IS Hollywood

FR
JIM STOVALL'S “ULTIMATE GIFT” • WTC SURVIVOR: 9/11 FIVE YEARS LATER
SEPTEMBER 2006
®
IS Hollywood
going holy?
EE
12
18
Feature: Entertainment
8
Is Hollywood Going Holy?
12 The Ultimate Life: Jim Stovall’s
New Movie, “The Ultimate Gift”
Loving Home
30 Extreme Makeover:
Available to All!
36
Community Kids
24 The Hand that Rocks the Cradle:
Emergency Infant Services
26 Is there a Ticking Time Bomb in
your Church Parking Lot?
44 Family Night Out
45 Cats: Pouncing into the PAC
34 Bath Designs Refresh
14 Lest Ye Be Judged: Inside the
36 Handywork: R. Collins Woodwork
Senior Class
40 On the Road to Malawi
45
World of Judicial Elections
18 Witness to Infamy:
9/11 Five Years Later
8
COVER: Movies with a message
are hot. Hollywood is chasing
them, studios are pushing them,
audiences are flocking to them.
Has the entertainment industry,
long releasing crude and violent
movies, making a turn? And if so,
what has been the power behind it
and how long will it last? What is
coming to a theater near you?
42 Covered Wagons to Super Slabs
PUBLISHER Tom McCloud
MANAGING EDITOR Tara Lynn Thompson
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
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Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
DISTRIBUTION
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Copyright © 2006 by Equipment Publications, Inc.
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Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
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SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
7
feature
Is Hollywood going Holy?
TA R A LY N N T H O M P S O N
Mr. and Mrs. Smith walked into the diner with
the words “Jesus Rocks” on their jacket. They hadn’t
turned from their assassin lifestyle to join the local charismatic choir or volunteer to bring veggies to the next
potluck dinner. The jackets were added to the scene
because director Doug Liman thought, “This is cool,” he
told The New York Times.
He wanted to make the owners of the jackets—the
Smith’s neighbors, whose vehicle and jackets they com-
8
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
mandeered—to be “hip, young, cool Christians.”
If Hollywood likes a good spin, this positive approach
to Christianity is turning the heads of the mega studios.
In fact, it’s breaking the necks of Hollywood conceptions
about Christians and vice versa.
The noose is slackening.
The growing numbers of positive family-friendly films,
even religious films, on the big screen is becoming a
blockbuster. The scene is set, the action in play, but why
the change in plot? Is Hollywood finding value in virtue?
Or have Christians simply written an alternative ending?
Passion of the Concept
Even Hollywood couldn’t ignore a movie
grossing more than $370 million in sales, a
movie they originally refused.
“Since the success of the ‘Passion of the
Christ,’ Hollywood executives who were
oblivious to the Christian audience now see
the potential,” said Bob Waliszewski, media
analyst for Focus on the Family, whose
weekly “Plugged In Movie Review” radio
feature is broadcast on 300 stations nationwide. “Even Mel Gibson had trouble shop-
ping ‘Passion of the Christ’ and had to use
his own money because the studios saw no
need for the movie.”
Their big blunder put big bucks in Gibson’s pocket. And the money is still talking.
MOVIE REVIEW SITES:
www.pluggedinonline.com
www.movieguide.org
www.screenit.com
www.preview.com
Your viewing audience
“On Sunday, 43 percent of America was
in church,” said Jonathan Bock, head of
Grace Hill Media, while speaking at a panel
discussion on “What Would Jesus Direct?”
at the Tribeca Film Festival in May, according to Reuters. “For studios to not recognize that’s an audience, is like them saying,
‘We’re not marketing movies to men.’”
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
9
Is Hollywood going Holy?
Since the success
of the “Passion of
the Christ,”
Hollywood
executives who
were oblivious to
the Christian
audience now see
the potential.
10
Grace Hill Media is a PR and marketing firm “established to reach an
enormous and underserved population— religious America,” according to
their website. They’ve worked on
movies such as “Bruce Almighty,”
“The Notebook,” “Lord of the Rings,”
and the beginning hit movie series,
“Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe.”
They, along with other PR firms like
Motive Entertainment—whose client
list includes “Passion of the Christ,”
“The Polar Express,” as well as
“Chronicles of Narnia”—are the
bridges to merge the great divine
between studios and Christians.
“Motive’s central business premise is
that the same ‘Faith and Family’ market that has been voraciously consuming faith-based and family-friendly
books, music, TV and radio will likewise consume high quality faith-based
and family-friendly films,” according to
Motive’s mission statement.
Supply and demand
Religion sells. Consumer demand for
faith-based books and radio shows no
signs of quenching, selling more and
spreading faster than secular venues.
Analysts in the Christian movie market
are seeing the same growth.
“Year after year, as our research indicates films containing morally uplifting,
redemptive and even Christian content,
earn at least three to seven times more
than movies with explicit, potentially
offensive elements,” said Dr. Ted Baehr,
founder and publisher of Movieguide
and Chairman of The Christian Film
and Television Commission.
Of the top 25 box office films in
1999, 2000, and 2001, 62 percent contain morally uplifting or Christian content. In 2002 and 2003, the percentage
rose to 80. In 2004 and 2005, the number increased to an astounding 96 percent, thanks to films like “Passion of
the Christ,” “Chronicles of Narnia,”
“Finding Nemo,” and “Lord of the
Rings,” Baehr said in a recent article in
Moveguide Magazine.
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
At the same time, the buzz around Rrated movies continues to decline and
sales plummet.
“These low box-office numbers in
recent years would seem to show that
Americans are not interested in lewd,
explicit films percolating out of Hollywood,” Baehr said.
Now playing
Does this mean the end of R-rated
movies? Unlikely. “Hollywood continues to give us garbage,” said Waliszewski, citing movies like “The 40Year-Old Virgin,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Hostel,” and the recent number
one film, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” a film he
described as “an awful, hormonally
charged movie that should have never
been made. The Will Ferrell of ‘Elf’ is
not the Will Ferrell of ‘Talladega
Nights.’”
Though crude movies still light up
the screen, the popularity of familyfriendly films is securing the future for
more family-friendly films. An industry
that once thrived nearly solely on the
absence of moral messages is now relying on PR firms and Christian consultants to tap into the market.
Recently, the new Walt Disney Company president of production, Oren
Aviv, announced a major restructuring
of the company to focus on familyfriendly films and cut production of Rrated movies.
All about the Benjamins
Money, not a change of heart, has
been the motivator behind the movie
studio shift. The sudden yearning for
the Christian audience has some Christians feeling manipulated.
“When someone asks me, ‘Don’t you
feel a little offended Christians are
being used?’” Waliszewski said. “I
don’t find that a problem. No one
wants them to put out a message of
faith and lose money on it…If Hollywood gets it right, I won’t even question their intentions. I’ll just say,
‘Thank you Hollywood.’”
Missed it by that much
But it’s going to take more than characters wearing a “Jesus Rocks” jacket
and putting a crucifix around their
vehicle’s rearview mirror to entice the
Christian audience. Placing religious
symbols within vulgar movies—like
“The Omen” or “Se7en”—won’t cut it,
he said.
“If you’re going to the Christian
community, know your audience,”
Waliszewski said. “If they take a
respectful look at our faith, we’re going
to support it.”
Some studios are getting it right, like
the strong portrait of a Baptist pastor
in “Because of Winn-Dixie,” and more
recently, the unquestioning faith of the
rescuers portrayed in “World Trade
Center,” an Oliver Stone film.
In the film, a Marine—the one who
was ultimately responsible for rescuing
the men from the collapsed towers—
spoke to his pastor for advice. And one
of the men, while trapped, saw an
image of Jesus giving him water to
drink.
