United Church of Two Harbors tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13 2008-05-11T13:29:05Z a welcoming and nurturing faith community on the shores of lake superior Movable Type 3.33 New Testament Trivia Quiz tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2271 2008-05-10T16:06:04Z 2008-05-11T13:29:05Z United Church just finished its nine month journey through the New Testament reading a chapter a day. Now for the quiz! See how well you can do against this 40 question quiz. Correct answers are below in red. 1) How... ironic1 http://ironic1.com are below in red. johnpap.jpg1) How many books are there in the New Testament? a. 27 b. 33 c. 4 d. more and more every year 2) The author of most of the books in the New Testament is… a. Jesus b. Peter c. Paul d. Billy Graham 3) The books that record the life and teachings of Jesus are known as… a. the Annals b. the Dead Sea Scrolls c. the Chronicles d. the Gospels 4) The book of Acts… a. records stories of Jesus’ youth b. contains short plays about Jesus c. records the stories of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection d. records the story of Jesus trial and crucifixion from the point of view of Pontius Pilate 5) Mark… a. is the shortest of the gospels b. is commonly accepted as the earliest written gospel c. has two endings d. all of the above 6) Paul’s conversion from persecutor of the church to apostle is recorded in… a. Luke b. 1 Paul c. Revelation d. Acts 7) Apocalypse in the Greek literally means.. a. catastrophe or destruction b. revelation or unveiling c. divine wrath d. dance music with marimbas 8) The earliest written book in the New Testament was likely… a. Matthew b. Isaiah c. Acts d. 1 Thessalonians 9) Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels because… a. they were discovered near Synopsis, Greece b. they were the earliest gospels c. they are similar d. they all contain a synopsis of the Old Testament at the beginning 10) The number of books written by Jesus in the New Testament is… a. 0 b. 1 c. 4 d. 27 11) The Epistles... a. is the anglicized version of the word “apostles” b. are letters c. are the books in the New Testament that are not the Gospels d. is the Greek word for the Gospels 12) The books of the New Testament are all generally believed to be written… a. by Paul or followers of Paul b. in Greece c. between 45 and 140 AD d. in Aramaic before they were translated into Latin 13) The New Testament as it is (books and order) has existed since approximately… a. 110 AD b. 367 AD c. 733 AD d. 1821 AD 14) Matthew is unique because… a. it is the only Gospel to record Jesus’ genealogy b. of the story of the Wise Men bringing gifts to Jesus c. it doesn’t list the names of the disciples d. all of the above 15) Mark is notable because… a. its repeated use of the phrase “kai euthos” (“and immediately”) b. it was the only gospel not to be written by one of the 12 Disciples c. it has Jesus being born in Nazareth instead of Bethlehem d. all of the above 16) Luke has more of these than any other gospel… a. chapters b. parables c. disciples d. all of the above 17) John is unique because… a. it contains multiple visits to Jerusalem by Jesus b. there are no parables c. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet d. all of the above 18) Acts is believed to be written… a. by Paul b. before any of the Gospels c. by the writer of Luke d. by a woman 19) In Romans, Paul… a. compares the Gentiles to a branch grafted onto an olive tree b. argues that God has not rejected the Jewish people c. asks for support for a trip to Spain d. all of the above 20) Arguably the best known passage from 1 Corinthians is… a. a chapter about the nature of love often read at weddings b. the story of Jesus’ birth c. the story of Paul cheating at a dice game d. none of the above 21) In 2 Corinthians Paul compares his own imperfections in proclaiming the Gospel as… a. yeast in the bread b. a thorn in his side c. a treasure buried in a field d. a clay jar containing a treasure 22) Galatians was written… a. to ask for money b. by Peter to Paul who was in Gaul c. against those who taught that Gentiles had to be circumcised to become Christians d. none of the above 23) Ephesians… a. uses a metaphor of putting on armor to describe Christian readiness b. instructs slaves to obey their masters c. instructs wives to obey their husbands d. all of the above 24) Philippians… a. was written to Philip of Rome b. contains a recipe for bean soup c. contains what is thought to be an early hymn that begins “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” d. none of the above 25) 1 Thessalonians is… a. the first of Paul’s letters b. concerned with those Christians who have died c. instructs believers to “pray without ceasing” d. all of the above 26) 2 Thessalonians was written… a. before 1 Thessalonians b. apparently because the Thessalonians didn’t understand the first letter c. in response to 1 Peter d. none of the above 27) In 1 Timothy, Paul… a. tells Timothy not to let people put him down just because he’s a youth b. instructs bishops and church leaders to have no more than one wife c. forbids women to have authority over a man d. all of the above 28) In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of… a. not being able to grow a beard b. his body c. making a money by preaching d. suffering for the sake of the Gospel 29) In Titus, Paul… a. reveals the name of Jesus’ wife b. asks Titus to prepare a room for him c. is concerned that some preachers are calling Cretans liars and gluttons d. none of the above 30) Philemon is written… a. to the church at Philemon b. by Philemon, a tax collector c. about the first Olympics d. to the master of a runaway slave 31) Hebrews describes Jesus as… a. the pioneer and perfecter of our faith b. a high priest c. as co-creator of the world d. all of the above 32) James contains the phrase… a. “faith without works is dead” b. “the Lord helps those who help themselves” c. “you’ve got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them” d. “love is never having to say you’re sorry” 33) 1 Peter describes Christ as… a. a cornerstone b. a stone which the builders rejected c. a stumbling block d. all of the above 34) 2 Peter contains a description of this event in Jesus’ life… a. Birth b. Baptism c. Transfiguration d. Ascension 35) 1 John says that… a. God is light b. God is love c. no one has ever seen God d. all of the above 36) 2 John is addressed to… a. the elect lady and her children b. Paul in Rome c. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue d. those who follow Christ 37) Most scholars think 3 John was written… a. by the same John who wrote the Gospel of John b. by the same John who wrote Revelation c. by Paul d. before 1 & 2 John 38) Jude refers to this archangel fighting with the devil… a. Gabriel b. Uriel c. Raphael d. Michael 39) Revelation is written to churches in seven cities in Asia Minor including... a. Moscow b. Paris c. Jerusalem d. Philadelphia 40) Revelation was written by John of Patmos. Patmos is… a. a city in Asia Minor b. John’s father c. a prison island d. none of the above]]> Here are the answers. Don't read any further if you don't want to know. 1) How many books are there in the New Testament? a. 27 b. 33 c. 4 d. more and more every year 2) The author of most of the books in the New Testament is… a. Jesus b. Peter c. Paul d. Billy Graham 3) The books that record the life and teachings of Jesus are known as… a. the Annals b. the Dead Sea Scrolls c. the Chronicles d. the Gospels 4) The book of Acts… a. records stories of Jesus’ youth b. contains short plays about Jesus c. records the stories of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection d. records the story of Jesus trial and crucifixion from the point of view of Pontius Pilate 5) Mark... a. is the shortest of the gospels b. is commonly accepted as the earliest written gospel c. has two endings d. all of the above 6) Paul’s conversion from persecutor of the church to apostle is recorded in… a. Luke b. 1 Paul c. Revelation d. Acts 7) Apocalypse in the Greek literally means.. a. catastrophe or destruction b. revelation or unveiling c. divine