December 2014 | Community Spirit Magazine

Dennis Jernigan A Family Celebration of Christmas Faith United Methodist December 21st

+ALSO INSIDE

Christian School Educators p.12 How OLD is the Earth? p.18 FamilyLife Today w/ Dennis Rainey p.28

Contents FEATURES 5 A Christmas Wish from the Publisher 6 Dennis Jernigan Comes to Tulsa 8 Time for a Castle Christmas 12 Honoring Christian School Educators 18 How Old is the Earth and Does it Matter?

24 Secondhand Smoke, Deadly As Ever 28 FamilyLife Today 30 The Cottage Extended Care COLUMNS 10 Dr. Kevin Nieman, Cornerstone Counseling 22 ACT Financial 23 Private Label Realty 27 Deniece Adsit 29 Cornerstone Counseling Center

December 2014 PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud CREATIVE Director Ramond Walker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Danny Cahill, Deniece Adsit, Kevin Nieman, Lisa Goins www.mccloudmedia.com • www.communityspiritmagazine.com

Distribution Community Spirit Magazine is distributed to churches, schools, restaurants, Christian bookstores, and other businesses. Call us today to deliver to your church.

Community Spirit Magazine is published monthly by McCloud Media.

Claims by advertisers and the opinions of writers within this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Community Spirit Magazine or its publisher, Equipment Publications, Inc. Philippians 2:1-2 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Our Mission: 1. Build Community – Develop a sense of community among all local believers in Christ 2. Inspire Good Works 3. Support Families 4. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ Fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CommunitySpiritMagazine

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Why I Say, “Merry Christmas”

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

Sure, packaged up in all the glitter and holiday splendor retailers have to offer, my greeting doesn’t soun many, it’s simply December’s way d very special anymore. To to say hello. But it hasn’t always been that way – at least it wasn’t for an back in World War I. While hud unlikely group of soldiers dled down in their trenches on a cold Christmas Eve, Scottish troo in the trenches just ahead of them ps listened as the German soldiers began singing “Stille Nacht” (Sile nt Night). The Scottish troops resp carols. onded by singing their own The hymns ultimately were drow ned out with shouts of Christmas greetings to each other. Then, caug bigger than the battle that raged only ht up in something much hours before, the men laid down their weapons and came together jam, cigars and chocolate. Togethe to exchange gifts of whisky, r, 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 othe reciting the 23rd Psalm together over r bury their dead, their fallen brothers. Later, some were said to have even played foot some areas, the truce lasted through ball (soccer) together. In Christmas night, and in others, it is said to have lasted through New holiday had produced at least a tem Year’s Day. The Christmas porary “peace on earth.”

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

So, as I think over the past year, of the special people we have met, of those who have continued to supp the evidence of Jesus in their lives ort this magazine, and of , 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 stor y of the baby in the manger. And One who is the only true answer it represents a hope in the to the peace on earth that we seek .

Merry Christmas. Isn’t it a shame we only get to say it for a few wee ks each year?

Tom McCloud, Publisher

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cover story

Listen to our interview with Dennis on KCFO AM990 on Monday, December

Dennis Jernigan to Perform in “A Family Celebration of Christmas”

Faith United Methodist Church, Sunday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

15th or Friday, the 19th at 10:30AM. You may also hear it on our website at communityspiritmagazine.com

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sn’t Christmas a wonderful time of year?

Even the biggest Scrooge has trouble staying sad during this incredible season of joy. So, what if you could somehow bottle up those special Christmas feelings and enjoy them all year long?

Singer Songwriter, Dennis Jernigan, and the Chancel Choir and Orchestra of Faith United Methodist Church believe they can help you find the secret to enjoying Christmas every day from now on. In fact, they believe it so much, they are inviting you to a FREE Christmas event which they promise, will not only start your Christmas week off right, it will be something you and your family will remember for years to come.

The “Family Celebration of Christmas” will be a night of great entertainment which will bring smiles to everyone, from the youngest to the oldest in your family. It will be held on December 21st, the Sunday night before Christmas, perfect timing for entertaining your house full of family and guests.

Faith United Methodist’s senior pastor Charla Gwartney invites you to come enjoy this great Christmas treat. “Faith United Methodist Church is pleased to host Dennis Jernigan for our Christmas concert. Dennis has been proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ for many years.

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That is our life-long mission. We look forward to partnering with him on this special evening as we invite the entire community to celebrate the birth of our Savior.”

The night will feature Dennis Jernigan in his work, “Like Christmas All Year ‘Round,” explained Richard Rath, Director of Adult Music Ministries. “It will be a Family Celebration of Christmas” and is a gift from Faith to Tulsa, as we celebrate God’s Gift to us.”

They couldn’t have chosen a performer who loves Christmas more than Dennis Jernigan.

Christmas at the Jernigan house has always been exciting. He and his wife have nine children and now, with grandkids coming along too, the holidays are especially packed full of fun.

But there is another reason Christmas is so special to Dennis. He explained that it was actually a Christmas analogy which led him to his relationship with Jesus. “I had someone challenge me one night and say that God sees the hidden things in my heart, but He loves me anyway. They suggested that I needed to make it like Christmas and give those things away. I needed to give to Jesus what I had never given to Him…all of my failures and hidden sins. They encouraged me to make it like Christmas in this sense, and not just give gifts, but to receive

them as well. They asked me what I needed to receive from Father.

That analogy broke my heart to the reality that Jesus died for even my sins. I was born again through that Christmas analogy. So ever since, I am always thinking about Christmas, whether it is July or December. I love Christmas.”

The veteran performer and songwriter became internationally known in the 90s when he released hit after hit on the Contemporary Christian stations. Soon, churches all over the world were singing his songs, including such titles as “You Are My All in All,” “We Will Worship the Lamb of Glory, and “Great is the Lord Almighty.”

Since that time, he has recorded more than 50 full-length songs and he continues to perform all over the country.

But what Dennis loves best is to lead simple, “Nights of Praise.”

Typically just gathering in a church with his piano and hurting people, he lets God bring the healing and blessing. Offering a Christmas version of this, he believes people will truly get excited about the reason for the season as they enjoy the concert. “I will be using a lot of Christmas music from my first Christmas album, singing along with the orchestra and choir on some of my favorite songs God has given to me through the years. It will absolutely look and sound like Christmas, but the content of the music is clearly, no doubt about it, focused on Jesus and the reason for the season. Every song will point to the awareness that Jesus is there, encouraging people to exalt Him and focus on what He has done.”

