Community Spirit Magazine

Transcription

CS 6.6 Sept
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EE
FR
September 2005
®
Where will
we be in
2010?
Also Inside:
Tulsa.TV, sign on
Clear-tone introduces new technology
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CS 6.6 Sept
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contents
september 2005 volume 6 issue 6
f e a t u r e s
5
Where will we be in 2010?
6 Vision 2025
8 Get Excited Tulsa! Local business owner
predicts healthy growth
10 Where are we growing?
18 Will we be driving hybrid
vehicles in five years?
20 America’s love affair with the
internal combustion engine
22 Churches on the rise
25 Are you ready to skinny-dip?
26 Where will we be spiritually in five years?
28
www.tulsa.tv
What you’ve been searching for!
39
40
39
ShalomFest
Operation Christmas Child 2005 Rally to kick off
collection season
Oliver North, Bruce Wilkinson in Tulsa Sept. 17
42
d e p a r t m e n t s
SENIOR LIVING
30 Mary Martha Black—A Legacy of Love
32 Clear-tone Hearing Center offers new technology
LOVING HOME
43
44
42
34 Should you replace your A/C system now or later?
35 Shouldn’t THE CHURCH be recycling?
36 Health and environment-friendly homemade cleaners
Good Stewardship—Will you run out of money in retirement?
Heart & Home—Pre-Premarital Counseling
PUBLISHER Tom McCloud
PRODUCTION MANAGER Steve Trickett
MANAGING EDITOR Tara Lynn Thompson
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Don Kreutzweiser
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION AdGraf
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Bill Ackerman, Vivianna Fancher, and Stephanie Reall
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Randy C. Cowell, Leah Farrish, Dane Tyner
TULSA SALES OFFICE
KWHB TV-47 Office Building
8835 S. Memorial, Tulsa, OK 74133
(918) 307-2323 phone
(918) 625-5324 cell phone
(918) 307-1221 fax
DISTRIBUTION
Community Spirit is distributed to
churches, schools, restaurants, Christian
bookstores, and other businesses.
Call us today to deliver to your church.
Community Spirit is published monthly
by McCloud Media
www.mccloudmedia.com
www.communitykidsmagazine.com
www.communityspiritmagazine.com
Copyright © 2005 by Equipment
Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction
without written permission from the publisher is
strictly prohibited.
Subscriptions are available at the cost
of only $28 for 12 issues. Purchase online
or mail in your check payable to
Community Spirit Magazine,
KWHB TV-47 Office Building,
8835 S. Memorial, Tulsa, OK 74133
Claims by advertisers and the opinions of
writers within this publication do not
necessarily represent the views of
Community Spirit or its publisher,
Equipment Publications, Inc.
4
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
5
Five years into the future. Will there
be dramatic shifts in Tulsa's
growth? Will there be a spiritual
rejuvenation? Will we still use
gas to power our vehicles?
We decided to take a peek
into the possibilities of 2010.
Some revelations we
discovered will surprise you,
some will not. And as we
glimpse into a world that
may be, there may be a
clearer image of the world
today. See the future inside.
Special thanks to Don Kreutzweiser of
Kreutzweiser Photography for his photography of our covers and many of the wonderful inside-the-magazine photos. Don can
be reached for senior pictures, weddings,
family portraits, and other special events.
And be sure to thank him for all he does to
make Community Spirit possible!
Call 313-0813
Visit our Website!
www.communityspiritmagazine.com
Check out our website. You can download this issue
or many of our past issues. You can also find a distribution site near you, or visit our Business Directory of our recommended services and businesses.
Learn more about the magazine. Get involved! Buy a
subscription! Make a suggestion! Send us a note!
Our Mission...
To glorify God by telling stories of individual
Christians whose good works testify to God’s
active presence in Oklahoma.
Through the telling of these true stories, we
pray that...
Christians will be inspired to do more good
works, the Body of Christ will be unified,
and that all will hear the Good News — that God
offers everyone an abundant new life in Jesus.
CS 6.6 Sept
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Where
will we
be in
2010
?
PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
I am covering this subject with more than a
little trepidation. Well-meaning citizens have
lined up on both sides of the 2025 expansion
projects, and I know our readers will represent
both camps. So I tackle this article expecting
some “not-so-friendly” cards and letters. Such is
the life of a publisher.
All city politics has what might be called,
Newton’s Law of Government… “for every proposal, there is a equal and opposite idea of how
and where to spend the money.” Tulsa is no different. But I love this town. I was raised here and
will surely die here. I can’t say I was for every
part of the 2025 project. (I still worry about putting the arena right next to the Salvation Army
and the Day Center for the Homeless) But you
know, the people have spoken, the projects are
underway, and sooner than later, we will all in
our own way be enjoying any benefits the projects may offer us.
So, get the burr out from under your saddle, sit
back and lets take a good look at where we will
be just 51 months from now… in the year 2010.
Tom McCloud
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
5
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Vision 2025
By 2010, what parts of this major development
project will be ready to enjoy?
When Tulsa voters passed Vision 2025, there was a mixed response on what the benefits would be for our community. Since
then, though the arguments have continued, the projects are gradually moving forward.
Aside from whether you voted for the project or would have done things differently, there will be fruits of Vision 2025, and you
will soon enjoy those fruits.
With this in mind, we interviewed Mayor LaFortune concerning what Tulsa will be like in the year 2010. As you can imagine, he
was intensely passionate about the subject and sees a wonderful future for Tulsa and the surrounding communities.
Mayor LaFortune sees many of the efforts of 2025 as planting seeds for our future, and he predicts even today’s naysayers will
be pleased with the results a few years down the road. He pointed out other cities (like
Oklahoma City for instance) that have gone through similar situations and are now reaping the benefits of making those tough decisions. Many leaders from those communities
are now applauding Tulsa for going forward on Vision 2025. In fact, the US Conference
of Mayors recently recognized 2025 as a National Best Practice. In addition, the National League of Cities voted Tulsa one of the most livable cities.
The Arena
So what benefits will we be enjoying five years from now? Here is a short list of some
of the biggest projects from the official Vision 2025 website (www.vision2025.info).
The 18,000 seat arena is
no doubt both the kingpin and most controversial of the 2025 projects.
Construction on this
beautiful arena design
by the famous architectural designer, Cesar
Pelli, will begin soon. The Vision 2025
funding includes a much needed modernization of the existing convention center and
the construction of an events center that
together will provide state-of-the-art facilities making Tulsa a more attractive entertainment venue for conventions, trade
shows, concerts, religious, sports, and other
large events. This will create hundreds of
new jobs for Tulsans and is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of $92
million annually and $5.86 million in state
and local tax revenues. The land for the new
events center has been acquired. The site has
been cleared, and utility relocations are
underway in preparation for the building
site work, which is now beginning. Construction is scheduled for completion in
early 2007. The reconfiguration of the
Maxwell Convention Center, presently in
design, is scheduled to follow with construction to be completed in 2008.
OU-Tulsa
Funds from Vision
2025,paired with university funds, are being
used to construct the
98,000-square-foot
Research and Medical
Clinic located at the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center (41st and Yale) which integrates teaching, research and community
service. As a primary health care provider
the clinic will reduce the burden on area
emergency rooms. Construction of the
improvements is presently underway.
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
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The Morton Health Center
The Morton Health
Centerhas provided
quality care in the same
building on East Pine in
Tulsa for over 71 years.
Vision 2025 funds will
be used to construct a 60,000 square-foot
state-of-the-art medical center to treat
patients with or without health insurance. A
new clinic will expand and provide additional services in medical, dental, behavioral
health, pharmacy, lab, x-ray, optometry,
podiatry, health careers, patient education,
and WIC. The clinic will provide afterhours care to all in need. The project is
under construction with completion scheduled for Summer 2006.
Langston Tulsa
Building for Administration, Academic &
Community Outreach
Programs. Vision 2025
funds will be provided
for a new 259,000square-foot facility to house the administration, academic, and community outreach
programs. Langston University expects
enrollment at the Tulsa campus to double to
2,000 students and the number of graduates
to increase from 250 to 500 annually, allowing for an economic impact of $19,000 per
graduate.
Route 66
be provided to improve
the national icon that
winds through Tulsa
known as the “Mother
Road.” Route 66 exists
because of the efforts of Tulsan Cyrus Avery
who would not give up on his vision for a
highway across America, and today, Route
66 is considered a valuable piece of Americana and international tourist draw.
Improvements include signage, streetscaping, lighting and specific enhancements of
the 11th Street Bridge. This Vision 2025
project will enhance economic development,
strengthen adjacent neighborhoods and promote tourism.
Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame
Tulsa County Commissioners approved January
12, 2004 the purchase of
the Tulsa Union Depot,
the historic Tulsa train
station, for use by the
Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame development
from Vision 2025 funds.
OU-Tulsa Medical Research and
Clinical Care Facility
Funds from Vision 2025
are provided to construct
a 100,000-square-foot
Research and Medical
Clinic at the OU-Tulsa
Schusterman Center
(41st and Yale) that integrates teaching,
research, and service. The clinic will offer
extended hours to serve the medically needy,
which will reduce the burden on emergency
rooms. New research will advance health
care initiatives while also stimulating the
economy as funding moves through the
community.
American Indian Cultural Center
Water, sewer lines, and a
road will be built for the
development of this center on the west bank of
the Arkansas River,
allowing funds raised by
the American Indian Cultural Center
through foundations and federal grants to
create a museum, cultural center, art gallery,
restaurants, stomp grounds and Native
American visitor center. The project will
highlight the culture of the Native Americans and will cater to the second largest
Native American population in the country.
Tulsa Community College
Southeast Campus Medical and
BioTechnology Learning Center
construct a new 34,000square-foot medical and
biotechnology learning
center that will feature
computer-integrated science labs to support programs in the biomedical field. The facility will address the
growing need for trained workers in the
medical/healthcare fields in general and in
specific areas such as pharmacists, bio-medical, and biotechnology.
Expo Square
Expo Square will begin
Phase Three of their
improvement program
with funds received from
Vision 2025. The Capital Improvements
Agreement has been approved. Construction
is underway on the new Central Plant and
the new Equine arena (North Arena).
Mohawk Park
add signage, shelters,
and soccer facilities.
Improvements to the
facility will include two
new shelters with restrooms located at the east and west ends of
the park, a lighted Mohawk Park sign, new
picnic tables near Pielsticker Park, the
replacement of picnic tables around the park,
new toilets adjacent to the shelters, renovation of restrooms and new roofs for shelters.
Soccer fields will be constructed in groups of
four and integrated with the park in open
spaces to preserve the existing wooded areas.
