The Book of Ecclesiastes…
“The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose.
The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.
All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again.”
Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 NKJV
About a week has passed since Hurricane Helene hit the U.S. Helene is the deadliest hurricane since Katrina. Hardest hit was western North Carolina, where more than half of the known 215 deaths occurred. Floodwaters reached rooftop levels in many places; the rapidly moving water washed away homes and isolated, or destroyed, many communities. You have seen the photos.
I have been involved with disaster relief for 40 years, including some notable hurricanes like Andrew, Katrina, and Harvey. In every disaster people have asked “why” questions related to God, nature, governments, and people. Sometimes the answers are so vague or misguided they are of little help or comfort. I am certainly no expert, nor do I offer worldly answers. But I offer a reflection based on my Christian faith.
Our modern world surrounds us with amazing technology. We have harnessed electricity and split atoms. Pictures can be taken of what is inside our body and what Earth looks like from space. Wind velocity and direction can be measured inside the area of a hurricane. Images of a hurricane appear on TV, along with computer models of where it might be headed. “Why couldn’t we predict exactly what was going to happen in NC?” Because we are much more limited in our knowledge and capability than we care to admit. The Bible tells us, “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). When we see all that God has done, we cannot comprehend it, though we work hard to find definitive answers (Ecclesiastes 8:17).
The response to a large-scale disaster like Helene is commendable. But it does take time, and manpower. For instance, local citizens used kayaks to rescue people until swift water rescue teams and helicopters arrived. Another example was the two days for a Baptist feeding unit to arrive from Texas to provide 50,000 hot meals per day; in the meantime, local efforts provided MREs for survivors to eat. I could go on, but remember that many of the survivors or responders may not be Christian, or even believe in God. Yet each of them was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). As Christians, we believe God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), but do all affected by a disaster love God? Probably not, yet as Job said, “God is mighty and firm in his purpose” (Job 36:5), a purpose based on his love for the entire world (cf., John 3:16).
Lastly, reflect on human nature itself. I am amazed, but not surprised, by the overwhelming demonstrations of love found in the midst of disasters. It is not confined to the love believers have for the least of God’s people (Matthew 25:40). Rather, it is how God also uses love in the unbeliever to achieve his purpose. I’m not suggesting an act of love is a means of salvation for the unbeliever. It is, though, an expression of the amazing love of our Lord at work.
“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.
Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.”
Proverbs 16:2-3 NKJV
Please continue to pray for our AZDR team members that are still serving in northern Florida. We had well over 1200 requests for help and teams from Ohio, California, Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico are still taking trees off of houses and blocked driveways…
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.””
Isaiah 6:8 NKJV
Good afternoon!
I’ve been in the Boone area for a week now, returned home last night. It’s awful up here. Some areas may not get power back till after winter. 1400 people still missing.
I put my newly completed Crew Chief certification to work! I had a bunch of great people to work with, included two unsaved guys who just came to help out – one from New York! Please pray for Kenny and Billy – they certainly saw God’s people at work, and certainly heard to Gospel as well!
Let me know if you contemplate heading up here in the north… we could use you, and I would love to reconnect with you!
I got this from a friend and former teammate in Lahaina last year. I can’t believe that we are not hearing this on the news 24-7. If we had a different administration in office it would be shouted from the rooftops. Please pray for North Carolina and all of the SBDR members that are serving to bring the love of Christ to everyone they meet…
“Also I will make him my firstborn, Higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, And my covenant shall stand fast with him.”
Psalm 89:27-28 KJV
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Colossians 1:15-23 NKJV
“The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.”
Proverbs 11:25 NKJV
“Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.””
Exodus 34:5-7 NKJV
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV
We don’t have because we don’t ask…
“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.””
I Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Psalms 34:1 NKJV
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:31 NKJV
Please be in prayer for our AZDR and NMDR teams that start work for real tomorrow. Thanks…
“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”
Nahum 1:7 NKJV
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 NKJV
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””
Romans 10:8-13 NKJV
“Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.””
