Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Trivia Wednesday #171: Characters in All 6 Movies

answer #170 - John Williams (Who wrote the music for the Star Wars movies?)

question #171 - Which Star Wars characters are in all six movies?



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This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Trivia Wednesday #170: Star Wars music

answer #169 - True (True or False Anthony Daniels played & voiced C-3PO in all 6 Star Wars movies, plus the animated Clone Wars episodes?)

question #170 - Who wrote the music for the Star Wars movies?



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This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

(Not so) Practical Graduation Gifts

While there are plenty of good graduation gift ideas out there, I thought you might to see some not-so-practical ideas. None of these gifts are on the same level of non-practical.


1. Super Soaker
2. WWJD bracelet (tye-dye, of course)
3. Pet Rock, with graduation year printed on it
4. WOW '97 CD
5. A few pizzas from your last pizza fundraiser
6. Leftover Mountain Dew from the New Year's overnighter
7. Any Thomas Kinkade print
8. A coffee cup that says "Best Graduate Ever"
9. A Psalty throw pillow


What would you add to this list?

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Trivia Wednesday #169: C-3PO

answer #168 - Kenny Baker (In the original Star Wars series, who played R2D2?)

question #169 - True or False Anthony Daniels played & voiced C-3PO in all 6 Star Wars movies, plus the animated Clone Wars episodes?



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This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

May Trivia: Star Wars

In honor of Star Wars Day (May 4th) & the 30th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back, this month's trivia is all about Star Wars.

May 5 - R2-D2
May 12 - C-3PO
May 19 - Star Wars music
May 26 - characters in all 6 movies


How much do you know about Star Wars? Do you have any Star Wars trivia you'd like to ask - just leave it in a comment and we'll see how much I know.


This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Trivia Wednesday #168: R2D2

answer #167 - E is the most, Z is the least (What are the most & least used letters in the English alphabet?)

(In order from most to least used: E T A I S O N H R D L U C M F W Y P G V B K J Q X Z)

question #168 - In the original Star Wars series, who played R2D2?



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This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Book Review: Where is God? by John Townsend

(this is a guest post/review by my wife)

Difficult times can be hard to define. They come in many seasons of our lives, and what may be a struggle for one is considered normal by another. One quality of difficult times that remains constant is that they are guaranteed to happen. The Bible even speaks this truth. Paul tells us to not be surprised when hard times arise. When life is not what we expected, where do we turn? How do we answer questions that arise in our minds and in our hearts? How do you respond when questions are asked of you by others whose lives have tumbled out of control? Dr. John Townsend refers to his many years in the counseling field and his knowledge of scriptures to compile a resource to turn to, not only in the difficult times but also to look at in preparation for the times that are sure to be coming. Where Is God? gives us hope in our dark times, when personal burdens have taken their toll and leave us feeling purposeless.

One aspect of Dr. Townsend's book that I really appreciated is that he clearly states a common reason for our discouragement in the hard seasons of our lives. We have an inaccurate view of God. We cannot see the purpose for our trials until we see the truth of the God who is active in the midst of them. The true God that is presented in scripture is often very different from our misconceived view of God that is often a compilation of our experiences. God's role in our lives is not to prevent trials but rather to use the trials we face for His greater purposes. As Dr. Townsend writes, "He (God) loves you and wants to help you, but He will do it His way and in His time."

There are struggles that we face that will pass. Where is God? will help to point you to the God who is the only hope we have and will give us endurance to persevere. And when the struggles we face are terminal, permanent, and unchanging Dr. Townsend reminds the reader that in Christ we find a deeper hope than simply that the problem will go away (page 67). Ultimately, Christ is the anchor in our storms.

Where is God? is not an answer book in the sense that you walk away with every reason or purpose behind your difficult time. But it does clearly point you to the One who is the answer. It is full of scriptures and examples from Dr. Townsend's experiences that help us to see the reality of our trials. When all else is shaken, He remains. When all else fails us, He remains. When all else is taken, He remains. His goodness, faithfulness, and intimate knowledge of our lives all remain constant. I know I am not alone in needing that reminder.