dtaylor, (11/29/2007 1:39:09 AM)

awesome

parable of the talents, not tulsa (11/29/2007 2:27:37 AM)

This is what happens when ORU starts to live by faith. If they do the right thing, God will honor it.

Remember the parable of the talents.

Remember the Battle of Jericho.

Remember the Battle of Gideon.

All stories have a common theme. If you do it God's way, then God will be rewarded, if you do it your way, you will receive your reward. Lets let God get the glory for this one.

Now, lets also tackle our athletic recruiting policy. Shouldn't we make the school a training ground, because we have our battlefield. Why would want Satan's warriors fighting God's fight... Lets stop recruiting atheists. Lets find some of God's warriors to fight God's fight. If we don't do that, then I have a feeling it will continue to cut our legs out from under us. Please fix our athletic recruiting practices... Its killing our ministry BIG TIME.

something to consider... what happens when we win one NCAA baseball tourney, or basketball tourney. does it end there? do we try to win two? what about three.... What happens when we have ORU grads in the NBA similar to Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace, and Dennis Rodman... talk about some standard bearers for God's university... what about some other guys who didn't go to ORU... AC Green, Dwight Howard, Kelenna Azibuike...

Live your destiny ORU... Fix your athletic recruitment policies... don't be scared... God WILL honor it... just step out in faith. God will get the glory...

we missed out on Kelenna, b/c Nonzo said it wasn't even close to a Christian team... I hope thats changed.... somebody do something...

jm, tulsa (11/29/2007 4:25:58 AM)

When Mart Green does his review to see ‘‘what good governance looks like at universities’’, he'll find that successful universities don't have Boards of Regents stacked with crooked TV evangelists.

The Oracle, Tulsa (11/29/2007 6:52:38 AM)

The money will be wasted if the beggars and con men remain as regents and president.

Jilline, PA, (11/29/2007 6:54:29 AM)

#3 Jim...get over it...you really need knowledge about other institutes before you can make such a broad comment...(perhaps you should join the BOR and enhance the system. You seem to know so much.) Regarding the Green family, you are blessed and will continue to be so for believing in the GOOD of ORU. I am going to search out a Hobby Lobby store since there are none in immediate area of PA.

Janie Ferrell, Greenville, SC (11/29/2007 7:10:36 AM)

After having lived in Tylsa from 1980-1985, I came to love ORA and what it stood for. I was on campus many times, since we lived only 10 minutes from there. With the pictures I have recently seen of the campus and living conditions of the dorms, I can, indeed, see that the whole campus needs a face life.

I applaud Hobby Lobby (my favorite craft store) for coming forth with their generous contribution. I look forward to seeing major change.

Alan Pike, (11/29/2007 7:17:25 AM)

ORU OR "COVER -UP U"

Time to decide.

The first thing it to be truthful and open about the secret report on what has transpired.

Most believe it will never be released, under any condition.

Unlless it is it will b e a cloud of ORU and justify the term "Cover-Up U."

This is no way to start a new day for ORU.

Machiavelli, Houston (11/29/2007 7:45:16 AM)

This man sounds like a real winner to me. He admits, or is satisfied/not dissatisifed, that some of his gift might go to settling lawsuits. Richardson and the profs should try to liaison with him real quick. This man has what it takes to make a satisfying settlement happen. There may actually be things in the secret audit report that don't need to be disclosed, which will do more harm than good. But some things the profs need to have in the open or else they can't move on. Green obviously will have access to all the "dirt," and can be a good contact person on this issue. He is studying what "good goverance" at well-run Universities means, like, DUHHHH, let experts be experts, among other things.

P.S. Matthew McConnaughey should play this man in the TV movie, that's who he reminds me of. Matthew played Jacob, I believe, in a Ted Turner produced Bible movie, he did a fine job. Here Green looks like Matt in the movie where he represented a black man in a Southern place.

I also still want Anthony Hopkins to play Oral.

Bill, ORU Graduate and Lawyer, Brownwood (11/29/2007 7:45:53 AM)

Well said Post No. 3. about having "business leadership on the BOR and not Flaky, and Dishonest TV Evangelist. The answers P. White and C Dollar gave for their lavish living were pitiful. Just ask one question, would Jesus and the Apostles run their ministry with several multi-million dollar homes...multi-million dollar jets....million dollar salaries. Of course not.... I am not for Government intervention, but in the case of these Con men, they are going to ruin it for the good preachers and evangelist not abusing the system.

