March 2006 - Community Spirit
Transcription
March 2006 - Community Spirit
CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:42 PM Page 1 EE FR March 2006 ® CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:42 PM Page 2 There’s a new word for Tulsa leadership. McCorkell. Only Don McCorkell Has the Track Record and Proven Successes to Turn Tulsa Around. McCorkell is a Problem Solver special interests. As Mayor, he'll ensure this initiative is put to rest for good. No other candidate for Tulsa Mayor has the know-how and resolve to lower our crime rate, regularly maintain our roads, and introduce innovative solutions that dramatically improve our quality of life and our neighborhoods. Unlike others in the race, Don McCorkell doesn't support then suddenly change his mind on issues that threaten to disenfranchise the voice of regular Tulsans. Don is a voice for all Tulsans. Don McCorkell is a fresh voice in a maze of “me-too” candidates. No other candidate has the skill and experience to manage our city smarter, allocate our tax dollars more wisely, and bolster the services needed to make hard-line improvements where they are needed now. McCorkell is a New Beginning You're ready to see change for the better. Don is ready to turn Tulsa around. It's time we took a stand and made a powerful declaration of what is right and what the citizens of Tulsa deserve. As a Tulsa citizen, former state legislator, and successful businessman, Don has proven his ability to create jobs, spur our economy and bring reform to schools and nursing homes. As Tulsa Mayor, Don will use real-world, problem-solving experience and forward-thinking solutions to meet Tulsa's challenges head on without a wink and a nod to special interest groups. Fact is, this may well be the most critical mayoral election of our time. We can't afford politics as usual. As Tulsa Mayor, Don McCorkell will demonstrate everything that's missing in our city's leadership… integrity, character and a true belief in the power of family, neighborhoods, and responsiveness to all Tulsans in all parts of Tulsa. McCorkell is a Proven Leader With your vote and your support, Don McCorkell will introduce City Hall to problem-solving leadership that puts us squarely on the road to growth, prosperity, and peace of mind. Don McCorkell will put both the city's focus and its resources on solving the tough problems. Don McCorkell's dedicated to providing Tulsans with effective crime prevention and response, street maintenance that works to bring our streets up to par and he will bring a better quality of life for all Tulsans in all parts of town by working with neighborhood associations and average citizens to make them safe, beautiful places to live and raise our families. Don McCorkell understands the issues that affect our lives; he experiences them every day just like us. He's fed up with the bickering and divisiveness in City Hall that halts progress, turns a blind eye to our disintegrating quality of life, and fails to establish an effective code of ethics for City Hall that will help prevent unethical behavior by city officials. No matter where you live in Tulsa, Don McCorkell believes you deserve a voice in the future of our city. He is adamantly opposed to the Tulsans for Better Government initiative that would put three critical City Council seats in the grasp of It's time we had Problem-Solving Leadership for every Tulsan. On March 7 , Say it's Time for McCorkell. th Bringing back the spirit that made Tulsa great www.tulsans4mccorkell.com “Don McCorkell knows that Tulsa's pothole-filled streets make a negative impact on property values and where businesses and people relocate. As Mayor, he'll revamp our paving program and use tax dollars intended for our streets, on consistent street maintenance.” Jim Hewgley Former Tulsa Street Commissioner and Tulsa Businessman “Don McCorkell will innovate Tulsa police services with proven programs and resources that not only increase public protection but dramatically reduce crime.” Lucky Lamons State Representative, Retired Tulsa Police Department and Crimestoppers Spokesman “As a former state legislator, Don McCorkell understands the critical link between education and job creation. As Mayor, he'll introduce Tulsa to a higher standard of education, one that paves the future for a strong, competitive workforce.” Penny Williams Former State Senator and Chairman of Oklahoma's Educational Subcommittee “Don McCorkell understands that working with neighborhood associations to make neighborhoods safe, beautiful places to raise our families is the first critical step in turning Tulsa around and making people want to live here instead of leaving for the suburbs.” Fran Pace Tulsa Businesswoman and Neighborhood Advocate c M Corkell DON Mc CORKELL - TULSA MAYOR CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:43 PM Page 3 THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2006 [1 P.M. - 9 P.M.] FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006 [9 A.M. - 1 P.M.] Victory Christian Center Tulsa, OK Registration before March 13: $59.00 individuals Group of 5-10, $49 per person. Group 10 or more, $39 per person. Registration after March 13: $69.00 individuals Group of 5-10, $59 per person. Group 10 or more, $49 per person. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER CALL 918-491-7918 -OR- VICTORY.COM Conference held at the VBI Building 1400 E. Skelly Dr., Tulsa, OK 74105 Hotel Information (Reserve Rooms by March 9th, 2006) HOLIDAY INN SELECT $65.00 (1-4 people) 5000 E Skelly Dr., Tulsa, OK 74135 (918) 622-7000 www.selecttulsa.com 1-800-836-9635 HILTON TULSA SOUTHERN HILLS $79.00 (1-4 people) 7902 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136 (918) 492-5000 www.hiltontulsa.com 1-800-444-7263 Hosts & Speakers: Billy Joe & Sharon Daugherty Pastors & Founders of Victory Christian Center CS Mar06 2/22/06 2:36 PM Page 4 contents march 2006 volume 6 issue 12 10 One day at a time A heartfelt conversation with Leon Matthews 12 14 18 Senior Class is in session The Aging of the Church Not done yet Respected pastors speak on continuing service 22 26 28 30 32 A look at the mayoral candidates’ faith Senior hobbies Every dog has his day Sid Roth to speak at Rogers State University Hairspray 28 Hang on tight Church, things are fixin’ to change. As the Baby Boomers hit retirement age, they will bring dramatic changes in our church culture. Read about the expected results and find out if you and your church are ready for a time when the majority of its members are over 65 years old. March 21 – 26 at the Tulsa PAC 34 Strokes CAN Be Prevented! Tulsa couple turns tragedy into valuable service business LOVING HOME 36 Gusto Gardening Putting the oomph into outdoors 38 Grigsby’s Carpet & Tile Building upon the right foundation 40 44 46 48 32 Seniors with Style Heart & Home: Keeping score 10th Anniversary Gaither Homecoming Tour coming to Tulsa The Remnant Update & calendar of events Time out with grandparents The lessons they can teach your children 54 57 58 Just say the word A time for purity Winners’ wisdom Wealth 101 60 Restaurant review 46 Fuji Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar 62 News around town www.communityspiritmagazine.com 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. 4 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Bill Ackerman, Vivianna Fancher, and Stephanie Reall CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gwen Mullins, Lesley Hall, Cara Thomas, Jim Stoval, N. Dane Tyner, Ken Walker, Nichole Wilkinson, Änna D. Wright 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 COMMUNITY KIDS 52 PUBLISHER Tom McCloud PRODUCTION MANAGER Steve Trickett MANAGING EDITOR Tara Lynn Thompson STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Don Kreutzweiser DESIGN AND PRODUCTION AdGraf 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.communityspiritmagazine.com Copyright © 2006 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. CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:43 PM Page 5 Chris Medlock for Tulsa’s Mayor A Proven Conservative He’ss willing willing to... to... He’ pay the the price price pay & take take the the Heat Heat & Because it is Time for the Truth! Now more more than than ever, ever, Now Tulsa Needs a Strong Mayor Paid for by Chris Medlock for Tulsa’s Mayor Brad Colvard, Chairman Michael Nash, Treasurer CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:43 PM Page 6 A day of prayer… A day of unity in Jesus… A day to remember Mark it on your calendar! Mabee Center May 4th, 2006 7 Huge Events… 1 Glorious Day! 6 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:43 PM Page 7 1. National Day of Prayer Breakfast–7:30 a.m. Enjoy coffee and doughnuts with the community of believers. Then, bow for a serious hour of prayer for our friends, our churches, our city, our state, and our country. Led by a diverse group of pastors, priests, and ministry leaders, this powerful time of prayer will offer each of us the opportunity to join together in asking God to bless this land that we love. A Free Event! Hosted by the Tulsa Christian Media Association. 2. Tulsa Ministry Summit Don’t miss this wonderful day of seminars designed to share “best practice” methods of ministering to our community. A long list of world-class speakers will lead classes that will be both inspirational and informative. Registration is required. Hosted by Cornerstone Assistance Network. Contact Cornerstone for more information at 583-1857. 3. Christian Business and Ministry Fair All day long and into the evening, you will be able to meet with a wide range of Christian businesses and ministries presented in the 150+ show booths. Come meet everyone from book dealers and entertainers, to missionaries and local ministries. There will be lots of things to learn, products to purchase, and entertainment to enjoy. Show booth spaces are available for only $300. For more information, contact Community Spirit at 307-2323. 4. Come meet FOX Washington D.C. Correspondent, Kelly Wright–11:00 a.m. You will be fascinated by the entertaining and enlightening Q&A session with Kelly. From being embedded in Iraq, to interviewing the President, this once ORU student and Mt. Zion Baptist member will share his first-hand experiences. What is it truly like to see Washington from the viewpoint of a Christian reporter? 5. Business to Business Seminar–1:00 p.m. “Running an Ethical Business.” Hosted by Leadership Now. 6. Centennial Celebration Concert Imagine 7,000 or more believers from all church backgrounds coming together to celebrate our state’s birthday and learn more about each other. Imagine enjoying the musical talent from 25 or more of our community’s churches. Imagine the mass choir alone of over 2,000 voices. Now imagine, you are there enjoying the patriotic and prayerfully inspirational concert. This grand event will be orchestrated by many of our community’s most talented ministers of music. It is sponsored by Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Nelson Nissan and Nelson Mazda. This will be a ticketed event so read future issues of Community Spirit and plan ahead! We expect to sell out quickly. 7. Introduction of Community Spirit’s new coffee table book entitled, “Journey, Tulsa’s Century of Christian Faith, Leadership, and Influence.” This wonderful 192-page, hardbound book will take you on a tour of many of our community’s most beautiful churches. Within its pages, you will learn the historical reasons why Tulsa became such a “Christian City.” You will be inspired by the photography and of the individual testimonies and histories of people who serve Jesus and call Tulsa home. Autographed copies of the book will be on sale for $50 during the Christian Business and Ministry Fair. For pre-orders, call 307-2323. Journey Tulsa’s Centur y of Christian Fait h, Leadership and Influence written by Tom McCloud Tara Lynn Thom pson images by Don K reutzweiser Seven incredible events packed into one spectacular day. Don’t miss a minute of it! MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 7 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:43 PM Page 8 14 journey B aptized wit hO A Civilized Town is il Now at the Printer! Soon to be Available! Born in months “ Wofiththe dis covery of oil in 1905 th e Glenn Pool Oil Field was producing more oil Pre-order YOUR copy of Community Spirit’s New coffee table book entitled, “Journey: Tulsa’s Century of Christian Faith, Leadership and Influence.” than the entire state of Texas. strange rumblin g sound echoed through the Glenn Pool countryside. Awakened from any thought of slumber, Robe Galbreath and rt Frank Chelsey held on with anticipatio as their crude n wooden derrick creaked, swayed finally gave in to and the pressure from the giant beneath Bursting from the her. top of the Ida Glen n No. 1, a gush oil exploded so of high many claim ed they could spewing black gold see its 14 miles away in downtown Tulsa . • Explore the reasons why Tulsa became such a “Christian Community.” • Read the good and bad parts of our church heritage. • Learn the history of many of our area’s churches and ministries. • Be inspired by the testimonies of local church and business leaders. • Enjoy the creative and inspirational photography of Don Kreutzwesier. 36 journey s 0ra ring 2ed ls ra:oa a e ls thtu city of cath the late 1920s. You icture yourself in Model T Ford into are driving your on Highway 66. downtown Tulsa you sud- t towns, only the smalles After miles of seeing activity. You admire a city teeming with denly approach their ornate art gs and marvel at the tall office buildin Hotel, the the extravagant Mayo pass You . deco designs of the famous J. Oklahoma and home tallest building in Adams attention to the you pay special And Getty. tional Paul the 1928 Interna built to honor Hotel, a hotel you see the tion. And then, Petroleum Exposi First Christian, erian, First Baptist, Holy churches…First Presbyt and ist, Method Methodist, First Boston Avenue than any church Taller and more ornate Family Cathedral. and cry out Tulsa they rise to the sky you have ever seen, ian” place. surely a very “Christ is a special place, Tulsa. With oil for amazing boom years The 1920s were industry on and an exciting aviation activity in full swing to town. In fact, on ses were flooding its way, new busines dollars of million one over there were any one given day, wn. This same downto city’s the on in construction going and the pews of the collection plates activity filled both town. every church in ic town, and a town ous town, a dynam It was a prosper s thought. business and in religiou ready to lead in As if they had been anxiously waiting for just such a discovery, a natio n of oilmen, drille rs, investors, bank and lawyers, poun ers ced on the other wise unnoticed Territory. Thousand Indian s responded to the smell of oil, of journey The result was to immediately turn the wild, cow town into violent a city of distinction …into what woul soon be calle d d, “The Oil Capi tal of the Worl Baptized with oil, d.” the churches of Tulsa now had manpower and the the finances to finally tame the gunslinging comm once unity with the message of Jesus Christ. It was an event that woul d forever change and each congregat Tulsa ion in its own way would eventually link arm and arm with the oil industry to build town into a prosp the erous and very “Christian” city. 37 d promise lan e 66 to the taking rout Eleventh Street was the heart of Tulsa. and pa Street, winds through and numerous ma art deco buildings, once lined with their flashing neon g a few hotels with restaurants, includin for a visit. weary travelers in Tulsa city limits, signs inviting all within 66 Route along to As you travel west oil built. Closer the Red Sea. Closer wn buildings that of reaching downto they had to cross hopes in tall art 66 see you begin to traveled Route see this massive to the south, you 66 is called the but desperate people Methodist to downtown, off Promise Land. Route as Boston Avenue and California, the new Rogers Highway,” deco building known the Mother America,” “Will is two blocks from “Main Street of Church. This church Road.” Route 66 late 20s and as the “Mother so tall. During the stands to it its also known but way Road, California, , Illinois all the s headed out to stretches from Chicago memearly 30s, as traveler building must ia. 2,448 miles of Modernist church this Santa Monica, Californ the sight of this At Eleventh who has traveled to continue on! ory lane for anyone have inspired them major migrais on your left, Route 66 was a United Methodist historic highway. west” for and Boulder, First right, and you can travelers to “go Church on your n sion tory route inviting Christia Depres the First ral. As people Dust Bowl and of Holy Family Cathed better times. The forced families even see the spirals for new opporof influences that of Route 66 in search were just a couple truck, tie down town traveled on this stretch belongings on the of the Christian if it have been in awe to load up all their head west, even tunities, they must ng they had, and church buildings. cent every earthly belongi magnifi Pacific. took to the highwith so many the way to the blue lease on life, many meant going all 66 stretching across Desperate for a new Route 66 became miles of Route road in the There are 397 land. In its own way, miles of this historic in search of a new hard times, bilway more are endured ss There who to many Oklahoma. seven states. Countle a encouraging voice lly led many to their ed to the other Main of dust, and eventua Sooner state compar traveled along this lowing black clouds hopes of better days the individuals with the Oil Capital of Promise Land. h a and passed through Street of Americ to many as Elevent 66, also known World: Tulsa. Route By Steve Kime Israel out g the children of s Moses was leadin less-traveled led to a large of Egypt, the road order to reach the Promise Land, body of water. In home, courageous Collection. COMMUNITY SPIRIT potential wealth and power. Some came alone, other brought their famil s ies and all their possessions. But any case, they in came…to Tulsa . Serviced by the Railroad and being Frisco just close enough to the action, but far enough away from the dirt and grime, Tulsa was perfect place to the headquarter. Photo courtesy of Tulsa Historical Society. First Baptist & Boston. Inset: rian Church, 7th Opposite Page: Below: First Presbyte Historical Society. Ford courtesy of Tulsa of The Beryl D. Church. Photos 1929. Photo courtesy Aerial view of Tulsa, 8 ” — David Sheffel , Tulsa World Photo courtesy of Tulsa Historic al Society. MARCH 2006 192 pages, hardbound, and jacketed, you will want one for yourself and others to give away to friends. “Journey” will be introduced on May 4th. But since supplies are limited, you may want to pre-order by calling us at 