Mirror Image Bible

Apparently, we have a new first for Bible translation. No, it is not translating it into a real language used by people. It is not even translation into an imaginary language like Klingon. It is something even less useful.

You may have read or heard of Bible being translated almost in all languages of the world. But Uttam Das, a 29-year-old, Arts graduate from Silapathar in Dhemaji district of Assam has written Bible in mirror image language.
Mirror writing involves writing in reverse. The text can be read in the inverted image in a mirror and other reflective surface.
With this people will now be able to read the Bible with mirror image language holding a mirror in their hands. He has made it as a gift for Pope Benedict XVI - a seven volume Bible (Old Testament) - it is special because of being written in mirror image language.

Not exactly practical. But certainly interesting. This is obviously someone with a love for scripture.

What Holiday Was That Again?

Former Quiz Teamer Publishes Cookbook!

Kim Bensen from our church, who is both a former quizzer and a former quiz team Mom, has published a cookbook that she developed to help with weight loss and healthy eating. She has a new website up and running, so jump on over and take a look. It is a bit late to buy this one for Christmas presents, but birthdays are always coming, and the stuff in here looks tasty no matter WHAT time of the year it is!

Bible Quizzing Intro Video is Online

Remember the video that Jim showed the first week of quizzing that introduced what Bible Quizzing was, and why it is a beneficial activity for the busy teen. Well, the video is now online! RealPlayer is required to play it. Might be a good way to introduce Bible Quizzing to your friends, or to share with family members who wonder what Bible Quizzing is all about.

Don't forget! No practice tonight, but be studying Romans Chapters 5 thru 8 this week. Next Wednesday we will be quizzing on Romans 1 -8.

Bible and Basketball

Ever thought about Missions, but dismissed it because you couldn't think of any skills you had that God could use? Well, God can use all kinds of skills in reaching out to the World.

To the Rev. David Roland, sharing Christian faith is as much about action as it is about words.
So it’s no surprise that Roland, campus minister for Shorter College’s Baptist Student Union, is leaving today for northern Africa, where he’ll lead a group of volunteers in spiritual discovery through basketball.
“We can study the Bible and talk about it,” Roland said. “But we need to be doing it.”
Though the trip won’t officially be dubbed a mission trip, he explained, the group will have the opportunity to build relationships and “share what’s meaningful to them with others” through the sports clinics they will lead for 9- to 14-year-olds and through volunteer work they will be doing for an African school for the handicapped.

Every gift and skill can be used by God. What has God given you?

Proof that Linus was a Quiz Teamer

Thank God for Christmas

Luke 2:1-20
1In 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.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host 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."

15When 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."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Happy Day Before Christmas

Things that make you go, "Hmmmm..."

If anyone knows who originated this, let me know! I found it posted anonymously on the Web.
Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh ...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ...
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your
heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little
boy (or girl,) what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our
name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and
future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" ...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken
homes and builds mansions.

Santa is a "jolly old elf"
JESUS is the King of Kings

Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

Quiz Team Scheduling Reminders

Just wanted to put out a few reminders about the upcoming Quiz Team schedule.

• NO practice next week on December 28. Be reviewing Romans 1-4.
• December 24 at 11 PM will be the Christmas Eve service. Mark and Matt will be playing in the handbell choir.
• Practices resume on Wednesday, January 4 (Study Romans 5-8, we'll quiz that Wednesday on Romans 1-8)
• Midwinter Quiz Meet - January 20, 21, 22. We'll be looking to leave right after school on the 20th to arrive at Lancaster in time for the coaches quiz. We'll be quizzing on the 21st. We'll be returning on the 22nd after attending church in Lancaster (i.e. bring some church clothes!)

And, of course, be sure to keep an eye on the calendar on the left-hand side of the blog. Click on the month name for a full-sized view of the month.

High Gear Home Page Updated!

It may be Christmas time, but we should always be thinking ahead. Next up on the Quizzing Calendar is Midwinter Quiz in Lancaster, PA which will be an overnight January 20 and 21st. (Any parents planning come along who need hotel rooms should start calling NOW! The rooms fill up quickly. Kids will be housed with local families.)

Then looking ahead, we can already start to see HIGH GEAR which is the final quiz meet of the year in Hershey, PA, and also a chance to showcase your other talents in writing, song, musical instruments, drama, art, and just about anything else you are skilled at. Coincidentally, the High Gear Website has just been updated with the info on times, dates, places, and speakers. Please mark these dates on your family calendars: April 20-22.

Take a look around the site and be thinking about what else besides quizzing you may wish to compete in. I know we have people with great singing voices, some visual artists, at least one excellent photographer, and folks who play in the school band.

