Lottery

2 CO M M U N I T Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6

J U N E 2 0 0 6 CO M M U N I T Y S P I R I T 3

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11
J U N E 2 0 0 6 CO M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
gambling
“WOULD Y O U LIKE
A LOTTERY TICKET WITH
THAT?”KIM BEAIR, MS, LPC, NCC
ut you justdon’t understand. I am going to the
casino to win back the money I’ve lost gambling—I
have to go, it’s the only way to fix this.” Justin is
pleading with me to just “get it” as I am seeing him, along with
his spouse,for marriage counseling.
Every excuse Justin gave me was just another sign of his
addiction, yet he stared at me (and his wife) as if we just didn’t
understand.
Justin doesn’t
understand,
and he is not
alone.
Oklahoma has
not seen an
overwhelming
amount of
clinical
instances of
problem
gambling until
recently. It is
an unknown;
many people
are unaware of
the warning
signs of
gambling
addiction.
People are
being crippled
emotionally,
physically,
financially and
relationally
every day, and
don’t even
realize the
hooks that have gotten into their souls.
Sure, many
people know
gambling can be
addictive. What
people don’t have
are the tools of
understanding to
know why
gambling can be
SO harmful and
different than other
addictions. It is this
lack of knowledge
that leads people
into games of
chance that
ultimately take
their very lives—
and I mean that
literally. Over
80 percent of
problem and compulsive gamblers will become suicidal.
Many Christians believe it is wrong to gamble. Yet, it was the
Christians of our state who voted in more forms of gambling, and
now we, the Church, must deal with it. Pastors are seeing it more
and more as they work to help restore jobs, marriages and lives. If
Christians did not want it, they would not have voted it in, and so
the monster was born. The “monster” being gambling addiction.
Addiction has not been taught in the schools and workplace
because we have never had to address it before. We created a
monster and don’t understand how it could turn on us.
So where does that leave us? The issue is this: regardless of
whether any of us believe it is right or wrong, gambling is here to
stay. Many point out the commercial benefits to our cities and
state or to the benefits of charity gambling such as church bingo
and casino nights for worthy causes. Even a cake walk at your
church social is a form of gambling—have you ever thought of
that? Money and resources go to fund worthwhile causes such as
education,while travel and tourismincrease. So many people look
at this as a reason to ordain it as “ok,” because they think they will
not be affected and that “it won’t happen to me.”
:

