september 2012 | community spirit magazine

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September 2012

ContentsPUBLISHER & EdItoR Tom McCloud

CREAtIVE dIRECtoR Ramond Walker

Cover Photo Courtesy of Chris Ocken - ockenphotography.com.

CoNtRIBUtING WRItERSSteve Moeller, Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Danny Cahill, Deniece Adsit, www.mccloudmedia.com • www.communityspiritmagazine.com

tULSA SALES offICE10019 S. 69th E. Ave.Tulsa, OK 74133phone: (918) 307-2323 fax: (918) 528-6209

dIStRIBUtIoNCommunity 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.

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.

Philippians 2:1-2“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Our MissiOn:Build Community – Develop a sense of community among all local believers 1. in ChristInspire Good Works2. Support Families3. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ4.

Fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communityspiritmagazine

Features:6 Should Christians Be Political?8 Apologetics University10 Book Review of Brad Johnson’s, A Compassionate Journey14 ORU Section

COLuMNs:22 Lose Your Quit with Danny Cahill25 Deniece Adsit - The Heart that Matters27 Floral Haven Cemetery29 Randy Cowell

4 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2012

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Does God want us involved in politics? The 21st Century

American answer is an obvious and immediate “yes.” But wait, before we begin our founding fathers speech, spoken heroically behind drums and fife, lets analyze this a bit. Was Jesus politically involved? And did He call us to be?

Some argue that we have such little time to spend harvesting souls for Christ that we should focus on being apart from this world instead of knee-deep in the middle of it’s politics. They would encourage us to invest our lives in a gospel that never changes (Matthew 24:35), inserting

that this gospel should transform politics, instead of the other way around. (Romans 12:1-2) They would encourage us to be good citizens, but be most loyal to a kingdom totally foreign to this world (Philippians 3:20). Finally, they might argue that today’s politics divide believers and that we should instead clothe ourselves in the only gospel which can unite us, serving the only kingdom which will last forever.

Mike Huckabee stands proudly on the other side of the argument. As an ex-presidential candidate, Governor of Arkansas for over ten years, and an ordained Baptist minister, he serves as a Christian role model for active political involvement. And now, as a television and radio talk show personality, he encourages us to follow in the steps of

Should Christians be Political?An Interview with Mike Huckabee

the patriots who fought for our liberty and protected our rights, especially our right to worship our Creator.

We recently had the honor to join Ken Staley as we interviewed Governor Huckabee during KCFO AM970 Radio’s new show “Clearing the Air. You can hear rebroadcasts of this show on AM970 or you can listen in as you flip through our online magazine at www.communityspiritmagazine.com.

KCFO AM970 Radio has recently added Huckabee’s syndicated radio show to their afternoon line-up from 4:00 – 6:00. (Immediately following The Dave Ramsey Show.)

Salt and lightMike Huckabee is a different kind

of politician. No matter what you may think of his political positions, you must admit his presidential campaign of 2008 offered a unique, softer approach to political argument. Although firm in his convictions and bold in his vision for America, his style was more respectful and less “dirty-dog-politics” than the campaigns we have come to expect. In fact, the political pundits and especially the top echelon of the Republican Party didn’t quite know what to do with this kind-hearted, ex-preacher seeking to be the next President of the United States.

Huckabee explained the reason for his style this way. “I never found that we gain a lot of ground when we just substitute volume for substance. And I have always believed as a conservative and as a Christian that my views are intellectually defensible. I don’t have to resort to turning the volume up to decibels of discomfort to get my point across. I also believe in what the scripture says in Proverbs 15:1 that “a soft answer turns away wrath.”

It is difficult not to like Mike Huckabee and at one point when he won the Iowa Caucuses, he was in a strong position to win the Republican


C O V E R S T O R Y

nomination. But Huckabee didn’t fit the expectations of the media or the political elite. They focused only on his “Christianity,” not allowing him to be seen as a truly viable candidate.

“It was frustrating. Sure I had been a pastor 20 years before, but I had more executive experience than any other person on the stage, Democrat or Republican. No one had governed as long as I had. They focused only on my faith. The only questions the media wanted to give me was… ‘tell me about creation’ or ‘what does Ephesians say about women?’ I didn’t mind answering (those questions) because I am surely not ashamed of my faith or the scripture, but as a candidate, I wanted them to ask me about education reform or building highways or tax reform… things that really mattered in the campaign. I believe the media had a contempt and complete desire to marginalize me because I was a Christian believer. I will always feel that their attempts were largely intentional, as if to say that if you are a Christian you belong over in the corner and we will let you know when we want you to come out and say something.”

Because of this attitude, Huckabee now questions whether any “evangelical” could ever be elected as President. “You can run,” he said with a sigh, “but I don’t know how possible it is for an outspoken Christian to be elected. One of the reasons that I knew that it probably was not going to happen for me this time…there were many factors and mostly spiritual…but one of the things that became very evident was that there was a concerted effort to make sure that I never survived the Republican primary. And that wasn’t coming from Democrats, it was coming from Republicans. My experience, and I am sad to say it, is that the higher elites in the Republican party… they want evangelicals and even conservative Catholics to be involved in knocking on doors and making phone calls and being involved as far as trying to win

the election…but they really don’t want us to be involved in the leadership of the party. I described this attitude in my book, “Do the Right Thing.” Christians are treated like the politically homeless. They are like that old uncle that comes for Thanksgiving and Christmas that you have to tolerate but you really don’t want anything to do with him the rest of the year. Sadly, that is how it is played for Christians who get involved in the political realm. They want us to be involved, but not so involved as to actually take charge.”

Huckabee’s kind spirit was sometimes incorrectly assessed as weakness. “I remember one time during the campaign when a guy in the back of the room asked, ‘I just want to know if you are tough enough to be President?’ I just said, ‘Pal, have you ever been to a Baptist business meeting?’ The whole room got it. The fact is that I was in broadcasting and advertising in my first career and then became a pastor for 12 years. It was a wonderful preparation for serving in politics. Pastors have an opportunity to understand people at a level that very few are ever able to experience. I can’t think of any profession in which you touch the full spectrum of life like you do when you are a pastor. I became a lieutenant governor and then a governor for over 10 years. When I thought about issues, I understood that they affected real people. There wasn’t a single social pathology that I couldn’t put a name and a face to. And I think that is one of the benefits I had in getting into public life.”

Should ChriStianS be politiCal?