Chewbacca Sings "Silent Night"

With all of the debate over the religious or secular nature of Christmas, it is nice to see the occasional celebrity stand up and sing an old hymn of the faith which is clear in its Christ-centered message. Join with me, won't you, in thanking Chewbacca of the Star Wars movies for his stirring rendition of Silent Night.

Uh, you might want to turn down the volume or put headphones on the computer, if anyone is trying to sleep in your vicinity.

Photos from the Christmas Party

What more is there to say? Click on the image below to see the whole collection!

Rock the Sound Presents... Jeremy Camp!

Rock the Sound is looking to bring even more quality Christian music to Connecticut. This time around they are bringing Jeremy Camp to us. Depending on the concert, he will be joined by either Tree 63 or Building 429. Coming this February.

No word yet if the Youth Group is planning on going to this one. But it is nice to see so much good music coming our way!

A Game to Occupy the Mind

This close to Christmas, chances are many quizzers are starting to feel the effects of stress and maybe the lack of sleep. It is important to find some time to lay back and relax. Why not consider trying out this little online game. It is simple and yet quite addictive. The goal is to try and see how many blips you can cause with a single click of the mouse. Post your best scores here, and we'll see who comes out on top.

X Marks the Spot?

Chapter 13 Study Guide is Up with a Star on Top

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS THIRTEEN is up and shedding needles all over the living room! Come on in and enjoy the decorations.

Also, we have recieved more questions about the Christmas Party. Here is the info again.
WHEN: 6:30 PM on Saturday, 12/17/2005
WHERE: Jim's House. Click here for a map, Click here for directions from church
WHAT DO I BRING: A wrapped gift valued between $5 and $10 for the gift game, and a dessert
ENDS: 9:30 PM

Want to see the dancing from the Christmas Cantata?

One of our roving reporters was ON THE SPOT to record the event. Well, the last 51 seconds of the event, anyway. Apparently, the reporter was distracted by former quizzer Robert Corica's powerful voice prior to this moment. Anyway, click on the image below to enjoy a taste of the presentation. And see if you can recognize any of the purple-clad dancers that run past the camera.

Warning: Large download (almost 20 MB) and requires QuickTime to view.

REPOST: Christmas Party Details

We have had a lot of inquiries from parents on the details of the Christmas party. So I am re-posting the details for anyone who needs them.
WHEN: Saturday, 12/17 at 6:30 PM
WHERE: Jim's House (click here for a map)
WHAT'S FOR DINNER: Pizza and Soda
WHAT DO *I* BRING: Please bring (1) a dessert to share with the team and (2) a wrapped gift that costs between $5 and $10 for a gift exchange game
WHEN DOES IT END: Parents should pick up kids at 9:30 PM

Please pass all of this info onto your parents, if you have not previously.

If you need ideas for your $5 - $10 gift, you may consider these popular gifts from the past:
1. Nerf guns
2. Candy
3. Beanie Babies
4. Multifunctional tools/flashlights
5. Lord of the Rings/Narnia stuff
6. Sports balls
7. Christian CDs
8. Stuffed Animals, Especially with a Christmas Theme
9. Gift card to Blockbuster/Wal-Mart/Target
10. Novelty Christmas gag gifts (i.e. ties that play music, etc.)

Happy Belated Birthday, Jim!

D'oh! Somehow, between my computer with calendaring function, my Sidekick II, and several paper calendars, I forgot that yesterday was Jim's birthday! Happy birthday, Jim, even if we are a day late.

Post your birthday wishes to Jim below.

Quizzers Pad Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Well, I definitely am not the first person from our quiz team to see the movie, but it still seemed worth reviewing for those who have not seen it. Post your own impressions in the comments below.

The Rating: PG (Definitely accurate. Very clean all over, but violent in spots which are likely to lead to nightmares for young children)

The Plot: Four children are sent away from London during the Blitz in the middle of World War II to live with a mysterious relative (Professor Kirk) in the country. At first, they are intimidated by the huge house they are brought to, and the cantankerous housekeeper who warns them in no uncertain terms that youthful hijinks are not tolerated. One rainy day, the bored children decide to play hide and seek, and while hiding in a wooden wardrobe, one of the children comes upon a magical land hidden inside. This world, called "Narnia" is under the power of a witch who makes it "always winter but never Christmas." But as the rest of the children are drawn inside, there are signs that things are about to change.

