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Family
Lines Newsletter, March 23,
2003
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**Certainty In Uncertain Times**
By David Chadwell
It has been decades since so many uncertainties
existed in America. Today there are adults who have not experienced
uncertainty. The depression was experienced by their
great-grandparents. World War II was experienced by their
grandparents. The Viet Nam conflict was experienced by their
parents. However, their world has been a time of prosperity, of education,
of planning for the future, of tomorrows that were improved versions of today,
and of living "the American dream."
Yet, the past few months produced times of
increasing uncertainty: shrinking job markets, economic down turns, questionable
futures, educational preparations that are slow to produce opportunity, $1.50
plus gasoline, the activity of terrorists in America, and forced family
separations without predictable reunions.
Pessimism is not my aim. Hope is my
aim. Yet, if hope is to be real, it must be based on certainty. It
is too human to invest hope in present desires rather than enduring
intangibles. Christians urgently need to focus clearly on God's enduring
intangibles.
Constantly I am reminded that anything physical has
a short lifespan. Each morning my body gives me that reminder.
Trials and struggles reinforce that reminder. When joyful promises of
radiant tomorrows turn into bitter disappointments, these reminders become
reality. Sickness and death declare anything physical is weak and
uncertain.
Then, where is the hope? Depressions cannot
eliminate God's mercy. Wars cannot destroy Jesus' death. Bad
economic realities cannot neutralize God's forgiveness. Trials and
struggles cannot cancel redemption. Death cannot prevent
resurrection.
If our hope is produced by leaning on the physical,
it will break and pierce us. If our hope is produced by leaning on God's
love reflected in Jesus Christ and His Spirit, it will be our reality in
eternity. Christians are not made for the world of wickedness. We
are made for the world of the righteous. Remember 2 Peter
3:13?
""Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
Whatever happens, Jesus still died for
us. That eternally declares God's love and mercy. Those intangibles
are God's changeless certainties. May they be the foundation of our
changeless certainties.
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**"What Are You Doin' In The 'Hood?"**
By David
Boozer
Two Mondays ago, I received a call at 9:00
a.m. The guy on the other end said that he was part of a group of
twenty-two Abilene Christian University students on spring break. They
called themselves "Seek and Follow" and had arrived in Ft. Smith the previous
midnight. He said that they wanted to spend the day in Ft. Smith
ministering to people. He asked if I have any ideas on how they could do
that? What a question! Oh yeah, I had some ideas! I called Jessie
Sexton (from the Way) and we met them at the downtown Post Office. "What
brought you here," I asked.
"We picked up a hitchhiker in
Texarkana. She wanted to come to Ft. Smith, so here we are." Ryan,
the leader, explained that this group travels on their spring break to "wherever
the Spirit leads them." And on this particular day, He led them
here. What a day it turned out to be! We split up into five groups
of four and spent the afternoon knocking doors around Johnson Street. Many
people let us into their homes, and we told them about Jesus Christ and the
Way. We gave away groceries (thanks CURE) and prayed with
them.
But isn't it risky and unwise to go "where the
Spirit leads?" Shouldn't you have a REAL plan?
If these students had had a REAL plan and had
chosen the less risky route, they probably would not have ended up in Ft.
Smith. Then we would have never met Ronny. (He has advanced stages
of HIV. His family never visits.) We would have never met
Christina. (When we knocked on her door, she was packing her bags to leave
because her husband abuses her.) We would have never met Candice.
(She wanted to study the Bible-that night!)
That afternoon, one of our door-knocking groups was
asked by a couple of young, unemployed guys who were hanging out on the street,
"What are you doin' in the 'hood?" I think this is an appropriate
question. ACU students ... Jessie Sexton ... WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' IN THE
HOOD?" The answer: Seeking the lost and following the Spirit sent
from God. Sounds like a REAL plan to me.
**LTC Practice Schedules**
March 23
No scheduled LTC practice.
*6:00 p.m. Drama - need help - see
Clark.
March 30
*4:00 Chorus
*5:00 Drama
*6:00
Puppets
April 6
*4:00 Chorus
*4:30 - 5:00 Puppets
perform at "the Way."
*6:00 Drama at the church building.
April 11
*5:45 - 8:00 Friday evening special
puppet and drama practice in the FLC. Bring $2.00 for pizza.
April 13
*5:00 Parent Meeting in FLC.
*6:00
Presentation to the Congregation.
April 18-19
*TULSA CONVENTION
April 27
*Awards presentation following evening
service in FLC.
**Parenting Teenagers for Positive Results
**
This class for parents of teens and preteens begins on Sunday morning,
April 6th, in the FLC. Please visit the table in the foyer, and sign-up as soon
as possible so workbooks can be ordered.
