Community Spirit December/January 2017 by Community Spirit

Contents

December/January 2017 PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud 918-625-5324

FEATURES

CREATIVE Director Ben Allen

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Deniece Adsit, Justin Cowell, Danny Cahill, Mark Bishop M.D., Jason Schluter D.C. and Lori Frazee, DDS

The Terminators Show Stars Local Tulsan The Christmas Castle in Muskogee Dangerous Technology Under the Tree Kilimanjaro Movie to Premier Steve Largent Hired as Spokesperson for Clear-Tone A Tribute to Christian School Teachers Is Your Church Design Costing You Potential Members? Operation Christmas God’s Love… The Most Powerful Medicine, Mark Bishop, M.D.

COLUMNS 14 16 17

ACT Financial Services Ultimate Fitness Danny Cahill, The Biggest Loser

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Deniece Adsit Dr. Jason Schluter, Chiropractic Medicine Healthy Smiles Dentistry Premier Education Partners

Cover Photo Credit: Lasting Impressions Photography

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

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Fun, New TV Show Allows America to “Terminate” Members of Congress Tulsa’s Corey D. Taylor to Host The Terminators

Coming Next Fall!

ust when you thought America had had its fill of politics, a tongue-in-cheek reality game show is being produced which will no doubt have everyone talking politics again. This time, it won’t be a red-state versus blue-state thing. Instead, the unique show is designed to pull all sides together as a frustrated America fights back against what most think is an out-of-control Congress. Hosted by Tulsa’s own, Corey D. Taylor, The Terminators is set to air next fall. Sending teams of hard-working, blue collar folks to Washington DC, and equipping them with the training, cameras and other tools they might need, the producers believe everyday Americans will be able to gather information not typically presented by the media. They will be given the assignment of acting like a human resources team and do their best to get a realistic snapshot of the job performance of a selected member of Congress. Investigating selected politicians from both sides of the isle, their mantra will be simple, “Don’t hate, terminate (fire) any ‘bad apples’ they might run across.” Gathering information and shooting some video, they will return to present their findings to a live audience who will evaluate and compare two teams at a time. Voting by text, American will then unofficially “de-elect” one politician and award the winning team with a cash prize.

“This has nothing to do with left, right, red or blue.” The producers are keeping a low profile and are un-named on purpose. Well-intentioned, they are in it for the good of America instead of fame and fortune. And although the show will be packed with laughs, they do believe the satirical tone will communicate the belief that our country is in crisis. One of them, going by the nickname “J.D.” explained. “We believe the problem is not the hard-working blue collar people who wake up everyday and keep the American dream alive. The problem is Congress, men and women who are supposed to serve the American people and not their personal interests. Hopefully, we can help things change by poking some fun at members who are not doing a good job.”

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Photo Credit: flygirlphoto.com

Corey Taylor, a local talk show host, motivation speaker and author, was approached with the challenge of hosting this unique show and he jumped at the chance. “My job is to put the fun into this serious subject. Its time the American people know what goes on behind the closed doors of Congress. No longer should we turn a blind eye to men and women who have not been getting the job done, year after year and term after term. This show will give the voice and power back to America in a way it’s never been done before.”

‘94 % of Americans want to terminate Congress. We don’t choose sides, we are the side.” To some, Corey might be seen as an unlikely host of such a show, but actually, the producers see him as the perfect choice. Raised in Ferguson, Missouri and describing himself as being in the middle on many issues, his involvement in this project proves the frustrations with the Washington political machine is shared by a wide range of Americans. “I hope we can let everyone from both and all sides of the political isle know their voice can still be heard. It is important that all of us educate ourselves about the political process. I might seem to be the unlikely candidate to be doing something like this, but that is the beauty of it. I think I can bring balance to the situation and in the process, try to find the truth.” Corey laughed when he explained that his main role is to keep this reality game show format filled with fun. “It is hard to imagine, but consider it this way, if The Amazing Race, Undercover Boss and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington were to have a baby, it would be The Terminators.” Corey and the producers understand that they can’t do the show without stepping on some powerful toes. Indeed, they do hope that the satirical nature of the show will make people demand change, but they also know that in the process, the Washington elite will cringe. But to Corey, any controversy is worth the investment. “I am willing to do it, I want to do it, and I’m excited to do it. If I don’t stand up to be counted, and let people know they have a voice, what is my purpose? Whether I am speaking, doing diversity training, or doing ministry, I have never been afraid to tell it like it is. Truth counts and The Terminators will be a platform to take the message of hope to the masses in a way that has never been done before. My wife and I are serious believers and this is something I feel called to do.” Do YOU have what it takes to investigate Congress? Go to www.TheTerminators.tv and apply to be one of the first contestants. It will be a scavenger hunt you will never forget.

About Corey Taylor… Chasing success his entire life, Corey Taylor has always kept running, while he watched God turn his failures into triumphs. Saddled with developmental learning challenges, he struggled through high school graduating with only a 1.6 GPA. But begging for a chance, he was accepted into college where he hit the Dean’s Honor Roll and graduated with honors from Coffeyville Community College with his Associate of Arts Degree. Later, he went on to earn his Bachelor and Master Degrees from Pittsburg State University where he played football. Corey is an Emmy Award Winning Producer (NATAS) for his work on “Wayman Tisdale Story”, a film about the late NBA player and jazz musician. Corey also received three TELLY Awards for the film. He is currently serving as the founder and Owner of The Catalyst Resources, LLC and is a popular, nationally recognized motivational speaker. He has been referenced in three American Who’s Who publications: Who’s Who Among College Students, Who’s Who Among American Educators, and Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals. In November of 2012, he launched the Corey D. Taylor Resiliency Tour, speaking and honoring nominated youth who have overcome great personal and/or academic hardship. The 3-month tour visited 7 schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Upwards Bounds programs in states of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Corey has been a fill-in co-host on Oklahoma City’s fan-favorite KSBI-TV’s Oklahoma Live! Recently, he launched his own TV talk show “Oklahoma Up Close.” He is also an adjunct professor and has published two books to date, The Otheraire and Think About It! Corey D. Taylor resides in Tulsa, OK with his wife Shantele and the couple’s four children.

Interested in helping to produce this show? There are still Kickstart sponsorships available. YOU can help truly change America! Go to the website for more information.

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Take the Entire Family!

Castle Christmas at The Castle of Muskogee and The Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park Open Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Eve, 6pm-10pm

ooking for that perfect family Christmas activity? Muskogee may hold the perfect answers. It’s just down the road and it offers a Christmas setting that is guaranteed to delight your entire family. Everyone will enjoy the lights and the activities … and it won’t cost a fortune. In fact, much of it is FREE! Each year, more families are making the trip to the Castle of Muskogee part of their family holiday traditions. Guests may take a leisurely drive through the Castleton Village, which is filled with thousands of holiday lights and displays. The drive through is FREE, and donations are gratefully accepted.

the park. Internationally known for its Azalea Festival, Honor Heights Park draws up to a half million annual visitors to its scenic hilltop drive, which encompasses nearly 30,000 azalea bushes and thousands of trees. Christmas lights are placed on trees, bushes and structures throughout the park to enhance the natural beauty of the gardens, waterfalls and ponds. Gates open at 6:00pm nightly, and the event is FREE.

Then, just outside The Castle, you will find an area which is overflowing with excitement. Here, you can take a hayride, hop aboard the Castle Train, or ride the ponies through the Village area. You are also invited to venture inside The Castle for family holiday activities such as an area to make ornaments in Santa’s workshop, warm up by the fireplace, and plan your visit with Father Christmas. At The Castle, you will discover handmade creations for all of the special people on your holiday list. You can also purchase Fireworks for New Year’s Eve celebrations and items from The Christmas Shoppe for your own holiday displays. And while you are there, plan to enjoy the Castle Cafe for a light supper or snack, hot chocolate and treats, and great company! Sit and enjoy complimentary holiday movies for the whole family. Visit okcastle.com for a complete schedule of nightly activities.

Castle Christmas and Garden of Lights event hours and prices: Drive through the lights at both locations - FREE admission, donations accepted. Both drive-through events are open nightly from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, 6:00pm to 10:00pm.

In nearby Honor Heights Park, the “Garden of Lights” attracts thousands of visitors. The celebration includes a free drive-through display of over a million shimmering lights exhibited throughout

Additional Holiday Activities at The Castle: In addition to the free drive-through events, The Castle offers additional adventures on November 24-27, December 1-4, 8-11, and every night

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December 15th through December 31st. Please check the Calendar at okcastle.com for a detailed schedule of each night’s activities, but here is a partial list of some of the things you can do. – Take a Tractor-drawn Hayride! This ride starts in the parking lot of The Castle and travels through the village on a different route from the car drive-through. It departs every half hour and the cost is only $5.00 per person. Children 12 and under are free.

