Ecclesiastes 12:10

Down & Distance Who asked permission from Pharaoh to take his people on a three-day journey into the wilderness? Jacob Joseph Moses Abram What parable begins with the word, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,"? The parable of the talents The Good Samaritan The parable of the rich man and Lazarus The parable of the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho What village was about 7 miles (or threescore furlongs) from Jerusalem? Bethany Emmaus Nain Cana What village was about two miles ( or about fifteen furlongs ) from Jerusalem? Bethany Emmaus Nain Cana Who went "down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land."?  Joseph and Mary Joseph Moses Abraham About how far out were the apostles on the lake when Jesus came walking toward them? A few yards A hundred feet Three or Four miles In sight of the land Whose brothers began plotting his death when they saw him from a distance? Joseph Absalom ...

  On occasion you will hear on a big issue someone exclaim "Doing nothing is not an option". But it is.  Doing nothing is an option. The proper way to express the idea might be “doing nothing is not an acceptable option” or doing nothing is not a proper option.  But is that true? Could doing nothing be not only an option but perhaps the best option?   Consider the parable of the prodigal son. And He said, "A man had two sons.  "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.  "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living . Luke 15:11-13    Here the father has a choice. He could refuse the request. He could punish the ingrate son. He could lock him in his room. It's not as if the father couldn’t see wh...

B.C. Tell if the event occurs before Jesus was born or after? Death of Herod the Great Before After The Fall of the Babylonian Empire Before After The end of sacrifices in the temple Before After The writing of the Iliad by Homer Before After The rule of Julius Caesar Before After The invention of printing press Before After The copy of the book of Isaiah Scroll found in the Dead Seas Scrolls Before After The birth of John the Baptist Before After The founding of the city of London by the Romans Before After The death of Simeon Before After

  Word origin fascinates me. Taken for example the word character. Today it can mean a letter or symbol used in print or it can be the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. But both these meanings have the same origin.   In ancient times, (brick makers, engravers, etc.) used a symbol to mark the things they created to show that they were the makers. That symbol was his “character.” That symbol became a measure of the work being done.  The quality of the person and his work gave value to his credentials. If the work was good, so was the character. If it was bad, then the character was viewed as poor.  It isn’t any different today. We may want to label ourselves with certain words and phrases. But in the end, it is what we do that gives value to those words. If we call ourselves Christian and don’t act properly, it ruins the name. If we claim to be the church of Christ and behave like any other group, we dilute the meaning. They profe...

Baby Blues See If you can birth the correct answer Which of these terms is the closest match to the place where the baby Jesus was lain? Barn Shed Feeding trough An outhouse According to Hebrews, whose parents hid him because they saw he was a beautiful child? Abraham Moses Samson Joash Whose passionate prayer for a child caused the priest to think she was drunk? Sari Racheal Leah Hannah What did the not yet born John the baptist do when his mother heard Mary voice? He lept in her womb He started to be born He spun in circles He cried out What brother was born clutching the heal of his twin? Esau Jacob Perez. Thomas What prophet gave the rather unfortunate names Lo-ammi & Lo-ruhamah to his children? Micah Jeremiah Joel Hosea What strange advice did Solomon give two women arguing whose child was whose? Give the child to the state Cut the child in two and each take a half Give the child to the older women Let the baby decide ...

  I’m normally not one for changing scripture but follow me on this one. In Romans 14:4 we read: Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.   Now read it again and change one word. Make judge compare. Why do you compare yourself with the servant of another? When you think about they are reflective words. Comparison is a form of judging. Yet comparison is typically done negative towards ourselves. Why am I not as good as them? How come I can’t do what they do? Why do they get all the breaks?  This form of judging is all too common in our world. We create in others an ideal that we can’t meet, then wallow and worry about our failures? Failures to whom? God will be our judge; not our skewed perceptions. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of G...

The Far Side Pick the right side. Better said, the correct side even if it is not the right side but the left side. The side of the boat that had a great catch after Jesus resurrection? Right Left Hand which Ehud used to stab Elgon in the belly? Right Left The choice men of Gibeah, could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. handedness? Right Left The side a wise man is directed according to Ecclesiastes 10:2? Right Left Hand where mark of Beast is located according to Revelation (if not on forehead)? Right Left Which ear of Malchus did Peter cut off? Right Left Side Ezekiel was to lay on for 390 days to bear inequities of Israel? Right Left Hand which Israel placed on Ephraim the younger brother when he blessed the sons of Joseph? Right Left Side where Jehoiada the priest place the collection box for repairs to the temple? Right Left Side where goats will be separated in the final judgment Right Left

  Some of the best preachers I have known have been fired.  Some of the worst continue to get great job after great job.  Some of the hardest working people never get promoted or are given a raise and continually worry about their job security. Some of the laziest get extra benefits, more pay and never fear they’ll get let go.  Some people never prepare or plan and yet everything works out for them, others do everything the right way, scrimp and save yet it the end it all falls apart. Some folks blow through opportunity after opportunity and yet still get another chance; while others never even get a bite at the apple.   It just doesn’t seem fair!   Life is hardly ever fair. It seems to take more than it gives. Rewards those that that don’t deserve, punishes those that do. Good people suffer. Wicked people prosper. Life seems more about luck than logic, favoritism more than faithfulness, chance more than choice   Life may be unfair bu...

Shoe Can you find the right fit? Who took off his sandal and gave it another, as was the custom, in order to redeem Ruth? Boaz Naomi Perez Who was told to remove his sandal as he was standing on holy ground? Abraham Lot Moses What people conned the Israelites into thinking the were foreigners by their shoddy footwear? Huns Gibeonites Jebusites Who was told by an angel to put on his sandals as he was escaping prison? John Joseph Peter What character was given a ring, the best robe, and shoes on his return home? The Prodigal Son The Rich Man Lazarus Who said he was not worthy to untie the straps of Jesus' sandals? John the Baptist Paul Herod What prophet said his people were willing to sell out the righteous for a pair of shoes? Jeremiah Micah Amos Who did David tell Solomon to deal with as he had blood on his waist and feet? Saul Joab Adonijah What meal was to be eaten with "your sandals on your feet"? Passover Meal Sab...