June 2013 | Community Spirit by Community Spirit Magazine

Tour Dates: June 3 - 14

Exhibit Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9am-9pm Sunday, 12:00noon-9:00pm

5925 E 51st Street (51st & Sheridan), Tulsa

Just as the original Tabernacle of the Wilderness moved across the desert, The Tabernacle Experience has been impacting hearts and lives as it travels across the United States. And now, this life-transforming exhibit is coming to TULSA! See and feel the rich history of the Bible as you walk through the 55-minute guided audio tour of this life-sized tabernacle exhibit, participating at each of nine Old Testament-based stationsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;each of which more fully reveals Jesus Christ. Invite your friends and family to join you to draw closer to God through this spiritually-impacting Tabernacle Experience. Hosted by Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Entrance Contribution: $5.00

Church@parkplaza.org â&#x20AC;˘ 918.627.3201

June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.c om

â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

June 2013

Contents FEATURES 6 Generation Z Graduates 12 OK Wesleyan University on Apologetics 14 E-cigarettes…Bad? 16 ORU Section 20 Running Across America for Alzheimer’s Asso. 22 Forest Ridge Parade of Homes 27 Dads Share Business Advice COLUMNS 39 Dr. Kevin Nieman, LMFT 34 The Biggest Loser, Danny Cahill 25 Deniece Adsit 24 ACT Financial Services 38 Ask-A-Pro, Grace Hospice 35 Pet Corner

PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud CREATIVE Director Ramond Walker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Deniece Adsit, Dr. Kevin Nieman, Ava Hancock, Danny Cahill, Scott Nicholson

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 Communityspiritmagazine.com is distributed to churches, schools, restaurants, Christian bookstores, and other businesses. Call us today to deliver to your church. Communityspiritmagazine.com is published monthly by McCloud Media. Claims by advertisers and the opinions of writers within this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Communityspiritmagazine.com 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

Defiant

gracechurch 9610 s garnett ba 918.252.1611 gracetulsa.com

R a d i o with CaRol MCleod Monday-Friday 7:30am & 10:30am

JoyCe MeyeR

en J o y i n g E vE ryd ay l i Fe

Monday-Friday • 11:00am

sunday 8:30 & 11:15a.m. sunday school 10:00 to 11:00a.m. wednesday 7:00p.m. 4

C o m m u n i t y S p i ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

www.KCFO.com

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)

Claremore Owasso 11 412

412

Tulsa

Oilton Sand Springs

Cushing

Oologah Pryor

Catoosa 169

244

Creek Tpk

64 44

66 75

169

Broken Arrow

Sapulpa

Jenks

Bristow Chandler

Okemah

Henryetta

Okmulgee 40

SamE-DaY aPPOintmEntS anD EXtEnDED HOURS AVAILABLE FOR PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS

• UtiCaParkCliniC.COm

generation Z

Generation Z: Extraordinary Exceptions

new, unique generation is heading off to college preparing themselves to soon be sitting in the workstation next to you. They are called, “Generation Z” and their characteristics are exciting to some, while downright scary to others. Generation Z, often called “digital natives,” were raised in a different way and with different parenting styles than the generations above them. Born between 1990 and 2010, they have never known a world without immediate access to information on their cell phones and iPads. This makes them not only comfortable with technology, but downright dependent upon it. Their world has taught them to be constant multitaskers, grabbing bits of information, cramming it into their pockets and moving on to the next source. In comparison to our ancient world of three national networks, “television” to them, is a computer with thousands of channels which can be accessed whenever they have time. In Barna’s book, You lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church and Rethinking Church, he points out that this group tends to see the church as overprotective, demonizing everything outside its

walls. They also see the average church-goer as shallow, antagonistic to science, afraid of the beliefs of others and unfriendly to those who doubt. Such research is disheartening at best. But then, just before you give up on Generation Z and predict they will be the end of civilization as we know it, you meet the exceptions. There are millions of them, educated with a Christian world-view, dedicated to their belief that Jesus Christ is the only answer, and ready to invest a lifetime of serving Him. Even at their young age, they have been on foreign mission trips to places we only read about in the encyclopedia. Global-thinkers and problem solvers, they can’t wait to get to college and prepare for careers that will truly make a difference. God has called and they are answering. We wanted you to meet a cross-section of this, more positive subgroup of Generation Z. Prepare to be impressed. God does have a plan and He will no doubt work through the hands and feet of kids like this.

Julia Morgan

Cole Taylor

Augustine Christian Academy Julia is a girl with a game plan and Augustine Academy has prepared her for getting there. This school leader’s favorite course in high school was Hebrew. She will be attending the University of Tulsa to study Fine Arts and Graphic Design. She also will study Business so she can start her own business someday. And, she will continue with Hebrew, “just because she loves it.” She chose TU because she liked the smaller campus and because she wanted to stay close to home. She also was intreiged by their good study-abroad program. She says she will miss the family atmosphere at Augustine, something she says is just too wonderfully unique to explain. (Sarah Mansur, Sarah Adel Photography)

Jenna Murray

Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy Jenna says she will miss Immanuel. She has grown to love the small classes, the on-on-one attention from teachers and the strong Christian atmosphere. However she knows she is ready for college and Oral Roberts University will be perfect for her. She plans to pursue a Business Degree with an emphasis on Human Resources. While on campus, she hopes to continue her passion for theatre. (Louis Hintz with Louie photography) 6

C o m m u n i t y S p i ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 0 13

Victory Christian Academy Instead of playing for the Victory Conquerors, Cole will soon suit up for the Tulsa Hurricane where he hopes to win a position as receiver and punter. He has attended Victory since Kindergarten and will miss the people, relationships and the leaders. He loves his family and church and is pleased to remain here where he can continue to play guitar, sing, and help lead youth worship. Cole plans to study Business, possibly Energy Management. (Credit Jennifer Olinske, Olinske Photography)

Alena Itty

Wright Christian Academy Alena will miss everyone at Wright. She says it a special place where people know your name and are kind and loving. However, she feels prepared and ready for the challenge of heading to the University of Oklahoma where she will study pre-Med. She feels called into the medical field and hopes to someday be a pediatrician. In-between studying and going to class, she hopes to continue her love for classical Indian dance. (Hanna Taylor photography)

Link Strickland

Metro Christian Academy Oklahoma State University will be a new home for this proven leader. As an AP Scholar and regional math awardwinner, Link plans to apply his skills within the university’s Mechanical Engineering department. Link attended Metro since preschool and loved the close community atmosphere and the challenging academics. He will miss his teachers and friends, but looks forward to the new challenges. (Ervin Photography)

Katie-Lee Wilson

Rejoice Christian School Katie-Lee will pack her bags, including her golf clubs and head for Oklahoma City University where she will continue to be a competitor on the course and in her classes. She received a scholarship after winning her 5th State Golf Championship. She plans to study Exercise Science. She says she will miss Rejoice and describes it as a place where the teachers are focused on helping the students develop academically and with their walk with God. (Dori G. Studios)

Jared Minnix

Summit Christian Academy Attending SCA since 9th Grade, life has been non-stop action for Jared. Aside from being a top student, he also played football, basketball, baseball and soccer. He also served on the student council. Math is his favorite and he plans to use those skills as he pursues an Accounting degree at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. (Austin St. John Photography)

Regent Preparatory School of Tulsa With only 5 total graduates, it was just too difficult to select only one for this article. Regent continues to grow in both numbers and reputation. This year’s four graduates received over $1.2 million received in scholarships, had an average ACT score of 30, had 1 National Merit Finalist and all 4 were named Oklahoma Academic Scholars (GPA and ACT criteria). Kari Keller: Will attend ORU and major in nursing Jonathan Hodge: Will attend BIOLA (Bible Institute of Los Angeles) and major in history Maddie Shapleigh: Will attend University of Arkansas and major in elementary education. Selby Anne Perkins: Will attend Kanakuk’s Link Year program before pursuing a degree in medicine. From left to right: (credit - Lucas Forsythe) Maddie Shapleigh, Jonathan Hodge, Selby Perkins & Kari Keller.