– Take a Pony ride! This is always a holiday favorite! Only $5 per child. – Gift Shops! Enjoy a wide assortment of holiday merchandise, inflatables and much more. – Castle Café! Treat yourself to soups, sandwiches, cookies, hot chocolate, and more. – Chalice Hall! Enjoy watching holiday movies for the whole family or sit and warm up by the fire. – Christmas Merchants! Find unique and handcrafted items from a variety of craftspeople. – Visit with Father Christmas! Father Christmas will be at the Castle on Dec 3-4, 10-11,17-18th 6:30-9:00 pm. There is no cost to talk to Father Christmas, and pictures will be available for a nominal fee. Sound like fun? You bet it is! In fact, we predict that your trip to Muskogee will become a holiday tradition, you will look forward to year after year. For more information please visit: okcastle.com or cityofmuskogee.com

– Ride The Castle Train! Enjoy the lights with a tour from the conductor himself! $5 per passenger. Kids 2 & Under are free.

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middle school when I realized I had a real problem. Hidden in my room with the door shut, I began to seek out the HBO movies where I might encounter more pornography. By high school, I knew it was something I didn’t want. At church camp, I sat on a creek bed during morning devotional and begged God to take this addiction away, but with one requirement… don’t tell anybody! So, I didn’t share my secret with anyone and ultimately, I began to decide this was my identity. I was a quiet kid, the kind of kid who hoped to never be called on. My quiet nature became a trait which would be affirmed by my parents and their friends, complementing me because I didn’t talk and interupt. My secrets seemed to build into that.”

Technology Under the Tree (Strike out Technology with Danger) A Testimony and Hope from Brett Hendrix, Changing Lanes Ministries

“I didn’t have many friends or girl friends. I was average at sports at best and I wore glasses from the age of five. All of those things worked together to bring harassment and isolation. So the porn was a way for me to mask those insecurities. In college, I married my wife, thinking that marriage would solve all my problems. I thought I could hide behind her. After all, she was the total opposite of me… outgoing, loving, and on fire for the Lord. I decided I could let her be the life of the party, the charismatic one. But once we got married, I realized she had her own problems and it brought me to a place where I dove deeper into my struggle.”

nder that glimmering Christmas tree are thoughtful presents, gift wrapped with love. But what if those same gifts carry unsuspecting dangers? What if the present you are excited to see your child open could be the start to ruining his or her life? Brett Hendrix of Changing Lanes Ministries asks to you think twice, particularly about the technology under this year’s tree. Unfortunately, he painfully understands the dangers hidden under some of those ribbons and bows. After his pornography addiction nearly destroyed his life, he now coaches parents on safe technology practices and also works with hundreds of men who continue to pay the price for being exposed to pornography in their childhood. Listen clearly. This is a story every parent needs to hear. Brett’s story, like the stories of the majority of men he counsels, began with an absolutely unintentional exposure to porn. He remembers the night clearly. “I was only eight and grew up in an age where punching and exploring every button on that single, large “cable box” was completely natural for a kid. But one night, for some unknown reason, the Playboy Channel was unblocked and I happened onto it. The images I saw were forever etched across my mind,” he recalls. From then on, the cable box had a special allure to him and the seeds of addiction began to sprout. Curiosity would ultimately give way to an addiction he would carry for the next 22 years. “I grew up in a Christian home and we always went to church. I quietly carried my secret in a fear of anyone finding out. I was in

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Brett and his wife graduated from OSU and moved to Phoenix. It was here Brett’s addiction escalated beyond just looking. “I began to act it out with others. First, it was talking on the phone in chat rooms and eventually, I began meeting with people in places I never wanted to go or thought about going. But sex brought an adrenaline rush and I craved it more and more. I couldn’t stop. Nobody knew and I continued to quietly hide in church for another six years.” “Finally, God tugged at me enough that I decided I had to tell my wife. However, the fear came over me that I would lose my wife, my two kids, my church, my friends, my home, my extended family, and probably even my job because I got my job through a con-

ing, I received multiple emails from guys wanting help. For the next two years, more and more guys came to me and we started first one, and then a second small group. Then, in June of 2014, God encouraged me to take the ministry full time. Soon, our two groups exploded into five each week, plus we started an online version I call GPS Online. There are guys in this group from six different states.” Brett explained that he also began to think… “We are helping all of these men who are already struggling. What if we could get ahead of this? We do some stuff with teens, but what if we could equip parents so they could know what to look for and know how to work with their kids at home.” So, the ministry launched parent forums to help parents learn how to protect their kids.

nection with my in-laws. I told God…’If I tell my wife, I will end up with You and probably a cheap motel room.’ The scales seemed to outweigh me telling her, but I agonized about it all day and I finally told God, ‘Okay, I will take your deal. I will trust you.” “When I began to tell my wife, she thought I was going to tell her I was leaving her. Afraid she would be left alone to take care of the boys (then two and one years old), she hugged me and said we would work through this. I had my men’s small group coming to the house that night and I told her I would tell those guys. I fully expected the same scenario with them. They would surely kick me out.” “Instead, they told me that although they didn’t agree with what I did, they would walk with me through this. And so, I found some grace in ways I never expected and it gave me the hunger and desire to seek God and to truly change. Two years of counseling later, God blessed us with a baby girl. Just when I was really feeling healed, God tugged on my shoulder again…’You need to share your story with your Sunday School class.’ “You have to understand that I was still scared of my own voice and speaking to my class seemed to be a crazy idea, but I agreed again to trust God. We normally had about a dozen people, but the day I was to speak, everyone showed up. God had a sick sense of humor.” “I told them that I would understand if they wanted to kick me out, that they probably think I am the scum of the earth. However, just the opposite happened. One woman told me that she now had more respect for me than ever. It took me a long time to grasp and understand that.” “A year later, God told me to share my story with the whole church. My wife was on staff at the time and this again seemed like a crazy idea. Our pastor, Paul Taylor, invited us to let him interview us during the entire hour of both services. The next morn-

Within the setting of the small groups, men are surrendering their addictions to Jesus and because others are around with the same issues, they build stronger relationships. The isolation is no longer an issue because they are required to learn to communicate, to reach out when they are tempted, struggling or when they have messed up. There are men ranging in age from their 20s and well into their 70s. They include blue-collar workers, white-collar executives, doctors, and even pastors. Every single one comes in as a man doubting that there is any hope for him. Some have greater stories than Brett’s, but most had their first exposure in their youth, from 6 to 13 years old. A growing number of them also carry memories of abuse. In every instance, Brett shares a personal testimony… “There is nothing we can do, there is nothing you have done, that would keep God from loving you any less. He really can change you. He wants to change you. Are you willing to let Him?” Learn more about Changing Lanes Ministries at www.ChangingLanesMinistries.com.

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Life and Death on Kilimanjaro Movie to Premier 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10th Hardesty Library

limbing Kilimanjaro seemed to be a crazy idea. Their doctors told them so, along with their friends, and especially their wives. “You are not thirty years old anymore,” they said with the unspoken sentence to follow, “You are too old for any wild adventure, especially dangerous, physical ones.” “But something inside called us to the mountain louder than the voices of reason around us. And so, we went,” said Tom McCloud, publisher of Community Spirit. Tom pulled a group of sixteen men together to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest, free-standing mountain in the world. Few had any climbing experience and although the mountain is considered to be a “nontechnical” climb, not requiring ropes, ice picks and such, it is still quite a climb, taking you to 19,341 feet, some 5000 feet higher than the typical Pikes Peak you may have experienced. Many hazards lie in the way of making it to the summit. There are lots of places where a guy can get hurt. But the biggest challenge is the high altitude, which can bring you to your knees with fatigue, make you feel like you have the world’s worst hangover, or worse, cause brain or lung aneurisms. Due to the fact that over 40,000 people attempt to climb the mountain each year, the shear numbers give the mountain a higher death toll than even Mt. Everest. Ignore the symptoms of high altitude and it just may be your last adventure. The men took the challenge. Now, they are inviting you to come join them as they tell their story in a professional video. Come learn about the mountain. Come hear the men’s stories on what called them to Kilimanjaro and what unexpected things they found on the “Top of Africa!” But tighten up your boots! This is no walk in the park. Rather watch it from your own couch? This special premier will be hosted by KRSU Public TV (Rogers State University) and will be broadcast LIVE across the Tulsa viewing area.

