Community Spirit Summer 2016 by Community Spirit

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Contents

Summer 2016 PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud

FEATURES

CREATIVE Director Ben Allen

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Deniece Adsit, Justin Cowell, Danny Cahill

48th Annual Brumley Gospel Sing Lived to Praise About It - Fred Slicker Talking is Teaching I Married a Porn Addict Abundant Living Political Endorsements! Why Should Christians Vote? Christian School Highlight Cornerstone Tutorial Center 42nd Street Comes to Tulsa! Cancer Treatment Centers of America

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Dr. Jason Schluter, Chiropractor

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Healthy Smiles - Throw Away Your Toothbrush! Danny Cahill, The Biggest Loser Deniece Adsit Premier Advisors ACT Financial Cornerstone Counseling Center Biggest Loser Michael Watkins – Fitness Together Premier Advisors

www.mccloudmedia.com • www.communityspiritmagazine.com Distribution Community Spirit Magazine is distributed to churches, schools, restaurants, Christian bookstores, and other businesses. Call us today to deliver to your church. Community Spirit Magazine is published monthly by McCloud Media. Claims by advertisers and the opinions of writers within this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Community Spirit Magazine or its publisher, Equipment Publications, Inc. Philippians 2:1-2 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Our Mission: 1. Build Community – Develop a sense of community among all local believers in Christ 2. Inspire Good Works 3. Support Families 4. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ Fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CommunitySpiritMagazine

Yorkshire Publishing Get started on your publishing dream today, Contact Yorkshire Publishing at 918.394.2665. 6271 E. 120th Court, Suite 200 Tulsa, Oklahoma Select Yorkshire Published Titles Include: Sparkling Gems by Rick Renner Your Little Red Wagon by Pastor Alex Himaya A Patriot's Calling by Major Dan Rooney The Priority Promise by Sean Kouplen

C o m m u n i t y S p i ri tma g a zi n e.com summe r 2016

Southern Gospel’s Best Are Coming to

Jeff & Sheri Easter

Mabee Center August 3-6

outhern Gospel is alive and well! Just ask the thousands of people already lining up to buy tickets for the 48th Annual Brumley Gospel Sing at the Mabee Center August 3rd through 6th. An impressive assortment of the absolute best in Southern Gospel music will hit the stage at the Mabee Center’s Johnston Theatre for a four-day, music and fun-packed reunion. Brought to town by the royal family of Southern Gospel, the Brumley’s, the event has thrilled audiences in Arkansas and Missouri for 47 years. Now to be held in Tulsa for the first time, the excitement is building for seven, sold-out, hand-clapping matinee and evening performances. The 48th Annual Brumley Gospel Sing will kick off on the evening of Wednesday, August 3rd and conclude on Saturday night, the 6th. Packed in between, will be performances by over 30 of today’s Southern Gospel elite groups. Who is Coming? Get ready to experience the harmonies of many of the best Southern Gospel groups in the country. If you are already a fan, you will immediately recognize groups like Karen Peck and New River, Daily and Vincent, Triumphant, The Booth Brothers, The Collingsworth Family, The Hoppers, and Jeff and Sheri Easter. But once you arrive, you will find a host of other groups, soon to be among your favorites. Karen Peck and New River – 4-time Grammy Award Nominated and 4-time GMA Dove Award Winning group with 15 number one hits. Their latest album “Pray Now” gained them the Dove Award for Album of the Year. They are known as not only one of the industry’s top vocal groups, they are also effective messengers presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Daily & Vincent – Award-winning bluegrass and country music group that will wow you with rich vocals mixed with incredible mandolin and guitar pickin’. The group received their 2nd Grammy Award nomination for Best Bluegrass Album for their album "The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent" and won a Dove Award with "The Gospel SIn 2014, Dailey and Vincent won IBMA Gospel Recording Performance for "Won't It Be Wonderful There." Dailey and Vincent host their own music variety TV show on RFD TV. Triumphant - Triumphant is the face of quality Gospel Music, Christian integrity, family values, friendship and dedication. touring nationally and performing in major concert venues, auditoriums and churches. Triumphant Quartet has had three #1 Songs and several others have climbed the Top 40 music charts, Jesus Christ is the focus of Triumphant. He is the reason they sing, Booth Brothers – A reknowned trio that will have you on your feet. This rich heritage group continues to receive awards as one of the favorites in the industry. They were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album for their album Room for More and the album was also nominated for

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two Dove Awards at the 40th GMA Dove Awards for Southern Gospel Album of the Year and Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. Collingsworth Family – This family group is as tight-knit as their harmonies. Ministering in song, they bring Excitement, spiritual anointing, family-emphasis, and musical excellence into every performance. They are regulars on the Gaither Homecoming Series Concerts and their music is regularly featured on Enlighten, GMT (Gospel Music Television), The DayStar Television Network, and has also been featured in one hour prime-time specials on the INSP Television Network. The Hoppers – This family group has been performing together since 1957. Their talents have put them in front of audiences all over the globe and even at the White House where they performed for President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Year after year, they generate hit after hit. Jeff and Sheri Easter - Aside from being regulars on the Gaither’s Homecoming tours, they have a demanding schedule of their own, ministering to people all over the world. They have been nominated for numerous Dove Awards and won six. They’ve also received two career Grammy nominations, and Sheri has been named the Singing News Favorite Alto eleven times and the Singing News Female Vocalist four times.

Get Your Tickets! Tickets can be purchased from the Mabee Center website (www.mabeecenter.com), or by calling 800-678-1353. Wheelchair and Handicapped customers are asked to order by calling the Mabee Center Box Office at 918-495-7000. (Open Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm) Call Center office (800-678-1353) is open Monday-Sunday 8am-10pm. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Mabee Center Box Office located inside the Mabee Center. (Open Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm)

Collingsworth Family The Evening Schedule: Wednesday Night 7pm Karen Peck & New River, The Bowling Family, The Diplomats, Greater Vision, Dailey & Vincent, and Aaron Wilburn Thursday Night 7pm The Booth Brothers, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Triumphant, The Nelons, The Kingsmen, and Aaron Wilburn. Friday Night 7pm The Inspirations, The McKameys, Little Roy & Lizzy, Dixie Melody Boys, Chuck Wagon Gang, Freedom Quartet, and Tim Lovelace. Saturday Night 6pm Tribute Quartet, Blackwood Brothers, Mark Trammell Quartet, The Hoppers, Dixie Echoes Quartet, Mylon Hayes Family, and Tim Lovelace. Matinee Schedules: Thursday 2pm The Collingsworth Family Friday 2pm Legacy Five, and The Christian Davis Band Saturday 2pm The Perrys, Mark Bishop & Forget the Sea The Brumley Gospel Sing…A Rich Heritage of Gospel Music The show may be new to Tulsa, but its story goes all the way back to early 1920s, when Albert E. Brumley, a farm boy with only a tenth grade education, would ultimately become one of Gospel music’s greatest writers. The songs of this young man would not only become classic hymns sung in churches all over the world, they would be recorded by many of Country Music’s elite stars. It would produce a celebrity status for Albert.

You can purchase tickets for single shows, or enjoy the 4 NIGHT PACK PRICING guaranteeing you a seat for all 4 exciting nights. Group discounts are available for groups of 20 or more, providing you with two (2) free tickets of the same value. Prices: Level 1 - Floor Seating (Reserved - Floor) $90 + $8 s/c = $98 Level 2 - Level Seating (Reserved) $90 + $8 s/c = $98 Level 3 - Upper Level Seating (Reserved) $70 + $6 s/c = $76 *A one-time order fee will be applied at checkout. *Children ages 2 and up are required to have a ticket.

However, fame never went to this head and his continued passion was to simply share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was this passion that would encourage him to begin holding “Gospel Sings.” Fortyeight years later, the Brumley family is still hosting opportunities for people to gather and enjoy great Gospel music. Bob Brumley, Albert’s son and CEO of Brumley Music Company, shared the story of how his father became a songwriter. He explained that as Albert plowed the fields of his father’s sharecropper farm near Spiro, Oklahoma, he would often piece together melodies and he began to dream of writing music for a living. In 1927, with only three dollars in his pocket, Albert walked 26 miles from his parents home to the Hartford Music Institute in Hartford, Arkansas. It was there he would ultimately write music with his mentor E.M. Bartlett, author of such songs as Victory in Jesus, Everybody Will Be Happy Over There, and Camping in Canaan’s Land. “Mr. Bartlett must have seen something special in my father. He didn’t have enough money for tuition and so Mr. Bartlett offered him a deal. Albert would board with Mr. Bartlett’s family and receive free tuition for the music classes, so long as after his graduation from the Hartford Music Institute, Albert would travel teaching singing schools and selling the songbooks put together by Bartlett’s Hartford Music Company. Albert would also write songs for the Hartford Music Company in his spare time,” he said. Albert’s first song titled “I Can Hear Them Singing Over There” was published in a book by the Hartford Music Company. He continued to write songs and travel around the Ozarks teaching singing schools and selling books. He also became a member of the Hartford Quartet singing bass and on occasion playing piano C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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music was also featured in the movie “O’ Brother Where Art Thou” which starred George Clooney and the seven-time Platinum selling soundtrack. The current hit HBO series “Treme” also featured music by Brumley. And movies including “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Apostle” and “Daddy’s Dyin, Who’s Got the Will” also featured his music.

