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
President’s Ramadan message
Oklahoma Muslims begin Ramadan, the holy month of fasting today.
Here is the test of President Barack Obama’s Ramadan message, sent from the White House Office of Media Affairs Office:
On behalf of the American people – including Muslim communities in all fifty states – I want to extend best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.
Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word – iqra. It is therefore a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God.
Like many people of different faiths who have known Ramadan through our communities and families, I know this to be a festive time – a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But I also know that Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection – a time when Muslims fast during the day and perform tarawih prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month.
These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.
For instance, fasting is a concept shared by many faiths – including my own Christian faith – as a way to bring people closer to God, and to those among us who cannot take their next meal for granted. And the support that Muslims provide to others recalls our responsibility to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world we want to build – and the changes that we want to make – must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.
This summer, people across America have served in their communities – educating children, caring for the sick, and extending a hand to those who have fallen on hard times. Faith-based organizations, including many Islamic organizations, have been at the forefront in participating in this summer of service. And in these challenging times, this is a spirit of responsibility that we must sustain in the months and years to come.
Beyond America’s borders, we are also committed to keeping our responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure. That is why we are responsibly ending the war in Iraq. That is why we are isolating violent extremists while empowering the people in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we are unyielding in our support for a two-state solution that recognizes the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. And that is why America will always stand for the universal rights of all people to speak their mind, practice their religion, contribute fully to society and have confidence in the rule of law.
All of these efforts are a part of America’s commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect. And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.
As I said in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground. I believe an important part of this is listening, and in the last two months, American embassies around the world have reached out not just to governments, but directly to people in Muslim-majority countries. From around the world, we have received an outpouring of feedback about how America can be a partner on behalf of peoples’ aspirations.
We have listened. We have heard you. And like you, we are focused on pursuing concrete actions that will make a difference over time – both in terms of the political and security issues that I have discussed, and in the areas that you have told us will make the most difference in peoples’ lives.
These consultations are helping us implement the partnerships that I called for in Cairo – to expand education exchange programs; to foster entrepreneurship and create jobs; and to increase collaboration on science and technology, while supporting literacy and vocational learning. We are also moving forward in partnering with the OIC and OIC member states to eradicate polio, while working closely with the international community to confront common health challenges like H1N1 – which I know is of particular to concern to many Muslims preparing for the upcoming hajj.
All of these efforts are aimed at advancing our common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. It will take time and patient effort. We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction – toward the destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the journey that we must travel together.
I look forward to continuing this critically important dialogue and turning it into action. And today, I want to join with the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world – and your families and friends – in welcoming the beginning of Ramadan, and wishing you a blessed month. May God’s peace be upon you.
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Posted by
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Realism in “Post Grad” gets low grade
“Post Grad,” the new movie starring Alexis Bledel, didn’t get high marks from a reviewer with Crosswalk.com’s “Faith and Film.”
Reviewer Christa Banister said the film spends way too much time focusing on the family of Bledel’s character and not enough on her character’s very relevant hunt for job success after college graduation.
Read the full review here: “Post Grad Doesn’t Earn High Marks in Reality.”
Incidentally, The Oklahoman’s reviewer, George Lang, gave the film only two stars.
From time to time, I’ll share these reviews from Crosswalk.com and other Web sites that watch for family friendly content in movies.
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
Is “Transformers” sequel family friendly?
references and foul language that are inappropriate for children or young teenagers, according to Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide®.“We are appalled at all the crude humor and sexual innuendoes in this movie, which is supposed to be based on Hasbro’s popular toy franchise for children,” Baehr said.
He advised parents and families not to allow their children or teenagers, especially younger teenagers, to see this movie.
“This content is not even appropriate for media-wise adults, much less younger people,” Baehr added. “I don’t know what Hasbro is thinking, allowing Hollywood to degrade their toy line with such gratuitous lewd vulgarity. The ‘Transformers’ movies should be fun movies for the whole family. Unfortunately, this film isn’t family-friendly.”