KRSC is a television station in Claremore, OK that serves the Tulsa television market. The station runs Education programming and identifies itself as "RSU-TV". KRSC is a digital educational full-power television station that operates with 2750 kilowatts of power and is owned by Rogers State University. RSU Public Television is the only full-powered public television station licensed to a public university in Oklahoma. RSU Public Television reaches a potential audience of 1.3 million viewers in Northeastern Oklahoma and the Tulsa metro area and averages 250,000 to 300,000 viewers – outpacing most cable networks. It is seen on Cox Channel 86 and in HD on Channel 1087. Check your listings for your media supplier ahead of time so you don’t miss a single minute of Life and Death on Kiliamanjaro

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Your Gift to the Magi

ell, it’s finally arrived! The Macy’s Day Parade is over and the 2016 Christmas season has officially been ushered in as the stores bustle with shoppers searching for the perfect gifts. As I was contemplating this Christmas edition article, my mind went into my past and I remembered a short story I read in middle school by American author O. Henry. Written in the early 1900’s, The Gift of the Magi, tells a story of love and sacrifice between a young, poor, married couple, the Young’s. It begins on Christmas eve, with each unable to buy Christmas gifts for the other. The story describes how Della sells her beautiful long hair to purchase a platinum chain for her husband James’ prized pocket watch, while at the same time James sells his pocket watch to buy combs for Della’s hair. It is a wonderful example of selflessness between Della and James and freely sacrificially giving for the other. The story closes with the author’s thoughts: The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the

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uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. As you are planning your Christmas and holiday festivities, I encourage you to take time to celebrate the “true” meaning of Christmas with your family and loved ones. Can you imagine a better gift to your children but to instill the gift of selflessness? In our narcissistic “it’s all about me” world maybe it is time to refocus our attention from self, to how we can be of service to others. Merry Christmas and a have a blessed New Year! RANDY C. COWELL ACT FINANCIAL Randy C. Cowell is a columnist and President of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of “God Good-Debt Bad”. Randy welcomes your thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by e-mail at rcowell@htk.com. “Randy C. Cowell is a registered Representative of and Securities and Investment Advisory services offered through Hornor Townsend and Kent, Inc Registered Investment Advisor. HTK is a member of FINRA/SIPC and does not offer tax, legal and credit service advice. The views expressed are not necessarily those of HTK. ACT Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliated with HTK.”

Do You Need More Protein?

he human body obtains nutrient energy (calories) from three macro-nutrients: fat, carbohydrates and protein. Fat functions as a source of energy to muscle at rest, helps carry fatsoluble vitamins and contributes to the structure of every cell in our body. Carbohydrates provide the primary fuel for most bodily functions and are the preferred fuel for the brain and entire nervous system. Protein is vital for cell turnover and antibody production, and assists the body in maintaining fluid balance. It is because of protein’s association with muscle rebuilding and repair that it’s easy to get carried away with the notion of “a little is good, so a lot must be better,” particularly in the quest for creating a more favorable body composition. But the truth is that excess calories, regardless if they come from fat, carbohydrates or protein, will be stored as fat tissue and can contribute to weight gain. For most adults, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein intake is about 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. This recommendation can differ, however, depending on an individual’s life stage, health status, and even physical stress. Infants (0-6 months), for instance, have the highest protein needs in relation to their size at 1.52 grams per kilogram of body weight. During pregnancy and lactation, a woman’s need for protein increases from the standard 0.8 grams to 1.1 grams of protein for every

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kilogram of body weight. Physical stress such as severe burns can increase an individual’s protein requirement twofold. And athletes who train on a regular basis may benefit from levels of protein as high as 1.2 to 1.7 grams per kilogram of body weight, based on muscle cell turnover and repair. Unlimited Fitness is Tulsa’s leading private and small group training studio. Specializing in weight loss and nutrition programs. We are committed to meeting the needs of each individual client and providing all the tools they need to be successful. Our clients are set up for fitness success and fast results by providing customized training programs that are specific to each individual client’s needs and wants. Start your fitness journey today by scheduling your free consultation with one of our fitness professionals! PHONE: (918)320-0153 EMAIL: Gregory@TulsaUnlimitedFitness.com FACEBOOK: @Unlimited FitnessTulsa WEB: UnlimitedFitnessTulsa.com 8007 S. Sheridan Tulsa, OK 74133

Sweat the small stuff – by Danny Cahill

hear it all the time: don’t sweat the small stuff. This can be true at times, such as someone leaving the cap off the toothpaste or small irritations by not getting your way all of the time. However, if you live by this mantra in many areas of your life, it can lead to disaster!

Small stuff becomes big stuff I was mowing the lawn the other day, and when was weed-eating the back corner of our yard, I saw it – my greatest enemy – POISON IVY! I am extremely allergic to poison ivy; so much so that I have been covered from head to toe, had in in my eyes and ears, and even in places I will not identify in this blog! Being a land surveyor since the age of 9, I had the pleasure (actually annoyance) of meeting this terrorizing plant on more occasions than the average Joe! Just take a hike with me at Turkey Mountain – you’ll hear me mention this plant at least 50 times during the hike – warning everyone that it is looming just beyond the boundary of the trail! Poison Ivy has been in that area for years, but I learned that if you remove it while it is small, it’s easy. Just a pair of gloves and pulling a few small plants. Obviously, our back area hadn’t been tended in quite a long time, so that small stuff became big stuff and now it’s going to take much more effort to handle. The same can be said for other things in our lives.

Little Foxes seem small – but in the end they add up The peanut M&M’s in my breakroom… Oh how they call my name! Just one won’t hurt, right? Well, I can tell you that I didn’t make it onto the cast of The Biggest Loser by eating one M&M. I made it on by eating one M&M over and over again! Yes! I see it all the time, and have even experienced it again myself this year! Those little snacks and treats add up to enough calories that all the weeks of working hard in the gym makes absolutely no difference! Those small things canceled out my work, and in turn became a big thing again. Yes, there have been people in my boot camp that haven’t lost very much weight. They feel better and are more physically fit, but the pant size just isn’t getting smaller. It is usually the diet that causes this. And for the most part, they are making good choices what they eat. And then there are those small things – the few chips as they walk by the table, the couple of drinks they had on Saturday night, or yes – the M&M as you walk by the break room – that add up over the week to be as big as that 3500 calories you burned. And that 3500 calories you burned would have been a pound you lost! But the scale doesn’t move. This is just one example, but it can be applied to many areas of your life – in your business, your family, your faith and in you.

Small steps over time add up to big results Results can always happen in a positive or negative aspect! Just as the above example I gave you in my life, small choices can add up to sabotaging what you really want for what you want in the moment. And those decisions add up to results. Brian Klemmer once told me, “Results – often harsh, but always fair.” The good news is that it works both ways! Lately, I’ve been walking into that break room to get coffee or water and I look straight at those M&M’s and say out loud, “Nope! Not today folks!” And the results I am getting are amazing. I have lost 15 pounds in the past 3 weeks! A combination of that decision with a few others have made my results move in a different direction. And this direction is the one I desire! I want to ask you a question: are you getting the results you desire? If not, could it be a product of those small choices you are making? Taking an inventory of your life in the areas you want to change is a must to actually see the change come to pass. When you see those small things that are growing into big things, it’s easier to handle it now than after weeks, months, or perhaps years of “putting up with it” and seeing it grow into something huge! My friend Arthur Greeno was talking to me about small stuff a few months back. He saw that his Chick-Fil-A store wasn’t getting the numbers at the drive through they had been in the past. He investigated and found out that the automatic change machine wasn’t working. He told me that counting up the change not only added to mistakes that can be made, but added an average of 6-seconds per transaction. Not really much, right? Well, that small amount can add up cause their service to suffer and the profits to dwindle. Yes, small stuff adds up to big results.

Sweat the small stuff before it’s too late! I’ve seen marriages end because of a small thing that was never addressed. I’ve seen businesses fail because of small things that were never changed. I’ve seen diets fail because of small things that went unnoticed. Maybe it’s time for you to sweat the small stuff! Maybe your dreams and goals have been sabotaged by the small stuff you are letting go? Yes, some things can be a distraction if it really doesn’t matter and you focus on them, but the only way to find out is to take that inventory. In my coaching, I’ve seen countless people become aware of some of that small stuff that they didn’t even know was there! Many choose to change some of those things, and I have actually seen BIG results from those small changes, including reconciled marriages, weight-loss, and even increased income! What small stuff are you not aware of that might be holding you back? Why not step back and get a new perspective on your life and find out so you can solve those small problems before they turn into huge monsters! C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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Hold on O

n Christmas Day, 2004, Petra Nemcova, calmly strolled the beach of Khao Lak, Thailand with her fiancé. Her whole life was ahead of her and it could only get better. Soon she would be married to the love of her life. Then came the tsunami. Washed away by the sudden surge of flood waters, she was plunged abruptly into the greatest challenge she had ever faced. The only sounds came from the rushing waters and the screams of those being washed away, never to be seen again. As the waves brought her to the surface, she grabbed a tree with all her strength and held on…for eight hours. Even as her stamina ebbed, she clung fiercely to the only lifeline she could find. Most people on the beach that day were overtaken by the force of the storm. She had found a secure branch and she held on. She never imagined an earthquake in Indonesia, almost 1,500 miles away, could cause a tsunami in Thailand and harm her so badly. She was wrong. When she was found, her body was severely bruised and broken, but she was clinging to life and still clinging to the tree. Her fiancé had perished in the storm. Instead of the happy ending they had planned, she would spend her time recovering and learning to move forward in a world that had forever changed. We, too, have encountered tsunamis in our lives. We have all been washed away by the storms that hit us unexpectedly – loss of job, loss of spouse or child, cancer, addiction, financial ruin, debilitating and deadly diseases. They come with no warning, from places we never imagined. We watch helplessly as others succumb to similar tragedies, unable to reach out to them. Then we find a measure of strength as we learn to trust in God. In the middle of the stormy surge, we find His hand and hold on. It takes all our strength to survive. The storm may rage for hours or days or years. Still we continue to pray and to cling to our Savior. We wonder if we will ever feel safe again. Finally, the storm passes. We are bruised and broken in unimaginable ways, but we have been rescued. “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

