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Contents FEATURES 6 8 12 20 24 28 32 36 38 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Bob Goff to Speak at Tulsa Workshop Okie Bugs Honoring Christian School Educators Tulsa County Sheriff Race Christian Education Alliance 5 Secrets to Staying Under Budget Want to Be a Christian Counselor? BlueStone Steakhouse Wink Optique Celebrity Attraction’s CINDERELLA Go Work Plan Local Author – Jim Stovall Local Author – Deniece Adsit Local Author – Page Cole Local Authors – Arthur Greeno and Bryan Smith Local Author – Rep. Chuck Strohm
COLUMNS 26 Mollie Myers 37 Deniece Adsit 40 ACT Financial 43 Healthy Smiles Dentistry 53 Yorkshire Publishing 54 Danny Cahill, The Biggest Loser
Winter 2016 PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud CREATIVE Director Ben Allen
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Deniece Adsit, Mollie Myers, Dr. Schluter, Dr. Dennis Demuth, Danny Cahill 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
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Bob Goff to Headline Tulsa Workshop in Tulsa April 6-9 The Pavilion at Expo Square (The Fairgrounds)
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ob Goff’s attitude and charm are as full of life as his pictures and his writing. He became an internationally known author with a single release of the uplifting and thoughtprovoking book, Love Does. But ask him and he will tell you he is no superstar. Instead, he sees his role in life as being the porter, always helping others. Shane Coffman, Music Minister at Memorial Drive Church of Christ in Tulsa, explained that the theme for this, the 41st annual Tulsa Workshop, is “From Darkness to Light.” “We wanted to spend some time looking at what Light looks like. That is what Bob Goff challenges us to do. He is cut out of the same cloth as Terry Rush and Marvin Phillips. He constantly communicates a positive, let’s love and let’s get to work style. That is what his book, Love Does, communicates. He is constantly positive, yet challenging, and we need to be challenged. After all, loving people is hard, it is not easy.” Besides being the author of the New York Times Best-Selling Author of Love Does, Bob is also an attorney with a passion to help make a profound difference in countries like Uganda, India and Somalia. He founded Restore International, a nonprofit human rights respected for their work in fighting for freedom and human rights and to improve education. The group has worked with Uganda’s judiciary in bringing over 200 cases to trial, as well as pursuing justice, intervention and education for at risk women and children in Uganda, India and Somalia. Restore Leadership Academy in Northern Uganda educates over 300 students with a focus on character and leadership development. Bob is a sought after speaker for leadership, church and university events, inspiring others to live and love audaciously. He has
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been a practicing attorney for over 25 years and is also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School where he teaches Nonprofit Law and at Point Loma Nazarene University where he teaches a class in business law. He founded Goff and Dewalt, LLP in 1968 as a construction defect attorney. Located in Washington, the firm specializes in construction defect litigation, general counsel, and international rights (through Restore International). When asked why he wrote Love Does, he answers that he just wanted folks to take a breath and just realize how good God is. Longing to encourage every life he touches, the looks for every avenue to meet people and tell them stories, with the purpose of communicating with them like Jesus did. Sometimes his actions are thought to be a bit crazy to those closest to him…like putting his actual cell phone number in the back of his best-selling book. He explained it this way. “Give a quarter million people your cell phone and promise not to let any call go to voice mail and you are going to get accused of being crazy. But the people who have impacted me the most are people who were available to me. People want to know if what we say is really true. Not whether the phone number in the back of the book is real, but whether the stuff that we say is really true. Every time we do an act of love toward someone, we answer that question. And it can simply mean saying hello.” Some of his best-known quotes from his book, Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World… “I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.” “I used to want to fix people, but now I just want to be with them.” “I used to think you had to be special for God to use
you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.” “I think God’s hope and plan for us is pretty simple to figure out. For those who resonate with formulas, here it is: add your whole life, your loves, your passions, and your interests together with what God said He wants us to be about, and that’s your answer.”
This year’s Workshop will also include Jim White, the Inspiration for the Disney Movie, McFarland USA. The teacher and famous track coach, is not a minister per se, but he makes an impact, living out ministry in his work and touching the lives of the kids on his team.
“When you trust someone, you don't need to know everything.”
The Workshop begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, April 6th with a Keynote address by Tulsa’s own, Mitch Wilburn, Pulpit Minister at Park Plaza Church of Christ. Additional speakers will include Patrick Mead, Chris Seidman, Jeff Walling, Rick Atchley and many others.
Come Hear Bob Speak! Bob Goff will speak at the Tulsa Workshop on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. Entrance is FREE, although an offering will be taken.
About the Tulsa Workshop
This is the 41st Tulsa Workshop. People come from all over the country to hear great preaching, to reconnect with old friends and to enjoy the many booths available in the exhibit hall. Past headline speakers have included author, Francis Chan, Duck Dynasty’s patriarch, Phil Robertson, Ebola Survivor, Dr. Kent Brinkley and author, Brandon Hatmaker.
Campus Ministries United, a thriving, national college ministry will also be at the Workshop where they will hold their conference. Their conference is expected to bring in hundreds of college ministers and students to The Workshop.
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Okie Bugs Pest Control Kills Bugs,
Reaches Kids for Christ
owner of Okie Bugs Pest Control. He had actually started the company in order to fund his own missionary journeys to Italy. Soon, he and Lynn decided that the bug business might be a great “tent-making” tool for many of his ministers. Providing good income and flexible hours, the bug business turned out to be the perfect way to keep enough dollars coming in to keep them on the campuses. This year, Randal sold the company to Lynn and the rest is history. Okie Bugs Pest Control offers their services to both residential and business customers. Their clients also include a host of restaurants and churches. They especially focus on and give a discount to churches.
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aul made tents. These guys kill bugs.
The next time you need a bug man, call Okie Bugs Pest Control. For not only do they know bugs, their profits go to reaching college kids for Christ. Campus Ministries United is incredibly versed at evangelizing, sharing the Good News of Jesus. Every dollar you spend goes directly toward providing the funds necessary to reach a local campus. Armed with a love for the lost and a passion for ministering to college students, they have turned a simple concept of making friends into a successful evangelism mechanism to reach the lost. Their strategy is simple but effective. 1. Hold a unique and fun event, free of any trappings of church. 2. Have student ministers there who are good at making friends. 3. Connect with students who come to the event. 4. Become friends and eventually earn the right to ask them if they want to study the Bible. 5. Wait on God to do the rest.
“85% of decisions for Christ are made between 18-24 years of age” Campus Ministries United was started by Lynn and Carol Stringfellow. Called out of lucrative sales career into college ministry in 1999, they moved to University of South Florida and proceeded to learn the hard way about how to catch the attention of college students. Eventually, they found that it was much more about making friends that it was some formula for winning souls. They soon became known for being able to host the most fun events on campus. And as they made friends, they were able to hold one-onone Bible studies. Converting kids right and left and then teaching and equipping them to do the same, they soon had students moving to campuses across the country. Each campus team provides their own funding by working their own “tent-making” jobs. Lynn and Carol ultimately moved their base of operations to Tulsa where they met Randal Adams, the
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Wanna kill the bugs and reach people for Jesus at the same time? Call Okie Bugs Pest Control! www.okiebugs.com 918.408.9657
It seems to be a “Dog-Eat-Dog” world out there. Everyone out for himself and trying to get all he can so he can have all the toys. At Okie Bugs, they are not that kind of business. They actually aim much higher. Many businesses have been duped into thinking they have to keep God separate from business so as not to offend anyone. They don’t see it that way at all. Okie Bugs are Christians and operate as such. If you are like-minded, they invite you to partner with them. If you are not a Christian, they still invite you to do business with them because you’ll see an integrity that other companies can’t display. As they grow and prosper, Okie Bugs hopes to create jobs for good people so they can take care of their families in an honorable way. While doing this they continue to introduce people to Jesus and to change communities for the good.
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eachers come from all different backgrounds. Their personal story and education makes them who they are, shaping their faith and their teaching style.
It takes a special calling to be an effective teacher. Whether they are teaching in a public school, within a home school setting, or at a private school, the job requires a God-given passion for their students, a patience that indeed passes all understanding, and a commitment to preparation and excellence. In this issue, we particularly salute those teachers within our community’s private, Christian schools. By sharing some of their stories, we hope you will see the teachers highlighted as examples of the incredible people who commit their lives to teaching. As they provide kids with the tools to be able to compete in this world, they also mentor them with the faith and understanding that this world really isn’t our home.
Thank you for investing in this next generation! We love you! The Staff of Community Spirit Magazine
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“We can express God’s “light in our lives” to others through messages of art. It might be something beautiful, or it might be something which makes people think. It might include a word within a piece of art which communicates a message, or it might be a picture which stops someone in their tracks and causes them to think of a good memory or have a good thought. I challenge them to try to communicate that, to testify to others through their creativity.” Mrs. Loveland was single when she first started teaching and her life took an unusual turn when one of her sophomore students suggested one day that she should meet his single father. “At first, it was very awkward and I tried to steer him away from that, but finally Todd and I did meet and it worked out wonderfully. We have been married for almost five years,” she said with a smile.
Summit Christian Academy Beth Loveland Art Teacher K-12
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Beth Loveland is a great example of the committed believers who teach at Summit Christian Academy. Since 1987, they have impacted the lives of countless students and their families. Attend any of their classes and you will find kids not only learning their lessons, but also understanding the role of Christ within those lessons. Summit Christian Academy is an inseparable and integral part of the ministries of The Assembly at Broken Arrow. Learn more about the school at www.sca-eagles.com.
o Beth Loveland, the best lessons are creative ones. Teaching kids to literally think out of the box is not only her daily challenge, it is her passion.
Moving to Tulsa to get her Masters in Christian School Education at Oral Roberts University, she always thought God would use her administrative skills instead of her artistic ones. However, experience ultimately showed her that God gave her a special abilities connecting with kids in the classroom. As an art teacher, she gets to interact with all of Summit’s 185 students in K-6 and with another forty-five in the upper grades who continue to choose art as an elective. The result is lots of fun for this committed Christian teacher. “It thrills me to be able to expose my students to the famous artists and to different genres of art. I want them to enjoy the process so they are learning to appreciate art as a way of expression.” She explained that art is much more than glue sticks and construction paper. “The students learn organization and problem solving skills with the tasks they are given, but they are also learn creativity and individual expression at the same time. They quickly learn that art is powerful, that they can use it to communicate a message. They discover how to show a new perspective or show someone else their own perspective. Those are valuable skills they can carry with them and apply throughout their lives.” Mrs. Loveland has also learned that art is a wonderful way to point kids toward God. When asked how she weaves Bible lessons into her art lessons, she smiled and said, “That is easy. God is the ultimate Creator. He gave us the model of taking nothing and creating something out of it. And, we have His beauty all around us. So, I encourage our students to look around and appreciate His creation and then try to copy that, expressing it through a painting or a drawing.” C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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where many schools feel they just don’t have time in the schedule for P.E., Regent remains committed. They know it makes a difference. It is a role which Katty has been in almost since the school began 16 years ago. In fact, she laughs as she recalls her first class of 13 kids, compared to today’s P.E. classes of nearly 50. “I found my passion here,” she says unequivocally. And as you watch her jump right into the middle of a game of Dodge Ball or Capture the Flag, you can tell this is more than just a job. You see, she knows it is all about the kids. Yes, her job is to encourage her students towards a lifetime of fitness, but more importantly, it is to develop traits such as character, sportsmanship and self worth. Such things last forever.
