Freedom in Surrender by Asbury Church

august 2012

or the past several months in this column, I've provided updates on the research and studies that have been underway for a number of months in which the leadership of Asbury has been considering some challenges we face. Specifically, for the first time in many years, we are experiencing declining participation in worship services and in some ministry programs. We believe that these are lagging indicators. That is, there are other factors that have preceded the decline, factors that we are working to understand and address. Because this broad study is the most important item in front of us now, I will continue to communicate our thinking and progress. This month we will look at two things. First, some interesting issues that have come out of this work. Secondly, a review of a few of our blessings which form the foundation for renewed growth. As part of our effort to understand what is happening, there have been many conversations involving pastors and laity, staff and nonstaff. While acknowledging the value of quantitative studies we've done, some of the best insight comes out of these conversations. Most of these have dealt with Asbury specifically but some have provided insight into what is happening at other churches. Additionally, we've paid attention to potential benchmark churches through published analyses and stories. In this column I will pass along some of the points that have come up but will make no attempt to address them at this time. Perhaps the most common issue raised is that of busyness. There are many demands on our time and many opportunities that compete with engagement in the church. Participation in Sunday morning church is not always the highest priority. Another frequent response deals with the nature of a local church and particularly of the worship services. This involves hard-to-describe aspects that go beyond the obvious points dealing with quality and style of music and preaching. It appears that the general environment of a church, and specifically the characteristics of sermons, feels more or less relevant to a person depending on what is going on in their life at the time. This can result in moving back and forth between two or more churches over time. The question of the role of corporate worship also arises. From our work locally and from observers of the church in North America, we see two points of view concerning corporate worship. One view follows tradition and sees corporate worship being of primary importance and as the chief indicator of the health of the local church. Another perspective suggests that corporate worship is diminishing in importance for some people who may assign increasing significance to authentic relationships and service to the outside world. When the challenge of busyness combines with the questions around worship, we've seen that if a person must choose how to spend one hour on Sunday morning, the evidence suggests that the majority of Asburians will put participation in a small group ahead of corporate worship. These and other issues are being studied to determine what adjustments are needed. We will communicate as progress is made. Fortunately, we have much to build upon. Asbury is blessed with a number of things that provide a good foundation to help us work through the challenges of the present time and resume growing. Because leadership is critically important, we are thankful to have Tom as our senior pastor. His extremely high standing within the congregation and his reputation in the community were strongly verified by the Barna study and by many conversations. Our governance leadership is excellent. Asbury has a great facility and infrastructure to support many years of growth. They also allow us to do ministry on a large scale. Having over 800 kids participate last month in VBS is a perfect example. Our staff is highly motivated and highly competent. All of those things are important, but Asbury's most valuable asset is our congregation. Many of our people are committed to helping Asbury successfully fill our role in the kingdom of God. On top of that we know that there is within our congregation much untapped potential for service and giving. As always, your support and prayers are appreciated. Dwight Yoder Executive Director

AUGUST 2012

Contents A Word From Tom Harrison 1 Senior Adults 2 Three Asburians We Are Following 3 A Warm Asbury Welcome to Rev. Guy Ames 4 What’s at the Root of Global Gardens? 6 Breaking the Bondage of the Past 9 Freedom in Surrender 10 Celebrate Each Day—Together! 12 Coming Full Circle 13 Blessed are Those Who Mourn and Those Who Guide the Process 14 The Adventure of Marriage 15 A Gift to a New Marriage 16 Grandpa John 16 Recipes of the Month 17 RoadMap Fall 2012 18 Opportunities 22 Special Announcements 30

We need you! Do you have a story of what God has done in your life? Please contact us and tell us a little bit about what God has done. We will all be encouraged by hearing stories of what God is doing in the lives of those around us. Are you a writer or someone who enjoys writing? The Communications Department is always looking for someone to do an interview and write a story for us for Tidings. Have you noticed that we’ve been making some changes in Tidings? Please give us your feedback— both good and bad. Email kmains@asburytulsa.org or call 918.392.1140. Asbury Tidings is a monthly publications designed to tell stories of lives being transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. You may read back issues by visiting www.asburytulsa.org. Editor: Asbury Communications Department, 918.392.1140, kmains@asburytulsa.org Graphic Design: Tim Jurgensen, tjurgensen@ asburytulsa.org Photographers: Mark Moore (mark moore.photo. net), Chris Lo (matchadesign.com) Guest Contributors: Holly Brobst, Charlene Giles, Symon Hajjar, Tommy Keeter, Diane King, Mike Potter, Scott Richardson, Randy and Linda Vier, Pat Wellendorf, John Westervelt, Guy and Tammy Yoes

A Word From Tom Harrison

he book, The Road Less Traveled, begins with a quote that’s been very helpful to me:

“Life is difficult…Once we truly know (and understand/ accept it) – then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” Scott Peck wrote that in 1978. (Dana and I were married in 1977.) I didn’t understand as much about life back then as I did now. I can now paraphrase what he wrote with my words:

Asbury helps in a number of different ways. Classes are held, experiences shared, and referrals for those having marital troubles are offered.

“Life is hard. So what? When you figure out that life is hard for everyone then you quit making that a big deal. Instead, you focus upon problem-solving, growing and getting better. And you try to find ways to help others get better, too.”

What’s true of marriage is also true for individuals. No one individual is perfect, but life can still be good. The saying in “Celebrate Recovery” is that it’s for people with “Hurts, habits, and hang-ups.” This is a great opportunity to be with others who are also trying to grow, get better, and become stronger. Every Monday night we host a dinner, a worship setting, and have particularly shaped small groups to help people who are having struggles in certain areas of life. Pounding people with judgment is not our way. We follow Jesus, who offered people new hope by calling them forth to a new way of life.

That explains why we have so many support groups and places of help around here. The first “not good” statement in the Bible is when God said: “It is not good that man should be alone.” It’s not good to try to do life in isolation. We were built for community. While not everyone should be married (Jesus and Paul were notable examples), we all need deep friendships. In a high-tech world, we still need an abundance of high-touch relationships which can nurture our souls. Asbury has a ministry to married couples which can help create stronger bonds. Two people who stand with each other through thick and thin (“ for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish until death us do part”) are greatly blessed and enriched. We want to help married people grow and thrive. A vital and growing marriage is a wonderful source of blessing. No marriage is perfect. No spouse is perfect. But life can still be good.

Since we agree that all have difficulties in life, we can move on to how we’re going to improve. We seek ways to redeem our suffering and pain by being in relationships with others who offer hope. We offer these places at Asbury as paths forward for a journey toward a much more meaningful and productive life and witness. Dr. Tom Harrison Senior Pastor P.S. Special thanks to the leadership of Charlene Giles and Glen Grusendorf for their many years of work at Asbury in helping these two ministries flourish – and to all who assist in service in these places!

Bill Mason was named a Fellow in the Society of John Wesley, a national honor given by the United Methodist Men. The Society of John Wesley is a fellowship of individuals committed to the support and expansion of United Methodist Men's ministries. Fellows in the Society of John Wesley are known by their witness, vision and stewardship that enhance and strengthen the mission and ministry of the church. The society was created by the United Methodist Men Foundation to promote greater awareness of the Christian principles and practices embodied in the church. Established in 1982 by the directors of the United Methodist Men Foundation, the Society of John Wesley is a means of recognizing those who exemplify the characteristics of John Wesley. These characteristics are best seen through service to fellow men and women and commitment to the teachings of the Christian faith. John Wesley called together such people to form "The Holy Club." These men with varying talents and skills contributed to the rapid growth and spiritual enrichment of early Methodism.

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

SENIOR ADULTS

Making Special Contact with Seniors by Kay Mains

n advocate for seniors. A former Stephen Minister. A devoted student of the Bible. A former librarian. A dedicated mother. So many hats for Naomi Mitchell. But #1 on her list is child of God. At the tender age of 82, Naomi is still active here at Asbury. The youngest of seven children and the first one given a biblical name (Naomi Ruth), she accepted the Lord when she was 12 ½. A lifelong Methodist, she has served the church as everything from a treasurer to a member of the board. After becoming a member of Asbury in November of 1993, she immediately began looking for ways to serve. Today, she makes phone calls to the seniors of Asbury who are no longer able to come on Sundays. Although many of them have family nearby, she is able to bring a little piece of Asbury to them. When this ministry was first organized, there were over 400 names on the list that Adrena Mahu compiled, so the need is huge. As Naomi visits with those assigned to her, she is able to connect them with Asbury in ways they might not know about— including receiving Tidings magazine—so that they can continue to feel a part of Asbury. “I believe this outreach to our seniors is unique to Asbury,” says Naomi. In many churches, those unable to attend are simply forgotten. “When you reach out to others, you are reaching out for the Lord. We want our seniors, who have contributed so much to the church, to know they are highly valued even if they cannot attend services.” Volunteers can become the eyes, ears and hands of God to these seniors.

We want our seniors, who have contributed so much to the church, to know they are highly valued even if they cannot attend services. To support herself and her daughter Mya, Naomi got her degree in library science. God opened jobs for her to not only work in school libraries but actually set up media centers, even setting policy. After her retirement as a school librarian shortly after coming to Asbury, she soon began working in the church library, where you will find her every Friday morning. But foremost in her heart was a desire was to begin studying the Scriptures and to become a Stephen Minister. She comments that many people her age didn’t have all the opportunities we now have to learn the Scriptures and do in-depth Bible studies. She has a hunger for the Word, and now she has the time and the opportunity to learn and study. She realizes that it takes time with the Lord and study of His Word

to grow. Her fellowship with Him fills a huge void that she felt, especially after retirement. Naomi did become certified as a Stephen Minister, eventually serving as the training coordinator and handling the assignments. When she was ready for change, she began serving as an ombudsman (advocate) in the nursing homes, doing personal visits and trying to handle any needs that came up. She also worked at Clarehouse for a period of time, ministering to the dear people there. In order to give out so freely, Naomi also seeks to learn from the Scriptures. She can often be seen at Asbury attending Darlene’s Wednesday morning class or Beth Moore classes. In addition, you’ll find her here every week for Asbury Singing Ambassadors. She has also been a member of the Bible Study Fellowship for years and loves it. “If you don’t do your homework, you can’t participate in the discussions!” laughs Naomi. But all that preparation has led to her being able to lead a Bible study on the Book of John this fall for one of the UMW groups. Her favorite Bible is the Ryrie Study Bible but she recently acquired a Life Application Bible and is enjoying it as well. And Tom’s prayer journal is a staple in her daily spiritual diet as well. The skills Naomi acquired during her Stephen Ministry training are still there. This quiet, unassuming, faithful steward of God’s grace and mercy is still working. Whether it’s on the phone, in person, or helping in the church library, Naomi ministers for the Lord.

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

Three Asburians We Are Following For One Year Christian: Loving Like Jesus Did Just to update you, I am now in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. Cambodia has come and gone. Ministry for me has really just been very relational this month and very natural. I have gotten to just sit and talk with many of the people on our squad and get to share what is going on with us. I have also made some friends here in HCMC that I can grow in relationship with…whether that means finding a random motorcycle taxi driver and taking him out to lunch, building a relationship with the guy who likes to sit outside my hotel each day, loving on the street kids that are forced to sell things on the street into the late hours of the night, or getting to make legitimate friends with other people who are here traveling or teaching. Honestly, ministry hasn’t even felt that much like “ministry” lately. It has just felt like I am getting to live my life trying to be as much like Jesus as possible. Jesus loved making friends. He loved children. He loved to provide food for people. He loved to encourage and exhort His friends. This month is now drawing to a close. It’s only a few days until I will be getting onto a plane for my second to last trans-continental flight of the trip…the last one being less than five weeks from now when I get to get on a flight headed for home. Gonna be nuts to see what Jesus has planned for us in chapter 11 of this story.