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but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (2 Samuel 22:17-20 NIV) Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:7-8) Moving forward will be painful and difficult. A lot of healing must take place. As part of the recovery process, it’s important to find our way forward and shine a light toward God, the protector of all who serve Him. For Petra Nemcova, the foundational part of her recovery was starting a charity, giving back to others. Maybe that’s a good place for us to start over. We have been rescued from the storm in our life so we can tell our story. By doing so, we help those following behind us who face the same struggles we endured. I can’t tell your story and you can’t tell mine. Our testimony is unique. It may be the one example of survival that leads others to God. It may be the only thing that persuades them to hold on. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) The Great Commission has a single purpose, to tell the Good News to those around us. Each one of us can be a beacon to those struggling. Part of that is encouraging our friends to hold on. Help will come, maybe from unexpected sources, but it will come. Just hold on.

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.

Starve a Cold and Feed a Fever?

Jason Schluter DC Schluter Chiropractic

peppers (both of which are high in vitamin C) or taking a supplement, as juice comes with a lot of sugar. Sugar has been proven to suppress the immune system, which is exactly the opposite of what you need when you are ill. Warm broths are also excellent when you are sick. The prescription of chicken soup for upper respiratory symptoms has been around since the time of the ancient Greeks, and the practice was adopted by the Jewish physician and philosopher Maimonides. There’s a reason your mother brought you chicken soup when you had a cold or flu. Far from being an old wives’ tale, a study performed by Dr. Stephen Rennard from the University of Nebraska Medical Center showed that chicken soup inhibited the movement of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the body so they could not travel to the upper respiratory area and induce inflammation. Chicken soup is only effective as a treatment if it is prepared using both chicken and a variety of vegetables such as onions, celery, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips and parsley (and then filtered). Whatever its activity against pathogens, at the very least it provides your body with plenty of nutrients and warm liquids that will help get you feeling well again soon.

t is likely that you have heard the old adage “starve a cold and feed a fever” (some think it’s the other way around…), but does this saying hold up in the face of scientific research? The short answer is “no.” The truth is, the best thing you can do is probably to feed both. We would all like to believe there’s quick fix for our suffering as we sniffle and cough our way through the aches, pains and lack of energy brought on by a cold or flu. However, there are not really very many things, outside of what our body can do for itself, that can be done about it. So what role does eating—or not eating— actually play in helping us feel better? There was one study in 2002 performed by Dutch researchers and published in the journal Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology that tested the validity of the “starve a cold, feed a fever” concept. What they found was that fasting was better at fighting the infections that caused fevers, and eating a meal better fought off viruses associated with colds. However, it used a very small sample of subjects and its results were not reproducible in further studies. Most people do not feel particularly hungry when they are sick with a cold or fever anyway, as the body naturally regulates the amount of food we eat when ill. Certainly, eating a large heavy meal will use some reserves of energy that would be better used in fighting off pathogens. However, keeping a steady stream of nutrients flowing through your system is a good idea and provides your body with the tools it needs to kill invading viruses. Concentrate on getting nutrient- and antioxidant-rich foods in your diet as best you can, along with plenty of sugar-free fluids. Many people drink a lot of juice, thinking it will provide them with vitamin C, but you would be better off eating strawberries or red C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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The Affects of Smoking On Oral Health

y now, most people are aware that smoking is bad for their overall health, causes numerous medical problems and even some fatal diseases. However, many people are not fully aware of the damaging affects to their mouth, gums and teeth. Smoking leads to many dental problems, including: Bad Breath - Not only does the smoke linger in the lungs which contributes to “smoker’s breath,” but smoking cigarettes actually dries the mouth which leads to an increased growth of odor forming bacteria. Teeth Staining -The nicotine and tar in tobacco causes an almost immediate yellow stain to the teeth. With continued use, heavy smokers’ teeth eventually turn brown. Inflammation of the Salivary Glands - The chronic heat from cigarettes can cause a condition known as Nicotinic Stomatitis. The salivary glands in the roof of the mouth become inflamed. The palate turns white or grey with many raised nodules. Increased Risk for Tooth Decay - Smokers are more likely to develop cavities due to the excessive dry mouth and increased production of bacteria.

Increased Build-Up of Plaque and Tartar on the Teeth - The increased plaque and tartar is a result of the dry mouth effects which lead to the increased production of bacteria creating the plaque which then turns to hardened tartar on the teeth. Gum Disease - Smokers are at a greater risk for gum disease from the above stated reasons. The bacterial plaque begins to break down the supporting gum and bone surrounding the teeth. Tooth Loss - Once the loss of bone around the teeth is advanced, the teeth may become loose and fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Delayed Healing Following Oral Surgery - Smoking reduces blood flow to the soft tissues, which affects the immune response and slows the process of healing. Increased Risk of Developing Oral Cancer - Smoking cigarettes causes changes in the oral tissues that can develop in to throat, lung and oral cancers. As you can see, there are a great number of detrimental effects on the oral cavity from cigarette smoking. Regardless of how long you have been a cigarette smoker, quitting now can greatly reduce these effects on the oral cavity along with improving your overall health.

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Steve Largent named to be Clear-tone’s Spokeperson

teve Largent is back in town. No doubt, you will remember him as that All American University of Tulsa receiver who went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks for 14 seasons and to be named to the NFL Hall of Fame. From there, he served four terms as the Congressman for Oklahoma’s First District before making a nearly successful run for Governor in 2002. Next, he moved on to become the CEO of CTIA – the Wireless Association. “I had promised my wife, Terry, that we wouldn’t be in Washington more than five years. Finally, after ten years has passed, she said, ‘Let’s go home.’ She was right, it was time,” Steve said with a laugh. Tulsa is glad to have him back. In every aspect, Steve has a reputation of being a man of character and a respected Christian leader. At only 62 years old, he has lots of time to do “whatever is next.” One of those things came unexpectedly when he received a call from Clear-tone Hearing Aid Labs, asking him to be their spokesperson. Steve is a perfect fit for Clear-tone, a local company with international presence and a reputation for honoring God in how they do business. Steve has a personal interest in their product. Tired of his wife complaining that he was not hearing her, Steve finally gave in and started wearing hearing aids. “I am impressed with the fact that Clear-tone has developed technology which now is used all over the world. But I am also impressed at how they operate on a local level to perfectly fit their customers with exactly the right hearing aid. The beauty is

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in the fitting. I wore mine while I was out deer hunting yesterday and they are incredibly comfortable,” he said. No doubt, he will be a great spokesperson for the company. He is a hearing aid wearer and is in the age group where people often realize they have a hearing loss. Like Steve, the challenges come slowly and are often pointed out by a loved one. The durable, water-resistant Clear-tone design fits well into his active lifestyle and it is virtually invisible. “When you put God first, it is humbling to see the reach your influence can have in serving others. Both Steve and Clear-tone have been blessed to have positive impacts that started in Tulsa and reached all around the world,” said Paul Jackson, Cleartone’s Director of Marketing. Charley Feeley, Director of Operations for Clear-tone added, “We are honored to have Steve as our spokesperson because he embodies the next generation of hearing aid wearers, and is an exemplary representative of Clear-tone’s mission to serve the hearing impaired while putting God at the center of our business.” Steve hasn’t represented a product in this way since his football days, but is excited to work with Clear-tone on this project. However, he is no stranger to television and the Tulsa audience will be pleased to see him on air again. Steve and Terry built a new home here in Tulsa and also like to spend time at their ranch in Inola. They have four children and now have nine grandchildren…six here in town…another great reason for them to come home. Community Spirit looks forward to hearing Steve tell us more about the Clear-tone hearing aid line of products. Champions like to hang out with other champions and this pairing truly sounds like a perfect fit.

In Honor of Christian School Educators eachers are special people. No matter where they teach, in public or private schools, these dedicated professionals are worthy of our applause. Our childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future and the future of our nation rest on the education delivered by these so often unsung heroes.

And so, Community Spirit makes it a point to honor them each December. Thank you for loving and teaching our kids! We especially appreciate those who teach in our private Christian schools. We understand that you make personal sacrifices to work in environments where you can use your skills to develop both the mind and the spirit of our kids. God surely has some special stars for your crowns. The following pages highlight a sample of the terrific teachers from our communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian schools. As we honor them specifically, they would be the first to tell you that they represent hundreds of area teachers who dedicate their talents as they passionately serve their Lord.