wrath d. dance music with marimbas 8) The earliest written book in the New Testament was likely… a. Matthew b. Isaiah c. Acts d. 1 Thessalonians 9) Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels because… a. they were discovered near Synopsis, Greece b. they were the earliest gospels c. they are similar d. they all contain a synopsis of the Old Testament at the beginning 10) The number of books written by Jesus in the New Testament is… a. 0 b. 1 c. 4 d. 27 11) The Epistles… a. is the anglicized version of the word “apostles” b. are letters c. are the books in the New Testament that are not the Gospels d. is the Greek word for the Gospels 12) The books of the New Testament are all generally believed to be written… a. by Paul or followers of Paul b. in Greece c. between 45 and 140 AD d. in Aramaic before they were translated into Latin 13) The New Testament as it is (books and order) has existed since approximately… a. 110 AD b. 367 AD c. 733 AD d. 1821 AD 14) Matthew is unique because… a. it is the only Gospel to record Jesus’ genealogy b. of the story of the Wise Men bringing gifts to Jesus c. it doesn’t list the names of the disciples d. all of the above 15) Mark is notable because… a. its repeated use of the phrase “kai euthos” (“and immediately”) b. it was the only gospel not to be written by one of the 12 Disciples c. it has Jesus being born in Nazareth instead of Bethlehem d. all of the above 16) Luke has more of these than any other gospel… a. chapters b. parables c. disciples d. all of the above 17) John is unique because… a. it contains multiple visits to Jerusalem by Jesus b. there are no parables c. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet d. all of the above 18) Acts is believed to be written… a. by Paul b. before any of the Gospels c. by the writer of Luke d. by a woman 19) In Romans, Paul… a. compares the Gentiles to a branch grafted onto an olive tree b. argues that God has not rejected the Jewish people c. asks for support for a trip to Spain d. all of the above 20) Arguably the best known passage from 1 Corinthians is… a. a chapter about the nature of love often read at weddings b. the story of Jesus’ birth c. the story of Paul cheating at a dice game d. none of the above 21) In 2 Corinthians Paul compares his own imperfections in proclaiming the Gospel as… a. yeast in the bread b. a thorn in his side c. a treasure buried in a field d. a clay jar containing a treasure 22) Galatians was written… a. to ask for money b. by Peter to Paul who was in Gaul c. against those who taught that Gentiles had to be circumcised to become Christians d. none of the above 23) Ephesians… a. uses a metaphor of putting on armor to describe Christian readiness b. instructs slaves to obey their masters c. instructs wives to obey their husbands d. all of the above 24) Philippians… a. was written to Philip of Rome b. contains a recipe for bean soup c. contains what is thought to be an early hymn that begins “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” d. none of the above 25) 1 Thessalonians is… a. the first of Paul’s letters b. concerned with those Christians who have died c. instructs believers to “pray without ceasing” d. all of the above 26) 2 Thessalonians was written… a. before 1 Thessalonians b. apparently because the Thessalonians didn’t understand the first letter c. in response to 1 Peter d. none of the above 27) In 1 Timothy, Paul… a. tells Timothy not to let people put him down just because he’s a youth b. instructs bishops and church leaders to have no more than one wife c. forbids women to have authority over a man d. all of the above 28) In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of… a. not being able to grow a beard b. his body c. making a money by preaching d. suffering for the sake of the Gospel 29) In Titus, Paul… a. reveals the name of Jesus’ wife b. asks Titus to prepare a room for him c. is concerned that some preachers are calling Cretans liars and gluttons d. none of the above 30) Philemon is written… a. to the church at Philemon b. by Philemon, a tax collector c. about the first Olympics d. to the master of a runaway slave 31) Hebrews describes Jesus as… a. the pioneer and perfecter of our faith b. a high priest c. as co-creator of the world d. all of the above 32) James contains the phrase… a. “faith without works is dead” b. “the Lord helps those who help themselves” c. “you’ve got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them” d. “love is never having to say you’re sorry” 33) 1 Peter describes Christ as… a. a cornerstone b. a stone which the builders rejected c. a stumbling block d. all of the above 34) 2 Peter contains a description of this event in Jesus’ life… a. Birth b. Baptism c. Transfiguration d. Ascension 35) 1 John says that… a. God is light b. God is love c. no one has ever seen God d. all of the above 36) 2 John is addressed to… a. the elect lady and her children b. Paul in Rome c. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue d. those who follow Christ 37) Most scholars think 3 John was written… a. by the same John who wrote the Gospel of John b. by the same John who wrote Revelation c. by Paul d. before 1 & 2 John 38) Jude refers to this archangel fighting with the devil… a. Gabriel b. Uriel c. Raphael d. Michael 39) Revelation is written to churches in seven cities in Asia Minor including... a. Moscow b. Paris c. Jerusalem d. Philadelphia 40) Revelation was written by John of Patmos. Patmos is… a. a city in Asia Minor b. John’s father c. a prison island d. none of the above]]> Spring Luncheon tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2272 2008-05-06T17:16:01Z 2008-05-10T17:32:56Z The United Church Women hosted their Annual Spring Luncheon this past Friday, May 2, and had a tribute to the wit of Carol and Carol. We celebrated the life and humor of our beloved Carol Bark with the works of... ironic1 http://ironic1.com Click on the pictures to see an enlarged version. Many thanks to all who participated and to David Glass for the photos. ]]> What Large Stones tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2270 2008-05-01T15:59:35Z 2008-05-10T16:04:03Z I've been watching the destruction of the old high school from my back window. The deep "boom boom boom" shakes my house like distant thunder or a kid's bass car speakers at 3 in the morning. I walk by the... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Mark 13:1-2 when the disciples, like all tourists in big cities, are gawking at the large buildings in temple complex in Jerusalem. "Look, Teacher! What large stones!" Jesus reminds them that buildings do not last. It's hard to hear that. Buildings have, in general, lifetimes that exceed the human span. They seem solid, unmovable, permanent, trustworthy. But buildings are transitory. They cannot last. Jesus also said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) We need to be careful where we place our hearts and how we invest our spirit. On the other hand, it's good to take care of buildings so that they can accomplish their missions. We need good schools not for the sake of the buildings, but for what happens in them. We need good churches, again, not for the sake of the buildings, but for what happens in and through them. The building, inasmuch as it has a mission, is important. We are fortunate that we have had generations of good caretakers of the building where United Church is housed. It is a sorrow, however, when the building becomes the mission. Unfortunately, I've seen this happen over and over with churches. The building itself becomes the focus of the community - its restoration or maintenance. It's sad to see that happen. So much energy and time and money going into keeping a building alive which has lost the mission for which it was built. I pray that never happens to our congregation. I'm reminded of a children's hymn that you've probably heard...
The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,
the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.
I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together.
All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we're the church together.
