Monday, September 29, 2003
Living on Tulsa Time
Howdy, y'all!
Well, I'm home from my recent trip to Tulsa, OK. I went to visit the family of Kenneth Hagin and to attend the memorial service remembering and honoring Brother Hagin's life and ministry.
Because of the high cost of a last-minute airplane ticket, I decided to drive to Oklahoma. I left early on Saturday morning the 20th, and ended up driving straight through to Tulsa -- about 15 hours and 1032 miles.
It was around 10:30 pm CST when I arrived at my hotel room.
I slept late the next morning. When I got up I went to Applebee's for lunch.
You really need to hear about my lunch.
I thought it was really neat that they were playing praise and worship music at the 71st Street Applebee's in South Tulsa.
The first song I noticed was, "You Can Still Pray in the U.S. A."
Then, as my waiter was arriving to refill my iced tea, he was singing along with the music that filled the room -- "Come, Now is the Time to Worship."
Cool!
To top it off, I was blessed to hear one of my favorite Bryan Duncan songs, "Love You With My Life", just before I left.
God really speaks to me through that song -- and spoke once again.
Hey, an Applebee's House Sirloin and country potatoes tastes even better in an atmosphere charged with the presence of God!
I went to RHEMA Monday evening to view Brother Hagin's body and to visit with the family.
I spoke briefly with Kenneth Hagin, Jr. and his wife, Lynette, and then greeted Mom Hagin and other family members.
Lynette told me that arrangements had been made for me to sit in a special section of the auditorium for the memorial service, have reserved parking, attend the committal ceremony at the cemetery, and join the Hagin family for dinner following the services.
The memorial service was held at 12:30 pm, Wednesday, September 24, at the RHEMA Bible Church auditorium, on the campus of RHEMA Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow.
When I arrived at 11:00, there were already thousands of people lined up all the way around the building, waiting in the near 90 degree heat.
My "V.I.P." pass allowed me to enter the building and find a seat.
There were many familiar faces in the crowd, including, Kenneth Copeland, Fred Price, Jerry Saville, T.L. Osborn, and others. There were thousands of ministers, RHEMA students, and friends of the Hagin family and ministry who filled the room.
The service started closer to 1:00 than 12:30, as the ushers worked, trying to get as many as possible seated in the auditorium.
Hundreds of others sat in classrooms and chairs that were set up outside in front of the building. They listened through portable loudspeakers and watched the service on closed circuit TV's. Others around the world watched via live Internet transmission.
The service lasted nearly 4 1/2 hours.
I remember looking at my watch a couple of times thinking that maybe 10 minutes had passed -- but it had been an hour, instead! That was weird. But time really does stand slow down -- and even stand still -- when you're in the spirit.
There were songs by David Ingles (including his classic, "There's a Whole Lot of People Going Home") and family and friends shared memories of Brother Hagin.
I could relate to many of their stories and experiences. I found myself "amening", laughing, and nodding in agreement as they shared.
Letters were read from others who were not able to attend.
Oral Roberts sent a note expressing his appreciation for the impact that Kenneth Hagin's ministry has had in training up and sending men and women throughout the world with the message of Christ.
Brother Roberts also wrote that he was feeling "the tug of Heaven" himself.
I find it interesting that Bill Bright, Loren Cunningham, Kenneth Hagin, and Derick Prince have all recently gone home to be with the Lord.
I do believe that these are signs of the time in which we are living.
The presence of God at the service was powerful -- and a challenge went forth for everyone to continue the work of the ministry that Brother Hagin began nearly 70 years ago.
At the conclusion of the memorial service, I joined the funeral procession as we made our way to the cemetery for the committal service.
The setting was beautiful -- and inspirational, too.
The bright blue expanse of Oklahoma sky stretched out above us and reached down to meet the perfectly manicured garden setting below. Scriptures were read and prayers were offered for the Hagin family as we paid our final tribute to this servant of God.
The dinner that followed provided an opportunity to renew friendships and share stories with many friends -- some I hadn't seen for 20 or 30 years.
I left Tulsa Thursday and traveled to Kansas City, MO to visit with Leo and Barb Grabowski. Many of you know Leo and Barb from Life of Faith Fellowship in Port Huron.