Regent Preparatory School Katty Simmons Physical Education – Grades 1-8
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atty Simmons’ subject won’t ever have its own section on the SAT exam, nor is it likely to be the class which will determine this year’s magna cue laude candidate. However, you would be wrong if you thought for a minute that Physical Education isn’t important at Regent Preparatory School. In a world
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She remembers when she was in school that girls used every excuse to get out of P.E. class. “I remember that it just wasn’t very fun,” she said. But “fun” is key element to the curriculum she has written for Regent’s grammar school. Providing a mixture of sports, organized games and fitness training, her desire is that the kids develop skills without overburdening them. Yet, the Palates training alone proves that this is much more than just recess. Katty’s kids receive more than just a good workout each day. Often without knowing it, they get lessons in character and she says that one of the biggest blessings is to be able to watch them grow socially and emotionally. “You may not see the investment that day, or even in a year, but over time, I get to see growth and that is what I love,” she said.
One of the things she treasures about her role is the opportunity to be an example for the girls. “There is so much confusion in this world, I want them to know that they can be athletic, yet feminine. By the grace of God, hopefully I can be a good role model for them. I tell them that they can be strong and fit, yet still be a lady…still look like a lady and present yourself like a lady.” To keep herself in shape, Katty enjoys working out, playing tennis, doing a mixture of palates and yoga and even jogging a little. As she has worked with kids at Regent these 15 years, she has also watched her own kids grow up. She has one grown son who works in Dallas, another son at OSU and a daughter at OU. For her own children and for all the kids in her classes, she prays that God will help them find their passion. “After all,” she said, “I have already found mine.”
Regent Preparatory School
Breaks Ground On Major Expansion
"This series of projects touches our entire community, prioritizing arts, library space, and athletic facilities. It is an exciting step forward for the school and its future."
"The groundbreaking ceremony includes the ideas of "consecration" and the "creation of sacred space."
"This is a very exciting time for our Regent community! These projects will give our students additional resources and will allow them to excel in the areas in which they are most gifted."
"We have celebrated several significant events at Regent including the first day of school in August of 2000, the purchase of the campus in 2006, the completion of the gym in 2012, and the opening of the Science Center in 2013. There have been many challenges along the way and God has more than met our needs through the years."
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Brent Marley Athletic Director - Rejoice Christian Eagles
Putting First Things First
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rent Marley uses whiteboards, but not for solving math equations. He teaches lessons his students will recall forever without taking a single note. His students study, but only take tests on Friday nights. He is part psychologist, part big brother or dad, and part pastor, inspiring his students to believe “they really can do all things.” And in return, they admiringly call him “Coach,” as they achieve things you would never expect from them. For those who played, it is understandable how a football coach can have a great impact on the future of his players. For Brent Marley, that is his calling. It is the reason he coaches. He has a degree in Criminal Enforcement. He could have been a police officer. However, the Holy Spirit made it quite clear to him that he was destined not to arrest young men, but rather to make terrific men out of the ones he encountered. Coach Marley is the new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for the Rejoice Christian Eagles. This was his first season with the team after coaching at Victory Christian for 13 years. The result? The scoreboard said they won ten games and made it to the Quarterfinals of the State playoffs. But to Coach Marley, the season should be evaluated in different ways. “We decided before the season began that we were going to sepa-
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rate our purposes from our goals. If we put our goals (things to achieve) first and we got beat, we would be down in the dumps for weeks. However, if we remembered our true purpose, we could get beat the 3rd round of the playoffs and it would sting, but we would come back to work and our purposes would stay the same. We decided that we could bounce back pretty quickly if our purposes were clear. The disciples were wonderful examples of this. They understood their purpose. That is why they were able to be beaten and shipwrecked and yet continue without complaint,” Coach Marley explained. “When we started the season, the coaches got together and made a list. We decided to put our goals down at the bottom. That included our wins and what we wanted to achieve. But up top, we listed our purposes which would never change, no matter what the scoreboard said.” Our purposes: To love our boys. To teach them what it means to be a man. To be a Christ-like example to them. To help them to grow in a relationship with Christ To help them to succeed academically And to teach them the value of having a great attitude and giving a great effort in every aspect of life.
workout with Junior High Basketball. The Middle school and High School will be done in April or May. It will include a first class athletic complex with two gyms, a weight room, locker rooms, a film room, a baseball field, a separate 8-lane track and a football field.
Any way you list it, the Eagles had quite a season. It is only their second year to play 11-man football. They switched from 8-man two seasons ago and joined the Class A league, a big step for this small school. They were predicted to place 3rd, behind Ketchum and Afton, yet they beat both of them, won their conference and made it to the playoffs. And, they did this after losing the first two games. Roaring back, they went undefeated in conference play. “We sort of snuck up on them,” said Coach Marley with a laugh. Now, with a successful season behind them, the sky is the limit for this once David among the Goliaths. And now, with their brand new school, stadium and equipment under construction, they will soon have what they need to develop into a powerhouse. Coach Marley couldn’t be more excited. Rejoice Christian Academy moved into their new 88,000 square foot elementary school this fall. Its new gym is already getting a
Coach Marley moved his wife and three boys to Owasso and they already feel right at home. “Once I met Dr. Shaw, the Superintendent, I knew I was in the right place. He told me that his job was to help me move in. That demonstrated servant leadership to me. You know, John Maxwell will tell you leadership is influence and it is. But, when I look at Jesus, as the greatest leader that ever walked the earth, he definitely had influence, but he did that through servant hood. Leadership must be both and that is what I saw in Dr. Shaw.” “Dr. Shaw asked me to do two things. First, to model Christ in front of these boys, and second, to dream bigger than you can imagine. It was obvious this was a man who put first things first and encouraged his teachers to have vision. I was so very impressed.” “I am home. Now, lets win some ball games,” I thought. Rejoice Christian School offers a wide range of sports, including Basketball (girls and boys), Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Track, Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country. They are also hoping to soon offer Softball and Wrestling.
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Dr. Demuth explained that the school was a vision of Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty and that it is equally as important to the church’s new leadership. I wouldn’t be giving the position up if I didn’t know the school had a solid foundation. We have great administrators that all know their jobs and a great support staff. Dr. Demuth received his bachelors, masters and doctorate in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He began in Christian education soon thereafter. As he fine-tuned his craft, his success made him a sought after expert in Christian school education. He has published seven books on the subject ranging from Recruiting Strategies for Christian Schools and Legal Issues in Christian Education, to How to Start a School and Keep it Going. In his “retirement,” he hopes to further disseminate all of the reams of information he has acquired through the years. He and his wife, Carol, currently manage a website, www.DelPublications. com where he posts much of the information. They will soon be launching another one, www.ChristianSchoolInsights.com which will be a resource site for Christian parents and administrators.
Dr. Dennis Demuth Victory Christian School
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r. Dennis Demuth to Retire from Victory Christian School
One of the greatest things any of us can hope for in our career is to leave a legacy. After 46 years in Christian education, 35 of which were at Victory Christian School, Dr. Dennis Demuth leaves a legacy which will continue to influence the field of Christian Education for generations to come. Much to the dismay of the leaders at Victory Christian Center, the parents, and the students at the school, Dr. Demuth has decided it is time for a change. “After all, I am 71 years old. I think it is time to turn the reins of the school over to someone else with more energy,” he said with a grin. “But it has not been easy to make this decision. Every day, I realize something else that I am going to miss…my last Christmas program, my last this and that,” he explained. The kids are what he will miss most. After 35 years, not only is he now teaching “the kids of the kids” from those first graduating classes, he jokes that if he were to stay a bit longer, he would soon be teaching “the grandkids of those kids.” Among the list of nearly 3000 Victory Christian School graduates and a total of over 14,000 students he has influenced over those years, are his own son and daughter and their children. In fact, he says one of the things he will miss most is not being able to walk down every day to get a hug from his four year-old granddaughter, Tatum and seven year-old grandson, Daxon. A lot has changed since Dr. Demuth arrived at Victory in 1981. A million prayer-filled decisions were required to grow the school to where it is today. It has always been successful. In fact, he says he was called to move to Tulsa from Wisconsin when the enrollment swelled to nearly 500 K-12 students in its first two years. Victory Christian School continues to be one of the largest Christian schools in the region and has even begun an online learning school where conceivably, thousands could be added from all over the world.
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He doesn’t exactly know what is ahead, but you can count on this educator to continue doing what he does best…educating with integrity and a passion for being all to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Dr. Demuth plans to be at Victory through June. A search committee is diligently looking for a new administrator… to fill these mighty big shoes.
could to point to how great God is in the midst of all of this challenge. At times, I just survived, but I guess I did show the students an example of what real life was like. It was a lesson that some needed to see, like one of my students who had lost his mom only eight months earlier. I tried to share that God was in control of it all. We don’t always know what is going to happen. Some of it will be very painful, but we have to walk through it and we have to trust God and let others help us.”
Jacob McIntosh
Augustine Christian Academy Science Chair
“Sharing Life…And Tragedy” with Students
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t was a lesson none of the students will ever forget. It didn’t come out of a textbook, nor will it ever be on any test. Yet it taught the entire Augustine family about life and about their Savior, and in many ways, it pulled them together, stronger than ever before. Jacob McIntosh is a Science teacher. In fact, he can’t imagine doing anything else, or doing it at any other school. “I like kids. I like teaching. I like sharing life with the students, learning about them, helping them grow. Not just academically, but about life,” he explained.
Amy died in their house on Good Friday, surrounded by her dance students who had come to dance for her one last time. As they danced, her breathing changed as if she was trying to dance with them. Then, the music stopped and she died. “It hurts and I don’t understand it, but its there. And now I am here…every day. The experience changed me in many ways, but I may be a better teacher now. I listen, I love and I care,” he explained. Thankfully, Jacob’s story is not one that every Augustine teacher has personally experienced. But what they all do have in common is a passion for the kids and for sharing the truth that God is in control. And in that belief, they make Augustine Christian Academy a special place to teach the next generation about life. After all, some education, maybe the best education, comes from each other instead of from textbooks.
Last October, when Jacob was just hitting his stride in this first year at Augustine, his wife Amy was diagnosed with a rare, genetic form of lung cancer. It hit her quickly and though the family tried MD Anderson and everything possible, she lasted only five months. Amy and Jacob had a good, but all-too-short life together. They were married for 14 years and had two boys, ages five and nine. She was a dance instructor at ORU. In fact, she was instrumental at starting the dance major at the University. Years earlier, they had moved to Tulsa so that Jacob could accept a job at Camp Loughridge as the associate director. Jacob served there for eight years until he accepted a teaching job at Augustine. He says that the entire Augustine family came together throughout Amy’s battle to support him and the boys. And because everyone was so interested, it became a teaching opportunity. “When I said earlier about sharing part of life with my students, what happened with Amy is a great example. They walked through that with me. From the diagnosis to her passing, they were involved. Augustine even shortened their school day so everyone could come to her funeral. This is a very, very special place to me. It was tough on everyone, but I think more life education happened during this time than science education.” “Amy and I had made the decision early on that we were going to be open about her cancer and were going to do everything we C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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Who Should Be Our Next Sheriff? Your Vote Counts!