12
Mike Smith, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association
for Problem and Compulsive Gambling, has a passion for helping
people. “I am going to tell you something,” Mike said. “I have
been in the Mental Health field for 32 years, and I have neverseen
gambling problems as prevalent or extreme as they have become
over the past few years.”
Mike is a Christian who felt called to found an organization in
Oklahoma which helps people with problem and compulsive
gambling issues. In fact, the OAPCG has just been named the
Oklahoma Affiliate for the National Council on Problem and
Compulsive Gambling, and Smith has been appointed to the
National Board. He has spearheaded bringing the best and
brightest national experts in to train therapists to deal with this
very specialized form of addiction.
Currently, there are no therapists in Oklahoma that are Certified
Gambling Counselors, but because of his efforts, that is about to
change. He has also put togethera board and group of volunteers
to raise funds for the organization and is putting togetherteams of
trainers to go into the workplace, as well as local churches to
educate the public.
The association takes no stand on whether gambling is right or
wrong—the purpose of the organization is to save lives and assist
with prevention through education. This is important because
while many aspects of this addiction are similar to other
addictions, there are also differences families, pastors and
employers need to know before trying to help someone with this
problem.
“This is an addiction that is relatively new to this area,” said
Carmine Romano, Vice President of the Tulsa American Airlines
Maintenance and Engineering Base. “People will have to be
cautious about this issue because so many are unaware of how
they could be vulnerable to this addiction and not even know it.
As employers, it is important to take a proactive stance to help our
employees understand how it can affect, not only them, but their
families, and let them know how to get help if they need it. They
may not recognize the problem until they have lost everything,
including their families.”
Romano said he has approximately 7,000 employees at the
Tulsa base, and they and their families become vulnerable just
walking into a convenience store.
“Now that it is legal to sell lottery tickets in so many locations,
even the kids are being exposed to it.”
Romano realizes that since approximately three percent of the
population will be affected by problem and compulsive gambling,
he risks having over 200 employees’ lives devastated by this
addiction. And that is in the ranks of his staff alone. Begin adding
numbers by calculating spouses and teen to college-aged
dependents of his employees, and the rate will go even higher.
That is why Romano is working on a plan to join other local
businesses and churches to get the word out before it is too late.
Mike Smith and his group are geting out in force to conduct these
trainings and spread information to everyone who will listen.
Devonna Grover, Executive Director of the Oklahoma
Association for Gambling Addiction Awareness, said, “The
common sense things you do as a responsible adult to take care of
business in your family can sometimes actually hinder a spouse’s
addiction recovery.”
For instance, if the gambler is given money to pay off his debt,
unconsciously he sees this as another “win,” so you’ve fueled the
fire instead of bringing relief. Oftentimes a spouse will take over
paying the bills and budgetary issues, and this can also be
counterproductive to the gambler since he is not being made to be
responsible for paying back the debt.
Here lies the double-edged sword. The gambler cannot be
turned loose with the family’s checkbook. Pastor’s and
wellmeaning friends have seen domestic violence flare when they
recommended a spouse take over the finances—do not be the
person to get between an aggressive gambler and his money.
Problem and compulsive gamblers are prone to blackouts and
brownouts and sometimes do things they would not normally do.
Aggressive gamblers get little out of talk therapy. In fact, it
bores them. If you send a gambler to a group unfamiliar with a
gambling addiction, and the facilitator asks him to “tell his story,”
it could actually tempt him to gamble again.
This is why Gamblers Anonymous and groups such as Grover’s
are so important for the problem/compulsive gambler and the
gambler’s family. Victory Christian Center has put togethera Cell
Group for gamblers with a tried and true curriculum, and more
churches are expressing interest in this every day.
Problem and compulsive gamblers can be classified as
aggressive or passive. Even among gambling support groups,it is
important to know what kind of gambler you are attempting to
assist.If you send a passive gambler to a group full of aggressive
gamblers, it could be a fruitless or even damaging referral.
Christian Credit Counseling Service in Tulsa was one ofthe first
businesses to be trained by the OAPCG’s volunteer staff. Harold
Hendricks, CEO, said, “We are here to help those in financial
crisis with no judgment on the gambler personally nor the
circumstances leading up to his or her current situation. Our
objective is to help them find freedom—we were not born to be
slaves.”
This philosophy is important in helping people with this
complicated addiction. So many will not seek help if they are to
be judged. Christian Credit Counseling Service can be of support
to families by keeping gamblers involved in the debt payoff
process,which actually helps the treatment aspect of the disease,
while providing safety for the spouse who will not have to get
between the gambler and his money.
Oregon has a population base close to Oklahoma’s, and they
have seen over 60,000 people in their state become problem and
compulsive gamblers. As mentioned before, roughly three percent
of a population will become problem or compulsive gamblers, and
the number rises to four percent for college-age citizens.
Individuals who work in the gaming industry have a 28-32 percent
rate of problem and compulsive gambling addiction. This is why
the tribes have stepped up to the plate to assist with helping
organizations who are helping people afflicted by this disease.The
Cherokee Nation, for instance,has not only been among the first
to provide training for their counseling staff, but they are also
funding efforts to assist with training and other services for
helping professionals.
Take a look at the information included in this article, and save
it for future reference. You could be the one to save the life of
someone you love. For information on the Oklahoma Association

13
for Problem and Compulsive Gambling, call Mike Smith at (918)
270-2788, or go to the web at www.oapcg.org. For information on
the Oklahoma Association for Gambling Addiction Awareness,
call Devonna Grover at (918) 693-6601, or go to the web at
www.oagaa.org. Contact Christian Credit
Counseling Service at 492-5585.
so many categories. We’d like to say thanks by

