Photo for 02/012011

Another sunset on a frozen lake at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 02/01/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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From the moment a creature becomes aware of God as God and of itself as self, the terrible alternative of choosing God or self for the centre is opened to it. - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into _______________."

Luke chapter 22 (NIV)
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Photo for 01/31/2011

This was scanned from an old slide I took in my parent’s backyard at Blackhawk, Colorado in about 1971?

Points To Ponder 01/31/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Mercy is like the rainbow, which God hath set in the clouds; it never shines after it is night. If we refuse mercy here, we shall have justice in eternity. - Jeremy Taylor
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, "______________! Who hit you?" 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

Luke chapter 22 (NIV)
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Photo for 01/30/2011

At Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/30/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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As men are not able to fight against death, misery, ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy, not to think of them at all. - Blaise Pascal
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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58 A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am ______!" Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
60 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the _________ _________. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke chapter 22 (NIV)
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Photo for 01/29/2011

At Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/29/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Making a living is not the same as making a life.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of ________ falling to the ground.

Luke chapter 22 (NIV)
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Photo for 01/28/2011

At Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/28/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Without God, life has no purpose . . . without purpose life has no meaning . . . without meaning life has no significance.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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54 Then seizing Him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." 57 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't __________ him," he said.

Luke chapter 22 (NIV)
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Photo for 01/27/2011

ICY...

Points To Ponder 01/27/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Speak well of your enemies, you made them.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour-when ___________ reigns."

Luke chapter 22 (NIV)
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Photo for 01/26/2011

At Shawnee Mission Park...

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. - George Mueller
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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On the night that Jesus was betrayed what was the signal that Judas used to point out Jesus to those that had come to arrest him? (pick the correct answer)

1.) "The one I put my hand on is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."
2.) "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."
3.) "The one I hand this scroll to is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."

Matthew Chapter 26
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Photo for 01/25/2011

In our backyard...

Points To Ponder 01/25/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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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.) Left Hand
2.) Right ear
3.) Right thumb
4.) Left ear

Luke Chapter 22

BONUS POINT: (See Book of John - Chapter 18)
What was the name of the man Peter struck with his sword? _ _ L _ H _ _
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Photo for 01/24/2011

A dove in our backyard......

Points To Ponder 01/24/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Whoever is afraid of submitting any question, civil or religious, to the test of free discussion, is more in love with his own opinion than with truth. -Thomas Watson
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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 01/23/2011

And you guessed it.....out at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/23/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him. - Hudson Taylor
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Then one of the Twelve went to the chief priests asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him (Jesus) over to you?"

Who was the disciple the betrayed Jesus?
1.) One of the physical half-brothers of Jesus named Judas.
2.) Judas the brother of James and probably the writer of the Epistle of Jude.
3.) The one called Judas Iscariot.

Matthew 26:14-16
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Photo for 01/22/2011

Yesterday out at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/22/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and circumference nowhere. - Timaeus of Locris.
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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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Photo for 01/21/2011

Today out at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/21/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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It is a high, solemn, almost awful thought for every individual man, that his earthly influence, which has a commencement, will never, through all ages, have an end. - James H. Aughey
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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After they got tired of waiting Simon Peter said, "I'm going out to fish," and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, _______, but even with so many the net was not torn.

How many fish did the catch when they followed in instructions of Jesus? (Pick One)
1. 110
2. 231
3. 153
4. 161

John 21:11
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Photo for 01/20/2011

Near our house...

Points To Ponder 01/20/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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To hear God's voice turn down the world's volume.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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On one occasion Jesus made the statement, “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
He made this statement in regards to the:
1. Blind Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus).
2. Disciples when they wanted to call down fire on some that were preaching the good news, but were not a part of their group.
3. Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 23:23-24
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Photo for 01/19/2011

Winter sunset over a frozen lake at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/19/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised. - John Bunyan
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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)
• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:34-39
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Photo for 01/18/2011

Near our house...

Points To Ponder 01/18/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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To live for the greatness of God is to live the great life. – Beth Moore
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

How did Jesus answer this question? (pick one)
1. She will be the wife of the first brother since she was married to him first.
2. She will not be married to any of the brothers.
3. She will be the wife of the seventh brother because she was married to him last.

Matthew 22:23-32
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Photo for 01/17/2011

Deer at Shawnee Mission Park.…

Points To Ponder 01/17/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Unless you have made a complete surrender and are doing his will it will avail you nothing if you've reformed a thousand times and have your name on fifty church records. - Billy Sunday
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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 01/16/2011

“American Bittersweet”…This was shot out at Shawnee Mission Park.… Vicki went with me so she could navigate the steep snow covered slope to get to it and take a close up…So this is a photo By Vicki… :O)

Points To Ponder 01/16/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Faith is to believe what you do not yet see, the reward for this faith is to see what you believe. - Saint Augustine
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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“Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.”

Who were her sons and what was the favor she asked of Jesus?

Matthew 20:20-24 & Matthew 4;21-22
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Photo for 01/15/2011

The lake at Shawnee Mission Park.........

Points To Ponder 01/15/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. And we see how David and all the saints have wrought their godly thoughts into verse, rhyme, and song. - Martin Luther
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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The statement, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." is found in a story about: (pick one)
• A wood pile
• A buried treasure
• A landowner
• A flock of sheep

Matthew 20:1-16
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Photo for 01/14/2011

Hawk on our neighbor’s roof......

