December 2012 | Community Spirit Magazine

A M ANN HEIM

Chris

DEC

EMB

ER 2 9-30

STE

tmas •

AMR

TULS

OLL

A PA C

ER

Saturday, December 8 // 5pm Sunday, December 9 // 9, 11am & 6pm FREE ADMISSION 7700 S. LEWIS AVE., TULSA // 918.491.7700 @victorytulsa #victorybelieve

December 2012

Contents Features: 6 A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas 10 Christian Educator’s Section 23 Above Standard: Home Autmation Systems 26 Celebrate Recovery 28 ORU Section COLUMNS: 32 Pet Corner 33 Matters of the Heart with Deniece Adsit 34 Randy Cowell 35 Lose Your Quit with Danny Cahill 39 Floral Haven

PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud CREATIVE Director Ramond Walker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Moeller, Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Danny Cahill, Deniece Adsit, Blythe Fowler www.mccloudmedia.com • www.communityspiritmagazine.com

TULSA Sales Office 10019 S. 69th E. Ave. Tulsa, OK 74133 phone: (918) 307-2323 fax: (918) 528-6209 Distribution Community Spirit is distributed to churches, schools, restaurants, Christian bookstores, and other businesses. Call us today to deliver to your church.

Community Spirit 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 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

4

C ommu nit y S pirit

December 2 0 1 2

Primary & Specialty Care

Over 35 locations Choose extraordinary care without sacrificing convenience.

Close to home.

75

Cleveland

At Utica Park Clinic, you can choose from over 180 healthcare providers including specialists in: • Breast Care/Surgery • Child & Adolescent Psychiatry • Ear, Nose & Throat • Endocrinology • Family Medicine • Gastroenterology • Geriatric Medicine • Internal Medicine • Medical Oncology • Neurology

• OB/Gyn • Orthopedics • Pediatric Neurology • Pediatrics • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation • Prenatal Care • Pulmonology • Rheumatology • Surgery • Urology

918.579.DOCS

(3627)

11 412

412

75

51

Tulsa

Oilton Sand Springs

Cushing

Claremore Owasso

Pryor

Catoosa 169

44

244

Creek Tpk

69

64 44

66 75

169

51

44

97

Broken Arrow

Sapulpa

Jenks

Bristow Chandler

Okemah

Henryetta

Okmulgee 40

SamE DaY aPPOintmEntS anD EXtEnDED HOURS AVAILABLE FOR PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS

• UtiCaParkCliniC.COm

COVER STORY

Mannheim Steamroller A

CHRISTMAS

T

he number one Christmas show in the world is coming to Tulsa this month! MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS by Chip Davis and presented by Pandora will perform live December 29-30 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Tickets go on sale Monday, December 3.

The tour, now in its 27th year, is still met by sold-out audiences and was one of the top 20 concert tours in the nation last year. This year Mannheim Steamroller’s two touring ensembles will hold over 90 performances throughout the United States.

Grammy Award® winner Davis will direct and co-produce the performances with MagicSpace Entertainment. The shows will feature the favorite Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller along with state-of-the-art multimedia effects in an intimate setting.

In 1984, Mannheim Steamroller released Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, an album that changed the sounds of Christmas. Already a multi-platinum recording artist through its Fresh Aire series, Davis decided to record an album of Christmas music combining the group’s signature mix of Renaissance instruments with rock & roll beats.

The resulting album was a runaway hit and Mannheim Steamroller went on to become the biggest selling Christmas music artist in history. The group’s Christmas tour has become an annual holiday tradition right along with decorating the tree, exchanging presents and creating unforgettable moments with friends and family.

6

C omm u nit y S pirit December 2 0 1 2

ABOUT MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER Composer and creator Chip Davis started Mannheim Steamroller more than 30 years ago with his Grammy Award-winning Fresh Aire series.

Today, with 19 gold, 8 multi-platinum and 4 platinum certified records, Davis is among an elite group of artists -including U2, Jay-Z, The Beach Boys and Michael Jackson – holding the most certifications of such albums.

Mannheim Steamroller is the #1-selling Christmas artist of all time.

With over 40 million total records sold, 28 million have been Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums. The group’s annual Christmas tour has consistently ranked among top national tours.

From founding his own record label American Gramaphone, which has been ranked by Billboard as the #1 independent label, to creating the Mannheim Steamroller “lifestyle” of food, apparel and other products, Davis is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the music industry.

His latest achievement is creating a cutting edge psychoacoustic technology that is being used in major medical institutions such as Mayo Clinic and is also being studied by NASA for potential use in space.

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS by Chip Davis comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center December 29-30. Tickets go on sale Monday, December 3 and may be purchased via phone 918.596.7111, 800.364.7111, in person at the Tulsa PAC Ticket Office or online at www.MyTicketOffice. com. Groups of 10 or more may call 918.796.0220 for a discount. For more information, visit Celebrity Attractions’ website at www.CelebrityAttractions. com.

MAGICSPACE ENTERTAINMENT MagicSpace Entertainment is headed by Lee D. Marshall, Joe Marsh, John Ballard, Steve Boulay and Bruce

Granath and has been producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows and concerts worldwide for over 30 years. Consistently one of the top 10 promoters in North America, MagicSpace Entertainment typically produces and presents more than 250 events in 75 cities per year. Credits include Broadway shows including Donny & Marie – A Broadway Christmas, Hello Dolly! starring Carol Channing; The Who’s Tommy, American Idiot and RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles On Broadway. National tour credits include Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage in Mythbusters - Behind The Myths, The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis, Donny & Marie Christmas, RAIN – A Tribute To The Beatles, David Copperfield, The 101 Dalmatians Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line and concert tours by Janet Jackson, Cher, Fleetwood Mac to name just a few. Special tours and events produced or presented on the road include Tutankhamaun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition, Titanic: The Exhibition and Diana – A Celebration. MagicSpace Entertainment has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT. www.magicspace.net Get social with Celebrity Attractions by becoming a fan on Facebook.com/ BwayTulsa. Follow the Tulsa engagement of MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS on Twitter.com/BwayTulsa or with hashtag #MannheimTulsa.

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS by Chip Davis is presented

by Celebrity Attractions and is an add-on production to the Celebrity Attractions 2012-2013 Broadway Season which includes JEKYLL AND HYDE starring Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox, Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN,WEST SIDE STORY, and the add-on production of Disney’s THE LION KING coming June 2013. Celebrity Attractions is proud to have American Airlines, Oklahoma’s Own News On 6 and Tulsa World as

sponsors for this spectacular season.

For more information please log onto www.mannheimsteamroller.com.

ABOUT CHIP DAVIS Grammy Award winning composer/ musician Chip Davis is one of the most successful innovators and entrepreneurs in music today.

He is the creator of Mannheim Steamroller, the #1 Christmas music artist in history and one of the top 50 best-selling artists of all times with over 40 million records sold, 27 million in the Christmas genre alone.

More than 30 years ago, Davis transformed popular instrumental music by combining classical compositions, rock rhythms, harpsichords and recorders with electric bass and synthesizers.

He is credited with creating the New Age music genre and went on to revolutionize the sounds of Christmas, transforming the holiday music season into the huge industry it is today.

All told, Davis has created a remarkably varied body of work: he has written, arranged and recorded over 35 albums, including eight in the Fresh Aire series; 18 Christmas albums; four Halloween albums, and a range of other albums. Davis is also the author of five children’s books and creator of an entire line of food and bath products bearing the Mannheim Steamroller name.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

7

f ro m O U R p u b l i s h er

Five Ways To Have A Positive Christmas

By Tom McCloud

I

f your childhood anticipation of Christmas has been replaced with the dread of loneliness and tough memories, read on. Our prayer for you is that you not only make it through the holidays, but that The Great Physician will renew your Spirit and place the greatest gift under your tree – hope.

You may have every right to be sad…the loss of loved ones, painful scars from those who you thought you could count on, or maybe your current health is keeping you from enjoying life like you once did. But God has a Christmas miracle just for you and this Christmas can be a special time of celebration, no matter your circumstances.

Think back. If you are like me, the best Christmas memories are those times when I fully prepared for the holidays, when I just couldn’t wait for someone to open that present I knew they were going to squeal about. I challenge you to prepare right now for a wonderful Christmas. Plans made today will ensure happy days ahead.

Here are some practical ideas to make your holiday positive and to experience that special warm Christmas feeling you thought you might never feel again. It’s not rocket science, but I know it’s not easy either. However, take the steps and I am certain they will make a difference.

reaction. Then hang on to it throughout the holidays. You deserve it.

1. You are not alone. If you will look around you, I promise you will find lonely people who need your help in making their Christmas positive as well. Jesus taught us that the secret of life is found in serving others. Surely then, the secret of enjoying Christmas is to help others do the same. Ask God for His help in finding these people who need you so badly and pray for ideas on how you can bless them.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:11 New International Version

2. Plan a party. Don’t be alone on Christmas. Equipped with your new list of people who need you, plan a party or even a series of parties. Make it special. Hand-make invitations and do it up right. Make every guest feel like they are the most important person in the room.

3. Donate to charity. Though it is obviously nice to write a check to a worthy organization, that is not what I am suggesting here. Instead, find someone in your church, at work or who lives around you and do something to help them. Maybe it is the single mom across the street that could use a Christmas ham or help buying gifts for the kids? I guess the secret here is for you to be able to see them open it. Enjoy and savor their

8

Comm u nit y S pirit

december 2 0 1 2

4. Get out of the house! In your mission to help others, get out of the house and be open to where God leads you. Pray that He puts people in your path that need your smile, your kind words and your newfound Christmas spirit. But be sure to have a mission. Stop to thank every person ringing the bells for charity and every person who is working so others can enjoy themselves. They will be shocked and delighted that you would think of them. Wish EVERYONE a Merry Christmas.