918-307-2323. CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:43 PM Page 9 3RVW $XULFXODU &DQDO KHDULQJ LQVWUXPHQWV :+< $5( 6(%27(. +($5,1* 6<67(06 62 ',))(5(17 IURP RWKHU KHDULQJ DLGV" 7KLV QHZ SDWHQWHG KHDULQJ LQVWUXPHQW FRPELQHV WKH QHZHVW GLJLWDO WHFKQRORJ\ ZLWK D XQLTXH GHVLJQ WR PDNH WKH 3$& OLNH QR RWKHU KHDULQJ LQVWUXPHQW DYDLODEOH LQ WRGD\·V KHDULQJ LQGXVWU\ ,W LV 9LUWXDOO\ LQYLVLEOH ZKHQ ZRUQ 3HRSOH PD\ QHYHU NQRZ \RX·UH ZHDULQJ LW ,W LV ([WUHPHO\ &RPIRUWDEOH /HDYHV \RXU HDU IHHOLQJ RSHQ IUHH DQG QDWXUDO ,W GHOLYHUV ULFK EULOOLDQW VRXQG TXDOLW\ +LJK ILGHOLW\ GLJLWDO SURFHVVLQJ IRU FRQYHUVDWLRQV RU PXVLF &DOO WRGD\ IRU \RXU )5(( +HDULQJ (YDOXDWLRQ DQG 3$& 'HPRQVWUDWLRQ 7KH SUHIHUUHG KHDULQJ LQVWUXPHQW IURP WKH SUHIHUUHG KHDULQJ DLG FHQWHU RU 6 6KHULGDQ 5G 7XOVD 2. ZZZ&OHDUWRQH+HDULQJ$LGVFRP CS Mar06 2/22/06 2:40 PM Page 10 y e n r u o J ury of Tulsa’s Cent ith, Christian Fa Influence d n a ip h s r e Lead One day at a time A heartfelt conversation with Leon Matthews, Tulsa centurion on the cover of Journey – Tulsa’s Century of Faith, Leadership, and Influence BY GWEN M U L L I N S written by d Tom McClou ompson Tara Lynn Th ser n Kreutzwei images by Do H “How long do I want to live? I don’t know. I don’t make any long-term plans,” he laughed, “I just live one day at a time.” These are not the words of an irresponsible young kid but Tulsa Centurion Leon Matthews. Leon Matthews was born on March 20, 1905 in Dallas, TX and grew up in Kansas City. In 1926, he moved to Tulsa. “I came to visit a cousin. While here, I fell in love with 10 COMMUNITY SPIRIT Tulsa, went home, got my clothes, and moved here.” Leon liked the small city feeling, with Tulsa’s population only 70,000 and everything was on Main Street. He got a job with Magnum before the Great Depression, who eventually cut his pay, so he quit. Since he couldn’t find any jobs that paid as well, he MARCH 2006 started peddling out of the trunk of his car. Matthews Distributing Company, selling automotive and electrical parts, soon acquired a building on 2nd and Brady and 17 employees. For 44 years, Leon Matthews owned the company before selling in 1974. Just 12 years later, the business folded. “The building is still there, still has the name on it. They’re trying to make it into CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 11 some kind of art gallery. It’s across from Spaghetti Warehouse,” Leon explained. After moving to Tulsa, Leon met the love of his life and his wife of 70 years, Dorothy. “One of the jobs I had at Magnum was selling Christmas cards. I went to see my cousin to sell her some. Dorothy was there. I tried to sell her some cards, but she wouldn’t buy any.” He did manage to ask her out, and the next night they had their first date. “It was love at first sight.” Six months later, they eloped. “Her step-dad didn’t think much of a traveling salesman.” So in 1928, they headed to Claremore to get married. But, there was a problem. The Bunion Derby on Route 66, the race from California to New York, was coming through. And on the Derby was Foyil, Oklahoma native Andy Paine. “The whole town of Claremore was closed up on account of him. So we headed to Chelsea.” Once there, they found out they had to go to the county seat. They drove to Nowata, where they got their marriage license and found a Methodist preacher. “He was gardening, so he had to wash up before he could marry us. Then he got his neighbors to stand up for us.” They never celebrated an anniversary until the end. “I thought she should have something.” The last year and a half of her life Dorothy was an invalid. She had bypass surgery and nurses around the clock. Leon took over the grocery shopping and cooking. Leon decided to throw a party for the lady that meant so much to him. “So, we dressed her all up and had a time of it. She was real happy.” In July 1998, Dorothy passed away. Leon and Dorothy had one adopted son and he had two adopted children. Around their 50th anniversary, their only son died. Leon’s grandson still lives here in Tulsa with his family. He has two children, ages eight and four. He sees them most every Sunday when he has lunch with them after church. Most remarkable about Leon Matthews is not the fact he’s seen a century pass by but the fact he still draws. For the last 50-plus years, Leon has been doing colored pencil drawings for Christmas cards and friends. He draws what he sees. He’s drawn stained glass windows, churches, people, animals, and Jesus laughing. He even did a black and white drawing of the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, which they use today. “How long do I want to live? I don’t know. I don’t make any long-term plans,” he laughed, “I just live one day at a time.” These are not the words of an irresponsible young kid but Tulsa Centurion Leon Matthews. Leon is a member of The Colored Pencil Society of America. He travels alone to their yearly meetings. At last years meeting in Chicago, he came out of the meeting room to find the cookies decorated with “Go Leon.” This year he will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I have many special, special friends I’ve met there over the years.” Leon draws for friends and family. They bring him a picture and he’s able to draw it for them. He never charges for his work. “That would mess up my amateur standing,” he laughed. Traveling is nothing new to Leon. “I’ve been to Switzerland two times, Italy two times, Germany one time, Portugal, Canary Islands, Spain, and Brussels.” He’s also been to Hawaii, Mexico, and all the islands of the Caribbean. “I was in Germany the week before the Jewish people were killed at the Olympics.” Leon and his wife were able to travel so much because of the amount of sales they did for Motorcraft. At times, they even took their customers with them. Leon stays busy, not just with his drawings but with other activities as well. He volunteers with the RSVP in town, a local volunteer group for senior citizens. He works up to three days a month, for half a day. “I can’t sit for too long.” He also plays bridge, goes to local meetings of the Colored Pencil group, and goes to Calligraphy meetings. He enjoys watching football and golf. His least favorite sport to watch is basketball. On Sundays, he picks up another Centurion, Lucille Wooden. They go to church, then to lunch with Leon’s grandson and his family. He still attends church at Boston Avenue Methodist, where he ushered for over 50 years. He and his wife attended Sunday School there for many, many years. Has Leon had a happy life? “Very, very happy. I had a wonderful marriage, a nice business, a successful business. Can’t ask for more than that.” Of all the inventions Leon has seen over the past century, air conditioning is the one he’s enjoyed the most. Two years ago, Leon Matthews decided to move into the Oklahoma Methodist Manor in Tulsa. “I got tired of cooking for myself.” At the manor, hi enjoys being with his friends and seeing them each day. “I have people I eat with that I enjoy talking to.” He has an apartment with a desk, computer, and a table covered in art supplies and pictures. Does Leon have any advice for us? “Have only one credit card. If you get married, never go to bed mad. Those are my two things.” The Ladies of Funeral Service Standing from left: Sharon James, Secretary, V’netta Elam, Family Care Counselor and seated: Elaine Moore Jones, Personnel Manager/Funeral Director Southlawn: Standing Helen Dewar, Secretary, Owasso: Judy Patterson, Secretary, Linda Daniel, Family Care Counselor, Carolyn Boyd, Burial Association/Pre-need Secretary. Memory: Sonja Padgett, Secretary, Karen Winans, Family Care Counselor, Eastlawn: Shirlye Lawson, Executive Secretary, seated Mary Helen Stanley, Funeral Director/Advertising, Cheryl Benoit, Financial Manager, Rosewood Do you know these women? They represent a total of 257 years of funeral service. They are trained, licensed women who have worked with families during the time of death with care and consideration. Contact them if you have questions—they can provide the answers. Serving area families since 1932 www.moorefuneral.com Memory 1403 S. Peoria 583-6148 Owasso 116 N. Main 272-3200 Southlawn 9350 E. 51st 663-2233 Eastlawn Rosewood 1908 S. Memorial 2570 S. Harvard 622-1155 744-1202 MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 11 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:20 PM Page 12 Senior Class is in session Catch it on the radio, on tv, and in every issue of Community Spirit magazine TA R A LY N N T H O M P S O N R Rusty McMurray wanted to be an advocate for senior citizens. That’s how it started. That’s exactly what it is. Senior Class has sprouted, branching out and rooting itself in radio, in television, and now, in Community Spirit. And the growth is grounded in the basic desire to help, nothing more, nothing less. “I wanted to reach out and touch senior citizens, to find out what they needed,” Rusty said. He worked as the Claremore Director of Utilities, spending much of his time around seniors. In 1989, he changed his career to a financial consultant, again working more with seniors. When he decided to 12 COMMUNITY SPIRIT run for state house, the evidence was overwhelming. No one was listening to the seniors. They needed someone in their corner. Senior Class started in January 2005. With partner David Maciha, the ministry hit the radio waves seeking to provide education, entertainment, and information. And mostly, it sought to connect seniors. “We wanted to bring topics to the seniors they wanted to hear,” Rusty said. They learned what those topics were by listening, nothing more complicated. Senior Class started by holding road shows all over Oklahoma, inviting seniors to come and speak their mind. The road shows still con- MARCH 2006 tinue. Every week Senior Class is somewhere listening. Seniors main concerns? Health, finances, and fun. Rusty said they try to bring updated information to answer the questions seniors are asking. And possibly more vital than any other service, Senior Class is connecting seniors’ needs with the programs ready to meet those needs. “There are a lot of senior programs out there and people have no clue they exist,” Rusty said. Through the Aging Americans Act, the federal government has earmarked money for senior programs. However, every dime must be spent on the programs and CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 13 there is no money to simply advertise to the public the program exists. That’s where Senior Class steps in. They are partnering with programs like the Tulsa Area Agency on Aging to connect seniors to the programs available. Growth means merging into different media, from radio to television, from television to Community Spirit, and even eventually the Internet. The new section in Community Spirit can be found in every magazine, a collection of personal stories, information on programs, helpful tips, fun facts, and agendas on community activities geared for seniors. Each issue is designed to give seniors not only a variety of information but information relevant to the current interests. “I feel really blessed. God led Tom McCloud and I together. Working together with Community Spirit, the Senior Class section will be great for everyone. It is great to be a part of Community Spirit magazine and have Community Spirit magazine be a part of Senior Class,” Rusty said. What is in the future? It’s limitless, as Rusty sees it. They are spreading across the state and reaching more seniors than ever. And one of the biggest current goals is getting Senior Class involved, coordinating, and working community projects for the community. “I’m excited about doing something in the community every quarter,” Rusty said. Senior Class plans to find non-profit organizations or community needs and launch volunteer projects to fill that need. “I’ve always wanted to give back to the community by implementing Senior Class projects,” Rusty said. “I think all companies – whether corporate or noncorporate – should give back to the community.” You can catch Senior Class every Sunday morning from 7-8 a.m. on AM 1170 KFAQ, on Tuesdays on Cable Channel 3 at 6:30 a.m. and Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and in every monthly issue of Community Spirit magazine. Join the Country Club! Tulsa’s finest rental, retirement community offers beautiful apartments & cottages with rent including fine dining, fantastic social activities, weekly housekeeping, all utilities paid, covered parking and so much more! 6333 S. 91st East Avenue. (South from 61st between Memorial and Mingo) Call (918) 252-5451 for more information today! Move to the Head of the Class! Tune in to Senior Class Radio Sunday mornings at 7:00 AM1170 KFAQ www.seniorclassmedia.com MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 13 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 14 The Aging of the Church A BY TOM McCLOUD merica is getting older and with it,“the Church” is turning grayer with each passing day. It all started in 1946.At the end of World War II, as the boys came marching home and the economy boomed, the birthrate in the United States jumped almost 20 percent. In 1947 it jumped another 12 percent It then continued to rise and finally peaked with 4.3 million babies born in 1957.The spike in births would prove to make a tremendous impact on America, on its hospitals, on its schools, on its politics, and on its culture. 14 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 15 The Boomers, now making up over 28 percent of the U.S. population, have grown up. They serve as our church leaders and Bible School teachers, our CEOs and politicians, and they own the majority of the businesses we frequent. But as the oldest of them now begin to consider retirement, they usher in an age of an older, mostly retired, America. The ABCs of the aging church The Church will not escape the impact of this change in demographics. In fact, the numbers are even more startling. Since the percentage of senior adults is typically higher in the church, by the year 2030 experts predict nearly 40 percent of the church will be over 65 years old. They also expect that as we age, the dynamics of the culture of each church will be affected in fairly predictable ways. A. Tomorrow’s elderly (Boomers) will be challenged as they are expected to handle a bigger part of the workload. Seniors used to be able to retire to auditorium class and leave the majority of the teaching and day-to-day church duties to their younger members. The Boomers will not have that luxury and will be expected to maintain key ministry roles well into their golden years. This may be a real challenge for the churches. The average Boomer is more affluent than the previous generation. Sales of recreational vehicle sales are beginning to rise, proving that many of the upcoming seniors are already planning to spend time traveling once they retire. Churches are beginning to wonder if they will be able to count on the Boomers to stay home and engaged enough to handle the ongoing responsibilities of maintaining and growing a church. B. Churches will have a tendency to become segregated by age. The young may seek young, progressive churches where the elderly are not the most dominant group. Churches located in older sections of town have dealt with a similar situation. Before they know it, the population of the church becomes skewed to the point it is difficult to keep and attract young families. And though the older members try to shoulder all the responsibility, all too often the church slowly dies away. We can hope that the situation over the next 25 years will prove to be different. Boomers do seem to have more of a tendency to want to retire later and have more desire to want to “finish strong” and remain active in their personal ministry. This is surely a mantra today’s church leaders should be promoting. In tomorrow’s world, the elderly will not have the luxury of retiring from church. Their skills will be needed too badly. C. Seeking help, churches will have to compete for young members. This may be the biggest challenge of all. It will require the seniors to not only work hard, they will also have to adapt to the worship styles of a younger audience. Proven, wealthy, and successful leaders who are use to being in control will be forced to be flexible enough to meet the needs of the young. D. The younger members will be challenged as they try to take care of the large elderly population of their church. As the Boomer generation ages, they, like all seniors, will need the help and support of younger members. With divorce rates continuing to rise, it is predictable that a higher percentage of elderly ■ Boomers are now aging in record numbers, turning 50 at the rate of one every seven seconds. Boomers will be single than of any past generation. Today, more than half of all seniors (65+) are single. This along with the fact adult children often live in other towns and states than their parents and people are expected to live longer, will mean the younger church members of tomorrow will feel burdened with the huge job of ministering to this large, lonely population of Christian elderly brothers and sisters. It is a challenge that will last well into the 2040s. James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after ophans and widows in their distress…” 10 Ways to “Age Protect” Your Church 1. Take a look at the numbers within your own congregation and begin to discuss the potential impact. 2. Instill a strong ministry worth-ethic on all of your members. Encourage all that the best retirement is a full-time ministry for Christ. A Blessed Event LifeStar t at St. John Medical Center Classes & Programs Offered: I I I I I I Childbirth Education Breastfeeding Moms in Motion Baby Massage Infant CPR Parent and Grandparent Call the St. John PulseLine to enroll, (918) 744-0123 stjohnhealthsystem.com MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 15 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 16 3. Consider your own worship style and church culture to determine if it is doing a good job of reaching people from every age group. 4. Engage young members in all phases of the ministry, mentoring and preparing them for even more responsibility. 5. No matter your age, work hard at staying young. Plan activities which blend each age group, not allowing them to segregate. Are your seniors all sitting in one part of the church building? Encourage them to intermingle with the younger members. Combine classes when possible and create teams of seniors and younger members to work on ministries. 6. Constantly watch your demographic numbers to ensure they match your neighborhood. Be prepared to make adjustments to style and tradition to reach all age groups while not watering down important doctrines. 7. Consider setting aside church funds in preparation of adding extensive new senior adult ministries. If you don’t already have one, prepare for hiring full-time senior adult ministers. 