The Secret of Jonah

Fallout 2006 Flashback!

Time for a quick flashback to Fallout 2006. If you missed the event, check out these clips from the event!

SANCTUS REAL


PILLAR

Acts 5 Study Guide is ONLINE!

The Acts 5 Study Guide is online! This week's devotional is written by Head Coach Jim Brake, and takes on one of the most difficult sections of Acts - the story of Annanias and Saphira. The story is sure to raise many questions in quizzers and parents alike. Click on over to see Jim's understanding of God working in the early church.

ALERT: Quiz Team Needs Van Drivers!

Calling all parents and friends of Quiz Team! There is a critical need for van drivers to ensure that we have enough people to cover the driving needs of the Bible Quizzers for this year. The church owns 2 15-passenger vans, but they can only be driven by people with a special license. We need a few parents or friends of Quiz Team to get the license and help us out in getting the kids to various Quiz Meets during the course of 2006 and 2007.

If you are interested in becoming a van driver, please contact either Jim or the church office for more information.

DID YOU KNOW: Solomon's Colonade

We have already read a few things about "Solomon's Colonnade" in Acts, so far, and will be hearing more...

While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts 3:11

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts 5:12

So far, all we know is that (1) it is a place near the temple, (2) the disciples met there, and (3) it rhymes with "lemonade".

But what is a colonnade? BibleGateway.Com notes that it "was an open, roofed 45-foot walkway with double columns that were 38 feet tall. It was situated along the east side of the Court of Gentiles (Westerholm 1988:772). Although it was part of the temple complex, it was not considered to be part of the actual temple (Brown 1966:402), as evidenced by the fact that Gentiles were not allowed into the temple but they could be present in Solomon's Colonnade." And Bible-History.org has up a little picture of what it may have looked like.

So basically, Solomon's colonnade was a small porch by the temple, surrounded by columns. A perfect place to worship God with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, while staying out of the rain!

Pictures from Saturday's Quiz Meet

We had a great time at the quiz meet on Saturday with our boys and girls teams fighting hard for the prize, and then enjoying pizza and "elbow tag" with the other churches at the event. You can relive your time there (or get a peek, if you missed the event) by clicking on the picture below to see all of Mark's pictures from the event. Or you can click here to see Matt's pictures!

Remember, the next quiz meet will be October 14th. Again, we will plan to leave at 7 AM. But this time, the plan is to take a "field trip" to the Statue of Liberty after the quiz! Stay tuned for more details.

Congratulations, Froggie!

Congratulations from all of us here at The Quizzers Pad to former quizzer, Froggie, on his graduation from Navy Boot Camp! We are sure it was significantly harder than even a Finish-the-Verse quiz-off run by a whispering quiz-master with a sped-up stopwatch. Well, difficult anyway. All of our best in your upcoming naval career and we hope that you will stop by from time to time to see the old team. If you should happen to be in port on December 2, stop by for the Quiz Meet in Trumbull, CT. And everyone else, click on the picture to see the full set on Flickr.

Watch for Signs

ASK THE COACHES: How is a "quiz meet" different from a practice?

We have a new feature here at Quiz Pad - ASK THE COACHES! Here we will take questions from quizzers on the Bible, the church, and quizzing in general. Please e-mail us if you have a question you'd like to see answered in this space.

QUESTION: How is one of the weekend Quiz Meets different from the Wednesday practices? - Curious Newbie

ANSWER: The good news, CN, is that there is not a whole lot of difference. We try to run our weekly practices like an actual quiz meet each week, including teams, the rules, and the rotating of teams. The primary differences are (1) who, (2) where, and (3) how.

1. Who: You will not only be quizzing against your teammates in the weekend quizzes, but against teens from other churches as well. This weekend, you will be seeing quizzers from Essex Fells, Cresskill, and possibly a few others. During weekend quizzes, you will probably also have at least one quiz against a Trumbull team. In October, we will have a much larger group and likely will be quizzing against teams from Pennsylvania as well. At Midwinter and Districts, you will likely only quiz against other teams.

2. Where: This is the easy one. Practices are in Trumbull, CT. Weekend quizzes are primarily in Essex Fells, NJ. We will have one weekend quiz meet in Trumbull in December. Midwinter Quiz is at Lancaster Church in Lititz, PA. Districts is at the Hershey Church in Hershey, PA.