“Politics is a dirty business. But as Christians, aren’t we called to be ‘salt and light?’ Salt is a preservative and light overcomes darkness. The darker things are the more need for light and the more things spoil, the more need for preservatives. I can’t think of arena

where there is greater darkness and putrefaction than there is in politics. If Christians don’t get involved, we will have given the entire political realm over to the secular. I don’t understand how Christians could ever justify saying we shouldn’t be involved because politics affects everything we do in our lives. I have always thought that everyone wants to eat from a clean plate, but that means someone has to do the dishes. Some people say they are not going to get involved in politics and that they are not going to vote or donate to candidates…well that is fine but that means that you really don’t have any room to complain when the government is representing ungodly values and is trampling all over your spiritual liberty. We must be involved.”

adviCe for ChriStian CitizenS…What Can We do?

“First realize that the real battle is spiritual and not political. We play in a political arena, but we are really fighting against principalities and powers. If we ever forget that, we are defeated before we start.”

“Don’t assume that a political victory is the same as a spiritual victory. Elect good people and work for them, but don’t forget that you are not electing ‘perfect’ people. Don’t put your faith in politicians. You will always be disappointed. Put your faith in the Lord and recognize that politicians are vehicles, but they are not the destination. They are not going to save us. Hopefully they will give us good leadership, but even if we elect the wrong people… I have always wanted to believe that God can hit a straight lick with a crooked stick. The most important thing is that we are on our faces and knees. But having said that, should Christians be involved in politics? Absolutely.”

6 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 7


Josh went to college to become a preacher. Four years later, he left as a self-professing atheist. It is

a sad story which happens more often than you can imagine. Lacking in biblical foundation, many of our kids’ faith are crumbling under challenges from the secular world they must confront in their studies.

Local preacher, Jim Burkett along with a local group called Reasonable Faith, are set on doing something about it.

“Enormous challenges face our Nation. 85 percent of our churches are dying and over 80 percent of our young adults are leaving both the faith and the church because they are not receiving credible answers to their questions (questions about God, Christ, God’s purposes, the Bible, etc). Then when you also consider the accelerating moral collapse in our culture, we have got to start doing a better job of equipping Christians intellectually and spiritually for their own Christian walk and for their positive impact to shape our culture with God’s truth and love,” Jim Burkett said.

Their answer is to create a unique university,

a school designed not to compete with Christian colleges and universities, but rather to supplement and provide Christian leaders with the ministry and intellectual tools to advance the kingdom.

The School of Apologetics and Practical Theology will be held on Tuesday evenings beginning September 4 and ending December 4. The class will meet from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM at the Church of Battle Creek and will include topics like:

Becoming a Thinking Christian1. Understanding the First Principles of Logic and 2. ThoughtDefinitions of Truth, Facts, Knowledge3. Reaching Rational Conclusions4. Discerning Philosophical “gods”5. Defining Apologetics and Why Christian 6. Believers are commanded to “Do” ApologeticsThe Impact of Apologetics in Shaping Culture7. The Most Important Question: Does God 8. Exist?Creation and Origin Issues: The Cosmological 9. Case, The Case for DesignThe Case for the Historically Accurate and 10. Trustworthy Bible

A P O L O G E T I C S U N I V E R S I T Y

Can YOU Defend YOUR faith?Maybe you should go to Apologetics U!

SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 98 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2012

Identifying the Real Jesus: The Historical Evidence, The 11. Statistical Proof for God and ChristThe Historical Proofs for the Resurrection12. The Incredible Case for Miracles13.

In addition to the Apologetic Studies, there will be segments dealing with Practical Theology such as discerning God’s patterns and understanding the Bible.

Burkett explained that when a believer, Christian leader, or pastor takes this Training/Equipping School, he or she will be guided toward four objectives:

To understand the intellectual foundations for BIBLICAL 1. CHRISTIANITY (in other words he/she will learn that CHRISTIANITY IS A FACTUAL FAITH); The intellectual foundations of Christianity is “CORE CHRISTIANITY 101” and will be taught from a basic Christian perspective.To equip the believer to answer the questions about his 2. faith to others (I Peter 3:15) in an articulate and respectful manner.To develop a strong faith by understanding God’s 3. purposes for his life.To shape his/her sphere of influence and culture with 4. loving answers that our culture is dealing with such as: What is my purpose in life? How can I discover that purpose? How can I understand God’s leading? How can I experience God and His love?

In addition to the MAIN Core Content of the School, there will be special segments such as: 1) the Steps to Revival; 2) APOLOGETICS MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOUR SORRY; and 3) BIG WORD ALERT.

Burkett will be the primary speaker/teacher but he explains there will be others who will be assisting. “We are planning on having Special Guest Instructors who are leaders in their field as the semester continues. The School will be very practical and highly motivational. Every Christian needs to receive this training,” he explained.

Registration is $35 and the tuition is $100. To register, go to The Church at Battle Creek web site (www.thechurch.at), then to event section to Tulsa School of

apologetiCS and praCtiCal theology.Burkett explained that this is a non-denominational or

inter-denominational school and that pastors and students from all backgrounds are making plans to attend. The Tulsa Metro Baptist Network will be contacting all area pastors and churches about the School, but he needs everyone to help spread the news.

REASONABLE FAITH TULSA

In July, Tulsa’s Reasonable Faith Chapter held a

very successful On Guard Apologetics Conference

at Church at Battle Creek. About 1000 people

attended, an amazing number for a conference

held in the middle of the summer. The majority of

those attending were men under the age of 30.

A team of internationally respected Apologetics

experts addressed the conference on a wide

range of topics. Several of them also spoke in

area churches like First Baptist of Broken Arrow,

Arrow Heights Baptist, Broken Arrow, and Asbury

Methodist, Tulsa.

The Reasonable Faith Chapter is headed up by

Caleb Steele and Brian Wooton. They seek to

equip Christians to provide in the public arena

an intelligent, articulate, and uncompromising

yet gracious Christian perspective on the most

important issues concerning the truth of the

Christian faith today.

Their website (www.reasonablefaithtulsa.org)

explains that the chapter seeks to locally fulfill the

three-fold mission of philosopher and theologian

Dr. William Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith

Ministry:

To provide an articulate, intelligent voice for •

biblical Christianity in the public arena.

To challenge unbelievers with the truth of •

biblical Christianity and to train Christians to

state and defend Christian truth claims with

greater effectiveness.

Brian Wooton explained, “The purpose of our

group is to equip believers to have an articulate,

intelligent voice for biblical Christianity in their

communities and to be able to state and defend

Christian truth claims with greater effectiveness.”