Dennis encourages everyone to bring their friends and family, even those who may not really understand Christmas. “When they are in the presence of people who have real joy, something really

and the reason for the season. In the book, his son has a dream where he experiences the reality of the manger and gets to explore the reason Jesus came. Dennis says the children’s book is now available at www.dennisjernigan.com or on Amazon and is a unique way to lead your children to the understanding that they need Jesus as their Savior.

Dennis has also released a new album called Days of Awe, a work he claims is his absolute best. It is also available on his website or on iTunes.

Watch for a soon-to-be-released movie about his life. The movie follows his autobiography, Sing Over Me, and carries the same name.

Dennis Also Invites You… For 15 years, Dennis held monthly Nights of Praise in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Now after a long break, he is beginning them again. He invites you to come experience it on the 3rd Friday night of each month at Eastwood Baptist Church in Tulsa.

About the Church…

Faith UMC began in November 1978 with a charter from the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church. Several charter members can still be found worshipping in one of their three services, and many more have joined them over the years. Distinctive

When they are in the presence of people who have real joy, something really contagious happens. And at this Christmas concert, you will be with people there who really love Jesus.

- Dennis Jernigan

contagious happens. And at this Christmas concert, you will be with people there who really love Jesus,” Dennis insisted.

Faith UMC is located on 91st Street between Memorial and Sheridan. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and there is no admission charge. A love offering for Dennis will be taken. Childcare is provided. For further information call 918-252-1679 or check the website www.faithtulsa.org.

More about Dennis…

Dennis continues to travel and perform all over the country, but bases his ministry out of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Along with performing music, he is also an author. He is releasing a Christmas Children’s book called The Christmas Dream with audio book included. He explained that when the kids were young, he wrote them all stories and now those stories are beginning to be published.

This first one came as he helped his son Judah learn about Jesus

permission by Erin Tabberer

to their congregation is the beautiful stained glass window in the sanctuary. This window adorned the first sanctuary built in April 1981 and moved to the current sanctuary in 2005. That golden cross window, with it’s multi-colored sunburst, has become a symbol of Faith United Methodist church. It reminds them to be the light of Jesus Christ shining in the community. Their mission is, “Changing the world by sharing God’s love one person at a time.”

They invite anyone who shares this mission to join them at Faith United Methodist Church.

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castle at muskogee

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

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n search of the best lights in town? Looking for a fun way to get out your house full of relatives out of the house and away from your refrigerator? We invite you to celebrate the best of family holiday traditions at The Castle of Muskogee! Muskogee is less than 45 minutes away and it will absolutely be worth the trip.

Once you have arrived at the Castle, you can take a leisurely drive through Castleton Village, filled with over two thousand holiday lighted displays. The drive through is FREE, and donations are

gratefully accepted. Outside The Castle, you can take a hayride or a carriage ride through the Village, or ride the ponies or the camel.

Come inside The Castle for old-fashioned family holiday activities: bring your kids to make ornaments in Santa’s workshop, warm up by the fireplace, and plan your visit with Father Christmas. Shop local!

Stop in for some holiday shopping with our Made In Oklahoma

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merchants and find something unique for yourself and your loved ones. You can also get Fireworks for New Year’s Eve celebrations and items from The Christmas Shoppe for your own holiday displays.

Join us in the Royal Garden Cafe for a light supper or snack, hot chocolate and treats, and great company! Sit and enjoy holiday movies for the whole family. Visit okcastle.com for a complete schedule of nightly activities.

In nearby Honor Heights Park, the Garden of Lights attracts thousands of visitors. The celebration includes a free drive-through display of over a million shimmering lights displayed throughout the park. Internationally known for its Azalea Festival, Honor Heights Park draws up to a half million visitors annually to its 122 acres, which are planted with more than 30,000 azalea bushes and thousands of trees, beautifully situated among the 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 5:30pm nightly, and the event is FREE.

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

parking lot of The Castle and travels through the village on a different route from the car drive-through. Departs every half hour. Cost is $5.00 per person, children 12 and under are free.

Pony rides – A holiday favorite! $5 per child.

Camel rides – Experience this exotic way to travel. Be one of the Three Kings for $5 per person.

Gift Shops – A wide assortment of holiday merchandise and inflatables is available.

Holiday Activities at The Castle The Castle’s additional events are open November 27, 28, 29, and 30, and December 4, 5, 6, 7, and every night December 11th through December 31st. Please check the Calendar at okcastle.com for a detailed schedule of each night’s activities.

Horse-drawn Carriage Rides - This ride starts in the parking lot of the Castle and travels through a part of the village that is not accessible to cars, so you will see different displays than on the drive-through route. Cost: $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per child, or take advantage of the Family Pack, $25.00 for up to 5 people.

Tractor-drawn Hayrides - This ride starts in the

Royal Garden Café - Sit and warm up by the fire, and treat yourself to soups, sandwiches, cookies, hot chocolate, and more. Enjoy watching holiday movies for the whole family.

Christmas Merchants – Find unique and handcrafted items from a variety of craftspeople.

Visit with Father Christmas - Father Christmas will be at the Castle on 11/27, 11/28, 11/29, and Fridays and Saturdays 12/5-12/20 from 6:30-9:30pm. There is no cost to talk to Father Christmas, and pictures will be available for a nominal fee.

Castle Christmas just must be on your holiday to-do list. And be sure to tell them you read about it in Community Spirit Magazine.

TIME TO ORDER YOUR

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Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve • 6 pm-10 pm okcastle.com • 800 / 439-0658

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Handstamped ornaments, jewelry & keepsakes!

15% OFF your next order!

(Exp. 12.31.14. Cannot be combined. “CSDEC15”.)

Tulsa 81st & Lewis 918-935-2731

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marriages that last

BY DR. KEVIN NIEMAN

All I Want for Christmas

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o…what do you want to do for Christmas? If you’re like my wife and I then you have had this conversation a time or two. It seems like every holiday season, we have the same discussions centering around fulfilling self-imposed obligations.

As the end of the year draws near, it’s common to have folks sit in front of me arguing about where they feel they should be for Christmas. Each individual feels a sense of obligation to continue family traditions or jump through hoops to avoid dreaded backlash. Traditions are not bad; however, when those rituals become more important than the people you are celebrating them with, then you have a problem.

It becomes so easy to lose focus on what really matters. Every year retailers get Christmas decorations out earlier, making it almost impossible to fully enjoy Thanksgiving. Advertisements begin to bombard you, trying to convince you that you need their product and before you know it, you’re surrounded with lights and Christmas cookies. The proverbial thought of “I have to get presents for the kids” begins to haunt any parent. The non-stop frenzy makes any energizer bunny sluggish, leaving mere leftovers for relationships.