Rachel: Elephants and Tigers, Oh My! Life here has been so good lately. God's faithfulness to both me and the IJM office continues to overwhelm me. Last week, we were able to rescue 41 people from a brick kiln just a few hours from where I live. We were so excited for this rescue, but it was also disappointing to know some laborers were too scared to come out of the facility and had to be left behind. This situation is such a metaphor for the gospel. There are those of us who trust the Lord and see that life in freedom is so much more satisfying than living a life in bondage. We choose freedom; we choose Jesus. Then there are those who can't trust the Lord and think that living in bondage is just easier than taking a risk and stepping out in faith

of you who know these two), which made it so much more fun for me. He reminded me of these two because he was ready to bring a bunch of girls on a jungle adventure. He took us on a safari...in the mountains...at around 11 pm. I sat ON TOP OF THE JEEP. Yes, on top. My butt was bruised the next day, because the roads were not exactly paved, and I was sitting on the cargo rack ....so worth it! For some reason, this just made me feel so at home. I don't typically look out for tigers and elephants when I'm in Oklahoma, but having a dad drive us around at night with spotlights looking for wild animals was so comforting. I'm a weirdo, I know. I officially have my plane tickets booked to return home, so I will be seeing you soon. It is bittersweet for me, but I absolutely cannot wait to catch up with each of you. I have no idea what the next step in life is, but God has been so faithful to me through every phase of life. Please be praying for direction for me and that I would be sensitive to God's voice.

Kayla: Transition Time in Ministry ¡Hola from Venezuela! I am excited to tell you that God did amazing things in Valencia during the last month of my first year in ministry here. A particular miracle God provided for us was our trip to the orphanage. I was honestly dreading this trip as we walked up to the orphanage gates with a low turnout of students to help us and few ideas of what we could do with the kids. God sweetly surprised us though by giving us chances to play kickball, pass the Frisbee, and paint the girls’ nails. Saying good-bye to all the friends I’ve made this year and to my team that God allowed me to bond and grow with was definitely bittersweet. Even though I’m coming back for a second year to do college ministry here, I had a hard time leaving the new home and culture that I’ve fallen in love with. On the other hand, I am excited to be home this summer and get in touch with you all! I know God is catching students’ hearts on fire for Him here in Venezuela, and I am grateful for the important part you’ve played in making that happen.

I recently went to the home of two friends in the southernmost tip of South Asia; it was so nice to be at a real home. Their dad reminded me so much of John Weidman and Joe Brower (for those

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

A Warm Asbury Welcome to Rev. Guy Ames by Holly Brobst

As a fifth generation Methodist pastor, Guy Ames comes to Asbury with a strong desire to help those in need, a great knowledge of Oklahoma (having lived in many parts of the state throughout his life) and a long-standing relationship with Pastor Tom Harrison. “Our friendship goes back 40 years,” Ames recalls. It began at Oral Roberts University. While attending school, they both worked as youth directors at Methodist churches in Tulsa and bonded through their shared passion. Ames laughs, “When I went off to Asbury Seminary, he followed in my footsteps.” But for Ames, that’s not where his story of ministry began. “From my childhood, I had a heart for God,” Ames explains. “I can remember as a little boy, having moments where I was aware of God’s presence. It seemed to many people natural that I would become a pastor because it ran in the family. I wanted to serve the Lord, but I didn’t want to be a pastor, and I didn’t want to go to seminary.”

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

He even went through a period as a teenager when he didn’t believe in God. “When I was 16, we had a young summer youth director who challenged my faith,” Ames explains. “He said, ‘I think you believe what you believe because of your parents.’ I thought if I couldn’t think about God and figure it out in my own head, he must be right. All of my logic about God just failed me. I couldn’t prove God. I went to my parents and my dad wisely didn’t challenge it, he just said, ‘This is a matter of faith, not a matter of proof.’”

Asbury needed to fill an associate pastor role, but they were also looking for someone who could help build the church endowment. It took a year for Ames to rediscover his faith, and he rediscovered it in a big way. “The next summer, a new youth director showed up and his faith was so real, it was as if he lived next door to Jesus. He made such an impact on my life. I wanted so badly what he had. That summer a friend of his prayed with me to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I remember feeling the most overwhelming sense of God’s love. From the time I was 13, I’d read the Bible from cover to cover, but it didn’t really speak to me. The day after I had this encounter with God, I opened the Bible, and it was as if the letters jumped off the pages. It was so profound for me, so sudden, that was all the evidence I needed.” That summer charted his course and determined his decision to go to ORU. After ORU, Ames took a year to decide how he planned to serve the Lord, not planning to take on a pastoral role. On the last night of a cross-country trip, Ames went into the woods alone for prayer. “I said, ‘God, please, I need some ideas. I can’t continue this.’ One word came to me: seminary. I told God I’d give it one year.” At the end of three years, Ames was graduating with a new bride, got his appointment to serve in Ada and moved into his first parsonage. “About six months after being there,” Ames recalls. “I was walking home from church and it suddenly dawned on me: I was exactly where I was supposed to be.” Five years and three baby boys later, Ames and his family left Ada to serve at various churches for several years from Mustang to El Reno to Oklahoma City. During that time, a newfound passion fell into his lap. Early in his ministry work, a tornado devastated a town he served. He worked with other churches and the Red Cross in the area to bring support to the families affected. After seeing his efforts, he was asked to take on the responsibility of leading all Oklahoma Methodists in providing disaster relief. That work resulted in an invitation to become a national consultant for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) where he helped with response efforts across the country after major disasters. “It’s not something I had a previous interest in, it just came to me. I’ve helped across the country, consulted in many

states and I’ve done some writing on disaster response. A lot of people joke that wherever Guy Ames goes, there’s a disaster.” Ames considers his disaster relief work his avocation, “While other pastors might have been leading volunteer mission groups, this became that for me. Often times, it was kind of my major missionary work.” Most recently, Ames spent the past six years as a district superintendent in the Ardmore district, ironically, the same position his father held just before his retirement. Ames even moved into his parents’ old home. There, he would oversee 40 churches and 50 pastors. But he knew his time was limited, as this job comes with a short tenure of just six years. It was toward the end of his six years that he and Pastor Tom had separate conversations with the Bishop. While Ames discussed his passion for raising money for Methodist churches across Oklahoma to fund significant projects like camps, large mission work and starting new churches, Pastor Tom was interested in creating a new position at Asbury that seemed to fit the expertise Ames had to offer. “Tom called me and said Asbury needed to fill an associate pastor role, but they were also looking for someone who could help build the church endowment,” explains Ames. “For many years, Asbury gave away enormous sums into mission and care for others, without a lot of thought about taking care of the church itself. I have a lot of admiration for that. However, it’s time to ensure that this kind of ministry continues long beyond the generation that’s been funding the church.” Ames is excited to step into the role of helping strengthen Asbury’s Foundation, teaching stewardship and, of course, serving as a pastor at Asbury. “My hope in being a part of this great church is that God will use me to help connect my gifts and the gifts at Asbury together to bring ministry of God’s healing,” says Ames. “I also hope God might use us together to raise resources that will build future generations for the ministry through Asbury. I want to be here to strengthen the work that Pastor Tom Harrison and Pastor Bill Mason have done. Lastly, as the person on staff who has known Pastor Tom the longest, it’ll be my job to keep him in line.”

My hope in being a part of this great church is that God will use me to help connect my gifts and the gifts at Asbury together to bring ministry of God’s healing.

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

What’s at the Root of Global Gardens? by Symon Hajjar

If you want to change the world, be at peace." Fr. George Eber If you've had a chance to drive past Asbury Corner lately, you've undoubtedly noticed that there is a lot taking root. Our forty raised bed gardens are filled to capacity with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. The new flower beds and recycled gardens in front of our Garden House have added a touch of home to the landscape. Students express their ideas, hopes and goals through murals on display along the roadside fence. You also may have spotted our new orchard full of fruit and nut trees, donated by Groggs Green Barn and Up With Trees. Suffice to say, a lot is happening outside! What you may not realize, however, as you watch the land north of Asbury develop and grow is that there are seeds beginning to sprout on the inside of our Global Gardens house too, seeds of peace and empowerment. In fact, the most exciting growth of all is taking place in the lives of our gardeners. Middle school, as you may recall, can be a very stressful and confusing time in a person’s life. A lot gets thrown at you all at once: chaotic emotions and erratic physical transitions, a swelling academic workload and unrelenting peer pressures, family instability and big life questions; adolescence is no picnic. As a Global Gardens educator, one of my goals is to teach my students how to "pull the weeds" in their lives and make their individual situations a healthier environment for "growing up." The garden is our classroom, and in it students find themselves in a real world scenario where we work toward accomplishing our goals together and where conflict is inevitable. Kevin Perez, one of our 6th graders, described Global Gardens as a splatter painting. "It's where people from different cultures come to one place to work for the same goals," Kevin said. On this journey, our students learn the value of choosing to be peaceful, what one Global Gardener calls "the power of peace." Conflicts arise, but instead of fighting or giving up on each other, we take our contentions to the peace table. Last summer, with the help of a fellow "Asburian," we designed and built a 10-foot long table where we can go to talk through our disagreements and work out our problems face-to-face with our

words. Almost every student has had the opportunity to experience the peace table. Donya Peters sums up the results, "I don't have any regrets; I learned from every argument." In the tumultuous years of middle school, Global Gardens is a safe place where students, in the throws of deciding what type of person they want to be, can learn to resolve conflict peacefully, a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives.

As a Global Gardens educator, one of my goals is to teach my students how to "pull the weeds" in their lives and make their individual situations a healthier environment for "growing up." Sometimes the most challenging conflict to navigate is within ourselves. During my end-of year interviews with the kids, I learned that almost 90% dealt with issues of anger and anxiety prior to the program; two students even had trouble sleeping at night. All of them explained to me how, in various ways, they had incorporated tools that we use in the program into their personal lives and were finding ways to better calm themselves and deal with their frustrations. One of these tools is something that we call “community circle.” We begin each day with the simple but profound act of sharing the good and bad parts of our days with each other and then corporately taking deep breaths. Cadrien Morris told me now he leads his younger siblings in community circle each night before bed. "We breathe out the bad parts of our day, and then I give them suggestions on how they can change their behavior." Cadrien went on to tell me about how his younger sister had benefited. "She was getting in trouble at school and bullying

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

other students, but since we started doing community circle, she has apologized to her classmates and now is a lot more relaxed." Everything that we do at Global Gardens is an exercise in being peaceful-- at peace with ourselves, at peace with our neighbors and at peace with nature. We're out to change the world, and we start with changing ourselves. There’s pride in growing something. Our students are beaming at the sight of radishes and turnips, marigolds and moonflowers, tomatoes and potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Planting a seed in the ground and watching it grow isn’t short on emotions. There’s the anticipation of germination, the battle of predators, the commitment of watering and weeding, the thrill of the harvest and the sheer wonder that a tiny seed has the potential to grow into something of worth and beauty. There’s also the lesson that if things don’t pop up as planned, try, try again. We saw this several times in our garden this year--hard working students whose gardens were slow to bloom. Be it the birds, the wind or bad luck, several gardens showed little sign of plant life while just a few feet away another gardener was short on space for all the sprout success. One student even named her garden “The Desert,” after two-failed attempts at what she hoped would be a “cooking garden.” On her third try, life took root, and now her garden is brimming with beans. She’s changed her garden’s name to reflect her success. Now the “Oasis in the Desert” is a source of pride and symbol of her commitment to her goals. And as for those beans, they’ll be added into a stir fry, that is if they’re not eaten fresh off the vine. Some will likely be donated to the inventory for our students vegetable market as a way to provide fresh produce for the surrounding community, Asbury included, and generate some revenue for future projects.