for the group. But it was when he went back to help his father on the farm in 1929 that Albert would piece together his most wellknown song, I’ll Fly Away.” Some glad morning, when this life is or’, I’ll fly away. To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away. I’ll fly way, ol’ glory. I’ll fly away. When I die, Hallelujah I will fly. I’ll fly away. Albert’s list of popular songs and hymns include: Someday He’ll Whisper My Name, I’ll Meet You In The Morning, There’s a Road Down the Road, He Set Me Free, I’ll Fly Away All Spanish Version [feat. Tony Melendez], Everybody Knows, If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven, The Sweetest Song I Know, Jesus, Hold My Hand, Her Mansion Is Higher than Mine, Flowers In The Wildwood, I’ll Fly Away, Cabin in the Valley of the Pines, Turn Your Radio On, It’s an Unfriendly World, I’m Bound for That City, I Know My Lord’s Gonna Lead Me Out, This World Is Not My Home, I’d Rather Be An Old Time Christian, It’s Twilight Time Again, Nobody Answered Me, Someone’s Gonna Get Hurt, I’ve Found a Hiding Place, Did You Ever Go Sailing?, Old Village Church on the Hill, There’s a Little Pine Log Cabin, My Closest Kin Brumley’s songs have been recorded by a long list of legendary artists such as Keith Urban, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Mumford & Sons, Alan Jackson, Vince Gil, Jars of Clay, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and even Kanye West. Songs from Brumley Music have received 9 GRAMMY Awards, 25 GRAMMY nominations, won countless DOVE Awards, IBMA, CMA, ACM and Americana Awards. “I’ll Fly Away” greatly influenced the TV show by the same name which won three Golden Globe Awards, five Golden Globe nominations, 3 Emmy Awards, received 23 Emmy nominations, won a Peabody Award and four NAACP Awards. Albert E. Brumley’s music was also featured prominently in the legendary hit television series “The Waltons” and in Spike Lee’s documentary “When the Levees Broke.” His

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When Albert Brumley passed away in 1977, the legacy of Brumley Music was left at the helm of his son’s Bob and Bill. The two continued to build the Brumley Music Company which Albert began in 1944 and Hartford Music Company which Albert purchased in 1946. Bob Brumley purchased the company from Bill and became sole owner in 1986. Brumley Music set into motion the path of preserving Albert’s legacy, giving back to the community through the I’ll Fly Away Foundation and making sure the hundreds of recording artists who still perform many of Brumley’s greatest hits keep their feet firmly grounded in Gospel and Americana. So much is the Brumley Music Company set in tradition that the company still operates out of the same offices they did back in the early mid 1900s in Powell, Missouri, from the very place Albert drew most of his inspiration for his music, which he called “Memory Valley.” It is through this rich spiritual and creative heritage that Bob Brumley and the Brumley family continues to bring you their annual Gospel Sing. They pray that you will not only be entertained by the concerts, but that you will take part in celebrating a faith that is worth singing about.

ABOUT BRUMLEY MUSIC COMPANY: Brumley Music Company, located in Powell, Missouri, is a music publishing and production company founded in the early 1940s by Albert E. Brumley. It also operates The Hartford Music Group which is part of the Brumley Music Company. President and CEO, Bob Brumley operates the company whose mission is to uphold Albert E. Brumley’s legacy while producing and providing inspirational music built on a rich tradition and heritage. Brumley’s hit Gospel song “I’ll Fly Away” remains the most recorded song ever and serves as the namesake as the company’s foundation “The I’ll Fly Away Foundation.” The company produces songbooks, the popular annual “Gospel Sing” four-day musical event, oversees the wide catalog of Brumley original music, publishing and licensing. Find out more at www.facebook.com/ thebrumleysing or www.twitter.com/BrumleyMusic. Brumley Music can also be reached by calling 1-800-435-3725.

Lived to Praise – A Series to Remind Us that Miracles Still happen

Fred Slicker

Finding Healing and Hope through Cancer

he fish were biting, the weather was grand and everything was in place for Fred Slicker to enjoy an annual fishing trip on the White River with good friends. Fred was anxious to haul in the illusive big browns and plentiful rainbows that give the river such a great reputation, but he found he could barely hold the rod. He had no strength in his left arm. It was both odd and disappointing. Quietly, deep down, he instinctively knew something was really wrong. Once home, his orthopedist looked at his X-ray and asked, “When did you fall? When did you have an accident? When did you have a stroke?” I had not fallen, I had not been in an accident and I had not had a stroke. He then said, “Your left arm is broken just below the elbow and there is a dark area around the break.” Fred explained that the next day, he had an MRI on his left elbow, which revealed the break more clearly. Following up with an MRI on his chest, the diagnosis was as immediate as it was devastating… Cancer! “To find out what kind of cancer I had, I was subjected to multiple tests in the hospital, including CAT scans, X-rays, MRIs, sonograms, heart echo tests, a bone marrow biopsies in the area around my spine where the largest lesion was located and a biopsy of the bone marrow in my left hip, which proved conclusive for Stage I Kappa Single Chain Multiple Myeloma. This condition arises from a disorder in my white blood cells. White blood cells produce proteins that operate our immune systems. The proteins gobble up the bacteria, viruses, funguses and other impurities in our bodies which we encounter each day. In Multiple Myeloma patients, for some unknown reason, the white blood cells get stuck open and produce too many proteins, some of which are cancerous. These extra cancerous proteins have nothing to gobble, so they attack the patient’s bones. As a result, I have little holes in my bones all over my body and my immune system is seriously compromised. Fortunately, the cancer is not in any of my major organs,” Fred said. “Every cancer is different, and every cancer patient reacts to treatment in a different way. But if I had to have myeloma, the single chain type is the type to have, particularly after the results of these new studies. MM is not rare. It attacks about 1% of the total of new cancer patients in the US annually. Of the total MM population, only about 3% have the Kappa Single Chain type of myeloma. Multiple myeloma patients do not generally present a medical or life threatening emergency, except where the cancer threaten the spinal cord. That was my case. If the spinal cord had been invaded, immediate permanent paralysis would have resulted from the middle of my spine down to my feet. This condition occurs rarely, perhaps 1 of 500–600 cases annually. In my case, the largest concentration of cancer cells was between the seventh and eighth vertebra. My spinal cord had not yet been invaded, but the lesions were pressing against the spinal cord. I was a medical emergency

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waiting to happen any moment, but I did not know it. Strangely, I was totally at peace with the diagnosis. Historically, I have been a worrier, but this time, I was totally at peace.” The diagnosis began a process which would take Fred down a journey of pain and treatments. He explained there are essentially three types of treatment options for MM: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. MM is a blood-borne systemic cancer, as opposed to cancerous tumor in a specific area. MM leaves holes in the patient’s bones all over the patient’s body. In his case, the largest concentration of lesions was located in the middle of back near his spinal cord, the most dangerous place possible. “The first treatment question was whether to do back surgery or radiation. Because the cancer was beginning to wrap itself around my spinal cord, the surgery would have been complicated and dangerous, and the recovery period would have been very long and painful. Surgery was ruled out and they began aggressive radiation treatments along with chemotherapy, steroids and a mixture of poisons designed to kill the active cancer cells. Finally, the doctors harvested my stem cells from my bone marrow and froze them before administering a double dose of chemotherapy in an effort to kill all remaining cancer cells. Then, my own bone marrow stem cells were transfused back into my body to begin the building process to make my bones strong again.”

The treatments worked as planned and against all odds, Fred gradually regained his strength. Although patients are never truly cured of MM, Fred condition is good and he is back to work and doing the things he loves to do… even catching trout in the White River. “My journey has proven to be very positive for me. I am a walking miracle, so I now have personal confirmation that God is at work continuing miracles for me. Miracles are events that cannot be explained by natural explanations; they are beyond man’s understanding or ability to explain scientifically. But God is in the miracle making business. For God, all things are possible for those who believe.

What could have been a horrible and painful journey has been turned into a journey of discovery, wonder, mystery and awe. I believe that God knows me personally. He is in control of my cancer and my entire life. He loves me, and He wants the very best for me. I can trust Him. I have placed my trust, hope and joy in Him. I am filled with His peace and His joy. To GOD BE THE GLORY! Frederick K. Slicker is a business lawyer residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Kansas (1965), a Juris Doctor degree with highest distinction from the University of Kansas Law School (1968), and a Masters of Law degree from Harvard University Law School (1973). Fred is the author of two other inspirational books: Angels All Around, an autobiography of his life in the practice of law; and A Treasury of Truth and Wisdom, a collection of ideas intended as a guide to living a life of success and significance. Fred is a co-founder of First Men, the men’s ministry at First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, and an active leader in various local men’s ministry programs, including Promise Keepers and the National Center for Fathering. He is a frequent continuing legal education speaker.

Some who do not believe will just call me lucky. They will explain that coincidences do occur and that random events that cannot be easily explained are mere coincidences. I agree that I am very lucky, but the series of events leading to my diagnosis and treatment cannot be explained by luck alone. I believe that it is all about God and my response to His call on my life. I believe these events have been orchestrated by God, so that I can witness to the world that I serve a great God. Luck has little to do with my believing that. I thank God for using my cancer for good. I am deeply grateful to friends and family. I feel warmly embraced in the loving arms of God throughout this journey. My journey has proven to be very positive for me. I am a walking miracle, so I now have personal confirmation that God is at work continuing miracles for me. Miracles are events that cannot be explained by natural explanations; they are beyond man’s understanding or ability to explain scientifically. But God is in the miracle making business. For God, all things are possible for those who believe. Some who do not believe will just call me lucky. They will explain that coincidences do occur and that random events that cannot be easily explained are mere coincidences. I agree that I am very lucky, but the series of events leading to my diagnosis and treatment cannot be explained by luck alone. I believe that it is all about God and my response to His call on my life. I believe these events have been orchestrated by God, so that I can witness to world that I serve a great God. Luck has little to do with my believing that. I thank God for using my cancer for good. I am deeply grateful to friends and family. I feel warmly embraced in the loving arms of God throughout this journey. My family has been unbelievable, especially my wife, Claudia, who has had to shoulder the burden of being my cook, my driver and everything else, in addition to doing all her other chores. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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Dr. Amy Emerson is a local pediatrician who has always had a passion for helping families. When she was blessed with four babies of her own under the age of four (“never her plan,” she jokes), she had to put her practice on hold for a while. However, to keep her foot in the medical door, she continued volunteering with “Reach Out and Read,” a program designed to encourage pediatricians to make giving away children’s books, a part of their well-visit routine. By doing so, studies have proven the parents are more likely to read and talk to their infants. The result has been healthier families and kids with higher vocabularies. Not long after she began this project, Dr. Emerson was approached by the Kaiser Foundation to aid with implementation of a citywide campaign called “Talking is Teaching.” The program was launched in Tulsa and in Oakland, California, and although it has seen positive results in both cities, those involved have been pleasantly surprised by the power of working with Tulsa’s strong church communities.