For more information about this Reasonable Faith

Chapter and how to get involved, go to

www.reasonablefaithtulsa.org

You might remember the story. Back in the summer of 2009, we

introduced you to a local business owner who decided to go for a walk for charity. It wasn’t your average walk. Brad Johnson completed his 2175-mile hike over 4 months to raise over $100,000 for The Little Light House, Habitat for Humanity and Young Life.

Now, in his new book entitled, A Compassionate Journey, Brad tells the story of the ups and downs of walking from Georgia to Maine on the famous

Appalachian Trail. Walking the trail through the rough

terrain of the Southern Mountain range, the Virginia Highlands and the Mid-Atlantic Lowlands and across New England, Brad received more than just blisters. In fact, the hike proved to be a faith walk, an opportunity for God to teach him many life lessons.

If you are a hiker, A Compassionate Journey will provide you with practical insights on the do’s and don’ts of attaining such a goal. But even if you don’t own a pair of boots and have never hiked a trail, there are lessons for everyone in this interesting and heart-wrenching story. As Brad weaves his

Local Author’s A Compassionate Journey Walks Tall

own inspirational faith story through the winding path, you will cheer his daily victories and hurt with his every challenge. The book’s lessons speak to us all, but especially to men who are facing their own life challenges.

Well-written and interesting, the book provided me with hours of encouragement as Brad testified to me through his courage, determination and faith. In fact, I had trouble putting this book down and whole-heartedly recommend it to you.

It is available at Amazon.com. When you purchase the book, you can know that 50 percent of the net proceeds are going directly to 3 very deserving, Tulsa-area non-profits…The Little Light House, Habitat for Humanity and Tulsa Young Life. You can learn more about this journey by visiting www.ATJourney.com.

A Compassionate Journey is published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises LLC. Author, Brad Johnson is a native of Tulsa, a graduate of Oklahoma State and a former science teacher. He is the owner of LawnAmerica in Northeast Oklahoma. He and his wife, Becky, have 3 grown children and 3 young grandchildren.

“Until one experiences something for themselves, they can never really fully understand what it is like. After hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, I fully understand now why most people fail. It’s hard.”


LOOkINg FOR SOmE FAmILy FUNMark your calendar to attend the 2012 Brush Creek Bazaar during the weekend of September 21-23. It is an outdoor festival for the entire family and it benefits a very worthy cause called Teen Challenge of Oklahoma. The unique non-profit has a special ability to turn troubled teens into graduates who function responsibly and productively in civil society and have healthy relationships at home, work and family. Bring the whole family for a day full of family fun. For more information, visit www.brushcreekbazaar.org.

C O m m U N I T Y S P I R I T b O O k R E V I E W


m O V I E R E V I E W

Unconditional, scheduled to hit theaters this month, is a good film with good actors and an effective script. Although you may not recall the names of the stars,

you very well may recognize them when you see them. The lead actors are Lynn Collins and Michael Ealy.

Unconditional is a drama based upon the real life of “Papa Joe” Bradford, Michael Ealy plays an African American man dying of kidney disease, yet investing his life in helping disadvantaged kids. Samantha Crawford (Lynn Collins), an acclaimed storybook artist, seemingly had it all until she lost the love she cherished the most. When Sam’s storybook marriage is ripped away from her, she loses her faith and her will to live. Now fighting with despair, Samantha is obsessed with tracking down the murderer of her husband. However, a death-defying encounter with two children leads to a reunion with her oldest friend, Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy)... and begins Sam’s journey back toward God’s Unconditional love.

If not for the opening scene when Samantha is preparing to commit suicide, the show would be family-friendly. Unfortunately, the dramatic scene showing Samantha actually pointing the gun at her head, steps way beyond the line. This causes us to give strong warning. If you are planning to take children to this film, arrange to come in after this opening scene.

From there on however, Unconditional is both entertaining and inspirational. It proves that no matter how dark your circumstance, God can communicate his love through the lives of people around you.

AN INSPIRING DRAmA SERVED UP WITh hOPE

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12 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 201212 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2012

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With the pageantry you would expect from competitions for women a forth of their age, the Ms. Senior Oklahoma Pageant crowned some new queens last month. The annual event developed and sponsored by the Grace Hospice Foundation was held at Tulsa Community College’s Van Trease Performing Arts Center for Education.

The women, dressed in long gowns, were tested with questions like, “What advice would you give to a 16 year old girl of today?” The contestants came from area senior living communities and were cheered on by a huge audience of over a thousand people. Channel 8’s Laura Moss and FOX23’s Ron Terrell served as Master of Ceremonies.

This year’s winners came from four categories and included:

independent living Centers: Willa hill from broadmoor living Center

Willa’s hometown is Tonkawa, Oklahoma. She loves to travel and take cruises and she has seen things like the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Hong Kong at night, the Holy Land and has even ridden an elephant in Thailand. Her proudest moment was giving birth to her 5 children.

assisted living Centers: patricia fisher from Candlebrook assisted living

Patricia’s hometown is Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She loves to shop and her fondest memory was dancing with her dad. “I would stand on his feet and he would dance with me.”

long term Care Centers: Sandra holcomb from Southern hills rehab

Sandra’s hometown is Chicago, Illinois. She loves to embroider, sew, and play BINGO and cards. Her fondest memory is when she and her family would take vacations and have fun singing all the way.

adult day Care Centers: patricia Miller from life Senior Service north

Patricia is from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She loves to do word puzzles and play scrabble. She says that her proudest moment was the day she found Jesus and her fondest memory was growing up in the country where living and times were happiest.

Is God an EnGInEEr?

Annual ms. Senior Oklahoma Pageant Crowns Four Queens for 2013

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Is God an Engineer?Dominic Halsmer thinks he must be. As Dean and Professor of the College of Science and

Engineering at ORU, Halsmer can’t help but look at the world through an engineer’s eyes. To him, every object has form and design, giving clues as to the designer’s plans and purpose. And when he looks at nature, those designs are so incredible he must believe they have to have been designed and created. Consequently, when Dr. Halsmer pictures God, he sees not only a loving father; he sees the “transcendent engineer,” “the ultimate designer” behind all the complexity, beauty and magnificence in nature.

He explained that many perceive a battle between the World of Science verses that of Theology. But he believes the two are quite compatible. “They are actually not at odds with each other at all,” he said. He believes the key to much of the dialogue is the concept of design and that is the forte of the engineer. “Engineers know how to design things and they know how to recognize things that have been designed. Using reverse engineering techniques, they dissect or analyze complex systems to see how they work, what is behind them, and what was in the mind of the original engineer who designed them. These are all good things to consider when you are looking at nature. In fact, biologists are doing most

of the reverse engineering these days and they are quite up front about that being the best approach to take. They have discovered that if they examine biological systems by the mindset of how they were engineered, they make the most headway in discovering the secret of how they work.”

