Don "Smokestack Jack" Shank

Donald “Don” E. Shank Obituary

Donald E. Shank, age 92, passed from this life on December 22, 2016 at St. John Medical Center, Tulsa, OK.

Born December 28, 1923 in Tulsa, OK to Lloyd and Lena Shank. Don was a loving husband, owner of Don Shank and Associates Advertising Agency, an author of four books, and a wonderful friend to many. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church Tulsa; he graduated from Central High School and was a University of Tulsa alumnus. Don was an honorable WWII veteran who loved his country. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was stationed in Italy during the war from 1943-1945. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern with 2 Bronze Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal and 3 Overseas Bars.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Lena Shank, his three brothers, Max, Howard and Wayne “Linx” Shank and Dolly Jane, his wife of 42 years. Don and Dolly had no children.

He is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind many friends, Marilyn Inhofe Davis, Jack Pirtle, Sara Lytle, Doris Fholer and her family, his beloved Luke 10 Life Group, and his closest friends and caregivers, William McWilliams, Roseanne Yoakum and Deni Fholer.

Don’s relationship with Jesus was the most important part of his life. Daily he would tell friends about talks he had with Jesus and he lived for opportunities to share his faith and minister with Deni in the community.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have eternal life.” This is Don’s prayer for you. If you sense that your life is missing something, if your loneliness and despair cannot be filled by the things of this life, it is time to come to Jesus. Call 918-260-1933, prayer and a Bible are waiting for you.

Don was adamant about not having a funeral. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 (his birthday) at Dillon Marler Dighton Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cleveland Ave., Sand Springs, OK 74063, from 3pm to 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Isaiah 58, In His Service, Inc. PO Box 521063, Tulsa, OK 74152. 918-260-1933.

Christ of Christmas!

"Jesus came into the world to save all kinds of people; rich or poor, black or white, educated or illiterate, sophisticated or ordinary - or anyone in between. Only two groups of people gathered at God's invitation to pay Him homage when He was born. One was the shepherds - lowly, at the bottom of the social ladder, uneducated, unsophisticated. The other was the wise men - intellectuals, from another race and country, wealthy, respected. The two groups could hardly have been more different! God brought both groups to Bethlehem - one by an angelic announcement, one by the appearance of a miraculous star.  And by bringing both, God was telling us that Jesus is the Savior for EVERYONE! Every person stands in need of His forgiveness and new life - and every person can know it, if he or she only repents and makes that journey to the Christ of Christmas. No matter who you are in the eyes of others, you need Christ. And no matter what you have done, He loves you and stands ready to welcome you." Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham

Feeling Thankful!

He sits on an upside down pickle bucket sometimes 10 hours a day. His beard was long and scruffy until he asked a "little hair cutter" to trim it. "She said oh-oh, well now I'm almost a clean shaven man." He smiled and rubbed his chin.

He's wearing the same coveralls he's worn for weeks. Says he's worked the new out of 'em. He'll take a shirt or a pair of socks now and then, but doesn't like the clutter, sides somebody will steal the extra.

I met him at the Cricket store a few weeks ago. He had a phone and a couple dollars but he drank one too many and talked about havin' a phone...woke up the next day, no phone, no bucks. So we got a phone that talks to him, and I programmed contacts for him.

He's got cataracts. He sees only shadows with a little color. He can't remember how long it's been since he could see someone's features or read a newspaper. He crosses a major street by judging the distance of the cars by sound. “Been hit by a car four times, keep hittin’ me on the left side, I keep thinkin’ I should back off the curb and get hit on the right side, kind of even things out.”

We’re praying for eye surgery soon. He's really hopeful! He dreams about seeing the hot dog and all the fixins' before he bites into it.
Feeling thankful.

I called him today. He answered the phone! Asked him if he likes BBQ, "who doesn't in Oklahoma!" I drove over and stopped across the street. "Little sister, is that you?" We hugged; just a whiff of alcohol and it’s late in the day.

I bagged some sandwiches and chips. He said he would be seein' more guys later and yeah they'd love some sandwiches. I loaded him up.

