Pictures from the Wildwoods

Coach Matt and I are back from the Wilds of the Jersey Shore, and wanted to share a bit of our adventure with you. Click on the images below to see some of the pics I took from that fabled land.

Bible Crossword

Looking for some way to have fun while studying the scriptures this summer? Consider checking out this online crossword puzzle game which focussed on the Epistles (i.e. the letters section of the New Testament). This includes all of the books that we will be studying over the next year: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Collosians, and Philemon. The game is written in Java, so make sure your browser supports it before clicking through.

Bible on iPhone for Free

Laridian is not the only one bringing the Bible to the iPhone and other mobile devices. This site is an attempt by a YWAM missionary to bring the King James Bible to the web. This site also works on pretty much any other web browser, and has a nice interface if you want to click thru for your own study. This site, however, is still a work in progress, so not every book may yet be online.

If you don't know who Gutenberg is, ask your parents

From this site.

A collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old Bible that he found in a dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Guten-somebody-or-other had printed it.
"Not Gutenberg?" Gasped the collector.
"Yes, that was it!"
"You idiot! You've thrown away one of the first books ever printed. A copy recently sold at an auction for half a million dollars!"
"Oh, I don't think this book would have been worth anything close to that much," replied the man. "It was scribbled all over in the margins by some guy named Martin Luther."

Obscure but VERY funny

The Pages Tour on October 13

Again, this is NOT an official Quiz Team activity, but I thought Quizzers might be interested in knowing about The Pages Tour coming October 13.

Worst Case Scenarios

Bible Biographies on your PDA

Sometimes it can be interesting to view the Bible through a new lens. Olive Tree Software is releasing prose-style biographies of several Biblical figures which read like a novel. These biographies are designed for PDAs (i.e. Palm, Smartphone, etc.), so you can bring them along to school or work.

DAVID: SHEPHERD, PSALMIST, KING - Meyer captures the very spirit and life of this “man after God’s own heart,” and then practically relates David’s life to the reader’s own: “To bear with unfailing meekness the spiteful attacks of malice and envy; not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good; to suffer wrong…this is only possible to those in whose breasts the dove-like Spirit has found an abiding-place…and these are they who bear themselves as heroes in the fight.”

JOSEPH: BELOVED, HATED, EXALTED - Discover the story of Joseph, beloved by Jacob, hated by his brothers, forgotten by his friends, remembered by God, and exalted as ruler of Egypt. Meyer uses Joseph’s life as an illustration of the coming Christ, and makes clear to the reader the import Joseph’s life has on their own.

Are you ready to view Biblical heroes in a new way?

African-American Stars Recording the Bible

In an attempt to dramatize scripture in a new way, a collection of African-American stars from Hollywood are coming together to record a new audiobook recording of the Bible.

The audio Bible, to be released in November on 72 CDs and on iTunes, features an all-black cast of more than 200 actors, singers and clergy, officials said Tuesday. The dramatic performances are set to an original musical score performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

The cast also includes Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett and Cuba Gooding Jr.

This new recording is based on Todays New International Version, which is NOT what we are quizzing on, but is still good for Bible study.

Natural Revelation

I took these pictures on my vacation in New Jersey, and they brought to mind a few verses from the Psalms.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Psalm 19:1-3

Polar Pete goes to the Movies!

Polar Pete - ice cream seller extraordinaire and official snack provider at the Quiz Team Kickoffs - has made a name for himself with one of the movies that has been filming in our neck of the woods!

This entrepreneur's hobby and collection have paid off in an unexpected way. Not only did he land a role in the Leonardo DiCaprio film, "The Revolutionary Road," being filmed throughout Connecticut, but he now has more people in the film industry lining up for him and his truck.

The film is based on a novel by Richard Yates and stars DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The story takes place in the 1950s, and Brake has all the '50s pins, etc. Though his truck is a different model than drivers used then, it looks much the same.

A representative of the film's production company e-mailed Brake and asked if he would be interested in driving his truck to the movie set because they wanted to use it as a prop.

Then the production staff checked out polarpetes.com, saw Brake in his uniform, and asked him to be in the movie too.

Sometimes God blesses us by putting us in the right place, at the right time!

Invitation Only

Inscription on Ancient Find Backs Up Jeremiah's Account

The Bible contains some of the oldest extant records of the ancient world. Many of the people mentioned in it have been forgotten to history, and thus some try to use this lack of corroboration as proof that the Bible is false. But time and time again, archeological finds back up the Biblical account. There has been a new find that backs up one of the people in the book of Jeremiah.

The tablet names a Babylonian officer called Nebo-Sarsekim who, according to Jeremiah 39 was present in 587BC when Nebuchadnezzar "marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it".

The cuneiform inscription records how Nebo-Sarsekim lavished a gift of gold on the Temple of Esangila in the fabled city of Babylon, where, at least in folk tradition, Nebuchadnezzar is credited with building the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

A Widow of Wycliffe Dies

Quiz Team friend Dagney Pitts is now a missionary working for Wyliffe Bible Translators. We wish to extend our sympathies to the Wycliffe, as the wife of one of the founders has passed away.

Elaine Mielke Townsend, 91, the widow of W. Cameron "Cam" Townsend, who co-founded Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1934 and founded JAARS in 1948, died July 14 at 7:00 p.m. in a Rock Hill, S.C. hospital after a brief illness. She had been in weakened health since a Feb. 21, 2006 stroke in her Waxhaw, N.C. home.