So in the very secular world of science, do other professionals think you are crazy to believe in a Creator? “They can believe what they want to believe. But I try not to be too harsh on them because it really depends on where you begin. If you begin with the supposition of materialism and naturalism, that the material world is all there is, then you are very much limited on solutions you might consider. But if you begin with an open mind and allow for the possibility of there being something beyond the material world, the answers start becoming more obvious. I encourage those scientists to use a more scientific approach, to consider all possibilities, following the evidence where it leads and see what nature really does point to. I believe it points to a transcendent engineer who is behind all the complexity and beauty and magnificence that we see in nature.”

Is God an EnGInEEr?

SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 15

If you were on an airplane and had only 2 minutes to prove that god exists, what would you say? “First, I would never try to prove to somebody the existence of God. The reason I would say that is that we can’t mathematically prove there is a God. I believe God has set up this universe in a way which always requires a step of faith. Now, it is not a faith which is blind. It is based on some evidence. But God hasn’t provided compelling proof of His existence in a way where you can’t avoid it (the truth) if you want to avoid it. People can always find a way out of a belief in God if they want. God has engineered this universe in a way which requires this step of faith. Which when you think about it, really makes sense. Isn’t that the way it is in love relationships? I don’t have absolute proof that my wife loves me. But I believe that she does. And I believe that is what God is calling us to…a love relationship which requires trust and faith. This goes beyond some kind of mathematical, compelling proof. It makes our belief even more meaningful.”

“But to fully answer your question, it depends on who the person is on that airplane. I would want to get to know them a little and to adjust my answer accordingly. If they were a scientist or engineer, the evidence from nature would be compelling and weighty for them. If they were already familiar with the functional complexity of nature, it might be easier for them to see the engineering principles behind the evidence which speak of a grand engineer. That might be more compelling to them that rather an artist or someone who is might not be into nature at all. In contrast, that person might be more interested in talking about ancient literature or scripture.

is there one particular design or object which especially “wows” you in its design? “There is controversy among multiple groups about that issue. Folks who are talking a lot about Intelligent Design are pointing to things like the bacterial flagellum, the motor which is on the back side of bacteria that appears to have all the same parts that a motor that humans would design. Is this a coincidence, or could it be that this results in the fact that we are made in God’s image and we have some fraction of the same creative and resourcefulness that He has demonstrated in creation. If so, maybe we would make the same kinds of things that He has made. They also might point to the complexity of the DNA molecule, noting that its complexity and its patter or code, demonstrates the ingeniousness and intelligence of the designer. So some would say that these

kinds of things prove the existence of God. The Intelligent Design people have some good points, but this attempt to “prove” God rubs some theologians the wrong way. In fact some of my Catholic friends who espouse Thomism (After Thomas Aquinas) would say that the entire creation screams out the glory of God, that the natural complexity screams out the glory of God and if you aren’t seeing that you are somehow blinded because it is so obvious. That is what Roman 1:20 says, that God has made it plain to mankind.

There are also Theistic Evolutionists who believe that God has used evolution to a large degree in allowing life to emerge in the way He has engineered the universe and human life. They would say that it is through these natural laws which allow for this beautiful complexity to emerge through evolution.All of this debate makes it a really exciting time to be a Christian engineer. It is fascinating to listen to both the debate within the Christian community as well as the debate between the Christian community and non-believers.

how has what you have learned affected your faith? “I see God as an incredibly competent engineer. He is the ‘quintessential engineer.’ You might even say He is the ‘spiritual engineer.’ Through the creation, through the struggles that we all face, He is engineering us into a people who will be fit for an eternity with him. He is quite capable of doing that. Therefore we are quite justified to trust Him to complete the good work He has done. As I see more and more His great competence in nature, I am able to trust him more, believing that He is able to finish his work in me, in spite of my failures, and my sins.”

Dominic Halsmer, Ph.D., P.E. has served the students at ORU for over 20 years. He

received his B.S. and M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical engineering from

Purdue University and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. He will

soon leave his role as Dean of Science and Engineering to take on a new, exciting

assignment to begin “The Center of Faith and Learning.” The new center will help

faculty and students to think more critically and deeply about how their faith

is integrated with their academic studies. Dominic is married to his high school

sweetheart Kate, and they are the parents of four children ages 18 to 25 years.


For the past 15 years, Oral Roberts University’s 16 NCAA

Division I teams have competed in The Summit League, claiming an incredible 140 regular season and tournament championships, and nine Commissioner’s Cups. That averages out to more than nine championships per year.

With all of the success-on and off the field-in The Summit League, the only thing missing for ORU was a geographical fit. With 10 teams spanning eight states and three time zones, The Summit League is one of the widest-spread conferences in the NCAA. In October 2011, ORU President Dr. Mark Rutland and Director of Athletics Mike Carter announced

that the Golden Eagles would pursue another opportunity and join the Southland Conference, effective July 1, 2012. With the addition of ORU, the Southland Conference will have 10 teams in four states (Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma).

“The Southland Conference has proven that it is a strong and historic mid-major conference, and we are excited about competing in the league,” said Carter. “The geographical footprint of the Southland will help us in recruiting, both for athletics and for the university.”

Rutland added: “Our number one consideration in this and all decisions is the well being of our student-athletes. We look forward to being a competitive member of such an excellent conference right here in our own neighborhood. This change in geography that the Southland

Conference provides us will greatly benefit our athletes.”

Two ORU programs completed their respective tenures in The Summit League having never lost the championship. Both women’s golf and baseball captured all 15 tournament championships, marking two of the most impressive streaks in NCAA history. The women’s golf run is the longest in NCAA history, surpassing Duke’s run of 13 consecutive championships, while the baseball streak is one short of Oklahoma State’s record 16-straight Big 8 Tournament championships.

The ORU baseball team will likely see the biggest change in competition with the move. The Summit League has never had more than one team in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, while the Southland had a pair of teams earn bids in 2012, with a third being considered as one of the top teams left out.

In 2011-12, ORU won three regular season championships (men’s basketball, women’s tennis and baseball), and three tournament championships (women’s golf, women’s tennis and baseball), and finished second in the Commissioner’s Cup, winning the Dr. William Steinbrecher Men’s All-Sports Award. Additionally, the Golden Eagles were the only school to finish in the top two in the men’s all-sports award, the Dr. Helen Smiley Women’s All-Sports Award and the overall Commissioner’s Cup standings.

