Born in the Big Sky Country of Montana and now living in the Buckeye State of Ohio, Richard is the creative mind behind Big Sky Buckeye. Retired after 40 years of teaching, I enjoy writing, photography, traveling, and following a healthy lifestyle.
From Psalm 18:2-3: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,so I shall be saved from my enemies.”
Edward Mote (1797-1874) was an English pastor and prolific hymn writer. One of his most beloved hymns, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” was composed in 1834.
From left to right: Paul Newman, Robert Redford (courtesy of Pinterest)
Paul Newman (1925-2008)
A man can only be judged by his actions, and not by his good intentions or his beliefs.
Robert Redford (born 1936)
Be careful of success; it has a dark side.
American actor Paul Newman’s life was much more than just the films he starred in. While he earned an Academy Award for Best Actor in “The Color of Money” (1986), he left an indelible footprint with his efforts as philanthropist and entrepreneur.
American actor Robert Redford starred in two films with Paul Newman: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) and “The Sting” (1973). Redford’s directing skills have received four Academy Award nominations with one win for “Ordinary People” (1980).
Surrender your mind to the Lord at the beginning of each day.
From Isaiah 50:4: “The Lord God has given mea trained tongue, that I may know how to sustainthe weary with a word. Morning by morning He wakens,wakens my earto listen as those who are taught.”
From Hebrews 11:1-3: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”
From Psalm 33:20-22: “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in Himbecause we trust in His holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,even as we hope in you.”
There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows that He is doing.
From Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them,calling them all by name; because He is great in strength,mighty in power,not one is missing.”
Donald Miller (born 1971) is an American author, speaker, and business owner. Many of his personal essays and reflections deal with faith, God, and self-discovery.
A select few face overwhelming challenges in life. Encouraged by a heart filled with perseverance, these trailblazers adopt an attitude where “Can” outplays “Can’t.”
Born in 1909, American Glenn Cunningham transformed into one of the world’s best middle distance runners. However, there was much more to this man’s personal story.
Born in Kansas, seven year-old Glenn endured burns suffered from a gasoline explosion at school. The lower part of his body was substantially burned. Doctors said that the young boy would never walk again.
Hopelessly crippled by the burns to his legs, young Glenn proved many people wrong about his future. Not only would he walk, but he ran right into the record books.
Nicknamed the “Kansas Ironman” and “Kansas Flyer,” Glenn’s perseverance and dedicated training brought him into a setting that few could ever have imagined. He emerged as one of the world’s premiere track athletes in the 1930s. The mile run became his specialty, and he went on to win numerous races and championships.
In 1934, he established a world record in the mile run (4:06:08), and his performance would not be bettered for three years. After his world record run, Glenn was quoted, “I always believed that I could walk normally, and that was the truth. Now I will run, and run faster than anyone else.”
Glenn’s amazing willpower and faith carried him onto the world stage. Running the 1500 meter run in two different summer Olympics, he proved his greatness. He placed fourth in the 1932 Olympics at Los Angeles, but he saved his best for 1936 at Berlin when he earned a silver medal.
Glenn’s Christian faith was visible in his actions and words. One of his favorite Scripture verses came from Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Throughout his distinguished running career, Glenn endured frequent leg pain. Few could imagine how he needed to overcome so much with a faith-filled, inner strength.
As Glenn’s running career wrapped up, the country needed his service in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy, and he developed new physical training programs. Later he taught athletics and physical education at Cornell College in Iowa.
One of his most noted ventures exhibited his desire to care for underprivileged children. He and his wife established the Glenn Cunningham Youth Ranch, which offered a temporary home for over 10,000 foster children.
These closing words from Glenn epitomized his approach to his life: “In running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions.”
This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing. You are invited to participate with the opening question.
Brain Teaser Question
An explorer found a silver coin marked 7 B.C. He was told it was a forgery. Why?
(answer found at the end of this post)
Featured Facts
The state of Wyoming is often referred to as the Cowboy State. The capital city is Cheyenne, which is located just north of the Colorado state line.
Admitted to the Union on July 10, 1890, Wyoming later adopted a motto of “Equal Rights.” There is significance in this state motto as exemplified by these three facts:
The Wyoming Territory gave women the right to vote in 1869, which is well ahead of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in both state and federal elections.
Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected governor of the state in 1925. She was the first woman governor in the United States.
One of Wyoming’s nicknames is “Equality State.”
Wyoming Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross. (Photo courtesy of Pinterest.)
Answer to Brain Teaser Question
The label B.C. only could have come into usage after 0 B.C. Therefore, the coin could not have been minted in 7 B.C.
Big Sky Buckeye 