Agape Newsletter - Special He Shouldn’t Send out Newsletters after Midnight Edition.

The following may (or may not) be a true story. If you don’t have much time to read, you can skip to the last few paragraphs (below the picture) for all the information that you need!

Greetings dear friends. It is with great relief that I type you this letter. Early this morning at roughly 7am, I sat down to type the Agape newsletter, as is my habit on Fridays. As I typed out the first few sentences, something equal parts remarkable and inconvenient happened. Perhaps you have heard of spontaneous combustion? Well, I was spontaneously teleported. To Siberia, Russia. Though I was slow in getting over the shock of sudden long distance travel, I knew I was in Siberia by the street sign that I had been transported near. Welcome to Siberia it read. In Russian. And yes, I speak Russian. While I was pondering how fortuitous it was that I was raised by parents who valued a good training in multiple languages, I was confronted by none other than former WWF wrestlers Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik! At least, that is who they wanted me to think they were. Looking closer, I saw through their disguise, quickly realizing that it wasn’t Volkoff and the Sheik at all, but actually Vladimir Putin and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad! “Why have you brought me here?!” I demanded to know, incensed at the interruption of my most important duty of the day. Putin (dressed as Volkoff) gave me an evil grin, and said, “the newsletter you are working on must never reach the people of Agape. It is too important.” I realized immediately that priority one was to get home as fast as possible, and write this newsletter, so I turned on my heels, and began walking home, even as President Ahmadinejad threatened to “wipe Pinson off of the map”, among other things.

I can take many insults. Insult my football team, insult my fashion sense, insult my toupee - I don’t care! But, insulting the good people of Pinson like that? No! That is something I could never take. I spun around and confronted them both. “By Grabthar’s hammer”, I said, “you will take that back right this instant!” Infuriatingly, Ahmadinejad reached over and touched the brim of Putin’s Ushanka (that Russian fur hat that all good Russians wear) and sneered, “Touch black, no take backs”. “That hat is brown”, I spat in disgust, as I girded my loins rolled up my sleeves for battle. Fortunately at this point, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared, and we made quick work of “Volkoff and the Iron Sheik”, and left them laying in the frozen tundra, regretful that they had tangled with America yet again. Using the governator’s influence and wealth, we were able to escape Siberia and I have only just now arrived home. I do apologize for the delay in sending this out, but, as you can see, it was not my fault. It is not as if I just totally forgot to send the newsletter out, and then made up some fantastical and extremely silly story as an excuse. I wouldn’t do that. (or would I?)

Here’s what’s going on at Agape this week:

Sunday Morning: We continue with our study of Philippians 1, actually getting into the text of Philippians this week. We will look at the faithfulness of God to complete His work, the joy that comes from prayer, and the overflowing love that God calls us to have for each other. This book is really blessing me and encouraging me, and challenging me as I read it, and I encourage you to sit down and read it, chapter by chapter, with your family!

Sunday Night: We will have our first Sunday of the month Genesis meeting at our house at 6:00pm. Come and join us for fellowship, food, prayer and Bible study/discussion!

Keep an eye out for our September Awakening time of Prayer and Worship, which will be held on one Sunday night this month. (probably the fourth, but I will try and let you know next week).
Are you praying for each other? Last Sunday, we discussed the likelihood of all of us at Agape going through a storm this week, and I imagine that most of you have faced that storm by now. A gentle question - were you able to praise God in the midst of the storm (trial) that you faced this week? Like Paul and Silas in Acts 16, God calls us to overcome trials through worship, prayer and abiding in Him. He will give us faith to do this, so let us receive His gift, be empowered by His Spirit, and overcome all trials and opposition!

Also - David has asked me to announce this: Please let everyone know that we have some extra EPIC shirts for sale (size L, M and S) and they are 15.00. They can let me know if anyone wants one.

That’s all for now
please pray for me! :)

Chase

Update on Logan + Last Days Bible Study: The Rapture!

Hello all,

Thank you for praying for Logan today! I am informed that her blood tests came back clear, as did her CT scan and spinal tap! It appears that her recent problems are the result of headache related issues, but nothing more. To my understanding, this is just about the best result we could have hoped for! Well, I suppose the doctors could have told her that her recent headaches have given her super-powers, and that she has won 10 billion dollars as a result of them, but that just would not be realistic, would it?

