May 31 Today’s Prayer
Tuesday, May 31
Your precious name, Lord, fills our hearts with unending joy each day. Amen. 
Oprah used the ‘J’ word
OK, it’s been a long day, but I’ve finally found time to post this because I knew people were going to be talking today about comments Oprah Winfrey (pictured in an AP Photo here) made during her show’s finale on Wednesday. 
I did not get a chance to watch the show when it originally aired at 4 p.m., but I caught it later at 11 p.m.
With all of her talk about spirituality and such, I have never heard Oprah say anything about Jesus but she did during her last show.
In fact, she seemed to credit Jesus for her show’s success.
“People often ask me what is the secret to the success of this show — how have we lasted 25 years. I non-jokingly say, ‘My team and Jesus,’” Winfrey said during the finale.
“Because nothing but the hand of God has made this possible for me.”
I think of everything else she said during that broadcast, that would be the thing that would stire the most comment and it looks like I am right.
Oprah has long been lauded for her generosity, her caring nature and her forthright manner. However, she has been criticized by many in certain faith community circles for her shows on books touting New Age ideas. And then some folks said Oprah, over the years, regarded herself as a religion or created her own blend of religion.
In case you are curious, here is some of the commentary about Oprah’s comments using the “J” word:
CBN.com: “Oprah’s Jesus Comments Reignite Faith Debate” (This link has a video of Oprah’s monologue embedded in it)
The Washington Post’s On Faith blog: “Oprah Winfrey: Spiritual Leader”
HuffPost Religion: “Spirituality, not Religion on ‘The Oprah Show’”
CNN: “Oprah Says God Behind Success of Show”
Belief.com’s Windows and Doors with Brad Hirschfield: “Oprah Winfrey Show’s Final Episode: End of a Religion?”
Urban Christian News: “In Final Show, Oprah Credits God For Making Her Career a Success”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
May 26 Today’s Prayer
Merciful Lord, help us to understand that monetary wealth alone will never bring satisfaction. Amen. 
May 24 Today’s Prayer
Tuesday, May 24 
Thank You for the gift of forgiveness that frees from bondage all who ask for and give it. Amen.
May 23 Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to know and follow Your word, which is the only true power. Amen. 
Much ado …
I wasn’t sure if I would be here to post anything, what with evangelist Harold Camping’s assertion that the Rapture was to occur at 6 p.m. May 21, but here I am. 
I know the blogosphere and Twitter were abuzz with quips and jokes yesterday about Camping’s obvious failure to calculate the end of world accurately.
Camping, an Oakland, Calif., evangelist, had said, for years, that May 21, 2011 would be the date of the Rapture, when Christ would come to Earth and take up to Heaven all believers. Camping said an earthquake would happen on this date and that several months later, in October, the world would end.
In short, May 21, 2011 was to be the beginning of the end.
Friday, before I left for work, I read one last story/commentary about Camping’s predictions and I thought the author’s viewpoint was interesting.
I’d like to share it here: “Desiring the End of the World.”
And one last thing.
Mark Hitchcock, senior pastor at Faith Bible Church in Edmond, is considered an expert in biblical prophecy. He told me Friday that he didn’t see much good coming forth from a false prophet, which is what he called Camping.
However, Hitchcock did say that Camping’s doomed Doomsday prediction did probably have one positive thing come out of it. He said perhaps people who never thought about Christ’s return pondered the subject for awhile.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
May 22 Today’s Prayer
You are our shepherd, dear Lord, and we know Your Love for us will never fail. Amen. 
Time for bucket list?
We’ve been talking here in the newsroom about what we should be doing today if we believed the world was going to end on Saturday, May 21, 2011.
Some humorous ideas came to mind, of course.
For instance, one of my coworkers wondered aloud what she should wear for this occasion.
But on a more serious note, we wondered what we would put on the ultimate bucket list.
Here’s my list. Warning, for the cynics out there: It’s sentimental … but then I’m sentimental.
