After hearing cancer survivor and Tulsa fireman John Buck's story, how could I say no to this push up challenge? Like most middle-aged mother of 2 teens, I would have to say that upper body strength is not in my top 10 things to improve this year. However, after starting a women's fitness boot camp class 4 weeks ago, I knew I could incorporate John's push up challenge into my routine.
Do I love push ups? NO! They are hard; I don't see immediate results right after I do them; Sometimes my drill sergeant, oops, I mean fitness instructor, has me doing so many combos of them, I get sick to my stomach. At the end of each session, I always think "I can't do any more!"
Then I think of John going through his battle with cancer last year and I realize my little struggle with pushups is nothing compared to what he went through. His treatment was hard, no immediate results, and caused many days of sickness. John didn't give up, so I won't give up either. Pushing onward and Pushing upward!
I am seeking sponsors to join me in this challenge. You can sponsor me by pledging a penny, dime, quarter, or $1.00 per push I completed. The challenge began on Feb 15th and ends April 5th. 50 days of push ups representing 50 days of John's treatments.
Before you make your pledge, just know that I can now do about 240 pushups a week! You do the math. :)
You can email me with your push up pledge, or join me and get sponsors to pledge money for you doing pushups. All proceeds benefit families facing a medical crisis away from home at Hospitality House of Tulsa. For more information go to www.tulsahospitalityhouse.org/events.htm Thanks for your support!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Half a Hundred for Hospitality Challenge
Guest Blogger: John Buck Just over a year ago, I was diagnosed with a rare form of head and neck cancer. My wife and I sought treatment out of state. My treatment required that we relocate about 500 miles away from home for weeks on end. Without the support and the sacrifice of our family, our friends, and our Tulsa Fire Department family, my fifty days of active treatment would have been infinitely more difficult. The compassion and hospitality of others enabled us to receive the care we needed.
The Hospitality House of Tulsa is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers families a ‘home away from home’ while enduring a medical crisis. I have found the same compassion and generosity that supported me during my battle with cancer is the very foundation of this organization. I am inspired to help them provide hope and comfort to others facing medical adversities.
Here is how you can help. Commit to doing push-ups for fifty consecutive days beginning February 15th and ending April 5th. Please find sponsors to donate a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, or dollar per push-up. All of your tax-exempt proceeds will benefit Hospitality House of Tulsa and will go directly to helping individuals and their families as they seek medical treatment in our city. Click here to download the Half a Hundred for Hospitality form.
Win the Fight,
John Buck
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Hospitality Reborn on 9/11
Leading a non-profit organization means that you must be flexible. We recently scheduled our annual fundraising event, A Time to Dance with Our Stars. However, because of a conflict with schedules, we had to reschedule it on a Saturday. The only open date for our location choice just happened to fall on Saturday, September 11th, 2010.
I know, how could we possibly plan a celebratory event on such a tragic date? However, I was quickly reminded by a volunteer that while 9/11 was a terrible day for most of the world, for one small community in Gander, Newfoundland Canada, it was the day the world came to their town. As the airplanes across North American were instructed to immediately land, that small town of 10,000 people welcomed over 6,000 guests stranded during this tragedy. Their acts of true hospitality were chronicled in a book, as well as in an interview with Tom Brokov.
I am providing links to these sources.
http://www.popmatters.com/books/reviews/d/day-the-world-came-to-town.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O6mU-5k4kk
Tulsa is leaving a similar legacy of hospitality to patients and families who find themselves needing lodging, meals, and support during a medical crisis away from home. Over 25,000 patients a year travel to Tulsa for inpatient medical care. Half of those patients are on Medicaid, Medicare, or are uninsured. These families are not able to afford the hotel, meals, and other basic living needs associated with a medical stay. Because of that, they are sleeping in waiting rooms or their vehicles trying to support their loved one in the hospital. Since 2006, Hospitality House of Tulsa has been the ‘home away from home’ for these families.
Our event this year is based upon Ecclesiastes 3 :
There is a t ime for everything, and a season for every act ivity under heaven:
a t ime to be born and a t ime to die,
a t ime to plant and a t ime to uproot,
a t ime to kill and a t ime to heal,
a t ime to tear down and a t ime to build,
a t ime to weep and a t ime to laugh,
a t ime to mourn and . . .
I hope you will join us as we come together to support families facing a medical crisis away from home! For more information go to our website and click Events. http://www.tulsahospitalityhouse.org
I know, how could we possibly plan a celebratory event on such a tragic date? However, I was quickly reminded by a volunteer that while 9/11 was a terrible day for most of the world, for one small community in Gander, Newfoundland Canada, it was the day the world came to their town. As the airplanes across North American were instructed to immediately land, that small town of 10,000 people welcomed over 6,000 guests stranded during this tragedy. Their acts of true hospitality were chronicled in a book, as well as in an interview with Tom Brokov.
I am providing links to these sources.
http://www.popmatters.com/books/reviews/d/day-the-world-came-to-town.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O6mU-5k4kk
Tulsa is leaving a similar legacy of hospitality to patients and families who find themselves needing lodging, meals, and support during a medical crisis away from home. Over 25,000 patients a year travel to Tulsa for inpatient medical care. Half of those patients are on Medicaid, Medicare, or are uninsured. These families are not able to afford the hotel, meals, and other basic living needs associated with a medical stay. Because of that, they are sleeping in waiting rooms or their vehicles trying to support their loved one in the hospital. Since 2006, Hospitality House of Tulsa has been the ‘home away from home’ for these families.
Our event this year is based upon Ecclesiastes 3 :
There is a t ime for everything, and a season for every act ivity under heaven:
a t ime to be born and a t ime to die,
a t ime to plant and a t ime to uproot,
a t ime to kill and a t ime to heal,
a t ime to tear down and a t ime to build,
a t ime to weep and a t ime to laugh,
a t ime to mourn and . . .