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fter the shooting of Eric Harris by 73 year-old reserve duputy Robert Bates, Sheriff Stanley Glanz resigned when he was indicted on two misdemeanor counts. The tragic situation has left Tulsa County without a Sheriff. Glanz served in the role since 1989. The governor called for a special election to fill the spot for the time being. However, since Sheriff Glanz was up for election in 2016, the new replacement will have to run again even after having been elected on April 5th. Nine Republicans and one Democrat have filed to run in this election for Tulsa County Sheriff. The position is a very important one in the county, over-seeing a huge budget, hundreds of employees and requiring not only law enforcement experience, but also the political ability to work together with the Tulsa Police Department, but also with the multiple police departments of adjoining cities. It is a very demanding job and will produce a challenge to whoever wins the election to pull the staff together as well as fix the on-going arguments over operation of the Tulsa County Jail. The right person must be administrator, law officer and politician. The field of nine Republican candidates vying for the primary race on March 1st is so large, it is a challenge to keep them all sorted out. This article will help you at least know some basic information on the race. One thing is for sure, each of the candidates listed below are proven law enforcement officers and worthy of our respect. Don’t take your vote lightly. Investigate, make your choice and show up at the polls on March 1st. In a special election like this one, there is no run-off. So, it is winner take all for the Republicans on the March 1st. The winner will face Democrat, Rex Berry on April 5th. Once that race is completed, we will have a new Sheriff at least for now. But he will have to campaign again for the regularly scheduled election on November 7th. Are you confused? Unfortunately, you won’t be alone.
Marital Status: Married to Luanne for 30 years – two grown daughters Positive Potential Advantages: Executive management experience running a large company with many employees. Tom Helm www.helmforsheriff.com Tom is a respected officer who has devoted his entire career at protecting and serving. He worked within the Tulsa County Sheriff department for twenty years as an undercover detective in narcotic investigations, as a specialized K-9 officer and as an operational
Democrat: Rex Berry
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Education: BS Electrical Engineering, University of Tulsa Church Affiliation: First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa where John serves as an elder
Republicans: (In Alphabetical Order) John Fitzpatrick Tom Helm Brandon Hendrix Jason R. Jackson Dan Miller Randy Pierce Bill Reaves Vic Regalado Luke Sherman
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John Fitzpatrick www.johnfortulsa.com John is a business executive who has held management positions with companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle Company and LifeGuard America. He has extensive experience cutting costs and re-engineering organizations from the top down. He is an adjunct professor at Tulsa Community College, teaching manufacturing skills. John became a Tulsa Police Reserve Officer in 2005 and graduated Valedictorian of his class at the Academy. He now has over ten years of service in the Tulsa Police Reserve program with over 8000 hours of active police patrol. He is qualified as an Emergency Program Manager for the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He has volunteered for many years with the Crime Commission serving on the Tulsa County Crime Commission, serving on the board for two years. John also served twelve years as a fighter pilot in the Tulsa Air National Guard.
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supervisor on the Metro Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force targeting violent drug trafficking organizations. He was also a Task Force Officer with the Department of Homeland Security, investigating the illegal movement of people and contraband into the United States. After retiring from the Sheriff’s Department, he served as Superintendent of Police for the Grand River Dam Authority Police Department. Since last December, he has been employed with the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General under Scott Pruitt. Education: Graduate of Institute for Law Enforcement Administration Graduate DEA Leadership Program Church Affiliation: Memorial Baptist Church Marital Status: Married to Lou Potential Advantages: Extensive experience within the Tulsa Sheriff Department Management experience as a Superintendent of Police Brandon Hendrix https://www.facebook.com/Brandon-Hendrix-for-TulsaCounty-Sheriff- 1686374554912392 Brandon is a Tulsa county native. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School, Tulsa Community College, and Northeastern State University. Brandon taught high school in Seminole Oklahoma before moving into a career in law enforcement which started with the Okmulgee Police Department. In 2002 Brandon was hired by the Tulsa County Sheriff's office.
Education: Broken Arrow High, Tulsa Community College and Northeastern State University Church Affiliation: Church on the Move Marital Status: Married to Susan - daughters, Shelby and Krue and son Bryce Potential Advantages: A mixture of experience with Okmulgee Police Department and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Jason R. Jackson www.jasonforsheriff.com Jason currently serves as the day shift patrol Sergeant for the Jenks Police Department, where he has served in a full-time capacity for over 18 years. Jason has previously worked in narcotics and interdiction as a K9 Handler and has worked in the detective division which included investigations of everything from burglaries to homicides. Jason has also been the coordinator for the field training program and has supervised the training programming for the Jenks Police Department. Education:
Associates Degree at TCC, B.S. Criminal Justice and Religion at Liberty University Graduate of the FBI-Leeda Trilogy program for law enforcement executives.
Church Affiliation: Newspring Family Church where his oldest son is a worship leader for the student ministries. They are very involved with VOX Student Ministries at Newspring. Jason is co-pastor of a first responder ministry called Hero Church. Hero Church’s mission is to reach first responders for Christ and supC ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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port them in any way necessary. Marital Status: Married to Pam since 1993. Three sons, 22, 17 and 8. Potential Advantages:
18 years as a police officer Experienced program trainer
Dan Miller https://www.facebook.com/Dan-Miller-for-Tulsa-County-Sheriff- 847577101968204 Dan currently is a supervisor for the Tulsa County Police Department, and veteran of the force for nearly 20 years. During this time, Dan has supervised hundreds of felony incidents that include robberies, shootings, and homicides, including the Good Friday Shootings. Dan is also a founding member of the TPD Incident Management Team. In addition to working Tulsa, he has responded to assist other agencies in managing others in need, such as the Joplin & Moore tornadoes and the Creek County fires. He has served on the Council of Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) instructor for 10 years. He also a nationally recognized instructor and is one of only five individuals credentialed by the State of Oklahoma as a Type 3 Incident Commander to manage and respond to disasters. Education: Bixby High School Class of 1984 B.S. in Psychology at Oklahoma State University Church Affiliation: Asbury Methodist Church Marital Status: Divorced - proud father of three girls and one boy; Taylor 23, Jessica 21, McKenzi 18 and Dustin 16. Potential Advantages:
Great local police experience Qualified to lead in case of disaster
Randy Pierce We have very little information on Randy Pierce. According to the Tulsa World, he is 54 years old and is a sergeant with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. He is a 22-year employee of the department, oversees courthouse operations and says he has experience in most roles at the Sheriff's Office. We could not reach him for comment. Bill Reaves We also have very little information on Bill Reaves. According to the Tulsa World, Reaves is 66 years old and was the former sheriff’s lieutenant and was fired by Sheriff Stanley Glanz in 1990. He told the Tulsa World that he oversaw the city and county jails, as well as the adult detention center. We could not reach him for comment. Vic Regalado vicforsheriff.com Vic was the lead homicide detective in 81 homicides, including some of the region’s highest profile cases. Cracking down on violence, Vic supervises a Special Investigations Gang Unit, served on the Tulsa Police SWAT team for nearly a decade, and has been an instructor for the Council on Law Enforcement and Education
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Training (CLEET). He teaches the proper use of deadly force, victim interview strategies and proper suspect interrogation. Fellow officers say Sgt. Regalado is a unique instructor, because he has done the jobs he’s now preparing others to do. Vic was awarded one of the highest honors for a police officer. In 2004, he received the Medal of Valor after he risked his own life, going above and beyond the call of duty. Vic also has earned the Lifesaving Award, and was named Officer of the Year by the Insurance Professionals of Tulsa Education: Attended Cameron University Church Affiliation: Catholic Marital Status: Married to Jennifer for 22 years – 3 daughters Potential Advantages: Excellent Endorsements by Former Chief Dave Been and Sheriff Joe Lester Honored Award Winner Luke Sherman www.shermanforsheriff.com Luke is a 23-year decorated officer with the Tulsa Police Department. Since he joined the department in September of 1992 and has been an officer, field training officer, supervisor, field training supervisor, academy instructor and firearms instructor. Since 2008, he has led the department’s very active Fugitive Warrant’s Unit and also is one of the leaders of the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Crimes Task Force. He led a multi-divisional police operational group during the Good Friday shootings (2012), the Best Buy shooting (2012) and a “Stranger Abduction” of a 8-year-old girl in east Tulsa (2014). Luke’s unit was successful in identifying, locating and arresting the suspects in these three high profile cases. Luke is a nationally recognized figure to law enforcement communities across the United States and in several other countries. He is a director for the National Tactical Officer’s Association (NTOA), and has played a pivotal role in assisting and providing subject matter expertise to members of both the U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress in topics such as the Ferguson riot incidents and the topic of the militarization of police forces. Education: Not available Church Affiliation: Not available Marital Status: Not available Potential Advantages: Strong national and regional connections. Decorated police veteran. Rex Berry We don’t have much information on Rex Berry. According to the Tulsa World, he is 65 years old and is a former officer with the Tulsa Police Department. He served 26 years before retiring in 1999. He is the only Democrat in the race. We could not reach him for comment.
Christian Education Alliance:
Hybrid Approach to Education Pays Off
F
rom its modest beginning with seven students in one classroom, to the community it has grown to today, Christian Education Alliance is a one-of-a-kind education hybrid that combines the best of two worlds: homeschooling and private education. CEA was founded in January, 1994, by David and Kim Winn and David and Laura Roy. Both families had a strong desire for an excellent education for their children that would also instill a solid foundation of faith, biblical beliefs, integrity and family. After homeschooling for four years, the Winns and Roys stepped back to explore the pros and cons of “straight homeschooling.” They recognized that what they really wanted was continued involvement in their children’s education with the support of gifted teachers, without the rigidity of a five-day-a-week program. So in January 1994, the two families hired a part-time teacher and CEA was launched. “The program has experienced victories and challenges,” board member and founder Kim Winn said. “Yet God continues to guide us and provide all our needs. We marvel at how He has answered prayers for both gifted Christian teachers and committed homeschool families.” CEA has stayed true to its mission to provide an excellent educa-
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By Abigail Singrey
tion program and support for homeschool families in an environment that promotes spiritual and character growth. Students meet for classes two or three days a week, taking assignments home for completion under parental supervision the remaining days of the week.
“A somewhat unique aspect of the program is that parents and students agree that students will not date during their time at CEA. This policy has proven a true benefit over the years, as it encourages students to form solid friendships and to focus on their academics, sports, hobbies, and relationship with God. It has has allowed students fewer distractions during this important season in their lives and helps to protect relationships and emotions.” “The approach is ideal for parents who are drawn to homeschooling, but who don't feel equipped to teach every subject and perhaps aren't excited about a frog dissection on their kitchen table,” board member Karen Turner said. Turner - whose five children graduated from CEA - says it’s also a good fit for parents whose children are currently in a private Christian school, but who would like more time with their children at home as well as greater financial freedom. “The burden to compile a balanced curriculum and prepare lesson plans is the responsibility of the administrative staff and teachers, while the oversight of homework and grading of objective assignments still lie with the parents,” Principal Jeff Goss said. “It is homeschooling with professional assistance.” At the high school level, CEA pairs a strong academic foundation with a Christian method of education using The Principle Approach, developed by the Foundation for American Christian Education. “This approach places the truths of the Bible in the center of education,” teacher Jo Anne Bennett explained. “Students learn to research, reason and write instead of just memorize facts. They discover truths rather than being told what to think. Because of this, their worldview truly becomes their own.” The Principle Approach prepares young people to live as Christians in a secular world and stand strong in their faith once they leave the nurturing environment of CEA. Students who graduate from CEA are well prepared for college due to the high academic standards and focus on taking responsibility for their own education. High school students have the opportunity to prepare to be future leaders through involvement in Key Club, TeenPact and Chapel. Through Key Club, an international student-led service organization, CEA students are involved in community service. By becom-
ing citizens who give back, students are preparing for a lifetime of service and impact. TeenPact is a hands-on leadership program for Christian teens that teaches leadership, government and citizenship. CEA students have served at both state and national levels within TeenPact. Weekly high school chapel services include student-led worship. A somewhat unique aspect of the program is that parents and students agree that students will not date during their time at CEA. This policy has proven a true benefit over the years, as it encourages students to form solid friendships and to focus on their academics, sports, hobbies, and relationship with God. It has has allowed students fewer distractions during this important season in their lives and helps to protect relationships and emotions. Parent Nikki McCutchen concluded, “We appreciate the wonderful teachers, accountability and support. The extra blessing is the CEA community - the families and kids are the cream of the crop!”
