Friday, April 19, 2013

What a Week...

Needless to say, this has been one very emotional week in our nation.  With the bombing at the Boston Marathon, which has ensued into a manhunt with one of the suspects dead and another one being chased all over the Boston area to the explosion and tragedy in West, TX to now today (as I write this) remembering our own tragedy in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.

I am just now beginning to be overwhelmed with emotion over what all has transpired in this week.  The person who is usually strong and offers a shoulder to lean on and some kind of comfort (yet freaks out over something like my Dad falling and hitting his head on the kitchen floor) now is to the point where I need shoulders of my own...and that doesn't happen that often!

Friday, April 5, 2013

The "Dash"

This is one of those blogs that come in the middle of the night when you are trying to sleep and your brain just won't shut up.

A little back story:  For about 3 1/2 years, I sat under the ministry of Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty at Victory Christian Center in Tulsa.  One of the ministries under their covering was a street ministry led by a precious man named Phil Brown.  What he would do, with the help of several other people was he would get people from homeless shelters and some of the Tulsa Housing Authority apartments and take them to the Tulsa Dream Center for a time of worship and then afterwards would feed the people.

In one of our services, Phil talked about "the dash", as in the period of time between the day you were born and the day you went to your eternity whether it was with God or down south and I don't mean Texas. (for example, mine would be 1971 -       ).  And he would say something to the effect of "how you live your life and what you accomplish in life fits in that dash".

I was thinking about a couple of people who completed that "dash" in the last few days, one prominent nationally, the other one locally.

The first one I thought of was Roger Ebert...noted film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and co-host of a film review show with Gene Siskel back in the day on Public television.  The last few years even though he fought cancer and it affected his ability to speak vocally, he still used his computer and his thoughts to amply transmit what he thought about the latest movies, whether giving it a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down".  I don't know if he ever thought about a spiritual life or nor do I want to judge him on that, I'll leave that to God -- but he accomplished a lot in that "dash" that lasted 70 years.

The other one I was thinking of was Paul Flick, Jr., who carried on the "family business" known as Blunck Studios for many years after Mr. Blunck passed away.  He also leaves a lasting legacy -- Blunck's has studios in several communities in Oklahoma and Texas, and also the formal shop "Dottie's".  He leaves behind several grandchildren and great grandchildren, who no doubt share his love of photography.  Paul Jr. fit 92 years into his dash...and Western Oklahoma is reaping the rewards today.

Phil passed away a couple of years ago.  He did a lot in his dash too...after living a life on the streets, he submitted himself to God, got cleaned up and served in ministry at Victory...not only doing the street ministry I mentioned, but also arranging the buses to pick people up on Sunday mornings for services and other things.  I am grateful for the time I had with Phil and the folks in the Victory "Overcomers" Cell Group Ministry.  He was a great man who had an infectious smile and just a great joy to be around.  

To Phil, Roger and to Paul Jr. -- congratulations guys.  You fit a lot into that dash, and you did it well.  Good job.  Rest in Peace!!!

Now that I've typed what needed to be said, hopefully I can get a little bit of sleep...but I doubt it.