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Family Lines Newsletter, July 28, 2002
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**Thinking -- The Learning Process**
By David Chadwell
 
Very early in life I was fascinated by people's thought process.  I remember in my teen years consciously seeking to understand people whose thought process significantly differed from mine. When others used information common to each of us to think different thoughts, I was fascinated. I cannot give a reason for this fascination.  I have no idea why it began early, nor why that observation was important to me.
 
People process information in different ways.  Some processing procedures are radically different.  We do not all "think" alike when presented identical information.  Early in adult life I realized if I carefully listened to understand another's thinking, the likelihood significantly increased that he or she would listen to my thinking in a sincere attempt to understand me.
 
No one understands the thinking of others unless he or she learns to listen to understand.  Listening to understand does not mean we listen to agree.  People have reasons for their thought process.  Even people with whom we disagree begin their thought process in a different context with a different set of priorities.
 
Understanding others who think differently than "I" begins with "my" willingness to understand how they process information.  A vast difference separates listening to understand and listening to make counter arguments, or listening for weaknesses, or listening to dominate, or listening to win, etc.  More than 50% of communication is listening to understand.  We each respond differently to the person who "understands me."
 
Within the foundation of many marital conflicts, parent-child conflicts, family conflicts, and congregational conflicts is a rejection of responsibility to understand another's thinking when he or she processes information differently.  How many conflicts could be significantly improved or resolved if each person in the conflict knew he or she was understood?
 
If significant progress occurs in today's world to strengthen (1) families and (2) congregations, we must accept the responsibility to understand the thinking of people who process information differently.  If we accept that challenge, we will move toward our Lord's objectives and our God's intents.  If we do not, family and congregational relationships will continue to degenerate into impersonal associations.
 
The fact that another processes information differently than "I" is not evidence that "I" am good and he or she is bad.  God's highest good cannot be achieved by forcing others to use "my" thought process.  God's highest good is achieved by everyone in Christ respecting and understanding each other's thought process. God is not the God of a single thought process.  God is the God of all thought processes.  For the Christian, each thought process results in surrendering to God through Jesus the Christ.
 
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West-Ark Adult Education Ministry
Summer Quarter 2002
 
2 Peter 3:18 instructs us to "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."  One way to do that is by attending Bible Classes on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The following is a list of our current Adult Classes that are available.
--Ted Edwards
 
**Sunday Morning**
 
Room 100, Tom Benicosa/Mat Griffin, Godly Character & Integrity
 
Library, Bill Dickey/Class Members, Godly Character & Integrity
 
Room 200, Ron Lenderman/Larry Todd, "Parenting by Grace: Discipline and Spiritual Growth"
 
Room 203, David Chadwell, Godly Character & Integrity
 
Room 202, Joe Pistole/Gary Green, "Back to Basics -- First Principles"
 
Room 211, Larry Roper/Bob Fisher, Godly Character & Integrity
 
Room 210, Jerry Canfield/Gary Brown/Kevin Roberts, Revelation
 
Auditorium, Roy Dunavin/Bill Walker, 1 Corinthians
 
Young Adult Discussion Group In Annex, David Burns/Philip Burns/Ron Orick, "Topical Studies"
 

**Wednesday Evening**
 
Auditorium, David Chadwell, "Mark"
 
FLC, Ted Edwards/David Boozer/Jeff Floyd, PEAK of the Week
 
Room 200, Bill Yick, OT Overview 
 
Room 203, Gary Brown, Hebrews (new class which starts July 31st)
 
Young Adult Discussion Group In Annex, David Burns/Philip Burns/Ron Orick, "Topical Studies"
  
**Jabulani Meeting in Fort Worth**
Next Wednesday, July 31 thru Sunday, August 4th there will be a wonderful celebration/missions meeting of African church leaders and current/former African Missionaries at the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX.  Meeting details are available at http://www.jabulaniafrica.org/ .  Any who have an interest are welcome to attend any of the sessions.  There is a registration fee and details are available on the website.  Jim Wilson will be a presenter on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. on the topic "Medical Missions and Evangelism: Coordinating with Different Medical Outreaches."
 
**Revelation Class**
We'll continue our Revelation class for grades 5, 6, and 7 Sunday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. in room 100.
 
**A Special Outreach Day**
West-Ark will host a special community-wide outreach day on Saturday, August 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. This is an all-out effort to build additional bridges of outreach to our community. If you would like more information call the church at 452-1240.
 
**Book Order**
The order for the book Feet Firmly Planted which shows that what churches of Christ teach/practice is on solid ground will be mailed soon. The cost is $12. Contact John Lankford to get your name on the list.
 
**Sunday's Lessons**
Morning: God's Sovereignty by David Chadwell
Evening: Singing and Devotional followed by a Fellowship Meal
in the Family Life Center. Please bring desserts!
 
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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
 
*Ruth Burns is in Sparks, room 521. She is having tests for chest pains, but doctors do not believe they are heart related.
*Shirley Holsinger (sister of Louise Howard) has a tear in her sinus membrane. She will have surgery sometime next week to repair it.
*Beulah Faries (mother of Bob) is very ill at St. Edward Hospital, room 4411.
*Myra Jean Hester (sister of Marceil Stevens and Anetia Livesay) is in Sparks, room 570.
*Jackie Hamilton has been diagnosed with an auto immune deficiency disease.
*Robin Harper requests your prayers for her friend, Sue McCoy.
*The family of Jerry Horton requests your prayers for his continued recovery from cancer. Jerry is a member of the church in Bokoshe, Oklahoma.
 
