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Family
Lines Newsletter, March 9,
2003
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**"The Solution Is So Obvious!"
Really?**
David Chadwell
Have you noticed this about struggles?
Others' problems are "easy" to remedy, but my problems are complex and
complicated. Typically, we evaluate others' obvious, serious
struggles. First, we are amazed "that person" has struggles. Second,
we are amazed the struggle exists. Third, we are so certain the solution
is "simple" that we are amazed he (or she) has not realized this "simple
solution."
Have you ever thought or said this? "He (or
she) should not have that difficultly! It is so unnecessary! The
solution is obvious! If he (or she) simply had done ..., this never
would have happened. Even now, if he (or she) would simply do ..., the
situation would be resolved. I don't know why he (or she) can't see
that!"
Much of my life is spent (a) encouraging
individuals who endure struggles or (b) trying to help individuals increase
perspectives as they seek to overcome struggles. I learned several
enormous lessons that I frequently must "relearn."
(1) Every situation has more than "one side."
Two or more people can look at the same situation, be honest with the facts and
the circumstances, and come to totally different conclusions. ALWAYS more
than the "facts" are evolved. Each person's perception of those facts is
powerful and essential. When a person thinks it, he (or she) believes
it. If he (or she) believes it, to him (or her) it is true.
(2) Pain is pain. No matter how distorted
perceptions may be, if he (or she) hurts, the pain is real. Because the
pain is real, the solution never is found in one of these declarations: "Just
get over it and grow up!" "Stop feeling sorry for yourself!" "You
made your bed; lie in it!" "It is not that big a deal!" "Save
self-pity for real problems!" Minimizing suffering never produces
solution.
(3) If you want to encourage or help, do not give
advice. Listen. Help a person see "the unnoticed." Guide him
(or her) to increased awareness. Share, if you are willing to identify
with the person's traumatic experience, he (or she) has reason to bond with
you. Yet, NEVER FORGET, it is his (or her) choice, not yours. Do not
make choices for him or her.
(4) Refuse to play the blame game. Refuse to
assign blame. Knowing "whose fault" it is or "what percent of the fault
lies where" solves nothing. People seriously interested in resolving
crisis lose interest in blame. Blame commonly seeks
self-justification. Solutions are concerned about recovery.
(5) In any real, continuing solution, the greatest
single factor is the God factor.
Ephesians 3:20,21 "Now to Him who is able to do far
more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that
works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations forever and ever. Amen."
Be part of the solution. Care, but do not
gossip. Never be a "know it all." We don't.
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**7 Kids, 7 Days, and 1 Savior: Part
I**
By David Boozer
Most of us in the middle class don't think twice
about sending our kids to summer camp. We probably spend a little time
planning for the camp week. Later, we write the check, pack the duffel
bags, and make the Sunday drive to Camp Bugandcritter or wherever. Pretty
simple, huh? But for those in poverty, none of this is simple. In
fact, most of it is impossible. Here's how these four "easy" steps may
look to THEM:
Planning for the camp week: Who can plan? We are
too busy surviving today to plan for something so distant in the future.
Besides, we don't even know where we will be this summer.
Write the check: Check? First of all, we
don't have a checking account. Second of all, we are still trying to pay
last month's rent. How can we even begin to pay for some summer
camp?
Pack the duffel bags: Duffel bags? We don't
pack things in duffel bags; they aren't an option. Our options are paper
or plastic! And what would we pack? While our kids may have a week's
worth of clothes, we certainly don't have the sleeping bag, insect repellant,
sunscreen, camera, toiletries, or other things that are required for
camp.
Make the Sunday drive to camp: That is assuming we
have a car. More than likely we don't. If we do, it probably cost us
around $500. How far would you want to drive a $500 car, especially if you
didn't have the money to properly tag, license, and insure it?