Also, I am still shaking my head over RR trying to take the spotlight and somehow in his insane way try to take credit for the $70 Million gift. ....it is beyond belief. Instead of jail, RR may need to check into a mental clinic. .....He will say anything to get into the "Spot Light"....even if it is insane.

Bill, ORU Graduate and Lawyer, Brownwood (11/29/2007 7:50:51 AM)

RR, I know that you are reading these posts because you have such hang-ups and so paranoid. Therefore, I know that you have the telephone numbers of Jan & Paul Crouch, Hinn, Copeland, Dollar, Tilton, Poppet, and Paula. So, call them up and invite them to join you in checking into a clinic. You guys need serious mental help.

Greg, Texas (11/29/2007 8:03:58 AM)

Mart Green and his family have done a truly wonderful thing here.

Jack Evans, (11/29/2007 8:04:48 AM)

aN OPEN LETTER TO MR. GREEN

Thank you for your help.

You face the daunting challenge of changing an entrenched "culture" formed over 40 years.

It's a culture of fear, intimidation, unquestioning, blind obedience to authority.

Powerful entrenched forced will resist any real change.

Start with releasing the "secret" report.

Such secrecy has no place in an open society.

Do it as an instructive warning to other non profit supervisory boards -- don't let this happen.

Do it as a warning to powerful figures in positions of trust -- don't abuse your trust.

Much of the non-profit world is watching to see what brought ORU to the edge of closure.

Help everyone in the non-profit world by ensuring this report is known.

You have the power to let the lessons of ORU have a cleaning effect far and wide.

Thank you

Call 'em "Amos", (11/29/2007 9:35:35 AM)

A layman -- neither a preacher, nor the son of a preacher -- comes from an obscure rural town to meet the religious establishment in the boardroom of the university in the big city. And he tells these hi-profile religious leaders, "Your problem is not finances; its spiritual."

While Jesus' question to Nicodemus fits his statement to the BOR-elders -- "Are you a leader of Israel and do not understand what I've said?" about needing to be born again -- this layman is more like the outsider Old Testament prophet, Amos.

The truly spiritual will listen . . . and repent.

Welcome to Tulsa, Brother Amos!

~sojourner, Adair (11/29/2007 9:45:30 AM)

I certainly hope this family understands what they are getting themselves into. This is alot more than a financial bailout, as Mr Green himself said, this is spiritual. That family is getting rich hawking the wares of such preachers as KC, BH, JM, PW... and on and on and on... Unless they are ready to come clean and get the garbage out of their stores and ORU I predict quick destruction for both. You guys better be very careful about calling things "miracles". This looks like little more than act II to me. Like I said, until they get the garbage out they are building on shifting sand, and that house will not stand. My prayer is that they will step up and clean house... strip it straight to the foundation and start from scratch. If they serve God and not men, this is what you will see begin to happen. Get rid of the heretics, or get out of the way. You will not stop God. The course is set... may He who is all Truth guide your sails.

Love All Men... Serve Only God!

Joe-Allen Doty, Tulsa, Oklahoma (11/29/2007 9:56:57 AM)

Be sure to go to the "Opinion" section online and see Plante's cartoon with the "Thumbs Up" hands statue with "Hobby Lobby University" on it.

Joe-Allen Doty, Tulsa, Oklahoma (11/29/2007 10:11:08 AM)

But, Mart Green is the grandson of a preacher.

. . . If you have not gone to newsok dot tv and seen the video interview with Mr. Green there, I suggest that you check it out. He does state, in so many words, that some of the current BOR members were on the board when the financial problems and what Richard Roberts was doing started.

. . . While Kenneth Copeland was not at the BOR press conference this week, the pastor of his Eagle Mountain International Church, George Pearsons was. While the US Senator is not directly investigating George, he included the church on the KCM grounds as part of the investigation, too.

. . . George and Terri Pearsons have been substitute co-hosts for Richard and Lindsay's week night TV show on ORU's local station quite a few times.

. . . With Mart Green and another Green family member added to the BOR, they will definitely make sure that the money will be handled correctly.

. . . I think that he might be suggesting that certain BOR members resign, too. And, IMO, that should definitely happen. I read that Marilyn Hickey resigned some time ago.

George, (11/29/2007 10:12:06 AM)

Gary Richardson gave a news conference about the new 8 million coming into the discussion. But it was hard to understand him because he was drooling so much.