With seven All-Americans and one National Champion this year, ORU has now produced 75 All-Americans and three National Champions during its time in The Summit League. Dominque Morrison earned AP Honorable Mention All-American honors, the first men’s basketball player to do so for ORU since Caleb Green in 2007, while

ORU Becomes Official Member of Southland Conference

P H O T O A N D S T O R Y C O U R T E S Y O F O R U A T H L E T I C S


Kevi Luper was again named an All-American for the women’s basketball team. On the baseball diamond, Jose Trevino was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and long jumper Clive Chafausipo and pole vaulter Jack Whitt each earned NCAA and USTFCCCA All-American honors in their respective sports in both indoor and outdoor track, with Whitt winning the outdoor national championship.

At the conference level, a total of 14 Golden Eagles were given top awards from the Summit League. Scott Sutton (men’s basketball) and Chris Milliron (women’s tennis) earned 2012 Coach of the Year honors, while Morrison (men’s basketball), Luper (women’s basketball), Jared Schlehuber (baseball) and Iryna Khatsko (women’s tennis) were named the Player of the Year in their respective sports. Other honors included: Bruna Silva as the volleyball Defensive Player of the Year, Steven Roundtree (men’s basketball) as Sixth Man of the Year, Drew Bowen (baseball) as the Pitcher of the Year and Tournament MVP, Trevino (baseball) as Newcomer of the Year, Scott Newell (men’s golf ) as Newcomer of the Championship, and track athletes Whitt and Kristen Radcliff as Indoor and Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year and Women’s Track MVP, respectively. Additionally, Morrison and Whitt were each named Summit League Athlete of the Month

during 2011-12.With those, the Golden Eagles finish their time in the

Summit League with 126 Player of the Year, 73 Coach of the Year and 47 Newcomer of the Year trophies.

Athletic Director Mike Carter also earned Under Armour Central Division I A.D. of the Year honors from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

For their work in the classroom, ORU has had 1,244 athletes named to the Academic All-Conference teams, and have posted a GPA of 3.00 or better in 14 of the last 15 years, including a 3.15 mark during 2011-12, the highest over that span. In fact, after reaching 3.00 for the fourth year in a row in 2006-07, the overall GPA has risen in each of the last five years.

As the Golden Eagles begin to eye the Southland Commissioner’s Cup, they will have to take down Stephen F. Austin, which won last year’s honor after winning regular season championships in women’s soccer, women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and women’s tennis.

Although they become part of the conference on July 1, Southland Conference competition will officially begin on Thursday, September 13 as the ORU volleyball team faces Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.


ORU men’s soccer head coach, Steve Hayes, has high expectations for

his team this year. With twenty nine players, two seniors, and six juniors, there is a lot of excitement building for the potential of what this team can do.

With a new conference (Southland Conference) to compete in and plenty of new players to see, the sky is the limit to what ORU will accomplish this season.

“We have a group of kids from all over US and international students this year,” Hayes said. “My expectations are very optimistic at this point.”

That optimism has been the driving force behind Hayes as he has coached the team the first few games of the season. Although they lost their first game against Northeastern State (2-3), they were able to pull for a tie against Oklahoma City (2-2) and beat Oklahoma Baptist in their third game of the season (2-0). Now, as they look towards the rest of the year, they have a line up that is sure to bring extraordinary results.

The top two veterans of the team, seniors Sid Stewart and John David James bring with them invaluable experience and leadership to the team. Stewart, a transfer from The University of Tulsa, scored ORU’s biggest goal of the season last season, with a 90th minute game-winner against IPFW in the Summit League Tournament Semifinals. He also collected his momentous goal off of a corner kick, putting ORU through to the title match.

John David (JD) James, has played for the team since his freshman year. Last season, he made 19 appearances and 17 starts as a junior. According to Hayes, James has been one of the most important players over the last few years. “These two guys are

important leaders and are setting a good tone for everyone else,” Hayes said. Some of the other players Hayes pointed out to look forward to are Sophomores Griffith Pointdexter and Trevor Laffoon.

“They are young, but bring a lot of experience into the next few years of the team,” Hayes stated. One of the most exciting players to watch for is Sophomore Cody Lofgren. “He goes pass people pretty easily, makes opportunities to provide goals, and has the potential to make a mark in the league,” Hayes stated.

In the end, Hayes believes what will make this year’s team successful is unity. “The team is the star of the game,” said Hayes. “There doesn’t seem to be any real ego within the team. They pass the ball and if they are in position to take the shot they will, if not, they will give it to the another person.”

Fans of the team can be assured of some great moments this year. “Some of the things you can expect is a passing oriented team with positive possession who will keep the ball well. They will also work to win the ball back and getting on the counter attack quickly.”

For more information about the Men’s Soccer Team, you can visit orugoldeneagles.com. Below is a complete schedule of their September games:

ORU Men’s Soccer Team Kicks Off a with New Year

9/2 Central Arkansas at Conway, AR 2 PM

9/7 Belmont at Nashville, TN 5 PM

9/9 Lipcomb at Nasville, TN 2:30 PM

9/14 Air Force at Denver, CO 5:30 PM

9/16 Denver at Denver, CO 2 PM

9/22 Oakland Home 7 PM

9/28 IPFW at Fort Wayne, IN 6 PM

9/30 Evansville at Evansville, IN 2 PM

B Y R A M O N D WA L K E R


ORU’s major television event called, The Gathering, will once again hit

Tulsa in September. The Gathering is a television event featuring nationally known Christian speakers.

During the week of live filming, guests will include Dr. Kenneth Ulmer, Dr. Mark Rutland, Henry Fernandez, Judy Jacobs, John Muratori, and musical guests Jared Anderson, David and Nicole Binion, and Daniel Johnson. During the broadcast, viewers will enjoy powerful Scripture teaching and worship. It’s a blast. You will be inspired. And, it is free!

The program will air live September 23-29, from 6 to 8 p.m. Central time. Check www.gebamerica.com for exact times.

One of the purposes of The Gathering is to share information about the world-changing work going on at Oral Roberts University and through its alumni around the world. Viewers will be given the opportunity to contribute to the Whole Person Scholarship program, which will help ORU raise up more servant-leaders who will share the gospel and spread God’s love and healing power in every nation.

You are invited to come to the ORU Mabee Center to be a part of the audience or you can tune-in and watch the program live on DirecTV Channel 363, Tulsa TV 53, and gebamerica.com.