1st – 2nd 8:00 - 12:00 2/days per week 3rd – 8th 8:00 – 12:00 M,W,F 9th – 12th 8:00 – 1:45 M,W,F Field trips and socials Lab sciences Chapel and Key Club High school transcripts Average student/teacher ratio: 10:1 Part-time teachers: 16 CEA families represent over 25 area churches Students involved in competitive athletics: 40% Average ACT score: 27 National Merit Finalists: 10% of graduates since 2005 CEA graduates who go on to attend college: 97%
Website: Ceatulsa.org Email: ceatulsa@cox.net Phone: 918-445-3145
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Move Over Dr. Spock…
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overnor Mary Fallin recently launched the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative which is serving as a proverbial line in the sand for the Christian Church. Governor Fallin, whose mother was a DHS Caseworker, is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of foster children. At the Initiative’s launch in Oklahoma City in November of 2015, Governor Fallin recounted memories of her mom packing her up in the car as they would head out in the middle of the night to go pick up a child in distress. The Governor’s aggressive goal of 1,000 new foster homes by mid-2016 may sound like a pie-in-the-sky kind of number, but if you consider that there are more than enough churches in Oklahoma to provide at least one family each, the goal seems more than manageable. Chris Campbell from 111Tulsa and 111Project was instrumental in organizing the initiative with the Governor and her staff. Chris, and his team of volunteers, are continuing to move forward with ways churches can enter the arena and utilize their strengths, gifts, skills, and resources to provide the crucial response needed to this crisis. The newest option to Oklahoma is The Care Portal. Though it won’t transport us through space, this portal has the potential to transform the way foster care needs are met. Simply put, the Portal allows DHS workers to share needs of families with churches. These needs can be as small as a winter coat or as big as a refrigerator. Churches can enroll in the Portal and learn of needs by email and possibly respond to the need if they are capable of meeting it. This incredible resource was developed by the Global Orphan Project and is active in several states neighboring Oklahoma including Texas, Kansas, and Missouri who are using it as an effective method of engaging the fluid landscape of foster care needs. The approach is comprised of a three tier process which ranges from meeting basic need to more substantial involvement. There are currently 13 churches in northeast Oklahoma who have enrolled in The Care Portal – and DHS has not yet even become active! 111Tulsa is working with DHS to provide training in order to “go live” by mid-January 2016. Churches can enroll directly through The Care Portal and 111Tulsa will follow up with them as the “go live” date approaches. There is a suggested donation of $100 per month per church that can be paid directly through The Care Portal or to 111Tulsa. The donations will cover the cost of providing the platform, administration, technology needs, and a foster care/adoption resource fund. Understandably, every church will not be able to swing the $100 monthly donation, but that will not disqualify them from enrolling in the Portal and becoming part of a vital community to cover the needs these children and families are experiencing. Currently, Stephens County in Oklahoma is utilizing this tool and it has been extremely effective in aiding churches in taking care of the needs of those in their community they might never have met otherwise. This simple process has allowed children to safely stay
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in their homes when previously their removal would have been required. 111Tulsa and 111Project continue to work with churches who are ready to begin or strengthen their foster and adoptive engagement. There are resources that can be utilized, as well as advocates who are willing to come alongside churches as they walk through the development of this deeply needed ministry. If your church is not yet engaging in foster care, or are interested in expanding your involvement, please consider connecting with Chris and his team to explore ideas together. Foster care issues may never be solved as there will always be children in need of rescue, but the issue can be effectively and lovingly addressed in an ongoing basis by the Church. This is definitely one of those areas where one church cannot meet the whole need, but together, the Church can. Unite My City is a network of churches and Christ centered organizations from a variety of denominational, cultural and ethnic backgrounds united to serve together to honor God and transform our city.
Churches can enroll in the Portal and learn of needs by email and possibly respond to the need if they are capable of meeting it. This incredible resource was developed by the Global Orphan Project and is active in several states neighboring Oklahoma including Texas, Kansas, and Missouri who are using it as an effective method of engaging the fluid landscape of foster care needs. The approach is comprised of a three tier process which ranges from meeting basic need to more substantial involvement
New Years Resolution Tips Schluter DC to Keep You Injury Free Jason Schluter Chiropractic
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t’s the New Year and like several others you have decided that this is the year you are going to get in shape. Many of us make New Year resolutions, especially to get fit, exercise more and eat healthier. In fact, the top two resolutions for 2015 were to stay fit and healthy and to lose weight. Unfortunately, a lot of us don’t have the resolve to follow through, but there are also those that have their resolutions halted by injury just as they are getting started. An exercise related injury can happen to anyone, but you become more vulnerable if you have been inactive for a long period of time and then try to do too much right from the start. It’s easy to get excited about taking that first step to getting fit, but you want to make sure you start the New Year right. So here are a few tips to help you get started the right way, and hopefully pain free. Get a checkup You may feel great, like you’re ready to conquer the gym, but getting a checkup first may help you avoid an injury as you begin a new fitness routine. Many of us walk around with undiagnosed conditions or untreated back problems that just aren’t symptomatic yet and a new physical activity can often aggravate these leading to pain or serious injury/illness. Your medical professionals can help recommend the right types and amounts of exercise that will be appropriate for you as well. Meet with a personal trainer There are actually people out there trained to help you exercise properly, take advantage of their services. No matter what your fitness level is, a personal trainer can help you develop an exercise program that will both challenge you and lessen your risk of injury. Just a few sessions may be all you need to help you get going safely and effectively without committing to a long-term contract.
some simple stretches will help muscles recover more quickly. See your chiropractor A properly functioning and aligned spine can improve your mobility, balance and stability, which are extremely important when trying to avoid injury during exercise. Regular chiropractic care will help keep your spine healthy as you work towards your goal of making the rest of your body healthy as well. 5 MOST COMMON AREAS TO INJURE WHEN WORKING OUT
Foot/Ankle Knee Low Back Shoulder Neck Source: Men’s Fitness TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2015
Stay fit and healthy Lose weight Enjoy life to the fullest Spend less, save more Spend more time with family and friends Get organized Will not make any resolutions Learn something new/new hobby Travel more Read more Source: Nielsen
37% 32% 28% 25% 19% 18% 16% 14% 14% 12%
Change it up Doing the same thing over and over again can be boring and enough reason in itself to change things up, but it’s not the only reason to try a variety of activities. Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) are caused by performing the exact same motion repetitively for a long period of time. For example, tendonitis of the forearm, also known as “tennis elbow,” can be caused by swinging a racket over and over. Creating variety in the activities or exercises you do lowers your risk of having a repetitive strain type of injury. Get proper nutrition Just like an engine needs fuel to run, your body needs water and the proper food to exercise safely. While you probably shouldn’t “fill up” right before a workout, you also don’t want to be running on empty which can leave you more vulnerable to muscle fatigue, dehydration and injury. Warm it up and cool it down A simple way to significantly decrease your chances of injury is to take a few minutes before and after your workout to warm up and cool down. Before beginning, walk in place or jog slowly to engage and increase the blood flow to the muscles. When you’re done, C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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Five Secrets to Completing YOUR Construction Project Under Budget
An Interview with Daniels and Daniels Construction
D
oes your church dream of building a new building? Have you started shopping for property? Or, maybe you are thinking of doing a remodel? The experts at Daniels and Daniels Construction say that if you do it right and efficiently count the costs, it is absolutely possible to complete your project UNDER budget, something that in the construction world, just “never” happens. Rodney James, Director of Business and Finance at Daniels and Daniels, knows the secrets to getting the building you want at the cost you budgeted. As a veteran pastor, he has been right in your shoes. Now, he and the other folks at Daniels and Daniels see it as their ministry to help churches like yours maneuver through the building process. Here are the 5 practical steps to make sure your project is completed within your financial parameters. I. Understand the Entire Process of a Project – Due Diligence After defining the vision and before you begin to think about the details of the building itself, you need to consider the impacts. Some people call this as doing your due diligence on the property. So if you are doing new construction, you must determine if that site is fully developed. As an example, we had a client in Alabama that learned this lesson the hard way. Unexpected by the client, they had to bring the utilities under a four-lane highway and run them a long distance to the property. They ended up having to spend $200,000 getting utilities to the property. Obviously, this is a cost which immediately came out of what they had hoped to spend on the full building. They demanded an explanation from the architect, but he couldn’t help. No architect is going to question the potential difficulties of bringing in the utilities. That is just not in their scope.
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Other examples might include ADA (American Disability Act) requirements if we are talking about a renovation. Or, possibly the city might demand that a sprinkler system be installed. Maybe, the bathrooms are not to code. These are all the questions which need to be asked up front. It is the due diligence necessary to doing the job right and on budget. So, let’s be proactive and meet with that Fire Marshall ahead of time. Let’s engage a civil engineer and a geo-technical engineer to give their input on the property before you make that deal. Let’s don’t save those surprises until the day we start digging the foundations. Lets talk to everyone involved ahead of time. We have a project in Pennsylvania right now where the church had about two million dollars to spend. They designed the project before going to the city. Surprise! The city told them they would have to put in a stop light… at an estimated cost of $700,000! It stopped the project dead in its tracks. The only good news was that we were able to do some investigating and found out the hospital across the street was getting ready to do a major expansion. So, the church had the decision to either share the cost with the hospital, or wait until the hospital did it themselves. They chose to wait and so now the dreams for
a new building are on hold. We help churches sort through all of these due diligence items to avoid any surprises. We also help with capital campaigns and with getting funding through lenders nationwide that understand churches. For us, this beginning process is a critical, first step in the whole journey. II. Get Your Priorities Right from the Start! A wise church once asked, “Do we determine what we want and then figure out how much it will cost, or do we figure out how much we have to spend and then decide what we can afford to build? Most churches answer this question backwards. They start with what they want to do and then figure out what it is going to cost. 82% of the time, projects that begin without a budget, never get completed. So do the budget first, before you begin that first phase of due diligence. You can expect the due diligence to have costs tied to it, costs which must come right out of the budget before you pay for one square foot of new building. III. Check Twice and complete all due diligence before you move forward! The process of due diligence gathers data that need costs associated with them. Only after you have taken the time to complete all due diligence and accurately applied cost projections, do you know how much is left for the design and construction of your building. Due diligence take some time, but it is an investment that will save much heartache, or even disaster for you in the future. IV. Design Your Building Within Budget Parameters. Designing a building has several phases. The first is the concept or schematic design. During this phase, you should have great input on what you desire in your building. Your design team should hav an intimate understanding of your ministry. They should first ask how you do ministry, not details about what you want in your building. The design is fluid and changes many times, but when this phase is finished, changes should be held to an absolute minimum. Changing features after you start the next phase of the design process costs money. Your seemingly little change just may require that “all the math be done again.” Make triple sure that you have talked to every committee and asked everyone for their input before the final design process begins. Be practical about it. Most people want bigger and think bigger that they really need. Take steps to visualize everything. Go see other church buildings of similar size. Your design team should help measure out room
dimensions and visualize furniture layouts. The Churches By Daniels team provides churches with complete animated videos that walk you through your building and live models that let you see exactly what your space will look like before it is constructed. Speak up early in the process and avoid changes after that first phase of design. Late changes will cost money. V. Get accurate pricing prior to the design. Probably the biggest thing of all is to make sure cost estimates are done frequently and detailed during design. You also want “project” costs, not building costs. Basic square foot estimates of what you think it is going to cost is a dangerous game. You need someone who truly understands what the real costs of construction will be. When we begin a design, we do a beginning budget based on hard costs, not average square footage cost estimates. Then, as we get real and accurate cost figures, we adjust that budget every step of the way. It is not unusual for us to do 70 or more budgets as adjustments are made to the design. Daniels and Daniels has this process down to a science. In fact, they finish 99 percent of their projects under budget, giving the church back money when they are done. They also provide valuable help by coaching pastors through this process. “Pastors are not called to build buildings. Occasionally you find one with that giftedness, but typically, they are not. And when forced into this role, they can become disillusioned. And though they may finish the building, many of them leave soon after, exhausted by having to temporarily taken away from their calling. Daniels and Daniels helps lift the load of building a building off of the pastor, allowing him to continue to do ministry,” Rodney explained. The people at Daniels and Daniels Construction are called to do this. “Our gifting is to help pastors, coaching them through the process, letting them know what to expect, and working with them to manage the committees and end up with the building that is going to positively impact their ministry. Ready to get started? Don’t put it off. Call Rodney. For if you are even in the beginning thinking and dreaming stage, the costs have already begun.