“The communication that Jesus was
with him and cared caused him to
work even harder to keep himself and
his partner talking to stay alive,” Waliszewski said of the film. “If it weren’t
for the profanity, I’d have given it a five
out of five for family friendliness.”
Coming soon
There are impressive Christian and
family-friendly films on the horizon,
Waliszewski said, mentioning “Facing
the Giants,” a movie by Sherwood Pictures about a football coach and his
faith, “The Nativity Story,” and
“Amazing Grace,” a “possible Oscar
contender”.
“Always try to honor Christ with
your entertainment decision. Don’t
approach entertainment as it being simply entertainment. It does affect what
we think and our value making
process.”
2005 ENTERTAINMENT STATISTICS
• 96 percent of the year’s top 25
movies had Christian or moral content.
• 87 percent of top media executives believe violence in media
contributes to violence in society.
• 100 percent of the top selling
DVD’s contain no nudity, foul language, sexual content, and have
strong Christian or moral content.
• Movies with Christian content
increased their average earnings
from $5 million in 1996 to $65 million in 2005.
• 149 million people in the U.S. and
Canada prefer church attendance
as their favorite weekly activity,
compared to 26.7 million who prefer going to the movies.
• 44 percent of all American adults
have read at least one religious
book, other than the Bible, from
cover to cover in the last two
years.
• Christian content has increased
374 percent from 1991 to 2005.
—2006 Movieguide Report to
the Entertainment Industry
There are impressive Christian and
family-friendly
films on the
horizon mentioning
“Facing the
Giants,” a movie by
Sherwood Pictures
about a
football coach and
his faith, and “The
Nativity Story.”
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
11
Movie based on Jim Stovall’s book, “The Ultimate Gift,”
set for January release nationwide.
TA R A LY N N T H O M P S O N
Jim Stovall reads a book a day. The day
of our interview, he had finished Faye Kellerman’s new
novel. The day previous, Alan Alda’s autobiography.
We sat in the clean, soft lines of his office at the Narrative Television Network (NTN), surrounded by faces
of movie stars like Kevin Costner and politicians like
President George W. Bush with notes saying, “You’re
doing a great job Jim,” written in black permanent
marker across their face and followed by their autographs.
“Finding Forrester” and “Dead Poet’s Society” movie
posters took one wall because they are movies “I like,”
he simply said.
His desk is neat, nearly spotless, with magnetic desk
toys at one corner, his business cards at the other. This is
Stovall’s world, a world of the co-founder and president
of NTN, a world of celebrity and fame, of money and
magic, a world that seems to neither touch him nor alter
his unshakeable resolve.
“If you want to be a writer, the first thing you better
do is be a reader,” he continued.
By the age of 29, Stovall had never read an entire
book. He has since made up for lost time. After losing
his sight, he developed a high-speed recorder that plays
12
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
books on tape at such a rate of speed, no one can understand them but Stovall. His fast-track education into the
literary world has taught him writing personalities and
strengths, styles and formats. And like every reader, he
has his favorites.
For telling a story, Louis L’Amour. For scene setting,
Ernest Hemingway. For writings on people, Rick Riley.
For lessons in intellectual thinking and theology, C.S.
Lewis.
“I think they all affect you when you write anything,”
said Stovall, the author of 12 books. One in particular—
‘The Ultimate Gift’—he wrote in five days and has sold
three million copies. And in January, a major motion
picture based on the novel opens nationwide in theaters.
“‘The Ultimate Gift’ was written more like L’Amour
books because it’s a straight, linear story,” he said.
The story takes us into the life of Jason Stevens, a
trust fund baby now faced with one incredible challenge. His grandfather, Howard “Red” Stevens, has
died. And if Jason wants his inheritance, he must first
complete 12 tasks over the period of 12 months. If he
succeeds at all, the greatest gift will be his. If he fails, he
gets nothing.
The journey is designed by Red, played by James Garner, before his passing. He makes 12 videotapes to be
MOVIE FACTS:
The meaning
of life is to find
your gift and
the purpose of
life is to give
it away.
Jim Stovall
played before each task in an effort to
teach his grandson about the real meaning of life—quality beyond the hallow
existence of money.
“I’ve had a lot of mentors in my life,
much like Red,” Stovall said. “And all of
us, in our weaker moments, have been a
lot like Jason.”
The 12 tasks, or “gifts,” as Red calls
them, teach Jason about hard work,
learning, giving, friendship, as well as
love.
“These are all lessons I’m learning,”
Stovall said of his creation. “When you
write books, columns and make speeches, people think you know something.
And I try to tell them, ‘Please don’t miss
the message because of the weakness of
the messenger.’”
And this is the movie’s message:
“The meaning of life is to find your
gift and the purpose of life is to give it
away,” Stovall said.
As Jason learns the meaning, as Red
teaches the precepts, as the movie takes
the audience through the growth of a
child who has yet to become a man, Stovall hopes people understand the lesson.
“Money is the least significant thing
you’ll leave behind when you’re gone—
no matter how much you accumulate,”
he said.
Stovall has already written the sequel,
“The Ultimate Life,” which continues
following Jason through his life. There
are two more books planned in the
series, “The Ultimate Journey” and “The
Ultimate Legacy.”
You can learn more about “The Ultimate Gift” movie at www.theultimategift.com and more about Jim Stovall at
www.jimstovall.com or www.narrativetv.com.
• Jim Stovall does a cameo in the
movie as a limo driver. They gave him
no lines and told him to wing it.
• James Garner has announced this
will be his last film.
• “The Ultimate Gift” has turned into
‘The Ultimate Gift movement,’ launching a reality show where people
demonstrate precepts of the gifs to
earn one million dollars and then give
it away.
• The movie budget consisted of $10
million for production, another $15 to
$20 million for promotion.
• “The Ultimate Gift” was Stovall’s fifth
book. He wrote it in five days.
• Rick Eldridge, who produced “Bobby
Jones: Stroke of Genius,” produced
“The Ultimate Gift.”
• Stovall worked with the screenplay
writers to add two elements to the
movie that are not in the book—
romance and physical danger.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
13
Lest Ye be Judged
Inside the world of judicial elections
what we don’t know, what we should know, what isn’t working
T
hey are the mediators, arbitrators,
referees between the
teams of civility and the
law. They are the judges, dressed
in black robes, mysterious and
impartial faces behind a gavel and
bench.
What do we know about them?
What should we know? And when
we approach the ballot box, are
the unknowns resetting the rules
in which we’re governed?
Justice Daniel Boudreau, who
served 25 years on the bench and
retired from the Oklahoma
Supreme Court, sat down with
Community Spirit to clarify some
common misconceptions, frequent
misunderstands, and educate the
voter on how to know the person
they are placing in the role of
adjudicator.
ACTIVIST IN ACTION
“The very controversial issues
where the country is very polarized is normally heard by federal
judges,” Justice Boudreau said.
Federal judges, unlike state judges,
are appointed. Senators nominate
judges. The president confirms the
nomination. The appointments are
for life.
“Most people who complain
about activist judges feel the consensus should play out in the legislative arena,” he said. “When
they say a judge is being too much
of an activist, generally they are
saying ‘he’s making decisions I
don’t agree with.’”
On the other side of the argument, those who support strong
judges are generally campaigning
for the minorities. They believe
The Bill of Rights, established to
keep limitations on the power of
government in your life, was
established for the minorities, he
explained. The majority, because
they are the majority, have the
upper-hand in fighting for their
individual freedoms.
“They say the Bill of Rights is
for the minority opinion,” Justice
Boudreau said. “That is their
argument.”
BALLOT DECISIONS
State judges, unlike federal
judges, are nearly all elected.
Approximately 30 states elect
their state judges, with the other
20 using a system of appointment
similar to the federal system.