One of the goals of The Gathering is to raise money for The Whole Person Scholarship Program. The Whole Person Scholarship Program was established to recognize students who fit the profile

of what ORU calls “whole persons.” That means scholarship recipients are spiritually alive, intellectually alert, physically disciplined, socially adept, and on their way to becoming professionally competent. Each year, ORU awards 20 scholarships worth $20,000 per year and offers smaller scholarship amounts to every student who takes part in one of the invitation-only Whole Person Scholarship events held on campus two or three times a year.

Maybe you know someone who might qualify for this program. You may nominate a student (unless the nominee is a member of your family). To do so, visit www.oru.edu for more information. Or, if you have questions, you may call the admissions office at (918) 495-6518 or 1-800-678-8876.

It’s coming and YOU can be in the audience!S T O R Y C O U R T E S Y O F U N I V E R S I T Y M E D I A R E L A T I O N S

SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 21SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 21

about thiS year’S SpeakerS

henry fernandez and his wife Carol co-pastor a congregation of more than 8,000 at Faith Center Ministries, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which they originally founded in 1991 as Plantation Worship Center with only 11 members. As a visionary speaker with a passion for education, Henry founded the University of Fort Lauderdale as a nondenominational Christian university fully approved by the Commission of Independent Education. The university offers associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels. Henry has authored several books including Faith, the Key to Success and Prayer—the Power Connection and shares his insightful teaching on financial planning and living in abundance through his experience as an entrepreneur.

Judy JaCobS is the co-pastor of Dwelling Place Church International with her husband Jamie in Cleveland, Tenn. As the youngest child of 12, Judy began singing at age 8, which has driven her purpose and ministry ever since. She has recorded eight solo albums and has traveled to more than 30 countries to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through her gift of singing. Judy also hosts His Song Ministries at annual global conferences. Her greatest passion is to help people pursue their purpose of ministering for Christ in various fields through the International Institute of Mentoring, program. Judy is the author of several best-selling Christian books through Charisma House Publishing, including Take It by Force and Stand Strong.

John Muratori serves as the senior pastor of Calvary Life Family Worship Center, one of the few churches with multiple-state locations (in Connecticut and Texas). He is the author of the best-selling book and multi-media curriculum titled Money by Design, which is being used in countries spanning from Aruba to Zimbabwe and is becoming the foremost biblical-economic curriculum being used in churches, ministries, and governments around the world today. The “Money by Design Podcast” was also recently ranked in the top 5 Business podcasts on iTunes. John serves as the executive director of Turning Point Christian Center, a nationally acclaimed faith-based program located in Connecticut for substance abuse rehabilitation.

anthony evanS - You know him from The Voice. You also know him from his famous family (Father - Pastor Tony Evans and Sister - Priscilla Shirer). Hear him LIVE and you will

never forget him. Here is what others say about him. “What makes Anthony’s music incredible is his voice. What makes his ministry incredible is his heart. What makes his message incredible is his walk with the Lord.” – Franklin Graham

“The impressive quality of Anthony’s voice is obvious. He is a gifted singer. But as his personal friend, I can also attest to his love for God and his heart to communicate that love to people through his music ministry.” –Natalie Grant

dr. Mark rutland is the third president of Oral Roberts University and a nationally recognized figure in Christian higher education. Before coming to ORU in 2009, Dr. Rutland served as the president of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. He has also been a pastor and is the author of 13 books, including Launch Out into the Deep, God of the Valleys, Character Matters, and Most Likely to Succeed. In addition, he is the president of Global Servants and has founded ministries in Ghana and Thailand. The House of Grace home for tribal girls in Chiang Rai, Thailand, was established in 1988 and houses more than 100 girls.

Jared anderSon - Gifted worship leader and author of the incredible hit song, “Amazed.” The only thing more amazing than the song, is being in the audience when he leads worship. He is a product from right here at ORU, but he is in demand all over the country.

dr. kenneth C. ulMer is the senior pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, Calif. Under Dr. Ulmer’s leadership, the church’s congregation has grown from 350 to more than 13,000. Dr. Ulmer earned his Ph.D. and M.A. from Grace Graduate School of Theology, a D.Min. from United Theological Seminary, and a B.A. at the University of Illinois. He has also studied at Magdalene College at Oxford University in Oxford, England, and at Christ Church and Wadham College at Oxford University. Dr. Ulmer has been a visiting professor or speaker at several universities, including ORU. In 2008, he was appointed president of The King’s College and Seminary. He is the author of several books, including Spiritually Fit to Run the Race.

h E A LT h & F I T N E S S

The last two articles of “Lose Your Quit” have been about

acknowledging where you are, knowing where you want to go, and the importance of devising a plan to get there.

Now I want to talk to you about something so important and so vital to your success in anything you want to do; and without it you may very likely give up on those things you most want in life. That one thing is belief – belief in yourself.

When I set the goal of becoming the Biggest Loser ever, I believed. I believed that God had created me for that precise moment – for that very thing! I believed it so much that, a year before being selected for the show, I stood up in front of sixty people and stated that very goal! I even wrote it down in my journal that very day in 2008!

You see, once again I began to believe in me. Fifteen years earlier, I lost sight of what God had created me to be – His child that deserved

the desires of my heart. If you don’t believe that about you, please stop now and read Jeremiah 29:11 in the New Testament.

Reality is that it can be so hard for us to see ourselves as God sees us, righteous and forgiven beings. We often become the biggest roadblocks to what we really want. We might desire weight-loss, success, an exceptional marriage, or just being okay with ourselves when we mess

up; okay enough to get up, brush ourselves off and try again. So much of accomplishing these things depends on our belief that we are both capable of and worthy of them!

Take it from me, a complete failure at times! I know that you, yes YOU who are reading this right now, are both worthy and capable of all these things. You are a product of God’s grace. You are worth loving and most of all, you are worth forgiving. So now is the time to take all of those negative and untrue thoughts in your mind and throw them right out the window! Now is the time for you to Lose the Regrets and begin believing that you can and will achieve all of those dreams you have hidden in your heart for so long!

I believe in you, God believes in you, and now it is time for YOU to believe in you!

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

b Y D A N N Y C A h I L L

Community Spirit waveproj.org is excited to announce that Danny Cahill will now be one our featured, monthly writers. Whether you wrestle with your weight or not, you will enjoy Danny’s motivating column. We all cheered Danny on when he was on The Biggest Loser. Now, he continues to gain our applause while he shares his testimony with others. Danny loves the Lord and is not shy about telling people about Him. It is a blessing to the magazine to have his monthly article. Be sure to watch for Danny’s article each month. It will be in a new section we are adding on health and wellness.