**Continued Prayers**
Erma Beshears, Anita Maxwell, Kathleen Yother (mother of Shirley Bullard)
 
**New Arrivals**
Congratulations to Travis and Jeanie McDonald on the birth of a daughter, Maile Madison on July 23rd.  Maile weighed 7 lbs., 7 ozs. and was 20 1/4 inches long and has lots of dark hair.  Curtis and Bea McDonald are the happy grandparents.
 
Josiah Carl Dennis was born July 23rd to Richard and Felicia (Wilson) Dennis in Conroe, Texas.  He weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and is 21 inches long. Jim and Deborah Wilson are the happy grandparents.
 
**60+ Trip**
A trip to Tahlequah is planned for August 8th. Details are in the foyer.
 
**Baby Showers**
There will be a baby shower honoring Christy Anders in the home of Tracy Risley on Sunday, August 4th from 2:00-3:30 p.m.  Tracy's address is 6308 Remington Ct. and the phone number is 649-9889.  Christy is registered at Toys R Us.  It's a girl!
 
A baby shower honoring Melissa Myers is planned for Sunday, August 11, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the home of Paige Kimbrow, 9601 Darlington Way in Fort Smith. Melissa is registered at Toys 'R Us. It's a boy!
 
**Caring for our Shut-in and Homebound Members**
This week, take a moment to send a card, make a visit, or call one of these members:
 
Lena Hall
Methodist Nursing Home
1915 South 74th, Room #6
Fort Smith, AR 72903
 
Darlene Hostetler
2707 E. King Avenue
Sallisaw, OK 74955
Phone: (918) 774-0740
 
Opal Hewett Dexter
Mercy Crest
1300 Strozier Lane
Barling, AR 72923
Phone: 646-3707
 
**Drivers Still Needed**
Two more people are needed to drive the church van to pick up members for church services. If we can get two more drivers, we can set up a rotation of  driving only once every six weeks.
 
**No Combined Youth Worship**
There will not be a combined youth and KFC worship this Sunday night, July 28th.  Our group of 55 teens and parents will be in St. Louis. See you next week.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
I would like to say "thank you" to everyone who provided cookies for VBS and to the ladies who helped serve. A big thank you also to Helen and Jim Pratt who always provide Kool-Aid and cups, and to Mark Willis who "babied" us all up and provided milk this year.
Kathy Rosalez
 
Thank you for the beautiful plant sent to me in the death and memory of my sister, Gwyn Talent. I greatly appreciate being remembered with a peace lily.
Genevieve Rhodes
 
Happy Birthday
 
August 4
Jim Arnold
Winston Turpin
 
August 5
Eric Berger
Judi Green
Luis Mendez
Ben Neal
Sarah Robbins
Jim Rogers
 
August 6
Jan Cowan
Jim Pratt
Barbara Smith
 
August 7
Donna Tyler
 
August 10
David Pippin
Pat Ruddick
Mary Vampola
 
**Wedding Invitations**
 
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Trotter
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Leanne Michelle to
Michael Allen Rainbolt
on Saturday, the third of August
at two o'clock in the afternoon
First Baptist Church
105 South Spring Street
Searcy, Arkansas
and afterwards at the reception
College Church of Christ
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
Amanda Dawn Moulder
and Aaron Wade Davis
request the honor of your
presence at their marriage
Saturday, the third of August
at two o'clock in the afternoon
West-Ark Church of Christ
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Reception immediately
following ceremony
RSVP 1-888-538-3030
 
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**Living Images of  God's Healing Truth**
By Brad Pistole
 
"Rejoice in the Lord always and again, I say rejoice!" I just want to praise God this week for all the things He has done this summer.
 
As you read this, we will have just completed a great week of Vacation Bible School. I want to express how thankful I am for the opportunity to sit at the feet of our young people. What a blessing it is to learn from them and be encouraged by them.
 
I especially want to thank Daniel Word, David Boozer, and Steve Breedlove for their help this past Sunday. They did a great job of leading us in worship and challenging us to be examples to our children. Their words really blessed my life. I am also thankful this week for the trip we are taking to St. Louis. We are taking a group of 56 from West-Ark on a 4 day trip that will focus primarily on strengthening family relationships.
 
We are excited about the fact that 10 different families are traveling with us. This is different from the usual trip that involves Brad, a big group of teens and only one or two other adults. ItÂ’s exciting to see moms and dads and brothers and sisters traveling together, eating together, and worshipping together.
 
I know this trip will be something that many families will look back on several years down the road and recognize as something that changed their family and helped them begin the process of growing together spiritually.
 
We will travel as a group to Soul Lift and will have the opportunity to hear Don McLaughlin speak twice. Many of you are familiar with Don and his work. This will be a time of spiritual growth for our families and we ask that you pray for us as we travel this week.
 
**Child Care Provided*
A.M. Infants
Bernice Rogers
Sharon Faries
Joann Davenport
 
Toddlers
Sue George
Kristin Smith
Rayna Edwards
 
P.M. Infants
Marjorie Blake
Arista Lindgren
 
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30).............621 
Sunday Classes (9:30) ...............421
Evening Worship (6:00)..............420
Wednesday Worship (7:00).........391
Sunday Contribution ............$16,403
 
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax  (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org
 

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