With all the craziness the holiday season brings, remember that finding the perfect gift for some distant relative is probably not the most important thing to worry about. Traditions have value and purpose but remember they should never take the place of connecting with those you love. A common mistake I see couples make is that they never create their own family traditions. Once married, the couple feels torn between both sides trying to make everyone happy, and many times it comes at the expense of their relationship. Setting boundaries and creating new traditions can be challenging and often times be met with opposition from those you love who do not understand.

Relational differentiation is when a couple has clear and well defines boundaries.

There is something about the holiday season that tests these boundaries and often times reveals enmeshment.

Remember, traditions are well and good, as long as they center on relationship. Be careful that your desires are not enmeshed with those of your family, make sure they are truly yours. If you find yourself questioning your own level of enmeshment, simply ask yourself if you feel guilty when you set a boundary with relatives or are you changing your responses to avoid conflict. The use of guilt in conversations tends to expose differentiation cracks within a marriage.

This holiday season be intentional about creating your own traditions. Relational differentiation can be difficult to create, but once you have healthy boundaries set, you will find inner peace freeing you to fully enjoy time with relatives, while still protecting your marriage from seasonal craziness.

Dr. Kevin Nieman, LMFT Cornerstone Christian Counseling Services Cornerstone Christian Counseling Services is proud to announce that we are now in our newly remodeled offices.

We are also pleased to announce that our new website www. cornerstoneoftulsa.com is active. We are excited about bringing hope and healing to those hurting in our community, blending our Christian beliefs with our professionalism.

CORNERSTONE Christian Counseling Services

Let us help you get your life back on track.

Call today: 918.392.4008

4930 S. Sheridan Rd.

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christian teachers

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

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And so, Community Spirit makes it a point to honor them each December. Thank you for loving and teaching our kids! We especially appreciate those who teach in our private Christian schools. We understand that you make personal sacrifices to work in environments where you can use your skills to develop both the mind and the spirit of our kids. God surely has some special stars for your crowns.

The following pages highlight a sample of the terrific teachers from our community’s Christian schools. As we honor them specifically, they would be the first to tell you that they represent hundreds of area teachers who dedicate their talents as they passionately serve their Lord.

Be sure and thank a teacher today!

Invest wisely.

REGENT

PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF OKLAHOMA rpsok.org 918.663.1002

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O P E N H O U S E : February 7th at 7:00 p.m. O P E N H O U S E W E E K : March 4-8th Decem ber 2014

christian teachers

Regent Preparatory School

Melanie English – Class 3

ife and education is all about the heart,” insisted Melanie English as we sat in her third grade classroom. With a testimony much more powerful than her soft, kind voice, she explained that her goal is not only to teach the children the subject matter, but also to convey to them the most important lesson…”That God is real, the Creator of everything and that He is totally, sovereignly involved in our lives. I do my best to teach them that God is always looking at our heart. Everything we do or say comes right out of our heart. In fact, He wants so badly for us to have a pure heart, He orchestrates everything in our lives in ways to purify it. It is a theme which permeates all the scripture we share with the children.”

It is also a theme which became real to her when she became a Christian at the age of fourteen. A friend invited her to a Bible Study where she encountered people who “talked about Jesus as if He were truly real.” Ever since then, her faith has had little to do with religion, but instead everything to do with telling people about the Lord.

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So, to say that Melanie has a “heart” for teaching would be an understatement. She loves the kids and pours into their lives with every lesson of grammar, math or whatever is the day’s subject matter.

Melanie has been teaching at Regent for the last twelve years, but her teaching experience really started before her own children were born.

Equipped with a teaching degree from Oral Roberts University and one-year of teaching in the Tulsa Public Schools, she jumped into homeschooling her own kids. Once they were raised, she joined the staff at Regent.

There, she found a similar education philosophy as her own and was pleased to find that they actually incorporated much of the curriculum she had been using. It was a perfect match and she has fallen in love with the staff, the school and the classical education style. She loves it here. In fact, when we pressed her to see if she could imagine there ever being a more perfect job, she laughed and whispered, like any proud grandmother, “Only one…spending more time with my six (soon to be seven) grandkids.”

“Two of them attend Regent but maybe the school needs to enroll the rest of them next semester,” we quipped back.

Regent Preparatory School offers Pre-K through the 12th grade. Their mission is to provide academically able students with a

“I do my best to teach them that God is always looking at our heart. Everything we do or say comes right out of our heart. In fact, He wants so badly for us to have a pure heart, He orchestrates everything in our lives in ways to purify it. It is a theme which permeates all the scripture we share with the children.” challenging education designed to help them know, love and practice that which is true, good and beautiful and to prepare them to live purposefully and intelligently in the service of God and man. The school is located at 86th and Memorial. You can learn more about Regent at www.rpsok.com.

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christian teachers

Augustine Christian Academy

Brina Osborne – 3rd Grade Teacher any people teach for a living. Brina Osborne lives to teach. Thriving on sparking interest and imagination from her students, it really doesn’t matter if they are in the public school, home school, or private school setting. She has done it all and even when she wasn’t teaching in a formal way, she always made sure she was in front of students. Sabrina and her husband owned and operated Huntington Learning Centers prior to her coming to Augustine.

Now marking her fifth year at Augustine Christian Academy, she feels right at home, believes wholeheartedly in the school’s classical model of education, and can’t wait to go to work each day. She teaches an array of subjects, but sees them primarily as an avenue to convey even more important lessons…That God loves each student, has made them perfect in His eyes and has a plan for their lives.

“We all excel in some things and we all fail at other things, but I really want the children to “Wonder and Delight” in everything they learn. I want them to know that there is a God who is real today.

The same God that we read about in the Bible is alive and well and He cares about them. That is what I am here for. Every subject points to Him.” Teaching is a responsibility Brina takes very seriously. Since she was in the eleventh grade, she has known she was called to help kids learn. Even so, she prays diligently, asking God to deliver the right lessons at the right times to the kids. “I keep being reminded I can’t do this by myself, but with Him, great things can happen. My desire is that lives are changed,” she explained.

Brina believes Augustine is a special place, “a homeschool-type

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family” that relies on each other. And although the school continues to grow, she says the entire administration and staff is dedicated to hold on to the “small town feeling,” generated in part by the way the older students are taught to mentor the younger ones.

Augustine has been a bit of a family affair for the Osborne family.

Her husband, J. Bryan, now a teacher at Oral Roberts University, serves as the Chairman of the Board at the school and both of their kids are students at Augustine. Ben is a freshman and Katie is a senior.

