Asbury Tidings - Faith at Work

Inside Tidings

Faith at Work

Looking Ahead...

Our places of work not only provide income,

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Coming Up

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VBS Recap

they also can promote individual creativity and

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Faith at Work

meaning, as well as being places of developing

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August Calendar

friendships. As far as history is concerned, a “job”

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New Members

is a relatively recent phenomenon. According to

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Family Room

Alvin Toffler ’s book, “Revolutionary Wealth,” it has only been during the last 300 years that the thought

Pastor Tom Harrison

has existed of “formally committed work in return for stipulated pay.” He adds, “Until people moved out of the field and into the factory, few of our Tidings Staff Jan Weinheimer Sandy Wagner Juli Armour Lisa Tresch Lina Holmes Chris Lo, Photographer

Contributors Kara Beair, Nikki Boyd, Christy Capps, Marcia Curley, Diane King, Marty McBroom, Scott MacDonald, Marti Morris, Liz Reece, Tom Stockton, John W estervelt

ancestors ever held a job.”

Times are changing rapidly. The American business world is going increasingly faster. Innovations, information, technology, communication, and economics seem to change moment by moment. We are going faster than ever before.

Paul gave this advice to a young pastor, Timothy: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) What would Paul say to us in our frenzied American business structure? I cannot imagine him giving us any better advice than he did to Timothy! From Paul’s writings, we learn the importance of doing our best in attitude and aptitude (Philippians 2). We should develop chemistry and encouragement with your fellow-workers (Colossians 4:11). Have char-

On the Cover:

acter (do not be one), and do not be influenced by those who corrupt

Tom Stockton coaches 9th grade football

(I Corinthians 15:33)! Regardless of what our job is, we are to work

and girls track at Union High School. He was recently named the All-Metro Girls Track Coach of the Year for 2006. He’s

knowing that our work is our witness unto God. See you Sunday,

shown here timing runners Kirsten Stukey, Angela Tran, Elizabeth Burgess, and Kendall Stockton. His story can be

Dr. Tom Harrison

found on page 6.

Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. Phil. 2:15 (The Message). This was the message of encouragement given by Paul to the working Christians of Philippi. A key word he uses here is “phainomai” which means, “to shine or produce light.” The Christian’s active faith in the work-place produces light. This light points to Jesus the Light of the world, it enables others to follow Him out of the night of this world into God’s light.

- Sola Akala photo by Christy Capps TIDINGS 2

Alpha Sprouts Coming This Fall!

Have you heard the news? Alpha Sprouts is coming this fall!

from 6:30-8:45 p.m., September 12 through

What is Alpha Sprouts?

November 21.

Alpha Sprouts is a place

(No meeting October 31.)

kids come to have fun while learning the answers to such questions as...

We will have a Luau dinner and preview of Alpha on September 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Who is Jesus?

Come join the fun and see

Why did Jesus have to die?

what Alpha is all about.

Why and how should I pray?

Asbury has been doing the adult Alpha

No obligation!

Please call 392-1191 to RSVP

program for over five years and now

and/or register for Alpha or Alpha

families will be able to share in the

Sprouts. For more information,

experience together. The courses will

call Dawn at 557-6843 or go to

run concurrently, every Tuesday night

www.asbuytulsa.org, search Alpha.

Financial Peace University Do you have too much month left over at the end of your money?

Do you want to free yourself from the stress of debt and poor money management? Learn how to beat debt, have an emergency fund, save for college, build wealth, and create a budget that really works.

Personal finances is 20% knowledge and 80% behavior. This 13week course will teach you the skills to change your behavior towards money.

Attend one of two free Wednesday night orientations on

Asbury VBS - Another Great Year!

August 9 or 16 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for an overview of FPU course material to decide if you are ready to change your money management system..

FPU Classes will be held Wednesday nights for 13 weeks, August 23 through November 15 from 6:00-8:00 pm in Rm 2820. The cost is $91 for the series. To register, call 392-1191.

996 Kids (332 non-Asburians) 295 Adult Volunteers 147 Teen Volunteers 28 First-Time Decisions for Christ

One Terrific Week!

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ASBURY TIDINGS

There was

limits in Recreation by playing

Restore Hope and Cookson Hills. Then it

an exciting

exciting relay games. Then it was on

was on to Echo Music Bay where we

to the Crafts Depot where the kids

sang songs about trusting in God and

made family prayer boxes, Esther’s

following Jesus. As we walked through

Bath Salts, glow-in-the-dark crosses

the church each day, the kids loved

as 996 kids made the trek to

and story sticks that symbolized that

spotting the arctic animal pictures and the

Asbury’s VBS 2006, Arctic Edge.

we need to know, trust, believe, and

Alaskan state symbols they located. Our

The church was transformed into an

follow God. After that, we hiked to the

final destination each day was the Bible

Arctic wilderness with mountains,

Glacier Missions Pass where we

Story Big Bear Lodge where we watched

ice, pine trees, snow, oceans and

learned about missionaries in Alaska,

skits that made us laugh and learn about

polar animals. My partner and I led

Kazakhstan and Kamchatka. We

having courage to follow God.

a crew of third grade children. Our

also learned how Asbury helps people

first stop each morning was the

in Estonia as well as local places like

chill in the air on Monday morning, June 26

During our small group discussions at snack time we talked about all the

Outpost held in the

wonderful things we had

sanctuary where we sang

seen and done. Arctic

songs, learned our Bible

Edge taught us to have

verse for the week,

courage to follow Jesus as

watched Bible story

we face life’s challenges

performances and heard

and that God is always with

messages from Asbury’s

us. We asked the kids to

pastors.

remember what they

From there, we

learned and to tell others:

explored Kayak Cove

Be Strong! Be Courageous!

where the kids tested their

Follow Jesus!

-Christy Capps ASBURY TIDINGS 4

Notes from the Journey

Sacred Occupations

By Lisa Tresch

G

od is everywhere. I learned this early in my spiritual journey—when I was still making mobiles of Noah’s Ark animals out of wire hangers and singing Father Abraham in Vacation Bible School. I learned that God is in the clouds and the ocean, and He is also sitting in the classroom and hovering over the playground, and running alongside children on the church lawn as they play freeze tag. As a child, it was easy for me to form a mental picture of God being anywhere and everywhere.

Somewhere, between childhood and adulthood I began to compartmentalize. Church was spiritual, school was not. Mission trips were intensely spiritual, and at the other end of the compartment spectrum, work was intensely secular. When I stepped into the newsroom cubicle, I didn’t form any mental picture of God. In fact, I sort of forgot He was around for a while until one of my coworkers asked where I went for lunch every day. I told him that I walked down the street to my church and ate lunch with my mom, who worked there.

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ASBURY TIDINGS

“You go to church?” he asked me.

I nodded and he responded, “Huh. I never would have guessed you were into that kind of thing.”

For several weeks I thought about our conversation and reconstructed previous conversations with him so I could figure out where I had gone wrong. In my mind, I ticked off the things I didn’t do: no foul language, no vulgar jokes, no gossiping about the editors (okay, that was a gray area), no angry outbursts, no partying with office friends on the weekends. I couldn’t figure out why my coworker was so surprised about my church affiliation, and what he correctly assumed was my Christianity. It took me a while to realize that it wasn’t anything I had said that had caused my friend to be surprised at my churchgoing. It was what I hadn’t said.

In my compartmentalized life, spiritual conversations happened at church or Bible studies and on mission trips, but never in the work cubicle. I

wore a cross necklace but I would have never thought about initiating a spiritual conversation. It would have seemed like I was messing up all the neat little compartments. Author Eugene Peterson says this: “God’s great love and purposes for us are all worked out in messes in our kitchens and backyards, in storms and sins, blue skies, the daily work and dreams of our common lives.” This includes the workplace. Instead of the seamless beauty of a faith that permeated every aspect of my life, I had deemed my workplace as unspiritual, and effectively shut God out of that corner. But God is everywhere. He works in the hearts of people whether they are sitting in the pew on Sunday morning, or grinding out another day of work in the office, the schoolroom, the construction site, the beauty parlor, the hospital lab.

Not long after that encounter, my co-worker announced that he was planning on asking his girlfriend to marry him over the weekend. He was nervous.

“I’ll say a prayer for you,” I said.

“I’m counting on it,” he replied.

The walls of my little compartmentalized life started crumbling away. God was there with us in that noisy newsroom, in my cramped cubicle with the stacks of papers and steno pads covering my desk. He had been there all along, waiting for me to open my eyes and see Him.

Going the Distance

By Tom Stockton

W

hen someone asks me why I got into teaching/ coaching, I just have to smile. I smile because it wasn’t what I intended to do. Many teachers/coaches say they knew from childhood that they wanted to teach/coach, etc., but not me.

When I first went to college at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, I thought I wanted to be an accountant or possibly a lawyer. I took some sociology classes and some psychology and those subjects interested me very much. I was on my

way to being a lawyer who was going to “save the world” and promote “world peace.” I even transferred to the University of Tulsa and entered their Criminal Justice Department program and figured that since Perry Mason was retired, I would take his place.

Tom Stockton, All-Metro Track Coach of the Year with Chelsea Helm, graduating senior hurdler. Chelsea will be attending KU on a track scholarship.

ASBURY TIDINGS

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Then something happened that changed my plans.

At the time I was a Catholic and thought that Catholicism was the only religion that there was. I saw a notice in my church bulletin that they needed an afternoon bus driver and I

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ASBURY TIDINGS

just knew I could drive a bus and it would be easy money. I interviewed with the nun was who principal of the school and found out that the bus driving job was gone, but they were in need of an afternoon P.E. teacher because the junior high boys and girls were getting a little too much for the teacher (who was getting up there in years) to handle. I told the nun that I didn’t have any P.E. hours, but I had played college football at NSU and had played almost every sport there was in high school. She agreed to give me a try.