We enjoyed a Longhorn steak dinner together, and afterward, a time of fellowship and prayer in their home in Lee's Summit.
Ready to get back home (and sleep in my own bed), I hit the road early Friday morning.
The trip was uneventful until the rain started falling -- falling hard -- I mean really hard!
I was about 10-12 miles west of St. Louis on I-70 driving through the torrential downpour when it happened...
I noticed a car was coming up fast behind me as I traveled the inside lane of three lanes of traffic.
I decided to move over to the center lane and let this guy by.
(I really hate it when people come up behind me like that.)
As he attempted to pass me (going too fast for conditions if you ask me), he lost control of his older model white Lincoln Continental.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the missile coming, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
His car slammed into my left fender, and "in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye", we were both heading south on the east-bound highway. We slid side-by-side across two lanes of traffic, over the shoulder, and down into the grassy ditch by the side of the road.
He shot past me and ended up on the top of the hill. I spun 180 degrees and stopped with the car's nose wedged down in the ditch.
I know it was the hand of God that got me safely from where I met my new friend to my parking spot on the side of I-70.
When the car stopped (and I started breathing again), I pushed the OnStar button on the rear view mirror. A comforting voice called me by name and asked if I was okay. Other than reaggravating a "just about healed" neck injury, I was fine.
Eileen (if memory serves me) summoned the police, a tow truck, and medical technicians -- all who promptly arrived on the scene.
After the exchange of vital information, they were able to pull my injured car out of the ditch and back up onto the shoulder of the road.
By this time, the three lanes of traffic were backed up as far as I could see.
I would have much preferred the role of "gawker" this Friday morning in St Ann, MO, but 'twas not to be.
Thankfully, I was able to drive the car home, arriving in Port Huron late Friday night.
I'll have to call my insurance agent and body shop this morning to get the repair process underway. I could think of things I'd rather do, but such is life.
I want to thank all of you who prayed while I was on this trip. God's hand of protection was truly on me.
Hey, it's really good to know that when you are totally out of control, God's still in control!
That, my friend, is good to know!
Well, I'm home from my recent trip to Tulsa, OK. I went to visit the family of Kenneth Hagin and to attend the memorial service remembering and honoring Brother Hagin's life and ministry.
Because of the high cost of a last-minute airplane ticket, I decided to drive to Oklahoma. I left early on Saturday morning the 20th, and ended up driving straight through to Tulsa -- about 15 hours and 1032 miles.
It was around 10:30 pm CST when I arrived at my hotel room.
I slept late the next morning. When I got up I went to Applebee's for lunch.
You really need to hear about my lunch.
I thought it was really neat that they were playing praise and worship music at the 71st Street Applebee's in South Tulsa.
The first song I noticed was, "You Can Still Pray in the U.S. A."
Then, as my waiter was arriving to refill my iced tea, he was singing along with the music that filled the room -- "Come, Now is the Time to Worship."
Cool!
To top it off, I was blessed to hear one of my favorite Bryan Duncan songs, "Love You With My Life", just before I left.
God really speaks to me through that song -- and spoke once again.
Hey, an Applebee's House Sirloin and country potatoes tastes even better in an atmosphere charged with the presence of God!
I went to RHEMA Monday evening to view Brother Hagin's body and to visit with the family.
I spoke briefly with Kenneth Hagin, Jr. and his wife, Lynette, and then greeted Mom Hagin and other family members.
Lynette told me that arrangements had been made for me to sit in a special section of the auditorium for the memorial service, have reserved parking, attend the committal ceremony at the cemetery, and join the Hagin family for dinner following the services.
The memorial service was held at 12:30 pm, Wednesday, September 24, at the RHEMA Bible Church auditorium, on the campus of RHEMA Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow.
When I arrived at 11:00, there were already thousands of people lined up all the way around the building, waiting in the near 90 degree heat.
My "V.I.P." pass allowed me to enter the building and find a seat.
There were many familiar faces in the crowd, including, Kenneth Copeland, Fred Price, Jerry Saville, T.L. Osborn, and others. There were thousands of ministers, RHEMA students, and friends of the Hagin family and ministry who filled the room.
