Family Lines Newsletter, April 14, 2002
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The Blessing of Light
David Chadwell
Recently as we went to bed, we opened the bedroom window "a crack" to enjoy the cool, fresh air of early spring.  The next morning before our alarm clock sounded, it was daylight.  As morning light arrived, the birds held a choral convention in my yard.  The sky was clear and blue.  The sun filled the new day with its soft early light.  It  sounded and felt like spring!   The sunlight intensified the meaning and feeling of life!

I am delighted "light" is the symbol of the highest good people know.  God is light (1 John 1:5).  He is pure light, light completely free from any influence of darkness.  I am delighted there is no conflict between loving God and loving light.
Years ago I was in a graduate Bible class studying Matthew 5:14.  My teacher reminded everyone that light is manifested in many forms.  Some of those forms are not helpful.  People often use light in threatening or hurtful forms. 

Concentrated light misused blinds temporarily or permanently.  Bright headlights are wonderful on the road at night. When flashed in our eyes at night, they temporarily blind us.  Sunshine blesses us in more ways than most of us can count.  Staring directly into the sun can blind us permanently.

I walk several times a week.  The winter months are the greatest challenge to my walking.  No, it is not the cold or the wind that makes my winter walking a challenge.  It is the darkness.  Street lights are truly helpful, but nothing can compete with sunshine!  Sunshine brings a unique, special feeling to my life.  I never take it for granted!

God, the eternal light Who is free from all evil influence, sent Jesus to be light of the world (John 8:12).  Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."  The man or woman willing to be Jesus' disciple becomes a light who sees how to live.  The source of his or her light is Jesus.  A Christian is a light only when he or she reflects Jesus.

Let your light reveal God's goodness.  Never reflect Jesus in an attempt to blind others.  Always reflect him in ways that help others see.  When they see, they will understand God's works are good.  They will understand God is the source of your good works.  They will see God is responsible for the good that exists in you.

They, too, will learn to love the light because they understand the wondrous benefit of seeing.  Reflect light so that people may find life in Jesus and good in God.
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Excursions in Education
by Ted Edwards

God has planted special young people in our congregation at West-Ark. They love the Lord and yearn to give Him glory. They are extremely talented and gifted. They need to be put to work in God's kingdom if we intend to keep them in it as the years go on.
One way that our 3rd – 12th graders have found to use their talents for God is Leadership Training for Christ. Is LTC the perfect leadership program for our children? No, it isn't perfect -- but it is the most advantageous ministry that I’ve ever been involved with to help us raise up the generation that will take the world for Jesus. About 50 adults have worked diligently helping our young people use their talents in a variety of ways.

This Sunday Evening at 6:00 p.m. you’ll have an opportunity to share in an assembly service led by many of our young men who participated in LTC this year. Also, displays of their artwork, bulletin boards, banners, poems etc will be on display. After the service we will have an awards ceremony/pizza party in the FLC for all LTC participants, coaches, mentors and their families. I encourage you to come and see what our young people have been working on the last couple of months. May God bless our efforts to serve his precious children!

 
Parenting By Grace Bible Class will begin this Sunday morning in Room 200. This Parenting Class will enrich your parenting experience regardless of how old your children are -- from infants to teenagers. If you’d like to learn practical skills to help you parent more effectively based on the model of God’s relationship with His children … this class is for you. Beginning Sunday April 14th at 9:30 a.m. in Room 200.

 
LIFE Group 2nd Anniversary Celebration Meal will be on Friday night, April 19, 6 p.m. at the home of Donna and Larry Roper. It is for leaders, co-leaders and their families.

 
**Pictorial Directory**
New West-Ark Pictorial Church Directory is on the way. This time we are producing the directory in house. Picture updates will be taken at our building Sunday, April 14th, 21st, 28th, and also on Wednesday, April 17th and 24th. Stop by Room 106 (the two-year-old class, off the foyer) on any of these dates ½ hour before services begin or after services conclude.
 
 
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Classes
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Room 100   Tom Benincosa/Mat Griffin - 1 John
Library        Bill  Dickey/Class Members - Select Topics
Room 200   Ron Lenderman - Parenting by Grace
Room 203   David Chadwell - Hosea
Room 202   Joe Pistole/Gary Green - Back to Basics: 1st Principles
Room 211   Larry Roper/Bob Fisher - A Study in Jesus' Teachings
Room 210   Jerry Canfield/Gary Brown/Kevin Roberts - Revelation
Auditorium  Roy Dunavin/Bill Walker - 1 Corinthians
Annex        David Burns/Philip Burns - Young Adult Discussion Group
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Wednesday Night Adult Bible Classes
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Auditorium David Chadwell -  Mark
FLC          Ted Edwards -  Peak of the Week
203           Roy Dunavin/Michael Cole - Guyana Mission Team
Annex       David Burns/Philip Burns - Topical studies
200           Bob Null -  Men's study class
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**Round Robin is April 22-26**
 
**Teacher Appreciation Dinner** is 6:00 p.m. Saturday night,
April 13th in the Family Life Center.
 
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**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
Mary Broyles is having a series of tests. Her last one is Friday.
David Harwell is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4320.
Jack Bew (Diane Arnold's father) is improving. He hopes to be released from Baptist Hospital by the weekend.
Waymon Griffin (Mat's mother) is in Health South Rehab, room 210A.
Roger Ransom (husband of Betty) remains in Sparks Hospital, room 641.
Julie Vanderpool is in Sparks, room 488.
 