Well, one thing led to another, and once that first year was over I knew that Perry Mason was safe, but that Bud Wilkinson was in danger now. I loved teaching and working with the kids!

I soon changed my major to education and got the necessary hours. Before I knew it, I was interviewing for a teaching job in Vinita, Oklahoma. I began teaching and coaching and now 32 years later I am still doing that and still loving it. Although things have changed with how some parents see teachers’ roles, what hasn’t changed is the impact that I can have on others.

When you have someone in your class for an hour a day for about 180 days, you will influence them one way or the other. If you are fortunate enough to coach someone for three or four years for two to three hours a day, your

impact is even greater. That is why when kids come home from college or have class reunions, coaches are some of the first people they try to find and visit.

The public schools today have taken prayer out of school and they have taken the educators’ right to speak about God. But one thing they can’t do is take my faith from me. I would like to think that if someone is around me in classes or on the practice fields, my faith would be obvious. I know that sometimes it may be hidden behind discipline or my “tough love,” but if I have faith in Jesus Christ, they will see it, and better yet they will feel it.

The greatest compliment I can get is not watching a team win a championship or watching an individual win, but watching students grow into young men and women who have their value system intact. Then I know that they can be successful in whatever field they choose to conquer.

I realize that I am not the only influence a student has, but unfortunately in today’s world, I might be the most consistent influence he has.

People ask me when I can retire. I am not sure if they look at my gray hair and think it is time, or they think I want to retire because teaching is so tough.

Either way, my answer is the same. “I don’t know how to do anything else.”

A Consistent Walk W

hen the subject of ethical businessmen in Tulsa arises, the name John Points always seems to be among the first to crop up.

With a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and an MBA from the University of Tulsa, John has been around the oil amd gas business in some way during his entire working career. While newspapers accuse major oil companies of price gouging during catastrophes and trot out the trials of the Enron debacle, it is comforting to know that honesty and integrity are alive and well in the oil & gas business in the person of John Points.

“John is the most consistent man I know in His walk with the Lord,” said Jay Weinheimer. He should know.

He and John both worked together at The Williams Companies, and both are members in the Harvest community at Asbury. “The way John is at church is exactly the same as the way he is at work.”

A man sometimes has to choose which path to take, whether to follow the fast track to promotions, or to pass those up in favor of family considerations. John admits that he consciously chose the “Daddy Track.”

“I did pass up promotions and relocations that would have involved a move away from Tulsa. I wanted my children to live here to be close to their grandparents. That was more important to me than the job.”

John and his wife, Jennifer, a long-time Asburian and daughter of Bill and Janene Jones, have three children-Alex, Andy, and Emily. They have all been actively involved in Asbury’s mission work. Jennifer is the current president of Asbury’s United Methodist Women Since May of 2005, John has been with Superior Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of Unit Corporation. “God has always rewarded the career decisions that I made, although it

JOHN’S POINTS Your most valuable asset is your good name. Don’t ever compromise your integrity Strive first to understand. It is vital to comprehend the other party’s agenda in a negotiation.

Listen closely to others. You can’t learn anything when you are speaking.

My dad has told me for years to “Always tell the truth. It makes it easier to remember what you said.”

Perception can be more damaging than fact. Be consistent and always seek the high road.

A contract is a marriage. Strive to make it good for both parties.

Guard your tongue (and your emails!) Speak truth and shun deceit.

his career doesn’t consume all of his time, John serves in many other capacities, both in the church and around the community. He has been a Red Cross Board member since 1991, and has volunteered with the United Way campaign for the past ten years.

Being an Eagle Scout himself, he is committed to helping the young men reach their goals in scouting by serving as a Boy Scout leader for the past 15 years. He has also taught junior and senior high Sunday school classes for 18 years. John also leads the music at a camp for special needs children every year and contends that it is he who receives the biggest blessing.

It is not surprising that some of John’s favorite scriptures about the workplace are Colossians 3:23, and I Corinthians 3:13.

From those who work with him in the workplace, “John Points is the real deal.”

-Diane King

wasn’t always apparent until I viewed them in the rearview mirror.”

His job satisfaction has nothing to do with salary, bonuses, stock options, or the “bottom line.” Rather, his delight is in the fact that the president of the company is a strong Christian, and the VP of Operations & Engineering also has a seminary degree. There is a high concentration of Christian co-workers who are supportive and encouraging and John revels in the fact that they share his credo of “Maintain balance in life.

Don’t be consumed by your career.”

While he strives to ensure that ASBURY TIDINGS

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A

self-proclaimed “yackety person,” Connie Richter uses her gift for conversation as a springboard not only to sell clothing, but also to help her clientele feel good about themselves and how they look.

Connie owns and operates Mary-Ruby Apparel in KingsPoint Village, a shop she has owned for the last ten years. Actually, Mary Ruby’s is the oldest specialty dress shop in Tulsa and was started by two friends—Mary and Ruby—in 1947. “When it came on the market, my husband Ed encouraged me to purchase it.

He thought it was the perfect business for me. He was right.”

The clothing business and Connie seemed made for each other. At 19 she began selling Beeline Fashions. Later, it was ideal because it permitted her to set her own hours as a young mom. A native of Indiana, she and Ed moved to Oklahoma in 1972. She continued her sales with Beeline eventually taking it to number one in sales in Oklahoma. She also began a business known as Image Builders, a business she has continued for the past 20 years. For Image Builders she designs and manufactures dresses for various groups.

At Mary-Ruby’s, Connie also provides copies of Asbury Tidings for guests to enjoy as they have coffee and cookies while waiting on a patron.

“Sometimes people take the magazine home with them or just read the articles while they’re waiting. They seem to enjoy reading it.

“I love the shop and being around people. I consider it a calling. You’d be amazed at the things people tell me as I’m helping them. With the store across the street from Saint Francis Hospital I often deal with people who have loved ones who are ill or are having problems

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ASBURY TIDINGS

Using Her Gift of Gab

themselves. I tell them my church is right down the road and invite them to visit Asbury. Sometimes I have the opportunity to share a different perspective with them or I’m able to ask them if they’ve tried God’s way. Often I can point them to the many ministries and support groups available at Asbury,” said Connie. “I try to be sensitive to their needs and if they’re resistant to hearing about God or religion I respect that and don’t pursue it.”

God and the church have always been important in Connie’s life. Raised in a Methodist church in her home state of Indiana, she does recall several markers in her Christian growth. Years ago they were part of a covenant group with six other couples.

This intimate involvement led to lasting friendships and occasionally they still get together.

Recognizing the value of the small group, she and Ed were eager to join a group when Asbury participated in the 40 Days of Purpose series, and later, Perceptions & Conversations.

“Tom tells us that Christ didn’t mean for us to be loners. He’s right. The fellowships we’ve been part of mean everything to us,” said Connie.

For the Richters, Asbury has not only been a catalyst for small group involvement, but encouragement and inspiration for their whole family. Not only do Ed and Connie attendAsbury, but also daughters and their husbands, T.R. and Beth Dancer and Randy and Kim Benson, as well as their son, Mitch, and his wife Denise. Of course, the Richter’s have eight grandchildren who also call Asbury home. “As I see God work in their lives, I see first-hand the importance of the history of Asbury, but also the need to look toward the future for my children and grandchildren.

“I think Tom is fantastic. I’m never bored; His one-liners are the best. He’s so down to earth and he makes you feel that you can make it [the Christian life] work.”

Connie sees God’s hand touching people at Asbury and also, at Mary-Ruby Apparel. She believes that God has placed her in both locations and has a work for her to do in each.

“He’ll even use my ‘yakety’ personality to reach others,” she said.

-Sandy Wagner

ASBURY TIDINGS

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Sweet Challenges D

on McKinney remembers the day he and his wife, Melinda opened their new business, Freckles Frozen Custard. The previous evening, they wondered if anyone would show up the next day for the grand opening. At the end of the grand opening day, they had the answer. Don was nursing a sore thumb from scooping up hundreds of servings of frozen custard, and he had this nagging thought: “What have I gotten us into?” The lines were long that night and although they had intentions of being attuned to customer service, Don and Melinda found themselves focusing on getting the product into the hands of all those patrons--and FAST. Although starting and operating a business has been a roller coaster ride for the McKinneys, they feel blessed that God has given them the opportunity to see His hand at work in the midst of it all.

The dream of opening a frozen custard store began for the couple in the mid 1990s. They began to talk about it, but it wasn’t until someone approached Don about buying his existing business that they moved forward with their dream. By 2000, they had gone from concept to reality.

Freckles Frozen Custard (named for their two freckled children, Katie and Walker) opened its doors at 51st Street and Harvard Avenue in May of that year.

Don and Melinda have seen many challenges throughout the six years they have been in the custard business. A conflict with an employee who had personal problems put the McKinneys and their business in a bad position. “It took many months,“ Don says, “but forgiveness came through God.” And although the business has afforded them a more flexible schedule, at certain times they have found

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themselves working on days they didn’t anticipate, in particular one Mother’s Day that also happened to be Melinda’s birthday.

“I know and believe that as problems arise, God only presents us with what we can handle,” said Don. “At a time of crisis--like when a manager quits on the Friday before you are to leave on a trip--somehow it all falls into place. There have been many obstacles and disappointments for us in owning a business but the benefits have far outweighed the disappointments.”

Melinda remembers that even though they had done all the preparation and “due diligence” to open the business, the outcome was still unknown. “I would equate it to jumping out of an airplane and praying that your chute was in working order. We could never have been successful without our faith in Christ. He literally carried us on His shoulders through the start-up stages as we fought our fears,” she said.

Now, the unknown is mostly known. The business is doing well and two more Freckles Frozen Custard stores opened in Owasso and at 71st and Mingo. Another location is planned for the Tulsa International Airport.

