Photo for 12/31/2008

At Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/31/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: “Beliefs have consequences.” - Os Guinness
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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What was Esau’s reaction to the return of his brother Jacob (remember Jacob stole the birthright and blessing from Esau 14 years earlier): (PICK ONE)
1.) Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.
2.) Esau came with four hundred men to kill Jacob.
3.) Esau sent messengers to Jacob telling him that he was not to set foot on his land.

Genesis 33:1-6
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Photo for 12/30/2008

Close to our house…

Points To Ponder 12/30/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: “We become whatever we are committed to.” - Rick Warren
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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On Jacaob’s trip back to the land of his father what at the place Jacob named Peniel? (pick one)
1.) Jacob wrestled with God.
2.) God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.
3.) God touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched.
4.) All of the above.
5.) 2 and 3 above.

Genesis 32:22-32
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Photo for 12/29/2008

Out by Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/29/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel: (pick one)
1) stole all her father's gold.
2) stole her father's articles of silver.
3) stole her father's household gods.

Genesis 31:3
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Photo for 12/28/2008

A lone duck ponders an icy plunge into the lake at Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/28/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: Careless Christians vaccinate their friends against the Gospel. They give them just enough of a dose that they never catch a case.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jacob had 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of Israel. Six sons came from his first wife Leah. How many sons came from his second wife Rachel?
1. Two
2. Five
3. Six

Genesis 35:21-26
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Photo for 12/26/2008

Out near Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/26/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: “Many people are like gyroscopes, spinning around at a frantic pace but never going anywhere.” - Rick Warren
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jacob had 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of Israel. How many of these sons were from his first wife Leah? (pick one)
1.) Two
2.) Five
3.) Six

Genesis 35:21-26
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Photo for 12/25/2008

Out near Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/26/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: Our faith should be our steering wheel, not our spare tire.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep and stayed with him for a month. Jacob then agreed to stay with his uncle and work for….

1.) three years in return for his younger daughter Rachel.
2.) seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.
3.) five years in return for his younger daughter Rachel.

Gen 29:1-30
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Points To Ponder 12/25/2008

I shot this photo from a commercial airliner years ago on slide film…

Photo for 12/24/2008

Scanned from an old slide...The backyard of where I was raised in Colorado..

Points To Ponder 12/24/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. We’re still trying to give orders, and interfering with God’s work within us.” - A. W. Tozer
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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19 But Mary ______________ up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:15-18 (NIV)
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Photo for 12/23/2008

Here in Lenexa..

Points To Ponder 12/23/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: People may say and sing that “Jesus is Lord,” but what they demonstrate is something else.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were __________ at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:15-18 (NIV)
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Points To Ponder 12/23/2008

Photo for 12/21/2008

Near Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 12/22/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: “We are only followers of Christ when in fact we follow Christ.” - Os Guinness
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly ______ appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)
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Photo for 12/21/2008

Icicles on our house…

Points To Ponder 12/21/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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8 And there were ____________living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)
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Photo for 12/20/2008

Christmas lights on a bush by our front porch…

Points To Ponder 12/20/2008

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POINTS TO PONDER: To find true joy at Christmas, look to Jesus.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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5 He [Joseph] went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a ____________, because there was no room for them in the _______.

Luke 2:5-7 (NIV)
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Points To Ponder 12/19/2008

I’m sending our electronic Christmas card out a bit early as I know some of you receive Points To Ponder at your work…and you may be taking vacation next week…

Merry Christmas from Ron and Vicki Morse
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Photo for 12/18/2008

This was taken in 2007 on our back deck…but you could shoot an exact duplicate today….It’s cold and snowy here…

Points To Ponder 12/18/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: To make the most of Christmas focus on Christ.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank.
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2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to _____________ the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Luke 2:1-4 (NIV)
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Photo for 12/17/2008

More local autumn colors….

Points To Ponder 12/17/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: "Missions is not the 'ministry of choice' for a few hyperactive Christians in the church. Missions is the purpose of the church." - Unknown
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he:
1.) saw a giant tree reaching up from the earth into the heavens and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
2.) saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
3.) saw a vision of Esau chasing him and killing him with a sword.

Genesis 28:10-12
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Photo for 12/16/2008

A big buck out a Shawnee Mission Park this fall..

Points To Ponder 12/16/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" - Jim Elliot, missionary martyr who lost his life in the late 1950's trying to reach the Auca Indians of Ecuador
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

In the story about the “Good Samaritan” the Bible says “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho”.

We know the man went down in elevation to Jericho, but generally what direction did he travel from Jerusalem? (pick one)
1. North
2. South
3. Southwest
4. West
5. Northwest
6. East
7. Northeast

Luke 10:30ff

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Photo for 12/15/2008

More local autumn colors….

Points To Ponder 12/15/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: You don’t need to keep up with the Joneses; you need to keep up with Jesus.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
What was the answer that Jesus gave? (pick one)
1.) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2.) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
3.) Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:34-39
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Photo for 12/14/2008

More autumn colors….