The Review: This story was written by C.S. Lewis who was a great Christian theologian of the last century, as well as being a professor of literature and mythology. The chronicles of Narnia, of which this movie is an adaptation of the first book, is his attempt to create fairy tales for children which "smuggle in" a bit of Christian imagery and thought. The idea is not to preach at you, but rather to tell a good story first and then second bring in the themes of sacrifice, redemption, and salvation that prepare a child to appreciate the story of Jesus Christ later in life. The movie does an admirable job of first being a good story, but also manages to bring in most of the elements that Lewis used to get his moral across as well. As a life-long Lewis fan, there were a few spots where I noticed departures from the material (ask me sometime about the "war is an ugly business" line) but overall it is a faithful interpretation.

Parents considering whether this film is right for their kids need not worry in most cases. There is no language to worry about, the evil is kept at a level which is believable but also clean, and there is no blood to see. However, for children who still get nightmares from very intense movies, this may be one to save and watch on DVD in a few years. Despite the lack of blood, there are many battle scenes of far more intensity than their textual counterparts and a few images which may haunt.

Overall, a great movie. While not of the caliber of Lord of the Rings, it delivers a faithful adaptation of Narnia which provides a deep and thoroughly enjoyable trip into a fantasy world with characters you like and understand.

Christmas Cantata at Church!

You may have missed it, but several quiz teamers had a role in the Christmas Cantata in church last night! But if you did, fear not because there is another showing today at 4:00 PM. Be there or be square!

Click on the picture above for more images from the event!

It's Funny, But It Also Makes You Think

ChristianDiscs.Com $4.99 Sale

I normally try to keep the posts to one-per-day, but this seemed worth putting up there. If you have not yet had a chance to pick up your $5-$10 gift for the Quiz Team party, you may want to check out the $4.99 Sale at ChristianDiscs.Com which is a great place to order Christian music CDs from. Be sure to read the intro carefully, as a failure to do so might leave you paying full price.

What does the Bible have to say about Snow?

With the current white cover over our state and many of our kids having their school cancelled today, the mind naturally is on the snow falling out there. Of course, one can't help thinking of the song White Christmas. But have you ever wondered what the Bible has to say about snow?

Although the climate of Israel is generally moderate, at least in comparison to many other places on earth, snowfall occasionally occurs during winter, particularly at the higher elevations. Snow has therefore been known to the people of the land of Israel during all of Bible History. It is mentioned throughout the Scriptures, even by God Himself, both literally and figuratively.

Click thru and check out the list of verses mentioning snow. Obviously, God enjoys the beauty of the falling ice as much as any of us! (More than those of us who have to drive on it!)

Romans 12 Study Guide is by the fireplace

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS TWELVE is hung by the chimney with care, ready to aid your study and preparation for next week's practice.

MORE Photos from the Quiz Meet!

Can't get enough of those pictures from this past weekend's quiz meet? Well, head on over to Matt's Flickr Site and feast your eyes on another harvest of photography.

Quiz Team Christmas Party: December 17

Past quizzers will remember that December means it is time for the annual Quiz Team Christmas Party! This year we'll be at "La Casa de Brake" (i.e. Jim's house) where we will be starting at 6:30 PM sharp.

The evening will begin with pizza, then a viewing of the traditional Year Without a Santa Claus, some games, and then finally the gift exchange.

The gift exchange involves every quizzer bringing a gift costing between $5 and $10, and will include a game to decide who gets which gift. It is a fun Quiz Team tradition that no quizzer will want to miss!

The evening will end about 9:30 PM. Please check your calendars, as Jim will be requesting an RSVP so that we can plan how many pizzas to order.

Hear Mr. Sarris in your home stereo!

If you enjoyed George Sarris's "the real story of Christmas" presentation at the quiz meet this past weekend, why not head over to his website, World's Greatest Stories?

Actor George W. Sarris brings to life in the mind's eye the characters and events of some of the most treasured stories in all of history. The texts of all of the stories are taken directly, word for word, from the Bible. They are told, however, using the art of a dramatic storyteller, incorporating carefully chosen music and sound effects. The result is a very exciting story that comes straight from the words of Scripture.
The current audio series contains a total of 18 individual stories on five CDs or cassettes. The stories are recorded in both the King James Version and the New International Version. Each volume is approximately 1 hour long.

It might make a good Christmas present for the person who has everything.

(You may also want to check out former quizzer Will Sarris's website if you have need for a voiceover artist.)

Quiz Meet Pictures Up and Ready for Your Perusal

Digital cameras are amazing, aren't they? Mark's collection of photos from the quiz meet are up and online and ready for your viewing pleasure.

Stay tuned for Matt's pictures coming soon to a Quiz Pad post near you!