Brina quotes Psalm 37:4, Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. “Every year, He seems to re-inspire me to teach. It is my ministry and He has indeed made it the desire of my heart,” she said.

Brina describes Augustine as a very special place full of great kids and wonderful teachers. The school was founded in 1997 and is a classical, non-denominational, college preparatory school for grades K4 – 12. Teachers at ACA are dedicated to educating young people to think and reason from a distinctly Christian worldview. It is their goal is to shape students to serve God and man, and who will strive to make an impact for Christ on the culture. Augustine is a member of the Association of Classical Christian Schools. For more information, visit www.acatulsa.org or call 918-832-4600.

christian teachers

Rejoice Christian School

Nancy Cook–Archeology ancy Cook doesn’t fit the stereotype of an archeologist. She looks more like the mom next door than some Indiana Jones character, digging in the dirt. Yet, her expertise is the archeology of the Middle East. She is the first to tell you that archeology is much more than the study of ancient things. “It is also about the study of cultures and societies.

And as we learn, particularly about the culture of Israel, it opens up a better understanding of the Bible. Pieces of pottery for instance, might tell you a story about where the people came from, what they ate, what their artwork was like and even how they worshipped. Archeology is exciting,” she said passionately.

In her recent senior-level, Middle East Archeology class, her students quickly caught the fever and wanted to learn more, so much so that they pleaded with her to continue the study with a second semester Anthropology course.

Throughout the courses, she always prays that her students will come away with a new

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appreciation for the region and for the Bible, something she hopes will arm them to help stand their ground when future professors try to challenge their faith. In the same way she became excited about the archeology, she hopes they will forever want to know more about the culture and therefore be able to put the scriptures into the proper context.

Along with teaching, Nancy is part pastor, professor, lecturer and community organizer.

She leads a downtown church designed specifically to reach out to homeless women. She has been a ardent volunteer, helping to organize such efforts as Franklin Graham’s Festival in 2003, Samaritan’s Purse’ Shoe Box Project, as well as their Children’s Heart Project, volunteering to host Bosnian families bringing their kids here for heart surgery. She also is a regular chapel speaker, addressing the women in John 3:16’s first recovery program for women.

In between all of that, she continually exercised her passion for learning, first finishing her degree in Agricultural Engineering and Master’s degrees from both the University of Oklahoma and Oral Roberts University. She is now writing her dissertation for a doctorate from ORU. The subject? Increasing the knowledge of forgiveness based upon the parable that Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:23-35.

Teaching kids is what she does for fun! She is now in her fourth year at Rejoice Christian School and she loves every minute of it.

And though it is hard to imagine her students ever being at risk of being homeless, she knows all to well that it takes only a series of a few really bad choices for it to happen. So as she teaches, she can’t help but pray for them, that they would someday minister at John 3:16 Mission, but never have to live there.

Just dusty rocks and pottery? Somehow, it is obvious this teacher has lots of lessons to teach, lessons that just may inspire a new generation of Christians to do big things.

Call today for a personal tour at:

918-272-7235

(Preschool / Elementary)

918-516-0050

(Middle / High School)

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.

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christian teachers

Summit Christian Academy

Chris Dorey – High School Science ot all races are run in a straight line. At least that is what God has helped Chris Dorey learn over the last five years. Studying Biology in college, Chris thought he had everything all planned out. He would go to dental school and ultimately use that still to do mission work over seas. God had a different plan. There would be no acceptance letters in the mail from dental schools and no immediate mission opportunities.

Instead, Chris found himself doing a different kind of mission work…reaching high school kids in the classroom.

It was a job he didn’t expect to enjoy, a temporary role until

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“The classroom became my stage, my artist’s pallet. Being one of the few male teachers, I was able to mentor especially some of the young men. In the process, I was able to watch God change young lives.”

God opened other doors. He joined the Air Force, serving in the National Guard to help pay off student debts. He also picked up a Master’s in Biology, still thinking dental school might happen.

However, along the way, he found he was best suited for teaching.

“The classroom became my stage, my artist’s pallet. Being one of the few male teachers, I was able to mentor especially some of the young men. In the process, I was able to watch God change young lives,” he explained.

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Accepting a job at Summit Christian Academy two years ago, Chris began to fine-tune his teaching skills. He also was given the opportunity to start a Cross Country Team. Now, often running along side his team members, he is able to connect with them as an advisor, coach and teacher. “There are plenty of scripture analogies to life. Paul, for instance often talks about running the race. I am able to use such scriptures to help the team learn more than only how to run,” he explained.

Chris teaches upper level science courses at the High School.

He also teaches Bible, something he says he didn’t believe he was initially prepared to do. But now he sees that God is using all of the Bible study to grow his faith and further prepare him for reaching his students.

Running the race takes perseverance and strength. Chris Dorey seems to have been issued a double helping of both.

SCA offers classes for grades K-12. Their stated purpose is to assist parents in training their children to become great people who have a Godly influence on our society. The school is accredited by the North Central Association, and the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS). It is also recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. For more information, visit their website at www.SCA-Eagles.com.

christian teachers

Victory Christian School

Ramona Tedescucci 7th & 8th Grade Math

phone call and a job offer from Dr. Demuth at Victory. It had been years since that first calling from the Lord, but now was the timing He intended.

Immediately, God blessed them, placing the right opportunities in their path. During the Tedescucci’s first year at Victory, IMPACT lunch prayer and worship was birthed in 2009 and is still going on today for both middle and high school students. Ramona and her husband, Patrick, have also taken students to events from VCS such as Empowered 21 and National Day of Prayer. They have watched God continue to touch the hearts of their students and it is clearly evident that God truly wanted them right here in Tulsa.

“God is always faithful,” Ramona exclaims. And as they enjoy watching God’s plan for them unfold, it continues to be a lesson for them and for their friends and family, to listen to His calling and be patient, even when it is obvious His timing is not always our own.

Victory Christian School serves grades K3-12 as well as offering before and after-school programs and a Summer Fun program. A full range of courses, activities and facilities makes for a great educational experience where love of God and Country and strong discipline are evident. Multiple child tuition and fee discounts make Victory very affordable. No entrance tests are required to become a part of Victory. VCS serves students from over 168 church congregations.

