Life Lessons (Elfchen Series #25)

Life Rewards

Character

Built slowly

Over one’s lifetime

Integrity becomes a habit

Precious

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Making It 

Life

Trekking uphill

Reaching its summit

Fulfilling journey never ends

Perseverance

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Starting Over

Discipline

Sometimes lacking

Daily excuses strike

Replace with fresh renewal

Determination

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The German-inspired poetry style of Elfchen (or Elevenie) contains five lines of poetic verse, usually without the use of rhyming verses.  A total of 11 words are used with a sequence of one, two, three, and four words before ending with a single word in the final verse.

Right Field

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The right fielder just happens to be the newest boy in the neighborhood.  His family makes their new home down on Lexington Drive, not far from a park with a baseball diamond.

A group of boys organize pick-up baseball games every morning during the summer at the park’s diamond.  The right fielder shows up, eager to play, but he is the final player picked for one of the teams. 

Few of the other boys put much faith in the smallish right fielder’s short stature.  His glove is well-worn as the seasoned leather molds around his small hand, and his tattered jeans feature a gash at the knee which provides for some extra ventilation.  He wears a faded cap with the Brooklyn Dodgers “B” logo still showing.

On most pick-up baseball teams, whoever plays right field is usually one of its weaker players with not much of a glove, little speed, and a dreadfully weak throwing arm.  Willing to play right field serves as a consolation prize for being picked last.

The right fielder humbly accepts his position.  He is hungry to play ball, and he just wants to fit in with the other boys.

He enjoys a decent game at the plate with a couple of solid hits.  His teammates begin to take notice of his skills.  The right fielder has yet to see a ball hit his way.

The score remains tied with two outs now in the bottom of the final inning.  A runner stands in position to score from second base as he waits for a much needed hit to bring home the winning run.

With the crack of the bat, the runner is on a dead sprint to third base on his way to home plate.  The ball has been hit like a shot into right field.  The right fielder makes a quick jump on the sharp hit, fields the ball cleanly, and sets up his feet for a throw to the catcher.

The runner is rounding third base, and the field is buzzing with excitement.  The catcher positions himself just in front of home plate as he prepares to receive the right fielder’s throw.

With a hop and a step, the right fielder uncorks a frozen rope of a throw.  It carries low toward the waiting catcher.  The runner looks to be a dead duck.  The throw arrives at home plate well ahead of the runner.

The catcher flinches as the ball skips off of the turf in front of the plate.  With a perfect bounce up, the ball arrives well ahead of the runner.  Sadly, the catcher misjudges the throw, and it bounds over his glove into his body. 

Runner safe!  Game over!

With the game over, the rest of the boys discover they have a pretty darn good right fielder.  They’ve never seen a throw quite like his. 

Lee Strobel Quote

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Struggling with God over the issues of life doesn’t show a lack of faith–it is faith.

From Matthew 8:24-26:  “A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He [Jesus] was asleep.  And they went and woke Him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us!  We are perishing!’  And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’  Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.”

Chains Broken and Free

From Titus 3:4-7:  “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  This Spirit He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

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Running life’s perpetual marathon

Searching for finish line, never in sight

Scaling boundless mountains, summits hidden

Paddling always upstream, with all our might

 

Living foolishly through sin-filled choices

Thinking daily good works shall pay our way

Falling down exhausted, never enough

Realizing God brings His goodness each day

 

Loving us with kindness, comes the Father

Giving to us freely, eternal Grace

Sharing His Holy Word, wrapped in mercy

Renewing Holy Spirit will embrace

 

Chained in darkness as unrighteous sinners

Witnessing now—a mournful, blood-stained tree

Paying for our life’s transgressions in full

Accepting Jesus, chains broken and free

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “There is only one way to receive our heavenly Father’s favor, and that’s by faith in His Son, who did all the work for us.”

American Presidents

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Rutherford B. Hayes

The bold enterprises are the successful ones.  Take counsel of hopes rather than of fears.

James A. Garfield

Few men in our history have ever obtained the Presidency by planning to obtain it.

Faithful God (Haiku Series #92)

Faith

Waiting for the Lord

Our hearts filling with gladness—

Trust His Holy plan

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Always Here

Asking God, “Why me?”

Feeling unprepared for Him—

He will walk with us

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Never Forsaken

Make our hearts ready

Hearing, serving, witnessing—

Quench our thirsty souls

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David Jeremiah Quote

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In the middle of all the uncertainty that surrounds us, it is difficult for us to think of a better thing to do than to pray.

From 2 Chronicles 20:9:  “If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.”

Monday Memories: Music Comes Alive

My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 Buckeye Country Superfest.  We arrived early and stayed until the big show ended.  We had perfect seats and enjoyed our time.

Welcome to the Buckeye Country Superfest from Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Country music fans assemble at the “Shoe”

Sitting in Ohio Stadium offers quite a view

 

Buckeye Country Superfest fills the place

Hungering for “Country”—ready to taste

 

Football won’t be on the agenda this Saturday

Filling the Horseshoe with music and fun today

 

Pleasurable, comfortable June weather arrives

Assuring five performers will sing, full and alive

 

Raelynn, Midland, and Chris Janson arrive here

Adding their unique music for everyone to hear

 

Blake Shelton and George Strait close out the night

Singing memorable hits under the stars, what a sight

 

Aspiring, fresh talent Raelynn launches the show

Sharing her lovely voice, with music ready to go

 

Midland’s Texas honky-tonk excites the crowd

Harmonizing and powerful performers—Wow!

 

Their astounding ability to entertain and sing

Recognizing this trio possess talent to bring

 

Rising star Chris Janson comes out on the stage

Energizing, bold music thrills people of any age

 

He humbling witnesses about his rich Christian faith

Gathering his incredible voice, what music he makes

 

The evening definitely isn’t ready to stop, not at all

Waiting in the wings, the biggest talents stand tall

 

Blake Shelton performs an array of hit after hit

Pumping up the crowd to a frenzy, few ever sit

 

He turns the stadium into a church with “God’s Country”

Blessing an audience in the middle of Buckeye Country

 

Blake prepares the gathering for the “real” King

Walking out now, George Strait steps up to sing

 

The King of Country Music sings to everyone

Witnessing his classic tunes is so much fun

 

His band “Ace in the Hole” adds to the grand night

George sings “Amarillo by Morning” . . . Goodnight!