In Oklahoma, state judges must
still approach the voters for their
approval, campaigning just like a
Congressman, for a four-year
term. Or, they are appointed by
the Judicial Nominating Committee when a position becomes
vacant or is created in the middle
of a non-election period. The 13member board – comprised of
seven lay individuals and six attorneys, submit three names to the
governor for the open position.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
15
Lest Ye be Judged
The governor makes the final choice.
When the election rolls around, that
judge must then run to keep the position.
State judges, who preside over issues
of crime and tort reform, hear 90 percent
of all legal business in the United States,
Justice Boudreau said, a percentage
many do not realize.
have judges making decisions based on
popular opinion instead of the facts of
the case and the law.
“Since they are accountable, they
make decisions which are political,” he
said.
There should be a perfect balance.
Instead, there are competing values.
INDEPENDENCE V.
ACCOUNTABILITY
ROBBED SILENCE
In a perfect system, judges would have
both independence, yet also be held
accountable. In the current system, federal judges are given independence and
state judges are held accountable. It does
not always appear balanced in the public
eye.
“You want federal judges to be courageous,” he said. For example, during the
civil rights movement, there were judges
who ruled in favor of the law, in favor of
removing segregation from schools, and
did so to their own personal detriment.
Their independence, their life term, gave
them the power to do so without fear of
repercussions from the majority of citizens who, at that moment in history, did
not agree.
It also, however, places judges in a
position to make rulings with the knowledge they cannot be voter removed, even
when necessary.
“You don’t want tyrants running the
show how they want to run it,” said Justice Boudreau
On the opposite side of the aisle, you
have state judges who are accountable,
who must face the voters. However,
he explained, you also
For years, judges were not allowed to
speak on their beliefs or ideals. The Judicial Code of Ethics forbade it. Then, four
years ago, everything changed.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra
Day O’Connor, in Minnesota v. White,
ruled that judges have the freedom to
express their views.
“She said it’s a bad deal to elect judges
because they should be impartial,” Justice Boudreau said. “However, she
added, ‘If you are going to elect them,
you cannot muzzle them.’”
Since the ruling, judges can speak out
on controversial issues, from abortion to
gay marriage to the death penalty. The
freedom is there. Judges, however, are
rarely taking the liberty.
NOTHING TO SAY
“An essential ingredient of judges is
that you be impartial, neutral and
detached, not have an ax to grind,” he
said. “If a judge is following the
law…they take an oath, raising their
right hand and swearing to the creator,
‘I’ll follow the law.’ If they can’t do that,
they don’t need to be a judge.”
Because judges have been silenced for
so long, many are nervous to
speak out, not really
knowing what is and isn’t allowed, the
judge explained. And then, should they
speak, there is the danger their opinion
will be viewed as a stumbling block to
rightfully perform their duties.
For example, if a judge announces a
supportive stance on abortion, should a
case be presented concerning this issue,
they do not want to appear predisposed.
“You can say, ‘In my view, I’m against
abortion.’ But you cannot commit your
vote. You cannot say, ‘I promise, if you
elect me, I will rule against anything
about abortion,” Justice Boudreau said.
“There is more freedom to express our
political and social views on these issues.
Having said that, judges err on the side
of caution and don’t discuss their position.”
VOTER ADVICE
Judges don’t run on party lines. You
can’t choose by whether they are Republican or Democrat. And if they are not
outspoken about their ideals, as many
are not, you have no voter cue for your
decision, he said. That is a real problem.
“Most voters do not have the time or
the inclination to do an exhausted
research,” Justice Boudreau said. Here is
his advice:
• If you know an attorney whose judgment you trust, speak to that attorney
about the judges running for office.
• See whom your local paper endorses.
You can base your vote to support the
endorsement by whether or not you generally support the paper’s Congressional
endorsements.
• If you have the time, there are generally sponsored forums, like by the Chamber of Commerce, where the judges will
speak.
• Your vote does count and the judge
races do matter. Don’t assume the incumbent automatically deserves your vote.
Don’t just close your eyes and pick one.
Do the research. Then vote your conscience.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
17
9/11: Five Years Later
A Witness
to Infamy
A retelling of one Oklahoman’s
gripping day in the World Trade Center,
September 11, 2001
TA R A LY N N T H O M P S O N
Tim Veldstra watched burning
papers flap against the window from his
EDITOR’S NOTE:
We still remember. Just
ask us. Where were you
on September 11? We can
give details. It will forever
be part of who we are.
Nothing can reverse that
day. So instead, we
remember it, honor it,
keep it close to the crux of
our spirit. This is an article I was privileged to
write five years ago about
one man in the center of
everything that day
became. It is our honor to
share it with you as a tribute to the bravery, to the
cost, and to the lives we
can never forget.
18
view on the 61st Floor. It must have been an
explosion. It could have been an accident. It
had to be coming from the other building.
He walked out of the coffee room inside
the World Trade Center, second twin tower,
on September 11, 2001, and looked for an
explanation. It was 8:45 a.m. on the infamous morning and Veldstra had no idea of
what was happening.
He had been thinking about his wife and
daughter back home in Tulsa when he heard
a boom.
“It was like a ticker tape parade falling
down in front of my window,” Veldstra said.
He had flown into New York from Tulsa
three days earlier on a three-week trip. Veldstra, a financial advisor, had been only briefly
oriented with the building the day before.
“The first day up there the first thing you
want to do is look out those windows,” Veldstra said, concerning the World Trade Center.
“We went around to all the windows on our
break.” From one window you could look
down on Staten Island and the Statue of
Liberty.
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
Now beginning his second day and taking
his coffee with crème and sugar, Veldstra left
the break room and walked into the hallway
to see a broken window and shattered glass
on the floor. Believing an explosion had
occurred in the other building, he walked
around to the windows still looking for an
explanation.
He was unaware of the dramatic sequence
of events that had started their decent into
history. The second tower, his building,
would be attacked in a matter of minutes.
“I was in trouble and did not know it,” but
God did, Veldstra said.
Still on the 61st Floor, he heard the intercom system switch on and a man saying, “We
need to evacuate the building. We need to use
the stairs.”
But where were the exits?
“I didn’t see any exit for stairs. This was
my second day,” Veldstra said. He headed
back into his office to grab his briefcase
before heading to the exit. “Everyone else left
everything—purses, wallets, laptop computers. They thought we would be back in a couple of hours.”
Through the single door exit, he stepped
into the small walking area. “The
staircase was no bigger than you
would have in your house.”
He had walked the sidewalks of
New York his first night in town following a late dinner and had been
shoulder to shoulder in a crowd.
Now again he found himself in the
midst of a crowd, many of them
panicking, as they headed shoulder
to shoulder down the narrow staircase.
“We headed down, turned a corner, at Floor 60 there were people
coming in. We headed down, turned
a corner, at Floor 59 there were people coming in.”
Outside the narrow staircase now
jammed with people, the world had
begun watching.
Every radio station broadcast the
breaking news,
every television
program was
interrupted, every
life had tuned in
to witness Veldstra’s life.
“I had no fear at
all. Some people
did. Some people
were terrified,” he
said.
Before he had
house and she’d say, “Tim’s going to
New York. Pray for Tim.”
As he walked down the stairs,
Veldstra knew her feelings had
prompted thousands of prayers on
his behalf. When he had arrived in
New York days earlier, he had called
her the first evening, “See? I’m fine.”
But now he understood.
The intercom switched on again.
The man said, “Your building is
secure,” then incomprehensible
words, and then a repeat. “Your
building is secure.”
The noise level in the staircase was
too high, too crowded, too garbled
would eventually take him half an
hour to climb down the tower.
Past the 31st Floor Veldstra met
with the second event.