Do you get a little feeling of how hopeless
something as simple as summer camp can be for those in poverty? Seven
children of the Way who live in these conditions want to go to Christian Camp
Wyldewood this June. If the four steps above are easy for you, maybe you
could help one of these kids. Watch for a bulletin board in the West-Ark
foyer and read next week's bulletin article to find out more.
**Guyana/Evangelism Class**
Starting Wednesday
night after devo on March 12, Roy Dunavin and Michael Cole will begin weekly
Guyana Mission Team preparation classes in Room 211. Everyone interested
in learning how to better teach the Gospel locally, as well as in Guyana, is
welcome to attend.
**Attention Parents and Kids**
There will be a
worship worksheet available each week for our older kids (grades 3 and up) to
help them study along with David's lessons on Sunday morning. This week since
David will not be our speaker, there will be a special worksheet for our kids.
Parents, please look for this on Sunday and discuss our lesson afterwards with
your kids.
**Pantry Need**
Small boxes of powdered
milk.
**Extra Bible Study Offered**
Jessie Sexton is
willing to meet with anyone for extra Bible Study. You may call him at 561-1732
if you are interested.
**2nd Annual City of Children Golf Tournament/Fund
Raiser**
It's time for our 2nd annual, 4 person scramble golf tournament to
raise funds for our Mexico Mission trip. The tournament will once again take
place at Ben Geren on Saturday, April 5th. Tee times will vary from 11-12:30
p.m. The cost will be $40 per player and will include your green fee. Men and
women are encouraged to play. Please find a sign-up sheet in the foyer by the
Mexico Mission Bulletin Board. Teams must be registered NO LATER than Sunday,
March 23rd.
**"No Debt, No Sweat" A Free Financial Seminar With
Steve Diggs**
A Life-Changing Seminar Teaching God's Way of Handling
Money.
Sunday, March 9
Steve will speak during our
10:30 a.m. worship assembly on
"The Simplicity of Knowing Jesus"
6:00 -
7:15 p.m. -- "Failure, The First Step To Success"
7:30 - 8:40 p.m. --
"The A, B, C's of Christian Money Management"
Monday, March 10
6:30 - 7:45 p.m -- "Getting Out
of Debt and Dealing With Credit Cards"
8:00 - 9:10 p.m. -- "What I Wish
They'd Told Me About Investing & Retiring"
Birthdays
March 9
Mary Frances Jackson
Mary T.
Kolb
Larry Roper
Ann Selig
March 10
Joyce Chadwell
Donna
Lindgren
Zack Wakefield
March 11
Lois Jester
Bill
Stancil
March 12
Alex Tomlin
March 13
Sarah Miller
Richard
Nelson
Charles Pippin
John Richards
March 14
Vicki Anderson
John Berger
Maxine
Yates
March 15
Matthew Hines
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**In Our
Thoughts and Prayers**
Lucille Laura (mother of Mickey Mendez) is in
Sparks Hospital, room 409.
Gail Stephens is in St. Edward Hospital, room
5419.
Marion Hastings (Sue's father) is in Sparks, room
650. He will find out next week whether he still needs heart
surgery.
Continue to pray for Virgil Kirchner, Erma
Beshears, Sandy Berger, Kathy Bauer, Vicki Varvel, Sandy Thurman, and Fred
Goebel.
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to six families who have experienced the death of a loved one in the last
week.
Jim Wyatt's mother, Dorothy Wyatt died last week.
Funeral services were March 1st in Branch, Arkansas.
Roy Dunavin's nephew, Bobby Wayne Dunavin, died
March 2nd. Funeral services were in Ria Vista, Texas.
Bea McDonald's father, Arthur Remmers, died March
3rd in Honolulu, Hawaii. Bea will be traveling March 10th to be with her family
there.
Brian Robbins' grandmother died March 4th in
Jefferson City, Missouri.
Blossom Mahan, mother of Layne Downs and
grandmother of Cheryl Turney, died March 4th. Funeral services were at Alma
Church of Christ.
Peggy Brazelton, Bill's wife, died
unexpectedly Tuesday evening. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Friday, March
7th, at Edwards Funeral Home.
