It is not by accident, I believe, that the Bible opens with the thunderous acclaim: “In the beginning God.” I tell you with all the conviction of which I am capable: If God is not our primary focus, then everything else will soon get out of focus.
From Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Selwyn Hughes (1928-2006) was a Welsh-born Christian minister and author. One of his best known works was the daily devotional EVERY DAY WITH JESUS.
From Psalm 98:3: “He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulnessto the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seenthe victory of our God.”
From 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
George Whitefield (1714-1770) was an English-born pastor and Christian evangelist. He spent the second half of his life in the American colonies.
Welcome to “Behind the Scenes.” Today, we have returned to visit with Richard, the creative voice behind the writing journey of Big Sky Buckeye.
Welcome back Richard. It is a pleasure visit with you again.
You have mentioned previously that your first years of teaching took place at Plevna High School, which is located in a small farming and ranching community in southeastern Montana.
While Plevna’s ancient elevator sits quiet now, the school gymnasium fills with enthusiastic fans for home basketball games. (courtesy of Pinterest)
Yes, I moved to Plevna for the 1978-1979 school year. Today, I would like to shine the spotlight on two of my high school students.
Both of these gentlemen graduated in 1980. While their lives shared some commonalities, they each had far different backgrounds.
Paul Neumann and Loyd Ketchum played on the boys basketball team. As starting guards, they helped to lead the Plevna Cougars to a district tournament championship. Their team’s efforts earned the school’s first title in nearly 20 years. While Paul’s gifted touch allowed him to be the playmaker, Loyd was recognized for his hard-nose defensive play.
Paul was a town kid. His father ran a service station along the highway, and his mother operated a beauty salon. Paul’s musical talents were extraordinary as he played keyboard and trumpet.
Loyd grew up on a ranch outside of town. His parents raised beef cattle and quarter horses. His mother was an accomplished rodeo barrel racer.
Paul had always dreamed of becoming a member of a rock band. While many in the town were not too sure about his career choice, Paul would persevere and see his dream bear fruit.
In 1986, Paul (using his professional name of Paul Daniels) was a founding member of the heavy metal band, Rox Diamond. Paul played keyboard and served as one of the band’s vocalists. Paul’s band would remain active well into the 2000s.
Loyd was destined to find success on the rodeo circuit. He became a world champion bullfighter in professional rodeo. Sometimes called rodeo clowns because of their colorful attire, these men were gifted athletes who looked out for cowboys when they were bucked off of a brahma bull.
Loyd’s skills were evident for several years on both the PRCA and PBR circuits. His efforts were best described with this phrase, “Bullfighting with class and finesse.”
Paul and his Rox Diamond band (he is the third one from the left). Loyd dressed as a rodeo bullfighter and ready for action. (courtesy of Pinterest)
Sitting here thinking of these two men and their hopes and dreams, they each made a name for themselves as well as making the community of Plevna proud.
We have appreciated spending time with Richard from Big Sky Buckeye. Look for more “Behind the Scenes” in future postings.
Here is a recent recording from Rox Diamond (dated 2018). If you are a fan of heavy metal music, this might interest you to listen in.
Here’s a short video clip of bullfighters Loyd Ketchum and Justin Hawks from 1997. Look out Loyd, here comes Georgie Porgie!
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
A sundial is a timepiece that has the fewest moving parts. What type of timepiece has the most moving parts?
(answer found at the end of this post)
Featured Facts
On April 24, 1990, NASA space shuttle Discovery was launched with a special object in its payload bay. Once in space orbit above the earth, the shuttle’s robotic arm gently lifted out a bus-sized telescope, to be called the Hubble Telescope.
Here are some interesting facts about the Hubble Telescope:
Dimensions: 44 feet long and 40 feet wide (with solar arrays)
Weight: 11 tons
Location and Speed: 355 miles above earth and moving at 17,500 mph
The telescope was named after Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer. Born in 1889, Hubble would become an authority in establishing many of the dynamics of extragalatic astronomy. He was a trailblazer in the field of observational cosmology. He continued his research until his death in 1953.
The Hubble Telescope in orbit and astronomer Edwin Hubble. (courtesy of Pinterest)
No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot.
Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), better know by his pen name of Mark Twain, is often recognized as one of America’s greatest humorists. Novelist and writer William Faulkner called him the “father of American literature.” While he was in California in 1865, his literary skills struck gold with the story of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”
A shining example of a nation’s perseverance. U.S. Capitol Building’s dome was finished during the American Civil War. (Courtesy of Pinterest)
In his Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln immortalized the continuing spirit and faith in the American experiment of democracy with these words, “. . . that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
I would never expect a perfect work from an imperfect man.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was one of America’s Founding Fathers. He served in the Revolutionary War and was the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury. He was an ardent supporter of the American Constitution.
Big Sky Buckeye 