A shy fifteen-year-old girl named Susie began writing her story. She was an observer of the social dynamics of the students in her high school. Teachers, as they do, guided and encouraged her in her writing. The story grew stronger and worthy of a try to turn it into a real book. She was cautioned that the book would sell better if she disguised her sex, so she used her initials, S.E. Hinton. She graduated from Will Rogers High School, which is just down the street from our church, in 1966. When her book was published that year, it became a bestseller and has remained on the bestseller list these sixty years. She called it The Outsiders. Tulsans know of the time movie director Francis Ford Coppola came to town with some young mostly unknown actors to play the students from Will Rogers High. He filmed Hinton’s second novel, Rumble Fish, while he was in Tulsa at the same time. 

“Can  you see the sunset from the South side real good?”

“Yeah, real good.”

“You can see it from the North side too.”

Ponyboy Curtis and Cherrie Valence

Here are a few lessons I have learned about outsiders. Outsiders always recognize the insiders. Outsiders are invisible to insiders.  Insiders are suspicious of most outsiders.  All of  us know what it feels like to be an outsider trying to fit it. Outsiders, sometimes known as visitors or even strangers, always look to see if there is someone like themselves in the room. The outsider seeks understanding and kindness. The outsider is looking for a trusted friend and the security of belonging. Some outsiders may even be a messenger from God. (Hebrews 13:2)

Maybe the two worlds we lived in weren’t so different.

We saw the same sunset.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Befriend the outsider. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

Note:  A 60^th Anniversary Celebration of the book is being held at Tulsa’s Will Rogers High School, on Saturday, November 7, beginning at 10 a.m., which includes an extended version of  the movie. For more information go to the website: willrogersfoundation.net

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I missed the press release a month ago when Toys “R” Us announced it was opening 120 new stores nation-wide for this holiday season. I find that it is getting harder to keep up with all the important stuff like that. I remember when the company filed for bankruptcy a few years ago over their $5 billion debt and closed all their stores. I looked it up and discovered that was September 2017. By 2019 the company was bought by a new group, and in 2021 opened on a smaller scale. Today there are 20 stores, with a large flagship store, Ferris wheel included, in Times Square. Soon there will be 160 Toys “R” Us locations, across the US, as well as their on-line business. What happened? Apparently, there has been a growing demand—up 17% the first half of this year—mostly from nostalgic adults seeking collectibles, trading cards, and things to build like Lego sets and model trains. 

Changing times require all of us to change not only in response to outside circumstances, but also in response to the inside need to seek fulfilment and growth. I wrote once of the fabled cowboys of the old west giving way to cars, trucks and city life. The cowboys who lived through those changing times constantly reinvented themselves. They learned the power of a new start, a new beginning. Bat Masterson, who reportedly killed more than 26 men before he was 30, died in 1921 sitting at his typewriter in New York City as the sports columnist for the New York Telegraph.

It is a new day for churches and the believers who gather each week. Technology in our daily lives has replaced actual in-person experiences and conversations.  But we still need time to play, laugh and cry with each other. It is a different day for all of us. Do you need a re-start, a reinvention, and transformation in your life today? God is the One who said, “Behold, I make all things new.” It is never too late for a fresh start.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Start anew. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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One day when the residents of New England woke up, they quickly noticed a darkness seeming to descend on their community. As the early morning gave way toward noon, it became noticeably dark. By 2:00 p.m. the cows headed back to their barns and the night birds came out. It was May 19, 1780. They lit more candles and oil lamps; people began to fear that judgment day was at hand. According to one Boston newspaper account,  “a portentous omen of the wrath of Heaven in vengeance denounced against the land … the immediate harbinger of the last day, when the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.”  The unexplained darkness lasted about 19 hours, with no stars visible in the night sky. There was no solar eclipse that day. It would be more than a century until the probable explanation was found—a ferocious Canadian forest fire mixed with clouds and fog had sent ash and soot across New England. The traumatizing day left its mark.

Faced with a visible doom, some people raced for refuge into churches to make their peace with God. Some just cowered in fear. In Connecticut, when legislators considered ending their session early, Councilman Abraham Davenport proclaimed. “If it is the end of the world, I want to be found doing my duty.” How are we supposed to respond when deep fear shows up on our doorstep? Physical danger calls for quick actions to get out of the way and cries for help to others. Circumstantial crises, like money, food, jobs, or health changes call for availing of community resources. Emotional and spiritual fears call for wise counsel. I suggest that admitting or naming your fear is the healthiest first step. Step two is opening the door of faith. Step three is to invite God to help you dig deeper to uncover what may really be the issue at hand. Ask yourself what you are fearful of and why are you so afraid. Things that trigger our fears are wrapped in many emotions.

