Category: FUN FACTS & INFORMATION

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, “Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.”

Forrest responds, “It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam I sure hope that the test ain’t too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.”

St. Peter continued, “Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God’s first name?”

Forrest leaves to think over the questions He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up and says, “Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.”

Forrest replied, “Well, the first one — which two days in the week begins with the letter “T”? Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow.”

The Saint’s eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, “Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How about the next one” asked St Peter.

“How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder,” replied Forrest, but I thunk and thunk about that and I guess the only answer can be twelve.”

Astounded, St. Pete said, “Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven’s name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?”

Forrest replied, “Shucks, there’s got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd…. “

“Hold it,” interrupts St. Peter. “I see where you are going with this and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind…..but I will have to give you credit for that one, too. Let us go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God’s first name?”

“Sure,” Forrest replied, “it’s Andy.”

“Andy?” exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter. “Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?”

“Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,” Forrest replied. “I learnt it from the song, “ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.”

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: “Run Forrest, run.”

Give me a sense of humor, Lord. Give me the ability to understand a clean joke, to get some humor out of life and forethought to pass it on to other folk.

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You say, “It’s impossible.”
God says: “All things are possible”. (Luke 18:27)

You say, “I’m too tired.”
God says: “I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11:28-20)

You say, “Nobody really loves me.”
God says: “I love you”. (John 3:16 – John 13:34)

You say, “I can’t go on.”
God says: “My grace is sufficient.” (II Corinthians 12:9 – Psalms 91:15)

You say, “I can’t figure things out.”
God says: “I will direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say, “I can’t do it.”
God says: “You can do all things.” (Philippians 4:13)

You say, “It’s not worth it.”
God says: “It will be worth it.” (Romans 8:28)

You say, “I can’t forgive myself.”
God says: “I forgive you.” (I John 1:9 – Romans 8:1)

You say, “I can’t manage.”
God says: “I will supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)

You say, “I’m afraid.”
God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear.” (II Timothy 1:7)

You say, “I’m always worried and frustrated.”
God says: “Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say, “I don’t have enough faith.”
God says: “I’ve given everyone a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)

You say, “I’m not smart enough.”
God says: “I give you wisdom.” (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say, “I feel all alone.”
God says: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews. 13:5)

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The Lord Jesus is speaking to the multitudes about the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5-7), teaching them many truths, and he mentions dogs:
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

The Lord Jesus dealing with a gentile woman from Canaan (Matthew 15:22) who came seeking healing for her daughter, rebuked her.
Matthew 15:26-27, Mark 7:27-28 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Read the whole account in Matthew 15:22-28, Mark 7:25-30. There are several lessons to be learned and among them is Matthew 15:24.

The Lord Jesus when teaching about what happens at the time of death, describes the sorry condition of Lazarus.
Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

The apostles Paul and John describe false teachers:
Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The apostle Peter quotes from a Proverb when he writes about those who knew about God but didn’t believe God.
2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

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⇛ also see Dog (Old Testament), Dog (New Testament), Greyhound

Fallow deer are native to SW Asia, are very variable in color; some are white, others very dark brown and a variety are spotted. They are listed as an animal that was clean and could be eaten.

Deuteronomy 14:5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.

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⇛ also see Hart, Roebuck

Isaiah 38:14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

These animals obey the ways of God, but man choses to go his own way, disregarding the work of God.

Jeremiah 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.

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Genesis 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

Job 11:12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

Prophecy.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Prophecy fulfilled.
Matthew 21:1-8 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

The above recorded by Matthew records the event of the Lord Jesus making his triumphful entry into Jerusalem fulfilling what was recorded in Zechariah 9:9.

This event is also recorded in Mark 11:1-10 again in Luke 19:29-38 and also in John 12:12-15. Each of these contain truths that are worthy of study.

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⇛ also see Ass, Mule

A cockatrice is a mythical beast, essentially a two-legged dragon or serpent-like creature with a rooster’s head. A cockatrice was a magical beast resembling a rooster with a lizard’s tail. The Cockatrice can cause death with a single glance. Their poisonous saliva can even kill an elephant.

This definition is what the world thinks a cockatrice is, but Isaiah refers to it three times and says it will exist during the 1000 years of peace on earth.

Isaiah 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

Isaiah 59:5 They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

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⇛ also see Dragon

David rehearses his exploits with a bear while guarding his father’s flock of sheep to prove that he could stand up to Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
1 Samuel 17:36-37 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

2 Samuel 17:8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Elisha, who was bald, was being mocked “Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.” His response to them:
2 Kings 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

A fool in his folly can cause more harm than a bear:
Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

As is a wicked ruler:
Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Isaiah writes about the kingdom time (1000 years) promised to the nation Israel when their Messiah (the Lord Jesus) will rule over them (and the whole world). During this time peace will reign that all the animals will dwell together without fear. An example is in:
Isaiah 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Later he writes, our iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Isaiah 59:11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

Read Lamentations 3 as the writer describes his condition without God.
Lamentations 3:10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

Prophecy of a coming kingdom.
Daniel 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Hosea 13:8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

Amos 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

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Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
Isaiah 59:5 They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

John the Baptist:
Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
The Lord Jesus:
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Fulfillment of Mark 16:18

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⇛ also see Adder, Asp, Serpent

Whales, of course were created on the 5th day along with every living creature, except land animals and man.
Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

The next mention of whale is in Job:
Job 7:12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

The next mention of whale is in Exekiel:
Ezekiel 32:2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt,
and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

The next mention should have been in Jonah:
Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
But the translators called it a great fish which is probably the correct translation as whales have very small throats.

But in Matthew it is called a WHALE:
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Whale, Great Fish doesn’t really matter. What matters is: 1st the Lord Jesus verifies that the story of Jonah is true. And 2nd He used it as an illustration of His death, burial and resurrection. (⇛ see Three Days)

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