Photo for 12/31/2009

Over our garage door...

Points To Ponder 12/31/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed. - Robert H. Schuller
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:24 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

24 He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong" — he is partner to him who ________.
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Photo for 12/30/2009

Cardinal in the snow in our backyard...

Points To Ponder 12/30/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness. -William Blake.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:23 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a ____________ tongue.
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Photo for 12/29/2009

This is hanging on our garage...

Points To Ponder 12/29/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. - St. Augustine
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:22 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

22 A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that _________ awaits him.
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Photo for 12/28/2009

I shot this on December 26, 2009 out at Shawnee Mission Park...as you can tell it was snowing hard at the time...just for grins I popped up the flash to intentionally catch some of the individual snowflakes....certainly gives it a snowy look... :0)

Points To Ponder 12/28/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Without Christ there is no hope. - Charles Spurgeon
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:21 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

21 To show _______ is not good — yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
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Photo for 12/27/2009

In our front yard today...we finally got some snow...lots of it...

Points To Ponder 12/27/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. - Albert Schweitzer
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:20 (NIV) Fill in the blank….
20 A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go __________.
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Photo for 12/26/2009

At Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 12/26/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The safest place in all the world is in the will of God, and the safest protection in all the world is the name of God. - Warren Wiersbe
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:19 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases ___________ will have his fill of poverty.
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Photo for 12/25/2009

Points To Ponder 12/25/2009

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Merry Christmas
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:19 (NIV) Fill in the blank...

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.
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Photo for 12/24/2009

Icicles on a tree in our front yard...

Points To Ponder 12/24/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Christian, remember the goodness of God in the frost of adversity. - Charles Spurgeon
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Matthew 2:1-11 (NIV)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" (IRONY = the religious leaders knew where to look for Jesus..but it doesn’t appear that a single one of them went to personally check it out)
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
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Photo for 12/23/2009

Icicles on a bush in our backyard...

Points To Ponder 12/23/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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The answer to yesterday’s quiz:
It would appear that the Wise Men started out following the star when Jesus was born. However, they apparently had to travel a great distance (perhaps from as far away as India) to get to where Jesus was. Matthew 2:1 says, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem”. Then in Matthew 2:11 it says the Wise Men came to the HOUSE to see the CHILD. They did not go to the manger they went to the house. Also, the Greek word used for CHILD is “paidion” (pahee-dee'-on); an infant, a childling (of either sex), or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl. Also, in Matthew 2:16 we read, “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”

The Bible does NOT say how many Wise Men came to see Jesus. It just says they gave three gifts. Could have been three Wise Men, but not necessarily, could have been two or maybe a dozen…we don’t know.
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Photo for 12/22/2009

Lone duck at Shawnee Mission Park....

Points To Ponder 12/22/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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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)

• The Wise Men arrived within a few hours of the birth of Jesus.
• The Wise Men arrived the day after Jesus was born.
• The Wise Men arrived up to two years later after Jesus was born.

• There were three Wise Men.
• There were two Wise Men
• We don’t know how many Wise men there were.

• The Wise Men brought one gift.
• The Wise Men brought two gifts.
• The Wise men brought three gifts.
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Photo for 12/21/2009

Icicles on our house...

Points To Ponder 12/21/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." - Martha Washington
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:15-18 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

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.
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Photo for 12/20/2009

Shot at the Legler Barn Museum...

Points To Ponder 12/20/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Those who believe that they believe in God, but without passion in their hearts, without anguish in mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, without an element of despair even in their consolation, believe in the God idea, not God Himself. - Miguel de Unamuno
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

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."
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Photo for 12/19/2009

Photo taken on our back deck....

Points To Ponder 12/19/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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It is only when the whole heart is gripped with the passion of prayer that the life-giving fire descends, for none but the earnest man gets access to the ear of God. - E.M. Bounds
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

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."
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Photo for 12/18/2009

Some of you will probably be out and about next week so I am sending our Christmas greetings today...so..Merry Christmas.. Yep..it was shot out at Shawnee Mission Park... :0)

Points To Ponder 12/18/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The Lord doesn't always choose men for what they are, but for what they can become.
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:5-7 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).