8. Teach your young children to value the importance and the wisdom of senior citizens. 9. Review your facility to ensure it is “senior adult friendly.” Hearing–sound systems and amplifiers; Sight–lighting and enlarged print Bibles and hymnals; Walking–special parking for senior adults, ramps, safety rails 10. Pray God will use this changing demographic to keep senior adults active in ministry, to disciple younger members, and to expand the Kingdom. *Principal sources of data for the Profile are the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the National Center of Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ■ Projections indicate, as boomers age and live longer, that the 65-plus population will outnumber teenagers two to one by 2025. 16 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 17 As some continue to tell us that the future of the church is in the “young,” Gerontologist and Senior Adult Minister, Dr. Jim Hughes, is busy explaining that the future is Rehabilitation for Balance Disorders, Dizziness, and Hearing Loss actually in the “old.” He explained that the church must change its definition of what an older adult is.“We should expect more from them than their money and their attendance. Instead, we must help them to dream again, to reinvent their role for the Kingdom.” Dr. Hughes is one of a growing number of voices who are crying out on a nationally basis for seniors to be more productive in their aging and for the church to better utilize the assets of the growing senior adult population. “It is time for the senior adult to ask God,‘What do you want me to do with the rest of my life? I now have more Tulsa’s only facility offering complete therapeutic programs to identify and manage the effects of dizziness, imbalance, and hearing loss. Licensed, experienced professional audiologists, neurophysiologist, and physical therapist. (918) 317-7988 time, more control of my life, and more financial stability than ever before. How do you want me to invest it?’” You can learn more about the subject on Dr. Hughes’ website, www.productiveaging.org. Consider it the home- www.balanceok.com SouthCrest Medical Plaza • 8803 S. 101st E. 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The St. John Heart Institute, a top 100 hospital for heart care.* www.stjohnhealthsystem.com St. John Pulseline – 744-0123 *2004 Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 17 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 18 Not done yet Respected pastors speak on continuing service TA R A LY N N T H O M P S O N 18 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 19 M Most call it part-time. They have cut back their hours, dropping from their previous 60 a week. And when they want to snag a beckoning sunny afternoon for a bit of golf, the option is there. Do not, however, make the mistake of referring to them as retired. They’ve simply changed the demands, reinvented the hours, and personalized the responsibilities in congruity with their physical limitations. These pastors aren’t sitting aimlessly on a boat in the midst of an exclusive pond letting the day’s rolls by like ripples. This isn’t typical retirement. And if you wanted a definition, it isn’t really retirement at all. They are still teaching. Some still preaching. They are visiting the sick, working on building projects, still fulfilling a vital role within their assembly. And after a few decades of shouldering the boulder of responsibility, why exactly do they feel the requirement to keep working and not the right to grasp a slow, methodic retirement? Here are a few who gave us their reasoning. After you find out, you may rethink your own future plans. They are refusing to go quietly and their stories explain why. BILL MASON Pastor Emeritus Asbury United Methodist Church He’s been waking up for 44 years to a day of listening to Godly instruction and then deftly applying it. For 29 of those years, he accomplished the role as senior pastor. “I’m not looking for any titles. I just want to be a help to the people,” he said. After Pastor Mason initially retired, he volunteered as a chaplain at Laurette. One of his passions has always been visiting those in the hospital and giving them encouragement and hope. Two years with Laurette, Pastor Mason returned to Asbury after an invitation by Pastor Tom Harrison to help with the ministry in hospitals. Pastor Mason responded. However, as the congregation continued growing, and hospitals simultaneously were being constructed, it was too much for one man. And remember, he was retired. Now, Pastor Mason spends two days a week at St. Francis, continuing his ministry of help. “I found as a Christian, if you give love away, Christ-like love away, it comes back in abundance. Instead of being a chore, it is a privilege,” he said. He doesn’t stop there. Pastor Mason also teaches two Sunday school classes a week, as well as ministering at funerals. And somehow, in the midst of his busy retirement, he finds time to indulge in his passion – reading. JIM DAWSON Associate Pastor First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow He went from running a $270 million a year company to creating and establishing an international ministry, and then in his spare time, running a building project for his church. Pastor Jim Dawson, at 70 years old, as no intentions of letting the sun set. In 1989, after working as President of Zebco, Pastor Dawson, before his pastoring days, took over as president of the parent company, Brunswick Outdoor. When retirement finally came, he refused it, moving from Brunswick to another work. He had plans of his own, a ministry calling him. “I didn’t take any time off. I searched the bible for a number of years and never found the word retirement,” Pastor Dawson said. “I don’t believe God means for us to quit.” He lives that philosophy. In 1995, Pastor Dawson created Shepherd’s Hand Foundation, a foundation to help single mothers with financial distress. It has You Have Dozens of 0RIORITIES -OTHER 7IFE !UNT $AUGHTER 3ISTER &RIEND We Have /NE The St. John Center for Women’s Health Your resource for prevention, early detection and advanced treatment of: Osteoporosis • Menopause • Incontinence • Female Cancers Also offering Pre- and Post-natal care: Moms in Motion • Parenting classes • Breastfeeding classes • Grandparenting & Sibling classes Making Women’s Health a Priority stjohnhealthsystem.com MARCH 2006 • (918) 74 4 -2424 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 19 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 20 flourished. Currently, the foundation shuttles 100 children in Mexico to school every morning – paying for their tuition and the traveling cost – to ensure these children get an education. To date, approximately 50 percent of the helped children continue their education in college. “People respond to action, to participation, because they see someone who cares what they do,” Pastor Dawson said. Following his retirement from Brunswick, he was offered a position as executive pastor at First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow where he had been filling in for the singles pastor for a year. He took the position, working to handle the building growth the congregation of 5,000 has been experiencing. After nearly seven years, Pastor Dawson changed his role to become one of the associate pastors six-months ago due to the growing demands of Shepherd’s Hand Foundation. There have been two keys to his success – education and attitude – and the other attribution has been his constant and daily relationship with the Lord. “I won’t retire. I am going to be in ministry the rest of my life.” JAMES BUSKIRK Pastor First United Methodist Church He had some goals. He wanted to spend some time with family, do some traveling, exercise, do some studying. And he has fulfilled those goals but they did not include retirement, at least not typical retirement. “I didn’t quit the ministry. I just took another form or expression of it,” Pastor James Buskirk said. If traveling nearly every week across the nation to teach at seminary is a different form, he found it. Pastor Buskirk has been an ordained minister for 53 years. The change from serving as senior pastor at First United Methodist Church, going day and night, never stopping, never taking a break, and then suddenly and quite thoroughly you retire and the activity stops. He said it was simply too abrupt. “You have to have time to rest more but you miss all the impacting, significance, and influence you had in the ministry,” he said. At 72, he took a part-time ministry job. His part-time includes teaching at the Wesleyan School Seminary with locations in Orlando, Florida and near Lexington, Kentucky. So he boards a plane and flies off, teaching courses with classes sometimes three days at a time. And then, when he is in this time zone and not swinging a golf club for a little R and R, Pastor Buskirk fills in for some of the local pastors. “My calendar is such that I can adjust and do less ministry as my body and mind and spirit require that. But I had a difficulty not staying active,” he said. And so activity for the Kingdom is the job and, as he explained, it comes with great benefits. S c h a u d t ’s FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATION CARE 719 E. 141st St • Glenpool • (918) 291-1700 www.schaudtfuneralservice.com Pre-planning takes care of all the decisions so your family doesn’t have to. 20 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 21 SEE SPRING BREAK CLEARLY! Triad Eye Laser Center LIVE LASIK SEMINAR Thursday, March 16th 6:00 p.m. 6140 S. Memorial, Tulsa Watch Dr. Abel perform a LASIK procedure LIVE! Meet the patient to get all of your questions answered! Easy payment options available! Due to limited seating, please RSVP 918-252-2020 REGISTER TO WIN YOUR LASIK FREE MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 21 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 22 A look at the candidates’ faith N faith NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER… As citizens of this great city, we would hope, actually, we would demand that our Mayor represent all of Tulsa, no matter their religious belief. However, in light of the fact that the following questions are most likely not going to be covered in any other media, we believed it was up to us to do so. I was impressed with the willingness of each of the candidates to address the questions. Faith is of course only one part of the things I would use to determine the right candidate for the job. But, it is an important one. Read for yourself and combine these answers with what you already know about the candidates. Pray about it and then be sure to vote. Tulsa needs to always have a mayor who understands our strong Christian culture and is willing to listen to our input. Take it seriously.Your vote counts! In Him, Tom McCloud 22 COMMUNITY SPIRIT Bill LaFortune 1) Are you a Christian and how did you come churches where Jesus Christ is praised and worshipped. to know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Yes. I was born into a family of strong faith with a firm foundation based on a belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savoir. My family’s faith was Roman Catholic and I was raised in that tradition. I was also greatly influenced by my mother’s side of the family which was United Methodist. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother on that side of the family. Her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ were benchmarks for me. When I was about 13, my mother and a group of her friends became involved in the charismatic movement. I really felt the Holy Spirit in our home like I never had before. I asked my mom about it. She spoke to me of being reborn and sent me over to ORU to learn more. It was a hot summer day in a classroom on campus with a teacher and some friends my age when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I have walked with Him ever since. He is my best friend. 3) Tulsa’s high percentage of active Christians makes it a very unusual town. In what ways are your prepared to “relate to” and lead this strong Christian community? As Mayor, I believe there has been a very strong and positive relationship between myself and the Christian community. I have always stood tall and strong for my Christian faith and the Christian community in Tulsa. I will continue to do just that. 2) Are you an active member of a local church? Prior to running for mayor in 2002, St. Mary’s Catholic Church was our home church. I still consider it my home church; however, by running for mayor and then being mayor, both myself and my wife and children have had the opportunity and blessing to attend services at many, many Christian churches all over the city, both traditional and non-denominational churches. There are so many great pastors and churches. We truly feel at home in all MARCH 2006 4) Few would argue that the new gambling laws are bringing in an array of social problems. What should the role of the church be in dealing with these problems and how do you plan to work with the church community in addressing these issues? I vigorously and vocally opposed the expansion of gaming and gambling in the Tulsa area. I know, based on the number of facts, that there are many new social problems in Tulsa due to increased gambling. The negative impact on our city’s most precious resource, the family, concerns me the most. I believe that, ultimately, it is one’s faith and following Jesus which will turn an individual away from the gambling and the impulse to gamble and back towards his or her family. The Christian community can continue to reach out to those involved in these activities. As I have always done, your mayor can be counted on to partner with the churches to make this effort successful. 5) In what other ways will you work with local ministers and churches to make a positive impact on Tulsa? I hold a monthly mayor’s prayer breakfast which is hosted each month by a dif- h CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 23 ferent Christian pastor. We have met in every section of the city. It is both unifying and uplifting for our city. We always pray first for our troops, police officers and fire fighters. I will continue with these services with our wonderful host churches. I have participated personally in a number of church outreaches. One I am particularly fond of is Victory Christian Center’s Christmas outreach at the Dream Center in North Tulsa. Another is Guts Church’s outreach during its annual motorcycle run. I will continue to be involved in such efforts. The Teamrelief.com effort to provide disaster relief to our sister city of Lone Beach, Mississippi has been most rewarding. It is a coalition of churches, businesses and individuals led by Guts Church. I was honored to partner with Guts, Victory Christian, Grace, Believers, and others to do the good work. Randi Miller 1) Are you a Christian and how did you come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Yes, I am a Christian. I was raised Baptist and was married in a Methodist church. I believe I was led back to Tulsa six years ago to be a Christian political leader. I clearly remember the first time I was ever elected to office. I felt the hand of God anoint me from the top of my head and then throughout my body. At that moment I knew I was where I was led to be. 2) Are you an active member of a local church? Yes. However, I attend different churches every Sunday. I have met with numerous pastors throughout Tulsa county and have gotten to know them. I know how important it is to listen and learn what the religious needs are in our communities. 3) Tulsa’s high percentage of active Christians makes it a very unusual town. In what ways are your prepared to “relate to” and lead this strong Christian community? I am personally endorsed by Richard Roberts and have helped guide young Christians in the community for many years. I use my personal testimony to show them how God can guide individuals into a direction of where they never dreamed they would be. 4) Few would argue that the new gambling laws are bringing in an array of social problems. What should the role of the church be in dealing with these problems and how do you plan to work with the church community in addressing these issues? This is a serious issue and will have to be addressed by the churches, the leaders and the state and federal governments. We have only begun to see what the future holds with social issues relating to gambling. The issue of gambling will take everyone working together to protect the families that might be led in the wrong direction. 5) In what other ways will you work with local ministers and churches to make a positive impact on Tulsa? I have actively worked with the local ministers since I have been in politics and will continue to let them be an active part of government. Communication is the key to success, and as long as we all communicate, we will flourish as a city. Chris Medlock 1) Are you a Christian and how did you come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Yes, I am a Christian. I came to my faith in God relatively late in life, but believe strongly that my spiritual path has been part of God’s purpose for my life. While my single, working mother tried getting her three sons to church in the mornings, we finally wore her down. My father was an atheist, who taught me that you can’t be intelligent and be a Christian. When my mother remarried, she married an agnostic, who taught me that the universe was too complex to be explained in a single book. However, I was always a seeker of truth. I read philosophy in my late teens, but soon turned by interest in truth to the study of political and social philosophy. In our twenties, my wife Cheryl, who had been brought up in a Missionary Baptist church in Sapulpa, began attending All Souls Unitarian. She found it to be a good place for her, at that time in her life, to explore her own spiritual beliefs. She encouraged me to join her and I did. At the same time in my life, I was finishing graduate school and beginning to become active in the Republican Party. It was through my activities as a Republican activist that I most credit with leading me to Christ. Serving on various platform committees gave me the first opportunity I’d had to discuss issues with Christians. The chance to hear rational arguments from some very smart people began to chip away at the lesson my father had taught me about the intellect of a Christian. I had no moment of revelation. My conversion was a slow one. God got my heart years ago, but it wasn’t until he got my brain that I realized that he got my soul, too. Many Republicans will tell you they came to the GOP because of their faith. Ironically, I came to my faith because of my activity in the Republican Party. 