3. How: This is the toughest one and the biggest difference. In our practices, a lot of grace is given to quizzers, because we want to encourage you to have fun as well as quiz. In Quiz Meets, the rules are more strict. There is no talking from the time a quizmaster says "Question" until a quizzer answers the question. You can not touch your chair while jumping for a question. And the general rules of quizzing will be more strictly enforced. At Midwinter and Districts, expect all the rules to be tightly enforced. Also, the wearing of team shirts is encouraged at Quiz Meets, and expected at Midwinter and Districts.

That is it! We hope to see most of you on Saturday for the meet!

Acts 4 study guide is up and ready!

The Study Guide for Acts 4 is is posted and ready for your reading. This week the devotional is by Pastor Sean Dean, youth pastor of Fircrest Church in Tacoma, WA... and former college roommate of Coach Matt. Check it out!

Keep in mind that while Saturday's quiz meet is only on Acts chapters 1 through 3, next Wednesday is on Acts 4.

Pictures from Fallout 2006

If you were among those who came with us to Allentown, PA, you know how much fun we had at Fallout 2006. If not, we'd strongly encourage you to consider coming along for Fallout 2007. Either way we have up pictures from the event for your viewing pleasure.

First, from Mark's Flickr site. (Click on the picture for the whole set.)


Second, from Matt's Flickr site. (Click on the picture for the whole set.)


Stay tuned. We have more Fallout memory material coming up in the days ahead!

Acts Reference Question List is Online!!!

Another tool has been added to your Quizzing Toolbox. The "Official" Reference Questions List for the book of Acts! Whereas there are about 900 questions which could be in the reference genre, a much smaller number will actually be used at the monthly quiz meets. This list (also linked on the left-hand side) is saved as a PDF format, so everyone should be able to read it. If not, please e-mail me and we'll get you a format you can work with.

This should be the last piece of the puzzle for your study time. Remember also to see the coaches if you do not have your copy of the Acts CD or scripture portion. The Finish the Verse list is also linked on the left-hand side of this page.

Rest In Peace, Quirky's Grandfather

If you have not heard, Quirky and GJJ's grandfather passed away yesterday. Please be praying for these two quizzers and their family as they deal with their grief, the funeral, and looking forward to the rest of their lives. They are confident they will see him again in heaven, but it is still hard to say goodbye.

REMINDER: First Quiz Meet is Saturday

Fallout 2006 made for a great quiz team weekend, but it is not the only one to be had this September. This coming weekend will be the first Quiz Meet of the year in Essex Fells, NJ. We'll spend the morning quizzing, and then have pizza in Essex Fells before coming home.

WHERE: Calvary Church in Essex Fells, NJ
WHEN: We'll leave the church at 7 AM
WHAT: Quizzing on Acts 1 thru 3
COST: $5 for pizza
WHEN DO WE RETURN: We expect to be back around 3 PM

If you did not get enough music at Fallout...

...then you may want to check out one of Fallout's sponsors, The Word FM. If you click on the link here, then you can click on their "Listen Live With Windows Media" tag in the upper-left corner of their own site. It plays well on both Macs and PCs, and so far they appear to have a nice selection of Christian music. Unfortunately, they have no real radio stations in our area, but for now this will do!

Technology in the Pulpit

Fallout Checklist

Tomorrow is Fallout 2006 for those who have signed up previously (if you want to go and have NOT signed up, call Jim ASAP). Here is your checklist for the event.

WHEN DO WE LEAVE? 8:30 AM on Saturday, 9/16. That is when we leave the parking lot.
WHEN DO WE GET BACK? Depending on traffic, probably between 10 PM and 11 PM.
WHAT SHOULD I BE SURE TO BRING? A blanket/towel to sit on, a warm jacket/sweatshirt for the evening, money for meals or a packed lunch and dinner, souvenir money, bug spray/sunblock if you think you'll need it.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BRING FOR MEALS? At a bare minimum, $10 or $5 per meal. We will be eating on-site, as there will be a food tent.
CAN I BRING MY GAMEBOY OR IPOD OR PSP? Yes. Don't bring any recording equipment, as that likely will be banned by the concert. Digital cameras are welcome.
CAN I BRING A BASKETBALL/SOCCERBALL/ETC? If it is small enough to store in your lap, yes. Remember, we are not going to have room for luggage. Only bring when you can store on your own person. And do not plan to ask the sponsors to hold anything for you.