Inside the staircase the entire
building moved from one side and
then swung back to the other side,
absorbing the shock from the second
plane. However, inside, the wall to
wall crowd knew nothing.
“People started screaming, pushing and shouting,” he said. He needed to stop. He wanted to take a
minute and consider stopping.
Up against the wall, Veldstra said
people continued “coming by like a
herd of cattle,
pounding into
my chest.” The
panic had
caused an
increased pressure from people behind to
move quickly.
Although he
considered stopping on a floor
to escape the
crowd, Veldstra
started the
descent again.
“We just kept
going floor by
floor by floor
all the way
from 61.”
Still on the 61st Floor, he heard the intercom
system switch on and a man saying, “We need to
evacuate the building.We need to use the stairs.”
left Oklahoma Veldstra’s trip had
received a lot of prayers.
“My wife was just not feeling
good with letting me go,” he said.
Every person they knew, every person they met, she would say, “Tim’s
going to New York. Pray for Tim.”
They would go to Wal-Mart and see
people they knew and she’d say,
“Tim’s going to New York. Pray for
Tim.” Someone would call their
for many to understand. Nonetheless, some turned away and headed
back, perishing when the towers collapsed.
Veldstra kept on.
Feeling he had not yet found his
explanation, Veldstra continued, one
step at a time behind the person in
front of him like the person in front
of them, and so on, and so on.
The air had become muggy. It
Less than 10 floors to go smoke
filled the already stuffy staircase. At
Floor 7 the smoke started and grew
thicker as they continued down.
Some covered their mouths with
handkerchiefs or articles of clothing.
He just prayed for an open door at
the bottom of the staircase.
“I still did not have any fear, but I
had all kinds of people praying for
me,” Veldstra said.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
19
NOW 4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:
South Tulsa
7600 S. Lewis
493-7800
SouthCrest
91st & Mingo
294-8844
Broken Arrow
83rd & Elm
251-2273
Harvard Parke
81st & Harvard
494-8824
Caring...IT’S WHAT WE DO BEST!
www.fmct.com
20
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
9/11: Five Years Later
In the lobby he was directed by
security, firefighters, and police officers to head through the mall
instead of exit out the front where
feet of debris had been piled.
Now blocks away, the crowd was
no longer pressed to keep moving.
Meeting up with fellow co-workers from Oklahoma, Veldstra and
the group headed toward the hotel
as he glanced up at the holes in the
building, still unaware of what had
caused it. Walking away he heard a
woman scream and turned around
once more.
“There was something falling and
I did not even know what it was,”
he said.
Then he comprehended. People
were jumping out of the building.
“Seeing those people fall is the
most sickening feeling. They fell so
long,” Veldstra said.
The seriousness of the situation
met him at Ground Zero.
Although he would soon understand, Veldstra said he found it difficult to absorb the idea the situation
had been hopeless for these people,
so dire was the circumstance they
leaped out the windows with no
hope for survival.
A mile away Veldstra and the
Oklahoma group walked from
behind several buildings to get their
last chance at seeing the towers, but
they had disappeared. The landmarks were gone, vacating the New
York skyline.
“The first thing I see from the television in (my hotel) lobby is the
plane flying into the building.” Now
he had his explanation. Now he
knew what the rest of the world
knew. He had escaped, thousands
had not.
Veldstra said his experience is his
testimony of God’s goodness, a testimony he tells frequently since that
day, a testimony he’ll tell until his
last day.
Reprinted with permission from the Sand
Springs Leader, 2001.
Five years to the day
This year Tim Veldstra turned 50,
his marriage turned 25, and his
moment with history turned five. He
hasn’t forgotten. How could he? But
he hasn’t dwelled either. He’s taken
the gift of life and lived it, as he did
before 9/11, as he’s done since.
“We should never forget. Not for
my sake but for the sake of the nearly 3,000 who died,” said Veldstra, as
we sat in his office in August, the
New York. “Post-traumatic stress
syndrome I never had.”
When the Oliver Stone film,
“World Trade Center” released,
Veldstra and his wife went. The
movie was “realistic,” he said, but
did not cause any severe emotional
reaction.
“But, I related to the stories that
were different. I got out. That was
the grace of God for me and for my
Did 9/11 change him?
The better question: How could 9/11 not change him?
It changed everyone.Veldstra is no exception.
world outside the windowpane in
the throws of a never-ending war
against terrorism.
He is the same man I spoke with
five years ago, same calm demeanor,
same peace with life, same. And perhaps that is the real story of Tim
Veldstra, his contentment with God
in any situation—even on the 61st
Floor of the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001.
“I never did have issues. Never
had sleepless nights. That is the
grace of God,” he said, though
admitting he has not been back to
family. I recognize the pain I didn’t
have. I don’t try to figure out why.”
The response when people learn
Veldstra was inside the second tower
is one of awe.
“There’s just, ‘Wow, I’ve never
met anyone who was actually
there,’” he said. Then, almost
always, comes the response. “People
say, ‘God has a plan for your life.’
Well, God has a plan for everyone’s
life. I don’t think mine is different
than anyone else’s.”
Did 9/11 change him?
The better question: How could
Tim Veldstra
9/11 not change him? It changed
everyone. Veldstra is no exception.
His miracle is in the fact it didn’t
destroy him—not just his life but his
capacity for living. He’s continued
on. He’s raised his family, watched
his second son marry, welcomed two
grandchildren into the world, taught
his daughter to drive. And he continues, just the same, grounded in the
faith that kept him calm inside total
chaos, that kept him safe in the
midst of tragedy, that directed him
out of that building that crumbled to
the ground.
“I sought the will of God before it
happened. I sought the will of God
after.”
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
21
Victory KidsCare
Mother’s
Day Out
KidsCare
6 weeks - 4 years
6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
2440 E. 81st St.
918-492-5275
4 months - 4 years
9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
7700 S. Lewis Ave.
918-491-7754
[email protected]
[email protected]
“Where Learning and Growing Go Hand in Hand”
• 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
Maximize Your Child’s Abilities!
We specialize in helping students with:
Reading • Written Expression • Basic Math • Study Skills • Prescriptive Instruction
Diagnostic Assessments by a Psychometrist
Now Enrolling For Our Fall Sessions
YORKTOWN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 4528 S. Sheridan Road, Ste. 204
[email protected] • 610-0937 • Fax: 610-7224
Evangelistic
Temple School
An
Interdenominational
Christian School
Serving Children
Three Years Old
through
High School Juniors
in the 2006-2007
School Term!
Now Enrolling
743-5597
Call
20/20 or it’s FREE!
22
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
1339 E. 55th St.
www.etstulsa.com
ETS students... Educationally prepared and spiritually equipped.
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.
300 $1000
$
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 10-31-06
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
23
community kids
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle
Emergency Infant Services provides for children and families in need.
Amanda needed food for her
baby, clothes for her toddler, help for her
The service is geared
toward family
members below the
age of six. We
service infants more
than anyone else.
Danny Collins
EIS Executive Dir.
24
family. She had lost her job. Her husband’s
vehicle broke down. And as if the stress hadn’t been enough, the sudden shortage of
funds meant no money for the rent. It didn’t
take long before her, her husband, and their
six children were living in the Tulsa County
Emergency Shelter.
That’s when Amanda turned to Emergency
Infant Services (EIS).
“They helped us out with a lot of things,”
she said. “They gave us three bags of groceries.”
She was also able to get diapers, wipes,
clothes for the kids, toys and a stroller for
her children, ranging in ages from 14months to 8-years.
“They know my face when I walk in.
They have always been nice and respectful,”
she said.