2) Are you an active member of a local church? Yes. Cheryl, Brittany and I are members of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Tulsa. 3) Tulsa’s high percentage of active Christians makes it a very unusual town. In what ways are your prepared to “relate to” and lead this strong Christian community? One of Tulsa’s strengths is the fact that we have more churches than we have Starbucks. I fervently believe that too many of our leaders have been trying to “re-invent” Tulsa as the type of city one would find in a “blue state.” Our city, first and foremost, needs a good plan to guide it into the future. Such plans need to be carried out by those who are first guided by a deep and abiding faith in God. I have always endeavored, in my short time in elected office, to make decisions based on the principles and values that I derive from my faith. MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 23 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:44 PM Page 24 4) Few would argue that the new gambling laws are bringing in an array of social problems. What should the role of the church be in dealing with these problems and how do you plan to work with the church community in addressing these issues? As I have been talking to pastors and church groups around the city, I have noticed an interesting and somewhat disturbing trend. As more and more people flee the increasing crime found in the City of Tulsa, they are moving to Tulsa’s suburbs but remaining in their churches in the core city. This trend threatens to break the bond of many small and medium sized churches that have served neighborhoods and smaller communities. My hope is that as the congregations of Tulsa’s churches become the worship centers for more and more suburbanites, that they will continue their ministries near to their church buildings. Our churches, when focused on the areas just outside of the church grounds, can serve as centers of stability, as our city matures. 5) In what other ways will you work with local ministers and churches to make a positive impact on Tulsa? As mayor, I will work to ensure that city institutions work closely with our churches and their pastors, to address our growing needs. If crime is on the rise, then our lÉâÜ ÄÉäxw ÉÇx wxáxÜäxá t YxÇàÉÇA Experience the beauty of hand-blown glass. local jail should be open to those churches willing to minister to those who have been arrested. Churches can play an active role in preventing crime by working in their neighborhoods. However, they can be very effective in preventing future crime if they can work with the citizen that may have just committed their first criminal offense, and find themselves, not in a state prison, but in the local jail. I also will seek support from local ministers and faith leaders to ensure that City of Tulsa employees are allowed to express their religious beliefs while in the workplace. People don’t leave their faiths at the office door. As such, they should not be prohibited from placing expressions of that faith on their desks or office walls. Kathy Taylor 1) Are you a Christian and how did you come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Yes. Faith is a very important part of my life. Throughout my childhood, my church, my parents and my grandparents instilled many values in me that still guide my life. I was taught to respect others, work hard and lead by example. And I’ve taught my daughter to love our neighbors and give to those in need. 2) Are you an active member of a local church? Yes. I attend Trinity Episcopal Church in Tulsa. 3) Tulsa’s high percentage of active Christians makes it a very unusual town. In what ways are your prepared to “relate to” and lead this strong Christian community? I can relate and lead by listening to all voices, respecting the opinions of g{x ZÄtáá ZÉwwxáá 7116 S. Memorial Southwest Corner of 71st & Memorial 249-2662 24 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 all communities, and working with all groups to find consensus. 4) Few would argue that the new gambling laws are bringing in an array of social problems. What should the role of the church be in dealing with these problems and how do you plan to work with the church community in addressing these issues? It is well known that government alone cannot solve every social problem. Some people simply fall through the cracks. It has always been my opinion that the church community should lead in innovative solutions and programs to help those in need. 5) In what other ways will you work with local ministers and churches to make a positive impact on Tulsa? I will listen. Ministers and their congregations are on the frontline when it comes to identifying concerns, needs and new ideas. By working together to identify problems and execute solutions, we can make life better for Tulsa! Don McCorkell 1) Are you a Christian and how did you come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Yes, I am a Christian. I was saved as a teenager in my family’s Baptist church. 2) Are you an active member of a local church? I enjoy the fellowship of meeting different congregations and hearing the sermons of different ministers. I consider my faith to be a very private matter and prefer not to limit myself to membership in a specific congregation which I feel CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 25 would limit the enjoyment I receive by anonymously attending different churches. 3) Tulsa’s high percentage of active Christians makes it a very unusual town. In what ways are your prepared to “relate to” and lead this strong Christian community? As Mayor I will actively engage with pastors and members of Tulsa churches in shaping and implementing our goals as a community; naturally, our community also contains many of other faiths who share a right to participate in the community as a whole and I will also engage with individuals of faith different than my own Christian faith. 4) Few would argue that the new gambling laws are bringing in an array of social problems. What should the role of the church be in dealing with these problems and how do you plan to work with the church community in addressing these issues? Churches should actively educate their congregations about the destructive social and moral problems created by gambling and especially the severe affects of gambling addiction on many of the poor among a community where gambling is readily accessible. Churches should also assist by providing counseling and outreach programs to those that suffer from this disease. 5) In what other ways will you work with local ministers and churches to make a positive impact on Tulsa? One example and one of many possibilities is to help initiate with local ministers a cop/clergy alliance that has been used as a model in some communities to engage young people proactively. This model has tremendous potential to move our youth away from potential criminal behavior and towards becoming productive members of our community. Everyone benefits by success in such efforts. I Can Feel a Difference! “I have suffered over the past several years from headaches and lower back pain. After only a few chiropractic treatments I can already feel a difference in my neck and my headaches. Since beginning my visits with Dr. Marshall, I have found relief that I was unable to obtain through any other method.” Kelli Conwell 6703 E. 81st St., Suite E Next to Fajita Rita’s All Insurance Accepted 494-0929 www.marshallchiropractic.com LaFortune Campaign Office: 8162-A South Lewis Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74136 Phone: 918.734.3054 Fax: 918.298.3838 Mailing address: PO Box 2985, Tulsa, OK 74101 www.mayorlafortune.org [email protected] MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 25 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:32 PM Page 26 SENIOR Connie McMurray loves to sew doll clothes. And her wardrobe is extensive if not elaborate and all for her granddaughters. It’s a hobby that started with her daughter and continues being passed down her generations. “I love to make (doll) outfits to match whatever the girls are wearing,” Connie said. She will be spending the summer teaching her 14year-old granddaughter how to sew doll clothes as a fundraising project for her college fund. Elmer Clark started painting as a kid.And he hasn’t had a lesson since the ninth grade. You wouldn’t know this war hero and successful Tulsa business man was the inspiration, talented hand, and artistic eye behind the approximately 70 varying paintings around his house.They are scenic and whimsical, heartfelt and beautiful, and they are all scenes in his head that come out in technicolor with a little paint, a few small brushes, and a love to create. 26 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:32 PM Page 27 HOBBIES James Tate uses anything and everything, whatever he finds, and creates something extraordinary - a train. “I was in someone’s house and they had a bunch of clock parts where they made a train out of it. That gave me an idea. I thought, ‘I have a lot of junk around the house my wife has been wanting me to get rid of.’” He made his first train in 1979 and has made approximately 24 to date, giving them away to friends and family. Anything can be used, from fruit jar lids as wheels to saw handles for the body. Artie Palk enters the radiowaves with a calm demeanor, thorough know-how, and a passion to help his community with his hobby. He has a Federal Communications Commission Operating License as a Hamm Radio operator and uses it consistently as the Assistant Emergency Management Director for the City of Sand Springs. “It can be used to assist the public in any adverse situation or disaster,” Artie said, citing instances it was vital during severe weather, even used during the 9/11 attacks. MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 27 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 28 Every has his day dog LESLEY HALL 28 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 29 ■ Kathy Whiteis feels God has put animals on earth for a purpose, and these animals have an inherent instinct to want to help. T Dale and Kathy Whiteis spend each day with a cute little puppy named L.E (pronounced “Ellie”). They feed her, housebreak her, play with her and love her just like she was their own. But this little puppy won’t be with them forever. She doesn’t know it yet, but she is being cared for and conditioned for her destiny. This little puppy won’t just be a loyal friend, she will be a blessing. The Whiteis family is a Puppy Walker Family for the Guide Dog Foundation. They are volunteers that foster a puppy and care for her until she is old enough to start her training to be a guide dog for someone either blind or visually impaired. The Whiteis’ receive a puppy when she is only seven to eight weeks old. She will remain in their care until she is 12 to 14 months. This is a very crucial part of a puppy’s life, as this time will shape how she acts later. During this time it is the Whiteis’ job to crate train, housebreak, and teach L.E. basic dog obedience. They also have to socialize L.E. This consists of taking her places like shopping malls, restaurants, churches and even on airplanes. It is essential they take L.E. around traffic and in moving vehicles. Guide dogs have to be conditioned to different environments so they won’t be distracted while protecting someone’s safety. L.E. also has to be comfortable traveling and handling motion since guide dogs are often required to ride in city buses and other motor vehicles. The Whiteis’ are visited frequently by an advisor who helps answer any of their questions and counsels them on proficient training. They also write monthly evaluations to send in to the Guide Dog Foundation, and they regularly attend classes. After L.E. becomes old enough for training, she will be sent to the Guide Dog Training School in Smithtown, New York. There they spend the required amount of time training L.E. to become a helpful and efficient seeing-eye dog. Unfortunately, only about 50 percent of the dogs raised actually have the personality and desire needed to become a seeingeye dog. Nonetheless, if L.E. doesn’t have the essentials needed then her career can be switched to another field, which is what occurred with one of the Whiteis’ first puppies. He became an ATF bomb dog. The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind has been established since 1946 and has been serving the blind, visually two-to-one student teacher ratio providimpaired, and those with other special ing the students with individualized needs in the United States and in foreign instruction and attention. This program is countries. They give these dogs as a free free to those receiving dogs, so no one is gift to those that are blind or impaired. unable to receive this coaching. They are a non-profit organization that Kathy Whiteis feels God has put anidoes not receive government grants. They mals on earth for a purpose, and these anioperate fully on generous donations from mals have an inherent instinct to want to individuals, corporations and foundations. help. The Whiteis’ feel that being a Puppy For a blind person, having a seeing-eye Walker Family is a way they can reach out dog means enhanced mobility and indeand help others. Through their volunpendence, allowing the person to enjoy teerism and the foundation’s donations, doing things they could never do alone. they hope the visually impaired will Simple things like going for a walk, shopunderstand it is God’s love motivating ping or running errands unaccompanied people to help. They stay in contact with isn’t easy for someone visually impaired. the person receiving their dog and pray But owning a seeing-eye dog and not the dog can be a spiritual blessing. understanding how they have been trained For more information about the Guide can be like having a car and not knowing Dog Foundation, you can visit their webthe gas pedal makes it go. In this instance, site, www.guidedog.org. the foundation doesn’t only train 8JMMJBN44QFBST4DIPPMPG#VTJOFTT ]TQFBSTPLTUBUFFEV the dog but they 0LMBIPNB4UBUF6OJWFSTJUZ ] PTVPLTUBUFFEV also educate the $FMFCSBUJOH :FBST PG UIFy person receiving the dog’s assistance. When someone applies for a seeing-eye dog, the o4QPOTPST foundation takes "DDPVOUJOH1SJODJQBMT their time and "DDU,OPXMFEHF'JOBODJBM4UBöOH #BOLPG"NFSJDB carefully matches #BOLPG0LMBIPNB/" a dog with the #MVF$SPTTBOE#MVF4IJFMEPG0LMBIPNB person. It is $#3JDIBSE&MMJT0LMBIPNB $'3 important the dog $IFTBQFBLF&OFSHZ$PSQPSBUJPO and master fit. $POPDP1IJMMJQT (&/&3"- $0-*/ -108&--64"3FU They will have to '.#BOL 'PSNFS644FDSFUBSZPG4UBUF work together )FMJDPNC*OUFSOBUJPOBM )FMNFSJDI1BZOF*OD continuously and i-FBEFSTIJQ5BLJOH$IBSHFw )JMMDSFTU)FBMUIDBSF4ZTUFN spend endless *OmOFEJ--$ 5VFTEBZ.BSDI hours in one +1.PSHBO$IBTF 5VMTB.BCFF$FOUFS another’s compa,.0%FWFMPQNFOU(SPVQ*OD oBN .JE'JSTU#BOL ny. 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The 25 days 8FCDP*OEVTUSJFT*OD QBSUOFSTIJQXJUIUIFCVTJOFTTDPNNVOJUZ 8JMMJBNT are spent with a MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 29 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 30 SID ROTH to speak at Rogers State University Friday & Saturday, March 31st and April 1, 7 p.m. S Sid Roth, host of the Messianic Vision, a nationally syndicated religious radio, television and publishing ministry, has a message for Tulsa. The exciting speaker has been on the cutting edge of Jewish evangelism for more than 25 years. He has a hunger for souls and believes the key to worldwide evangelism and the Lord’s return involves going “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16). Sid’s “Adopt A Jewish Family” program’s goal is to have 100,000 Christians praying daily by name for the salvation of 100,000 Jewish families. His weekly television show, It’s Supernatural!, is designed to attract the unsaved. Since most people are interested in the New Age, the miracles draw their attention. The supernatural interviews are only with strong believers in Jesus and the preaching is done during the last two minutes of the program. In 1991, Sid started an outreach in Brighton Beach, New York, home to 100,000 Russian Jews. To reach the unsaved Jewish people still in Russia, Sid produced an evangelistic video that was broadcast on television in the former Soviet Union. He was a main speaker for a team in St. Petersburg, Russia that saw 2,000 Jewish people receive the Messiah. Sid also conducted a Jewish music festival in Odessa, Ukraine that saw 1,000 Jewish people accept Jesus. Sid’s book, They Thought for Themselves, a collection of Jewish testimonies, has been printed in six languages. More than 500,000 copies have been printed in Russian alone! Several years ago, God told Sid in a dream that more Jewish people would come to know Him through this book than anything Sid had ever done. In 2003, more than 100,000 books were distributed in Israel and the former Soviet Union. In his most recent book, The Race to Save the World, Sid points the way to an end-time move of God’s Spirit in which Jew and Gentile will come together as One New Man (Ephesians 2:14-15) releasing worldwide revival. Luxury Patio Homes N S Hwy 75 W E Sid’s autobiography, There Must Be Something More!, details the supernatural rescue of a Jewish stockbroker, lost in the occult, and separated from his family. God restored Sid’s mind, family, and career. He has appeared numerous times on The 700 Club and co-hosted 100 Huntley Street. He has also spoken for the World Convention of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, Christ for the Nations, and Rhema Bible School. Come learn of God’s plan for both Jews and Gentiles. Tying together both scripture and personal experience, Sid Roth’s lessons will forever change your view of God and His chosen people. WORLDWIDE EVANGELIST: SID ROTH IN CLAREMORE AT RSU MARCH 31 & APRIL 1ST FRIDAY & SATURDAY 7 P.M. HOSTED BY: LIFE TOUCH MINISTRIES FOR INFO. CALL: 379-0220 OR 341-0240 WWW.SIDROTH.ORG WWW.LIFETOUCHMINISTRIES.ORG Creek Turnpike 111th 300 $1000 $ * •Quality/Affordable Senior Housing •Gated Community •Maintenance Free Living More Than a Place to Live Security • Convenience • Peace of Mind SENIOR HOUSING AT ITS BEST! Hwy 75 & 111th • 697-7878 w w w.co b b l e s to n e co t t a g e s .co m Full Service Car Wash Brushless Spot Free We Care For Your Car Inside & Out! OFF OFF GOLD OR PLATINUM PACKAGE COMPLETE DETAIL PACKAGE Extra Charge For Oversize or Muddy Vehicles 4222 S. Memorial Dr. 6510 E. 71st Street 627-8015 494-6091 Ask about our Mobile Service—We come to you! Limit One Coupon Per Visit • Not Valid With Other Offers • Must Be Present At Time Of Service • Expires 4-30-06 30 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 31 HELP WANTED SALES REPRESENTATIVES Make a Great Income! Work with “the neatest Christian businesses in town!" Selling something that truly touches lives! Full or Part Time Flexible Hours Lucrative Commissions Advertising Sales Experience Required Call for an interview today. (918) 307-2323. Community Spirit ® Life Touch Ministries 20/20 or it’s FREE! presents Worldwide Evangelist, Sid Roth Rogers State University Claremore, OK 7 p.m., March 31 & April 1, 2006 For information, call 379-0220 or 341-0240 www.sidroth.org www.lifetouchministries.org MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 31 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 32 8 H E 7 : M7O Ê I 8 ? = < 7J C K I ? 