Ripped from the Headlines

Schedule for the Weekend

OK, a few folks apparently did not find the explanation of the weekend to be entirely coherent over the course of this week. So here is the schedule:

• 9:00 AM: Quizzers & Helpers arrive to help with setup - Please remember to bring the stuff requested - if you have forgotten what you are supposed to bring, please e-mail the coaches
• 9:30 AM: Opening ceremonies for the Quiz Meet in the Youth Room
• 10:00 AM: Quizzing begins
• 10:00 AM to about 12:00 PM: 6 Quizzes in rooms 112A, 112B, 110A, and 110B in the Family Life Center
• 12:00 PM: Pizza and fun in the Youth Room - $5 per person for pizza
• 1:00 PM: Quiz Meet ends
• 1:01 PM: Leave church for minigolf at the Sports Center - cost $6
• 4:30 PM: Return to church after minigolf

We hope this clarifies things and helps parents to plan their part of the weekend.

Romans 11 Study guide is king of the jungle!

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS ELEVEN is roaring like a hungry lion, raring to go. Come on out and check our this week's devotional written by no other than quiz coach extraordinaire and sports guru, Matt.

Miniature Golf after the Quiz Meet

On Saturday, after the quiz meet, quizzers are invited to go up to the Shelton Sports Center to play a little miniature golf (i.e. mini-golf, putt-putt, etc.) with their teammates and the Essex Fells team. A van will transport quizzers up to the site at about 1 PM, and then back between 4 and 5 PM. Please bring $6 for your turn on the putting green. (Please bring extra if you want any food from the snack bar or any souvenirs from the pro shop.)

Where: Shelton Sports Center (directions)
When: Saturday, December 3 from 1 PM to about 4:30 PM
Cost: $6 per quizzer to mini-golf

Quiz Meet this Weekend!

When: Saturday, December 3rd
Where: Calvary EFC in Trumbull, CT
What time: 9am-1:00pm

The whole family is invited to come and see what Bible Quizzing is all about. Come watch our teens quiz and then join us for pizza, soda and chips around Noontime. Cost for lunch is $5 per person.

You can download the handout as a PDF or PowerPoint file.

Bible Denied to Guantanamo Inmate

It appears that while every inmate is given a copy of the Quran in Guantanamo Bay, the same consideration is not given to those inmates requesting Bibles. Is this a case of discrimination, or a reasonable restriction?

Saifullah Paracha, a 58-year-old former Pakistani businessmen with reputed ties to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, has been in U.S. custody since 2003. Like the other inmates at Guantanamo, he has a copy of the Quran. But he also wants an English translation of the King James Version of the Bible.
Paracha believes that because the Bible is one of the scriptures accepted in Islam, he is entitled to a copy to read in his small wire-mesh cell. But after his lawyer shipped him a Bible, along with two volumes of Shakespeare, prison officials confiscated the package.
Paracha's American lawyer filed suit in U.S. District Court in Washington, demanding that Paracha be given the Bible and copies of Hamlet and Julius Caesar. The government responded that certain books are kept from prisoners because they could "incite" them.

Thanksgiving Redux

The Bible Game is on store shelves

We had talked about it a few months back, so I was happy to see that The Bible Game is now available and on the store shelves. The picture below was taken at Wal-Mart, but it can be found at most of the major retailers for a reasonable price.

The reviews are not ecstatic (click here is you have no idea what that word means) but are not bad overall. Basically seems like a fun set of mini-games with loose affiliations with Bible stories. The game is available for PS2, XBox, and GBA.

Romans 10 Study Guide is served!

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS TEN is on the table, piping hot, with extra gravy. Dig in, and be sure to pay special attention to the sample questions, as this will be our first week which includes THE CHALLENGE for those wishing to try out for a Varsity spot.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Challenge Rules Revisited

Reminder to quizzers that there is no practice tonight so that you can attend the Thanksgiving Eve service with your family.

But next week will be the first week of THE CHALLENGE. Quizzers on the JV Team will have a chance to challenge anyone on the Varsity Team for a chance to take their place. There will be definite advantages given to those working hard on the Varsity Team, so you will not want to miss your chance to step up in that world. Here is a short version of the rules:

• Any JV team member may challenge any Varsity team member.
• The challenge will consist of a 5 question quiz.
• The first quizzer to 3 questions right, wins. No bonus questions.
• If the JV member wins, they move up to Varsity, and the challenged person will move down to JV.
• If the Varsity member wins, they are given one week of immunity from challenges

Pictures from the Weekend Quiz Meet

This Saturday's quiz meet was well covered by both the Chesners and our correspondents, Josh R and Kim. Click on any of the pictures below to visit the Flickr site and relive all the memories.

Psst! I have a secret to tell you!

It is someone's birthday. I can't tell you who, but I will say this person is closely associated with Quiz Team. Someone you all know. Someone I know very well, and whom Jim might call a coworker. Well, that is all the clues I can give you for now.

Leave this mysterious someone your birthday wishes in the comments below!

