You know it’s almost New Year’s Eve when …
folks start coming up with their Top 10 lists of any and everything for the year that is about to end.
OK, I’m not going to do that.
We do have a religion year in review story that will run in Saturday’s Life section.
I said I wasn’t going to do a Top 10 list but I didn’t say I’m not going to offer my list of some of the top religion stories in Oklahoma for 2011. My list likely will include more or less than 10 stories because I don’t want to be confined to the number 10. So it’s not a Top 10 list, right?
Look for a blog posting with my list (which will be drawn from my opinion) in the days ahead. 
And check out some of those other 2011 lists. Some really are pretty interesting…
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
“Passion” tour heading to Oklahoma
Oklahoma fans of the popular “Passion” worship conferences should plan on visiting Stillwater next month for a treat.
LIfeChurch.tv’s Stillwater campus at 1917 N Country Club Road will be the site of the Passion University Tour stop at 8 p.m. Oct. 4. 
The event will feature worship leaders Charlie Hall (pictured) and Kristian Stanfill, plus a video message by “Passion” founder Louie Giglio (pictured below).
The university tour is part of a 12-campus tour prepping for “Passion 2012″ set for the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 2-5. The 2012 event in Atlanta is expected to draw more than 35,000 university-aged adults.
The event is Stillwater aims to bring together students at Oklahoma State University, including those involved with several campus ministries. 
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Blueberry blintzes, oh my
As I predicted yesterday, I was surrounded by blueberry blintzes (pictured) today.
I visited Camp Chaverim, the summer day camp operated at Temple B’nai Israel and coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City. 
I got there just in time for lunch and the youths were being treated to the blintzes with today’s meal.
It’s all because of Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelities.
By tradition, many Jewish families eat dairy products and foods made with dairy products during this time. This custom is related to the verse in the Torah that says the Lord gave them the land of milk and honey. Besides blintzes, cheesecake and ice cream are favorite treats during Shavuot.
Marcy Price, programs director for the Jewish Federation, coordinates Camp Chaverim each summer. She said the campers will have ice cream sundaes tomorrow in conjunction with Shavuot.
Look for more information on Camp Chaverim in a future edition of The Oklahoman.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
‘Soul Surfer’ news
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the faith-themed movie “Soul Surfer” in the last few weeks since the film made it to the big screen. 
The movie tells the true story of young surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack, and her return to surfing afterwards.
Well, in the middle of everything else going on last week, I got a chance to talk with Sarah Hill, the young woman who was Hamilton’s youth ministry leader and friend at North Shore Christian Church in Kauai, Hawaii.
In “Soul Surfer,” Oklahoma’s own Carrie Underwood portrays Hill.
Hill visited Oklahoma City to speak at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s women’s conference April 15-16 at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center near Davis. The conference was held the same weekend as the Women of Joy conference at the Jim Norick State Fair Arena.
I covered Sarah Palin’s presentation at the Women of Joy conference and I know there were thousands of women there. I know some of them might not have been able to attend the Baptist conference because of that.
I’m sharing my chat with Hill in Saturday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. I found that she has an interesting story all her own.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Oklahoma Baptists’ initiative now on iPhone
The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s My316 initiative is now available on an iPhone app. 
The evangelism campaign, started early this year, encourages Oklahoma’s Southern Baptists to share the gospel and their own faith testimony using a familiar and beloved passage of Scripture, John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
To get the app for iPhone, go to the app store on your phone and type in my316 and hit the search button. It will take yo to the My316 app.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad continues to cause stir
Whether or not I’m interested in the big game, I’m always a little curious about the ads designed to grab our attention come Super Bowl Sunday.
In these days leading up to the game, a “pro-life” ad featuring Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s mother Pam (pictured at right with Tim in a 2009 AP photo) continues to provoke some folks who are angry with CBS for agreeing to give it some air time on Sunday.
That’s right, it hasn’t aired yet but it’s causing a stir.
Several news releases on the topic are being sent out via the Christian Newswire every day. The New York Times has written an opinion piece on the issue and today I learned that the NFL is being pressured by some “pro-choice” advocacy groups to demand that CBS drop the ad.
Apparently the ad in question is sponsored by the Christian organization Focus on the Family. It reportedly features Pam Tebow telling about her decision not to follow a doctor’s advice to terminate her pregnancy when she was pregnant with son Tim. The doc reportedly gave this advice because of her difficult pregnancy and illness.
The National Organization for Women is one of the ”pro-choice” group that is incensed that CBS still plans to run the ad.
“Make no mistake about this ad: it’s offensive to women. Yes, it features Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother, who had been advised to have an abortion after a serious illness. Standing alone, it sends the message that all women who give birth are heroes; it sends a message that abortion is always a mistake; and it is insulting to the one in three women in this country who have abortions,” Erin Matson, NOW Action vice president, wrote in a posting on the organization’s Say It Sister blog.
Matson said CBS is accomodating Focus on the Family after previously denying ads from the United Church of Christ which depicted “a welcome environment for same sex couples.”
