Photo for 01/01/2006

Actually this is a posterized picture of the lights on our back deck!

Points To Ponder 01/01/2006

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Revelation 21:3-7
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
(NIV)
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Points To Ponder 12/31/2005

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The heart has no secret which our conduct does not reveal.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Quiz: What was the name of the second child born to Adam and Eve? (hint…see the 4th chapter of Genesis)
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Photo for 12/31/2005

The last apple of the season. I found this lone apple still hanging on a tree near our home. As you can tell the leaves are all gone and everything else has turned brown.

Photo for 12/30/2005

Snowfall pattern on a bench just outside my favorite restaurant…... This is the LAST snow photo I have…so unless it snows tonight we will go back and finish up the fall photos that got interrupted by the snow…. :o)

Points To Ponder 12/30/2005

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Integrity flows out of a disciplined character and is manifested by the willingness NOT to do the wrong thing even the first time.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question.... On what day did God create the Moose? (Pick one)

• Day three


• Day five


• Day six

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Photo for 12/29/2005

MORE SNOW!

Points To Ponder 12/29/2005

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The higher you go the more dependent you become on others.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question....What was the occasion at which Jesus performed His first miracle? What was the miracle? Who asked Him to do this miracle? (hint…you will find the answer in the Gospel of John…Chapter 2)
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Photo for 12/28/2005

More SNOW! This is a photo of the outdoor facilities at the Legler Barn Museum… :o)

Points To Ponder 12/28/2005

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Suffering is the forge God uses to strengthen His saints.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Trivia Question....On what day of creation did God create the Sun, the Moon and the Stars? (Genesis 1:14-19) (Pick one)
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• Day two


• Day four


• Day six

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Photo for 12/27/2005

More SNOW!

Points To Ponder 12/27/2005

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Three things that are truly constant - Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Trivia Question.... Who were the first two men that Jesus called to saying, "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (hint…they were brothers)
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Photo for 12/26/2005

SNOW!

Points To Ponder 12/26/2005

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He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Trivia Question....Who am I?....

When God answered my prayer the sun stood still in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day (hint….see the 6th book of the Old Testament).
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Photo for 12/25/2005

Trees in our backyard after an ice storm…Obviously….I added the star… :o)

Points To Ponder 12/25/2005

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We wish you a Merry Christmas and pray that you will not forget that “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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BIBLE QUIZ: In the Christmas story when did the Wise Men arrive and see Jesus for the first time. How many Wise Men were there? How many gifts were given? (pick three/one from each group)

1. The Wise Men arrived with in a few hours of the birth of Jesus.


2. The Wise Men arrived the day after Jesus was born.


3. The Wise Men arrived up to a year later after Jesus was born.

1. There were three Wise Men.


2. There were two Wise Men


3. We don’t know how many Wise men there were.

1. The Wise Men brought one gift.


2. The Wise Men brought two gifts.


3. The Wise men brought three gifts.

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Photo for 12/24/2005

“Ten Pines” at Shawnee Mission Park
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The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
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The Bible Quizzes will start back up on 12/25/2005… :o)
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Photo for 12/23/2005

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A bend in the road is not the end of the road. . . unless you fail to make the turn.
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The Bible Quizzes will start back up on 12/25/2005… :o)
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Photo for 12/22/2005

I realize that this card is a bit early, but I know that many of you receive Points To Ponder at your work and that a number of you may not work on the 23rd…so rather than be late..…Merry Christmas…

Photo for 12/21/2005

Playing in the snow out near the park.

Points To Ponder 12/21/2005

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The desire to do something good doesn't get it done.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 4:4-11 NIV) - (Jonah’s pity party) - But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day _______ provided a _______, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, ______ provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
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Photo for 12/20/2005

The lake at Shawnee Mission Park. I sent pictures from this same view back on 11/ 16 and 11/25….now here it is in the snow.

Points To Ponder 12/20/2005

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It's not how old you are, but how you are old.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 4:1-3 NIV) - But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to ____ than to ______."
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Photo for 12/19/2005

Fence and a few fall leaves on the way to Shawnee Mission Park.

Points To Ponder 12/19/2005

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Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 3:7-10 NIV) - Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had ____________ and did not bring upon them the _____________ he had threatened.
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Photo for 12/18/2005

Fence on the way to Shawnee Mission Park.

Points To Ponder 12/18/2005

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If we spend as much time praying as we do worrying, we have less to worry about.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 3:1-6 NIV) - Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah _________ the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city-- a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites __________ God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
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Photo for 12/17/2005

Grass and fluffy snow out at Shawnee Mission Park.

Points To Ponder 12/17/2005

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If we bestow a gift or favor and expect a return for it, it is not a gift but a trade.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 2:1-10 NIV) -
From inside the _______ Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my ______. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." And the LORD commanded the fish, and it ________ Jonah onto dry land.
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Photo for 12/16/2005

Our front porch.