Joel Moffit

Mingo Valley Christian School The University of Tulsa is the choice for this athlete and all around student leader. He plans to study Finance and he loves the idea of “going away to college” right here in Tulsa. Joel loved Mingo Valley and most appreciates the way they teach Bible as truth and the way they care about their students. “Its family and a really good community,” he says. “Something he is going to miss.” June 2013 Communit ySp ir itmagaz ine.c om

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. • spirit-filled, charismatic, word of faith emphasis. • 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. • 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. and Much More!

Victory christian school now enrollinG! K3-12th Grade | 7700 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa OK 74136 918.491.7720 // vcstulsa.org

C o m m u n i t y S p i ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 0 13

treAtinG the BoDY, CArinG for the Spirit.

mAtt ACKer, m.D.

JoAnnA CrAWforD, D.o.

heAther hArShmAn, m.D.

rUth moore, D.o.

KriS CrAWforD, m.D.

CAroL J. hoWArD, m.D.

CLAY poWeLL, m.D.

John CroUCh, m.D.

ChriS JenKinS, m.D

eDWArD rYLAnDer, m.D.

mitCh DUininCK, m.D.

SCott KeLLer, m.D.

eniS SAKirGiL, m.D.

frAnK hAmiLton, m.D.

ChAD moore, m.D.

VAL trAmonte, ii, m.D.

LAUreL WiLLiSton, m.D.

*Dr. Kris Crawford, Dr. heather harshman and our resident physicians (not pictured) are located at 19th & Utica, Suite 600. All other physicians are located at 81st & memorial, South Building.

An importAnt pArt of the St. John teAm, Family Medical Care is committed to giving our patients the best care, providing not only the latest medical treatments but healing for your mind and spirit. Please call 918-872-6880 or visit StJohnheALthSYStem.Com/fAmiLYmeDiCALCAre to schedule an appointment.

P l e a s e v i s i t u s at o u r t w o l o c at i o n s : 81ST & MEMORIAL, SOUTH BUILDING, STE 100 | 19TH & UTICA, HOLLIMAN BUILDING, STE 600

beth moore

The Secret is Out!

Living Proof Live with Beth Moore is coming IN PERSON to Tulsa September 27-28!

lanning committees are planning, the detail people are “detailing” and women will soon be flooding Tulsa’s BOK Center for the big event. You should be one of them. So, visit the website, make plans and go ahead and get your tickets. You don’t want to miss it! Watch Community Spirit next month for a cover story with everything you could ever want to know about Living

Proof Live! For the past 15 years, women across the world have been joining together for Living Proof Live with Beth Moore—an event designed to teach women to love and live on God’s Word. Beth’s message for each event is based on the Scripture that the Lord lays on her heart—no two messages are the same. Aligning with Beth’s burden for unity in the Body of Christ, Living Proof Live is for women of all ages, races, and denominations.

Invest wisely.

REGENT

PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF OKLAHOMA rpsok.org 918.663.1002

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

Cornerstone Community Church sand springs, ok

Eastland Baptist Church tulsa, ok

Owasso First Assembly of God Church owasso, ok

rhema bible church broken arrow, ok

Carbondale Assembly of God tulsa, ok

BELIEVERS Church tulsa, ok

VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTER tulsa, ok

WORLD OUTREACH CHURCH tulsa, ok

CHURCHES BY DANIELS 918.872.6006 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

churchesbydaniels.com June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

oklahoma wesleyan university

Oklahoma Wesleyan University Launches Apologetics Institute Josh McDowell Institute for Christian Thought and Apologetics

klahoma Wesleyan’s reputation for its teachings on current Christian thought and worldview is opening up an exciting new opportunity for the university, its students and all of us in the Bartlesville – Tulsa area. President Dr. Everett Piper explains that the university’s teaching on Truth is very different from that of today’s average university. “Most tend to be in a bit of a love affair with post-modern ethiology and ontology where they would argue that Truth is a constructed thing, built up by people rather than revealed from above by God. We obviously believe that God is the author of Truth, the revealer of Truth.” Focused on this pursuit of God-given Truth, the university has recently linked up with Josh McDowell, one of the foremost apologists of the last 50 years. Hundreds of thousands of people have been influenced by McDowell’s books. Evidence that Demands a Verdict and More than a Carpenter are two examples of a string of the author’s profound apologetic works which combined have sold in excess of 50 million copies.

Introducing… The Josh McDowell Institute for Christian Thought and Apologetics “Josh has been on campus and has 12

caught the vision of OKWU’s unique, boldness and apologetic attitude in regard to Biblical World view. This objective reality of Truth is something he wanted to stand behind. In fact, we are the only institution in the nation he has given his name to and we are pleased to honor his legacy and scholarship. We are excited to now house the Josh McDowell Legacy Library in our Janice and Charles Drake Library which includes a copy of every book he has ever authored. And, we will also be serving as a repository all of his sermon transcripts, over 8000 of them,” said Dr. Piper. Dr. Piper explained that the vision for this institute goes much further. The university has introduced a new Masters of Arts in Theology and Apologetics. In addition, this fall, they will begin an apologetics speaker series, making OKWU the place for not only their students, but for the entire region to come once or twice a year and sit at the knee of some of the world’s best apologists. Josh McDowell will deliver the keynote address for the inaugural event to be held on November 14-15 at the university’s Bartlesville campus. Other speakers will include Josh’s son, Shawn McDowell, as well as noted apologetics experts Frank Turek, Greg Koukl, William Lane Craig and Adu Murray. Dr. Piper explained why he believes there is growing interest in apologetics, especially among younger adults. “There is no freedom without Truth. People in this age group are hungry for these answers. They know something is wrong and they are searching for Truth. There is a rule that needs to be used to measure honesty and integrity. Without that rule, you have chaos, total anarchy. Someone at the end of the day has to call the shots

C o m m u n i t y s pi ri tma g a zi n e.com

J une 20 13

on what people can and cannot do. I think right now that this way we are seeing this tremendous swing in our culture towards giving government more authority and power. The politicians are calling the shots rather than the constitution because we are forfeiting the true liberty that comes from Truth. There is no liberty without Truth. If you do away with Truth, something has to set the boundaries in culture so that people can live with one another without regressing into total chaos. Currently, that something is political power instead of the principles of God. Young people are hungry for Truth because they recognize that something is wrong. They may not be able to identify it until they get further education in apologetics and Biblical worldview and constitutional freedoms… self-evident truths which are endowed to us by our Creator. But they know those things are out there because Romans 1 tells us that the truth of God is written on every human heart. We believe taking a stand on this Truth (the heart of apologetics) will attract a large number of young people.” Dr. Piper also announced that Dr. Abdu Murray is the Institute’s first Scholar Resident. A brilliant apologist from Detroit, Dr. Murray brings a unique viewpoint on the Bible and Christianity. A former Muslim, he became an ardent scholar of the Bible in hopes of using it as a club against his Christian opponents. Now, co-founder and President of Embrace the Truth International, he provides an apologetics-based Christian outreach to Muslims, Jews, cult members and skeptics. Make plans now to attend the first Josh McDowell Conference on Christian Apologetics to be held on the Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Bartlesville) campus on November 14-15. For more information, visit the Oklahoma Wesleyan website at www.okwu.edu.

