REMINDER: T-Shirt Orders Due Tomorrow!

This is an important reminder to all quizzers (and parents). Tomorrow is the last day to give Mark your orders for the new quiz shirts. The new t-shirts are grey with green trim, and both front and back designs. I will have pictures of the shirts at practice tomorrow. We would like all quiz teamers who are coming to High Gear to place an order, but these shirts are not required. Again, they will cost $15 - due when they come in, in about 2 weeks.

If you have any questions, e-mail Mark, give him a call, or talk to him tomorrow night at Quiz Team practice.

Online Hymn Library

Some days, you just gotta rock. Some days, you just wanna roll. And some days, you are just looking for something soothing, to help your mind reflect upon the amazing gifts that God has given to us. If today is one of that last kind of day, you may wish to check out Bible Centre's new online audio hymn library. It is a collection of hymns in Windows Media Format which can be listen to online or downloaded to your computer for playing later. It is all free and can be a much-needed pick-me-up.

Perhaps it is time for a little more thanks...

Study Guide for James Chapter 3 is ready to challenge!!!

James never lets us let down our guard for a second with his letter. Check out the James 3 study guide and consider just how dangerous the words you are studying can be!

MWS Speaks about his new Movie

Check this out! Michael W. Smith has put online a new video where he talks about his upcoming movie, "Second Chances", and what it is like to move from being a singer to being an actor. This one looks pretty decent. Here's hoping it can reach out to both the Christian world, and the secular world, and maybe bring a few more to Christ along the way.

REMEMBER: Get Mark T-Shirt Info ASAP

Reminder to everyone who was there last night and announcement for those who were not! We are ordering new Quiz Team t-shirts. The shirts will cost $15 each, money due to me when they arrive. If you want a shirt (not required, but STRONGLY recommended for everyone going to High Gear) please get me your size by next Wednesday, 3/1 as I will be placing the order that night. If possible, please e-mail me before next Wednesday, so that only the few stragglers have to be caught that night.

Anyone who has not gotten me this info by the end of practice next Wednesday will not have a shirt as I will not be placing a second order. Drop me a note if you want to see the design.

And you wonder why the Gideons need donations?

Quiz Team Fashions?

High Gear is on the horizon and everyone knows what THAT means! Well, okay, probably most of you DON'T know. It means it is time to start thinking about Quiz Team shirts! Wondering what some past Quiz Teamers have worn, before the current "black sweatshirt" trend took over? Well, check out this gallery of Quiz Team Fashions of the Past!

And be sure to bring your t-shirt size to Quiz Team tonight! (Special thanks to Dan "Wedge" Getz for lending us his collection for our photo shoot.)

Just for Fun

Most of the time here on The Quizzers Pad, we try to have serious Bible centered content. But every once in a while, we can just have a little fun. Since many of our readers are home this week from school vacations, this may be a useful time-waster between studying James chapter 3. The idea here is to use the provided components to get the little ball to the target. It is a nice brain teaser, and I certainly can not claim to have beaten it yet. ENJOY!

More new on "Prince Caspian" Movie

There are more details out about how Disney will be handling the next Chronicles of Narnia movie. Sounds like they are looking to make it more of the same, but bigger and better. Likely bigger special effects, especially.

"One of the challenges [is that] it's described in the text that he does increase in size. At one point, he's finally referenced as being the size of an elephant. That's where interpretations of the filmmakers are going to come into play, how to pull it off... [Also] ee successfully avoided Aslan getting doused in water in this. But as soon as we get into the Dawn Treader [a ship that figures in Caspian] and that sort of stuff, it's going to be harder to avoid" says Wright.

I really enjoyed the THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, so I am hoping this one comes out even better.

Is your family Bible a piece of history?

We read the Bible because it is God's Word. And thus has it been, through all of American history. In most cases, the bible was the one book guaranteed to be in every house, and something that every family kept handy... if only for when the preacher came by. This article reminds us that this trend of American history means that the old family BIble in your house may not just be useful to you in Bible study. It may also be the best place to find out the history of your own family. Families used to use Bibles as the place to track births, marriages, deaths, and other significant events in one's life. That dusty old tome that Dad keeps in the living room bookcase may be more than just another King James Version... it may actually be the story of how your family came to be from generations back!

