August 22, 2005 - The Beatitudes of Bible Quizzing

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The Beatitudes of Bible Quizzing

By Lonnie Brown
August 22, 2005

Bro. Lonnie Brown retired this year from North American Bible Quizzing, after starting as a coach in 1968. Over the years he has served as a coach, a state coordinator, a regional coordinator, and an assistant national quizmaster. In that time he coached the 1969 national champions, the second place team in 1975, and the fourth place team of 1984. He also has the rare distinction of having coached two quizzers who later went on to win the national Coach of the Year award.

He presented this devotion on August 8, 2005 at the North American Bible Quiz Tournament.

Special Translations
I’ve been using different translations of the Bible over the last couple of years as I read the Bible via the BREAD (Bible Reading Enriches Every Day) program. And I came across the “MW and LB” translation of the passage in Matthew we commonly refer to as the “Beatitudes”—Matthew 5:3-12. (You may want to follow along in your Bible if you have one. And I’ll let you figure out what MW and LB represent.)

Matthew 5:3—Blessed are the poor in the Bible Quiz family, for they will probably stay that way till the quiz season is over.
Matthew 5:4—Blessed are they that mourn, for they will probably have to play Louisiana 1 or Texas 1 again.
Matthew 5:5—Blessed are the meek, for they shall probably get a contest granted—but don’t bet on it!
Matthew 5:6—Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for “anything to eat” at supper time at the NABQT, for it means Bro. Nathan Reever’s session is behind again!
Matthew 5:7—Blessed are the merciful, for there will be foul judges in heaven. (I think!)
Matthew 5:8—Blessed are the pure and perfect Bible quizzers, for they are looking in state-fair-like distorted mirrors. (And haven’t asked the coach or me lately!)
Matthew 5:9—Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be needed in the Guys versus the Gals quiz!
Matthew 5:10—Blessed are they which are persecuted at a quiz tournament. Just be glad it’s only 20 questions, and study more next time!
Matthew 5:11-12
- Version 1: Blessed are ye quizmasters and judges when quizzers and coaches revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for Bible Quizzing’s sake—rejoice, and be exceeding glad. (Besides, you probably deserved it!)
- Version 2: Blessed are ye quizmasters and judges when quizzers and coaches revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for Bible Quizzing’s sake—rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for one day, they will be the quizmasters and judges!!

The “Real” Beatitudes of Bible Quizzing
All of you are aware of the Beatitudes of Christ. They are eight statements reminding us of the virtues Christ taught and the way to implement those virtues. The Beatitudes are a map of life, a series of directives helping us on our journey through life. They are stated simply, but profound in meaning.

Well, in the same MW and LB translation of Matthew, I found some “Beatitudes of Bible Quizzing”, by definition, simple but profound and meaningful, and some a little on the light side. See if you can relate to any of them.

Beatitudes for Quizzers

1. Blessed is the quizzer who falls in love with God’s Word, for he will reap many benefits thereby, both in this life and the life to come.

2. Blessed is the quizzer who falls in love with another quizzer and marries them, for they shall be mightily blessed—and probably have kids that hate to memorize!

3. Blessed is the quizzer who reveres and values prayer, study time, and discipline, for he shall score many points!

4. Blessed is the quizzer who realizes that quizzing is unto the Lord, for he will never suffer a loss!

5. Blessed is the quizzer who doesn’t despair after missing a question, for he will normally get many chances to do it again.

6. Blessed is the quizzer who knows his chart work, for he will win many quizzes for his team.

7. Blessed is the quiz captain who shares questions with his quiz mates, and God will reward him accordingly!

8. Blessed is the substitute quizzer who knows all of the material, and they shall not be embarrassed.

9. Blessed is the quizzer who always tries to do his very best, for (s)he shall receive many trophies—just not in the form and shape you expected.

10. Blessed is the quizzer who has a life outside of Bible Quizzing as well, for he will have many friends, and be an influencer in his youth group!

Beatitudes for Coaches

1. Blessed is the coach who loves all his quizzers equally, for he will, over time, be given a chance to prove it.

2. Blessed is the coach who realizes that quizzing is a “means,” not an “end,” and many a young person shall be blessed thereby.

3. Blessed is the coach who knows all the rules, for if not, he will soon wish he had!

4. Blessed is the coach whose goal is not a favorable “winning” percentage, but a “100 percent saved” percentage.

5. Blessed is the coach who is not living out unfulfilled dreams of his own, and he will be honored for fulfilling the dreams of quizzers.

6. Blessed is the coach whose own example he is keenly aware of, for he will be given countless opportunities to display it!

7. Blessed is the coach who regularly prays for his quizzers, for his prayers will be answered!

8. Blessed is the coach whose quiz practices are planned, prayed over, and properly performed, for his quiz teams shall win many quizzes.

9. Blessed is the coach who realizes the quiz team he coaches is a representation of himself—and how do you want to be viewed?

10. Blessed is the coach who knows how to sacrifice, for he will be provided many opportunities to do so—but none undertaken will be overlooked by the Lord!

Beatitudes for Coordinators

1. Blessed is the coordinator who carefully plans and executes the quiz season, and his quiz teams shall not wither, but rather, prosper till the end.

2. Blessed is the coordinator who is prepared for every quiz tournament, for the quizzers and coaches deserve it, and should expect no less!

3. Blessed is the coordinator who uses excellent questions at his tournament, for he shall be praised and probably get the tournament finished on time. (Woe be to the coordinator who uses poor questions at the tournament, for he shall be flogged, tarred, and feathered, and asked to read questions for 48 straight hours without a break!)

4. Blessed is the coordinator who works in a devotion and recreational time in the tournament schedule, and he shall be loved by all—and might even get a little spiritual—and lose some weight!

5. Blessed is the coordinator who cooperates with the General Youth Division, for he shall be blessed to do it again, again, again, and again . . .

Beatitudes for Parents

1. Blessed are the ears of the parent of a quizzer, for they shall hear many excuses of why their child didn’t study.

2. Blessed is the parent of a quizzer who knows how to encourage; yea, he shall be given many opportunities to do so!

3. Blessed is the parent of a quizzer who never misses a quiz tournament, and the Lord will reward you many fold—and your quizzer will never forget it!

4. Blessed is the parent of a quizzer who lets the coach “coach the team,” for then he shall not have a coach who “parents his quizzer.”

5. Blessed is the parent of a quizzer who praises and prays for his quizzer, for his prayers shall be answered and the praises will be returned not many days hence.

ninetyandnine.com

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Lonnie Brown is the husband of the greatest wife in the world (and now the loveliest grandma on planet Earth), father of two wonderful young adults, father-in-law of two more wonderful young adults, and (drum roll please!) grandpa of three precious granddaughters: Kerinda (four years), Shiann (19 months), and Julianna (seven months). And to enjoy these 8 people even more, he has resigned from his Bible Quizzing ministry of 35 years.