Contact Daniels and Daniels Construction at www.ChurchesByDaniels.com or at 918-872-6006. 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!
Contact us for your free marketing packet:
ChurchesByDaniels.com
New Construction :: Renovation :: Remodeling :: Expansion // 918.872.6006
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So…You Want to Be a Professional Counselor?
Work Hard and Follow Your Dream
K
atie Hawkins, a sophomore at Holland Hall Preparatory School, wants to be a professional counselor. Katie reached out to a local clinician in order to investigate this career path. Katie asked Shelly Schiffmacher for her advice and career guidance regarding all the steps necessary for her to follow her dream. If you have ever dreamed the same dream, her words will be valuable for you.
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Here is the interview: Katie: Thank you for agreeing to speak with me. I want to be a professional counselor; can you tell me how long it will take? Shelly: I am proud of you Katie! Understanding how to design your course of study is very important. Knowing what interests you at such a young age is impressive and I commend you. I am happy to share some advice. My favorite Aunt told me to choose something I loved and success would follow. I had always enjoyed volunteering and I love hearing people’s stories. My studies involved a four year Bachelor’s Degree, three year Master’s Degree with 300 clinical work hours, and the Oklahoma State licens-
ing board exam with 3000 clinical supervision hours. In order to maintain the Licensed Professional Counselor status and license, I must accrue continuing education hours with ethics classes each year, and remain in good standing with the State Department of Health.
are not victims, although if you read their biographies you might think they were forever wounded and horribly victimized. These woman refuse to be defined by their past. They possess stories of survival and are victorious. Katie, you asked why I love my job so much. This is why. Counselors are keepers of stories, you will witness transformation.
Katie: Oh my gosh! That is a lot of work! Was it worth it to you? Shelly: I had to pursue my God call. Each hurdle made me stronger. It was not easy, but each mentor, professor, and colleague stood by me and held me up when I thought I could not finish the requirements. My husband lent amazing support and encouragement. Each time I felt like quitting, the Lord would send me help and confidence. Katie: What degree should I begin with? Shelly: Studies and careers involving the mind and helping professions are endless today. You have chosen an exciting career with endless opportunities. Choosing a bachelor’s degree will depend on your natural temperament, what you excel at academically, and it must help you go on to your Master’s program. Just a few decades ago it was believed the brain was fixed like a machine. Now we know the brain is highly adaptable, even as we age. The mind is renewable, just as scripture teaches. In Romans 12:2 we see the Word of God instructing us to, “not be conformed to this world, (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable (in His sight for you).” I love the amplified Bible and how directly it speaks to us. That scripture encapsulates many counseling theories and applications. Proverbs 15:22 states, “Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.” I love my job. Integrating spiritual principals with sound psychology opens the door for real change. Miracles unfold as people embrace new ways of thinking and applying new tools and knowledge. Katie: So why do you love your job? Shelly: Heaven and earth collide when someone can be vulnerable and allow truth on display in the midst of sacred sharing. People are very frustrated when they call me. These people want to clearly define what is wrong in their life, and take accountability for how it could be affecting others. They are world changers. Katie: I know you counsel people who suffer from anxiety, depression, and trauma. I am afraid I would think about all the sad stories. How do you manage that? Shelly: There is great hope in people who seek truth. I do hear many sad things, but am honored to witness courage in action. People revisit old wounds and develop new stories about how they choose to be. They take ownership for decisions and step into new meaning of self and others. One of my clients says my style of counseling is, “mental floss” another says it is, “mental massage”. These women have triumphed over incredible challenges. They
Katie: So you hear many traumatic things. Do you worry as people talk with you? Shelly: There is no way I can do this work if I were not a believer. I have indeed sat and listened to stories that sound like a horror film. The depth of abuse humans can perpetrate on other humans is shattering. But, that is not the end of the story. Those who are brave enough to seek help by calling and asking for it are taking the first step in reclaiming their life back. Yes, I can worry. Again, if not for my faith, I could not be effective. The vast majority of my clients have been treated cruelly by someone with an active addiction, or untreated mental illness. Again, those who sit in my counseling office are able to bear own their misery without blame or excuse. They are seekers, they refuse to relinquish their destiny to decisions other people have made in the past. They are ready to be fully present in their lives with no pretense or excuse. As you journey through Graduate school and are a new counselor, of course you will worry. Each year of experience will deepen your ability to tolerate and witness the pain of others. Incredible neurological healing occurs when people can truly express their own worries and pain in a safe place. Katie: What should I be doing to make sure if I want to be a counselor or psychologist? Shelly: Read about it, engage in it, and keep talking to people who do the work. Katie: How exactly? Shelly: Start with an issue you now have. Find reading materials, on-line courses and begin to research. I caution you to navigate the web carefully. Anyone can post anything these days. Many people claim to be “counselors” or a “life coach” and have little to no scholarly or state mandated training. Stay within scholarly publications, read authors who have a solid reputation and proven track record. Katie: Thank you for your time. I am excited to look into this. Shelly Schiffmacher’s private counseling practice has a considerable waiting list. She does have limited availability for public speaking and lectures. She can be reached at 918352-1081. Her professional profile is on LinkedIn.
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Sunday Brunch is Something Special At Bluestone Steak House and Seafood Restaurant
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ooking for a fresh idea of somewhere to go for lunch after church on Sundays? We have a place you just must try. Grab your friends and head directly over to our favorite Sunday Brunch. Hidden in the back of the shopping center on the northwest corner of 101st and Sheridan, is the Bluestone Steak House and Seafood Restaurant. Sure, it is an unlikely spot to discover fine dining, but trust us; you and your friends are going to be impressed. Under new management since April of 2014, the Bluestone has continued to gather up loyal customers who now call it their favorite place for special occasions. And, because every Sunday is special, they never miss a week. And though there is a tendency to try to keep the place secret, word has gotten around. The restaurant is owned by Bill and Sharon Tackett, long-time Tulsans who, after teaching countless restaurant owners the details of how to run effective restaurants, came back to bless our community with their terrific “scratch cooking recipes” with all prepared on-site from fresh ingredients. “We bought a fine restaurant and our goal has been to make it even better,” Bill says. “Quality is our constant focus and I would rather apologize for price than for quality. We’re not pretentious. You can come in black tie or blue jeans, just come expecting a great dining experience. We’ll do our best to meet your expectations.” At a reasonable $18 per person, there is no wonder many of the regulars never miss a Sunday. The food choices vary a bit from week to week. However, some of the favorites include their Kentucky Pancakes, Tilapia with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, Shrimp, Aged-carved beef and roasted ham. And, of course, everybody loves Sharon’s banana pudding…a real treat. You may also order from the menu and enjoy such items as their Eggs Benedict, Veggie Benedict with a Roasted Poblano Pepper or try one of their unique Cajun dishes. While you are there, be sure and introduce yourself and your guests to Bill and Sharon. After a lot of prayer, they, along with a partner, purchased the restaurant, changed and upgraded all the ingredients and took some risk to re-invent the Bluestone. The move paid off.
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In fact, even with the national restaurant industry showing an average growth rate of one percent over the last year or two, they experienced a 100 percent increase in their first year and their numbers have continued to climb. Part of the reason is no doubt their prayerful attitude. Quoting scriptures in Leviticus about not harvesting the complete field, but rather leaving the corners of the field for the poor, they believe in giving back to the community. They love working with the Make a Wish Foundation and other organizations. They also probably even give to your church! Be sure to give them your church bulletin. They collect them and give a percentage back to the churches represented each quarter. Bluestone Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant is at 10032 South Sheridan. Call (918) 296-9889 for reservations. Hours are: Monday through Thursday 4PM to 9PM Friday & Saturday 3PM to 10PM Sunday Brunch 10 AM to 2PM Sunday Dinner 2PM to 9PM Website: www.bluestonesteakhouse.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluestonetulsa Contact: Bill or Sharon Tackett (918) 296-9889
Uniquely God’s
The story of Joseph reminds me even more that there is a Goddirected path to our lives that uniquely qualifies us for the job we are to do. His brothers sold him into slavery, and even with all the challenges that arose in captivity, he became the supply chain of food for the very brothers who had started the path that led to his captivity.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45:4-7 NIV)
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often wonder why my life’s experiences have been so different from others. Yet the very circumstances I would question are the same ones that helped to mold me into the person I am today, a loved child of God, fully functioning in the role for which He has prepared me. As a child I could not have imagined how unique some of my experiences would be, and as an adult, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without them. The very things that make us unique also make us the same. God has created us all in His image, and that image takes many forms, each with a specific job to make this journey complete - not only for us but for those around us. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV) If I am completely honest, I have not enjoyed all the experiences that prepared me for what I do. I would have gladly passed on having to deal with cancer and all its many challenges. Yet that is the very thing that gave me the voice for writing, and the desire to share my story with others.
Joseph fully understood that he was uniquely God’s and that God had a plan. His job was to be willing to fulfill his part of that plan. With each story in the Bible comes a different set of circumstances, and out of each circumstance comes a different skill set that is eventually used to further the good news. For David, the journey took him from being a sheep herder to fighting Goliath – building on a personal set of circumstances that made him uniquely God’s servant. Samuel began his life as an answer to a prayer by Hannah who had been barren, then being given to God at a very young age in preparation for the work he was to complete. After serving God then suffering a moral lapse in judgment, he was restored to his strength and completed his work. For John the Baptist, he suffered ridicule for wearing a loin cloth and eating locust and wild honey, but it gave him the skill set he needed to announce to the world that the Messiah had come. For Saul/Paul, he was uniquely skilled in the law, which he used as a tool to persecute the early Christians. His journey then caused him to be blinded, healed, and a prolific apostle of Jesus Christ. I can’t recall a single story in the Bible that didn’t have unique experiences that related to the task given. I have always thought it would be a good thing to live a charmed life, full of good-will, love, and blessings, without all the challenges I have faced. But these challenges have brought me to the place I am today. I am SO eternally grateful to a risen Savior for leading me down the path that gave me skills I now try to use for His glory, and I am SO eternally grateful that I am uniquely God’s child.