Check their website at www.vcstulsa.org for more information.

amona Tedescucci has no doubt God wanted her to teach at Victory Christian School, but the road to get here was a winedy one. While working as an administrator for a Christian school in Kentucky, she came to Tulsa each year for the annual ICAA convention at ORU. During the meetings, she always heard about Victory and decided one day to walk over to see the school. Standing in the hallway in front of the school office, she felt God unmistakably call her to move her family to Tulsa to work for the school. The calling didn’t seem to make sense. She and her husband loved their school in Kentucky and their role as youth pastors at their church. However, they listened to what seemed to be a clear calling. They came to Tulsa to interview, but there were no positions available. They quit their jobs and prepared for the move, but there were still no positions available. They went to work in public schools in Kentucky and also took classes to increase their certifications, but still, no offer from Victory. Years went by, but the calling didn’t. They settled in, built a good life in Kentucky while God continued to prompt them about moving to Tulsa. They interviewed over and over and just when they were about to give up, Ramona’s husband had a similar calling from God. This time, they packed up the kids and spent their 20th Anniversary money to fly everyone to Tulsa. The interviews went well, but they were told it would be a couple of weeks before any decisions would be made.

But instead of heading home, they stayed here in faith and looked for a house. Just as they were literally signing a lease, they received a

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apologetics event

How Old is the Earth? And Does it Really Matter?

Ken Wolgmuth

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here is a battle raging in our churches. In some places, it is separating otherwise united believers, families, and close friends, and causing others to steer away from Christian faith altogether. You see, some say the earth is relatively young, no more than six thousand years old, as proven by the scriptures and by counting the generations of man described in Genesis. The Bible says it, or at least implies it, so why argue…right? “But hold on, not so fast,” say others, like two speakers coming to Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in January. They contend that an ancient Earth, even one billions of years old, is not inconsistent with Genesis, and is, in fact, overwhelmingly supported by the evidence God has provided in his natural creation. They argue that continued rejection of this evidence is creating stumbling blocks to faith in Christ, and separating believers unnecessarily within the church.

As Christian geologists, Ken Wolgemuth and Gregg Davidson have encountered many people who have had their faith storm tossed or fully shipwrecked by the misperception that belief in Jesus and the Bible requires belief in a young earth. As a young man, Ken thought the young earth movement would die out and ignored it. The conflict did not go away, however, and over the years, Ken felt increasingly called by God (and urged by his wife) to share his expertise in geology and his love for Scripture with people who are wrestling with this divisive issue.

He and his colleague, Gregg Davidson, now speak across the country, addressing the proverbial “elephant in the sanctuary.” Their seminars – designed for non-scientists – present evidence that the earth is much older than what many have been taught, and how such evidence is reconciled with God’s Word. “The objective is not just to convince participants that the earth is old, however,” Ken notes, “but to provide people with a greater awareness of what the actual evidence is so that they can make more informed decisions about their beliefs.”

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Gregg Davidson

So were the “days” really “days,” or does God have his own calendar and clock?

The two speakers understand that this question can be threatening.

“In fact,” Ken says, “not very many can even have a calm discussion about it.”

“Many of our youth are growing up in churches where they are being taught that if they believe anything except the notion that the earth is young, they are teetering on being an atheist and being outside the body of faith,” said Ken. This is a shame, he contends, because this is not a salvation issue. We can and should all agree that God is the Author of creation. “Increasingly, I recognize that not only is God the creator, He is also the sustainer of everything and that He is actively involved in everything, all the time.”

Ken often quotes theologian, John Piper as saying, “Under God’s supreme guidance, everything is under His control. All the atoms, all of the molecules, all of the chemical reactions which take place, God is there. All the atoms that go into DNA and even every insect are all under God’s guidance.”

So, is the Bible the inerrant Word of God? “Absolutely,” Ken says, “but when scientific evidence shows us something, we should be willing to revisit Scripture to see whether our original interpretation is the only way we could have looked at it.”

In doing so, however, he emphatically states that he and Gregg do not approach this with any sense of “science trumping scripture.”

“Scripture, to us, is authoritative, infallible and it remains forever,” Ken affirms. “It doesn’t change, and its core message was as understandable to its first audience as it is to us today. Our understanding of secondary issues is imperfect, however, and there are times when natural discoveries help identify misunderstanding.

Just as the church had to come to terms with natural evidence presented by Galileo that the earth was not the center of the universe, we too should be willing to take the scientific evidence seriously and allow it to prompt us to take a second and third look at our Biblical

interpretations. Science can drive us back to Scripture to reexamine what is actually saying.”

“The potential benefit is enormous,” he adds, “for a right understanding of God’s Word and his natural world could tangibly improve your witness in the church and to the lost.”

You are invited to come, listen and consider the evidence presented.

The seminar begins Friday evening, January 16th from 6:45–9:00 pm and continues Saturday morning from 9:00–12:00 noon. It will be held at Kirk of the Hills Church at 4102 East 61st Street.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT. However, the organizers ask that you help them prepare by letting them know if you are going to attend.

Register at www.thekirk.com

About the Speakers

FRIDAY EVENING

•

“Biblical and Historical Considerations” - Gregg Davidson “Earth History: Why Geologists Believe the Age Question has been Answered” - Ken Wolgmuth

SATURDAY MORNING

“Sin, Death, and the Fossil Record” - Gregg Davidson “Half-Told Stories and the Ministry of the Church” -Ken Wolgemuth

Solid Rock Lectures – Professional scientists adhering to the authority of the Bible and the legitimacy of the modern scientific enterprise. Their Mission: Removing a stumbling block to faith in Christ through education about the geologic evidence supporting old earth creation, and its Biblical basis.

Dr. Gregg Davidson • • •

Professor of Geology and Geologic Engineering, University of Mississippi Expertise in isotopes and carbon-14 dating Author of When Faith and Science Collide: A Biblical Approach to Evaluating Evolution and the Age of the Earth Christian – heart, mind and soul

Dr. Ken Wolgemuth • • • •

Professional geologist in the oil industry for over 30 years University professor for 7 years, and now international shortcourse instructor for the oil industry Expertise in geochemistry and radioactive isotope dating Christian – heart, mind and soul

A Note from the Publisher: I know this can be an explosive topic and this magazine is all about building unity not division. No matter where you stand on this issue, lets all agree that God is bigger and greater than all the science man could ever imagine. Our faith should never be based on science, but we also shouldn’t be afraid of it. Explore, challenge and discover. God can handle it.

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act financial

RANDY COWELL

Social Security Strategies for a Better Retirement

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et’s assume you and your spouse are 62. By this time most Americans that have been paying into the SSA know the significance of turning 62. Simple right? Not so fast.

Filing at the wrong time can come back to bite you if you’re not careful. Given a couple, each 62 years old, have 81 different filing combinations and strategies. (We will discuss these later). As I am constructing this article, I already know what you. are thinking, “I will just march myself down to the Social Security Office and they will tell me which option I should take.” That may have worked at one time, but due to budgetary cutbacks and the sheer number of persons filing, don’t expect to get much more than basic information. My advice to anyone choosing to stand in line is to be realistic and remember who you are dealing with.