LOSE YOUR QUIT

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ax Page, the seven-year-old actor who played the little Darth Vader in the Volkswagen Super

Bowl commercial, recently had open-heart surgery. I’m sure his doctors gave him a list of things he could NOT do while he is healing from the surgery. In an interview with one of the news media, he showed his response to his limitations: He had produced a list of “Things I Can Do.” What an incredible response from someone so young to have such an understanding of how to make this life work!

I couldn’t help but think back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Only the fruit of one tree was forbidden. Everything else in the garden was God’s gift to them, set there as His provision for their life. Yet Adam and Eve felt compelled to eat of the forbidden fruit anyway. I like to think (in my most pious moments) that I would have made a different choice, but sadly, I would not. We are all given that opportunity every single day, and almost daily, I choose from the list of things that are not beneficial.

Looking at the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses and considering all of the “Thou Shalt Not…” that is written there, my “Things I Can Do” list might look something like this:

I can worship God freely, and serve 1. only Him.I have a loving, caring, awesome 2. God, so I will not need any idols to make my life complete.I can call on God in reverence any 3. time I need Him.I can observe a Sabbath of rest, 4. taking time to renew the body and honor God.I can honor family relationships as 5. God designed them.I can value the life God has created, 6. just as He does.I can honor my marriage, my spouse, 7. and my God, as He intended, by remaining loyal to my spouse in a Godly manner.I can work to obtain the things 8. I need, or be patient while He supplies them.I can speak honestly in all 9. situations.I can be content with the things 10. God allows me to have, knowing that His plan for my life is always best.

Life would be much simpler if I could always remember the positive side to living as God commanded, and have a plan in place to remain faithful to His instruction. Or I could just read Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia to find a list of things to do:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galations 5:22-25 NIV)

Or I could find another list of things to do in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

And by keeping my mind centered on the right things, there is a greater likelihood that I will actually do the things God requires of me.

Things I Can Do

AbOUT DENIECECommunity Spirit welcomes Deniece Adsit as a monthly columnist. Deniece has a passion to minister to women. You are going to grow to love her and the way she tells stories, always getting to the real heart of the matter.

Deniece is Author of “In Search of Righteousness”denieceadsit.blogspot.com

M


26 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 2726 COMMuNITy SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2012

been placed in a state approved trust can be fully refunded. This leaves you in greater control of your personal choices.

Catastrophic health expenses cannot force you to cancel your prearrangements – People that are faced with enormous medical bills or other financial catastrophes are sometimes put in the position that they must ask for public assistance. The Department of Social Services is very restrictive concerning what financial assets you may continue to hold if you ask for support. While an insurance plan with a cash value may be counted against you as a cash asset, they will allow you to option of making your funeral prearrangement trust irrevocable, which means that it is not considered when determining eligibility for assistance. This protects your family against having to pay funeral expenses when your estate may have dwindled to the point of little or no value.

Insurance is designed to help replace your income when you are gone. A prepaid funeral or cremation plan protects your family against having to make financial decisions when they are least prepared emotionally and, perhaps, financially to make them.

Your purchase of life insurance is a wonderful gift to your family. It has the potential to replace your income and provide financial security for your family when you die. The key word here is potential, since once most people make that purchase, they rarely add to that amount of protection. Unfortunately, prices continue to rise each year while, for most policies, that insurance benefit does not. The result is that you are protecting your family a little less each year.

The pre-payment of your funeral and cemetery expenses is also a wonderful gift for your family in four very different ways.

it can freeze the cost of your services – Many funeral homes offer you an element of protection that is usually not included with most insurance policies, in that once these expenses have been prepaid, they can never increase. With a Guaranteed Prearrangement Contract, the price that you pre-pay today is frozen. This is one of the few true hedges against inflation.

The funds that you pre-pay are required by Oklahoma State Law to be placed in a trust account or insurance program approved by the state. The State Insurance Commission reviews the funeral home records on a regular basis, to make sure that these funds are secure, and has the power to take severe legal action against any funeral service provider not in full compliance. The interest earned on these accounts, which is typically less than the amount of inflation, is used by the funeral service provider to help cover increases in their costs over the years.

Likewise, cemetery property and markers purchased in advance can never increase in price. Some cemeteries, such as Floral Haven, even let you prepay to cost of opening and closing the grave and freeze this expense as well.

pre-arrangement allows your family to focus on their emotional needs – After a death, where there has been no preplanning, the family is faced with making a number of major decisions in a matter of a few days. At an extremely emotional time they are trying to strike the proper balance of what they think you might have wanted with what they feel they can afford. When the arrangements are preplanned and prepaid, they can focus on what they need emotionally to move through this experience, rather than dealing with financial matters. With the financial decisions made in advance, powered by logical reasoning, family members have the freedom to better deal with their personal emotional grief.

you can always change your mind – If you move or have a change of heart in your arrangements or funeral service provider, and funds were placed in a preneed trust account, you can always cancel your prearrangement contract and receive a refund. Unlike a life insurance policy that may only return a portion of your payments, if anything at all, should you chose to cancel, the monies that have

STEVE mOELLERSteve Moeller is a licensed funeral director, has been in funeral service for 35 years and the Director of Com-munity Relations at Floral Haven. He is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and also serves as the Mid-America Educator for the Grief Recovery Institute in California. Steve has lead Grief Recovery Workshops at Floral Haven for 20 years, is active in a variety of community organizations and is a frequent speaker in matters con-cerning grief and recover. He also serves on the “Ask The Experts” panel at FuneralPlan.com.

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R. Henry Migliore, Ph.D. has spent a lifetime watching the economy.

And though doesn’t enjoy being the profit of doom, the numbers and his spirit are both telling him to beware of things ahead.

“My spirit is telling something big is coming soon that will affect world affairs. It will be something we cannot begin to fathom. The facts are clear. We are set for a serious economic

down turn. Yes, the Dow Jones is in the 13,000-range (August 2012), but a number of factors point to the down turn we are experiencing now and the continued decline in the future,” he says.

Dr. Migliore quotes that unemployment is up 1.1 million, gas prices are up 83%, the federal deficit is up 43%, and it just goes on and on. 2020 does not look good. “The world’s political and economic situation is part of a natural rhythmic cycle. These cycles can be traced back as far as

the late 13th century in Great Britain. There have been nine depressions, spaced about 60 years apart since the 16th century. The waves in the United States have been 57, 54, and 53 years apart with the depression of 1836-1843, 1893-1897, and 1929-1942 (Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2008, p.1).

“In this 2012 presidential election, the mindset is on the economy, the price of gas, taxes, and the debt ceiling when it really should be on the loss of our country’s moral compass and its rapid decline as a world economic power.

