Test Your Knowledge of Easter

Are you pretty up on things surrounding the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ? Let's find out (answers below and page links to where answers were gained)...

1. Each Easter Americans buy the following amount of Marshmallow Peeps shaped like chicks, bunnies and eggs (of which yellow is the #1 color chosen): (a) 7 million; (b) 70 million; (c) 700 million; (d) 80 million.

2. The day of Easter varies from year to year. How is the date determined?(a) mark 12 weeks from Christmas, multiply that by 3, then divide by 2; (b) 7 possible dates are taped to a wall. The Pope then plays pin the tail on the donkey; (c) it is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the blue moon that takes place on or after the vernal equinox of March 21; (d) it is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon that takes place on or after the vernal equinox of March 21.

3. What percentage of Americans believe that Jesus rose from the grave after having died? (a) 100%; (b) 75%; (c) 50%; (d) 25%.

4. Among other things, the use of eggs on Easter stands for: (a) the start of Spring; (b) new life; (c) an empty tomb; (d) fruitfulness.

5. The bunny as a symbol of Easter is believed to have it's origins in: (a) Germany; (b) Italy; (c) Israel; (d) America.

6. In its infancy Easter was celebrated on changing days of the week. Which political figure ruled that Easter must fall only on a Sunday? (a) Henry the VIII; (b) Julius Caesar; (c) Constantine; (d) Cleopatra.

7. The first one to see Jesus alive on Easter Sunday was: (a) an angel; (b) Pontius Pilate; (c) the Virgin Mary; (d) Mary Magdalene.

Answers: 1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (d)

(This test was developed and based on information from the following websites: The Christian Post, Easter - 123Holiday.net, Easter Candy Facts, Easter Egg - Wikipedia, Easter Bunny History, and Bible Gateway and The History of Easter.)

What is Truth? - Part 2

With Jesus standing before him, Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" And it was because Pilate lived in a day much like our own, I'm convinced, where we just don't know what to believe anymore since it isn't always the case that we can trust what we're being told. Right? We literally live in a land of liars ("the heart is deceitful above all things" - Jer. 17:9) under the management of the father of lies (John 8:44). And so how can we discern the truth in such a place? Is it really possible to separate fiction from fact? Well, in this second and final post on the subject (click here to read "What is Truth? - Part 1") I'm gonna do my best to give you an answer. You want to know the truth? Do you really? Then here's how: First, get Jesus in your life. After all, He is "the Truth" (John 14:6). Separating fiction from fact starts with Christ. It is through living in a close relationship with Him that we gain the sensitivity to tell when it's a lie we're being fed. And then the second thing you can do to know the truth: Hunger for the truth. When I want pizza and somebody gives me broccoli instead, it just doesn't cut it. Amen? I won't be satisfied until I sink my teeth into a thick, fluffy pan crust with pepperoni and sausage and five different cheeses on top. And it needs to be the case with truth. What are you hungering for today? "Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied." And I believe it's the same when it comes to the truth, too. Don't be satisfied with anything less. And then the third thing you can do to know the truth: Immerse yourself in the truth/Scriptures. When was the last time you read your Bible? Mmm? And that's just the least you can do, beloved. There's so much more. The writer of the book of Hebrews was surprised over the condition of certain Jewish followers of Jesus. They were still "babes" when they should have been "teachers" (Heb. 5:12-13). And some Christians are still sucking on a pacifier in their understanding and application of God's Word. Is it any wonder that these same people could think that abortion was a viable choice for women? Are you kidding me? And then the last thing you can do now to know the truth: Find someone who's trustworthy that can teach you. Apollos was a great instructor in the early church. But he still needed Aquila and Priscilla to take him aside and explain the "Way" more "perfectly" (Acts 18:24-26). Let us not fool ourselves that somehow we know it all (or can). And so to summarize the four points: (1) Get Jesus in your life; (2) Hunger for the truth; (3) Immerse yourself in the Scriptures; and (4) Find someone that can teach you. As you do these things you will become good at separating fiction from fact. And you'll be able also to help others answer the question, "What is truth?" for themselves.

What Good is a Blog?

So what’s all this stuff about blogs, bloggers and blogging? And isn’t it just enough to have a website to promote your school, church, business or something else? Well, it’s not just enough anymore. In the past a website did well. (And it still does. Don’t get me wrong.) But now there’s the blog. Simply put, a blog does better than a website to attract viewers. And I’ll tell you why in just a moment. But before that, what you need to remember is a blog is basically an online information page. Anyone can create a blog. (The good news is you can create one for free at: http://www.blogger.com/.) And once you’ve created a blog, that’s when the fun begins. You post to it regularly (write articles). You invite others to come and read your posts (via email). You include relevant links on your blog so that viewers of your blog can go to other websites (and/or blogs). And so your blog becomes a portal. People will come to your blog because it has all the links right there in one place easy for them to find. Which brings me to the point of a blog’s ability to attract viewers (versus a website’s). Search engines (like Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, etc.) recognize blogs more than they do websites. The reason for this is blogs are “dynamic” (always changing) versus websites that are “static” (don’t change much). And search engines look for the dynamic sites! They want those that are visited often and updated regularly. And they’ll give a much higher search ranking status to those blogs which are (and these are my words for it) “living and breathing.” And so let’s just say someone is looking for a Christian school in the foothills of California. Well, if we do our homework correctly and we invite people (via email) to read the regularly updated blog posts and come to the blog as a portal to visit other sites, then guess which Christian school in the foothills of California appears when someone searches the internet? I don’t think I have to tell you.

Read Cougar News Here!

Cougar News online? Here it is again. The recent edition (released at the start of May) can now be read here by clicking on the links below. Also, please note the Teachers and Staff Appreciation Week page.
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Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

Read Cougar News Here!

Cougar News online? It's true. It really is. The recent edition can now be read here by clicking on the links below. Enjoy!

Cougar News Page 1
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MLCS Enters The Blogosphere

Welcome to the Mother Lode Christian School blog. Primarily, it's set up to offer information about the school (of course!). But beyond that it's meant to be a portal for students, faculty, parents, relatives and friends of the school. Just look at all the places that are linked on the MLCS blog! Get your morning, noon or evening news fix. Visit Christian music sites and listen online. (Have you heard of allworship.com? It's great.) Do Bible searches and study through BibleGateway.com (see the right sidebar). Or just read the blog posts (updated regularly) or check for the Cougar Scripture verse to remember or quote (also updated regularly). But most of all, visit the MLCS blog often. And as you do you’re helping to increase Mother Lode Christian School’s visibility and online presence. People who are searching the web for a school that puts God first in the greater Sonora/Twain Harte area will find MLCS! Thanks for coming and we look forward to your next visit.

Mother Lode Christian School Blog Blasts Off

This blog exists for the sole purpose of promoting Mother Lode Christian School. Located in the southern Sierra foothill community of Tuolumne, CA, west of Yosemite National Park, Mother Lode Christian School uniquely serves the greater Sonora/Twain Harte area offering a quality education in a spiritual atmosphere. For those looking for a private school which emphasizes academics without leaving God out, look no further. This is where your child belongs. Come join the family at Mother Lode Christian School. Go Cougars!