Acts Chapter 3 Study Guide is now online!

Whether for a lone quizzer or the whole family, the Acts 3 study guide is online and ready for your reading pleasure. The devotional was written by Dr. Ron Fay, a former quizzer for the Trumbull Team and a current doctor of New Testament Greek.

This is the last week without Reference Questions as part of the Study Guide. We should have the official reference question list by then, and we will incorporate that list into the study guides.

REMINDER: Fallout Money Is Due TONIGHT

If you told Jim last week that you were attending Fallout this coming weekend, your $30 payment is due tonight. The $30 includes the cost of your ticket and gas. Be sure to bring extra money for lunch and dinner, as well. And, of course, any extra cash you may wish to spend on souvenirs of the event.

Calvary Softball Playoffs - Calvary Wins!!!

Calvary 2 played valiantly on Monday against Calvary 1, but in the final analysis could not put runs on the board. Calvary 2's season is over. All of our best to Matt and the other men in blue.

Click on the picture above for the full pictorial report from the game.

God Gives You the Words you Need

Quizzers who have been with us a few years may remember something in the book of Matthew that Jesus said.

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 10:18-20

At the time, many teens wondered what proof there is of God working in this way. Well, Acts 2 is believed by many to be proof that Jesus's promise is faithful. Why? Acts 2:14-40 is the recounting of the first sermon that Peter ever gave. Those coming to Acts for the first time may assume that Peter is a highly educated man - the equivilent of a modern pastor with high school, college, and Seminary behind him. Instead, Peter was a fisherman. He spent his life learning how to catch, skin, and cook fish. He likely had only the basic primary education, and his only later education was learning from Jesus himself. He never had a speech class, never had a course on biblical interpretation, and chances are this is his first speech in such a large crowd. And yet, he comes up with exactly the right words. He speaks to their hearts, cites scripture precisely, and is able to pursuade enough people that 3,000 people became Christians that day! (Remember, the last time we heard in Acts 1, it was "a group numbering about a hundred and twenty."

Remember this the next time you are worried about speaking up for God and Jesus. Don't worry about your education or speaking ability. God will give you the words you need.

9/11: A Day of Prayer

Today is the 5th anniversary of the events of 9/11 when the World Trade Center towers fell. After 5 years, it is tempting to let the day go by without comment. But we should remember that for those who lost a father, or mother, or child on that sad day are still mourning, and will always bear a wound. Please be praying for those who were left behind on 9/11/2001.

Calvary Softball Playoffs!!!

This is it!!! Calvary 1 will be playing Calvary 2 in the playoffs on Monday, 9/11. The game will be at Indian Ledge Field in Trumbull at 6:15 PM. It will be the LAST GAME for one Calvary team, and a playoff victory for the other. For new quizzers who may not know, Coach Matt plays on the Calvary 2 team as one of their star infielders. All quizzers (and parents, and siblings) are encouraged to come and bring signs, noisemakers, or just yourselves.

WHAT: Calvary 2 vs Calvary 1 Softball Playoffs
WHERE: Indian Ledge Field in Trumbull, CT
WHEN: 6:15 PM (games usually last about an hour)

REMINDER: Fallout!

If you are going to Fallout next weekend, remember that you owe Jim $30 by this coming Wednesday. If you plan to be in church tomorrow, it would be a good time to drop off the cash with our intrepid head coach.
Parents, please take note!

Are you ready?

DID YOU KNOW? The Meaning of Pentecost

We in the Christian church think of "Pentecost" as being a purely Christian holiday, because that was the day the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. But how can that be the case when in Acts itself, the day is identified BEFORE the Holy Spirit is given?

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:1

Pentecost really means "fiftieth day" and is the countoff of 50 days after the Passover. Traditionally, this is believed in the Jewish calendar to be the day that Moses gave the 10 Commendaments at Sinai. It is also the start of the Hebrew celebration of the "Feast of Harvest."

So, Pentecost marks the beginning of a new "giving from God" comparable to the 10 Commandments, and a new Harvest from Jesus. (Sources: Wikipedia and the Catholic Encyclopedia)

Acts 2 Study Guide is ONLINE!