Points To Ponder 12/14/2008

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POINT TO PONDER:
THERE ARE FOUR CLASSIFICATIONS OF PEOPLE: Which of the following best describes you?
1.) Those on the way to heaven and know it - Have Joy & Peace!
2.) Those on the way to heaven but aren’t sure of it - No Peace!
3.) Those who are NOT heaven bound and know it - They want no part of it!
4.) Those who are NOT heaven bound - BUT, hope/think they are - They have been deceived.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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At what is commonly referred to as the “Last Supper” what did Jesus do that showed His humility and at the same time gave us an example “servant hood” that we should follow? (pick one)
1.) He prepared the entire Passover meal and served each of the disciples in turn from the greatest to the least.
2.) He poured wine into the cup of each disciple and broke off a piece of bread for each one to eat.
3.) He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

John 13:1-17
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Photo for 12/13/2008

Maple leaf in our backyard…

Points To Ponder 12/13/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: The Cambridge History of the Bible - “No other book has known anything approaching this constant circulation.”
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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First…congratulations to those who caught my mistake in yesterday’s Bible Quiz….It helps me to know that people actually read these..:0)

After Jacob and Rebekah had tricked Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing that belonged to Esau. Isaac sent Jacob on his way and he went to: (pick one)
1.) Canaan, to the son of his friend Hirah the Adullamite
2.) Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah.
3.) Timnah, to his brother Judah.

Genesis 28:5-6
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Photo for 12/12/2008

OKAY…I am going to put a hold the remainder of our Colorado trip until the first of the year when we will pick back up with the Santiago Mine and Mill and then the ghost town of Geneva. Between now and then we will be looking at a few Kansas fall and winter photos…here we see the “Three Maples” out at Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/12/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: "I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I've met." - Dwight L. Moody
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BIBLE QUIZ: (corrected version)
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When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he sent Esau out into the open country to hunt some wild game so he could make him some tasty stew and give him his blessing before he died. How did Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac into giving Esau’s blessing to Jacob instead? (pick one)
1.) Rebekah took two choice young goats, and prepared them for Isaac.
2.) Rebekah covered the hands and the smooth part of the neck of Jacob with goatskins.
3.) Rebekah dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes.
4.) All of the above.
5.) 1 and 3 above.

Genesis 27:1-43

Genesis 27:1-43
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Photo for 12/11/2008

Wildflowers on Mt. McClellan…

Points To Ponder 12/11/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: How different things would be if we forget our problems as easily as we forget our blessings!
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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After the death of Sarah Abraham remarried. The name of his second wife was? (pick one)
1.) Abigail
2.) Sheba
3.) Keturah

Genesis 25:1-10
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Photo for 12/10/2008

On a trip from 2006…the rain moves in as we head down from Mt. McClellan…(Mt. Evans is in the background)…

Points To Ponder 12/10/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: "Our God of Grace often gives us a second chance, but there is no second chance to harvest a ripe crop." - Kurt von Schleicher
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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On the night that Jesus was betrayed He went out and asked the crowd, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am He," Jesus said. When Jesus said, "I am He," they: (pick one)
1.) Bound Him with ropes and led Him off to the High priest.
2.) Drew back and fell to the ground.
3.) Bound Him with chains and took Him to Pilate.

John 18:4-7
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Photo for 12/09/2008

An Alpine Sunflower… on Mt. McClellan…

Points To Ponder 12/09/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: Francis Bacon, English statesman and writer, 1597
Called the Bible: “The book of God’s word.”
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Esau sold his birthright (as the firstborn) to Jacob (his bother) for (pick one):
1.) 200 shekels of gold.
2.) 50 cattle, 100 sheep and 75 goats.
3.) A bowl of stew.

Genesis 25:29-34
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Photo for 12/08/2008

This is a shot from a couple of years ago…but it shows just how narrow the road is in places.

Points To Ponder 12/08/2008

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POINT TO PONDER:"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." - Nate Saint, missionary martyr
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Isaac (son of Abraham and Sarah) was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. She gave birth to twin sons. There names were:
1.) Hadad, and Tema
2.) Naphish and Kedemah
3.) Esau and Jacob

Genesis 25:20-30
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Photo for 12/07/2008

Even at this altitude the wildflowers are beautiful…but small….Moss Campion - The blooms on this flower are smaller than your little toenail.

Points To Ponder 12/07/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: We cannot know the heart of God unless we have a heart for God…
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Sarah, the wife of Abraham, lived to be: (pick one)
1.) 112 years old.
2.) 123 years old.
3.) 127 years old.

Genesis 23:1-2
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Photo for 12/06/2008

And now for the drum roll…………..Here we see Ron Ruhoff out on a rock pinnacle replicating a pose from an old photo in the book they were looking at. He walked out there like he was on flat ground…..…me…… I fell a few feet in front of the Jeep….IT’S A LONG WAYS DOWN FROM WHERE HE IS STANDING!!!!

Points To Ponder 12/06/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: "If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." - Dave Davidson
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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On the night that Jesus was betrayed one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest cutting off his: (pick one)
1.) Hand
2.) Left ear
3.) Right ear

Luke 22:49-50
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Photo for 12/05/2008

Ron Ruhoff and Ray Robinson are viewing some photos in an old book about the Gray's Peak Route. Tomorrow Ron Ruhoff will try and duplicate a photo taken back when the railroad was still in operation. We are currently at an elevation of about 13,117 feet. The railroad operated from about 1906-1921. Even though this is an old railroad bed some of the "shortcuts" we have taken to get here are definitely four wheel drive! At times the road is so narrow you have trouble even passing a hiker.....From the turnoff from the pavement on Guanella Pass to the top of Mt. McClellan it 11.5 miles. To do the round trip it took us five hours.

Points To Ponder 12/05/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: "Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is -- where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge." - Robert C. Shannon
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

What was the answer that Jesus gave to their question?

Matthew 22:15-22
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Photo for 12/04/2008

Ray decided that the top of the railroad grade was not quite high enough so he hiked the last 200+ feet to the top…

Points To Ponder 12/04/2008

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POINT TO PONDER: God prospers our standard of living so we can prosper our standard of giving. – Randy Alcorn
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, (pick one)
1.) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
2.) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive frankincense, which she poured on his feet as he was sitting at the table.
3.) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive hyssop, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

Matthew 26:6-13
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