Don and Melinda agree that the lives they are able to touch through their business is one of their greatest joys. When they have extra pies, cakes or quarts of custard, they take them by churches, firehouses, schools or businesses. And they continually have the opportunity to pray for employees who they feel God has placed in their lives at certain times.

“The manner in which certain business decisions are made is based on the type of person Christ wants me to be,” says Don. “That is the foundation of a Christian business owner’s integrity and it affects how I treat my employees, my customers, suppliers.

Your faith in reflected toall in everything you do and every word you speak.”

-Lisa Tresch

Employment Transitions offers workshops throughout the year. Coming up: ”Getting That All-Important Interview.”

Job seeking requires making a good impression every step of the process.

The resume is the first step and must be current in style and sell your skills and experience effectively. Are you prepared for your interview? You are invited to join Barbara Wright Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor for lots of valuable information.

(No charge for the workshop. No childcare available.)

The Golden Rule—At Home and In the Workplace I

t’s just a simple phrase. In fact, it’s a very simple concept. We teach it to our kids as if it is only for children. But perhaps, we should be reminded that it works in the grown-up world, too.“So in everything, do to others what you would have them to do you.” This is the wisdom of Jesus as reflected in the gospel of Matthew. And this is the philosophy that Barbara Wright uses to guide her life— both personally and professionally.

Barbara Wright, Consultant and Counselor, believes in conducting her business with integrity and honesty.

Barbara points out, “To me, the Golden Rule should apply in every part of my life including my professional life.” It may not always be the easiest path to follow, but it is the path that is right and correct. Perhaps one of the bigger challenges that believers face in the workplace today is that most people (both believers and non-believers) hold Christians to a higher standard of accountability. With that thought in

mind, Barbara strives to meet that higher standard every day.

With a 21-year work history in post-secondary education, Barbara has non-traditional students. That is, they were not starting their college experience right out of high-school but rather, they had experienced the “school of hard knocks.” Poor personal choices, poor self-esteem, a background of drugs or abuse—all these factors may have contributed to those hard-knock experiences. Sometimes, the students were highly motivated to pursue a degree but more often than not, most had difficulty staying on the degree track. Many lacked positive self-image, had little or no family support systems, or just had a lot of “baggage.” However, these challenges only made the reward that much sweeter!

Barbara was blessed with the opportunity to coach, encourage, and nurture these students. What a privilege it was to watch them grow and

become young professionals in their chosen field of study. As Barbara pointed out, “It was an opportunity for sincere rewards. It was truly a blessing to watch them grow professionally and develop their personal values.”

Today, Barbara works as a consultant in the adult education field.

One of her favorite hats that she wears at Asbury is her volunteer work with Employment Transitions and Exploring Spiritual Gifts programs. She likes that these programs not only emphasize personal development but also have a spiritual component.

God has blessed Barbara with the gift of caring and through the years He has placed her in strategic positions to touch others. Whether personally or professionally—Barbara has a passion for working with people.

She will continue encouraging them to strive for the top and reach their greatest potential.

-Marcia Curley ASBURY TIDINGS

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God’s Prevailing Purpose I

t has been said, “Life happens when we’re busy making other plans.” Ask Denise Grusendorf what she thinks about this quote, and she’d probably tell you that a more accurate statement is “God happens when we’re busy making other plans.” At the age of 19, Denise began working as a hair dresser. From that time on, she never considered doing any other job. Every day she went to work and loved what she was doing. She never imagined, however, that she might own her very own salon someday.

Eleven years ago, she left the salon where she had been working all her career life, and began working at another salon. When the owner decided to sell the business, the first person he offered to sell it to was Denise.

Despite her husband Glen’s encouragement to own her own business, Denise didn’t feel she wanted to take on such a task. She didn’t, however. Proverbs 19:21 tells us, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Within two years, the person who had bought the salon stopped making his rent payments.

Once again, the opportunity to own the salon fell into Denise’s lap, and this time she accepted the challenge. “I felt like God was saying, ‘You should be doing this.’ “ Denise explained. In a moment, Denise became the owner of Salon DG (D G are Denise’s initials).

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ASBURY TIDINGS

Today, Denise could not be happier with her decision to buy the salon. Salon DG is a successful business, staffed with some of the best hairdressers in the area. The hairdressers at Salon DG are not just skilled with scissors, but

they’re also kind-hearted, godly people. “You won’t find the gossip and back-stabbing, which often plague the hairdressing world,” Denise said. Her employees are respectful of one another and their clients. There is a Christian atmosphere within the salon, which likely has a lot to do with the lady in charge. You need only talk to Denise for a moment to feel her enthusiasm for the Lord is contagious. photo “My faith is everything.

It isbyaAmy veryMiller

natural part of me,” Denise said.

The great atmosphere is one of the reasons so many members of Asbury are regular clients of the salon. Denise admittedly tries to stay out of the spotlight, so sometimes members of Asbury don’t even know which one she is when they come to the salon.

That’s where Glen comes in. He can tell you exactly where to find Denise if you ever pop into the salon. “She is the first one on your left when you walk in,” he says. Glen always knew that Denise could have success as a business owner, and he is incredibly proud of her and the business she has created.

Hair is a very personal thing, and Denise loves the fact that she has the unique opportunity to impact lives on a daily basis. She enjoys seeing satisfied customers come through the door again and again. She also enjoys the chance to bring a smile to the face of a customer who’s feeling down. The recent funeral of a dear friend and fellow hairdresser brought home just how many lives can be touched by this special job. Denise found that not just friends, but numerous clients, had come to pay their respects to her friend.

When Denise was 19 she went to work every day and loved what she was doing. Not much has changed in the 20 plus years since that time.

Owning her own salon has just given Denise an even greater opportunity to spread her love and kindness to more people in the area.

-Kara Beair

Judge Perugino

ASBURY TIDINGS 14

Faith in Action T

aking action is what Robert Perugino does for a living.

He is a Special Judge in Tulsa District Court assigned to the Juvenile Court.

In 2005, he heard nearly 1000 cases.

Separating church and state is a constant effort in his work, but the compassion with which he serves shows his faith.

Juvenile cases involve young people under age 18 who have committed offenses classified as a felony or a misdemeanor. Juvenile judges also work with abuse and neglect cases, frequently seeing substance abuse and domestic violence.

The Judge jokes about having job security as the system’s caseload continues to grow, but he says, “I enjoy what I am doing here--this is where the Lord planted me.”

Constantly working with individuals and families experiencing difficult problems could at times be overwhelming. Bob admits his frustration comes from those who do not make an effort to comply with their sentence that is designed to give them a new chance.

However he says, “I’ve always been a positive person. I pride myself in finding the positive aspects. It’s my ministry.”

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Many times a judge never learns if and how the lives of young people who come through the system have been changed. Bob views many of his cases as works in progress. He recalls one in which a young boy who had been making poor decisions was assigned to a state facility four hours from Tulsa. The boy was frustrated at not being near his mom who had a substance abuse problem. He had no caring and competent adult in his life.

The Judge sensed the boy’s frustration during a post-sentencing follow-up session and offered to write to him regularly if he would respond. They have continued the informal correspondence on a regular basis, and the Judge says it is interesting to see the young man’s growth through these letters. As the boy nears completion of his sentence, he is about to get his GED certificate and talks about attending college.

Bob grew up in New Jersey within site of the New York City skyline. He and his wife-to-be attended the same high school and college in New Jersey.

Melissa had family in Muskogee and they visited for family reunions. In spite of his east coast, big city upbringing, he developed a liking for the southwest.

They married in 1975 and three weeks later he started law school at the University of Tulsa. After graduation he spent 11 years practicing law and serving as Broken Arrow’s Assistant City Attorney. He then started his 16year career as a special judge.

Raised as a Roman Catholic Bob notes, “We were out of church for awhile.” They found Asbury and joined in 1983. Melissa and Bob have a son, age 21, who is currently serving in the Army in Iraq. He is expected home in late August 2006.

Bob is active in youth ministry at Asbury. He counts as one of his life’s great experiences leading a weekly small group of boys who came together as 7th graders and this past spring graduated high school. They recently took a mission trip to Guatemala.

In private life, or in the workplace, Robert Perugino shows his faith through his actions.

-Liz Reece

FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION, IS DEAD . . . JAMES 2-17

A Step-by-Step Faith Journey G

od doesn’t give up on us.

That’s the message of hope that Dan and Debbie James want others to know.

Facing the challenges of selling a business in Colorado, relocating to Tulsa without any promise of employment, and eventually starting another business, they’ve had many opportunities to

witness God’s faithfulness. As owners of JSS Power Solutions, Dan and Debbie have watched in awe as God took them step by step on the journey.

Their faith had been tested before, so trusting God was not new to them.

Married 27 years, Dan and Debbie were introduced by her daughter Beverly, who had taken a shine to

Dan (who lived in their apartment complex) and his laid back, genial nature. It wasn’t long before they realized that they had complimentary personalities…where one was weak the other was strong.

Dan received Christ as his Savior at age 13 through a Lay Witness Mission. But as a teenager, he

ASBURY TIDINGS 16

wandered from Christ and lived what he called an earthly life. He explained, “God saved me at age 13; then he kept me alive until age 30 when I could truly accept all He had for me.”

His brother Bill, a Presbyterian pastor, was praying that short of allowing Dan to die, God would do whatever it took to get his attention

17

ASBURY TIDINGS

and bring him back into a relationship with Him. Dan endured three years of anxiety attacks which brought him to his knees. “I finally realized that I had to give up control of my life,” Dan said.

Debbie had an encounter with God when she was a young child and nearly drowned. She cried out to God to save her, and immediately a stranger offered her hand to pull her from the water. But her true conversion came years later when was a 29-yearold single mom and knew that she needed help. An elderly neighbor invited her to church, and after several refusals, Debbie accepted the invitation and cried all through the service.

