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About bigskybuckeye

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.

Monday Memories: Five More Minutes

Written in February, 2020, this poem reflects forward in time when one is living those final precious years.  In taking this Christian view, we ask God for those treasured “five more minutes.”

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The elderly man’s final strength turns to run

His long, full life now enters its final sunset

Recalling the good times, craving a bit more

“Five more minutes” before the setting sun

 

Swapping one more story, with my dear Dad

His role in life, serving as my own launch pad

 

Listening to Neil Diamond, singing one more song

He conveys my love for “America”—forever strong

 

Taking extra time to say, “I sincerely apologize”

For actions which turned out bad, not very wise

 

Please God, just five more minutes . . .

 

Fishing the Madison River, time for one more cast

Herb standing ready, with a memory from the past

 

Experiencing one more awe-inspiring sunrise

One only God can create, His lasting surprise

 

Sharing a moment, with a special great-grandchild

Before falling back to sleep, she winks and smiles

 

Please God, just five more minutes . . .

 

Witnessing fresh, fallen snow—pristine white

Pine trees show off under moon’s bright light

 

Stepping into a high school classroom once more

Taking notes from the elite of the teaching corps

 

Witnessing a Big Montana Sky, fetches a smile

Please allow me to see, at least one more mile

 

Please God, just five more minutes . . .

 

Traveling to a place, never seen before

Anxious to view, what’s really in store?

 

Sharing with my bride, “I love you” one more time

Enduring heartbeats and affection, forever rhyme

 

Asking my Heavenly Father, for forgiveness

My risen Lord and Savior, being my witness

 

Thank you God for these five more minutes!

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Bobby Bowden Quotes

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Courage is doing something you need to do that might get you hurt.

If somebody mistreats you, treat ’em good.  That kills ’em.

American football coach Bobby Bowden (1929-2021) coached the Florida State Seminoles from 1976 to 2009.  He is considered to be one of college football’s greatest coaches.  Being a Christian, Bowden credited his success in coaching to his faith.

Love’s Arrival (Fourth Sunday in Advent)

From Isaiah 9:6-7:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and His kingdom.  He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

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Faithful God’s Holy love

Shining from Bethlehem

Blessed virgin gives birth

In world filled with mayhem

 

Hope springs forth from God’s love

Filling manger with grace

Messiah born this night

Stable now Holy place

 

Divine love preaches faith

Sharing Lord’s precious gift

Behold man’s salvation

Satan’s plans now adrift

 

Peace covers earth’s landscape

Sowing eternal love

Savior’s mission begins

Father views from above

 

Lasting joy now goes forth

Hearing angels singing

Christ’s love, Calvary’s cross

Forgiveness now bringing

 

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You are invited to join in prayer:  Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace.  During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior.  Amen.

Written in 1865 by English hymn writer, William Chatterton Dix, the hymn of “What Child Is This?” is sung by Charlotte Church.  The lyrics are based upon the verses from Isaiah 9:6-7, and the tune is “Greensleeves.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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God has entrusted to us a great deal.  He knows that we can do all things by His grace, so He’s trusting in us to trust Him.

From Psalm 31:7-8:  “I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities, and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”

Quick Escape

Courtesy of Pinterest.

A supermarket can be one of life’s greatest adventures for a pair of boys, who are about a year or two away from starting elementary school.

Pete and James have been traveling with their parents on a short trip.  

Taking a break to buy a few items, the parents and the boys make a quick stop in a larger, nearby city.  The boys have never seen such a big store, and they are curious about what waits on the massive rows of different products neatly arranged on the endless shelves.

While their father and mother pause to have a conversation, the boys become quite curious with rows and rows of men’s shaving cream cans.  The shelf sits at their level with everything in easy reach.  They look at each other as if to say, “Who wants to push the button on the top of the can?” 

Pete, being the older of the two brothers, quite literally takes matters into his own hands.  He picks up one of the capless cans, and presses his finger down on the button. 

Suddenly, a huge ball of white foam erupts out of the can . . . right toward father’s pants!

With a quick look at the disaster they’ve made, the brothers make a quick escape as they dash around the corner of the aisle, without either of their parents having a clue about what has just happened. 

Just as the boys run around to the next door aisle, father notices something white on his pants, near his front pocket.  The foam just seems to keep growing as he touches it.  He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief to wipe up the damp, foamy mess.  He tells his wife, “Where did this shaving cream come from?”

Turning around, mother asks, “Where are the boys?”

Both of the parents scan one end of the aisle, then the other end.  Sure enough, they notice two familiar faces peeking back at them.  Their look says it all, “We’re busted, and now we’re in big trouble.”

Seeing that their quick escape has failed, the brotherly tandem walks slowly back toward their parents.  As Pete approaches with the shaving cream can in one hand, smiles and laughter quickly take over the scene.  Father’s handkerchief has just about cleaned up the white foam off of his pants.

Funny thing!  Father doesn’t even use shaving cream because he’s an electric razor guy.

Curious Trivial Facts (12/18)

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This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing.  We can all appreciate some of the lesser known facts from around the world.

It takes approximately six to eight hundred grapes to produce one bottle of wine.

Joe Sheridan was closing up his restaurant at Ireland’s Foynes Airport in 1945 when bad weather forced a transatlantic flight to turn around and come back.  Realizing that the plane’s passengers would be tired and irritable, Sheridan stayed late and greeted them with coffee that had been mixed with a little sugar, spiked with a shot of Irish whiskey, and topped with freshly whipped cream.  When asked if what they were drinking was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan replied, “No.  It’s Irish coffee.”  The name stuck.

These facts have been discovered in I NEVER KNEW THAT by David Hoffman (2009).

Tender Mercies (Elfchen Series #89)

Overcoming

Challenges

Embrace them

Fearless, with courage

Taste life’s treasured gifts

Blessings

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Cherishing 

Maturing

Home alone

World grows smaller

Embrace family and friends

Love

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Trusting

Embers

Burning low

Embracing more hope

Blazing back to life

Rekindled

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This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.

Perfect and Holy

From Psalm 100:  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

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Child learning of God’s kindness

Unaware of its vastness

Praise His eternal goodwill

Laboring with steadfastness

 

Goodness, perfect and Holy

From righteousness, living water

Worship always with gladness

Crafting hands, grace-filled potter

 

God’s blessings, never-ending

His mercy flows from above

Lives rescued with divine hand

Transforming with endless love

 

Lost sheep, needing daily grace

Good Shepherd’s assisting hand

Heaven’s gate, darkness scattered

Lifting eyes to God’s homeland

  

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “At times when we’re struggling to trust God, we should remember all the ways He is good to us.”