Visual Bible - Acts on DVD

We are still finishing up the year with Romans and James, but it is not too early to start thinking about the next season. Next year we are studying Acts which is the story of the Apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven. A good tool for studying this book, and helping to bring it to life, is the Visual Bible - Acts. This movie (on DVD) walks through the entire text of Acts, word by word in the NIV, and acts it out. We used the same series for Matthew, last year, and it was very helpful in providing a picture to go with the words.

Working Out!

James 2 Study Guide running toward the finish line

The James 2 Study Guide is heading toward the finish line as we approach the end of the new chapters for studying. Click on through and do your own preparation to pick up your game!

Bible.Org Outline of James

One of the differences between Jim's introduction to Romans and his introduction to James was the lack of an outline in the latter. Some quizzers find outlines to be useful in understanding the structure of the book, and placing FTVs and Reference Questions within the larger context. If you want such a tool, check out Bible.Org for a useful substitute.

I. Salutation (1:1)

II. Enduring Trials (1:2-18)

A. Summary/Main Theme: The Testing of Faith (1:2-6)

1. Faith in God’s Sovereignty (1:2)

2. Faith and Perseverance (1:3-4)

3. Faith and God’s Gifts (1:5)

4. Faith Vs. Doubt (1:6)

B. Specifics (1:9-18)

1. Faith Vs. Doubt (1:7-8)

2. Faith and Finances (1:9-11)

3. Faith and Perseverance (1:12)

4. Faith and Fatalism (1:13-18)

III. Applying the Word: Faith Within the Church (1:19–3:18)

A. Summary/Main Theme: The Obedience of Faith (1:19-27)

1. Anger Vs. Obedience (1:19-21)

2. Passivity Vs. Obedience (1:22-25)

3. Speech and Obedience (1:26)

4. The Impartiality of Obedience (1:27)

What is Valentine's Day all about anyway?

There is sometimes a sense among Christians that since (1) Valentines Day isd after Saint Valentine and (2) the BIble is big on "love", that Valentines Day must be a Christian holiday. Not so says Christianity Today.

So why do people send "valentines" or "love-tokens" to one another on that day? The origin of that tradition is not thought to have any connection with the saint's day. Rather it comes from an early European belief that the second week of February was when birds began to mate. The idea suggests that lovers should probably exchange notes and gifts on February 14 in conjunction with what nature practiced.

This is not to say that exchanging tokens of affections is WRONG. It is a nice and quaint practice. But it has nothing to do with Christianity.

Want to Read More About Dungy?

Jim gave an interesting devotional on the book of James, which included some discussion of the sad case of James Dungy. You can click here if you want to read more about the case.

Was this 18-year-old, pictured on Myspace.com wearing a bandana over his nose and mouth beside text condemning the police, the same smiling kid who followed his father up and down NFL sidelines?
Did the unassuming teen who took a mission trip to Jamaica and prayed in public really list the "D.C. snipers" as his heroes?
Was he just showing off when he posted pictures of marijuana, pistols and gang signs on his Web page days before he was found dead, or was he revealing a more personal side?
Those questions may never be answered.

Truly a cautionary tale to all of us.

Pictures from the Quiz Meet

Well, chances are that we are all going to be snowbound today (unless you count the time we get out of the house to shovel the driveways), so why not pass some of the time viewing pictures from yesterday's quiz meet?

If you got pictures from the meet (or from Midwinter) that you want posted here on the 'Pad, let me know. Most of the pics we post here are from the coaches, but that is only because I know where to look for them!

High Gear is about MORE than just Quizzing

The last few years of High Gear have been a time of disruption around our church, so I am not sure if everyone knows that the weekend is about a lot more than Bible Quizzing and Seminars. Were you aware that there is also a large portion dedicated to showcasing your talents? And not just the typical ones of singing, playing an instrument, or being part of a worship band. There are categories for drama, writing, visual arts, multimedia (i.e. videos and computer stuff), and almost anywhere else you can use your talent to glorify God. Here are some unusual examples from past High Gear/Round-up weekends:

• Write and/or draw a comic book with a biblical message.
• Design and sew a purse that has a spiritual theme
• Submit a newspaper story you wrote about a church activity, or an important moral issue
• Film and edit a video about how someone in your community reached out to others (maybe with an unusual method like skateboarding, karate, or dance)
• Put together a drama/skit showing how God shows Himself to be real to modern teens
• Create a DVD or Flash Movie slideshow of pictures you have taken for church events
• Write an adventure story that shows biblical virtues in action
• Code a computer program or spreadsheet that can be useful in a church setting (taking attendance, tracking memory verses, generating bible quizzes, etc.)