The service started closer to 1:00 than 12:30, as the ushers worked, trying to get as many as possible seated in the auditorium.
Hundreds of others sat in classrooms and chairs that were set up outside in front of the building. They listened through portable loudspeakers and watched the service on closed circuit TV's. Others around the world watched via live Internet transmission.
The service lasted nearly 4 1/2 hours.
I remember looking at my watch a couple of times thinking that maybe 10 minutes had passed -- but it had been an hour, instead! That was weird. But time really does stand slow down -- and even stand still -- when you're in the spirit.
There were songs by David Ingles (including his classic, "There's a Whole Lot of People Going Home") and family and friends shared memories of Brother Hagin.
I could relate to many of their stories and experiences. I found myself "amening", laughing, and nodding in agreement as they shared.
Letters were read from others who were not able to attend.
Oral Roberts sent a note expressing his appreciation for the impact that Kenneth Hagin's ministry has had in training up and sending men and women throughout the world with the message of Christ.
Brother Roberts also wrote that he was feeling "the tug of Heaven" himself.
I find it interesting that Bill Bright, Loren Cunningham, Kenneth Hagin, and Derick Prince have all recently gone home to be with the Lord.
I do believe that these are signs of the time in which we are living.
The presence of God at the service was powerful -- and a challenge went forth for everyone to continue the work of the ministry that Brother Hagin began nearly 70 years ago.
At the conclusion of the memorial service, I joined the funeral procession as we made our way to the cemetery for the committal service.
The setting was beautiful -- and inspirational, too.
The bright blue expanse of Oklahoma sky stretched out above us and reached down to meet the perfectly manicured garden setting below. Scriptures were read and prayers were offered for the Hagin family as we paid our final tribute to this servant of God.
The dinner that followed provided an opportunity to renew friendships and share stories with many friends -- some I hadn't seen for 20 or 30 years.
I left Tulsa Thursday and traveled to Kansas City, MO to visit with Leo and Barb Grabowski. Many of you know Leo and Barb from Life of Faith Fellowship in Port Huron.
We enjoyed a Longhorn steak dinner together, and afterward, a time of fellowship and prayer in their home in Lee's Summit.
Ready to get back home (and sleep in my own bed), I hit the road early Friday morning.
The trip was uneventful until the rain started falling -- falling hard -- I mean really hard!
I was about 10-12 miles west of St. Louis on I-70 driving through the torrential downpour when it happened...
I noticed a car was coming up fast behind me as I traveled the inside lane of three lanes of traffic.
I decided to move over to the center lane and let this guy by.
(I really hate it when people come up behind me like that.)
As he attempted to pass me (going too fast for conditions if you ask me), he lost control of his older model white Lincoln Continental.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the missile coming, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
His car slammed into my left fender, and "in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye", we were both heading south on the east-bound highway. We slid side-by-side across two lanes of traffic, over the shoulder, and down into the grassy ditch by the side of the road.
He shot past me and ended up on the top of the hill. I spun 180 degrees and stopped with the car's nose wedged down in the ditch.
I know it was the hand of God that got me safely from where I met my new friend to my parking spot on the side of I-70.
When the car stopped (and I started breathing again), I pushed the OnStar button on the rear view mirror. A comforting voice called me by name and asked if I was okay. Other than reaggravating a "just about healed" neck injury, I was fine.
Eileen (if memory serves me) summoned the police, a tow truck, and medical technicians -- all who promptly arrived on the scene.
After the exchange of vital information, they were able to pull my injured car out of the ditch and back up onto the shoulder of the road.
By this time, the three lanes of traffic were backed up as far as I could see.
I would have much preferred the role of "gawker" this Friday morning in St Ann, MO, but 'twas not to be.
Thankfully, I was able to drive the car home, arriving in Port Huron late Friday night.
I'll have to call my insurance agent and body shop this morning to get the repair process underway. I could think of things I'd rather do, but such is life.
I want to thank all of you who prayed while I was on this trip. God's hand of protection was truly on me.
Hey, it's really good to know that when you are totally out of control, God's still in control!
That, my friend, is good to know!
// posted by theChurchGuy @ 9/29/2003