Work in now underway.
Low Water Dam
be utilized to construct
two low water dams,
which along with Zink
Lake will provide a
series of lakes in the
Arkansas River corridor. These low water
dams will enhance the Tulsa area’s most visible physical asset by creating a series of
urban lakes within the river channel. The
more consistent water level in the river will
add to its scenic beauty while also enhancing
fishing and support other water-based recreational activities. The two low water dams
have been prioritized for construction at
Sand Springs (approximately 1/2 mile east
of the Highway 97 bridge) and at
Jenks/South Tulsa (approximately 1/4 mile
south of the Creek Turnpike bridge). Work
on the environmental studies necessary for
the design of the dams is scheduled to begin
in the fall of 2005.
Bike Trails
construct a multi-use
trail connecting downtown Tulsa and the East
Village with Cherry
Street and the Arkansas
River and adjacent neighborhoods. This
project will complete Phase Two of the
existing Midland Valley Trail, which connects Maple Park and 15th Street with the
River Parks pedestrian bridge at the low
water dam. The trail will connect Maple
Park, Cherry Street, Tracy Park, the Village
at Central Park and Centennial Park with
Downtown Tulsa via the Fourth
Street/Archer bike route. This existing designated bike route links Greenwood, the
OSU-Tulsa campus and the KATY and
Osage Trails.
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
7
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Page 8
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8
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
Get
Excited
Tulsa!
Local business owner
predicts healthy growth
Jim Dunn gets excited when he
talks about Tulsa. You can see it
in his expression and hear it in
his voice. As a local business
leader and past Tulsa Chamber
of Commerce Chairman, he is
always ready to share his belief
that our community is primed
for growth. But his words are
more than empty cheerleading.
He has attended the meetings
and has heard the “not quite
ready to announce” plans of
private developers. Armed with
such knowledge, he has nothing but optimism for Tulsa’s
future.
Dunn is the owner of MillCreek Carpet and Tile, a company started by his father in
1934. Jim still calls MillCreek a
“small business.” But if so, it is
a small business that is not so
small. Since he came to the
company in 1970, the company
has grown from $2 Million to
$180 Million in annual revenues. During that time, he has
always been active in the chamber, serving on various committees, on the Economic Development team for three years and then
serving as the chairman of the Chamber for three years.
Excited about the countywide benefits of Vision 2025, he is proud
to be counted as one who believes the new plan is the best thing to
happen to Tulsa for the last 30 years. “This community is reinvesting
in itself. Downtown is revitalizing. Great things are happening and
we are just getting started. We are investing in the right stuff healthcare, education, and in the quality of life. It is going to be
dynamite and you can already see how the private sector is going to
react by watching how they are invested in the river projects.
Dunn predicts very healthy growth over the next five years. “We are
in an economic transition away from oil and towards service and technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and aerospace. Reinvesting in our
community will carry the momentum toward a healthy economy.”
“Tulsa has terrific attributes… the best housing market value
around, a healthy tax rate, an authentic work standard, and a continued growth that has allowed us to keep infrastructure under control,” Dunn said. “It all adds up to a positive forecast for the next
five years.”
CS 6.6 Sept
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SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
9
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WHERE ARE WE GROWING?
North, South, East, West, which direction will our community develop in the next five years?
Northwest
THE UNDISCOVERED TREASURE
Gentner Drummond stands on a forgotten
section of undoubtedly the most beautiful
land in town. Whether by bigotry or simply by chance, the entrance into the
rolling hills of the Osage have been
missed in the development of Tulsa. But
now, the land stands ready to be the key
leg of Tulsa’s northwest growth, an expansion expected to eventually reach Keystone Lake.
Drummond has big dreams for the
land. Part rancher, attorney, highly decorated veteran (Distinguished Flying
Cross), father and developer, this Tulsa
leader has set forth plans that could
potentially strike a spark that will finally
ignite the northwest for development.
He is part of The Persimmon Group, a
small company of investors who have purchased Post Oak Lodge (Williams Company’s old corporate training facility) and
the vast acreage around it. You might say
their plans are “monumental.” For up on
the hill overlooking Post Oak Lodge and
the beautiful Tulsa skyline, will stand
“The American,” a 21 story statue. The
proposed statue will be taller than the
Statue of Liberty. In fact, the eagle that
will perch on the Indian’s arm will be
taller than Tulsa’s Driller.
An incredible valley beneath the hill
will be the site of Oklahoma’s Botanical
Gardens. A treasure chest of both botanical study and entertainment, the gardens
will delight its visitors with a mixture of
beauty and knowledge.
Surrounding the gardens will be a challenging 18-hole golf course, as well as hotels and residential housing. Drummond says they are in no
hurry and the development will happen gradually. However, as he talks about the plans, you can see in his eyes a yearning to make it happen
quickly.
“This is a special place,” insists Drummond. “And its development will be good for Tulsa. It will bring loads of tourists to town, and it just
may be the platform for a commercial and residential explosion in this overlooked section of town.”
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
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• 12 attractive meeting rooms
• Video conference, wireless high-speed Internet and
presentation technology
• Consultants in team and leadership development
• Post Oak Lodge Challenge Ropes Course and
Orienteering.
• Full-service dining with a variety of cuisine choices
• Overnight accommodations for up to 84 guests
• Ideal for retreats, weddings and social events
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
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Page 12
Northeast
OWASSO
12
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
Noble Sokolosky grew up in Owasso, what was once
considered a small Tulsa bedroom community. But along
the way, the small town suddenly turned into a thriving
city of its own. The attorney, developer, and local business
leader is proud of his hometown and sees continued
expansion over the next five years.
Sokolosky offered some impressive statistics to prove
his point.
• 78 percent of the Owasso residents have moved there
since 1994.
• 86 percent of the infrastructure is less than 20 years old.
• The population has doubled every 10
years since 1985.
• It has the lowest crime rate per capita
in Oklahoma.
• It has the lowest percent of industrially zoned land in Oklahoma.
• It ranks third in per capita sales collections of Oklahoma cities.
• 68 percent of its sales revenue comes
from outside its city limits.
“We are just minutes from most any
Tulsa destination. We have great
schools and reasonable housing costs.
Besides that, it is a wonderful place to
live. Very conservative, it is a place
with traditional values where we still
pray before football games and meetings. We have 46 churches and zero
bars. And now with the addition of
such commercial districts like the
Smith Farm Marketplace, we have
quick access to convenient shopping
and dining.”
Sokolosky is in a position to keep his
finger on the pulse of Owasso. As a
boy, he used to sit at his father’s corner
drugstore in Owasso and listen to the
locals talk city and state politics. Now,
as owner of the First Bank of Owasso
and one of the leading developers, he is
confronted every day with the community’s spiraling growth.
“We are adding around 600 new
homes per year and a new elementary
school every three years,” he explained.
“I expect that level of growth to continue over the next five years and then
it should begin to level off.”
As we project what things will be
like in the year 2010, don’t leave Owasso out of the picture. This once little
hometown has the atmosphere, the
growth, and the talent to be much
more than just a bedroom community.
And with people pouring into town, it
is obvious the secret is out… Owasso is
a great place to live.
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Page 13
T h e
b a n k
y o u
c a n
b e l i e v e
i n .
First relationships last.
“First Bank of
Owasso took the
time to understand
our situation and facilitate
our dream!"
Mark Merrill-Pastor, Newspring
Family Church
“The people at First Bank of
Owasso have banking as their
second job. Their first job is
ministry. They respected us even
though we were small and looking to build our
first building. They were an answer to prayer.”
Jerone Roland-Pastor,
New Joy Fellowship
"We spoke with eight banks before we found
First Bank of Owasso. They were the only
bank that asked for our church's vision before
they asked to see our financial statements.
For a personal banking experience, there’s
only one bank: First Bank of Owasso.”
Gary McIntosh- Pastor, Greenwood
Christian Center
The bank you can believe in.
P.O. Box 1800
Owasso, OK 74055
918.272.5301
www.firstbank.net
Member FDIC
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
13
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Take a drive down Peoria south of
Jenks, but prepare to be “wowed.” To
describe it as “booming growth”
would be an understatement. Road
construction, spectacular new housing developments, and shopping
areas are popping up in a frenzy of
activity.
Duane Phillips is one of the many
developers in the area turning this
once river bottom land into one of
the region’s most popular and prestigious communities. His company,
Oak Properties, focuses on the development of upper-end residential
areas. They built The Estates at
Stone Bluff, 106th and Peoria, featuring homes valued from one to five
million. Now nearly full, the Estates
at Stone Bluff will soon be expanded
into a second area to the south.
Million dollar plus homes are commonplace in this thriving section of
town. Large, rolling, treed lots provide a plantation feel.
Although some Tulsans have
pledged to fight it to the end, plans
are underway to build a private toll
bridge providing the area quick access
across the river to Yale Avenue. And
if there is any belief the bridge won’t
happen, you cannot tell it by the
ongoing expansion of streets and utilities. This appears to be a ball rolling
at top speed, one that would be nearly impossible to stop.
West Jenks is also thriving. New
developments are springing up all
over, including west of Hwy 75.
Phillips explained that all the conditions were right for this amazing
growth in Jenks. “The City of Jenks
has been very easy to work with and
has been aggressive at making ways
to support the growth,” he said.
“Now with the popularity of the
Riverwalk and the Aquarium, Jenks
is ready for more.”
And by all indications, it looks like
they will get it.
14
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Southwest
A BRIDGE TO MAJOR GROWTH
SEPTEMBER 2005
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Rolling hills in a peaceful country setting describe this exclusive
new neighborhood in south Tulsa. The Estates at Stone Bluff provide
a unique blend of country serenity coupled with urban convenience.
These beautiful estate sized properties are located within the Jenks school
district. If you appreciate the majesty of nature within a secure gated
community, the Estates at Stone Bluff are for you.
Located at East 106th & Elm/South Peoria Avenue
For information or to arrange a tour, please call 918-289-9007
or visit www.oakpropertiestulsa.com
Large estate-sized lots
Peaceful country setting
Jenks school district
Great views
Mature trees
Urban convenience
Underground city utilities
Gated entry
•
•
•
•
Restrictive covenants
Minimum 4,000 sq. ft. homes
Park-like environment
Easy turnpike access
Homes
Available
Gu
mA
ven
ue
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ivy Avenue
SOLD
SOLD
106th Street
SOLD
SOLD
Elm / Peoria Ave.
105th Ct.