YO U R

K I DS

I M I T A T E

Electronic Cigarettes… Danger Repackaged??

E VERY THING . YOUR INTERESTS. YO U R H A B I T S . AND BEFORE YO U K N OW I T, YOUR DIPPING.

B This Father ’s Day quit dipping so they’ll never star t. Call the O k l a h o m a To b a c c o H e l p l i n e or go online for free coaching and free patches, gum or lozenges.

TSET. Better Lives Through Better Health.

Communitys Spi pi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une J une2 013 2013

efore you take your first drag on that electronic cigarette, you better know what you are sucking into your lungs. “Problem is,” say the experts, “there is no way to know.” Since the e-cigs do not contain tobacco, they are not regulated by current tobacco laws. Neither are they controlled by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. Although you see movie stars using them and the e-cigs seem to be the latest, high-tech gadget, the verdict is definitely not out on their safety and many experts are worried about the long-term effects of these “smokeless” cigarettes. Designed to look and function like a cigarette, the white metal tubes are filled with a refillable cartridge of liquid nicotine. A small battery-powered heating element within the e-cig vaporizes the nicotine, allowing the smoker to inhale the mist. The e-cigs come in various nicotine levels. There are reasons for alarm. You might be hurting others while you “enjoy” one of these “smokes.” A 2012 study brought into question whether the exhaled vapor is as “harmless” as often advertised. They found measurable amounts of carcinogens and toxins, including nicotine, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde in the exhaled mist. The authors concluded that e-cigarettes might be a new untested source of chemical and aerosol exposure and they called for more testing. The e-cigs are often marketed as a smoking cessation tool. However, there are no studies to prove their effectiveness in doing so. Health experts are also worried that since the e-cigs might eventually be allowed in offices and other public places, they might serve as an “entry mechanism,” attracting more people to begin smoking or to start smoking again. And, because

people would “smoke” more often, the ultimate nicotine damage might even be greater than the few traditional cigarettes they sneak in during the day. E-cigs come in a variety of flavors like chocolate and strawberry, raising the worry that they will be attractive to kids, growing a whole new crop of smokers. Bottom-line, danger warnings loom. And you don’t have to be a lung surgeon to imagine that sucking stuff into your lungs might not be the best idea in the world. Once upon a time, doctors advertised the “medicinal benefits” of smoking cigarettes. Millions died and continue to die. Do you really want to take the chance on this latest habit? Don’t make the same mistake of your parent’s and grandparent’s generation. Tobacco kills, ruins your health, stains your teeth and hands, makes your clothes stink, and is expensive! Be the smarter generation and don’t suck anything into your lungs…even if it does come in a 21st Century package. Join the Tobacco Free Coalition for Tulsa County to help make our community a safer and healthier place to live! Contact Vanessa HallHarper, 918-595-4226, vhharper@tulsa-health.org

YO U R

K I DS

I M I T A T E E VERY THING . YOUR INTERESTS. YO U R H A B I T S . AND BEFORE YO U K N OW I T, YOUR DIPPING.

Group Calls Reducing Taxes on Tobacco a Dangerous Move The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is calling upon state legislators to vote against a bill that could reduce funding for life-saving state programs (House Bill 2097). The bill, would set a dangerous precedent in Oklahoma giving special taxation and regulatory treatment to a new generation of untested tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The consequences of this bill, promoted by the tobacco industry, would also be devastating to Oklahoma’s youth, making certain tobacco products such as chew, snus, and candy-like dissolvables more affordable, accessible, and appealing. Lower taxes on these tobacco products could also jeopardize vital health and cancer-related programs that benefit Oklahomans. “This bill proposes a dramatic tax decrease, and it is unclear how harsh the impact would be for programs that receive dedicated funds from tobacco taxes,” says Paula Warlick, ACS CAN grassroots manager. “This could mean long-term cuts to the state’s breast and cervical screening program, tobacco prevention and cessation services, Insure Oklahoma, and others.” Warlick points out that lower taxes and cheaper products make it easier to hook kids.

This Father ’s Day quit dipping so they’ll never star t. Call the O k l a h o m a To b a c c o H e l p l i n e or go online for free coaching and free patches, gum or lozenges.

TSET. Better Lives Through Better Health.

For more information about ACS CAN, visit www.acscan.org. June 2013 2013 Communit Communit ys ySp ir itmagaz itmagaz ine ine.c om June p ir .c om

15 15

ORU to Launch New Online RN to BSN Program

ant to turn your RN into a BSN in as little as four semesters? The Oral Roberts University Anna Vaughn College of Nursing will be launching an online RN to BSN program in the fall of 2013. The exciting program allows students with a two year associate’s degree to complete a Bachelor of Science… in as little as one year. Do it from home…online! The new online program will focus on helping adult

learners that wish to better equip themselves educationally, but are unable to leave their homes, jobs and ministries to attend nursing school. Students who complete the program will receive a degree that is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing. “The ORU College of Nursing is proud to offer, yet another way to go into every person’s world through the new online RN to BSN degree,” said Dr. Kenda Jezek, dean of the ORU Anna Vaughn College of Nursing. “This program incorporates the same high-quality coursework that has made ORU nursing graduates so valued in the health care community and combines it with the whole person education that has made ORU a world-renown university.” All applicants must have earned an associate’s degree in nursing or the equivalent. RN-BSN candidates must meet the same general education requirements as generic BSN students, but general education courses may be transferred from other accredited universities. Some general education coursework can be obtained from ORU’s distance learning program. For more information on ORU’s online RN to BSN program, please contact admissions@oru.edu.

ORU Announces Concurrent Enrollment Program for Christian High Schools

ey High School Students. Want to begin your ORU experience BEFORE you graduate from college? Oral Roberts University has launched a new concurrent enrollment program just for you and your classmates! It is called the ORU Advantage. The program will allow high school juniors and seniors to enroll in fully accredited college courses, available in a 15-week, online format. Just think, you can get a jump on your college hours and be way ahead when you graduate and arrive on campus. This will save you money, time, and will potentially lighten your load during your freshman year. Talk to your school administrators about signing up for the ORU Advantage. School Tuition for the program is offered at a promotional rate based on class size. Schools can enroll students for as low as $200 per three credit hour course.

“The ORU Advantage program is a wonderful opportunity for Christian schools to offer fully accredited college classes online to their students as a part of their high school experience,” said ORU Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Nancy Brainard. “Students have the advantage of building their college transcript while still in high school.” Christian schools may choose to offer the concurrent classes as a part of their high school curriculum. Course offerings include: American Government, American History, Biology, Chemistry, College Reading and Writing, Humanities, Microcomputer Applications, Psychology, Sociology and Spanish. To enroll your school, or for additional information on ORU’s Advantage program, visit advantage.oru.edu.