gambling: cold,
hard facts
very time you risk money, service or an
object of value on a game with the hope
of winning more, YOU ARE
GAMBLING.
In 2004, one in two adults bought a
lottery ticket in the US.
• One-third of the total American
pop-ulation visited a casino in 2004
• One question MAY predict
problemgambling: “Have you ever lied
about your gambling or lied about a bet?”
• Population of Oklahoma = 3.5
mil-lion. One to three percent of the
population is pathological
with gambling = 35,000-
105,000 citizens.
• Three to five
percent tend to
havesignificant personal
and financial problems =
70,000 citizens.
GAMBLING &
SPENDING
85 percent of U.S. adults
have gambled at least once
in their lives, 80 percent in
the past year. Consumers
spend more on legal
gaming in the U.S. than
most other forms of
entertainment combined
(1998 Gross Annual WagerReport, 1999).
Since 1975, the proportion of adults who
“never gambled” dropped from one in
three to one in seven.48 states with some
form of legalized gambling (Hawaii and
Utah are the exceptions). 2002 U.S. legal
gaming revenue was $68.7 billion. In
1999 the National Gambling Impact Study
Commission estimated the annual cost to
society of problem gambling was $5
billion. During fiscal year 2002, U.S.
lottery sales totaled $42.4 billion; per
capita sales were $168 (NASPL, 2003). It
is estimated that in 1997 Americans
collectively wagered more than $1/2
trillion (National Research Council,
1999). 40 to 60 percent of cash wagered in
casinos is withdrawn from ATMs, either
from personal accounts oras cash
advances from credit cards (NORC,
1999).
DOMESTIC ISSUES
Effects of Adult Problem Gambling on
Children. Children of compulsive
gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse,as
well as neglect, as a result of parental
problem or pathological gambling (NORC,
1999). Research consistently shows higher
rates of pathological gambling in teens
whose parents gamble too much (Gupta &
Derevensky, 1997; Jacobs,2000; Wallisch
& Liu, 1996). Children of problem
gamblers have been shown to have higher
levels of use for tobacco,alcohol, drug use,
and overeating than do their classroom
peers (Gupta & Derevensky, 1997). Child
endangerment and child abuse may
increase (NRC, 1999). The NRC
reported on two studies indicating
between ten and 17 percent of
children of compulsive gamblers had
been abused (NRC, 1999). Child
endangerment was exemplified in
Oregon with the September 2001
report of an Oregon licensed day-
care provider who left three children
(one-, two-, and three-years old) in a
van for over 11 hours while she
gambled in a casino (Lawrence-
Turner, 2001, September 15).
Domestic Violence. According to
the National Research Council
(1999), studies indicate that between
25-50 percent of spouses of
pathological gamblers have been
abused. Case studies of ten casino
communities revealed that the
majority of those communities witnessed
increases in domestic violence related to
the opening of casinos (National Opinion
Research Center, 1999).
Crime. Several studies suggest that
crime rates rise with increased availability
of gambling to communities, but this issue
is under intense debate. 40 percent of
clients enrolled in Oregon’s gambling

treatment system reported committing
crimes to finance their gambling (Moore,
2003). As access to money becomes more
limited, gamblers often resort to crime in
order to pay debts, appease bookies,
maintain appearances, and garner more
money to gamble (NRC, 1999). Studies of
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) members
report that approximately half of the
participants had stolen to gamble and over
one-third had been arrested (Thompson,
Gazel, & Rickman, 1996). The vast

CO M M U N I T Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
• Can’

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rowing up as a child, I lived near an
area where gambling was legal and
large casinos abound.
The laws in this state allowed for alcohol to be served in the
casinos, and in addition, they doubled as hotels that allowed
children to be present in the lobbies and eat at their restaurants.
These were places my family frequently visited, as my parents
loved to gamble. Many, if not most, family vacations were
centered on visiting casinos. I remember the anticipation my
parents had of “winning big” at the roulette wheel, black jack or
the slot machines. My brother and I spent many days in places
designed to entertain kids, “drop off” centers, so to speak. Even
though there was plenty to keep us busy, I couldn’t help feeling
lonely, counting the minutes when they would come back for us.
One morning, after staying the night at one ofthese casino areas,
our family was going to breakfast at one of the restaurants in the
casinos. There is always that distinct difference one can sense,
G
VIVIANNA FANCHER

stepping from the crisp freshness of morning air into the stale
stench of smoke, mixed with the acrid odor of booze from the
nearby bar. We were leaving behind the sunshine and hope of a
new day into a dark hallway with artificial lighting and the
constant clanging sounds ofthe slots.

