the light produced by a laser differ from that from other sources? And what practical applications do lasers now have?

Essentially, lasers possess two properties that no other light sources have to the same extent. First of all, the laser does not spew out its light in many directions as an electric light bulb does, but confines it to a narrow, intense, pencillike beam. Secondly, the light itself is extremely pure or “coherent”—like sounding a single pure note on a musical instrument rather than many notes simultaneously.

Because of these special properties, lasers have found many applications in diverse fields. The laser’s directional property has been used to measure the distance of the moon from the earth by directing a beam from a 60-inch (152-cm) telescope. The distance was measured to within one inch (25 mm)! The high intensity of the light makes lasers useful for cutting and welding. Paper, cloth and even diamonds can be cut, and thick steel plates can be welded together very fast by powerful carbon-dioxide lasers. In the field of medicine, laser scalpels are now available. They can be manipulated more accurately than a surgical knife and have the added advantage of the beam itself coagulating the blood, thereby making clamps for blood vessels unnecessary. In the eye, welding of a detached retina is now routinely performed by an argon-gas laser, and delicate vocal-cord operations have been experimentally performed in the throat.

But perhaps one of the most exciting and widespread uses of lasers and certain other types of light sources is now opening up. Scientists have already achieved light-wave communication systems. Already prototypes are in operation in which telephone or television signals can be sent on light travelling along glass fibres instead of electricity along wires. It is expected, in fact, that in the early 1980’s widespread application of light-wave communication systems may be made to telephone transmission.

How is it possible to communicate by means of light? What advantages does this method offer and how will it affect our everyday lives? Let us examine in detail how light-wave systems have been developed. First, we need to consider briefly the physical nature of light itself to see that, in certain respects, it is very similar to the waves already commonly used for communication purposes.

The Nature of Light

In 1864, James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish physicist, succeeded in combining the laws of electricity and magnetism. He found that, when so combined, they predicted the existence of waves of various types. One of these was identified as being light, but others, then unknown, were later discovered and are now known as radio waves, radar waves and X rays, all of which are invisible.

Maxwell’s theory proved that all the different kinds of waves, including light, are similar in nature; they all consist of electric and magnetic forces that vibrate or oscillate. What makes the difference between, say, a light wave and a radio wave is only the speed or “frequency” of the oscillations. In a light wave the forces vibrate about 100 million times faster than in a typical radio wave.

So, just as a radio wave can carry the music and picture signals for radio and television, a light wave can be made to do the same by using somewhat similar principles and techniques. But because its frequency is so fast, light, when coherent, is theoretically much superior. It has the potential ability to carry a vast amount of information, much more than a radio wave can. It was the hope of realising this possibility that prompted scientists to investigate light-wave communication systems soon after the invention of the laser.

Transmitting the Light

One of the first major problems encountered in the development of a practical system was that of transmission from the source to the receivers. It was soon realised that sending a laser beam directly through the open atmosphere (as is done with radio waves) was neither reliable nor practical. Over long distances, fog, rain, clouds or snow can scatter or block the beam, but even in clear weather temperature variations in the atmosphere can refract or bend the beam off course. In addition, precisely aligned mirrors would be necessary to turn the beam around corners and for it to enter and leave buildings.

In 1966, two British engineers, K. C. Kao and G. A. Hockham, working at Standard Telecommunications Laboratories in England, suggested a better solution to the problem. For many years it had been known that light could be “conducted” or guided by flexible glass fibres as thin as a human hair, like an electric current conducted by a wire. At that time, however, the glass of which the fibres were made was poor. It scattered and absorbed the light to such an extent that half the power was lost after the light had travelled only 10 feet (3 m) along the fibre. Kao and Hockham suggested that if an enormous improvement of the glass quality could be achieved, glass fibres could be used to carry light over many miles.

Based on this idea, Corning Glass Works and Bell Laboratories in the U.S.A., the Nippon Sheet Glass Company of Japan and various research groups in Britain turned their attention in parallel to the methods of manufacturing glass fibre. The first breakthrough came in 1970 when Corning announced a new low-loss fibre made from almost pure silica glasses. Soon the other research groups made further advances, exploring new kinds of glasses and developing new methods of fibre manufacture. Today, glass fibres are routinely produced that can guide light for a mile (1.6 km) before losing half the power; some of the best fibres currently produced lose only a third of the light over this length!

Fibres are made by pulling them from glass fed through a furnace. By winding them onto a drum during the process, single fibres of up to several miles continuous length can be made. In practice, a protective plastic coating is put on the fibre and 100 or more individual fibres are placed side by side with suitable strength members and an outer sheathing to form a “fibre-optic cable.” Such cables are now the central component of light-wave communication systems, each fibre of the cable forming a separate and distinct channel.

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Awake!, December 8, 1979