Churches… Connecting with Families through “Talking is Teaching” Program

o you want young families to visit your church? Of course you do!

Well, here is some BIG news. Churches all over town are discovering a new way to get literally hundreds of young families into their buildings. Your church can be one of them! There are no lessons to create, or additional staff to hire. You simply supply members to greet and love on the families during monthly events, typically held at your building. Imagine… a friendly, inexpensive, outreach that makes a life-long and extremely positive impact on kids and their parents, and that provides you the opportunity to introduce your church. The program, “Talking is Teaching,” reaches out to the parents of young kids, infants to 5 years old, helping them to understand the impact reading and talking can make on their child’s development. After a dinner, the families participate in a “reading” activity, receive a free children’s book and they may even get to meet their favorite book character such as The Cat in the Hat and Clifford the Big Red Dog. And while they are there, they get loved on by church members who testify simply with smiles and friendly howdo-you-do’s. The result? Kids with bigger vocabularies, parents with the skills and encouragement to read and talk to their kids more at home, and quite possibly, entire families looking for community who might just decide to come try out your church on Sunday morning.

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Dr. Emerson explained that she was not at all surprised to see this partnership work so well. “From the beginning, we were excited to partner with churches and bolster a lot of the things they were already doing to support families in child-rearing and the living out of Deuteronomy 6. Believers seem to inherently understand that even from birth, a baby’s brain is growing rapidly and that it is our very sacred job as parents to talk, read and sing to our babies from birth. Churches have done this for generations through cradle roll

and Bible classes. Our families tend to pray and sing together. This takes it one step further to impress on parents how important it is to read together and intentionally narrate one’s day so that our youngest are growing in a literacy rich environment. Learning starts at home, long before school. Parents are the best teachers of their babies by God’s design,” she said. Combining the physician’s “Reach Out and Read” program with this “Talking is Teaching” outreach is making a difference in our community, Dr. Emerson insists.

“As an example, the Brookside Branch of Park Plaza Church of Christ (38th and South Peoria) started the “Talking is Learning” events with only a couple dozen parents. But as the word got around on Facebook, crowds were soon in excess of 500.” Pastor Ray Owens at Metropolitan Baptist and Caleb Gayle at George Kaiser Family Foundation were instrumental in establishing a vision for this program, and out of that initial partnership, there are currently around twenty church partners. Typically, the church will host the monthly events at the church building, although some find it better to simply provide the manpower to assist a church in a targeted area of town. Some churches prefer to offer it only to existing members of their church body, while others reach out to the community around them. Social media tends to be a great way to get families involved. As an example, the Brookside Branch of Park Plaza Church of Christ (38th and South Peoria) started the “Talking is Learning” events with only a couple dozen parents. But as the word got around on Facebook, crowds were soon in excess of 500. Looking for community, a growing number of them have now been visiting and joining the church. During “Talking is Teaching” evenings, parents are taught ways for the entire family to enjoy the book together and topics such as the importance of music, play and healthy attachment are discussed. “It is not necessarily ‘reading’ as much as it is learning to talk about what they are seeing in the book…starting conversations, even if one-sided with children. By asking questions and providing answers, language develops and memories are made,” Dr. Emerson explained. Each church is given the latitude to instill their own flavor to the evening, to adapt it to their own culture. The results have been incredible. Kids are learning, families are becoming stronger, and powerful relationships are being developed. The program is primarily funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, although churches generally help offset some of the costs. Some grants are available, and Dr. Emerson can generally help groups find enough resources to make it work.

Want to know more?

Contact Dr. Amy Emerson at AmyE@TulsaEducare.org. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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I Married a Porn Addict the story of our journey to recovery

I discovered magazines hidden at home. I read every word while each picture was etched in my brain for future pleasure. Love, by Playboy’s definition, equaled SEX. In my search for love I sought out women. My self-esteem was low, and their rejections were devastating. In college I met a cute woman on the gymnastics team. I pursued a “relationship” with Bobi for selfish reasons. We married January 4, 1969. Now I could have sex any time I wanted. RIGHT?! Bobi- I was a Christian when we married, but I came to the relationship emotionally and spiritually unhealthy. A victim of abuse, I was selfish, codependent, manipulative. I looked to Phil to rescue me and make me a happy woman. I quickly realized that marriage and Phil were neither heaven on earth nor my knight in shining armor.

his is the story of a 47- year marriage, 33 years of which were horrible, including Phil’s 40-year addiction to pornography; Bobi’s struggles with low self-esteem, selfishness, co-dependency, manipulation, and many more; and a 7-year separation followed by God’s miracle restoration of our individual lives, our marriage, and our children and their spouses’ relationships. We both are now retired from our “paying” jobs, so we can minister full-time. We co-founded What If? Freedom Ministries in 2003; you can learn more about us at www.whatifministries. com where you can also follow our blog. Phil is still active with Celebrate Recovery in the Tulsa area facilitating men’s groups, leading step studies, and mentoring men. Bobi has written several books and recently released our newest, I Married a Porn Addict, the story of our journey to recovery, including the tools God gave us not only to survive but also to thrive during all those years of dysfunction. (Available on our website and Amazon) Bobi writes, speaks to women’s groups around the country, and helps women learn how to overcome any trial with Jesus’ help. We travel around the country to speak to groups of all ages and work with youth pastors, teens, and their parents to help them fight the war for purity. Together we offer hope and encouragement as we share God’s grace and love whenever and wherever possible. Joint Testimony, June, 2016 Phil- My struggle with pornography began as an adolescent when

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Phil - After college, and I began a twenty-year career as a pilot in the United States Air Force. In 1975 I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was able, for a short time, to control my urge for pornography. But the loneliness of extended temporary duties, my absence from home (NO SEX) for weeks at a time, and poor self-esteem led me deeper into my secret fantasy. I lived in two worlds – the life of a military officer/husband/father and the fantasy world of pornography. As I pursued the fantasies, my life and marriage deteriorated. Bobi- Although we were one unhappy family, God never gave up on us. I began attending church in Maine – because they had a nursery. Some of my dearest friends came from that church where I began my pilgrimage to learn just how much God loves me – warts and all. Phil- My secret life created dysfunction. On the outside we presented the picture of perfection. We knew otherwise. Sarcasm and harsh words increased; our children suffered; and I pushed Bobi farther away. I cared nothing about her life, goals, fears, or joys. I felt I could never live up to anyone’s expectations. I was not a good father; my job performance was going downhill; the Air Force passed me over for promotion – AND I LIKED PORNOGRAPHY! After retirement from the Air Force, due to my new job, I lived alone during the week. Eventually, it became convenient for me not to visit home every weekend. This began our seven-year separation. I was entrenched in pornography, miserable, and

couldn’t find a way out. I ignored God but blamed Him for all my troubles. Clinical depression and prescription drugs followed. But I never revealed the reason for my depression – my secret life of pornography. Bobi- Over the years, I considered divorce. I debated the differences between a contract and a covenant as it related to marriage. The “if you do your part, I’ll do mine” mentality could have made it easy to abandon the relationship. But God always reminded me of His covenant – eternal, unchanging, loving me even when I was not loveable. I took my wedding vows seriously - for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part. So I was stuck. But I chose to be stuck rather than disobey. Obedience to His Word was extremely challenging at first, but essential. I had lapses into depression and despair. I remember when a friend’s husband died suddenly, I was jealous. I argued with God, “Why couldn’t You have taken Phil instead?” March, 1997, Phil confessed his addiction to pornography. This helped explain much in our dysfunctional marriage, but I was still devastated. I felt dirty and violated. God intervened and broke my heart for Phil. I wrote Phil a letter that expressed forgiveness and Hope. But there would be no more pretending everything was okay. It was a difficult time as Phil wrestled with himself, depression, and God while I learned to trust God more. Phil- My job transferred me to Ohio. After one miserable, lonely year, I felt extremely discouraged. Without consulting my wife, I quit my job and moved back into the house in Tulsa. Staying in the guest room, I felt angry that I had to live as a “guest” in my own home. When I violated the boundary of no pornography in the house, I had to move out. Unable to find a job in Tulsa, I became an over-the-road truck driver – alone with my fantasy world of pornography. Over the next two years, I “cured” myself many times. Bobi- God was changing me, and I really liked who I was becoming – without Phil. I had no hope for change in him. My only hope was in Jesus. As I learned to be satisfied with God’s direction no matter what it required, God was transforming me into the woman I desired to be. My “What if” philosophy developed. “What if” God really means I can’t do anything to make Him stop loving me? “What if” God has really forgiven every stupid, selfish, yucky thing I have ever done? Phil- In September, 2001, I heard about a Christ-centered recovery program. Celebrate Recovery was just starting in Tulsa, and I immediately joined. The group setting was initially intimidating, but I shared my problems, and realized I was not alone, ostracized, or condemned. These guys really cared. After some initial struggles and doubts, I devoted all my efforts into completing the 12 steps, building relationships, and learning to trust Him. In February, 2002, I made amends to Bobi. I felt so relieved as the burdens began to lift when she accepted my apology. Bobi- When Phil made amends, I could hardly believe my ears. I cried and told him that I had been waiting 33 years to hear those words. We attended a marriage seminar, but Phil was more excited than I was. For years I had begged God that if only we