Be sure and thank a teacher today!

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r. Lewis couldn’t be more qualified to teach at Rejoice Christian High School. After all, she has a B.A. in Theology, a Master of Divinity Degree in Theology, a Ph.D. in Post Secondary Education… and huge heart for kids. Filled with the Holy Rejoice Christian School Spirit and a passion for learning, her Tracy Lewis Ph.D. resume reads like a fascinating novel. God has led her many directions, from serving as an Air Force officer, teaching at the college level, serving as a Youth Pastor and Young Life Leader, defending neglected children as a CASA supervisor, being the principal at Southpark Christian School, teaching at Tulsa Community College, and “ministering” to families in North Tulsa as a social worker. She comes to Rejoice not only with this varied experience, but also with a passion and respect for the Judeo-Christian

Scriptures in their original languages, Greek and Hebrew, and for writing (She has published 3 books). However, the thing students love most about Dr. Lewis is her ability and desire to encourage and uplift them. She was raised by her grandparents in a racially mixed community in West Virginia. However, when they both passed, she was sent to live with a cousin in a rough, South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. She says now that it was the scariest community imaginable, but that it was all part of God’s plan for her. From there, she bounced around, living with her mother, who she describes as a nice person who lacked parenting skills. Education was Tracy’s way out of the struggles of poverty. Her unique life experiences and point of view make her a favorite among the Rejoice students. Dr. Lewis always dreamed of teaching at a Christian school like Rejoice. Now, she can’t imagine being anywhere else. The beautiful, state-of-the-art campus of Rejoice Christian School is located in Owasso, easily reached by Highway 169. It is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International and offers grades PreK-12th grade. Learn more about the school on Facebook or at www.rejoiceschool.com.

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n a neat classroom at Regent Preparatory School, a group of fifth graders are praying in Latin. Yes, in Latin! It is a part of teacher, Amber Burgin’s way of taking a “dead language” and making it come alive. She believes that it is one thing to touch the mind with Amber Burgin the language, but Latin Teacher praying puts it in the Regent Preparatory heart. “Whatever language you pray in, is the language you love in,” she contends.

ment on to her students. They quickly realize Latin ties to everything. Understanding this, allows Amber to teach lessons on about anything you can imagine while quietly educating the kids on the etymology of the words involved. Want to learn about plants or maybe about constellations? Here comes a Latin lesson. Amber has been at Regent for six years. Determined to teach Latin to elementary kids, she researched and found Regent’s niche request online. “Believe it or not, there are not tons of those jobs available. Nor are there many teachers in the world with this passion. But God put us together and I moved here from South Carolina without any other ties to Tulsa, just so I could do this.”

School

Her methods work. Kids who came into the class dreading the memorization and “boring lessons,” instead are finding a true delight in the ancient language. “It is the historical language of the church and I have learned so much by being able to read the old prayers I couldn’t have understood before.” Amber is passionate about Latin and she passes that same excite-

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Her move to Tulsa has proven to be the perfect great adventure. Not only has she fallen in love with the city, the Regent staff has become her family. “We are truly a family. I don’t have any family here in Tulsa, but this is my family. It is why I have stayed here. Regent is a great school and a very special place to work.” Regent Preparatory School is located at 86th and Memorial. Applying the classical model to immerse students in a Christian worldview, they teach kids from Pre-K through high school to appreciate the cultural impact of Western civilization, studying ancient history, languages, and culture in light of Christianity. Some of the distinctive aspects of Regent include teaching Latin to grades 4 and up; a 13:1 student/teacher ratio; a strong family environment, accelerated mathematics, rhetoric skills development, and classic literature studies. For more information, check out their website at www.rpsok.org.

Regent Preparatory School…Growing Again! Photo by :Evan Shapleigh

he Regent Rams have a lot to cheer about these days. Not only is their football team in the playoffs (at the time of this article), they will soon have a beautiful, new field. The gorgeous sports complex will soon be completed and will include an artificial turf football field and a natural surface baseball diamond. The sports complex is part of the long-term site plan originally designed when Regent purchased the land at 86th and Memorial over ten years ago. The entire Regent community is ecstatic about the addition. “When we added the gymnasium four years ago, it had the impact everyone told us to expect. It went a long way in “building community. Now, we expect the sports complex to provide the same sort of benefits,” explained Andy Shapleigh, Headmaster. The $3.4 million dollar expansion is Phase One of an $8.5 million dollar ultimate investment into the school property. It included Information Technology (IT) improvements, a major facelift to the auditorium to enhance the Fine Arts program, a new High School library, a weight and exercise room, as well as the football and baseball complex. Shapleigh explained that this part had to be done prior to adding the new High School, which will ultimately run in front of the gym, connecting with the existing facility and finishing the front of the property that faces Memorial. The Regent community is currently trying to raise the $5 million dollars needed for the High School part of the expansion.

Regent has continued to impress the Tulsa area on and off the field. The Regent Rams football team is currently highly competitive in the 8-man, OSAA Class C division and will decide in the next two years whether or not to move to 11-man. The school has also developed a strong reputation on the volleyball court, regularly competing in the 3A State playoffs. The academic scores are impressive as well with ACT scores up over 28 for the five classes. Since adding their senior class, Regent has graduated sixty-six students. Their ninth grade class has 42 students and is expected to be the school’s largest graduating class yet. Many of the graduates are attending prestigious universities and over 23 percent are National Merit Finalists. “We now have a proven track record. It is not just that we think this classical education is going to work…we know that it does. We think this facility campus work is going to solidify the program athletically and add to our ability to show everyone that we offer a full program of academics and athletics,” Shapleigh said. Shapleigh was especially complementary of the Regent faculty and staff. “This brilliant group of people are what powers the school in a lot of ways, other than the Lord’s guidance. He has led some incredible people to work here. It is very humbling to see God’s faithfulness in all of this and how he continues to bless the school.”

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phonics approach. “It is designed for children with dyslexia, but I use it for the whole class. It does a lot of the crossing the brain things from left to right movements and kinesthetic lessons. I love it and it has proven to be a strong method in increasing phonics and spelling,” she explained. In addition, her students enjoy other fun learning games such as writing letters and numbers in rice or with shaving cream. Teaming together with a Certified Early Childhood education professional, Elizabeth’s classroom is a beehive of learning activity. When she is not in the classroom, Elizabeth likes to read, play tennis and explore outdoors, but no matter where she is or what she is doing, her mind and her heart is never far from the classroom. There is really no place she would rather be.

Elizabeth Stark Kindergarten Teacher at Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy

lizabeth Stark is right where she wants to be and where God wants her to be. After all, she always wanted to be a teacher. Within her memory box of things from her years in grade school, she still has a note written when she was in the 2nd grade. In it, she said that she wanted to be a teacher like her mother. Over two decades later, she is using many of the skills her mother instilled in her. Of those skills, loving the children is the most important. They are her love and joy. “You never know what is going to come out of their mouths. It can be humorous or it can be totally embarrassing, but everyday is worth it. I love seeing those light bulb moments. No matter whatever level they are, as long as they are making personal improvements, they are proud. And when they get something, I feel proud for them too,” she said with a smile. Elizabeth grew up going to a Lutheran school. A “preacher’s kid,” she always wanted to excel and be the kind of student everyone expected her to be. It is a personal drive she continues to this day. She teaches in a Christian school on purpose. “I can not imagine teaching a child right from wrong without bringing Jesus into the conversation. How do you tell them they can’t say those words or treat someone badly without asking what Jesus would say about it? No, I am right where I need to be.” It is her second year at Immanuel Lutheran. She and her husband moved here from Joplin where he had taught six years. They love Broken Arrow and especially love the school. She is able to bring her 10-month old son to work with her where he attends the school’s highly respected preschool. Elizabeth likes to make learning fun for her students. She is specially trained in a unique teaching style using the Orton-Gillingham

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Immanuel Lutheran Academy is located in Broken Arrow at 400 North Aspen. They take students from preschool through the 12th grade. The school is known in the community as being a place of quality education, having a safe and nurturing environment, and as a small school implementing many programs found only in much larger schools. Adding to excellent academics, ILCA offers football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, golf, cross country, vocal music, band, Broadcasting, Yearbook, Digital Reproduction classes, computer education, Drama class, Leadership class, College preparatory classes, AR, Pre AP, and AP classes, and excellence in reading instruction and achievement. You may learn more about the school by visiting their website at ilcanews.org.

