West-Ark Newsletter, 16 June 2002

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Family Lines Newsletter, June 16, 2002
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We often consider appetite to be a curse. It can be destructive, but it more commonly blesses. Appetite loss is a symptom of numerous unhealthy conditions. No appetite is the symptom of serious health problems. Good health includes a healthy appetite.

Regarding appetite, physical well being and spiritual well being share much in common.

In a sermon, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6).

His statement is part of a list called the beatitudes. Often studies of this list focus on individual beatitudes without first seeing the overall picture. While the study of each beatitude is beneficial, it is essential to see the overall picture the beatitudes, together, draw. Jesus verbally pictured healthy dedication to godly existence.

In healthy dedication to godliness, spiritual appetite serves an essential role. A satisfied appetite for righteousness results from hungering and thirsting for righteousness. If there is no appetite for godly existence, one will not experience spiritual health.

Spiritual "junk food" cannot produce spiritual health. Declaring spiritual "junk food" to be "God's healthy diet" cannot produce spiritual health. Our appetite must be for righteousness. It cannot be an appetite for (a) the past, (b) a defense of traditional forms, (c) a promotion of preferences, (d) an advocacy of "my" conclusions, or (e) fads. It must hunger for God's priorities and purposes.

Have you examined your spiritual health lately? How is your spiritual appetite? For what do you hunger? What satisfies you? Do you hunger for a deeper understanding of Jesus? Do you hunger to pray? Do you hunger to study the Bible? Do you hunger to allow Jesus actually to be Lord of your life on a daily basis? Do you hunger to encourage God's Spirit as he encourages you?

Do you have little or no spiritual appetite? Do you distance yourself from God? Is spirituality primarily appearing at some church building on Sunday morning? Do you enjoy being "away" from Christians? Do you handle crises alone? Is prayer a last resort? Are God's purposes consciously excluded from your decisions? Do "fun times" occur with people who do not care about God? Do you consider godly matters boring?

A healthy appetite for righteousness includes (a) awareness of God's accomplishments for us in Jesus' death; (b) life's deepest sense of indebtedness; (c) a profound grief for the evil in us; (c) a constant realization of dependence on God; and (d) the joy of salvation combined with the fulfillment of freedom from evil because of Christ's forgiveness.

For the convenience of parents with children, we offer a staffed nursery throughout the entire worship service for children birth through 24 months. Additionally, we have Children's Worship on Sunday Morning during the preaching time of the service for children who are 2 years old through the second grade.

You are welcome to take advantage of these services, although you do not have to. Your children are always welcome in our worship assembly. Children should not be expected to behave as adults. It is natural for children sitting together to interact with one another and cause a disturbance. Rather than expecting more from a child than he/she is capable of, help them meet your expectations by creating the right environment for them.

*Take your child(ren) to the restroom before the worship time begins. Trips to the restroom are very often the result of boredom, not a real need. Cutting down unnecessary trips will reduce distractions in the service. (This could apply to adults as well!)

*Save activities you have for your children until the preaching portion of the service. Encourage them to participate at a level they are capable of during the other portions. This includes children who will be leaving at the preaching time for children's church. Singing and praising God are activities most children can participate in and enjoy.

*Encourage your child(ren) to listen to the sermon (even if they are busy with some quiet activity such as drawing). Discuss with them later what they heard and what it meant to them. This can provide wonderful opportunities to direct your child's spiritual growth.

*We do provide a Children's Worship Bulletin for ages 3-6 and also a Bible Activity Sheet for kids ages 7-12. These can be found on the table right before you enter the auditorium.

*Adults who have no children to care for during the worship time are encouraged to help those who do. This is an example of how the church can come alongside as a partner to parents who are raising their children to know the Lord.

This seminar for men and women will look at:
*The strengths of different personality types.
*The blessings different personality types offer a congregation.
*Understanding and respect for differing personality types.

This workshop is designed to help us reach and utilize a variety of personality types in our ministries. The desired result should be a deeper understanding of others.