Ruth 3:18 NKJV
We are heading to FBC Live Oak Florida to start serving those affected by Hurricane Helene. Should arrive tomorrow before lunch…
“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”
I Peter 2:7-8 NKJV
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV
“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”
John 14:9-11 NKJV
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
Hebrews 3:1-6 NKJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:16-17 NKJV
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8 NKJV
“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
II John 1:6 NKJV
“Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”
Psalms 139:10 NKJV
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
I John 1:7 NKJV
“There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.”
Proverbs 21:30 NKJV
Reading and studying through the book of Judges,we came across this…
The parallel between the life of Samson and that of Jesus Christ-
An angel announced both of their births…
From the womb, they were both separated to God…
Both were Nazarite’s…
The Holy Spirit gave them their power…
Rejected! They were both rejected by their own people…
Samson destroyed Israel’s enemies, Jesus Will destroy His enemies…
In contrast-
Samson lived a life of sin, Jesus a sinless life…
Samson prayed, “O God, that I may at once avenged of the Philistines for my eyes.”
Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Samson died with outstretched arms in wrath…
In death, Jesus had His arms stretched wide in love…
Samson died…
Jesus Christ LIVES!!!
Do you know Him today? Seek Him today with all your heart…
This year I missed the live telecast of the Little League World Series championship game. Kathie, however, saw it and gave me a recap. Subsequently, I did watch video portions of the game and the post-game interview.
The Lake Mary, FL team represented the Southeast region of the US. Chinese Taipei represented the Asia-Pacific region. They advanced through the championship rounds in Williamsport, PA, and met for the championship game on August 25th.
Taipei had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 6th inning (the last regular inning in Little League baseball). With two outs and two on, the Florida batter hit a soft liner to left field, scoring the runner who had been at second base. Two extra innings were played. In the bottom of the 8th Lake Mary had runners at first and second. The next batter, Hunter Anderson, laid a bunt down along the first base line. The Taipei pitcher fielded the bunt and threw towards first for the third out. Except no Taipei player was covering the bag; the ball flew into right field, and the runner on second scored. Lake Mary won 2-1. What happened next is why I am writing this devotional.
Not surprisingly, the Lake Mary team rushed on the field hugging Hunter and Lathan Norton, who scored the winning run. Though excited, they cut short their personal celebration and formed a line to shake hands with Taipei players and coaches. When the handshaking was done, you could see some of the Taipei players crying. Manager Jonathan Anderson wrapped his arms around the disconsolate Taipei pitcher. Lake Mary players hugged and consoled their distraught opponents. An Orlando Sentinel editorial summarized the post-game this way: “that image of human kindness and connection … will dwell in the hearts and memories of Lake Mary fans … “
Acts of kindness are not something those ballplayers were born with. They, like us, had been instructed, based on the word of God. The players’ coaches were a model. We are to do to others as we would want them to do to us (Matthew 7:12). Even in victory, we should also look to the interests of the losers (cf., Philippians 2:4). Those 12-year-olds from Florida are an inspiration to those of us who have, over the years, lost some of that perspective.
There is also a second lesson found in this Little League game. Shortly after the game ended, but before the press conference, someone asked Hunter Anderson about his bunt. He did not elaborate on his skill, but rather, simply said he did what the coach told him to do. His comment is an apt reminder of what Jesus, our great coach, told us. And modeled. If we love the Lord, we will obey what He has commanded (John 14:15).
Too often we get caught up in the desire to win, and forget how to be winners. We win first prize at the fair for our apple pie, and act as if we are the perfect baker. We are nominated to be a deacon in our church, then behave as if we wrote the New Testament.
Lake Mary ball players won a close ballgame, then demonstrated how to be true winners. If they had lost the game, could they still be winners? I believe the answer is yes, provided they understood the true meaning of love your neighbor. Sure, they might have cried, but they would have had a moment to share in their opponent’s joy. A game well played by two winners.
Win and winner, lose and winner, are the same result to different outcomes. The Lord would be pleased in either case.
“So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.”
And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.
Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.””