June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

ORU Professor Receives Lifetime Acheivement Award

rofessor Jim Myers recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA) and the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators (CCOSA). The two associations equip Oklahoma educational administrators as they handle modern challenges in the industry. Throughout his 42-year career, Myers has taught at Seminole State College, served as Superintendent for the Tecumseh, Okla. school district and most recently has served as a Professor of Educational leadership at ORU. “This is a noteworthy and significant accomplishment. We are proud to have Jim on the faculty in the College of Education,” said Dean of College of Education Dr. Kim Boyd. “His high standards and ceaseless work ethic are highlighted with him receiving this award.” Meyers will be receiving his award at the 18th annual OASA Recognition Banquet in Norman, Okla. on June 5, 2013.

J I M MY E R S

ORU Professor Announced as Finalist for Outstanding Dissertation Award

ral Roberts University Assistant Professor to the College of Education Charlene Martin was one of nine finalists announced for the International Reading Association (IRA) Outstanding Dissertation Award. Martin’s work was evaluated by the IRA Outstanding Dissertation Award Committee through a blind-review process. As a finalist, she was invited to participate in a poster session at the annual IRA Convention to showcase her research. The IRA is comprised of over 60,000 members. The organization is considered by many industry leaders to be the world’s leading organization for literacy proficiency. “Being among the nine finalists for the IRA Outstanding Dissertation Award is a huge accomplishment,” said Kim Boyd, dean of the ORU College of Education. “This honor not only recognizes Charlene’s hard work, but also the significant implications her research could have on the literacy industry.”

C HARL E N E M A R T IN 18

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

ORU Professors Among Oklahoma’s Top Educators

MA RC I A L IV IN G S TO N

ral Roberts University professors Marcia Livingston and Calvin Roso were recognized by StateStats.org and partner website OnlineSchoolsOklahoma.com, as two of the Top 20 Higher Education Professors in Oklahoma. Livingston, an ORU assistant professor of education, and Roso, an associate professor in the ORU Graduate School of Education, were chosen from higher education professors across the state. Both professors bring fresh technology and methodology into the classroom. Additionally, they assess statistics and coordinate community education programs. “Our goal with the top professor’s project is to recognize some of Oklahoma’s stand-out educators and mentors,” said Wes Ricketts, vice president and general manager of StateStats. org. “When our site visitors expressed deep interest in learning about the people who make the state’s colleges and universities truly tick, we were honored to oblige.”

CA LVIN R O SO ABOUT ORU PROFESSORS With more than half of our faculty holding terminal degrees in their field, ORU ranks among America’s top universities. Many of ORU’s faculty trained at Yale, Harvard, Purdue and other top-rated universities. In addition, their real world experience encompasses employment at such well-known and respected companies as NASA, Microsoft, EDS, PricewaterhouseCoopers and many more such organizations. Professors are at ORU because they love the Lord and they love teaching. Though our faculty undertakes research projects that students often become involved with, the university is first and foremost a teaching university. You can count on receiving lots of individual attention and mentoring from these exceptional professors because classes are kept small to allow maximum interaction and enhanced learning. When you enroll at ORU, you can be confident you will gain an excellent education backed up by hands-on learning available through internships.

June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

alzheimer’s assocation

A Run from Georgia to California

Raising Donations for the Alzheimer’s Association

ack Fussell started running one day. Discharged from ICU twelve years ago, he was told that if he did not make major immediate changes in his life, he would be dead within a year. He had a bleeding ulcer, a heart murmur and weighed in a 270 pounds. Determined to get healthier, Jack went to work. He ate an 1800-calorie food pyramid diet and began doing aerobic workouts twice a day. After losing 100 pounds in the first eleven months, his goals got bigger and bigger. For instance, he once challenged himself with running the 604 stairs (that is 604 up and 604 down) at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia. But he didn’t just run them once; he ran them up and then back down…50 times! The 60,400 stairs were grueling, but he accomplished the goal in 17 hours and 18 minutes. Multiple other times, he chose to run all day, 24 hours that is, from 7 am in the morning to 7 am the following morning. Jack’s search for bigger and bigger challenges ultimately brought him to the thought of running from Georgia to California. Dedicating this run to his father who had died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2000, Jack has now turned his challenge into a wonderful fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association. As he runs, Jack pushes his few supplies in a special BOB Revolution Jogging Stroller he has nicknamed, “Wilson,” after the Tom Hank’s inanimate, yet trusted volleyball friend, in the movie Castaway. If all goes to plan, Jack will finally hit the Pacific Ocean the last week of September. By then, he hopes to have met thousands of people and raised tens of thousands of dollars while serving as the Alzheimer Association’s volunteer ambassador. Only halfway through the run, he has already well on his financial and public relations goals. In fact, he says that each day, people wanting to talk about the disease routinely stop him. “I have been shocked to find out how many people haven’t ever heard of the Alzheimer’s Association. They are battling the disease with their friends and family without knowing about 20

C o m m u n i t y s p i ri tma g a zi n e.com

J une 2 013

all the wonderful services available through the association,” he said. So how does he pass the time of this step-by-step journey we asked? Much of the time, he prays. He prays for a cure for this dreaded disease and for God’s will to be done in his life, the lives of his family members and the people he meets along the way. “When I finally meet God,” says the 62 year-old, I want Him to know that I have used everything He has given me to do good things.” And when this run to California is done, how will he ever come up with a greater challenge? “I don’t know exactly. But I have learned that I have to have challenges so I will come up with something.”

forest ridge

Is a new living opportunity calling your name? Visit the Forest Ridge community and the featured homes entered in the Parade of Homes. Home sites available in the following neighborhoods: The Highlands Recent Homes from $165,000-$260,000 and 1600-3142 square feet. Lochmere Recent Homes from $340,000–$570,000 and 3,000–5,092 square feet.

nterested in suburbia? The upcoming Parade of Homes, June 15th – 23rd, provides the perfect time for you to explore Forest Ridge, a master-planned community in Broken Arrow located on more than 1000 acres. Its 13-distinctive neighborhoods offer the amenities of an area to call home where you’ll leave behind the clamor of the city for serene living at its finest. During the Parade of Homes you can tour seven participating homes. While you’re at Forest Ridge, experience the award winning and newly renovated public golf course, the private parks, catch and release fishing lakes, jogging/biking trails, swimming pool, tennis courts and the full service on-site restaurant open to the public. Living in Forest Ridge gives you access to this resort-style atmosphere. It is simply heavenly and will provide your family with not only a beautiful place to live, but an unmatched lifestyle. It is a community where families get to know each other as they enjoy the outdoors. Forest Ridge is located near the intersection of Kenosha (71st) Street and the Creek Turnpike and the Broken Arrow Expressway. This gives you quick access 22

to the mall, downtown or most anywhere you want to go in the area. The convenient access allows Forest Ridge to be well within your reach. Families living in Forest Ridge can enjoy being in the Broken Arrow school district, considered one of the best-rated school systems in the county. Adjacent Highland Park Elementary and Oneta Ridge Middle School (opening in August) are easily accessible. Known as one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing, yet safest cities, Broken Arrow is regularly rated by national magazines as one of the top family-friendly places to live. Tranquil living, beautiful homes, affordable prices, custom building, great schools, low cost of living and neighborhoods packed full of both charm and extras…what could possibly be better than that? Just imagine catching a fish with the kids in the morning, playing a round of golf in the afternoon, taking a late dip in the pool and then sitting down to dinner, all within walking distance to your house. It’s all available at Forest Ridge.