The goal of High Gear's talent competition is to find ways that your talents can be used to glorify God. It need not be explicitly Christian in the sense that the name Jesus is spoken every 2 seconds. Something with a strong ethical theme, or an image that taught you something about God is equally valid. If you have questions, contact Pat Shouvlin or the Coaches for more information.

What If It Snows?

You may have noticed that some forecasters are predicting Snow for tomorrow. IF we have to cancel tomorrow's Quiz Meet due to the weather, we will post news of the outage here.

James 1 Study Guide: A New Beginning!

The Family Study Guide for JAMES CHAPTER ONE is ready for your reading pleasure. This is a new beginning for all of us. A new book, a new style of writing, and a new chance to excel. Come on out and start again!

This one is by Dagney Pitts, who took many of our quizzers on a missions trip last summer.

Introduction to James!

INTRODUCTION
Few books of the Bible have been more maligned than the little Book of James. Controversy has waged over its authorship, its date, its recipients, its canonicity, and its unity.
It is well known that Martin Luther had problems with this book. He called it a "right strawy epistle." But it is only stawy" to the degree it is "sticky." There are enough needles in this haystack to prick the conscience of every dull, defeated, and degenerated Christian in the world. Here is a "right stirring epistle” designed to exhort and encourage, to challenge and convict, to rebuke and revive, to describe practical holiness and drive believers toward the goal of a faith that works. James is severely ethical and refreshingly practical.
Considered one of the General Epistles, James, like the epistles of Peter, John, and Jude, is an encyclical addressed not to individual churches or persons but to a larger sphere of believers. The teaching in these general letters complements the doctrine of Paul. Paul emphasized faith; James stressed conduct; Peter, hope; John, love; and Jude, purity.

AUTHORSHIP
The human author of this epistle is not easily identified. The New Testament mentions at least four men named James: (1) the son of Zebedee and brother of John (Mark 1:19), (2) the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18), (3) the father of Judas (not Iscariot; Luke 6:16), and (4) the half brother of the Lord (Gal. 1:19). Which one wrote the epistle?
James, the son of Zebedee, could not be the author since he suffered martyrdom under Herod Agrippa I before this epistle was written (Acts 12:2).
It is unlikely that the little known son of Alphaeus was the author thought some, especially Roman Catholics, equate the son of Alphaeus with the Lord's brother. They claim that James was really Jesus' cousin through Mary of Cleopas (Alphaeus), the Virgin Mary's sister. This contention, however, violates a literal interpretation of "brother" and is clearly an attempt to support the invention of the perpetual virginity of Mary. It seems clear from Scripture that children were born to Joseph and Mary after the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is called "her firstborn" (Luke 2:7), implying that others were born thereafter. The Scriptures state that Joseph had no union with Mary, that is, no normal physical relationship, "until" (heos) after the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:25). Repeated references are made to the Lord's half brothers and half sisters and four of His brothers are named: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matt. 13:55).
James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot) did not figure as an important person in the early church. He could hardly be the author of this epistle.
It seems clear therefore that the author is James, the half brother of the Lord, who became the recognized leader in the Jerusalem church. This conclusion is supported by the authoritative tone of the letter and by the marked similarities in Greek between this epistle and the speech by James recorded in Acts 15.
Though James was reared in the same home with the Lord Jesus, he apparently did not become a believer until after Christ's resurrection. John wrote, "For even His own brothers did not believe in Him" 0ohn 7:5).
James' encounter with the risen Lord may have brought him to saving faith. Christ "appeared to James, then to all the apostles" (1 Cor. 15:7). Paul later listed James, Peter, and John as "those reputed to be pillars" of the church (Gal. 2:9).
The strongest evidence for the authorship of the Epistle of James clearly favors the half brother of Christ. Furthermore, Origen, Eusebius, Cyril of Jerusa-lem, Athanasius, Augustine, and many other early writers support this view.