Spirit = Life!

Fayology has up a brief but interesting thought on the role of the Holy Spirit for believers

Why is it that the Spirit leads to life? Because the major characteristic of the Spirit is life! Christ died to make life available, but the Spirit is the active agent who confirms life in the Christian.

Romans 8 still has a lot more to teach us, even though we are now moving onto Romans 10. Be looking for more reflections on past chapters to come!

Keep on keeping on!

Keep on praying and you WILL get an answer. But don't forget that "No" and "Not now" are definitely answers.

Directions to the Bonfire

While all of us know the Taylors by now, we realized that not all of us know where they live for the big bonfire tomorrow. To see the location on a map, or to get directions from Google Maps, click on the picture below.

Plans for this Weekend

This will be a review week. Please review Romans 1-9, with an emphasis on 5-9. Feel free to browse the Family Study Guides to aid in your review.

Reminders for this weekend

• 7:00 AM on Saturday: Leave for Essex Fells
• 3:30 PM on Saturday: Return to church
• 3:31 PM on Saturday: Go to the Taylor's House for the Bonfire
• 8:00 PM on Saturday: Parents pick up quizzers at the Taylor's house
• Cost for Pizza at the Quiz Meet: $4.00
• Cost for Gas and Hot Dogs at the Bonfire: $0.00

See you Saturday morning!

3 Wise Men DVD is NOT a religious tale

A week or two back, I noticed a new Christmas DVD out there called "The 3 Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos)" which looked like a Christmas tale with a good religious message. After all, what could be better than telling the tale of the first men to recognize the significance of Christmas without an angelic choir? Well, according to Plugged In Online appearances can be decieving..

I hoped that, at the very least, the magi would arrive at the manger in a climactic scene of reverent awe that acknowledged the true reason for the season. No such luck. Handing off gifts is an afterthought. Squandering a chance to honor the One whose time-splitting entrance into humanity they exploit to sell this story, the filmmakers show about 20 seconds of the magi walking into a blinding glow as if they were Richard Dreyfuss boarding the alien mothership in Close Encounters. What about the receiver of those coveted gifts? We never see Jesus. No Mary and Joseph. No shepherds. And not a single word about the significance of the child. His birth has been reduced to a marketing hook. A spiritual bait-and-switch.

Buyer beware. If only Disney had learned the lessons of PRINCE OF EGYPT.

Foxtrot on God and man

Teen Daily Devotional

Teens looking for a little bit of Bible wisdom may want to check out The Teen Daily Devotional Ministry - run by Campus Crusade - which gives a new thought every day to deepen your walk with God... or sometimes just to encouage. Today's thought is Taking the Blindfold Off.

Extra-Biblical Evidence for Goliath

A recent find may provide evidence that Goliath - the Philistine giant killed by David with his sling - is more than just a matter of faith. Of course, most of us never doubted this, but it is nice to see some extra-biblical evidence, as well.

"It can be suggested that in 10th-9th century [before the Common Era] Philistine Gath, names quite similar, and possibly identical, to Goliath were in use," said Prof. Meir. "This chronological context from which the inscription was found is only about 100 years after the time of David according to the standard biblical chronology. Thus, this appears to provide evidence that the biblical story of Goliath is, in fact, based on a clear cultural realia [signifying the objects of a local culture] from, more or less, the time which is depicted in the biblical text," he explained.

Each time scripture is challenged, it comes up as true and reliable. Let's keep those archeologists busy!

Ah, the question of priorities

Happy Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day - a day to remember those who gave their blood, sweat, and lives for our freedom. Take some time today to consider those who fought in the many wars our nation have taken part in, including those in Iraq now.

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation.

Thank God for those who have served, and are serving now.

Romans 9 Study Guide is born!

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS NINE is in the crib and ready for your preusal. This week, our guide devotional writer is Pastor Dave, so be ready for a pop quiz during church on Sunday!

Extra points will be given to the first quizzer who can identify the baby pictured above. Clue: Her parents do not attend our church at present, but her grandparents do!

Never tell me the odds!

Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Jim brought up Luther's 95 Theses last week, so I thought quizzers might be interested to get a little more info on the historic documents and Luther himself. Here is a little collection of links.

• The actual text, translated to English
• A website with some historical context
• A quickie overview of the event
• An image of the actual document

Without Luther, there would have been no Evangelical Free Church and certainly no EFCA Bible Quizzing.

The Sound WAS Rocked!

According to early reports, Rock the Sound was a HUGE success. Newsboys, et. al., put on a great show for all involved and brought the gospel of Christ to Bridgeport.

Thanks to Special J for the great picture of the event!