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

Wellstone Recent Homes from $350,000– $550,000 and 2200 to 4599 square feet. (Phase II Now Open with additional golf course living) Entered Parade of Homes at Forest Ridge; The Highlands: 7216 E. Louisville St. – by Boos Builders, Inc. 7221 E. Memphis St. – by Boos Builders, Inc. Homes Residential Group, LLC 7413 E. Memphis St. – by Envision Homes, LLC 7220 E. Louisville St. – by Envision Homes, LLC Lochmere: 300 S. 78th St. – by Cagle Construction, LLC Wellstone: 8214 E. Greeley Pl. – by Envision Homes, LLC For additional information on Forest Ridge or of the participating homes in the Parade of Homes, visit www.forestridge. com today.

AWARD-WINNING PUBLIC CASUAL

DINING

GOLF COURSE

NATURE

TRAILS

CATCH & RELEASE

FISHING

randy cowell | AC T Fi n an ci al

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

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

There is a New Risk in Town Ok, about now you are recognizing that you are suffering from Riskphobia. Just when you thought things were bad enough, there is a risk that your parents or grandparents didn’t have to worry about. “What new risk should we be concerned with?” you ask. It’s the risk of living too long, and it is perhaps the risk we should be most concerned with. In his recent book Paychecks and Playchecks, Tom Hegna discusses Longevity Risk and explains how the risk of living to long is a “risk multiplier”. Let’s talk about the aging of our population and how today’s retirement is vastly different than that of our parents and grandparents. Back in the day, granddad retired with a pension, social security, and a meager savings account. His life expectancy was maybe 72. Today according to the Wall Street Journal “the number of Americans who live to age 100 or greater has increased 43% between 2000 and 2010.” It is no secret that we are living longer than our parents and grandparents. So what does this have to do with your retirement? 24

C o m m u n i t y s p i ri tma g a zi n e.com

J une 2 013

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

The Bottom Line According to a study by the Financial Research Corporation, there is a 50% possibility that one spouse can expect to live to 92 and a 25% chance that one spouse could live to …………………Wait for it …………….97. That means a person retiring at 65 will have to worry about all the risk we have discussed, for thirty-two years! The unfortunate thing I see today, as Americans are preparing for their “Golden Years”, is that you can have ten financial advisors and have ten different opinions on the subject. The Bible has much to say about seeking wise counsel. My favorite ones are sprinkled throughout the book of Proverbs. My advice to anyone looking toward retirement is choose an advisor willing to address ALL aspects of your finances. I have a wonderful article on how to select a financial advisor and I would be happy to send you a copy…Hope to hear from you soon. RANDY C. COWELL ACT FINANCIAL Randy C. Cowell is a columnist and President of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of “God Good-Debt Bad”. Randy welcomes your thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by e-mail at rcowell@htk.com.

B Y D en i ece ad s i t

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.

The Value of a Testimony

ach of us has a unique and compelling testimony to those within our sphere of influence. Not all testimonies touch all people. As recorded in the Bible, the Israelites were told to tell the stories to their children and grandchildren so they would not forget that God had brought them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, preserved them by the Passover, and led them through other times of trial. From the beginning our relationship with God was intended to be personal, but never private. We were called to share our stories for the encouragement of others. During a particularly difficult time of cancer treatment, I recall telling my sister, “You know that verse about if any two people agree on any one thing, it will be done? I don’t think I believe that anymore.” I knew there were a lot of people praying and believing for my complete recovery from the cancer, yet we were disappointed so many times when the results were not what we expected. Why would I share this bit of information? Because someone needs to hear my story – someone may be dealing with ongoing issues and may be asking, “Where is God?” While I am not particularly proud of that comment, I recognize the value of sharing it. The value is in the victory. For someone who can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is my job (and your job) to hold that light for them until they can see it on their own. Recently I heard the story of Donald Morrison who served in the Army during World War II as a Light Machine Gunner in Company K. He was injured in the head, an apparent injury to the chest, and knocked unconscious during battle. His comrades, thinking him to be dead, picked up the machine gun and continued on. When he regained consciousness, he realized his men had gone on without him so he hurried to catch up with them. A doctor treated the head wound, then looked for the chest wound and found the shell had become lodged in a Bible Mr. Morrison was carrying in his pocket. Following is an excerpt from his World War II memorial page:

The sharp edged, inch-long piece of steel had been stopped directly over the first book of Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 10, which reads, “ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” Donald says, “No question I would have been dead if I had not carried my Bible. I was not a particularly religious man at the time, but after that, I knew there had to be a God. I was just very thankful for another chance.” (A more complete version of his story is at: http://www. purpleheartaustin.org/morrison.htm) While my story of overcoming cancer might not inspire a soldier on the battlefield, Mr. Morrison’s story will.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelations 12:10-11 NIV) Telling our stories will not always be easy, and at times may be quite dangerous, but it is how we will all overcome.

June 2013 Communit ySp ir itmagaz ine.c om

26â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

grover GMC

Always Learning to Trust in God

n 2008, the automobile industry, especially General Motors dealers, went into complete crisis. Even long established dealerships didn’t know if their contracts would be renewed with the newly reorganized and governmentbacked General Motors LLC.

“The entire automobile industry suffered through the a challenging credit crisis and financial hit. We obviously weren’t the only ones affected by it. The mortgage industry, housing and the entire economy were affected. But through it all, came the opportunity for us to actually increase market share and improve. We ‘attacked the blitz’ by continuing to advertise and move forward. By doing so, we were able to take advantage of the good buys in advertising. Eventually, it all paid off,” Kevin explained. But Kevin is the first to admit…trusting is not always easy. “We have to trust and believe we are on the right path and the only way to do that, is to make sure we are in the right relationship, doing everything we are supposed to do to honor God. After all, this is His business. It is not my business, or wife and my business, it is His. We are simply the hands He has entrusted to run it, using its profits to support our family, giving opportunities to our employees and to advance different ministries and missions which God has put on our hearts.” Kevin grew up in Wisconsin. You can

“Out of adversity, comes an equal or greater benefit of opportunity.” “It was a rocky time,” explained Wagoner GMC dealer, Kevin Grover. There wasn’t any reason that we shouldn’t be safe. All of our sales numbers and the numbers they use to evaluate the dealerships were all in line. But until you actually have the approval letter in hand, it is pretty painful.” Everything Kevin had built was on the line during those agonizing months of waiting. Ultimately, the letter did come, but in the process and throughout the difficult economic times to follow, Kevin learned…”Out of adversity, comes an equal or greater benefit of opportunity.”

see the Packer influence in his office. But he loves Oklahoma and has lived in the area since coming to the University of Arkansas to play baseball in 1979. He ended up tearing his rotator cuff, ending his pitching career, but while visiting his aunt and uncle, he met his wife at Woodlake Assembly of God. Now, the years have passed, their girls are adults with kids of their own and are serving God with their own careers. Proverbs 22:1 is an important verse to Kevin. “All I really have is my name. Silver and gold are not nearly as valuable. When it is all over, what is really important is making a difference in people’s lives and being a positive influence on your family and those you encounter. Leaving a heritage is critically important, providing the leadership and example to someday influence your grand kids.” “I hope to do what I have been called to do… Love God first and then others, reaching out in missions and in acts of kindness. I continually ask for my eyes and ears to be open to discover what God wants me to do. Not just sell cars,” Kevin shared. Learning to trust God is never easy. But for this car dealer, experience continues to prove God is there and that we have little reason to worry. “It is all just numbers and God has them and everything else under control,” Kevin said with a smile. Drive over to Wagoner and see the beautiful, redesigned Kevin Grover GMC dealership. It has a brand new look, including an expanded showroom with adjoining sales offices and a drive-in service write-up area. And be sure to check out the deals at www.grovergm. com..