That afternoon the neighbor led Debbie in the sinner’s prayer.

“God rescued me at age four,” Debbie shared through tears, “and he saved me at age 29. I used to sing songs. Now I sing praises!”

Dan and Debbie share a deep, abiding faith and are eager to share it any way they can. The passion and enthusiasm the James’ have for the Lord translates to their business dealings. They give full credit to God for the ease with which their Colorado business was sold and their Tulsa business was purchased.

“God needs Christian business people,” Dan said. “I know that if I truly do business by the Golden Rule, treating others the way I want to be

treated, God will honor my efforts. He has time and time again.”

JSS Power Solutions manufactures equipment to blow soot off boiler tubes at coal burning power plants.

Dan and Debbie are a two-person operation combining his engineering skill and her can-do tomboy spirit.

They’ve been challenged by the common frustrations of all start-up businesses. They are an unknown entity; they never seem to have enough capital; and they’ve had to establish relationships with reliable vendors. Other challenges include the long hours and lack of time for social relationships.

They have found a lot of encouragement from their Christian Explorers Discipleship Community and from an accountability group that Dan meets with regularly for breakfast. “Some of these men have been down the same road and are able to tell me that things will work out.”

On more than one occasion they have laid hands on equipment and watched as God allowed one more weld! Both agreed that they wouldn’t survive without their relationship with Christ. “The darts and arrows come against us,” Dan said, “but we realize that our relationship with Him is being refined daily.”

“God will never give up on us.”

-Jan Weinheimer

God Aboard a Navy Ship

by John C. Westervelt

I

n May of 1950, I graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma University and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.

My orders called for me to report aboard the destroyer USS Henry W. Tucker DDR 875 in San Diego. But first, 20 other NROTC (Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) electrical engineering graduates from universities west of the Mississippi and I were to report for a three month naval electronics school at Treasure Island near San Francisco. In the second week of school, the Korean War broke out.

My ship arrived in Tokyo Bay just before Christmas 1950. Soon thereafter, we joined the Fast Carrier Task Force 77 in the Sea of Japan off Korea.

The navy pilots were flying missions to support our troops who were being driven back across North Korea by an avalanche of Chinese soldiers.

Paul David Olson graduated from the Naval Academy in May of 1951. In June, with the Tucker in port in Japan, he reported for duty and was assigned as my roommate. We would become lifelong friends. One of the things we shared in common was our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Four destroyers made up a division. Our division, with three other

destroyer divisions, escorted two aircraft carriers in the waters off Korea.

A chaplain was assigned to each destroyer division. Once a month the chaplain would ride in a bucket seat across a rope strung between ships and hold a church service on our ship.

It didn’t matter that Chaplain Riley was a Catholic priest; his natural, Irish smile won me over, and we became fast friends. Paul Olson and I, along with about 25 sailors, were regular attendees at church held in the ship’s mess hall. One sailor played a small pump organ during the singing of hymns before the chaplain preached his sermon.

On the three Sundays that the chaplain was on one of the other destroyers, the sailors talked about missing church service.

Paul and I decided we could conduct a service, even though we had no formal religious training. With the approval of the chaplain and the captain of the ship, we began.

With no district superintendent monitoring our theology, I would preach one Sunday and Paul would preach the next. The sermons I preached were Bible lessons I had learned in Sunday school and Methodist Youth Fellowship at Wesley UMC in Oklahoma City under the guidance of Grace Garten, Youth Director, and Nuell Crain, Pastor. The sailors, who were mostly younger than I, didn’t mind our preaching, for they were grateful to have a church service to attend. All of us felt like God was aboard our ship in the open sea off Korea.

ASBURY TIDINGS 18

T

here are pioneers and there are women pioneers. That’s exactly what Suzanne Bloyed was in 1976 when she became the first woman in Oklahoma to officially be named an appraiser for a Savings and Loan: Sooner Federal. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman in Oklahoma to receive her Senior Residential Appraisal (SRA) designation.

The title is the equivalent to a CPA for accountants. She’s come a long way since graduating from Oklahoma State University. Suzanne now owns her own appraisal company which she launched in 1980, and she has two employees.

“Women are still in the minority in this field, but it’s changed a lot since 1976,” Suzanne said.

Because of the nature of the appraisal business, Suzanne meets a lot of people who are new to the Tulsa area. “That gives me a chance to talk about Asbury and invite them to come for a visit,” she said. “Of course, lots of times the conversation begins with ‘tell me about that big church over there on Mingo.’ So that makes it easy.”

There are other times, however, when being a Christian affects Suzanne’s general work ethic. “There’s a lot of pressure on appraisers to hit values higher than they are comfortable with. It’s a real problem.” But not for Suzanne. If she’s asked to do something she feels is not right, she just doesn’t do it. “If I ever lost a client because of refusing to do something unethical, God always replaced that client with a new one.”

One client who was applying for a loan even threatened Suzanne. “They were into crystals and they put a hex on me,” she said. They asked her to fudge on their appraisal and she flatly 19 ASBURY TIDINGS

A Real Pioneer Woman refused. When a fretful loan officer notified Suzanne, she didn’t even blink.

“I prayed for protection, and I just told him my God’s bigger than their god -so I didn’t worry about it. Morals and beliefs come into play a lot, but you cannot compromise your faith, no matter what,” she said.

With 30 years of appraisal experience, Suzanne was recently named president of the Relocation Appraisers Consultants (RAC), a national organization. She has also served two terms as president of the Green Country Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and currently serves as a member of its board of directors.

Because of her position with the RAC, Suzanne travels to several conventions each year. “I always pray

before I go that if there’s one person at the convention who needs the Lord, I will be directed to that person. At every convention I’ve attended, I’ve had a chance to witness to at least one person,” Suzanne said. “I pray that somehow we will be brought together.” And without fail, Suzanne finds herself talking to someone who shares a need with her. That’s when she knows she’s made a connection with the person God placed in her path.

Being a Christian also affects Suzanne’s day-to-day dealings with people, clients and employees. When she feels a spiritual kinship with a client, their relationship is closer because of their faith.

“Clients can feel that personal commitment and closeness--it’s not just business,” Suzanne said. “I’m also known for being fair, and that works to my advantage. It helps because they feel they know me, and I’m a person of faith. They are comfortable and know I’ll be honest.”

At the office Suzanne feels that hiring Christians has its advantages.

“We have a new employee starting next week who I met through a church friend. She is a Christian and attends Heritage UMC. It’s just different when you know someone is on the same page,” Suzanne said. “We’re in the process of implementing a time within our weekly business meeting to add prayer. That’s important to me.”

Suzanne became a Christian while attending a Young Life Rally when she was a senior at Edison High School in Tulsa. She’s been an active supporter of YL ever since. She and husband, Jimmy, and their two sons, Graham and Eric, have been members of Asbury for about seven years.

-Lina Holmes

A Hope and A Future D

an Scott’s faith story is one of the shortest you’ll ever hear. “I became a Christian at age five because Mrs. Briggs, my Sunday School teacher, told us that Jesus loved us. I never forgot that!”

Dan is now 79 years young. His dad and uncle founded Scott Rice Company which was for years the largest office furniture and supply business in Tulsa. His dad taught him to “always do the right thing because things come back to you; always be honest; do what you say; whatever you do, add value in some way – add quality; be aware of things around you.”

He didn’t know it when he was young, but God was always preparing him for something else that lay ahead.

A hope and a future.

Dan is a man who remembers lessons and says the influences in his life were many including his family, his faith, the Boy Scouts, sports, and many others along his journey. Dan also believes if you have been wronged, a Christian must forgive if he is to receive any blessing.

After graduating from Tulsa’s Central High and Tulsa University and marrying his high school sweetheart, Margie, he went to work at Scott Rice.

He spent the next 20 years getting the best and most thorough business experience possible. He decided to sell his interest in Scott Rice and start his own business.

Using the same Christian and ethical principles, Dan P. Scott & Sons was a successful business for the next 20 years. In 1987, Tulsa businesses and banks went through a serious recession.

Although they fought hard, the business was lost. At age 60, Dan and his family went from two and one-half million dollars net worth to zero in one year.

Dan had been active in his industry trade association. He and Margie sold their home and moved to Virginia where Dan took a job with the association and later became its president. In a year, things were getting better. Dan was able to help many people by mentoring them with ethical and business principles. In ten years, they were secure enough to retire.

Dan said, “God put us there for a reason and had taken care of us. I had many opportunities to witness especially while traveling in my job. One night, I was walking to the Phoenix airport from the parking lot. It was dark, and I was almost hit by a car with no headlights—it actually brushed my clothes. A hand on

my shoulder pulled me back but when I turned to look, no one was there. On the plane home I unexpectedly sat by a friend from our church who was dealing with a huge business disaster. He told me God had forsaken him.” Dan was able to share his own experience of God’s faithfulness.

Margie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994. They moved back to Tulsa in 1998 and she passed away in 2003. They had been blessed with a wonderful marriage of 56 years and two sons. Dan was married again in 2004 to Marion, a friend he has known since childhood. Now he says he has been blessed with two wonderful marriages in his life. He is active in Asbury’s Stephen Ministry and knows what is ahead. A hope and a future!

-Marty McBroom

ASBURY TIDINGS 20

Serving with Grace D

o you ever wonder what might be going through the mind of that smiling hostess or server that greets you at your favorite restaurant? As customers, and as Christians, we may often take them for granted. What’s their day been like?

What’s going on in their life? Do they know the Lord?

Alyssa Curley and Alison Vrooman, two students who work at popular Tulsa restaurants, agree it’s a challenge to work at a job that serves the public. Alyssa, a junior at Union High School, is learning to see it as an opportunity to grow in her faith. “In my area of service, people aren’t the nicest all the time. I think it’s God’s way of showing me how I should and shouldn’t treat others.”

