My wife hit the pole in the picture below. Thank the Lord she's okay. You see, she blacked out as she was entering the mall parking lot. She said she had a very hard time getting her breath. As she gasped for air she blacked out and hit the only pole in the parking lot. The air bags deployed and she was taken to the emergency room. Unfortunately the car is totalled.

So here's the God part:

The only pole in the lot. Lots of people lots of cars but only the pole was hit. My daughters were at home.

Praise the Lord

Chad

New Baby

Madison Mong was born on Wednesday 17th at 9pm. She's very healthy and beautiful. Congratulations to Matthew and Angela on the birth of their new daughter. They will definitely be thrilled with the new responsibilities of parenthood.

Our Father in heaven teaches us how to love our children by the way he loves us. Make a promise today to love your children. Renew your commitment as a Father to raise your children as Christ "Raises" us. Love them,set the example. Show them how a mother/wife should be loved. Teach them about savings and handling money. Teach them that life isn't only about work. Teach them that life isn't just about play time. Show them the love and teachings of Christ.

Now that we've made that commitment again, let's remember that our success can only happen through Christ.

Jesus, you love us and show us the perfect example of being a Father. Strengthen me and make me wise to be the Father that you've intended. Help me to lead my household in a way that reflects your image. I know I will fail. I know you will be there to pick me up and help me not make the same mistake again. Thank you for that.
I love you, I need you, my kids need you.
In your precious name.
Amen

Background

I felt maybe I should introduce myself:

My name is Chad Agler. I was born in Emporia, Kansas where I grew up with three sisters and one brother. The oldest sibling is 9 years older and the youngest is 9 years younger than I. My parents are Bob & Marcia Agler who moved to Emporia when they got married as Dad was finishing his Accounting Degree.

I came along about 11 years into their marriage. Before this time, my parents weren't Christians. Dad got saved about 4 months before I was born after living a life of drinking heavily and living on his own terms. Mom didn't like the new Dad, but that all changed when the doctor announced that I was breach and had a weakening set of vitals. Dad and his friend layed hands on Mom's tummy (freaking her out) and prayed. While they prayed I moved in her womb a 180 and they were able to begin the process. Unfortunately, they still had to do an emergency C-section (spelling?)

From that day on our home was a Christian Home.

Dad had us in church as long as I can remember. I lived on a great block and the church was in our back yard. It was great getting to grow up there and ride bikes and play in the park on my block.

As I grew up in church we moved to the Assembly of God church when I was 6. I learned all of the bible stories and grew in knowledge of God. HOWEVER, it was common to be taught that I needed to make sure I get back to Christ any time I fell. I never, ever learned about God's grace until I was 25.

I got a 3.92 GPA at Emporia High School. My focus was on Music and Wrestling (I wrestled since the age of 4).

I graduated from High school and attended Kansas State University for a degree in Music - Vocal Performance. I'd already won several honors in high school and won the NATS (National Association of Teachers in Singing)in Denver Colorado.

April 22nd of my Freshman year I had my first real date with my bride. She was an Art Education major and we knew we were ment to be together from day one.

We were married August 15, 1992 in Manhattan Kansas. My wife, Deanna, came from Clay Center so we lived in Clay Center and commuted to KSU for our school. Deanna soon dropped out to help me finish school and get my Music Education Degree so we could prepare to start a family. I graduated Dec 10, 1994.

Jan 5, 2005 I started teaching at Solomon School District. I taught K-12 Vocal music for 2 years. Mayci Dawn, our youngest was born in my first semester of teaching. She was a beautiful girl with long, thick black hair. I was so, so happy to be a Dad. It was the best gift my wife could ever give me.

Child expenses and living beyond our means forced me to quit teaching and try my hand at selling cars (my Brother's suggestion as he had excellent success by now). So I commuted to Manhattan again selling cars for one year at Briggs Auto. After much success, my Brother wanted me to move back to Emporia to work for him.

November 11, 1997 Tori Ann was born and what a cute delight. Again I was truly blessed. I sold for Creig for 8 months and then was moved into Finance. I spent the next 7 years doing finance for the dealership and prospering very, very much. During this time, Creig bought Burlington Motors and I ran that dealership for 1.5 years until he sold it due to financial losses. This resulted in me getting fired from the company.

This event changed my life in so many ways. I've never failed before and I felt like that's what happened. I had anger and resentment like I'd never felt before. My Brother and I still haven't been close since this time, but it will heal. Finally, I was offered a job to be New Vehicle Sales Manager for Briggs in Topeka, KS.

Russ Briggs and I had been friends for a long time. So I worked for him and after several negative things happened to me there I left looking for a finance job. After a month and a half at Ed Bozarth, I ended up at Laird Noller Ford with a finance job again.

I'm very blessed by this job and am truly in a great position to be a witness.

Through all of this I attended a Baptist church, Evangelical Covenant Church, Methodist Church, Nazarene church ( in Emporia where I led worship for 6 years) and finally my home at Fellowship Bible Church of Topeka, KS.

It's at the Nazarene Church that I learned about Grace. It's at the FBC of Topeka that I'm learning to be a real disciple and mentor.

I'll write more about this new experience later.

Welcome!

Welcome to this, the first post for All That Matters...Jump.

You're probably wondering just what A.T.M....Jump means?

Source unknown

All that Matters
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”

You see, it's this story that reflects how I (and many others) feel about God and Jesus Christ. The world around us is bombarding us with so much that we sometimes can't hear or see our way out or our way to safety. Christ came that we might have life and have it better than ever. So if we just listen and follow His instructions we can't lose.

Now 34 years old, I've realized that the world doesn't revolve around me and "it's not all about me". Christ, however, wants everything we do to revolve around Him and in return He will guide every step we take, every decision we make and all we have to do is have FAITH.

That's what ATM Jump is all about. My hope is that everyone who visits will leave great stories of faith in which God did something beyond yourself. Something that you could never have done alone. Something so special and fantastic that you have to tell someone about it....well, here's your chance.

Your stories, your victories, God's moment!

Have a great time and tell us about everything great that your Faith in Christ has brought!

Chad Agler
Topeka, Kansas