Shannon Cunningham Senior English and Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Victory Christian School

hen you attend Mrs. Cunningham’s class, you hear about words. After all, she is an English teacher. However, it is more than that. She knows the importance of words and drives home that truth to her classes. “Words can make us laugh or cry. They can stir us to action, calm us down or make us empathize. Words are powerful. Words can bring peace and they can divide and hurt. Some of my students carry around wounds from such words. So, I talk about using the best words in the most powerful way and I remind them how important it is to choose the most descriptive words and speak them in kindness,” he explained. I am Word of Faith and we believe that God created the world through words. He spoke it into existence. And how do we get saved? We speak it out loud with our mouths…we “believe it in our hearts and confess it with our mouths.” The examples of the power of words are all around us. For instance in Genesis, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Hamlet says, “Words, words, words,” when he is asked what he is reading. The Beegees said, “Is only words, but words were all I had to take your heart away.” Shannon is a “creative.” In college, she changed her major from Music to English, thinking it was the next closest thing… still an art, a way of expression. Today, she uses that expression to let her students know she loves them. Sharing her personal story, she helps them to understand they don’t have to grow up the way she did. “My life nearly came to a tragic end when I attempted suicide after college. I had an identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was in Christ. I was saved, but I didn’t know how to apply the Word of God to my life. Now, I explain to them they can be confident in knowing who they are and that God does have a purpose for their lives. We can all know who we are. That is where our confidence

comes. His plans are always good. Some of my students are in fear that God is going to call them to live in a mud hut somewhere. I assure them that if that is what God calls them to do, that is also going to be the desire in their heart. Because… that is how God works. Our desires always line up with God’s plans, if our hearts are turned toward Him,” she said. Shannon loves Victory Christian School. She taught public school for 12 years in Cordell, Oklahoma prior to moving to Tulsa. She explained that once she and her husband became empty nesters, they decided it might be the time for a change. “So, my husband told me if I could get hired at VCS, we would move. I applied and we have now been here 13 years,” she said with a smile. “It is a privilege to work here. I get to work with people who believe the same things I do. We are here for each other and we encourage each other. The kids know this is a same place… that we truly love and care for them here. They are the reason I am here. I love the kids. You can’t be a good teacher if you don’t love the kids,” she added. Shannon Cunningham works hard to continually prove to the kids that she loves them. And at the end of the day, if there is any doubt they are getting the message, she uses words to make sure they are hearing her loud and clear. Victory Christian School offers grades K3- 12th and is accredited by The Oklahoma State Department of Education and the International Christian Accrediting Association. VCS serves students from over 168 church congregations. Enrollment is open all year round. For more information, visit their website at vcstulsa.org

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Legacy Christian School, A Positive Environment for Rogers County Students

egacy Christian School is nestled near the heart of historic downtown Claremore. Legacy is a ministry of Claremore First Baptist Church, and was established in 1979. Our students receive an excellent education while being poured into by godly teachers and staff. Our facility serves students ages two through sixth grade. Our PK-2 program is DHS certified. Our Kindergarten through sixth grades’ standardized test scores for are among the highest in the nation versus other private parochial schools. We are accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), a prestigious organization which is devoted to evaluating Christian schools on a stringent set of principles and guidelines. Our students receive so much more than an outstanding education. Legacy is blessed with a staff who truly loves Jesus and unashamedly shares their faith with their students. Our core values are more than trite sayings, we wholeheartedly believe and teach: “Everything for His Glory, Everybody Needs Jesus, the Word Brings Life, Disciples Make Disciples, Known by Our Love, Real and Radical Faith, and Family Matters.” Our students study Scripture in daily Bible class, and meet for weekly chapel on Wednesday mornings for worship and teaching focused on a biblical world-view.

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Our theme for the 2016-2017 school year is, “Rise Up.” It is our mission to empower our students to “rise up” through adversity and to stay faithful to Christ no matter what obstacles may come. We believe that Jesus is real and He makes a difference.

We are not simply a school community, we are family. We are Legacy Lions. For more information on our school, please visit lcsclaremore.org/ or call the school office at 918.342.1450

Toni Ahrens (and Winston!)

Augustine Christian Academy

oni Ahrens is right where she wants to be. You can see it in her face and hear it in her voice. After home schooling her own three boys nearly all the way through, five years ago, she jumped at the opportunity to teach 2nd grade at Augustine Christian Academy. She didn’t come alone. Her beloved puppets, Winston and Butter Cream, came to the classroom with her and have regularly joined in to teach special lessons. In fact, Winston is a “regular” in chapel and the kids have grown to love him almost as much as they love “Mrs. Ahrens.” Toni explained that she has always loved puppets and although she is not a ventriloquist, the kids hardly notice she is doing the talking for them. Team-teaching, you might say, Toni and her puppets have proven to have a special knack for reaching the hearts and minds of her students. The kids love it, light bulbs come on, and the classroom is alive with excitement.

grew to respect it and believe in it so much that I felt compelled to become a part of the school somehow. Toni told a story about a devotional she once read in “Our Daily Bread.” “The devotional was about Sir Christopher Wren, one of the most highly acclaimed British architects in history. He walked through the cathedral one day and the workers didn’t know him. When he asked them why they were there, most responded by telling him how much money they were making. But one worker gave the perfect answer, “I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build a cathedral for the glory of God.” “That’s me! That’s how I feel helping Mr. Post and everyone here build this school for the glory of God. That is what motivates me,” Toni explained. Augustine Christian Academy is a classical, non-denominational, college preparatory school for grades K4 through 12. It is dedicated to educating young people to think and reason from a distinctly Christian worldview. ACA is located at 30th and Sheridan and was founded in 1997. The school is a member of the Association of Classical Christian Schools. You can learn more at www.acatulsa.org or by calling 918-832-4600.

Her 2nd grade classroom of only ten students follows in the Classical Teaching Style, beginning with learning about the ancients and building upon pre-defined blocks of subjects. They use a very classical approach to teaching and learning called “The Spalding Method” which was designed by Romalda Spalding over 50 years ago. “It is a multi-sensory learning method that uses phonemic awareness (sounds) and systematic phonics (linking sounds to letters) in teaching how to spell and read. Our grammar school teachers have had professional training to use this program. We find it to be very, very effective and have been implementing it over the past 4 years with continuous teaching training to improve our knowledge,” Toni explained. Toni says she became a Christian at about the same age as her current students and she loves to see them grow both academically and spiritually. And though she is tired at the end of the day, as she reviews the day in her mind, she smiles at the fun things the kids did and said. “It is all worth it, especially when she hears a student say, ‘I get it! I get it!” Toni is an absolute ACA believer. “My two youngest boys attended high school here and learned so much from the leadership training they had in the houses. They were blessed by Mr. Post (Headmaster/Founder) and his amazing staff of teachers. During that time, as I watched and began to understand the vision of Mr. Post, I C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

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Unite the City for Christ! Register Now for the 6th Annual GoWork Plan

ou are invited to join hundreds of companies, workplace champions, experts, and community leaders all under one roof as they provide ideas on how to share their faith in Jesus Christ in the workplace. Organizer, “Armadillo Jim” Schmidt, explained that each year, attendees carve two and a half hours out of their schedules for this unique luncheon designed to challenge them to take Christ back to work with them. “You can expect networking, sharing faith stories, and about examples of marketplace ministries you can bring back to your company. You can also expect speakers who will bring expert testimony of living your faith at work… people who will show you how to defend your faith legally at work.” This year in particular, all of Tulsa’s Christian networking groups are invited to join in this important meeting to celebrate and rally around our great God in this annual event. Come alone or better yet, come as a group. Buy a table and invite your friends. Then, help spread the word. This is one luncheon, you don’t want to miss!

For ticket and sponsorship information, go to GoWorkPlan.com

Corporate Sponsors include Tedford Insurance, Pacific Justice Institute, Regent Bank, Nerium Internatioal, KG and Associates, iMediaTulsa.com, UMB Bank and Auto-Turn Manufacturing, as well as Media partners… BOTT Radio Network, The Tulsa Beacon, and Community Spirit Magazine.

Management Leadership Institute to Make Changes Holding Important Meeting on January 18th

he MLI (Management Leadership Institute) group has been meeting in Tulsa for many years and has gained a strong membership and a strong reputation for excellence. Built with the mission to “transform business leaders with an injection and inspiration based on Biblical truths applied in business for the sake of our local community” the group meets to develop Christian values. Typically coming together for a breakfast training meeting each month, they encourage each other by modeling Biblically-based, ethical principles to achieve health and wholeness in organizations and in the community. Recently, the group has had an opportunity to work together with a very similar non-profit called Integrity Resource Center which meets in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Des Moines. Like MLI, they train on Servant Leadership and hear talks from top level CEOs who share how they apply Biblical principles in their day-to-day business decisions. With teachings typically coming from Proverbs and they share insight from the Bible and they also offer a training course on the Ten Biblical Business Principles. Integrity Research Center Founder, Rick Boxx from Kansas City, will be speaking at the January 18th MLI meeting. Come enjoy the fellowship and be challenged as you learn to do business God’s way!