And determine ahead of time that you will praise God for each happy person you see. When you see a family arm-in-arm for instance, don’t let it put you in a depression tailspin. Instead, let every scene, especially the positive ones, be another reason to praise God. 5. Surround yourself with good things. This is the time for celebration. Treat yourself to all of your favorite, positive things and stay away from anything negative. Turn off the negative television shows. Read a good book. Read the Good Book. Write letters to loved ones. Focus on the good in life and count your blessings.

Why I Say, “Merry Christmas”

By Tom McCloud

T

he phrase “Merry Christmas” has a deeper meaning for me these days. In an effort to be politically correct, “Seasons Greetings” might work, or maybe even “Happy Holidays” – but neither conveys what I want to say. For when I wish you a Merry Christmas, I mean something much more.

Sure, packaged up in all the glitter and holiday splendor retailers have to offer, my greeting doesn’t sound very special anymore. To many, it’s simply December’s way to say hello.

But it hasn’t always been that way – at least it wasn’t for an unlikely group of soldiers back in World War I. While huddled down in their trenches on a cold Christmas Eve, Scottish troops listened as the German soldiers in the trenches just ahead of them began singing “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night). The Scottish troops responded by singing their own carols.

The hymns ultimately were drowned out with shouts of Christmas greetings to each other. Then, caught up in something much bigger than the battle that raged only hours before, the men laid down their weapons and came together to exchange gifts of whisky, jam, cigars and chocolate. Together, they experienced Christmas like never before.

The truce spread to other areas of the lines. In some

instances the two sides came together to help each other bury their dead, reciting the 23rd Psalm together over their fallen brothers. Later, some were said to have even played football (soccer) together. In some areas, the truce lasted through Christmas night, but in others, it is said to have lasted through New Year’s Day. The Christmas holiday had produced at least a temporary “peace on earth.”

There is little doubt that the phrase “Merry Christmas” would have a sacred meaning for these men for the rest of their lives. They had seen Jesus in each other.

So, as I think over the past year, of the special people we have met, of those who have continued to support this magazine, and of the evidence of Jesus in their lives, I say my greeting with the greatest sincerity: Merry Christmas.

It is more than a holiday hello. It represents a belief in the real-life story of the baby in the manger. And it represents a hope in the One who is the only true answer to the peace on earth that we seek.

Merry Christmas. Isn’t it a shame I only get to say it for a few weeks each year?

Because every moment counts...

Grace Hospice helps you embrace every moment. We provide expert medical care and counseling services to our patients including: Nursing services 24 hours/7 days a week Medications related to the terminal illness � Pain and symptom management � Emotional, spiritual and bereavement counseling � Family support services for friends and family �

Help Wanted

�

Independent Sales Representatives

Services are provided in your home or in a care facility. All services are offered regardless of your ability to pay.

call 918-307-2323 for details

Phone (918) 744-7223 Toll Free (800) 659-0307 www.gracehospice.com

Join the Community Spirit Team

Not affiliated with Grace Living Centers.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

9

s r o t a c u d E n a i t s i r Honoring Ch . No matter where le p o e p l ia c e p s Teachers are ls are worthy of dedicated professiona

private schools, these they teach, in public or the education re of our nation rest on tu fu e th d an re tu fu ren’s it a our applause. Our child mmunity Spirit makes Co , so d An . es ro he often unsung delivered by these so our kids! for loving and teaching u yo k an Th r. be m ce ch De point to honor them ea s. We ivate Christian school pr r ou in h ac te o wh e those We especially appreciat where you work in environments to es ific cr sa l na rso pe ake understand that you m ly has irit of our kids. God sure sp e th d an d in m e th velop both can use your skills to de ur crowns. some special stars for yo m our e terrific teachers fro th of e pl m sa a ht highlig The following pages be the first specifically, they would em th r no ho we As s. ol scho community’s Christian talents rs who dedicate their he ac te ea ar of ds re present hund to tell you that they re rve their Lord. as they passionately se

er today!

ach Be sure and thank a te

10 10

CComm ommuunit nityySSpirit pirit December December 22001122

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Sammi Main - Augustine Christian Academy

I

n some jobs, you might work for years without seeing first hand any difference you are making. This isn’t the case for teaching and it sure isn’t the case for Sammi Main. The 1st grade teacher at Augustine Christian Academy, gets to see daily improvement as she invests her time in teaching young minds.

“I especially love teaching kids how to read. You can’t do anything without the ability to read and I get to pass on my love for reading to these incredible kids. Sure, at first it can be a struggle for some of the children, but once they begin to get it, they get excited and I am reminded again of why I teach.”

The kids could not have a more enthusiastic teacher. As selfproclaimed book junkie, Sammi reads because she loves to, not because she has to. It is a passion she loves to pass on to another generation. “Reading allows me to go places and see things I would never get the opportunity to see. It stimulates creativity and imagination, letting me imagine myself in other places or challenging me on how I would react in the same situation.”

This is Sammi’s forth year to teach first grade at Augustine.

She can’t imagine a better place to work or a better career. It is a job she believes God called her to do. “I became a Christian when I was a senior in high school. At the time, I thought I wanted to become a doctor. But after teaching VBS that summer, I realized that God was calling me to teach kids rather than doctor them.”

Sammi worked hard to prepare herself for the task, receiving a BS in Education and a MS in Reading. Now, she applies those skills to make a difference in the minds and the hearts of some very special kids. She laughed as she described her current class, 12 girls and only two boys. “You would be blown away if you saw how quick they are with their Math facts. They are such great kids.”

Filled with love for children, this special young lady took on the responsibility to adopt her niece and nephew. She adopted her nephew while she was still a senior in college. Then, she adopted her niece three years later. Now ages nine and six, both attend Augustine.

Sammi loves to make learning fun and she has learned some important lessons the last few years. She says the most

important one is to be flexible. “When teaching, especially teaching the first grade, you have to be prepared to throw away your plans and go a different direction if necessary. And that is okay! If they don’t get a concept or if surprises happen, you just have to go with the flow and not let it bother you. You can try your plan tomorrow.”

She loves Augustine and says the staff, the kids and the parents are all like family. Although she has never taught anywhere else, she can’t imagine a better place to work. With everyone sharing a common passion for serving Christ and a common purpose, she contends it is a unique place.

When God called Sammi into teaching, He must have already had Augustine in mind for her. And in the words of some of the books her kids read, this is a teacher is in a position “to live happily ever after.”

Augustine Christian Academy is a small, independent, nondenominational Christian classical school dedicated to training students to take the lead in their personal lives, in their educations, and in their communities. The administrators and teachers are committed to providing a classical Christian education for K-12th grade “training young minds to learn, reason, and persuade from a distinctively Christian world view.”

The school is located at 6310 E 30th Street in Tulsa.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

11

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Katherine McGrew - Immanuel Lutheran Academy

W

hen she arrived, then Immanuel Lutheran Academy was little more than a dream. But Katherine McGrew had the skills and the experience to turn that dream into reality. Going right to work, she pulled together the right team and established a professional framework that would be the foundation for building a respected school. Together, they would meet the mission of Immanuel Lutheran Church, to provide quality Christian and academic education and to train young people for leadership roles in their community and society.

Fifty kindergarten through eighth grade students became a part of the Immanuel family that first year. Now, eleven years later, the student population has more than tripled and the academy now offers K-12th Grade. Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy continues to receive many accolades including the Exemplary Status by the National Lutheran Schools, an honor awarded to less than 5% of all Lutheran schools.

The school continues to grow, requiring a $1 million dollar expansion this last year to add additional classrooms for preschool, freeing up space within the school building for additional classrooms for high school. The preschool has moved into a separate focused facility doubling its enrollment to 146 children. Planning for a new gym and high school facilities will begin this summer.

After ten years, 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.

But it is difficult to compliment the academy without giving special applause to Katherine McGrew. Her skills became obvious from the beginning when the academy attained full accreditation within its first year, something unheard of at that time.

From the beginning, Katherine set a standard of excellence which has shown itself in not only student growth, but also in test scores and reputation. “I have seen God’s hand work mightily and in ways we could not imagine. I am humbled that He chose me for leadership at this time and has given me this opportunity to see so much come to fruition,” Katherine said.

Katherine’s professionalism and leadership has not only 12

C omm u nit y S pirit December 2 0 1 2

allowed her to recruit excellent teachers, but also to encourage continued personal growth of the entire staff. This year, Kindergarten teacher, Stacey Long was named LEA Early Childhood Teacher of the Year and Middle and High School science teacher, Laura Opper was awarded the Oklahoma State Natural Sciences Teacher of the Year. In national competition, Mrs. Opper was chosen as one of seven finalists and winner of the American Midwest region by the National Association of Petroleum Engineers. “Not only do these awards give recognition to these teachers and our school, they continually set a higher standard for teaching excellence at the school,” Katherine explained.

But Katherine’s success has not all come from administrative efficiency. Her heart for serving Jesus Christ has set a tone for the entire school. While the kids get great academic achievement at Immanuel, they also receive continued Bible teaching and living examples of how to put your faith into action.

Katherine McGrew attended Oklahoma State University and holds advanced degrees from NSU, TU and Concordia University, Mequoin, WI. She is married to Terry McGrew and the couple have two sons – Garrett, who works in Real Estate in New York City and Mitchell, who coaches Union High School Football.

Mitchell and his wife, Rachel have a daughter, Hadley. When she is not leading one of the most respected private Christian schools in town, Katherine enjoys reading and of course…playing with granddaughter, Hadley.

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Jolene Udrisky - Legacy Christian Academy – A Discipleship School

I

f you can follow directions, thank your second grade teacher.

Actually, the second grade can be a scary place. It is a school age when expectations become higher, the subject matter gets a bit tougher and the teachers begin to encourage independence and personal responsibility.