Take the First Step Today many Americans are giving up tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, in benefit due to poor planning, lack of planning or simply bad advice. According to the SSA 74% of Americans file as soon as they reach 62. That’s right, as soon as they can. There are several reasons for so many filing early. The most obvious is poor retirement planning and the need for income.

Taking it simply because you can might not be a good idea. There are several factors to consider prior to making your decision. First, do you anticipate working into your retirement? If the answer is yes or maybe, you should probably wait. Remember until you reach your full retirement age (age 66 for most of us), you will give back $1 of SS payments for every $2 you earn over $15,120. After you reach FRA you can earn as much as you want.

I have a client that is retired and has filed for SSI payments. He

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has been offered a great job and now finds himself having to return Social Security benefits. Because his income exceeds the annual earned income threshold, he will lose a portion of his SSI benefit.

This strategy is called “Request for Withdrawal of Application” from the SSA. Assuming his request is granted, he will pay back all payments received. There is no penalty or interest charge. The benefit to my client is that his future benefit will increase annually by approximately 8%. GUARANTEED! Another area of planning that can significantly increase your benefits over your lifetime is a “File and Suspend” strategy. This technique has many variations and moving parts but allows for greater income for both filers and could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars of income over a lifetime.

These are just a few of the retirement strategies that can benefit you and your family. In many cases they will increase your retirement income hundreds of thousands of dollars. My advice for anyone that is preparing for retirement or who has recently had a change in their work status is to give us a call. We would love to help you and your family navigate the complexities of Social Security.

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

The “Yes Women Can” Blog

WATCH FOR THIS BLOG IN EACH ISSUE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Free Shipping

BY LISA GOINS

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ver the years I have come to look forward to my favorite sounds that kick start the holiday season beginning with Michael Buble singing Christmas Carols in my car… I love to hear someone say to me… Lisa your Ginderbread Latte is ready at the counter, There are Christmas Cookies at the office or I bought you a gift! There is so much to enjoy but ultimately I have two favorite words I like to see around Christmas… FREE SHIPPING! Yes I have officially joined the ranks of women who are busy. I am not talking about the “I have a lot to do today” kind of busy but the kind that says “I need to get up and move a mountain before my keurig can spout out its first cup of coffee” kind of busy. It’s the kind of busy that has turned me into an online shopper, obsessively perusing through online sites until I find the perfect gifts and then hoping that nothing happens to me for the next 3-5 days until everything arrives on my doorstep.

As a stay at home mom when my kids were younger I used to buy and sell kids clothing online so the UPS man would make frequent stops by the house. One day the Ups man was greeted with something I am certain he will not forget… My 4 kids loved to play dress up, especially Kelson. We had all the goods from ballerina costumes to superhero’s but Kelson’s favorite costume was the Christian soldier and that was his go to dress up. This particular morning they had all asked to play dress up and were in the other room when the doorbell rang. Now I really tried my best to teach my kids that you can’t open the door without mommy, stranger danger, etc… but in my house when the doorbell rang it was like a stampede and my kids were suddenly Olympic sprinters.

I was not uncommon to arrive at the door seconds behind them

and they would be having joyful conversations with the Pizza man, practically inviting him to stay and eat.

This day the UPS man was greeted by 2 dancers and Batman (Kelson was not at the door….unusual) Once I got through the kids to sign for my package I noticed the UPS guy was trying to suppress laughter and was looking just over my shoulder into the house. When I turned around there was Kelson who had shown up on the scene in his dress up clothes only this time he had not chosen his favorite soldier costume. Kelson had gone into my room and he had dressed himself up in every undergarment I own, from head to toe he had strung my bra’s and underwear all over his little body like he had just decorated a Christmas Tree. It wasn’t as if he has just grabbed a few things off the top of the drawer, it looked like he had dug deep and found things I should have gotten rid of years ago…..

God has brought me a long way since those days at home with the kids and It reminds me that we all need to dig deep in our life, clear out the clutter and focus on the reason for the season and all that the Lord has brought us through for another year. His gift, after all, is better than cookies and carols… it’s free (like the shipping!) After that day I did rearrange my drawers just a bit and move some things to higher ground. Sometimes I miss the dress up days… Lucie, our miniature doxie, does not seem so excited about her reindeer ears……

LISA GOINS & CINDY STEWARD Smart Women Buy Homes are professional Realtors who have a passion and commitment to serving the unique needs of women home buyers. Lisa and Cindy are dedicated to making it easy, exciting and a joy for you to buy and own a home!

LISA GOINS

As a residential sales specialist Lisa quickly became a multi-million dollar producer by helping her clients either find the perfect home to purchase or successfully sell their existing home. She has a passion for Smart Women Buy Homes and the ability to help women fulfill their dream of home ownership. Lisa is a Realtor and Managing Broker for Private Label Realty, married and mom to 4 great kids; she and her husband Kelly also serve a Senior Pastors of Faith Assembly in Tulsa.

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oklahoma health department

Secondhand Smoke...Still Deadly as Ever

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emember when we used to get on an airplane and request the non-smoking section, even though it was often only one row away from the smokers?

Remember when everyone else in the office smoked and you thought you were safe because you didn’t smoke?

Remember when your dad smoked in the car and he thought it was okay as long as he cracked the window?

Remember when smoke billowed from the tables next to yours at the restaurants even though you sat in the “No Smoking Section?”

You know, we weren’t too smart back then. Given what we now know about the affects of secondhand smoke, it all sounds pretty silly now doesn’t it? Armed with decades worth of research, we now know that smoke kills us, even when it comes to us and to our kids secondhand.

That smoke wifting through your car or your home may look benign enough, but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ article The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic and about 70 are known to cause cancer.

Non-smokers die everyday from the effects of smoke. In fact, secondhand smoke is now attributed to the death of some 2.5 million non-smokers since the Surgeon General’s famous warning back in 1964.

The Center for Disease Control lists the following alarming facts on their website. There really is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It is a fact…Smoke kills. (www.cdc.gov) •

• • •

•

• • •

Secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Smoking during pregnancy results in more than 1,000 infant deaths annually.

Some of the health conditions caused by secondhand smoke in adults include coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.

Secondhand smoke causes nearly 34,000 premature deaths from heart disease each year in the United States among nonsmokers.

Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30%.

Secondhand smoke increases the risk for stroke by 20−30%.

Secondhand smoke exposure causes more than 8,000 deaths from stroke annually.