Alison is studying psychology and economics at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She says that keeping a Christ-like attitude while trying to serve others can be difficult.

Confrontations and conflict happen and those who don’t know Jesus are watching to see how Christians will handle these situations.

An Asbury member for just over a year, Alyssa came to know Christ at an early age. But it’s just been in the last few years that her relationship with Jesus has really grown. Her recent involvement in Asbury’s student missions has had a

21 ASBURY TIDINGS

profound impact on her life and she sees how Christ has made a difference. “I can tell 100% that I have Jesus in my life. Situations that occur are much simpler than in some of my friends’ lives. I can take my problems, pray about them, and they are much easier for me to handle.”

Alison has been a part of Asbury her entire life and she also gave her life to Christ as a child. While attending a children’s summer music camp at another local church, she realized her need for Jesus. “All of the sudden it made perfect sense to me, like that was what I had been missing, so I prayed to accept Christ as my personal Savior.”

Growing as a Christian is a process and Alyssa realizes she doesn’t have all the answers. “I’m a normal teenager, I get into trouble and do things I shouldn’t. But I always have the hand of Jesus guiding me in the right direction. It comforts me to know that, and to know that that hand will never leave me.”

Being a Christian usually puts you in the minority in the workplace.

As these young women grow in Christ, they realize that sometimes the biggest challenge is with co-workers and supervisors. Alison says, “It’s hard to stand up for what you believe in when the easier thing is to follow the crowd. There are other believers, you just have to find them and support each other.”

Though these jobs are temporary, both students are gaining wisdom they will take into the future. Alison is learning about teamwork and hopes to be remembered as a hard worker who always had a smile. As she learns about patience, Alyssa hopes others see her as someone who was diligent and strong. “I want them to know that I am like that because of Jesus Christ.”

So next time you eat out, remember that your server has a life just like you. Whether employee or customer, those who know Jesus always have opportunity to shine for Him. It’s up to us to serve up some Christ-like love and make a difference in the lives of others.

-Nikki Boyd

photo submitted

Balancing Work & Family I

t’s been ten years since Alan Roark started Roark Landscaping Company. Mowing lawns as a young man is how he entered the landscaping business. Now, Alan is the president of his company and has a staff of 35 people working for him.

His trucks and employees are all over Tulsa providing customers with efficient, prompt and courteous landscape service. The Christian principles that Alan lives by are deeply

rooted in his character and lifestyle.

Alan’s parents, Bill and Jennifer Roark , moved to Tulsa in 1974. They joined Asbury when Alan was three years old. They taught him to be who God made him to be. Family is extremely important to the Roark’s. His mom, sister and dad have all worked at Roark Landscaping at one time or another. Alan said his dad and mom “have always been involved whether it required physical work or just helping

me talk through issues. I can count on them.” Currently, Bill is the Operations Manager.

“His parents have worked in so many ways to help Alan be the man he is,” said Mallory, Alan’s wife.

In the midst of the highly competitive landscape business, Alan models loyalty. He demonstrates fairness, care and accountability. He encourages his employees to work their way up through his company.

ASBURY TIDINGS 22

honest. Many times that is not the popular thing to do in the business world. He struggles with customers who ask for preferential treatment because Alan tries to treat everyone the same.

It was through his business that Alan met his wife, Mallory. Her grandmother set them up by calling Alan over to do some landscaping work and conveniently asked Mallory to come over at the same time. They dated for a year and the two married in 2000 at the Tulsa Garden Center.

With the birth of their daughter Lilly, Alan has struggled, like many men, to balance time at work with time at home. “Business never stops and I

Everyone at Roark Landscaping works together and wears multiple hats. Alan is a hard worker and he expects that from his team. His company’s mission is to provide excellent service “while striving to fulfill the needs of each employee of the company.” When faced with a business dilemma, Alan believes that “You need to think ahead and think through things. You need to react and change in order to accomplish your goal.” He is authentic and

23 ASBURY TIDINGS

admit, many times I’m not too good at balancing things,” he said. While Alan never claims to be perfect, Mallory says that Alan makes spending family time together a priority. In addition, he takes Lilly by himself on Sundays and Wednesdays for “Daddy and Lilly time.”

While most Christians face the challenge of different values as soon as they walk into the office, Alan says, “I don’t like to wear two hats. I’m the same person on Sunday that I am at work.”

“He expresses his faith by going about doing things without calling attention to himself. Living with someone like that encourages me to be who God called me to be,” said Mallory.

-Christy Capps

Planting Seeds of Faith B

ack in the 80s, there was a television program called Murphy Brown that featured a painter, Eldin, who inexplicably had perpetual painting projects at Murphy’s home.

More than being just a painter, Eldin was Murphy Brown’s friend and confidant.

The Asbury family has our own Eldon the Painter, and like the fictional TV character, Eldon Trimble befriends each of his many clients with an uncommon affability. However, unlike the Murphy Brown character, Eldon prays for each client and asks the Lord to allow him to witness and encourage each one in the love of Christ, then looks with anticipation for the opportunities to share. He passionately believes that as believers, we are all to be ambassadors for Christ and have a responsibility to faithfully represent the One who sent us.

As his friend Darrell Duke observed, “Eldon moves through life with a quiet confidence. Every job, large or small, is done with excellence.

It’s always about more than just getting the job done.” He frequently works in life lessons and observations during casual conversation, turning an observation about a home showing signs of neglect to a discussion about our spiritual lives--how we fall into disrepair and complacency when we fail to maintain the spiritual part of our lives. One client said he thought the Gospel was a “beautiful story, but I just don’t buy it.” Eldon responded with his characteristic gentle spirit, “The good news is, you don’t have to buy it. It’s free.” The man died before Eldon ever knew if the Gospel ever became more than just a beautiful story, but the

encounter inspires and motivates Eldon to continue to share the hope that is in Christ.

Eldon’s passion for discipleship stems from his own faith walk. He accepted the Lord at the age of 12, but lived what he calls a “nominal Christian walk.” He sees now that his life was self-focused and his work was done on his own strength, without the Lord’s help or guidance. The tragic loss of his teenage daughter, Emily, changed his perspective on everything.

“God transformed our hearts from a place of great emotional despair, even self pity, to a place of greater joy and understanding of the human condition. I see God move through the heart. It is obvious to me that God works in people by changing their hearts to the better, changing from the inside out.”

Eldon is a seed planter, and his mission field is in homes across Tulsa, blending the tools of his trade-paint, brushes and ladders -with the tools of the Gospel and the truth of God’s word.

Combined with his unique gentleness and passion for Christ, he leaves a trail of hope and encouragement scattered throughout the city.

His life is exemplified by one of his favorite verses, I Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers --not

because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve.”

And oh, by the way, Eldon is a terrific painter.

-Juli Armour

ASBURY TIDINGS 24

WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD, NOT FOR MEN, SINCE YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE FROM THE LORD AS A REWARD. . . COLOSIANS 3:23

25 ASBURY TIDINGS

Sharing the Gift, Filling a Need E

d Morse has been a professional musician for 26 years. He plays various woodwind instruments in the Oklahoma/Arkansas area and regularly performs with backup groups for the local and regional appearances of many of the entertainment industry’s leading recording artists and theatrical productions. He works in the field of music preparation with experience as a copyist, orchestrator, and music librarian. Ed serves as the saxophone instructor for Tulsa Community College, and as an instrumental specialist for the Bartlesville Public Schools as well as teaching a studio of private students.

In addition to his regular ‘gigs,’ Ed has taken over the leadership for our praise band, the Asbury Power and Light Co. Such an accomplished musician working as a volunteer is no less than a coup. What would make someone like him volunteer at Asbury? He would say he saw a need and filled it.

The whole story is that Ed shares his gifts with Asbury because of what God has done in his life. Serving here is not just a ‘gig’ to him, it is a ministry.

A member of Asbury for 28 years, Ed came to know the Lord as a child during confirmation. He was born in Louisiana and because of his father’s oil-related business the family moved quite often. When Ed and his sister were approaching high school his dad

negotiated a deal with his company to stay in Tulsa. Ed began lessons on his dad’s clarinet which his mom had rescued from grandma’s attic and reconditioned for her husband who had been a clarinetist himself in high

school. Ed still has that clarinet. “My dad still plays occasionally. At Christmas we dig out the hymnal and crash through some carols. We do have to stop to check fingering,” laughed Ed. He graduated from Jenks High School where he played with band director, Keith Churchill and the University of Tulsa where he studied clarinet and

saxophone with Dwight Dailey.

“One of my first paychecks as a professional musician was from Asbury,” he remembered. Marvin Reecher, a former minister of music, asked him to play for a production of Handel’s Messiah. Richard Richards, Asbury’s founding orchestra director, and teacher/mentor Dwight Dailey took the young professional under their wings. “Richard asked me to play in his bands and I was there,” said Ed. “It was from them I learned that you have to give back whether it is to volunteer in a church orchestra, a community band or play at a nursing home. As a result things come to you that you never dreamed possible.”

Ed cites the Christian disciplines as helping him in his chosen profession. “Being in the church is like a team sport—everyone is important.

The same is true of a musical group. The older I get the more I ask for God’s guiding hand in my life.” Ed is also conscience of how he impacts his own reputation and that of his Father as well as those who recommend him for jobs. Ed continues to give back and he enjoys it. He also gives great tribute to the players he works with in the praise band. “It is definitely a team effort!” said Ed. “…Much is required from those to whom much is given…” Luke 12:48. That sums up the character of Ed Morse.

-Marti Morris ASBURY TIDINGS 26

Captain of Industry?

By Scott MacDonald

I

f one receives all of one’s news from, well. . . the news, one can be forgiven for thinking that flying from the standard in front of every corporate office in the country is the Jolly Roger – the Skull and Cross Bones – the favored ensign of pirates and all things piratical.