He never flies a sign, cause he doesn't want to be arrested and taken out of his comfort zone. He sits on the bucket and he climbs into the hearts of others like he did mine, and he always gets just enough manna each day.

He asked for a Gatorade. I suck, forgot drinks. I gave him 5 bucks and reminded him it's God’s money. He held me tight as I asked God to protect him, to remind him that something better is coming, to please let him see again. He patted my cheek and headed into the QT.

If you made a list of all the things you could be thankful for, the list would undoubtedly be longer than your misfortunes. Unknown

“Deni it’s getting cold and she’s sitting at that bus stop every morning, why won’t she go to a shelter?” A caring friend has been asking me to check on this lady for over a week.

I finally made it.  She was sitting there with holes in her tennis shoes, smoking every last leaf of tobacco out of her hand rolled cigarette. Her hands are stained from tobacco. She asks me a lot of questions she wants to be sure I’m legit. A bag sits at her feet and she’s wrapped in a stained and soiled blanket.

She tells me she’s at that bus stop every morning, “And it sure is tough to try to make it without a cup of coffee.” Coffee. Just like that she had climbed into my heart…

I go by and check on her and work at breaking her barrier of life events that haunt her and keep her chained to that life on a bus stop bench. I asked her if she had any other shoes, “Why? Yours look fine.” She eventually told me she would love a pair of boots…and toenail clippers. “I can’t get pedicures and manicures much in my line of work.” She smiled.  I told her about Isaiah 58, In His service. I told her we don’t ask for funds, we don’t do fundraisers, but we pray and God provides through the coolest of ways. She cocked her head and insinuated there was room on the bench for me, “How can you help and not ask people for money?”

We had about $30 in our bank account. But, I prayed and told her I knew God wanted her to have some boots and toenail clippers and He would provide. The next day we received a donation through Your Cause. Your Cause is an online platform for corporations to manage one or multiple philanthropic programs including employee matching gifts and volunteer grant programs.  An individual who works for AT&T made a donation and AT&T matched their gift. Pretty cool! God gave boot money!

Two days later I showed up with a brand new pair of boots, some socks and a complete toenail kit. She started to smile broadly, but noticed I was looking at her and she said, “They probably won’t fit.” I told her I’d take them back and get another size.

They fit!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. – Melodie Beattie

November 24^th, 2016, Thanksgiving, the one year anniversary of my Dad’s death. I didn’t want this day we stop and take time to thank God for our amazing blessings, to be about me. I prayed about serving Him today. So, I made some phone calls….

God had put a handful of people on my heart to see if they would like to go out for a Thanksgiving meal with us. But, each one I talked to said, “No thank you,” except one. The reasons were varied, one was finally invited to his sister’s house and he wasn’t going to miss it, one had just lost her job and her cousin invited her over, another said no because she is agoraphobic and the thought of going out in public almost pushed her into a panic attack.

God put these people on my heart for a reason. The plan wasn’t mine, it was His, I just needed to pay attention and listen to Him.

When I told the lady who said “yes” it was just going to be her and I she was relieved. Her life has been filled with trauma and she too was anxious about eating with strangers. So, we went to Village Inn and she had a turkey and dressing dinner. All of her children live out of state, so she would have been alone in her apartment with her cats –all day. She told me some amazing life events and scolded me for not having a pet. We talked about God and church and she’s agreed to go with me, “Sometime.”  We gave her The Flower Man by Mark Ludy and an advent devotional by Janet Denison and an envelope that I asked her not to open until she got home.

As soon as she got home, she opened the envelope and immediately called me in tears, saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” We put two $20 bills in the envelope. She is a senior adult who lives alone on a fixed income. She drives, but only to the store because she can’t afford the gas to go much further. She never has pocket change or a few extra dollars in her billfold. Often she has called me because her electricity is going to be cut off or she needs groceries. She’s exhausted most of the ministries and agencies that provide groceries because most of them put limits on how often she can get food. She had to have work done on her car and she needed help with groceries for three months in a row and Isaiah 58, In His service provided each time because we don’t set limits and God provided the funds.

She told me she was going to put gas in her car and go to a park on the other side of town that she loves, “Just to sit and feel the sun on my face.”