DATE
The date of the epistle is related to its authorship. Some deny that James wrote this letter because of its excellent Greek. They place the writing between A.D. 80 and 150. This is hardly justified. James was obviously a gifted Galilean, fluent in both Aramaic and Greek.
Flavius Josephus, first-century histo-rian, records that James was martyred in A.D. 62, so the epistle must have been written prior to that date. Since no mention is made of the Jerusalem Council (A.D. 49) in which James took so active a role, it is likely that the letter was written between A.D. 45 and 48.
James is probably the earliest of the writings of the New Testament and therefore can hardly be seen as a polemic against Paul's letter to the Romans, which was written later. Romans, however, is not a refutation of James. It is apparent from Paul's relationship with James (Acts 15:13; 21:18) and his recognition of James (Gal. 1:19; 2:9, 12) that Paul held James in high respect. Together Paul and James give the full dimension of faith. Paul wrote about inner saving faith from God's perspective. James wrote about outward serving faith from man's perspective. The true seed of saving faith is verified by the tangible fruit of serving faith. James' point is that biblical faith works.

RECIPIENTS
Clearly addressed to "the 12 tribes scattered among the nations" (James 1:1), this letter has a marked Jewish flavor. The book has the substance and authority of the Prophets and the style and beauty of the Psalms. He refers to "firstfruits" (1:18; cf. Lev. 23:10), the synagogue or "meeting" (James 2:2), "our ancestor Abraham" (2:21), Gehenna or "hell" (3:6), "the Lord Almighty" (5:4; cf. Gen. 17:1), and to the early and latter or "fall and spring rains" (James 5:7; cf. Deut. 11:14). Though some suggest that the "12 tribes" may be taken metaphori-cally as the Gentile church scattered throughout the Roman Empire, it is far more logical to take the statement in its normal sense. The letter is definitely to a Jewish constituency. Though the letter demonstrates careful Greek diction, it is nonetheless filled with extensive Hebrew symbolism.
It is likely that Peter wrote to the Jewish Christians scattered to the West (cf. 1 Peter 1:1) and that James addressed the Jewish Christians scattered to the East, in Babylon and Mesopotamia.

CANONICITY
It is interesting to note that James was omitted from some of the early versions and collections of sacred books. The earliest known collection, the Muratorian fragment of the second century, does not include Hebrews, James, and the epistles of Peter. It was not until the fourth and fifth centuries that James appears to be consistently included in the canon. It appears that while the churches of Rome and Carthage doubted the canonicity of James, it was nonetheless in use from an early date by the churches of Jerusalem and Alexandria and is included in the collections of spiritual books in Asia Minor. The reason is rather obvious. Written at Jerusalem and addressed to the Jews of the Eastern dispersion, those of the West were not so ready to accept the letter as Scripture. It is clear, however, that God not only superintended the writing of Scripture but its acceptance and authority as well.

STYLE
The Book of James is as much a lecture as it is a letter. Though it opens with the customary salutation of an epistle, it lacks personal references common in a letter and it has no concluding benediction.
This so-called “epistle” was obviously prepared for public reading as a sermon to the congregations addressed. The tone is clearly an authoritative but not autocratic. James included 54 imperatives in his 108 verses-an average of one call for action in every other verse!
James' style is both energetic and vivid, conveying profound concepts with crisp, well-chosen words. The sentences are short, simple, and direct. He used many metaphors and similes with a touch of poetic imagination. In fact, the Book of James probably has more figures of speech, analogies, and imagery from nature than all Paul’s epistles together. Exhortations, rhetorical questions, and illustrations from every day life give spice to this little book.
A striking literary technique employed by James is the practice of linking together clauses and sentences by the repetition of a leading word or one of its cognates. For example, "perseverance"(1:3) and "perseverance" (v. 4); "not lacking anything" (v. 4) and "if any of you lacks" (v. 5); "he should ask" (v. 5) and "when he asks" (v. 6); "he must … not doubt" (v. 6) and "he who doubts" (v. 6).
In addition to his unique and innovative style, James furnishes an unusual number of references or parallels to other writings. He makes reference to Abraham, Rahab, Job, Elijah, to the Law and the Ten Commandments, and includes allusions to passages in 21 Old Testament books; Genesis through Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and 7 of the 12 Minor Prophets.
James' teaching strongly resembles that of John the Baptist (e.g., cf. James 1:22, 27 with Matt. 3:8; James 2:15-16 with Luke 3:11; James 2:19-20 with Matt. 3:9; James 5:1-6 with Matt. 3:10-12). Probably James, like Peter, John, and Andrew, had heard John the Baptist preach. Amazing parallelisms exist between James' letter and the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. James did not actually quote the Lord's words, but he obviously had internalized His teachings and reproduced them with spiritual depth.
In its expressive abruptness and eloquent austerity, James' epistle stands as a literary masterpiece. This book is both picturesque and passionate. It combines the rhythmic beauty of Greek with the stern intensity of Hebrew. This letter is beautiful in its expression and bombastic in its impression.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this potent letter is to exhort the early believers to Christian maturity and holiness of life. This letter deals more with the practice of Christian faith than with its precepts. James told his readers how to achieve spiritual maturity through a confident stand, compassionate service, careful speech, contrite submission, and concerned sharing. He dealt with every area of a Christian's life: what he is, what he does, what he says, what he feels, and what he has.
With his somewhat stern teaching on practical holiness, James showed how Christian faith and Christian love should be expressed in a variety of actual situations. The seemingly unrelated parts of the book can be harmonized in light of this unified theme. The pearls are not rolling around in some box; they are carefully strung to produce a necklace of priceless beauty.