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.
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Now Open
in the Shops of Seville
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r. DJ Riner is not new to Tulsa. For over 22 years, he has provided the highest quality vision care to patients. After working as an associate and partner in private optometry practices for 10 years, RINER EYECARE, located at 31st & Mingo, was launched in 2004. Dr. Riner recently expanded his practice with the opening of a second location, WINK OPTIQUE, located at 101st & Yale in the Shops of Seville. WINK OPTIQUE is a full service optometry practice and boutique optical including eye exams, contact lenses, and an amazing collection of hand curated eyewear. Each eyewear line has been carefully selected to provide the highest in quality craftsmanship and unique design while also detailing a philosophy of giving back. For every frame purchased, MODO Eyewear donates a frame to people in need through their “Buy a Frame Give a Frame” program. They work in cooperation with Optometry Giving Sight to provide eyewear, eye exams and proper eye care to those in need.
Through the ECO Kids collection “One Frame One Tree” program, over one million trees have been planted in Cameroon, Africa. ECO works in partnership with Trees for the Future to donate and plant a tree for every frame sold. WINK OPTIQUE is also thrilled to carry SALT, which is an acronym for “Sea Air Land Timeless.” Each year SALT Optics hosts an art show in New York City called SEESALT. Commissioned photography works are displayed and sold. The proceeds from the show benefit Charity Water, whose mission is providing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. These and many other carefully chosen eyewear lines are all part of the philosophy that makes Wink Optique a truly special experience. From the beautiful and peaceful shopping environment designed to highlight the unique features of each piece of eyewear to the state of the art technology and instrumentation, WINK OPTIQUE is all about building relationships and sharing stories. We are committed to excellence in the experience we provide.
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“Carefully chosen eyewear lines are all part of the philosophy that makes Wink Optique a truly special experience”
The Riner family is committed to living a life focused on serving others. This philosophy of giving back begins in their home and finds its expression overflowing into their professional lives as well. Dr. Riner and his wife, Lori, have four children ranging in age from 7 to 22 and are excited for the upcoming addition of a daughter-in-love!
To learn more about Wink Optique you can visit www.winkoptique.com, stop by their beautiful store at 101st & Yale, or call 918.417.7774. Follow them on Face Book, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for daily news, updates, and specials. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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If you don’t take care of your e
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s a small business owner, you understand the phrase “wearing multiple hats” better than anyone else. You shift in and out of your role as the janitor, sales department, human resources and technical support as seamlessly as a chameleon blending into his environment. And that’s just on a Monday. Obviously, doing it all alone isn’t an efficient business model, but it’s what is necessary in the early years. So, being the forwardthinking entrepreneur you are, what do you do? You guessed it! Hire employees! Now, you get to delegate operations so that your business runs like a well-oiled machine, and it’s up to you to take care of these people and their families. By bringing them into the fold, you have made a commitment to do what is in their best interest. That’s not a responsibility to take lightly. Unfortunately, most do, especially in the small business arena. According to Metlife’s 13th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, “twenty-five percent of small business employers believe they have a responsibility for their workers’ financial wellness.” But get this, 34% of small business employees believe their employer should play this role. This perception gap between small business employers and employees represents the largest gap when compared to medium and large sized businesses.
You see, benefits play a crucial role in employee loyalty. The same survey found that nearly 40% of employees say having a wide selection of benefits would make them feel more loyal to their
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employer. On the other hand, 87% of employers report that this is a very important benefits objective . The "Better Benefits" survey from Care.com found that 62% of employees would leave a job for better benefits. Is it any wonder why 87% of employers report that employee retention is an objective of their benefits they offer? So if the perception is that employers should take on the role of shepherd for their flock, why don’t more employers heed this calling? Cost could be the biggest factor. According to a survey done by Metlife in 2013, 88% of employers cited cost control as a very important benefits objective and 80% reported that optimizing
employees, someone else will! partner with them to help educate their employees, increase key employee loyalty and make sure that their business continues on to the next generation. If we can orchestrate a plan that benefits both the employer and the key employees at no additional out of pocket cost, then we know we have done our job right. Did I mention that with certain strategies that you can actually recoup the cost of the plan? benefits plans to reduce costs is a most important strategy. When making benefits decisions, nearly three-quarters (74%) of employers claim cost is an important consideration.” With employee retention being somewhat of a hot topic in recent years, Globoforce®, a leader in helping businesses implement recognition programs, conducted an annual survey in collaboration with the Society for Human Resource Management. The purpose was to elicit trends and insight from HR leaders and practitioners about their top workforce challenges and strategies to help address them. I don’t know if this is a challenge for you and your business, but according to the findings, the top three challenges faced by HR organizations today are turnover, employee engagement, and succession planning. If you’ve been a business owner for any length of time, you can probably relate to the devastation that comes from an employee who leaves to go work for the competition, or worse, becomes your competition. The devastation isn’t just emotional, it’s financial as well! For entry-level employees, it costs between 30% and 50% of their annual salary to replace them. For mid-level employees, it costs upwards of 150% of their annual salary. For high-level or highly specialized employees, you're looking at 400% of their annual salary. So, let’s face it, you aren’t as worried about losing the kid you just hired straight out of college, as you are the 10-year company veteran that has been with you since the early days. That being said, if there are certain employees that are the heartbeat of the company and drive company performance more than others, doesn’t it make sense to provide certain benefits only to these key employees? When I approach a small to medium-sized business owner, I tell them I am applying for their non-paid CFO position. What I mean by that, is someone to https://benefittrends.metlife.com/assets/downloads/insights-to-go-2015.pdf https://www.metlife.com/about/press-room/index.html?compID=124347 http://workplace.care.com/betterbenefits https://www.metlife.com/about/press-room/index.html?compID=124347
Think about what would happen if you lost your #1 or #2 employees. Does that thought worry you a bit? What if you could do things for them that you didn’t have to do for the rest of your employees? Would that be a conversation worth having? If so, please call our office and we can discuss some of these strategies that can be implemented at no additional cost. Justin graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Administration from John Brown University in 2007. After trying to break his way into the corporate sector, God instead opened a door for him in ministry. For nearly 6 years, Cowell was a Worship Pastor at one of Life.Church's satellite campuses. 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 http://go.globoforce.com/rs/862-JIQ-698/images/Globoforce_SHRM_2015.pdf https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130816200159-131079-employee-retention-now-a-bigissue-why-the-tide-has-turned C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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FIVE: Guardians of David
Hits the Video Game Market!
New Game Mixes “Cool” with Bible Education
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fter 3 years of study, dreams and hard work, Tulsa’s Phil Smith along with a team of thirty professionals at Kingdom Games have launched their long awaited and truly unique video game to a hungry world market. FIVE: Guardians of David, a high-quality Bible-based video game became available in a PC version in November for only $24.99. The Mac version will be released soon. “The video game players in your life will love playing this game, and you will be a hero for making sure they have it. This game will prove to the world that video games might be the future for providing entertainment for our young people that will be both fun and life changing in a good way. I hope that you and your friends will support this effort so we can change the future of entertainment for our children and grandchildren,” said Christian investor, Phil Smith. Phil explained that FIVE: Guardians of David is set in the ancient land of Canaan. The players lead and play five of David's Mighty Men, battling across exotic locations filled with archaic cultures, rich characters, and powerful artifacts. FIVE covers a multitude of ancient cultures and lands providing a Biblically accurate experience of King David's story and struggle as retold through the eyes of his five most storied Mighty Men. The game is only one of the upcoming games underway at Kingdom Games, located in Austin, Texas.
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The company has focused its attention on creating high-quality Bible-based video games the whole family can enjoy. Armed with an understanding that today’s youth devote more leisure time to video games than they do to books or even movies, Kingdom Games believes everyone deserves the opportunity to experience and understand the physical and spiritual worlds through the medium of their choice. The result? A video game that meets the expectations of the most ardent gamer while teaching lessons he or she may never discover through any other media. Kingdom Games is driven by the idea that exhilarating and great entertainment should not only challenge playing prowess, but open up a world to explore spiritual and moral truth and invite the player to find true heroism through self-sacrifice, concern for others and pursing faith. FIVE: Guardians of David is as intriguing as it is fun. Players “become” David’s protectors, the Biblical heroes of Abishai, Benaiah, Jashobeam, Eleazar and Shammah. They will find themselves deep in the distant land, fighting evil and protecting their King. In the process, they will not only have fun, they will soon know more about the battles of David than the most studied Bible student. You will find the game on STEAM or Amazon. It is also in Lifeway’s 2015 Gift Guide. It's the perfect gift for the game players in your family.
Learn more about Kingdom Games at www.KingdomGames.com
1. You Have Pain- Swelling and or pain in your mouth, face or neck is not normal and can mean different things. It is important to have this checked out to rule out infection. The sooner dental pain is diagnosed and addressed, the less costly and the less complicated the treatment will be. 2. Your Gums Are Acting Up-If you have swollen gums, or if they bleed when you brush or floss, this is a sign of gum disease, and you are at risk for tooth loss if left untreated. Also, if you have a family history of gum disease, you are more likely to develop gum disease. These are both indications you need to make an appointment with your dentist. 3. You Try To Hide Your Smile-Whether you don’t like the appearance of your teeth or you are missing a tooth, there are many options that your dentist can provide to improve upon your smile. 4. You Have Had Dental Work Before-It is very important to keep regular visits with your dentist, not only to check your teeth, but to also check your previous dental work and make sure there are no problems. Just like wear and tear on your car, your dental work will wear out over time. 5. You Have Ongoing Medical Issues-You should make your dentist a part of your medical team if you have health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, eating disorders, or HIV. If you are undergoing medical treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy, it is important that your dentist sees you regularly to address mouth problems that arise from these conditions or treatments. 6. You Are Pregnant-It is safe to see your dentist when you are pregnant. Some oral conditions can worsen during pregnancy, so it is important to make your regular check-ups during this time. 7. You Are Having Trouble Eating-It is not normal if you are having trouble chewing or swallowing. Be sure to visit your dentist if these problems should arise.