Judges 7:5-7 NKJV
Is this a lesson in, ‘divine election’ and man’s, ‘free will?’ Yes. This is the way that the two work together.
Argue about it if you want to, but in real life, it works!
It works because it is God’s way…
Each one of the ten thousand men in Gideon’s army exercised his free will. God did not interfere with their choice at all.
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
John 6:37 NKJV
You cannot argue election! You just can’t…
Good news- you can come to God if you want to…your the elect…
The bad news- if you don’t want to come to God- you are not elected…
Othniel, Deborah, Barak, and Gideon judged Israel 40 years.
Ehud, twice 40 years.
Eli judged Israel 40 years.
Saul, David, and Solomon each reigned 40 years.
At the Flood it rained 40 years.
Moses fled Egypt at the age of 40, was in Midian 40 years, was on the mount 40 days.
Israel wandered in the desert 40 years.
The spies were 40 days in Canaan.
Elijah fasted 40 days.
Nineveh was given 40 days respite.
Jesus fasted 40 days and sojourned (I like this word) 40 days after His resurrection.
“40”
40 years seems to denote a generation.
Numbers in the Bible are always interesting…
“In this day of gathering storms, as moral deterioration of political power spreads its growing infection, it is essential that every spiritual force be mobilized to defend and preserve the religious base upon which this nation is founded; for it has been that base which has been the motivating impulse to our moral and national growth. History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual reawakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.”
General Douglas MacArthur.
Last month there was a colossal failure in computer systems around the world.1Airline flights were cancelled, financial markets disrupted, and industrial operations faltered. The failure appeared to involve just business computers using Microsoft Windows systems. A cybersecurity company, CrowdStrike, delivered a defective update that produced the computer crashes.
When computers crashed in 1993 while using Widows 3.0, Microsoft referred to it as a “blue screen of death” error. A computer, unable to operate safely, generates a blue screen and a message error in white print. Experts referred to the problem as a “stop error” since Windows stopped working.
Apparently, stop errors are hard to fix. The reason for the failure can be generally understood, but the specifics are more complex. One expert explained the error occurs at “the deepest levels of the operating system, where detailed interactions with hardware occur.” I did, though, understand his examples: problems with memory or overheating.
A variety of ways to fix blue screen of death errors were offered online, nearly all were above my level of comprehension. One fix I could understand was to turn your computer on and off 15 times; a universal problem solver!!
Stop errors have been around since the time God created the first mobile computer, man. Adam and Eve had perfectly functioning minds until they installed an update offered by a serpent (Genesis 3:1). Shortly thereafter, they had a stop error that included a message from God to stop living in the Garden of Eden.
Since then, we have all been living with imperfect minds that can produce critical errors. The Israelites installed an update for something to lead them to the Promised Land since Moses had been on Mt Sinai a long time (Exodus 32). Their system crashed because of a golden calf update, and they would experience the equivalent of the blue screen of death, a plague (32:35), as well as the death of the whole generation because of their unfaithfulness (Numbers 14:26-32).
At the deepest levels of our heart and mind we have defects leading to all kinds of evil that will destroy us (Proverbs 6:12-15). Offering sacrifices or living by our own standards may give us a sense of worthiness, but it is really just overheating our thought processes to the point of stop errors in our commitment to the Lord.
In the postmodern world we are offered updates so bizarre and complex we think they must surely work. Put something up your nose. Swallow a pill. Join a cult. Tear out pages of the Bible, keep what suits you. Change your identity. The list goes on.
Perhaps one of the most popular fixes is to turn God off and on 15 times. Attend worship awhile and then stop going for a year or so. Come back when there are cantatas. Pray as long as it feels good, when it doesn’t, stop. Resume when you have a need. Live as you would six days a week, then ask the Lord to forgive you on Sunday.
The Son of God brought to earth the only fix possible for our spiritual blue screen of death (John 3:16). Confessed faith in Jesus gives us a whole new operating system (2 Corinthians 5:17). The blue screen of our sinful life is replaced by a white robe of eternal life (Revelation 3:5).