Couldn't have said it better myself.]]> Easter Quiz tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2217 2008-03-19T16:21:35Z 2008-03-20T16:02:32Z This quiz was originally played with our youth group. See how you do. When you are through click here to see the answers. The answers will be in red. 1) On which day is it traditional to make pancakes? a.... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org click here to see the answers. The answers will be in red. easter2007.jpg1) On which day is it traditional to make pancakes? a. Maundy Thursday b. Good Friday c. Shrove Tuesday d. April Fools Day 2) What are the 40 days before Easter known as? a. Advent b. Lent c. Epiphany d. Eastertide 3) Jesus was crucified on… a. Palm Sunday b. Easter Sunday c. Good Friday d. Maundy Thursday 4) Easter is celebrated on… a. the fourth Sunday of March b. the Sunday closest to the beginning of Spring c. 100 days after Christmas d. the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the Spring equinox 5) Jesus was betrayed for… a. 30 pieces of silver b. 30 pieces of gold c. a colt and a donkey d. an all expense paid trip to Rome 6) Gethsemane means… a. place of the skull b. press of oils c. beautiful garden d. get some more of these 7) What color was the cloak Jesus wore on the way to the cross? a. green b. black c. red d. purple 8) Who helped Jesus carry his cross? a. Joseph of Arimathea b. Simon of Cyrene c. Simon the Zealot d. Saul of Tarsus 9) What does Palm Sunday celebrate? a. Jesus entering Jerusalem b. Jesus entering Bethlehem c. A traditional Jewish festival when people laid fresh palms in their homes on their floors d. A traditional Roman festival when dates were eaten 10) Who rolled away the stone from the mouth of the grave in which Jesus had been placed? a. an angel b. a soldier c. the gardener d. Joseph of Arimathea 11) Easter gets its name from… a. the direction of the rising sun b. the Anglo-Saxon goddess of eggs and bunnies c. the Latin word “astor” which means “rising” d. the Greek word for “Passover” 12) What is burned to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday? a. cedar wood b. slips of paper on which prayers have been written c. witches d. palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday 13) Jesus was laid in the tomb of… a. Joseph of Arimathea b. Simon of Cyrene c. Judas Iscariot d. Nicodemus 14) What is celebrated forty days after Easter Sunday? a. The Ascension b. Pentecost c. All Souls' Day d. The Assumption 15) The day before Ash Wednesday is known as… a. Fat Tuesday b. Shrove Tuesday c. Mardi Gras d. All of the above 16) Mardi Gras literally means… a. Fat Tuesday b. Great Day c. Throw me some beads d. Day of the Geese 17) Lent is Latin for… a. "Sorrow” b. “Fasting” c. “Spring” d. none of the above 18) Pretzels… a. were invented as a Lenten food b. symbolize arms folded in prayer c. were first made by German monks d. all of the above 19) On Ash Wednesday ashes are placed… a. on the forehead in the shape of a cross b. in a box to be taken home and scattered on the garden c. on the priest or pastor’s hands and feet to mark where Christ was crucified d. on lily bulbs that will bloom on Easter 20) The color of Lent is… a. green b. purple c. red d. gray 21) At Christ's crucifixion what did the soldiers place on his head? a. a wreath of laurels b. a crown of thorns c. a crown of jewels d. a crown of thistles 22) The soldiers who crucified Jesus rolled dice for his… a. Clothes b. Jewels c. Donkey d. Cross 23) Judas betrayed Jesus by… a. pointing at him b. describing him to the authorities c. kissing him d. shaking his hand 24) Christ was led away to which high priest first? a. Annas b. Vitellius c. Caiaphas d. Josephus 25) Above Jesus on the cross was a sign which read… a. Behold the man! b. Thus always to tyrants c. King of the Jews d. Savior of the World 26) The sign above Jesus on the cross was written in… a. Latin b. Greek c. Hebrew d. all of the above 27) Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on… a. a colt b. a donkey c. a white stallion d. maybe a colt, maybe a donkey, maybe both 28) When Jesus died, for how long was there darkness over the land? a. 3 days b. 3 minutes c. 3 hours d. 3 weeks 29) While on the cross Jesus gave care of his mother to… a. Peter b. the "beloved disciple" c. Mary Magdalene d. Pontius Pilate 30) According to all four gospels the first person to see the resurrected Christ was… a. Mary, the mother of Jesus b. Mary Magdalene c. Peter d. accounts vary 31) Pilate offered the crowd to release Jesus or… a. Jesse James b. Barabbas c. Paul d. Barnabas 32) Jesus' side was pierced with a… a. Sword b. Knife c. Spear d. Axe 33) When Jesus said he was thirsty he was offered… a. water from a waterskin b. wine from a cup (the holy grail) c. vinegar in a sponge d. none of the above 34) When Jesus died… a. darkness descended even though it was day b. there was an earthquake c. the shroud in the temple was torn in half d. all of the above 35) Which disciple wanted to see the imprint of the nails before he would believe? a. Andrew b. Thomas c. James d. Bartholomew 36) After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus he… a. repented of his sin and rejoined the disciples b. escaped to Egypt c. hanged himself d. became a Roman citizen 37) When Jesus was being arrested Peter… a. wept b. took out a sword and cut somebody’s ear off c. ran away d. none of the above 38) Golgotha means… a. place of the skull b. press of oils c. beautiful garden d. hill of the Goths 39) Jesus predicted this person would deny him before the rooster crowed three times... a. Judas Iscariot b. Pontius Pilate c. Peter d. Mary Magdalene 40) What is celebrated 50 days after Easter? a. Trinity Sunday b. Ascension Day c. Memorial Day d. Pentecost]]> Answers 1) On which day is it traditional to make pancakes? a. Maundy Thursday b. Good Friday c. Shrove Tuesday (source) d. April Fools Day 2) What are the 40 days before Easter known as? a. Advent b. Lent c. Epiphany d. Eastertide 3) Jesus was crucified on… a. Palm Sunday b. Easter Sunday c. Good Friday d. Maundy Thursday 4) Easter is celebrated on… a. the fourth Sunday of March b. the Sunday closest to the beginning of Spring c. 100 days after Christmas d. the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the Spring equinox 5) Jesus was betrayed for… a. 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15) b. 30 pieces of gold c. a colt and a donkey d. an all expense paid trip to Rome 6) Gethsemane means… a. place of the skull b. press of oils c. beautiful garden d. get some more of these 7) What color was the cloak Jesus wore on the way to the cross? a. green b. black c. red d. purple 8) Who helped Jesus carry his cross? a. Joseph of Arimathea b. Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32) c. Simon the Zealot d. Saul of Tarsus 9) What does Palm Sunday celebrate? a. Jesus entering Jerusalem b. Jesus entering Bethlehem c. A traditional Jewish festival when people laid fresh palms in their homes on their floors d. A traditional Roman festival when dates were eaten 10) Who rolled away the stone from the mouth of the grave in which Jesus had been placed? a. an angel (Matthew 28:2) b. a soldier c. the gardener d. Joseph of Arimathea 11) Easter gets its name from… a. the direction of the rising sun b. the Anglo-Saxon goddess of eggs and bunnies (source) c. the Latin word “astor” which means “rising” d. the Greek word for “Passover” 12) What is burned to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday? a. cedar wood b. slips of paper on which prayers have been written c. witches a. palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday 13) Jesus was laid in the tomb of… a. Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38) b. Simon of Cyrene c. Judas Iscariot d. Nicodemus 14) What is celebrated forty days after Easter Sunday? a. The Ascension b. Pentecost c. All Souls' Day d. The Assumption 15) The day before Ash Wednesday is known as… a. Fat Tuesday b. Shrove Tuesday c. Mardi Gras d. All of the above 16) Mardi Gras literally means… a. Fat Tuesday b. Great Day c. Throw me some beads d. Day of the Geese 17) Lent is Latin for… a. "Sorrow" b. “Fasting” c. "Spring" (source) d. none of the above 18) Pretzels… a. were invented as a Lenten food b. symbolize arms folded in prayer c. were first made by German monks d. all of the above 19) On Ash Wednesday ashes are placed… a. on the forehead in the shape of a cross b. in a box to be taken home and scattered on the garden c. on the priest or pastor’s hands and feet to mark where Christ was crucified d. on lily bulbs that will bloom on Easter 20) The color of Lent is… a. green b. purple c. red d. gray 21) At Christ's crucifixion what did the soldiers place on his head? a. a wreath of laurels b. a crown of thorns (John 19:2) c. a crown of jewels d. a crown of thistles 22) The soldiers who crucified Jesus rolled dice for his… a. Clothes (John 19:24) b. Jewels c. Donkey d. Cross 23) Judas betrayed Jesus by… a. pointing at him b. describing him to the authorities c. kissing him (Luke 22:47) d. shaking his hand 24) Christ was led away to which high priest first? a. Annas (John 18:13) b. Vitellius c. Caiaphas d. Josephus 25) Above Jesus on the cross was a sign which read… a. Behold the man! b. Thus always to tyrants c. King of the Jews (Luke 23:38) d. Savior of the World 26) The sign above Jesus on the cross was written in… a. Latin b. Greek c. Hebrew d. all of the above (John 19:20) 27) Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on… a. a colt b. a donkey c. a white stallion d. maybe a colt, maybe a donkey, maybe both (Matthew 21:7 - both, Mark 11:7 - colt, Luke 19:35 - colt, John 12:14 -donkey) 28) When Jesus died, for how long was there darkness over the land? a. 3 days b. 3 minutes c. 3 hours (Luke 23:44) d. 3 weeks 29) While on the cross Jesus gave care of his mother to… a. Peter b. the "beloved disciple" (John 19:26) c. Mary Magdalene d. Pontius Pilate 30) According to all four gospels the first person to see the resurrected Christ was… a. Mary, the mother of Jesus b. Mary Magdalene c. Peter d. accounts vary 31) Pilate offered the crowd to release Jesus or… a. Jesse James b. Barabbas (Mark 15:11) c. Paul d. Barnabas 32) Jesus' side was pierced with a… a. Sword b. Knife c. Spear (John 19:34) d. Axe 33) When Jesus said he was thirsty he was offered… a. water from a waterskin b. wine from a cup (the holy grail) c. vinegar in a sponge (John 19:29) d. none of the above 34) When Jesus died… a. darkness descended even though it was day (Luke 23:44) b. there was an earthquake (Matthew 27:51) c. the curtain in the temple was torn in half (Matthew 27:51) d. all of the above 35) Which disciple wanted to see the imprint of the nails before he would believe? a. Andrew b. Thomas (John 20:25) c. James d. Bartholomew 36) After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus he… a. repented of his sin and rejoined the disciples b. escaped to Egypt c. hanged himself (Matthew 27:5) d. became a Roman citizen 37) When Jesus was being arrested Peter… a. wept b. took out a sword and cut somebody’s ear off (John 18:10) c. ran away d. none of the above 38) Golgotha means… a. place of the skull (Matthew 27:33) b. press of oils c. beautiful garden d. hill of the Goths 39) Jesus predicted this person would deny him before the rooster crowed three times... a. Judas Iscariot b. Pontius Pilate c. Peter (John 13:38) d. Mary Magdalene 40) What is celebrated 50 days after Easter? a. Trinity Sunday b. Ascension Day c. Memorial Day d. Pentecost]]> Stimulating United with your Stimulus Check tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2216 2008-03-18T16:37:17Z 2008-03-18T16:44:19Z Here's a very simple proposition... Give 10% of your Stimulus Check to United Church. Starting in May people will begin to receive their Stimulus Checks from the Federal Government. These checks are being sent out to help stimulate the economy... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Here's a very simple proposition... Give 10% of your Stimulus Check to United Church. Starting in May people will begin to receive their Stimulus Checks from the Federal Government. These checks are being sent out to help stimulate the economy in a time of economic downturn. Well, your church is part of that economy and churches in general have been hurting. All I am asking is that when you receive that $600-$1200 in the next couple months is that you remember your church with a tithe. The idea of tithing is an old Biblical idea that goes back to the story of Abraham. When he received an unexpected bounty he gave one tenth of it to the priest Melchizedek as a thanksgiving offering. (Genesis 14:18-20) Many people set tithing (giving 10% of their earnings) as a standard for faithful giving. It is not mandated by scripture, but generosity in giving is always encouraged and hailed as a virtue. The most recent statistics show that Presbyterians give, on average, 1.5% of their income to the church while United Methodists give 2.1%. Assemblies of God members are, on average, among the most generous givers with 5.25%. The fact of the matter is that the church operates through your generosity and good will. Please remember United when your check arrives.]]> Kinda makes you want to skip Presbytery meetings, doesn't it? tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2201 2008-03-05T16:09:24Z 2008-03-05T16:19:38Z [Click to Enlarge] "It is our tradition to recognize and all elders, deacons and clergy in the Presbytery of Northern Waters who have died in the past year at one of our Presbytery Meetings." I've been to meetings so... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org [Click to Enlarge]
"It is our tradition to recognize and all elders, deacons and clergy in the Presbytery of Northern Waters who have died in the past year at one of our Presbytery Meetings."
I've been to meetings so boring that I thought I was going to die, but not literally! We get this letter every year for the annual Necrology Report and every year it makes me laugh. I've mentioned a few times that they may want to change the wording, but I'm kinda glad they don't. Now, I'm sharing it with the world.]]> United Church Vietnam Vet's Journey back to Vietnam Featured in News Chronicle tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2195 2008-02-29T12:38:24Z 2008-02-29T12:43:18Z You've read Roger Anderson's Travel Log here, now you can read an interview with him in this week's Lake County News Chronicle.... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org 9-Anderson-School.jpg You've read Roger Anderson's Travel Log here, now you can read an interview with him in this week's Lake County News Chronicle. ]]> Making Ice Candles with Lee Campbell tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2194 2008-02-29T02:21:34Z 2008-02-29T02:28:20Z Our own Lee Campbell is featured in this on-line photo essay. She made the ice candles that decorated our steps this past Christmastide. Thanks, Lee!... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org austinICE1222c15_500px.jpgOur own Lee Campbell is featured in this on-line photo essay. She made the ice candles that decorated our steps this past Christmastide. Thanks, Lee!
]]> Pastor's Report 2007 tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2186 2008-02-24T19:47:37Z 2008-02-24T20:13:00Z It is the tradition of the Pastor's Report to reflect on the year past. I want to break tradition with that and look ahead to the year before us. While there is much to celebrate in 2007 with new members,... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org I believe in the power of church. Of course I believe in the creative power of God, the saving power of Jesus, and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, but I also believe in the power of being church. There is no other institution like the church in our society. I believe in a place where you can sing in public regardless of your natural aptitude. I believe in a place where you can mingle with the generations. I believe in a place where you can sit down at a table over a cup of coffee and talk with a total stranger. I believe in a place that is genuinely concerned with the plight of someone living hundreds or thousands of miles away. I believe in a place where scripture is read and heard and studied and acted upon. I believe in a place which values beauty and truth for their own sake and not simply for how we can profit from it. I believe in a place where people are being perfected in love, not expected to be perfect already. And United is and can continue to be that place. But we cannot be complacent. We cannot fall into the trap of being a preservation society. The mission of the church is not to preserve itself. We are not here to preserve a building. The mission of the church is larger than that. We are not here to preserve our way of worship. The mission of the church is larger than that. We are not here to preserve our values and way of life. The mission of the church is larger than that. We are not here to preserve our lives. The mission of the church is larger than that. My hope for 2008 is that we will not simply exist, but that we will thrive. And I believe what will make us thrive is a renewed sense of mission. A nun was reflecting about the lack of new initiates and, taking the long view, she said that when this country was young and there were still untamed places we needed hospitals and universities and her order did that. Now that stage of the mission is over, so it's natural to be in decline. disappeared.jpgI do not believe our mission is over, but it may be in flux. The church will not thrive on sentimental support. It will, at best, linger on in a half existence and victimized by low expectations. So I'm going to ask some dangerous questions. What difference does United Church make? What difference can we make? What would you miss if our congregation disappeared tomorrow? We need to be engaging these questions directly in the year to come. We cannot afford to drift because the honest truth is that complacency in our mission will mean that we will either have to radically reconsider our staffing resources or our physical resources or both because our current direction is not sustainable. We might be able to make it as we are for a few years. Maybe even ten. But not long term. And, personally, I want to leave our congregation better than I found it. I hope you do too. So in the year ahead, expect to be challenged. Expect to give of yourself. Expect to think. Expect to be asked hard questions. Expect to be asked to sacrifice. And, most of all, expect joy. May God bless us in our journey.]]> What Do I Do in the Silence? tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2184 2008-02-22T17:36:48Z 2008-02-22T17:48:18Z During Lent at United we are observing periods of extended silence during worship. Silence can be intimidating for many people. If you feel uncomfortable with it, you are not alone. Here are some things you might want to consider doing... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org During Lent at United we are observing periods of extended silence during worship. Silence can be intimidating for many people. If you feel uncomfortable with it, you are not alone. Here are some things you might want to consider doing during the periods of silence in worship or your own silent prayer practice. Wrestle with your "Monkey Mind" This is what some people call the chattering part of your brain that is always trying to get your attention. It's the part of your mind that is filled with to do lists, nagging thoughts, and other urgent nothings. Let these wash over you as much as possible. If they really can't be ignored, write them down and pray over them. Clearly if your mind is bringing them up they must be of some importance, so use these things as a springboard for prayer. Focus on your Breathing Sometimes the silence is deafening and you can't even form a coherent thought or concentrate. When this happens people often find it helpful to focus on their breath. Breathing is involuntary and necessary. Remember that every breath is a gift from God. A simple prayer can be formed by simply slowing down your breath and as you exhale think of releasing your spirit to God, giving your life back to God, acknowledging your total dependence on God. As you inhale give thanks for all the gifts that you receive from God's hand, the beauty of the world around you, the very gift of life that we so often take for granted. Reread the Scripture for the Day Take the time to reread the scripture readings for the day and enter into them. Don't be afraid to take a pencil or pen and highlight passages that speak to you, even if you don't know why. Find one sentence or even a phrase and roll it over in your mind. Consider Prayer Concerns Make a list, either mental or physical, of events or people that weigh on your heart. These could be anything from world events to things happening in your own community or family. After you list them let your spirit rest on them and pray for God's will to be done. ]]> We've been Waymarked! tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2165 2008-01-31T16:06:55Z 2008-01-31T16:14:03Z United Church has been registered on Waymarking as a Historical Church apparently by a man named Bruce who was passing through Two Harbors this past summer, based on the photos he took. It's worth heading over and taking a look.... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org 650909a0-ca23-4976-a21d-3a5f62228121.jpgUnited Church has been registered on Waymarking as a Historical Church apparently by a man named Bruce who was passing through Two Harbors this past summer, based on the photos he took. It's worth heading over and taking a look. He has a nice, concise history of the church there as well.
