Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.

Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?

"The function of genius is not to give new answers, but to pose new questions -- which time and mediocrity can solve."

"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions."

1) Is Atheism a "non-prophet" organization? 2) If I went to a bookstore and asked the sales clerk where the self-help section was, and he told me, would it defeat the whole purpose? 3) What was the best thing BEFORE sliced bread? 4) How is it possible to have a "civil" war? 5) Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of the song? 6) Would the ocean be a lot deeper if there were no sponges? 7) If you had everything, where would you put it? 8) And I wonder why the cemetery just raised its burial charges and blamed the cost of living?

Calf Birth A man was helping one of his cows give birth, when he noticed his 4-year-old son standing wide-eyed at the fence, soaking in the whole event. The man thought, "Great, he's 4 and I'm gonna have to start explaining the birds and bees. No need to jump the gun, I'll just let him ask, and I'll answer." After everything was over, the man walked over to his son and said, "Well son, do you have any questions?" "Just one," gasped the still wide-eyed lad. "How fast was that calf going when he hit that cow?"

Ravi Zacharias, in "Questions I Would Like to Ask God," writes: I have often referenced the quote by the talk show host Larry King, in his response to a particular question: "If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?" Mr. King's answer was that he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When the questioner followed with, "And what would you like to ask him?" King replied, "I would like to ask him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me." Ravi Zacharias then writes that when he requested permission through a common friend to quote Larry King, King sent word saying, "And tell him I was not being facetious."

I use a small personal size spiral note pad, not a clipboard. Clipboards are associated with political campaigns. I write the questions down so that if (when?) my mind goes blank, I don't end up asking an inappropriate question. To start an interview I normally approach someone that’s walking (at first I didn't do this but I learned that it’s probably best). People are less defensive when I offer to walk along with them wherever they’re going. If they’re in a hurry or feeling pressured it’s easy for them to say so without feeling awkward or mean. I ask if they would mind giving their personal opinion on a few things and I tell them that 'm not going to comment on their answers. This is is really just an interview. I usually begin by asking "Do you normally feel comfortable talking to people you don't know about spiritual or religious matters?" After that question I usually ask 2 or 3 more. Some of the questions I've asked are: Do you think ghosts (or spirits) are real? How do you feel when the subject of Jesus comes up in a conversation? Do you think the church has a positive influence on society? How do you feel when someone invites you to a religious event? Have you ever had someone try to convert or “save” you? Does Christianity have a positive influence on society? Is there a religious or spiritual person that you admire? Do you think there are messages for you in your dreams? Do you think that Christians in general are a good representation of Jesus?

Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.

Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.

Unanswerable Questions

When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of "No answer." It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, "Peace, child; you don't understand." Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easily, I should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable. How many hours are there in a mile? Is yellow square or round? Probably half the questions we ask--half our great theological and metaphysical problems--are like that.