Breathing secondhand smoke interferes with the normal

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•

•

• •

• •

• • • •

•

• •

•

functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase the risk of having a heart attack.

Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can damage the lining of blood vessels and cause your blood platelets to become stickier. These changes can cause a deadly heart attack.

Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20–30%.

Secondhand smoke causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths among U.S. nonsmokers each year.

Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons as smokers.

Even brief secondhand smoke exposure can damage cells in ways that set the cancer process in motion.

As with active smoking, the longer the duration and the higher the level of exposure to secondhand smoke, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer.

Smoking by women during pregnancy increases the risk for SIDS. Infants who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are also at greater risk for SIDS. Chemicals in secondhand smoke appear to affect the brain in ways that interfere with its regulation of infants’ breathing.

Infants who die from SIDS have higher concentrations of nicotine in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine (a biological marker for secondhand smoke exposure) than infants who die from other causes.

Studies show that older children whose parents smoke get sick more often. Their lungs grow less than children who do not breathe secondhand smoke, and they get more bronchitis and pneumonia.

Wheezing and coughing are more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack in a child.

Children with asthma who are around secondhand smoke have more severe and frequent asthma attacks. A severe asthma attack can put a child’s life in danger.

Children whose parents smoke around them get more ear infections. They also have fluid in their ears more often and have more operations to put in ear tubes for drainage.

Heard enough? Now it is up to you to act on that information. If you smoke, consider quitting. And if you are still smoking, do so in a well ventilated area, away from others, especially children.

Help erase your risk. Protect you and your family from secondhand smoke’s deadly effects.

Learn more at StopsWithMe.com.

918-595-4267

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lose your quit B Y

DANNY CAHILL

I’ll Start Monday

Community Spirit is excited to have Danny Cahill as one of 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.

us, knowing it is bad for us, and ultimately wait until it’s almost too late to act? I did – and I know that you are doing it in some area of your life. It’s the “I’ll start Monday” syndrome – the “Last hoorah” blues. One more burger, then I’ll get healthy!

Well, I think I made some headway with Stephen.

He listened. And the next morning he was reading my book when they came in to let him go home from the hospital. The next night I received a call from Tracy.

“I’ve got some really bad news, Danny. When they let Stephen go from the hospital, a blood clot broke loose and he passed away.” I was floored. I was angry! I was confused. I hung up the phone and asked, “God, why would you send me to him, only to take him the next day?” I know that we don’t know the reasons for everything – and I’ve found peace that we don’t have to know the reason – but for the next week I struggled with that question.

I think I know why. I believe that God sent me to Stephen for you. You are reading this, and perhaps you’ve been putting off making that change that you know you’ve got to make. Perhaps you’ve been saying, “On January 1st I’m going to do it!” Well, I have a favor to ask of you. Don’t wait until January 1st; don’t start Monday; don’t even wait until tomorrow. Begin now. Just focus on the next right thing. One decision at a time, you can begin immediately to change your life for the better.

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ell, here we are! The first of the year is coming back around and many of those New Year’s Resolutions we aspired to make are long dead. I want to talk to you about waiting until the New Year to start a health-improvement plan. Something happened to me a few weeks ago that really affected me. Let me explain.

My friend and favorite director Tracy Trost of Trost Moving Pictures (he once cast me as The Food Critic in the movie “A Christmas Snow”) called me. He asked me to visit someone in the hospital. We set it up and I visited Stephen who was in the hospital for an infection in his leg. He was extremely overweight (about where I began The Biggest Loser at) and had severe edema – water retention in your extremities. I identified with this, because I had gone to the emergency room several times when I was upwards of 460 pounds with my legs feeling as hot as an iron from infection. In fact, I was very close to Stephen’s condition. Being in that hospital room and talking with Stephen brought me back to a place where I had let it get so bad that I wouldn’t even get out of my chair – because it hurt.

I gave him a copy of my book, Lose Your Quit, in the hopes that he would read it and get inspired enough to begin a change immediately! Why do we often continue doing things that harm

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PURCHASE DANNY’S NEW BOOK AT THEDANNYCAHILL.COM

the heart of the matter

DENIECE ADSIT

From Faith to Faithfulness However, if I train for the event, I will strengthen the muscles required for the event and I will succeed.

The same is true for me as I train to consistently become more faithful. God only asks me to perform according to my talents, but until I train enough to strengthen what He has given me, I may not know how successful I can be. So I train. I do this by reading, studying, praying, and surrounding myself with people who understand that I am in training for the most important race a person can ever run.

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ithout question, I believe in God. For as long as I can remember, I have believed that God reigns supreme. I believe He loves me. I believe He is in control. I believe He sees all, and knows all, and that He wants what is best for me. I don’t always live as if I believe all these things. For me, the distance between faith and faithfulness is sometimes more than just a few letters. My disconnect between faith and faithfulness looks like this: I believe God heals and protects, yet I worry that He won’t heal and protect me. I believe God forgives me when I stumble, yet I live as if there are people who are too far gone to receive His forgiveness.

I accept the love God freely shares with me, yet I hesitate to freely love those with whom I disagree.

When I look at the life of Abraham, whose faith was counted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:1-3), I may not be the only one who has faced this discrepancy between faith and faithful. Abraham had faith, but his actions weren’t always faithful. When God told him to go to Egypt, he obeyed. But when he arrived in Egypt he asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister so he would not be killed. This leads me to believe that, while he believed in God, he didn’t necessarily believe God would protect him in all circumstances (Genesis 12:1113). Abraham believed God’s promise of descendants; however, he seemed to fail somewhere between his faith and his faithfulness when he tried to help God perform the miracle by sleeping with Hagar (Genesis 16:1-4). Later, Abraham did prove faithful when he took Isaac up the mountain at God’s direction. In that moment his faith had made the transition to faithful behavior (Genesis 22).

So how do I transition from faith (believing) to faithfulness (action)? I train. Notice, I said “train”, not “try.” If I tried to compete in an athletic event, I would most likely fall on my face.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?

Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NIV) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

(Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

Life can be challenging at times, and faithfulness is required. So I keep training.

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

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family life today

Does Your Marriage Need a Facelift?

FamilyLife Offers Practical Help

Marriages everywhere are under attack…Even YOURS. Lets face it. Marriage is tough. Like all partnerships, it requires good communication, a commitment to making it work, and a determination to stay focused on mutually agreed priorities and goals. In door number one, you have the world telling you it is impossible, maybe not even healthy to stay with the same partner for a lifetime. However, in door number two, the Creator of the World, the Everlasting God tells us it is not.

FamilyLife, a subsidiary of Campus Crusade for Christ, votes for door number two. In fact, they have decades of experience working with couples just like you to make marriage not only work, but thrive.