Points To Ponder 01/14/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy, rather it tries to make us great enough for life. - James L Christensen
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jesus said, “it is easier for a _ _ _ _ _ to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 19:24-25
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Photo for 01/13/2011

Icy oak leaves in our yard...

Points To Ponder 01/13/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless. - G.K. Chesterton
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," he replied.

What did Jesus tell Peter to do to come up with money to pay the tax?

Matthew 17:24-27
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Photo for 01/12/2011

Cardinal at Beaver Lake, Arkansas..

Points To Ponder 01/12/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Two sons were left a large piece of property by their father. For months they fought over how the land should be divided. Finally, they brought their problem to their preacher and asked him to solve it.

“Come back tomorrow,” said the preacher, “and we will talk.”

The next day the sons returned and the preacher gave them his solution.

“Toss a coin,” he said to one of the brothers.

“You call it, heads or tails,” he said to the other. “The one who wins the toss divides the land.”

“That’s no solution,” said one of the brothers. “We’re right back where we started from.”

“Not so,” said the preacher. “The one who wins the toss divides the land; but the other gets first choice.

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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jesus took along three disciples and went up a high mountain by themselves where He was transfigured before them. Who were the three disciples? ________ ________ & _________

BONUS POINT: Who were the two people that appeared and talked with Jesus while they were on the mountain? _ _ _ _ _ & _ _ _ _ _ _

Matthew 17:1-9
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Photo for 01/11/2011

Here kitty, kitty.....In our backyard...NO WAY!!.....My nephew photographed this mountain lion a few days ago in Colorado....and he said I could share this with you...He was right under the tree where this cat was treed by their dogs.....He is a big game guide...and for those that are wondering...NO, he did NOT shoot this cat with anything but a camera :0)

Points To Ponder 01/11/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers. - Helen Keller
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must _ _ _ _ himself and take up his _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ me. For whoever wants to _ _ _ _ his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:24
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Photo for 01/10/2011

Bambi’s first winter.... at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/10/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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If a man cannot be a Christian in the place he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere. - Henry Ward Beecher
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said” Some say you are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; and others, _ _ _ _ _ _ but still others, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , or one of the prophets."

BONUS POINT: What was the Peter’s answer? How did he come up with his answer?

Matthew 16:14-16
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Photo for 01/09/2011

Barbed wire in the snow...

Points To Ponder 01/09/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you and you alone, because you were made for it -- made for it stitch by stitch as a glove is made for a hand." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Jesus often referred to the corrupt and vicious ways of the Pharisees and Sadducees. To what ingredient (that is used in the making of bread) did Jesus compare the ways Pharisees and Sadducees to?

_ _ _ _ _ (NIV) or _ _ _ _ _ _ (KJV).

Matthew 16:5-12
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Photo for 01/08/2011

Turtle dove in our backyard...

Points To Ponder 01/08/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart." — C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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The SECOND TIME Jesus fed the multitude he started out with __ loaves of bread and a few small fish. They had __ basketfuls of leftovers and the crowd numbered _, _ _ _ men besides women and children.

Matthew 15:32-39
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Photo for 01/07/2011

At Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/07/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go God s love for us does not." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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A Canaanite woman came to Jesus and said "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." However, Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

What was the statement that Jesus made and what was the woman’s comment that caused Jesus to say "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."

Matt 15:22-28
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Photo for 01/06/2011

A cold snowy day at Shawnee Mission Park...

Points To Ponder 01/06/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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"Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do." - C.S. Lewis
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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After the feeding of the 5,000. During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to the disciples (who were in a boat), walking on the lake. Which disciple got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. _ _ _ _ _

Matthew 14:23
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Photo for 01/05/2011

After a snaow storm....

Points To Ponder 01/05/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. - Thomas Jefferson
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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When Jesus performed the miracle involving the five loaves of bread and two fish how many men did He feed?

About _, _ _ _ besides women and children.
How many basketfuls of broken pieces were left over? _ _

Matthew 14:17-20
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Photo for 01/04/2011

At the bird feeder in our back yard...a wren????

Points To Ponder 01/04/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The ability to find fault is believed, by some people, to be a sure sign of great wisdom, when, in most cases, it only indicates narrowness of mind and ill nature. - James H. Aughey
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Who had John the Baptist killed? _ _ _ _ _.
How was John the Baptist killed?
What was the occasion?

Matthew 14:1-11
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Photo for 01/03/2011

Snow storm out at Shawnee Mission Park......

Points To Ponder 01/03/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Every person is guilty of all the good they did not do.
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BIBLE QUIZ:
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Mary, the mother of Jesus, had four other sons after Jesus. What were the names of the four sons?
1. _ _ _ _ _
2. _ _ _ _ _ _
3. _ _ _ _ _
4. _ _ _ _ _
Did Mary have any daughter's? ____

Matthew 13:54-56
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Photo for 01/02/2011

Icicles on our deck arbor...during an ice storm several years ago...

Points To Ponder 01/02/2011

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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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One of the 12 disciples was originally a tax collector. He wrote one of the Gospels. What was his name? _ _ _ _ _ _ _. By what other name do we know him? _ _ _ _

Matthew 10:2-4
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