Best Kept Secret in Oklahoma



Larry and Rick Simpson with Gary Laws (Center)

contact: lawsgaryla@aol.com

 In this day and age when so many of the Hollywood productions are not fit for family viewing, it is a pleasure to know that some studios are specializing in family friendly films.

Skeleton Creek Productions of Enid, Oklahoma is one of those film companies! Located in what would seem to be an unlikely location, SCP is far from the glitter of Hollywood but it is no less professional in it's cinematic offerings.

Hotel Room and/or Doctors Office

Larry and Rick Simpson are the Executive Producers and they  recently gave my wife and I a tour of the many movie sets that support the Western Movie genre' they specialize in. While most of the outdoor shots are filmed in Colorado, New Mexico and other southwestern locations, the indoor scenes are shot at the Oklahoma studios which include an old west Hotel, Saloon, Bunkhouse, General Store and much more.

 

If you are ever in Oklahoma, this stop in Enid is an absolute must see. Thank you, Larry and Rick, for keeping the western genre' alive and producing films that are suitable for the whole family!

 

Mercantile Entrance

Old Western Bank lobby

Mercantile Store

 

Movie Set Photos

 

 

Saloon

Hotel Lobby

Mercantile Store

Jericho Workshop Concludes

The Jericho Workshop was conducted in Vero Beach, Florida on October 1-5. Hosted by The Salvation Army of Vero Beach, the workshop covered a full range of Biblical studies that focused on Joshua and the people of Israel at the battle of Jericho.

Central to the weeks teaching was the importance of God's people following the plan, which was given by God, and the strict requirement of obedience to God's instruction.

 

The workshop series consisted of four evening meetings with great singing and special music preliminary to each meeting. Sunday morning worship was the 5th and final session.

I am grateful to Majors Sam and Veronica Van Denberg, Corps Officers (pastors) at The Salvation Army, Dave May, Bandmaster, Major Linda Yeck of Minneapolis for providing special music. The Vero Beach Salvation Army Band was on duty each evening.  They featured a special composition of "Joshua Fit' the Battle of Jericho', which was written especially for these special meetings by David May. I trust that God touched the hearts of all those attending and that they will have found the workshop worthwhile.

The Next 'Jericho Workshop'...Vero Beach, Florida

The next 'Jericho Workshop' will be held at The Salvation Army in Vero Beach, Florida, October 1-5, 2014. If you live in the area, and would like to attend, please contact Major Sam Van Denberg, Corps Officer in Vero Beach.

The Church and Change!

We live in a world that requires everything to be new! Perhaps the best example of this is found in the products we sell. Every year we have to have a new car design, however simple the change, in order to keep the consumer happy. Car sales would plummet were it not for these changes!

Another up to date example is in the field of technology. Computers, Smart Phones, Note Pads, iPads and on and on the list goes. In order for manufacturers to maintain market-share they must constantly be 'seen' as improving product reliability, serviceability and functionality. These changes may be substantive or superficial, but one thing is for sure...change is the order of the day!

I cannot help but what wonder if this 'market strategy mentality' is not also creeping (or leaping) into the Church. Can it be that worshipers are also requiring everything to be new? Are we constantly reworking our forms of worship so as to 'increase market-share'? In an effort to please people, are we actually subordinating the work of the Holy Spirit to our own designs and plans? Is it our thinking that we must be 'seen' as progressive in order to be relevant in today's world? Do we have such little confidence in the work of the Holy Spirit that we have replaced it with our own desires, thinking and motivations?

Some of the changes may be Spirit led and substantive, while many other changes may be superficial and counterproductive. In order to keep our 'consumers' happy it may well be that we are seeking change for no other purpose than to rid ourselves of the traditional and create the appearance of being up to date and forward thinking..

I would suggest that it is not as important to be 'seen' as relevant as it is to BE relevant! Being 'seen' has been the downfall of religion and religious people for all of Church history. Calling attention to ourselves will always lead to failure. Calling attention to Jesus and His work will always lead to eternal rewards. O, I know we say we ARE calling attention to Him when in reality we are doing little more than putting ourselves on display.

Having said all of this, I am not opposed to change at all. I am opposed to change that is motivated by self promotion, superficial displays and narcissistic behaviors! I am opposed to the proponents of change who arrogantly purport to have a better way, if not the only way!

The Church ought not to be following the marketing strategies of the Big Three automakers in Detroit...after all, they are going bankrupt! Change for changes sake WILL bring CHANGE....just not the change we need!

"What Makes Christians Different" Video Devotional

Is There Something You Can Do About This?

Al is my next door neighbor. He leaves his doors and windows open most days so as to conserve on energy I would guess. Often I hear Al singing at the top of his lungs to recordings. One day he invited me over to hear his form of Karaoke. He has all the equipment one could imagine. Al lost his wife two years ago and he shared with me that singing helps with the loneliness. He sits all day long, day after day, alone in his apartment. He told me that since his wife passed, "I am so lonely. I can hardly stand it." Sue and I are going to make it a point to visit with him as often as possible.