That is why Jolene Udrisky loves teaching this age group. “The students have received some the foundational skills. Now I get to take them deeper in comprehension and vocabulary. They have the basics so I can really springboard to teach them deeper things. I also love it because…they are more independent, but they still love their teacher,” she explained with a big smile.

Jolene sees teaching the second grade as an opportunity to minister to these kids, to build both their skills and their selfimage. Overall she believes the biggest need of children at this age is for them to learn to believe in themselves…that they can do it. “It is a big year for teaching them to be more independent.

When they come into the second grade they still want teachers to walk with them. It is my job to encourage them to take on personal responsibilities. I tell them that God has given them gifts and talents and that it is their responsibility to make sure things get done. It is a big jump for them to work from a list of things to do and to follow directions, but it is neat to see their growth throughout the year.”

Jolene has taught at Legacy for the last three years and she absolutely loves it. “The Legacy staff really loves these students and they each have a great walk with the Lord. I love to watch them invest in the kids, not only academically, but also spiritually. Every day is another opportunity to try to disciple the kids, to face any challenges by going back to the Bible to teach how should we act.”

Growing up in a Christian home, in a family with lots of pastors, Jolene became a Christian at an early age. Now, she gets to help influence a whole classroom, teaching them that God loves them.

“I love talking about the Bible and finding ways to share with them one of the biggest things I have learned in my Christian walk…God’s forgiveness. We are all going to mess up, but are saved by the grace of God. I try to teach them that we are all going

to make mistakes, but for them to get up and go on again.”

Jolene is married and has two children. Their daughter finished eighth grade at Legacy last year and has now gone to a Catholic school. And their son is now a sixth grader at Legacy.

Having them at the school has given Jolene the opportunity to see Legacy from the view of a parent as well as being on staff. “One thing that continually is obvious, Legacy teachers care and invest themselves in these kids. I also love the fact that whether they are at church, at school, or at home, they hear the same message that Jesus loves them. I love that.”

It may be true that second grade is an important transitional year, but it is obvious that the 14 second graders at Legacy are blessed with a great teacher. There is no reason to be scared when Mrs. Udrisky is around.

Legacy Christian Academy – A Discipleship School is a private K-8th grade school located in Broken Arrow. It is a ministry of Northside Christian Church. It is dedicated to partnering with parents to provide a strong academic program of excellence based on Biblical principles and values to produce children who will be disciples of Jesus Christ and who will positively impact the world in which they live with character and ability who instruct with clarity, compassion, and Christ’s love. For more information, call the school office, 918.286.6794.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

13

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Debra Canady - Metro Christian Academy that makes a difference in the student’s lives and in the teacher’s lives as well. She says it is a blessing to be surrounded by such great Christian examples.

Her students may not remember that it was Mrs. Canady who taught them the beginning phases of algebra, but we bet they do remember the way she encouraged them, building up their self-confidence. It is a lesson which will positively affect their entire life and it is a God-given skill which this MCA teacher uses to impact the world for Christ.

Mrs. Canady is beginning her 11th year at MCA as the fourth grade Math teacher. She was born in Tulsa and has lived in the area most of her life. She graduated from Webster High School and went on to Oklahoma Christian University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education Magna Cum Laude.

Prior to Metro, she taught for four years at Choctaw High School, four years at Anderson Elementary and two years at Remington Elementary. She is married to Dr. Rick Canady D.D.S.

A

ll of us want to feel good about ourselves, to believe we are capable of success. For Debra Canady, Metro Christian Academy’s Teacher of the Year, the secret to teaching is to ensure every student knows they can succeed.

“My classrooms have always been filled with students with varied abilities and learning styles. But it is my responsibility to make sure each child feels capable and successful. If these things are missing, children can’t learn. I have discovered that when I make sure students feel successful, they give 110 percent and…they learn,” she explained.

It is a concept Debra has used not only in both public and private school classrooms for over 21 years, but also while successfully raising her four sons (now 28, 25, 22 and 18).

Debra’s focus this year is on a group of very lucky fourth grade students. She teaches Bible to her homeroom students and then Math to other classes rotating to her room throughout the day. “I love fourth graders. It is by far, my favorite grade to teach.

They are not too big for their britches, but old enough to take care of themselves,” she said with a smile.

Debra was introduced to MCA when she and her husband sent their oldest son to school there. Gradually, each of her other boys followed and finally, she moved as well. It is a decision she has never regretted. She has found it to be very different than teaching in public schools, noting that the kids come to school ready to learn. Because their parents have instilled in them the importance of education, she says she gets to spend her day teaching instead of parenting or disciplining students.

She says one of the things she loves most about MCA is the way the administration focuses on each student’s success.

“They not only focus on academics, but also on their spiritual, physical and social development. The result is an environment 14

C omm u nit y S pirit December 2 0 1 2

Metro Christian Academy is an interdenominational school serving P3 through the 12th grade students. It is accredited by the State Department of Education, Advanced ED (formerly North Central Association of Colleges and Schools), and is a member of the Oklahoma Secondary Student Activities Association.

Open House: Tuesday, January 22nd. Call for information.

How does peer pressure affect your kids?

Depends on their peers.

At Metro Christian Academy, we believe excellence is measured not only by academics, but also by character. Accredited education. Christian principles.

College preparation. Promising futures. We’re Metro Christian Academy.

METRO CHRISTIAN www.MetroCA.com • 918-745-9868 • Limited enrollment available.

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Ginny Watson - Mingo Valley Christian School

B

elieve it or not, there is still a school that teaches penmanship. Even in this digital world where there is seemingly less and less of a need to be able to create the beautiful, flowing letters like our parents did, Mingo Valley Christian School still thinks it is important.

Fourth grade teacher, Ginny Watson, agrees that things have changed even since she first started teaching 18 years ago.

“Most schools are replacing penmanship with keyboarding, but it is still important. It develops hand-eye coordination and neatness. And, there will always be a need to write things down or to write a personal note. It is a skill we want our students to have,” she explained.

But penmanship is not the only thing changing in our society. Every aspect of our culture from history to science is all to often taught from a secular worldview. Mingo Valley holds fast to maintain a Christian worldview where God is shown in the center of every subject. “We partner with parents to build faith and character in their children’s lives.

“We do the best we can to develop every aspect of education through a lens where God is the author, deserving honor in all we do,” she explained.

This commitment is a major reason for the continued success of Mingo Valley. Parents bring their children here because of it. They are willing to invest in providing their children with an education with a spiritual emphasis as well as strong academics.

Ginny Watson is an example of the teachers at Mingo. After teaching for seven years, she laid out to homeschool her own children. But her oldest son decided to start going to Mingo Valley and one by one her other boys followed. Ginny finally came as well. “I just decided it was time and I had missed teaching in the classroom.”

“I love kids and I am passionate about helping them learn, especially helping them understand the character of God. I love to help them discover who God is and how they relate to him.

Along with that, I love teaching and fourth grade is my favorite.

I am absolutely in my element in the classroom.”

Ginny still sees benefits in both homeschooling and private Christian schools. “There is no God-given mandate of how we

should educate and I loved homeschooling, but it is not for everyone. Some subjects are easier to learn in a group project setting. Kids learn from each other as they ask questions and as they see examples of Christian character. And sometimes parents can’t homeschool or aren’t equipped to be able to do so.”

“We are not in competition,” she insists. “Whether we are homeschooling, teaching in public schools or in private ones, we all shoulder the responsibility to minister to the students God has placed on us. In this way, we are all in this together.”

Still, she sees Mingo Valley as a unique place. “We are family here.” And like penmanship or establishing Godly character, some things... like learning in a wholesome Christian environment never go out of style.

Mingo Valley Christian School is a Kindergarten-4 through 12th Grade non-denominational Christian School. MVCS was established in 1976 and is a ministry of Memorial Bible Church. Mingo Valley Christian School offers a wide range of learning opportunities and activities ranging from arts and athletics to academic and service clubs. The school is focused on discipleship with a desire to see each child develop a biblical worldview as they get wisdom and understanding. Mingo Valley Christian School (MVCS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. School families attend over 70 different church homes. The school is accredited

by ACSI, OPSAC and AdancED.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

15

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Susie Brenneman - Regent Preparatory School of Oklahoma

S

usie Brenneman knows teaching. After nearly 40 years in the classroom, there is little which would surprise her.

She has taught every elementary level except for second grade. She has taught in public schools and in private ones, to kids from poor families and rich ones, and to kids of all faiths and all races. The years have taught her a valuable lesson…kids are kids.

“Kids are kids wherever they are. They need good teaching, but more importantly, they need people who care about them.

No matter their socioeconomic background, they all have needs. Their needs vary, but are still there. And their biggest need is for someone to care about them. You can’t fake it. They know if you care, if you take interest in who they are personally,” she explained.

Susie has the training and the experience to be a good teacher. But ask the other teachers who watch her in action and they will tell you that it is her heart that makes her a great teacher. Knowing instinctively how to communicate this sense of caring to her kids, she always seems to offer the right mixture of eye contact, attentive body language and loving correction.

16

C omm u nit y S pirit December 2 0 1 2

The kids love her and respect her. They want to please her.

Susie currently teaches Regent’s Enrichment 3 program, basically an advanced first grade curriculum taught to Kindergarten-aged kids. She describes it as structured and systematic and challenging, but the kids love it. She teaches two sections, one from 8:15 until noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and another from 8:15 until 2:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

In keeping with the Regent philosophy, it is Susie’s job to teach the concepts and then she partners with the parents to do the repetitive practicing during the “free times.” “It is not for everybody. It takes a strong commitment from the entire family, but it has proven to be highly effective,” she explained.