Caleb, along with Joshua were the only two spies to give a positive report. We have the Lord of the universe, we can take this land. The nine tribes and the half are to have their inheritance by lot. Caleb obtains Hebron, by privilege!
Caleb had found the fountain of youth- the first is to have the Faith to forget the past, second, have Faith to face the facts, and third, Faith to face the future…
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV
“He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.”
Proverbs 10:17 NKJV
“but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;”
Titus 1:3 NKJV
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:8-9 NKJV
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV
“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths.”
Proverbs 5:21 NKJV
One hot afternoon in Apache Junction Arizona. We left our truck outside their gate as AZDR Bryce came to our rescue. He hauled us and the Recovery unit to Globe.
We have been working nonstop to setup a workable team at Trinity Baptist Church. The conditions are not the best, but we are ever grateful for our Lord…
This our prayer tonight:
“Come, let’s sing to Adonai! Let’s shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation! Let’s come into his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout for joy to him with songs of praise. For Adonai is a great God, a great king greater than all gods. He holds the depths of the earth in his hands; the mountain peaks too belong to him. The sea is his — he made it — and his hands shaped the dry land. Come, let’s bow down and worship; let’s kneel before Adonai who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people in his pasture, the sheep in his care. If only today you would listen to his voice:”
Tehillim (Psa) 95:1-7 CJB
https://bible.com/bible/1275/psa.95.1-7.CJB
The 2024 Olympic Games are in full swing this week. Regardless of the sport, I enjoy the awards ceremonies and the playing of the national anthem of the country that won the gold medal. Particularly interesting are how the athletes react when their anthem is played. I became curious about the words in each anthem, and what they might have meant to each athlete.
Some, but not all, anthems had reference to God or Christian values in their lyrics. Many countries with spiritual words in their anthems now have populations where 50% or more of the people claim no religious affiliation. Nearly every country has lyrics related to wars and struggles.
New Zealand’s anthem begins with the words, “God of Nations at Thy feet …” though half the population claims no religious preference. “God be with our Suriname” has unpopular Christian references because their history includes Dutch settlers who brought African slaves to Suriname.
In contrast, Saint Kitts and Nevis, with populations that are 75% Christian, share an anthem which begins, “With God in all our struggles, Saint Kitts and Nevis be, A nation bound together, With a common destiny.” A Dominican friar wrote the Peruvian anthem; while there is reference to the God of Jacob, greater emphasis is on the struggle for freedom. In like fashion, South Africa’s anthem is the combination of two songs, one for God to bless them, and the other for a call to unity. Great Britain’s anthem is “God Save the King” and by inference, divine protection on the country through the king.
Our Star-Spangled Banner was written during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814; only in the third verse is there reference to “in God we trust.” To our north, the original lyrics of the Canadian anthem mention God only in the fourth verse; the modern official wording does not mention God. To the south, the ten verses of the Mexican anthem refer to wars and freedom; verse one does, though, refer to their destiny being written by the “finger of God.”
One of our adversaries, China, is mostly atheistic, and the words of “March of Volunteers” focus on building a new Great Wall when they, ‘brave the enemy’s gunfire.” Another adversary, Russia, has had several versions of its national anthem, including one, when Boris Yeltsin was President, that had no lyrics. This infuriated Vladimir Putin because Russian athletes at the 2000 Olympics had no words to sing. After reviewing 2,000 songs, the government selected a new anthem extolling, “Russia is our sacred state … the native land so kept by God.”
If an athlete remains stoic during the playing of their national anthem, are they anti-God? Does singing with gusto reflect equal enthusiasm for God and country? Are emotional displays a sign of personal achievement or the privilege of representing a country? If someone raises a fist or takes a knee during the playing of an anthem, is it to protest God or support some political ideology? Is it okay to have a mixture of feelings?
I consider myself an American patriot; I love this country though it has its flaws. Often, though, I sing the third verse of the Star-Spangled Banner while others sing the more familiar first verse. I believe one cannot equally love God and country. Our first love must be for God (Mark 12:30); only then can we love our neighbor, and in doing so, love our country.