My heart goes out to all of those in similar situations. There are millions of people struggling with loneliness. Surely some of them are within 'shouting' distance of where you live. Are you looking for them with a heart inclined to lessen their suffering?

What to Do With a Friend Who Is Lonely

One reason people avoid helping a lonely friend is because they already feel stressed out and think that their friend will be a drag on their precious time. In fact, you're probably more likely to call a busy friend who doesn't have time for you than a lonely one that needs your support. So starting today, change this approach. Lonely people don't expect you to be there for them 24/7, but they do need some kindness.
 
Here are some ideas for including a lonely friend in your life, even when you're busy:

• Invite them along to a regular get-together you might be having with another friend.

• Ask them if they want to come with you to run an errand. You can chat and get to know each other as you both grocery shop or run the kids to their appointments.

• Ask them over when you have a family dinner. Your family has to eat, and so does your friend. Combine the two.

• Help them make a connection by introducing them to your other friends.

• Feel like chilling out in front of the TV? Ask a friend over to join you.

• Call to check in on them occasionally.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        God will bless you immeasurably!

I Must Do Better

Walking through the streets of London's East End, my daughter Cathy and I were approached by two Christians handing out gospel tracts. Standing in front of the entrance to the Underground, these two street evangelists were eager to engage us in conversation and share their personal testimony. I mentioned to them that I was a Salvationist and, somewhat surprised, they commented, "We don't see you good folks out here much anymore"!

Well, I am not sure how much visibility The Salvation Army has on the streets of the East End these days. I know they are there in a big way, albeit in less visible ways. 

Of course, here in the States our ministries have changed with the times. Street ministries may not be as practical as they once were. People congregate in malls rather than the old 'downtown' areas that were once so effective for us to minister in. Management of today's Malls are not very encouraging as it regards our presence for evangelistic  purposes and The Salvation Army has had to find new ways to reach out with the Gospel....and it is!The same realities are true for the Church community as a whole.

The most effective way of sharing the Gospel remains the one on one personal testimony of God's people! As we go about our daily routine, God presents us with opportunities to minister to people individually as they cross our path. It may be in the workplace, school or some other situation within which we find ourselves but, rest assured, God will bring them to us. We must always be on the lookout and ready to respond, "in season and out"!

Well, I thanked this London group for their testimony and Gospel sharing and we went on into the Underground to catch our train. As we did I thought to myself , "We must continually seek to do better....I must do better!" The Christian Church must always be on the lookout for new, effective ways to share the love of God, even when old opportunities pass. May it be so!

Should Christians Have Social Ministries ?

Some Christians feel that they have no social responsibility toward the poor and otherwise oppressed people of the world. They maintain that God has only called them to a 'spiritual' ministry! This is what the Bible says:

Isaiah 58:6-14

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
Then the Lord will be your delight.
I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
I, the Lord, have spoken! ” (NLT)

FYI

By His Stripes has surpassed 9500 views since first published online. Praise the Lord for this exposure!

There Must Be Something More!

Every seeker has a deep feeling that there must be something more to life, a great truth to be discovered. That was the case with Nicodemus, who came to Jesus Christ at night because he suspected this young teacher might be the Messiah promised to Israel by God.
Nicodemus learned that he must be born again, and he was. Together with his friend Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus lovingly cared for the body of the crucified Savior, placing it in Joseph's tomb. Nicodemus is a model of faith and courage for all Christians to follow.

Nicodemus' Accomplishments:

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the high court in Israel.
He stood up for Jesus when the Pharisees were conspiring against him: Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?" (John 7:50-51, NIV)
He helped Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus' body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb, at great risk to his safety and reputation.
Nicodemus also donated 75 pounds of expensive myrrh and aloes to anoint Jesus' body after Jesus died.

Nicodemus' Strengths:

Nicodemus had a wise, inquiring mind. He was not satisfied with the legalism of the Pharisees.
He had great courage. He personally sought out Jesus to ask questions and get the truth directly from Jesus' mouth.
He also defied the Sanhedrin and Pharisees by treating Jesus' body with dignity and assuring that he received a proper burial.

Nicodemus' Weakness:

When he first sought out Jesus, Nicodemus went at night, so no one would see him. He was afraid of what might happen if he spoke to Jesus in broad daylight, where people might report him.

Life Lessons:

Nicodemus would not rest until he found the truth. He wanted badly to understand, and he sensed that Jesus had the answer. After he became a follower, his life was changed forever. He never hid his faith in Jesus again. Jesus is the source of all truth, the meaning of life. When we are born again, as Nicodemus was, we should never forget that we have forgiveness of our sins and eternal life because of Christ's sacrifice for us.

Laying Hold of Victory!

While preaching in Carthage, Missouri this summer, I spoke on Joshua Chapter 6. Highlighting the importance of the laity in the ministry of evangelism, it was pointed out that had Joshua answered God's instruction by going it alone, the walls of Jericho would not have fallen!

As we approach the ministry of evangelism in our churches, Christians must realize that for such outreach to be effective, THEY must play the critical role if victory is to be achieved!