Although the highly structured and advanced curriculum sometimes gives the perception that the Regent method is high pressure, Susie says that is not true. “It might sound that way, but it isn’t. In fact, I often coach the parents on how to do the practicing and keep it fun. At the first onset of pressure, they let me know and I make adjustments.”

Still, Regent does produce successful children. The children enjoy specials such as art and music, but Susie explained that there isn’t any fluff. She has been teaching at Regent for nine years. “I came here thinking I would work for three years to finish out my career and get my youngest out of college. Now, nine years later, I just can’t quit. I love it here,” she said.

She explained that she loves the Classical Christian Education philosophy and that God and Jesus are intertwined into everything we do. She also enjoys the fact that families come to Regent from all different Christian denominations. “That is probably what I like best, seeing the Body of Christ work outside my own church,” she commented.

Susie is married, has two grown sons and now three grandchildren. Her faith and her experience put her in a position to mentor and minister to the families from her classroom. “I love to be a service to them, but quite frankly, they are the ones who have served me,” she said with a smile.

Regent Preparatory School of Oklahoma is an Interdenominational Christian School which offers grades Pre-K through the 12th grade. Their Classical style is rooted in their motto, Our motto Fidelis Veritati, “faithful to the truth” and is a central objective in everything they do. The school is accredited by the Association of Classical and Christian Schools and is recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Want to hear better... but not ready to wear a hearing aid?

THERE’S A NEW SOLUTION FOR MILD HEARING LOSS!

• Perfect for Part time use • Nearly iNvisible fit • affordable aNd easy to use

Appointments are limited. CAll TodAy to reserve your space! ®

HEARING AID LABORATORIES, INC.

838-1000 or 800-722-8050 2323 S. Sheridan Rd • Tulsa, OK www.MyCleartone.com

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

17

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Roberta Eberhard - Rejoice Christian Schools called someone; I interviewed the next day and started three days later. It just had to be an answer to prayer.”

Roberta is highly complimentary of the school. She says she can’t imagine working in a better place, working for an administration that supports her 100 percent. But it is the community of teachers she loves most. “We genuinely care about each other and are always there for each other. Rejoice is an amazing place.”

R

oberta Eberhard is not tall, but her personality forces you to look up to her. Beaming with an assurance of who she is and more importantly, “whose she is,” Roberta fills the room with confidence.

Where did she get it? First of all, she gives credit to her supportive and affirming parents, but without a doubt, she found her confidence on stage. She always loved drama. In fact, she says it remains to be her “favorite thing.” Her desire to be on stage, lead her to begin playing children’s roles in local theatre musicals even before High School. She continued pursuing this passion, ultimately receiving a bachelors and a masters degree in Music.

Along the way, she says she learned who she was by “playing other people.” “Drama is such an important class. Students learn to become comfortable with themselves and happy with the person God made them to be. It also trains them in public speaking, a skill which they will use their entire life. It develops skills used in presenting themselves in an interview or to speak clearly and concisely to any audience.”

Roberta feels blessed to be able to share these skills with her drama students at Rejoice Christian High School. She also teaches Music to third through sixth graders and conducts the sixth grade band.

From the moment she heard about the school, she has felt drawn to it. In fact, she knows in her heart that God wants her here. “My husband and I moved to the Tulsa area so he could attend law school. I didn’t have a job and it is pretty tough to find companies that want to hire someone with a master’s in Music. But one Sunday, while I was visiting my parent’s church in Bartlesville, I met one of the teachers from Rejoice. She told me that Rejoice had been looking for a Music teacher. She 18

C omm u nit y S pirit December 2 0 1 2

Rejoice Christian School is located in Owasso. Built on the philosophy that “The right school will change a child’s future,” everyone at the school works hard to build the right foundation for every child. Rejoice Christian Schools offers a complete curriculum from Pre3 to 12th grade, including College Preparatory Training and Honors Classes. In October 2008, they received notification from the US Department of Education that their test scores in every grade ranked in the top 10% of schools, both public and private, nationwide. RCS has two locations, serving four divisions: Preschool, Elementary, Middle School and High School. You can learn more at www.rejoiceschool.com.

Rejoice Christian Schools is marking its 20th year of academic excellence of creating engaged and inspired citizens. Every student is encouraged to reach their full potential as scholars, individuals, and members of society.

Rejoice is an independent coeducational Christian school that serves Pre3 to 12th grade.

We invite you to learn more about Rejoice and the opportunities we offer for growing minds.

For more information call 918-272-7235 or visit www.rejoiceschool.com Rejoice Christian Schools admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Sara Hills - Summit Christian Academy treatments throughout last year. “There were days when I knew Sara wasn’t feeling her best, but she came to school anyway.

I never heard her complain,” said Jolinda Moss, her principal.

Sara is now cancer free. She attributes her healing to God and is thankful to all of her friends, family, and students who prayed for her. Sara knows that she is called to teach at SCA, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Ask her students, parents, and co-workers and they will all agree, Sara Hills is right where God wants her to be.

Summit Christian Academy was established as a direct ministry of The Assembly at Broken Arrow in 1987. Originally named New Adventures

S

ara Hills has been teaching at Summit Christian Academy since its beginning in 1987. Since that time so many years ago, Summit has changed tremendously and Sara is the only one who has remained during all of those years. “It has been amazing seeing how SCA has grown from the first day with only three classes to what it is today,” said Sara.

Sara’s smile and consistent calming presence has helped her to be an effective Kindergarten teacher. She understands that she is laying the foundation–spiritually, academically, and socially for so many students and parents, and she welcomes that challenge.

“When teaching Kindergarten, there is never a dull moment.

Each day is different and you never know what to expect.

Everything is new to them, and they soak it up like a sponge,” said Sara.

Parents, too, have learned from Sara’s wisdom and experience. Often, she is working with first time parents who need reassurance, suggestions, and encouragement. She quietly gives advice or calmly models how to handle each child’s different learning needs. She can’t imagine teaching another age. Ask Sara’s students or just check out her walls that are decorated with notes of love and appreciation and you will see that they think she is perfect.

Equipped with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, she has been trained to know how to teach. But it is Sara’s heart that makes the true difference. Filled with a passion for the children and the gift of encouragement, she has a way of making every day fun for the kids.

Sara has never been afraid of a challenge both in and out of the classroom. She is a breast cancer survivor. Two years ago, at the end of the 2011 school year, she was diagnosed with cancer. Sara started treatment over the summer and continued

Elementary School, the school started with just a handful of elementary students. The school continued to grow and expand and currently has nearly 500 students in kindergarten through 12th grades. SCA is a nonprofit, co-educational, private day school and is fully accredited, with no deficiencies, with Advanced Ed, ICAA International Christian Accrediting Association, and the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS). SCA is also recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

19

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Michael Johnson- Victory Christian School when I was when I was their age. Maybe because of that, they have a real openness to prayer in our classroom.”

Ask any of his students and they will tell you there are some things they absolutely know about “Mr. J.” He loves the Lord.

He loves to fish. He loves college football, especially his favorite Notre Dame. But most important...they know he loves them.

Michael Johnson says he “is blessed to be here.” His students would politely disagree saying, “No, they are the blessed ones.”

M

ichael Johnson is affectionately called “Mr. J” by his students. The 64 year-old ex-law enforcement officer turned teacher has earned both their respect and admiration. And in this world where people his age are often “invisible” to teens, it is impressive to watch him interact with his students as a mentor, teacher and friend.

Michael teaches seventh grade Geography, eighth grade Civics and eighth grade Bible. He has been teaching at Victory for 13 years. He and his wife (the school nurse) see their jobs as a ministry. “All of our kids are grown so we sort of adopt these kidoos. We both want to make a positive influence in the lives of young people and like all the staff here at VCS, we are here for the kids. Everything we impart goes into their lives, academically but especially spiritually. We try to impart Jesus Christ in our classrooms, in the Bible classes and at Chapel,’ he said.

“This is what I always wanted to do,” he said with a friendly smile. After serving in law enforcement for over 20 years, he decided it was time to invest myself into these kids. It took a while to get into the traditional classroom. I taught VoTech in Duncan and worked with GED students in Ardmore before coming to Victory.”

“I love these kids and I love my job. They are unique students who aren’t afraid or surprised if I suddenly feel we should stop class to pray for someone. And they have even surrounded me with prayer at times. There is something really special about that.”

“I try my best to make the things I teach come alive. Even if the History might sometimes seem old and hard for them to relate to, I tell stories and share life experiences to make things fun and keep them interested.”

Michael has a way of being a trusted friend without losing respect. He thinks honesty is the secret. “They know I love them.

You can’t fake that. When I notice someone is having a bad day or is hurting, I try to be myself and let the Lord speak through me to counsel with them. They seem to appreciate that. And kids today have a lot more social pressure on them than I had 20

C omm u nit y S pirit December 2 0 1 2

Victory Christian School offers K3 through the 12th Grade. It has been accredited with the International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA) since 1986 and by the Oklahoma State Department of Education since 1987 and most recently with AdvancEd, the world’s largest education community, serving more than 30,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in more than 70 countries. AdvancEd includes North Central Association Commission, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission on International and Trans-regional Accreditation. ICAA is recognized by the State of Oklahoma for full membership in the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), a national consortium for the recognition of qualifying private school accrediting associations in the United States.

WHY SHOULD VCS BE YOUR SCHOOL? The distinct advantage of Victory is its full range of quality programs at one of the best prices in the greater Metropolitan Tulsa community. Begun in 1979, VCS is one of the most diverse Christian schools in the nation offering balanced quality programs in the Arts, Music, Academics, Athletics, and Spiritual Life.

• Jesus is the center of the school.

• A biblical, God-centered view is presented in all subjects exposing the deceptions of humanism, evolution, immorality, abortion, and homosexuality.

• The Word of God and prayer are incorporated into all subjects.

• Spirit-filled, charismatic, word of faith emphasis.