could go to a seminar… Now, Phil was willing, and I was scared. My prayer was, “God, is this a joke? I’m content, close to you. I like my single life. Now, You do this to me!” In my spirit I heard, “What better time? It didn’t work when both of you were unhealthy. “What if” it works this time with Me in the middle?” It was scary, but I knew I could trust God. Phil- The marriage seminar was a good experience. We did stay in separate rooms; but by the end, I had a glimmer of hope for us to reunite – some day. Bobi- On June 28, 2002, I attended Celebrate Recovery for the first time when Phil shared his testimony. I had noticed significant changes in him. When I entered the building, I was overwhelmed. I saw people who not only liked Phil but honored and respected him. That alone was worth the visit. As Phil shared his story, I felt his pain. God touched my heart with a new and deeper love for Phil. Phil – The Kiss On July 4th, 2002, Bobi suddenly planted a passionate kiss on me. She had never expressed interest in reuniting. This kiss was a knockout! Completely surprised, I saw fireworks in my head and heart. Maybe she did love me. Bobi- Ok, here’s my version of that story. July 4th, I decided to be spontaneous while Phil shared his disappointment about not seeing fireworks that night. Teasingly, I gently kissed him and asked if he saw fireworks. He was speechless. The next day Phil proposed. I said yes immediately. Again, he was speechless. I had no idea he had been terrified I might say no. I’d been waiting for him to ask since he made amends in February. On August 31, 2002, we were reunited during a renewal celebration. For years I felt I was being punished for being disobedient when I married Phil. “What if” God had this day in mind 34 years ago. “What if” God placed that attraction for Phil in my heart back then? “What if” God knew that we would be reunited as husband and wife in Him? “What if” God can use us and our story to help others? Phil- It’s impossible to express how much God means to me now. By His grace and forgiveness, I was dead but am now alive and living for Him. I am still tempted; but I remember the pit of hell where I was trapped when Jesus rescued me, and I praise Him for His love and sacrifice that gave me Hope and a new life in freedom. If God can heal and change both of us completely, He can help every person who turns to Him. Bobi- Together we are reaching out to share God’s grace and love, His hope and encouragement whenever possible. We thank Him for His faithfulness. What if God offers HOPE to you? Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope grant you all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Never, ever give up Hope!

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Community Spirit Magazine Offers Political Endorsements!

unning for office is tough. It takes someone willing to literally give the campaign, countless hours and open their lives up to absolute scrutiny. No matter how good you are at raising funds, running for office requires a huge personal investment. With that said, ALL candidates, no matter their affiliation, deserve our prayers, honor and respect. Traditionally, we haven’t endorsed many candidates. We try to stay out of most races. However, there are times when our association with a candidate and his or her standards are so strong that we feel like we have an obligation to tell you about them. It is up to you to vote your conscience, but we do offer these suggestions. Do your homework. Then, make sure you are at the polls on Tuesday, June 28th. That is the Tuesday before the 4th of July weekend. Planning to be out of town? Plan now to get an absentee ballot or vote early. Check the Tulsa Election Board website for more details. With that said, Community Spirit Magazine is proud to endorse the following Candidates.

Jim Bridenstine –

US Congress Oklahoma’s 1st District

We asked him to stand up for us against the same ol' politics of Washington. Against great odds, Jim Bridenstine has done just that. Ordered, pushed and prodded by the establishment, he has stood his ground, demanding honest changes in the way our government is funded and operated. Now, a Washington-funded machine is spending millions in an attempt to replace him before the job is completed. Jim Bridenstine deserves two more years to finish out his self-established term limit of six

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years. Community Spirit Magazine is proud to endorse him as a Brother in Christ, a Patriot of the Highest Integrity, and as a Congressman we desperately need to continue to watch our backs in Washington. Let's Re-elect Jim Bridenstine to the US Congress Oklahoma’s 1st District! www.jimbridenstine.com

Ken Walker –

Oklahoma House of Rep, District 70 The people of District 70 elected Ken Walker as their State Representative for a reason…he listened. During the election, he was on their doorstep over and over, seeking their ideas and finding answers to their questions. In office, he hasn’t disappointed them, always remaining approachable and responsive. Ken Walker is a good man, a strong believer, and a loyal Oklahoman. You can trust him to educate himself on both sides of every issue and to vote with a resolve to represent his district and honor his Lord. Let’s re-elect Ken Walker to the Oklahoma House of Representatives! www.KenWalkerForHouse.com

David Rader –

Candidate for Oklahoma Senate, District 39 You might remember him as a star athlete at Rogers High School and the University of Tulsa. Others might remember him as the respected head football coach at TU and later

as the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Alabama. People around him today, know him as a business leader, engineer and speaker. We at Community Spirit, know him as a guy we can trust, totally confident that he will always do the right and honest thing. David Rader will be a great Senator. He will demand integrity and will deliver nothing short of the best he has to give. If you live in Senate District 39, Vote for David Rader! www.DaveforSenate.com

Christian love and respect, has proven that Tom has some unique, God-given skills. He is a visionary and will absolutely come up with solutions others have never considered. Isn’t that what it will take to get Oklahoma off high center and make us competitive with the states around us? Tom McCloud will demand a new level of excellence from government and he understandably has our vote. Look out Oklahoma legislature! Here come some fresh ideas! If you live in District 67, Vote for Tom McCloud! www.McCloud4Oklahoma.com

Dan Newberry – Oklahoma Senate, District 37

Dan Newberry is a numbers guy. Gifted with a strong logic for business, he has the ability to make sense of the complexity of Oklahoma budget. Serving as the chairman of the Business and Commerce committee as well as serving on the Appropriations, Pension and Transportation committees, he has become a proven leader, respected in both chambers for the straight-forward and logical way he attacks problems. Especially with the challenges we have with the Oklahoma budget, we need Dan Newberry. Honest, hard working and faithful to his Christian standards, Dan sets a high standard for today’s legislators. If you live in District 37, Vote for Dan Newberry! www.DanNewberry.com

Tom McCloud –

Oklahoma House of Rep, District 67 Okay, so he IS the publisher of our magazine. But even if he weren’t, we would still be endorsing him. Sixteen years of uniting churches and believers under a banner of C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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Why Vote?

2. In Matthew 5, Jesus said…

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

he old hymn said, “This World is not my Home” and it is really not! We are citizens of another, much more perfect home. So, why should we vote? I mean, what’s the point? Well, here are 5 scriptural arguments for every Christian to head to the polls and cast their vote!

1. In 1 Timothy 2:1,2, Paul said… I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. So, if we are told to pray for our leaders, doesn’t that imply that we should know who they are and participate in the process? Voting for them, or against them, shows we care about the results and about who God wants to place into power. And in this world of scientific polls, it also might “keep them honest” and help push them towards doing right. As the judges stood before kings, shouldn’t we stand and proclaim what is right?

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

If we are not to hide our light under a bushel and if we are to be salt in this very unseasoned world, surely we aren’t supposed to stand silent and watch evil prevail. We are blessed to live in this free nation. Would it be tragic to keep hidden? Your voice, your little grain of salt, might be just what is needed to keep this world from going completely over the edge. Many elections are won by only one vote. Your vote might very well be the deciding factor.

3. In I Peter 1:14, Peter says… As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” When we stay silent and not vote, aren’t we really voting by not C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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voting? If you saw a crowd beginning to destroy other people’s property and you didn’t stand up for what is right, aren’t you partially to blame? Being holy is a verb, demanding that we be different than we were when we lived in ignorance. And when we do nothing, how can we stand against the things which once drug us down? Be involved. Be different than you were. Be holy. Make a difference.

Here, aren’t we taught that we have a responsibility to honor civil authority? And if we believe it is truly God who places our leaders into office, isn’t that reason to excitedly get involved in the process? We enjoy a civil way to participate and even rebel. It is called voting and it is an honor.

5. In Philippians 2:3, we are taught an impor4. In Romans 13:1-7, Paul taught about rul- tant principle… ers in this way… Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. When we vote, we should care about the entire community, what is best for all. And as the world tends to vote for things which affect them personally, we should vote for what is right, truthful and be good for all. Voting is a service we do for our community, our state and our country. If you think about it, not voting is really pretty selfish. So let’s show others that we care about them and about what happens to our society. Pray about every issue and then vote your conscience.

PAID BY Friends of David Rader 2016

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5 Questions Chiropractors Get Asked Most Often

s a chiropractor I get asked a lot questions, usually by patients during their visit, but sometimes through email or even when I’m at a social gathering. There are a few questions that seem to come up more often than others. This article aims to answer the 5 most common questions chiropractors field on a weekly basis, maybe some you’ve had yourself. 1. “What kind of pillow/mattress should I be using?” This is a question I hear the most often and is also the toughest one to answer. The truth is, it’s different for everyone. There has yet to be a pillow or mattress made that works best for every single person in this world. When it comes to pillows, the most important thing is that it keeps your neck in a neutral position while sleeping, meaning it doesn’t push your head up or let it fall over too much. Mattresses are tricky as well. We do know that a mattress that is more on the firm side tends to be better. In a recent systematic review, researchers found that a medium-firm mattress is optimal for promoting sleep comfort, quality, and spinal alignment. 2. “Do I have keep going to the chiropractor for the rest of my life once I start?” Chiropractors promote preventative care to help their patients avoid pain, disease and sickness. Once we have reached a point in care where you are consistently pain free, you have a choice in terms of protecting what we have worked so hard to accomplish. Most of our patients opt to come in once in a while to get checked. This is equivalent to a dentist recommending checkups to help their patients prevent cavities and gum disease. Of course there is no obligation to continue care, BUT to most patients, it makes sense to keep things going good with periodic visits. 3. “Is it bad if I crack my __________ (neck, back, hip, etc…)?” The short answer is no, but there is a little more to it than that. First, the “crack” that you usually hear is actually gas escaping from the joint when it is opened enough (think bubble wrap), not bone rubbing on bone. Many times it is easy to get your neck or back to crack because some joints are moving too much. This is usually because something else isn’t moving enough. These areas of hypomobility, what we call subluxations, are what we focus on correcting. So, it’s not a bad thing but it’s also not a good thing either as you are typically moving joints that are already moving too much instead of the ones that are fixated. 4. “Why would you need to adjust an infant/toddler/ child?” I love this question because it is something that I’m very passionate about. The reason an infant might need to be adjusted often has to do with the stress they endure during delivery. A typical birth can place 60-90 lbs of force onto an infant’s head and neck. Babies

