November 21, 2020 (Saturday)
Alex Trebek (George Alexander Trebek) was a Canadian-American television personality and game show host. He was the host of the syndicated game show, “Jeopardy!” for 36 years from its revival in 1984 until his recent death at age 80. Contestants were given clues to which they responded with a proper question. Example: Clue: “It’s the only country that borders both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.” Answer: “What is Iran?”
I never watched “Jeopardy” because the contestants were knowledgeable about subjects I had never even heard about.
If I were a contestant on a quiz program, I would like to be asked to name the Seven Dwarfs who were friends of Snow White. I would reply, Grumpy, Sneezy, Doc, Dopey, Bashful, .. er..uh..see what I mean?
Suppose you are on a quiz show and you are asked to name the first five books of the Bible. What would you answer? Or the twelve books of history in the Old Testament? And the five books of poetry? How about the 5 major prophets and the 12 minor prophets? How are you doing now? How many books in the Old Testament? (39). And the New Testament–how many books? (27). Total number of books in the Bible? (66).
Better still, what if you were asked to say a few words about some of those books? Would you know what to say?
There was a time in our country when virtually every home had some kind of Bible in it. But the sad part of that story is the fact that many of those Bibles were unread. The Bible is still the number one best seller, but is it the most read?
There are many translations of the Bible today, but there is still only one Bible. Do you know what is in your Bible? Do you read it often (like, every day)? Do you understand its message?
What is the main message of the Bible, you ask? The main thing the Bible tells us is that God loves us and wants to save us. John 3:16 has been called, “the gospel in one verse”: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He is willing to prepare a place in Heaven for you. Are you ready to meet the Lord?
MY MOTHER’S BIBLE
Words, Milan B. Williams
Charles D. Tilman
circa 1900
There’s a dear and precious Book,
Tho’ it’s worn and faded now,
Which recalls the happy days of long ago;
When I stood at mother’s knee,
With her hand upon my brow,
And I heard her voice in gentle tones and low.
Chorus
Blessed book, precious book,
On thy dear old tear-stained leaves I love to look;
Thou art sweet day by day,
As I walk the narrow way
That leads at last to that bright home above.
As she read those stories o’er,
Of those mighty men of old,
Of Joseph and Daniel and thier trials,
Of little David bold,
Who became a king at last;
Of Satan with his many wicked wiles.
Then she read of Jesus’ love,
As he blest the children dear,
How he suffered, bled and died upon the tree;
Of his heavy load of care,
Then she dried my flowing tears
With her kisses as she said it was for me.
Well, those days are past and gone,
But their mem’ry lingers still,
And the dear old Book each day has been my guide;
And I seek to do his will,
As my mother taught me then,
And ever in my heart his words abide.