In the tumultuous years of middle school, Global Gardens is a safe place where students can learn to resolve conflict peacefully, a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives. What’s even more exciting than seeing our students grow, cook and eat fresh food is knowing that what’s happening at Global Gardens is having a rippling effect. Our students are sharing what they are growing and learning with their families. Jazz brings her mom to the garden on evenings and weekends. Others come too– to check on the plots and point out the changes taking place. The garden is also sparking conversations about health and wellness. After watching a documentary called “What’s on Your Plate” during a Global Gardens community night, Ashley wanted to make a change in her family. She made healthy suggestions, and now her family is making better food choices, eating more fruits and vegetables and going for regular family walks. It’s a small change that can have a big impact, and it all started by giving a middle school student the opportunity to grow a garden.

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

GLOBAL GARDENS AND THE VEGGIE VAN

Kevin Perez

“Global Gardens is a nonprofit organization that helps the community around us. We plant and give. Global Gardens helps our dreams come true. For example, right now we are working on a project that’s called “The Veggie Van.” The veggie van is not just a van. Our dream is for it to carry fruits and vegetables for sale that we grow so we can raise money for other projects. We are planning to sell strawberries, watermelon, carrots and other things. Right now I’m growing strawberries, potatoes and onions. But we still need the van to get one step closer to our goal. If you’d like to help us get the van, come by the Garden House, and let’s talk about your ideas.”

THE SECRET’S OUT

Ayschia Saiymeh

“What’s the best way to get kids to eat their veggies? Sneak spinach in their brownies? Or carrots in their mac and cheese? There may be a bit of fun in being sly with those daily essentials, but we think the real secret is this: “If they grow it, they’ll eat it.” It’s hard to deny the flavor of fresh food. Growing food naturally lends itself to eating food, and at Global Gardens, we’ve been doing a fair amount of enjoying the fruits of our labor, harvesting fresh organic lettuce, chard and arugula for salads, topped with carrots and radishes – all pulled fresh from the garden and drizzled with a homemade dressing concoction. Without any attempt at bargaining or a bottle of Ranch Dressing in sight, bowls are filled, and seconds are in order.” Madyson Holland "I like how I can trust you guys. I like that I feel important there, I'm not just another person passing through."

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Breaking the Bondage of the Past by Tommy Keeter

It is impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. – Peter Scazzero

was born the youngest of 10 kids. My parents were hard working and instilled that same work ethic into all of us. With a family that big, everyone needed to pitch in to get things done. We were survivors. People often ask: Catholic or Mormon? How was it being the youngest? Why did your parents have so many kids? As I grew up, I learned to walk in the ways of our family. My parents divorced when I was 4. We learned to deal with things from those who passed their coping skills down to us. Unfortunately, as far as I look back generationally, no one seemed to have a handle on how to become an emotionally mature person. From generations past, it appears both sides of the family just put their nose to the grindstone and hoped for the best. Just like any other family, this method had an impact on how my family members dealt with their own lives. In our family, we learned to be driven by our emotions. Some of us were better than others at hiding our emotions, but I really believe we were all driven by them. I had a horrible case of insecurity. I was fairly outgoing and somewhat athletic so I could mask it, but I felt like I constantly had to defend myself. I could never let anyone dare think that I wasn’t good at something because then they may not think I’m good enough. A skill that I mastered was walking in anger. Whoever was the loudest, wittiest or biggest was going to win the battle. Growing up, we often dealt with people and situations through the lens of skepticism. I developed a strong sense of internal rebellion. I would pick out holes in people, organizations, teachers, coaches, bosses, etc. so that I could validate myself. The picture I’m trying to paint is that for generations, this is how my family operated. Fast forward to me at age 16. I’d never really grown up going to church. I was greatly impacted by the attention a few men and women from Young Life started showing me and my friends. I eventually started going to the weekly meetings and heard about the love and affection Jesus Christ has for me. As a result, I abandoned the course of my life and responded to His invitation for me to follow Christ. My life was pretty dramatically changed in a lot of ways. I took care of a lot of the negative external habits I’d developed over the years. I quit cussing, drinking, etc. My friends eventually changed. One thing that never really changed was being driven by my emotions. I did feel much better; I finally felt a deep connection with God. I had a love for people and service like I’d never experienced. I was determined to have a good marriage and good relationship with my kids. I wanted to impact others greatly for

the Kingdom. The problem was that I still had the same emotional maturity I’d been taught my whole life. I basically believed that if I got enough of the Word in me, memorized enough Scripture, then I’d be better at controlling my emotions. Unfortunately, that never really happened for me. Fast forward to marriage, kids, job, activities, everyone’s expectations, etc. I found myself more and more reverting to handling situations with my wife and kids the same way my family of origin did things. When situations arose like kids not obeying the first time, money was tight, deadlines were around the corner, etc. I would either withdraw or explode in anger. I felt like a failure. I did not have the understanding of what had been passed down through generations. I thought it was me just battling against my flesh but I was battling against generations of this. It was going to require new skills. One of the stories that has captured my attention lately was the story about when God sent the angels to tell Lot to flee Sodom and Gomorrah before they were destroyed. It says that Lot hesitated even though he was being told of the coming destruction. Then it says, “When he hesitated, they grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his daughters and led them safely out of the city” (that was soon destroyed). That is what being the church is all about. It is using our gifting and passions to help others in their day to day life. I have been very fortunate to have several people in my life that have played that same roll of grabbing a hold of me and leading me to a better life. Over the past two years I have been on a journey to develop my emotional maturity. I have learned that “emotional health and spiritual maturity cannot be separated…When we ignore the emotional component of our lives, we move through the motions of Christian disciplines, activities and behaviors, but deeply rooted behavioral patterns from our past continue to keep us from living an authentic life of maturity in Christ.” (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Peter Scazzero) I am committed to winning this battle and reshaping my family tree. The thief has come only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life and life to the fullest - John 10:10

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Freedom in Surrender by Kay Mains

Joy. This one word best describes Ethelene Davis, or “Lene,” as she is known. But this is far different from the Lene of just a few short years ago. God has worked a miracle in her. The second oldest of seven kids, she’ll tell you quickly that her heart always yearned for the Father. Even when her parents didn’t attend church, she wanted to go, and her mom would give her a nickel for the offering. She admits, however, that that nickel sometimes went for candy instead of in the offering plate! But her heart was still reaching out to know God. From childhood, Lene felt unloved—like she didn’t belong in her family, the “odd man out.” She asked her mother several times if she was adopted. Her mother showed Lene her birth certificate, and tried to assure her that she wasn’t adopted. But the feelings persisted. Lene’s oldest sister, two grades ahead of her in school, seemed to be the “favored” one in the family, the one that family saw the greatest potential in. Lene saw her as the prettiest, the smartest, the most perfect; and thus their relationship was not good. Lene felt she was always in her sister’s shadow and couldn’t seem to measure up, no matter what she did. The seeds of perfectionism were born in Lene at that time.

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After her sister graduated from high school and the competition factor was removed, Lene’s grades shot up. Always an avid reader, for years Lene read everything she could check out from the book mobile. Because they lived in “the projects,” this was a saving grace to Lene, keeping her out of trouble. A high school counselor took an interest in her and asked about plans after graduation. Lene had none. But she had done a great deal of volunteer work through the year, including being a candy striper at the local hospital, so the counselor asked if she had ever considered becoming a nurse. No, she hadn’t, but that sounded good to Lene. She received an acceptance letter from TU (not even knowing where Tulsa was!) and headed there with some scholarships but no other resources. She had a good time, obviously too good a time, as her grades plummeted, and she lost her scholarships. Still seeking direction for her life, she joined the army and began to travel. She left the army after two years. While in the army, other recruits received calls and letter from home; Lene received none. When she returned home, she asked her mom again if she was adopted. This time, her mother admitted that her biological father was not the man who raised her but actually Lene’s uncle. Her heart had been right all along. The man she believed to be her father had learned the truth when she was six months old and had begun distancing himself from her at that time. At the age of 12, she even began calling him “Sam” instead of “Pop”; he never questioned why. When she met her biological father, she discovered that he had carried her picture in his wallet all those years. When Lene’s mother told others in the family about Lene’s parentage, it caused a family split. Even in the military, Lene had been looking for love and someone to validate her as a person of value. Her first sex was a rape. Her second resulted in pregnancy. She kept the baby, a little girl born on Valentine’s Day. She married the baby’s father on a Friday the 13th. “He was physically abusive, unemployed, a real ‘fixerupper,’” said Lene. She stayed with him for ten years and left the marriage angry, depressed and having to hold three jobs. And she soon discovered she was pregnant again. She didn’t even recognize herself in the mirror.

Everything about that evening made her mad—the collection plate, the 12 step program, the songs, even the smiling people (she glared back at them!). And there were no brown people like her there either! And people openly sharing about their problems? She left the meeting mad. A few days later, she was visiting her daughter in Oklahoma City, and God spoke to her: “You can continue down the road you’re on or let Me help.” She was ready and attended Celebrate Recovery right there in OKC. God began breaking down her barriers. When she returned to Tulsa, she came back to Asbury. She says, “Love brought me back, love from Glen Grusendorf and from everybody.” She had been critical and judgmental of all of them, but their smiling faces and acceptance of her broke through her defenses. She describes the people as her family. Of Glen she says, “He loves all of us crazy people. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect.” She felt loved and accepted and was able to embrace recovery in that safe environment. Her husband also attends Celebrate Recovery. Her children attended Celebration Station (the companion program for children) until they “aged out.” Now they attend the teen program with her husband at another church. Lene and her husband are leaders now, helping others find help in a safe environment, free from condemnation. Lene now describes her life now as having meaning. She is softer spoken and not judgmental. She doesn’t have to be in charge now or defensive with her family. She doesn’t have to work on fixing the world or her friends, or even try to fix her husband. She has found great freedom in surrender. She didn’t like her old self but was powerless to change. “What a paradox,” she says. “You have to surrender to be free.” Lene was able to reach a place where she could forgive those in her life who had hurt her. She realized that guilt and depression caused her to live in isolation but that is over. Freedom now. Accountability. Doing life together. Being accepted. Having joy.

Lene ended up at the Garnett Church of Christ. It was there she met her future husband, marrying him after only six months. Nine months later, she had another baby. In addition to her three children, they also began taking care of her husband’s three grandchildren, first as foster parents then by adoption. She describes that time as “horrendous.” She was miserable. But when she would meet people at church and they’d ask how she was, she would always say “fine.” But she felt like a fraud, wearing a mask to hide her true feelings. Then one Sunday, one of her friends asked how she was. She could no longer contain her emotions. The friend told Lene that she had heard about a program at Asbury called Celebrate Recovery. Lene’s response? “Great. Another program.” She had been through several programs, and nothing had helped. But she did agree to come to one session of Celebrate Recovery.

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Celebrate Each Day— Together! by Mike Potter

y name is Mike Potter. I am a believer who struggles with anxiety, fears of the future and a tendency towards manipulation and control. I thank God for delivering me from past guilt and shame that I allowed to define who I was. I am blessed beyond measure and glad to be sharing my story with you. About six years ago, an acquaintance of mine invited me to come join a small group of men he was beginning to lead. He said it was designed to bring men closer to God and help them discover what their personal issues and hang-ups were. I politely declined… several times. You see, I was busy and my life seemed to be going pretty well. My friend kept after me though and ultimately I showed up for my first Celebrate Recovery 12 step meeting. I had no dealings or experience with Celebrate Recovery before this time and had absolutely no idea what it was all about. I’m a bit embarrassed to tell you that as I observed my first CR gathering and listened to those men share and talk about difficult things in their lives I thought “Man, these guys really need help! I’m glad I don’t have their problems. I don’t belong here.” That evening though, God convicted me of my judgmental attitude, and I vowed to go back. Today, I know God led me there because I was entering one of the most difficult and darkest periods of my life. My world went into a tailspin. I experienced a two year separation that ended in divorce, financial difficulty that brought me to the brink of bankruptcy and an ongoing isolation that led me into depression. It was through the ministry of Celebrate Recovery that God provided me with the love, support, guidance and accountability from godly men and women that I desperately needed to get through these times. In spite of the turmoil of my life, I grew closer to God and began to experience a relationship with Him that I did not know was possible. The people at CR I’ve come to know and see as family. They didn’t need to know my story to accept me and offer the encouragement and support I sought. It’s not that they weren’t interested…it was just that my past and current situation were not a “qualifier” to becoming a part of this family. I did gradually reach the point where I was able to allow them to share in my struggles and celebrate my victories with me. I have deep friendships in this group--the kind of friendship I didn’t know could exist. Every time I walk into Celebrate Recovery, I experience the love of God both directly and through other people. Today my spiritual walk is solid but still growing. By the grace of God, I am debt free and emotionally healthy.