It’s OK to wrap yourself
in red, white, and blue
As long as others can see
God living in you
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11 NKJV
“When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.””
Psalms 27:8 NKJV
The law of appropriation. God gives, but we must take.
“Only be thou strong and very courageous…”
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9 KJV
Anyone wishing to become a U.S. Citizen must pass a test. The first part requires understanding the English language. The second part is a 10-question oral exam where at least six questions must be answered correctly. If you can read this, you understand English. Now, answer 10 questions taken from the USCIS study guide.
1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence: a) Benjamin Franklin, b) John Adams, c) Thomas Jefferson, d) George Washington
2. What are the first three words of the Constitution, describing self-government: a) When in the course of human events, b) We the people, c) I pledge allegiance, d) We hereby declare
3. How many voting members are there in the U.S. House of Representatives: a) 435, b) 325, c) 100, d) 50
4. If the President and Vice-President can no longer serve, who becomes the President: a) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, b) Secretary of State, c) President Pro Tempore of the Senate, d) Speaker of the House
5. How many amendments are there in the Constitution: a) 10, b) 13, c) 27, d) 50
6. What is a responsibility that applies only to U.S. Citizens: a) serve on a jury, b) pay taxes, c) obey the law, d) all the above
7. What is the name of one of the U.S. Senators in the state where you live?
8. Who was the President during World War I: a) Theodore Roosevelt, b) Woodrow Wilson, c) Franklin Roosevelt, d) Harry Truman
9. Name a state that borders Canada: a) Washington, b) Vermont, c) Pennsylvania, d) all the above
10. One of the two longest rivers in the U.S. is the: a) Hudson River, b) Ohio River, c) Colorado River, d) Mississippi River
To become a Christian does not require a test, but you must make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The following is only a test to see how much you know about the Bible.
1. How many books are in the Christian Bible: a) 33, b) 39, c) 66, d) 72
2. What is the name of the location where Jesus was crucified: a) Rome, b) Jerusalem, c) Valley of Bones, d) Golgotha
3. Jesus spent his childhood in what city: a) Capernaum, b)Bethlehem, c) Jerusalem, d) Nazareth
4. What is the name of the person who replaced Judas as an apostle: a) Barnabas, b) Matthias, c) Joseph, d) Nicodemus
5. Where did God give Moses the Ten Commandments: a) Mt Sinai, b) Mt Gerizim, c) Beersheba, d) Jericho
6. When God sent rain and Noah entered the ark, how many days was the flood waters on the earth: a) 7, b) 40, c) 150, d) 300
7. Based on the number of words, what is the shortest book in the English Bible: a) Obadiah, b) Jonah, c) Jude, d) 3rd John
8. What hour of the day did Jesus die on the cross: a) 3rd, b) 6th, c) 9th, d) 12th
9. Where did Jesus perform his first miracle, turning water into wine: a) Nazareth, b) Cana, c) Jerusalem, d) Bethany
10. Where was the book of Revelation written: a) Patmos, b)Ephesus, c) Rome, d) Laodicea
How did you do on both the civics and Bible tests? If we are to be in the world, we must know something about it, and if we are to be witnesses, we need to know something of God’s word.
The answers to the civics test can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/OoC_100_Questions_2008_Civics_Test_V1.pdf The Bible has its own answers. Or see the keys below.
Civics answers: c – b – b – d -c – a – your state – b – d -d
Bible answers: c – d – d – b – a – c – d – c – b – a
Back to the desert…
“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalms 89:1 NKJV
“Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.”
Proverbs 13:4 NLT
“Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
I Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalms 122:6 NKJV
“Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.”
Proverbs 9:11
Holes where trees used to be…
“For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.”
Ephesians (Eph) 2:8-10 CJB
“For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—
The Lord God of hosts is His name.”
Amos 4:13 NKJV
“then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Divrei-HamYamim Bet (2 Ch) 7:14 CJB
“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”
Proverbs 4:23-27 NKJV
Nomads2