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Are your New Year’s Resolutions already in tatters?
And, we haven’t even reached February!
So, today our quiz is all about the need to “Simplify.” We’re recommending Paul Borthwick’s new book, which is great for discussion groups. The book is written for evangelical Christians, but the truths are universal.
So, let’s see how much you know about these issues related to the complexity — and the need for simplicity — in our lives today.
Try to answer all 10 questions — then, click on the link at the
end and the correct answers will pop up. If you’re a daily subscriber by
Email (you can sign up for free on the right-hand side of our site),
we’re sorry that you don’t get this Click-to-See-the-Answers feature in
your Email versions — so, please don’t read too far ahead today, if
you’re an email reader.
INTRIGUED by today’s subject? Well, click on the book cover and you can read our review and consider
buying a copy through our Amazon-related store.
THE 10 QUESTIONS:
1.) Borthwick argues that expanding choices are adding to our stress. According to his calculation, how many ways can you order a Starbucks coffee?
A. 500. B. Nearly 10,000. C. 19,000.
2.) Tip No. 6, among the 106 in Borthwick’s book is: “Beware the Want-Makers.” By that, he means that we need to turn our backs on the overwhelming number of offers we receive each day to spend more money. How many credit card offers were mailed to Americans in 2005?
A. 300 million. B. More than 1 billion. C. 5 billion.
3.) It’s important to separate “needs” from “wants” in our lives. Americans consider cars to be essential parts of their lives — in many cases, two cars are considered essential for a household. But, what percent of people in the world own a car?
A. about 8 percent. B. about 25 percent. C. about 40 percent.
4.) Borthwick stresses the importance of Isaiah 58 in prioritizing the essential goals in our lives. Which spiritual challenge does NOT appear in Isaiah 58?
A. let the oppressed go free
B. share your bread with the hungry
C. bring the homeless poor into your house
D. secure your family from enemies
5.) Soothing and inspiring music can help us reduce stress more than a lot of popular rock music, Borthwick argues. He recommends “The Four Seasons,” in particular. Who composed the piece?
A. Beethoven. B. Vivaldi. C. Frank Sinatra.
6.) Eating more slowly is a popular tip, included in this book. This is the resurfacing of a trend that goes back a long way in our cultural history. One earlier wave of this idea suggested that people should chew their food 32 times before swallowing — slowing down the meal, helping people to lose weight and saving money. What was this once-popular 32-chew method called?
A. Fletcherizing. B. Chewzing Health. C. Einsteining.
7.) Bortwick recommends mini-sabbath breaks throughout the day, including tea time. He says the British usually do this around 4 p.m., although British customs vary widely — and many take their tea times later than 4 p.m. One beloved British custom is “cream tea.” What does the phrase mean?
A. the tea is brewed with cream
B. the tea is accompanied by bread with cream and jam
C. the tea is served in the very early morning when fresh cream comes from the barn
8.) “The Emperor’s New Cloths” is held up as a tale well worth remembering — as we rethink whether all of our expensive finery improves our lives or winds up simply making us look foolish. In the tale, who finally humbles the emperor?
A. his horse. B. a witch. C. a little boy.
9.) The book also holds up Micah 6:8 as wise advice. What’s NOT included in this passage?
A. Walk humbly with God. B. Love mercy. C. Act justly. D. Store provisions against a time of need.
10.) To make a final point about the overwhelming debt Americans are stacking up in the world, Borthwick cites data about total U.S. debt, including the long-term debt of the federal government. His point is that, for quite a while, we’ve been living far beyond our means in the world. Calculated this way, how much debt has been stacked up by every man, woman and child in the U.S.?
A. More than $10,000. B. Nearly $100,000. C. More than $160,000.
When you think you’ve got all the answers, CLICK on the link below in the online version of this
quiz, and the ANSWERS will pop up!
Ready? CLICK for the ANSWERS below …
HERE are THE ANSWERS:
1.) C. By the time you consider all the officially offered choices, you’ve got 19,000 options for coffee at Starbucks!
2.) C. More than 5 billion!
3.) A. Only about 8 percent. Evangelist Rob Bell also uses this example in some of his talks about global wealth and poverty to point out that, even Americans who claim to be struggling financially — actually are rich by global standards.
4.) D. The 58th Chapter of Isaiah looks outward and admonishes us to leave our secure strongholds, seek out the needy — and help them with their problems.
5.) B. Antonio Vivaldi. It’s a Baroque favorite from the early 18th Century.
6.) A. Horace Fletcher, whose popularity extended into the early 20th Century, was called The Great Masticator.
7.) B. Yummy “clotted cream” often comes with bread in the form of fresh scones. Mmmmm.
8.) C. A little boy finally points out the obvious fact that the emperor is quite naked.
9.) D. Sure — you know this already, right? It’s the same principle found in the Isaiah passage above. It’s pretty challenging spiritual advice, all in all.
10.) C. Yes, indeed. We’ve been rolling through quite a binge of global consumption. Perhaps we should simplify at least a few things in our lives this year, hmmm?
How’d you do?
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