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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.

Haiku Series #40 (Humor)

Ugly

Charming afternoon

Errant shot finds the thick woods—

Golfing ain’t much fun

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Photo by Chris McClave on Pexels.com

 

Oh my!

Beautiful park bench

Offering a short respite—

(Absent) “Wet Paint” sign

bench in the garden

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

 

Greed

Black Friday looming

Stores now offer Preview Sale—

Coming a week early

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

D. L. Moody Quote

monk holding prayer beads across mountain

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If we have the true love of God in our hearts, we will show it in our lives.  We will not have to go up and down the earth proclaiming it.  We will show it in everything we say or do.

From Romans 5:5:  “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Hole-in-One . . . Not!

photo of man playing golf

Photo by Steve Momot on Pexels.com

Pete lines up his tee shot on the 172-yard, Par 3 hole.  He is playing for fun at Lake Hills Golf Club, and the 14th hole offers an opportunity to add a bit more practice to his round of golf.

Since the course is nearly empty, Pete decides to hit a dozen tee shots at the green.  He has brought along his three young sons (Glenn, James, and Gene) to shag balls and allow their mother a respite back home.  She will definitely appreciate a break from the high-energy boys.

As Pete hits each tee shot, his sons’ eyes follow each golf ball.  Each boy calls out different shots, and these will be his to locate in a few minutes.  After all, their father didn’t bring them out to the golf course just to fool around.

While most of the shots miss the green, a few have managed to find the putting surface.  The cup is somewhat hidden by a slight rise at the front of the green.

Eventually, Pete is finished with his extra practice.  He turns the boys loose to locate the wayward shots, with orders to bring back all of the golf balls not on the green.

The three brothers scamper down the short fairway to begin searching and locating the eight balls which never found their intended target.  The experience feels almost like an Easter egg hunt, except the June day offers a mild and sunny, early summer afternoon.

As the boys make their way back to the green, each has located his assigned golf balls.  Pete calls out to the boys, “There appears to be a missing ball.  Did anyone miss one of my bad shots?”

The brothers shake their heads in affirmation that all of the balls have been recovered.  Three golf balls lie on or close to the putting surface.  Gene wonders out loud, “Where is the fourth ball?”

James casually walks over to the cup and takes a peek.  He shouts out, “The ball is in the hole.”

Glenn jumps up and down with excitement, “Hey Dad, you made a hole-in-one!”

The three brothers are charged up and want to tell others about their father’s amazing shot.  He defuses their enthusiasm when he humbly explains, “The shot cannot count as an official hole-in-one.  Remember, I hit a dozen tee shots.”

While Pete’s three sons hold on to this special moment in secrecy, they will never forget when their father hit his “once-in-a-lifetime” shot.  Amazing!

 

Charles Swindoll Quote

baby children cute dress

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If you want to make an impact on the world around you, this rugged society that is moving in the wrong direction more rapidly every year, Christ said, “love one another.”  Your love will speak with stunning eloquence to a lost world.

From John 13:35:  “[Jesus said] By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Monday Memories: A River’s Journey

From November, 2018, here is an updated poem inspired from my reading of The Wind and the Willows, authored by Kenneth Grahame.  The novel can be enjoyed by both older children and adults.

people riding a boat

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

Meandering endlessly and aimlessly it seems

Infinitely pursuing each horizon downstream

 

The river faces its journey, to the ocean out to the west

Bringing much attention to itself, without taking a rest

 

Being fed from above, by mountain run-off far away

Roaming bank full and quickly, with not much to say

 

A friendly, gentle breeze offers cool, refreshing air

Bubbles rising up from a muskrat that doesn’t care

 

At times, the journey is surrounded by a background of trees

Arriving softly, the whispering wind says, “Please let me be”

 

Green, lush meadows encroach upon its rocky shore

While early spring flowers burst with color and more

 

Young willows grow along the river’s flank

Tree roots hidden, invisible below the bank

 

A large, brown trout rises gracefully above the bubbling water

Meanwhile downstream, mischief abounds with a pair of otters

 

An isolated cottonwood tree stands as a lone lookout

While a hungry grizzly bear wades in to pull a fish out

 

Sparkles of dancing light, reflecting by way of a bright sun

Providing opportunities for fishermen, casting for their fun

 

The vibration of splashes from a pair of wooden oars

Announces the arrival of a canoe, searching for more

 

A small island appears on the bend ahead—quiet and barren

There is always fascination with what nature will be wearing

 

Pushing ahead, an overloaded creek discharges its rampant load

The water’s own noises sometimes sound like a chorus of toads

 

Continuing to drive ahead toward the setting sun

The ageless river welcomes the end of its long run

 

St. Thomas Aquinas Quote

mountains nature arrow guide

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The greatest charity one can do to another is to lead him to the truth.

From John 8:31-32:  “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”

Spiritual Victory

From John 8:31-32:  “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”

man in red tank top winning a marathon

Photo by Juliano Ferreira on Pexels.com

Born of a Holy, benevolent God

Spiritual victory, comes to us

Our Lord Jesus boldly desires

Witnessing our enduring trust

 

Accepting Jesus as our Savior

Entering victorious ranks at last

Under Heaven, a time to be reborn

Across every season, full and vast

 

Our Prince of Peace, worthy Messiah

From the city of David, angels proclaim

God, as His Holy Son, comes to earth

Jesus lights the way, His eternal flame

 

Gathering truth, living by truth

Jesus continues to be the way

Knowing the truth, always believe

Truth through Christ, carries the day

 

In spirit and truth, worship our God

Speaking lasting truth, with eternal love

God’s gift of Grace, delivers Salvation

Coming with praise, from Heaven above

 

Standing firmly in one’s steady faith

By sustaining faith, the righteous live

Hold fast, praise the Lord’s Holy name

Remaining faithful, God always gives

 

One Lord, one faith, one baptism

Through God, justified by our faith

Nothing, in God’s eyes, seems impossible

Moving majestic mountains, on any date

woman standing on brown wooden plank

Photo by Kilian M on Pexels.com

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Edwards Quote

close up photo of person s eye

Photo by Shirsendu Adak on Pexels.com

Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.

From Romans 5:21:  “So that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Haiku Series #39 (With God)

Commitment

Sacred marriage vows

Man and woman become one—

Following God’s Word

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Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels.com

 

Sowing Seeds

Read God’s Word often

Planting seeds in fertile ground—

Rich harvest awaits

man planting plant

Photo by Binyamin Mellish on Pexels.com

 

Defeated

Prepared for battle

The Enemy hides and flees—

Wearing God’s armor

ancient antique armor armour

Photo by Maria Pop on Pexels.com

Taken From a Church Sign

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Photo by Bence Lengyel on Pexels.com

Prior to the arrival of Thanksgiving, a nearby church sign reminds all of us with a provocative message, but it can certainly be applied to any given day.

Will you be thankful . . . or just full?

From Psalm 136:1:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His steadfast love endures forever.”