The reality is that many would like to “claim faith” when confronting fearful things, yet they do not really trust that God is trustworthy. Jesus teaches us to Take up your cross daily. Trusting God and being obedient is our daily spiritual battle. Jesus faced it in the garden of Gethsemane. We must find our confidence in the Lord before faith can overcome our fears. The darkest day in New England ended, but the light revealed there was still a mess of cleanup to do. And no one alive that day ever knew why the darkness came.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Our God is trustworthy. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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No one enjoys being played for a fool or a sucker. Upon deeper examination it seems the famous con artists are surprisingly gullible. One example is P.T. Barnum (1810-1891.) His is the famous phrase “There’s a sucker born every day.” If he really said it, he was talking about himself. I read his autobiography when I was a teen. (A reminder that all autobiographers shape the story of the themselves in their own image—not precisely accurate.)  Phineas Taylor Barnum wrote in his book that when he was born, his grandfather deeded to him a piece of property called Ivy Island. He was reminded throughout his childhood that he owned Ivy Island and dreamed of the adventures he would have on his personal island one day. When he was 10, he finally saw Ivy Island. “It was a worthless piece of barren land,” he wrote. The joke was on him. He was 15 when his father died. He became sole provider for his mother and five sisters and brothers. P.T. Barnum understood disappointment and pain yet somehow discovered the strength and courage to embrace life. How do you handle your disappointments?  

Around age 30, P.T. Barnum wanted to buy what would be his first museum of curiosities. He was not able to raise much money, so he made a deal. He mortgaged himself to the building’s owner, proposing for collateral: good references, a determination to succeed, and a “valuable and sentimental” piece of property known as Ivy Island. A year later he was out of that debt. In his 40’s, Barnum took positions against slavery and for temperance. He was nearly 70 when he teamed with James Bailey to provide “The Greatest Show on Earth.”  If you read Barnum’s whole story, you will discover he spent his life using and abusing people for money and fame. He allowed his disappointments to misshape his heart and relationships. Sadly, it all became part of his con game.

It is my observation that people tend to undervalue their victories and overrate their disappointments. We undervalue our victories, joys, and successes with words such as, “It was just lucky,” “I happened to be in the right place,” or “It’s no big deal.” We overrate our disappointments with words such as, “Things never work out for me,” “No one understands,” or “I always get the raw deal.” If I’m not careful, I can nurse my disappointments as if they are wounds that will never heal. If I’m not careful, I can focus on the circumstances around me rather than on the Spirit that forever holds me.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Choose the way of Jesus. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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One of the true joys of faithful churches is found in the opportunity to plant new churches. Our church has been blessed to help organize three strong churches: Belview, Southwood, and Monte Los Olivos. Each of these congregations was born out of a committed group of lay leaders who saw a greater vision for God’s kingdom. I highlighted in 2022 the remarkable vision of our church to send nearly 100 members, in concert with our local association of churches, to plant the Belview Baptist Church on north Yale Ave.

Tulsa’s Southwood Baptist Church is a story of faith, adversity, and victory. In 1975, our church, under the leadership of J. Ray Smith, one of our deacons, outlined a vision for a new congregation in southeast Tulsa. Mr. Smith had located a piece of property on 41^st Street south near where Highway 169 would one day be extended south. I was on the Missions Committee of our Association at the time. One of our tasks was to locate and purchase future property for new church starts. The association soon purchased the property. In August of 1976, I received a phone call concerning a possible new mission start. I met with the fledgling church group and subsequently our church voted to help them become a new church. Our church led the organizing council in September 1976. They met for a while at the former Mayo Elementary School, but later we invited them to share our facilities while they raised the funds to build on the 41^st streetproperty.

In the late 1980’s, Southwood found themselves in a financial crisis due to a balloon payment due on their church bonds, and the savings and loans banking crisis across the country. Our church stepped up to help them weather that stormby endorsing a plan for refinancing their debt. It never cost our church any money, just faith and much prayer. Southwood has always been known for its community outreach with the nearby Roy Clark Elementary school, providing hospitality with food and clothes, English as a second language classes, and as a lighthouse of wise counsel for those needing salvation and renewal. Sunday, September 27th, Southwood Baptist Church will celebrate its 50^th Anniversary. What a fellowship!

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Share the joy. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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