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tend to be pretty resilient and most of the time they are ok. However, when this stress creates dysfunction in the spine we often see it associated with symptoms such as colic, acid reflux, ear infections, constipation, sleep issues and trouble feeding. The biggest misconception about chiropractic care for infants is that they are adjusted the same way as an adult, which couldn’t be further from the truth. We use incredibly gentle corrections that often require just a small amount of pressure. 5. “Is it safe to get my neck adjusted?” Over the years one of the biggest and false attacks on chiropractic has been the relationship between “spinal manipulation and stroke”. The truth is that chiropractors simply DO NOT cause strokes. Several studies have helped put this concern to rest and show no association between a visit to a chiropractor and a stroke. If you were to average the insanely large range from research studies of chiropractic and stroke risk, the incident of stroke is about 1 in 2,500,000, some put this number at 1 in 5,000,000. To put that into perspective, the likelihood that you will be struck by lightening in your lifetime is about 1 in 10,000. Due to the extremely low risk of injury from a chiropractic adjustment, malpractice insurance rates for chiropractors are also very low. So low, in fact, it costs me more to insure my car than it does for my malpractice insurance. Jason Schluter DC Schluter Chiropractic info@DrSchluter.com

GoLife Mobile Medical Brings Hope

group of Christians, committed to protecting life as they share the Good News about Jesus, have taken their message mobile. Putting their medical clinic on wheels, they are able to go wherever there is a need. Their goal? To go directly to women, meeting them where they are, to offer life-affirming resources and share the love of Jesus Christ. GoLife Mobile Medical is a non-profit organization made up of compassionate volunteers and medical professionals. They provide onsite services—including free pregnancy testing and life confirming, limited ultrasound exams—that empower women and families to make informed decisions. Typically, they serve women who are in the early stages of an undiagnosed pregnancy, first or second trimester, and are not under a doctor's care. Their goal is a simple one…to reach women before they make the tragic mistake of aborting their baby. Wherever the mobile clinic is park, it seems word quickly gets around and women come, seeking help. Scared and confused, they come looking for answers, and GoLife is there to provide them. Here, women arrive for FREE pregnancy tests, FREE ultra sounds, and FREE connections to resources all over town. Dan Butchee, President of GoLife Mobile Medical, explained that the ultrasound is the key to encouraging the women to give birth to their baby. He says that studies have show that 88 percent of women who see their baby on ultrasound will decide to carry the baby to term. Seeing their baby allows them to undeniably understand the life within them is a real, growing, life. The loving spirit of the professionals at the clinic is making a world-changing difference, saving many, many lives.

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The GoLife Mobile Medical Clinic is available to come to your church or business. And, YOU can get involved. Volunteers are the backbone of making this ministry work. No matter your skill level, there is a place for you to serve. They always need: • Care Assistants – opportunity for women who have a heart for this mission; training available (bilingual a plus) • Drivers • People willing to facilitate GoLife educational tours • Office assistants (writing letters and newsletters, general financial and administrative duties) • Computer people to help with database development and maintenance • RV care support (washing and cleaning) * And even help with fund-raising All of the services provided by GoLife Medical is absolutely FREE and every woman is treated with respect and dignity. After all, the goal is not to make a point, but rather to make a difference! The Golife Mobile Medical administrative office address is 3210 S. Norwood Ave., Ste. E, Tulsa, OK 74135 Email: info@golifemobilemedical.com  Phone: 918.518.0648.

Call! Get Involved! Save a Life! GoLife!

Pray for Our Christian Educators!

od calls them and with an enthusiastic attitude, they accept that call to teach, mentor and inspire our kids. Some do so with their own children in a homeschool setting. Others work within one of our many incredible Christian schools. Still others, accept the challenge to invest their God-given skills in a public school. But each one has in common a desire to see this next generation of children arrive to adulthood fully equipped and prepared to serve Christ in BIG and EXCITING ways. Teaching has never been easy. It requires a dedicated spirit, willing to be up and at their best everyday, fully prepared with entertaining and life-changing lessons. Somehow, they must cut through today’s social noise of video games, social media, television, movies and media, to catch the attention of young minds. They must be “cool” enough to relate, yet be the adult in the room, knowing they are always being watched, measured and evaluated. Show one bit of hypocrisy and months of lessons will be softened or tarnished. Yet, show a steady example of the love of God, and they just might break through, changing their student’s life forever. Community Spirit salutes these brave classroom warriors. They deserve our respect, our continual gratitude, and our heartfelt prayers. Thank a teacher today. Remind them how important they are to our society and to the Body of Christ. Encourage them to invest another year. Our kids and maybe even our future depend upon them. Here are 5 Reasons Teachers Deserve Our Highest Gratitude… (Or, under another title – 5 Things Teachers Wish Their State Legislators Understood About Them)

2. They Have a Million Customers – Their kids, their parents, their administrators, the media, the government and a host of taxpayers are all watching. On and off the job, they are scrutinized, always on stage and expected to be perfect. 3. They Don’t Get Enough Respect – The best teachers make it look easy, but it is not. The average person would never know that for every hour they spend in the classroom, they invest three hours getting ready. From decorating the room, to grading papers, to studying lessons, and to praying for their students, teaching is all consuming, eating up every second they are willing to give. 4. The Pay Stinks – The general public tends to look at them much like missionaries. We understand teachers aren’t paid enough, but we often justify the low salary we pay by saying… “it’s the job they chose.” They get little sympathy. In fact, if they do complain, they are labeled as “worn out” or “trouble-makers.” Instead, they are expected to keep serving without complaint, even though we all know, they have lives, bills and financial challenges like the rest of us. 5. The Investment Never Ends – Society also has a tendency to forget that if the pay stinks, so will the retirement. When called to teach, they know it is a decision that will affect their entire financial career. Yet, for the typical teacher, it is all worth it. They may wish society would see their jobs differently, but they are willing to teach anyway. Its what they are called to do and they follow that call knowing that the true reward doesn’t come from man. The stars in their crowns will shine brightly and forever in the life to come.

1. The Job is Never Finished – The days and semesters may pass, but the kids keep coming, every one of them with their own overloaded notebook of needs. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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For Such a Time as This Augustine Christian Academy Assists Homeschool Families

omeschooling is more popular than ever. The number of families homeschooling their kids has increased over 75 percent since 1999 and now represents around four percent of all kids nationwide. And according to researcher, Dr. Brian Ray, of The National Home Education Research Institute, we can expect “a notable surge in the number of children being homeschooled in the next five to ten years.” He predicts the increase because of the growing popularity of the practice and because of the impending second generation of homeschoolers. With this in mind, why would a private Christian school set out to help homeschooling parents? It is a mindset which began in 1997, back when the Augustine Christian Academy was only an idea. Kirk D. Post, founder and headmaster explained that some of the original leaders of the school came from homeschooling backgrounds. At ACA, we are proud of the fact that Oklahoma is the only state to guarantee a constitutional provision guaranteeing the right to homeschool. “We have had a respect for homeschoolers from the beginning. Even though we were setting up a classical program

that would cover everything from kindergarten through high school, we respected parents who were very actively involved with the education of their children. We started with the foundational idea that parents are responsible for the training of their children for life.” Mr. Post and the other school leaders recognized that many homeschool kids search for ways to get plugged in socially. Many want to enjoy the social benefits of a school while only taking a specialized class or two. “We decided to provide an option for parents to enroll their 7th through 12th grade students in some of the classes, but not be full time. We decided to allow students who attend here for any number of classes to participate in all of the extra curricular activities that make up the culture of the school. That has been our model ever since. In these older grades, students can choose to take even just one class, yet be qualified to participate in all of the other school activities like our amazing musical productions. Often, the part-time students become so comfortable and the parents learn to trust the school so much that their children end up attending full-time. Others stay and graduate with a homeschool diploma, just one of the school’s six diploma options.” “We meet in the collegiate model, with Monday/Wednesday classes, Tuesday/Thursday classes, and Friday super classes, study halls and tutoring opportunities. We have found that this is ideal for the homeschool community while it also prepares our students for what they will experience at the university level.” The attitude from the homeschool community has been great. “Parents enjoy the fact that we trust them, that we recognize them as educators. Secondly, that we give them choices and don’t dictate to them everything they have to do for their child. They look for a place that respects them as homeschool parents. They feel comfortable here. They say we recognize their authority as parents and give them opportunities without being suspect of everything they do. Our experience with homeschool families is that they are very serious about the work they do with their children. As we respect that, they respect our work as well,” explained Mr. Post. Augustine Christian Academy is one of only a few private schools that accepts homeschool students. However, Mr. Post believes what they offer is very unique because of the school’s culture and opportunities available at no additional cost. “Students pay per class, and it is more expensive (à la carte), but because there are so many things they can get involved in here, it is a good deal for them. In most co-ops, you must pay for each activity. Here, they can pay for taking just one class and be involved in such things as our Performing Arts and be part of our unique “House Culture.” Augustine Christian Academy averages around 220 students per year, allowing for smaller class sizes and more individualized attention for your child. ACA families come from as far away as an hour’s drive to take advantage of the school’s unique classical approach to education and the homeschool support we offer our parents. They welcome the opportunity to get to know you. Call for a tour today at 918-832-4600. Learn more about Augustine Christian Academy at www.acatulsa.org

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Mingo Valley Celebrates 40 Years of Partnering With Parents

n 1976, two teachers and ten students gathered in modest surroundings to start a school in Tulsa, likely never imagining that forty years later, Mingo Valley Christian School would grow to the vibrant K-12 institution that exists today. MVCS serves as a respectful partner to parents in the important work of preparing kids for their futures, by offering an environment that emphasizes excellence, discipleship, service, and community. EXCELLENCE “1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us to do all that we do to the glory of God,” explains Dr. Boyd Chitwood, superintendent. “With that in mind, can we do school--whether academics, arts, athletics or anything else--with anything less than our fullest pursuit of excellence?” With an average ACT score of 27 and an elementary class size averaging 17.5, MVCS positions its students for success in college and beyond. Again and again, alumni report how much more prepared they were for college than many of their college peers. But MVCS achieves much beyond the classroom, as well, with a thriving fine arts program, including a highly regarded theatre program that attracts arts patrons from throughout the Tulsa community. The MVCS Eagles’ athletic program offers numerous sports, including basketball, cheer, cross-country, volleyball, and soccer (earning OCSAA state championships in both men’s and women’s soccer for the last two years).

kids,” explains parent Sarah Carrison. “My kids belong to a community that is like a family—people at MVCS love them and treat them like their own. It is an amazing safety net that God provides as they grow into maturity.” Parent and faculty member Marcy Bruce sums up the experience of many: “Some of my kids’ teachers have become friends—the kind you want to do life with. This place actually means what they say: They partner together with parents.” Mingo Valley is accredited through ACSI and AdvancED.