It was through the ministry of Celebrate Recovery that God provided me with the love, support, guidance and accountability from Godly men and women that I desperately needed to get through these times. I’m working on trusting God with all parts of my life. My middle son is a healthy, 22 year old rugby player at Oklahoma State University. This past January, in the second semester of his senior year he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – cancer. I share this with you to let you know that my world has not become all sunny and full of roses. Although the scenery may change, I know this life will always have its difficulties and challenges. As God’s word tells us...it’s not if the storms come, it’s when. As Travis went through his chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I watched God use this time to bring my children closer together and to Him. I felt a peace as we went through these months knowing that God would use this for good. I had a confidence that whether my son was healed or not, we would be loved and cared for by Him. I thank and praise God that in June, Travis was pronounced cancer free. I still struggle with anxiety and fears of the future. Today though, I have a different perspective of what this life is about. It took a long time for me to realize that it’s not all about me and to understand what that really means. Now I experience a joy and anticipation each day that I never had before. God presents me with different ways to give back and help other people with their own struggles. A particular scripture that I clung to and still hold close is in the book of Isaiah. In chapter 49 verses 15 and 16, God is talking to His people and says: “I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

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Coming Full Circle by Scott Richardson

n May of 2010, I heard the message no husband wants to receive. My wife of 27 years wanted to call it quits. How could this be? Our marriage was like all the others--not perfect but worth fighting for, right? I readily admitted my responsibilities to those imperfect qualities. But just calling it quits went against every value we had lived and certainly was in conflict with the moral codes we had written on the hearts of our children. We had regularly attended church, were heavily committed in our kid’s active lives and even sacrificed financially by putting them through Christian schools. Unfortunately, my heartfelt attempts at reconciling were futile. Her decision was made. Emotionally and relationally she was already gone. I had never before experienced such darkness. I simply cannot put into words all the emotions that overcame me. As the legal issues processed through the court, the first step of faith I took was to search for local divorce support resources. There were several churches with active groups. But which one was the most effective or comprehensive? Which one had exactly what I needed during this most difficult time? Asbury was the first listing and had more than one group. “Well, God, here goes. I’ll just start walking and see where this path leads.” My first Tuesday evening at Divorce Recovery began with me sitting in the car doing a mental “wrestling match” on whether or not to go inside. What am I doing here? I don’t belong here. I’ve since learned those thoughts were not quite so unique. Yet somewhere deep in my spirit, I knew I needed support and encouragement. This is what God provided. This was part of God’s plan for me. From the moment I walked into Divorce Recovery and met the facilitators, I felt at ease. There was no condemnation. No judgment. It was as though Christ Himself was in the room listening, caring, comforting--and offering His unconditional love. After those first few sessions of Divorce Recovery, where the raw emotions of the initial divorce process are dealt with, I discovered Divorce Rebuilding. As a follow up to recovery, Rebuilding is a seventeen week course for those who are transitioning into single life or still struggling with the lingering effects of divorce or the loss of a significant relationship. I also buried myself in anything I could read on divorce, healing and relationships. At the time I was unaware how all this “schedule filling,” reading and even joining a singles community would become integral parts of my healing and recovery. Combined, they became opportunities to develop new relationships in a safe environment with others who have shared common life experiences.

I was well into the healing process when this new path took an unexpected turn. I was encouraged to consider becoming a Stephen Minister. Who, me? A minister? Don’t you have to go to seminary or something? I was overwhelmed to say the least. Just what did these folks see in me that made them think I was qualified, or for that matter even capable, of serving in such a capacity? And just what does a Stephen Minister do anyway? After prayerfully considering the opportunity and reflecting on just how God had been so effectively at work in my life through Asbury’s various ministries, I yielded to His calling. Was I perfectly and completely healed? Certainly not. What I have learned most of all through this journey is God wants to use us right where we’re at. That state of imperfection where our hurts and weaknesses become part of our testimony and strength in service to others through Him. The day my divorce became final was ironically the first day of Stephen Ministry training. That is hardly coincidence when you consider our God is one of hope found in new beginnings. I’ve heard the phrase “The view from the top is worth the climb.” Life’s path can have many switch-backs and even be treacherous at times. While I’m nowhere near the summit, God has definitely revealed some amazing views and developed great relationships along the way.

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coaster ride. She shares, “If you dare to go through the pain of the grief, you will be able to recapture the good memories of your loved one and hold them close in your heart forever.” She knows this firsthand, as Claudia also nursed her grandmother in her home for the last year of the older woman’s life. One of the ways Claudia serves is as a facilitator for Asbury’s GriefShare ministry. Each time she is blessed to witness the power of God’s love to heal. In her words, “There are many layers of grief we explore. But love and peace is contagious in these groups, and there is such authenticity. Grief work serves to change our priorities into what is most important in life. The fluff is gone, and we learn what really matters: love and relationships.”

Blessed are Those Who Mourn and Those Who Guide the Process by Charlene Giles

laudia Kleeman, as a twenty five year old nurse working in hospitals, had many opportunities to care for dying patients. However nothing could prepare her for the loss of her 10 ½ month old son, “Chip.” He died of a rare form of leukemia. Claudia’s unexpected pregnancy right in the middle of Chip’s illness gave her hope for the future. Then her baby girl, Kimberly, was born prematurely and died within a few days. Both deaths occurred within a six week time period, and Claudia remembers, “I had no safe place to share my grief journey.” Because she felt it necessary to keep her grief inside, she suffered alone much of the time, and kept very busy to try to keep the pain at bay. She loved God deeply, but had no theology of suffering to help her through. It has taken her around forty years to be able to verbalize what she has learned through her grief journey. “I simply had the goal of knowing Christ intimately. He showed me that the only way I could really hear His voice and feel His heart was to turn directly into the pain of my life, with Him by my side. Eventually He even gave me the courage to walk beside others during their times of despair and loss. That used to be really hard for me, but now that my own grief has healed more, I am more able to be there for others. He’s the one who equips me to listen and lets me know the right time to share any words of hope. Often the only thing that helps is to listen without judgment.” Later, Claudia had three more children. However there was more grief to come. Claudia had been through a divorce, and remarried a wonderful man, Richard. Less than nine years later, Richard died a very painful death from leukemia very similar to the disease which took baby Chip’s life years before. Claudia was with Richard for the entire process, which was a very painful, expensive roller

In the words of a man who recently attended GriefShare, “A friend of mine suggested I find a GriefShare group in Tulsa, and I found the group that meets at Asbury…I like the opportunity to discuss what is on my heart as well as listen to others. The mutual support and genuine concern has made this a special time. I am deeply grateful that GriefShare is faith based.” Claudia has also served for years in a variety of roles at Clarehouse, a loving “home” for terminally ill people which provides living space, practical care and access to hospice services. Clarehouse also provides support for their loved ones. Claudia’s mother, Arlee Hammond, who passed away in July, 2010, spent her last days at Clarehouse. As the family came and went, saying their goodbyes, Claudia was reminded yet again of the importance of giving a dying person dignity and respect in a gentle, calm atmosphere. Clarehouse really does it right. After her mother’s death, the service was held upstairs, with Asbury’s Mosaic Community providing the food and love. One of Claudia’s favorite aspects of Clarehouse was the special butterfly release time the family had. There is a memorial spot in the garden that will always be meaningful to the whole family. One unexpected blessing from the Clarehouse experience is that Claudia’s granddaughter, Kailey Rose, 19, now volunteers at Clarehouse, too! Kailey saw firsthand the importance of caring for the sick and dying and has served several times in such behind the scenes ways as doing laundry and running errands. With glistening eyes and a voice that breaks in passion, Claudia ends our time together saying, “I just want to encourage everyone to learn to really dig deep through the heartaches of life and turn to Him, even when you don’t understand and don’t feel His closeness. If you do, you can be rewarded with an intimacy with Christ that will be very special.” “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1–3 NLT

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The Adventure of Marriage by Guy and Tammy Yoes hen we got married in 2005, we had both been divorced for several years. We both had a child from a previous marriage that we raised before entertaining the prospect of finding a new spouse. As we are both Christians, we believe that marriage is more than a civil service legally binding one person to another; it is a covenant in which two believers become one in the sight of God. Marriage is a union that is a reflection of the oneness of Christ and his Church and a gift from our God. For this reason we were both very selective even in dating. We each had our list of “must haves” and “don’t wants.” We prayed to God to provide and that His will would be done.

to building strong, resilient families that can withstand the outside pressures that exist in our world.

We relocated to Tulsa in 2006 and began looking for a home church. As a couple we felt a calling to serve others but where and how had not been revealed. We visited Asbury after hearing of the many diverse mission opportunities. We knew God was leading us to serve, but it was still a mystery of whom and how. Looking to build relationships with other Christian couples, we selected the Dynamic Marriage class during one of the RoadMap series. It proved to be a life-changing event for us as a couple.

Another facet of Asbury’s marriage ministry is the Coupleto-Couple program. We cannot say enough good things about this program. The support from the other volunteers has been astounding, and working with the couples is incredibly fulfilling. This program helps to reduce this conversation in marriage… “If I had known then what I know now….” We feel blessed tenfold every time we work with a new couple; it is amazing to witness the power of God while working with these couples.

We both felt like we had a strong marriage with no major issues. What we found in the Dynamic Marriage course was tools that all couples need to keep a marriage vibrant and growing. We recommitted to placing God first in our lives and then our marriage. Establishing priorities was a necessary tool as was setting boundaries. Learning that men and women communicate differently and how to express your thoughts and feeling appropriately allowed us to resolve issues in a timely manner. We felt blessed by the friendships we made and the resources we gained from the course.

Our participation in the marriage ministry at Asbury has been a revolutionary experience for us as a couple. The more we put into the ministry, the more we get back from it. We invite all couples to a revolutionary experience in an Asbury Marriage ministry course or retreat.

Last fall we attended “Synergize your Marriage” hosted by Ron and Jackie Carter. This was a wonderful, spiritual experience which encouraged us to remain focused on God and submitted to His will for us as a couple. Retreats like these provide wonderful opportunities for fellowship with other Christian couples as well as time for meditating and praying as a couple. We found that by taking these classes once a year, it renews our commitment to our marriage and our relationship with God.

Our participation in the marriage ministry at Asbury has been a revolutionary experience for us as a couple. The more we put into the ministry the more we get back from it. Soon after completing the Dynamic Marriage course, we were asked to participate in another course entitled “God Blessed Marriage” which is now called “United.” It was after this experience that we knew God was calling us to share this information with others; it was just too good to keep to ourselves! Our marriage is still not perfect, but that is not our expectation. Our goal is to “decrease our expectations, and increase our commitment” (Tom Harrison) to God and then to each other. Facilitating a marriage ministry class is one of the ways that God has shown us to increase our commitment

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GRANDPA JOHN

A Gift to a New Marriage by Lindy and Randy Vier

hile enjoying Asbury and our Generations community on Sundays, Randy and I felt that there was more we could do to support the missions that Asbury offers. For us that is to be a Couple-to-Couple (C2C) “support couple.” Couple-to-Couple is a premarital program that all couples that plan to be married at Asbury or by an Asbury minister must complete before or soon after they are married. The program officially began at Asbury in January 1993 and serves over 50 engaged couples annually. The purpose of this program is to build strong Christian marriages and families. There are training classes for all new support couples where you learn Asbury’s commitment to strong marriages, using God’s plan for a healthy life together. We were pleased at how well the training and support we received has helped prepare us for C2C, plus we have made great friends with our fellow support couples. However, the real joy comes from getting to know our engaged couples. There is always a need for more support couples to continue this calling that Asbury has committed to. Your experience as a married couple is your most valuable resources in becoming a C2C support couple. We pray that all that come to C2C, as either a support or engaged couple, feel the power, grace and glory of God’s love.