]]> Church & State & Us tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2160 2008-01-22T16:30:50Z 2008-01-22T16:43:29Z Recently a United Methodist pastor from Texas, a well known spiritual advisor to President Bush, endorsed Barack Obama for President. Other pastors have gotten into the endorsement race too, endorsing different candidates. All of which has been fodder for a... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Recently a United Methodist pastor from Texas, a well known spiritual advisor to President Bush, endorsed Barack Obama for President. Other pastors have gotten into the endorsement race too, endorsing different candidates. All of which has been fodder for a lot of prayerful thinking on my part. During the last election cycle several churches got in trouble with the IRS which has threatened to take away their non-profit status over political activity. So I was wondering how these pastors could do this so publicly. The line is kind of a blurry one.
  • Pastors may not endorse any candidate or political party from the pulpit or in print in any church publication (using church stationery or in the church newsletter).
  • Pastors may, as private citizens, endorse candidates in newspapers, on the sidewalk, in the church parking lot, just not in the pulpit.
  • Congregations cannot endorse a candidate or party in any way.
  • Churches may hold voter registration drives, as long as they do not endorse any candidate or party.
  • Pastors may preach on any issue they wish - social, economic, political.
  • Churches may hold forums where candidates are invited to address issues.
  • Candidates may be introduced in worship services.
  • Churches may be used as polling places.
[source] Now, many of you know that I am a politically aware and involved individual. I even was the campaign manager for a county commission seat a few years ago. I have some strong opinions about political matters, but you won't hear me in church or in the public arena using my clergy status to support any candidate. I just don't think it's wise. First of all, I'm the pastor of everyone at United and I bet we don't all agree on political matters. I don't want my politics to become a stumbling block. While I am sure we can all agree to disagree agreeably, if I went and endorsed a candidate as a pastor for any political office, local or national, there would be rifts. I just don't see any upside to that. Second of all, it's really not important. To me the job of being a pastor is not linked to my political identity. Most people when I visit them in the hospital don't care what my political leanings are. They want someone to listen to them and pray with them. I can do that. Third of all, it's not the area of my expertise. I'm a Bible Scholar and a Spiritual Advisor, not a Political Pundit. I also don't walk onto construction sites and give the contractors there tips on plumbing or electrical wiring. I don't go into your kitchen and tell you how to bake a ham. It's not my forte. All this said, I think as good citizens we all have political opinions. I don't have to divorce myself from politics. In fact, my faith calls for me to be active in social policy with issues of economic justice, the pursuit of peaceful resolution to conflicts, environmental stewardship, and the just and ethical use of resources. Inasmuch as these are political issues they are also deeply spiritual issues. So as we go to caucus and expect a good and healthy political debate in the year to come, do not expect me to be wearing a button for any candidate on my stole, but I may be leafleting your house sans collar.]]> And the Winner Is... tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2158 2008-01-17T16:03:05Z 2008-01-17T16:22:34Z As mentioned earlier, the United Methodists of Minnesota have been looking at redistricting the state. The plan that has emerged as the preferred one is the model above. This would place United Church in the new Big Waters District.... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org As mentioned earlier, the United Methodists of Minnesota have been looking at redistricting the state. The plan that has emerged as the preferred one is the model above. This would place United Church in the new Big Waters District. The center of the district would move significantly to the south of what it is now, though the District office would remain in Duluth. Here is some rationale for the decision from the Conference website:
It divides the high-growth eastern part of the state, including Rochester, the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Brainerd and Duluth, into three districts. It divides the western part of the state into two regions in the southwest and the north. This model offers greater opportunity for specialization. It allows the superintendents of the eastern districts, where much population growth is occurring, to focus on congregational development. The western superintendents will be able to specialize in rural and town-and-country churches. This model also would push the superintendents to change the way they work, which is one of their goals. The current regional office sites can be maintained.
Do you have thoughts on this model? You can share them directly with Bishop Sally Dyck on her weblog.]]> Roger Anderson's Travel Log tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2157 2008-01-15T18:00:59Z 2008-02-29T12:43:50Z Roger Anderson, a member of our congregation, has been traveling to Hawaii, Australia, and Vietnam. He is traveling back to where he served in the late 1960s as a serviceman in the Vietnam War. Here is a collection of some... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Roger Anderson, a member of our congregation, has been traveling to Hawaii, Australia, and Vietnam. He is traveling back to where he served in the late 1960s as a serviceman in the Vietnam War. Here is a collection of some of the email missives he has sent. Tuesday 4 Dec 07 The same day that I headed for Vietnam from California in 1969. I got a haircut and I transfered cash to the Wells Fargo account. Short judo class in the evening. Party. I dropped off 2 checks with Bob. Heavy snow in West Duluth 20" and almost none in Lakeside. Wednesday 5 December Up at 0500. I finished billing and one other thing. Lee Hedin picked mu up at 0615 and he drove me to the bus depot in Duluth. The roads were clear. I took the bus to the Twin Cities. Bruce Lamo picked me up at the bus depot in Minneapolis. ZHe showed me his recent shkop projects. He made a pastie for supper. We picked up Madaline after her evening Church class. Later in the evening Nancy offered a prayer from The Book of Common Prayer. I was inbed about 2230. 200 miles for the day. Thursday, 6 December I slept well. Bruce woke me at 0445. We drove to the airport and I flew from the Twin Cities to Chicago O'Hare and then on to Honolulu on a Boing 777. I got a nice picture of a missile sub as we came in to the airport here. I took the limo to my Hostel. I have a small room with a private bath. It is 2 blocks off Waikiki Beach. I started to become familiar with the area. Friday, 7 December I arrived in Vietnam on this date in 1969. I woke up about 0400. It was a good night for sleeping. There was a major storm Wednesday with 70 mph winds and heavy rains. Washouts on roads, power lines down, trees blown overl, 100 schools closed. I toured the Battleship Missouri and I saw the Arizona Memorial. The new Oklahk oma Memorial was dedicated while I was there. My hotel is about a 90 minute bus ride from the memorial. Thereas Hendrickson picked me up about 7:00 p.m. and she took me to the downtown area for suppper. It was a nice evening. I got to see several art galaries. Saturday 8 December Theresa called 3 times yesterday and I answered. I also called out without using the directions. So, I am learning to use the phone. I was up about 0530 & wrote several cards and I mailed 2 packages to bob. Sandy, Joe Duga's sister picked me up about 1000 and she took me out to brunch. It was nice for both of us to put a name to a face. she asked me about how i knew Linn and Joe. she even gave me a lea. She let me off on Waikiki Beach and I put my feet in the cool comfortable water. I got a lot of sand in my sandles. Theresa picked me up in the afternoon. We went up to the punchbowl cemetary and then we took Hy 61 toward what I would call the northeast side of the Island. we stopped at Nuuanu Pali State Park. It was the scene of a pre-Eurpean battle between 2 native groups. The loosers were pushed off a cliff and killed. The view is spactacular. The road in the area is 4 lanes and cuts through the mountain tunnels in 2 places on a steeply descending grade. We continued around the island to the blowhowl and we watched the spouting like a whale. We drove around diamondhead and we stopped at her favorite place to get snacks. I was tired and I went to bed about 2000 local. Ia getting more comfortable with the cell phone and I am taking Lenore Johnson's advice and I am editing photos on a daily basis. Sunday 9 December woke up at 0300 local. I will leave Honolulu at 1150 p.m. Sunday and I will arrive in sydney Tuesday 11 Dec at 7:25 a.m. Elapsed time 10 hours and 35 minutes. 