• Bible class or chapel each day of the week.

• Art (all grade levels).

• Music programs.

• Access to modern technology including the Classroom Performance System, SmartBoards, and New Portable Science Computer Lab. • After-school supervision, extended care, or study hall for all grade levels – ideal for working parents.

• Missions emphasis. Opportunities given for mission trips beginning in the 6th grade.

• OSSAA—Victory is part of the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association, providing an opportunity to compete for district and state championships in music, art, drama, academics, and sports with public schools.

• Health services with certified school nurse.

• Small class sizes. Special remedial options for students needing academic help.

• On-site monitoring security.

AND MUCH MORE!

VICTORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL NOW ENROLLING! K3-12th Grade | For more information call 491.7720 or visit vcstulsa.org

7700 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa OK 74136

C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT O R S

Jill Taylor - Wright Christian Academy years in Nashville, they served as missionaries to Uganda for seven years. Her husband, Greg, is now the senior minister at the Garnett Church of Christ.

They love being in Tulsa for many reasons…being close to family, wonderful friends and being a part of a great church.

But for Jill, being able to teach at Wright is an extra blessing. To her, it’s an equation which adds up to a great life.

Wright Christian Academy was established in 1989 and is an Interdenominational, college preparatory school, serving Pre-K through 12th grades. It is proud of the dedication of each of their 22 full time and part time instructors. They average over 14 years teaching experience and 32 percent of them have advanced degrees. WCA is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International, the Private Christian School Commission – State of Oklahoma, and is recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The school is committed to the development of Christian young people who are grounded in the teaching of Christ, equipped to serve the church, and exceptionally prepared to pursue further educational endeavors.

J

ill Taylor has a dream to share her love for Math. Oh, she doesn’t have aspirations of teaching everyone to love the subject as much as she does…she understands that we each are gifted in different ways. But she does hope she can use her teaching skills to help turn that imaginary “light bulb on,” allowing them to understand the concepts and maybe even take away the fear some students have of the subject.

She contends that Math really isn’t that hard and she believes that given time and patience, most everyone can catch on. To get her student’s attention, she goes beyond the textbook to find creative ways to explain and get through the mental roadblocks and communicate the concepts. Committed to her dream, you will find her going the extra mile to tutor kids after school, providing the patience and encouragement they need to get past those stubborn story problems many of us learned to dread and to build confidence in their Math skills.

The smaller classes at Wright Christian Academy give Jill the ability to provide the extra attention needed. She discovered the school five years ago when they moved to town and her oldest daughter felt overwhelmed by her large school. “My daughter is the perfect example of why so many of the kids love Wright. The smaller size gave her the opportunity to participate in music, drama and other things she never would have been able to do in a larger school.”

Jill graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

She met her husband there and after spending a couple of

Open House: Join us Friday Feb. 10th, 6-8:30pm More Than a3 School!

Now Accepting Ages - 12th Grade

Visit us online

wrightchristianacademy.com Call for tour 918.438.0922

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

21

A B O V E S TA N D A R D

All I Want for Christmas is…A Home Automation System

A

what? Just when you thought you had everything, you realize there is now something out that is so brilliant, so intelligent and so practical, that you soon won’t be able to understand how you have lived without it.

Homes of today…not tomorrow are now becoming fully automated, an easy, all-purpose control that makes life simpler, safer, more fun, and saves energy-all at the same time.

You see…a typical home has many systems in it. These can include whole house music, intercom, distributed video, networking, security, lighting control, heating and cooling systems, cameras, pool and spa control, gate control and so forth. Now, what if you could tie all of these systems together so you can interface with them from one point of contact? What if you could train your home to your personal likes and dislikes, preparing itself for your arrival home

from work?

The possibilities are endless. With custom programming, you can automate all kinds of things to make your life simpler and make your home a safer place. For example, custom programming can allow events to happen based upon other events. A fire code from the alarm system can cause the home automation system to tell the lighting system to flash your exterior lights so your home is easy for emergency personnel to find.

Or, the increasing temperature of one room might alert the drapes in that room only to close. But the fun of custom programming really comes when you are ready to relax or entertain. Pressing one button starts a whole sequence of events. For instance, setting lighting scenes, starting music in the appropriate rooms, and telling landscape lights to stay on late since you’re having a party.

A complete home automation system

includes and communicates with all of the subsystems mentioned above. Any single subsystem can operate independently in a well-designed automation system. You can make commands by using wireless touch panels, wall mounted touch panels or keypads. And, when you are away, you can simply use your iPhone to tell your home automation system how to control all of your subsystems.

The possibilities are as varied as your imagination. You dream up the need and the folks at Above Standard Electric will make that dream come true. The future really is now and if your home isn’t already “smart,” maybe it is time for you to teach it a thing or two.

Call Above Standard Electric and put a complete home automation system under your Christmas tree this year.

D EC EMB ER 2012 Community S pirit

23

H A ML E T R E C IP E

A Holiday Recipe from The Hamlet The Hamlet’s Gourmet Cheesy Potatoes InSTRUCTIONS • 6 Large Potatoes • Boil whole until tender • Peel & Shred/Grate • Add to Potatoes: • 2 Cups Grated Colby/Jack Cheese • 1 stick Butter, Melted • 1 Cup Sour Cream • 1/3 Cup Chopped Green Onions • 1 tsp. Salt • ½ tsp. Pepper • ½ tsp. Garlic Powder • 1 ½ Cup of Diced Hamlet Honey Kissed Ham

N

eed some ideas for this years Christimas dinner? Try this tasty recipe from our friends at The Hamlet. This Gourmet Cheesy Potatoes will not only lavish your tastebuds with goodness, but fill your tummy too!

Optional: • Chopped Green Chilies Bake at 350 for 30 minutes Serves 12

Give the Gift That Keeps on Giving: A Year’s Subscription to the

Only the best for your family and guests!

TIME TO ORDER YOUR

CHRISTMAS HAM

Tulsa’s Family Newspaper Only $35 a year (in Tulsa County) for a year of news, sports, columns, funnies, puzzles, entertainment, and more - without liberal bias.

Plus, we will send a FREE Christmas card with every gift subscription!

HONEY KISSED SPIRAL SLICED HAM Spiral Sliced Turkey Breasts Full Ser vice Deli Whole Smoked Turkey Boar’s Head Meats

Corporate Gis

Party Trays

Gi Baskets

SAVE TIME

ORDER ONLINE 71st & Trenton - 91st & Sheridan www.hamlethams.com 24

C omm u nit y S pirit

December 2 0 1 2

_______________________________________________ Name _______________________________________________ Address Apt. No. _______________________________________________ City State Zip Send payment by check or money order.

Subscribe online at www.tulsabeacon.com.

Call 918-523-4425 to subscribe using a credit card.

Mail Checks to: Tulsa Beacon, PO Box 35099, Tulsa, OK 74153

cast l e at m us k o g ee

Mark it on Your Christmas List of Things to Do! Two Free Drive-through Christmas Lights Displays in Muskogee park’s scenic hilltop drive. 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 5:30 nightly.

L

ooking for an inexpensive and family-friendly Christmas event to put on your Christmas calendar? A short drive over to Muskogee is a perfect option.

At the Castle Christmas, you can take a slow drive through a Christmas wonderland filled with thousands of lights plus more than two thousand lighted inflatable displays. Then you can also drive through the nearby Honor Heights Park, where the Garden of Lights has proven to be an impressive and popular event, attracting thousands of viewers to enjoy over a million lights displayed throughout the park. And get this… both events are free!

For a change of pace, you can choose to tour the Christmas Kingdom in a Hayride or from a Horse-Drawn Carriage which travels through a very special part of the village that is not accessible to cars. The Garden Room is open nightly from 6:00-10:00 where you can find those one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments for your own display. Soups, sandwiches, cookies, hot chocolate and more are available nightly from 6:00 to10:00 in the Royal Garden Café. Some of the area’s finest artisans will be showing unique hand made gifts.

The 2012 Castle Christmas is thought to have the world’s largest display of inflatables! They range from four feet in height to a towering twenty feet tall. You and your kids will be excited to see all of their favorite Christmas characters including Santa, the elves, many snowmen, reindeer, penguins, polar bears, and more. Also you will enjoy many other fun characters including Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, the Grinch, Elmo, Frosty the Snowman, Homer and Bart Simpson, plus many more.

The Garden of Lights celebration includes a free drivethrough display of over a million shimmering lights displayed throughout the park. Honor Heights Park, internationally known for its Azalea Festival, draws up to a half million visitors annually.

The park’s 122 acres are planted with more than 30,000 azalea bushes and thousands of trees, beautifully situated among the

Event hours and prices: FREE admission, donations accepted. Both drive-through events are open nightly from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve: 6:00 to 10:00. The Castle’s inside events are open November 24, 25, 26, 27, December 1, 2, 3, 4,8, 9, 10, 11 & the 15th through the 31st.

About The Castle of Muskogee…

The Castle is a favorite destination of many Community Spirit readers. Season after season, whether it is the famous Renaissance Fair or the Christmas Kingdom, the folks over at the Castle know how to show families a good time. Load up your family and drive over to Muskogee. It may be the highlight of your Christmas fun-filled calendar.

More than 2,000 Lighted Displays!

6:00pm-10:00pm www.okcastle.com 800 / 439-0658

2 FREE DRIVE-THROUGH EVENTS Nightly-Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve

Drive through acres of lighted trees, shrubs, ponds and bridges.

A SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY DISPLAY!

HONOR HEIGHTS PARK - MUSKOGEE D ecember 2012 Community Spirit

25

ce l e b rate recovery Preventing Detours & Setbacks It seems that holidays test, stretch and try people more than any other time of the year, but higher rates of relapse don’t have to follow the season. In a recent interview with Jeff Rindt, MA LPC and founder of Thrive Consulting, Jeff provided excellent guidance for stepping away from faulty thinking that invites setbacks and hinders momentum toward becoming your best self.