Magic and Marriage in August by John C. Westervelt In August of 1999 I wrote: The mid-summer rain begins after supper at seven, the sun is still shining brightly. I move to the front porch with bread pudding and a cup of water to watch and listen. The thunder rumbles softly in the east and in the west. The sky turns gray, but never dark. The branches of the willow tree across the way swirl, rather than lean, with the wind. It’s now nearly eight. The sky is a lighter gray. The robin must think that the shower is passing, for she has come out of hiding to visit my front lawn. In a moment the robin leaves, as the handle on the faucet above is turned counterclockwise once more. Water in the gutter downspout flows continuously again. If the Author of the rain desires more rejoicing, He’s got it. He must keep His hand on the faucet handle because the downspout is making music once more as the rain from the roof is dribbling rather than flowing. Where the water stands on the sidewalk, circles, from a single drop of rain, begin in miniature and grow to intersect a circle originating from the other way. Everything is still. The reflector is now a mirror. The Rainmaker has shut the faucet. In August of 1998 I wrote: After seemingly endless days that have stayed hot well into the night, a cool one has finally come along. My relaxed mind stirs memories of summers past. Eleven years ago this month I became a widower. My memories this evening are about earlier times. On almost every summer night, after the children were grown, Nelda and I would move to the patio lounge chairs after supper with coffee, dessert, and the newspaper. Soon after this became a habit, I built a small redwood bench to hold my coffee and dessert while Nelda used the bench on which I am sitting tonight. Nelda and I would exchange sections of the newspaper until the light of dusk dimmed. I don’t remember much conversation, just a quiet sharing of spirits. Throughout the year there were activities that were billed as entertainment. I was never better entertained than I was on those summer evenings with the paper, coffee, dessert and a companion.

Other stories at www.jwestervelt.com

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RECIPES OF THE MONTH

These recipes are from the Asbury UMW Cookbook. Cookbooks can be purchased for $20 at the gazebo on Sundays or at the front office. They make wonderful birthday and wedding gifts. Proceeds support Asbury’s church projects, scholarship program, and local and global missions.

Broccoli Bacon Salad 2 stalks broccoli, cut in small pieces 1 purple onion, chopped ½ c. golden raisins

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled ½ c. salted sunflower seeds ¼ c. cider vinegar

¼ c. sugar ½ c. mayonnaise

Mix broccoli, onion, raisins, bacon and sunflower seeds. Heat vinegar and sugar until sugar dissolves. Pour over broccoli mixture. Add mayonnaise. Mix and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Submitted by Dyanne Sidner and Helen Hoffman

Drip Beef Sandwiches 3- to 4-lb. chuck roast 2 c. water

4 tsp. beef bouillon granules 3 tsp. garlic power

1 T. oregano ½ T. rosemary

2 T. salt

Place roast in Crockpot. Mix together water, bouillon, garlic powder, oregano, rosemary and salt. Pour over roast. Cook on low 8 hours. Remove roast and pour juices in a bowl. Place bowl in freezer until fat hardens. Skim off fat and pour juice back into Crockpot. Shred roast and return to Crockpot. Cook on low until ready to serve. Serve with toasted hoagie rolls. Submitted by Lisa Showalter This is a family recipe that has been used at many family gatherings over the years. It is super easy and the leftovers are wonderful…the seasonings seem to get better with time. Sometimes I double the liquid and seasonings so there will be plenty of au jus. If you are making this for dinner, put roast on early in the morning. This freezes very well. Enjoy!

Cherry Squares 1 c. butter or margarine 1 ½ c. sugar

4 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla

3 c. flour 1 tsp. salt

1 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 can cherry pie filling

Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time. Beat until fluffy. Add vanilla. Add flour, salt and baking powder. Put 2/3 of the batter in a buttered 17 x 11-inch pan. Top with pie filling. Spoon rest of batter over filling. It does not need to cover. Bake at 350⁰ for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool cake for 10 minutes. Drizzle with icing (below). If desired, sprinkle with almonds. Cherry Square icing (mix together): 3 T. warm water 1 ½ tsp. almond extract

1 ½ tsp. powdered sugar

Submitted by Teresa Springer This recipe is from a church cookbook my sister had and is probably 40 years old. It is one of those recipes that you forget about and then make again after a few years. When you do, people want the recipe! It is great to take to pot-luck meals and serve at family get-togethers. It is a light dessert that can be made the night before. In fact, I think I’ll dig that recipe out and make it this weekend!

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WELCOME Welcome to RoadMap, your guide for the Christian journey of life. We are pleased to offer a variety of biblically-based classes for adults of all ages.

STEPS TO ENROLLMENT 1. Register online at www.asburytulsa.org under Quicklinks/Adults/RoadMap, or you may call the Registration Hotline at 918.392.1191 if you do not have computer access. 2. Pay for and pick up your books on Sunday, August 26, in the main foyer of the main building. Instructors will be available to meet you and answer your questions. Materials may also be picked up on the first day of class. To insure that you will have materials by the first class session, register at least two weeks prior to the start date. Registrations will be accepted up to the start of the class, but no guarantees will be made concerning your materials. Please help us to be ready for you by registering early.

FALL 2012 îî BIBLICAL STUDIES

èè Room 2820 èè Cost: $30

DISCIPLE Bible Study – Part I Dr. Vaughn Story

First half of a two-semester course èè Class A: Tuesdays, August 7–December 11 (will not meet October 16 or November 20) OR èè Class B: Thursdays, August 9–December 13 (will not meet October 18 or November 22) èè 6:30–8:30 pm èè Room 2818 èè Cost: $40 (materials supplied for both semesters) This is a 34-week course for adults wanting to study the whole Bible in order to learn what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Each week’s Tuesday and Thursday class times are identical in content. No previous Bible knowledge required. Second half of the course continues in the Winter 2013 RoadMap semester beginning in January. *To register for either Class A or Class B, you must attend ONLY ONE of these preview/enrollment meetings in room 2818 at 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Tuesdays, July 24 or July 31, or Thursdays, July 26 or August 2. No online or hotline registration available.

PRECEPT: I Corinthians – Overcoming Divisions and Difficulties in the Body of Christ Nancy Staab

èè Tuesdays 9:30–11:30 am èè September 4–November 27

Why are there so many divisions in the church? Why does the church sometimes tolerate sin? Are you experiencing any of the same problems that the Corinthians did in your own relationships or in your church? If you have similar questions, this study is an important resource. Learn how to pray by knowing God’s mind and will on divisions. What does God say about marriage, divorce, remarriage, tongues, prophecy, giving? Paul addresses these issues raised by Corinthian believers.

PRECEPT: Isaiah Part I (Chapters 1–39) Nancy Baxter

èè èè èè èè

Tuesdays 9:30–11:30 am September 4–November 27 Room 2821 Cost: $20

The Word of the Holy One to Israel, the Remnant, and the Nations...and the Promise of the Child. Isaiah is the crown jewel of the Old Testament prophets. The words of Isaiah are often found on the lips of Christ, the Messiah. We will meet the Holy One of Israel and learn how He deals with those who claim Him as God but don’t honor Him as God in the way they live, and we will find the destiny of nations and the future of all mankind...including ours.

BETH MOORE: A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place Cindy Read

èè Tuesdays 9:30–11:30 am

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by the Truth. A discussion period will follow after viewing the video.

èè September 11–November 13 èè Room 2818 èè Cost: $20

Believers Bible Study

Perhaps no Old Testament event so dramatically illustrates God’s persistent desire to relate to His children as the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness. Through the tabernacle, God initiated a deeper relationship with His chosen people by bringing reconciliation and revealing His glory. And certainly, no Old Testament event so richly prefigures the coming of the true Tabernacle, Jesus Christ. You will be challenged to prepare your heart, like the holy of holies, to become a home for His love and glory — a dwelling place for the Most High God.

BETH MOORE: Daniel - Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy Dee Dee Geddie

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Romans (Part I) - Being Right with God, Self and Others Gail Knox

Tuesdays 6:30–8:00 pm September 4–November 13 Room 2821 Cost: $20

This first part of a two-part book study of Romans—“the constitution of the Christian faith”—is the basis for correct interpretation of the entire New Testament. Knowing Romans well equips you for a deeper understanding of any other book. This easy-to-learn inductive study from Word Within International, Inc. covers the first eight chapters of Romans and will be followed by Part II during the winter 2013 semester.

Dewey Sherbon

Wednesdays 3:00–5:00 pm September 5–December 5 Room 1335 No cost Childcare not available

Focus on the Family’s Dr. Del Tackett provides insight via a one-hour video lesson presentation about a biblical worldview that transforms us

Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 pm Year-round, takes a break in August Room 1508 No cost

This semester we will be studying the book of I Corinthians.

PRECEPT: Matthew (Part I) Dee Paige

Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 pm September 5–October 31 (will not meet October 17) Room 1504 Cost: $20

Come face-to-face with the Messiah. Walk with Jesus, see His miracles and sit at His feet as He teaches about true righteousness and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Breaking Spiritual Addictions: A Study of the Seven Deadly Sins Pastor Guy Ames

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Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 pm September 5–October 31 (will not meet on October 17) Room 1502 Cost: $15

Addiction recovery is not new. Earlier Christian leaders confronted serious problems that continued to bring serious wounding of spirit, mind, body and relationships. Drawing on traditional historical Christian writings and New Testament teaching, we will explore the tradition of the seven deadly sins and how God’s Word can come to bear on these challenging and painful addictions.

îî WOMEN Mothers’ Fellowship Katie Ruley

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The Truth Project èè èè èè èè èè

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Tuesdays 6:30–8:30 pm September 4–November 20 Room 2820 Cost: $20

This Old Testament Bible study falls in two parts. The first portion, from Daniel chapters 1–6, deals with the prophet Daniel’s life as he faced the kind of pressures and temptations Christians encounter today. Daniel models how to develop enduring integrity in an enticing world. Today, believers in Jesus Christ face many of the same trials. The second portion, chapters 7–12, explores thrilling prophecies from the time of Daniel through the second coming of Jesus Christ.

èè èè èè èè

Don Herrold

Tuesdays 9:45–11:45 am September 11–November 13 Room Parlor (1900) Cost: $15

Mothers’ Fellowship is a Bible study for mothers of all stages and all ages. It is a time set aside to nurture your soul. This semester we will begin with the study of the book Knowing God by Name: A Personal Encounter. Author Mary Kassian focuses on 35 Hebrew Names of God that describe His character, His relationships and His purpose. As you learn the significance of each Name, you’ll be awestruck by the Lord’s magnificence

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

and love for you. Your faith will grow as you better understand the God who created you and wants to know you more intimately.

This interactive workshop has a practical, workable goal of making a written and oral “history” of who we are and what we will give to our families as a part of our legacy by preserving our memories, inspirations and core beliefs. We will examine and plan for future events that all of us should anticipate, as well as producing optional finished products such as a history book and videotaped, personal interviews.

Women of the Word Pastor Darlene Johnson

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Wednesdays 10–11 am Ongoing Room 2818 No cost Childcare not available

îî CARE

Open Bible study focusing on the practical application of the Scripture sermon series.

Cathy Ariana

Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 pm September 5–October 31 (will not meet on Oct. 17) Room 2820 Cost: $15

From stay-at-home moms to globe-trotting executives, from singles to seniors, every modern woman has wondered, “How do I juggle it all?” This eight-week video-driven course helps you discover God’s blueprint for finding balance, peace and delight in this crazy contemporary life. Speaker, author, wife and mother Shaunti Feldhahn describes God’s plan and purposes for women and then hones in on the practical implications for you as an individual—exploring your heart, your relationships, your specific challenges and the unique gifts and personality God has crafted in you.

