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Family Lines
Newsletter, August 4,
2002
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**The Challenge**
By David Chadwell
Representing God is extremely difficult. No,
representing God is impossible. Representing Jesus Christ, God's son, is
extremely difficult. God is beyond our ability to comprehend. Jesus
spent time on earth as a human. Our common bond of humanity with Jesus
enables us to partially relate to Jesus. However, his dependence on God
was absolute, and that is beyond our ability to comprehend.
One of our greatest challenges in representing God and Jesus
Christ is the challenge of understanding God's balance between compassion and
condemnation. In compassion is opportunity for forgiveness. In
condemnation is opportunity for rejection. Human repentance determines if
forgiveness or rejection occurs. Some who benefit from compassion refuse
to repent. Some who are condemned do repent.
The congregation representing God and Jesus Christ accepts two
equal responsibilities regarding evil. The first is to show compassion to
people. The second is to condemn evil. Doing both in ways that
represent God and Jesus Christ is extremely difficult.
Some see no difficulty. Yet, the difficulty obviously
arises. Those who primarily show compassion can in compassion condone
evil. Those who primarily condemn can in condemnation show no feeling for
others' struggles. Humans do a poor job of finding and clinging to the
ability to be compassionate toward people while condemning evil. We do not
quickly see, acknowledge, or honor God's balance between compassion and
condemnation. We are poor at realizing when to do what.
The Pharisees were quite judgmental. To them, most
everything was "black" or "white." It was merely a matter of knowing God's
law and applying it to the situation. Jesus drove them crazy. He ate
with those "with whom a godly person does not associate" (Matthew
9:10-13). He offered a divorcee the water of life (John 4) and allowed a
sexually sinful woman to touch him (Luke 7:37-50). Compassion for people
often served as his motivation (Matthew 14:14). He often forgave a
person's sins (Matthew 9:1-8).
This "unacceptable" behavior drove the Pharisees
"ballistic"! Jesus and the Pharisees agreed about what the law said.
They disagreed over the law's priorities. That disagreement never
ends! Most spiritual disagreements are not over what God's word says, but
over its priorities.
Only Jesus can show us God's priorities.
Only Jesus can teach us that every person is a person before God, not a problem
or a statistic. Only Jesus can teach us that God loves each person and
will do everything for others He does for us.
Representing God is impossible! Representing Jesus
Christ is extremely difficult!
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**Reflecting a Great Light . . . By Adopting a Student**
By
David Boozer
Back to school. If you have children, or have had them,
you know what a stressful time this can be. For most at West-Ark, we make
the necessary changes to our schedules, buy the supplies, and send our kids
skipping off to school. But for many families in Fort Smith, back to
school is not so simple . . . especially buying the school supplies. What is a
(sometimes) fun, rite-of-passage shopping trip for many with a middle class
income at the start of a school year, is a dreaded maybe-we-can, maybe-we-can't
possibility, depending on whether or not the money is there, for those below the
a middle class income.
Right now, West-Ark Christians tutor
twelve children from Spradling Elementary, while seven different school-aged
children attend THE WAY every Sunday evening. Most of these children are
between the first and fifth grades. That's nineteen students from our
community that we at West-Ark are involved with every week. Most of their
families have let us know that they will have trouble providing school supplies
and clothes for their kids this year. This is where God's people step in.
Beginning Sunday morning, August 4, these students' school
needs will be "up for adoption." You will have the opportunity of blessing
one of these students by "adopting" him or her, which simply means you will
provide his or her school supplies. A bulletin board and table will be set
up in the foyer with each child's picture, some personal information, and a
school supply list. After you have chosen a student, you will buy the
needed supplies, and then between August 12 and 15, you will have the choice of
either delivering the supplies to the child yourself, or giving the supplies to
me to deliver. There will be less than twenty students to choose from, so
choose early!
Isaiah, prophesying about the Messiah, said, "The people
walking in darkness have seen a great light." Maybe, as we reflect that
great light by blessing our community in one more small way, that light which we
have seen and now reflect will dawn for these families as well. Pray that
God would bless our community; pray that he would do that through us.
**Book Swap!**
Swap a few bucks for a book or Bible. Some
cheap swaps on Bibles! See the table in the Library. Funds will be used to
upgrade the library. Watch for something you've been looking for!
~~
John Lankford
**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**
Keep in mind that 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.
**New Arrival in Colorado**
Congratulations to Kacey
Cunningham Ross on the birth of her third child, a girl, born last week in
Colorado. Indie Cunningham Ross joins a sister, Ivey, and a brother, Isaac.
Chuck and Karen Cunningham are the proud grandparents (they are former members
of West-Ark).
**Sunday Morning Prayer Requests**
This Sunday morning, our assembly
will be a time devoted to scripture, prayer, and song.
If you would
like someone who is ill to be mentioned specifically in prayer, please let the
church office know by calling (452-1240) or e-mail the office at
office@westarkchurchofchrist.orgAfter
Friday afternoon, you may e-mail Darrell Moses at
dgmoses@cox-internet.comor
Michael Cole at
MColeMD@theColeFamily.com
Sunday Evening: A "Family Focus" with several presentations from men who
went on last weekend's youth rally and trip.
**Wednesday WINGS Sign-up**
Fellowship is September 4th at 7:00 in
Room 211.
Class begins September 11.
Video/Bible study: "Faith Lessons on
the Life and Ministry of the Messiah"
The sign-up list is outside the
Library. The book is $6.00.