Jeff said, “The holidays have a strange effect of amplifying emotions. If we’re happy, the holidays are a time of exaggerated celebration and joy. If we’re having a tough time emotionally, the holidays intensify our pain.

B Y BLY T H E F O W L E R To combat pain, set emotions to the side and concentrate on thinking rationally about the problems and pain. We have to think realistically, even when hurting if we want emotions to change. It’s not the holidays that make us unhappy; it’s what we believe about ourselves and life itself because of the holidays that upset us.”

“What makes us happy isn’t something outside ourselves.

Happiness is created by making movement toward becoming our best selves. Just by moving forward, even when lonely, depressed or tempted to return to dysfunctional habits, we feel better and pain subsides. When hurting, we’re still able to think rationally, act right and push past our troubled emotions; we can control our mood… even during the holidays!”

Your Best Self – Even in Holiday Seasons

H

oliday Season is here and many people struggle with problems other than a few extra pounds from Thanksgiving, over-spending at Christmas or dread of ringing in the New Year alone. Holidays invite plenty of temptation that can threaten our state of recovery.

As holiday busyness detracts attention from God, losing sight of Him makes it easier to misstep and fall back into unhealthy thoughts, beliefs and actions. Therefore, Holiday Season is a key time to guard against relapse or losing momentum toward becoming your best self.

The inspirational phrase ‘becoming your best self’ succinctly sums the eight foundational principles of Celebrate Recovery (CR) which promote spiritual growth, wholeness in Jesus Christ and restoration of relationship with God, so the purposes for which He created us can be fulfilled. CR’s Principle 7 provides a formula for preventing relapse or slips back to burdensome hurts, hang-ups and habits that block and derail progress on the road to recovery.

For readers unfamiliar with Celebrate Recovery, Principle 7 reads: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. Only the truth can bring us into the kind of relationship with God that will result in true healing. As we continue to face the truth about our sinful, broken selves and recognize how powerless we are apart from Him, God will meet us and guide us on to wholeness in Christ and we become our best selves.

26

C omm u nit y S pirit

December 2 0 1 2

Past Experiences Can Leave Us in Better Places Jeff knows this conscious shift to reality thinking to be very effective because he experienced it personally through his worst Christmas holiday. In the year following a devastating divorce, Jeff was crushed when plans for celebrating Christmas holiday with his children were thwarted. Not only did he miss spending Christmas with his children for a second year, he spent it by himself, virtually alone in downtown Phoenix.

Struggling through sadness over the loss and fear of the affects on his children of split family life, Jeff decided to write about his painful feelings. He knew professionally that emotions are transient and the way to happiness is not to insulate or procrastinate on pressing through painful difficulties but to take action. ‘Heartbreak No More’ is a remarkable result of Jeff’s rise and decision to meet the challenges he faced. Conceived through the writing

started this Christmas holiday, ‘Heartbreak No More’ is a selfhelp program series designed for people who cannot afford counseling services.

Another bit of advice from Jeff, “Don’t pre-hurt; don’t start hurting about something until it’s time to do so. The first thought mistake made about the holidays is to imagine how badly we’re going to hurt on that day… we start hurting in the present because we’re GOING to hurt in the future. Also, don’t awfulize (a behavioral psychology term) which is to make a situation worse than it really is. We can fight against the distorted negative beliefs that attack us during the holidays with rational truth.”

Jeff addresses the threat of relapse into addictions in this way, “Don’t say I can’t handle facing life as it is and choose to color out using escapes like drinking, drugs or other selfdestructive strategies to numb the pain. The truth is coloring out only stacks the pain for later. We have to be able to function in spite of pain, rather than irrationally avoiding it by covering up with drugs or drinking, gambling, sexual blur or other avoidant strategies, if we ever want to feel good authentically.”

recommended getting a pet. Sharing love with another living creature builds strength and in time, enough will be gained to move forward with confidence and face the challenges of making new friends, new family connections and new traditions.

Maintain positive movement and prevent relapse through this Holiday Season by remembering a holiday is just a day. If it’s a painful reminder of the past, it simply means we’re another year closer to being healthy… and another year further away from the pain experienced back there. Holidays don’t have the power to make us happy or sad, push us forward or set us back. The power is in Jesus Christ, what we believe about the meaning of the holidays and responses to this belief. Moving toward a more complete version of ourselves in Christ is what truly makes us happy.

A genuine thank you is extended to Jeff Rindt for his thoughtful contribution of advice. To learn more about the multi-media programs published by ‘thrive365,’ please visit www.jeffrindt.com or call 918.742.2600 with inquiries about Thrive Counseling.

Give Love & Get Love When asked about struggling with aloneness, depression and fear of getting out amongst ‘em during the holidays, Jeff

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

27

Teacher of Teachers

Dr. Kim Boyd

Associate Professor and Dean of the College of Education

W

ithin every line of capped and gowned students receiving their degrees from ORU, you will find a small army of freshly trained teachers, ready to make a difference in our classrooms. They went to their classes, they did their assignments, but aside from the academics, they are prepared because of people like Dr. Kim Boyd. Challenging them, coaching them, and especially always loving them, Dr. Boyd knows how badly they are needed. She prayerfully expects God to use them in mighty ways to impact young minds and egos.

Her role as Dean of Education is a job and a responsibility which Dr. Boyd accepts as a privilege. Her beaming smile testifies that she loves every minute of it.

She was the first in her family to ever go to college. Her mother only had a third grade education, but she taught Kim to stick to every challenge, no matter how difficult.

So from the instant she enrolled at ORU, she knew she could do it and that the school would be a perfect fit for her.

She looks back now and realizes the blessings she experienced by going to school here and even being able to take classes taught by Oral Roberts himself.

Little did she know at only 17 years old, the ORU campus would play a key role her life. She would not only get her undergraduate degree here, it would also be the place where she would meet her husband. The two would eventually come back to live on the edge of campus in a house where Oral Roberts once lived. She would raise her children in that house (all ORU graduates) and she and her husband, Dr. Clarence Boyd (Dean of Spiritual Formation) would not only work on

this campus, but would invest their lives ministering to class after class of bright-eyed students. There is no wonder why she now says she “bleeds ORU navy and gold.”

There are many challenges ahead, but Dr. Boyd has high hopes for Oklahoma education. Having a hand at churning out many of the brightest classroom teachers, she is in a position to see their abilities and their passion for kids. She knows they are equipped with the desire to adapt to every child’s needs and improve our schools one by one.

Dr. Boyd explained that today’s classrooms are more diverse and mobile than ever before, demanding that teachers have the ability to provide thorough assessments and craft the curriculum to each student’s need. And although she is both frustrated and challenged by the difficulty in retaining good teachers, she has high hopes for great improvements in the future.

“Every child is not the same. It takes a professional educator to take the curriculum apart and make it relevant to each class, meeting students where they are. ORU graduates have that ability. They are passionate and they each believe God has a special calling for them,” she said.

Filled with the Holy Spirit and with a God-given passion to pass her love for education on to others, Dr. Boyd greets every day with excitement. And as she takes the short walk from her house to the campus, she thanks God for the impact the professors and the students continue to make on her life. For this educator, ORU is not just a place to work, it’s home.

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

29

College Basketball Rivalry Produces Powerful, Family-Friendly Entertainment

ORU Girls Win Mayor’s Cup Against Tulsa scheduled for Saturday, December 22nd at 2:00 in the afternoon.

It was all Golden Eagles for the girls as they snapped their two-game losing streak to Tulsa. Showing extra hustle and strong defense, they impressed the cheering crowd during this year’s season opener against Tulsa.

Defense led the way for the Golden Eagles (1-0) on Friday night, as they forced Tulsa into 23 turnovers and held the Golden Hurricane (0-1) to 33.9 percent shooting, just 25 percent in the second half.

ORU’s Kelli Luper lead the scoring with 23 points and the entire team was hot from outside, shooting an impressive 44 percent from the field.

The games have all the elements to ensure you a great time for you and your friends and family. The athletes are talented, the cheerleaders and music keep the crowd fired up and the concession food is always good.

The Mabee Center is a great place to watch basketball with parking just outside. It is no hassle and lots of fun.

Come experience Golden Eagle Basketball.

Come cheer for Tulsa’s only 4-year Christian University. You are going to love it!

P H OTO C O M P L I M E N T S O F O R U

T

hink there is nothing to do in Tulsa? Think again. Right here in town you can see some of the nation’s top rated athletes jump, pass and dunk their way into the college record books. The season is just now in full swing and the Oral Roberts University Boys and Girls teams are both expected to be highly competitive in this year’s Southland Conference. Come watch these Christian kids perform. Give it two games and we bet you will become a life-long fan.

One of the highlights of the year is the annual Mayor’s Cup series with ORU battling cross-town rival, The University of Tulsa. The Girls played last month and the guys are

30

C omm u nit y S pirit

December 2 0 1 2

Bring Your Entire Family for pre-Christmas Excitement!

Men’s Mayor Cup Saturday, December 22nd 2:00 in the afternoon.

Oral Roberts University Alumnus Jared Anderson Shares Free Song Download

O

ral Roberts University alumnus Jared Anderson just released his new album titled “The Narrow Road” and is offering a free download of his single “Impossible Possible” to all ORU Facebook friends. To download the free song, simply “Like” the Oral Roberts University Facebook Page and click the free download icon.

Anderson, a 2001 ORU graduate, is best known for his work with the Desperation Band and for authoring songs such as “Glorified,” “Amazed” and “Rescue” which are widely sung in churches around the world. He has also recorded several live CD’s and DVD’s including “Where To Begin”, “Where Faith Comes From” and “Live From My Church.”