9 7 B 9 E C ; :O > ? J March 21 – 26 at the Tulsa PAC TICKETS ON SALE! ■ “If life were everything it Amy Hillner,Tara Macri, Holly Rone Photo by Chris Benni. 32 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 miere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in June 2002, the fantastically fun should be, it would be more musical opened on Broadway in August 2002 to rave reviews, winning like ‘Hairspray.’” eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. And now, the people of —THE NEW YORK TIMES Tulsa will be swept away to 1960s Baltimore in this mega-hit, piled It’s time to let your hair down and bouffant-high with laughter and dance the night away! HAIRSPRAY, romance – and enough deliriously Broadway’s new musical comedy phe- tuneful songs to fill a nonstop platter nomenon, is coming to the Tulsa party. PAC. After its acclaimed world preEveryone is raving about this delightful musical, including the critics. “A great big fat gorgeous hit,” claims Clive Barnes of the New York Post. “Completely irresistible! Get those tickets now!” declares syndicated columnist, Liz Smith. “So many numbers bring down the house, it’s a wonder the theater is still standing,” says Jeremy Gerard of New York Magazine. In HAIRSPRAY it’s 1962 – the J.P. Dougherty ‘50s are out and Keala Settle and change is Photo by Chris Bennion I CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 33 in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her ’do? Only in HAIRSPRAY! Welcome to the ’60s! HAIRSPRAY is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who serves as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. It features a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. HAIRSPRAY features an original score by Academy Award-nominated Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the acclaimed animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. HAIRSPRAY is directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell; the scenic design is by David Rockwell; the costume design is by William Ivey Long; the lighting design is by Kenneth Posner; and the sound design is by Steve C. Kennedy. HAIRSPRAY, welcomed by Henry Primeaux’s Crown Bristow, will be at the Tulsa PAC March 21 – 26. Tickets are on sale. They may be purchased via phone 596-7111, (800) 364-7111, in person at the Tulsa PAC ticket office or at select metro area Homeland locations, or via the Internet at www.tulsapac.com. Groups of 20 or more may call Celebrity Attractions at 477-7469 ext. 220 for a discount. HAIRSPRAY concludes the 2005-2006 Celebrity Attractions Broadway Season which also features three add-on productions - BLAST!, RIVERDANCE and Disney’s THE LION KING. ',#o[Wh#ebZ JhWYo JkhdXbWZ ^Wi W Zh[Wc Wi X_] Wi ^[h ^W_h$ 9Wd i^[ ][j j^[ ]ko WdZ ij_bb ^Wl[ j_c[ je Y^Wd][ j^[ mehbZ5 8;IJ CKI?97B M?DD;H .JEDO7M7H:I (&&) Photo by Norman Jean Roy >W_hifhWoEdJekh$Yec ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING IN STORES NOW C7H9> ('#(," (&&, JKBI7 F79 J?9A;JI +/,#-''' Ekji_Z[ JkbiW .&& ),*#-''' I[b[Yj >EC;B7D: Ijeh[i mmm$jkbiWfWY$Yec =HEKFI E< (& EH CEH; H;9;?L; 7 :?I9EKDJ # 97BB -/,#&((& M[bYec[Z 8o Celebrity Attractions • Bringing Broadway -ORE To You! • www.celebrityattractions.com MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 33 CS Mar06 2/22/06 12:59 PM Page 34 Strokes CAN Be Prevented! Tulsa couple turns tragedy into valuable service business TOM MCCLOUD T There is a time bomb ticking inside some of us. It silently awaits an episode which can take away life or at the least forever change it. Strokes are a major killer in our society. A mixture of hypertension, obesity, smoking, and poor diet are at the root of the cause. Over half of the people who have a stroke will not have any symptoms, but when it strikes it is too late. You can only wish you could have known, could have been more prepared. Doug and Judy White have started a crusade of prevention. Equipped with knowledge and technology, they are touring Oklahoma in an effort to fight this silent killer. Their interest began one Sunday morning at church. Doug began having back pain. Convinced it must be a kidney stone, he drank extra amounts of water and tried to wait through the pain. But when the situation got worse, the couple headed for the emergency room. It took all night before the source of the problem was identified. Concerned doctors explained that Doug had an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A large balloon-like section of his aorta was rupturing into his abdomen. Their prognosis was not a good one, and they explained that only five percent of patients survive. “They rushed me into surgery and thankfully, the surgeons were able to fix the problem.” Doug had a second chance at life. Determined to not only change his own lifestyle but also to help others, Doug retired from his stressful managerial position at J.C. Penney’s. Now, he and his wife Judy work full-time at their new venture called Stroke Prevention Plus. The couple provides free educational workshops about stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral vascular disease. In addition, they offer convenient, affordable, and confidential screenings for these three vascular diseases. Challenged by their story, I decided to personally go through the screening procedure. It was quick (only 30 minutes or so) and completely painless. Technicians first used ultrasound to scan the carotid arteries at the base of my neck. They explained that buildup of fatty plaque in these arteries could lead to stroke. By measuring the pressure of the blood flow through these arteries, they can tell how constricted they are. Finding the problem before strokes occur can allow Doctors to provide sur- Cash Back! Up to $3,000 on select GMC’s We are Professional Grade Where Customers Send Their Friends Located on Hwy 69 South in Wagoner 1-800-375-9464 www.grovercars.com 918-485-2188 Take a Short Drive To Savings! 34 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 35 gery and other medical treatment to unplug and reduce the potential of having a stroke. Next, they ran the ultrasound device across my stomach to check the aorta. Like Doug’s situation, identifying aneurysms can make a difference of life and death. Finally, they put me on a table and placed blood pressure cuffs on my arms and angles. By analyzing the difference between the systolic pressure at each of these points, doctors are able to screen for potential blockages in my legs. One final test is available to check for osteoporosis. Mainly problematic in women, osteoporosis causes loss in bone density. A simple test is offered to check the density in the foot. It was all quick and easy and in a couple of weeks, I will be mailed a full report of the findings from a radiologist. Of course I pray there won’t be any problems, but it sure makes me feel better to have it checked out. Stroke Prevention Plus can bring their specialized screening van to your business, church, or school. Simply call them and they will set up an appointment to offer valuable training to your group. Then they can do the screening on anyone who is interested. The screening is inexpensive… only $35 per test or all three screenings for only $95. Do yourself and everyone in your organization a favor and call today. • There are 700,000 strokes per year and 75 percent of them could have been prevented with the use of ultrasound screening and proper physician follow up. • Stroke is the #3 Killer in America • Stroke is the #1 reason for permanent nursing home admission • Stroke costs American business owners over $10 million yearly Are YOU at risk? Please call Stroke Prevention Plus to schedule an appointment. 296-9171 Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Saint Francis Heart Hospital 10501 East 91st Street South, Tulsa, OK Stroke Screening This ultrasound screening of the carotid arteries visualizes the buildup of fatty plaque which is the leading cause of strokes. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening This screening visualizes the existence of an aneurysm in the abdominal aorta that can rupture and be fatal. Peripheral Vascular Disease Screening This screening checks for blockage of blood flow in the legs. Each Screening $35 – Complete Vascular Profile $95 Osteoporosis Screening Available for $30 in loss of productivity for employees between the ages of 30-65 DON’T MISS OUT. BE SCREENED. Move to the Head of the Class! Watch Senior Class TV Tuesday mornings at 6:30 Thursday Evenings at 6:30 Cox Channel 3 www.seniorclassmedia.com MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 35 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 36 Loving Home Gusto Gardening Putting the oomph into outdoors T This year your tomatoes will be ruby red. That corn will be supple. And any manner of insect will quake in fear before treading the fine leaves shading your green beans. This year your garden will be something the neighbors will be admiring with their cameras, recording for posterity, and envious of the sweet victory that is lush vegetables. This year nothing can stand in your way of a lavish vegetable garden, as long as you know what you’re doing. It isn’t an easy task. Gardening in Oklahoma means knowing where, knowing when, and knowing how to balance out what locals call “pleasant” weather. The severe droughts, the sudden tsunamis, predicting the season is beyond the almanac. Sometimes its hour by hour and for anyone wanting a healthy vegetable garden, it means hoping your plants are tougher than average. However, there is sunlight on the horizon. You may not be able to control the weather If they’re not paying rent, you should evict them. 665-2129 36 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 37 51blast.com or sweet talk Mother Nature into a calmer temperament, but you can give your vegetables a fighting chance. Start now and prepare the groundwork. Give your vegetables a boost by making sure all the elements are productive and beneficial to their strong, healthy future should this approaching summer extremes take a rest. Thanks to the Tulsa Master Gardeners for some much needed aid in starting this garden season out blooming, here are some vital tips: • Vegetables are sun lovers. Give them a spot where they can soak up rays eight full hours a day. • They’re drinkers. Big drinkers. Put the garden somewhere close to wet their parched lips. • Keep it in sight. Out of sight, out of mind. They are clingy and attention hungry, don’t neglect their needs. • Turning the grass under is not soil preparation. Find compose and get greedy. Add two inches of compose to weed free soil, take out your spade, and work those arm muscles. • Take the space you need but leave a yard. Focus on a smaller garden first. Succeed and expand next year. • Check for unwanted visitors daily. Insects, weeds, even possible disease, they don’t get along with your garden. • Harvest frequently. It motivates your plants to make more. Before • Mulch is your garden’s best friend. Bring him over in June, spread him around, let them spend some quality time together. Water is conserved. The roots are happy. It’s bliss. And now that you have a promising future–you and your home garden–here are some tips on the upkeep of that relationship: • Summer care is important. Let your garden know you care even in the tough times. • Don’t hold back on the water. They need 20 inches of water during the summer to survive. Make it happen if rain, rain, stays away, and doesn’t come back day after day. • Give those seeds a mist with a hand-held hose until the seedlings show • They get more needy in May and June. They want one inch of water a week. • In July, August, and September, they are growing plants, becoming adult plants, and their water needs double. Finally, don’t let weeds boss your garden around. They are bullies, stealing water, light, and nutrients. Kick them to the curb with mulching, hoeing, and hand weeding. What to use for mulch is your decision. Lots of material, whether organic or inorganic, can be used. Here are a few ideas: straw, grass clippings, sawdust, leaves, newspapers, black plastic sheeting. BODY DEFINED PERSONAL After Think you’ve tried everything? Let us provide the structure, accountability, and training you need to finally get it done! www.body-defined.com 8112 S Memorial Drive TRAINING Nationally Certified Personal Trainers 918.459.2639 Fireworks Attention ★ Churches ★ School Clubs ★ Civic Groups ★ Ball Teams We provide fireworks as a fundraising tool for non profit organizations. All inclusive with no up front cost to qualifying groups. Don’t Wait - Call now for an information packet 366-6468 Now that we are on the down side of winter (we hope) lets talk about some early spring items. Yard Care The first treatment for your yard in the early spring is to use Balan or in other terms crabgrass preventer. This product will help keep those early weeds from popping up at the beginning of warmer weather. Usually around mid-April to the first of May it is time to use Weed-N-Feed this will help start your grass to green up as well as kill any really tough to kill weeds such as Henbit, Clover, and Dandelions. To apply any of these products use a hand fertilizer spreader or a push spreader. We rent lawn spreaders during the year if you don't want to buy one. Yard Tools There are many different types of lawn and garden tools to use. One that works really well to prepare your yard for grass seed or the removal of weeds is a Bow Rake. It has very stiff tines that dig into the dirt and churn it up for the planting of seed. The Garden Weasel is an awesome tool for removing weeds and un-wanted grass. The Weasel has been around for many years. It uses a crossing pattern of tines to dig into the soil. There is also the Garden Claw which works the best when you want to churn larger amounts of soil. MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 37 CS Mar06 2/22/06 2:36 PM Page 38 $77(17,213HRSOHZLWK0HGLFDUH Loving Home Business Focus Grigsby’s Carpet & Tile :K\KDYH DVHSDUDWH SUHVFULSWLRQ GUXJSODQ" Building upon the right foundation ,W¶V VR VLPSOH *HW DOO \RXU 0HGLFDUH FRYHUDJH DQG SUHVFULSWLRQ GUXJV XQGHU RQH SODQ ZLWK +XPDQD¶V 0HGLFDUH +HDOWK 3ODQ 1RZWKHUH¶VD0HGLFDUHKHDOWKSODQ+XPDQD*ROG&KRLFH WKDWJLYHV\RXDOO\RXU2ULJLQDO :LWK 0HGLFDUHEHQH¿WVSOXV +XPDQD*R OG WKHUH¶VQRQ &KRLFH SUHVFULSWLRQGUXJFRYHUDJH H VHSDUDWHSUH HGIRUD VFULSWL DQGPXFKPRUH GUXJSODQ RQ %HQH¿WVLQFOXGH )UHHGRPWRFKRRVHDQ\GRFWRUVSHFLDOLVWRUKRVSLWDO Dear Reader: From time to time, we like to highlight one of our advertisers. It’s a great way to thank them for supporting the message and the mission of Community Spirit. But mostly, we do it because we believe it is important for you to meet some of the wonderful people who help to make the magazine possible. Dub and Janet Stover are just such people. They have been loyal supporters and they truly care about spreading the Good News. Enjoy getting to know them! They, like the rest of our advertisers, are the “real deal.” —In Him, Tom McCloud, Publisher T Have you ever wondered if successful people aren’t “preprogrammed” for that success? The answer seems obvious when you meet someone like 3UHVFULSWLRQGUXJFRYHUDJHDWQRH[WUDSODQSUHPLXP 3ODQFRYHUVRIWKHPRVWSRSXODUSUHVFULSWLRQGUXJV %HQH¿WVJUHDWHUWKDQRUHTXDOWR0HGLFDUHUHTXLUHPHQWV /RZPRQWKO\SODQSUHPLXP 3ULPDU\FDUHGRFWRURI¿FHYLVLWVIRUMXVW 3UHYHQWLYHVHUYLFHV $QG025( /HW·V7DON 'RQ¶WZDLW&DOOWRGD\WRDWWHQGRQHRIRXU IUHHVHPLQDUVDQG¿QGRXWPRUH )RULQIRUPDWLRQUHVHUYDWLRQVRUIRUDFFRPPRGDWLRQ RISHUVRQVZLWKVSHFLDOQHHGVDWVDOHVPHHWLQJVFDOO 7'' 0RQGD\±)ULGD\DPWRSP 6DWXUGD\DPWRSP(7 $Q ,QVXUDQFH &RPSDQ\ ZLWK D 0HGLFDUH $GYDQWDJH FRQWUDFW WR RIIHU D 3ULYDWH )HHIRU6HUYLFH SODQ DYDLODEOH WR DQ\RQH HQUROOHG LQ 3DUW % DQG HQWLWOHG WR 3DUW $ RI 0HGLFDUH WKURXJK DJH RU GLVDELOLW\ ZKR FRQWLQXHV WR SD\ 0HGLFDUH DSSOLFDEOH SUHPLXPV /LPLWDWLRQV DQG FRSD\PHQWV DSSO\ %HQH¿WV DQG SUHPLXPV YDU\ E\ FRXQW\ $V ZLWK DQ\ LQVXUDQFH SURYLGHUV PXVW DFFHSW +XPDQD¶V SD\PHQW WHUPV DQG FRQGLWLRQV 7RS GUXJV E\ QXPEHU RI SUHVFULSWLRQV IURP 0HGLFDUH GUXJ FDUG H[SHULHQFH $ VDOHV UHSUHVHQWDWLYH ZLOO EH SUHVHQW ZLWK LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG DSSOLFDWLRQV *+D3))6/RZ2. 38 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Grigsby’s owner Dub Stover Dub Stover. Created with the right ingredients of honesty, humility, faith, friendship, and an incredible work ethic, Dub has built a very successful busi- CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 39 ness by the sweat of his brow and the faith of his character. Dub came from a family with a strong Native American heritage. In fact, his great, great, great grandmother, Sallie Walker, came to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Times were often tough during Dub’s childhood. He explained that “we all worked and we worked hard.” In 1969, after serving in the Marine Corps, Dub went to work for Harold Grigsby at Grigsby’s Carpet, and he quickly learned that he liked the carpet business. “I had no choice but to work hard. I had $100 in my pocket and a $105 per month car payment,” he said, with a chuckle. It wasn’t long before his hard work paid off. He soon became the top carpet salesman in Oklahoma. Dub left Grigsby’s in 1978 to fulfill a desire to start his own business. He opened Carpets of Tulsa and then sold it. Later, he started Carpet Showroom. Then in 1986, he sold that company to purchase Grigsby’s. Dub’s optimism, hard work, and belief in his employees turned the company around, taking the company from a position of near bankruptcy to being the largest retail carpet store in east- ern Oklahoma. Today, sales exceed $10 million and, with the help of his beautiful new store, Dub is predicting a 30 percent sales increase for this year. But as successful as the company has become, Dub and Janet know it wasn’t built on hard work alone. They know from where their blessings come and have watched God do amazing things in their business and their family. The couple has four boys. David, a professional racecar driver, has been working in the business this year. Mark is a student at the University of Tulsa. Jeff is a student at Oklahoma City Community College, and Zack is still at home attending Mingo Valley Christian School. Dub recalls that special day, Monday, March 23, 1970, when he truly asked Jesus into his life. Crying out to God to “make this rreal,” he waited for God to take the next step. Dub said God has been taking steps and showing his power and love ever since. “Make up your mind on whether you believe,” Dub said. “It is either one way or the other. Don’t miss it. Know where you are going and Who your master is.” He then explained that God will take care of t ! gs jus om u e R ’v fr We ned New ur ith ret et w rk Ma the rest. Dub’s advice to business owners… 1) Teach your salesmen that their job is to be loyal to the customer. As the owner of the business, your job is then to be loyal to the salesmen. (Dub’s 15 salespeople have over 351 years of carpet experience. It pays to be loyal.) 