8. You Have A Dry Mouth-If your mouth is constantly feeling dry, this could be a medical condition or a side effect of a medication. Someone with a dry mouth has a very high risk for dental decay. Seek out the help of your dentist if you develop a dry mouth. 9. If You Use Any Kind Of Tobacco Product-Cigarettes and chewing tobacco are detrimental to your overall health as well as your dental health. You are at a greater risk for developing oral cancer. See your dentist for regular oral cancer screenings. 10. You Are Having Jaw Pain-Make a dental appointment if you have pain in your jaw when opening and closing, chewing, or if you have pain when you wake up after sleep. 11. Your Mouth Has Spots or Sores-If there is a sore or spot in your mouth that lasts for more than one week, it is time to let your dentist do an examination. Mouth sores can vary in both severity and the cause. Mouth sores could be the symptom of a disease, infection, fungus or virus. Have your dentist do an examination to determine the cause and the treatment that is best for you. 12. It’s Time For Your Check-Up-Even if you are not experiencing any problems, dental check ups are important for the overall health of your gums as well as the chance to discover a problem before it begins to cause discomfort. Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry is a general family practice that provides a multitude of dental services to all ages. We have two locations serving the Tulsa and Claremore areas. Our offices are comprised of four female dentists who are known for providing dental services in the most comfortable and caring environment possible. Our office has the reputation of having the friendliest, most helpful staff around. We would be happy to address any of your dental concerns or questions you may have. Source: American Dental Association
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2013 TONY® AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL
RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA COMES TO THE TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER MARCH 29 – APRIL 3! ***TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29!***
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et your tickets and gather the entire family together to attend RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music! CINDERELLA will play at Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement from March 29th through April 3rd. Tickets will go on sale February 29th at 10:00 a.m. With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA combines the story’s classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn’t let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too. CINDERELLA has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Music adaptation, supervision and arrangements are by David Chase and orchestrations are by Danny Troob. One of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most popular titles, CINDERELLA was written for television – debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews. In 2013, the show made its long-overdue Broadway debut. Along with CINDERELLA, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s legendary musicals include OKLAHOMA!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Mr. Beane’s book for CINDERELLA blends masterfully with the musical’s cherished score with songs including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”
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The creative team includes scenic design by Tony® Award nominee Anna Louizos, costume design by six-time Tony® Award-winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony® Award-winner Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony® Award nominee Nevin Steinberg. The CINDERELLA tour is produced by Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Caiola Productions, Roy Furman, Peter May, Sanford Robertson, Eric Schmidt, James Spry and Blanket Fort Productions. For more information on Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, please visit www.CinderellaOnBroadway.com, Facebook: Facebook.com/CinderellaTheMusical Twitter: @CinderellaBway Presented by Celebrity Attractions, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for eight performances only March 29 – April 3. 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 Monday, February 29 at 10 a.m. 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. Get social with Celebrity Attractions by becoming a fan on Facebook.com/BwayTULSA. Follow us at Twitter.com/BwayTULSA. Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA is part of the Celebrity Attractions’ 2015-2016 Broadway Season which includes JERSEY BOYS and 42ND STREET and the add-on productions of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and MAMMA MIA! Celebrity Attractions is proud to have KOTV-News on 6 and Tulsa World as sponsors for this amazing season.
A Visionary Author
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im Stovall is the author of more than 30 books, six of which have been turned into major motion pictures with several more in the works.
The Tulsa native began losing his sight as a teenager and became totally blind before he was 30. He explained, “I never imagined being a writer because I wasn’t even a reader. It’s embarrassing to admit that when I could read with my eyes like the millions of people around the world who read my books, I don’t know that I ever read a whole book cover to cover. When you write books you can’t read, that are turned into movies you can’t watch, you have a different view of the message.” After losing his sight, Stovall discovered the National Library for the Blind and began devouring audiobooks. He developed a system to listen to books at high speed, and for the last 20 years, has averaged reading one book per day. He acknowledges that becoming a reader is how he gained the ability to be a bestselling author. Stovall remembered, “In 1988, we began the Narrative Television Network here in Tulsa. NTN makes movies, television, and educational programming accessible to the 13 million blind and visually impaired Americans and millions more around the world. After winning an Emmy Award for our first season on national television, I was asked to be the keynote speaker for the National Association of Broadcasters. After that speech, I began receiving many requests for speeches across the country, and before I knew it, I was on a tour of the country speaking in arenas on a program between Dr. Denis Waitley, bestselling author of Psychology of Winning, and Dr. Robert Schuller.”
He remembers, “When they told me they had it all worked out, I thought they meant the ground transportation to the plane, but then I learned a major publisher was expecting the manuscript for my first book in 90 days.” Stovall credits Waitley and Schuller for launching him into the literary world, stating, “We were backstage before a West Coast event, and Dr. Schuller really was pressuring me to write a book. I was trying to reject his arguments, but he wasn’t someone who was easily diverted.” After Stovall finished his hour-long speech in the arena, he was met backstage by Waitley and Schuller, and they told him that while he had been speaking they had worked it all out. Schuller had called
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his publisher and sold them on the idea of publishing a book by Jim Stovall. Waitley had gotten on the line and agreed to write the foreword for Stovall’s first title. He remembers, “When they told me they had it all worked out, I thought they meant the ground transportation to the plane, but then I learned a major publisher was expecting the manuscript for my first book in 90 days.” That first title was You Don’t Have to be Blind to See, and since then, Jim Stovall has written bestselling novels, business books, and success titles. He simply explains, “I write the kind of books I would like to read, so it’s pretty eclectic since I read a book every day.” His recently-released title, published by Sound Wisdom, is Ultimate Hindsight, featuring Stovall’s interviews from over 100 top achievers from every area, such as Paul Harvey, Lee Iacocca, Billy Joel, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Nicklaus, Dr. Oz, and Frank Sinatra. Stovall’s novelization The Ultimate Legacy will be released along with the movie of the same name in early 2016. The film represents the third installment in The Ultimate Gift trilogy and stars Raquel Welch who joins the ensemble cast from the previous movies including Brian Dennehy, Lee Meriwether, and Bill Cobbs. Stovall concluded, “I’m a proud Tulsan. Twenty five years ago we decided instead of moving to New York for the TV business or relocating to L.A. for the movie industry, we would bring TV and movies to Tulsa.”
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eginning with the diagnosis of cancer, Lessons from the Journey puts the spotlight on a faith journey - a journey that covers a multitude of issues, from learning to strengthen our faith while coping with a serious illness, to knowing when to speak and when to remain silent. (Remaining silent may turn into a lifelong study.) Life is a series of teachable moments. It forms us into the people we choose to become. We can embrace the lessons and learn from them; or we can ignore them and stay trapped in a life that is less than God intended us to have. The choice is ours.
"Deniece has a God-given gift for turning the simplest story into a passionate devotional, guaranteed to inspire. Get ready to be blessed!" Tom McCloud, Publisher, Community Spirit Magazine
About the author: Deniece Adsit is a retired accountant who lives in Oklahoma. She began writing as a way to cope with the stress of cancer. Her first efforts were shared on a blog. After which, she began writing articles for a Christian magazine. She still writes a column for Community Spirit Magazine, and is working on her second book. Other interests include music, travel, photography, and spending time with friends and family.
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When Sheep Feed the Shepherds
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or all the clichés and stereotypes that exist about pastors, let’s just be honest for a moment. The reality is that serving as a pastor is at best a challenging career path. In its most difficult moments, the life of a pastor can be emotionally draining and lonely. Of course there are times of celebration and excitement. Churches pitch and roll through good times as well has times of hardship. Pastors are charged with the task of leading, navigating and challenging their flocks through these various eras with clarity and with love. But sometimes it can simply cave them in or burn them out. Pastors have been sent by God to our churches to lead us and love us, encourage us and admonish us. But when pastors marriages are being damaged, their health is been adversely affected and their hearts are being overwhelmed by the challenges they face, then it’s time that we the church do something to help them. Page Cole, author of “When Sheep Feed the Shepherds” served for 23 years as a pastor in a variety of roles in churches around Oklahoma, so he understands firsthand how difficult the life of a pastor and his family can be. That’s the primary reason he authored this book. That’s the premise behind “When Sheep Feed the Shepherds.” This resource was designed specifically for the average church person to use as their guide for building up and supporting the pastors in their church and in their life. This book is chocked full of fun, creative ideas for Joe Churchmember to use as a starting point in filling up the emotional cup of his pastoral staff members and their families. With over 130 different fun and creative ideas in this book, the hardest part will simply be deciding which activity you
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want to do first! The guide is simple to use. The ideas in the book are arranged from the free or less expensive ideas in the beginning, to the more elaborate or expensive ideas for showing your affirmation at the end of the book. Each idea is broken down into four very simple parts. There is the Purpose, the Plan, the Place and the Price. The Purpose explains the unique need that this activity is designed to meet. The Plan outlines the very basic steps that should be taken to accomplish this event successfully. Of course, the Plan is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of ideas or suggestions, and creativity and the readers own ideas are encouraged to be used to make this truly their own plan. The Place explains the how and where this specific task can happen, but again personal creativity is encouraged as the idea is personalized for this special situation. Finally, the Price gives the reader a basic idea about the cost, supplies or other items that might be needed to pull this off. “When Sheep Feed the Shepherds” can easily be used as a standalone resource by an individual or a family as they do their part to love on their pastors. Small groups, Sunday School classes or agelevel ministries can use it as a group, and team up on projects to affirm their pastors or leaders. Finally, this is a fantastic resource for Church Personnel teams, Church Councils or other boards to use as they invest the resources of the church as a whole in the lives of their pastors. “When Sheep Feed the Shepherds” is available at Amazon.com for $12.95, but it can also be purchased in the Journey Café at First Baptist Church in Owasso for only $10. Churches interested in purchasing copies in bulk can receive an even greater discount by contacting the author Page Cole at pagecole@visitingangels.com.
Arthur Greeno is the owner/operator of two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has accomplished 2 Guinness World Records and is an Amazon Best Selling author and public speaker. Arthur’s mission is to Teach, Inspire and Serve. Arthur’s wife Noell and his 6 kids are his greatest passion. Arthur is a devout Christian and he thanks and honors God for giving his life direction because he knew the direction he was headed before giving his life to Him. He was recently named 2015 Tulsa World’s “Men Of Distinction.” Bryan Smith is the owner of Smith Insurance and Financial Services, and an Amazon Best Selling Author. He represents the #1 Auto, Home and Life Insurance Company in America. He has been voted Oklahoma Magazine’s “Best of the Best” five years running. He has also been voted Tulsa World’s “Best in the World” the last two years. He is a Christ Follower, husband to Anna and father to three.
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here are few things that can bring down a successful venture faster than the myths that exist in the business world. In their new book, Breaking Conformity, successful entrepreneurs Arthur Greeno – holder of two Guinness World Records – and Bryan Smith tackle four devastating business myths: Failure is not an option. If I can do it, anyone can. Name it so you can claim it. I tried my best. Jack – a character born of Arthur and Bryan's success – is a business consultant who works strictly off of referrals. Situated in his office on the 17th floor – he dispenses assistance and guidance to individuals great and small. Today, Jack is meeting with Bob – who married his boss's daughter and now put into a position of power within his company believes that “Failure is not an option”. Bob must dispel this idea, before Bob has not option but to fail. Later that day, Jack meets Alejandro – the nephew of his normal driver – who is replacing his uncle while he recuperates from surgery. Alejandro is young, ambitious and completely naive about the world. When he shared his apprehension about taking over his uncle's duties, he was told “If I can do it, anyone can.” Unfortunately - hard work, dedication and ability means that not everyone can 'do it' and it is up to Jack to gently educate Alejandro about the difficulties in believing this myth.
belief that you must “Name it so you can claim it”. She believes that if you want something – you need only write it down, tuck it in your wallet and eventually it will come to pass. Not realizing the sacrifice, toil and sweat that is required to succeed in business, she is doomed to failure unless Jack can help her do more than simply write down her goals. Finally, Jack meets Carol. Carol is a hard working manager for a temp agency that has been plagued by a series of failed hires who simply say “I tried my best”. These failures are beginning to stack up, and Carol – who was recently tapped to take over the business when the previous owner passed away is in over her head. Jack will need to help her understand what it is that she needs to do to get the company back on the right track. Jack helps them understand the myths that are holding back their businesses, how to break them down and how to move forward successfully. Written as four stand alone stories that are still intertwined, the reader can walk through each myth by itself – or take the journey along with Jack as he meets and helps each character succeed. Breaking Conformity is published in paperback as well as in eBook.
