MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Restless

Bible Quiz Fellowship Live!

If you happen to be online at the right times, another Bible quizzing system - Bible Quiz Fellowship - is streaming events from their National Competition LIVE via UStream. Click here or on the image below to view it. (They are not streaming constantly, so click back later if there is nothing broadcasting when you first check.)

PHOTO: Will your Bible be an heirloom someday?

Forgiveness is HARD

In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus admonishes Peter that is it not enough to forgive someone 7 times, but rather 77 times. These days, we tend to glibly talk about forgiveness, but we forget just how hard it can be to forgive. Especially when the wrong is not a small thing, like stepping on one's toes, but something life-changing. The rest of the world has NOT forgotten

"There is a distinction between making the decision to forgive - which we call decisional forgiveness - and actually forgiving someone - emotional forgiveness - which takes longer," says Professor Macaskill.

Often people say they've forgiven but will never forget. Some might argue that's not really forgiveness, but rather the act of drawing a line under an event.

"That's confirmation that they still don't really trust the person. They are always recalling how they were treated before."

Chinese Christians arrested for Easter Service

If you thought persecution of Christians went out with the Roman Empire, you couldn't be more wrong. Even today Christians are being arrested for trying to celebrate Easter in that Communist land.

Up to 30 members of a Chinese evangelical church were arrested on Sunday for trying to hold an Easter service in defiance of the officially atheist government, a member of the clergy said.
A large number of police began to gather early Sunday in the Zhongguancun area of Beijing where the Shouwang Church had said it would hold an outdoor service to mark the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
"Between 20 and 30 followers were taken away by police," senior pastor Jin Tianming told AFP by telephone from his home, where he is under house arrest. He said there were several police officers posted outside the building.
He added that the members of the congregation who were arrested had been taken to different police stations and that none had so far been released.

HUMOR: Interpetation is key

Not mine. Found online.

One Sunday, after church, Mom asked her little daughter what the Sunday school lesson was about. Her daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilts." Needless to say, Mom was perplexed.

Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea. Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about.

He said, "Be not afraid, thy Comforter is coming."

Resurrection Sunday (Easter)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: So Help Me God

Good Friday

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
Luke 23

Maundy Thursday

What Does "Maundy" Mean?

Derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "commandment," Maundy refers to the commands Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice.

Christ in the Passover

Passover began yesterday, so it seemed like a good time to post Chosen People Ministries' video explaining the messianic meaning in the Passover Seder.

Messiah in the Passover - Mitch Glaser from Chosen People Ministries on Vimeo.

"The 10 Commandments" Digitally Remastered

This week is not only the Christian Holy Week. Today, also begins the Jewish observance of Passover (many churches mark Maundy Thursday with a Passover Seder, which is what Jesus was partaking in at the Last Supper). So, it is fitting to see that the classic movie, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, is being re-released on DVD. While not a strict Biblical retelling of the story of Moses, many have found the film to be an inspiring reminder of the life of Moses and the giving of The Law. The Law that pointed towards Christ.

Palm Sunday Facts

Every Quiz Teamer probably knows that yesterday was Palm Sunday, the celebration of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. But here are some fun facts about Palm Sunday that you might not know.

• Palm Sunday celebrations started off in the churches of Jerusalem, before the third or fourth century AD.
• The Palm Sunday falls on any one of the 35 dates ranging from 15 March to 18 April.
• Hosanna is actually a Hebrew word that means "Save us! Please!"
• The Palm Sunday is known as the “Pussy Willow Sunday” in Latvia
• In Kerala, South India, flowers are sprinkled about into the safe haven on Palm Sunday when the gospel is read out.
• "Hosanna" is a reference to Psalm 118:25, a messianic psalm

HUMOR: Are you ready?

Not mine. Found online.

There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door."

Soon after he opened his shop the first man came in and said, "I want a shave!" The barber said, "Sure, just sit in the seat and I'll be with you in a moment." The barber went in the back and prayed a quick desperate prayer saying, "God, the first customer came in and I'm going to witness to him. So please give me the wisdom to know just the right thing to say to him. Amen."

Then quickly the barber came out with his razor knife in one hand and a Bible in the other while saying, "Good morning sir. I have a question for you..........Are you ready to die?"

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Blessings

Let my people go!

Bible collection to become Bible museum?

What do you do if you have one of the largest private collections of Bible artifacts in the world? If you're Steve Green, you take it on the road in preparation for a National Bible Museum.

The tour kicked off last week with a party at the Vatican embassy in Washington that highlighting samples from a 14,000 square foot traveling exhibition, which is called “Passages.” It’s a prelude to the high-tech Bible museum Green wants to open in the next five or so years.

“The Bible has had a huge impact on societies - politics, the arts, science, music, literature,” says Green, who is Christian. “The impact of the book is a story that we feel needs to be told and that is what we are interested in doing - and encouraging people to consider what it has to say.”

“We believe it is the most incredible book that’s ever been written,” he says. “It is a book that has been ridiculed and vilified and yet loved.”

Who knows? Maybe some day the Quiz Team will take a field trip to see the museum?

Do we remember?

Kuala Lumpur lifts ban on Bible importation and printing

Some Bible-related controversies are major news around the world. And some controversies are kept quiet, even as freedom to worship is under attack. One such case which garnered little media attention is that of Malaysia, where Bibles had been seized and impounded over the use of the word "Allah" to refer to God. (For those who are not aware, in Arabic that actually is the word for God, which predated Islam.) But now, the government has done the right thing and has released the Bibles and formally approved Bible printing in the country in all languages.