We praise God for this answered prayer!!!! His love endures forever! (no matter what) Thanks also to all who personally encouraged Logan today!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) night, as mentioned in our Sunday service, we will begin a 2-3 week series examining the timing of the return of Jesus. Will the church have to go through tribulation in the last days, or, as taught by the Left Behind series (and many others), will the church be raptured before the rise of the Antichrist, and the time that is Biblically known as the Great Tribulation? This is a topic that can often lead to much debate, but we will be handling it scripturally and prayerfully. This Wednesday night specifically, we are going to examine the pretribulational argument, and look at the primary scriptures that are interpreted to mean that the church will be raptured before (pre) the Tribulation. Come join us @Agape at 7pm, bring your Bibles, and your questions!.

One reason why this Bible study could be very timely, is the fact that as I type this, the leaders of Israel are contemplating a significant air strike on Iran focused on disabling their pending nuclear capability. This strike could very conceivably take place over the next few days, and if it happens, could draw the Russians, the U.S. and the entire Middle East into a war that would make the current War on Terror look very small by comparison. See this Jerusalem Post article for more details: http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=185060

I hope to see you tomorrow!

Chase

Agape newsletter - Special where’s the Spider-Man part? Also: Grace and The Ugly Daughter

Hello all,

Welcome in to another action packed Agape newsletter. In this episode, Spider-Man tangles with Doctor Octopus, and the secret of the upcoming message this Sunday is revealed.

This Sunday, we will be seeking God in a strong time of worship, followed by a message called, “Grace and the Ugly Daughter”. It is a message that will seek to lead us in better understanding God’s grace in our lives, and how that grace impacts us in our trials, our disappointment, our struggles with ourselves, and our interaction with the world around us. We often sing the song, “Your Grace is Enough”. but is grace a place where we live, a reality that we grasp and draw life-breath from, or is it just a concept that we sing and hear about in church? We will look at grace through the eyes of an unattractive (dare I say ugly?) and unloved woman, and see how God saw her struggles and came and visited her with His grace. If you’ve ever felt like this life was almost intolerable in all of its unfairness, then maybe taking a look at God’s grace in the life of this seemingly unfortunate person, will encourage you.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday (tomorrow) Ladies Tea/Lunch gathering. Meet at Agape at 11:00 am, to travel together to the Ruby Radish Tea room and eat delectable treats together. Sadly, men are not invited, though I would consider disguising myself as a woman and going for the yummy food, if not for the fact that I have to watch our nine or so kids. Somebody needs to organize a men’s gathering at the All-You-Can-Eat Meat Hut!

Our Genesis homegroup will be this Sunday night at 6:00pm. All are invited - feel free to bring some food or drink to share!

Sunday, August 29 we will have our brief, quarterly family meeting right after our Sunday morning meeting, followed by a covered dish fellowship meal. These meals are a great opportunity to get to know each other better, while enjoying some delicious food - sounds like a win-win proposition!

Prayer Requests:

Please remember Vivian Hughes, Lynn, Ann and Sue’s mom, who fell and broke her hip/femur Wednesday night. She had surgery yesterday. Please pray for her heart to be healthy and strong, and for her leg to be healed, and for her spirit to soar!

Please pray for Evelyn, Steve Sellers’ mom, as well as Steve and Sue, and Steve’s family. Steve’s mom has struggled for a long time with the illness she is currently facing, and it is been a great trial for all the family to endure. Please pray for a fresh wind of refreshment from God to blow on Steve and Sue, and Evelyn, and the rest of the family.

All for now - see you Sunday!

Chase

Special Guest Speaker Michael Viars and family this Sunday!

Greetings, Agape family!

We have quite a treat lined up for this Sunday! Michael Viars and his wife Tara, and family, will be joining us for morning worship and sharing with us during the message time. Michael is a cross cultural worker in Asia who grew up in this area (went to Hilldale Baptist, attended Erwin high school, and then Auburn University.) As we talked about earlier this year, we are looking for partners that we can be in relationship with as a church, and I believe Michael and Tara’s mission to work with one of the least reached people groups in the world, represent fertile ground for us to be in relationship with. Michael and his family (with five young children!!) have lived in Pakistan and India on and off for the last 10 years, and they are moving back to Pakistan within a matter of weeks. Like Paul, Michael is something of a tentmaker, though he doesn’t make tents, he leads a small woodcarving business. Living in India and Pakistan, he has built a relationship with some highly skilled woodcarvers, and works with them to produce some amazing scriptural carvings of wooden door frames, platters, plaques and more. He sells these through a business stateside (which will be run by his sister) called Renew Carvings: http://www.renewcarvings.com/. In addition, Michael and his family partner with local groups to help support their work overseas.