SOLD
Elgin
Watch for New
Subdivisions Being
Developed
SOLD
SOLD
©2003 PRI
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Page 16
Southeast
BROKEN ARROW
People seemed surprised when they heard
Bass Pro Shops was moving into Broken
Arrow. Somehow, the news finally jogged
the common misperception that Broken
Arrow was this sleepy little community just
southeast of Tulsa. Right under our noses,
Broken Arrow had grown up.
And wow, has it ever grown. In 1970, it
had a population of only 11,000. Now in
excess of 100,000, it rivals Norman and
Lawton for the spot as Oklahoma’s third
largest city. City fathers now project the
population will top 111,000 by the year 2010
and if new housing starts continue at the
2004-2005 rate of over 4,400, the population
estimates may be dramatically understated.
Commercial Realtor Mike Parrish and
Builder/Developer Phil Roland are examples
of two business leaders who are helping to
make such growth possible. Together, they
have worked with a team of pro-Broken
Arrow leaders to pave the way for the
upcoming Bass Pro Shops development.
“I believe that the new development will
make a tremendous impact on sales tax revenue, positively affecting police, fire, and
other services,” said Roland. “And people
sure will enjoy the convenience of shopping
right here at home.”
Parrish explained the massive complex is
more than only the Bass Pro Shops. In fact,
it will include a hotel conference center, two
hotels, plus at least two restaurants. (Steak
and Shake and LoneStar Steak House are
now in process and Bass Pro will include its
own restaurant called Isle of Marada Fish
Company.) It will also include a retail shopping center called the Village at Stone
Wood Hills.
Parrish describes the beautiful new complex as Broken Arrow’s new front door and
predicts it will bring in additional commercial districts into the booming city. “There is
a pent-up demand for retail and Bass Pro
Shops will help stimulate that growth. The
average Bass Pro Shops center brings in 2.4
16
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Steve Parrish (l.) and Phil Roland (r.) pose in front of the new Bass Pro Shops of BA.
million visitors per year and over 40 percent
of them end up staying overnight. The result
will be a huge explosion of growth for Broken Arrow.”
A Holiday Inn Express & Suites will be
built on the Bass Pro Shops site. “It is a new
concept for the hotel chain and will offer
special bunk-bed style rooms designed for
families,” he explained.
Both Roland and Parrish have high hopes
for the city of Broken Arrow and expect
major growth in the next five years. Things
are in place to support that growth. Traffic
count on the B.A. Expressway is now topping 78,000 cars per day, the city has recent-
SEPTEMBER 2005
ly dropped a half-penny city sales tax, it has
been named as the safest city in Oklahoma
(Morgan Quinto Press, Lawrence, Ks),
downtown revitalization plans include a
beautiful new performing arts center, NSU
has a $26 million expansion underway, and a
$54 million city bond issue was recently
approved to provide a major investment in
streets, parks and public safety.
Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to have their
exciting opening on October 20. The night
before, it is the company’s tradition to have a
special “Conservation Night” where they
bring in celebrities to help raise money for
wildlife conservation.
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:18 PM
Page 17
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:18 PM
Page 18
Will we be driving hybrid vehicles
An interview with Bobby Nelson
in five years? of Nelson
Nissan and Nelson Mazda
18
Bobby Nelson knows cars. In and around
the industry all of his life and working
full-time in it since graduating from college in 1975, he has seen things change
and then change again. When he first
entered the car business, everyone wanted
big, high performance engines. Then
America’s first gas crisis hit, and he
watched people stand in line at the gas
hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles to be
a similar story. “It is a trade off of what is
most important to you… comfort and
enjoyment or economy and air quality.
Many of those who can afford it love to
drive their V-8 Engine SUV.
“On the other side, if you are in an economic situation where you just can’t do
everything you enjoy and you have to
pumps. “People couldn’t trade the big cars
off fast enough,” he recalled. “Gas mileage
was the first thing the customer asked
about. But as soon as the prices came back
down, the customers demanded performance and comfort. Sure, some stuck with
economy, but most went back.”
Nelson sees the current trend toward
budget, you must go with something that
gets good gas mileage. People realize with
a hybrid or economy car, you give up performance and comfort. For some,
although they may adjust their driving
habits, they will never make that switch to
lower performance.
“However, some folks are of a mindset
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
that it is their responsibility to help the
environment. It is certainly a valid argument. Cars give off exhaust and it definitely has a negative affect on our air.”
Pausing for a moment, Nelson said he
believes after the initial shock, no matter
what the button is - a new environmental
scare or higher gasoline, once that initial
scare is over, people will go back to doing
what they want to do.
“The automobile business is evolving
and it needs to. Cars have been powered
by roughly the same technology for 100
years. I am certainly in favor of hybrids.
All of the manufacturers have hybrids in
the works. Toyota is the first, but everyone will follow. I can even see hybrid
SUVs coming soon. The technology is
not perfected yet, but it will be.”
If I am buying a car today, should I
avoid buying a gas car or be worried about
the future resale of my gas car?
“No,” Nelson said emphatically. “Gas
cars will not go away. There will be
hybrids and alternative fueled cars and we
will sell them.” (He stopped mid-sentence
to tell about an impressive hydrogen car
he saw in Japan recently). “But it is a basic
law of economics, as fewer cars burn
gasoline, the price of gasoline will go
down and people will rethink their switch
to other designs. There will still be a market for your gas car five years from now.”
What are your customers saying about
the economy?
Nelson explained that business is good
and people don’t seem to be too worried
about either the price of gas or the economy. “People are making money and there
is no panic by any stretch of the imagination. They are curious about hybrids, but
they are sure not waiting on them before
buying a car.”
Nelson serves on the Board of Directors at a local bank and has seen Tulsa go
through some rough times in the last few
years. However, he sees light at the end of
the tunnel.
“Things are heating up and baring any
other catastrophe, Tulsa should continue
to get stronger over the next five years.
“There is certainly no reason for worry,”
he said enthusiastically. “God has everything under control. With Jesus in our
lives, we are sure to have an incredible
future ahead of us.”
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:18 PM
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Page 20
America’s love affair
with the internal combustion engine
KEVIN GROVER GMC IN WAGONER
Hybrids and other alternative
fuel vehicles will soon flood
the market. However, after a
lifetime of working in the
automobile industry, Kevin
Grover believes nothing
will ever totally replace the
internal combustion
engine. As people begin
to weigh the options, he
encourages them to be
sure to consider all the
numbers.
“First of all, car
buyers should consider
the difference in the
initial investment.
Current hybrids can
cost thousand of dollars more than their
comparable gas option
vehicles. It takes
someone who drives a
lot of miles (probably
city miles) to get a
return on the investment,” he explained.
The 2006 GMC Sierra
pickup (half ton, extended
cab, two-wheel drive) is available as a hybrid
at roughly a $1,400 option. If we project gas
to be $3 per gallon, you would have to save
468 gallons of gas before you would break
even ($1,400 divided by $3). But when you
consider the hybrid only increases gas
mileage by 5 percent or about one mpg in
this case, you would have to drive over
200,000 miles before you would break even.
(Gas option) 200,000 miles divided by 20
mpg = 10,000 gallons x $3 = $30,000
(Hybrid option) 200,000 miles divided by
22 mpg = 9,524 gallons x $3 = $28,572
This does not take into account the value
of your $1,400 over the length of reaching
those 200,000 miles. It also doesn’t take into
account the potential extra battery expenses
of the hybrid trucks.
“But the numbers do make sense for some
people,” Kevin insists. Although he has not
received any of the hybrid trucks yet, he
expects them to be available soon. As of yet,
20
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
he has not had any requests for them.
Kevin believes alternative fuels may be the
more long-term solution. And although they
are not available now, he understands the
hydrogen-celled engines are doing well in
test vehicles. Diesel may still be an option as
well. The relatively low price of gas kept
people from responding to the diesel vehicles in the past, but Kevin thinks they could
still be a viable option. He noted that the
noise has been significantly reduced on the
diesel engines.
Especially in Oklahoma, you would expect
there might be promise in the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) engines. But Kevin
explained though they seem to work well on
SEPTEMBER 2005
delivery vehicles that run a
specified route,
they generally
cannot run far
enough on a
single tank for
the average
consumer to
switch to them.
But all in all,
Kevin believes
we will still be
driving gas
vehicles in the
year 2010. He
explained that
the new generation of GM
cars will have
improved mpg.
In fact, now
General
Motors has
over 20 vehicles
that get over 30
mpg and the
new five and
six-speed overdrive transmissions will soon
bring the average car up to
the mid 30s in
mpg. And as
gas vehicles become more efficient, there
will be less need for the alternative choices.
Kevin predicts the economy will be strong
in 2010. “We continue to get better.
Through all the tough times, we just get better. Oklahomans love trucks and we will
soon have a brand new generation of trucks
and SUVs for them to enjoy,” Kevin said.
Obviously, as GM puts its money into the
development of a whole new line of trucks
and SUVs, they are betting gasoline and our
love for big vehicles are both here to stay.
Kevin Grover GMC is located in Wagoner. He has been
a loyal advertiser in Community Spirit for over five
years.
CS 6.6 Sept
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1:18 PM
Page 21
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CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:18 PM
Page 22
Churches
ON THE RISE
BROKEN ARROW ASSEMBLY OF GOD
They are touching the sky.
Their steeple winks in the sun. The struc-
118 E. COMMERCIAL ST.
“All of a sudden everything started growing,” said Pastor Michael Goldsmith,
Broken Arrow Assembly of God, whose
mannerisms, belief, and theories exude
optimism. “We had an explosion of
growth.” For a 94-year-old church,
growth must occur or the doors simply
close. In this Broken Arrow constant, the
numbers doubled in seven years.
project is a 65,000 sq. ft. complex for the
nursery, church education area, children’s
area, and 1,400 seat sanctuary, all scheduled
for completion in 2007. The plans also
include later expansions of 1,000 extra seating in the sanctuary, a ball field for their
school (now from kindergarten to 12th
grade), as well as a retirement center for
adults. The Master Plan is “fluid,” Pastor
Goldsmith said, in order to base the growth
on the church’s needs.
ture expands like the deep breath of
brick lungs. They are growing, these
mega churches, growing to hold within
their walls massive numbers of a
swelling patronage. They are a community within a city, complete with democratic governments, care for the elderly,
supervision for the children, rooms
specifically for bible study and group
support of every demographic, classrooms for the schoolhouse, and multipurpose rooms for indoor activity.
These structures are outgrowing businesses in size, community events in numbers, and eventually schools in attendance. What has prompted the growth?
And where exactly are they headed?
There were, of course, many from
which to choose. However, we centered in on three area churches that
have building projects underway. They
are examples of the many new church
steeples that will fill our sky by the
year 2010.
