You live in a neighborhood and a group home is planned for one of the houses down the street. The “recovery house” is run by a Christian group helping eight recovering addicts from drug and alcohol abuse. You have children. Are you concerned for their safety? Are you worried about your property values?
Nearly 100 people met at a local library in Tulsa to protest such a house. Two of their concerns were children safety and property values. No one denied the right of people to have a second chance . . . just not in my neighborhood, some said.
Buddy Davis, the chairman Abba Ministries that runs the home, addressed these concerns. “Drug addicts don’t boil children. They don’t automatically become pedophiles.”
One of the group home residents reversed some of the conventional wisdom and said, after seeing the vehement voices of the community, that he fears how he’ll be treated now. “I’m sorry that you feel this way,” Jared LaBelle, a resident of the group home, told the crowd of more than 100 people gathered at the Hardesty Regional Library. “It makes me afraid for my safety.”
Is there an irony here that of 100 people attending such a meeting, a good percentage of those people are addicted to something lethal, threatening the well-being of the neighborhood, but they just haven’t admitted it yet? Seems those recovering admit what they’re dealing with and are on a narrow path to recovery.
The Rock and the Rabbi is an acoustic concert story about the friendship of Peter and Jesus. I saw it at the PAC in Tulsa a few years ago and it stirred my soul in a way few other productions ever have.
Tonight, Garnett Church’s Green Country Event Center, November 9, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
The Witnesses is the continuing story of the life of the early disciples and premieres in Tulsa Tuesday night, November 10, 2009 @ 7:30 at Garnett.
Tickets are Tickets are $20 and available here or you can buy them at the door.
Went camping with a long-time tradition at Garnett, a father-son camp out. I appreciate Brad Haltom for taking this on the last few years and really taking it to the next level with how he’s planned and promoted it and encouraged boys to become men and men to get out and act like boys (within limits!).
Jacob looks over White Rock Mountain overlook on a hike
We drilled on the front lawn of Garnett to raise awareness about the 1.2 billion people worldwide who have no clean water to drink today. Bobby and Candice Garner, missionaries in Uganda, visited us and helped drill. They helped us raise money at Garnett to buy a water well drilling kit from www.water4.org.
The Rock and The Rabbi comes to Garnett November 9 with an premiere performance of The Witnesses, November 10. Oklahoma Christian University and The Green Country Event Center are sponsoring and hosting this event. Watch this scene.
1. I love the Churches of Christ family and plan to stay as long as the family doesn’t vote me off the island.
2. God loves people of all nations, and Christ still deeply desires the unity he prayed for, and I want to be part of that unity with all who follow Jesus.
These two decisions bring a healthy tension in my life. And if you take these two decisions seriously, you too will feel a deeper tension. This tension is similar to the way you feel when you love your family but also have compassion for the outcast. You take risks, you do not abandon your first loves, but you also do not abandon a suffering person to injustice or hopelessness.
Today and in this article the call is for Churches of Christ to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to be set free from the idea that we can master the Bible and all truth. Rather, we must let the Bible and the Spirit of Truth master us.
The question is not, “When will people join us?” but a bigger question: “When will we join the 21st Century Restoration and Revival that’s happening worldwide?” God’s Spirit is moving and incredible and passionate and I want to be part of what’s God is doing among people of all nations, tribes, and denominations.
A crew from Wednesday Bible Study Group at Garnett
I’m a grateful recovering sinner. I’ve enjoyed meeting each week with a group of fellow recovering sinners. Many of those meeting have never read the Bible before in their lives. Many do not yet have a relationship with Jesus. Some are skeptics, all are struggling with addictions and sin.
Peggy, Gene, Jessica, Shawn hanging out at Bible study Wednesdays Garnett
We pray together and share love, joy, and sorrow with one another and study a Bible book together. This is a group that has grown out of friendships we’ve made with people in the community who come for our Neighborhood Kitchens Meal each Wednesday. The class is about half long-time followers of Jesus and half first-time investigators or followers.
What does the word justice bring to mind? What did justice mean to Jesus?
I think of the words "fairness" and "equity" and "dignity" among others.
Today we're hosting Paul Kent from Habitat for Humanity Tulsa at the Green Country Event Center. We'll get his input on how our land or resources can be used to bring justice to those without adequate or affordable housing in Tulsa.
We're also hosting Linda Williamson, Chairman of the Board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Tulsa. She is bringing her team and we'll also get their input on how we can participate in justice for Hispanic people in Tulsa.
Sunday is Mother's Day and Baby Dedication @ Garnett Church of Christ
Lundy Morrison and Janet Collins have put together an excellent dedication and time to honor mothers. Kathy Erwin and children's chorus will be singing, and Amy Victory plans to give a testimony that goes along with Greg Taylor's sermon. There are a few pieces of good news and surprises you won't want to miss, but you'll have to come to find out!
IMPORTANT NOTE: After Bible classes this Sunday, May 10, all children and babies of all ages will be coming into worship for the entire worship time. Nursery will still be open if mothers need it but it will not be staffed for leaving babies, since all ages of children will be with us for whole worship.
JAMES AND NELDA LAWRENCE: Nelda Lawrence's dad, Byron Stewart, passed away suddenly Wednesday May 6 in Longview, TX. James and Nelda are traveling there for the funeral which will be Satruday at 2 p.m. Please pray for Nelda's family. Related to this, Greg Taylor will teach a combined class in James Lawrence's place, 9 am Sunday, May 10 in Building 6.
My good friend David Hall has the best eye clinic in Tulsa are and Okmulgee. The staff are great and helpful, and Dr. Hall has helped our family a lot over the years, since the time we were in Uganda and needed our eyeballs checked while traveling in the states.
Now it’s a real pleasure to live close to Dave and Suzette Hall. Dave is a great family man and leader in Muskogee Church of Christ, where I’ll be visiting April 26th to speak to a leadership gathering.
Visit Dr. Hall if you need your eyes checked and if you need to be encouraged!
My good friend David Hall has the best eye clinic in Tulsa are and Okmulgee. The staff are great and helpful, and Dr. Hall has helped our family a lot over the years, since the time we were in Uganda and needed our eyeballs checked while traveling in the states.