WE PREFER CHECKS (they make record keeping
easy!)
If you pay cash, please put it in an envelope with your name on it and
give it to
one of the co-leaders.
**Women's Jail Ministry**
Women are needed for our women's jail
ministry. We teach a Bible class every Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. for one hour
in the Sebastian County Jail. Will you commit to just one class a month? It is a
very worthwhile ministry. If you are interested or have questions, contact
Rochelle Brown.
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*Say A Prayer For**
*Virgil Kirchner will be scheduled for leg circulation surgery in the near
future.
*Jacqueline Oliver (granddaughter of Jenny Oliver) has been at Children's
Hospital in Little Rock with a high blood sugar count.
*Will Ed Warren is scheduled for tests in mid-August.
*Please remember Erma Beshears (Patti Anderson's mother) in her battle with
cancer.
*John Paul Hundley requests prayers for his colon test this week.
*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.
*The family of Jerry Horton requests your prayers for his chemotherapy
treatment for cancer of the lungs and liver. Jerry is a member of the church in
Bokoshe, Oklahoma.
*Clarence Carter (a member at Pleasant Valley) is in Sparks, room
553.
*Harold Stewart is dismissed from the hospital.
**Continued Prayers**
Anita Maxwell, Jackie Hamilton, Shirley Holsinger
(sister of Louise Howard).
**Welcome**
Stephen and Gayle Robbins
Rachel (daughter, 2 weeks
old)
9524 Belhaven View
Fort Smith, AR 72908
Phone: (479)
646-9956
**Change of Address**
Sam and Lucy Roberts
1305 Crofton Park
Ct.
Columbia, TN 38401
Phone: (931) 840-4797
**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:
Opal Hewitt's phone number has changed to 478-3077.
Lois Jester
2218 Churchill Road
Fort Smith, AR 72904
Phone:
782-2357
Eileen Jones
Medi Homes Nursing Home
4613 Rogers, Room C-5
Fort
Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 452-8359
Cecil & Robbie Knight
422 North 47th
Fort Smith, AR
72903
Phone: 452-3860
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Family,
I would like to thank you
for all your prayers and visits while I was in the hospital and for all the
cards and calls since I have been home.
With Christian love,
Robert
Loudermilk
I would like to say thanks for the prayers, cards, food, visits, calls and
love shown while I was in the hospital. They mean so much when you are ill. Two
cards made by small children were so touching and sweet. Thank you both, Nash
and Kate.
Love you all,
Hazel Richards
**Welcome and Housewarming for the Nolasco Family**
In the FLC after
Sunday evening worship. Please bring finger foods. Drinks are provided.
The
Nolascos are registered at Wal-Mart Supercenters.
In the gift registry,
search for first name = Oscar and last name = Westark.
Happy Birthday
August 11
Michael Blasdel
Heather Curtis
Mitch Harper
John
Lankford
August 12
Jason Dockery
Lacy Jennings
Eileen Jones
Carlene
Payne
August 13
Kelvin Kleman
August 14
Janet Cathey
Madaline Collins
Martha Gooden
Benjamin
Huff
James Mason
Kaye Smith
August 15
Susan Doyle
August 16
Don Abernathy
Dan Farris
Cindy Glidewell
Daphne
Israel
Jack Lowry
Allison Thompson
August 17
Richard Branum
Beulah Ann Chronister
Tiffany
Null
Julie Ann Smith
Linda Wear
**Weddings**
Amanda Dawn Moulder
and Aaron Wade Davis
Saturday,
the third of August
at two o'clock in the afternoon
West-Ark Church of
Christ
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Reception immediately
following
ceremony
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Leanne Michelle Trotter 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
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**Living Images
of God's Healing Truth**
By Brad Pistole
Each year it is my mission and goal for the summer to provide the
environments and plan the activities that will help lead to the spiritual
nourishment of our teens and families at West-Ark.
With just two more events remaining this summer, I can honestly say that
the past three months have been some of the most spiritually challenging and
uplifting time periods in my 12 years here.
I have watched our teens and adults grow together while in Mexico, painting
Aubrey Walden's house, building relationships with new friends at the all-night
statewide Lock-in, working on VBS for three weeks, and most recently at Soullift
in St. Louis.
Our trip this past week to St. Louis was inspiring. We took 57
teens and adults for a spirit-filled weekend with 2,500 other Christians. On
Sunday, we met at our hotel for over an hour as different people from our group
shared specifically what Christ's sacrifice on the cross meant to them
personally.
It was one of the most memorable, Christ-centered communion services I have
ever been a part of. And as for the 8 hour Youth Rally later that day, just ask
anyone that went with us what that did to pull us together as a group.
I am especially thankful this week for all of things God has done for our
families at West-Ark this summer. I praise Him for the decisions that have been
made by many people this summer. I praise Him for the relationships that
have been made and strengthened. And I pray that He will continue to work
through us in the days and weeks ahead. What an AWESOME God we serve!
**Child Care**
A.M. Infants
Paula May
Sandi Pippin
Melissa Walker
Toddlers
Dena Jenkins
Irene Willis
P.M. Infants
Dixie Burkhart
Gina Williams
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30)..............635
Sunday Classes (9:30)
..............391
Evening Worship (6:00)............. 306
Wednesday
Worship (7:00)........... 330
Sunday Contribution ............$12,572
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