22
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
“This has been a strong, stable church
for many years. If it grows, a church must
have a strong, stable core,” he said.
Pastor Goldsmith is the fourth pastor
in 60 years, bringing a positive approach
to the future, a generous smile, and the
ability to not just hear but actively listen
to his parishioners. “I’m an optimistic
person. My messages are very pragmatic
and optimistic. I believe my responsibility
is to give people hope.”
That message has strengthened the
core of Broken Arrow Assembly of God.
And growth has erupted. When Goldsmith arrived, the church had a solid 550
attending. Now they have a solid 1,200.
“We think we can become a church of
several thousand,” Pastor Goldsmith said.
It isn’t an unrealistic view. And the
church has been preparing for the future
with the same optimism Pastor Goldsmith brings to the pulpit.
The first phase of the new building
SEPTEMBER 2005
“We want to facilitate what we believe the
Lord decides to send us,” he said. “Our
number one goal is to give
our church room to grow.”
The long-awaited
ground breaking ceremony
was held August 21.
SOUTH TULSA BAPTIST
104TH AND SOUTH
SHERIDAN
It is tough to put your finger on one reason why
churches start to grow…
location, the right leaders,
the right prayerful attitude, the right message at
the right time, or an unexplainable movement of the
Holy Spirit. But when it
begins to happen, you can
feel it. And then you can
begin to see it in the faces
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:19 PM
Page 23
of the servants. You begin to
hear it as more and more babies
cry in the back of the auditorium.
South Tulsa Baptist is one of
those churches. Seemingly stuck
for a while in mediocrity, the
last few years have brought it a
whole new situation. Up in
attendance over the last five
years from 420 to 2,267, the
church is now bursting from its
building’s seams. But it is more
than only seats in the pews; it is
attitude and works as well.
South Tulsa Baptist now ranks
in the top three percent of the
Southern Baptist Convention in
per capita giving and in the
number of baptisms.
The result of all of this
growth has required additional
facilities, a structure big enough
and designed to handle the challenges of the 21st Century
Church. South Tulsa Baptist
was able to purchase enough
adjoining land to begin work on
expanding their existing building to more than double its size.
The new
sanctuary will
seat 1,600,
quite a
change from
their current
800 seat
capacity. The
building will
include a six
story lit
dome, as well
as a prayer
tower stand-
ing over 10 1/2 stories.
The expansion will provide
the space for at least a 75 percent growth in attendance, yet
the church plans to continue its
three worship services. (A traditional service, a contemporary
service and something unusual
for a Baptist church - a liturgical
service designed to reach out to
people who like the robes and
ornate-ness of more of a “high
church” setting.)
One reason for the growth is
the way the church has quickly
adapted to the new cultural
aspects of the 21st Century.
Focusing on the establishment
of small groups, they aim to
build primary relationships
between their members. The
“spiritual-based, lay-led” meetings have brought the church
together even as they have met
separately.
Construction has begun on
the new building. Watch and
listen as this church continues to
be an example to the Christian
community.
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23
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:19 PM
Page 24
“You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your
bottle! You have recorded every one in your book!” Psalm 56:8
Tears In A Bottle
My Jesus has a bottle, It is as special
as can be. For in it He’s collecting All
my tears for me. He records my joy, As
well as all my sorrow. I don’t really have
to worry, For He holds my tomorrow.
For when I get to heaven And the bottle
I can see, Then certainly I will know,
How much He cared for me. Every tear
will be there, However big or small,
Every one will be counted. Jesus has
stored them all. Each tear I shed is
listed. He treasures every part.
Preserved in His memory, Written
across His heart!This beautiful pendant
reminds us that our tears are preserved
by the loving hands of our caring Father.
He numbers each one and makes a
note to Himself in His Journal. Our tears are a reminder to Him of His
great love for us! Jesus holds our joy as well as our sorrow.
J. David’s
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www.jdavidsjewelry.com (918) 251-6300
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTER
7700 S. LEWIS
Victory Christian Center will
soon be meeting in its own
sanctuary. On the surface, that
doesn’t sound so unusual. After
all, they are one of the largest
churches in town with over
1,400 members. But actually,
except for a short time worshipping in a tent, for more than 20
years this thriving church has
held their worship at ORU’s
Mabee Center. So this sanctuary
will be their first.
And oh, what a sanctuary it
will be. With seating for more
than 5,000, it will be one of the
largest in town. The building
will include an area for infant
care, a prayer chapel, a food
court, and a bookstore. An
attached children facility and
nursery area will top out the
projected costs to well over $16
million.
Pastors Billy Joe Daugherty
and Sharon Daugherty were led
to add the new facility to the
existing church/school building
and have enjoyed watching God
already begin using the addition
to touch the lives of the church
members, as well as the lives of
everyone who worked on the
project. Story
after story and
life after life
confirm God’s
hands are
involved in the
construction
of this new
building. Now,
the respected
husband and
wife team
can’t wait to see what God will
do once the building is actually
completed.
The Daughertys expect the
new facility to be completed in
the summer of 2006. But even
then, they plan to continue at
least one Sunday worship service
in the Mabee Center. The couple has always seen the new
building as an addition to the
use of the Mabee Center instead
of replacing it. They plan to
overlap services in both locations to be able to minister to
more people in a shorter period
of time.
Victory Christian Center’s
members are known for actively
reaching out to the community.
The church operates a K-12th
grade Christian school as well
as “24-7,” one of the cities most
successful youth facilities. Their
“Dream Center,” a facility at
46th Street North and Cincinnati, reaches out to the needy,
provides church services, youth
education, food, clothing, and
medical and dental care. In
addition, they operate Victory
Bible Institute which currently
has 497 local students and 8,300
international students at 233
campuses in 59 countries.
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:19 PM
Page 25
Are you ready to
skinny-dip?
Maybe sometime in your childhood
you, like the writer of this song, dove
right in and left your clothes on the
shore. If so, the memory is no doubt
etched on your memory - the freedom,
the laughter, and the exhilaration of
that “totally unencumbered” feeling.
Oh, I am not recommending you bare all and
jump in the nearest
waterhole. But it is a
wonderful analogy for the
life ahead of us.
We have been examining
what things will be like
in five years. But we
would be amiss if we
covered the subject
and didn’t ask,
“Where will you be
spiritually in five
years?”
Though we have never met,
I can answer the question for
you. You see Jesus taught us, “Where
your treasure is, there will your heart be
also.” So, to determine where you will
be in the future, simply follow the
direction of your heart today. Focus on
making money and you will probably
do so, but money is all you may receive.
But put your treasure in doing good
and loving others, and you will surely
be rich beyond your wildest dreams.
Only God knows how many days we
have ahead of us. Our time may not
last five years. It may not last more
than the next five minutes. So I beg
you to consider…”Are YOU ready to
skinny dip?”
T
By David Wilcox, Singer, Songwriter
We were there in the woods by the water
We left our packs up against that willow tree
We dove right in, keeping just what we were born with
Our Memories, Knowledge and Dreams
For sooner than later, we will all
“dive into the water and head for that
other shore.” We will take nothing with
us except maybe “what we remember
As I swam away from our possessions
I imagined that they were gone forever more
And for once I was glad that all I treasured
Would still be with me as I reached other shore.
So...Let me dive into the water,
Leave behind all that I’ve worked for
Except what I remember and believe
and when I stand on the farthest shore
I will have all I need
After the blaze burned our cabin down to ashes
Where we’d slept warm, now the sky lets in the rain
I found the strings, frets and rusted latches
But I will never hear that old guitar again
These four walls are only in my memory
Where these stone steps rise to nothing in the air
So one last look and I’m headed for the river
To wash my hands and try to say this prayer
and believe.”
Jesus offers us treasures we can take
with us and provides a life worth living
in the meantime. You can experience
that kind of freedom. He is there, ready
to provide it.
And if you are not too sure how to
find Him, go to church, ask a Christian
friend, or give us a call. In any case we
encourage you to… “Dive right in!”
The water is great!
With Love,
Your “very wet” friends at
Community Spirit
307-2323
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When my time to live this life is over
I’ll tip my hat when I think about that swim
And of all the things that make a life worth living
That only come to those who dive right in
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SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
25
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:19 PM
Page 26
Where will we be
spiritually in five years?
B Y TA R A LY N N T H O M P S O N
Rev. Msgr. Patrick L.
Gaalaas, Saint Benedict Catholic Church
In five years, fuel prices could plummet, pork could
once again be the other white meat, and DVD’s be
obsolete. In five years, global warming could turn
chilly, the corporate world could dissolve, and political harmony reign.
But what about our spiritual lives? In five years,
will we merge across denominational divides? Will
pews overflow? Or is the spiritual growth of Tulsa in
recession?
THE CURRENT SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS
Rev.Tom Harrison,
Asbury United
Methodist Church
Pastor Deron Spoo,
First Baptist Church,
Tulsa
26
“I’m afraid the world may impact the church more
than the church will impact the world,” said Rev.
Tom Harrison, Asbury United Methodist Church.
“We live in a culture of no absolutes. There is no
right and no wrong. It’s all relative. The culture is so
wrong. If it is out there—the world and culture, it’s in
here—the church.”
Problems from broken marriages to financial
enslavement continue weighing down parishioners
with no less frequency than those outside the Christian establishment, Rev. Harrison said. He isn’t the
only one witnessing the struggles.
Rev. Msgr. Patrick L. Gaalaas, Saint Benedict
Catholic Church, said people calling themselves
Christians today “believe in a personal God. But He’s
not always an important part of their daily life and
the decisions they make.”
Viewing the city’s Christian life from a practical
view, Pastor Deron Spoo, First Baptist Church in
downtown, is seeking signs of Christian faith, signs
like a drop in crime rate, a decline of physical abuse,
an overwhelming generous spirit. He’s still seeking.
“If the number of people in Tulsa are Christians,
would not the murals of the city be better than they
are?” Pastor Spoo asked. He has witnessed a “shal-
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
low” belief permeating the Christian community and
does not exclude himself from the group. “I see a lot
of shallowness in me. My minivan is bigger than
some houses people live in.”
HEARING THE GOOD NEWS
To fix a problem, the problem must first be known.
And in the community, spiritual leaders are taking
out their toolbox, rolling up their sleeves, and getting
their hands dirty. This is the age of “authenticity,” a
word Pastor Spoo repeats frequently.
“People are looking for something real and transparent,” he said. Exposing his own faults, trials, and
questions is a common theme during his sermons.
And the answer is always the same, “Be a follower of
Jesus, a follower of Jesus, a follower of Jesus.”