While visions of Armani-clad Bluebeards plundering and pillaging small villages and demanding the last farthing from cowering widows and orphans – or else – makes for a good story, it just ain’t so. For every corporate malefactor doing the “perp” walk on the way to prison, there are hundreds of thousands of corporate-types who get up in the morning and head out to do the right thing by their employees, their investors, their communities, and their families--they just make for crummy reporting. There is just no excitement in a life of correctitude; at least not for the voyeur in all of us that drives the news cycle and, thus, the media is let off the hook.

By way of disclaimer, I am no captain of industry. I’m not even a corporal of industry. I have found other ways to express the inner-pirate. But my life has arranged itself in such a way that I spend a considerable amount of time in the company of such worthies and, by and large, worthy I have found them to be sensible, soberminded, and rational whose lives are, in large measure, informed by their spiritual walk.

The truth is this: America is chock-a-block with companies who

27 ASBURY TIDINGS

out the timeless teachings of faith in their relationships, to one another.

They and we are in pretty good company.

Before He answered the call that resonated in His life at the age of 30, Jesus was a carpenter, like His earthly father before him. His was the business of tables, chests, chairs and, given Nazareth’s location in provincial Judea, farm implements--hefty tools that filled the hand and facilitated the never-ending work on the first-century farm.

Andrew, Peter, James and John were all commercial fishermen. They owned their boats, hired the crews, and they sold a commodity--always a challenging way to make one’s living.

Matthew had a service contract with the king before he left to serve the King of kings Paul was a tent maker even as he spread the good news throughout the Roman world. Luke was a physician. . . and on it goes. know that if they perform well for their There wasn’t a dreamy-eyed customers, then their stockholders will slacker among them. They were all be amply rewarded, who habitually about the business of life before they encourage an inclusive vocabulary in were about the business of Life. the corporate suites, for whom respect No less than life itself, challenges of the environment is a serious concern in the workplace are largely challenges and not a mere advertising motto. of the spirit. The really good news is Those who know and appreciate those that we have been given the tools with who work for the company and truly which to cope and to succeed in every watch out for their well being and for aspect of life. We merely have to be whom the ethical challenges of the serious about the application of what workplace have been resolved by living we have been given.

asbury opportunities

access

general information

bible study

Breakfast Served from 7:00-9:15 am. in the CLC Come enjoy fellowship with Asburians along with fresh donut s, bagels, biscuits & gravy, sausage, eggs, fruit, and cereal. $2 for adults & $1 for children 12 & under Sunday Morning Worship 8:00 am Mason Chapel (Traditional Communion) 9:15 am Sanctuary (Contemporary Communion) 11:00 am Sanctuary (Traditional) Sign interpreter provided 11:00 am Mason Chapel (Contemporary) Children and Students 6 Weeks - 4 Years 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am K-6th Grades 9:15 or 11:00 am 7th, 8th & 9th Grades 9:15 & 11:00 am 10th, 11th & 12th Grades 9:15 am only Adult Discipleship Communities 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am and Wednesdays, 6:30 pm The Gazebo is Open ...each Sunday morning between services and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

Perceptions and Prayer Journals on sale (note: the sermon notes page on the bulletin is designed to fit in the Prayer Journal), as well as selections in Pastor Tom’s Book Club.

Asbury Wear is also for sale. Extra Mission: Possible dogtags are available for $1.

Recycling Hey church family! Keep collecting those aluminum cans and bringing them to the church when you come! Once a month our resident “can man,” Jim Schulz, picks them up from the east side storage area and takes them to the recyling center for us. Gently toss your wellbagged cans into the fenced area, and be a part of ministry to the children in our church and the community. Also, recycle unwanted paper products. Two bins are available, located in the south and east parking lots.

Asbury Family News is available at the Welcome Centers. It includes hospital lists, births, deaths, marriages, baptisms and military listings.

Doors of Asbury posters are at the Welcome Centers...FREE! Suitable for framing.

New Additions to the Library The Asbury Library is a wonderful resource.

Thank you to all who continue to contribute books to our Library.

Journey - Tulsa’s Century of Christian Faith, Leadership & Influence Available for $40 in the Gazebo. This beautiful book includes Asbury history, as well as other significant features. A beautiful gift!

Hands of Love Sign Choir Sundays, 6:00-7:00 pm, Rm. 2821

Classes are available for all levels of learning.

Brochures are available at the Welcome Centers and on the website: www.asburytulsa.org Believers Bible Study: I and II Corinthians Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, through July 26 in Rm. 1502; Teacher: Don Herrold.

Financial Peace University See page 3 for details.

care and support Blood Drive - American Red Cross August 20 from 8 am – 1 pm in the CLC. Call 831-1151 to schedule your appointment or you may make an appointment online at www.givelife.org and enter sponsor code “asburymethodist.”

Getting That All-Important Interview Thursday,August 24 from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Parlor. Job seeking requires making a good impression every step of the process. The resume is the first step. It must be current in style and sell your skills and experience effectively. Are you prepared for your interview? You are invited to join a professional from the placement field for lots of valuable information. No childcare is available. The event is free.

GriefShare Support Group Tuesdays, September 12 - December 5 from 7:00-8:30 pm in Rm 1621. Facilitators: Jane Hedrick and Sylvia Dean. GriefShare is a special weekly video series and support group for people who are grieving the death of someone close to them. It’s a place to be around people who understand what you are feeling. At GriefShare, you’ll learn valuable information about recovering from your grief and renewing your hope for the future. Call 392-1191 to register.

Our Journey of Hope: Coping with Anxiety Thursday, September 21 from 7:15-8:45 pm in Rm 2818. Dr. Gerald Ellison of the Cancer Treatment Center of America will be presenting a seminar on anxiety, how it can hinder one’s work, damage one’s physical health, or interfere with how one relates to others. He will also explain in depth what signs to look for to know if a referral for professional help is indicated. Sponsored by Stephen Ministry.

No charge. No childcare available.

Left to Wonder: Families and Friends of Suicide Sunday, September 24 from 3:30-5:00 pm in the Parlor. Come and learn how others have survived the loss of a loved one through suicide. Did you feel guilty? Were you angry?

Have you forgiven your loved one? Yes, we as Christians have these thoughts and feelings! There will be a time to share your story, your perceptions of suicide, and what helped you most to cope with the devastating loss of your loved one to suicide. Facilitated

by Connie Conrad, a survivor of suicide and member of Asbury. No cost and no registration is necessary.

Shattered Dreams: God’s Unexpected Pathway to Joy Thursdays, September 28 - November 16 from 6:30-8:30 pm in Rm 2500. The cost is $11 and childcare is available. We will be studying Larry Crabb’s book, which will help us understand how the Holy Spirit uses the pain of shattered dreams to help discover our deep desire for God, to help us begin dreaming the highest dream. Larry Crabb wraps his insights around the bold story of Naomi in the Bible’s book of Ruth.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Third Thursday, from 1:30-3:00 pm in Room 2821. Christian hope, support and education for friends and family of those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia.

Cancer Support Group Second Sunday of each month, 4:00-6:00 pm, Parlor - For those living with cancer and their family and friends.

Bipolar/Depression Support Group Second and fourth Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 1508 - For persons living with bipolar disorder or depression.

Divorce Recovery Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - For those suf fering from the early, highly emotional stages of divorce and separation trauma.

Divorce Rebuilding Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - For those ready to rebuild their lives after separation or divorce.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren First and third Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, Rm 1508.

Family to Family Usually meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, 1:30-3:30 pm, Parlor. For family members or caregivers of people affected by a mental illness.

Prison Fellowship Support Meets first Tuesday of each month, 7:00-8:30 pm in the Parlor. For family and friends of people who are incarcerated.

Asbury Bear Bags Asbury Bears are not just for little kids anymore! Asbury Bear Bags with coloring books have comforted young children for many years, but now you may give a Bear Bag with a scripture-based journal included instead! Great for teens and adults. Anyone may deliver an Asbury Bear to someone who is grieving. For more information, contact Beth at 392-1116.

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children Registration forms for all children’s activities are available in the preschool and elementary lobbies.

Core Hours for Childcare Parents who are involved in AU classes during these core hours will have childcare provided with n o reservations needed: Sundays 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Wednesdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Wednesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Big Splash Family Day Wednesday, August 2 from 10 am - 2 pm.

Cost: $10 per person, includes lunch.

Registration forms are available in the preschool and elementary areas. It’s gonna be hot this summer and what better way to cool off than to play in the water. Third-sixth graders may be dropped off at Big Splash without an adult, but need a signed registration form. Second grade and younger must have an accompanying adult. Bring the whole family and meet at Big Splash. Pick up your water-logged third-sixth grader at 2:00 pm.

Kindergarten Blessing Service Sunday, August 6 at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

Forms available in preschool and elementary gathering areas. Children who are just entering kindergarten and their families are invited to be a part of this service of affirmation and blessing. Registrations need to be returned by August 1 to ensure your child’s certificate will be completed. The service will be followed by a celebration reception and activities in the CLC. CallAmy at 392-1175 or Kim at 392-1159.

Third Grade Bible Presentation Sunday, September 10 in all worship services.

Children who are in the third grade will receive a Bible from Asbury. This annual event is a great stepping stone as Asbury gives children their own copy of the Word of God. A significant event you won’t want to miss.

Bible Explorers For third graders and their parents. Sundays, September 10, 17 and 24 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the H2O Room. Childcare is available for infants to 6th graders. Cost: $2.00 donation requested per person on September 10, which includes dinner. Hey kids, wanna become a Certified Bible Explorer? Parents, want to spend some time in the Word with your child?

We will discuss how it is written; discover how it is organized; and see how to use it.

Designed for 3rd graders and their parents.