Feeling Thankful.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

I couldn’t get the woman out of my mind, she’s all alone at home and too afraid to go out and get a Thanksgiving meal.

I circled around and went back to Village Inn and bought five turkey and dressing holiday meals complete with pumpkin pie!!  I drove over to her house and knocked on the door. She wasn’t going to open it. I told her who I was and promised not to come inside but wanted to give her something. She cracked the door open and looked at the bag in my hand. “Happy Thanksgiving, I’m praying for you.” She smiled and said thank you as I passed the bag to her!!

I showed up at the home of a hoarder who hasn’t been able to cook on her stove for years and has agreed to let Isaiah 58, In His service help to slowly and carefully start cleaning out her home. She said she was trying to microwave something and burned it up…

Then to the home of two alcoholics; got there just as they started drinking, nothing better than a vodka kiss on the cheek…

Then to a senior who lives alone with numerous dogs. He saw me coming and ran outside barefooted. “I was thinkin’ you might be comin’ by with some daily bread…is there pie in that bag?” You bet.

I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful - for all of it. - Kristin Armstrong

As love and thankfulness for our family and friends is essential, I pray too that your heart is big enough to reach out to our neighbors who struggle each day to get to work, feed their family, get medicine without insurance and suffer from loneliness and hopelessness.

Isaiah 58, In His service tries to love on those God brings to us with quiet actions filled with compassion. With the hope of showing the character of Jesus through tangible ways so prayerfully they will begin a personal relationship with Him.

The 12^th annual Holiday Helping Hands Project has begun! We have a handful of families so far, that we will love on this Christmas. If you would like to buy gifts, wrap and deliver; buy gifts and give to us to deliver or provide gifts we welcome your “thanks-giving” with open arms.

If you purchase gifts on Amazon, go to Amazon.smile and plug in Isaiah 58, In His service and we will be blessed by your giving!

“…We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:9-12

Feeling thankful for each of you who pray for us, give to us financially or in gifts in kind. Know that you are prayed for.

In His service,

deni A. fholer

The Curse has been lifted!

The curse has been lifted!!!

This was the CNN alert I found on my phone after game 7 of the World Series. I am a baseball fan; both of my nephews play baseball. In fact earlier in the evening I was running between fields watching them play. My youngest, Pancake, was hoofing it toward third and did this funky Ninja move to escape being tagged…SAFE!! AND….he hit an in park homerun!!! Yaroooooggaa!! My oldest nephew, H has become quite the pitcher, 6 strike outs!

I was psyched! I wanted to high five everyone; do fist bumps and shoulder bumps. On the way home, I turned the radio up and made a really joyful noise to the Lord, it was okay that He probably had earplugs in…

It was the idea that even though I wasn’t playing, I was so thankful that they were doing so well and I wanted them to know…I was one proud Aunt!

By the time I got home, I was hopeful and filled with anticipation. Maybe, just maybe the Cubs would win it all!! I turned the TV on and they were ahead, I mean really ahead. I just went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and holy Toledo it was tied!!

My heart was beating too fast…and I couldn’t sit still. I got up and moved around the house, piddling…then I turned the sound off and sort of sneaked by the TV to see what was happening.

I got on the computer and pulled up the play by play account of the game. It was still tied and the feed stopped. THEY CAN’T END A WORLD SERIES IN A TIE, what the heck….RAIN DELAY..ughh, are you kidding??

It hit me I was getting up really early the next morning so I jumped in bed, pulled the covers over my head and thought how goofy I was to be so completely engulfed in the contagion of a baseball game.

So as I tried to quiet my mind, I thought of the stories I had read about the Cubs. The last World Series was won in 1908. A 108 year old woman had been a fan for A CENTURY and was confident that she was going to finally witness THE win. The Cubs Chaplain was a baseball player for MSU in his youth and later in life he was asked to be the Cubs Chaplain, he said, “It was while I was on the field — and I had tears in my eyes — that it really became clear that God was saying, ‘This was your dream but now you’re living mine.’ I had this small plan. God wanted me to be a priest and stay in baseball, which has been so humbling.'” Then there was that infamous goat curse…

A little after 1am I picked up my phone and saw the score, 8-7, they won!!! I was so excited for them. I’ve never been to Wrigley field; I doubt that I watched any of their games over the season until the World Series. But, there was that deep seated need to root for the underdog, come on God, let ‘em win. It just felt right that they finally won. Good stuff.