Dr. Migliore explains that although election fever has everyone proposing a “solution,” we need to examine the facts:

Trillion dollar deficits for the last 1. four yearsTaxes are set to rise by 31 percent 2. according to the Congressional Budget OfficeUnemployment rate is 8.7%. 3. Social Security, Medicare and 4. Medicaid rise from 10.6 to 12.1 in 2022Social Security costs rising from 5. $635 billion to $1.1 trillion

The United States is not the largest 6. debtor nation. Foreign investment in the United States is at a record high of $23 trillion.The continued threats from Iran 7. and the possible restriction of the oil supply could trigger panic.

“How could this “Big Event” affect the 2012 election? It could be dramatic. Obama will get the blame (not really his fault), but circumstances will trigger the decline.”

“The next few years are shaking us back to reality. All we need is one big unforeseen political or world event and panic sets in. Let us get back to the basics. This is the time that all our citizens with a love of God, country, and Constitution need to step out of the darkness and complacency we have allowed our elected governments in the US (state & federal) to take us the last 75 years.”

In light of his predictions, Dr. Migliore encourages each of us to step out and lead the charge for Godly moral values, integrity, honesty, public servant accountability and compassion. He urges us to beware of the possibility of looming economic collapse but also reminds us that as Christians, our hope is found in Jesus alone.

R. Henry Migliore is President of Managing for Success a worldwide organizational consulting firm. He is former dean of the ORU School of Business. From there he went to UCT/

NSU at FAcet Professor of Managment. He was on faculty at NSU/BA before retiring in 2002 Since then he has been adjunct to local and international universities. His material is in seven languages. He has been visiting professor in a number of universites around the world. His web site www.henrymigliore.com has worksheets, TV programs and presentations. His books , articles and papers are in the OSU/Tulsa Library Archives.

LOCAL ChRISTIAN ECONOmIST WARNS… “SOmEThING bIG ON ThE hORIZON”

D R . h E N R Y m I G L I O R E

SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 29SEPTEMBER 2012 COMMuNITy SPIRIT 29

In the seventeenth chapter of 1st Samuel we are introduced to the Philistine champion called Goliath. He was a massive individual over nine feet in height. His armament included the traditional implements of warfare including spear, sword, and javelin. For his defense he had a helmet of bronze, a coat of scale body armor, and a shield so large it required a shield-bearer. His forearms and legs were protected from frontal assault. To see Goliath prepared for battle must have been a sobering sight to his opponents.

But what was going through Goliath’s mind as he saw this young shepherd-boy running across the valley to meet him in battle with just a sling and stones? In verses eight of the seventeenth chapter of 1st Samuel we are given our first glimpse of Goliath’s attitude. Arrogant and surely he was defiant and rude. You might say he invented the art of “trash talk”. To say Goliath was an overly confident individual would be a gross understatement! Unfortunately, as history was written, his “it will never happen to me” attitude finally caught up with him when he met David. Proverbs 16:18 cautions us about possessing a prideful attitude. It simply says, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Here are the four things that led to Goliath’s downfall!

Goliath had an attitude of defiance and invincibility. Vs.43-1. 43. Look around…… “Bad things” happen to both “good and bad” people. We are reminded of this in Matthew 5:45 “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Goliath wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen. 2. His sword was still in its’ scabbard, vs. 51, and his shield was still in the hands of the shield-bearer, vs. 41. Be prepared for the unexpected. Life is uncertain!Goliath under estimated his opponent, vs.42. Don’t 3. fail to evaluate the adverse affects of a given situation. Understanding the potential loss can be a motivating factor in the overall process of risk analysis.Goliath became complacent, vs. 16. Day 41 was 4. different than the previous 40. Don’t fall into the trap of compliance. Review, modify, and update your financial plans to avoid this pitfall.

How do we apply these lessons from 1st Samuel to our modern day way of life? Here are some simple questions that I pose to my financial planning clients. I’ll warn you in advance. They will require some thoughtful consideration and will make you think about your vulnerabilities.

the “What if’S” of life Will get ya!What if……….you are laid off Friday? Do you have at least

six months of income available that would afford you the necessary time to find new employment?

What if……….a tornado levels your house tomorrow? Do you have the proper property and casualty coverage and replacement riders to replace your home and contents?

What if……….you become disabled for six months and it was not job related. When would they repossess your car?

What if……….you are in an accident and happen to kill an up and coming surgeon. It’s your fault. Are your assets properly protected against the inevitable lawsuit?

What if……….you and your wife are killed in that firey automobile crash? Would there be the proper documents necessary to provide for your children? Would there be sufficient funds necessary to accomplish all of your dreams, even if you are gone?

I hope you would agree that the development of a well thought out, scripturally based, financial plan cannot include an “it will never happen to me” attitude. In 1st Timothy 5:8 each of us is instructed to take care of the immediate needs of our family. Goliath let many people down that eventful day in history because of his attitude. Let’s learn from the mistakes of Goliath and apply these lessons to those areas of our financial planning that need them most!

If you have questions regarding these issues or any other financial planning questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Randy at (918)664-0081, or by email at [email protected]

RANDY C. COWELL

Randy C. Cowell is a columnist and President of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of “God Good-Debt Bad”. Randy welcomes your thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by e-mail at [email protected].

“IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME”……..Goliath PA R T 2

www.john316mission.org

“...if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness...”

Isaiah 58:10 (NIV)

A Second Chance, A Life Changed

www.john316mission.org

Every day, dozens men and women come to John 3:16 Mission in desperate shape,

physically, emotionally and spiritually. They are hungry for food, but they also are hungry

for hope and a real chance to turn their lives around.

Because of people like you who genuinely care, the Mission’s doors remain open

and so does the chance for life change.

Mike is one whose life took a dramatic turn at John 3:16 Mission. When he first arrived,

he was angry, pessimistic and had no plans for his life. But during his stay in the Mission’s

homeless recovery program, his anger, disappointment and cynicism began to melt way

as he realized that other people, and especially God, really cared about him.

Gradually, his attitude — his entire life — was transformed. He began to plan for the future

and resume his education. Today, Mike has earned scholarships to several colleges.

People who give to the Mission should know that although they

may never meet me or the others who come here for help, they have

an impact on everyone’s lives. Without them, lives wouldn’t be

changing. My success in part is because of the sacrifices they made

on my behalf.”

When you give to John 3:16 Mission, you are giving people like Mike a real second chance,

one they are truly grateful for.

‘‘

september 2012 | community spirit magazine

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