“It is an honor for me to be associated with a school and a ministry that God has used so incredibly all over the world,” said Anderson. “I am eternally grateful for the deposit of Christ that was poured in by the relentless ‘make no little plans here’ kind of faith that is alive and well at ORU.” Anderson is currently a worship leader for New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. where he is working on a series of inspirational albums. He visited ORU this fall as a musical guest at “The Gathering at ORU” where he gave a heartfelt and always impressive performance.

• Get on FaceBook.

• “Like” ORU. • Download the FREE “Impossible Possible” Song!

The World’s Coolest Gift to Give a High School Student

P H OTO C O M P L I M E N T S O F O R U

I

t doesn’t plug in, they can’t wear it and it definitely isn’t a game. However, we have an idea for something amazing you can give a high school student in your life. It is the gift of education.

Seriously, here is what you do… Nominate a student for the ORU whole person scholarship. And if selected, they could receive up to 20,000 per year for an ORU education! Now that is a Christmas gift!

ORU is seeking to educate students who exemplify a “whole person lifestyle” in that they are desirous of developing not just intellectually, but emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Tulsa’s only 4-year, live-in Christian University is looking for well-rounded students who dream of furthering their education, where they will emerge as servant leaders who are spiritually alive, intellectually alert, physically disciplined, socially adept and professionally competent.

The Whole Person Scholarship Program has been established to recognize students who model the Whole Person concept. If the student you know and love demonstrates a Christian Worldview, projects a Lifestyle of Service and shows Academic Achievement, Leadership Ability, a Healthy Lifestyle and has a vision to Make a Life-Changing Impact on Others, he or she just may qualify.

Submit their name and get your friends to vote for them as well. But act quickly! You must turn in your nomination

by December 15th! Learn more at wholeperson.oru.edu.

D ecember 2012 Community Spirit

31

Pet Gum Health M

ost of us like cuddling with most of our pets just like they enjoy cuddling with us. However, they have a significant advantage in the cuddling part of our relationship and that is, we brush our teeth. With that said, they still withstand decay and gum disease much better than we do. Chew toys, Nylabones, Kongs and bones will help stave off the deterioration of the gum tissue, gingivitis, and bone disease of the dental bone around the tooth, periodontitis, which can lead to bone loss of the socket. Our pets immune systems detect the bacteria attacking the gum tissue and release enzymes that cause the tissue to swell which makes it harder for the bacteria to move around. It also causes increased pressure on the capillaries which causes the affected areas to turn red because of the blood backed up in these capillaries. This system works for a time, varying from individual to individual. Then the “barrier” is crossed.

After the groove around each tooth, called the sulcus where the gum attaches to the tooth, becomes too deep for oxygen to reach the bacterial population changes. This new population of bacteria produce metabolites (equivalent to our urine and sweat) that break down bone. When the lysis of the dental bone begins the tooth begins to loosen which creates even more space with low oxygen tension and the loss of bone increases.

There is a new technological diagnostic tool available to 32

C omm u nit y S pirit

December 2 0 1 2

veterinarians which detects the metabolites of these bacteria.

It is called Ora Strip. By gently wiping the pad along the gum line diaagnostic results are available in ten seconds. This pad, by changing color, will determine the amount of the metabolites being produced. The Ora Strip can detect early onset of these metabolites before there is visual evidence of gum disease. Cleaning of the dental sulcus (groove) and, antibiotics if necessary will remove these bacteria. It will also show how susceptible each dog is to dental disease and how often he or she will benefit from having an oral health treatment done.

As an aside, they are working on a strip for humans. Soon when you go to your dentist his tech will be wiping your gums and you will be able to read the results of your test by the smile or a frown. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and, politics aside, don’t forget what we are Thanking Him for.

R. Scott Nicholson, DVM, is a respected Broken Arrow veterinarian. Dr. Nicholson’s clinic is located at 816 S. Elm and he can be contacted at 918-906-6074

Bring this article in to receive $10 off your next visit

About Deniece Community Spirit welcomes Deniece Adsit as a monthly columnist. 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.

Be Still

I

t’s almost Christmas. On my drive to work, I start checking off the list of things I have yet to do: bake banana bread, make the no bake cookies, plan the Christmas meal, prepare the items I can make ahead of time, assemble the homemade gifts I’m giving to my family, wrap the presents…the list is longer than my drive to work.

Be still and know that I am God… I get to work and start my day trying to determine how I will accomplish all that needs to be done before yearend. There are friends and neighbors I need to visit. There are cards to be addressed and mailed. There are phone calls that need to be made.

There are church functions, and school functions, and work celebrations – so many things still waiting to be done.

And, in the back of my mind, I still have that long list of holiday preparations not yet finished.

Be still and know that I am God…

33

C omm u nit y S pirit

At home after work, it begins to hit me…all the losses we have had over the last couple of years, the special people who are now absent from our celebrations – those who have moved away or those who have made their final transition home. And we are still coping with the all the other things life brings about – the changes in health, in lifestyle, in job situations. It is easy to feel the fatigue that comes from trying to finish all the holiday planning, especially when we feel these plans are so vital to our celebration of the season. Then, in the middle of all the planning and shopping, there is the sadness that sometimes comes…

Be still and know that I am God… I need to make a last-minute run to the grocery store for all those things I’m sure we need to make our Christmas celebration complete. Oh, the relief of being almost done, when suddenly I remember someone for whom I forgot to get a gift. Once again I find myself in my car headed to the mall for a little more shopping. Finally, I can go back

December 2 0 1 2

home and…check my list again.

These few weeks have become such a whirlwind of activity, it crosses my mind to skip out on the holidays and hide somewhere. Oh, where did all these people come from? Of course, Christmas will be nice. It always is. Yet it feels like there is something I still haven’t done. What have I forgotten?

Oh! Now I know what it is!

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10 NIV) Thank you, Father, for sending us Your Son. I am sorry for all the times I have put plans and preparations ahead of spending time in conversation with you. Please forgive me. And as we begin this season of hope and new beginnings, may your name be exalted in all the earth, starting with me.

Deniece is Author of “In Search of Righteousness” denieceadsit.blogspot.com

D ecember 2012 Community Spirit

33

R A N D Y C O W E LL

“Obamacare”-The Grinch That Stole Christmas

N

ormally at this time of year I would be writing a Christmas article encouraging everyone to enjoy the holidays. In my opinion, there is no better holiday that brings out the kid in all of us. Time spent with friends and family celebrating the birth of our Lord is truly a blessing!

Unfortunately for many Americans, this year’s celebration will be clouded as hundreds of thousands of workers receive their pink slips and time reduction notices. With the passage and now the sure enactment of the Affordable Care Bill, businesses are accessing their options and their overwhelming response is layoffs. No matter how employees are affected by ObamaCare, this Christmas for many will be marked by a memorable “bad” experience.

So why are small and large size businesses responding with cutbacks and layoffs? Before we discuss the why, let’s look at how the Affordable Care bill came about. If you recall, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid were controlling the White House, Senate and the House of Representatives.

Because the vote was so close, to muster enough votes, a controversial kickback was offered to Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska to secure his vote. Nicknamed the “Cornhusker kickback”, it became so controversial that the kickbacks were later reversed, but not after the damage had already been done.

The bill was passed speedily through both houses and Nancy Pelosi’s famous quote “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it”, seemed to be coming true.

Businesses large and small are slowly discovering that the 2,700 page bill contains tens of thousand of pages of regulations.

In an attempt to survive, businesses are taking a self-defense posture. Many have already started laying off employees so as to handle the new taxes that are sure to come. Here is a partial list of companies that have already announced layoff plans: Applebees, Papa John’s Pizza, Murray Energy, Stryker, Energizer, U. S. Cellular, Catapillar, Bristol- Meyers, Husquarvarna, Boston Scientific, Westinghouse, Boeing, Hawker-Beechcraft, and Abbott Labs. The list grows daily as more and more companies are preparing for Tax Armageddon.

A Partridge In A Pear Tree And 20 New Taxes Before you break out in song with your rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas, let’s review the new taxes that will be responsible for the upcoming layoffs and cutbacks.

• • • • • • • • • • 34 34

Surtax on Investment Income Tax on Health Insurers Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax Tax on Innovator Drug Companies Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers High Medical Bills Tax Flexible Spending Account Cap Medicare Cabinet Tax Elimination of Tax Deduction of Employer-Provided ommuunit nityy SSpirit pirit MONT December CComm H 2 0 1 22 0 1 2

• • • • • •

Retirement RX Drug Coverage in Coordination with Medicare Part D Codification of the “Economic Substance Doctrine” Tax on Indoor Tanning.

HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike $500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2

You can read more about the specifics at http://www.atr. org/full-list-obamacare-tax-hikes-listed-a7010#ixzz1zTXuZUYl Perhaps we get a better glimpse into the minds of some politicians when John Dingell (D), U.S. Representative from Michigan said, “It takes a long time to do the necessary administration steps that have to be taken to put the legislation together to control the people.”

Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has declared the bill the “Law of the land”. He is right. As citizens we must obey the law. I am somewhat comforted by the passage in Matthew 22:21 where Jesus instructs us to ‘Give to Caesar what in Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ I suspect that most of those hearing Jesus speak that day didn’t like the situation of being unfairly taxed any more than you or I. On that positive note I will hush up!

Berl Ive’s “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” is ringing in my head so I will close and wish all a Blessed and Happy Christmas.

RANDY C. COWELL 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.

H E A LT H & FI T N E S S

LOSE YOUR

QUIT

B Y D A N N Y C A HILL

Community Spirit is excited to announce that Danny Cahill will now be one our featured, monthly writers. Whether you wrestle with your weight or not, you will enjoy Danny’s motivating column. We all cheered Danny on when he was on The Biggest Loser. Now, he continues to gain our applause while he shares his testimony with others. Danny loves the Lord and is not shy about telling people about Him. It is a blessing to the magazine to have his monthly article. Be sure to watch for Danny’s article each month. It will be in a new section we are adding on health and wellness.