As I was replaying the TV coverage in my head, wow did you see the fans? I mean, they were holding on tightly to each other, their hands clasped in front of their mouths, Dad’s holding their kids, faces in buried in shoulders…and some were praying! This was serious and for a while, nothing else mattered…the focus was forward of what could happen.

On Facebook were pictures of Cubs ball caps, fans in T-shirts, parents and kids at home watching the game together, incredible joy on people’s faces.

What I noticed was a large number of people all praying for the same outcome, for the same team. And then it happened.

We so needed this.

See? We can be united. Even some Cleveland fans commented that it was okay that the Cubs won…not good, but okay, being gracious in defeat, a lesson for us all.

For 7 games we put politics aside and we came together. I liked the way it made me feel. Even though I was anxious, nerve wracked and pacing, it was the possibility that wow, finally after 108 years, this could really happen, and wouldn’t that just be the best thing ever.  Something really really good could happen.

Come Wednesday morning when your team wins, be humble. When your team loses be gracious. How we treat each other is so much more important than a trophy. Remember, you are an example to every child you are around.

Bury the hate. Ask the Father to fill your heart with love and respect and ask Him to fill your mind with possibilities of making a positive difference right here, right now where we live. Then take action.

No matter who is elected, the concerns and needs that we go to bed with on Tuesday night will still be there on Wednesday morning. So take all of that adrenaline, excitement and victory from the game and turn it into good works.

Remember, the curse has been lifted…Jesus won!

In His service, deni

Praying Tulsa!

John Wesley said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” For the last 13 weeks, Isaiah 58, In His Service has been putting feet to our prayers. We started on July 4^th at Woodward Park where we prayed for our ministry, our nation and the future of our Sunday morning prayer time. Our heart’s desire was to truly travel the city and cover every inch in prayer.

In July we went to the Education Center and prayed for our students, teachers and support staff.  Then to Maybelle Bridge and we prayed for our homeless and those who work with them.

On July 31^st we gathered at Reconciliation Park and prayed for our local and national elections, politicians and leaders; we prayed for us to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters and to firmly place Hope between hostility and humiliation.

In August we went to David L. Moss and prayed for the inmates, the Sheriff’s department, the guards, Police Chief Chuck Jordan and Sheriff Vic Regalado. On the 14^th we were at the Tulsa Housing Authority and we prayed for those in subsidized housing and those who work for THA, DHS and the Health Dept. The next Sunday we were at Life Senior Services and we prayed for our seniors, in assisted living, nursing homes and living alone and we prayed for everyone who works and volunteers with them. On the 28^th we were in the parking lot of First Baptist Church and we prayed for the poor and for our churches to be inspired to do lasting and life changing outreach for the poor in our community.

In September we asked you to step outside your front door and pray for your neighbors. On September 11^th we took some of our Comanche Park kids to visit Fire Station 7 to say “thank you.” We even took some delicious Icing on the Top cupcakes as a gift. We toured the fire station and prayed for our city’s first responders, fire, police and medical. On the 18^th we asked you to pray for those who you said you would pray for and never got around to it. We gave you a “do over” day.  On the 25^th you were invited to Prayer Drive, Prayer Walk and Prayer Sit for our city wherever God led you that day.

On September 16^th our city stood still. It happened to us. A member of our community was shot and killed by a police officer and we were thrust into the national media spotlight.

But, what has happened in other cities did not happen in Tulsa. There was no violence, no senseless destruction of property. The Metropolitan Baptist Church opened wide its doors and invited – everyone – inside to mourn and wail and cry – together.  And in we went.

Isaiah 58, In His service outreach of prayer was intentional and divinely guided. We had no idea what lie ahead of us, but God did.  We still do not know what is before us, but we know we must remain on our knees in earnest prayer.