EIS is a non-profit agency providing basic
needs of children five and under whose family has recently encountered an emergency
situation—like the loss of a job, loss of a
home, medical expenses, etc. Through private donations, community foundations, and
a small percentage from FEMA, EIS offers
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
tangible items for the care of children.
“The great thing about it is we’re so
broad,” said Danny Collins, EIS Executive
Director. “We’re a one stop shop for anything a child might need.”
Rows of “gently used” baby clothes line
the walls, neatly organized and hung by
sizes. The pantry, which processes $45,000 a
year in formula, has every name brand imaginable so children are not expected to adjust
to a new formula.
“The service is geared toward family
members below the age of six,” Collins said.
“We service infants more than anyone else.”
Families are allowed four visits each calendar year for non-clothing items and once a
season for clothes.
“One-third of our clients utilize all the visits. They are making just enough money to
provide for their family, barring a car repair
or medical bill they just didn’t prepare for,”
he said.
In an average day, EIS will see 20 to 25
local people, with a yearly average of
approximately 6,800.
For additional information about EIS or
to volunteer, visit www.emergencyinfantservices.org.
JBF-OWASSO IS NOW
ACCEPTING CONSIGNORS
Just Between Friends-Owasso Children’s Consignment Sale is now accepting consignors for the Fall/Winter 2006
sale!
JBF-Owasso/Claremore/Bartlesville and
Surrounding Areas 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. By selling their own
items, consignors will make 70% of the
selling price on gently used children’s
and maternity merchandise. To register
as a consignor go to
www.jbfsale.com/owasso and click on
the “online signup” button.
Just Between Friends Children’s Consignment donates a portion of
their proceeds from their spring and fall sales every year. Following
their Spring 2006 sale, JBF co-owners Daven Tackett (far left) and
Shannon Wilburn (far right) presented EIS with a $6,500 check to (left
to right) EIS’s Bookkeeper Brynne Mycue, Director Danny Collins, and
Volunteer Linda Fiddler.
JBF-OWASSO SALE DATES:
Thursday, October 5, 10am-7pm
Friday, October 6, 10am-7pm
Saturday, October 7, 8am-1pm,
50% off sale
JBF-BROKEN ARROW SALE DATES:
September 14-17, Broken Arrow
Community Center, 1500 South Main.
NEW LARGER SALE LOCATION:
9341 N. 129th E. Ave., Owasso
Near corner of 96th St. N. & 129th E.
Ave. (Owasso First Assembly of God
Church; big white church across from
Home Depot)
ACCEPTED ITEMS: Clothing (infant to
junior sizes) • Maternity Clothing Hats &
Shoes • Maternity Items Layette Items •
Books, DVDs, Videos & Software •
Nursery Items Playground Equipment •
Baby Equipment (strollers, etc.) • Baby
Furniture • Toys, Toys, & More Toys
CONTACT: Donna Pepper, Owner
Phone: 918-637-1485
or [email protected]
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
25
community kids
Is there a Ticking Time Bomb
in YOUR Church Parking Lot?
TOM MCCLOUD
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
NOTE FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
Okay listen! We have
written about this a couple of times over the
years. We have begged
our own churches to do
something about it. We
have tried to shout the
message out to everyone
we know. Yet, the average
church parking lot still
contains one or more of
these deadly vehicles.
Please listen before it is
too late!
For years, churches
have used the standard
15-passenger van as the
perfect vehicle to haul
kids and adults to camp,
retreats, and other outings. They can seat a lot
of people, they are relatively inexpensive, and
they don’t require a special CDL drivers license.
The perfect choice...right?
Mounting evidence concludes that the answer is
no! In fact they are proving to be extremely dangerous.
26
Originally manufactured as cargo vans,
the vehicles were never designed to safely
transport people. When five or more passengers are riding in these vans, the center
of gravity changes, increasing the possibility of rollover. Studies show that because
the rear of the vehicle extends four to five
and a half feet beyond the rear wheels, any
loading of five or more people or
luggage/equipment (or placing items on a
luggage carrier) causes instability during
sudden turns. This causes the vans to fishtail, and because they are top heavy and
overloaded in the rear, they are prone to
roll over, causing devastating crashes.
Armed with alarming test data and a
growing file of pending law suits on the
subject, public “watchdog” groups such as
Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen are pressuring the automobile industry to completely
redesign the passenger vans, setting new
standards for rollover, as well as sideimpact protection. And to some extent,
they have successfully gotten the attention
of Congress. (A new federal law now prohibits the sale of 15-passenger vans for the
school related transport of high school
aged and younger students.) However,
many churches have not been alerted to
the dangers. Therefore, going to camp in
that old “church van” may be the most
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
dangerous ride you and your child will
ever take.
ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE?
We interviewed Mike Tedford of Tedford Insurance, a leading specialist in helping churches assess and protect churches
from liability.
“I understand that your 15-passenger
van is cheaper to put on the road than the
other alternatives and I understand watching budgets is so very important. And it is
not that insurance can't be purchased to
cover these vans, it can be. But what is the
overall cost? Insurance is a product thatpromises reimbursement for property
damage or bodily injury in the case of a
loss or accident, but as someone’s agent I
am also interested in how can someone
prevent losses or accidents. Bottomline,
with 15-passenger vans a relationship has
been shown between load and probability
of a rollover: With fewer than 10 passengers: 12.7 percent may rollover; 10 and
more passengers: 35.4 percent may
rollover; and 16 and more passengers: 70
percent may rollover. With these types of
odds the danger for children and church
members is too great.”
This last summer camp season, your
church probably loaded the van with kids,
threw even more luggage on top and
Studies show that because the rear of the vehicle extends four to five
and a half feet beyond the rear wheels, any loading of five or more
people or luggage/equipment causes instability during sudden turns.
maybe even hooked on a trailer. Now
imagine the results of that van rolling
over at 70 miles an hour on the highway.
It is a risk you absolutely should not
take. And if you do, your church leaders
could be held personally responsible.
CAN THE VANS BE FIXED?
According to studies by Public Citizen,
“adding dual wheels (an additional wheel
on either side) to the rear of these vans
has been shown in testing to increase the
vans’ stability. A retrofit by the manufacturers of the 500,000 vehicles on the
highway would cost $300-400 per vehicle, or about $135 in mass production
for new vehicles.” Thus far, manufacturers have chosen not to take this step.
Should you decide to have the retrofit
done yourself, Public Citizen recommends that you have the work done by a
certified original equipment dealership
who will stand behind their work.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
Public Citizen said, “Ideally, you
should take your 15-passenger van outof-service and use a small school bus for
group transportation.” However, should
you temporarily need to continue to use
your 15-passenger van, you should abide
by the following recommendations of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Transportation
Safety Board and the GuideOne Insurance for lowering the risk of rollover in
15-passenger vans:
• Screen all drivers. It is best to require
that drivers obtain a commercial driver’s
license.
• Remove the rear seat of the vans
to reduce loading behind the vehicle’s
rear axle.
• Limit the capacity to nine persons
including the driver, which dramatically
reduces the risk of rollover.
• Load forward seats first at all times.
• Communicate with passengers, parents and other parties about the high
risks.
• Do not tow anything behind the vehicle or load the roof.
• Conduct a full safety inspection of
the vehicle, including all tires, pre- and
pos-trip (tire blow-outs are particularly
dangerous and often lead to rollovers).
• Include safety items on board, such
as a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and
cellular phone (which should not be used
during driving).
• Require all passengers and the driver
to wear proper safety restraints any time
the vehicle is in motion.
tedfordinsurance.com • 918-299-2345
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
27
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DISCOUNTS: GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE GET 2 TICKETS FREE
FOR MORE INFO CALL MABEE CTR TICKET OFFICE 918-495-6000
I Can Feel a Difference!