I hope you will join us as we come together to support families facing a medical crisis away from home! For more information go to our website and click Events. http://www.tulsahospitalityhouse.org
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Growing up in Hospitality, Oklahoma
I had the wonderful privilege of growing up in a typical rural community in Western Oklahoma. My father was the High School football coach, my mother was the Jr. High School secretary. Needless to say, I couldn’t get away with anything in that small town!
It was in that community where I first experienced Biblical hospitality at its best. My roots and passion for helping families in medical crisis began there. When I was 17 years old, my family experienced a serious medical crisis. My mother was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer. She and my father would travel to Oklahoma City, two hours from home, over many months for surgeries and inpatient chemotherapy.
With three very active teenagers at home, my parents were very worried about leaving us. Their concern was short lived though as we watched the entire community support us during that time. Our church family would pray and bring in meals for us, our school family would make sure we had rides to our church, school, and sports commitments, that uniforms were washed and ready, and that our academic studies did not suffer.
Two years of treatments brought many ups and downs to our family. My parents spared us the details concerning the financial impact this terrible disease was having on our family, but we knew. Toward the end of that second year, my mother was referred to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas for trial studies.
As they were preparing to board the airplane in Oklahoma City that early morning, the President of our local Sports Booster Club greeted them at the airport. He asked if they knew where they would be staying during their visit to Houston. My parents explained they didn’t have a firm plan and thought they would figure it out when they arrived. That dear man then shared that our community had come together for the purpose of making sure they had lodging and meals while there. He handed my father $700 to meet those needs during this crisis. What a wonderful expression of support!
Sadly, my mother did not survive her diagnosis. My family and community grieved deeply. But even in the midst of that grief, these wonderful people surrounded us with all the love and support we needed to survive the loss. The lessons I learned and the love exemplified to me through this small community will never be forgotten.
If you are ever traveling on I-40 West, just before you get to the Texas panhandle, look for that town. Oh, the highway sign might display the name Sayre, Oklahoma; but to me, it reads Hospitality, Oklahoma.
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice Hospitality.
Romans 12:13 (NIV)
It was in that community where I first experienced Biblical hospitality at its best. My roots and passion for helping families in medical crisis began there. When I was 17 years old, my family experienced a serious medical crisis. My mother was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer. She and my father would travel to Oklahoma City, two hours from home, over many months for surgeries and inpatient chemotherapy.
With three very active teenagers at home, my parents were very worried about leaving us. Their concern was short lived though as we watched the entire community support us during that time. Our church family would pray and bring in meals for us, our school family would make sure we had rides to our church, school, and sports commitments, that uniforms were washed and ready, and that our academic studies did not suffer.
Two years of treatments brought many ups and downs to our family. My parents spared us the details concerning the financial impact this terrible disease was having on our family, but we knew. Toward the end of that second year, my mother was referred to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas for trial studies.
As they were preparing to board the airplane in Oklahoma City that early morning, the President of our local Sports Booster Club greeted them at the airport. He asked if they knew where they would be staying during their visit to Houston. My parents explained they didn’t have a firm plan and thought they would figure it out when they arrived. That dear man then shared that our community had come together for the purpose of making sure they had lodging and meals while there. He handed my father $700 to meet those needs during this crisis. What a wonderful expression of support!
Sadly, my mother did not survive her diagnosis. My family and community grieved deeply. But even in the midst of that grief, these wonderful people surrounded us with all the love and support we needed to survive the loss. The lessons I learned and the love exemplified to me through this small community will never be forgotten.
If you are ever traveling on I-40 West, just before you get to the Texas panhandle, look for that town. Oh, the highway sign might display the name Sayre, Oklahoma; but to me, it reads Hospitality, Oklahoma.
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice Hospitality.
Romans 12:13 (NIV)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Hospitality - a world-wide ministry
I recently had the privilege of hosting a friend of mine overnight. She and her husband are missionaries in South America. Part of their ministry includes serving indigenous people in four medical houses which provide lodging and support to families and patients who come from remote jungle areas into the large city for medical care.
We spent the evening sharing our passion for this work in hospitality (PhiloXenia). We also shared stories of families that have served. We both have cared for families facing unspeakable pain and sorrow. However, we have also cared for families who have experienced amazing miracles of healing and hope. While the details of each family served may vary, the need families have for lodging, meals, prayer support, hospital visits, and encouragement are the same all over the world.
We spent the evening sharing our passion for this work in hospitality (PhiloXenia). We also shared stories of families that have served. We both have cared for families facing unspeakable pain and sorrow. However, we have also cared for families who have experienced amazing miracles of healing and hope. While the details of each family served may vary, the need families have for lodging, meals, prayer support, hospital visits, and encouragement are the same all over the world.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Loving Strangers?
While this title seems out of place in our culture, it is a core value practiced at The Hospitality House of Tulsa. This House was founded on the Biblical principles of Hospitality. Romans 12:13, (NIV) reminds us, "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." The word hospitality in this verse is translated from the Greek word, PhiloXenia, meaning love for stranger or friend to the stranger.
The examples of this PhiloXenia practice is spread throughout the Old and New Testaments. But how can anyone in America really welcome complete strangers into their home? Aren't we supposed to be observing "STRANGER DANGER?" It depends on your definition of the word stranger. For example, read Matthew 25:31-46 to see how Jesus defined this practice.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The examples of this PhiloXenia practice is spread throughout the Old and New Testaments. But how can anyone in America really welcome complete strangers into their home? Aren't we supposed to be observing "STRANGER DANGER?" It depends on your definition of the word stranger. For example, read Matthew 25:31-46 to see how Jesus defined this practice.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
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