Come and hear as the Viars family share about their calling to Pakistan, and their overseas experiences! In addition, I have asked Michael to also bring some of his carvings to show us. Everything kicks off with worship at 10:45, followed by the message from Michael.

In other news, David Ledbetter will be on ABC 3340 ‘Matters of Faith’ Sunday night at 10 pm as he discusses his vision loss with Brenda Ladun. Tune in and watch! (And then maybe call the switchboard and say, “wow, you guys should have that David Ledbetter guy on more often. Maybe give him his own show!” :)

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for David McConnell, and Jolinda Hubbard, in the loss of their grandmother today. Funeral arrangements have not been made yet. This is David’s grandmother Nana, who used to run the Cedar Post Restaurant up until a few months ago.

About the Viars family, from the Renew Carvings website:

After many years of living the life of following Christ, we began to see how much we had to learn about walking in his ways. My thinking many times just did not match up to the truth I read each day in the Bible. It is as if this life is a time to renew our minds in what the kingdom of God is like. It is a time to bring our thinking in line with the truth as Christ lives in us and we continue to see more of Him come out in us each day.
I have lived overseas with my family off and on for 10 years. I also have a background in construction and forestry. When I read the words in the Book of Deuteronomy again, the verse of writing God’s words on our doorposts finally began to make sense. It was not just a decoration or some magic writing. These writings are for our meditation, a way to renew our minds in the truth and boy do I need that. I thought of buying a door frame for a friend but could not find one. I happened to move to Kashmir, India around this time and came into contact with some of the finest carvers in the world. I felt like the Lord wanted me to start this business and share this concept with everyone else.

See you Sunday!

Chase

This Week at Agape: Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning + Important Genesis Meeting Sunday Night (part 2).

Hello all,

We have one more big weekend this week!

Sunday morning, we will begin our small groups at 9:45, and then morning worship at 10:45. The message this Sunday is called, “Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning”, and will be about how to see it when people around you are struggling for air, and how to intervene and help them, both spiritually and physically. This will be a message that is targeted in the direction of two groups: 1. Those who are called to help and minister to other people. and 2. Those of you who are currently going through a place in their lives where it just seems like it is almost impossible to keep your head above the water. It will be a message of hope and equipping, and offer practical ways to be helped, and to genuinely offer help to others that offers long-term benefits. In addition, John Talley and the worship team will be leading us in glorifying and enjoying God, and we will close with an extended time of ministry for people to find new light, freedom, hope and destiny in Jesus, our Savior, Lord and Hero. Come join us!

This Sunday night, we are having the second of our two important Genesis meetings. As you have heard lately, the leadership of Agape believes that God is leading us to make a few significant changes (improvements!) to the way we operate. These transitions will ultimately give us more time to pray and worship, more time to fellowship and grow together with each other, and help us become a place that is more open and accessible to those who aren’t part of Agape now. During these Genesis meetings, we want to share with those who are interested, the direction we believe God is leading us, and answer questions, hear wisdom and converse about this period of transition we are in. Our meeting will start at six pm, and be in the sanctuary. All are invited. Come dressed casually, and bring some food and drink to share with each other, if possible.

Also - we’ve experienced significant church growth this week! Sarah Eden Hicks was born yesterday to Kristy and David Hicks. Please pray for the Hicks family, and for Sarah Eden. Also, Ann Talley has a way we can join together and bless this Hicks family. Read On:

Kristy and David welcomed Sarah Eden into the world yesterday! They should be going home tomorrow night. It would be great if we could organize meals for them for the next few nights as they settle in with the new baby. Please volunteer to prepare and deliver a meal to them! I will be glad to coordinate. Let’s start with Saturday night and see how many nights we can cover… please email me at annltalley(insert at symbol here)gmail.com and let me know what night you would like and what you plan to take them. This way we don’t have three people all bring fried chicken on the same day!:) I will put together a schedule and send it back out soon. Thanks Family in advance for loving on our newest little addition and her sweet mommy, daddy and brother and sister.