We believe we must pray continuously. We are looking for a Sunday or Monday night gathering place to come together and pray. It will be an open invitation to any and all to come and join us. Even if only two of us show up in person, we are reminded that where two or more are gathered, God is in our midst. We want to pray for you and those you care about because God hears and answers.

"The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!'" (J. Hudson Taylor)

Know that you are prayed for.

In His service,

deni A. fholer

Homelessness

He couldn’t calm down. He was on the verge of sobbing, but he was talking so fast, his tears couldn’t catch up. His tics overwhelmed his face and then he couldn’t catch his breath. I looked him in the eyes and said his name over and over again…then I began saying Jesus’ name over and over again.  There was some recognition in his eyes and he said, “I don’t think I can do this much longer,” and then the tears came in force.

He had been homeless for about 9 months and he’d never been homeless before. He was scared to death, and he didn’t understand the street rules and kept ticking people off. Isaiah 58, In His service put him in a motel for a week. He started to become his old self after two days of solid sleeping.  But this is not enough…

She is addicted to meth. So many times she comes to me so high that she babbles and cries and asks for help and then would disappear for weeks.  She, so far, keeps coming back and never remembers the last conversation we had.  The last time I saw her she was sober and back with her old man, who beats her when they’re high. She quoted scripture and said all of the things that we Christians want to hear from lost sinners. But, there is still no light in her eyes.  We gave her the Bible she requested. We give her backpacks, hygienes, Gatorade, snacks and socks over and over again because when she’s high everything gets stolen or she wanders off and leaves everything behind. But this is not enough…

He was a hard hat guy. He climbed poles to fix transformers and could maneuver just about everything made by Caterpillar. He was renting a room in a house and all he did was work and relax. The perfect life to him.  Then he got hurt. He had no insurance, no savings and he needed rehab time. The doctor couldn’t release him to do the work he’s always done. He couldn’t wrap his mind around doing another kind of work. He’s on the streets. His camp is an abandoned house.  He’s befriended a woman with schizophrenia and he wants us to help her more than he wants help himself. The heat is really getting to him, “Can you get so hot that your brains melt?” We give him Quik Trip gift cards because he loves their sandwiches. We give him T-shirts and shorts and shoes and lots of Jalapeno crackers, those are his favorite. But this is not enough…

They’ve been meth addicts for years. They recently met Jesus and they’re trying to stay clean. They both have kids that have been taken by DHS. He’s been thrown in jail numerous times for not paying his fines. Financially with all of the fines and fees and living expenses, they are starting to sink and those who are working closely with them are praying they don’t relapse. “I mean I know God is real but it’s getting worse. We’ll never get ahead it’s like the more we pay the further behind we get.”  Isaiah 58, In His service is helping them with rent so they can try to find a way through this mess.  But it is not enough…

He was a professional. He was working a good job, had some of the finer things of life.  He was living life on his terms and all was well. Then he had a car wreck. Without insurance he has thousands of dollars of medical bills. He has virtually no support system.  He hurts almost all of the time from his injuries, depression is overtaking him. His car was totaled and he’s living in a shelter. He is starving for hope, but he told us he works hard at getting through the day, he can’t believe this has happened to him. He considers suicide often, “I’m almost out of hope. “ We listen and provide small gifts of love and encouragement. But it is not enough…

Homelessness. It tries to consume Moms and Dads, Grandmas, Children, Laborers, Professionals, literally every walk of life, and sometimes it does, it pushes them to the brink. It is no respecter of age; there are homeless babies, toddlers, teens, and seniors in their 80’s. They each have a story, a life before homelessness. They pray for a life after being homeless. They don’t want to stay homeless but just surviving takes all of their energy and the system is one big obstacle that works against them getting back to self-sufficiency. What each of them need is stable, sustainable, secure housing.

Isaiah 58, In His service loves on so many homeless people. We are always humbled by their stories. Homeless people are some of the most resilient people we have ever met. So many have a sense of humor that catches us by surprise. They are the most appreciative people for the simplest of gifts.  We are so blessed for our calling to befriend, love and help these amazing people.