Malaysia is a multiracial country comprising approximately 60.4% Muslims adherents. Malaysia is a de-facto secular regime, with Islam as the state religion. Christians make up 9.1% of the Malaysian population. The other important thing to know is the geographical interweaving of Malaysia and Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, with its own very pointed challenges in Muslim-Christian relations, especially related to the East Nusa Tenggara province and the horrible affairs on Timor Island. Malaysia's interreligious tensions and whether or not they are resolved peacefully have enormous implications for the region, and beyond. The Bible translation issue in Malaysia represents a vital test case for Christian-Muslim relations worldwide.

Looking for Graduation Information

Are you a Senior preparing for graduation? (Yes, we know who you are!) Please send the details of when and where you will be graduating to the Coaches, so that we can post a congrats post when you are ready to toss your mortarboard!

HUMOR: Giving

Not mine. Found online.

Did you hear about the town's richest man who met with the minister after the Sunday service?
"Why does everyone call me cheap and stingy?" complained the man. "I've told everyone I'm leaving half my money to the church when I die."

The minister nodded. "It reminds me of the story about the pig and the cow. The cow was much loved by the farmer and his neighbors, while the pig was not popular at all. The pig could not understand this and asked the cow about it.

'How come you are so well liked, cow? People say you're good because you give milk and butter and cream every day. But I give more than that. From me they get bacon and ham; they even pickle my feet. Yet I'm not popular and you are. Why do you think that is?'

The cow looked down at the pig and answered, 'Perhaps it's because I give while I'm still alive.'

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: He Reigns!

What's next?

So, the season is over. What's up next for Trumbull's Bible Quizzing program?

Are there any more practices or quiz meets this year? No.

What books are we studying next year? Hebrews, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter

Are we changing versions next year? No. We'll stay with the New International Version. (The old one, not the 2010 version.)

What should I be doing over the summer? It's up to you. We recommend that you take at least a few weeks off from intensive studying to rest your mind. (Although, we DO NOT recommend that you take time off from reading scripture. :-) Remember, the Bible is God talking to us.) Some quizzers, after a break, try to read thru next years books. Some wait for September.

Will there be updates on QuizPad.Com over the summer? Yes! QuizPad.Com will continue to have updates EVERY DAY over the summer. Keep your eyes here for ongoing bible-related and quizzing-related material.

Coach Matt's Photos from Districts

Coach Matt's photos from Districts are up and ready for your viewing. Please click on any of the images below to see the whole set.

REMINDER: No practice tonight!

There are no more practices for the 2010-2011 season. Enjoy your free evening! More information will be coming shortly on plans for 2011-2012.

Photos from Districts!

Coach Mark's photos from Districts are up and ready for your perusal. Click on either image below to see the whole set!

It's a quandry

DISTRICTS: Happy to be home.

DISTRICTS: We're home!

DISTRICTS: At the Tappan Zee. About an hour to church arrival.

DISTRICTS: Heading home. GPS estimates 4 pm arrival at the church.

DISTRICTS: Lunch at Wendy's.

DISTRICTS: Heading out! GPS estimates lunch at 12:45 pm.

DISTRICTS: Pretzel Time!

DISTRICTS: Church

DISTRICTS: Gathering at LEFC for church

Heading home!

The team will be attending church at LEFC today, and then heading home. We'll be stopping for lunch along the way, and should be home between 2 PM and 4 PM (depending on weather and traffic).

As usual, we'll plan to have the teens call when we reach the Tappan Zee Bridge.

DISTRICTS: All teens are with their host families. Goodnight!

DISTRICTS: Glorious Lancaster sunset.

DISTRICTS: Dinner at Fudd's

DISTRICTS: Outlets day 2

DISTRICTS: At the Outlets.

DISTRICTS: On to the Outlets!

DISTRICTS: Second Place Lower Trophy!

DISTRICTS: Talent

DISTRICTS: Closing ceremonies.

DISTRICTS: It's magic!

If you hurry, there's still time to make it to Closing Ceremonies.

DISTRICTS: Bible Knowledge Test

DISTRICTS: Lower Division 2nd Place!

DISTRICTS: Lunchtime

DISTRICTS: Quizzing with Sparta

DISTRICTS: Quizzing!

DISTRICTS: And we quiz, too!

DISTRICTS: Snack Time

DISTRICTS: Detailed Quizzing Schedule

DISTRICTS: Quizzing begins!

DISTRICTS: Opening ceremonies

DISTRICTS: Arrival.

In case you missed it, the newest updated schedule for today.

Updated Districts Quizzing Schedule

I thought parents might like to have the most current schedule of today's activities.

- Arrive from host homes at 8:00 AM
- Opening Ceremonies 8:30 AM
- Quizzing begins at 10 AM
- Lunch at 12:30 PM
- Quizzing resumes 1:30 PM
- Quizzing ends 3:00 PM
- Bible knowledge test, tiebreakers (if needed) 3:00 PM
- Closing ceremonies with talent show 3:30 PM
- Districts ends 4:30 PM
- Shopping at Rockvale Outlets
- Dinner at Fuddruckers
- Return to Lancaster Church 8 PM, leave for host homes

Everyone is with their host families! Goodnight!

Districts Schedule for Saturday