"Three Wishes" might be Reality TV worth watching

It is rare that I would choose to post anything about TV here, but this story on the new "Three Wishes" program on NBC makes it sound like it may be worth a watch. The review is from Plugged In Online which is a media review website run by Focus on the Family.

The fact is, Three Wishes is all about helping people in need. When a young couple’s dairy farm is lost to a fire, the show goes above and beyond the wife’s meager wish to “get a little help.” Instead, they get a day off at a nearby amusement park and a new, massive, state-of-the-art dairy farm. Similarly, when a high school senior is involved in a debilitating car accident shortly before graduating, producers fulfill the family’s wish to see the now wheelchair-bound girl receive her diploma by bringing in hundreds of classmates and friends for a makeup ceremony. As if that weren’t enough, she receives intense physical therapy and, with some helping hands and a thunderous ovation from the crowd, actually walks to accept her certificate.

The new show stars Amy Grant, as well.

REVIEW: Veggie Tales, Lord of the Beans

RATING (out of 5, 5=best): 3.5

STORY: Common "Flobbit", Todo Baggy-Pants is given the gift of a magic bean by his rich uncle Billboy. Todo sets off on a whimsical adventure with a cast of Tolkien-esque Veggie Tales characters to find out why he was given this gift, and what it was intended to be used for. Along the way, we faced sinister sporks, raspberry trees, and a a mysterious figure that has been ravished by the power of the bean.

THE SHORT REVIEW: Good film, but definitely not one of the best Veggie Tales stories. Suffers from weak writing.

THE LONG REVIEW: "Lord of the Beans" is a shameless parody/homage/ripoff of the current Lord of the Rings mania generated by the recent movies, and attempts to simplify the story into a form that is accessible even to young children. Somewhat comparable to the Muppet attempts to retell classic stories in such movies as "Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island", it maintains the same strengths as other VT stories - fun stories kids will love with just enough inside jokes to keep parents/adults/teenage siblings entertained. The one-joke "Elvish Impersonator" silly song in the middle is the most blatant example of this.

The strengths of this VT story are (1) the careful Tolkien references and (2) the fact that only 1 scene (the birthday party) really depends on having seen/read the Lord of the Rings story beforehand to get the jokes. There are weaknesses, as well, unfortunately. The story is uneven, with some scenes being extreme parodies of the original, right down to line-by-line take-offs, while other scenes are such complete departures from the original that it feels like you are in a completely unrelated world. It can be confusing, especially if you are doing something else while watching the DVD or have short attention spans (which probably covers most of the potential viewers). Another rewrite to avoid both extremes would have been very helpful.

Still, a mediocre Veggie Tales is still better than most of the rest of the stuff out there. It is a good story, and worth your time. But if you can borrow a friend's copy, you probably don't need to own it yourself.

Don't forget the FATHER!

This is an interesting article on a topic from Romans 8. The author asks the question of whether sometimes we are modern evangelical Christians forget about the *FATHER* part of the Trinity when talking about God. It is something I have noticed among even folks at our church who tend to become "Christ-centered" to such a point that we forget that you can't have a "Son" without a "Father". (Yes, I know all are eternal and none came from the other, per se.)

Take a look. Post here whatever thoughts this may stir for you.

Romans 8 Study Guide has hatched

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS EIGHT is out of its shell and ready to be handled with care. This week's little bundle of joy was written by Ron Fay, former quizzer and doctoral student of New Testament Greek,

Pop-Quiz: The Apostle Paul

Think you are a master of Bible quizzing? Have Romans memorized from 1:1 to 7:25? Do you eat Greek for breakfast, and chow down on Pauline theology for lunch with a side of Early Church History?

Or just want to see how much you know about the Apostle Paul, despite your less-than-stellar studying?

Either way, we have got the quiz for you. Click here to see how well you know the author of Romans.

What is "All Saints Day"?

Ever since the establishment of Halloween as the center of the Candy Companies sales calendar, we have forgotten that the scary holiday comes right before a "holy holiday" called "All Saints Day." What is it? For the Protestant church, the short answer is that it is a day to remember the martyrs of the church, and the sacrifice they willingly gave for their Lord. For a somewhat longer answer, this link may be helpful.

Some weeks, you just can't win

Pictures from Ground Zero Trip

Well, I was stuck in bed with the flu, but the rest of the team made it out to Ground Zero in NYC after the quiz meet yesterday. Head Coach Jim got some nice pics of the event.

So... How did the meet itself go?

Masks within Masks

Missions Mania

This week is the Missions Festival Week at Calvary Church. While quizzers are in New Jersey and NYC on Saturday their parents have a great opportunity to go to the Missions Brunch. The Theme is "Around the World in 80 Minutes". There will be great food and video presentations including a recap of last year's missions trips including the Slovakia trip that some of our quizzers went on. Everyone is invited even if they haven't previously signed up. There will be plenty of food, so encourage your families to attend.