If the world is ending tomorrow, I need to:
1. Put aside old (and some new) grudges and forgive. Read The Oklahoman’s May 21 Life section for a story about someone who is grateful to have forgiven another person for the most heinous of crimes. Having experienced the power of forgiveness firsthand, I’m not sure why I let unforgiveness build up in areas of my life. Fortunately, I have learned to recognize when my heart is hardening with unforgiveness and I call upon my faith to remind me of the grace and mercy shown me throughout my own life. That puts a whole other perspective to forgiveness. How can I not forgive?
It reminds me of one of my favorite songs by my favorite Gospel recording artist, Fred Hammond. The second verse of his song “Lord, Your Grace” says:
“Where sin abounds grace abounds so much more
Covering me from the sun to the floor
And if I forget then the spirit of grace cries out
Peace
(And I remember)
Sweet peace.”
2. Ask for forgiveness. After No. 1 on this list, this should be an easy one, but it’s not. Of course, if we know we are not perfect then we know that we have done things we shouldn’t have at least at some point in our lives. Why then is it so hard to admit we are wrong?
3. Touch my kids’ faces and tell them I love them. This one may be difficult to do since one of my children lives in another state. Two are still at home under my roof, though. Sometimes, I stop them from whatever they are doing and just touch their cheek and smile at them. They think I”m kooky of course, but deep down they recognize this as just another expression of my love for them. And I can call my son who lives out of state and talk to him.
4. Talk to my mom. I don’t know about anybody else, but my mother is great. She’s a very loving person who also can be tough if need be. She’s a dynamo and a genius — my biggest hero. I didn’t know that until I grew up and had children of my own but I certainly know it now. I don’t think I could ever tire of telling my mother how wonderful she is, but I probably don’t say it enough. If the world as we know it is to come to an end, then certainly I would want to tell her one more time.
5. Have a huge family reunion. I’d love to invite my whole family, I mean everyone, to a big bash where we could see each other one last time, eat all the foods we’ve been told not to eat and dance to reunion favorites like Sister Sledge’s ”We Are Family.” Actually, I am related to Sister Sledge so that would be fitting.
OK, now that I got my serious list done, here’s my “for fun” list:
What I’d do today if I knew the world was ending tomorrow (Plans/dreams are in random order) … and I had an unlimited budget:
1. Fly to Maui, Hawaii, and spend a day at the beach reading one of my favorite books. Every now and then, I’d take a swim in the ocean. I’ve been to Maui once before and my dream is to get there again some day. If my last day is imminent, then this dream should happen now. 
2. Look for an upscale penthouse apartment in New York City and lease one (for the night). That was one of my dreams … to be a magazine writer living in a penthouse in New York City.
3. Take the kiddos (who are now teens who may not even want to go) to Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando and just plan on camping out there. Yes, I even want to see Mickey and Minnie.
4. Travel to Jerusalum and follow the path of Jesus.
5. Have a round table discussion with some of my favorite authors and writers. They might not like that since they all write on different subjects, some serious nonfiction and others fiction. It would be nice for me to ask them questions I’ve had over the years. Some of them include Alice Walker, Elie Wiesel, James Patterson, Diane Mott Davidson …
6. Attend an Earth, Wind and Fire concert and dance the entire night away. I’d watch a fantastic fireworks display at the conclusion.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
End of the World Part II
OK, so lots of people are interested in evangelist Harold Camping’s prediction that the end of the world is Saturday, May 21, 2011.
As we get closer to the date at the center of the prediction made by Camping (pictured in AP Photo), more and more stories are popping up about camping, the rapture and end-of-the-world prophecies.
Thought I’d share some links to some of these stories.
HuffPost Religion: “Harold Camping: The Man Behind Judgement Day”
HuffPost Religion: “Religious Teachings on the End of the World”
New York Times: “Make My Bed? But You Say the World is Ending”
The Washington Post’s On Faith blog: “Harold Camping’s Followers Say Doomsday is Near”
The Washington Post’s On Faith blog: “May 21, 2011: Not the End of the World”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
May 20 Today’s Prayer
We thank You, dear Lord, for the many colors and sounds in this world. Amen.