DISCIPLESHIP At the very core of MVCS is a high regard for the Word of God. Faculty members count it a sobering privilege to point students toward Jesus, every day. An engaging Bible curriculum, weekly chapel meetings, an atmosphere of prayer, and an attitude of accountability all serve to support the shepherding that parents are carrying out at home. SERVICE MVCS is an outward-focused school, with community service emphasized at every opportunity. Every January, the elementary students hold Spirit Week, a food drive for John 3:16 Mission, which has positioned MVCS as the single largest donor of food for the organization. Each semester, the entire secondary student body leaves campus for a day of hands-on work in the community. Last year, MVCS students performed an estimated 3,300 hours of service in Tulsa and beyond. COMMUNITY MVCS fosters a tight-knit community where parents support other parents, older students mentor younger ones, and teachers invest in students outside the classroom. Special effort is made to enfold new families quickly into the community. “As a mom with teenagers, it is reassuring to know other parents are looking out for my C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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Regent Preparatory School A Christian World View

arents have an important decision when facing the challenge of educating their children. Considerations include academic rigor, community, worldview, and co-curricular activities that will help their students become well-rounded young adults by graduation day. Regent Preparatory School of Oklahoma prioritizes a Christian worldview and a classical approach to education. Students experience an integrated curriculum that focuses on the historical period being studied. Literature, art, music, history, and English reinforce each other, allowing the student to immerse himself in the entirety of the culture being studied while learning the important lessons that are central to each subject area. The classical approach includes an emphasis on language, both written and verbal. Students read excellent literature in each classroom. They study and recite poetry along with scripture and other historical texts. Throughout the grade levels, students have opportunities to speak in front of their peers and those presentation skills culminate with a Senior Thesis delivered during their final semester in school. Latin, taken in the 4th-8th grades provides a foundation for the study of grammar, vocabulary, and other languages.

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Beyond the academics, Regent students are increasing their impact through co-curricular activities including athletics, the arts, Academic Bowl, Student Council, Science Fairs, Math Counts, and a variety of service projects throughout the city. These opportunities allow students gifted in particular areas to excel and gain experience in areas about which they are most passionate. Call the school today to set up a tour and a conversation with an administrator. We will be available throughout the summer. When making your decision about schools, we encourage you to INVEST WISELY! Regent Preparatory School is accredited by The Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS) and is recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Education.

You may learn more about the school at www.rpsok.org or by calling (918) 663-1002.

Rejoice Christian SchoolState-of-the-art

fter years of dreaming and planning, the new state of the art Rejoice High School Campus in Owasso, Okla. is nearing completion. The 149,435 square foot middle school and high school will house two gyms – one doubling as a storm shelter – modern science labs, digitized smart classrooms, a 600-seat auditorium, and a cutting edge media center. “We have seen a miracle unfold in front of our eyes,” said Rejoice Superintendent Dr. Craig Shaw. “Our excitement for the future cannot be expressed in words. We are stepping into a new season at Rejoice Christian Schools and we are humbled that our students have such incredible facilities to grow spiritually and intellectually for many years to come.” The $50 million project included the Elementary Campus which opened October 2015. It also includes the new Rejoice Eagles athletics complex, comprising of a baseball field, tennis courts, locker room facilities, and a 2,000-seat football stadium. "We are extremely excited about all the new athletic facilities that RCS will have to host competitions,” said RCS Athletic Director Brent Marley. “Having new facilities is exciting, but at the end of the day we realize they are just material structures. It is what we

honor within and around those structures that counts. The buildings are just a tool that can be used to facilitate people while Christ is being shared and taught." The RCS dream came to pass because of a gift from the Eddy Gibbs Family Trust. “We are honored to be the recipient of such a truly selfless gift,” Dr. Shaw added. “Our mission is to provide a high-quality education while preparing students to impact this world for Christ. This gift gives us the opportunity to do this for many generations to come and we are so thankful for that.” The pictures of smiling students lining the walls in the Elementary and Preschool hallways are not just for show. You can see students grinning from ear to ear daily in their new classrooms and recently installed playground. In the end, Rejoice Christian Schools exists to teach students about Jesus in a loving, educational environment. Elementary Principal Rita Woolf said she is often asked what makes RCS so special. "The answer is, ‘Our faith in Jesus Christ,’” Woolf said. “Parents and teachers form partnerships and this is instrumental in helping our children grow and thrive. Teaching God's Word and working together gives Rejoice students a sense of family at school as well as home. “Academic, social and emotional growth is found among our children. We believe that God brings the teachers and families to Rejoice. All praise belongs to Him!” The anticipated completion of the Rejoice High School Campus is August 2016.

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Victory Christian School-

A Great Place To Learn

ere at Victory Christian we are continuing to build on our foundation, expand our influence and grow our legacy. In our Art program we have been blessed to have Ciaran Curtis and Nina Lange awarded with National Keys for their art and having their pieces displayed at Carnegie Hall. They make our list of National Key winners 11 in the past 5 years, 14 since 2003. This

year alone we had five students, Riley Spires, Noah Tedescucci, Josh Braun, Amy Naw and Jun Kim awarded at a National Level by the Photographic Society of America.

This year Josh Braun and Morgan Sohl have been named National Merit Scholars. This has become the trend here at VC by having now 8 National Merit Scholars in the last 4 years. These were just some of the awards and recognition that our students have earned this year a few areas of our High School. To start breaking down the levels of excellence that our Middle School and Elementary are achieving C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

We also sent over 200 students (6th-12th grade) on Mission Trips this spring break to Chicago, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Peru. Our Superintendent of 35 years Dr. Dennis Demuth finished his final year here after pioneering VCS to becoming a school where students can thrive in the classroom, on the field and in their life. It is with that standard in place and a desire to go further, climb higher and blaze new trails that we are ecstatic to announce the hiring of Darrell Smith as our new Superintendent. For more information on Mr. Smith, visit our Facebook page, facebook.com/vcstulsa and our website www.vcstulsa.org. There are many places you can send your student to learn, to develop, to strive. There is not a place like Victory Christian that empowers and challenges students to build, to expand, to influence culture as an individual through their talent, with their passion, on and off their field or court like VC. Where is your student and family being called? Be ready to answer.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Good Day To Be A Conqueror.

Our Athletic Department is thriving across all sports. In football we had our QB Keats Calhoon end his career number 2 All-Time in Oklahoma passing yards and saw our Golden Grad Linebacker Jon-Michael Terry receive a full ride to play at the University of Oklahoma for the Sooners. Our Basketball team made it to State for the 15th time, 6th in a row. We also made state in both boys and girls golf, individually to state in tennis and sent 4 athletes to state in track & field. Our future is expanding as we are preparing to renovate our Wight Room and Basketball Gym for the 2016-2017 school year.

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would take an entire issue.

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Cornerstone Tutorial Center -

Providing Classroom Options For Homeschool Students

hen considering the education of their children, most parents think of public or private schools. Other parents branch out into charter schools, homeschooling, or online learning. But there are some parents in Tulsa and its surrounding areas that have discovered a unique solution found only at Cornerstone Tutorial Center. Cornerstone Tutorial Center (CTC) is distinctive in that it provides “a-la-carte” classes, electives, and social activities for homeschooled students in grades three through twelve. Students choose to enroll in a single class or several, depending upon the needs of the family. The school offers classes in all the core subjects (math, science, history, and language arts) as well as a variety of electives, some of which are as unique as the school itself. Current elective offerings include art, music, foreign language, ACT prep, Speech and Debate, Sign Language, Computer Concepts and Applications, Financial Peace, physical education, Biblical Worldview, theater, sewing, cooking, movie making, 3-D animation, Photoshop, and even “Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse!” In addition, the school offers Yearbook Club, Chess Club, annual achievement testing, and a graduation ceremony that is open to all homeschooled students in the Tulsa area and in which the parents themselves present the graduation diploma. Finally, students who are enrolled enjoy a sprinkling of “just-plain-fun” social activities such as Guy’s Night: Basketball, Games, & Pizza and The Ultimate Girl’s Pajama Party. Participation is always optional but who can resist!

children. Families must attend one Open House before they can register. CTC was founded in 1990 as an outreach to Christian homeschool families of all denominations. Because of the multi-denominational make-up, Bible classes are not offered, and CTC tutors and leaders do not raise controversial theological issues. CTC operates as a 501(c) 3 and is governed by a board of directors, which consists of administrators and CTC family representatives. Tuition can be paid in one lump sum or spread out over a nine-month period.