“After only four treatments I
felt amazing. When I came to
Marshall Chiropractic I could
hardly walk. Now my back and
knee feels great. I have no
problems. Anytime I have any
neck, back or leg pain,
Dr. Marshall fixes the problem.
I recommend him
to everyone.”
Gloria Bohn
6703 E. 81st St., Suite E
Near 81st & Sheridan
All Insurance Accepted
494-0929
www.MarshallChiropractic.com
28
OCTOBER 19, 2006, 7:30PM
DOORS OPEN 1 HR BEFORE • TICKETS ON SALE, $15-$20
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
Loving Home
THIS SECTION IS PRESENTED BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS.
THANK THEM WITH YOUR BUSINESS!
GENESIS
DESIGN
GROUP
LLC
Mark Close Roofing
& Construction Inc. “Since 1988”
loving home
Extreme
MAKEOVER
Available to All!
A few months ago, we told you of an
Extreme Makeover one church was doing
on a house of one of its members. Now
after the “Move that Bus” party and with
the family moved inside, we thought we
would give you a quick glimpse of the
before and after photos. It is pretty
astounding.
It all started when a few men found out
that one of the families within their church
did not have any heat. In the process of trying to solve the problem, they suddenly
TIP
AFTER
BEFORE
30
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
When choosing a carpet stair runner, it is
your own personal preference on how
much of the stair should show. There are 3
choices: the Waterfall style, with the carpet
flowing continuously down the stairs, The
Stair Rod style, which is the same however decorative rods are added to each stair, and the New York
style has carpet covered treads and the risers are
bare. GRIGSBY'S CARPET TILE & RUG
GALLERY
This makeover could not have
been done without the help of
many generous companies.
Please thank the following
people by giving them
your business. Tell them
Extreme Makeover sent you.
Harley Hollan Excavation & Concrete:
Excavation & Dumpsters
Veale Concrete Products:
Concrete Block
Right Construction: Sheetrock
Estrada Painting:
Painting at a big discount
were faced with doing something really “extreme,”
rebuilding the house from the
ground up.
The family, grandparents
who took in their disabled
daughter and her three young
boys, are now settled into their
new, safe, warm, and gorgeous home. And with job
completed, the church members now have a new view of
the personal benefits of going
the extra mile.
“The analogy is obvious,”
said one member. “God has
done an extreme makeover on
our lives, a gift we could never
repay. But it gives us great joy
to do something like this for
someone, especially someone
so deserving. And in doing so,
we want everyone to understand that no matter where
you are, no matter what you
have done, God stands ready
to completely rebuild your live
through Jesus Christ. Now
that…is really extreme!”
Millcreek Lumber:
Exterior Doors and Discounts
Integrity Plumbing:
Much of the plumbing
Central Electric:
Electric at huge discount
Reco Enterprises: Labor and support
Mark Close Roofing: Roof
E&J Roofing Supply:
Roofing materials
Burnett Siding & Windows: Windows
Midwest Interiors:
Cabinets and trim labor
Tulsa Energy: Insulation
AirCo Heating & Air:
Central Heat & Air and Installation
Grigsby’s Carpet & Tile:
Carpet and other flooring
Chris Billings, Forest Lawn
& Landscape:
Sprinkler system
Drapes, upholstery, and bed spreads
by Lois Smith
House of Draperies, Fayetteville
(Cheryl Walker’s Mom)
Drapery installation, Dennis Moore
Headboards and cornice boards,
Johnny Presley
Seamstresses,
Norma Posey & Donna Sumter
Mural Art by “The Mural Lady,”
Cathy Schubert
Wallpaper, Cindy Stone
Special Thanks to …
Sarah Wiley and Cheryl Walker
Interior Design Artists
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
31
loving home
Bath Designs
Refresh
ANNA D. WRIGHT
There is a growing trend to pack a
lot more function and pleasure into bathrooms these days. A great bath design
can be a source of increased wellness and
can add value to your home. Next to a
kitchen, the bath is frequently the second
most costly room to update. And it is a
significant part of new construction
budgets as well. So, it makes sense to get
as much benefit from the bath area as
possible.
If the word bathroom conjures up an
image in your mind of a basic sink,
shower or tub and toilet, set aside that
image and take an adventurous tour
through the emerging new world of spainspired bathrooms.
The main power driving this trend is
not simply beauty or luxury; it is emphasis on promoting wellness by incorporating spa-inspired products in bath design,
although bathrooms are becoming more
beautiful than ever.
First, let’s look at showers. Although
the shower in the photo has a standard
shower head, it is more than merely
functional looking. This shower area
combines a natural travertine tile design
on walls, floor and arched ceiling along
with decorative metallic tiles. It has
arched glass doors and a travertine corner seat. And from this beautiful starting
point, bath designs are adding even more
features.
Beyond simple cleansing, a shower
can do much more to promote wellness.
With the right shower head selection and
placement, a shower can massage your
34
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
tired, tense muscles. The
trend is toward multiple
shower fixtures that run
simultaneously to massage your body at different pressure points and
with variable streams of
water at controlled temperatures. And for those
of you who love hightech, this can all be cus- BATHROOM BEAUTY: This attractive shower features a natural
travertine and metallic tile design, arched ceiling and travertine cortomized and proner seat. This bathroom design also boasts a beautiful mural on
grammed into memory
another wall.
at the touch of a
remote.
percentage of increase. And the health
Many of these wonderful new resibenefits are something to consider as well.
dential offerings have their roots in
Saunas can include exquisite glass
something you would enjoy at a comdoors and stunning tile designs making
mercial spa, which brings us to the new
them part of a beautiful bathroom décor.
move toward saunas for the home.
The dry sauna units have rich wood inteThroughout history, people have travriors. Saunas today have fittings for easieled great distances to sweat out toxins
ly diffusing aromatherapy essences to
in dry saunas or steam rooms. And,
enhance the detoxifying process and
more recently, in infrared saunas—dry
delighting the senses in the process.
systems that use lower temperature
One more exciting residential product
infrared heat. (Where the standard dry
is the shower-steam sauna combination.
sauna temperature runs 140-190 degrees, In the same floor space as a shower, you
the infrared system runs 105-140
can enjoy the combination of a multiple
degrees.)
fixture massaging shower plus a steam
Today, you don’t have to leave home
room in one united design element.
to derive those same benefits. For several
Another manufacturer makes a dry
thousand dollars you can add a sauna to
sauna with mist feature and optional
your home bath design. As size increases,
shower.
so does the price tag. But, before you
The goal is a bathroom that provides
gasp at the price, think about the total
real therapeutic benefits, and the soaking
budget you will invest in that bathroom
tub is receiving a real makeover as well.
anyway. Depending upon the home, that
There is a new generation to the waterfigure may not represent a significant
jet tubs. New soaking tubs include
TIP
Successful design means having
all the right pieces in the right
Are you tired
of a cluttered
garage?
Let us Help
places.
GENESIS DESIGN GROUP
Organizational Solutions
for a Beautiful Garage!
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water-air jet massage and pure air massage. Many of
these new designs feature a recessed area along your
back that directs the jet stream to provide back and
neck massage. The tubs are also specially designed to
support the body to enhance the massage benefits.
Another health oriented innovation incorporates
chromatherapy, which is color therapy. Science has
provided much evidence about the way humans
respond to color, and those studies are being utilized in
interior design. Some new whirlpool baths include
LED lighting to surround you with specific colors
aimed at specific health benefits while you soak. You
can program the lighting sequence to meet your needs
at the touch of a remote.
Amid all of our health consciousness and desire for
beauty and luxury, we are still green-conscious, and
water conservation is a consideration in new toilet
designs. However, so is function and form. There are
improved bowl shapes that improve functionality.