**Military Service**
Michael Gooden, son of
Benny and Martha, was recently deployed and is expected to be gone for an
extended period of time with no contact. Please remember him in your
prayers.
**Note of Thanks**
Thank you so much for the
peace lily. It really helps to be remembered at times like this.
In Christian
love,
Jane Choate
We would like to thank all of you for your prayers
for Tucker. We had a hearing test yesterday and an exam of his right ear.
At this point he has only lost 10% of his hearing and his has healed
tremendously!! The doctor was amazed at how much the actual eardrum had
healed. He said he had thought about Tucker many times in the 2 week
period wondering how he was doing and expecting much worse! Answered
prayers!!!!! We can not thank you enough for the prayers and the concern
you have had for Tucker. We have truly been blessed with this good
news. We go back in four weeks. The doctor thinks it may heal completely
on its own and may not require any surgery!!!!!!
Thank you, Lord!
Thank
you family!
In Him,
Mark and Christy Anders
**Teacher Still Needed**
One teacher is needed
for 1st grade on Sunday morning. Please call Robin Pratt-Webber if you can
help.
**60+ Update**
We will not have a supper in
March. Our next potluck will be April 19th.
**Bible Class Song Project**
We would like to
learn 15 to 20 new songs this year. To select these songs in such a way as to
provide the widest possible input and diversity of song styles, we are asking
each Sunday morning class from the 7th grade through Adults to select one new
song. New doesn't necessarily mean when the song was written, but a song that we
haven't been singing at West-Ark.
Teachers: Please ask your class to work on
selecting a new song and have a decision made by Sunday morning the 23rd of
March.
Elders and Worship Committee
**Engagement Announced**
Vicky Mason and
Luke
Dorotha & Virgil Kirchner
Jim & Margie Mason
Announce the
engagement of
Amy Elizabeth Mason to
Patrick Lowell Stinson.
Their
projected wedding date is
June 5, 2004 after Amy completes her 1st year of
medical school
and Patrick finishes his 3rd year of Pharmacy
school.
**50th 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
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.
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
Parents and Teens: I want to continue to
remind you about our new class, "Parenting Teenagers for Positive Results" that
will begin one month from now.
Our first class will take place in the FLC on
Sunday, April 6th.
There is now a sign-up sheet for this class in the
foyer next to the Parents Information Table. It is very important that each
family sign-up as we need to order workbooks for each class member.
It is possible for families to share a copy of the
book, but it would be best if each family member had their own copy as we will
be working in various groups throughout the 13 week class. Workbooks will be $10
each (which is nothing compared to what will happen to your family as a result
of this class).
Come join us as we learn how to communicate
clearly, argue effectively, and appreciate one another for the roles God has
given us in today's family. It doesn't matter if you are single, married,
divorced, remarried, etc. If you have teens or if you will have teens in the
near future, this class is for you and your family. Join us on April
6th.
**Special News**
Congratulations to three
Seniors this week: Sara Word, Wes Sawyer, and Seth Kleman. Sara recently made a
31 on her ACT which qualifies her for a great scholarship at Harding University.
Wes Sawyer was recently awarded a full tuition Academic Dean's scholarship to
UCA. Fantastic! Finally, congratulations to Seth for his recent accomplishments
at All-State band/orchestra. I am so proud of all of our young people. Keep up
the good fight and be an example to those around you!
**Nursery Schedule**
A.M. Infants
Trish
Carson
Jane Dunavin
Morgan Dunavin
A.M. Toddlers
Bennie Hedrick
P.M. Nursery
Marquetta Walker
Molly
Walker
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship
(10:30).................652
Sunday Classes (9:30) ..................
474
Sunday Evening (6:00)....................315
The Way (4:00)
................................51
Spanish Morning
Worship.................24
Spanish Evening
Worship.................32
Wednesday Worship (7:00).............175
Sunday Contribution .................$19,675
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