The Book of Destiny
It doesn’t surprise me that interest is growing in the Mayan prophecy that says the end of the world is to happen during the year 2012.
I just wanted to let readers know of another book out that also deals with the prophecy. It appears to offer perspective different than the one espoused by local author the Rev. Mark Hitchcock, who wrote “2012: The Bible and the End of The World.”
It’s called “The Book of Destiny: Unlocking the Secrets of the Ancient Mayans and the Prophecy of 2012 (HarperOne, $23.99)” by Carlos Barrios.
Here’s what the publisher has to say about the book: “Anthropologist and Mayan expert Carlos Barrios helps clarify just what the 2012 date means to us, and how we can all best prepare ourselves to meet the coming change the Mayans believe has long been written in the destiny of our planet. Written at the request of the Mayan Elders, “The Book of Destiny” is a tool to help people understand their life purpose and to use this profound knowledge to make the best of their time on earth.
“According to the Sacred Mayan Calendar and its corresponding horoscope, our lives have been predestined, and our better understanding of this often-ignored horoscope helps one use this knowledge to beneficially interact with the world around us.”
Who knows? A follow to Saturday’s story on Hitchcock’s book may be forthcoming.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
The end of the world?
ark Hitchcock, author of the new book “2012: The Bible and the End of the World.”Freemasons the focus of new Dan Brown book
OK, it’s official.
Freemasons are an integral part of “The Lost Symbol,” the new Dan Brown book released today.
I saw Brown’s interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” show this morning and he said as much as he and Lauer talked about some of the key elements in the book.
Saturday’s LIFE section featured a Religion News Service story about masons around the country preparing for people’s curiousity should their fraternal organization be featured prominently in the book. Also, I wrote a story about a top leader in the Oklahoma Grand Lodge, a masons’ organization representing about 250 masonic groups in the state, who said he has been preparing his masons groups for inquisitive “Symbol” readers.
Looks like they were right to be prepared.
In today’s television interivew, tt was interesting to hear Brown tell why he chose to focus his literary attention on the masons this time around. Most of us can recall that the Vatican was the subject of “The Da Vinci Code.” That fiction book stirred up controversy in Rome and other religious circles for its less than pleasant portrayal of the Catholic Church and its assertion that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelane and fathered a child with her.
Anyway, Brown said the masons drew his interest because they are a spiritually-aware group that welcomes not just Christians, but Muslims, Jews and others who believe in God or a higher power. Although they are open in that way, they are still somewhat ”secretive” Brown said.
It seems that that he felt that so-called secretive nature made a good subject for this latest book.
I plan on getting “The Lost Symbol” this week because now I’m interested to see if it lives up to all the hype about secret societies and such.
Interestingly enough, Jim Tresner, 67, the spokesman for the Oklahoma Grand Lodge in Guthrie, said he enjoyed Brown’s bestseller “The Da Vinci Code” and he is also looking forward to reading “The Lost Symbol.”
Tresner, who has been a mason since he was 21, said he is just as curious as everyone else about the book’s premise and how it portrays his beloved masons.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Combining two loves
As promised in today’s edition of The Oklahoman (Aug. 29), I have included an excerpt from “God Moments From a Deer Stand.”
The book was written by a local ministry leader, Mike Fackler, who is minister of middle school ministries at Crossings Community Church, 14600 N Portland.
I borrowed the book from Fackler, hoping to incorporate an excerpt from the devotional into today’s story about ministries that reach out to people who like hunting and the outdoors. Alas, lack of space prevented me from making that addition and then I thought “Aha — I can put it in the blog.”
So here is the excerpt, along with a thank you to Fackler for sharing his passion for his two loves — the Lord and hunting:
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“Dressed For Success,” an excerpt from “God Moments From a Deer Stand” by Mike Fackler.
Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on the salvation as your helmet, and tak
e the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistant in your prayers for Christians everywhere. – Ephesians 6:13-18
I had been in my tree stand long enough to fasten my safety strap around the tree, hoist my bow up to me, and begin to secure my bow hanger into a nearby tree limb. You would think it would have been easy to screw that little piece of metal into the branch, but my heart was racing. I didn’t want to make a movement that would alert game to my presence. After what seemed like 10 minutes, I decided to give up and hold onto my bow for the duration of my hunt.
No sooner had I packed the bow hanger back into my day pack, and I heard a loud “Snap!” Not more than 10 yards away was a little yearling button buck making his way through the woods, stopping just long enough to take a bite of a few sugar beats I had set out. I hadn’t been in the woods 10 minutes and already, I was seeing deer!
As exciting as it was for me to see deer, I was even more excited of how well my camouflage and scent-lok system was working. You have no idea how many times I’ve been winded by deer because I didn’t take the proper precautions. Did you know that deer can smell up to 10 different smells at the same time? I didn’t, until the deer kept on busting me.
Today I was dressed for success!
The first layer of clothing I started with was a “base layer” scent-lok suit. I followed that up with my Cabelas 3-D leafy camouflage suit! The suit came equipped with a head dress and gloves for my hands! My rubber boots had successfully carried me into the woods and into my tree without leaving any human scent behind. I blended in well, and my suit had knocked down all human odors.
That deer had no idea I was even in the woods! I was so poud of how well my scent-lok suit and camouflage had worked that I didn’t care if I harvested a deer or not. I was happy that the financial investment I had made in this clothing had paid off!
Let me ask you a question. What type of investment do you put into your life getting ready for your day? Every day I start out by thanking God for the rest He gave me during the night. I thank Him for the gift of life, and I ask Him to help me live a life worthy of Him to the best of my ability. In order to do that, I need to gear up and prepare for battle.
Ephesians 6:13-18 talks about clothing yourself in God’s armor so you can resist evil. Evil lurks around your life, looking for the perfect time and place to cause you to stumble. The only way to overcome that is to put on the full armor of God. Only then can you succeed.
After all, you wouldn’t want to go into the woods without the proper gear and hope to succeed, would you? In the same way, we can’t succeed against the devil and his tricks unless we clothe ourselves with God’s armor daily!
Have you ever given much thought to putting on God’s armor daily? Did you even know it was available to you? What schemes does the devil send your way to test the strength of your armor! Take a minute to write down how you feel when you overcome that area of temptation or weakness. Now write down how you were able to overcome it.
Prayer: God, thanks for showing me that, with your armor, I can overcome Satan’s traps that he has set for me. Lord, the armor you give me is impenetrable, but I am not. I realize that it is open season on my life, and that the devil wants to destroy me. But you have made me and desire for me to succeed. Lord I surrender to you, and I gladly and thankfully put on your armor today. Today I am dressed for success, and I look forward to what you have in store for me. Thanks for this armor that helps me live my life with confidence in you.
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Fackler’s book is available on Amazon.com and in the Crossings bookstore.
(PHOTO ABOVE: Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Why did Ted Haggard’s wife stay?
Lots of people have been asking this question ever since evangelist Ted Haggard resigned as pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after confessing to “sexual immorality” in 2006 : Why did his wife continue to stay with him?
Well, Gayle Haggard is about to give an answer to that query.
The Associated Press is reporting that Gayle Haggard is writing a book about how she dealt with the scandal surrounding her husband’s actions. Haggard’s public tumble from grace came after a male prostitute alleged that he had a sex-for-money arrangement with the outspoken evangelist.
Gayle Haggard’s memoir is to be titled “Why I Stayed” according to Tyndale House Publishers.
“This is my story of choosing to love my husband through some of the most difficult challenges any marriage could face,” Gayle Haggard said in a statement picked up by The Associated Press.
Haggard has since said that he has worked with counselors and no longer has sexual desire for men, the Associated Press reports.
The book is to be released in January.
(AP PHOTO AT RIGHT: Gayle Haggard is shown with her husband, Ted Haggard, right, in this 2006 photo taken in Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Max Lucado book giveaway
Fans of popular inspirational author Max Lucado are in luck.