Wednesday, January 18th 11:30am – 1:00 pm DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa - Warren Place  6110 S Yale Ave  $15 in advance, $25 at the door and $165.00 Corporate Tables Make your Reservation online at www.bestmli.org

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Our Culture Has Changed… Has Your Church Building? A Conversation with Rodney James, Pastor and Church Builder

odney James gets it. After a full career in the pulpit, six years ago, he joined the team at Churches By Daniels Construction to help churches design and build buildings. Now after getting a front row seat to watch hundreds of churches go through the building process, he is in a unique position to understand what the coming generation looks for in a church. To some, his message is a bit unsettling. But bottom-line? If your church is not growing, part of the problem could be your building. Everything has changed about church and every church in America is wrestling with it. Two decades ago, people went to church on principle. After all, they were the WWII generation. They lived in commitment and were dedicated to be there every time the doors were open. Things have changed and church members have changed as well. People now don’t go on principle. They go, seeking a purpose. Rodney explained that this “purpose” means they now demand a reason to go to church. They need Jesus, isn’t that enough? “Not anymore,” says Rodney. “People want to make sure the church experience provides value for them as a person. They must find that value in the message being taught and in the ministries being offered. As soon as they drive up to your building, they are already assessing whether the church offers value for them and for their children. Provide that value, especially for their children and you have passed the first test,” he explained. “Today’s millennials and the new generation Z’s walk into the door asking themselves if this church values kids. If there is no theming and the walls are painted white, guests will not believe your church places a high value on children. I am not talking about how we do the ministry once we get them in the door. I am talking about … what are those impressions people see as they drive by? Churches often defensively answer that we are not here to entertain and I understand that. However, Paul said, I became all things to all people that we might win the more. As the culture changes, our methods need to change in order to communicate the same

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basic message. I am a pastor at heart. I am as evangelistic as anybody. I believe the Gospel message is the most important thing we have to offer for a lost world, but the reality is, if I can’t get them to come in the building, there is little value in the message. The first impression people have of your church is critical. Look at any other organization that is building buildings such as Starbucks, McDonalds, or Arby’s. RibCrib has recently rebuilt every one of their restaurants. Why? Because there is great value in raising the perception given by modern, clean facilities. It is a lesson every successful business understands. Unfortunately, the church often believes they don’t have to update…that our message is still the same and that we still have the same things to offer. But like the businesses around us, if a church doesn’t update, they won’t be successful at bringing people in and ultimately reaching the lost of this culture. Rodney mentioned the Asbury United Methodist building as an example. “Asbury’s leaders began to understand the challenges some time ago, so they purchased the ice rink in hopes of doing a better job of reaching the twenty-somethings. Then, they realized that in 15-20 years, those same families weren’t likely to move over to the main, traditional building with its 150-member choir and 50-piece orchestra. So, we did a major renovation to the sanctuary. We didn’t change much architecturally. We didn’t build a new building, but we did a lot of things that allowed those 20-somethings to enjoy a very contemporary service. We addressed the perceived needs of this culture and we did it subtlely, keeping the traditional elements, yet bridging that gap with some technology in

‘If I could afford to build Disney World, that is what I would do, because I want the kids to want to be here on Sunday morning.’ order to facilitate the way this generation wants to worship.” Perception is more than half the battle. How do you get folks in the door? Churches need to think about curb appeal. Does the outside of your church look like what your mission and ministry really is? People of today’s culture and generation don’t want to park and ask someone where the front door is. If you have five entrances, they better be clearly marked, not necessarily with signage, but from an architectural standpoint. By using color and theming, you can help communicate that this is where the kids enter. Then, once inside, your children’s space has to communicate that you value children.” Rodney says the ideas for today’s church design mostly came from the businesses around us. “The 3rd space or gathering space concept that we incorporate into many churches came from Starbucks. They understood that it was all about “the feel” of the room. So now, churches put in coffee shops and areas for people to gather. It is not just the refreshment, it is that I am going to grab a cup of coffee and sit down and have a conversation with someone. It is relational. It is a culture that Starbucks and others created or tapped into. If a church can create a relational environment, people will be less likely to get out of church and walk directly out the door. Instead, they sit down and have a conversation. With proper design, you can create the opportunity for that conversation. Another example of the influence of the businesses around us comes from McDonalds. They understood that if they made it fun for kids, their parents would bring them. If you have children, you know that you took your kids there to play. The food was secondary. One pastor recently said, ‘If I could afford to build Disney World, that is what I would do, because I want the kids to want to be here on Sunday morning. I can put the message in them if they want to be here.’ The challenge is to create a facility that meets the needs of our culture and that drives people into our facilities, communicating that there is purpose and the church understands their needs.” So, can all of this be done in the older, small, traditional church building? “Absolutely,” Rodney insists. “We have story after story of churches who made subtle, affordable changes that helped turn things around and brought in many additional members.” “Back in the 60s-80s, the goal was to build churches which were architecturally appealing inside. Then, starting in the 90s, we began to deemphasize the inside and instead emphasized the message or the platform area. We went from designing beautiful white buildings with stained glass, massive columns and ornate designs to literally a building a black box so that all the focus would be on the platform. In the last couple of decades, we have become very visual people. In fact, statistics tell us that about 70 percent of communication today is visual. It wasn’t that way when we didn’t have televisions

and Internet. You can no longer have a guy stand on the platform and talk for 45 minutes and just communicate. Now, he has to have the visual elements to help keep the people connected. The scripture he is reading needs to be projected on the screen. The illustration needs some kind of visual element to it. The videos that happen before or during or after he speaks need to drive home the point of the message or application. All of those things are how we communicate today. So, because we have changed from being an auditory people to being a visual people, churches have learned to place the focus on the platform. Yes, maybe we use some lighting differently than we did before. Maybe we use some additional video, but all of that has one purpose, to be able to better communicate the message to the culture of today. So, the changes don’t have to be wholesale and huge, but they do have to incorporate the things that help our culture receive the message. At Churches by Daniels, we have walked hundreds of pastors through these transitions and we understand the cultural challenges with making these changes. The pastors must cast the vision for their church. It is my job to provide the right tools, the right information and the right visuals to help them so they will be successful at reaching that future generation. Yes, we need to still teach the theology and the doctrine, but we must do it relevant to the culture. That is what Paul did. When he stood at Athens on Mars Hill, he taught totally differently than he would have taught at the church in Corinth. But he did it so he could communicate a message to those people within their culture in a way they could understand. We must do the same thing today. Most churches are realizing that they must make changes. We are doing multiple projects where we are converting traditional facilities to more contemporary ones. Some are taking larger steps than others. We are helping them phase in the changes so that the process isn’t too dramatic. There aren’t many churches building traditional church buildings any more.” Rodney understands that this can be uncomfortable to some. “It is not the way we grew up. It is not the way we perceive church to be. Some feel that if we introduce contemporary music, we are sacrificing our heritage. Some feel if we introduce this new ‘feel,’ we will lose our way, but the reality is that that the message doesn’t change. The message doesn’t change, but our methods have to. Our facilities are part of that message. The definition of the word ‘facility’ is ‘unimpeded process.’ If we are going to facilitate ministry, we can’t have our buildings being obstacles to communicating the message.” Where do you start? What should you invest in first? Maybe the first step is to sit down with Rodney James and the team at Churches By Daniels Construction. They can help you get an outsiders view of your church building and offer changes which will communicate exactly what you want…that your church loves them and wants to meet their needs.

We invite you to start your building process by visiting www.ChurchesByDaniels.com.

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Becoming Successful Takes Hard Work. Staying Successful Takes Planning.

t used to be that if you had a good product and provided solid customer service, you could pretty much count on being successful. And while product and service are still critical to the success of any business or professional venture, other variables – chief among them increased competition for key employees – can make maintaining and building on that success difficult.

Why life insurance? Life insurance is one of the most remarkable financial tools ever developed. Life insurance proceeds can be used to:

Consider your own business. Your success didn’t happen overnight. It most likely took careful planning, attention to detail and a lot of hard work. And if your business or practice is like most, the contributions of a few key employees – yourself included – are probably responsible for the lion’s share of your success. That’s part of the reason why more and more business owners are looking for creative ways to reward and retain their key people. Unfortunately, government regulations can make it difficult for businesses to reward one select group of people without doing something for everyone.

➤ Fund the purchase of a co-owner’s share of the business following his or her pre-mature death.

So how do you build on your success and reward the people who’ve worked hard, year after year, to make that success happen? One answer may be through the use of a welfare benefit plan designed especially to help small business owners and professionals provide themselves and select key employees with substantial life insurance protection, medical benefits, or other optional benefits.

➤ Help families maintain their lifestyle and pursue their objectives following the loss of a major breadwinner.

➤ Pay estate taxes and other expenses, allowing personal and business assets to pass to an individual’s named beneficiary intact. How can a 419 plan help business owners? Generally referred to as a “Section 419 Plan” after section 419 of the Internal Revenue Code, the plan is available to owners of C corporations, sub-chapter S corporations, and limited liability corporations – it is not available to sole proprietors. It allows for the purchase of life insurance on owners and selected key employees using company dollars. The benefits to business owners are many and include: ➤ Plan contributions (policy premiums) for participants are considered a tax-deductible business expense.