Thanks, Ann Talley

That’s all for now. Pray for our corporate together time this weekend, and pray for each other! See you Sunday,

Chase

Agape Newsletter - Special It’s Hotter than a City in Montana Edition.

Hello all,

I hope you are staying cool during this heat!

This Sunday we are going to talk about the church as a family. Many of us in America treat the fellowship of believers (the church) as a destination, or a building, or a once a week meeting, but really and truly, the church is not at all described by those things. If somebody views “church” as a meeting, or a building, or an obligation, then that person is likely to be very unfulfilled from the experience. The sad fact is that most of us “do” church that way, and most church leaders schedule events, and plan activities that perpetuate the church as a destination, building, or obligation. I think it is high time that we do something about that, and take a better view of what it means to be the church - well, better and messier. The fact is, the church is a people group, a fellowship, a community, a FAMILY. What does it mean that the church is a family?
How does somebody who doesn’t feel like family become a part of the family? (i.e. - how do I feel included?)
What is my role in the family?
Why do I feel like my church is NOT a family?
How do I help make the family stronger?
Is there really life on Mars?
Is Bigfoot an Alabama or Auburn fan?

These are the questions we will explore this Sunday (most of them, anyway). We will explore the Word, hear from Pastor Mark Driscoll via video, and seek God on what it means to be a family, and how we can become a better family at Agape. I hope you can join us!

Upcoming Events:

Sunday, July 18, 6:00 p.m. - A very important and strategic Genesis meeting.

Sunday, July 25, after church: Covered Dish Luncheon on the grounds.

Sunday, July 25 (evening): Awakening - a focused time of worship and prayer.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the Sellers family and for Steve’s mom, Evelyn. Pray that Evelyn would grow stronger physically, and do the things that she needs to do in order to recover.

Please pray for Ann, Lynn and Sue’s Uncle Gray (who is the brother of Vivian Hughes)

Please pray for Awakening on July 25th!

Please pray for 7 year old Kaitlyn Ladowsky, granddaughter of Janice Graves (friend of Brian Perkins). She is very sick with a burst appendix.

All for now - See you Sunday!

Chase

Agape mini-newsletter: Special July 4th Holiday Edition.

Greetings to all,

The newsletter is a little late because I have spent the better part of the last two days fighting a life and death battle between me and an almost innumerable army of bloodthirsty foes. Yes, thanks to our dog, we are undergoing the Battle of the Fleas. The good news is that it looks like we are finally winning. The bad news is that I’m pretty sure that I have violated the Geneva Conventions against chemical warfare multiple times. They attacked my children, however, and I will not tolerate that! ;)

Speaking of battles, this Sunday is July the 4th. I am not normally one to bring special “holiday” style messages, but this Sunday shall represent something of an exception. We are going to be looking at three different periods of our American military history (including a shocking one where our own government proposed an attack on the people of the United States of America, with an intent to blame it on another country!), three inspiring or surprising stories of liberty in America, and then examine scripture, where we will find three practical and applicable principles for prevailing and overcoming in spiritual areas. I know that some might be out of town, but if you are here, I think you are going to want to join us Sunday.

I am also planning on asking some interesting American history trivia questions - so come prepared!

Prayer needs:

Please pray for Linda Roberts, who is in the hospital again with a fever.

Please pray for Tommy and Johnnie Marshall

Also - Awakening is coming, Sunday, July 25th at 6:00pm. More on what that means very soon.

See you Sunday!

Chase

Agape Special Meeting Sunday + Sunday afternoon picnic!

Hello all,

We’ve got a big weekend coming up! This Sunday morning, we will be having a very special service that will feature David and the youth sharing with us about various Spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, journaling, Bible intake, etc), and how God has been moving among them lately. Having gone on the Pursuit retreat, having heard the teaching they received, and having seen the mighty move of God in their midst, I urge you to come Sunday and join us for worship and word - it will be special!