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discipleship Spiritual Gift Connections Sessions are held the second Thursday of each month in Room 1502 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Focus on volunteer opportunities at Asbury that use your Spiritual Gift s and personality traits. You are requested to complete the Spiritual Gifts Inventory prior to attending this class. Call the registration hotline at 392-1191 to register for one of the Thursday sessions.

evangelism Alpha and Alpha Sprouts at Asbury!

We have been doing the adult Alpha program for over five years at Asbury and now families will be able to share in the experience together.Alpha and Alpha Sprouts for kids will run concurrently every Tuesday night, September 12 - November 21 from 6:30-8:45 pm. (No meeting October 31.) Preview dinner is September 5th at 6:30 pm. (See page 3 for details).

marriage & family Milestone Wedding Anniversaries E-mail your October or November Milestone Anniversary (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) to patticooper@cox.net or call 392-1146.

Heartache Prevention 101 Thursdays, September 14 - October 19 from 6:30-8:00 pm in Rm 1507. Dating to get to know one another is important! Following God’s design for love and relationships instead of Hollywood’s model can prevent much heartache and lead to a deep, fulfilling relationship. Material will be loosley based on Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships by Chip Ingram(discussion and video) . For dating couples - come together or alone. Childcare is available. There is no cost for this course.

Facilitators: Rachael Hatley (intern) and Jack & Brenda Pauling.

membership Asbury Exploration Come to a lunch/class to learn more about becoming a member of Asbury. Sunday, September 10, from 12:15-2:15 pm. Call 3921191 to register. Childcare available.

men Men’s Prayer Breakfast Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 am in the CLC. Join the Men’s Ministry for a delicious breakfast, meaningful worship and lifechanging prayer! Cost: $3/person

August 2 Mark Springer, speaker August 9 Pec Clark, speaker August 16 Don Herrold, speaker August 23 Guest speaker August 30 Mark Hoffman, speaker Home Improvement Work Day Saturday, August 19. Meet at 8:00 for planning...then off to work! The Home Improvement ministry serves widows and single moms within the Asbury family. Our Men’s Ministry volunteers make themselves available every other month to help folks out with minor home repairs and/or home improvement projects. (Work requests, due by Wednesday, August 9, are available at the Welcome Desks or in the main office.

Questions? Call Debbie at 392-1142).

Car Care for Widows and Single Moms Saturday, September 23 from 9:00 - 12:00 noon.This bi-monthly service is provided for Asbury’s widows and single moms through our Men’s Ministry. While the ladies wait in the comfort of the Student Ministry café, volunteers check tires, belts, fluids, filters and batteries. They also vacuum and wash the vehicles, and then update the owners on what’s running smoothly and what needs professional attention. This free service gives our men an opportunity to put their faith into action through loving and serving those in need. No reservations required; just come!

Please try to arrive by 11:30 a.m.

missions/outreach New! Mission Matters A monthly newsletter is available with recent news of mission happenings. If you would like to receive the newsletter, please contact Missy Sistrunk at 392-1163 or msistrunk@asburytulsa.org. Preference is for the e-mail version, but hard copies can be mailed if needed.

Global Outreach Prayer Ministry News and prayer requests from our missionaries and ministries are sent each week to our prayer ministry list. If you would like to join and become a prayer intercessor for those serving around the world, contact Missy at 392-1163.

Global Outreach Ministry Teams These teams specialize in certain areas and all are open to anyone having an interest in those areas. They are as follows: Caspian Ministry (work in Azerbaijan) , Latin America Ministry (work in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala), College Missions Ministry, Communications, Estonia Ministry; Kami Tanzania Ministry, International Student Ministry, Missionary Care, and Prayer. If you need further information call the Global Outreach office, 391-1117.

Mentor Moms/Young Lives First and second Tuesdays of the month, 7:009:00 pm in the Parlor. This is a support group for teenage moms, sponsored by Young Life.

missions/vim The upcoming Volunteer-In-Mission (VIM) Teams are: Cookson Hills, Oklahoma (open) Fall, 2006 Tanzania (open) September 14-25, Construction and water well work - $2,500 Monterrey, Mexico (open) October 14-21, Construction and MBS - $950 Rio Bravo, Mexico (open) November 1-5, Medical and Construction $500 Guatemala (open) November 4-11, Medical - $1200 Estonia (open) December 28 - January 7, Camp Gideon $2,400 For further details about Volunteer-In-Mission opportunities, contact Marilene Long, 3921164 or mlong@asburytulsa.org

prayer Altar Prayer If you would like someone to pray with you during Holy Communion or right after the service, please come to the altar rail at the front of the sanctuary. A pastor or member of the Altar Prayer Team will be glad to pray with you for your needs – physical, emotional or spiritual - at the altar or in the Prayer Room.

College Moms in Touch Prayer Time Wednesdays, 11:45 am - 12:45 pm, Rm 1506 Mason Chapel Prayer Room Accessible during core hours. You can enter the room from the outside entrance of the southeast side of the Chapel.

Prayer Journals Available in Gazebo Asbury Prayer Journals now available in the Gazebo. This valuable tool is filled with scripture and resources designed to enhance your personal prayer time, plus a section for keeping sermon notes.

recovery Celebrate Recovery Mondays: Dinner at 6:00 pm; Worship from 7:00-8:00 pm; Small Groups from 8:00-9:00 pm; Dessert from 9:00-9:30 pm.

Hiding any hurts, habits or hangups? God never intended for you to live in bondage.

Come join this supportive group of people each Monday night at 6:00 pm. Childcare available.

Celebrate Recovery Childcare Volunteers needed. Time commitment is one Monday evening per month from 6:45 pm to 9:10 pm. Please call 392-1103 if you can help.

recreation Asbury Recreation Center Hours Sundays 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Mondays 8:00 am - 9:30 am 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm Tuesdays 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Wednesdays 8:00 am - 9:30 am Thursday 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm Fridays 8:00 am - 9:30 am The workout room is available during classes scheduled during the above hours. Must be 13 years or above to use equipment and a liability form must be on file.

Single Adults Volleyball Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Gym (Ages 18 and up) No children, please.

Adult Volleyball Sundays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Gym Coed adult volleyball. Must be 18 and above to participate. No children, please.

Open Gym Thursday, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Gym Open to all members of the ARC to shoot some hoops, walk, run or workout. Must have a membership on file. Age 13-18 must have a parent’s signature on file. No one under the age of 13 may use the workout room. No one under the age of 13 is allowed in the gym unless supervised by a responsible adult.

Inspirational Fitness Class – Rise Up to Health Mondays and Thursday, 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm.

Enjoy a one-hour, total-body workout to incredible inspirational Christian music. Work your heart, mind and spirit and every muscle group in your body. Wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes, bring water and a towel.

Teens to older adults are welcome. Work at your own level. The joy of the Lord will be your strength. First workout is free, $5 for drop-in. Mats and hand weights are provided.

Senior Sit and Fit Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9:00-9:30 am, Gym. Come join a time of stretching with fun and fellowship.

Walk in the Gym with Him Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30-9:00 am in the gym. Come join a time of power walking with fun and fellowship.

Fitness Room Treadmills, stationary bicycles, strength traiing machines, and some free weights are available for use. This room may be used during other scheduled activities.

seniors Fall Trip to Branson Tuesday, October 31 through Thursday, November 2. (Depart at 8:30 am and return at 6:00 pm). Cost: $345 for triple occupancy; $375 for double occupancy; $435 for single occupancy. Deposit ($50) due by Sunday, October 1. Registration forms are in the church office and at the south welcome desk.

We will again be staying at the wonderful Branson Towers Hotel, and taking in all the fun sights and sounds this southern Missouri town has to offer! Our afternoons and evenings will be filled with several of the most popular musical shows in town, including Yakov Smirnoff, the Magnificent Seven, “The Promise,” and the Andy Williams Christmas Show. There will be plenty of time for shopping, sight-seeing and eating! There are only 26 spaces left, so pick up a registration form today! Balance is due within a week of our October 31 departure.

singles Singles Luncheon Sunday, August 27 from 12:00-2:00 pm in the CLC. For single adults and their children. Cost: $4 per person, includes lunch and entertainment. Tickets available in advance or at the door.

Single Adults Sports Day Saturday, August 12. Watch the Sunday bulletin and website for details!

Singles Meet and Greet Sundays from 8:40-9:10 am or 10:20-10:50 am in the CLC. All singles are invited.

Singles Bible Study Mondays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Rm 1900. Come join us as we hear from a variety of speakers on a number of topics.

Divorce Recovery Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - For those suf fering from the early, highly emotional stages of divorce and separation trauma.

Divorce Rebuilding Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - For those ready to rebuild their lives after separation or divorce.

students 10th, 11th & 12th Breakaway Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm - Breakaway area. Join us every Wednesday (except the first Wednesday of the month) for a time of connection, worship, learning about God, and some nights of just random fun. Don’t miss the food and hangout time afterwards.

7th, 8th, & 9th Grade Breakaway Sunday mornings, 9:15-10:30 am in the Breakaway Area. This isn’t your normal Sunday school! Come join us for worship, fun

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and games, interactive talk/lesson, and sometimes free candy and gift cards!

College Bible Study Each Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the College Room. Come learn about God with other college students.

Metro Big Splash Day August 2 at Big Splash. Swim and worship with Metro Worship churches at Big Splash!

Cost is $10 ($5 for Big Splash fee and $5 as a One Life Revolution fundraiser). Times will be announced, so be listening!

7th Grade Float Trip Thursday, August 3 from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.

This summer we are going to float the Illinois!

Rising 7th Graders...this is YOUR trip! We will meet at Asbury at 8:30 am and return around 4 pm. Cost is $20; plus bring your own sack lunch! Remember one-piece modest swim suits!