For More Information Visit: www.breakingconformity.com
Next, Tricia – a friend of Jack's assistant – crosses his path with the C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om
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s we examine the vastness of space or the intricacies of our human body, all of these pale in comparison with the awesomeness of having a relationship with our Creator. The way we experience that wonderful relationship is through prayer. Prayer Demystified begins by looking at prayer and asking why do we pray. We examine the idea that rather than always talking to God, prayer should really be talking with Him. After all… wouldn’t it seem strange if we only talked to a spouse or close friend and never listened for a response? Yet that is what so many of us do when we pray. Prayer is examined from two different viewpoints including: • First we examine the relational aspect of prayer where we talk with God as our Heavenly Father, just as we talk and listen with a family member or spouse.
The book provides word pictures and stories to make these ideas practical and simple to understand and each chapter is full of scriptures. Prayer examples of how to pray for your family, for healing and for our nation are also provided. Finally, the last 50+ pages are full of scriptures that are organized by subject making it easy to speak the Word over specific areas of our lives. Subjects include: • • • • • •
Building your Faith Meditating on the Word Marriage Healing Freedom from Fear God’s Goodness
• • • • • •
Peach and Trust Prayer and Faith Protection from Danger Provision Salvation Sleep
For thousands of years, people have said that God is “unknowable and unpredictable” meaning that “He does what He wants,” and • The second viewpoint is the request-aspect of prayer where we come to God and ask Him to meet the needs of our daily life as “why should I try to understand Him?” Yet, when we study Scripture, we get a completely different picture well as any major needs we may have. of whom God is. We have a loving Heavenly Father who jealously The book then looks at the various questions people have about yearns to have a personal one-on-one relationship with mankind and cares deeply about every aspect of our life. how to pray including: • Understanding the nature and character of God – i.e. why can Prayer demystified lays out the principles of prayer in easy to understand ideas with the goal that dynamic and power-filled we trust Him? • The difference between the spiritual world and the natural world prayer will become a part of your daily life. The storms of life will come, but by developing your prayer life and confidence in the we live in. Word of God, you will be prepared to prevail. • How we approach God in prayer. • • • • • •
Why doesn’t God just take care of my problems? The difference between Faith and Hope. Speaking the Word over our lives. Hearing God. Getting earthly help, and When do we receive the answer to our prayers
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We understand the power of positive words. There are whole ministries and secular businesses built around this truth. But what we underestimate is the dramatic, greater power that these negative words have in bringing harm to every situation in our life. Our continued use of these words short-circuits the fulfillment of God’s purposes in us, just like it did with the Israelites. Their grumbling kept them out of the Promised Land! What is it keeping you out of? Research in psychology and education confirms that negative words are more powerful than positive words. It just takes one word of gossip to the ruin a person’s life long, hard earned reputation. One word of harsh criticism can decimate a young child’s self image. As powerful as words of encouragement, praise and blessing are, negative words are exponentially more forceful!
God’s Essential Purpose for Your Life By Tim Cameron
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any of our readers will remember Tim Cameron as the long-time Head Master at Metro Christian Academy. Now in “retirement,” he continues to do BIG things like write this amazing book. Put it on your list of “must read” books for 2016! About the Book… The promise of the Word is, you can govern every member of your body if you can control your words (James 3:2). That is what I call a powerful pledge. James also says that if we don’t bridle our words, our religion is worthless (James 1:26). How sobering. How scandalous! Could James have really meant it? If we can reign in our words through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can control every part of our body? Our bodies have some rowdy parts. When it comes to my mind, I think it has a mind of its own. And so does my mouth. Most of us have had that experience when toxic words came out of our mouth, and we thought, “Where did that come from?” We wish we could come up with a reasonable explanation for what was just said. The truth is, your mouth reveals what is in your heart (Matthew 12:34). Still, we make the same excuses: • “I really didn’t mean it!” • “Oh, that just slipped out!” • “They misunderstood what I said!” This should be our response to the caustic words we speak: recognize that those judgments, complaints, criticism, sarcasm, negative words, and gossip are sin. And repent.
When we judge other people, we put ourselves in the most dangerous position in life: playing God. We don’t realize that words of judgment release pressed-down, shaken-together and running-over judgments back on us (Luke 6:37-38). Complaining words send a message to God that He is not good, and we do not trust Him! That strikes at the very heart of who God is. Our critical words harm or destroy the peace and unity in all our relationships. Did you know that the English word for sarcasm derives from the Greek verb sarkazein? It literally means, “to tear flesh like a dog.” Enough said. Negative words keep us chained to the past, reliving that past in every day of the present. As for gossip, it is simply the wickedest of all words. Gossip destroys lives. The enemy is always out to destroy God’s essential purpose for your life: unity. As believers, our unity and love for one another is what Christ knew would draw unbelievers into the kingdom of God. Christ’s dramatic plea to the Father in John 17 was that we would be one, like He and the Father are one, and that we would be one with Him. Christ knew this kind of unity would make the world believe God the Father had sent Him to mankind. When we speak negative words of judgment, complaining, criticism, sarcasm, and gossip, we hurt everyone around us. Instead of unity, we promote discord. Ultimately, we hurt ourselves the most. We reject God’s wonderful possibilities for us. It doesn’t have to be this way. I challenge you to start the New Year off with a FortyDay Fast…of Words. Free yourself from chains of the past and turn your life toward God’s amazing promises! Words are powerful! They can change the world, and they definitely help form our lives. In many ways, our words prophesy our future. Listen to someone long enough and the clues to their destiny will be revealed. In his book, The Forty-Day Word Fast, Tim Cameron reminds us of just how powerful words can be, especially negative ones. Tim then gives concrete steps on how we can change our conversation, which in turn will change our future and ultimately change the world. Fast your way into a new future... through your words. —DR. BILLY WILSON PRESIDENT, ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
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Social Security, It Is A Changin
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he recent budget bill hammered out by the Whitehouse and congressional leaders will in essence shut down two popular Social Security claiming strategies utilized since the passage of the Senior Citizens Freedom to work Act in 2000. Unless the Senate rejects the bill outright according to a recent Wall Street article this bill could reduce a couple’s lifetime income by “tens of thousands of dollars.” The bill, if passed, will affect the “File and Suspend “ and “restricted application for spousal benefits.” These are two of the most popular strategies used by financial planners to increase the SS withdrawals of retirees. These strategies were originally allowed in the 2000 Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act and were intended to increase flexibility for seniors to continue working even while receiving SSI benefits. It eliminated the earnings test at full retirement age (FRA), and allowed recipients to suspend their benefits to earn 8% annual retirement credits. Since 2000 these “New” strategies have been ever increasing in popularity resulting in an increased utilization and scrutiny of some government officials. In his 2014 budget President Obama vowed “to get rid of aggressive strategies that allowed upper-income beneficiaries to manipulate the timing of collection of Social Security benefits in order to maximize delayed retirement credits.” “The wealthy are not the only class to be adversely affected by the new bill,” according to Jim Blair, a former district manager for the Ohio Social Security Office in Shanonville Ohio. “Under the new law, many middle-class couples, lower earning spouses, often women, will be forced to take a reduced spousal benefit. In addition, divorced individuals who previously could take a spousal
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benefit while their own benefit earned delayed retirement credit will be out of luck!” A casual observer might argue that this line of thinking is woven throughout several of this administration’s policies. We know now that not just the uber wealthy are being affected by Obama care. Every socio-economic class is affected and we have no reason to believe the results of this bill to be any different. At the risk of turning this article into a political blog I will move on. First off, anyone 61 or younger by the end of 2015 WILL NOT be eligible for either strategy. If it appears the author is a little testy, I apologize. It is because I just determined my sweet wife of nearly 41 years missed the cut-off by ONE month! This file and suspend strategy was the option we had planned to use. The good news here is that the bill is heading for the Senate and with enough voices raised in protest to our elected officials we might be able to stop this portion of the bill from passing. If you are nearing retirement and want to preserve the benefits that have been utilized successfully for sixteen years by all economic classes, pick up the phone and call your senator!
RANDY C. COWELL, M.S., LUTCF, CFP®, CRPC® ACT Financial Services, Inc. Randy C. Cowell is a columnist and President of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of “God GoodDebt Bad”. Randy welcomes your thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by e-mail at rcowell@htk.com.
I burned about 8000 calories per day while only eating about 15% as much. Our RMR’s haven’t bounced back like they thought it would. Our bodies have changed - despite packing on some additional muscle and our weight increasing. All of that said, I gained 30 pounds this year, and I cannot become a victim to my circumstance! So what do I do now? I set a goal.
Success begins with a goal When you set a goal, it should be attainable with real measuring points to hit along the way, whether the goal is financial, physical, spiritual, or relational.
Step by step in 2016
by Danny Cahill
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t’s the beginning of the year, and most people are eyeing new goals – or the ones they never got around to finishing last year. For me it’s different this year. I’m addressing one I created a need for in 2015. I gained 30 pounds.
It’s been a tough year This year in October, the cast of Season 8 of The Biggest Loser met at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. We were excited to hug each other and talk over memories, but we were called there for a reason. During the trip, I learned some important things. We all have struggled with our weight after the show – some more than others – but everyone has struggled. We went to NIH to get our metabolism tested again. You see, during my season on The Biggest Loser, the government tested our metabolisms before we began, in the middle of the process, at the final weight-in, and 2 years after the show. They found that our metabolisms slowed despite retaining most of our muscle mass. They had speculated that if we kept the muscle, our metabolisms wouldn’t slow as much. They were wrong. After the show, my resting metabolic rate (RMR) was 1500. 2 years later it was 1650, and now it is 1800. When I began it was over 3000! They expected it to slow, but 6-years after I am at 79% of a normal man’s RMR, which puts me behind the 8-ball! Your RMR is the amount of calories you burn resting – doing nothing – and I’m at a 450 calorie disadvantage. They suspect it is because of our rapid weight loss paired with our rapid energy expenditure.
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First, you should come up with a precise goal statement. It should contain what you want in measurable form, a time frame in achieving it, and it must be realistic. To simply say “I want to lose weight” isn’t enough. We want to be specific. Here is my goal for 2016: I want to lose 30 pounds in 3 months. I have an amount to lose, a time frame to achieve it, and it is achievable. For financial, you might say I want to pay off $5,000 in credit card debt in 2016. It is measured in amount and time, and that could be done. Maybe I want to spend 15 minutes a day reading the bible in 2016. Yes! If I’d said 1 hour a day, I’d ask if it were realistic to spend over 6% of my waking hours reading. I’d say no – but less than 2%? Okay! Write your goal statement and put it everywhere – on your refrigerator, mirror, desk, phone – everywhere!
Taking steps Next you should set 3 goal action steps. Getting started begins with taking steps. Make them specific. Not “work out 1 hour every day.” 7-days a week is too high, setting you up to fail. My action steps look like this: 1. I will eat lunch in the office four days a week. 2. I will work out three times a week in the gym, including an additional two hours of cardio. 3. I will weigh-in once per week and measure my achievements. Those three steps I can handle! Each step, you may need to break down even further. If your first step is join a gym, you might break that down to 1. Visit three gyms this week, 2. Choose one and sign up, 3. Set up an auto-draft payment. So, create your specific and measurable goal statement for 2016, and create 3 attainable action steps to get you moving. Now you just have to start moving – step by step! And if you need help, reach out to me! I have an online coaching group that can help you set and achieve your 2016 goals! You can email me at danny@ thedannycahill.com.