The study guide for Acts Chapter 2 is online and ready for your reading pleasure. This week's devotional is by one of the coaches, but Pastor Scott has stepped in to provide a stimulating array of different "Questions to Consider"!

Remember, if you are going on the retreat, it is entirely fair to make Pastor Scott answer his own questions. It may be instructive to see how many he can answer Sunday morning, when he is working on less than an hour of sleep.

First Quiz Practice of the Year

Tonight is the first quizzing practice for the new year. For returning quizzers, you know what to expect. For new quizzers, you may have a few questions.

WHEN IS IT? 7:00 PM tonight (and every Wednesday)

WHERE IS IT? The Round Room (Enter the Family Life Center, turn right down the long hall, it is at the very end)

WHAT CAN I EXPECT? We'll start off watching the Acts DVD (a literal, dramatized reading from the NIV) at 7 PM sharp. The viewing will likely last about 10 minutes. Then Jim will give a brief review of the chapter, and see if anyone had any questions. Then we will start quizzing. We will quiz in two rooms, and alternate teams between the rooms. It will be conducted like a real quiz meet - 20 questions, a mix of types, bonus questions for wrong answers, etc. The practice will continue until 8:30 PM, when we will return to the Round Room and there may be a few announcements. Then parents will pick up teens, and we'll start studying Acts 2 for next week.

Have you started studying yet?

We will begin quizzing on Acts 1 tomorrow. Hopefully, you have been studying since at least last Thursday using your Acts portion and the study guide. Remember, we recommend at a minimum everyone read through the chapter twice each day.

But if you are having problems studying, read through this article with tips on how to study and get the most out of your quizzing time.

Congratulations, Polar Pete & Arctic Allie!

Congratulations from the Quizzer's Pad to Polar Pete on the birth of his first daughter, Ava Grace. She was born September 3 at 5:09 AM.


It just goes to show how quiz team has unexpected benefits. He serves us ice cream last week, this week he has a healthy, happy baby!

DID YOU KNOW?: The name of Theophilus

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.
Acts 1:1

Reading through the first chapter of Acts, it is common to wonder who Theophilus was. The Bible is not clear on his identity. However, the gospel of Luke is addressed to the same man (Luke 1:1-4), so it appears that whoever he was, Luke took him very seriously!

However, a clue to who this man was may be in his name! In the time of Jesus, Greek was the language of the Roman Empire (though Latin and Aramaic were also common).

THEO - Greek for God
PHILUS - Greek for One Who Loves

Therefore, Thophilus means "One Who Loves God." This may be a sign that whoever the recipient of these books was, he was eager to learn as much as he could about the workings of God on Earth.

IMPORTANT: Anti-SPAM Measures at QuizPad

This was not mentioned at the Kickoff Meeting, so please BE SURE to pass this onto your parents/guardians!

Anyone who has had e-mail for more than 5 minutes is aware of the problem that SPAM presents. SPAM is unwanted "junk mail" that comes in through e-mail and can easily clog up your inbox. Sometimes it is relatively harmless, sometimes it is fairly dangerous stuff that brings along with it viruses, spyware, and other malicious content.

In order to ensure that QuizPad.Com and the coaches are secure from SPAM, we have implemented a new Ant-SPAM system called "BoxTrapper." This system allows through known e-mail addresses without challenge. But when it sees any e-mail that it has not seen before, it quarrantines the e-mail and sends a reply back to the sender. The sender then needs to REPLY to BoxTrapper (just hit "reply" and "send" in your e-mail client) in order to unlock your e-mail address and have the mail get through. If you do not REPLY then the e-mail never reaches the coaches, and eventually is deleted without being read.

In the next day or two, we will be adding ALL of the e-mail addresses provided at the Kickoff Meeting to the "list" of known addresses. However, if you try to send us mail from any other address, you may get caught in the SPAM trap and have to do the REPLY thing again. If bad comes to worse, and you are unable to get an e-mail to the coaches, please leave a note in the "CHAT AREA" which is checked at least once daily by a coach.

Pictures from the Kickoff!

The pictures from the Quiz Team Kickoff are online for your viewing pleasure! Come on over to the Flickr site, and seek out your friends and fellow quizzers.

And, of course, if you were not at the kickoff meeting, that does not mean you can't come next Wednesday. Just make SURE that you have studied Acts Chapter 1 beforehand.