West-Ark Newsletter, 30 June 2002

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Family Lines Newsletter, June 30, 2002
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Everyone looks for peace. People look for it in different places. Everyone wants peace. The only people who abandon that search are convinced they cannot have it. Because of this conclusion, they settle for forms of temporary escape from the moment's struggles.

For what is everyone looking? Because "peace" is one word, many are convinced that everyone looks for the same thing. That conviction deceives. It is not unusual for people's concepts of peace to differ radically.

Some people's concept of peace is focused on "me." "Peace is having no one hassling me about anything--including my wife, my husband, my children, my parents, my brothers and sisters, my neighbors, my friends, my boss, or my fellow workers." Peace is having the freedom that permits "me" to do anything "I" want to do without others bothering "me."

Some people's concept of peace focuses on needs. "I never am caught up! My husband needs too much! My wife needs too much! My kids need too much! Everyone who impacts my life needs too much! For me, peace would be escaping all these needs!"

Concepts of peace multiply: the absence of conflict; the absence of violence; the absence of grief; the absence of guilt; forgetting the past; not fearing the future; escaping sickness; eliminating conflict between the important people in my life; significantly reducing hate, greed, and inhuman treatment of others in our society or our world; etc.

All these concepts of peace frequently share a common denominator. This is the concept: peace is the absence of struggle. Our definitions of struggle vary greatly. Often peace destroys or resolves the source of our struggles.

Were I to form a list of Bible people who had peace, high on that list would be Jesus and Paul. I use them now because of their contrast. Jesus experienced the struggles produced by his disciples' small faith, the Pharisees' opposition, people's poor focus on life, misrepresentations, and temptation. His death was violent, misunderstood, and lonely.

Paul's pre-Christian past was horrible. His post-Christian reality was filled with conflict and danger. Often those who benefited most from his sacrifices caused his greatest grief.

Yet, each man had an enormous sense of personal peace. How could they endure such struggle and have such peace? Simple -- peace is not the absence of struggle. Peace is found in an eternal relationship with God that gives life an indestructible meaning. In God, you gain identity. In God, you live for eternal values. That is peace's foundation.

On June 8-14th, I had the incredible opportunity to travel with a team of 48 people to spend a week at The City of Children. This Christian children's home is located on the Baha Peninsula of western Mexico. The home currently has about 125 children from newborn babies to college age kids. When a child goes to the home he receives the basics of food, shelter, clothing, medical needs and attends public school. But more importantly, they receive the word of God through daily Bible study and worship services.

Since this was my first visit, I didn't know exactly what to expect when I arrived at the City of Children. Every morning we were involved in a work project. We poured concrete, built an enclosed garage, painted, or did whatever projects the orphanage needed done. There was also a group of us who traveled to EL Zorrillo (45 minute drive) and did some work projects with the Church of Christ there.

During the afternoon we spent time in games and activities with the children. Early evening was spent with our teens and adults leading a Vacation Bible School for the children there. After the City of Children kids went to their dorms for the evening, our team spent time singing together and also sharing encouragement from the Word. This devotional fellowship time was a perfect way to finish each day. Although I went to the City of Children to serve and teach those there, I learned and gained more insight from this experience than I thought I would. God taught me how amazing it is that the language barrier is not a problem when you are sharing love.

Jesus has said that anyone who is involved in giving even a cold cup of water to one of these little ones will certainly not be forgotten. The week I spent at the City of Children in Mexico, I witnessed our team of 48 people serving "cool cups of water" over and over again. Without a doubt, it was a privilege to spend time with those children in Mexico. My life has been truly touched in a positive way with the blessings of that week.

If you would like more information about how you can take part in the City of Children Mexico Mission 2003, see Brad Pistole, Ron Lenderman, Joe Pistole or me.

**Family Meeting**
Please remember and attend our Family Meeting this Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Each fifth Sunday the elders ask us to devote the evening to congregational interaction. Deacons present information that affects all of us. You are asked for input, to share your thoughts. They really care about your thinking. They want us to share spiritual insights as we dedicate ourselves to God's purposes.

This Sunday evening the majority of the time is to be dedicated to receiving your input regarding worship assemblies. They envision a constructive sharing time that helps all of us see our diversity and our needs. The objective: to seek spiritual growth and spiritual development for everyone. In no sense do they see it as a time of confrontation, but a time of sharing. God's love expressed in Christ enables us to be His people. Our love for each other should enable us to increase insights and understanding by sharing.

**This Sunday's Emphasis**
Morning: The Basic Issue: Who Reigns? By David Chadwell
Evening: Devotional and Family Meeting followed by
fellowship meal in the Family Life Center.
Please bring desserts!