2) A good business is always built on repeat customers. Be fair. Be honest. Treat people like people. (In other words, be nice). 3) Don’t spend more than you make. Grigsby’s Carpet and Tile is located at 4417 South Sheridan. Their new 16,500 square foot showroom is an adventure to see. Hi-Tech computers help design your carpeting, flooring and tile needs, and they offer hundreds of carpet styles and the latest in ceramic tiles. They have also opened a newly expanded Rug Gallery at the south end of the building. The company has recently become a member of the National Floor Alliance, a group comprised of 33 of the largest floor covering dealers in the United States. Grigsby’s is one of only two Stainmaster Flooring centers in Oklahoma. CARPET & TILE Experience Grigsby’s New EXPANDED RUG GALLERY We’ve DOUBLED Our Space! Come Shop Our Inventory of 9' x 12' Rugs on Easy Viewing Display Huge Selection of Sizes and Shapes Including 6 foot and 8 foot rounds From the Traditional to the Contemporary With Prices to Fit Every Budget. 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 MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 39 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 40 Loving Home Seniors with Style ÄNNA D. WRIGHT W When you think of their goals interior designs for and fits seniors, what picture their active comes to mind? Perlifestyle. sonally, I immediThey have ately think about a very tame two of my delightful pet cocksenior clients, Eveatiel named lyn and Rich Syd. This Wilbins. They are adorable enthusiastically livbird knows ing and loving after she is a eight decades and 56 regular member years of marriage— of the Wilbins and re-decorating household, and their home with an I was diligent optimistic view about considertoward the next ten ing Syd in the years. I especially design plan. Evelyn and Rich Wilbins (and Syd) love the Wilbins’ Evelyn dances infectious positive attitude to keep enjoywith Kirk Klassic Line Dancers, a dance ing life everyday! ministry that performs at retirement cenWe developed a design plan that meets ters. The group consists of about 15 ladies who range in age from their 70s to 90s. Rich sings with Never-Too-Late, a barbershop ensemble with about ten men ranging in age from 60 to 94. Never-TooLate is part of the Tulsa Founders Chorus. With practices, performances, and family and friends visiting, this couple An independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. wanted an interior plan beautiful yet easy to maintain. Whether buying They also wanted to explore improved or selling, ways to use their space and to brighten the give us a call. atmosphere. We developed a plan to update “We are a family several areas. We agreed to move their TV serving families.” watching from the formal living room to 808-5498 - Direct Line the den, and to provide an optimum television viewing angle in the den with some SOLD by the ROCK new, well placed reclining chairs. The entry area leads to the hall. At the end of the hall are two bathrooms. One is Rich’s; the Month ■ ✔ 24 hr. LOCAL other is Evelyn’s Monito ly Monitoring bath. ring The hall begins ■ ✔ We monitor just off the entry existing systems and continues through the rest of the home. This hall area faces north; this part of the home receives very low natural light OK Lic. #879 David & Terri McAuliff $15 .99 Ryan Maris • 282-9093 Twice the Service, Half the Cost! 40 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Bathroom remodel, before and no sunlight. Originally these areas were painted shades of cool mint green above and below the chair rail. In addition, this hallway and the two bathrooms were covered with a cool beige shade of carpet. Between the paint and flooring, this entire area felt somber and closed in. First, a warm ivory paint was applied to the north-facing areas of the house. Although the hall had a chair rail, the same color was applied to the entire hall. This made the hall seem larger. The light sunny paint color visibly brightened the area. Next the flooring was changed. The carpet provided good traction for walking but was difficult to maintain, especially in the bathrooms. A high traction tile was selected. Light alabaster-styled tile was laid in the hall areas and both baths. Decorative tile borders were added at transition points creating new visual interest on the floors. The new wall color and tile flooring added a CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 41 sunny ambiance to these areas and provided the right backdrop for two bathroom makeovers. These bathrooms sit at the end of the newly tiled and painted hallway, and Evelyn’s bath is visible from the hall. So I wanted to make her bathroom a feast for the eye. Evelyn wanted her bathroom to be something elegant and special. However, shower curtains had to be functional as well as beautiful. They wanted the shower curtain to slide completely out of the way to provide clear access in and out of the shower. Therefore, no long hanging cascades or side panels could be used. First, I suggested adding murals to both bathrooms. I described two murals with a personal theme that would also look classic with their traditional architecture and appeal to any future buyer. I knew {FLOOR TO CEILING helped me design the room of my and after dreams. The team of professional designers listened to my collection of ideas. I was able to choose from a wide flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, and decorative products to find what I was looking for.} exactly Visit our New! Showroom Phone: 918.280.0370 • 6713 East 41st Street C-IT-ALL Leak Detectors & PLUMBING INC. Specializing in LOCATING & REPAIRING SLAB LEAKS 10 00 LOCATE OR $ REPAIR SLAB LEAK SERVICE $ 00 CALL OFF 25 OFF One per customer. Present ad at time of service call. Residential Commercial • Industrial 251-3155 • 279-9621 LICENSE #68025 BONDED INSURED MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 41 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 42 this was very different than anything these clients had considered for these bathroom makeovers. However, notice the dramatic results in the before and after Heritage Woodstove photos. This bathroom went in Polished Gray Soapstone from plain vanilla to savory gourmet. The mural and the creative shower curtain ensemble are unique and eye catching against the new flooring and wall color. Initially, Evelyn was open to trying something new and different than she’d seen before. Although the prospect was exciting, at the same time, it was a little unsettling for her. That is not unusual: trying some new adventure can be appealing, but it can feel strange at the same time. Jesus described this trait in humans in Luke 5:39 “No man • 55,000 BTU’s Heats Up to 1900 sq. ft. also having drunk old wine • Cast Iron Available in a Variety of Hearthstone Enamel & Matte Finishes straightway (immediately) desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” BUCKSTOVE I understood. So I asked the HOME ENERGY CENTER muralist to provide lots of visuFamily Owned for Over 23 Years als; I also provided various draw4735-C South Memorial ings, fabrics and color samples. 627-2222 My detailed preparation paid off and Evelyn felt confident Second bathroom remodel to release the project. She and Rich traditionally masculine theme and are absolutely includes items of special interest to him. LLC delighted with the The mural is a dramatic focal point in results. Rich’s bath as well. A FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM Rich was so With an ornery chuckle Rich said, “We enthused about like our bathrooms so much we spend Evelyn’s bath, he most of our time in there.” Then he • Updating Home or Office was eager to have grinned even bigger, put his arm around his own mural Evelyn and said, “Änna, we’ve even con• New Space Planning painted. Rich’s sidered eating dinner in there!” I laughed mural depicts “The right along with them. • Building Good Life” in a • Remodeling GENESIS DESIGN GROUP • Selling Schultz • Holiday Décor • Special Events Änna D. Wright Electric Service Certified I.D.S. Associate Designer Designing beautiful interiors that nurture your body, soul & spirit at home and at work. From concept to completion, you can pleasantly shop at home right where your rooms are. 918-585-2662 www.interiorsbygenesis.com 42 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Residential • Commercial Industrial Instrumentation & Control Where Quality Is Three Generations Old Paul Schultz 918-639-1319 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:00 PM Page 43 10 Reasons to Choose Mark Close Roofing and Construction Inc. No Job Too Small – No Job Too Big 1 2 First and foremost, we care about the quality of your roof. We do everything that we can to give you the best roof for your money. Our professional sales staff will assist you in choosing the right system, to color coordinate, and to help you with your insurance claim. 3 Because we are a certified factory installer, we are offer factory warranties that most roofing companies can’t. 4 5 6 We are established locally, with local references. We are members of Better Business Bureau. We are active in the community and are a member of the local Chamber of Commerce. We give special discounts to senior citizens and to churches. 7 8 9 10 We carry liability insurance to protect you in case of any accident that would damage your property. We carry a workman’s comp policy that protects you in the event that one of our workers are injured while doing your job. We offer a wide variety of shingles as well as various roofing systems for commercial buildings. Last but not least, we vow to be 100 percent honest with you from start to finish. We believe that if we can make you a happy, satisfied customer, you will recommend us to your family and friends. Note: If you feel your home sustained hail damage but the insurance company did not think that the damage was enough to warrant a new roof, call us for a FREE inspection. We are often successful at helping people work with their insurance companies to get new roofs. Call Today! 371-9677 MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 43 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:01 PM Page 44 heart & home • Personal care with tenderness and compassion by a well-trained and competent staff. • 3 nutritious meals, plus snacks • Warm Christian atmosphere in a home environment • Private and semiprivate rooms • Maximum of six residents 44 COMMUNITY SPIRIT Keeping score N. DANE TYNER M March is an especially fun time of the year for our family, and it is a direct result of my son-in-law, Jon. Because of his passion for sports, and basketball in particular, March Madness has become a major family tradition over the past decade. In recent years, Jon has organized an Internet group for family and friends where we each make our team picks through the NCAA Tournament; we compete on the basis of our predictions. There’s no money involved; it’s just fun to see who picks the most winners in each round of play. In these college hoops games it is important that they keep score. The winner is decided by which team is able to score the most points in 40 minutes of play (or longer if a MARCH 2006 tie takes the game to overtime). We really wouldn’t want it any other way. I have young grandchildren who play basketball, too. When they play, however, no score is kept. They play for a certain amount of time and have lots of fun; but since no score is kept, at the end of the game there is no winner, no loser. They are all winners. This is totally appropriate. These little kids are just learning to play the game. For them, it’s a great accomplishment if they dribbled the ball five times while going the length of the court, or guarded the person they were supposed to, or actually passed the ball to their own teammate. There are places in life where keeping score is important, even essential. You CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:01 PM Page 45 wouldn’t sell enough tickets to make it worthwhile at high school, college or professional sporting events, if there were no winner to be determined. When we go see our grandchildren play, we’ll pay a couple of bucks to get in and sit with a small crowd of fans (parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of the kids on the court). Forgive me, but I probably wouldn’t pay a couple of bucks to see your little grandkids play. Just as there are places where keeping score is an essential part of the activity, there are places where keeping score is most inappropriate. Our friendships and family relationships should not be a place of keeping score; yet, often they are. You haven’t been nice to me, so I won’t be nice to you. I wouldn’t want the score to be uneven. You bought me a pretty expensive present, so I feel I have to go spend money I don’t have to keep the score even between us. You invited me over to your house, but I refuse because I feel I would have to invite you to my house; and my house isn’t cool like your house. The score is already uneven; why draw your attention to the scoreboard? Our relationships would be more blessed if we would just turn off the scoreboard and enjoy the process. Is it important to recognize and address the fact someone else has not been nice to me? Certainly. But if I do this with the scoreboard shut off, I can choose to be nice to them because it is the right thing to do, even though they have not been nice to me. When my friends give me gifts, they do the same as I do when I give gifts – we give simply because we want to and are able to, not so we will get something in return. Let’s turn off the scoreboard and just love and enjoy one another. Dane Tyner is founder and director of Home Improvement Ministry, a Christian counseling ministry with offices in the 126 Center at 126th & S. Memorial. Contact the ministry at 918.369.4111. Visit the ministry website at www.forhim.org. One should never forget the Good Things... The good things in life are always important. Family. Friends. Memories. In essence, the things that make you who you are and the retirement community you choose should reflect the lifestyle you have always enjoyed. That’s why Prairie Rose is more than just a nice place to live, we make sure it’s home. In fact, we’ve made Prairie Rose a place the entire family likes to visit. Our resident managers are ready to help 24 hours a day with whatever you may need–from basic services such as three meals a day and weekly housekeeping, to emergency response around the clock. Call today for your personal tour and see for yourself just how great the good things can be. Prairie Rose Gracious Retirement Community 7401 Riverside Drive • Tulsa (918) 495-3600 • www.prairie-rose.us MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 45 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:01 PM Page 46 coming to Tulsa! Bill Gaither announces 10th Anniversary Gaither Homecoming Tour T Tulsan’s love Bill Gaither. They pack into the Mabee Center with great expectation for a great show filled with inspirational entertainment and are never disappointed. For 10 years now, the singer and softhearted evangelist has taken a troop of extremely talented Mark Lowrey entertainers across the country. Offering a soothing mixture of music styles, they have engaged audiences all over the world with a melodic message of Jesus Christ. It is everything the average Community Spirit reader would enjoy and it will soon be offered right here at the Mabee Center. In celebration of The Gaither Vocal Band ten years of Homecoming tours, Bill Gaither will launch the actually started 10th Anniversary Gaither Homecoming with an Tour, on Friday, March 31 at 7pm. impromptu The Isaacs You won’t want to miss this show! Not taping in a only will it be a great evening, every ticket Nashville studio in 1991. The Gaither Vocal holder will also receive a special collector’s ediBand was wrapping up a recording session tion anniversary CD. This rare and limited that included several legendary Southern disc will be available free, to all Gaither Gospel music artists. After the session Homecoming Anniversary Tour concert ended, the artists lingered and gathered attendees. around the piano, singing, swapping stories While the Homecoming concerts have from the old days and sharing a few laughs become a phenomenon, Gaither says, “It and tears.” 