Housing. Our fervent prayer is for Isaiah 58, In His service to be a ministry that provides housing. Not just a motel for a week or two. Not pay rent for a month or two. But, to provide housing for as long as it is takes. We need emergency housing. We need a safe place for Moms and kids, when they’re new to town or their house burns down. We need a place for those who are injured to recuperate. We need a place for those who have no one, to die with dignity and be surrounded by love. We need a place for those who are sinking in debt to stay for free so they can pay their bills and get ahead. We need a place for those who are discharged from a psychiatric facility to stay and be helped with medications and consistency. We need a safe place for folks to stay while they are waiting to get into rehab. 

Last Friday deni received a call from First Baptist Jenks. They had leftover hot dogs and sandwiches and asked if we could give them away. ABSOLUTELY!! It was an incredibly large container full of food!! We laid hands on the bag and prayed for the journey ahead, asking God to lead us to those who needed loving on the most. And to the streets we went…

Just around the corner was David. He was sitting in the shade and smiled as we pulled over. He stood up and shook deni’s hand as we introduced ourselves. He said he has been homeless for awhile, he stays on the streets and stays by himself. A Bible was beside him and he commented. “You can’t be on the streets without Jesus.” He took some sandwiches and told us he had been praying for where he could go to get something to eat.

Douglas was sitting on his suitcase at the bus stop, Melissa was high and lost, Johnny was in the enclosed doorway of a church, and Alan thought deni was going to run over him. He was on his bike and was waving us on. We slowed and yelled, “Hungry?” He slammed on his brakes and leaned into the car window, “You did say hungry!” He said he was on his way to fly a sign for him and his friends, because they hadn’t eaten all day. So, we loaded him up with sandwiches, “Hallelujah! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Praise Jesus!!”

Then there was the couple drinking beer with nothing to eat. The two guys sitting outside smoking, thrilled to get a bite to eat. Jarrod was passed out on a sidewalk. We woke him up and he had been bleeding but we couldn’t figure out from where. He kept reaching for a hand to shake; so we shook hands quite a few times. He refused to go to the hospital. He sat up and was trying to figure out where he was. He took a couple of sandwiches and said he was headed somewhere, but wasn’t sure where. We drove by later, but he was gone.

We drove over to a church where a lot of homeless guys hang out. One was yelling and preaching to no one in particular, a few were flat on their backs, another one was loudly reminding us he was hungry too. The front man was Dennis. He said he lost his sister and Dad recently and he was trying to take care, “Of all these misfits.” We gave him a few bags of sandwiches and he said he would be sure everyone got something to eat.  "I don’t know why you’re out here tonite but God bless you.”

How cool is this? One church’s leftovers became a feast to a group of guys and gals who needed someone to know they were alive and they matter.  Isaiah 58, In His service blesses those God brings alongside us. Sometimes it’s in big ways where we wipe out a debt and in little acts of kindness like Jalapeno crackers, bus tokens or Gatorade. We are so thankful that God uses us to shine a little hope on so many who are desperate for something to look forward to. But each day the needs get bigger and their lives are complicated and sometimes it takes everything we have to help someone.  As we face each crisis we are reminded, “God’s got this!” Time and time and time again He provides the moment it is needed.

Last Sunday we prayed for those in our school system, many by name. Thank you to those who sent names of folks to pray for. Tomorrow morning we’re going to pray for our homeless community and those who work in ministries and agencies loving on the homeless, like Night Light Tulsa, the Day Center, Salvation Army, Iron Gate, Indian Health Care Resource Center, Mental Health Association and John 3:16 and many more.  We’ll be under the Maybelle Bridge where Night Light Tulsa ministers every Thursday evening. Know that you are welcome to pray with us!

We also ask that you join us in prayer to provide shelter.  YouAreSpecial.net  has purchased a house and they are praying for God’s guidance. Join YouAreSpecial.net as they seek the Father. Please pray for us that we will be obedient in our role in supporting YouAreSpecial.net in providing housing.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58: 6-12

Mother Teresa said, “We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.”

