West-Ark Newsletter, 16 February 2003

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Family Lines Newsletter, February 16, 2003
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These are the "times of insignificance." "What are 'the times of insignificance'?" In my life time there was the feeling that "one person made a difference." Remember this statement: "for the lack of a nail, a war was lost"? A nail was lost from a horse's shoe. The horse lost the shoe and became lame. It was a chain reaction: a lost nail, a lost horseshoe, a lame horse, an essential message not delivered, a battle lost, the war shifts, and eventually the war is lost. The message: "An insignificant person is important!"

This sense of "personal importance" has seriously eroded. Horseshoes, horses, hand delivered messages, etc., belong to past, personal eras. The "now" era is impersonal. Too often commitment to employees is replaced by profits. Too often personal loyalty to a company is replaced by dollar signs and benefits. Too often "until death parts us" is replaced with "until life bores me." Too often friendship is temporary and "me centered." Too often guarantees are momentary understandings intended for now.

We are overwhelmed by a sense of personal insignificance. Often a person feels like an impersonal number in a lengthy list of impersonal numbers. Often a person feels like an expendable commodity. Often a person feels used, violated, or taken for granted. Often a person feels like a small voice in a noisy room. Thus each easily can feel a sense of utter futility because "I am just one--and what can just one do?"

God built the nation of Israel starting with just one [Abraham]. In transitioning a large family into a people, God used just one [Joseph]. When God gave this people a law, He used just one [Moses]. When God gave this people a land, He used just one [Joshua]. When God revived this nation, He used just one [David]. When God warned this nation of the consequences of their choices, He often used just one [the prophets]. When God gave the world a Savior, He used just one [Jesus]. When God informed non-Jewish people of that Savior, He sent them just one apostle [Paul]. What a collection of "just one's"! A nomad! A prisoner! A traitor! A former slave! An outcast! The unpopular! The rejected! The murderer! Who could use that bunch to change the world? God did!

Jesus described the beginning of God's kingdom as a mustard seed, a small amount of yeast, a hidden treasure, etc. God functions by using the small in unexpected ways! What God can do with just one when that one has God's values, lives by God's morality, and is dedicated to God's love, compassion, and forgiveness is incredible.

God did not say, "Change society." That is His business. God says, "Have enough faith to be My 'just one.'" Do you have the faith to be God's moral person living by God's values as God teaches you how to love, be compassionate, and forgive? Do not worry about changing society. Trust God to do that. Merely be what He desires--be a person of faith in Jesus who is God's "Just One." It is a matter of faith, not a matter of significance.

Fabric Needed
In preparation for our upcoming VBS "Christ's Chosen," we are in need of fabric for costumes. We can use any solid, stripe, or white sheets or comparable fabric (no florals please). There will be a container in the foyer. If you have any costumes, please return them as soon as possible. We need to inventory them so that we know what our needs are for this year.

Sewing for VBS
We need volunteers to cut out and/or sew simple costumes for VBS. Please contact Yvonne Pistole (649-0093) or Joyce Chadwell (646-6879) if you can help. Our goal is to have approximately 200 children's costumes in addition to those we usually have. If you are a more advanced seamstress, there are several Roman soldier costumes needed.

**Nursery Schedule**
Infants: Gail Mason, Bo Mason, and Tracy Risley
Toddlers: Flora Johnson, Missy Blasdel, Christy Abernathy
Evening: Linda Wear, Terri Jones

**Ladies' Night**
With Cassandra Martin
Tuesday Evening, March 4th
West-Ark Church of Christ
Refreshments & Visiting: 6:30 p.m.
Cassandra will begin speaking at 7:00 p.m.
on the topic "Living Water for Dusty Souls"
Please come in the front door and greeters will show you where to go.
This is an informal evening. No sign-up sheets; no cost involved.
Please bring your Bibles, your daughters, your friends, and co-workers.

Cassandra Martin is from Spring, Texas.
In additional to serving as a teacher and coordinator of ladies' classes, she speaks at retreats, ladies' days, and Bible lectureships.
She says, "I have a passion for teaching women about Jesus. There is something so special about women coming together to learn from God's Word."

Sessions include:
* Failure, the First Step to Success
* The A, B, C's of Christian Money Management
* Getting Out of Debt and Dealing with Credit Cards
* What I Wish They'd Told Me About Investing & Retiring
Make plans now to attend.

**Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop**
"God Is Able," March 20-22, 2003
"The Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop desires to avail itself to the Holy Spirit of God to convert, motivate, heal, or rebuild the inner man. It is the sole intent of those leading in this event to guide individuals closer to the heart of Jesus and distance them from the distractions of the world."
For more information, visit www.tulsaworkshop.org

**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
* Mary Huff is in Nashville, TN awaiting surgery. If you would like to send Mary a card, you may do so through her daughter.
Send cards to: Mary Huff, c/o Sharon Flowers, 9240 Rushboro, Brentwood, TN 37027.
* Marion Hastings (father of Sue) is in Sparks Hospital.
* Mary Gates (mother of David Gates) has improved and hopes to be dismissed from St. Edward Hospital by the weekend.
* Allen Wells (father of Joyce Chadwell) had surgery Wednesday morning in Crossville, TN.
* Gail Stevens is still in St. Edward Hospital, room 3521.
* Continue to pray for Virgil Kirchner, Anita Maxwell, Erma Beshears, Sandy Berger, Kathy Bauer, Vicki Varvel, and Sandy Thurman.

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Milton Hendrix in the unexpected death of his brother, Larry. Funeral services are Saturday (2/15/03) at 2:00 p.m., Moore Funeral Home in Fayetteville, AR.

**Bridal Shower**
A bridal shower honoring Adrienne Green, bride elect of Kyle Lonaberger, is planned for Sunday, March 2 from 2:00-3:30 at the home of Jana Berryhill, 6800 South "Q" Court. Adrienne and Kyle are registered at Linens and Things. Her colors are:
Living areas -- neutral, taupe
Kitchen - cobalt, navy, neutrals
Bedroom and bath - burgandy, gray, black.
Adrienne is the daughter or Judi and Gary Green. She and Kyle will both be here for the shower.

**Remember Our Shut-Ins**
Pauline Alberty, 6208 Free Ferry Road, Fort Smith, AR 72903, Phone: 452-1621
William Bealer, 4623 Rogers, Medi Homes D20, Fort Smith, AR 72903
Pearl Beam, 1114 N. 5th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, Phone: 782-8734
Thelma Blackburn, 3901 N. 50th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72904, Phone: 782-2680

**Teachers Needed**
Please call Robin Pratt-Webber if you can help (783-8728).
1) Two teachers are needed for Sunday morning 1st Grade, beginning immediately.
2) 1 teacher is needed to help in the 3 year-old class on Wednesday night.

**50th Wedding Anniversary**
In honour of the Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary of
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Branum
their family requests the pleasure of your company
at a Reception on Sunday, the ninth of March
two until four in the afternoon
Holiday In Civic Center Atrium
700 Rogers Avenue
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Your love is a treasured gift, we request no other.

Events like this past weekend are so hard to explain. It is hard to describe to someone how exhausted you feel after a Friday through Sunday retreat with 150 teenagers yet how incredibly refreshed you feel at the same time. I think it would be safe to call this an oxymoron.

On one hand, the youth ministers and volunteers basically work 48 hours straight. Friday night ends around 1 a.m. Saturday goes from 8 a.m. - midnight. We get back home Sunday around 2 p.m. And of course, there are the nights. There is nothing quite like "sleeping" in a room with 26 teens. You never really "sleep."

When you get back from a weekend like this, you can hardly wait for a warm bed and a normal nights rest. However, I usually find that I am so pumped up with excitement from our experiences that I can't go to sleep.

You truly would have to be present at an event like this to describe what happens as young people get out of their every day "sin-filled culture" long enough to remember what the glory of God looks and feels like. It's often an overwhelming experience.

But why does that surprise me? Wasn't the presence of Christ overwhelming to those who were blessed enough to come into contact with him? How did the lepers respond to his touch? How did the lame react to his words "take up your bed and walk"? How did the blind man react when Jesus washed his eyes? How did the woman at the well respond when Jesus accepted her instead of condemning her? How did the disciples respond when he said, "Come follow me"?

I seem to remember they were filled with "inexpressible and glorious joy." I remember them jumping up and down. I remember them running off to tell others about what Christ had done for them.

When I witness the spirit of Christ like I did this weekend, I want to respond in the same way the followers did in the New Testament. When a sinner recognizes his need for God and surrenders his life to Christ (like Bill Wilson did a week ago), I want to shout out loud and give praise to God.

However, it seems the church of today rarely responds with the same type of visible joy the early followers expressed. I wonder what holds us back? Lord, increase our faith! (I Peter 1:8)

**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30)...snow.....357
Sunday Classes (9:30) ................. 226
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................156
The Way (4:00) ................................32
Spanish Morning Worship...................9
Spanish Evening Worship (6:30)......10
Wednesday Worship (7:00)............N.C.
Sunday Contribution ................$12,258