The concentration of belief is increasing, though
church numbers have reached plateaus, Rev. Gaalaas
said. “The present Pope thinks the future will be a
time in which the faith will be lived by a fewer number of Christians but lived by them more intensely,”
he said. “We’ve got to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, to
be faithful to God’s word and to live a full sacramental life.”
Christians must decide whether to live in the New
Jerusalem, with joy, or the Fallen Babylon, of despair,
Rev. Harrison said. “We have people in church who
live in both camps.”
For Rev. Harrison, it’s about giving livable, practical, and scriptural guidelines that feed his congregation meat, a solid sustenance, instead of empty platitudes.
“People have got to have discipline. They’ve got to
have a script—what to do and how to operate. Here,
we teach what the Bible says, not just to fuss at people
but remind them of the goodness of creation,” he said.
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:19 PM
Page 27
EYES ON THE FUTURE
“We’ll continue to experience
growth,” Rev. Gaalaas said. “I’m
especially encouraged at the fervor and depth of faith in some
of our young people—married
and single. They seem to be
hungry to understand their
Catholic faith and to practice it
more devoutly.”
Standing immoveable on
issues from homosexual marriage to abortion, embryonic
stem-cell research, and physician-assisted suicide has created
a tighter relationship between
the Catholic faith and Evangelicals while dividing them from
Protestants, Rev. Gaalaas said.
“The Catholic church is concerned. We see a growing apart
of mainline Protestant churches
from Catholic churches on matters of morality. Even as we
come to agreement on matters
of doctrine, ethical issues will
more and more divide us from
each other.”
Yet on the other hand, the
ethical stance of the Catholic
Church has created a crossing to
unite more with Evangelical
Christians.
Pastor Spoo also recognizes a
growing number of younger
members in his congregation.
The age range of parishioners
from 20 to 40 is steadily on the
rise, while the 80 to 100 year
range declines, mostly due to
death rates. “It’s becoming
younger and younger. And the
younger generation of Christians
are looking for authenticity,
someone to be real with them.”
Denominational titles are fading, he said. “There is less concern from the average person on
what denominational label they
wear and more about being a
follower of Christ.”
But as the church moves into
the next five years, he said the
greatest battle will not consist
between denominations but
between extremes—dogmatic
lines on the left and right. There
is a tug of war from liberal Christians leaning hard to become
politically correct and a firm yank
from the religious right believing
only Republicans can be true
Christians. Both are nothing but
destructive, Pastor Spoo said.
“In my church I see diehard
Republicans and diehard
Democrats and we work together.”
In the approaching years, Rev.
Harrison said he sees the greatest obstacle is defeating despair,
not doubt.
“We have all these great
opportunities but inevitably end
up in the place we’re not suppose to be. Like Adam and Eve,
they could eat off all the trees
but one,” he said. “We want
freedom. Then when we abuse
that freedom, we want to blame
God for that freedom.”
Rev. Harrison said he deals
with less issues of atheism and
unbelief and more issues of alcoholism, overeating, adultery, all
choices that bring about despair.
People are moving across
denominational lines, he said, in
search of courage to rid themselves of the hopelessness.
“There will always be this
tension. But God will win. God
will prevail,” he said.
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Rev. Gaalaas answered this
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“The thing for which we were
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People are constantly drawn
toward “community,” Pastor
Spoo said. They need seven to
17 relationships in a church to
feel a part, he said. And they
want to “live out” their faith
with pure, uncomplicated, honest action.
“They want to be anonymous,
but they don’t. They really want
to be known and be loved,” Pastor Spoo said.
During new church member
meetings, Rev. Harrison said he
tells parishioners how he wishes
they would have the rebirth of
Baptists, the sacrilege of
Catholics, the spirit of Pentecostals, and the singing of
Church of Christ. Every
denomination, or extension of
Christianity, has strengths to
admire, he said.
And in the end, when they’ve
moved past the titles and buildings and preconceived notions,
“People just want to find a place
where belief can be strengthened,” he said.
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
27
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
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Page 28
www.tulsa.tv
What you’ve been searching for!
This is Tulsa’s Internet mecca—
a web experience with a progressive design and capabilities limited only to three creative prodigies spinning out ideas at the
speed of broadband.
WWW.TULSA.TV
If you want to know Tulsa, you
want Tulsa.TV. It’s punchy,
vibrant. And it’s connected. This
is Jeeves on hourly doses of B12. Search engines have a new
model.
Andrew Clark, Aaron Ball
and Adam Kuert—creators,
designers, and the energy
behind Tulsa.TV—form the “A”
team, they jokingly tease. And
in reality, they aren’t far from it.
They have joined their talents in
communication, marketing, and
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:19 PM
Page 29
just plain gusto, to accomplish
the nearly impossible—make
the Internet easy, as well as fun
and stimulating. Oh, and don’t
forget progressive.
“It’s been our desire to develop a web experience that captures that new, fresh technology,” said Aaron, Creative Media
Director. “Tulsa.TV is a completely interactive, rich media
experience.”
If you have questions about
Tulsa’s weather, click on
www.tulsa.tv. If you are seeking
the local news, click on
www.tulsa.tv. If you are seeking
local show times, to view local
restaurants, play local contests,
check out local classifieds, listen
to local radio ads, download
movie trailers with local showings, and on and on, click on
www.tulsa.tv.
Launched Sept. 1, the interactive website gives you a comprehensive search engine without irrelevant results. Every item
is local. Every tidbit of information, news, and happenings have
been designed for Tulsans by
Tulsans. It has the look and feel
of a national search engine, but
it is created to be the only spot
where Tulsans go for quick, reliable information, games, and
contests.
“It is the destination for people online in Tulsa,” Aaron said.
Constantly evolving to remain
ahead of the chameleon communication world, Tulsa.TV
revives tireless searches and
safaris of information into a
clean, quick, easy location.
“We’re leveraging the power
of the internet and communication tools and bringing them
closer to home,” said Andrew,
executive director.
Local companies needing
exposure of their website now
have a medium. The website has
been birthed to do just that.
“The heart of this company,
the passion, is to really help
Tulsa businesses. We want new
businesses to thrive. We want to
enrich Tulsa,” Aaron said.
Even if you’ve never signed
onto the Internet before, in fact
especially if you haven’t, Andrew
said this is the place to boot up,
sit back, and sign on.
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SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
29
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:20 PM
Page 30
senior living
Mary Martha Black
A Legacy of Love
BY L E A H FA R I S H
You might hear of a seniors’ conference
coming up, titled “Leaving a Legacy.” It
originated with the vision of Mary Martha
Black for intergenerational ministry.
Oral Roberts University, long an institution dear to Mary Martha, will be hosting
this event October 8, and seniors will find it
an inspiring time—as inspiring as the life of
Mary Martha has been to many.
Born in Champagne, Illinois in 1913,
Mary Martha grew up as an only child. But
she benefited from her elders’ wisdom. Her
mother was constantly providing the most
excellent books (such as Heidi and Little
Women) to read. Her fun-loving father
prompted her to write, assisting her with a
piece they called, “Ode to an Onion.” It
must have been a tearjerker. But Mary
Martha loved people more than the written
word. Her Latin teacher promised to give
the child a B if she would agree never to take
Latin again.
Mary Martha preferred to interact with
others than to memorize by rote. She and
her friends would write and perform plays
such as “The Princess and the Pea,” or play
kings and queens. In reality, they were sometimes playing in a vacant lot by the railroad
tracks, but their imaginations transformed
everything.
Surprisingly, few people taught
the young Mary Martha about the
Lord. Her mother was the belle of
their town and her father an energetic industrialist and publisher
with the company which started
Time magazine. He read the Bible
and a dictionary from cover to
cover each year. And yet the good news of a
personal relationship with Christ was not
communicated to her effectively till years
later. She did, however, enjoy visits to a Baptist church, where caring adults led youngsters in rousing songs and competitions
about Bible facts. Much of her childhood
was spent as the only Gentile family in a
Jewish neighborhood, where Friday nights
were a time of reverence and mystery all
around. Other times, her grandmother would
take her outside to look at the stars and the
moon. Mary Martha now wishes that adults
would make sure children know who made
the moon—their heavenly Father!
Perhaps it was inevitable that Mary
Martha would end up in Oklahoma—her
great-grandfather had claimed land in the
Oklahoma Land Run, and aunts and uncles
were here. Aunts Mary and Martha, who
inspired
her name,
were both
teachers,
part of the
family tradition of
leaving a
legacy to
the next
generation.
She
found herself “keeping school”
in Turley as
a young
college
graduate.
At roughly
five-foottwo, eyes
Mary Martha Black mentoring Amy Carlson
30
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
of blue, she was clearly no match for the
class that was assigned her: 90 students in
one room! She was to stand at a rostrum in
the library and teach social studies and reading to all ages. A few from the football team
offered to assist by beating up anyone who
gave her trouble. Mary Martha began to
notice the students would laugh when she
walked into class in the morning, and she
privately asked a little girl why. “Teacher,
you’re chewing gum!” the girl answered. It
was true. So Mary Martha announced that
tomorrow she would provide gum to every
student at the end of school, and anyone else
who chewed gum had to do the same.
As a wife and mother in Tulsa, she grew
in the role of leader to younger people.
Besides raising her own two children, she
opened a childcare center near 36th and
South Peoria and loved designing activities
for the little ones. Later as an empty nester,
she became involved with ORU and
worked in the Department of Education for
a dollar a year.
At every stage in her life, Mary Martha
loved talking with older people about their
lives. She even took art classes from her own
aunt at Oklahoma City University and saw
the impact one woman can have on the way
others see the world. Yet she was yearning
for one other relationship—a friendship
with God.
She and her husband Bob became
involved with a Sunday school class at a
Presbyterian church in Tulsa and began to
host it in their home. “It was the happiest
kind of a Bible study,” she said. Around that
time, her friend Virginia Elkins invited her
over after lunch, and they talked and prayed.
Before they knew it, it was dinnertime.
Mary Martha knows that afternoon was
when she was reborn. She remembers driv-
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
4:03 PM
Page 31
ing home in her VW and
singing all the way.
Since then, Mary Martha has
been a person of true joy. She
wants everyone to know the love
and joy of Christ and is energized to leave a legacy of this
love and joy. She’s done several
things to assure this.
Her GranDees program pairs
volunteer elders with school or
daycare classes for story times
and hugs. This program has
been seen at Evangelistic Temple, Wright Elementary, and
Saint Augustine Academy, as
well as schools in Florida, Texas,
and California. She compiled a
handsome book called Great
Men and Women, which has brief
biographies of Leonardo Da
Vinci, Winston Churchill,
Helen Keller, Solomon, Susanna
Wesley, and many others. She
even helped sponsor a conference in Washington D.C., at the
National Press Club called
“Character Matters and Love
Must Teach It.”