His newest book “His Name is Jesus” is part of a giveaway initiative by publisher Thomas Nelson.
The book contains his writings on Jesus along with color art images that go hand in hand with the theme.
Daily drawings are being held through Friday for free autographed copies of the book.
To sign up for a chance to win a free book, click here: http://www.tngiftbooks.com/his-name-is-jesus.html
I had a chance to hear Lucado speak at a Religion News Writers Association conference several years ago in San Antonio, Texas, where he pastors a church. And of course, Lucado spoke at the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Oklahoma City bombing in 2005.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Back to Azusa Street
A reader left word that Tommy Welchel, who wrote a book about meeting people who attended the famous Azusa Street Revival, is on Azusa Street as we speak.
Apparently Welchel, who is from the west metro area, will be speaking this weekend at the site where many of the Azusa miracles are said to have happened.
The reader said Welchel will be speaking at World Harvest Church in Los Angeles, Calif.
I did a story on Welchel and his book when it was published several years ago. I hope to connect with Welchel when he returns home. It will be interesting to hear his thoughts about returning to Azusa Street and, probably meeting up again with many people he knew long ago.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Me and Mack
Talking to author William Paul Young for our recent interview about “The Shack,” I couldn’t wait to ask the question that had been on my mind since I finished the book: How much of the main character, Mackenzie “Mack” Allen Philips, was crafted from William Paul Young’s own personality, life history and testimony?
I wasn’t surprised when Young said that the character is a lot like himself. What did intrique me was exactly what parts of Mack’s persona came from the author.
Young said his family has known death, but nothing like the tragedy that envelopes Mack and his family. However, Young said things like the camping trip to Wallowa Lake and the Multnomah Princess story, real legend, are aspects of his own life that he brought to Mack’s story. Young said the story reads so real that two forensics detectives once called him looking for the case files on the Ladykiller.
Obviously the question of how much of Mack’s story is Young’s story has another, more sensitive layer to it. It’s obvious to readers that Mack experienced some sort of trauma in his childhood that impacts the way he views “Papa” — God. It’s also obvious that Mack learns much about forgiveness and redemption during his visit to the shack. I believe that Young will likely share his testimony related to those issues in his presentations in Tulsa (April 2) and Enid (April 4-5).
Meanwhile, here are more excerpts from my recent interview with Young:
Q: What were your thoughts when you started getting the initial e-mails from people who wanted to meet Mack after reading “The Shack”?
A: “I was blown away. I like the book but I didn’t have any idea that it would resonate like this. You get close to something and you don’t see it like other people see it. It just literally surprised me in every sense of the word and it continues to do that. It’s very surreal.”
Q: Are you working on another book?
A: “Yes. Kim’s (Young’s wife) already told me what she wants. I have some fiction that I’m working on but the next major piece will be sort of a story form narrative, autobiographical piece: What’s the pain, what’s the story, where did this book (”The Shack”) come from. I have a very odd background and history. MacKenzie’s weekend in the shack represents 11 years of my life.”
Q: How has your life changed since “The Shack” was published?
A: “Nothing that matters has changed. Everything that mattered to me was in place before I wrote the story, so the story hasn’t added to my significance. I don’t care about fame and all that stuff. I care about relationship with Jesus. I care about my relationship with my wife and my kids and my friends and I care about living inside the grace of one day. It’s changed that I don’t work three jobs anymore. It’s changed that we are in an environment that is very different than it was a year and a half ago because we get exposed to people’s stories constantly; stories that are so full of redemption, transformation and pain. That continues to just soften you on the one side and tear your heart out on the other and gives cause for rejoicing.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Morality at the movies
So it’s Friday and you’re thinking about catching a movie this weekend.
You’re trying to find a family friendly movie. Read on:
Screenwriter Teri Haux says she grew up loving movies so much she knew she wanted to write them.
Haux has written a new book “Movie Viewer Extraordinaire: Discerning the Influences of Movies on Your Freedom, Family and Happiness.”