Place: Calvary EFC in Trumbull, CT
Time: 9am-10:30am
Cost : Suggested donation of $3 per person, Max $6 per family

Review week for Romans 1 - 7

Please remember that this week is a review week before a quiz meet. There is no additional Family Study Guide, but you can review all the ones that have come before here. Or you can feel free to read all 7 chapters again here.

Final Details for Ground Zero Trip

This Saturday will not only be a Quiz Meet in Essex Fell, NJ, but also a trip afterwards to Ground Zero in New York City. We will be taking the Path Train to get there and back, and then will drive home from New Jersey. Please be at the church promptly by 7 AM. Every minute we are late, means less time in NYC.

Quick Details
Departure: Saturday, October 29, 2005 at 7:00 AM from Calvary EFC in Trumbull
Cost: $10 for pizza lunch and path train, $10 for dinner in NYC. Additional money for souvenirs.
Return: Aproximately 8 PM, Saturday Night

The Unbound Bible

Last week's special tool was the Online Parallel Bible. Not bad. This week, we have The Unbound Bible which basically takes the Online Bible idea and brings it to the next level. What about bringing in not only English translations, but also those of other foreign languages? What about bringing in not only modern translations, but also ancient translations? What about throwing in the ancient greek and the "textus receptus"?

Very cool. Though perhaps more than most of us have time to really make use of.

ROCK THE SOUND makes the New York Times!

It is not often that a Christian concert gets wide-spread media attention, but Rock the Sound has managed to score a full-page story in the New York Times! This speaks well of the event and probably means that you will see a lot more teens there when the Youth Group goes on November 5 than you might have expected!

THE band has won a Grammy Award, sold three million albums and plays in arenas packed with thousands of screaming fans. But if your weekend pursuits do not include church or a youth group, you probably have never heard of Audio Adrenaline.
The band is one of four Christian rock acts that will be performing at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Nov. 5 in Bridgeport. The concert, organized by the nonprofit organization Rock the Sound, is an effort to build a market for contemporary Christian music in a region where it has traditionally struggled.

Remember that the New York Times requires registration to view their articles. You may wish to ask your parents to sign in for you, if you want to read the article.

Considering a Christian College?

Whether you go to a public school, a private school, or are home schooled, chances are you will be thinking about college in a time period ranging from 4 years to... well... the end of this sentence. When it does come to mind you may want to consider a Christian college.

What is a "Christian College"? Well, it is a private liberal-arts college dedicated to glorifying God and helping to deepen the faith of its students. It is a quality education like any other, but in a safe community of students and faculty who love the Lord. It does not mean you won't be challenged, it does not mean you will not find those with some different beliefs, but it means you will find a place where you can grow in both your education and your faith.

FYI, your coaches went to Houghton College and LeTourneau University.

Fayology is the study of.... what again?

In the interest of keeping up with quiz teamers emeriti (emeritus means "Retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement", emeriti is plural), you may want to check out this new site maintained by Ron Fay. Ron is a former quizzer, current PhD student at TEDS (the official divinity school for the EFCA), and an occasional writer for the Family study guides.

For those who do not know, TEDS (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is part of Trinity International University, where several other former quiz teamers are now freshman.

Here's a Vow That is Kept

Silver Ring Thing Pics are ONLINE!

I know at least one Quiz Teamer went to the SILVER RING THING because he is now appearing in pictures on their home page! Click here to see all the pics taken at the event.

There are no Chesner brother pictures, because (1) we couldn't make it due to other commitments and (2) they wouldn't let anyone but the "official" photographer take any pics.

Romans 7 Study Guide is served!

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS SEVEN is piping hot and fresh out of the oven. This week's treat was fixed and baked by Head Coach Jim Brake!

Romans 6 Wisdom

"God Bloggers" Meet

You may or may not be aware of it, but right now you are reading a "blog." The term became quite the rage in 2004, when "bloggers" were credited with having great effect on the presidential campaign. "Blog" is short for "weblog" (don't ask me why), which is a site offering news and commentary from the world wide web in a running diary-style format.

A group of "christian bloggers" got together this past week to discuss how blogging could be effectively used for activism, evangelism, and a general "salt and light" influence on the world. Those of us running THE QUIZZERS PAD were not invited, but I am sure we will be next year when the organizers see the huge impact we are having on the quizzing world.

Not Ready for Prime Time

Online Parallel Bible

For our version of Bible Quizzing, we only use the New International Version of the bible. But sometimes it can be useful to see what other translators did in their attempt to render the original Greek into English. The Online Parallel Bible can be a good tool for making these comparisons, especially when you are most curious to see the original intent of the Greek writer. Consider just a few examples from Romans 1:1.