5067 miles. Fireworks started the marathon at 0500. I went to the street next to the beach and I took pictures of it. It was rainy in the early morning. The Hostel was empty. Most were running in the marathon. I did my wash. I walked to the U.S. army museum which is an old coastal artillery site. It is an interesting site. I watched the Vikings win on TV and I ate a pizza at a sports bar. December 11 i declare no 10 December because I crossed the International Date Line. The flight was uneventful. I slept some and I talked some tomy neighbor wha was from Australia, living in canada and coming home for Christmas. I easily cleared customed. I got 200 Au from an ATM and I took the train/subway to Central station. It was easy to use. I checked into the Hostel and I found Mike and Wayne. We took the train to the Harbor Bridge and Wayne and I climbed one of the Towers. Wayne lost his hat. We also sent to 2 brew pubs and we went to the Sydney Observatory. Thursday 13 Dec My phone alarm went off at 0600. I finally learned how to use that feature. Mike, Wayne and I took a tour of the Blue Mountains which are west of Sydney which started at 0800. Much of the driving was in the rain. We hiked some trails in their Grand Canyon. The pace was rapid. So we just concentrated on where to step next. It was like an reactment of the Bataan Death March. 300 meters of trail down and up and ssveral miles long. Friday, 14 Dec We toured the Australian Museum and we went to the Royal Botonical Gardens. We took the train back to the hostel. Wayne and I went on a people mover conveyer which was FAST. We could feel the breeze. Mike left us at the museum and we did not see him until we got back to the hostel. We had waited an hour for him at the museum and then we left. He claims that he did not see us. I think that he did not wait and he did not look for us. In the evening Wayne and I saw BEOWOLF in 3-D. I would encourage those 15 and older to see it. It is not a movie that I would take a 10 year old to see due to the sex and violance. Saturday 15 Dec. Basicly a uiet morning. We waited in the hostel for 2:00 when we checked in for the India Pacific Train. The train left about 3:00 p.m. on time. I was surprised at the low speed. We maxed out at about 70 mph. I think that it is a single track line with a central train control. Also the road bed is not good for higher speeds. I slept some on the train. The train stopped at Broken Hill for about 90 minutes. This was Kyle Waters first pastorate after ordanation. It was a mining town. Now tourism is a major industsry. We ate at a Hungry Jack (Burger King). The town has wide streets. The trip to Adelaide was easy. Mark met us at the train and took us to his home. His wife's family was there for their annual Christmas gathering. There must have been 20 people ranging in age from several months to 70 years. I also got a chance to meet Mark's dad Kyle. I had enjoyable conversations with Kyle and Tony. The small children got gifts. Everyone left about 8:00 p.m. and Mark took his dad back to the nursing home. I came along. Mark took me up to Windy Point which is above the city. the view of Adelaide was spectacular. It reminded me of the skyline above Duluth only 10 times larger. Monday 17 December I took the public transit to downtown adelaide and I bought a wool sweater, got some writing paper and I got an opel for Sally. It was an expensive day. Mark and I went for a beer and met his friend Jim. We also confirmed my travel plans to Kangaroo Island which is south of Adelaide. I will stay with Mark's friends, Chris and Laurel Whitham. They have had major fires recently and so my 3 day trip wad dropped down to 2 days. Tuesday 17 Dec I dressed in long pants and a long sleeve shirt. It was a cool wet morning. I was up at 0500 and we were under way about 0666 for the trip to the bus. The bus took us to Cape Jervis and the ferry to the Island. The tour included an eucalyptus disstillery,l a beach, a wildliofe park, a sheep dairy and a honey processing facility and finally pelican feeding. It was a busy day. I stayed with Mark's friends over night. Adelaide I am finishing a wonderful week with Mark Waters and family. Mark was an exchange student in Two Harbors in 1973-74. Last Sunday, when I arrived, there was a gathering of his wife's family at their home. Kyle, Mark's father, was included. So, I finally got to meet him. I was on Kangaroo Island which is about 100 miles south of Adelaide. Tuesday and Wednesday and I met Chris and Laural who are friends of Mark's. The trip was originally planned for 3 days. Major fires on KI forced the cancelation of the third day. Ironicly, it rained on Tuesday and the fires were knocked down. Friday, Mark took me to Kingston, S.E. and I met some of the people that he works with and some of their cliants. He works withpeople who are mentally handicaped. Saturday night was a party with Mark's friends. Today, for the first time in my adult life, I sang in a Church chior. Mark took me to the train depot at 5:20 p.m. and I will be off to Perth on a 2 day train ride. I arrived in Perth Tuesday morning and Mike and Wayne meet me there. So far this has been a wonderful trip. Thanks for the help planning. It is about 30 C in Perth today and humid. No snow! Girls are getting their Chirstmas tan. Christmas trees are surrounded by blooming plants. Roger p.s. How as the snowstorm? W 19 Dec I had breakfast with chris & Laurel. then I returned to bed until 9:00 a.m. I walked 3 blocks to the downtownarea. I walked along the beach. I had lunch with Laurel, her aunt and her aunt's granddaughter. I walked to the local museum. I had 3 drinks of water from the tank. It was nice, cool water. Most people have large tanks to store the rainwater from the roof. There are no elaborate treatment systems for the water. Themuseum has a lot of interesting items. One was a washing machine from the U.S. patented in 1912. It is similar to one that my mother had in the 1950's. I walked along the shore and I watched the local ferry load fire trucks and ret5urn toward the main land. I returned to the house. Laurel took me to the Ozone Hotel. We had a small bus with a trailer. The driver had several stops to make and some people to pick up and drop off over the hour plus trip to the eastern end of the island. It waqs a nice scenic trip. We arrived in time to see the ferry dock. the trip to the mainland was clear weather and smooth sailing. I could see the other ferry from a great distance.The bus ride from Cape Jervis to Adelaide was uneventful. Th 20 Dec I took the bus downtown in the late morning. I went to the li8braryl, natural history museum and the art museum. I hed a steak dinner and I bought some things. Mark took me to chior practice. Friday 21 Dec. I did some packing ans sorting at about 0500. I was up at abut 0900 to the predicted rainwhich was heavy at times. I spent time writing cards and I packed a box to send home. The box included an item for Sally. I mailed the cards and I got the proper paperwark for an exported box. I was surprised to find that a 5 kg box airmailed to the US cost $88.00AU!! That is air mail. Mark and I drove to Kingston S E for a Christmas Dinner with some of his staff and clients in the area. It was a nice dinner. I am amazed at the number of Australians who have been to Vietnam for vacation. We stayed at a motel next to the sea and we checked on one of the local businesses that he manages. It appears that his work is similar to that of Randy Norenberg's. Saturday 23 Dec Mark got a crayfish (lobster) for Sunday dinner. we made several stops on our return trip. Our first stop was Grandma's Pantry which is a business run by Mark's organization. Another stop was Chinaman's Well which was built during the gold rush of the mid 1800's. We crossed the River Murrey on a cable ferry similar to the one at Merrimac on the Wisconsin River west of Madison. We stopped at 2 vinyards and 1 olove grove. I saw the oc ean rolling with strong winds off of the Antarctic ice. We got "home" about 1730 and I showered. Then we went to a party. There were 9 people there. It was a nice evening. Sunday 23 Dec a cloudy day. I sang in the church chior for the first tim in my adult life and I enjoyed the crayfish for noon meel. Mark and Meere brought me to the depot and I left on the train at about 1840. The train ride was uneventful. Adults in the dining car and younger adults in the lounge car. Monday. 