10th, 11th & 12th Float Trip Sunday, August 6. Don’t miss out on this annual event. Meet at the church in the Student Ministries area. We will leave around 12:30 pm and be back to the church around 9:00 pm. Bring a sack dinner with you and $20. Registrations are due by August 3.

Student Ministries Parents Meeting Parents! Come hear from Tom Harrison and Greg Lynn concerning the exciting things going on in Student Ministries. Learn about the vision for our ministry and programming for students. Light refreshment provided by Virginia! 6:00 pm in the CLC. 10th, 11th and 12th graders - August 9th 7th, 8th and 9th graders - August 13 7th, 8th & 9th Ice Skating Sunday, August 13 from 5:00-7:00 pm. Ready for a summer chill? Meet at the Student Ministries area August 13 at 5:00 pm to go ice skating!! We will walk to the Oilers Rink and walk back! Bring $5 and have parents pick you up at 7:00 pm. See you then!

7th-12th Grade Small Group Leader Training Sunday, August 20 from 5:00-8:30 pm.

ATTENTION ALLSMALL GROUP LEADERS!!

Mandatory training you don’t want to miss!

Start with a great dinner, hear about the upcoming year, then split up for interactive workshops to learn all you need to know to be equipped to change students’ lives!

Mud Fest Sunday, August 27 from 5:00-8:00 pm. Mud, Mud and more mud is what will be in store for you when you come to MUD FEST! We will eat from 5:00-5:30 and then hit the mud pit. Fire trucks will arrive just before 8:00 pm to stray us down. Be sure to wear old clothes (not white) because they will get ruined!

7th Grade Confirmation Group Sign Up Seventh Grade is the year to experience Confirmation. Our program is done through small groups. They will meet each Sunday 31 CALENDAR

night starting September 17 and ending in April from 5:30-7:00 pm in the Student Ministries area. If you are interested, call Marsha at 3921157.

7th - 12th Grade Small Group Sign Up Sign up now for 8th - 12th grade Small Groups in the Student Ministries area. Small groups start September 10 for 10th-12th grades and September 17 for 7th-9th grades. They meet every Sunday night until April (except for major holidays). 7th Grade Confirmation groups will receive a mail-out. If you don’t get one and are interested, contact Student Ministries at 392-1157 for details.

worship Online Worship Did you know that you can watch the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services online as they are occurring? Go to www.asburytulsa.org then click on “Watch Sermons” (by Tom’s picture).

If you cannot attend worship, you can log on and share the experience. Or if there is a sermon that you wish someone else had been able to hear, send them to our website where several weeks of sermons are archived.

women UMW Summer Luncheons Thursday, August 3 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm in the CLC. Join us for our covered dish summer salad luncheon. Bring your favorite salad and a friend, and get ready for three fun, relaxing times together with your Asbury family! Setup and Cleanup by UMW Excecutive Board. Bring food for the food pantry.

Home Improvement Work Day Saturday, August 19. The men meet at 8:00 for planning...then off to work! The Home Improvement ministry serves widows and single moms within the Asbury family. Our Men’s Ministry volunteers make themselves available every other month to help folks out with minorhome repairs and/or home improvement projects. (Work requests due by Wednesday, August 9, are available at the Welcome Desks or in the main office.

Questions? Call Debbie at 392-1142.)

Car Care for Widows and Single Moms September 23 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. This bimonthly service is provided for Asbury’s widows and single moms, through our Men’s Ministry. While the ladies wait in the comfort of the Student Ministry café, volunteers check tires, belts, fluids, filters and batteries. They also vacuum and wash the vehicles, and then update the owners on what’s running smoothly and what needs professional attention. No reservations required; just come!

Please try to arrive by 11:30 a.m.

Women of the Word Wednesday from 10:00-11:00 am in Rm 1502.

Rev. Darlene Johnson, teacher.

Phone Buddies Ladies, do you want a “cheer me up” with your morning coffee? We have ladies that can fill that need by being your own “phone buddy!” Call 392-1142. Lea or Shirley will return the call and get you set up!

Arts and Crafts Mondays, 9:30 am - 2:00 pm, Rm 2820. Women who enjoy crafts are invited to come any Monday morning...come and go any time.

Bring lunch to share. Contact Beverly Clarke.

The Work of Our Hands And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Psalm 90:17

What I do for a living can be either secular or sacred. The choice is mine.

The kind of work I do is not important.

I can do anything in a way that glorifies You, Father. A worker in the humblest of jobs is just as capable of demonstrating Your beauty as one in the most exalted of positions. The next time I am feeling unproductive or unappreciated, remind me that I am working for Your glory, not my own. A tiny bit of Your beauty is reflected in my work, whatever it might be. May those I work with always see You in my life and be brought closer to You through me.

- Light for My Path Prayers & Promises

Welcome to Asbury...

New member photographers: Allen H. Robinson and Roxanne Shelton Whiteis

Jim and Melanie Craddock Cindy Cunningham

Patrick and Stephanie Cipolla, Jessica and John

Sandy Ratlife

George and Jackie Capps

Matt Rogers

Alison Todd and Kelsey, Susanne and Halle Dueker Bob and Betty Dupree

Sally Ryser Michael Knight and Amy

Mike andAmberAllen and Cami

Judy Weinkauf

John Weber

Rowene Wagner

Steve Whittington

Cynthia Heuvelman, and Christina, Tasha, Patricia, Jonathan, Cynthia, and Faith Kolovos

left: Nancy Baney and Nicholas

Jim and Robbin Tillman, Christy Tillman and Claire Ashworth left: John and Shirley Miller

Greg and Sandy Lynn, Jeneva, Josiah and Jayda

...we’re glad you’re here

thank you...

Happy 5th Birthday, Home Improvement Ministry!

Dear Asbury, Thank you for generously opening your doors so that College Moms in Touch might meet weekly to pray for our children and the colleges they attend. Eighteen children were covered in prayer, seven college and all their professors and students, as well as their events. We are confident that God’s eyes have been opened and His ears attentive to the prayers we have lifted up in Asbury (II Chronicles 7:15). Thank ou for being a part of God’s mighty work in our children and colleges.

Kay Blythe, Moms in Touch Leader

we rejoice... with those who have experienced the joy of a new baby in their family: Caroline Ann Cariker Daughter of Brent and Becky Cariker June 8, 2006 photo submitted

Can you believe it? It’s been five years since a bunch of “weekend handymen” got together and begun to plan out ways to help widows and single moms with clean-up/fix-up/paint-up projects that were beyond their skills and/or means. Last month our HI volunteers got together to celebrate, and to hear “thanks, guys” for the hard work and dedication to making this ministry a blessing in the lives of so many.

Since 2001 this ministry has grown in both acceptance and praise by those who have been served. This ministry is open to both men and women willing to serve. Work projects usually consist of home repairs or improvement projects requiring a wide variety of skills and talent.

The Home Improvement Ministry is powered by members of Asbury United Methodist Church. The Men’s Ministry is the oversight venue providing direction and insight. Dub Ambrose, Asbury’s Pastor to Men, serves as the convening authority. The ministry co-coordinators, Paul Crist and Joe Dullea, oversee the program and activities of the HI ministry. The HI work teams consist of 4-10 members with a team captain. This environment provides a time of fun and fellowship for team members during HI workdays.

Mission Statement: To live in obedience to God and serve one another through good works as followers of Jesus Christ.

Presley Kate Cahalen Daughter of Jake and Casie Cahalen June 18, 2006 Owen Scott Wall Son of Todd and Kim Wall June 20, 2006 Natalie Marie Fisher Daughter of Terry and Julie Fisher Granddaughter of Ray and Carol Fisher June 21, 2006 Thomas Patrick Hayes Son of Steve and Amy Hayes Brother of Matthew, Nathan and Anna Grandson of Joe and Jeannette Hooks Grandson of Don and Mary Hays July 6, 2006 Benjamin Bradley Scott Son of Darren and Kim Scott Brother of Jordyn July 5, 2006 Laiken Grace Cheatham Daughter of Brian and Amy cheatham July 6, 2006

we remember...

Neely Lowrie Husband of Ruthie Lowrie June 18, 2006 Jeanne Bolain Sister of David Frampton June 26, 2006 Dean Avery Father of Dale Coulter June 30, 2006 Charles Jackson Husband of Donna Jackson July 9, 2006 FAMILY ROOM 34

we celebrate...

Congratulations to all couples who are celebrating Milestone Anniversaries.

Report your Milestone Anniversary to patticooper@cox.net or call 392-1146.

60 Years Charles &JoAnn Goss August 25, 1946

50 Years Jim & Maxine Dempster August 17

35 Years Mark & Sue Whitney August 21

60 Years Charles & Mary Johns August 8, 1946

30 Years Rob & Linda Marshall July 24 Scott & Lori Miller August 6 B.J. & Lisa Reid August 21

25 Years Clifton & Kathy Wood August 8

55 Years

50 Years

Robert & Wanda Stotts August 31, 1951

David & Patty Thomas August 31, 1956

15 Years Bob & Debbie Craine August 13

Laborers with God

Greg & Kim Renkema August 17

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

10 Years

Travis & Angela Grobe July 13 Matthew & Wendy Booker July 27

5 Years

Tony & Michelle Taylor august 18 35 THE FAMILY ROOM

I Corinthians 3:9

The best thing about working is knowing I’m not working alone. I may plant the seeds, but You water them. I may do the weeding, but You send the sunshine.

All I am and all I do is done with You, the One who crated me and gifted me with whatever skills I have. You give my work - whatever type of work it may be - dignity and purpose. Your faith in me enables me to continue my duties on days when I would otherwise despair. At the end of the day my feet may be burning, but I know I am walking in Your footsteps, and that gives me peace. I thank You for the work I have. May I do it in a way that is pleasing to You and reflects Your glory.

- Light for My Path Prayers & Promises