We will continue to love on folks, provide the tangible and advocate for them.  We hope you will continue to love with us!!  Thank you for sacrificing to give gifts in kind, financial gifts and gifts of prayer! We are touching lives and sharing Jesus and meeting needs because you are giving first.  You are greatly needed and greatly appreciated!

Know that you are prayed for.

In His service, deni

 

Now is the Time...

Now is the Time…

How many of us didn’t go to church because of the rain. It’s just too hard to get the kids up, it’s so easy to stay in bed, we can miss just this once…oh wait, didn’t we say that the last three Sundays??

How many sat in church and nodded our heads in agreement with the pastor while we looked at our watch? How many slouched in the seat and played a game on our phones? How many went into the sanctuary late because we wanted just one more cup of coffee or we wanted to connect with our buddy about meeting at the gym? We will miss church to go to the gym, to the lake or just to stay home, “It’s my only day off.”

Church shouldn’t be routine. We shouldn’t have the morning activities memorized. It shouldn’t be just a place of socialization, it shouldn’t be ordinary and plain, it shouldn’t be comfortable and easy going. We shouldn’t expect things to happen the same every week.

What happened to the excitement of going to church? Has attending Sunday school and church ever been something we’ve looked forward to, something we couldn’t wait to do? Where’s the anticipation of meeting the living God?

Someone said, “A relationship with God that doesn’t change your life, is no relationship at all.” When’s the last time we were transformed, changed, renewed in our relationship with Jesus?

When was the last time Jesus was first in our lives…has He ever been?

Are we complacent and flat in our walk through life? Are we so de-sensitized by the tragedies in life that we push them aside and try to convince ourselves nothing like that will happen to us?

A pick-up truck on the Muskogee Turnpike rammed a car from behind sending it off of the highway, the truck sped on ahead. A man attempted to kidnap a 13 year old girl who was with her mother in a grocery store. An 18 year old man told his step-son to quit jumping on the bed, when the little boy didn’t stop; the man shot him in the back of the head and killed him.

Dear Jesus…

A man walked into a club with a rifle and a handgun and killed 49 people and injured 53. In a matter of minutes lives ended and hundreds of family members’ lives were forever altered.  None of them thought that could happen to them…

Is your heart breaking? Are you shedding tears? Are you crying out to the Father?  Or are you thinking, “Oh that’s horrible,” and then you continue living life the same way….

It. Will.Never. Happen.To.Me.

This is a wake-up call. All of those tragedies took place in the United States – in Oklahoma. We cannot call ourselves Christ followers if we do nothing. People are lost, they are miserable, they are full of hate and they are all around us. We cannot risk doing nothing, we must act. “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 1:6.

But, we’re living as if we’ll live forever. We’re living for ourselves. Isn’t the real reason we don’t prioritize church is because we really don’t think it makes a big difference? It just isn’t important enough. Or maybe we think just showing up will give us brownie points with Jesus.

Because you know God, really, I’ve got this…

If we go to church on Sunday and continue sinning the same sins during the week, why are we going? Do we drink to excess? Are we married but flirting with a co-worker? Are our stories about the weekend filled with lies? How many curse words fill our mouths? How many least of these do we ignore? How much are we spending at the casino? How much porn are we watching?

We live like the world revolves around us and we live like Pharisees, we claim we know Jesus but we only do the simple, the easy, the comfortable. Sometimes just driving to church is just too much effort…

Another truck driver, kidnapper, murderer is in the making. There is too much at stake to live life in a fog; to follow the status quo. We need to step up and start paying attention. We need to blanket Tulsa with prayer and love. Because “it’ could happen here, to you, to me…

It’s time to fall on our faces in repentance and ask God to fill us with Excitement, Joy, Courage, Fearlessness, Passion, Empathy and the Desire to do His will,

No.Matter.What.

Luke 10 is a life group at First Baptist Church. We have been having class for the past 5-1/2 years. We started the class because we saw a need. We wanted to be “the” life group that anyone could come to and feel welcome. Outcast, misfit, mentally ill, drug addict, alcoholic, poor, retired, business owner, teenager, manager, doctor – a place to encounter the living God.  We were blessed to see God in action through us as we reached out to many folks over the years. Visitors came and left but we had a core group of folks who have been a part of the class for the entire time. We did as God called us, but now it’s time to do the harder work..