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➤ Policy cash values grow free from current income taxes. ➤ You can provide yourself and select key employees with substantial life insurance benefits that, with proper planning, can pass to named beneficiary(s) income tax-free and possibly estate taxfree. ➤ You can limit participation in the plan to just owners of the business and/or selected key employees.

The bottom line: you and your key employees are very likely the backbone of your past, and current, success. By protecting them, yourself and your business with life insurance, you can help ensure your company’s future success as well. This information should not be construed as tax advice applicable to each individual. Please consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your individual circumstances. 1582850RM-Sep18

➤ You can accommodate your company’s cash flow needs by choosing from a variety of flexible funding alternatives. Typically, universal life policies are used because of their premium flexibility. ➤ All plan assets are sheltered from the claims of creditors, be they business or personal. ➤ Your plan can be integrated into any existing business continuation and estate plans, buy/sell agreements, and/or personal estate plans you or your employees may already have established. ➤ The only “cost” to plan participants is the income tax due on a small portion of plan contributions equal to the “economic benefit” of the life insurance protection.. Some employers choose to provide employees with a “bonus” equal to this amount of the tax.

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

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God’s Love Is The Most Powerful Medicine

ne evening while working in the emergency room, I attended to and un-kept, disheveled character who was in a drunken stupor. Tom was 6'3" tall with long, stringy, matted hair, rotten snaggled teeth, tattoo covered, muscular arms, and huge dirty hands. His clothes were torn and filthy and he smelled like a mixture of body odor, alcohol, and tobacco. Tom had served 18 years in prison for attempted murder and was an alcoholic, drug addict, and male prostitute. He seemed determined to destroy his life in every way possible: physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Why? After I treated his bruised and scraped body, I asked the county sheriff to haul him off to jail. Since he seemed totally hopeless and beyond rehabilitation I honestly thought it would be a total waste of my time to talk to him about his self-destructive lifestyle. As he was entering the backseat of the patrol car, Tom looked back at me, pointed his finger at me and said,” If you don’t help me, who will?” His words stopped me dead in my tracks. Why? I graduated from medical school at the University of Wisconsin during the scientific revolution in genetics and molecular biology. I was most interested in and studied the flow of biological information that created, directed and sustained the processes of life. All life forms on this planet are endowed with complex mechanisms that sustain life and above all else promote life and self-preservation. I quickly observed that there is only one living organism on this planet that willfully destroys itself. That living organism is also the most complex and sophisticated of all– – that organism is mankind. I had uncovered the “human paradox.” Why? What is missing? Where is the answer? Sir William Osler the father of modern medicine advised physicians, “ Listen to your patients they are trying to tell you what is wrong with them”. As I searched for the cause of people’s tendency toward self-destruction I observed in their lives the dominating presence of shame, unforgiveness, resentment, fear and anger. Yes, modern medicine and science have shown that the biochemical effects of these self-destructive tendencies have the capacity to change the structure of human proteins that are the building blocks of life. They also can change the structure and function of the DNA molecule that reads the instructions for life. These tendencies of self-destruction are matters of the spirit which have the power to affect every cell, organ, and system in the body. I have asked my patients who are on the road to self-destruction what is it that is missing in their lives. Without hesitation I have repeatedly been given the same answer, “ I am missing three things… 1. Love, 2.Forgiveness, and 3. Meaning and purpose in my life.” What and where is the answer? What is it that stands in opposition to the destructive human tendency toward shame, unforgiveness, resentment, fear and anger? Using parallel reasoning to the physical body I considered oxygen. Oxygen is a universally needed element for humans’ physical life.

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The characteristics of oxygen are… 1. It is universally available to all, 2. It is simply contained in our atmosphere at 21%, 3. It is free. Does creation contain a similar element for the needs of our spiritual lives? I had a fundamental belief based on my study of the biology of life that this vast universe contained all that was necessary to create, sustain and maintain life. Having no spiritual background to either assist or detour me in my search for the truth, I was led by the evidence I observed. I wondered to myself, “What is out there in the vast universe that satisfies life's necessity for love, forgiveness and meaning and purpose?” While working in the hospital ER one evening, the nurse called to tell me a local pastor, Steve, wanted to speak with me. I reluctantly asked her to bring him back to the ER. I had not been in church for years and was not too anxious for a sermon. But, mostly, I was perplexed and searching for answers, but I really didn’t think that he had the answers either. After a few awkward general statements, I told Pastor Steve my observations about the “human paradox.” I reasoned that there should be a parallel between physical and spiritual life. Physical life depends on oxygen, which is… 1. Universally available, 2. Simply exists in our atmosphere, and 3. Is free. So, it seemed consistent to me that the solution to our spiritual dilemma should also be… 1. Universally available, 2. Simple to understand, and 3. Free to all! To my utter amazement, Pastor Steve immediately retorted, “ there is a solution to our spiritual condition that satisfies all of these criteria. It is the Gospel of Christ! The Bible tells us in 1John 4:8… God is love.” I was shocked! I had never considered God to be a necessity for human life, but here was the evidence. Pastor Steve went on to show me in the Bible that Jesus not only died as a payment for our sins but also to give us the gift of forgiveness, and then arose from the dead to give us eternal life which is life’s meaning and purpose. It was the perfect solution for man and me. I accepted Jesus into my heart on the spot in the ER on my knees. I had the solution to the “human paradox!” God's whole plan of love, forgiveness, and eternal life, based only on simple faith was far from my natural, analytical way of reasoning. Soon, I began to doubt my own conclusions about God’s plan. I asked God for more evidence of his presence. It was two weeks later that the police brought Tom in to the ER. His challenge to me from the patrol car took me aback—“If you don't help me who will.” Tom was too far down the road of self-destruction to be saved by any human intervention. Could the same God that just saved me possibly love Tom enough to save him? I decided to put God to the test! I asked God, “ Just how deep and how wide is your Love really? I immediately changed my course of action and admitted him to the hospital. This was my opportunity to see God’s love and power at work. Could Tom be saved from himself? After he came out of his drunken and drug stupor I sat at his bedside. Despite his repeated attempts to sidetrack me with his vulgar stories, I wanted to discover what made him tick. “Tom, if you had three minutes to live,” I asked him, ”What would you have to accomplish in these last three minutes to die a fulfilled and satisfied person?” He instantly buried his head in his hands and began to weep.

Through sobbing tears, he babbled out that he would need to go home and have his parents put their arms around him and tell him that they loved him. I realized that as antisocial and self-destructive as his life had been, his underlying motive in life was absolutely no different than mine or anyone else. His life had been directed and motivated by the need for love. I told Tom that God is love and as desirable as it may be to obtain parental love, the vacuum in his heart could only be filled with God's perfect love. The emptiness and discontent in his life could only be fulfilled through a relationship with God through his son, Jesus. I told Tom of God's plan of salvation and he knelt at his bedside and prayed, as I had, and received God's love, forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life through his son, Jesus. I must confess my skepticism about the authenticity of Tom's conversion, though he actually looked and sounded like a completely different person. Then, after his discharge from the hospital, he sent me the money I had loaned him for a bus ticket to his parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. I will always consider Tom's repayment of that debt as a sign of the newness of his heart and an affirmation of God's love and power and his presence in our daily affairs. Our human nature and human heart can only be changed when the spirit of God indwells us. Tom did leave my care a changed man, a new man, a new creation in Christ. The power of the presence of God's love in the spiritual heart of man has been the focus of the last 40 years of my practice and study of the human condition. The new sciences have given me and many patients a renewed knowledge, understanding, confidence and conviction of the spiritually and biologically transformative nature of the love of God. Recent scientific studies have elucidated the mechanisms by which the presence of God's love contained in the spiritual heart of man has the potential to repair, regenerate and restore a state of health and well-being to every cell contained in the human body and soul. My hope is that you individually establish a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus by asking Jesus into your heart and confessing Him as Savior and Lord of your life Romans 10:9-10. And that you nourish your perfected spiritual heart by submitting yourself to the study and fellowship of God's Word in the local church to the renewing of your mind. In so doing you will be able to receive and utilize the full spiritual power and potential God Willâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and desires you to have.

Community Spirit is honored to introduce you to Mark Paul Bishop, M. D. He is a talented writer with a unique perspective we know you will enjoy. Dr. Bishop is an Honors graduate University of Wisconsin Medical School. He was named the 1996 Wisconsin Family Physician of the year. Not only has he had a Family Practice for 40 years, he also has Masters Degree In Biblical Studies. He currently applies all of those skills and experience serving as a physician at the Indian Health Service in Claremore. He has been married to Judy (Hair stylist, Web Site Designer) for 35 years and they have three children and five granddaughters.

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