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 _________.
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Photo for 12/17/2009

Photographed near Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 12/17/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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What if God is asking us for a sign?
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:1-4 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

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.
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Photo for 12/16/2009

Photographed near Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 12/16/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Many books can inform, but only the Bible can transform.
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 1:80 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the _________ until he appeared publicly to Israel.
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Photo for 12/15/2009

Photographed near Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 12/15/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Every man is guilty of all the good he failed to do...
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 1:56-62 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called _______."
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name."
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is _______." 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.
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Photo for 12/14/2009

This was shot next to my son’s house...

Points To Ponder 12/14/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. - Ronald Reagan.
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 1:39-45 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby ______in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
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Photo for 12/13/2009

Shot close to our house a few years ago......... :0)

Points To Ponder 12/13/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) Fill in the blank(s).

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel _________ to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
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Photo for 12/12/2009

Vicki has our house all decorated for Christmas... :0)

Points To Ponder 12/12/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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If you'll quit moaning and crying, I'll use the things to make you into someone I can use in the lives of others to show them that no matter where they've been, no matter how deep the hole, no matter how painful the trial, there's hope. There is victory. - Kay Arthur
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 1:18-25 (NIV)Fill in the blank.

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be _________ and not able to ________ until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
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Photo for 12/11/2009

My cousin Dick and his wife Bette navigating a boulder strewn stretch of road as we head back down from Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)...

• Total miles traveled on the Yankee Boy Basin trip = 24
• Total time out = 6.50 hours
• Average mph = 3.69

Points To Ponder 12/11/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus. - Blaise Pascal
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 1:11-17 (NIV)

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the _______ _______ even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
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Photo for 12/10/2009

Headed back down from Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)...

Points To Ponder 12/10/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them. - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Luke 2:5-10 (NIV) Fill in the blank...

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named ____________, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

8 Once when _____________ division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
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Photo for 12/9/2009

Some Colorado high country blue sky as we follow the road back from Wright’s Lake...Teakettle Mountain is in the background...at the top of Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)...

Points To Ponder 12/9/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Some stand on tiptoe trying to reach God to talk to him - you try too hard, friend - drop to your knees and listen to him, he'll hear you better that way. - Ever Garrison
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:18 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

18 He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will ________ fall.
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Photo for 12/8/2009

Wright’s Lake & Cirque Mtn. (13,686’) at the top of Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)...

Points To Ponder 12/8/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God's answers are wiser than our prayers.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:17 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

17 A man tormented by the guilt of _______ will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.
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Photo for 12/7/2009

The end of the road at the top of Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)...

Points To Ponder 12/7/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him. - Jim Elliot
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:16 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ____-_______ gain will enjoy a long life.
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Photo for 12/6/2009

A view of the road behind us as we head towards the end of the road at the top of Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)... Teakettle Mountain can be seen on the left....

Points To Ponder 12/6/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Adversity is the diamond dust heaven polishes its jewels with. - Robert Leighton
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:15 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a _______ people.
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Photo for 12/5/2009

We are in Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado)...a telephoto of Teakettle Mountain...

Points To Ponder 12/5/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God. - George Washington Carver
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:14 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who _________ his heart falls into trouble.
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Photo for 12/4/2009

We are in Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado).

(September 24, 2008) – Enjoying the scenery we pushed on with Potosi, Teakettle (shown above), Cirque and Kismet mountains surrounding us.

Points To Ponder 12/4/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testing’s. - George Mueller
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:13 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds ________.
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Photo for 12/3/2009

We are in Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado). Here is a Camp Robber...

(September 24, 2008) - We had a picnic lunch at about 12:30 P.M. just above Twin Falls and had fun feeding the Camp Robbers (a “Camp Robber” is actually a bird….a Canadian Jay).

Points To Ponder 12/2/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Let God's promises shine on your problems. - Corrie Ten Boom
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:12 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into ________.
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Photo for 12/2/2009

We are in Yankee Boy Basin (near Ouray, Colorado). Here is a view of Mendota Peak...

Points To Ponder 12/2/2009

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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“An unguarded strength is a double weakness”. That is......The place where you feel you are the strongest is the place you are most vulnerable, because you don’t guard it.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Proverbs 28:11 (NIV) Fill in the blank….

11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees ___________ him.
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