There is also an increasing trend toward slightly higher
profile toilets. These heights used to be designated as
handicapped, but today, they are gaining in general
popularity simply because they can be more comfortable for many people.
One of the first new trends in bathroom fixtures to
show up in retail magazines was the collection of innovative new sink designs. In many advertisements, we
see sinks that look like stone bowls, and other freeform
shapes abound.
But the other furnishings for the bath have arrived,
and they are exciting. For example, bathroom cabinetry is keeping pace with bathroom luxury by using
many new cabinet styles that resemble fine furniture.
And some of the new towel bars and other accessories
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SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
35
loving home
R. Collins
woo dwo r k
h a n dy wo r k
r. collins woodwork carving out integrity
You can tell a lot about a
man by looking at his hands.
Some have hands of surgeon, long
and nimble. Others have hands of
an accountant, or a lawyer, quickly
completing their task. But Rick
Collins’ hands paint a different
picture. Rough and calloused, they
testify to a career of hard work.
Gripping tools with both strength
and precision, these hands were
designed to build cabinets, to create beauty out of raw lumber.
Humble in spirit, Rick says there
is not much to tell about his
career…he builds cabinets and furniture. But aside from the gorgeous
final products of his labor, the way
he runs his business and the faith
he has in his Lord gives us many
reasons to share his story.
Rick and his wife, Carla, run R.
Collins Woodwork, a company
capable of most any redecorating
project, but one that specializes in
designing and creating fine, custom-made cabinets and furniture.
They started the company four
years ago. After nearly 15 years of
building cabinets for other companies, Rick wanted to work on his
own time-clock, to be able to
invest the time to “make sure every
job is done right.” But aside from
that, he wanted to get to know his
clients, to design projects to be
both practical and beautiful, and
to do so at affordable prices.
36
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
They started the company by
doing weekend side jobs. But word
spread and their growing reputation soon forced them to go into
the business full time. Since then,
they have never done any advertising and word-of-mouth has kept
them very busy.
“We become friends with our
customers,” Carla explained.
Aside from doing the paperwork, Carla assists Rick and provides “the woman’s touch,” Rick
jokes. “She watches to make sure
we are meeting every expectation
of our customers (especially the
women).”
The two make a great team, and
they love their job, the people it
allows them to meet, and the
things it allows them to do. In
their success, they see that God
uses them as a filter to pass blessings on to others. And now with
grown children, they are able to
spend their spare time teaching
Sunday school. “We love kids and
it is fun to play a role in helping to
make sure they are heading in the
right direction,” Carla said.
“God has taught us many things
in this business,” said Rick. “He
has taught us about the responsibility we have to provide a quality
product and about the integrity He
requires of each of us. His word
tells us to do everything as if we
were doing it for Him. With that
TIP
“In everything you do,
do it as unto the Lord.”
Small photo-cells installed on porch
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LEE ELECTRIC
in mind, our customers deserve the
best we can offer.”
“We have also learned about
reaping and sowing. It is absolutely
true, we reap what we sow. If we go
the extra mile for a customer, it
always comes back to us in the way
of a referral or in some other way.”
R. Collins Woodwork offers inhome design consulting, fine furniture and cabinets, and custom finishes and glazes. They pride themselves on meeting the needs of their
customers, working on their schedule and delivering a quality product
at a fair price. “We turn the customer’s vision into reality with the
least amount of disruption and
cost,” Rick said.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
37
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Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
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senior class
On the Road to Malawi
HYLA HOPE HARDER
When Dr. Gordon Nielsen
thought of retirement, he
dreamed of being a missionary. Then
Gordon met Catherine, a beautiful
and brilliant widow. To each other’s
amazement, they discovered they had
the same dream—being a missionary.
When Gordon was asked to go to
Fairbanks to teach at the University
of Alaska, they each wondered if
their newly discovered affection
could remain intact from such a distance.
The old adage “Absence makes the
heart grow fonder” proved to be correct and Catherine traveled 10,000
miles to marry Gordon at the University Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks
on a crisp, cold winter day. It was
–30 degrees Fahrenheit. A surprise
would await them. This was the
beginning of the road that would
lead them to both Lithuania and to
Malawi.
Gordon was the former Dean of
the Business College at the University
of Tulsa (TU) and Catherine had a
degree in English from TU. She had
worked for the Department of
Human Services, so both could give
40
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
priceless gifts to the missionary field.
After they returned to Tulsa, the
newlyweds contacted the Presbyterian USA Volunteers in Missions Program for missionary opportunities. In
1997, they went to Lithuania to
teach at the newly formed Lithuania
Christian College. Gordon taught
accounting and Catherine taught
English.
When the Nielsens arrived,
Lithuania was just gaining freedom
from Soviet domination. The college
had been founded by Presbyterians to
help students adapt to the new economic and social environment. “For
some students, this was the first time
they ever held a Bible in their hands.
For all students, it was the first time
they had ever had a faculty they
could trust,” Gordon said.
Gordon became the first chairman
of the accounting department in the
newly formed college. The Nielsens
stayed two years in Lithuania. They
have been gone for seven years, but
their presence is still felt on campus
because Gordon was instrumental in
helping the college receive accreditation and some of their students are
now the college’s administrators.
The next stop on their missionary
road was the African nation of
Malawi. The daughter of Salvation
Army missionaries, Catherine had
been born in Johannesburg and had
grown up in Nairobi and Kenya, so
going back to Africa was especially
meaningful to her.
The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program needed an accountant
in Malawi so Gordon went as a volunteer. The Nielsens stayed in
Malawi from June to December 2004
and then Gordon went back for three
months in 2005.
Malawi is one of the poorest
nations in the world. Before the
Nielsens arrived, the country had
been hit with terrible floods and later
droughts. Rampant starvation greeted the Nielsens when they went to
their assignment in Chingale,
Malawi.
While the Nielsens were in
Malawi, in a nearby village a mother
died moments after giving birth to a
baby girl. In that village the only
food for an infant is mother’s milk.
Everyone in the village presumed the
baby would die except the baby’s
father. He borrowed a bicycle and
traveled 12 miles to Chingale to find
missionaries to help his baby.
When Catherine and Gordon came
out of their house, they saw the
baby’s father sitting under a tree
waiting for someone to help him. He
told them he had faith that God
would, through the missionaries, save
his baby whom he had named Miriam. The Nielsens dispatched a Landrover to go to the nearest town,
Blantyre, to get formula. The nurse at
the mission taught the baby’s grandmother how to fix formula and
Catherine personally paid for the formula until Miriam could eat solid
TIP
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15
food. A precious child is
“We are humbled by the
opportunity to serve,”
Catherine said. “Millions of
people live on less than $1 a day.
Before we left for Malawi, we had
decided to remodel our kitchen.
When we got back, we looked at our
kitchen and said, ‘We don’t need to
remodel anything.’”
“We realized we had so much
stuff,” Gordon said. “We are far
more grateful for everything now.”
“I am so grateful that God has
allowed me to go to the missionary
field. If I have done any good, it is
from God. There is always an opportunity to serve. People need to inves-
Did you know that by age 50, nearly one in
every two people has difficulty understanding conversations, especially in
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See for yourself. CLEAR-TONE
tigate how they can go on a missionary trip through their church. But if a
person can’t go away, then he should
look for ways to serve in Tulsa.
Excellent service projects are teaching
literacy at the Tulsa Public Library, or
projects at Salvation Army or delivering Meals on Wheels. ” Catherine
said.
Gordon added, “All people are
God’s children. We have an obligation to love them through our financial resources and our prayers. We
have an obligation to preach the
Gospel.”
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SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
41
senior class
Covered Wagons
to Super Slabs
More than
one hundred
years ago,
my grandparents traveled
across the
prairie in a
covered wagon
seeking Indian
Territory
land.