For more information: Cornerstone Tutorial Center, 948 S. 91st East Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74112. Website: www.ctctulsa.org. Phone: (918) 664-9527. Email: ctcacademic@cox.net

All classes are taught by professional tutors who have specialized knowledge in the subjects they teach. The tutors use a variety of instructional tools and methods in order to accommodate a variety of learning styles. Over a 30-week period, students attend classes one or two times per week (depending on the class) at which time they receive in-class instruction, participate in labs, and/or work on special projects. During the remainder of the week, parents supervise any work that needs to be completed. Deven Anthony, a former student at CTC, said, “Cornerstone is the best of both worlds. I get to be homeschooled and experience the best parts of being in a regular school.” All four of Mark and Ruth Hartje’s children attended CTC over a period of seven years. Their youngest, Philip, is the last one to attend and is currently enrolled as a sophomore. “He absolutely enjoys every part of it,” said Ruth Hartje, “the tutors, his fellow students, the small class sizes, the order without severe formality, and the actual building itself - windows everywhere.” For families interested in enrolling at Cornerstone Tutorial Center for the 2016-17 school year, CTC is hosting an Open House on June 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and again on August 6 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Attendees will receive all the information necessary for registration and meet the CTC tutors that will be teaching their C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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Throw away your toothbrush

s a practicing general dentist, I hear the question quite often, “Is an electric toothbrush really better than my manual toothbrush?” The answer every single time is a definite “Yes!” Electric toothbrushes, hands down, have a superior ability to clean teeth and remove plaque, thus preventing its detrimental effects. Before purchasing a powered toothbrush, it is vital to understand that electric toothbrushes and battery-powered toothbrushes are not the same. A true electric toothbrush is a rechargeable unit that plugs into the wall. The rechargeable unit allows the brush to maintain a consistent power level so the toothbrush remains reliable and effective over its life. The battery version is very similar to a manual brush that instead runs off of AA batteries. Therefore, over time, the toothbrush will lose power and become less efficient. Keep this in mind when shopping for a new electric toothbrush. Although purchasing an electric toothbrush is the first step to better oral care, there are protocols to follow to achieve the best results. It is important to brush 2 times daily for 2-minute sessions and to use the proper technique, allowing the brush to work effectively for you. I always recommend replacing your toothbrush head every 3-6 months. An electric toothbrush will come with a

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reminder so you know when it is time to change the toothbrush head. Electric toothbrushes are superior, because the bristles or heads of the toothbrushes come in a variety of sizes and shapes and work differently. You can literally choose a toothbrush head that is designed to fit your particular profile. There are toothbrush heads that aid in flossing, heads designed for people in braces, heads for sensitive teeth or gum massage, and even heads for teeth whitening. One of the biggest problems with manual tooth brushing is that people brush too hard, and they can damage the enamel of their teeth or cause their gums to recede. Electric toothbrushes do the brushing for you while you only need to guide it along the surfaces of the teeth. Many electric brushes are equipped with pressure sensors to ensure you are not brushing too hard and causing damage. The cleaning ability of an electric toothbrush also allows it to remove plaque more thoroughly and faster than a manual brush. The smaller shaped heads also allow you to reach the more difficult areas of the mouth, such as behind the back molars. There are many benefits to tossing that old manual toothbrush and switching your daily routine to the more superior electric toothbrush. Not only do I think you will notice an immediate difference, but I’m willing to bet your dental hygienist will observe the improvement too.

My plan, His purpose Danny Cahill

here I was, standing on the scale having lost an amazing 239 pounds in under 7 months! I had beaten obesity forever. I was stepping into my purpose by becoming the winner of Season 8 of The Biggest Loser ever. There was – and still is – much purpose in achieving that title. I have been seen by over 20 million Americans, and millions more worldwide. It has given me a platform to share my story by authoring books, speaking in 7 countries and 40 states, and by coaching many on their way to their dreams. I was able to share what God had done in my family’s lives and how He purposed the journey to achieve what He intended. Before I left for the show 7 years ago, I wrote down a scripture and left it on the refrigerator for my family. It was Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” For Joseph, this was talking about his brothers’ intent to harm him. For me, this was talking about my struggle with addiction; especially my food addiction and the obesity I’d been fighting my entire life! Things were different now. I made plans I was going to change the world by giving hope to those who had none! I was going to speak to every ear that would listen. And I did – to fortune 100 companies, churches, cities, even on the floor of the legislature of Oklahoma! This was the purpose for the rest of my life! Or so I thought… God ordered my steps So how did this happen? I came off the road to settle down a bit and spend more time with the family. I returned to my career in Land Surveying, and suffered a series of injuries and a surgery that benched me from the gym. That and my desk job led to my gaining 70 pounds. Not again! Why me? This isn’t the way it was supposed to happen! I looked in the mirror in shame. Then my mind wondered to all of the other Biggest Losers that, over the years, I watched struggle and gain weight, and I actually coached a few back to health. I always thought “why would they go back? They all worked so hard!” And then I was asking the same question about me. New York again On season 8 of The Biggest Loser, the National Institute of Health backed a series of metabolism tests. No matter what you’ve heard from the media, they were complete and intense, and extremely accurate. They tested us at the beginning. The results: fairly normal for our weight and size. Then they tested us at the end of the show. The results: Despite retaining lean mass while losing weight (muscle), all of our metabolisms experienced “Metabolic Adapta-

tion” and had slowed dramatically. They expected it to happen, but not so severely. And 6 years after the show, we travelled to the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland to retake the tests and see how we had progressed. The results: All but 1 contestant had gained some weight – from between 10 pounds to 250 pounds – except one person who was thinner and more lean that she was at the end of the show. A wide range of perspectives to test, and the results were surprising. No, shocking. Both to us and the doctors who performed the test. Our metabolisms had adapted even worse than at the end of the show – regardless of keeping the weight off or gaining the weight back – for both the successful and the unsuccessful. Then I got the call. “Hey Danny! You’re on the cover of the New York Times!” What?! I rushed down to the store and grabbed one, and there I stood, on the stage, worshipping God with two things: The Bass guitar I bought with gambling money during my gambling addiction, and myself – nearly 100 pounds heavier. That very moment the shame fell off my shoulders. Be Joseph So God was (and is) willing to take a broken man, a Bass guitar that was bought with “gambling money”, and place them on the cover of one of the most liberal newspapers in the world. Just because I was willing to bring all I could bring – my brokenness. God will use you in your success, and He will use you in your failure. He will take whatever you are willing to bring and use it for His good – His purpose. I travelled to New York City and made the rounds again: Good Morning America, The Insider, Inside Edition, Nightline, and several other news media outlets. Just like at the end of the show, I was thrust into the limelight – and 100 pounds heavier than before. Then they asked the question: “Knowing what you know now, that your metabolism is damaged and you burn 800 calories a day less than a normal man of your age and weight, would you do it all again?” I blurted out “You bet!” They looked at me in shock. I said, “This brings a whole new purpose to the journey, and if I have to martyr 800+ calories a day to do that, so be it. This is going to change the medical science of obesity, and in turn change millions lives!” So there it is. Genesis 50:20 is still my purpose scripture – and God is still paving my way. The last thing I said was, “If you’d have asked me on this show a few weeks ago, I’d have run for cover, having gained 100 pounds. But after I saw that report and that it was not all our fault, I felt the shame lift and I knew that I had to be on your show. So many others’ lives depended on it! The prescription we were prescribed isn’t the best way to lose weight. It’s by bringing balance to yourself – body, mind and soul.”

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the track. Not just to pick them up when they fell, but to do it so quickly the other car didn’t become a casualty of the one that had fallen off the track. He would not move from his position, not for another toy, and not for the temptation of something sweet to eat. He had a job, and he would do it to the best of his ability. If only we, as Christians, could be so dedicated to the one gift that we are given! We were not called into this life to just exist. Each of us has been given that one thing where we excel. That is the gift God has chosen for us – our life’s calling. We aren’t required to be everything to everyone, but we are required to share that one gift that we do best, to a broken world who needs our best.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV) God has never asked us to perform an act of service to others unless he has already blessed us with the gift required for the job. Our mission is to use that one gift…faithfully. This is especially true when the service is to help someone stand up after falling down. One word of encouragement can make the difference between that person recovering from a fault, or succumbing to the external influences pulling them down. We need to act quickly – so the domino effect never has a chance to begin. When we see these issues in the true context of an ever-changing world, we begin to see our job more clearly. We learn how to react in such a manner to prevent someone from being harmed by the missteps of another. Occasionally, there will be distractions. Things that tempt us to look for something new and exciting. It takes real perseverance and a true commitment to the job we have been given. It seems like a simple thing, something a child would understand.

Commitment to the Task

Father, God, stir my soul today to perform that one task you have given me. Grant me the passion to continue that one task for as long as the need exists. Let my commitment be to You and the calling You have placed on my life. Always!

By Deniece Adsit, author of Lessons From the Journey, now available on Amazon.

y grandson sat on the floor next to the small race track watching the two cars travelling in a never-ending circle. Each time a car fell off the track he would respond with “uh-oh” or “oh no!” Then he would quickly pick up the fallen car and put it safely back on the track. The other children soon moved on to different activities, but he continued watching the cars, and picking them up when they fell. Nothing could persuade him to try a new activity. When he was offered something new, he would simply point to the cars. He couldn’t do something else; the cars depended on him. It was his job to keep them running safely on

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ABOUT DENIECE Deniece has a passion to minister to women. You are going to grow to love her and the way she tells stories, always getting to the real heart of the matter.

BROADWAY’S SONG AND DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA IS COMING JULY 19-24 TO THE TULSA PAC ***TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15***

he quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42ND STREET will celebrate a one week engagement at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with a sparkling new production July 19-24! 42ND STREET is directed by co-author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony® Award-winning Best Revival. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 15. 42ND STREET is the song and dance fable of Broadway, with an American Dream story and some of the greatest songs ever written, including “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and of course “42nd Street.” With book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin 42ND STREET is based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie and tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who leaves her Allentown home and comes to New York to audition for the new Broadway musical Pretty Lady. When the star breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and becomes a star.

Get social with Celebrity Attractions by becoming a fan on Facebook.com/BwayTULSA. Follow us at Twitter.com/BwayTULSA or join in the conversation by using #42StTulsa. 42ND STREET concludes Celebrity Attractions’ 2015-2016 Broadway Season. Celebrity Attractions is proud to have KOTVNews on 6 and Tulsa World as sponsors for this amazing season.