June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

the sport’s animal

Tuning in to a Higher Standard FM 97.1 and AM 1550, The Sports Animal’s Kevin Ward

evin Ward loves sports. He also loves radio. Combine both into one position and you have what he calls “The World’s Best Job.” He has worn many hats, Program Director, on-air personality and salesman. But whether he is the guy behind the mic or the one out producing revenue to give others a chance to talk, you can count on this “sports animal” to always be on top of his game. Thirty years ago, Kevin fell in love with radio when as a freshman in college, he stumbled onto an opportunity to do “color” during the Oklahoma Christian basketball games. “They let me into the games for free, fed me dinner, and I got to talk on the radio! Wow! How could I beat that deal,” he laughed. At the time, he didn’t realize that this part-time, unpaid job would put him on a God-driven path towards a career in radio. Since then, he has worked for a string of different stations, including the Sports Animal show out of Oklahoma City. But he says none of them match the fun he gets to have here. FM 97.1/AM1550, The Sports Animal is owned by the Stephens Group, the same company that owns Tulsa’s 28

Contemporary Christian station, KXOJ. Kevin says that even though the Sports Animal never claims to be “Christian Sports Talk,” the culture of the station provides a Christian atmosphere, keeping things clean and lots of fun. The station provides a venue for sports enthusiasts from all over the area to hear the inside scoop on both the teams they love and the ones they hate. The blend produces a somewhat riot-filled conversation that is always entertaining. Celebrity announcers include former OSU football coach Pat Jones, KJRH Channel 2 Sports Director “Big Al” Jerkins and a long string of explayers, coaches and sports writers. From the opening kick off with The Morning Animals at 5:30 through the morning drive, the afternoon shows and right through the evening drive, it is easy to get hooked on this laughter-injected mix of sports statistics, “boys will be boys” argument, and behind the scene, inside stories. The station is also Tulsa’s home for The OKC Thunder, ORU sports, Union High School football and Texas Rangers Baseball. Kevin believes God truly blessed both he and his family in the move to Tulsa. They

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

love it here. Kevin serves as a deacon at his church, and the kids have benefited by being able to attend Union High School, where his daughter, Allison, excelled in Musical Theater and his son, Cole, played football. In his years at the Sports Animal, Kevin has had many “interesting” conversations with argumentative fans. We asked Kevin how he was able to keep things on track and under control. He laughed, but explained that it all starts from the top by setting the right standard. Judging from the success of the station, it is obviously a standard which continues to produce quality radio and in the meantime, honors their walk with Christ. “So, are there any absolute no-no’s on air,” we asked? “Yes, never talk about your wife.” When we probed further, Kevin, soon to be celebrating his 30th Wedding Anniversary, just smiled and said, “She is the best thing that ever happened to me.” Somehow we believe there might be more to that Sports Animal story. Tune in anytime to hear The Sports Animal on FM 97.1 or AM 1550. But be warned, it is very addictive.

roofscapes exteriors

One Rung at a Time

A Dad Passes on Most Important Business Lessons

C lint w ith his b oys … from to p to bottom, Hudson, G arrett, and Au stin.

t is not unusual for a man to hope to pass on “the family business” to his boys. Clint Vaughn, owner of Roofscapes Exteriors, works hard to build a company that will provide for his family long after he retires. But for him, modeling the right way to do business is much more important than the strongest and most secure balance sheet. He understands that long before they ever shingle their first house, his boys will be watching him, counting on him to run his company and treat others in ways that are consistent with his faith. He hopes to teach them not to ever cut corners, but rather to always follow through. Clint explains that such basic lessons are important to every business,

but unfortunately are all to often ignored within the contracting industry. He says customers have a right to expect the contractor to be on time, show respect, present themselves in a professional way, and most of all, to fulfill every promise. Clint never planned on being a contractor. He played first base in the Cincinnati Reds organization for two seasons. Then, after leaving baseball, he finished his Masters in Business with the plan of going to work for some big corporation. But God obviously had different plans for him. Taking what he thought would be a temporary job at Forrester Roofing, Clint was soon given the opportunity to start his own roofing company when they decided to close the

Tulsa office. He jumped in with both feet, implementing his own business model. His “until I find something better” job had suddenly turned into the best job he could ever imagine. “Running my own company gives me the time and financial freedom to be available to take the kids to school or attend their ball games, and to do things at church. And, it allows me to work with guys in the same position I was when I started out, training them and helping them to succeed,” he explained. Now celebrating his 8th year in business, he continues his original business model, keeping overhead and expenses low, yet being prepared for the peaks and valleys typical in the roofing industry. He loves having the flexibility to make immediate changes and implement new innovations, a luxury he never would have if he worked for some large organization. As he looks back, Clint can see ways God prepared him for this business. From his boyhood love of playing with Lincoln Logs, to the lessons he learned in professional baseball, he smiles when he acknowledges that “this” is the “something better” he always longed for. And as he literally climbs the ladder of success, he cherishes his responsibility as a dad to help his kids also succeed…one rung at a time. Roofscapes Exteriors LLC specializes in reroofing projects statewide, with offices in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. They do residential and commercial roofing and can be contacted at www.roofscapesexteriors. com or by calling 918-364-7663 or 405-4715505.

June 2013 Communit ySp ir itmagaz ine.c om

steve cox

Knowing When to Leave the Office A Dad’s Advice on Setting Priorities Between Work and Home

teve Cox is a busy guy. He was raised right, taught to have a strong work ethic. Now as a successful business owner and dad, he is learning how difficult it is to correctly divide his time between work and home. After all, he loves his family and knows it is his responsibility to provide for them. Yet, like so like many dads, he knows he has to set limits on his workday. When Steve was a boy, his summers were spent down at his father’s corner drug store in Tahlequah. To keep him and his brothers from fighting and getting into mischief, his Mom would drop them off at the drug store to help make deliveries. Going along with the delivery driver, they would always go to the three nursing homes, something Steve grew to enjoy. In the process, he got to know every nurse and nearly all of the residents. He now realizes that this experience, along with watching how his dad showed so much respect to the elderly customers who came into the drug store, gave Steve 30

a special compassion for working with senior citizens. He graduated from Oklahoma University with the thought of maybe doing something else, but in the end, Steve continued to be drawn back to this calling. He liked the idea of helping people and making a living in the process. Now over twenty years later, his love for his job, along with lots of hard work has produced success. He currently owns three long-term care facilities…Senior Suites in Broken Arrow, The Cottage in Midtown Tulsa, and The Highlands in Owasso (soon to be opened). Steve has been married five years and he and his wife Melissa have three children, Coco, Hendrix and Capri. Before marriage and kids, Steve could work all the time. But now, he has responsibilities at home. “As dads, we need to realize that our wives need us. They never get a break. It is like they work a double shift every day,” he said. To make it all work, he says guys should

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

be ready to give up some of the things they enjoy in order to spend more time at home. “I haven’t always done this right. It is something I continually have to learn. However, a friend of mine gave me some good advice that I have tried to always remember. Dinner time is critical. It is a chance to have important, uninterrupted family time. And for me, it helps keep my wife happy. If I can be home for dinner, things are a lot better. And when you count up the hours you spend at that dinner table over the course of your child’s life at home, you realize how important it is.” Aside from dinnertime, he knows it is also important to spend special time with the kids in the evenings and especially during the weekends. “I know firsthand that it is difficult, but when we leave in the morning and don’t come home until the kids are in bed, it is just not right and we miss out on so much,” he said with a voice of experience. It is a subject Steve routinely finds himself discussing at church or with his Men’s Bible Study. Trading advice with other guys in the same boat, helps him to keep his work schedule under control. The battle between work and being at home is still difficult. “I love what I do and it is so easy to get too wrapped up in it. But your family is absolutely the best investment you can make.” During our phone interview, Steve was interrupted by his daughter wanting him to help make pretend chicken quesadillas in her play kitchen. He relented. After all, there is nothing like a good quesadilla.

our BEST hearing aid technology ever! A hearing aid so comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing it!