Charley Douglas returned to the hospital Wednesday for additional treatment for kidney stones. He is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4502.

**Baby Showers**
A shower in honor of Amy Lowry is planned for Sunday, June 23rd, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in Helen Pratt's home at 3705 May Branch Lane. Amy's mother and sisters (Debbie, Ashley and Sidney Edwards) plan to be here from Florida for the shower! Amy and Eric are expecting a boy (Wyatt) and are registered at Toys 'R Us and Blessed Baby in Greenpointe Center.

A Baby shower in honor of Jeannie McDonald is planned for Sunday, June 30th, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the home of Helen Pratt at 3705 May Branch. Jeannie and Travis are registered at Wal-Mart and Toys 'R Us.

**Wedding Shower**
A shower honoring Aaron Davis and Amanda Moulder is planned for Sunday, June 30th, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at 8106 Valley Forge Road. Hostesses are Linda Wear, Terri Jones and Denise Lusby. They are registered at Dillards, Pier One and Wal-Mart.

**Inner City Ministry**
Saturday, June 15th is our next luncheon and devotional. Lunch workers meet at 11:15 a.m. across from Fort Smith Beverage. Workers who sack food and sort clothes meet at 10:30 a.m. at the CURE Building on Windsor Drive.

"Journeys For Jesus"
VBS 2002 is July 22-26
Please contact: Carolyn Harrell (646-3325), Heather Curtis (452-3290), or Dena Jenkins (478-6486)
if you can help in any way.

**Note of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Church Family,
My mother is proof of what the power of prayer can do. I got a letter from my sister the other day. She said Mama (who is 90 years old) is healing and doing really great. She is so thankful and proud to be free from pain, soreness and hurt. God has been good to her and to me for blessing me with a mother like her. Thank you so very much for your love and your prayers.
I love you so much.
Allie Whitaker

Peer Pressure is an amazing thing. It has been and will continue to be studied, along with the effects it has on everyone it touches. This past week, I witnessed a specific act of peer pressure and the effect it had on one of our young people. I watched a 6 year old get totally wrapped up in the effects of peer pressure. That's right, a 6 year old. Peer pressure does not discriminate.

This 6 year old girl went out to eat with her immediate and extended family. While they were going through the line together, the dad noticed that his 6 year old daughter was ordering everything her 9 year old cousin was ordering.

The 9 year old got chocolate milk to drink, so the 6 year old followed suit (even though she's never ordered chocolate milk in a restaurant before). This same pattern continued on down the food line and throughout lunch. She sat by her, talked like her, and even ate like her. It would be safe to say that peer pressure led the 6 year old to do and eat things she might not even like, but she did it anyway.

This isn't the first time I've witnessed behavior like this. I'm sure you've seen it too, in many shapes and in many forms. By watching how this pressure can influence even a child, we should learn to not be surprised by the fact that our teens will often do things and go along with the crowd, even when they don't want to and when they may not even like what they are doing.
There are many spiritual lessons to learn from peer pressure and what it does to the person. However, I will focus on only one this week.

The summer is finally here. The opportunity to be influenced by many different things is also here. You will make the choice, as parents and teens, as to what you will allow to "pressure" you. Whether you realize it or not, peer pressure can be good as well as bad.

My challenge is simple: This summer, leave the TV turned off. Stay off the computer. Don't get so caught up in video games and movies. Get off the couch and GET INVOLVED.

This summer holds great opportunities for you to be "pressured" to form a lot of good habits. Surround yourself with other Christians who put your spiritual well being first. Help us paint someone's house. Go to a Christian camp. Get involved in Vacation Bible School and help make a difference in the life of a child. Even if it's "not your thing," and even if you think you won't like it, you just might find out that you do, and IT JUST MIGHT CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Sunday Worship (10:30).............543
Sunday Classes (9:30) ...............367
Evening Worship (6:00)..............211
Wednesday Worship (7:00)........ 349
Sunday Contribution ............$14,809