42
J A M E S E . TAT E
More than one hundred years
ago, my grandparents traveled across
the prairie in a covered wagon seeking
Indian Territory land. The family of
three, with iron-rimmed wheels,
squeaking axles and jostling pans, carried their own “fixins” for meals along
the way. Grandma was up to the task
at campfires and handled them with
skill. Streams and shallow rivers
offered a chance to wash up and sometimes to
swim in
refreshing
water at crossings. They
made camp where they
happened to be at day’s
end and slept under winking stars. When it rained,
they gathered their blankets
and took cover under the wagon
canopy or on the ground beneath.
Crowded, but endurable as long as
uninvited varmints didn’t intrude.
Complaints? Seldom. They took life
as it came. Men don’t ask directions,
but Grandpa Florer had no choice but
to ask locals how to get to their destination—the starting point for the first
Oklahoma Land Run scheduled for
April 22, 1889.
On that historic day, at the crack of
the cannon he cracked the whip and
his team lurched forward, adrenalin at
a feverish pitch. Many choice sites
were already taken by “Sooners” who
had illegally sneaked in ahead of
schedule to drive their stakes and
guard their ill-gotten claims with shotguns.
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
Finally, my grandparents found an
unclaimed site that appeared to have
fertile land with a creek running
through for added interest. Grandpa
drove his stakes claiming the 160 acres
for their new home site, ten miles east
of present day Stillwater. To qualify for
ownership, all homesteaders must
“prove-up” during the first five years,
and so they began work immediately.
In the next few weeks they sunk a
well, built their
temporary house
and barn, and
began planting
crops. This is
the place where
my mother and
her brother
were born and
raised.
Neighboring families began meeting
for worship services on Sundays, and
soon volunteers built Bethel Church
one mile north of the Florer place.
Often on Sunday afternoons they had
“dinner on the ground,” and passed
on the latest news while waiting for
the evening church service to begin.
The children, in the meantime, played
games such as Blind Man’s Buff, and
Red Rover, Red Rover, come over,
come over. On special occasions the
older children and young adults played
softball games on improvised playing
fields.
In contrast today, our children play
computer and video games, and talk
with friends on cell phones. Telephones were only coming on the scene
in the early 1900’s with magneto
party lines vogue for the time.
Today parents push their children to
excel in sports such as soccer and
basketball. We cruise interstate
highways that may have been merely wagon trails in our grandparent’s
days. We luxuriate in comfort of airconditioned cars with no thought to
heat or cold, traveling at speeds well
over a-mile-a-minute. We stop at
fast food shops or fine restaurants
according to time and taste. Motels
are spaced along the route for our
convenience, offering an array of
amenities such as hot tubs, swimming pools, gyms and salons.
In a century, we’ve come a long
way in this great land of ours. Just
TIP
God has blessed this country and we
must come against this effacement
of our religious heritage.
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COUNTRY CLUB OF WOODLAND
HILLS
think of the time-saving devices
such as washing machines, dryers,
and kitchen appliances, With shorter work hours we enjoy visiting
many places of interest such as
national parks which offer spectacular scenes—Yellowstone to the Redwood Forests, Grand Canyon to
Carlsbad Caverns to Niagara Falls.
Our churches have risen from oneroom buildings with perhaps a
piano, platform, and slatted pews to
great cathedrals. And our schools
have evolved as well.
Our founding fathers never took
for granted the privilege of worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. But today
there are those who are trying to
distance our nation from Christiani-
ty, beginning with our children.
They would legislate from classrooms, the Ten Commandments and
even the Pledge of Allegiance. How
displeased God must be. He has
blessed this country and we must
come against this effacement of our
religious heritage.
While we enjoy pursuing our
“American dream,” let us be ever
mindful of our dependence upon
God. Our churches, cities, schools,
and our freedom are ours to enjoy
by His providence. We thank God
for America and count it a privilege
to live in this great land.
Please God, bless America—
again!
Move to the
Head of the Class!
Tune in to
Senior Class Radio
Monday-Friday @ 3:00pm
AM970 KCFO
Sunday mornings @ 7:00
AM1170 KFAQ
w w w. s e n i o r c l a s s m e d i a . c o m
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
43
FAMILY NIGHT OUT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 7 PM
THE MABEE CENTER
Join K95.5FM’s “Family Night Out” free country
concert on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Mabee Center.
Admission is FREE. Musical guests include Josh Gracin
and Mark Wills along with local favorite Thomas Mar-
SPONSORED BY:
tinez. It’s a free show but you must have a ticket to get
in. Free tickets are available from participating area
sponsors during special two-hour live K95.5FM remote
broadcasts. For more information, click on
www.k955fm.com, call (918) 523-2001 or listen to
K95.5FM.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
6 pm: Doors Open
7 pm: Opening Ceremonies, Main Stage
Color Guard • Pledge of Allegiance • National Anthem
7:10 pm: Thomas Martinez
8 pm: Mark Wills
9 pm: Josh Gracin
10:30 pm: Music Ends
Thomas Martinez
44
Community Spirit S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6
Mark Wills
Josh Gracin
CATS
Pouncing into the PAC
“CATS,” the show that revolutionized musical theatre, is celebrating its 25th anniversary right here at the Tulsa
Performing Arts Center, September 15 – 17 for five performances.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, the master of musical theatre, is celebrating 25 years of the wonder of “CATS.” Before “The Phantom of the Opera,” “CATS” pounced onto the stage as the first
mega-musical. On May 11, 1981, “CATS” opened at the New
London Theatre in the West End, becoming the longest running
musical in the history of British theatre. In 1982, “CATS”
opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and
became the longest running musical in Broadway history.
“CATS” ended its 18 year run on September 10, 2000. Who
says cats only have 9 lives? In October of 1991, “CATS”
became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre history. Five continents, 26 countries, over eight and a half
million audience members and twenty-five years later, “CATS”
is still America’s most loved family musical. Celebrating not
only 25 years but the birth of the mega-musical, “CATS” is still
revolutionary and awe inspiring.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,
and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “CATS” has won
seven Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a
Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.
“CATS” will be at the Tulsa PAC September 15-17 as an
add-on production to the 2006-2007 Broadway Season. Tickets
go on sale Friday, August 18. Tickets may be purchased via
phone 596-7111, (800) 364-7111, in person at the Tulsa PAC
ticket office, or via the Internet at www.MyTicketOffice.com.
Groups of twenty or more may call Celebrity Attractions at
477-7469 ext. 220 for a discount. For more information, interviews and pictures contact Celebrity Attractions at (918) 4777469 or visit the Celebrity Attractions’ website at
www.celebrityattractions.com.
FUN FACTS:
• “Cats” is the longest
continuously running
touring show in U.S.
history.
• “Cats” was the
longest running musical ever in both London
and New York (closed
September 10, 2000).
• Since its opening,
“Cats” has been presented in 26 countries
and over 300 cities.
• “Cats” has been translated into 10 languages.
• “Cats” is the largest
single generator of jobs
in Broadway history.
• For the Broadway
opening, the Winter
Garden Theatre was
gutted and the roof
replaced to accommodate Grizabella's trip to
the Heaviside Layer.
• The set of “Cats” consists of 2,500 oversized
props.
• “Memory” has been
recorded by over 150
artists, from Barbra
Streisand to Johnny
Mathis to Liberace.
Barry Manilow’s rendition was a Top 40 hit in
the U.S.
• “Cats” had a total economic impact of $3.12
billion on the city of
New York.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Community Spirit
45
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did what no other hospital would do
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— 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.
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As inspirational as Beth’s story is, there are others. Many patients
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If you or someone you know is suffering from cancer, we urge
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