24 Dec 477 km straight away the high speed was about 72 mph. We stopped at cook for about 45 minutes. This was a railroad town which houlsed workers who maintained the track. there is a well here which provides water and we walked around what is now basicly a ghost town. There are a few residents and many abandoned homes and an abandoned school. The Mullarbon Plain is a long flat area. There are green low plants with occational higher plants. As you go west, the land gets wetter and more trees appear. We changed time zones. we went from 1930 to 1800. It is odd to have a 90 minute time change. Most are 60 minutes. I took the tour of Kalgoorlie. This is a gold mining town of aabaout 30,000 people. There are several 1900 vintage buildings. Herbert Hoover worked here as a mining engineer as a young man. His home still exists. They have a huge open pit gold mine. Christmas Day I slept better on the train We arrived at the advertised 0910. Mike and Wayne met me and we went to the Hostel downtown. The temperature reached 30 C. It is odd to see Christmas decorations and no snow. there are flowering plants around the Christmas tree and girls talk about getting a Christmas tan. The Australian currency has bills of 5, 10, 20, and 50 dollar denominations the bills are colorful and they have a clear area with a design on them. The coins are 5, 10, 20,and 50 cent denominations and they are a silver color. The $2 coin is small and thick and the $1 coin is larger and thinner. They are a bronze color. I tent to accumulatae coins because I do not think of coins having a value of a dollar or more. 26 Dec I called Lore and Bob Huseby from my phone. It was 4:15 a.m. here in Perth Boxing Day 26 Dec. It was 2:15 p.m. in Two Harbors Christmas day. It is odd to deal with such large time changes. They had 11 inches of snow recently. Herb in an email said that the Elves were keeping my sidewalks clean. 26 Dec Boxing Day I called Bob Huseby about 4:15 a.m. 26 Dec here and he answered at about 2:15 p.m. Christmas Day, just before they sat down to a family Christmas dinner. There is a noticable delay in conversatin. Again almost all of the stores are closed. One convenience store is open downtown. It could just as well be midnight. We did go to 2 brewpubs. One featured Rogers' Beer. I did try some and i did get a cap. The temperature reached 43 C which is about 107 F. We got our tickets for Rottnest Island. Wednesday, 26 Dec Boxing Day It is a holidy here and little if anything is open. The mall is closed. I was up early-- 4:15 a.m. Wednesday in Perth which is 2:15 p.m. Tuesday in Two Harbors. The clerk at the hostel was helpful with time calculations. I called Bob Huseby on my cell phone. I talked to Bob Chris and Brandon and Lore. It was just as they were starting dinner. The wedding went well. there was 11 inches of new snow added to the 20+ inches on the ground. We went to two brew pubs. One featured Rogers' BEER> GOT A CAP THERE> HAD HARD CIDER AT THE OTHER PLACE> The temperature got up to 43 C. That is about 107 F. We got our tickets for Rottnest Island. Th 27 January. (sic - December) We took the train to Freemantle at 8:30. We were early for the ferry which left at 10:00. MIke walked the Island. Wayne and I rented bikes. Wayne blew a tire and I eventually got help. We went to the Oliver Hill battery --a 9.2 inch gun. We ate supper in Freemantle and we took the train back to Perth. It was a quiet evening. I finally figured out how to use the cell phone in Australia with help. F 28 January (sic - December) Up for the day at about 0700. We had breakfast in our room Wayne and I went to the "Wollie" and we got groceries. We stopped at the surplus store and I got a kangaroo leather hat. We went back to the auto store and we got the breaks fixed and we got the radio fixed. It needed a security code to operate. We drove north to Gereldont and stayed a the Greldton Motel. Wayne and I took a tour around town and I got a pizza and garlic bread. It was a quiet evening. Dec 28. We got up about o700 and had breakfast in our room. We went to a "Wollie" for groceries and then I gota Kangaroo hat and other items at a surplus store. We got the radio fixed. It needed a security code. When the radio looses power, it needs the code to be reentered. The breaks were bled and road tested. We drove northto Gereldton and we stayed at a Comfort Inn. Wayne and I looked around town and I got a pizza and garlic bread. We had a quiet evening. Saturday 29 DEC. Gereldton-- wetoured the harbour area and we alsotoured the local marintime museum which is well done. Mike did much of the driving. We drove northonHy 1. We had and overheating problem-little water in the system and the oil was low. Stopped at billabong for a rest also bought expensive oil and coolant. We drove to the stramatolites in Shark Bay. No plaace to stay. e drove on to Carnavan. We arrived about sunset. ON the road we saw a monitor lizard about 1 meter long, severalgoats, sheep, cattle, 2 eagles, and manydead 'roos. Su30 Dec. Called Bo, talked to Judy. We drove up to the blowholes . We were on the edge of a tiphoon so the blow holes were spectacular. I filled amemory card. We watched TV . It was a windy night. I watched "THEM" at midnight. Another night in Carnavan M 31 Dec We set up anj appointment for the vehicle. for Wednesday. unplug AC drain,flush coolingsystem, replace thermostat and coolant. We drove to Denham on Shark Bay. We found a room and then drove toMondey Mia to checktimes for the dolphin feeding. We had an 10 footX 20 foot bunk room. January 1, 2008!! My Alarm wentoff at 0600. We headed for Mondey Mia at 0700. Gotthere about0730. We watched the dolphinfeeding that occured shortly after we got there. There about 6 dolphins that come to get a snack up to 3 times per day. The park rangers do 3 feedings per day if the dolphinsshow up. I fed a fish to one of them. That was a highlightofmy day. A northwest blowfishwent betweenus and the dolphins. Theycan cause a serious bite. So the rangers moved us out of the water. We went back toour backpacker and we had a quiet afternoon. I stayed in our air conditionedroom and I worked on cards. Wednesday 2 January Alarm at 0600. I have the alarm feature figured out. Thenon the road to Caranavan. We dropped Commador Perry of at the repairshop. As weorkprogressed, more problems became apparent. A new fuel filter, a new anti-sway bar and some other work was done. Total cost $451. It was finished at about 1800. So, we stayed in twon another night. Hopefully that will end ur repair bills for the Commador. Water conservationis very important inmuch of Australia. Alltoilets have 2levels of flush. 3 liters and 6 liters. Many cities have desalinationplantsor similar water purification facilities. Thursday 3 January We drove fromCanavaron toTom Price. Commadore Perry workedwell. After shoppingaround we tooka motel room at $129 per night for 2 nights. Friday 4 Jan Toured the Tom Price Mine and we went to Karijini National park. 5 Jan Drove to Port Hedland. Saturday 5 January 2 days left in Australia!! Gas is $1.579/liter in Tom Price. Drove to Port Hedland. Watched large oceal groing freighters being loaded with iron ore. The ships can carry up to 250,000 tons of cargo. Port Hedland ships 100 million tons per year. We stayed at an expensive backpacker. Wayne and I watches sea turtles make nests and lay eggs. Sunday 6 January I was up at about 0400 for 2 hours and I wrote many cards. I finished my Christmas cards. We were up for the day at abourt 0730. I drove the 600 km to Broome. I saw a camel as road kill. They are about as big as a moose! So far, no dead emus. Our backpacker is about $76 for the night. Wayne and I found the brewpub that he was looking for. I liked the cider and the ginger beer. This is my last day in Australia. Again I was up early and I finished my travel diary. It is odd to think of Two Harbors on a different day than me and it is yesterday. We went to the locaql museum and saw remnants of the Jap attacks in early 1942. Wayne and I did internet things and I booked a backpacker in London. We went to the harbor and we went to cable beach. It was voted the best beach in Australia. We did not swim due to the deadlly box jelly fish. Wayne and I went back to the brew pub and I had a ginger beer. MIke went to a working mans tavern. Wayne and I went to a crococile park and we watched the crocks being fed. It was awsom. Wayne and Mike took me to the Broome Airport which is only a few blocks from our hotel. The plane was a little late leaving Broome. We arrived in Perth about 2235. I had to transfer from terminal 3 to terminal 1 which is the international terminal. The transfer cost was $8.00. It took me a while to realize what needed to be done. Tuesday 8 January I flew from Perth to Singapore on Singapore airlines. We started with a warm moist towel to wash our hands and face. Then we were werved a nice meal on china plates and real siverware. We arrived about 0800. The