J U N E 2 0 0 6 CO M M U N I T Y S P I R I
T 23

“Walking Tall”
DON KREUTZWEISER Fon me and leave me scrambling to
find, purchase, and mail Father’s Day 2006. Occasions like this
tend to sneak up
appropriate commemorations on time. Today I find myself on an
early flight from Tulsa to McAllen, Texas, with time to burn and
no electronic devices to amuse myself.
I’m reminded of being a father as I watch the rising sun bleach
the tops of the clouds at 35,000 feet. After 17 years, the idea of
being a dad to someone is still a little surreal. The sometimes blank
stares and oftimes shrugged shoulders lead me to believe my son
still needs me to showhim a little more of the way into adulthood,
like my dad did for me and his father did for him.
Grandpa came to live with our family when he was in his 80s
and I was nine. Over the next 10 years his body gradually
deteriorated to the point nearly all of his needs were tended by
someone else. His morning and afternoon walks became slow
shuffles to the Atkinson’s driveway and back, instead of brisk
strolls to the river or around the corner to the R.C. Church. His
eyesight failed and his hearing was poor. A diminished man, some
would say.But as a boy I remember hearing remarks that Grandpa
Kreutzwieser “walks tall.” With measured steps, cane firmly in
hand,hat at a jaunty angle, Grandpa always had a straight backand
gentlemanly presence.“Walks tall” became the image of Grandpa
in my mind.
Too much time and too many miles separate me from my own
dad. And this plane is going the wrong way. Soon, another flight
will send me home to the Great Lakes, but for now, I’ll content
myself with memories.
When I finally do find my way home again, I’ll have to bend to
give my Dad a hug. After years of fiercely resisting the need to
give into the ravages of Multiple Sclerosis and, soon after
retirement, Parkinson’s disease, time has demanded he spend his
days in a wheelchair and his nights flat on his back. Morn-
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ing happens when someone is there to help him get up and most
all activity is supported by at least one other person.
Dad has been a servant all his life—a servant in Christ, a servant
to his family, and a servant to his community. Others’ needs were
considered before his own. A humble man yet a proud man, so the
idea of someone waiting on him daily is appalling to him. It hurts
him that Mom works to keep him in a daily routine and he can
physically do very little to assist her.
When I’m home, I’m honoured to be the one to help him, lift
him, carry his burden for a few short days. And yet I know he
would rather have a strong body and be the physical head of the
home again.
The sun is high now. The clouds below me are a pure white and
the cabin is buzzing with waking passengers. The captain is
apparently an insomniac whose defense against pre-dawn
boredom is talking on the intercom, but I’m alone with my
thoughts in the midst of it all. Thinking of all the things my dad is,
what he taught me, and what I learned from watching him and
mimicking him, the thought occurs to me—my dad “walks tall”

too. I wish that meant he and I could walk with his grandson on
the boardwalk down by the beach, or over to Suncoast Mall for a
quick coffee and three doughnuts when Mom isn’t looking. But I
know that won’t happen.
What it means is, the body, the physical man in a wheelchair,
the one who has to lean on me to stand,is not the measure of the
man I call Father. “Walks Tall” is the image of the man inside. A
man of God, a man of faith, a man of character. So much more
than this physicalshell, the man I strive to become is one who is a
reflection of the courage and strength I’ve seen in my father.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad, I love you.I only hope yourgrandson
will know someday that “my dad walks tall” too.
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popular, children’s breakfast cereal has become
synonymous with the memorable slogan, “Kid tested,
Motherapproved.” Implicit in this slogan is the fact that a mother’s
approval is important to most aspects of a child’s life. This goes
A
CommunityKids
TRAVIS BURCHARTin the Hands of
Children
Sequoyah Book
Award

Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
without saying.However, in a few instances,it is the child’s stamp
of approval that is important. This is reflected in the slogan “Kid
tested, Kid approved,” a phrase that best describes the concept
behind Oklahoma’s Sequoyah Book Award, an award voted upon
by the students ofOklahoma.
Named after the creator ofthe Cherokee alphabet,the Sequoyah
Children’s Book Award was first awarded to Fred Gipson’s “Old
Yeller” in 1959, making it the oldest children’s choice award in
the nation. In 1988, Oklahoma added the Sequoyah Young Adult
Award, its first recipient being “Abbey, My Love,” by Hadley
Irwin.
As a children’s choice award, the Sequoyah Book Award
combines the recognition of good literature with the promotion of
reading and the involvement of children and young adults.
“For the author,” said Rosemary Moran, the Tulsa CityCounty
Library’s Media Resources Coordinator, “the audience is voting
their book for favorite book of the year. And it’s good for the
children of Oklahoma to read good books that are well reviewed
and pre-read by librarians in Oklahoma.”
“Kids enjoy having a say,” said Mary Lou Gill, the School
Library Media Specialist at Jenks West Elementary. “It’s hard to
keep the books on the shelf, especially when word gets out that a
book is really good.”
And the Award’s importance is not lost on the state’s young
voters,who must read or listen to three books before they can vote.
Sydney Vanzee, a fourth grader at Jenks West, recognized the
value of her involvement both as a reader and as a Sequoyah
Award voter.
“It’s fun because you get to choose, vote, and read,” Sydney
said.
Each year, young readers award the Sequoyah Book Award to a
children’s book and a young adult book. Books receiving the
award are chosen from Masterlists, which are created by reading
teams made up of Oklahoma Library Association members.
After the Masterlists are released in December or January,
Oklahoma students vote for a favorite title the following January.
To be eligible to vote, children in third through sixth grade must
read or listen to three or more books from the Children’s
Masterlist. Young adults in Junior High or Middle School who
have read or listened to three or more books from the Young Adult
Masterlist are eligible to vote for their favorite book.
“Some schools encourage reading every book,” Moran said.
“We prefer that parents and teachers not do that because not every
book is appropriate for a child’s age group, abilities, and
sensibilities. Parents are encouraged to know what their child is
reading.”
Following the vote, winners are announced in late February or
early March, and the winning authors are invited to an awards
ceremony at the Oklahoma Library Association’s annual
conference, a ceremony open to the student voters.
“The Award,” Moran said, “gives kids the opportunity to go
through the decision making process,hopefully getting to see the
authorwhen he or she comes to accept the Award.”
The 2005-2006 Young Adult Masterlist included books from
several different genres, including “Hawksong,” by Amelia
Atwater-Rhodes; “Shakespeare Bats Cleanup,” by Ron Koertge;
and “Full Tilt,” by Neal Schusterman.On the 20052006 Children’s
Masterlist,students had the opportunity to read books like “Gregor
the Overlander,” by Suzanne Collins; “Granny Torrelli Makes
Soup,” by Sharon Creech, and “The City of Ember,” by Jeanne
DuPrau.
“I voted for ‘Gregor the Overlander’,” said Andrew Cass, a
fourth grader at Jenks West. “It’s a good adventure, a good story
to tell.”
Marshal Clayton, also a fourth grader at Jenks West, disagreed
with his classmate’s vote.
“I voted for ‘Granny Torrelli Makes Soup’,” said Marshal. “It’s
about friendship, and the characters are best friends and grew up
together.It reminds me of me and my best friend.”
This year, approximately 35,000 Oklahoma children and young
adults voted for the Sequoyah Book Awards. For 2006,
Oklahoma’s young readers gave the Award to Kate DiCamillo
(whose book “Because of Winn-Dixie” won in 2003) for “The
Tale of Despereaux” and to Christopher Paolini for “Eragon.”
Winner of the Children’s Sequoyah Award and the 2004
Newberry Medal, “The Tale of Despereaux” is a story about
Desperaux Tilling, an undersized, big-eared mouse who must save
the princess Pea from the vengeful rat Roscuro and from the
darkness of an inescapable dungeon.
“The Tale of Despereaux has received good reviews,”Moran
said. “It received the Newberry honor, and Kate DiCamillo is a
popular author. Parents know her name.”

In “Eragon,” winner of this year’s Young
Adult Award, a boy named Eragon finds a
polished blue stone from which hatches a
baby dragon named Saphira. Eventually,
Eragon and Saphira are forced into a world
of destiny, magic, and power where they
encountergreat dangers and the enemies of
an empire ruled by the evil king
Galbatorix.
“Eragon was written and self-published
by a 16-year-old,” Moran said. "It's
amazing that a 16-year-old would have the
wherewithal to write this book. A lot of
families read Eragon. It’s a good book that
appeals to lots of different ages. Fantasy
books are so popular now. Kids have been
turned on to reading by fantasy books.”
The Masterlists for 2007 have already
been released by the Oklahoma Library
Association. The 2007 Children’s
Masterlist is comprised of 17 books,
including “Operation Clean Sweep,” by
Oklahoma author Darleen Bailey Beard;
“Travel Team,” by Mike Lupica; and
“Secret Identity,” by Wendelin Van
Draanen. The Young Adult Masterlist is
comprised of 15 books, including
“Kingdom of the Golden Dragon,” by
Isabel Allende, and “Secret Hour,” by Scott
Westerfeld.
“The Masterlists,” Gill said,“always have
a variety of genres. Mysteries, humorous
fiction, adventure, ghost stories.”
The Masterlists are not intended to be an
automatic recommendation of the listed
books.When choosing fromthe Masterlists,
Moran has some tips for parents, teachers,
and readers.
“Look at the books,” she said,“look at the
annotated Masterlists, and choose a book
your child will enjoy reading.”
Past Children’s Award winners include:
“A Wrinkle in Time,” by Madeleine
L’Engle (1965); “Ramona the Pest,” by
Beverly Cleary (1971); “Tales of a Fourth
Grade Nothing,” by Judy
Blume (1975); “A Dog Called Kitty,” by
Oklahoma authorBill
Wallace (1983); “Shiloh,” by Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor (1994); and “The Million
Dollar Shot,” by Dan Gutman (2000). Past
Young Adult Award winners include: “The
Other Side of Dark,” by Joan Lowery Nixon
(1988-1989); “Walk Two Moons,” by
Sharon Creech (19961997); “Holes,” by
Louis Sachar (20002001); and “Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants”, by Ann Brashares
(2003-2004). “The early winners of the
Children’s Award are harder to read,” Gill

Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
said. “For third and fourth graders, ‘Ramona the Pest’ is good.
Children still read ‘Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,’ and ‘A Dog
Called Kitty’ will make you cry. One of my favorite, recent
winners is ‘Because of Winn-Dixie.’ It’s a fabulous dog story with
a happy ending."
More information on the Sequoyah
Book Award can be found at http://www.oklibs.org/sequoyah/,the
Award’s official website. The website includes the 2007
Children’s and Young Adult Masterlists, annotations for each
book, past winners and past Masterlists, promotional materials
(including posters, award certificates, and bookmarks), and
reservation forms for the annualawards presentation.
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evict them.not payingIf
they’rerent,youshould
665-2129
go o d s te wa rd s h i p
Being a #1 Dad
R A N DY COW E L L , M . S . , LU TC F, C F P, C S A
defense.
Being a Man of Issachar takes courage.
It takes courage to lead a family against the
fiery barbs that will come against you.
Being a leader is never an easy task. It is
hard work and your family needs you.
Commit, today, to be the superhero who
will rescue your family from those bent on
their destruction.If you do, they will honor
your hard work.
Getin the Game
Having raised two wonderful kids to
adulthood,I look back at the times that, as
a parent,I missed the mark. Who is kidding
who? Sometimes I totally missed the
target. Despite all my bad parenting, my
kids somehow knew there was a super-dad

inside this mortal body. Dads, while we
will never be perfect, we should never use
that as an excuse not to participate. We can
only aspire to run the race and to fight the
good fight. Ultimately, we dads are
responsible for our children. We must
equip and prepare them for a time when
they will either stand or fall in the arena of
life. The Message translation offers some
comforting advice in Proverbs 22:6 when it
says, “Point your kids in the right
direction—when they’re old they won’t be
lost.” We are to actively train our children
and point them toward Jesus.
Randy C. Cowell is a columnist, author,andpresident
of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa Oklahoma.
He can be reached at (918) 664-0081 or by e-mail at
rcowell@htk.com. Randy C. Cowell is a registered
Representative of and Securities and Advisory
services offered through Hornor, Townsend, and
Kent, Inc. Member of NASD/SIPC. HTK does not
offer tax, legal and credit service advice. The views
expressed are not necessarily those of HTK. ACT
Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliatedwith HTK.

Have you ever listened to preschoolers
Hmight say, “Mine is bigger,” while anothargue
over the abilities of their dads. One
er responds,“Mine is strongerand can whip yours.” The
first retorts, “No he can’t,” then comes, “Yes he can,” and
on it goes.Somewhere on a playground nearyou there are
children right now miraculously transforming their dads
into the mightiest of super heroes capable of enormous
feats of strength and why not? To each respective child
their dad qualifies as the greatest dad in all the world.
Beinga #1 Dad Beginsat the Beginning
Over the last several months, the Men of Issacharhave
served as the subject matter for several articles dealing
with various aspects of stewardship. This month we will
discuss these men who understood the times, knew what
needed to be done, and unashamedly led their families
(see 1st Chronicles 12:32). With Father’s Day just around
the corner, it is only fitting we once again discuss this
little known, yet very significant, band of brothers and
discuss their fatherly attributes.
You might recall that we redefined and expanded the
meaning of stewardship beyond that of just money, and
together we agreed it should include all the possessions
God has so graciously bestowed upon us. These
possessions naturally include our families and especially
our children. Fortunately, this notion that our children are
gifts from God is demonstrated every Sunday in churches
across
Point your kids
in the right
direction—
when they’re
old they won’t
be lost. Proverbs
22:6 (The
Message)
the country as proud parents
humbly dedicate their
babies to the Lord. The
sight of parents standing
together,unified and of one
accord, committing to raise
their child, God’s child, in
the ways of the Lord is truly
an awesome sight. I can’t
think of a more a sobering
experience than a baby
dedication.
Have You Ever Wantedto be Superman?
If we continue our study
of the attributes of these
men of Issachar, we can
find several of them
recorded in 1st Chronicles
7:5. Studying several
translations
simultaneously, we can
piece togethera description
that sounds much like an
excerpt from a superhero
comic book. These men
were described as,
“Powerful heroes, valiant
men of might, stouthearted
mighty warriors.” Is it any
wonder they only sent 200
men to David’s
Judy Carlson
The bulletin read,“If you
might be challenged to go to
orClass Judy’s Mission

Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
India on a short term missions
trip, come meet with us this
afternoon for details.”
Missions! My mind
conjured up jungles and natives
and huts. “Not for me, at my
age (closing in on 70), or in my
financial circumstances, or as a
widow without her partner,” I
thought to myself.
But I couldn’t get the idea out
of my head. Was God going to
open the doors? Even if He did,
what could I do? The closest
I’d been to missions was to
entertain missionaries.
So now I find myself on the
plane, full of hepatitis shots,
malaria pills, dizzy pills and
wondering how I got to this
place in life. I’m the only single
with three younger couples—
whom I had never known until
now. I did feel the odd woman
out, but God even provided
there, as one of the couples had
a situation where the husband
had, at the last hour, to remain
at home. I now had a partner—
great for me, certainly a
downer for her. But these were
dedicated Christians, willing to
give all for their Lord.
Encouragers to the nth degree,
making me feel very much a
part of this energetic, small
group.
We hit the ground (Chennai (Madras)), NOT running.
It was 1 a.m. and we had been many squeezed hours
airborne. It was another hour to the Hindustan Bible
Institute,our host forthis mission. Then,up and ready for
church with just a few hours sleep. Our excitement level
was high, we were awake (and if we weren’t, the
enthusiastic singing of the church goers changed that),
and after lunch, very ready to nap.
Preparing to go to India, we read much, prayed more,
ate Indian food, visited a Hindu temple and heard lots of
horror stories. Horrible smells, noise level high, crowds
of people, poverty unreal, and few western toilets!
Prepare thyself with scented handkerchiefs, Imotrin, wet
wipes, aspirin.
We found our dorm to be plain yet
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Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
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mals, all vying in and out, trying to go forward. What’s a lane??
AND, people were living all along the side of the road, under
tarps—with animals wondering free.
We visited HBI’s seven orphanages,bringing gifts, spending
time with the children who were absolutely beautiful, singing
with them and playing games (even cricket). I could easily have
stayed at one of these orphanages, as the children were so dear,
so enthusiastic in their learning, and I felt God’s hand in this
place.
We visited a number of private schools and presented a mime
giving the gospel message. I was a ‘tree’—even I could handle
that. The younger ladies were more adventuresome and had the
difficult acting parts—especially coordinating those actions with
a recorded message. One of the dedicated workers at HBI would
present,in their language, a follow up to our production and ask
those who might want to know more about Jesus to let him know,
and HBI people would meet and counselwith these children.
We accompanied an HBI doctor and nurse as they set up
medical clinics, once at a small church on the outskirts of
Chennai—there actually was no road, just fields, and over 70
people showed up, having walked miles; and once in one of the

City dumps—where Indians have built tin or wooden sheds.
Again, we thought the smells would be unbearable and found this
not to be so, as the dump was inhabited by goats and cows and
pigs and dogs—the garbage was recycled. Although we didn’t
speak their language, we had an interpreter and our part was to
touch these Indians (these are the untouchable caste) and pray
with them. If my heart hadn’t been changed before these
encounters,it certainly was after.
•Personal care with
tenderness and
compassion by a
well-trainedand
competent staff.
•3 nutritious meals,
plus snacks
•Warm Christian
atmosphere in a
home environment
•Private and
semiprivate rooms
•Maximum of six
residents

Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
the church at HBI. This was heartwarming as I had time to speak
*
OAK FLOORING: 99¢/SQ. FT.
1-800- FLOORING

with a few ladies who, themselves, were out on the mission field
in various parts of India. We also held a weekend Bible study for
the children, with games, songs and crafts.
The men held seminars with the students at the HBI seminary
while we were doing our thing. They did not have a/c!
I was challenged by the staff of HBI. These are people living
their complete lives for Christ—giving everything to further His
kingdom. Their dedication to service was awesome and put my
meager efforts to shame. They live frugally yet richly in the joy
of seeing the fruit of their labors. What a blessing this time out of
my everyday life was to me—finding that with God leading the
way, all things are possible.