(excerpted from The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1984, Introduction to James written by J. Ronald Blue)

Bible Memory = Free Soft Drinks!

It is not exactly the reason that we give out for teens to memorize the Bible, but one store in Alabama has a unique way of rewarding memorizers: free soft drinks! I can think of worse motivators.

Dale Lanier has found a way to get people to read and memorize Bible verses.
If they walk into his convenience store in Snead, Ala., and recite the Bible passage he's selected, they can have a free soft drink or cup of coffee.
This month's memory verse is Psalm 118:8, which reads: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."
Lanier said he's been doing this for the last six years, and gives away between two and 12 drinks a day.

Too bad none of the local corner stores follow this practice. I can think of at least a few quizzers would would be stocking up on free Mountain Dew!

It's a busy world

Pictures from QuizWedge's wedding

I know very few quizzers were able to make it out to sunny California for QuizWedge's wedding. But you can live vicariously thru those who did go by clicking here and seeing the many pictures from the weekend. Enjoy! Oh, and they are still in the process of uploading, so there may be more to see if you are patient.

I know Froggie also has a large number of photos. With his permission, I may post a link to those later on, when he gets a chance to upload them.

Romans Questions for your iPod

Have an MP3 player? Want to improve your quizzing ability? Check out this page which gives anyone a chance to hear sample Romans questions in MP3 format. Transfer it to your iPod or listen to it on your computer. Gotta love the free stuff online!

Congratulations Dan Getz, Jr!!!

Congratulations to former quizzer (and brother of current quizzer) Dan "Wedge" Getz, Jr! He once was young (the tall kid in the back below)...

...and now is an old man (the ancient looking one below) and is getting married today...

Let's all say "Congratulations!" to Wedge, and "Good Luck!" to the new Mrs. Wedge!

It's only a matter of time

The End Has Come: Romans 16 Study Guide

The Family Study Guide for ROMANS SIXTEEN is here marking the END of the Romans Study guides. Truly it is the End of all Things... Except of course for the James Study Guides which begin next week.

This one is by Coach Jim, of our own Calvary EFC.

SPECIAL NOTE: After consultation, the judges have decided to extend the contest by one week to allow more ideas to come out. One special note. If you want us to be able to use your idea, it needs to be something that can be done in the Round Room. We do not have access to the gym right now. Those who have entered may enter again, if they have an idea which can be done in our limited space.

Goodyear Bible Museum in Arizona

It is always fascinating to me to hear the stories of how Christians and Jews over the centuries have preserved copies of the Bible. Sometimes under persecution, sometimes mindful of history, believers have always treasured and protected the Word of God. If you are every down in Arizona, you may wish to visit the Goodyear Bible Museum

"It's just tangible history and along with history, these are tangible objects of faith," said Lee Biondi, a rare-books expert who works with Lampe. He's an antiquarian who travels from Los Angeles every month to work with Lampe. "People died just for owning them," Biondi said.
The oldest piece Lampe owns is a page from a Gutenberg Bible, printed off the world's first press in 1455, worth $75,000.
The museum's most valuable Bible is an original printing of the King James edition from 1611. The jade green book is worth $400,000.
"Our purpose is to show the people who are interested how God preserved his word, through blood, sweat and tears," Lampe said.

I wonder if anyone ever quizzed on that page of the Gutenberg Bible? You can check out their own website here!