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!

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.

An Open Letter to the Conclave...

To the College of Cardinals currently meeting in Vatican City:

I know you will not be able to see this, being that all outside communication is jammed, but I thought I would give you something to think about as you meet to select who will lead your Catholic church.

I must qualify my comments as saying I am not part of the Catholic faith, but I am a follower of Jesus and a "practicing Christian" like the great Apostle Paul.

I encourage you to disregard everything that you may have heard on who the "experts" might say who may be selected the next Pope.  The only ones that know who will be the new Pontiff will be you, and the Holy Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.   Put the natural politics aside and let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you through the process, and may the new Pope be the one He wants and has ordained for this time and place.

Like the rest of the world, Catholic and Protestant, I will pray with you as this process unfolds.  May God's blessings be on you at this time.

A fellow Pilgrim in the journey of Faith,

Robert Keil
Clinton, OK

Some Random TV thoughts...

If you watch local TV news for any amount of time, you tend to think that you are welcoming the anchors and reporters as friends and now with Facebook and Twitter and any other social media, you can interact with them...let them know what works and what doesn't.

With that said, watching the newscasts on our Oklahoma City TV stations...here are some observations I have and maybe some suggestions for each station:


1. KFOR (NewsChannel 4)-- I know they went through a graphics overhaul a few years ago, but I think it's time for a refresh.  Drop the "NewsChannel" name.  Use something like "Oklahoma's News Leader" or whatever. Also... change the music.  You've basically used the same theme package for 20 yrs.  You need to upgrade it. I've got an idea for one..
Global TV (Canada) News Theme

Yes I know...it's for a Canadian network, but I'm sure it can be Americanized with the NBC tones or something.

Also...maybe you should pair Joleen Chaney with Ed Doney for the weekend evening newscasts instead of having one do one day and one do the other.  The same with the morning weekend shows. (3/17 Update:  Joleen is now doing the 4am hour on KFOR and the 7-9am show on KAUT-43, replacing Lance West who went back to evenings).


2. KOCO -- no real big observations, except maybe for the fact they got rid of a noon newscast several years ago.


3. KWTV News 9 -- since your parent company owns the Radio Oklahoma Network, have more synergy with the member stations.  If they have some big stories working (like with parts of Clinton having to boil water this week due to the power being out at the water treatment plant due to the blizzard), help them out.  I love that you and your Tulsa sister KOTV share content, but you also need to share (more) content with your RON stations, like The Coyote or NewsTalk KCLI.


4.  KOKH Fox 25 -- where do I start here?  Well, nice to see that you're getting ready for your own "HD Done Right" campaign like your Chattanooga sister.  

On that note, maybe you can expand your newscasts...include a 5p news hour with Mike and Jaime.  Also expand your morning newscasts to include weekends.

Another observation I have...since the Oklahoma City market encompasses such a large area, establish a Western Oklahoma news bureau.  I guess that would go along with my wish for News 9 to work more with their Radio Oklahoma Network affiliates, but still...

That's all that I can think of for now for TV anyway.  Just wait until what I have for the radio folk...

Expanded Coverage...

Welcome to a snow-packed edition of Rob's Rants and Raves.

We got somewhere around 8"-10" of powder here in Clinton...2.1" liquid-wise (according to News 9).  As far as putting a dent into the drought...we're getting there.  

Reason the title of this is "Expanded Coverage"...I've decided to try my hand at Tumblr.  It is a kind of extension of this blog, with maybe a smidge more smart-aleck-ness (or is it smart-alex-ness -- like the town near Chickasha).  Oh well...

Here's the address to my Tumblr page:

Rob's Rants and Raves Tumblr

I currently have three people who follow it:  My brother, a friend of his and the University of Oklahoma.  Would love to have many more!

Oh, I am on Twitter too...@rjkeil.

That's about it for now.  May you have an excellent day...stay safe and beware of the snowmen!!!

Baby Steps...

Good Monday morning from Casa de Keil in West Clinton...

As some of you may have noticed on my Facebook and Twitter, I have been starting to use the treadmill.  Since Stephenie moved to SE Oklahoma, she left the treadmill with us so mainly Dad can still run and train for his 5K's and to keep himself healthy.  After the first of the year, I decided to start getting on the treadmill to get healthy myself.  So I started out walking on the treadmill for 10 mins about twice a week.  I have since started (as of today) to go every other day (Mon/Wed/Fri), still for 10 mins.  Once that's pretty well established, I'll bump it up to 15 mins and so on.

I said when I started that I may not get to the 5K or half-marathon pace that Dad and Stephenie are at, but at least I am making an effort.

As for my appetite...that's another ball game all together.  Yes, I see pics of different things like a Jiggs Wooly Burger or watch shows on Food Network or go on food sites and my taste buds go bonkers.  That's another thing I need to tackle too without going off the deep end.

It's going to be a labor of love for me, I know...especially (if you have read my previous blog entries) since I'm doing my best and following what God wants me to do.  But as we know from Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

That's about it for right now.  Until next time...

Need Protection? Call Psalm 91!

As I am writing this, today is January 15.  I believe I've shared this before on here, so if I have, bear with me.

It was on this date in 1991 that my faith and who I was got put to the test in a major way.  In case you have forgotten, it was about this time in 1991 that our Armed Forces were in the Middle East getting ready to kick Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.  I was in the Army National Guard at the time here in Oklahoma and our unit was on "standby".  I knew that meant that there was a possibility I could have been sent over to fight, so I really had to learn to trust in the Lord.  And fittingly, Psalm 91 was the Scripture that immediately came to mind. From the New Living Translation...

1Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.

3For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

4He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

nor the arrow that flies in the day.

6Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,

nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7Though a thousand fall at your side,

though ten thousand are dying around you,

these evils will not touch you.

8Just open your eyes,

and see how the wicked are punished.

9If you make the Lord your refuge,

if you make the Most High your shelter,

10no evil will conquer you;

no plague will come near your home.

11For he will order his angels

to protect you wherever you go.

12They will hold you up with their hands

so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

13You will trample upon lions and cobras;

you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.

I will protect those who trust in my name.

15When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue and honor them.

16I will reward them with a long life

and give them my salvation.”

I took this to mean that if our unit was called to go, I have this assurance that God and His angels would protect me.  Of course you know the rest of the story...after kicking Saddam's butt out of Kuwait, President Bush the elder called a cease-fire and that was the end of that.

So I can imagine what the men and women today who are having to go to Afghanistan are going through...and those who have gone over all this time.  They don't know what's going to happen over there, but (at least to me anyway) they have the assurance that if they trust in the Lord and seek refuge in Him, He will protect them.