More recently, she has generously supported many Christian
intergenerational projects—such
as helping Saint Augustine
Academy, a K-12 classical
school, to acquire their fine property just north of 31st and Sheridan. She is working with the
noted motivational speaker Tim
Elmore to develop leadership
materials for children. And she
consistently makes sure ORU is
reaching the next generation.
Mary Martha is fond of
teaching children about “the
four loves,” which C.S. Lewis
first articulated to adults. She
says that “love” of familiar
things like home and country is
the most common. Love for
friends is another. Then comes
“luv”—the romantic feelings
that lead to marriage. And finally the greatest is Love—for God
and from God. She urges teaching of her “5 M’s”—manners,
memory, morals, mirth, and
motivation. She is fond of quoting, “Your past has no future,
but you do!”
She now reflects that, “All of
my life has been happy. It’s all
been people.” And Mary
Martha’s leaving a legacy of love
and joy.
Take the LASIK Challenge
You are
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Moore Rosewood Chapel has had a “face-lift.”
We ask that you come and visit with us and see what
Rosewood Chapel has to offer.
When: Saturday, September 10, 2005
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day
Address: 2570 South Harvard
Memory
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1403 S. Peoria
9350 E. 51st
583-6148
663-2233
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622-1155
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www.moorefuneral.com
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
31
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
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Page 32
senior living
Clear-tone Hearing Center offers new technology
Your hearing aid does not have to squeak
and squeal like a cheap sound system at a
grade school assembly. It does not have to
pinch and rub on your ear. And it does not
have to be large and noticeable to everyone.
Squeaky, uncomfortable, and obvious may
have been descriptions of hearing aids in the
last century, but things have changed. 21st
Century technology has produced a hearing
aid that can provide state-of-the-art sound,
yet is comfortable, nearly invisible, and does
not sing out that all-to-common, “somebody
turn it off,” high pitched squeal.
Jim and Mike Feeley, respected local
Christian businessmen and owners of Cleartone Hearing Center, have invented a new
hearing system called PAC. They have introduced the hearing aid to a worldwide audience under the company name SeboTek, and
it is literally revolutionizing the hearing aid
industry.
PAC is available for sale at Clear-tone.
It is priced in line with the more traditional line of products, yet it offers so much
more. Clear-tone’s new general manager,
Mark Freeman explained the technology
in this way.
“With traditional hearing aids, a mold is
made of the person’s ear and a plastic earpiece is formed to match their ear as perfectly as possible. However, when they move
their jaw to talk, sing, or chew, a gap is created that helps cause the squealing. Also
because the receiver and the speaker are built
together, it has a tendency to create feedback
in much the same way as when you position
a stereo speaker too close to the receiver. The
PAC system separates the
speaker from the receiver.
A tiny receiver, about the
size of a dime, is placed
behind the ear. Then an
almost indivisible plastic
tube runs through the
shadows of the ear into the
hearing canal. The speaker
piece is attached to this
and rests comfortably in
the canal, as close to the
eardrum as possible. The
result is a hearing aid that
is so light and comfortable
that people literally forget
they are wearing it. And, it
produces such great sound,
they often describe their
new hearing aid as ‘lifechanging.’”
Mark said another benefit of PAC is that it can
be fitted immediately.
Customers can walk in,
have their hearing
checked, get fitted for the
PAC, and walk out immediately hearing better than
they have for years.
“Selling the PAC hearing system makes it
fun for all of us to go to work each day,” said
Mark. “The first time I fitted someone with
PAC, saw the before and after test results,
and watched the patient’s excitement as they
experienced the high quality sound, it literally brought tears to my eyes. Now, we get to
be a part of that
process every day.”
Mark is new to
audiology. After
spending 25 years in
®
various areas of the automobile industry, he
wanted to do something that really counted,
something that would allow him to serve
others. With one look at his expression, you
can tell he has landed in the right place. “I
love it here,” he said with a smile.
The PAC hearing system is readily available at Clear-tone Hearing Center, 2323 S.
Sheridan. You may call ahead to schedule a
free and extremely thorough hearing test.
Their number is 838-1000. Feel free to also
check their website at www.cleartonehearingaids.com.
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
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CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:20 PM
Page 34
Loving Home
Changes mean choices
is probably best to consult with a reputable
contractor sooner rather than later. You
could save substantially before this mandate
takes place.
Should you replace your A/C system now or later?
The U.S. federal government has recently
made some significant decisions that will
immediately affect homeowners. This
includes regulations on energy efficiency.
Manufacturers must begin making air conditioning and heat pump systems with higher
seasonal energy efficiency rates (SEER). Production on lower efficiency units will cease
and units will have to carry a 13 SEER rating or higher by January 23, 2006.
The 13 SEER technology demands a
physically larger unit for higher efficiency
than today’s 10 SEER minimum. This has
implications for many existing homeowners
that may have physical space constraints. In
addition, the cost of putting in a 13 SEER
unit along with possibly having to replace
your indoor evaporator coil to match could
cost you substantially more than if you purchased them at the present time.
Q. What does this mean for the average homeowner if you’re thinking of replacing your system?
A. If your unit is in good working order
and less than eight years old, you should
continue to have it regularly serviced by
your quality contractor. However, if your
unit requires extensive repairs or is older
than eight years, you should make plans to
replace it.
Q. When is the cutoff date for 10 and 12
SEER production?
A. Any unit manufactured prior to January 23, 2006 may be sold and installed at any
time.
Q. Should I be concerned about space-constrained situations?
A. If your equipment is in a space-constrained situation, you should consider the
structural changes that may be involved and
replace the equipment prior to 2006. In this
case, you will have far greater equipment
choices.
The bottom line is that if you are considering changing your air conditioning unit, it
David Rampey
EDUCATION-A Cum Laude graduate of Harding
University with a degree in Marketing.
BACKGROUND-David was raised in Broken Arrow
and attended Broken Arrow Public Schools. He is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Broken Arrow Program, sponsored by the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, as well as a graduate of the Broken Arrow Citizen’s Police Academy. David attended Harding University, where he studied marketing. He was a member of
Harding University’s chapter of the American Marketing
Association. David was also a member of the University’s
baseball team where he was all conference and voted
MVP in 1997 and 1998. Upon gradation from Harding
University, he assumed a position in sales and marketing
and quickly advanced to the position of Regional Marketing Director of a national product distribution company. He retuned to Oklahoma in 2003 and joined the
Air Assurance sales team. David is a Board Member of
the Broken Arrow Rotary Club and is Chairperson of
their Blood Donor Program. He is also a Board Member
on the Broken Arrow Chamber’s Golf Tournament. He is
married to his high school sweetheart and they have just
welcomed their first child.
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
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CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:20 PM
Page 35
Loving Home
Shouldn’t THE CHURCH be recycling?
“It is pretty simple really. God
created it, so shouldn’t we try to
protect it?” said the Christian
environmentalist.
What did you say… “Christian environmentalist?” Yes, actually there is a national movement within the Church to take
better care of the environment
God created for us. And it
makes perfect sense. Who
should care more about God’s
creation than those who see His
handiwork in every part of
nature?
They are generally not chaining themselves to dozers in
Alaska’s Artic National Wildlife
Refuge. But they are beginning
to see recycling as an easy effort
that can make a difference.
The City of Tulsa has made it
convenient for all of us to recycle. Anyone with City of Tulsa
residential trash service can sign
up for curbside recycling of
newspaper, junk mail, magazines, office paper, plastic, glass
and aluminum. Tulsans also can
take those and other recyclables
to one of the 12 free drop-off
sites in the area operated by the
Metropolitan Environmental
Trust. Even cans of paint and
other household pollutants can
be properly discarded at one of
the city’s twice annual Household Pollutant Collection
events.
If you want the convenience
of curbside recycling, you can
get twice-a-month pickup service for a small additional $2
charge on your monthly utility
bill. The City’s contract hauler,
Tulsa Refuse Incorporated, will
collect your recyclable newspaper, junk mail, magazines, office
paper, plastic, glass and aluminum.
HOW TO RECYCLE
Once you have signed up for
service, using curbside recycling
is easy. No sorting is necessary.
Simply put all recyclables in
your City-issued recycling bin
and put it on the curb on your
scheduled recycling days.
It takes a little preparation, but it is actually very
easy. Here is what is
required.
Aluminum cans—You can
recycle all aluminum beverage cans. Rinse and flatten.
Plastic bottles—You can
recycle plastic bottles that
have a neck and the number
1 or 2 in the triangle on the
bottom. Remove caps and
lids, rinse and flatten.
Glass bottles—You can
recycle clear, green and
brown glass jars and bottles.
Remove lids, rinse, and separate by color when possible.
Newspaper—You can
recycle the entire newspaper,
including glossy ads. Leave
loose and unbundled and
keep clean and dry.
Magazines—Includes
small, staple-bound catalogs
but not thick catalogs and
phone books. (Phone books
can be recycled annually on special collection dates.)
Office paper—Recycle white
and colored file folders, copy
paper, computer paper and
envelopes. Staples or paper clips
are acceptable. NOT acceptable
are paper contaminated with
paint, oil or food waste.
Motor oil and Antifreeze—
Keep separate; up to five gallons
each per visit. No commercial
vendors.
Steel cans—Steel cans are
automatically recycled in Tulsa
because the steel is pulled out of
trash before it is incinerated at
the trash-to-energy plant. Outside of Tulsa, you can recycle
steel at a M.e.t. depot.
Household Pollutants—You
may not realize it, but your
home is likely filled with all
sorts of possible pollutants.
Many everyday products such as
paint and lawn chemicals can be
dangerous if used or stored
improperly and can cause serious environmental damage if
tossed in the trash, poured down
the sink or washed into the
storm sewers.
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exactly
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Phone: 918.280.0370 • 6713 East 41st Street
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
35
CS 6.6 Sept
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Loving Home
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Look Out Mr. Clean…I can make it myself!
Are you tired of a cluttered garage?
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Call today for your FREE In-Home Consultation
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622-4825
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Thanks to the Internet and a little help from Michigan State
University’s Extension Services,
we are able to offer the following list of practical, “better than
the store” solutions to your
cleaning needs.
Give ’em a try. You will save a
buck or two, and you may find
those expensive cleaners can be
replaced with the following Home
Chemistry 101 short course.
FOR STAINS ON PAINTED
WALLS AND WOODWORK…
Use one of the following to wash
painted surfaces: One-fourth cup
ammonia and one gallon warm
water, OR one tablespoon
trisodium phosphate and one
gallon warm water, OR onefourth cup liquid dish detergent
and one gallon water. To prevent
streaking, begin washing at the
bottom of the wall and work
toward the top; wash ceiling last.
