Rather than face the mere possibility of pain we will not act at all . . . or do something easier than we should attempt.
From Ecclesiastes 3:22: “So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?”
Breathing in silence
Poverty living
Suffocating life
Empty, ungiving
Living with little
Sadly, no escape
Seeing no future
Desolate landscape
Bonding together
Despite life’s darkness
Overcoming much
Home lives with starkness
Searching, any job
Family needs food
Tasting emptiness
Life feeling so skewed
Thinking of future
Numbing journey calls
Shattering each dream
Poverty’s pitfalls
Facing each crisis
Today’s worries leave
Finding work again
Hope now smiles, believe
Different levels of poverty strike the world everywhere. Some areas face more daunting challenges than others. Here are a few sobering statistics:
Our lives are like water, always flowing forward in the streams of time.
Life is always full of limitless possibilities.
Curious and ask
Just what is a Messiah?
Calvary’s cross speaks
Searching endless roads
Lord offering righteous route—
Built on trusted rock
Days fill with trials
Life’s journey walks with Jesus—
Promised Land ahead
Opportunities are usually described as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.
From 2 Corinthians 9:15: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
An early winter blizzard covers the immense ranching country. The harshness of the storm threatens everyone’s safety, both people and cattle.
Phone lines are disconnected, with most on the ground. Electricity is off except where well-prepared ranchers turn on generators to provide for their needs. All roads into each ranch are drifted shut with the heavy, dense snow.
One rancher is overly concerned for the welfare of his family and his cattle herd. The family is warm and safe inside their home, and they have enough groceries to last for several more days.
However, the cattle stand in harm’s way. Their water supply and feeding schedule have been disrupted, and the rancher worries about the length of the storm and the consequences for his 300 plus head of Black Angus cows.
At suppertime on the third night of the storm, the atmosphere is tense. The rancher’s son sees the worry painted on his father’s face. This faithful, little soul of a five-year old reminds his father with words filled with hope, “Jesus will be with us.”
Overnight the storm begins to abate and move on. In the morning, crews begin to slowly and carefully clear the roads. In a matter of hours, they will reach the isolated ranch.
Using his powerful four-wheel tractor with its giant dozer blade, the rancher clears a path to where his precious cattle are nestled against the wall of a massive shelter. While he makes sure the water is running, and the cattle receive their hay with a helping of rolled oats, he smiles and remembers the faithful words of his young son, “Jesus will be with us.”
At some point, we all experience heartache. But one thing is certain: Jesus will be standing by our side to strengthen and deliver us in our time of need.
From Hebrews 13:5-6: “Be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence.'”
From Proverbs 18:24: “Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.”
Dark perils lurking
Sin’s evil prowling
Reaching into souls
Fiercest storms howling
Fragile faith fading
Hope searching for God
Reaching out to light
Gospel never flawed
Others abandon
Lord always remains
Reaching into faith
Hope flowing through veins
At crossroads of life
Father comes calling
Reaching into hearts
No longer falling
Comfort bringing peace
Divine Word spoken
Reaching into self
Spirit unbroken
From Hebrews 13:5: “Be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.'”
You no more need a holiday from spiritual concentration than your heart needs a holiday from beating.
From 2 Chronicles 15:17: “But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was true all his days.”
Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, Ohio Stadium is hallowed ground for The Ohio State University football team. The Buckeyes have played here since 1922.
Nicknamed the “Horseshoe,” the venerable stadium graces the west side of campus near the Olentangy River. The journey to build this magnificent home goes back to the World War I era.
The Buckeyes playing field back in the 1910s is Ohio Field. The unassuming name cannot hide the fact that this football home is less than adequate. Seating is limited to 14,000, but some games find more fans viewing from the perimeter of the field as a standing-room only (sometimes in excess of 20,000).
The catalyst behind the need for a much larger stadium for the Buckeyes is traced to the success of the team in 1916, 1917, and 1919. Ohio State’s first three-time All-American, Charles “Chic” Harley leads the team to numerous victories and conference championships. Playing in the period before college football’s Heisman Trophy, Harley would have been a cinch to win this prestigious award as college football’s most outstanding player. One might say that Ohio Stadium is the field Chic built.
Needing a much bigger stadium, Ohio Stadium is constructed with its unique horseshoe design. Ohio Wesleyen becomes the first opponent to play here on October 7, 1922. The original stadium’s seating capacity is 66,000, but it is far exceeded later in the 1922 season when the Buckeyes host the Michigan Wolverines before 71,138 spectators.
Here are some quick facts about the “Horseshoe.”