Singapore airport is Huge. I had a cup of coffee and two biskets. I also got some singapore currency and I bought some chocolatae. My flight to Hanoi started checking inn about 0900. It takes a long time to check in 500 people and load them for a flight. Again a nice meal. We flew over Vietnam from South to North. We flew back over the South China Sea over Da Nang. I think that we flew over the center of Vietnam from south to north. So, we may have flown over Hiep Duc. We landed in Hanoi about 1230. Getting my luggage was a long process. Clearing customs and imigration was easy. Scott, Huhn,k and Vanessa greeted me after I cleared customs. We took an They were closing the internet room. So, I sent things and I left. We took an exciting cab ride from the airport to the Church Hotel. It is within half a block of St. Joseph Cathedaral. I have a room with a private bath and a king size bed. The TV has many channels. There is fresh fruit in the room and a refer with food. It is a nice room. I took a bath and I changed cloths. I stepped outside for a few minutes as the Catholic School let out and there was a mob of kids going by.. I called Scott on the phone from the room. He and the family came and we walked from the hotel to Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake). We walked to the Hanoi Opera House and we walked the west side of the lake. We had supper at a restaurant in the NW corner of the lake.. Su6 Jan Droveto Broome Thursday 10 January Scott, Huhn and her mother went to the U.S. Embosy and she got a 1 year visa to the USA! She will probably visit next summer. Winter scares her. I walked to the History Museum which is east of the Opera House. I then walked south in search of the Geology Museum. I think that it got bulldozed. I walked back to the hotel and rested. Huhn, Scott, Vanessa and I went to the "Hanoi Hilton" AKA Hoa Lo Prison or Cua Lo Prison. About half of the 1 block prison was bulldozed for a high rise apartment building. The prison was built in 1896 by the French. The guillotine in the prison was used many times. John McCain was a famous guest. It was an interesting place. I ordered a taylored suit which I will pick up on 19 or 20 January. We had supper out. Scott and I went to the top of his hotel for "a drink" We split a 300 ml bottle of Vodka Hanoi. It is a rice fermention alcohol of 29.5% alcohol 59 proof. Scott walked me back to my hotel and I slept well. Friday 11 January My last day in Hanoi for over a week! Scott, Vanessa, and I walked to the Revolutionary (Communist) Museum. It was free. Scott said that the no cost indicates how low communism is now held in Vietnam. I rested and Packed. Scott Called and I went to Huhn's mother's home for supper. Another good meal. I returned to my hotel and I waited for my ride to the train depot. I got on the train about 2200 and the train left at 2300. I am at the Hotel Saigon Morin in Hue. It is a 4 star hotel and it is out of my league. I am doing some things out of order. I have unlimited internet here. Saturday, 12 January. I shared a 4 berth compartment with 3 other people. I slept well. The early morning was foggy. Later I WATCHED THE COUNTRYSIDE GO BY AS WE CONTINUED SOUTH. cONCRETE, BRICK OR CONCRETE BLOCK HOUSES OF VARIOUS SIZES AND STYLES CAN be seen. Some are new construction. The train arrived in Hue at the advertised 1040. My guide and my driver met me at the train depot and took me to the hotel. I settled in for an hour and then they took me to the Citadel. I was given a wonderful tour which included The Flag Tower, the 9-kHoly Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Great Rites Court, Palace of Supreme Harmony, Halls of the Mandarins, the Bronze Urns, Ham Lein Pavilion, the Nind Duynastic usns, the Nguyen dynastic Temple and the Thai Binh Reading room. I also toured the Thein Mu Pagoda. It is an interesting place. The monk who burned himself to death in 1963 started from here in an Austin car. Back to my hotel and I had an Australian t-bone steak dinner. I worked on my diary and my internet. I slept poorly. I did an hour of internet. My page time expired. So, I lost it. I got up for the day at 0616. Shower, shave, breakfast. we were on the road at 0830. We crossed the Hai Van Pass which is a physical high point on the trip. It was spectacular. It lived up to Fred's description. We stopped at China Beach in Da Nang and then drove to Hoi An. I checked into the hotel. We ate lunch and we toured the city. I saw the riverside market, Cantonese, Fujian, Hai Nan and All Chinese Assembly Halls also the Tan Jy and Diep Dong. Nguyen Houses, The Tran Family Chapel, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quan Cong Temple. I walked the main street in the evening. Monday 14 Jjanuary We left the hotel ih Hoi An about 0800. We drove to LZ Baldy which in now a Vientameese so no pictures. Our next stop was LZ Ross which is part of an VC cemetary. I could see Nui Lok San and Hill 348 (LZ Center) to the south. I do not remember them being so close. I stopped near Nui Lok San . It was a rainy day. I did not want to climb up to Center. My guide walked me to where we had a lager when the Marines called for help.. There is vedry little to identify it. I did find 1-2 Vietnameese graves in the area. We walked to a pair of schooles-elementary and middle (?) schools. Caildren came out of the middle school and I was photographed with them. We also stopped at the medical clinic. We droave on a "jungle road" which is 1 and 1/2 paved lanes to the southe near Center. There aare many abrick and concrete houses. no thacth roofs. Electric power and phone lines exist. The newspaper in Hanoi said that 95% of the rural homes have access to electric power. We eventually drove east to Tam Ky. We drove south on the new Hy 1 and we turned east to the north edge of the airbase at Chu Lai. My guide has a cousin who has a sea food business on the beach. We stopped there and we had tea and a banana. I walked down to the baeach. It was windy and the waves were too Big. It was a bad day for a swim. We drove along a road just inland from the beach at Chu Lai. Thank said that it was a new road. It was built for resorts and Industry. I saw no evidence of recent military activity. The bunkers for US military aircraft still exist. The runway is used for 2-3 flights a day. There is a shipyard on the shore,l a resort hotel and a Korean auto plant to build trucks in the area. We continued south to Quang Ngai. We checked into the Central Hotel. It is much quieter than Hanoi, Hue, or Hoi An. Tu 15 Jan The driver took me to the My Lai Massaacre site. It was a place that I did not want to visit. I felt that my tour director wanted me to go. My tour person spoke good English. She was in her 20's and she was born in the area. I expected "Bad Americans/good Vietnamese". I got"Bad soldiers killed 500/ good soldiers rescure 10". I felt that it was a sensitive and sikening event that was portrayed well at the museum. It had the "Holy ground" feel to me similar to some US Civil War battle sites. It was a reminder of the worst and the best. W 16 Jan My guide took me to Buda Hill and We went to the monestary. It was an interesting visit. Back to the hotel and repack for London. Th 17 Jan Went to gold mine severall miles south of LZ east. It is closed to the public. Drove to Hiep Duk market for lunch and then back toward Tam Ky on the road that goes past Nui Loc San and LZ Center. I found the temple that I wanted to photograph on Hy 1. Stayed in Tam Ky for the night. F. 18 Jan Out at 0730. I ate local breakfast. Stopped at budist temple and photographed it. Stopped at Hindu temple and photos Stopped at Hawk Hill no photos military. Stopped at VC cemetary. Checked into Saigon Hotel in Danang. The driver took me to the My Lai Massaacre site. It was a place that I did not want to visit. I felt that my tour director wanted me to go.]]> Creation Doodles tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2150 2008-01-10T15:50:18Z 2008-01-10T19:11:36Z Come to Bible Study on Thursday mornings or Tuesday evenings and you'll likely be audience to some of my art. Perhaps "illustration" is a better word. This is from our Thursday morning study where we are reading Genesis. It depicts... Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Come to Bible Study on Thursday mornings or Tuesday evenings and you'll likely be audience to some of my art. Perhaps "illustration" is a better word. This is from our Thursday morning study where we are reading Genesis. It depicts the ancient worldview of a three tiered universe. My sense, upon rereading Genesis 1, is that God comes off as a playful kid with ADD, moving quickly from one thing to another, very proud of each moment's creation. Disagree? Bring your thoughts and opinions to our open and talkative Bible studies. Thursday at 10:45 am and Tuesday at 7:00 pm. ]]> ]]>