**Continued Prayers**
Tyler Ogletree (Jane Choate's great-grandson); C. V. Combs (Chuck's father); Woody Berger (David's father); Dot Turpin (Winston's mother); Wendell Needham; James Epton (Rebecca Holloway's father); Erma Beshears (Patti Anderson's mother).
 
**Missionaries**
In Thailand: _____; Thomas and Kindy Kweeku
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Mary Frances Jackson in the death of Charles on Tuesday. Funeral services will be Friday, 2:00 p.m. at Edwards Chapel, 201 N. 12th, in Fort Smith.
 
 
Our love and sympathy is extended to Kathy Rosalez in the unexpected death of her nephew, Wayne Lester.  Wayne is survived by his wife and two young sons. Funeral services are Tuesday, April 16, 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, 910 North 7th Street in Fort Smith. The family will receive visitors at Lewis Funeral Home on Monday, April 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
 
**Baptism**
Debbie Payne
5128 Lovett lane
Fort Smith, AR 72904
Phone: 782-0991
Debbie was baptized Sunday morning. She is the niece of Curtis McDonald.
 
**Good News!**
Four men responded to the gospel message presented Sunday morning by Steve Breedlove at the Sebastian County Jail. Arrangements are being made for their baptisms this week.
 
**Baby Shower**
A shower honoring Arianna Heras (daughter of Louis and Mickey Mendez) is planned for Sunday, April 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Annex. Arianna is registered at Wal-Mart and Toys 'R Us.
 
**Bridal Showers**
A shower honoring Mandy Russell, bride-elect of Darren Chilton, is planned for Sunday, April 28th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Annex. Mandy is registered at Linen and Things, Penneys, and Crate and Barrel.
 
A shower honoring Lindsay Barton, bride-elect of Dale Lusby, is planned for Sunday, April 21, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the FLC. Dale and Lindsay are registered at Dillards, Linens 'N Things, and Wal-Mart.
 
 
*WCC Bond Wanted**
A member of the congregation would like to purchase a West-Ark Church bond. Please call the church office if you are interested in selling your bond.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear Friends at West-Ark,
Thank you for your prayers, visits and cards during my recent hospital stays. It is a great comfort to me to know you care.
Sincerely,
Anna Ramsey
 
 
We wish to send you our deepest thanks for the flowers and food. It means a lot to have such love and support at a time like this.
The Allison Family
(Barbara Smith)
 
**60+ Spring Potluck**
. . . is Saturday, April 20th at 6 p.m. in the FLC. Come and enjoy our special entertainment. You'll be sorry if you miss it!!
 
**LTC - Sunday Evening**
6:00 p.m. LTC service will be led by our young men.
All LTC kids need to be here at 5:45 with your green t-shirt on.
All displays, banners, bulletin boards, poems, etc. set up by 5:45 in the foyer.
LTC Awards and Pizza Party immediately following the worship assembly in the FLC for all participants, coaches, and their families.
 
**KFC Classes will not meet Sunday night.**
 
**Happy Birthday**
April 20
Robin Webber
April 21
Inez Hatfield
Jewell Madzey
April 22
Lindsay Hines
April 23
Sarah Jane Gilley
Zachary Jennings
Erin Mason
Mia Nelson
April 24
Gary Green
Cristy Pressley
Wes Sawyer
April 25
Adriane Anderson
Karen Carter
Edith Marymont
Madine Rose
April 26
Addi Floyd
April 27
Paula Morgan
Clark Risley
April 28
Michael Cole
Janet Gunter
Genneil Nye
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**Living Images of God's Healing Truth**
By Brad Pistole
 
Another year of LTC has come and gone. Each year offers various numbers of blessings to our young people and their families. This Sunday night, April 14th, you will have the opportunity to witness what our young people have been working on for the past 4 months. The 6 p.m. worship service will be committed to the LTC program. Come support our young people as they sing, preach, read scripture, lead puppets, and act in plays that teach us how to live lives that honor Christ.

One of the specific blessings that has come from LTC this year is that many of our teens have really fallen in love with singing praises to God. We had a large chorus and a small chorus this year. Our small chorus, a quartet, has decided they don’t want to wait on LTC each year to sing. They are making plans to continue singing as a group throughout the year.

The quartet (consisting of Daniel Word, Sara Word, John Berger, and Casey Benincosa) are singing next weekend at the monthly 60+ function. They are also making plans to sing at local nursing homes and wherever else they can. If you would like to have the quartet sing at one of your activities, please contact Tom or Roxie Benincosa.

There will be an awards ceremony this Sunday night after the special LTC service. We will eat together and hand out the awards to each group and each individual that participated. We look forward to even more young people and their families getting involved in LTC in 2003. If you’re interested, please talk to our new leaders for LTC Central: Hank and Pam Watlington. Volunteers, thanks for all the help. You make the world go round!
 
**Coming Event**
Sunday night, April 21st: trip to Springdale for Sunday Night Live Teen Services.
Leave at 4:15 p.m. and return by 9:30 p.m. Supper will be provided FREE!
 
**Nursery Schedule**
A.M. Infants: Trish Carson, Lisa Broom, Misty Floyd
Toddlers: Jon Huff, Liz Huff,
Evening: Marquita Walker, Molly Walker, Roxie Benincosa
 
**Schedule of Services**
 
Sunday Worship (10:30).............632
Sunday Classes (9:30) ...............381
Evening Worship (6:00).............. 333
Wednesday Worship (7:00)........ 379
Sunday Contribution ............$16,317
 
Office Phone (501) 452-1240
Fax  (501) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org