Rinse thoroughly and change
rinse water frequently.
FOR CLEANING WINDOWS
AND GLASS…
Use one of the following mixtures to clean glass and windows: to remove soil and grease,
use one-fourth cup ammonia
diluted in two quarts warm
water; to remove hard water
deposits and soil, use one-fourth
cup vinegar diluted in two
quarts warm water; to up, combine one-half cup ammonia, two
cups rubbing alcohol and one
gallon water.
Tips- When washing windows, wash sills and cross-pieces
first, wipe windows with lintless
cloth, paper towels or crumpled
newspapers to prevent streaking,
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Drop by and see our ever-changing selection
From the traditional to the contemporary
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36
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
4417 SOUTH SHERIDAN • TULSA, OK
9 1 8 / 6 2 7 - 6 9 9 6 • W W W. G R I G S B Y S . C O M
SEPTEMBER 2005
8/25/05
1:20 PM
Page 37
wash windows out of direct sunlight for touch-ups, keep any
one of the above preparations in
a spray bottle, spray on dirty
area and wipe.
FOR UPHOLSTERY, TRY THIS...
Combine one-fourth cup liquid
dish detergent or laundry
detergent and one cup warm
water. With a hand mixer, whip
until dry suds form (the suds
will look like whipped cream).
Test upholstery in an
unnoticeable area by applying
dry suds with a cloth or soft
brush and lightly scrubbing.
Allow to dry. If the area looks
the same but cleaner, the entire
piece of upholstery may be
cleaned in this manner.
Shampoo only a small area at a
time and use a spatula or rubber
scraper to lift off dirty suds.
Repeat if necessary, then
wipe area with a clean cloth
dipped in clear water and wrung
nearly dry. Dry completely.
Tips-Keep upholstery as dry
as possible while shampooing to
prevent damage. For quick drying, open windows or turn on an
electric fan, a dehumidifier, or an
air conditioner in the same room
TO GET RID OF HOUSEHOLD
ODORS…
Dampen cotton balls with oil of
wintergreen and place out of sight
but where air will touch them.
Combine three-fourth cup baking soda, two tablespoons corn
starch, and one-fourth cup perfumed talcum powder. Sprinkle
on dry carpet, let stand five to
15 minutes, then vacuum.
TO REACH THOSE HARD-TOREACH COBWEBS…
Slip a sock over the end of a
yardstick and secure with a rubber band, then sweep the area.
This method works well for
cleaning under radiators and
refrigerators also.
These helpful hints were reprinted with
permission and were written by Anne
Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus,
with references from MSU Extension
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37
CS 6.6 Sept
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Page 38
October 15
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 39
ShalomFest
The 12th annual
ShalomFest brings the
sights, sounds and
flavors of Israel to Tulsa
ShalomFest: It’s about Jewish food,
culture and fun. Now in their 12th
year, ShalomFest continues its family-friendly hospitality, from noon to
7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18, Temple
Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place. This
unique and free event offers special
sights, sounds and flavors of Israel
and Jewish culture not usually found
in the Midwest.
Flavors of the Middle East and
the East Coast
Have a snack or stay for lunch and dinner. A variety of tasty treats
will be available throughout the day, served a la carte. Try a few specialty items like New York-style pastrami sandwich plate, Sephardic
spiced beef, cabbage rolls, borekas, and kosher franks.
Baked good will also be plentiful, like the Bialys, Hamantashen
and Black and White cookies.
Arts, Jewelry, Music and Books
For those wishing to find items for the home or as gifts, there will be
plenty of Judaic jewelry from Israel, arts, crafts, literature and music
on display and for sale during the visit.
There’s more information on the Web at www.shalomfest.com.
Music and Entertainment
Throughout the day, there will be a joyous traditional and contemporary music program. It will include Temple Israel’s Cantor, Kari
Siegel-Eglash, the popular Klezmer musicians and Temple Israel’s
Rock n’ Soul Choir with the Levites Band. The blowing of the Shofar (made from the ram’s horn) will also be demonstrated.
Children’s activities include a Jupiter Jump, face painting and kids’
crafts.
Cultural Heritage
Guided tours and model ceremonies offer rare looks into the rich heritage that is uniquely Jewish. Ceremonies include a Bat Mitzvah, a
Jewish wedding and Simchat Torah. Tours of Temple Israel will provide visitors with a look at Jewish heritage.
Saturday, September 17, 8pm
Mabee Center
Tickets still available
918.495.6000
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
39
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 40
There is a Firestorm
of Destruction in the
world today.
Hear first hand reports of how the
firestorms of destruction and
darkness pose threats to Africa,
America and the world.
September 17, 2005
at 7:00 p.m.
featuring
Col. Oliver North,
USMC (Ret)
Dr. Bruce Wilkinson,
author of
“The Prayer of Jabez”
Dr. Jeff Lester, President
of MEDICS Intl.
Reserve Free Tickets
Seating is Limited CALL NOW!
(918) 355-4321
“Helping Hands for HIM” Event
Saturday September 17, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel &
Convention Center
6808 S. 107th E. Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma
H OLISTIC I NTERNATIONAL M INISTRIES
In association with MEDICS International and
Dream For Africa
40
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
Operation
Christmas
Child
2005 Rally
to kick off
collection season
Tulsa’s Operation Christmas
Child 2005 collection effort will
kick off at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept.
25, with a community-wide rally
at Whiteside Park, 4009 S.
Pittsburg.
Churches, organizations, family groups, and individuals are
invited to attend the event,
which will feature personal testimonies from Tulsa-area OCC
volunteers who have participated in international shoebox distributions, music by the Christ
United Methodist Church
Youth Band, free gifts from
Operation Christmas Child and
Samaritan’s Purse, and supplies
and materials for the 2005 collection season.
“We want to issue a personal
invitation to everyone in the
Tulsa area,” said Karol Stevenson, Tulsa Area Coordinator for
OCC. “This rally will give people who have never packed a
shoe box a first-hand look at
what a difference a simple shoe
box filled with gifts can make in
the life of a child in a povertystricken country.
“We also want to invite past
donors and volunteers to this
kick-off rally. This party provides us an opportunity to thank
all of the thousands of people in
this part of Oklahoma who have
donated shoeboxes in the past,
volunteered at the Collection
Center every year, or coordinated collections in their schools,
churches, or organizations,”
Stevenson explained. “They are
the ones who have made it possible for us to touch the lives of
hundreds of thousands of children around the world with gifts
from Tulsa over the past ten
years.”
Church groups, organizations,
and individual donors will be
able to pick up brochures,
posters, decals, decorator boxes,
and other Operation Christmas
Child materials and resources at
the rally. Those interested in
becoming an Operation Christmas Child volunteer can visit
the volunteer resource table at
the rally.
Balloons, popcorn, and other
refreshments will be available,
and drawings will be held for
door prizes donated by Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse, and others.
A project of Samaritan’s
Purse, Operation Christmas
Child has become the world’s
largest international gift program for children. Last year, 7.4
million shoe box gifts were sent
to children in more than 90
countries.
More than 21,900 shoe boxes
were collected in Tulsa in 2004.
According to Stevenson, the
goal for 2005 is 25,000.
“National collection week is
November 14-21,” Stevenson
said. “We are excited to get
started and see God do big
things in Tulsa this year.”
Plan now to make the Operation Christmas Child 2005 KickOff Rally part of your Sunday on
September 25. The party starts at
3 p.m., and you are invited. For
information, call Susie Brown at
595-5620.
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 41
Tulsa Performing Arts
September 20-25
friends: Brenda, Eddie, Anthony, Judy and
James; living through the tumultuous times
from 1967-1987. The band is handpicked by
Billy Joel to ensure the music stays true to
his legendary sound. Leading the band is
pianist-singer Michael Cavanaugh, a recording artist with the
spirit and style of
Billy Joel himself.
WYLZLU[Z
This music will take
you back in time as
you rock to some
familiar tunes.
would describe as sexually suggestive. Because
of that, Celebrity Attractions has labeled
“Movin’ Out” “For Mature Audiences Only.”
We therefore encourage you to use your discretion, but please note it is probably NOT suitable for elementary-aged children.
,"79½/" 9Ê7,Á
7 Ê
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** SPECIAL NOTE
FROM THE
PUBLISHER**
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I have not personally
seen this show. However, I understand
that it has at least one
dance scene that some
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Pull off your shoes, but hang on
to your socks. You are going to
love this fast-paced, Broadway
spectacular. Welcomed by Tulsa’s new SEMGROUP, the show comes to Tulsa Sept. 2025.
Five-time Grammy winner Billy Joel and
legendary director/choreographer Twyla
Tharp have joined forces to create the spectacular new musical Time Magazine declares
“The #1 show of the year!” The New York
Times calls “Movin’ Out” “a shimmering
portrait of an American generation. These
tornado driven dancers and rock musicians
propel the audience into delirious ovations.”
“Movin’ Out” brings 24 Billy Joel classics to
electrifying new life as it tells the story of
five life-long friends over two turbulent
decades. It all adds up to one unforgettable
Broadway musical that will keep your feet
dancing all the way home.
If you grew up listening to such Billy Joel
albums as Piano Man or The Stranger and
52nd Street, you are especially going to love
this musical. The story is about a group of
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:,7; ;<3:( 7(*

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*,3,)90;@(;;9(*;065:;<3:(>693+26;=(4,90*(5(09305,:
", /1, 1 -°
SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
41
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 42
Oliver North, Bruce Wilkinson in Tulsa Sept. 17
Joined by Dr. Jeff Lester, program to address roots of global terror
Retired U.S. Marine Col. Oliver North
and The Prayer of Jabez best-selling
author Bruce Wilkinson will join
Retired U.S. Marine Col. Oliver North
Bruce Wilkinson
42
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
their free tickets.
North, a combat-decorated Marine
and former U.S. counterterrorism coordinator is a popular public speaker,
FOX News commentator and syndicated columnist. He is also the author
of five books, all of which have made
the New York Times bestseller list.
Wilkinson is the author of The
Prayer of Jabez, a #1 New York Times
bestseller, and Secrets of the Vine, a #2
bestseller, among many other titles. He
founded one of the largest Christian
seminar organizations in the U.S.,
Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and
now leads Dream for Africa, a faithbased humanitarian movement.
“Unfortunately, terror is in the news
everyday,” said event organizer Lester.
“And it’s easy to feel powerless. But
this event is about how we can work
together to stop terrorism’s spread by
helping people in those parts of the
world that are most in danger. Many
roots of terrorism stem from the vulnerability of people overwhelmed by
hunger, poverty, disease and millions of
orphans—all coupled with a lack of education and leadership.”
