Photo for 04/01/2010

A number of years ago we went to the Grand Canyon so I figured it would be a good place to get a nice shot of my Jeep...(hey it’s April Fool’s day :0)

Points To Ponder 04/01/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Name this couple:

They were Jewish Christian’s (husband and wife) who left their home in Rome to go to Corinth when the emperor Claudius commanded all Jews to depart from the city. They were fellow passengers of the apostle Paul from Corinth to Ephesus where they met Apollos and instructed him further in the Christian faith.

BONUS POINT:…How did the husband earn his living?
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The answer to yesterday’s quiz see.... Acts chapter 5.
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Photo for 03/31/2010

Tulips...

Points To Ponder 03/31/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. " - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Who were they?

This man and his wife were Christians in the early church at Jerusalem. They sold a piece of property and brought only a portion of the proceeds from its sale to Peter, claiming it represented the total amount from the sale. When Peter rebuked the husband for lying about the amount, he immediately fell down and died. His wife later repeated the same falsehood, and she also fell down and died. Apparently, their pretense to be something they were not caused God to strike both _________ and _________ dead.
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Photo for 03/30/2010

Redbud trees at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 03/30/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore _____________ one another and ______ each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
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Photo for 03/29/2010

Daffodils.....

Points To Ponder 03/29/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Psalm 119:11

I have hidden your _______ in my heart that I might not _____ against you.
(NIV)
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The answer to yesterday’s quiz was.....Nard/Spikenard (Mark 14:3; John 12:3)
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Photo for 03/28/2010

My first flower shot of this spring, a jonquil in our backyard...I had to shoot this in between rain showers today (3/27/2010).

Points To Ponder 03/28/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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(Pick the correct answer)

A costly oil derived from the dried roots and stems of an herb of Asia. This oil was used as a liquid or made into an ointment. It was imported from India in alabaster boxes. These were stored and used only for special occasions. When household guests arrived, they were usually anointed with this oil. Jesus was anointed with this oil on two occasions as an honored guest.

1. Sycamine/Mulberry
2. Thyine
3. Nard/Spikenard
4. Storax
5. Terebinth
6. Hyssop
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The answer to yesterday’s quiz was .....see John 18:13
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Photo for 03/27/2010

This was shot on March 29 of last year...No that is not snow on the trees...it is Bradford Pears in bloom...needless to say they got frozen...This year we are nowhere close to the Bradford’s blooming...which may be a good thing.

Points To Ponder 03/27/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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(Pick the correct answers)…Who was the High priest and who was his father-in-law?

I was appointed the high priest of Israel in about A. D. 18 by the Roman procurator, Valerius Gratus. My father-in-law, and I were high priests when John the Baptist began his preaching.

1. Eltolad
2. Caiaphas
3. Chidon
4. Annas
5. Arctura
6. Asinah
7. Asnapper

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Photo for 03/26/2010

A bit of bit of springtime hope in Kansas....??? Actually this was shot on March 17, 2005 in our backyard...However this year they have not yet bloomed...so spring is definitely later this year...

Points To Ponder 03/26/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side, and bend to every necessity of our brethren. - Martin Luther
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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(Pick the correct answer)

I am the servant of the high priest who was present at the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Simon Peter struck me with a sword and cut off my ear.

1. Caiaphas
2. Calamus
3. Malchus
4. Mahalab
5. Machaerus
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Photo for 03/25/2010

An old mine on Poncho Pass....

Points To Ponder 03/25/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God will direct your footsteps, but you must be willing to pick up your feet.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Mary, the mother of Jesus, had four other sons after she had Jesus. Who of the following were NOT brothers of Jesus? (remove three incorrect names---these are based on the NIV translation)

1. Judas
2. Josiah
3. Joses
4. Levi
5. James
6. Mark
7. Simon
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Bonus Point: Did Jesus have any sisters?
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Photo for 03/24/2010

On our way back we came over poncho pass and all the aspen leaves in this area were already on the ground. My wife Vicki shot this photo...

Points To Ponder 03/24/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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”Who am I”?

After my husband and two sons died in Moab, I returned to my home in Bethlehem. One of my daughter-in-laws came with me.
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The answer to yesterday’s quiz was "Luke".
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Photo for 03/23/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango... Out on the flats and headed for the roundhouse....This concludes our roundtrip on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge...

Points To Ponder 03/23/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Are you too busy acting like a Christian to be one?
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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”Who am I”?

I wrote two books of the New Testament. By profession I was a physician. I accompanied Paul on parts of his second third, and final missionary journeys.
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For the answer to yesterday’s quiz see Joshua 10:12-14
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Photo for 03/22/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango... as the shadows get longer we pass Shalona Lake...

Points To Ponder 03/22/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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”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.
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Photo for 03/21/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango... Back across the Highline .....as you can tell our train is pretty long...I am shooting this from about the center of the train....

Points To Ponder 03/21/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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James 1:2-4

Consider it pure _____, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)
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Photo for 03/19/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango... Back across the Highline .....