Sunday, July 10^th is our last class. We can’t wait on them to come to us, anymore…we are going to go out to them…

To end Luke 10 we have been doing a book study of Barefoot Church by Brandon Hatmaker. Brandon was talking with a couple that was “done” with church. The wife said, “The church needs to care more about the poor! They need to fight injustice! They need to help the orphan and widow in their distress! They need to do what they say they’re about!” Brandon was a pastor of a mega-church and he said, ”We as church leaders tell our people to go. We tell them to be good news.  And we assume they do. We assume they know how. While we’ve been charged to `equip the saints’ for works of service, the brutal truth is that most of us have reduced our expectations of `serving’ to a once-a-month tour of duty as an usher or greeter. We’ve settled for serving ourselves and serving as an event rather than serving those in need and living a new way of life that Jesus has called us to…There’s got to be more to church than this.”

So Brandon and his wife Jen left the mega church and planted a church, Austin New Church.  The book offers testimonies of how they surrendered all to Christ and left the pews and moved into the communities, “Creating service-based, missional communities that end up being surprisingly as much about evangelism, discipleship, and real-life transformation as they are about serving others…more than anything, this book is about a Christ-centered gospel. By His example and through His teaching, my hope is that we are continuously being challenged to be good news to a lost, broken, and dying world. That God would open our eyes more and more each day to the needs of our community and world. That we would see it as the church’s responsibility to lead the charge in making a difference, not just on our own church campus, but also in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our city, our nation, and our world.”

This is our fervent prayer. Let our churches start teaching their congregations about the poor; let us learn about resources and needs and gaps. Then let us step into those gaps with love. Let us love by going out to the lost and the poor and the miserable and the lonely. Let us ask the Father to set our hearts on fire for Him again. To wake up on Sunday morning excited and full of anticipation of what the Holy Spirit will do! We will look forward to going to Sunday school and church. Nothing will keep us from going because Jesus is moving and we are starving to be a part of His movement. Not just on Sundays but every day of the week.

Don’t you miss Him? Look around at this world…now is the time to surrender all.

Today was the kick off of “Putting Feet to Our Prayers!” Some of us joined hearts at Woodward Park this morning. We put feet to our prayers. While we were at the park, YouAreSpecial.net gathered on a hill in Sapulpa and prayed at the same time. There is power in prayer. Maybe some of you prayed at home with us. Maybe you didn’t come because well, it is July 4^th and well I didn’t even know where Woodward Park was, the car needed gas, well we’re going to a Fireworks show at 9:30pm tonite. That’s okay, you have more opportunities ahead…

Join Isaiah 58, In His service on Sunday, July 17^th at 7am at the Education Service Center at 3027 S. New Haven. We will pray for our teachers, students, support folks, school board, superintendent, etc. We’ll finish in time for you to get to church and Sunday school, filled with the Hope of Jesus!

Then on following Sundays we will meet wherever God leads us! We will pray in agreement and pray for restoration and healing and hope!!! I will send out an email the week before so you will know where we’ll meet. If you can’t come you can pray in agreement with us as we pray for our city leaders, churches, nonprofits, first responders, retailers, colleges, etc. We will pray for those we have taken for granted, for those we’ve ignored, for those we disagree with.

Our prayer is that you can come and pray and restore your relationship with Him and go to Sunday school and church totally in love with Him again. Maybe you will be so stoked for Jesus; you’ll go back to your church and ask about doing more for the poor. Maybe loving on the least of these will once again be a priority.

I’m praying for radical and reckless commitment to serving the poor and that one church will risk everything for the least of these. Tulsa New Church!?

God is waiting on us. We live like our God is small and unimaginative. He’s waiting on us to trust Him with everything. May Jesus become our first priority again.

Serving Jesus is risky.

Stepping out of the norm is scary.

I surrender all.

Will you?

https://youtu.be/CQA9YtcN1UA Love Comes to Life!

Know that you are prayed for.

In His service,

deni A. fholer

 

We can do more. We can do better.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will turn back to You.”

Psalm 51: 10-13