If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it–then I can achieve it.
Inside of the ring or not, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.
Muhammad Ali Quotes
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Author Archives: bigskybuckeye
Monday Memories: Final Shot
The gymnasium thunders with cheers as the Bears steal a pass and score to lead by a single point.
The game clock counts down the final seconds. Whistle blows!
One of the Bears’ starters falls with an injury. A little-used sub enters the contest, appearing anxious to enter the big game.
To seal victory, the Bears only need to pass the ball inbounds. Beneath the opponent’s basket, stands a wide-open player—the sub!
He cleanly catches the pass, faces the basket, and shoots.
Score!
Oh my!
Game over!
The eager sub just scored the winning basket for the other team.
While this story is pure fiction, I have witnessed a couple players scoring at the wrong basket during my many years of coaching basketball and serving as an athletic director back in Montana. Even one of my brothers did it during a junior high game. Thankfully, none of these wrong basket scores decided a game.
Carl Sagan Quotes
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena.
We’re in very bad trouble if we don’t understand the planet we’re trying to save.
Follow His Road Map
From Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
Feeling weary and lost
How can any prevail?
Desolate road ahead
Actions will surely fail
Lost in darkness of life
Our Father lights the way
Filled with His righteousness
God’s road map saves our day
Our Lord’s Word speaking truth
Daily meditation
Bible’s meanings ring clear
Leading to salvation
Study God’s Holy Word
Share its hope and Good News
Trusting each promise
His commands, we must choose
Inhale, breathe it all in
Fed by the “Bread of Life”
Quenched by “Living Water”
Transforming daily life
From the words of American-born missionary and Christian theologian, E. Stanley Jones: “The Gospel is not so much a demand as it is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God.”
Lettie B. Cowman Quote
God will make obstacles serve His purpose.
From Matthew 8:23-27: “And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He 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. They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'”
Ridgetop Treasure
From a ridgetop garden
Nature’s treasure hides out
Offering its harvest
Flora lives all about
Flowers blooming early
Winter now disappears
Colorful bouquets reign
Sweetest fragrances cheer
Warming springtime sunshine
Changes the ground cover
New, tender shoots of grass
Young deer will discover
Trellis roof shelters grapes
Ripen in summer’s sun
Fill with juicy flavor
Birds enjoy tasty fun
Apple and black walnut trees
Shading nature’s grand shrine
Fruit dropping to the ground
Squirrels and deer will dine
Former home site lives on
Garden paradise waits
Coming alive each spring
Winking back at its mates
All of the photographs were taken during a couple of recent morning walk at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is just minutes away from Canal Winchester, Ohio. The hilltop garden remains long after the house (built in the 1930s) was abandoned. I was blessed to spend several minutes photographing a very cooperative deer while I was quietly standing near a tree.
Charles Stanley Quote
The burdening of our heart to pray for ourselves or for others is a special demonstration of God’s love.
From John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but will speak whatever He hears, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Nature’s Witness (Elfchen Series #23)
Scared
Rabbit
Sensing danger
Heart beating fast
Sitting quiet and still
Invisible
God’s Country
Morning
Glorious sunrise
Big Montana Sky
Prairies, mountains smile forever
Applause
Mystery
Hiking
Park trail
With cautious steps
Who’s watching me now?
Greetings
Pearl Bailey Quotes
Do not worry about whether or not the sun will rise. Be prepared to enjoy it.
You cannot belong to anyone else, until you belong to yourself.
Walking in Confidence
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
Big Sky Buckeye 