religion | Religion & Values

Ryan’s legacy

Posted by religion

on October 15, 2009 at 11:01 am

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]

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

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Freemasons the focus of new Dan Brown book

Posted by religion

on September 15, 2009 at 10:50 am

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. thelostsymbol

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

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