46 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Ten years later, Gaither never envisioned that recording session in 1991 would turn into a touring empire. According to Pollstar, the 2004 Homecoming tour outranked Rod Stewart, Elton John and Fleetwood Mac for concerts tickets sold worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Gaither #46 in their 2004 annual “Rock Rich List.” 2/22/06 1:01 PM Page 47 Gaither will celebrate this milestone tour with a cavalcade of singers, musicians and comedians, whose collective talents have been honored with countless awards, including Grammy’s, Doves, ASCAP’s first-ever Songwriter of the Century Awards and most recently The NARAS President’s Merit Award and multiple 2005 Dove Award nominations. Joining Gaither are the Gaither Vocal Band, Jessy Dixon, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Anthony Burger, Lynda Randle, Jessy Dixon Booth Brothers, Signature Sound Quartet, Ivan Parker, Russ Taff, The Isaacs, Mark Lowry, Jeff Allen, Kevin Williams, Mike Allen & Ben Speer (all artists subject to change). This is an event that is even more fun if you are with your friends. And for the first time ever, you only need ten people to take advantage of great group discounts. As of this writing, seats are still available, but you need to hurry. This event nearly always sells out. Additional information on group sales is available by The Hoppers calling toll free: (888) 217-0301. Or visit www.gaithernet.com for online tour information and as always GaitherNet subscribers receive advance access to preferred seating. For Tulsa show tickets, call Mabee Center at 495-6000, www.Tickets.com, or call 800-511-1552. *OHUNL ¯PU[V [OL ZTHY[LY TVYL JVUÄKLU[ `V\ ^P[O H KLNYLL [OH[ JV\U[Z ;\SZH»Z ILZ[ KLNYLL JVTWSL[PVU WYVNYHT MVY ^VYRPUN HK\S[Z ;OPZ PZ HU HMMVYKHISL HJJLSLYH[LK WYVNYHT [V Ä[ `V\Y ZJOLK\SL MYVT H JVSSLNL ]V[LK VUL VM [OL UH[PVU»Z ILZ[ :[LW 7YVNYHT MVY Z[\KLU[Z ^P[O H[ SLHZ[ /PNO :JOVVS VY .,+ )HJOLSVY VM :JPLUJL PU *O\YJO (KTPUPZ[YH[PVU HUK 3LHKLYZOPW )HJOLSVY VM :JPLUJL PU )\ZPULZZ (KTPU )HJOLSVY VM :JPLUJL PU )\ZPULZZ 4HUHNLTLU[ )HJOLSVY VM :JPLUJL PU 5\YZPUN 95 [V ):5 4HZ[LY VM )\ZPULZZ (KTPUPZ[YH[PVU ;HRL `V\Y JHYLLY [V [OL UL_[ SL]LS .P]L `V\YZLSM ZVTL[OPUN `V\ ULLK! H UL^ IL[[LY OPNOLY WHPK SPML $BMMVTBU086o5VMTB GPSNPSFJOGPSNBUJPO Attention Business Owners! Give a Batch of Cookies... Get a Bunch of Referrals Build your repeat & referral business with a tasty thank you. Your customers will remember every bite! Our Customers Include: Car Dealerships Physicians Stock Brokers Realtors RV Dealers Learn about Jesus Christ over a cup of coffee in our small group, casual atmosphere Year round gifts shipped nationwide with a personalized thank you card from you to your customer or client. We do all the work... you get all the credit. W Call for a free sample 369-4777 Wanna Fit In? hether you are investigating Christianity for the first time, or just wanting to know more, we invite you to join us on Wednesday nights as we meet together in a non-threatening, friendly setting. Bring the kids, kick back and be yourself as we learn how this Man born over 2000 years ago now offers real solutions to every problem 2005 can throw at us. Join us Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. www.cookieadvantage.com Toll Free 888-6COOKIE On Highway 75 in Glenpool Just north of the 141st street light 13809 Casper Suite C • 291-2005 LUTHERAN CHURCH [email protected] KING OF KINGS MARCH 2006 F Av ran ai ch la ise bl s e! CS Mar06 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 47 A group of adult Christian singles for service, for purpose, for Christ. the by Tara Thompson Here is what I know for sure: • Gas prices will always plummet one hour after you fill your tank. • Chocolate will never love you back, but that doesn’t make it an unhealthy relationship. • The greatest shoes in the world cost $9 at WalMart and have fuzzy tiger heads on the toes. • You can never have enough friends. In January, The Remnant launched. Since then, I’ve never seen strangers come together so quickly, never met so many incredible people consecutively, and never had quite so much fun or purchased so many pretzels. We’re switching to rice cakes as the snack of choice just for a variety. The response has shocked and humbled me. And the excitement of this group, this collaboration of volunteers, this very significant powerhouse, has me talking two speeds too fast. If you want to find life thrilling, lose it to someone else. It will return much improved. The Remnant is a group of adult Christian singles for service, for purpose, for Christ. That is our motto. Say it out loud and punctuate the points on three fingers. This is a group of 25- to 45-year-olds wanting to meet new people, wanting to make a difference, and determined to enjoy the process. I’ve tried to talk them out of having fun but they simply refuse. We meet twice a month—the first and third Tuesday—for a social activity and a progress update. And then we take on volunteer projects, any projects needing a few able hands and feet, not requiring algebraic problem solving, and something where we’re needed. The need is ample. The help elusive. We want to change that ratio but we need help too. We need you to set aside your reservations, let go of your hesitations, get rid of your inhibitions (or most of them), and join us. There is no secret handshake, no hazing, and mostly, no one unwelcome. We’re in preparation of taking on some incredible projects, including an Extreme Makeover for the Realation Group Home for abused children. If you want purpose in your life, this is it. You can meet the group during a weekly dance class instructed by Bob Yelle every Thursday. No need to call ahead or worry about a dance partner, just show up. Be prepared to find your groove. And everything else is taken care of. The classes are held at Miss Mickey’s Dance Studio, 61st and 169, at 7:30 p.m. for $4. The classes are open to the public and a great icebreaker. And they are a weekly activity open for The Remnant to meet up, kick back, and have fun. (This fun thing keeps popping up. My apologies. I think it can’t be helped.) If you want additional information, email me at The Remnant. Here’s the address, get ready. It’s tricky— [email protected] There is no better time to step outside the box. Someone will be there to meet you on the other side. Hope to hear from you soon! Before After BODY DEFINED • Haircuts • Color & Highlights • Manicures/Pedicures 1000 $ OFF any service in the salon (first-time customers only) 918-369-MATH featuring PUREOLOGY PERSONAL TRAINING 8222 East 103rd Street • Tulsa 103rd & Memorial • Palazzo Center Next to Starworld Theater Think you’ve tried everything? Let us provide the structure, accountability, and training you need to finally get it done! www.body-defined.com 8112 S Memorial Drive MARCH 2006 Nationally Certified Personal Trainers 918.459.2639 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 49 calendar the Social Events >The Remnant First and Third Tuesday of Every Month 7:30 p.m. • Locations and events announced. >West Coast Swing Classes Every Thursday 7:30 p.m. Bob Yelle, Instructor Miss Mickey’s Studio 61st and HW 169 • No partner or reservations needed; everyone welcome. >Singles Worship Event First Friday of Every Month Down Pour 6 p.m., Doors Open 7 p.m., Event Starts Church at Battle Creek 145th E. Ave. and BA Expy. >2006 Singles Spring Retreat “Enjoy the Journey” April 7-9, 2006 New Life Ranch Colcord, OK (84 miles East of Tulsa) • Hosted by Fellowship Bible Church. Volunteer Events >Canine K Run March 25 6 a.m. – noon Mohawk Park 5701 E. 36th St. North • Benefits Therapedic Service Dogs of Oklahoma. >Extreme Makeover Month of April Times and Dates TBA • Remodeling project for The Realation Community Services of Oklahoma (RCSO) Group Home. >The Gathering Every Sunday 6:30 p.m. Southern Hills Baptist Church 56th and Lewis • Worship event for emerging generations. *VSSLNL7YLW :JOVVS ,K\JH[PUN :[\KLU[Z [V ¸,_JLS¹ PU *VSSLNL ·5V[ 1\Z[ [V ,UYVSS 1VPU \Z H[ V\Y 6WLU /V\ZL VU ;\LZKH` 4HYJO ! 74 PU [OL (\KP[VYP\T :V\[O .HYUL[[ gcstulsa.com 50 New enrollment begins Tuesday, March 6, 2006. Enroll before June 1, 2006 and bring this ad to receive 50% discount on the enrollment fee – a savings of $75.00. Call 918.249.9100 for more information. COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 CS0106 Parenting from a Christian Perspective Community Kids Time Out with Grandparents: The lessons they can teach your children CARA THOMAS R ecently my oldest son was helping my grandmother clean out from under her bed when he found an old wooden box. I recognized the box immediately. It was from my grandma’s trip to Israel when she was a young woman. It contains many memories for her, but it also holds a special memory for me. I remember sitting with my grandma and looking through the pictures when I was young and listening to stories of life I never had imagined. My son was so excited to see the old pictures and post cards. It warmed my heart to see him enjoy time with his great grandma. My children are blessed to have been given the chance to know their grandparents and their great grandparents. I 52 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 grew up very close to my grandmother, and I still see her or talk to her daily. My own mother is also close. Grandparents can be a wonderful influence on our children, not only can they be great baby sitters, but they can also share your family’s cultural heritage and history with your child. They can enrich your child’s spiritual heritage. Going to church with grandparents, sharing special events such as salvation and baptism, can be wonderful memories to share with your child’s grandparents. They are a wealth of information and entertainment. I am not talking about making your children sit through a long story which starts out, “When I was your age I walked ten miles to get to school…” Many grandparents have hobbies Community Kids and skills that can be passed down to a new generation. There have been many times when I have shown one of my children how to bake cookies or given instruction on how to build or paint a car made of wood, to no avail. But when Grandpa or Grandma gives the same instruction, suddenly my child listens! No matter if it is baking cookies or building pinewood derby cars, many grandparents love to teach grandchildren new skills when asked. The relationship I have shared with my grandmother has been wonderful. I want to give my children the same oppor- how much they shared about those conversations. I am grateful my children have people to go to when they need to talk. Grandparents are a great resource for advice, not only for parents, but also for our children. How wonderful to have a safe person to talk to right in your own family. Through each stage of development grandparents can play a vital role in the life of your child. Who better to be there to help with a new born or to stay with an older sibling while a new baby is born into your family? They can be a sounding board for your young teenager or the extra pair [Grandparents] are important for us, and it is important for children to get to know an older generation. tunities for a close relationship. As parents we will not always agree with everything our parents want or do for our children, but it is important to look at the overall picture. You wouldn’t be here without them, and they wouldn’t be grandparents without you. Don’t let your relationship get in the way of your child’s relationship with grandparents. God had a purpose in setting up our family structure. Elders are important for us, and it is important for children to get to know an older generation. Their wisdom can not be beat. I remember thinking grandparents were old. The funny thing now is I look at my own mother and forget she is my children’s grandma. She looks and acts as young as my friends. Many grandparents today live full active lives. The idea of grandma waiting at home for us to visit is in many ways a thing of the past. Grandparents can be great role models for our children. Who better to teach our children that growing older is a privilege and a blessed season in our life. My favorite confidant growing up was my maternal grandmother. She was always ready to listen. Today my mother is a wonderful confidant for my daughters. I can remember many times telling my grandma things I would never dream of telling my mother. Little did I know then of hands at the doctor’s office. My own children have wonderful grandparents who are eager to spend time with them. Life wouldn’t be the same without them. My prayer is that my Heavenly Father will be able to say to my children, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother, and then in your mother, and I am persuaded, now lives in you,” just as Paul said to Timothy in 1Timothy 1:5. That would truly be a great spiritual inheritance to pass down to each generation of grandchildren to come. So no matter if you are called Nana, Nina, Mema, Mimi, Granny, Pappy, Poppy, Papa, Grampy or Grandma and Grandpa, you are a blessing to your grandchildren. Cara Thomas is the mother of five children, thirteen year old Sean, eleven year old Courtney, eight year old Elizabeth, five year old Aaron, and one year old Emily. She lives in Tulsa with her husband, Jeff and family. She has worked in childcare for the past 15 years and is currently the Curriculum Coordinator at Victory KidsCare. She can be reached by email at [email protected]. You can reach Victory KidsCare at [email protected]. Evangelistic Temple School An Interdenominational Christian School Serving Children Three Years Old through High School Juniors in the 2006-2007 School Term! Open House Thursday, March 9, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Call 743-5597 1339 E. 55th St. • www.etstulsa.com ETS students... Educationally prepared and spiritually equipped. MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 53 Community Kids wonderful proud blissful need trust passion belief dependence faith safetyhope lovejoyfulwarmth Just Say the Word” “care affection devotion conviction expectation happy satisfied content thrilled delighted heavenly idyllic delightful pleasant perfect harmonious 54 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Community Kids NICHOLE WILKINSON M y husband was mad at me. It was Christmastime and I had asked him not to spend much money on me. I would love to leave you thinking I was being noble, but the truth is I planned to spend plenty of money after Christmas on a home decorating project. My attempt at alleviating my guilt and saving the budget had put Geoff in a bind. Bracing the budget for the hit it was about to take when I started decorating sounded good, but he did not like the idea of my not having much to open on the most glorious day of the year. Being the wise man that he is, he managed to squeeze right between the rock and the hard place I had created for him. He got me a few odds and ends, and he also gave me the best Christmas present I have ever received. Saved strategically for last, it sat at the bottom of the pile with no bow (he doesn’t do bows) and nothing to call attention to it. When my last turn to open finally came, I dug it out from a roomfull of wrapping paper and tore into what turned out to be a small shirt box. I lifted the lid and there it was, lined not with tissue paper, but with tissues…a plain white envelope. I knew exactly what it was and, had we got it on tape, I’m sure I would have looked as if I’d just opened the Hope Diamond. typed letter. While the rest of my family played with all their new stuff, I curled up in a chair with a blanket, my present, and yes, the Kleenex that came with it. I laughed, I cried, and I treasured each one of his words he had taken the time and effort to lavish on me. Notice I’m not telling you what it said! I can tell you it got me thinking. Thinking about my own words and how I spend them, waste them, or hoard them, as the case may be. We usually use verbs like spend and waste to refer to money or to time, but aren’t words just as valuable a commodity? Maybe if we started regarding them as such we would use them more wisely. They have the power to bless and the power to curse, the power to build up and the power to tear down. God intends for us to not take lightly this power He has placed within our mouths and to be good stewards of the gift of communication He has entrusted to us. Who doesn’t like to hear a kind word? Friends, coworkers, and spouses all need our encouragement and praise, but probably no one benefits more from words than our children. Their identities and understanding of themselves and the world around them are developing, and parents play a huge role in this. Your words not only paint a picture for your children to become, they also set an example for them to follow. www.littlegym.com The most effective way to be sure a behavior you like is repeated is to call attention to it with lots of praise and encouragement. No matter how old your child is, he has unique attributes that make him one of a kind. Take the time to think about what you love, even admire, about your child and, by all means, let her know about it. Be careful not to LET YOUR CHILD DISCOVER KUMON. LET YOUR CHILD AMAZE YOU. Now Enrolling for Winter-Spring Session! Southeast Tulsa 8013-A South Sheridan 918.492.2626 www.tlgsetulsaok.com • The premier children’s motor skill development program in the world. • Proven curriculum that builds coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility. • Classes in gymnastics, sports skills, and more for 10 months to 12 years of age. • Parent survival night – first Friday of the month. • Best birthday parties in town. • Call for your free trial class. Kumon is a different kind of after-school learning program. Kumon students master the basics of math and reading through daily practice, the same way they learn a musical instrument or athletic skill. Kumon is available at a sensible, family-friendly priceMonthly ($90 to Tuition $100 per Affordable month), and your child's placement testFor is FREE. Ages Pre-k to High School For Ages Pre-k to High School For Remedial or Advanced Study Morning and Afternoon Sessions Remedial or Enrichment Free Placement Testing 61st & Memorial 50% off Registration Fees South Central Tulsa (Feb. and Mar. enrollments) (Next to Bally's Fitness) 918.254.KIDS 918.254.5437(KIDS) © 2006 Kumon North America, Inc. You see, I love words. (Can you tell?) I love to read them, write them, hear them, say them, give them, receive them. Much to Geoff’s chagrin, I even love a good fight because it gives us the chance to exchange a bunch of them and end up understanding each other better. Knowing my passion, he had given me the gift of words in the form of a two-page SOUTH CENTRAL TULSA www.kumonsctulsa.com 61st & Memorial www.kumonsctulsa.com MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 55 Community Kids praise only performance, such as grades or wins in sports, as children will feel pressured to achieve in order to please. Instead applaud attitudes, sportsmanship, and effort, sending a message that character is more important than outcome. Words can paint a picture of what we can become. When you send messages like “You’re one of the bravest people I know” or “You have a great sense of humor,” you are help- devotion pleasant Children who are praised and encouraged will learn to praise and encourage others. It will become a normal part of life for them. Their spouses will thank you. trust Children who are praised and encouraged will learn to praise and encourage others. ing to mold the lives of your children, as they will often grow to become the picture painted for them. Let your words portray them as the masterpieces they are. Your words not only paint a picture for your children to become, they also set an example for them to follow. love Speaking of spouses, consider spreading a little appreciation their way and you’ll probably find that kind words are contagious. For those of you who would rather get a root delightful Life Light’s 4th Annual canal than express yourselves, try stretching yourself a little. It gets easier every time and you may be surprised by the results. Now where is that Christmas letter… Father Daughter Purity Celebration A Celebration of Dedication to a Covenant of Purity for Fathers and Daughters Hey Dads! Set the example. Tell them, “Purity is Important.” Friday, April 7, 2006 Photographs, 6:30 p.m. Nichole Wilkinson loves people and loves God's Word, and delights in seeing the two come together. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from ORU and a Master's Degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake, she practiced as a licensed professional counselor where she saw God's truth transform lives. She is the author of “The Keys of the Kingdom: A Study of the Apostle Peter”. She, her husband Geoff, and their children Trevor and Natalie live in Tulsa. She is available to speak and may be reached at (918) 298-0481 or www.soulpurposeministries.com. Dinner, 7 p.m. Five Oaks Lodge 300 $1000 $ $40 per person Everyone is Welcome. Hurry, Space is Limited! For More Information, Call Vicki Clark, 740-0707 www.puritycelebration.com “The Lord will turn the hearts of the fathers toward the children and the hearts of the children to fathers.” Malachi 4:6 Tulsa District Attorney, Tim Harris and his daughter, Natalie. 56 COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Full Service Car Wash Brushless Spot Free We Care For Your Car Inside & Out! OFF OFF GOLD OR PLATINUM PACKAGE COMPLETE DETAIL PACKAGE Extra Charge For Oversize or Muddy Vehicles 4222 S. Memorial Dr. 6510 E. 71st Street 627-8015 494-6091 Ask about our Mobile Service—We come to you! Limit One Coupon Per Visit • Not Valid With Other Offers • Must Be Present At Time Of Service • Expires 4-30-06 Community Kids A Time A for s Dads, we expect purity from our daughters, but are we willing to step out and make sure they realize we really mean it? Are we willing to lead and let them know they can expect purity from us as well? You are invited to participate in the fourth annual FatherDaughter Purity Celebration. It is a special evening you and your daughter will always remember. Dress up and take them out for this unique Father-Daughter date. Set aside this night to truly focus on telling them how special they are in your eyes and especially in the eyes of their Heavenly Father. Make plans now to attend this Celebration. Plan on arriving at Five Oaks Ranch in Jenks at 6:30 p.m. for photographs, and the dinner begins at 7 p.m. The attire is formal/semi-formal and the price is $40 per person. The evening is sponsored by Life Light, a non-profit volunteer organization glorifying God through service and standing as an example of Christian people caring for each other while serving the Lord in ministering to the needs of women, children and families in crisis pregnancy centers. Life Light has been bringing resources and support to women, children and families through Tulsa-area Crisis Pregnancy Centers since 1990. Life Light is a 501(c)3 women’s auxiliary run by volunteers. All money raised is given to crisis pregnancy centers to help women in crisis Purity pregnancies choose life for their unborn children. This Year's Father Daughter Purity Celebration will feature: • Dinner • Keynote Speaker Tulsa District Attorney Tim Harris with his daughter, Natalie Harris • Signing of Purity Covenant/Ring Ceremony • Presentation of Roses at the Cross • Special music • Father Daughter Photographs (optional-additional fee) • Live Music with the ORU Jazz Band • Father Daughter Commemorative Waltz Rings: We invite you to bring a ring or other special piece of jewelry for your daughter as a sign and symbol of her commitment to purity. There will be an opportunity to present this to her during the ceremony of the signing of the Purity Covenant. We encourage participants to prepare for this event by reading a copy of the book True Love Waits in preparation for the event. Life Light will send you a complimentary copy at your request or, if you desire, it can be purchased at www.lifeway.com “The Purity Celebration is a great way to have a one on one date with my dad. The banquet and the preparation up to it helps me to speak to my dad openly about anything including purity. This is an amazing way to make a commitment to purity, to my dad and have an accountability partner.” – Natalie Harris Victory KidsCare Mother’s Day Out 4 months - 4 years 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 7700 S. Lewis Ave. 918-491-7754 [email protected] KidsCare Where Learning and Growing Go Hand in Hand 6 weeks - 4 years 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 2440 E. 81st St. 918-492-5275 [email protected] • Experienced & Loving Teachers in a Christian Atmosphere • Year-round Curriculum with Exciting Thematic Units • Open Monday-Friday with Multiple Schedule Options • Positive Environment that Stimulates Creativity and Learning MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 57 winners’ wisdom Wealth 101 J I M S T O VA L L last time we had a negative one percent savings rate nationally was in 1933. This, our fans of history will remember, was the low point of the Great Depression; therefore, this begs the question: “What’s going to happen if things get really bad?” This is probably a good point for you and me to review the myths and realities of wealth building. The greatest myth about wealthy people is that they either inherited the Yesterday I heard a statistic that is tremendously significant. The first impression of this statistic was so insignificant I almost didn’t get it. Then the true import of what I was hearing dawned on me. Last month, the national average savings rate was a negative one percent. At first glance, one percent doesn’t seem like a big number, and the fact it only deals with the savings rate doesn’t seem to indicate an immediate crisis; must rely on the old adage: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Now that we’ve dispelled the myths and established personal responsibility, let’s go over a few rules for building our wealth. 1. 2. 3. 4. Spend less than you earn. Avoid borrowing money. Live on a budget. Save and invest regularly. …with respect to wealth building, we must rely on the old adage: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” money or won the lottery. In reality, over 90 percent of millionaires are first generation millionaires who earned, saved, and invested their own money. People who win the lottery are more likely to file bankruptcy in the following ten years than the average working class person in our society. Therefore, with respect to wealth building, we however, there are some facts in play we need to understand. Interest rates are still at a historic low that most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes. Our economy is relatively healthy and growing at a good pace. Employment is approaching a level we would consider full employment. And, overall, the economic outlook is pretty good. The Why do smart kids fail? If your child has struggled with schoolwork this year, take action now to make his or her grades better. Our certified teachers can pinpoint your child’s strengths and weaknesses and tailor a program of instruction to meet Weak Basic Skills his or her needs. Just a few FrustrationwithSchool hours a week can improve your child’s skills, confidence and Lack of Confidence motivation. Call Huntington No Motivation today. Your child learn. This would seem to be an elementary school explanation of wealth building. In reality, many millionaires in our society only have an elementary school education. If you’re going to win any game, you first need to understand the rules. Then follow the lead of those who have already won. Whether I am writing books, speaking from the REJOICE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — Impacting Lives For Eternity — Call for Availability ❖ Preschool-3 and Kindergarten-4 Half & Full Day Kindergarten-5 ❖ Grades 1-9 10TH GRADE WILL BE ADDED IN AUGUST ‘06 One New Grade Added Each Year. P.E. ❖ Computer ❖ Music ❖ Art ❖ Spanish ❖ Athletics Accredited K5-9th grade by Association of Christian Schools International. Secondary will be accredited as it is added. Mention this ad when you call and Independently Owned and Operated 7116 S. Mingo Rd. Suite 105 Tulsa, OK (918) 252-1200 58 COMMUNITY SPIRIT off Diagnostic Testing! Hwy 169 and 106th St. North, Owasso, Oklahoma 272-7235 www.owasso.com/rcs Rejoice Christian School admits students of any race, color, nationality and ethnic origin. MARCH 2006 platform, or putting together these weekly columns, probably my best advice ever is, “Don’t take advice from anybody that doesn’t have what you want.” This certainly applies as you strive to reach your financial goals. As you go through your day today, remember the simple rules of wealth building and apply them to your life. They are, indeed, simple but not easy. If it were easy, everyone would be rich. Today’s the day! Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 741459082, or by e-mail at [email protected]. MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 59 RESTAURANT REVIEW BY KEN WALKER Fuji Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar A After having been the assistant manager at Fuji for several years, recently promoted manager Christopher Hyde runs a well-oiled machine. I ate, of course, but I observed a lot. Christopher sets the example for the team. He was in the kitchen. He was in the dining room. He was chatting with guests. He was pouring water into guest glasses. He seemed to be at the right place at the right time. So was his staff. Every one of his wait staff pitched in. You had a main waiter/waitress, but when someone saw a plate that needed to be taken from the table, there they were. When your glass needed to be filled, there was another person to fill your glass. The attitude was that of a team. As I questioned the wait staff about the different foods and items, each one knew the answers. It was so refreshing to see a knowledgeable staff. Christopher said that was one of the things he had worked on the most. As we sat at our table for over two hours enjoying ourselves immensely, I kept looking around at everyone enjoying themselves too. This restaurant catered to all types. There was a lone gentleman reading a book. There were couples, and families and friends all laughing. This restaurant was more than great food. It was a place to relax or have fun trying to use chopsticks. I love sushi. My wife won’t try it. We were both satisfied at Fuji. On the menu, every item is clearly explained. No guessing here. I started with a Lobster Wanton 60 COMMUNITY SPIRIT ($6.95) It came perfectly fried with three dipping sauces consisting of ranch dressing, orange marmalade, and a chili paste with mayonnaise. I also had a nice light soup call Suimono Soup ($1.99). It consisted of a clear broth with pieces of shrimp, mushrooms and scallions. My wife had the Miso Soup ($1.99). Miso Soup is made from a soybean paste. It is always cloudy with cubes of tofu and strips of scallions and seaweed. She also had the Beef Sashimi with flavored hot oil ($7.99). This was a big hit as thinly sliced, one-inch wide pieces of beef were arranged in a star shaped pattern on the plate with a julienne of scallion and ginger sitting on top of the strip. All this was marinating on the plate in sesame oil and a citrus-soy sauce. For the entrées, I, of course, had several different types of sushi. Sushi does not have to be raw to be sushi. As a matter of fact, the sushi I had was not raw. At Fuji, the sushi can come in special rolls or a la carte. I had both. The Nishiki Maki roll ($9.99), cut into eight pieces, came with smoked salmon, imitation crab, shrimp and avocado. The Unagi ($5.50), ordered a la carte, is cooked fresh water eel sitting on a ball of rice wrapped in seaweed. As a side note, there is a sushi bar area where people can watch the chefs prepare their favorite. For non-sushi lovers, like my wife, there are wonderful entrees such as the Shrimp Teriyake ($15.99). This dish came with three kabob-skewers filled with large sized shrimp, onions and green peppers. It also came with a MARCH 2006 mixture of julienne of vegetables sautéed and coated with a nice teriyake sauce. This dish also came with a side of rice and a side salad. We were ready to leave when Christopher suggested dessert. I wasn’t prepared for the treat we were about to receive. As a general rule, I don’t like cheesecake. But, Christopher suggested the Fried Tempura Cheesecake. This dessert is made by taking a piece of cheesecake, dipping it into tempura batter, and lightly frying it until the batter becomes crispy and golden brown. The cheesecake came on a plate surrounded by whipped cream, large chocolate chips and slivered almonds all lightly drizzled with chocolate syrup. It was absolutely the best cheesecake I have ever eaten. I even had cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory in Washington D.C. I would suggest Fuji simply for that cheesecake alone. You have got to try it!!! I was super pleased with Fuji. Whatever level Fuji was in the past, Christopher has definitely brought it to new heights. Fuji is located at 8226 E 71st Street. The hours are: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Monday –Thursday, 5 – 10 p.m.; Friday 5 – 10:30 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.. The average meal per person could easily be under $20. On a scale of 1-10, the atmosphere was an 8, the cleanliness was an 8, the quality of meals was an 8.5 (the dessert was a 10), the presentation was a 9, the service was a 9.5 The overall rating is four stars, which means “excellent.” good eats 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. Enjoy delicious dinners, flyin’ rolls and family fun! Grinding Up the Grain... In the Sun or Rain. Try A FREE Slice of Our Fresh, Milled Bread Today. Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 5p–9p Sat.-Sun. 11a–9p 8125 E. 49th St., Tulsa 49th & Memorial 918-660-0146 www.flyinroll chicken.com Open 7am-6pm, Tues.-Fri. & 7am-4pm, Sat. Serving Sandwiches 11am-2pm Daily 10032 South Sheridan Phone: 918-296-0667 ed ill Wh ole Grain Brea ds Expires 3/31/06 10% Off Fre sh ,M Chinese Kitchen The Farm Shopping Center 5203 S. Sheridan 918.622.1115 tulsagreatharvest.com Fax: 918-296-0876 MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 61 News Around Town Young Rembrandts Offers More Sessions of Quality Drawing Classes! Young Rembrandts is continuing its partnership with the Tulsa’s Park and Recreation Department and local area private schools. Whiteside and Hicks Community Centers are offering preschool and elementary age drawing classes. Classes are available for homeschool students during the day, as well as after school. After school programs are offered at Undercroft Montessori and Metro Christian Academy. New this season—classes are now available at the Thornton YMCA. Class times are available for both homeschool sessions and after school. To enroll, just call 749-4278. You can also enroll at the Community Centers or Thornton YMCA. For more information, please visit www.youngrembrandts.com. Grief Share Recovery Begins Grief Share Recovery 6-week Seminar and Support Groups will begin April 3 at Grace Church in Broken Arrow each Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. through May 8. GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief and recovery topics. Seminar sessions include: “When Your Dreams Fall Apart,” “Your Family and Grief,” and “Growing through Grief.” Each seminar is combined with a grief support group discussion time to allow group participants to talk about the content of the seminar and about how he or she is dealing with loss. For more information and to pre-register call Grace Church, 252-1611 Ext. 5600 Big Band, Big Heart Benefit Concert for The Hospitality House of Tulsa, providing a compassionate home for families of patients in nearby hospitals, featuring The Tulsa Praise Orchestra with Special Guest Dave Boyer at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 30. Held at the Southern Hills Baptist Church, 5590 S. Lewis Ave. Dessert reception following. Tickets are $10 each. To RSVP and for ticket information, call 918-694-8888, or log onto www.tulsahospitalityhouse.org Just Between Friends-Owasso Children’s Consignment Sale Announces Spring/Summer Sale Dates! JBF-Owasso specializes in the highest quality of gently used children’s, juniors and maternity clothing, toys, books, videos and baby equipment such as strollers, high chairs, car seats and more. This sale allows consignors to make money and shoppers to save money. JBF-Owasso Sale Dates: March 2931, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; April 1, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 50 percent off sale. Location: 201 N. Main Street, Owasso (former location of Owasso First United There’s still time Methodist Church, to join us at Just Between Friends across from City Spring Sale Extravaganza! Hall). The region’s largest children’s and maternity consignment sale! Tell me we idn’t d miss the sale! Tulsa’s Trade Center at Expo Square (21st Street, West of Yale) Sunday–Sunday • March 5-12 All under one roof at great prices! Don’t miss it! Also, exciting Sales in Owasso (March 29 - April 1) and Broken Arrow (April 7 - 9)! FREE ADMISSION WITH THIS AD! 62 www.jbfsale.com COMMUNITY SPIRIT MARCH 2006 Woodland Terrace Retirement Community will be holding various seminars at 9524 E. 71st Street. Seminars are free and transportation can be provided at no charge. Please contact 250-3631 for more information. Medicare: Monday, March 6, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.; Senior Living Options: Tuesday, March 14, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.; Long-Term Care Insurance 101: Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. -1 p.m.; Senior Living Options: Monday, March 20, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Senior Living Options: Monday, March 20, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Senior Living Options: Monday, March 27, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Belk Department Store, Owasso, and the Broken Arrow Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. are joining forces to pay tribute to our American veterans. Blue Star Mothers will have tables set up at the Belk Store in Owasso, SH 169 and 96th Street North, to accept donations on the weekends. In addition, Belk is offering a 20 percent off shopping pass to donors of the items needed by the hospitalized veterans, or for donating five dollars to the Blue Star Mothers for supplies to be sent to troops. They can be used during Belk’s Charity Days, March 31 and April 1. Items needed by the hospitalized veterans: aerosol deoderant, liquid soap, disposable razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, denture tubes and cleaners, facial and body lotion, combs, and hairbrushes, as well as all sizes of white T-shirts, jogging pants, socks and underwear. You can visit Blue Star Mothers at www.babluestar.org or for more information, call 798-6837. from $27,900 Uncommonly Thrilling. from $19,600 from $13,200 161st & BA Expwy 258-6581 MARCH 2006 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 63 CS Mar06 2/22/06 1:01 PM Page 64 “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