Points To Ponder 03/19/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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He who has tact has less to retract.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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John 21:24-25

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that………………………………………….

How many books did John think it would take write down all the things that Jesus did? _________
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Photo for 03/18/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango... Back across the Highline with our last look at the Animas River...way down below us...

Points To Ponder 03/18/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Beware of the high cost of low living.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Exodus 20:3

Thou shalt have no other ______ before me.
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Photo for 03/17/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango... Getting ready to take on water at Tank Creek...

Points To Ponder 03/17/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God. - Harry S Truman.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Romans 8:38-9:1

For I am persuaded, that neither _________, nor life, nor _________, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to ___________ us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Photo for 03/16/2010

Getting #481 ready for the return trip to Durango....In this photo it is blowing the ready whistle to gather all the passengers.

Points To Ponder 03/16/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The character of God is today, and always will be, exactly what it was in Bible times. God is forever what at that moment, three thousand years ago, He told Moses that He was. - J.I. Packer
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Matthew 25:21

His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a _____ things, I will make you ruler over _______ things.
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Photo for 03/15/2010

Getting #481 ready for the return trip to Durango....

Points To Ponder 03/15/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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None knows the weight of another's burden. - George Herbert
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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2 Corinthians 5:9

So we make it our _______ to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
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Photo for 03/14/2010

We arrived in Silverton at 12:55 P.M. and had lunch. By the time we finished lunch it was raining hard.

Points To Ponder 03/14/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Don't pray for a light load, pray for a strong back.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Acts 24:16

So I strive always to keep my __________ clear before God and man.
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Photo for 03/13/2010

We arrived in Silverton at 12:55 P.M. and had lunch. By the time we finished lunch it was raining hard.

Points To Ponder 03/13/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Thank God for dirty dishes. At least you have food.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the ________, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the ________ _________ you are serving.
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Photo for 03/12/2010

Views from riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton and back. We are almost to Silverton...another shot of the blue/green Animas River...

Points To Ponder 03/12/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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He that boasts of being one of God's elect, while he is willfully and habitually living in sin, is only deceiving himself, and talking wicked blasphemy. - J.C. Ryle
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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2 Timothy 2:22ff

Flee the ________ desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and _________ arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
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Photo for 03/11/2010

Views from riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton and back.

Points To Ponder 03/11/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. - Martin Luther
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Ephesians 5:15-16

Be careful how you live, not as unwise but as those who are _______. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.
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Photo for 03/10/2010

Views from riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton and back. Abandoned Elk Park bridge...The closer we get to Silverton the more the rain clouds move in...

Points To Ponder 03/10/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse. - George Washington
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, ___________, goodness, faithfulness, . . . .
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Photo for 03/09/2010

Views from riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton and back.

Points To Ponder 03/09/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. - Henry Drummond
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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James 4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, ______.
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Photo for 03/08/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back. Getting ready to take on water at Tank Creek.

Points To Ponder 03/08/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Getting out of a bad rut requires getting into a good one.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Ruth 1:1ff

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took for themselves wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was ______, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. . . . .

Where does Ruth fit into the genealogy of David and Christ?
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Photo for 03/07/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back.

Points To Ponder 03/07/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Prayer does not mean simply to pour out one's heart. It means rather to find the way to God and to speak with him, whether the heart is full or empty. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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John 15:14

Jesus said, “You are my __________ if you do what I command.”
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Photo for 03/06/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back. The Needleton water tank....

Points To Ponder 03/06/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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People are not your problem, they are your purpose.
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BIBLE QUIZ: What eventually happened to the bronze serpent that Moses made and put on the pole? What name was given to it (see II Kings 18:1-5)?
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Numbers 21:7-9

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against you; pray unto the LORD, that he take will away the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
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Photo for 03/05/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back. For the rest of trip to Silverton we will closely follow the Animas River...

Points To Ponder 03/05/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Aim for heaven and you get earth thrown in....aim for earth and you get nothing in the end. – C. S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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1 Samuel 16:6-11 How many brothers did David have?

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, the LORD has not him. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither has the LORD chosen him. Again, Jesse made _________ of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen any of these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are all your children here? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he comes here.
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Photo for 03/04/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back. Crossing the Animas River....

Points To Ponder 03/04/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Strength in prayer is better than length in prayer.
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Revelation 21:1-21 What is the ninth foundation made of? What are the streets made of?

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. . . . . . And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. . . . . . .And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a _________; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
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Photo for 03/03/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back. Crossing the Animas River....

Points To Ponder 03/03/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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When we withhold nothing, God will set our hearts ablaze. - Beth Moore
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Which Old Testament prophet was commanded to do what is outlined below?

Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
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Photo for 03/02/2010

Riding the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to from Durango to Silverton and back. From the highline it’s a long way down to the Animas River....

Points To Ponder 03/02/2010

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Once more, never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace. - David Brainerd
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BIBLE QUIZ: Fill in the blank(s)...
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Hebrews 5:8ff

Although he was a son, he learned _____________ from what he _____________ and, once made ______________, he became the source of eternal _____________ for all who __________ him
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