Points To Ponder 12/16/2005

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It's easy to tell a lie, but it's hard to only tell one.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 1:12-17 NIV) - "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." Then they took Jonah and _________ ______ __________________, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
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Points To Ponder 12/15/2005

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Always ride your horse in the direction it is going.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 1:8-11 NIV) - So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." This terrified them and they asked, "What have you _______?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
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Photo for 12/15/2005

Here is another winter picture I took close to the house.

Photo for 12/14/2005

Here is another winter picture I took out at the park.

Points To Ponder 12/14/2005

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No matter how far you have gone down the wrong road you can always turn around and go the other direction.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 1:4-7 NIV) - Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he _____ down and fell into a deep _______. The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish." Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on ___________.
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Photo for 12/13/2005

Here is another winter picture I took out at the park.

Points To Ponder 12/13/2005

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Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (NIV)
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Jonah 1:1-3 NIV) - The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah _____ _________ from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
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Photo for 12/12/2005

Here is another winter picture I took out at the park.

Points To Ponder 12/12/2005

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Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 12:5-13 NIV) - Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be __________ days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
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Photo for 12/11/2005

Here is another winter picture I took close to the house.

Points To Ponder 12/11/2005

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No one is immune from making foolish statements. One of France's greatest thinkers, Voltaire, once said that in 100 years the Bible would be a forgotten book, found only in museums. However, the Bible continues to be THE best seller and when 100 years were up Voltaire's home became the headquarters of the Geneva Bible Society.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 12:1-4 NIV) - "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of _________ such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-- everyone whose name is found written in the book-- will be ____________. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting _________. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
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Photo for 12/10/2005

Here is a fall/winter combo picture that I took out at the park.

Points To Ponder 12/10/2005

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None of us can keep another from having a bad opinion of us, but we CAN make sure it isn't true.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:38-45 NIV) - Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. "At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his _____, and no one will _____ him.
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Photo for 12/09/2005

We ended up getting about 10 inches of snow! A pretty good amount for the Kansas City area.

Points To Ponder 12/09/2005

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“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” - Dale Carnegie
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:30-37 NIV) - Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes ___________. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. "Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. "The king will do as he _________. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt ___________ above them all.
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Photo for 12/08/2005

Today we are getting our first real SNOW of the season (6-8”) and I still had four fall photos left to send! At any rate I walked out on our front porch this evening and took this shot of our Christmas lights on the bush in front of our house.

Points To Ponder 12/08/2005

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There are four main bones in every organization:
1.) The wish-bones: Wishing somebody would do something about the problem.
2.) The jaw-bones: Doing all the talking but very little else.
3.) The knuckle-bones: Those who knock everything.
4.) The back-bones: Those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the work.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:21-29 NIV) - "He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses-- but only for a time. "With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who _____ from the king's provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same __________ and lie to each other, but to no _______, because an end will still come at the appointed time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country. "At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before.
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Points To Ponder 12/08/2005

Photo for 12/07/2005

A view of some seed pods on a juniper tree at Shawnee Mission Park.

Points To Ponder 12/07/2005

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Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:16-20 NIV) - The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him. Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him. After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more. "His successor will send out a ____ ___________ to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
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Photo for 23/06/2005

A view from inside an old house at the ghost town of Ironton, Colorado.

Points To Ponder 12/06/2005

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“It is usually meaningless work, not overwork, that wears us down, saps our strength, and robs our joy.” - Rick Warren
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:9-15 NIV) - Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress. "Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped. "In those times many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the ________ will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to ________.
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Photo for 12/05/2005

The stream on the way to Shawnee Mission Park.

Points To Ponder 12/05/2005

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“Treat your friends as you do your pictures; put them in the best light.” - Renoir
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:5-8 NIV) - "The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. "One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the _________ alone.
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Photo for 12/04/2005

Some pin oak leaves in our side yard.

Points To Ponder 12/04/2005

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Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 11:1-4 NIV) - And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.) "Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his ____________, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
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Photo for 12/03/2005

Here is a picture of a young colt that I took on my way to the park.

Points To Ponder 12/03/2005

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Being at peace with yourself is a direct result of finding peace with God.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 10:15-21 NIV) - While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe." Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength." So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except _________, your prince.
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Photo for 12/02/2005

Here is another view from the overlook at Weston Bend State Park, Missouri. In this view we are looking due west into the sun.

Points To Ponder 12/02/2005

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"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." - Ronald Reagan
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 10:7-14 NIV) - I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me _________ days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

QUESTION: Daniel’s prayer was actually answered on the “first” day, however, the answer was delayed in getting to Daniel for _______ days.
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Photo for 12/01/2005

Some more fall mum’s of a different color.

Points To Ponder 12/01/2005

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We don't change God's message - - His message changes us.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Bible Question (Daniel 10:1-6 NIV) - In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for ____ weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in _____, with a belt of the finest _____ around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
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