Afterwards, we are going to meet at the Woodhaven Lakes clubhouse for a picnic/swim/fellowship gathering. There is a clubhouse there, a large playground for the kids, a nice swimming pool, tennis courts, and more, so it should be a lot of fun for us! The picnic/gathering begins at 2:00 pm, so you should have time to pick up your food and change clothes before we gather. Here are five things you need to know about this Picnic:

1. BYOM - Bring your own meat. There are grills at the clubhouse, and we will be grilling out meat to eat - bring enough for your family, and bring some to share as well. Don’t forget your grilling tools!

2. BYOOFAD - Don’t forget to bring your own other food and drink. This will be something of a covered dish style picnic, so be sure and bring some food and drink worth sharing. Ice and coolers will be helpful as well. We’ll provide the paper products and such.

3. BYOMS - Bring your own modest swimsuit, if you want to swim. If not, bring a tennis racket, or a frisbee, or even a good book to read somewhere in the shade.

4. BYOF - Bring your own friends. Invite a friend or two - encourage your kids to invite their friends!

5. BYOB - Bring your own Bee…I mean, Bible - because we will close out the day with a Genesis-style prayer time and Bible discussion. (all are invited - see below)

Our schedule:

2:00-3:00 - Food preparation and eating at the picnic pavilion.
3:00-6:00 - Fellowship, fun and frolicking at the pool, in the clubhouse, at the tennis courts, and on the playground
6:00 - Due to last week being Father’s Day, and next Sunday being July 4th, we are planning on having our Genesis home group meeting at the clubhouse. All are invited, and we will close out our picnic with a time of prayer, and a conversational study of Jesus and His ways.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO WOODHAVEN CLUBHOUSE!

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for Lamar’s brother, who has had a mild heart attack, and possibly several mini-strokes. Please also pray for Lamar and Ginger’s father, who has had some heart issues as well recently. Pray for healing, peace, and stress relief!

Please pray for Linda Roberts and her surgery, as well as her son Landon having tubes put in his ears.

Please pray for Greg’s dad, as he continues to recover from a stroke.

Please pray for Hannah Hicks to fully recover from her broken leg. ‘

Please pray that God would radically raise our prayer and worship level together as a fellowship - we need an Awakening!
It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming, and I look forward to seeing you then!

Chase

Agape Newsletter - Special Captain Kirk Edition.

Hello everybody, and welcome in to another sun-soaked, game tied with Slovenia, Agape newsletter.

This Sunday should be interesting. We are going to gather and worship the One-True-God, and also have a message entitled, “RISK”, or alternatively, “Boldly Going Where No Man Has Gone Before”. Tired of plain-Jane Christianity? Tired of the drudgery? Well, I am - I believe the Father desires to lead us into places where we will only survive (and thrive) by faith. How does it look when a person lives by faith? How does it look when a church group, a community of Christ, purposes to fully follow God in faith? These are the questions that we will explore (through God’s Word) this Sunday. These are the issues that we will be living out this Summer and this Fall. Come and join us for a peak at the future, and the God who calls His people to come out onto the waters and walk with Him.

Also - NEXT Sunday (the 27th) we are having a church-wide picnic and swimming gathering after Sunday morning worship (from 2-6). We will need to bring enough food and such to share with each other. and also our modest swimsuits and tennis rackets, etc. The picnic will be at the Woodhaven community center in Pinson (off of highway 75), and we will have a map and directions next week. Because of the picnic starting at 2, you should be able to go home and prepare food to bring to the picnic, or at least grab something from the grocery store. There will be more details this Sunday and next week. There is a nice pool (with slide and diving board) at Woodhaven, as well as a children’s pool, two tennis courts, a grill for cooking, and a large playground for the kids. Make plans now to come join us!

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the Cusimano family, and for Greg and his dad, who is in a nursing home recovering from a stroke.

Please continue to pray for Linda Roberts, and her mom, who has had a stroke this week.

Please continue to pray for Steve Seller’s mom Evelyn.

Please continue to pray for Ruth Marshall, Joy and Joshua Jacobs, and Lori and Ginger McNamee.

Please pray for Lisa Muncher, a friend of the Jenkins family.

See you Sunday!

Chase

P.S. - Want an excellent, free audiobook? You can get Francis Chan’s The Forgotten God - Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit at this link (highly recommended): http://christianaudio.com/free

Agape Newsletter: Special June Showers Bring July Fireworks Edition (Also: Genesis Sunday Night!)

Hello all, and welcome to another Agape newsletter,