• Unmatched comfort • VirtUally inVisible • enhanced clarity

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

HEARING AID LABORATORIES, INC.

918-838-1000 or 800-722-8050 2323 S. Sheridan Rd • Tulsa, OK www.MyCleartone.com

June 2013 Communit ySp ir itmagaz ine.c om

Your Help Can Prevent a Summer Crisis! The last Summer is a truly hazardous time of year for the homeless. the to r dange two summers have brought record setting heat – and streets of Tulsa. , Homeless people face risk of injury or death due to dehydration heatstroke and even food poisoning. Here’s what Billy had to say about his life as a homeless man. “A typical day before I came to the Mission, I was out on the street trying to live here and there and it was miserable. When I was hungry I would either have to go steal the food or do without…I would sleep in a bush or in somebody’s garage or wherever I could. I was scared and I felt down and out.” n. But Billy avoided the dangers of summer by coming to the Missio there are more who need the care that Billy received. essly We do not want any homeless man, woman or child to needl this s suffer. Your donations can help prevent a crisis on the street tion in summer and give people like Billy a chance for life transforma our recovery program. ing “Yes, my life was changed here at John 3:16. I know God is watch over me and everything is going to be all right.”

A meal and shelter for a homeless person costs only $1.92!

“Blessed is he whose hope…is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 146:5

www.john316mission.org

LOSE YOUR

QUIT

BY DANNY C AHILL

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.

TRUST

o you find it hard to trust people? Or maybe you even find it hard to trust yourself. Trust comes with practice – and it is a choice. Many people I’ve asked have told me, “I don’t trust someone unless I know them. Trust must be earned.” Is that the truth? We trust every day of our lives. We trust people we don’t even know to stay on the opposite side of that doubleyellow line separating traffic. We trust the food handlers in a restaurant when we order a meal. We trust a chair when we sit in it. And we trust a pilot to fly us in an airplane. The following is a definition of trust from dictionary.com: TRUST confident expectation of something; hope. Let’s explore this further. A benefit of trust is relationship. Without trust, we miss out on one of the most fruitful things in life – relationships. Friendship, dating, marriage, and family all begin with trust. And if you choose not to trust someone, you can never experience the pleasure of these relationships to a deeper extent. Another benefit of trust is freedom. Do you try to do everything

yourself? You may be missing out on opportunities by spending all of your time doing what you could trust others to do for you. Hey – this is biblical! In Exodus 18:13-27, Moses was trying to hear all of the disputes of the people himself. His father-in-law told him, “This is not good! You’re going to wear yourself out, and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle by yourself.” He told Moses to find elders who he could trust to settle the minor disputes among the people, leaving only the larger disputes for him. Do you need some freedom by appointing some of your too-heavy workload to some others? Yea, I know – it takes trust! Possibly the biggest benefit of trust is realizing your dreams. It says “Hope deferred makes a heart grow weak.” When you lose your hope, your dreams become too far away to achieve. The first person you must trust when it comes to your dreams is you. You stand on a threshold. Behind you is the past, the threshold is where you are, and beyond the threshold is where you want to be – your hopes and dreams. The first step to achieving them is taking a leap of faith – on you.

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

One thing we teach at The Journey Training (www.thejourneytraining. com) is that your hopes, goals, and dreams are possible. The first thing it takes is trust – trusting in others, and trusting in you. Can you get hurt? Of course you can, but you can also travel farther with trust than by going it alone. Can you fail? Yes. But with each failure you gain the wisdom and confidence to fail better next time – and you will eventually succeed. Begin to trust and relationship, goals, and dreams will be a little closer to you. And who knows? You just might get exactly what you want!

PURCHASE DANNY’S NEW BOOK AT THEDANNYCAHILL.COM

WARM WEATHER WARNINGS

many of the products to choose from. We suggest Trifexis which prevents fleas and heartworms (and most intestinal worms) and combine it with a new tick collar called Seresto which lasts eight months. If you don’t want your pooch to wear a tick collar we have another combination, Iverhart which prevents heartworms (and most intestinal worms including tapeworms) plus along with Vectra to control ticks, fleas, mites, lice and mosquitoes. Vectra will also kill biting flies, some of which carry leishmaniasis and all cause severe irritation to the tops of the ears. Although I am honored to be chosen to treat one of your pets when it is ill I would much rather be asked to keep my patients from suffering at all.

very Spring we swap our sweaters and coats for shorts and T-shirts in anticipation of warmer weather. From a veterinary/pet owner point of view there are other things to be ready for with the onset of warm weather. Dogs that are kept outdoors during the warmer months will need protection from the elements and parasites. Hot weather can be lethal to dogs, especially the short-faced breeds like Boxers, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers and especially the English Bulldog. They overheat very easily. Dark or heavy coated breeds are also susceptible to heatstroke. Some hot weather tips: They should never run out of water and the water should be kept in the shade. Freeze plastic bottles and float them in the water bucket or bowl. Get them a kiddie-pool. Be aware of hot pavement which can burn their feet. Water safety at the lakes and rivers such as life vests, watching out for fish hooks, fish bones and discarded items such as plastic sacks and cups. Above all, NEVER leave your dog unattended in a car that doesn’t have an air conditioner running. It is also the season of topical parasites such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Mosquitoes carry heartworms. Fleas cause itching which can lead to skin infections due to chewing. Ticks which cause skin irritation but also transmit blood borne illnesses several of which can infect us. Prevention is always preferable to treatment from medical and economical reasons. There are 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 June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

tulsa mayoral elections

It’s Time to Vote!

ommunity Spirit Magazine encourages you to vote! Every election is important and it is our duty as citizens to be active participants in the election process. As a magazine, we have decided not to make a formal endorsement for the upcoming Mayoral Race. However, we did ask each of the candidates to give us a written answer as to why the Christian community should support them in their race for this important leadership office. After repeated requests, Bill Christiansen was the only candidate to respond and we do applaud him for providing the following answer. The June 11th election is a nonpartisan one. In other words, the candidates do not run in primaries separated by political party. Instead, should Kathy Taylor, Dewey Bartlett or Bill Christiansen get over 50 percent of the vote, they will be the mayor. But if no one attains over 50 percent and the top two candidates together get over 50 percent of the total vote, they will be placed in a runoff general election on Tuesday, November 12th. The next mayor will serve 3 years. Do your civic duty. Go vote! Sincerely, Tom McCloud, Publisher

Why should the Christian community support your candidate to be the next mayor of Tulsa?

e received this answer from the Bill Christiansen for Mayor Headquarters… Bill Christiansen is a born again Christian. His Christian faith has his sustained, empowered and guided him as he served his country as a United States Marine Corps officer, raised his family, built a successful business and served the City of Tulsa. Bill believes in the Judeo-Christian values that are the firm foundation of a strong America and a great Tulsa. Bill Christiansen embraces the philosophy of Servant Leadership taught and modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bill is a good listener because he takes seriously the Scriptural mandate to “… be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). Bill really believes that a leader should put the concerns of others first (Phil. 2:3). Bill is committed to the concept that the public’s business must be conducted without partiality or prejudice (James 3:17). Because of his commitment to absolute integrity in his personal and public life, Bill Christiansen is committed to ending the back room deals, cronyism and political favoritism that have wasted millions of your tax dollars and reduced the quality and efficiency of city services.