Attendees will be given an opportunity to financially sponsor Holistic International Ministries, in association with
other non-profit organizations. Through
education, the group aims to train and
equip 5,000 leaders and their spouses
across Africa by 2010. Organization representatives believe leadership training as
a part of holistic, sustainable development partnerships will provide hope and
opportunity for millions suffering in
places of darkness and terror.
For more
information
or to register
to attend
“Helping
Hands for
HIM,” call
(918) 3554321.
Dr. Jeff Lester, president of MEDICS
International, on
Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. for
“Helping Hands for
HIM,” a program
devoted to helping
the poor and stopping the spread of
terror from the Middle East and North
Africa into other
parts of the continent and the world.
There is no cost to
attend the event,
which will
be held in
the Renaissance Tulsa
Hotel and
Convention
Center.
Seating is
limited.
Those interested in
attending
must call
(918) 3554321 to register in
advance for
Dr. Jeff Lester
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 43
good stewardship
financial stability. Possibly the
most disturbing
of all the statistics cited in the
MetLife study
is that 26 percent of those
recognizing the
need for proper planning and preparation
have not done any retirement planning at all.
Is it any wonder only four percent of those
employees age 41-60 nearing retirement
have reached their retirement goals?
Will you run out of
money in retirement?
R A N D Y C . C O W E L L , M . S . , L U T C F, C F P, C S A
With Social Security reform seemingly just
around the corner, memories of one of the
worst bear markets since the “Great” depression still fresh in our minds, and the recent
announcements of pension cuts by major
corporations, is it any wonder nearly everyone is questioning their retirement plans?
Several recent surveys dealing with retirement substantiate these fears and indicate
that Gen-Xers are just as concerned about
running out of money in retirement as those
members of the “Greatest” generation.
Looking at the Numbers
In a recent study conducted by Kelton
Research for the National Association for
Variable Annuities, NAVA, several interesting facts concerning retirement fears were
identified.1 When retirees were asked,
“What are your greatest fears about retirement?” “High healthcare cost ” was their
number one concern with “running out of
money” number two. In summary, the greatest fear of retirees is there will not be sufficient funds to afford the rising healthcare
cost and they will run out of money. Of the
Americans participating in the survey, 95
percent said they have serious financial concerns about their retirement. Of those
responding, 42 percent fear they will permanently run out of money, or they will have to
downgrade their lifestyle to survive.
MetLife reported the results of a recent
worksite study, and the results were just as
sobering for those actively in the workplace.2
Of employees ranked, 48 percent said “outliving their savings” is their greatest retirement fear. Nearly half of those responding
believe they will be forced to continue working either full or part-time to maintain their
Contributing Factors
There are many factors that contribute to
potential retirement shortfalls. The fact we are
living longer is somewhat bittersweet when
we consider on one hand we are living longer,
but on the other hand we are utilizing all the
technology mankind has to offer. Simply put,
longevity coupled with rising healthcare and
long-term care costs are the major reasons
retirees are running out of money. With the
Consumer Price Index for healthcare rising
more rapidly than the general CPI, more and
more of the average retiree’s income is being
diverted to pay for healthcare.
The Answer
The obvious answer to a comfortable retirement is early preparation. The Bible
instructs us to calculate the cost before we
embark on any journey. In Luke 14:28-30
Jesus addressed the
need for considering
the cost of discipleship. “Suppose one of
you wants to build a
tower. Will he not
first sit down and estimate the cost to see if
he has enough money
to complete it? For if
he lays the foundation
and is unable to finish it, everyone who sees it
will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to
build and was not able to finish.’”
Here is a thought to ponder. What if our
retirement plans and account balances were
as transparent to the casual observer as the
foundation of the man’s unfinished tower? I
believe His words are as instructional today
as when He first spoke them. Christians are
encouraged to plan for the future. Yes, retirement is a very complicated and confusing
subject, but that should not be an excuse for
our lack of planning.
Remember, it is always advisable to seek
out qualified professional advice, especially
when those plans will affect the rest of your
life. If your company has a human resource
department, don’t hesitate to ask for help. By
proper planning well in advance, seeking
wise counsel, and calculating the cost, you
will increase your chances of a successful and
much deserved retirement.
Look for next month’s article for answers
and helpful solutions to the retirement
dilemmas facing all of us.
Randy C. Cowell is a columnist, author, and president of ACT
Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He recently published his first book, God Good-Debt Bad, and welcomes your
thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by
e-mail at [email protected].
1) 2005 Financial Retirement Fear . The National Association for Variable
Annuities.
2) 2003 Employee Benefits Trend Study. MetLife.
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SEPTEMBER 2005
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
43
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 44
heart & home
Here’s
Lara Darnaby,
2003 Bixby High School
Graduate. Part-time
Administrative
Assistant. Successful
College Student.
And
here’s how
she got
there.
Where College And A Better Life Begin.
Pre-Premarital
Counseling
N. DANE TYNER
Recently our culture has debated potential
threats to the institution of marriage by
advocates of “gay marriage.” Though I
oppose the public sanctioning of homosexual
marriage, I believe heterosexual couples have
done more to damage the institution than
would be done by relatively few homosexual
couples being granted a marriage license.
Statistically, half of the heterosexual couples
have debased the institution through divorce
over the past three decades.
Even state governments are getting concerned. They have access to the disturbing
research. The number of kids left emotionally crippled by divorce is startling. The number of people reduced to poverty through
divorce, and therefore dependent upon government assistance, is also staggering. Thus,
we see new marriage initiatives in states like
our own, attempting to strengthen the institution. Here church and state agree. The
prevalence of divorce is a bad thing. Marriages need encouragement and support to
survive.
Premarital counseling has been strongly
advocated for a long time. As good and
valuable as that is, it still misses the mark all
too often. Most people who enter premarital
counseling have already made up their mind
to marry the person with whom they enter
counseling. They’re already emotionally
hooked. In premarital counseling they may
actually work on some of the issues that desperately need to be addressed, or they may
work craftily to minimize, deny, or hide
those issues. What I offer here is some prepremarital counsel.
While you are looking for a partner to do
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT
SEPTEMBER 2005
premarital counseling with, before you’ve
emotionally gotten yourself in over your
head, consider these points of advice:
Instead of trying to find the right one,
commit to be the right one. Here’s an interesting fact: we tend to attract people with
about the same amount of emotional baggage as we carry. Working to get your threesuiter down to a small tote-bag will do wonders for the selection process.
If you didn’t have good relational role
models in your home, be honest, recognize
your deficit, and build relational skills. Marriage will test these skills like no other relationship.
Keep your eyes and ears open in the early
months of a romantic friendship. See what
you see. Hear what you hear. And respond
to it. If you see problems with temper or
telling the truth or other signs of character
defects, maybe this is not the kind of person
you want to spend the rest of your life with.
Keep the heat down. Nothing impairs
sight and hearing like romantic passion. The
more you fan the flames of emotion with
passionate kissing, embracing, and sexual
activity, the more you distort your perception
of critical relational realities. They say love is
blind, but marriage has amazing potential to
restore sight - quickly.
Ask yourself some serious questions and
respond appropriately about every potential
candidate for a life partner. Is this someone I
could live with the rest of my life, just as
they are? Is this someone I would want to be
the mother or father to my children, just as
they are? If the answer is “not really”, please
don’t bet your marriage that they’ll change.
Better to keep looking until you find someone who already is what you really want.
I’m convinced that we’ll continue to see
the poor results in marriage until we form
romantic relationships differently. The “road
less traveled” is a better road. An old Chinese proverb says, “If we don’t change our
direction, we are likely to wind up where
we’re headed.” Scripture says we reap what
we sow. So, let’s sow with due caution.
Dane Tyner is founder and director of Home Improvement Ministry. H.I.M. is a Christian counseling ministry with offices in the 126 Center at 126th & S.
Memorial. Contact the ministry at 918.369.4111 or
visit the ministry website at www.forhim.org.
CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
1:21 PM
Page 45
Where are you
going after
church?
Grab some friends and go eat together at some of
these “fellowship friendly” restaurants.
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VICTORY IS SWEET.
[AND SOUR]
Tulsa, you continue to vote us best of the best in
so many categories. We’d like to say thanks by
offering a free dessert on your next visit. Simply show
this ad when you purchase a Rice Bowl, Noodle Bowl or Specialty
Dish. Then sit back and savor the sweet smell of success.
© 2005. Te Kei’s Chinese Asian Kitchen.
Get a FREE Cactus
Blossom appetizer
with the purchase of 2 entrees
(can substitute for other item
of equal value, $6.95)
Mon-Thurs 4-10 pm
Fri/Sat 11 am-11 pm
Sun 11 am-10 pm
11111 East 71st Street
www.texasroadhouse.com
Phone: 918-461-8891
[email protected]
Fax: 918-461-8898
WE DO FUNDRAISERS
Chinese Kitchen
10% Off
10032 South Sheridan
Phone: 918-296-0667
SEPTEMBER 2005
Expires 9/30/05
Free
Small
Side of
Queso
Dip
Fax: 918-296-0876
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
45
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1:22 PM
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CS 6.6 Sept
8/25/05
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CS 6.6 Sept
8/24/05
12:59 PM
Page 48
“Cancer Treatment Centers of America
did what no other hospital would do
for me. They listened.”
— Beth Moksu
Thyroid and Breast Cancer Survivor
B
eth knew something was wrong, yet her hometown doctor
insisted it was nothing. Only by demanding a second
opinion did Beth discover she had thyroid cancer. Her thyroid
was removed but soon after, she was diagnosed with breast
cancer. Beth was told she didn’t have long to live, and she felt
things were spinning out of control.
Then her friend came across the website for Cancer Treatment
Centers of America (CTCA). After she talked to doctors at
CTCA, Beth “fired” her hometown doctor. As soon as she
arrived at CTCA, Beth noticed something very different: the
doctors listened to her.
With her integrated team of physicians, Beth
explored her options, including an innovative form
of internal beam radiation. Beth decided on a
No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results.
treatment plan with a full array of options that included
chemotherapy, nutrition, radiation and mind-body medicine.
Beth’s determination to survive and search for CTCA helped to
give her a second chance at life.
As inspirational as Beth’s story is, there are others. Many patients
have discovered that hope and compassion live at CTCA.
If you or someone you know is suffering from cancer, we urge
you to call one of our Oncology Information Specialists today.
They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss the
treatment options available at CTCA.
Please call for free information today.
1-800-227-3448, or visit
cancercenter.com