For more information, visit: www.42ndstmusical.com or CelebrityAttractions.com

The original production of 42ND STREET was produced in 1980 on Broadway by David Merrick and featured direction and dances by Gower Champion. It played on Broadway for 3,486 performances, winning 1981 Tony® Awards for Best Musical and Best Choreography. The Broadway revival, which opened in 2001, played for 1,524 performances and earned two Tony® Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. Mark Bramble (Director/Co-Author) began his theatrical career working for legendary producer David Merrick on many Broadway productions. He directed the 2001 Tony® Award winning Best Revival of 42ND STREET on Broadway for which he received a Tony® Award nomination, and has staged productions of the show in London, Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin, Amsterdam, Shanghai, and Vienna. Randy Skinner (Choreographer) choreographed the 2001 Tony Award® winning Best Revival of 42ND STREET on Broadway for which he received a Tony® Award nomination. He also received Tony® Award nominations for his choreography of Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Ain't Broadway Grand. Welcomed by ONEOK, 42ND STREET comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for eight performances only July 19-24. The performance schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 15 at 10 a.m. and may be purchased via phone 918.596.7111 or 800.364.7111, in person at the Tulsa PAC Box Office, or online at MyTicketOffice.com. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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The Power of Business Valuation

s a business owner, your business is probably your most valuable asset. For many business owners, 70%-90% of their net worth is tied up in their business. It makes sense, then, that the default path most business owners put themselves on is to fund their retirement with the sale of their business. That being said, would it surprise you to know that over 75% of business owners do not know what their business is worth? It’s true! The reason that most businesses fail isn’t due to market downturns, or, changes in consumer behavior. Most businesses fail due to lack of planning. In fact, according to a 2012 Harvard Business Review online article titled, “Avoid the Traps That Can Destroy a Family Business,” more than 70% of family businesses will not survive the transition to a second generation and nearly 90% fail to transition to a third. So, for the next few minutes that I have your attention, I want to talk to you about the power of business valuation, because it is the cornerstone of financial planning when it comes to your business and your financial future. The working theory is that a business valuation is only needed when the owner is ready to sell. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth; especially in the case of multiple owners! Often, when I’m talking to owners of a business, I ask one of the owners this question. “So, how would you feel about being in business with your partner’s wife, should something happen to your partner?” They usually look at me like my hair is on fire! But, that’s exactly what would happen if one of the partners met their maker prematurely, and the proper buy-sell agreement hadn’t been established. Yet, how do you know how to structure a buy-sell agreement if you don’t know the value of what will be bought and/or sold?

Another area where business valuation is critical is helping a business owner know the value of what they are protecting. A surprising statistic is that 50% of small business owners are underinsured, and I would venture to guess the culprit is that the business owner(s) doesn’t have a grasp of what their business is worth. A business valuation can also protect you from the IRS. In other words, if you don’t peg the value of your business, the IRS will. What does that mean exactly? Well, if you, as the business owner, die prematurely, your business would pass to your estate. Your estate would then pay taxes based off of whatever value the IRS comes up with. Since you won’t be around to be part of that conversation, your family and estate are left extremely vulnerable from a tax perspective. However, determining and documenting your business’ value on your own terms will give you a protective layer to guard against any inflated values that the IRS deems necessary.

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I hope you see by now that a business valuation is critical at all stages of the life cycle of your business. I mentioned earlier that a business is a business owner’s most valuable asset. Well, when it comes to retirement planning, many times there is a valuation gap, and that gap could potentially inhibit you from closing the deal. Knowing whether the value of your business is trending up or down can help curb expectations, as well as, help you develop an exit strategy that gives you maximum control. A business valuation is truly empowering for a business owner. At this point I know what you are thinking. “Justin, aren’t business valuations in the neighborhood of $8,000-$10,000?” Well, yes! A certified business valuation can be costly and time consuming. Let’s face it; a business owner isn’t going to spend that kind of time and money unless they are going to sell. However, because knowing the value of your business is critical to making proper decisions in your life, our firm has invested in technology that harnesses the power of big data to deliver accurate and efficient business valuations to you at no cost. Through our valuation process, we can help you answer the questions that will lead you to make informed decisions for your future. So, if knowing the value of your business is something that is important to you, but you’ve been putting it off due to lack of time or resources, I encourage you to drop me an email, or, call me at my office to discuss how this process can be beneficial to you.

* https://hbr.org/2012/01/avoid-the-traps-that-can-destroy-family-businesses Justin graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from John Brown University in 2007. For over 30 years, Justin witnessed his father, Randy, approach his financial planning practice as a ministry. This inspired Justin to pursue a career where he could help families and business owners achieve their maximum financial potential. Justin Cowell - Advisor ACT Financial Services, Inc. 4111 S. Darlington Ave., Ste. 800 Tulsa, OK 74135 O: 918-664-0081 C: 918-810-7239 jcowell@htk.com C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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[Neh. 2:18]

Let us rise up and build . . .

Rhema Bible Church youth building coming soon!

Asbury First United Methodist Church

Victory Christian Center First Bank of Owasso

Stonewood Vision

Get our NEW app in iTunes or Google Play stores.

Assembly of God Youth Camp

New ofďŹ ce space coming soon!

ChurchesByDaniels.com

New Construction :: Renovation :: Remodeling :: Expansion // 918.872.6006

randy cowell | ACT F ina n c i a l

A New Risk To Worry About

CCASSIONALLY I’ll be at a social event and someone will ask me what I do for a living. It’s impossible to answer that question in 20 seconds, but I usually respond by saying something like; “I am a Certified financial planner”, or “I teach people how money works” or “I am a protection planner, I protect people and things”. My favorite has to be “I protect you no matter what happens.” Whatever it is that I do, it will normally involve dealing with some sort of risk.

Types of Risk Let’s review shall we? Here is my list of favorite risks that you should be concerned with if you hope to have a successful retirement: There is the dreaded investment risk. Especially for the last decade, we have been living with this risk. Does the “LOST Decade”, ring a bell with anyone? Many retirees have seen their retirement accounts reduced by as much as 50%, TWICE! Another risk that WILL affect your retirement and your future buying power is inflation. If you recall your inflation history, it began in the 70’s with the oil embargo. Double digit inflation was the norm during the Carter presidency years, and since then it has decreased to manageable rates around 3%. The risk of future inflation can and will affect everyone’s retirement. Here is one that you may not have heard of before. Interest rate risk or the risk your C.D. or fixed investment won’t renew at the interest rate it is currently paying. Just imagine that you are retired and it is 1981. You and your spouse rely on your Certificate of Deposit as your retirement income. Let’s assume that you have $250,000 in your C.D.. Interest rates are 17.98%, making your income equal to $44,950. Yes, the C.D. was insured by FDIC insurance, but there was no guarantee that interest rates would remain at 17.98%. Well, the Paul Harvey “rest of the story”, would reveal that now your income from that same $250,000 C.D. is a paltry $2,625. I bet the bank teller didn’t tell you about this one!

There is a New Risk in Town Ok, about now you are recognizing that you are suffering from Riskphobia. Just when you thought things were bad enough, there is a risk that your parents or grandparents didn’t have to worry about. “What new risk should we be concerned with?” you ask. It’s the risk of living too long, and it is perhaps the risk we should be most concerned with. In his recent book Paychecks and Playchecks, Tom Hegna discusses Longevity Risk and explains how the risk of living to long is a “risk multiplier”. Let’s talk about the aging of our population and how today’s retirement is vastly different than that of our parents and grandparents. Back in the day, granddad retired with a pension, social security, and a meager savings account. His life expectancy was maybe 72. Today according to the Wall Street Journal “the number of Americans who live to age 100 or greater has increased 43% between 2000 and 2010.” It is no secret that we are living longer than our parents and grandparents. So what does this have to do with your retirement?

Henga explains it this way. Pensions were a mainstay of the retiree along with Social Security. The third leg of the retirement stool was savings. If the retiree passed away six or seven years into retirement, how much would investment risk, inflation risk, and interest rate risk have affected them? The answer is “not much!” Because of the short time in retirement, their pension and social security checks would not have been significantly affected. Because most had their money in safer investments such as C.D’s they would not have seen any effects of investment risk. Today, Pensions are almost nonexistent. Companies have replaced them with matching 401(k) plans, putting the employee at risk as the stock market fluctuates. The savings that Americans have been able to stash away is heavily invested in the stock market, further putting their money at risk.

The Bottom Line According to a study by the Financial Research Corporation, there is a 50% possibility that one spouse can expect to live to 92 and a 25% chance that one spouse could live to …………………Wait for it …………….97. That means a person retiring at 65 will have to worry about all the risk we have discussed, for thirty-two years! The unfortunate thing I see today, as Americans are preparing for their “Golden Years”, is that you can have ten financial advisors and have ten different opinions on the subject. The Bible has much to say about seeking wise counsel. My favorite ones are sprinkled throughout the book of Proverbs. My advice to anyone looking toward retirement is choose an advisor willing to address ALL aspects of your finances. I have a wonderful article on how to select a financial advisor and I would be happy to send you a copy…Hope to hear from you soon.

RANDY C. COWELL ACT FINANCIAL Randy C. Cowell is a columnist and President of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of “God Good-Debt Bad”. Randy welcomes your thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by e-mail at rcowell@htk.com.

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A Breath of Relief

reathing. Sleeping. Moving. It’s the simple things that suddenly matter the most when cancer swoops in to take them away. It was summer of 2013 when Margery Gadd began having difficulty breathing through her nose. “It was interfering with running and sleeping, which are two of my favorite things,” Margery says. She went to her doctor for a series of tests and couldn’t believe the news. She had sinus cancer. “After receiving the diagnosis, I started investigating treatment options. I met with various specialists and surgeons,” said Margery. As a registered nurse with experience in cancer care, she wanted a second opinion. Margery went to Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Tulsa and met Bradley Mons, DO, an otolaryngologist with specialized training in head, neck and microvascular reconstructive surgery. “Dr. Mons was kind and compassionate, and his knowledge and expertise inspired my confidence,” Margery said. Dr. Mons performed surgery on Margery to remove her sinuses and part of her upper jaw to take out the tumor. “Because he is also a board-certified plastic surgeon, he did the reconstructive portion of my surgery at the same time,” Margery explained. “He can reconnect those tiny blood vessels using a suture that is thinner than a hair. Today, you can barely even see a scar.” The two-year mark is a common time frame for sinus cancer to recur, but Margery has good news to share. “I made it past that hurdle with no signs of cancer. I am back to the life I was living prior to my cancer diagnosis.” Last year, Margery completed her 29th marathon, and has plans to hike the Grand Canyon to cel-

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ebrate her birthday. “I have so much to live for, and am planning to be around for a very long time.” No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results. To learn more about Margery’s story, visit cancercenter.com/margery or call 888-348-5492

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