You have probably heard them on KCFO AM970. FamilyLife Today with Dennis Rainey and co-hosted by Bob Lepine is on weekday mornings at 9:00. Boldly telling it like it is on subjects ranging from Sex in Marriage and Stress, to parenting and blended families, they get real as they examine

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the scriptures and help couples re-calibrate the direction for their relationship. You may not expect that two older guys could understand your marriage, but it is amazing how spot on they can be. And no doubt because of the Holy Spirit working through them, it works. Families are kept together, pulled together and purposed together every day as people listen in, hoping for that practical idea for getting through the latest challenge.

The National Religious Broadcasters also the show is great. In fact, FamilyLife Today has been awarded the Radio Program of the Year on two different occasions.

FamilyLife has been around since 1976. Dennis Rainey serves as the President and CEO and co-founder.

He has a respected resume, testifying on family issues before Congress and appearing on numerous radio and television programs. Dennis earned a degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in Biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. He also holds an honorary

aside for projects to complete as a couple. Saturday night includes a “Date Night” for you and your spouse to enjoy a romantic evening alone. Fora $100 discount, be sure to register under the group name “Spirit.” See www.FamilyLife.com/weekend.

3. Visit the Website to Grow!

The FamilyLife website is a storehouse of great videos and articles designed to help you and your family grow in your relationships and with the Lord.

Explore the site for yourself and then mark it as a “favorite.” You will want to go back on a regular basis as they are continually adding new material.

Dennis Rainey and co-host Bob Lepine

doctorate from Trinity Evangelical University and Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Dennis has practical lessons to share. He and his wife Barbara have been married since 1972 and love laughing with their six children and numerous grandchildren. His lessons often weave in personal stories about their family, including their own marriage mistakes and lessons learned.

To continue making a difference, and the FamilyLife ministry team look to multiple streams of media to communicate their marriage-saving messages. Watch, listen and they can make a difference in YOUR marriage too!

1. Be Well-Read on the Subject of Marriage Dennis has authored or co-authored more than two dozen books including the best selling Moments Together for Couples and Staying Close. He also serves as the senior editor of the HomeBuilders Couples Series® which has sold over 2.5 million copies and has been translated into 47 languages.

2. Sign Up to Attend A Weekend to Remember Getaway!

In addition to radio and books, FamilyLife makes a huge impact on marriages by putting on their own weekend seminars called, Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaways® and I Still Do® Events” Events. In fact, you and your spouse can enjoy an upcoming “A Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway” right here in Tulsa on Friday, February 13th through Sunday, February 15th. The exciting weekend will be held at Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center. You will enjoy the general sessions with messages delivered by a three-person speaker team, as well as designated times set

4. Purchase Small Group Materials from FamilyLife FamilyLife has its own YouTube Channel where you can watch many videos for FREE. Just search for FamilyLife on the search line of YouTube. There are also packaged video study available for purchase that are perfect for use in Bible Class or in a Small Group setting. Whether you have a group of only a few couples, or whether your church wants to create an event out of the studies, you will find the videos to be both entertaining and absolutely beneficial to your relationship with your spouse. One such study is The Art of Marriage. Visit www.theartofmarriage.com for more details.

5. Invite Your Neighbors!

The ministry also now offers video series suitable to use as a tool to reach your friends, neighbors, co-workers and community. The Art of Marriage can be used in this way. Couples also use the Stepping Up™ (A series designed especially for men) and the HomeBuilder Couples Series (Teaching couples to build marriages based upon God’s design) as a way to reach their neighbors.

Your marriage is important, too important not to invest your all and all in protecting and improving. Don’t give up! If you are struggling, get some counseling. And if things are fine, invest in the things designed to make things even better. We think the folks at FamilyLife are people you can count on to get things heading in the right direction.

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the cottage

A Place for Mom or Dad

(from left to right) Terra Maxey, Hilary Sharp, Laurie SImon (center) Torre Rountree

S

earching for someone to care for your loved one? The process of finding just the right facility can be a painful, confusing, and let’s face it, expensive one. It is tough to sort through and determine just the right amount of care they need, and match that to a facility offering a price they can afford.

Once upon a time, before the entrance of high-rise, multi-care retirement communities, the decision was easier. Everyone knew the owner of the local nursing home and you could count on them to care for your parents like they were their own. Now, in the world of corporate-owned, large, multi-care facilities, small, family-run nursing care homes are difficult to find. We wanted to introduce you to a very special one.

The Cottage Extended Care is located on 21st Street, close to Utica Square and St. John Medical Center. Its small, quaint design blends in so well with the community around it, you have probably driven by it for years without even knowing it is there. Designed for only 66 residents, The Cottage provides a unique family setting.

Many of the residents have lived there for many years and the staff, residents and families love and care for each other. It is owned by Steve and Melissa Cox, a local couple who believe God has truly called them to care for the elderly. As Steve explains, “The nursing home industry is one of the few jobs where you can truly make a profound difference in the lives of people.” He runs additional facilities, but this is one of his favorite because of its strong family atmosphere.”

Priced at only $125 per day, it is one of the best values in the area. In fact, many families have been able to save thousands of dollars per month while also knowing their loved one receiving quality, loving care.

Administrator, Torre Rountree explained why she is proud

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to work at The Cottage. “I love the size of the facility. It is small enough for us to truly operate as a team to provide personal care.

Some of our residents really don’t have any family and so we become that family. Although the facility is one of the older ones in town, I believe the family service makes up for that. Our residents feel secure here. They know the staff and don’t get lost in any maze of multiple hallways. It provides a home-like environment for them,” she explained.

Steve Cox especially brags about the quality, caring staff at The Cottage. One of their nurses, Hilary Sharp, was recently recognized as one of the top 100 nurses in the state, an honor only ten longterm care nurses received. Steve also says they are blessed to have Dr. Joe Moore, one of the area’s best medical directors. After years of private practice in Internal medicine, Dr. Moore now focuses his time on caring for the elderly.

To ensure they continue to provide in best service possible, they have a customer service representative who runs a unique quality assurance program, routinely calling families and visiting with residents to get their input on the quality of the care, communication and overall happiness.

“The residents enjoy it here,” says Steve Cox. “It is a place to call home, a place where their friends live, where they often hear great entertainment and where they can still have a good time. We place a strong emphasis on serving great tasting food. The residents have had a ball, eating soft serve ice cream and gathering to play for bingo or just socialize,” he said.

If you are looking for a place for your loved one to live, consider The Cottage. You will find family here.

[Neh. 2:18]

Let us rise up and build . . .

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