Greg Ruley and Brock King

Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 pm September 5–December 5 (will not meet on November 21) Room 2821 No cost

This semester’s study for men of all ages and stages will be Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project, in which Dr. Del Tackett presents intelligent truths about biblical worldview via a one-hour video. Small group table discussions will follow the video. You won’t want to miss this!

Your Legacy Workshop David Thomas, Joanne Stadler and Donna Wilson

èè Wednesdays 3:00–5:00 pm èè September 19–October 24 èè Room 2820

GriefShare is a special weekly video series and support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The group offers a comfortable environment where the emotions and process of grief are understood and welcomed. Participants will learn practical strategies for grief recovery through the highly acclaimed GriefShare video series, study guide and group discussion. Individuals may begin attending this group at any time.

Beyond GriefShare èè Wednesdays September 5–December 5 èè 3:00–4:30 (no childcare) OR èè 6:00–7:30 pm (childcare provided) èè Room 2201 èè Cost: $12

Men’s Bible Study: The Truth Project

îî CHRISTIAN LIVING

Ann Peterson & Tom Berry

îî MEN èè èè èè èè

GriefShare èè Wednesdays September 5–December 5 èè 3:00–4:30 (no childcare) OR èè 6:00–7:30 pm (childcare provided) èè Room 2319 èè Cost: $15

The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhahn èè èè èè èè

èè Cost: $10 èè Childcare not available

Christian Caregiving - A Way of Life Ron Winn

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Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 pm September 5–November 14 Room 2500 Cost: $15

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Do you ever feel uncomfortable talking about your faith, praying with others, or trying to comfort a friend? The world needs people who want to offer care in a compassionate and Christ-like way. Explore real-life issues people confront when caring for others. Learn practical ways of caring in the everyday moments that need God’s touch. Christian Caregiving is a core text study used in Stephen Ministry training, but is useful for all.

Tommy Keeter

Thursdays 6:30–8:00 pm September 6–November 8 Room 2500 Cost: $25

This nine-week class will unleash a revolution in your life in Christ. Through Peter Scazzero’s book and DVD series, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we will explore the top ten symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, common problems of Christians who are not healthy emotionally and how to seek healing and become the emotionally mature adult that Christ desires. Contact Tommy Keeter tkeeter11@gmail.com or 918.695.5329.

îî MARRIAGE & FAMILY Betty Higgins

Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 pm September 5–October 10 Room 1506 Cost: $15

Various experts on Islam and Christianity

Tuesdays 6:30–9:00 pm September 4–November 27 (will not meet Nov. 20) Family Room (1300) Cost: $175*

Encountering the World of Islam (EWI) is a 12-lesson course which combines typical learning assignments with experiential activities and online interactions for an integrated multi-disciplinary learning environment. Each week will be taught by a different expert on Christianity and Islam, making it engaging and life changing as a result of the rich combination of methods of instruction. The course textbook itself has more than 80 authors providing a broad range of perspectives on Islam. Register by emailing Mary Ann Smith at momsmith1@cox. net or Kelly Junk at kellyjunk@fumctulsa.org, or pick up forms at Connection Corner, welcome desks, or from Missy Sistrunk in main office.

îî FINANCIAL Financial Peace University

This class is for parents who want to better understand and communicate with their kids. It is based on the book by H. Stephen Glenn titled Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, as well as the concept of WWJDAAP (What Would Jesus Do As A Parent). You will learn important parenting skills, like avoiding barriers to communication, using natural and logical consequences, and applying the techniques Jesus used to “parent” His disciples.

Dynamic Marriage Guy & Tammy Yoes

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Encountering the World of Islam (EWI)

*Early registration, family and full-time student discounts are available. $25 of your registration fee is non-refundable.

Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World èè èè èè èè

îî MISSIONS èè èè èè èè

Developing Emotional Maturity èè èè èè èè

to healed. Register online. For scholarship information, contact Jackie or Ron at 918.251.6665 or asburydynamicmarriage@windstream.net.

Thursdays 6:30–9:00 pm September 6–November 8 Room 2201 Cost: $130 per couple, $50 deposit holds your spot (many materials included, scholarships available)

Sundays September 16–November 18 taught by Ron Carter (childcare not available) or Thursdays September 13–November 15 taught by Joe Spence (will not meet October 18)

èè 6:00–8:00 pm èè Room 2820 èè Cost: $95 per kit, one kit needed per couple This program is not a quick fix for financial worries. It is a nine-week program which requires real commitment. By teaching you money management basics, FPU can give you hope and provide a solid plan to walk you from the financial bondage of debt into true Financial Peace. *Attend one of the two free orientations from 6:00–7:00 pm. Thursday, September 6 or Sunday, September 9. Orientation and/or registration is highly recommended so that we will have your materials ready.

For all couples interested in growing their marriage. Give us nine weeks…we’ll give you a dynamic marriage! This interactive class will help you replace old habits with new ones in a unique and safe environment. Go from good to great, mediocre to magnificent, or hurt

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OPPORTUNITIES

Asbury Opportunities GENERAL INFORMATION BREAKFAST

Come enjoy fellowship with Asburians along with fresh donuts, bagels, biscuits & gravy, sausage, eggs, fruit, and cereal. • Served from 7:00–9:00 am in the CLC • $4 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:00 am 9:15 am 9:15 am 11:00 am 11:00 am

Mason Chapel (Traditional Communion) Sanctuary (Contemporary) CLC - Open House Worship (Acoustic Worship, Casual Setting) Sanctuary (Traditional) Venue 68 (Modern with sign interpreter)

SUNDAYS FOR CHILDREN AND STUDENTS

6 Weeks–Pre-K K–6th Grades 7th, 8th & 9th Grades 10th, 11th & 12th Grades

8:00, 9:15 and 11:00 am 9:15 or 11:00 am 9:15 and 11:00 am 9:15 am only

Recycle aluminum cans by bringing them (in plastic garbage bags) to the wire collection cage located up the short driveway towards the east side of Asbury’s main church building. Thank you for helping to support the Boy Scouts. 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. OJT (OVERCOMING JOB TRANSITIONS)

Invite people you know dealing with job issues to OJT. We offer encouragement, prayer support and hands-on workshops helping with resumes, networking, interviewing, the internet and more. Meets the third Tuesday of each month. • Tuesday, August 21, 6:30–9:00 pm • Room 2319 • Contact Russ Knight at OJTJobs@gmail.com

ACCESS ADULT DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITIES

Adult Bible study, belonging, and serving together • Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:00 am • Options during the week - Wednesdays at 6:00 pm

• Sundays, 5:30–6:30 pm, Family Room

SURGERY OR HOSPITALIZATION SCHEDULED?

• Sundays, 11:00 am, Room 1507

FRIENDS IN CHRIST COMMUNITY

Be sure to let Asbury know ahead of time by calling the church receptionist at 918.492.1771 so your pastors can be in prayer for you. When you enter the hospital, please designate Asbury as your church. The after-hours pastoral emergency line can be reached by calling 918.492.1771, selecting option 6, and leaving a message for the pastor on call. THE GAZEBO IS OPEN

CDs of Tom’s message of the day are available immediately following the worship service - $3. UMW Cookbooks available for $20. Additional volunteers needed. RECYCLING PAPER

Recycle unwanted paper products. Three bins are available, located in the south and east parking lots.

HANDS OF LOVE SIGN CHOIR

BIBLE STUDY Check out our adult bible studies listed in our RoadMap brochures found at all welcome centers or online at www.asburytulsa.org/ AdultMinistries/Roadmap.aspx. Take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to enroll in the next Disciple I Bible study. Attend your choice of the following enrollment times in order to be able to take this incredible 34week course that begins on August 7 (Tuesday class) or August 9 (Thursday class). Enrollment times: you must attend only one of these preview/enrollment meetings. • Tuesday, July 24 or July 31 OR Thursday, July 26 or August 2 • 6:30–7:30 pm • Room 2818

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OPPORTUNITIES

CARE AND SUPPORT GRIEFSHARE

GriefShare is a weekly support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The group offers a comfortable environment where the emotions and process of grief are understood and welcomed. Participants will learn practical strategies for grief recovery through the highly acclaimed GriefShare video series, study guide and group discussion. Individuals may begin attending this group at any time. • Wednesdays, September 5–December 5 (no meeting on November 21) • 3:00–4:30 pm OR 6:00–7:30 pm • Room 2319 • Cost is $15 • Childcare available for evening class only • Register online or call 918.392.1191 BEYOND GRIEFSHARE

Especially designed for those who have completed the GriefShare video series, this weekly support group will provide participants an opportunity to continue processing their grief while deepening their spiritual walk. Through small group study and discussion, participants will focus on transitioning from the pain of grief to hope and optimism for the future • Wednesdays, September 5–December 5 (no meeting on November 21) • 3:00–4:30 pm OR 6:00–7:30 pm • Room 2201 • Cost is $12 • Childcare available for evening class only • Register online or call 918.392.1191 CHRISTIAN CAREGIVING—A WAY OF LIFE

Do you ever feel uncomfortable talking about your faith, praying with others, or trying to comfort a friend? The world needs people who want to offer care in a compassionate and Christ-like way. Explore real-life issues people confront when caring for others. Learn practical ways of caring in the everyday moments that need God's touch. "Christian Caregiving" is a core text used in Stephen Ministry training, but is useful for all. • Wednesdays, September 5–November 14, 6:00–7:30 pm • Room 2500 • Cost is $15 • Childcare available • Register online or call 918.392.1191 DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL MATURITY

This 9-week class will unleash a revolution in your life in Christ. Through Peter Scazzero’s book and DVD series, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we will explore the top ten symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, common problems of Christians

who are not healthy emotionally and how to seek healing and become the emotionally mature adult that Christ desires. • Thursdays, September 6–November 8 (no meeting on October 18), 6:30–8:00 pm • Room 2500 • $25.00 • Childcare available • Register online or call 918.392.1191 • For information, contact Tommy Keeter tkeeter11@gmail.com or 918.695.5329 LEANING FORWARD INTO LIFE AS WE AGE

Missy Buchanan, a nationally recognized advocate for older adults, will speak on aging gracefully while facing the challenges of aging. She will illustrate through case studies how to be authentic and not lose sight of our blessings. Aging well is really a balancing act. It’s about facing the tough realities of an aging body while also leaning forward into life with a sense of hope and adventure. Sponsored by Stephen Ministry. • Thursday, September 6, 7:00-9:00 pm • Room 2319 • No cost and no registration • Childcare available. S.M.I.L.E. (SINGLE MOTHERS IN THE LORD’S EMBRACE)

Join us for a DVD series and book entitled “21 Principles of a Healthy Single Mom.” You will learn to apply specific, workable guidelines so you can flourish spiritually in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. Each principle/video session is self-contained, and you may begin attending at any time. • Third Thursdays, 6:00–8:45 pm • Parlor • Childcare provided • $12 for book • RSVP to Kellie at asburysmile@ymail.com HEALING HATS/BALL CAPS

An Asbury ministry created to provide hats to cancer patients who have lost their hair. “Home spun with knots of love, woven together with help from above!” Simply knit, crochet or sew a hat or decorate a ball cap of your choice and drop it in the collection box located next to the Gazebo. Find more information in the literature rack attached to the collection box. In addition, the following groups meet regularly for fellowship, while using their creative ability to make hats: • Crochet Group –– Second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm –– Room 1506 –– Contact Sue Fisher at healinghatsmin@aol.com or 918.455.2816 • Ball Caps (If you can cut and glue this is for you!) –– Fourth Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 am –– Room 1508 –– Baseball caps and decorating items available

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OPPORTUNITIES

–– Contact Sue Fisher at healinghatsmin@aol.com or 918.455.2816 VISITS TO ASBURY MEMBERS

