Photo For 01/01/2013

Happy New Year……….

Points To Ponder 01/01/2013

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The cold world needs warm hearted Christians
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:20 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

The tongue of the righteous is choice _________, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

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Photo For 12/31/2012

On our front porch…

Points To Pnder 12/31/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:19 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

19    When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his __________ is wise.

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Photo For 12/30/2012

Snow train to Silver Plume…. I scratch built this model in ‘HO’ scale. I hand painted the backdrop and used powdered marble dust for the snow.

Points To Ponder 12/30/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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It takes only 10 minutes to find in others the faults we often fail to discover in ourselves in a lifetime.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:18 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

He who conceals __________ with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

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Photo For 12/29/2012

Snow train to Shavano…. I scratch built this model in ‘HO’ scale. I hand painted the backdrop and used powdered marble dust for the snow.

Points To Ponder 12/29/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Telling a lie is the worst offense because it is foundational for all other evil acts. Every sin or crime begins with someone believing or speaking a lie. Even if the lie is as simple as "I can get what I want if I lie," paves the way for evil.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:17 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

He who heeds discipline shows the way to _____, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

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Photo For 12/28/2012

One last shot of the Victoria Falls Depot. I scratch built this model in ‘HO’ scale. I hand painted the backdrop and used powdered marble dust for the snow. The icicles are made from silicone caulk.

Points To Ponder 12/28/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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If we bestow a gift or favor and expect a return for it, it is not a gift but a trade.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:16 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them ______________.

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Photo For 12/27/2012

On our front porch…

Poiints To Ponder 12/27/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Respect cannot be learned, purchased, or acquired - it can only be earned.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:14 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

14  Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites _______.

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Photo For 12/26/2012

Photo from 2009 when we had a fair amount of snow…

Points To Ponder 12/26/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The trouble with the future is that it usually arrives before we are ready for it.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Proverbs 10:13 (NIV) Fill in the blanks . . .

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the ___________, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

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Photo For 12/25/2012

Westley, Vicki and I waiting to board the train at Victor Falls on Christmas Eve… :0)

Points To Ponder 12/25/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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A psychologist once asked a group of college students to jot down the initials of the people they disliked. Some of the students taking the test could think of only one person. Others listed as many as fourteen.

But the interesting fact that came out of this bit of research was this: Those who disliked the largest number of people were themselves the most widely disliked.

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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas…
 

Matthew 2:1-23

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 12/24/2012

Our hous in 2009…

Points To Ponder 12/24/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Honesty is like an icicle; once it melts, that's the end of it.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas…

In the Christmas story when did the Wise Men (Kings or Magi) arrive and see Jesus for the first time. (pick one answer from each group of three below)

 

1)   The Wise Men arrived within a few hours of the birth of Jesus.

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

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

 

How many Wise Men were there?

1)  There were three Wise Men.

2)  There were two Wise Men

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

How many gifts were given?

1.) The Wise Men brought one gift.

2.) The Wise Men brought two gifts.

3.) The Wise men brought three gifts.

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 12/23/2012

In our front yard…

Points To Ponder 12/23/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell your storm how big your God is.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas… Fill in the blank. Luke 2:15-18 (NIV)

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 12/22/2012

A Christmas bough on the side of our house yesterday…

Points To Ponder 12/22/2012

 

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POINTS TO PONDER:

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Christmas began in the heart of God.  It is complete only when it reaches the hearts of men and women.

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BIBLE QUIZ: 

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Countdown to Christmas… Fill in the blank. Luke 2:15-18 (NIV)

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 12/21/2012

We finally got a little snow. Shot this a little bit after sunset…

Points To Ponder 12/21/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas… Fill in the blank. Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) )

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 12/20/2012

Ice and icicles on our deck arbor…

Points To Ponder 12/20/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Kindness is a hard thing to give away. It usually comes back to you.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas… Fill in the blank. Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

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 12/19/2012

Christmas lights on a bush in our front yard…

Point To Ponder 12/19/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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A man who wants to lead an orchestra must turn his back to the crowd".  - Max Lucado
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas… Fill in the blank. Luke 2:5-7 (NIV)

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 12/18/2012

Out at Shawnee Mission Park…

Points To Ponder 12/18/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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A church's competition isn’t other churches. It's recreation and entertainment. Bible-practicing churches are on the same team!
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas… Fill in the blank. Luke 2:1-4 (NIV)

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 12/17/2012

Snow patterns on our deck furniture…

Points To Ponder 1217/2012

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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Opinions, more often than not, are based on raw feelings, not raw facts.
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BIBLE QUIZ: 
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Countdown to Christmas... :  Fill in the blank. Luke 1:80 (NIV)

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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