Faith

Simple Sabbath: Hope is in the Eye of the Needle

Mark 10:17-27

Maybe you’ve read this passage before, or perhaps a similar passage in Matthew or Luke.

The story is basically this: Jesus was ministering one day and a rich guy runs to him as Jesus is about to leave, falls on his knees and asks how he can inherit eternal life.  Jesus gives him the standard 10 commandment “don’ts” and the rich guy states he has kept all these commandments since his youth.  Then Jesus goes on to direct the guy to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor and follow him.

At this, rich guy gets bummed out and leaves because he has a lot of stuff.  Jesus tells his disciples it’s easier for a camel to make its way through the eye of a needle than the rich to go to heaven but, that through God, “all things are possible”.

I love the reading of this passage in Mark, particularly, because it states that Jesus looked at him and loved him.  Won’t it be cool some day when Jesus looks at you that way?

This passage has given me a lot of reason to pause and think over the years because so many people like to write the end of the rich guy’s story in a negative frame.  But I’d caution you; the end of this particular story is not written in the Bible. So many folks just assume that the rich guy did not do as Jesus instructed him, but we don’t know whether he did or not.  I’ve heard people use this passage as New Testament justification for the death penalty.  But this passage ends with hope: “with God all things are possible.” In other words, rich guys getting into heaven and camels getting through needle eyes.

I encourage you to find the hope Jesus’ disciples were presented on that day.

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Woman2Woman

New Years Resolutions And Why I Break Them

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by Joey Rodman

About this time of year people start nagging each other to make resolutions and goals for the New Year.  Things to start, things to stop, things to do differently.  I have been asked a total of 45 times (at the time of writing this post) what my New Years resolution is.

My answer?  I don’t have any because I don’t like being a failure. *time passes…*

So, I’ve now asked my friends to tell me anonymously what they think my resolution should be and here are their replies:  Of the 13 friends who responded…

8 wrote: Stop losing your cell phone.
Okay, I’ll admit it I lose my cell phone a lot. Weekly, actually, if not more often.

I don’t think it’s my fault. First of all it’s tiny.  Second, it always falls out of my pocket and gets wedged between the couch cushions and then the battery dies and I can’t find it via sound location. Third, I just don’t care enough to keep track of it. My cell phone is my only phone.

I have no landline, so most of my friends think it should be attached to my hand at all times in case they need me. I think otherwise. I get hundreds of text messages each day; most of them are useless. If you really need me, you’ll find me. Right? Right. Besides millions of people survived in the times before cell phones and I think I can do it too.

3 wrote: Quit getting hurt.
Um… so if I could stop falling down, tripping, face-planting, sliding, etc. don’t you think I would?! Okay, I probably wouldn’t. I’m a klutz; I get it.

In addition to being a klutz I’m often distracted (mostly by my cell phone, or looking for my cell phone) so I don’t pay attention to things around me. I got a pogo stick yesterday, I don’t envision this cutting down on injuries. One of my closest friends commented: “Joey, who gave you a Pogo stick and what were they thinking?!!!!” Point taken.

Continue reading New Years Resolutions And Why I Break Them →

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Oklahoma culture

Knocking on the Locked Door of Brett Favre’s Mind: A Reprise

Thor, defeated.

Editor’s Note:  Our sports writer and editor, Rob Loeber, is – as you read this – moving from Tennessee back to Oklahoma.  In order to manage the move, he’s taking the day off.  In his place, Mark “The Howard” Hinderliter, has stepped up and shared his ongoing struggle…or perhaps resolution…about Brett Farve, the Vikings, and  – um, – Sheb Wooley.  Enjoy~ RDK

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*Disclaimer: All facts reported in this article may only be facts to me and could have nothing at all to do with actual history.

Wow.  I could probably just stop right there since the Vikings season of drama has been so well-documented.

We can always count on the Dallas Cowboys for an annual football soap opera but the Vikings have stolen the mantel of all football drama queens this year.  And remember, I’m a Vikings fan!  Well, okay…you’ll have to go back and read the first article I wrote on the inner workings of Brett Favre’s mind to understand my team allegiances.

Which reminds me – it’s probably time to explain how an Oklahoma boy became a Vikings fan.  Previously I blamed Sheb Wooley; a cowboy actor from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, (somewhere along that time period).  He also was known to be a singer.  And he is in my family tree, according to my Father.  So we’re 10th cousins twice removed or something like that.  Whatever that means.

A family tree headstone of Sheb Wooley. Notice the different spellings? A common occurrence during that era.

Continue reading Knocking on the Locked Door of Brett Favre’s Mind: A Reprise →

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Oklahoma culture, Photography, Relationships

Why Thursday Evening Shout Outs and Kleenex Boxes Go Together

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He’s professional without being uncomfortable.  He’s nice.  He’s creative and has a keen interest in helping reveal the beauty of life within his subjects.  In an attempt to reduce a personality and business of positive complexities into a cohesive concept, his website reads:

“There are two things you need to know about me. I enjoy life and I believe in creating images that make you feel something.”

Carl Zoch went into full-time photography business only a few short years ago.  He and his wife had to talk about it.  And think about it. And part of those discussions were about Carl’s desire to learn more and more about the subject of photography until he had exhausted his capacity to learn.  He is still not done.  However, his business and business model is beginning to take shape.

He only books 25 weddings per year.  He’s become well connected and referred within the photographer community of Oklahoma.  He is linked occasionally to other creative ventures or people such as Dusty Gilpin at Tree and Leaf (who, by the way, just designed our RDC T-Shirts).

And, his work is very good.  I invite you to spend some time reviewing his website at your leisure.  I like the background music he’s chosen for his slides, and I like his open and willing communication style when I e-mail him, asking to publish an image for our “Silent Sunday” features.  But I think more than anything today, I like him because he just sent the proofs of my daughter’s engagement photos to her in a slideshow…and because they made me cry.

Continue reading Why Thursday Evening Shout Outs and Kleenex Boxes Go Together →

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Foodie Page, Stockyards City Cookbook

Stockyards City Cookbook Cook Through: Breakfast Dilemma Solved

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Jani and Whitni, in their kitchen whipping up breakfast.

Looking for something easy to fix for breakfast the next time you have overnight company? Need a simple casserole recipe to take to work or church without all the hassle? Well, we have just the recipe for you.

Christmas morning at our house is always hectic; hurrying to see what Santa brought, packing up family members to get them on the road to visit in laws and in the meantime trying to get breakfast prepared and on the table after a late night!!

Well, Whitni and I found a simple solution to the breakfast problem it is called “Omelet for a Crowd”. It was a breeze to make, easy to clean up and everyone loved it.

Omelet for a Crowd

By Kim Stewart

8 eggs slightly beaten
1 c grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
6 slice bread (cubed)
2 c milk
1-lb sausage-fried, crumbled and drained
1 tsp. dry mustard

Mix all together. Put into a 9×13 pan. Refrigerate overnight. Bake @ 350 for 35 min the next morning.

Breakfast Dilemma Solved

Happy Cooking,

Jani & Whitni

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Showcasing Red Dirt culture ~ authored and managed by contributors with connections to the great state of Oklahoma.