From 2 Corinthians 5:17-18: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we think.
From James 1:5-6: “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) lived in France where he served as a lay brother in a monastery in Paris. He is best remembered for his intimate relationship with God.
I woke up in the middle of the night last week. A muffled series of sounds were coming from the kitchen, and no doubt my beautiful wife was up to something.
She had been fasting all day after we both enjoyed a pleasant mid-morning brunch., and now her hunger harshly interrupted her need for sleep.
I rose out of bed and began to creep silently toward the kitchen.
In the meantime, my wife was in the process of raiding the fridge for a midnight smorgasbord. She had laid out a scrumptious feast on the kitchen counter with all kinds of tasty treasures.
She selected only three items, and was more than ready to sample a scrumptious, fried chicken leg and a cold piece of her favorite pepperoni pizza.
As I approached the kitchen, the only light was coming from the still-open refrigerator. As I slipped unannounced into the kitchen, my wife’s midnight buffet was serving up its final course . . . dessert of course!
She was enjoying her final choice . . . a slice of decadent triple chocolate cake.
She turned and was shocked to see me up at this midnight hour (since I am usually a very sound sleeper). She confidently told me, “I’m not night eating. It’s time for ‘nunch.’”
With her mouth full, she asked, “Do you want the final slice of this yummy cake?”
At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about what you’ve done with those accomplishments.
Ease is the greatest threat to progress.
Denzel Washington (born 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received numerous awards for his acting performances, including two Academy Awards.
From Isaiah 35:10: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall returnand come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;they shall obtain joy and gladness,and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
With lyrics composed by renowned English hymn writer, Issac Watts, “Joy to the World” has become the most published Christmas hymn in North America. These verses were penned in 1719, and they share an interpretation from Psalm 98. In this Advent season, the hymn holds a special place with its emphasis on the joy we have been patiently waiting for.
Here is the humble confidence of faith–that what God begins shall not miscarry and those whom He leads shall not be lost.
From Mark 10:43-45: “But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”
John Newton (1725-1807) was an English pastor who also was a writer of several hymns, including the beloved “Amazing Grace.” His early life is filled with contrasts, when compared to his later life. He served as a ship’s captain during the slave trade, but later renounced his work after his conversion to Christianity. He became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade later in his life.
Opened in 1927, the LeVeque Tower was the tallest skyscraper between New York City and Chicago. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this impressive Art Deco building still highlights the skyline of the city.
At a height of 555 feet (intentionally designed to be five inches taller than the Washington Monument), the tower contains 47 stories. At the time of its completion, it was the fifth tallest building in the United States. Built upon a series of underground caissons, the foundation of the building is secured in the bedrock far below the city streets.
The LeVeque Tower has been called many names over the years. Its original name was the American Insurance Union Citadel. However, during the Great Depression years, the company went bankrupt. In the 1930s, the tower was nicknamed the “IOU Tower” because of the financial challenges it faced.
The Leveque Tower shows its classical Art Deco design. (courtesy of Pinterest)
In 1946, the tower acquired a new name of Lincoln-LeVeque Tower, which reflected its new owners, Leslie LeVeque and John Lincoln. In 1977, the building’s name was shortened to LeVeque Tower.
The tower remained the tallest building in Columbus until 1974 when the Rhodes State Office Tower (624 feet tall) was completed. The tower still stands as the second tallest building in the city.
In 1989, floodlights were added to illuminate the upper floors of the tower. The lights are used 6-8 times per year for special events such as: pink for Susan G. Komen For the Cure; red, white, and blue for Independence Day; and red and green for the Christmas season.
Today, the LeVeque Tower is a mixed-use building. It contains a hotel, condominiums, offices, and restaurant. The adjacent Palace Theater’s marquee and lobby are part of the tower.
Colorful floodlights illuminate the tower, and the grandeur of the Palace Theater’s grand staircase shines. (courtesy of Pinterest)
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
What could you put in a 50-pound barrel of oil to make it weigh less than 50 pounds?
(answer found at the end of this post)
Featured Facts
In North America’s animal kingdom, one of the smallest and most dangerous creatures is the tiny tick. Having eight legs, they are arachnids (related to spiders).
Here are a few interesting facts about the tick:
Habitat: bodies of animals, in fields or woods (awaiting an animal host)
Diet: blood
Color: brown to reddish-brown (with leathery or shell-like covering)
Known as “black measles,” Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever came to the forefront when it cast its dark shadow over the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana. Early settlers in the valley contracted a mysterious disease. Scientific research began in the early 1900s and culminated in the beginning of the Rocky Mountain Labs research. The lab would research and refine treatments for the dreaded spotted fever, which scientists had discovered was carried by the tiny tick.
Photo by Erik Karits on Pexels.comOn the right: A tick is embedded in the skin. Notice its engorged (swollen) appearance (courtesy of Pinterest)
Big Sky Buckeye 