Asbury has a group of volunteers (Asbury Connection) who regularly visit people who are homebound, in nursing homes or in assisted living facilities. • Contact Lisa at 918.298.9014 or lisa_dalt@sbcglobal.net PRAYER CARD MINISTRY

Send cards with God’s encouraging words and our prayers to those who are ill or going through hard times. • Usually meets first and third Mondays at 9:30 am • Room 1508 • Contact Gwen Mohler at 918.258.5479 or grmohler@aol.com MILITARY CONNECTION

Please join us in praying for our troops in harm’s way and their families. Periodic care packages and monthly encouragement cards with God’s Word are sent to Asbury-related military personnel. The Prayer Ministry also covers them in prayer. Send complete name and address to: • Jo VanDeWiele at 918.459.0888 or Gwen at grmohler@aol.com DIVORCE RECOVERY

For those suffering from the early, highly emotional stages of divorce and separation trauma. • Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm • Room 1335 • Childcare available • Contact Malia Miller at 918.494.9596 or malia.miller@ sbcglobal.net DIVORCE REBUILDING

For those ready to rebuild their lives after separation or divorce. • Thursdays, 7:00–8:30 pm • Room 1335 • Childcare available • Contact Jim Small at 918.697.4220 or divorce-rebuilding@ cox.net MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

For family members or caregivers of people affected by a mental illness. • Usually meets the fourth Thursdays from 1:30–3:00 pm • Parlor • Contact Linda Lytle at 918.298.2707 or lllytle@wildflower.net ASBURY BEAR BAGS

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. • Contact Sue at suemorey@yahoo.com

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

Parents who are involved in RoadMap classes during these core hours will have childcare provided for children 6 weeks–12 years of age with no reservations needed: • Sunday 9:00 am–12:00 pm • Monday and Tuesday 9:00 am–12:00 pm • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6:00 pm–9:00 pm SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS

Children’s Ministry is actively pursuing classroom, security and hospitality volunteers. We have two rotations: Alpha (1st and 2nd Sundays) and Omega (3rd and 4th Sundays) at both the 9:15 and 11:00 class times. • Contact Abby Sluice at 918.392.4583 or asluice@asburytulsa.org MURDOCK VILLA VISITS

4th, 5th and 6th graders can serve at an assisted living housing project once a month where the majority of the residents have physical disabilities. Space is limited to the first 10 students. Make sure you sign up early and have a signed permission slip. • Sunday, August 19, meet at 12:30 pm • Rock 6 room • Cost is $5 for a pizza lunch • Contact Christina Treat at 918.392.1172 or ctreat@ asburytulsa.org FAMILY BINGO NIGHT IN THE CLC

“Bingo!” Get out of the heat and come play some bingo (and other silly contests) with your family and friends. Invite Grandma and Grandpa, neighbors and friends from school that you haven’t seen all summer. Concessions, including hot dogs and nachos, will be for sale. • Wednesday, August 1, 6:00 pm • CLC • No registration necessary • Contact Jennifer at 918.392.4582 or jbarnes@asburytulsa.org. KINDERGARTEN BLESSING SERVICE

Children who are just entering kindergarten and their families are invited to be a part of this service of affirmation and blessing. A celebration reception with commemorative activities will follow. • Sunday, August 5, 4:00 pm

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OPPORTUNITIES

• Sanctuary, with reception in the CLC • Register by July 29 to ensure your child receives a certificate • Contact Stephanie Long at 918.392.1171 or slong@ asburytulsa.org

SPECIAL VOLUNTEERS FOR SPECIAL KIDS!

Do you have a heart to help children with special needs? If so, the Children’s Ministry needs you to volunteer. • Contact Dotti Westerberg at dottiwesterberg@hotmail.com or 918.381.0874

GOD AND ME/GOD AND FAMILY SCOUTING AWARD ORIENTATION MEETING

We are excited to offer these two programs for Boy and Girl Scouts or Campfire and their mentor (i.e. parent, grandparent, etc.) that fulfill requirements for the “God and Me” and “God and Family” awards. Both programs will have a mandatory parent and scout orientation meeting. We will provide the materials so that each week the mentor and scouts may work at home to complete the course. At the final meeting on October 2, we will review your workbooks and submit for your award to be presented at a final award ceremony. • Tuesday, August 21, 6:30 pm, parent/scout orientation meeting • Room 2909 for meetings; ceremony will be in Mason Chapel • Cost of $30 includes workbook, certificate, all program supplies, and award medallion • For more information contact Leanne at 918.392.1183 or lcampbell@asburytulsa.org. 4.5 SCAVENGER HUNT

4th and 5th graders, join us for our awesome scavenger hunt, an evening of clue finding and good deed doing. • Friday, September 7, 6:00–9:00 pm • Room 2909 and off site • Cost of $15 includes a t-shirt • Register by August 30 • Contact Jennifer Barnes at 918.392.4582 or jbarnes@ asburytulsa.org ODD SUNDAY

6th graders, come join us for an afternoon of bowling at Andy B’s. Parents can drop off and pick up at the alley…8711 S. Lewis Avenue, Tulsa. • Sunday, September 9, 3:00–5:00 pm • Cost is $12 which includes bowling and shoe rental • Register by September 2 • Contact Stephanie Long at 918.392.1171 or slong@ asburytulsa.org CELEBRATION STATION

Celebration Station is a 52-week complementary children’s program to Celebrate Recovery. While adults explore topics that bring healing and wholeness, kids discover the same truths in ageappropriate ways through worship, crafts, games and activities. • Mondays, 7:00–9:00 pm • Faith Zone • Contact Eryn Wallis 918.392.4588 or ewallis@asburytulsa.org

DISCIPLESHIP DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITIES

If you have not yet found an Adult Discipleship Community check out “Community Life” on our website, www.asburytulsa.org, or pick up a brochure at one of our Welcome Centers. • If you are 20’s to early 30’s, come check out our newest Sunday morning group at 9:15 am in room 1507, “Transitions,” or “Rooted” for married couples in room 2314

ENDOWMENTS Leave a legacy that continues to give forever to a ministry you want to support. There are endowments that support many areas of Asbury’s outreach including children, youth, music, missions, and training of pastors as well as a general endowment. You can easily impact a ministry through your will or a current gift. • Contact Dwight Yoder at 918.392.1113 or dyoder@ asburytulsa.org

HOSPITALITY We were recently asked, “why don’t you have volunteers holding the doors open on Sunday morning?” The simple answer is we have very few volunteers willing to do it. Most say Asbury is a friendly church, yet we don’t have enough friendly people willing to serve on Sunday mornings when the need is great to welcome folks who have possibly had little contact with people during the week. We need new volunteers to serve in a hospitality role as greeters and at Connection Corner where many people have their first experience at Asbury. The Gazebo needs new volunteers as well. Are you one of those friendly people? Contact the church office at 918.492.1771 to volunteer.

MARRIAGE & FAMILY THE ART OF MARRIAGE

A fun, edgy video marriage “getaway” from FamilyLife. Expect: expert teaching based on the Bible, engaging stories, real-life testimonies, man-on-the-street interviews and lots of fun! Includes: pastry breakfast Saturday morning and snacks. Lunch Saturday will be on your own. Whether single, engaged, contemplating marriage, or celebrating 50 years together, this is for you! No in-depth sharing with anyone but your partner. • Friday, August 17, 6:30–9:00 pm AND Saturday, August 18, 9:00 am–4:00 pm

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OPPORTUNITIES

• • • • • •

Community Life Center (CLC) Facilitators: Pat and Deborah Calhoun Cost: $20/person Free childcare to first 75 registered (some children's programming) Register online Contact pat.calhoun007@gmail.com.

COUPLE-TO-COUPLE TRAINING

See how you can make a difference in families of the future. Come to the CLC table or Venue68 North Lobby table between services on July 8 to find out how to become a support couple to engaged people. Remarriages welcome. • Couple-to-Couple training starts August 21 on Tuesdays • Contact Charlene at 918.392.1145

MEN’S MINISTRY – HOME IMPROVEMENT VOLUNTEERS

Home Improvement teams help widows and single women, who are Asbury members, with minor home repairs and/or small home improvement projects five times a year. If you are handy with a hammer, like to paint or clean out flower beds, please consider joining a team! You will be truly blessed! • Saturday, August 18 • Meet in the Family Room Lobby at 8:30 am for planning and assignments • Contact Michiel Conner at 918.640.4382 or michiel0930@ sbcglobal MEN’S KICK-OFF COOKOUT

DYNAMIC MARRIAGE

For all couples interested in growing their marriage. Give us 9 weeks…we’ll give you a dynamic marriage! This is an interactive class that will help you replace old habits with new ones in a unique, safe environment. Go from good to great, mediocre to magnificent or hurt to healed. For scholarship information, contact Jackie or Ron at 918.251.6665 or asburydynamicmarriage@ windstream.net. • Thursdays, September 6–November 8 (will not meet October 18) • 6:30–9:00 pm, room 2201 • Facilitators: Guy & Tammy Yoes • Cost: $130 per couple, $50 deposit holds your spot (many materials included, scholarships available) • Register online • Childcare available ATTENTION ENGAGED COUPLES

If you are planning to use an Asbury pastor to officiate and/or use Asbury’s facilities, be sure to book ASAP to allow ample time for Couple-to-Couple (required premarital meetings).

MEMBERSHIP ASBURY EXPLORATION

Are you interested in membership at Asbury or just want to learn more about who we are? Plan to attend Asbury Exploration. After a wonderful lunch, which is provided, you will enjoy time with our Asbury pastors as you learn about the ministries of Asbury, important United Methodist beliefs and how you can get into the mainstream of our life together at Asbury. • Sunday, August 5, 12:15–2:00 pm • Community Life Center (CLC) • Childcare available for children six weeks through sixth grade • Lunch provided • Call 918.392.1191 to register

MEN

Men, you do not want to miss this! Make plans to join us for this annual event. You will feast on delicious grilled burgers, brats and all the trimmings! There will be music, fun, fellowship and a very special guest speaker. All men and boys (ages 12 and up) are encouraged to attend. • Sunday, August 19, 6:00–7:30 pm • CLC • Cost is $8.00 per person MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST

Make plans to join us for a great time of meaningful worship, lifechanging prayer and an awesome big breakfast. • Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 am • CLC • Cost is $3 per person; first-time guests are free MATURE MEN’S MINISTRY R.O.M.E.O. LUNCHEON

Are you a “Retired Old Man” who wants to “Eat Out?” If so, then these luncheons are for you! A really awesome bunch of guys meet for good food and great fellowship. • Meet every second and fourth Friday, 11:15 am • Village Inn (71st and Memorial) • Open to anyone 60 years and up • Contact Bud at bdmathes@cox.net or Jim at robersonjim29@ gmail.com

MISSIONS/VIM 2ND SATURDAY

Looking for an easy way to make a difference and share Christ’s love in Tulsa? Join us for 2nd Saturday and choose between local mission opportunities. Families with children are welcomed and encouraged! • Saturday, August 11 • Venue68 • Head to the ministry sites, 8:45; teams work from 9:00–11:30 am;

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OPPORTUNITIES

buses return to Venue68 no later than 12:15 pm • Contact Betty Higgins at carevets@aol.com

PRAYER ALTAR PRAYER

VIM 2012 TEAM SCHEDULE

• September –– Tanzania, East Africa, Construction, $2,800 • Fall –– Cookson Hills, Oklahoma, Light Construction, $60 • October* –– Monterrey, Mexico, MBS & Construction, $950 • November 7–11 –– Rio Bravo, Mexico, Medical, $700 * Tentative All costs approximate. For more information about these exciting mission opportunities, contact Marilene Long at 918.392.1164 or mlong@asburytulsa.org. For information about the men’s Rio Bravo, Mexico opportunities, contact Jim Furman at jnlfurman@cox.net. VIM LEADER TRAINING

• September 9 (OKC area) and November 3 (Chapel Hill UMC, OKC)

MUSIC CHANCEL CHOIR

We have so much fun…singing, laughing and serving together. Come share your God-given talent with us. • Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 pm • Choir room • Available for seventh grade through adults. NEW COVENANT ORCHESTRA

• Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 pm • Orchestra room

If you would like someone to pray with you during Holy Communion or immediately following a worship service, please come to the altar rail. 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. PRAYER ROOM RESERVATIONS

The leadership of Asbury’s prayer ministry would like to remind you that the main facility Prayer Room is open not only to individuals desiring to pray in a quiet, meditative atmosphere but also to prayer groups within communities and ministries. Just call the Adult Ministries office at 918.392.4589 to reserve the Prayer Room for your group on a weekly or monthly basis. PRAYER ROOM DAYS AND TIMES

Our prayer rooms are accessible to you at these times: • Mason Chapel and Venue 68 –– Sundays from 7:00 am–12:30 pm, through the interior doors • Main Facility, Mason Chapel and Venue68 –– Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–9:00 pm –– Saturday, 10:00 am–3:00 pm –– Sunday, 12:30 pm–9:00 pm To obtain door codes, call Pam in the Adult Ministries office at 918.392.4589.