ASV: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called 'to be' an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
Darby: "Paul, bondman of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to God's glad tidings,"
YLT: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, having been separated to the good news of God --"

Just remember that these other translations are not valid for quizzing. If you were to pick out a keyword from the ASV and try to pass it off during a quiz, it is not going to work.

Summer Missions Pics

You may or may not have noticed, but the new CSM team has up some nice pictures from the Slovakia Missions Trip which several quiz teamers went on. Come on in and take a look!

Is there such a thing as a VIRTUAL talent?

Family Study Guide for Romans 6 is Ready

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS 6 is online and ready for your perusal. Remember, if you have any special requests for features to add to these study guides, drop me a note

The Church Responds to the Pakistani Earthquake

Wondering how Christian organizations are responding to the Pakistani earthquake, when they are already extended so far helping in Iraq, in the hurricane-torn portions of the South, and elsewhere? It turns out they didn't miss a beat.

If we are God's hands on this Earth, it is important that we maintain our ability and willingness to act whenever, wherever we are needed.

Pssst! Have you seen the new CSM website?

I am not normally one to toot my own horn, but... TOOT! TOOT! Why not wander over to the Calvary Student Ministries website today, and check out the new design that the humble Nomad worked with the sponsors to design and implement. It is branded around the new t-shirts for this year's Youth Group, and includes a few new tricks. There is even a CSM Chat area that is similar to the Quiz Team chat.

If you have ideas for how to improve that site (or this one), post it below in the comments area.

It Is Always the Details That Get You!

Chapter 5 Theology

JUSTIFICATION: The childhood ditty to explain justification is “just as if I had never sinned”. The depth of justification is much more than even that definition because as well as being accepted as if not guilty, it ignores the reality that we actually are guilty! Let me give a modern example from everyday life to explain the concept. Let’s say your mother was driving you to school. She is in a hurry and without realizing it, exceeds the speed limit. For those of you who aren’t following me, you are running late and she is speeding. Of course, this scenario is only hypothetical :). Oh well, I digress, so back to our story. Mom then gets pulled over by one of our friendly Trumbull Police officers who informs her that she was speeding. There is no question at this point that Mom is guilty of breaking the law and has been caught. The policeman, who has caught her, is legally correct, based upon the law, to give her a ticket. The policeman has three options at this point. He could give her a ticket, he could give her a warning, or he could let her go without a ticket or warning “as if she hadn’t been caught speeding”. Do you see where I’m going here? The concept of justification in our example is in option number 3. In option 3, Mom, who was guilty and caught, is not only forgiven of her lawbreaking, but also, and here is the key, treated as if she had never broken the law.

I don’t want to complicate the issue at this point, but let me make one more point before closing. In our story about speed demon Mom, I told you that the police officer had three options. He actually had a fourth option. At the point she was caught, he could also have given Mom a ticket, which she deserves for breaking the law, and then paid the ticket himself. Of course, this assumes that the officer had not broken the speed limit, been found guilty of speeding, or owed a fine himself. If he was guilty and owed a fine, he couldn’t pay Mom’s ticket until he first paid his. This concept of paying someone else’s debt that you don’t owe is commonly referred to as “Substitutionary Atonement”. "Substitutionary" meaning in place of someone else, like a substitute teacher is in place of the regular teacher, and "atonement" meaning to make payment of a debt to avert punishment. This is precisely what Christ did for us on the cross. He was willing to die spiritually and be separate from the Father in our place forever. He paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. We deserve separation, but while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Hope this helps. See you all on Wednesday at 7:00.

Coach

SMS Bible?!

While I am not part of the "text messaging" culture that uses their cell phone as a replacement for AOL Instant Messenger, I do enjoy the ability to send short messages to family when I am running late at work. I would not generally think of it as an evangelistic tool. But it appears the Bible society is taking seriously their commitment to bring the bible to every language by translating the Bible into text message lingo!

Each verse is translated into 'SMS Language' - the full Contemporary English Version (CEV) with a modern twist! True meaning and order of words retained - 100% faithful to original text...The purpose of this program is to provide a tool to the Christian community which will assist and encourage engagement with the Word of God.

They even provide a free downloadable program to send selected passages. Fair Warning: I have not tried this myself, so I can only vouch that it does indeed come from the Bible Society website. I have no idea how stable the program is, itself, or how easy to use.

South Street Sea Harbor Thingy

If anyone is wonder what a trip to South Street Seaport is like, this site and a few pictures may be worth more than 1000 words. It may not be a tobyMac concert, but it is pretty cool.