She offers the following tips for families looking for movies that match their morals:
1. Choose the morals and standards you want to live by. Examine the ideas and concepts that are important to you, and that you want to pass on to your children. Before you understand what you don’t want in a movie, you really need to come to terms with the things that you DO want. Make your choices your standards, and use them as the guidelines to navigate your family’s movie wish list.
2. Regulate ALL media that you and your family experience. For all the people who want to ban certain films and television shows, the truth is that it is far easier to simply choose and guide what your own family watches. Movies that feature more sex or violence than we would like will always be around. We simply don’t have to watch them. The natural extension of that is being a vigilant parent who knows not only what your kids are doing, but also what they are watching.
3. Reinforce positive influences and minimize the negative. Short of editing the movies yourselves, you likely won’t 
eliminate all vestiges of the negative elements of modern movies. Talk to your kids about some of the things that they see, and ensure they understand the context of the actions. Silence in the presence of harmful examples is an implied endorsement.
4. Trust your feelings. Movies do more than entertain. They touch our emotions, so if we are previewing a movie, and it feels wrong (or right), chances are it is. These are individual choices, and we need to trust our guts sometimes.
5. Use movies to complement dreams, interests and talents. Since we already know that children emulate what they see on film and television, why not expose them to a diet of movies that actually inspires them and speaks to interests and talents they may already exhibit. One of the most valuable things movies do for us is that they take us to new places and show us things we might never see on our own, allowing us to live our dreams vicariously through the cinematic experience. When we choose movies that connect to our aspirations, the potential for inspiration is limitless.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
On TV: Evolutionary Evangelist
Michael Dowd, the self-described “Evolutionary Evangelist,” will be featured on ABC Nightline on Friday.
In the Oklahoma City metro area, Nightline airs at 10:35 p.m. on Cox Channel 8.
Dowd, author of the new book “Thank God for Evolution,” is to tour Oklahoma next month.
We included some of the dates and locations of his tour with a story about Darwin Day and Evolution Weekend that ran on the cover of the Feb. 7 Life section.
I’ve since learned that more Oklahoma tour stops have been added.
Here are the dates and locations:
Sunday, March 01, 2009
10:00 am
Forum | “The Epic of Evolution: Our Common Creation Story”
2952 South Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OKLAHOMA 74114
(918) 743-2363
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Monday, March 02, 2009
7:00 pm
Presentation | “Thank GOD for EVOLUTION”
3700 N Walker Ave
Oklahoma City, OKLAHOMA 73118
(405) 525-6551
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Wednesday, March 04, 2009
7:00 pm
Presentation | “The Gospel According to Science: Evolutionary Good News”
2952 South Peoria Ave
Tulsa, OKLAHOMA 74114
(918) 743-2363
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Thursday, March 05, 2009
7:00 pm
Presentation | “Thank GOD for EVOLUTION”
3131 N Pennsylvania Ave
Oklahoma City, OKLAHOMA 73103
(405) 525-9555
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Sunday, March 08, 2009
10:00 am
Lifespan Education Class
600 NW 13th St
Oklahoma City, OKLAHOMA 73103
(405) 232-9224
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Sunday, March 08, 2009
11:00 am
Sermon | “Thank GOD for EVOLUTION”
600 NW 13th St
Oklahoma City, OKLAHOMA 73103
(405) 232-9224
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Monday, March 09, 2009
7:00 pm
Presentation | “Thank GOD for EVOLUTION” by Michael Dowd
205 West Main St
Norman, OKLAHOMA 73069
(405) 447-6138
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
7:00 am
Presentation | “The Gospel According to Science: Evolutionary Good News”
320 S Stallard St
Stillwater, OKLAHOMA 74074
(405) 372-0620
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
7:00 pm
Presentation | “The Gospel According to Science: Evolutionary Good News”
600 NW 13th St
Oklahoma City, OKLAHOMA 73103
(405) 232-9224
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