Meanwhile, several pro-life or anti-abortion organizations, are trying to counter opposition to the ad.
Catholic Families for America has started a petition in favor of the Tebow ad.
“It doesn’t take long for the pro-abortion crowd to mobilized their members so those of us on the pro-life side need to be sure we do the same,” Kevin Roberts, executive director of the Catholic grassroots advocacy group, said in a news release.
What are your thoughts? Should CBS run the ad?
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Kirk Franklin heading to OKC
It’s official: Gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin is bringing his “Fight of Our Life Health Tour” to Oklahoma City on Nov. 22. 
Franklin’s concert will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7. The concert is free and will feature guest appearances by local Gospel artist Sean Johnson and Wings of Harmony, a performing arts ensemble.
The tour is in partnership with the American Heart Assocation’s Power to End Stroke initiative. Franklin performed in concert in Tulsa over the summer. An Oklahoma City concert was planned, but officials were working with Franklin’s busy schedule and trying to find an Oklahoma City location to host the event. Many people had been asking me if a date had been set for the Oklahoma City concert so I’m glad that I can finally give them some facts.
I just saw Franklin perform at the 2009 Woman Thou Art Loosed Conference at Bishop T.D. Jake’s church The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He was, as usual, outstanding. As part of the upcoming health tour, the Grammy Award-winning artist will encourage concert-goers to pledge to take control of their health, reduce their risk of stroke and learn the warning signs of stroke.
Save the date.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Ryan’s legacy
Covering religion and spirituality means that I’m often surrounded by uplifting stories that touch my heart.
Such is the case of the story of Ryan McAfee, 19, (pictured below) the young man who was killed in a car accident earlier this year.
Ryan’s story, chronicled in today’s Oklahoman, is one that blends life and death and faith and hope all in one.
Kellye Medley, a family friend of the McAfees, said organizers of tonight’s Matthew West concert expect between 2,500 and 3,000 people to show up for the event.![Ryan_McAfee_-_2009-2-233x300[1]](http://blog.newsok.com/religionandvalues/files/2009/10/Ryan_McAfee_-_2009-2-233x3001.jpg "Ryan_McAfee_-_2009-2-233x300[1]")
Matthew West heard about Ryan McAfee after West’s song “The Motions” was played at the young man’s funeral. The McAfee family had learned that Ryan McAfee had posted the lyrics to the song on his last posting on his Facebook wall.
West was so interested in Ryan’s story that he’s kicking off his multi-city tour in Ryan’s hometown of McAlester tonight and Lance McAfee, 22, Ryan’s brother, will be going on tour with West to share his brother’s story with thousands of West’s fans.
“I get to encourage brothers and sisters, Christians and non-Christians alike,” Lance McAfee told me. “I get to tell them that we’re here to serve Christ and to serve others by giving our all today.”
The McAfee family said they were especially pleased that even in death, Ryan touched people and helped guide them to the Lord. His mother, Linda McAfee said about 15 young people gave their lives to Christ during an altar call at the youth’s funeral.
Ryan’s father, Danny McAfee said young people have come up to him to tell him that Ryan led them to the Lord.
“He inspired people,” Danny McAfee said.
The Rev. Kevin Meridth is the family’s pastor at Second Baptist Church in McAlester.
He said he was not surprised that so much has happened as a result of the faith-filled life that Ryan McAfee led and his last Facebook posting.
He said the youth was a “young man of great character and integrity.”
Meridth said he preached the eulogy at McAfee’s funeral and was thrilled when young people responded to the altar call that was suggested by the family.
“From a pastor’s standpoint, he (Ryan) lived his life in such a way that his testimony preached his own funeral.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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
She’s playing our song: “Stand Together”
Oklahoma native and contemporary Christian recording artist Jami Smith (pictured below) is offering her new song “Stand Together” to churches, hoping congregations will help spread her message of love conquering hat through faith.
Smith is to sing “Stand Together” at today’s 14th Annual Remembrance Ceremony at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Musuem, 620 N Harvey. The ceremony is set for 8:55 a.m.
Smith, known widely as a worship leader, wrote the song after being inspired by the symbols of faith that help so many to heal after tragedies such as the Oklahoma City bombing.
“This is an act that affected an entire community, and together in faith, we have shown that there is far more good in this world than evil,” Kari Watkins, Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum executive director, said in a news release.
“Stand Together really does encapsulate the hope and the resilience this community has shown a nation in the face of terrorism. It celebrates love and unity and the power of standing together — united.”
“Stand Together” is available for download at www.jamismith.com for 99 cents per download. Churches can also request lyrics to the song. Sheet music is also being created for worship leaders to play for their congregations. Half of the proceeds for each download of the song on www.jamismith.com will benefit the memorial.
“It was really important for me to capture the faith and prayer and loving thoughts of the thousands of lives that are changed by their visit to the Memorial,” Smith said in a news release.
“You can see it in the things that are left at the fence and in the notes and comments from visitors that our community, in its faith, has shown the world God’s grace through the lessons of the memorial.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