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Just FYI
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obamas’ church search still on
How’s this for a quick turnaround: Yesterday the Religion and Values blog reported that President Barack Obama might have found a church home — Evergreen Chapel at the Camp 
David presidential retreat in Maryland.
Time magazine had reported this information online Monday and Christianity Today’s politics blog also featured commentary about the possibility that the Obamas’ church search was over.
Well, a McClatchy Tribune Information Services story by Peter Nicholas and Mark Silva with the Tribune Washington Bureau is reporting that Time got it wrong.
”The president and first family continue to look for a church home,” White House spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in the Tribune Washington Bureau story. “They have enjoyed worshipping at Camp David and several other congregations over the months, and will choose a church at the time that is best for their family.”
Search is still on.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Have the Obamas found a church home?
Time magazine is reporting that President Obama has selected a church home — Evergreen Chapel at Camp David.
Since before his inauguration, people have been speculating about Obama’s eventual choice of church.
I’m sure a lot of that was due to his one-time association (a years-long association and friendship) with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago. Obama had attended Wright’s Chicago church for many years, but distanced himself from the preacher during his campaign amid controversy over Wright’s fiery speeches.
Now it seems that the First Family might have chosen a church — and it’s an unexpected choice.
Read the Time article on the subject: The Obamas Find a Church Home Away from Home.
Read the commentary featured on Christianity Today’s politics blog by going to www.christianitytoday.com/ct/blog/
(AP PHOTO above right: President Barack Obama applauds during a reception with National Finance Committee members on June 29.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Adopt a Catholic Congressman
A new prayer campaign targeting Catholic Congressial leaders was recently launched by OneNationUnderGod.org.
The faith-based organization said 50 percent of Catholic politicians serving in Congress have accepted large donations from ”pro-abortion” lobby groups “while reinforcing their support for abortion rights legislation.”
OneNationUnderGod.org is inviting people to join its prayer campaign for conversion of Catholic politicians “who hold great influence over the lives of the innocent.”
People involved in the campaign are asked to adopt a Catholic member of Congress and pledge a daily spiritual devotion for their enlightenment and for the continued inspiration of their bishop.
The campaign was launched June 22, the feast day of St. Thomas More, whom Pople John Paul II procliamed the patron saint of statesmen and politicians.
For more information about the campaign, go online to www.OneNationUnderGod.org.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Tweeting nuns on the road
TULSA — The “Flying Nun” of TV yesteryear was make-believe.
Here come the real-life tweeting nuns of today.
Calling it “Chris and Barb’s excellent adventure,” two Benedictine sisters with St. Joseph’s Monastery in Tulsa joined Twitter this week to tweet about their experiences on a recent road trip.
Sister Christine Ereiser, the monastery’s prioress, said she and Sister Barbara Austin, left Tulsa earlier this week headed for Chicago, Ill., where the pair plan to attend an annual meeting of Benedictine women from throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
Ereiser said they chose to travel on old Route 66 and wanted to stay in touch with Ereiser’s 87-year-old mother who lives in Tulsa.
Ereiser said she decided to try Twitter as a way to keep Mom informed and also several friends and the St. Joseph’s community.
Speaking by phone Thursday night after arriving just outside Chicago, Ereiser said she enjoyed sending tweets as part of the Twitter social network. The trip through the old towns on the old highway was “meditative,” she said.
“It’s rejuvenating to travel at a slower pace.”
Ereiser, who sends tweets as ChristineOSB, said she had to think a little about what details would be off interest to family and friends following her tweets.
She’s had some return tweets.
“Some people weren’t aware of some attractions that I’ve mentioned. Some people were giving advice to us to get off (the highway) in different places”
Will she continue tweeting now that she’s found Twitter?
Possibly, but probably not on a daily basis, Ereiser said.
“I think it’s important to have something to say.”
(ABOVE PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN: Sister Christine Ereiser, prioress of St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, poses for this 2007 photo at the monastery.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