Jenny W class of 97', Tulsa (11/29/2007 10:17:56 AM)

ORU alumni- you need to go to oru.edu/alumni and sign up on the faceplace. This is where alumni are talking about what we can do to support our alma mater now that real change is happening. Go to "groups" and their is a discussion group called "oru lawsuit". Under it is a thread called "going to the chapel". Through discussions, we have discovered that the huge pipe organ that use to be in Christs chapel has been ripped out, boxed up, and is for sale.. This is a magnificent piece of history and tradition for the university... and it is FOR SALE! ironic! It is the largest pipe organ west of the Mississippi... Anyway, there is an effort among the alumni to make the chapel (which is in bad shape) and the organ a focal point of alumni support. This would send a strong message that the alumni are in full support of the spiritual and financial security of our school now that fiscal responsibility has a chance to survive on campus. Go to Face place and let your opinion be known!

Gail, Tulsa, Ok (11/29/2007 11:06:33 AM)

I am glad to read Mr. Green also fasts with his prayers. He will need this disicipline in the future.

Dan Harlow (ORU B.A. '84), Grand Rapids, Mich. (11/29/2007 11:16:13 AM)

Wow. I sure hope that Oral, Richard, and the Board of Regents are HUMBLED by the Christian discipleship of the Green family--a family that fasts, prays, and spends money helping the poor and the sick. This is what being a Christian is all about. Instead, the founders and leaders of ORU have proof-texted their way into the false prosperity gospel of greed. How ironic that a university that has been a flagship of the prosperity gospel is $52.5 million in debt and that one reason it's in debt is that Oral and Richard live like millionaires! Part of me is grateful for the Green family's generosity. Part of me, though, wishes that ORU would learn to pay off its debts the old fashioned way--not with a bailout but with fiscal belt-tightening. The Greens are people God can trust with wealth. I'm sorry to say that neither the Roberts family, the televangelists on ORU's board of regents, nor the university itself has yet learned how to manage wealth responsibly. Hopefully this will be the end of Richard and Lindsey Roberts's lavish lifetstyle and an end to the mismanagement, lack of responsibility, and lack of accountability on the part of ORU. If it is, then I imagine that thousands of ORU alumni who (like myself) have never given a dime to ORU will finally start giving.

No Organ Transplant from ORU!, (11/29/2007 11:19:33 AM)

Even if some think ORU is on life-support, don't transplant its (pipe) organ! The very thought shows how philistinish the resigned president's style was. What a shame! Years ago, it called chapels to worship; and may it do so again. Go alums!

WOF v Classic Pentecostal-Charismatic, (11/29/2007 11:25:50 AM)

One subtext of Assemblies of God Mart Green coming on the scene to rescue ORU is the unresolvable tensions within the broadest notion of the charismatic family: The Word of Faith substream antagonizes many in the classic Pentecostal and charismatic streams, who share WOFers belief in the contemporary charismatic work of the Holy Spirit but NOT its formulaic presumption about health and wealth. Big differences lie beneath the superficial unity outside observers may see; and classicals, who have survived a century of ostracism from their fundamentalist/evangelical siblings hate to openly criticize WOFers who (1) have the media limelight and big followings and (2) remain brothers in arms on many points, theologically.

Let's see how this plays out as Mr. Green tells the WOFers that their problem is spiritual, not financial.

Reformed Grad, (11/29/2007 11:33:32 AM)

If Green is for real and everything in the article is true about him, this is what a 'real' christian is. He understands the responsibility of wealth and his money follows his heart. He can see through religious bias and bigotry and reaches out to one of the biggest health crisis of our time - AIDS. This guy looks like the real deal. Hats off to you Green family.

Elizabeth Conley, Norfolk (11/29/2007 11:38:56 AM)

22. 11/29/2007 11:25:50 AM, WOF v Classic Pentecostal-Charismatic,

~

"Let's see how this plays out as Mr. Green tells the WOFers that their problem is spiritual, not financial."

Thank you. Many of us Protestants feel like we need a translator. It's hard, from the outside, to sort through the WOF and Pentecostal-Charismatic doctrine.

~

One thing is for certain, most of us deplore the WOF teachings. That's dangerous heresy.

~

I'll be watching what goes on closely, striving for greater understanding. There are deep spiritula issues underlying the tragedy at ORU. If there's to be real healing, these things must be resolved. How will this come about? I can't wait to learn.

Sherlock, (11/29/2007 11:39:48 AM)

The Roberts family has always been known for being able to convert christians into cash.