**Give Thanks to God**
In your prayers express gratitude and appreciation to God. Thank Him for providing the blessings received by Warren Gardenhire and Elizabeth Evans. Each of their situations offered little encouragement when they left for surgery in other cities. Both returned to Fort Smith with an encouraging prognosis. We earnestly asked for God's help. Just as earnestly thank God for His blessings!

**Drivers Needed**
We are currently and desperately needing additional drivers for the "widows" van. If you can help, please call Rod Jones, Wilburn Howard, or the office.

*Anita Maxell (mother of Laurie Armstrong) has been diagnosed with colon cancer which has metastasized to her liver. She is scheduled for surgery to prevent further blockage of the colon on June 27 at St. Edward Hospital. Mrs. Maxwell has recently moved to Fort Smith.

*Warren Gardenhire had surgery in Little Rock on Tuesday. He received a good report following the surgery. Instead of a cyst behind his ear, he had scar tissue that had accumulated over the years from ear infections. It was removed, and he is now home and doing well.

*Elizabeth Evans continues to recover from surgery. She was dismissed from Oklahoma City University Medical Center on Thursday and is now at home.

*Roger Ransom has moved to a nursing home in Tulsa. If you would like to send a card, his address is: Georgian Court, 2552 E. 21st, Tulsa, OK 74114.

**Notes of Thanks**
Thank you for your prayers, cards, calls, and food during Roger's illness. Words can't begin to express my appreciation for the kindness you have shown.
Betty Ransom

Thanks for everything you did in our time of sorrow. Thank you very much for the wonderful meal you prepared for us in the death of our precious mother, Vera Jean Bradley.
May God richly bless you,
Chuck and Rachel Dalton

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

**Widows/Widowers**
We're having a Homemade Ice Cream Social on Saturday, July 6th at 2:00 p.m. (notice the change from our usual time)! We will provide the ice cream -- please bring cookies if you like. If they are homemade, bring your recipe, and we'll make a copy. Call Janice, Bobbie, or Mary if you need a ride to the building.

**In Our Nursery**
Infants: Christy Pressley, Kay Pressley, Hannah Pressley
Toddlers: Louise Howard, Cami Stancil
Evening: Robertta Moses, Laurie Armstrong

**Home Furnishings Needed**
Oscar Nolasco (our new Spanish-speaking minister) and his family will be arriving in Fort Smith this summer. They were told the West-Ark church would fill a house with furnishings for them, as they are selling everything they own before moving to the United States.

We are starting to collect things for their arrival. They need beds, chairs, tables, washer, dryer, lamps, pictures, dishes, etc. -- everything you need to turn a vacant house into a welcoming home!

"Journeys For Jesus"
VBS 2002 is July 22-26
Make a difference in the life of a child this summer.
We need teachers, assistants, crafts workers, and teen helpers!
Sign-up sheeets are in the foyer.

Wow! What a week this will be! We start off this week in late June by spending a couple of days at the home of Aubrey Walden. Some of the teens are volunteering their time this week to help scrape and paint Aubreys house. What a great time of fellowship and service to begin our week.

Then, a group of about 30 teens will leave this Friday night for Little Rock. The annual Splashdown Lock-in for Church of Christ Youth Groups will take place from 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. Thats right. Well be up all night this weekend. So please keep me and Michael Blasdel in your prayers as we drive back home after being up for 24 straight hours. There will be about 1,000 teens present from Churches of Christ all across the state.

Finally, we leave this coming Sunday, June 30, for Craig Frosts session at Green Valley Bible Camp. I will be driving a van up this Sunday for any teen wishing to ride with me. Plans are to leave the parking lot this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. I will also drive the group back home on Saturday and we will return around 11 a.m.

If you are going to ride with us to Green Valley Bible Camp, please sign the list on the youth board upstairs no later than this Sunday morning, so we will know who to expect at 2 p.m. We will have about 12 kids at camp this next week, so pray that they will grow from this time of study and fellowship with other Christians.

Finally, its that exciting time of year when plans are being finalized for a great week of Vacation Bible School. The theme for this year is Journeys for Jesus and when we return from camp, it will be ALL VBS until July 22-26.

We will work on VBS preparations the week of July 10-12 and July 17-19. If you are a teen and you can volunteer your time, we could use your help. We will be painting and making other preparations for the auditorium. We will meet each day from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

For further details about any remaining summer event, check out our calendar on the youth website at www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/youth.

**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30).............616
Sunday Classes (9:30) ...............459
Evening Worship (6:00)..............264
Wednesday Worship (7:00)........ 324
Sunday Contribution .............$15,241