M M U N I T Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
We are Professional Grade
L
CHRIS ABBOTT

S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
Eis the people and the stories behind the people and the
foundaEveryone needstoknow about this restaurant. I
am a big fan of Catfish Country. But a restaurant is more than a
building; it
tions of the restaurant.
Catfish Country is a family owned restaurant with three
generations of the Barber family helping to make the place a
success. There is Terry and Doris Barber, their son Brian and
daughter-in-law Shonna and their daughter Renee. Four of six
grandkids have jobs in the restaurant as well.
But, that’s not it! There is a fourth generation that is the
foundation of Catfish Country. For about 17 yearsk, Doris and
her mother owned a catfish restaurant in East Texas. Brian
worked for mom and grandma part time
during high schooland college.
You can’t have catfish without having
hush puppies.The hush puppies are a family
recipe at least 35 years old. Doris’ recipes
are followed to the letter of her own recipe
with the batters, beans, black-eyed peas,
coleslaw and otherthings.
Creativity runs in the family. Josh, the
oldest grandson, being the head grill cook
began over time to experiment with
different spices for the fish and shrimp.
Soon, with Doris’ approval, grilled fish and
shrimp were featured on the menu.
While Doris and Renee are running the
kitchen, Shonna runs the front of the
restaurant. The second oldest of the
grandsons, Jake, is a runner bringing the
meals from the kitchen to the table. The
third grandson, Caleb, busses tables and,
Nessa,the oldest of the granddaughters,is a
hostess and works at the table set-up.
Catfish Country’s main specialty is, of
course, catfish. But they also have
wonderful shrimp entrees, chicken fried steak, fried or grilled
boneless chicken breast, pasta, salads, burgers, steaks, crawfish,
and frog legs. For the younger patrons, they offer five different
meals. However, if you have a growing little one like me, they can
eat off the adult menu too. Catfish Country also has many tasty
desserts.
Other side order favorites on the menu are the fried dill
pickles and the basket of “trash” sampler platter, which comes
with popcorn shrimp, fried okra, onion rings, cheddarspuds,and
crabby cakes.
This is a place that will have you coming back. The food is
good home cooking and you also get down home service with a
smile.
Catfish Country is located one block east of Hwy 169 on 76
Street North in Owasso. Or, the actual address is 11604 E. 76th St.
North in Owasso. Their phone number is 272-3633.

My overall rating for Catfish Country is a four stars/excellent
with the service, atmosphere, and food being top notch.
News Around
Town
Stroke Screenings Available
Stroke Prevention Plus has scheduled
three upcoming screenings:
• Wednesday, June 21: St. Francis
Heart Hospital, 10501 E. 91st St.
• Thursday, June 22: Inverness
Village, 3800 W. 71st St.
• Friday, July 14: Prairie Rose,
7401 Riverside Dr.
Stroke Prevention Plus helps prevention
of stroke through early detection. They
offer three different types ofscreenings:
Stroke Screening: This ultrasound
screening of the carotid arteries visualizes
the buildup of fatty plaque which is the
leading cause of strokes.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Screening: This screening visualizes the
existence of an aneurysm in the abdominal
aorta that can rupture and be fatal.
Peripheral Vascular Disease Screening:
This screening checks for blockage of
blood flow in the legs.
To call and schedule an appointment
during the screening dates,call 2969171.

Y S P I R I T J U N E 2 0 0 6
ABC’s Extreme Makeover Recipient to
Speak
Danna White, recently featured on
ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition,” will be the guest speaker during
the Selah Ladies Meeting at 7 p.m. on June
13 at Sheridan Christian Center, 205 S.
Sheridan, for an evening of heartfelt
testimony and encouragement. Calling
herself a “missionary to the
brokenhearted,” Danna will share her
experience of God’s faithfulness during the
tragic loss of her husband and the sudden
provision of a new home. Call (918)
8389996 for additional information. White
was recently featured in Community Spirit
Magazine for her testimony of triumph and
faith.
First Annual Singles Outreach Event
Coming
Phoenix Riverfest ’06, a singles outreach
event for fun, food, fellowship, and great
entertainment, will be held Saturday, June
10 from 7-10 p.m. at Riverparks
Amphitheater, 2100 S. Jackson. The event
features live musical entertainment
performed by but not limited to: Grady
Nichols, Brian Lee Band, Vern Stefanic
Singers, Kelly Spradlin Band and Christen
Cole.
This event is free to the public. Paid
parking and concessions available. For
more information call Julia Millington,
event coordinator, 402-2462, or Jim
Stilwell, Christ United Methodist Church,
747-8601.

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