GOAL SETTING:THE ROAD TO YOUR DREAMS Dreams are the best thing for a future vision of your life! In fact, I spend time each day meditating on my future dreams, which often change as time goes by. Dreams dictate a direction, while goals dictate a path. Think of it like this; If I want to drive to Calabasas, California (the location of the Biggest Loser ranch), I can start off by just simply heading West on the highway!

I’ll make progress to that long-term destination, but I will have to adjust my path and plan my steps to make it to Calabasas! It would do me little good if I ended up in San Francisco.

This is why GOALS are so important!

Goals are the steps to your dreams, and without them progress can be short lived and sometimes in the wrong direction! There are 4-different areas I use to set goals: personal goals, financial goals, spiritual goals, and relationship goals. Personal goals are for you – such as “lose 30 pounds in 4 months” or “spend 15 minutes at the beginning of the day scheduling

my activities.” A financial goal might be “Make $5,000 in additional income in three months.” A spiritual goal could be “spend 10 minutes a day praying for my friends’ dreams.” A relationship goal might be “spend 20 minutes minimum a day with each of my kids on their homework.”

There are similarities for each of these goals I have written above. They are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound. I got this from Paul Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything.” He calls them “S.M.A.R.T. goals.” The goal cannot be “lose weight” or “make more money” or “pay off my debt.” It must say how much and how fast! How much debt are you paying off and by when? How much weight will you lose and by when? How much time will you spend with your kids and how often? By describing these things and writing a “goal statement,” then displaying it on your mirror, in your office, on your phone, and

anywhere you are to remind you of what you want to accomplish, you’ll stay focused on achieving that goal.

I heard it once said, “Don’t give up what you really want for what you want right now.” Next month we will talk about creating “Action Steps” to achieve your goals and New Year’s Resolutions!

PURCHASE DANNY’S NEW BOOK AT TheDannyCahill.com

D ecember 2012 Community S pirit

35

GRIGSBY’S

Saying NO to Happy Holidays Dub & Janet Stover

Owners of Grigsby’s Carpet, Tile, & Rug Gallery

N

obody loves Christmas more than Dub Stover. His face lights up just talking about it.

But Dub is a traditionalist. For him, the Christmas season doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving! And as other merchants attempt to become “politically correct,” replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays,” Dub goes the opposite direction, becoming even more committed to sharing…the true reason for the season.

“There is no such thing as ‘Happy Holidays’ here at Grigsby’s.

We celebrate for one reason, because of Christmas, because of the birth of Jesus. I often ask some of these politically correct folks why they get the day off on December 25 and they answer, “Because it is Christmas.”

“Then why would you want to take Christmas out of the holiday? It is the whole reason we celebrate,” he says passionately.

For the average merchant, the Christmas season is a time everyone works long hours, pushing for every possible sale. But Dub has a surprisingly and refreshingly different view for his business. Forty-two years of experience has taught him that the Christmas season is more about serving others than cashing in on the crazy commercialism of the holiday. Although they often offer Christmas sales, you won’t hear of any extended hours or “midnight madness” specials. Dub believes Christmas is a time for his employees to be home with their families.

Dub and his wife, Janet, look forward to investing at least some of their “Christmas Spirit” helping First Baptist of Broken Arrow with “Project Christmas.” The church has recruited hundreds of their members to help with a massive effort to provide “Christmas toys, coats, food, and even haircuts” to needy families. Dub and Janet plan to be right in the 36

C omm u nit y S pirit

December 2 0 1 2

middle of the fun. Dub says you will most likely find him in the kitchen, serving food.

Each year, Dub picks out a family for Grigsby’s to bless during the holiday. In addition, secretly, Dub is known to do much more, “playing Santa” to many other families who need help. “It is what Christmas is about,” he insists.

In this commercial world of gimmicks and marketing promotions, it is refreshingly charming to find at least one merchant who sees Christmas as a time when he can “give more than he receives.” It makes me want to do business with them. It makes me want to applaud their efforts and philosophy. And when I am there, I will especially be anxious to wish them a very “Merry Christmas.”

Christmas Meals Restore Hope at John 3:16

For people who are hungry and hom eless, a hot meal and warm bed is the perfect holiday gift.

At John 3:16 Mission, people come to us hungry and hurting every day.

They get their first meal here – may be at Christmastime – and suddenly, for the first time in months or years, they feel warmth inside. The flame of hope is rekindled.

It certainly was for Daniel who had hit an all time low...

“I had no place to sleep; I wa s outside with only the clothes my back. It just made me bre on ak down and pray to God, ‘He lp me!’”

The very next day, Daniel came to the

Mission for the first time.

“The Mission is so much mo re than a meal and a bed.

It’s about changing from the inside out with God’s help. I’ve got a whole new level of hope that’s jus t amazing,” he said.

Won’t you provide this incredible gift to people like Daniel who desperately need a chance to help turn their lives around? A hope restoring holiday dinner costs only $1.92. You can provide Christmas meals for 10 people for just $19.20!

Please visit John 3:16 Mission’s website, www.john316mission.org, and give a gift you will remember for many Christmases to come!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

www.john316mission.org

STEVE MOELLER FLORAL HAVEN

Question: This will be our first Christmas since the death and we are at a loss, since things will be so different. We know we should be joyous, since Dad is in heaven with Jesus, but …

This is a dilemma that faces many new grievers after a loss. While your faith tells you that your Dad is in a better place, you are here now without him and his passing will affect your longstanding holiday traditions. This does not mean that your faith is not still strong; it just means that you will need to rethink your traditions and adapt them to your new reality.

Everyone’s personal family traditions are different. There may be many of them that you will feel comfortable with continuing unchanged. There are others that you may wish to forgo this year or alter to better fit where you are in your personal recovery. The best way to approach this is with a few examples.

Decorations – It may be that this year the thought of decorating the inside and outside of the house is a bit overwhelming. If there are special decorations that hold more meaning for you, these are the things with which to start. Decorate as much as you feel like.

The outdoor lights can be simpler and the indoor decorations less involved. You can tone down what you do without eliminating everything.

Invitations to Holiday Gatherings – You may not feel like attending every gathering to which you are invited, but you should try and find one or two that will be comfortable for you.

The support your friends offer can be very helpful. Your friends might be hesitant to mention your father, for fear of upsetting you, in which case it will be up to you to bring his memory into the conversation. Keep in mind that they haven’t forgotten him, but are just not sure what to say.

Christmas Cards – If sending out personalized cards has been a family tradition and it seems a bit daunting this year, you might look at sending out a short newsletter instead. You could include something about what happened to your father, if they are not aware, and that you are doing something different this year as a result. This gives you a way to send a holiday message without having to write about it individually to each person.

Holiday Meals – Some families have traditions concerning Christmas as other holiday dinners. This is a time when the empty place at the table is most noticeable. You might try having a less formal gathering or change where you eat. Some people find comfort in still setting a place for their loved one at the table and laying a flower or memento in that space. Others will add a new tradition of using the meal time to share favorite stories about that person from years past. A few tears may be shed, but laughter will also be a part of these past memories. Whatever you do, let

people know in advance. Don’t assume that this dinner will be too much for your mother to handle this year and “tell” her that you are moving the dinner to another location to “make it easier for her.”

Ask for her input, since it may be that this is a tradition to which she is looking forward to continuing.

Gifts – If you are feeling emotional pain at not buying a gift for your father this year, you might instead buy something he would have liked and give it to a charity instead. Some people will adopt and “angel,” from an agency supporting those in need, and use the money they would have spent on a gift to buy things in memory of that loved one now gone.

You might also look at some new ways to honor your loved one or give the family another way to remember them. This could be in the sharing of stories, activities to support others, a traveling Christmas dinner with different courses at different homes or any number of other ideas.

STEVE MOELLER Steve Moeller is a licensed funeral director, has been in funeral service for 35 years and the Director of Community Relations at Floral Haven. He is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and also serves as the Mid-America Educator for the Grief Recovery Institute in California.

Steve has lead Grief Recovery Workshops at Floral Haven for 20 years, is active in a variety of community organizations and is a frequent speaker in matters concerning grief and recover. He also serves on the “Ask The Experts” panel at FuneralPlan.com.

The old traditions do not need to forgotten, but you might wish toThe tinker Floral with themHaven to help you through this first holiday season.

These small changes ultimately spark a new set of even more Family wishmay you meaningful holiday traditions for your family.

the very best for Christmas and a Blessed New Year

FLORAL HAVEN

Crematory • Funeral Home • Cemetery • Floral Shop Family Center • Mausoleums • Cremation Gardens Main Office: (918) 252-2518 Pre-Planning: (918) 250-9224

www.FloralHaven.com

D ecember 2012 Community Spirit

39

ENQUIRED GIVEAWAY

FREE MURANO TEST DRIVES

RUDOLPH RETIRES! MAKES ROOM FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY. ENQUIRED EXCLUSIVE

Schedules Nose Job. Moves To Miami

NELSON NISSAN NEW CAR MANAGER, JEFF DORSEY “Santa was really nice.

He especially loved the Murano’s large trunk!”

SANTA CLAUS

SCANDAL!

Santa Caught Test Driving a Nissan Replaces sleigh with Murano Convertible Elves Join Reindeer in Labor Union Protest Santa insists “It’s time” Mrs. Claus agrees, “Santa looks Hot in a Murano

NELSON G.M, RODNEY GIST “We’re pleased to be a part of Santa’s team.”

Merry ChristMas froM

800 W Queens st.

Broken arroW, ok 74012 (877) 917-3744