Because Bill’s commitment to the sanctity of the family he believes every one of your hard earned tax dollars must be spent honestly, effectively, efficiently and with full accountability. He knows it’s your money – not the governments. Bill is not running to become yet another “city boss”. He believes you should have a real voice in the decisions made by your elected leaders. Bill Christiansen will be a Mayor for all of Tulsa. Bill Christiansen and his family worship at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church.

June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

marriages that last

Lies About Marriage Take responsibility for your own thoughts and be proactive in changing the relational dynamic.

Lie #2. “I no longer love my spouse so I should get a divorce.” Love is as much of a decision as it is an emotion. Love has the ability to take on many different forms. Depending upon the season, you may feel “more in love” at different points, but there should always be the underlining commitment that was made the day you both said “I do.”

Lie #3. “I married the wrong person.” Recently I was visiting with a young couple who were planning on getting married. It was easy to see their excitement as they shared how they met and soon became best friends. He went on to share over the next several months how they became inseparable and how his love for her grew. He shared how he popped the big question, making sure it would be a memorable experience for her. With tear-filled eyes, she gladly accepted his proposal and they began to make plans for the future. The young couple continued to share what they envisioned their future to hold. Marriage was just around the corner. They spoke of how they wanted their love to grow and deepen over the next couple of years. The plan was then to have a couple kids rounding out their little family. Five years into the marriage, they planned on experiencing marital difficulties, nothing major at first, just some communication problems. At year six, they anticipated having to work through an affair making them question everything they thought they knew. By year seven they both would agree that they would be better off getting a divorce and would begin separating everything down the middle. Bringing the arguments and disappointments to an end seems to justify any potential hurt being done to the children. As common as divorce is today, I don’t believe anyone goes into a marriage with the above dreams and yet, many marriages end up it this very scenario. I believe most divorces could be avoided. The one commonality I’ve found in any divorce is that someone bought into a lie. Listed below are just a few lies that the Great Deceiver will want you to buy into, in hopes of destroying your marriage and family.

Lie #1. “My happiness is the most important thing about my marriage.” One’s happiness or the pursuit of it is not the most important aspect of a marriage and for anyone to hold that view has a very shallow understanding of marriage. Your spouse is not responsible in making you happy; ultimately, only you can determine the attitude you’re going to have in your marriage. 38

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013

Regardless what you may feel about your spouse now, at one point you felt a very strong connection. Compatibility is very important to a marriage; however, if we losethat connection, it’s usually not because people have changed and they just don’t connect anymore. It tends to be because people have stopped making each other a priority. They find themselves spending more time with someone else thus believing the lie that they’re with the wrong person. If you spend all your time in someone else’s yard, why would it not look greener? Begin to do a little yard work on your own lawn, it may surprise you just how much you still have in common.

Lie #4. “Getting a divorce will not hurt my kids.” Currently 60% of children do not have biological parents in the home. I tend to believe that number is a bit low in reality. The consequences to this staggering statistic are being played out in our society. Look at every major category of dysfunction and you’ll find a direct parallel to the increased absence of fathers in the home. If you feel any of these lies are creeping into your life, Cornerstone stands ready to help talk through those lies and preserve your relationships. Don’t wait. It’s much easier to be proactive and spare yourself and your loved ones from the hurt that embracing these lies causes.

Dr. Kevin Nieman, LMFT Cornerstone Christian Counseling Services Dr. Kevin Nieman, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in individual, marital, and family relationships. His practice focuses on bringing hope and healing to hurting people utilizing Christ centered principles. The office is located at 4930 S. Sheridan, Tulsa. You may reach him at 918-392-4008 or www.cccoftulsa.com

AVA HANCOCK GRACE HOSPICE

Question: My mother has Alzheimer’s Disease and is not doing well. A family friend recently suggested we look into hospice care. I do not have any experience with hospice care. Can you please explain the process and what hospice provides? the disease and also provide support to the family throughout the duration of care and for a 13-month period of grief and bereavement after the death. Please feel free to contact Grace Hospice for more information at 918-744-7223 or by visiting www.gracehospice.com

irst let me explain the philosophy behind hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury. Hospice care provides a holistic approach that includes the physical, spiritual, emotional and social facets of a family. The core belief behind hospice care is that every person has a right to die with dignity and without pain. Hospice care focuses on caring, not curing, with palliative care to make the patient feel comfortable. Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations. The first step in determining if hospice care is right for you and your mother is to visit with her physician about her condition and prognosis. There are Medicare regulations in place to help doctors determine if and when a patient qualifies for Hospice Care. First, the patient must have a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less left to live. Two physicians must make this determination and certify in writing. At Grace Hospice, we often have one of our Registered Nurses evaluate the patient as well, again following Medicare’s guidelines. If all parties determine that patient is eligible, that person can elect to use their hospice benefit. If your mother is eligible and you choose to pursue hospice care, we at Grace Hospice can provide that at your home, in a senior living facility or a hospital. We would provide her with a dedicated group of professionals who are trained in end of life care. They will provide pain and symptom management; whether that pain is physical, emotional or spiritual. This team includes physicians, nurses, nurse aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors and volunteers. They work with you and your family to develop an individualized plan of care to address your unique needs. At Grace Hospice, we provide care during the course of

AVA HANCOCK, , MS, LCSW

Executive Director, Grace Hospice Ava is Executive Director of Grace Hospice of Oklahoma. Grace Hospice is the largest independent hospice in Northeastern Oklahoma. Ava has been with Grace Hospice for more than 10 years and was named Executive Director in 2010 where she leads a staff of more than 80 employees. Ava received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work and Health Care from the University of Houston. She’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a trained Executive Leader for hospice through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). She is also a volunteer and board member of the Case Management Society of America. Ava also volunteers with the P.E.O. Sisterhood as the State Educational Loan Fund Chairman for Oklahoma, assisting women in furthering their educational goals. Ava’s an avid supporter of animal rescue and is the Foster Coordinator and a board member of Great Plains Mastiff Rescue.

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 Grace Hospice serves all of Northeastern Oklahoma. Please call 918-744-7223 to learn how we can help you and your family.

Phone (918) 744-7223 • Toll Free (800) 659-0307 www.gracehospice.com Not affiliated with Grace Living Centers.

June 2013 Communitys p ir itmagaz ine.com

40â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

C o m m u n i t y Spi ri tma g a zi n e.com J une 2 013