RECOVERY CELEBRATE RECOVERY

Come join this supportive group of people. Hiding any hurts, habits or hang-ups? God never intended for you to live in bondage. • Every Monday night: 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

SENIOR ADULTS

PERPETUAL LIGHT

• Thursdays, 10:30 am–12:00 noon • Handbell room CELEBRATION RINGERS

• Tuesdays, 4:30–5:30 pm • Handbell room ASBURY POWER & LIGHT CO.

• Sundays, 8:00–9:15 am • Orchestra room

SENIOR ADULT SUMMIT

Open to all senior adults. Awesome sessions and speakers (including Bishop Robert Hayes and Pastor David Thomas), workshops which are educational, fun and full of fellowship, as well as fun-themed meals. For more information and to register, pick up a registration form at the south information desk. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church. • September 10–12, Camp Egan • Cost is $130 for triple occupancy or $145 for double occupancy • Includes 6 meals and 2 nights lodging

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OPPORTUNITIES

• Scholarship information and assistance is available • Contact Joanne Stadler at ej2stadler@cox.net ADULT GAME DAY

Attention all adults! How would you like to get together on a regular basis with a wonderful bunch of fun adults and play cards, dominoes, or whatever board or card game you choose? Bring a friend and stay for as long as you like! • Every third Thursday, 1:30–4:00 pm • Room 2821 SENIOR WALK IN THE GYM WITH HIM

All senior adults are invited to join us for power walking, coupled with lots of fun and fellowship. Come give it a try. • Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30–9:00 am • Gym SENIOR SIT AND FIT STRETCHING CLASS

All senior adults are invited to join us for a time of stretching, coupled with lots of fun and fellowship. No high impact workout here. We take it nice and easy. • Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00–9:30 am • Gym SENIOR ADULT MEAL & MOVIE

If you’re 55 years of age or over, our monthly meal and movie day event may be just the “ticket” for you! We get together at a different Tulsa restaurant each month, and then head off to see a “first run” movie. • The dates and times vary according to the movie selected, but those who express an interest will be contacted a few days ahead of time so they can make plans accordingly • For more information or to sign up for the call list, contact Sally Wood, sally-wood@sbcglobal.net

SINGLES SINGLES MINISTRY LUNCHEON

Single adults and their families are invited to this luncheon and mixer. Come get acquainted with other singles at Asbury while enjoying a great lunch, fun and fellowship. See you there! Bring a friend! • Sunday, August 26, 12:15–1:30 pm • CLC • Cost: $5.00 per person; kids 10 and under eat free • No reservations required SINGLES MINISTRY LABOR DAY PICNIC

All Single adults and their families are invited. Please bring a "family" size covered dish (with serving utensil), dessert or soft drinks to share. Hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments and paper goods

will be provided. Don't forget your lawn chairs, Frisbees and games. This family-friendly event is a great way to say farewell to summer. • Monday, September 3, 4:00–7:00 pm • Haikey Creek Park ADULT VOLLEYBALL

Do you enjoy playing recreational volleyball, mixed in with a little bit of competitiveness? Then come join us for a few hours of exercise, fellowship and fun. All skill levels of play are welcome. Good sportsmanship and positive attitudes are required. It’s free and you do not have to be a member of Asbury to participate. • Every Sunday, 6:00–9:00 pm • Gym • Contact Doug at 918.607.0830 for questions COMMUNITIES

You are always welcome to join any other communities that are not “Singles Only”, as most are a mix of singles and marrieds. • Sundays, 9:15 am – New Beginnings Class, Transitions (mixed singles/married) • Sundays, 11:00 am – Ambassadors for Christ, Footprints (ladies only), Salt & Light, Christ Centered Singles, Single B.A.S.I.X.

STUDENTS JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY BREAKAWAY

Sunday Mornings we have two great options. At 9:15 am, we have our large group time with a worship band, fun games and God's Word. Then at 11:00 am, we have a small Bible Study group. Whatever your preference, don't miss out. HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY MORNINGS

Join us every Sunday morning for a healthy dose of God’s Word. • Sundays, 9:15 am • High school room 10 11 12 SMALL GROUPS

Get connected. Are you looking for a way to get more connected? Are you looking for a place to grow in your walk with Jesus? Then being a part of a small group is where you need to be. Our small groups meet every Sunday night; times vary. Some of the groups meet in homes and others meet at the church. • Contact Todd at 918.392.1154 or Amy at 918.392.1156

WOMEN UMW AUGUST UNIT LUNCHEON

Come find out how Asbury mission team members "Glorify God and Make Disciples" as they provide help, hope and healing in other parts of the world. Hear the heartwarming stories and see

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OPPORTUNITIES

pictures of changed lives as told by Lauren Burke, Azerbaijan; Frank and Donna Lester, Tanzania; and Chris and Missy Cooper, Guatemala. Scripture: Matthew 9:35–38. • Thursday, August 2, 11:30 am–1:00 pm • CLC • $7.00 for lunch. No reservations necessary COMMON GROUNDS

Ladies, when was the last time you took a break from life's demands? Join us for some great camaraderie and share the evening with our Pastor Darlene Johnson. Light snacks served. • Thursday, August 23, 2012, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm • Family Room • Childcare available • No reservations required CAR CARE WORKDAY

Single women and widows of Asbury, while you wait in the comfort of the Family Room café, volunteers from the Men's Ministry will check your tires, belts, fluids, filters and batteries and do a basic maintenance check up. They will also vacuum and wash your vehicle, and then update you on what is running smoothly and what needs professional attention. This free service gives our men the opportunity to put their faith and skills into action by serving others. Workdays are every other month, 5 times a year. • Saturday, September 8, beginning at 9:00 am • Have your vehicle in line no later than 11:30 am • Family Center entrance • No reservations necessary • Contact Mike Nalley at mnalley16@cox.net HOME IMPROVEMENT WORKDAY

The men’s ministry serves widows and single women, who are Asbury members, by helping with minor home repairs and small home improvement projects. H.I. volunteers make themselves available every other month, five times a year. If you are in need of help and qualify, just pick up an application at a welcome desk, fill it out, and return it at least ten days before the scheduled work day. A volunteer from the H.I. team will contact you and make arrangements to get the job done. • Saturday, August 18 • Questions? Contact Michiel Conner at 918.640.4382 or michiel0930@sbcglobal.net.

WORSHIP 8:00 AM COMMUNION SERVICE

• • • •

Mason Chapel Traditional service and music Communion is served Dr. Tom Harrison preaches

9:15 AM CONTEMPORARY PRAISE & WORSHIP

• Sanctuary • Contemporary music led by Mark Bennett and team • Time of prayer and the message will all carry a prevailing theme for the morning • Dr. Tom Harrison preaches 9:15 AM OPEN HOUSE WORSHIP

• Community Life Center • A relaxed atmosphere with engaging worship led by Dub Ambrose and team • Dr. Tom Harrison’s message is simulcast with an occasional live sermon from another pastor 11:00 AM TRADITIONAL SERVICE

• Sanctuary • The Chancel Choir, the New Covenant Orchestra and various vocal and instrumental ensembles offer a variety of styles of music • Dr. Tom Harrison preaches 11:00 AM MODERN SERVICE

• Venue68 • Rich blend of ancient and modern worship, led by Chris Cleveland and team • Sign interpreters for the deaf are offered • Rev. Todd Craig preaches

WOMEN OF THE WORD

• • • •

Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00 am Room 2818 No childcare available Teacher is Rev. Darlene Johnson

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Marriages, Births and Deaths MARRIAGES

DEATHS

• Lindsey Claire Ameen & Taylor John Sprague married 6/9/2012 • Amy L Greenlee & Arelee “Joe” Lawson married 6/16/2012 • Ashley Purdom & David Dietz were married 6/1/2012

BIRTHS • Ansley Vail Covington born 3/2/2012, daughter of Casey & Kristina Covington • Christopher Benjamin Briggs born 5/16/2012, son of Ryan and Elizabeth Briggs, little brother of Michael Briggs • Micah Pate Riddle born 6/21/2012, son of Brian & Autumn Riddle, little brother of Asher Riddle

• Jean R Kelley died 5/30/2012, wife of Jack Kelley • Joy Bortmes died 6/1/2012, wife of Eugene Bortmes and mother of Cliff (Rita) Bortmes • Anna Taylor died 6/4/2012, wife of John Stephen Taylor • Sammie Justus died 6/8/2012 • Billy Ray Culver died 6/10/2012, husband of Betty Naomi Culver • George F Keenum died 6/13/2012 • Wanda Burns died 6/23/2012 • Nancy Parks died 6/24/2012

Milestone Anniversaries 70 YEARS

50 YEARS

• Gene & Irene Bond 8/15/42

• Chuck & Kathy Purser

20 YEARS 8/25/62

• Joel & Lynnette Hudson 8/22/92

65 YEARS

45 YEARS

15 YEARS

• Murrell & Helen Cowherd 8/14/47

• Bill & Johanna Graham 8/05/67

• Jimmie & Laura Deibert 8/02/97

60 YEARS

40 YEARS

10 YEARS

• Dick & Gwen Mohler 8/01/52 • Monroe & Jan Reece 8/02/52 • Gene & Mary Ellen Whiteford 8/02/52 • Dean & Marilynn Smith 8/17/52

55 YEARS • Rick & Vi Bowers

• Steven & Margo Vogler

8/19/72

30 YEARS • Warren & Christie Singleton 7/04/82

25 YEARS 8/18/57

• Matt & Janet Theis 8/15/87

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• David & Sandra Epperly 7/27/02

MILESTONE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Email your upcoming Milestone Anniversary (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) to Carolyn Schutte at brucars2@cox.net or call 918.451.1559.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gene & Irene Bond 8/15/42

Murrell & Helen Cowherd 8/14/47

Dean & Marilynn Smith 8/17/52

Rick & Vi Bowers 8/18/57

Dick & Gwen Mohler 8/01/52

Gene & Mary Ellen Whiteford 8/02/52

Chuck & Kathy Purser 8/25/62

New Members

Jackie Anderson

Janice Bailey

David Bridges

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

Chris & Adora Davis with Emilie

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Carol & Brenda Jackson

Alex & Karissa Hodge with Noah

Amy Jennemann

Bill & Janet Knight

Shadd Atchley and Carol Coburn

Tim Martin

Karla Sexton

Danny Savala with Raimee, Riley and Reane

Stephen & Christy Tolar with Kennedy and Andrew

TIDINGS, AUGUST 2012

A Christ-centered recovery program How has life turned out? Not quite the way you had hoped? If you’re tired of trying to fix life’s problems alone, join us Monday nights as we share a new approach to life, together, that’s worked for thousands of years. It might be just what you’ve been looking for. Every Monday night at 6:00 pm Asbury CLC (big room across from Sanctuary) Must be 18 years of age and out of high school to be a participant. Free childcare available, no reservations required. For more information, contact Glen Grusendorf at 918.694.5277

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