Bob Creson, president of Wycliffe USA, said, “All Wycliffe staff mourn the loss of Elaine Townsend, 'Auntie Elaine,' to many. She and her husband, Uncle Cam, our founder, were outstanding examples of faith in God and commitment to the Bibleless peoples of the earth. Were she still with us, I know her message to us would be, 'Finish the task!' "

Calvary Softball Tonight

Come on out tonight to see Calvary 2 play Monty's! The game will be 7:30 PM at Indian Ledge Park in Trumbull.

The Bible Quiz Podcast

It isn't our style of quizzing, but you may be interested to check out The Bible Quiz Podcast maintained for the WBQA. As with all Podcasts, you can either visit the website or set up to download the podcast to iTunes for use on your MP3 player automatically. It might be a way to spice up those quiet summer days, when you are pining for some Quizzing action.

Laridian Bringing the Bible to iPhone!

Laridian Electronic Publishers is a company dedicated to bringing the Bible to portable devices like Palm computers, Blackberrys, iPods, and the like. I have used their MyBible software on both Windows CE devices and Palm devices and there is nothing else out there that matches their level of quality and useability. Well, soon they will be bringing the same level of service to the iPhone and other mobile devices with iPocketBible.Com. This may turn out to be an excellent tool to assist with Bible Study for next year's Quiz Team!

What are the MOST blogged scriptures?

This article contains a very interesting analysis of blogging and the Bible. The writer went through and using Google and other search tools catalogued the most popular bible verses online, those written about and blogged about. His analysis shows that the majority do NOT line up with the most important sections of scripture (i.e. the giving of the Law to Moses, Sermon on the Mount, etc.) but generally are smaller snippets quoted to prove a point.

This is a reminder to us that we need to read the WHOLE of scripture, and not restrict ourselves to those parts which are familiar and comfortable.

Its funny and it makes you think

September 15: Third Day in Concert

This is not an official Quiz Team activity, but I thought everyone might be interested to know the next Rock-the-Sound-affiliated concert is coming up on September 15 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Agwam, MA. Fall Quest 2007 will be featuring Third Day, Thousand Foot Krutch, and others. Looks like a fun time for all!

Pictures from Calvary 2 Softball

Calvary 2 played their hearts out, and tied up the game in the top of the 7th inning, but ultimately were beaten by Renfro 9-8. Click on the picture for the full set of pictures from the great battle of red and blue.

The next game is July 17 at 7:30 PM at Indian Ledge Field against Monty's. Come on out and show your team spirit for these embattled men.

Second Veggie Tales Movie on the Way

The first Veggie Tales movie, Jonah, was not quiet a work of greatness, but it was a lot of fun and brought the Biblical story to a very wide audience in a friendly way. Well, now the Veggie Tales crew are bringing a second movie to the screen based on some stars from the first movie: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

Click here for the teaser trailer to the film, which looks quite fun... though a bit less Biblical than the first one.

TONIGHT: Calvary 2 Softball at Indian Ledge Field

Tonight, come on out to Indian Ledge Field in Trumbull at 7:30 PM to support our boys in blue!

Happy Birthday, Ms. Frizzle!

July is not only the month of my birthday, but also the quiz teamer Ms. Frizzle! Today is the anniversary of her entry into this world, for which we are all very thankful. We wish you a VERY happy day, and a year of joy, accomplishment, and greatness in both the academic and spiritual realms.

Feel free to add your own own birthday wishes in the comments or in the Chat Area.

Challenge 2008 Blog Announced

Ready to get excited about Challenge 2008? Well the EFCA has put up a blog for next year's conference. Check it out at http://blogs.efca.org/challenge/

The worship leaders for next year's conference will be Starfield.

Happy Birthday Coach Mark

Today is coach Mark's Birthday. Send him a birthday greeting in the shoutbox or in the comments section of this post.

Seeing is not believing

Calvary 1 vs Calvary 2 Softball Tonight!

Game has been canceled due to field conditions. I'll let you know when it is rescheduled. Sigh.

Tonight, at Indian Ledge Field in Trumbull, CT is the clash of the titans!!! Calvary 1 Softball will be playing Calvary 2 softball for the title of BEST softballers in Calvary Church. The time is 7:30 PM, and we're hoping to see some of you there. Feel free to bring signs, noisemakers, etc. Now is the time to come out and show your support for our "troops".

Happy Independence Day!

Pictures taken from the Shelton 2007 Fireworks show. Click on the picture for the whole set.

Another Bible Image

Somehow this seemed appropriate for the day before Independence Day.

Did the Bible survive Hurricane Katrina?

I was surfing Flickr the other day, and came across the picture below of some Bibles that survived the floods around Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. It is amazing to think about all of the natural and man-made disasters that the Bible has survived. God's Word truly does endure.

Fear is funny sometimes

From Here.

A little boy was afraid of the dark. One night his mother told him to go out to the back porch and bring her the broom.

The little boy turned to his mother and said, "Mama, I don't want to go out there. It's dark."

The mother smiled reassuringly at her son. "You don't have to be afraid of the dark," she explained. "Jesus is out there. He'll look after you and protect you."

The little boy looked at his mother real hard and asked, "Are you sure he's out there?"

"Yes, I'm sure. He is everywhere, and he is always ready to help you when you need him," she said.

The little boy thought about that for a minute and then went to the back door and cracked it a little. Peering out into the darkness, he called, "Jesus? If you're out there, would you please hand me the broom?"