**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.
**Congratulations**
... to Bill & Margaret
Moss on the birth of a grandson, Matthew Christopher, born March 13 to Chris
& Julie Moss. Matthew weighed 6 lbs., 20 ozs.
**Ladies' Day**
Valley View Church of
Christ
Saturday, April 12
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Theme: "Shining Like
Stars"
Message from Anne Coleman
Music by "River of Peace"
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**Please Pray For**
*Marie Lile is in Sparks
Hospital, room 477.
*Marion Hastings is in Sparks Hospital, room 407 and is
improving daily.
*Gail Stevens is in St. Edward Hospital, room
5419.
*Virgil Kirchner is under Hospice Care and very ill at home.
*Allen
Wells (Joyce Chadwell's father) has a mixture of good and bad days. He is in the
hospital in Tennessee.
*Dylan Roper went back in the hospital with multiple
infections, but is now home and doing better.
*Oneta Love has moved to
Methodist Nursing Home.
*Erma Beshears (mother of Patti Anderson) is very ill
at home.
*The family of Larry Pillstrom request prayers for his
health.
*Carolyn Harrell and Jenna Frederick are dismissed from the
hospital.
*Continue to pray for Vernon Varner; Sandy Berger, Kathy Bauer, and
Vicki Varvel.
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Ken Hollomon in the death of his Grandmother, Thelma
Hollomon
of Booneville. Ken especially asks that we remember his grandfather (age 93) in
the loss of his spouse.
**Baptisms**
Molly Walker was baptized March 9th
by Brad Pistole. Molly is the daughter of Duane & Marquetta Walker. If you
would like to send her a card, the address is 907 Lincoln, Van Buren, AR
72956
There have been two baptisms by Oscar Nolasco from
the Iglesia de Cristo (Spanish-speaking church):
*Olga Mireles, 3609 50th
Street, Fort Smith, AR 72904. Her daughter is in the Way's Kid's Tutoring
Program.
*Janet Chaires, 3900 Morris Drive, Fort Smith, AR
72903.
**Notes of Thanks**
To our West-Ark
Family:
Thank you for all of the kind expressions of love and sympathy during
the illness and passing of Brian's grandmother. We appreciate you
all.
Love,
The Brian Robbins' Family
Dear West-Ark Friends,
Thank you for all the
cards, calls, and especially your prayers, and the peace lily, in the death of
my precious sister. It helped in the time of my sorrow. I feel good knowing
where she is today. Please keep us in your prayers.
Marie & Eddie
Lile
Dearest Friends,
Thank you all for your prayers
and visits.
Mary Gates
We want to thank everyone for their concern, their
calls, cards, and notes. I will be going back to Nashville in about six weeks.
Then, I will be back home for good. Thanks to all my Christian friends and for
all the offers to help.
Mary & Jess Huff
Dear Quilting Ladies,
Thank you so much for the
beautiful quilt and satin pillowcase! It was so nice of you to think of us, and
we will treasure it always!
Thanks again,
Adrienne Green
**David's Lessons**
*God's Memory
*"Skip
Over Scriptures,"Part IV (Romans 16)
**Teen Service Project**
Our teen Bible classes
are collecting items to be donated to the Emergency Children's Shelter (ages
vary from pre-school through teens). A list of needed items is below.
Please give your donations to one of our teens. Call Sandy Berger
(785-1921) if you have questions.
*Combs & brushes
*Disposable
razors
*Soap & lotions
*Shampoo
*Shaving cream
*Toothpaste &
brushes
*Toilet paper
*Plastic wear
*Paper plates
*Children's books
(in good condition)
*Children's clothing (in very good condition - remember,
it's spring)
**Happy Birthday**
March 23
Diane Arnold
Jess Huff
Jonathan
Huff
Kimberly Layman
Breck Ruddick
March 24
Jamie Loftin
March 25
Wilma Son
Larry Treat
March 26
Mike Burk
Larry Prater
March 27
Landry Dockery
Helen Pratt
Hannah
Pressley
**Wedding Reception**
A reception in honor of
Jack & Glenda (Hodnett) Lewis
is planned for Sunday, March 30th from 4:00
to 6:00 p.m. in the Annex.
No gifts, please, but donations to
Jack &
Glenda's Guyana Mission trip are welcomed.
Please call Christy Puckett or the office if you
have questions
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
**Spring Into Spring**
There's no doubt about
it, our schedules are sometimes dictated by the calendar, and the Spring is
usually one of the "busy" seasons for Family Life Ministry. I'd like to make you
aware of many events that are headed our way in the near future so you can make
plans to be involved and grow with your family:
March 20-22 - Tulsa Soul Winning
Workshop
March 21st-March 31st - Fort Smith Schools Spring
Break
April 5th - 2nd Annual 4 person Scramble Golf
Tournament at Ben Geren Golf Course to benefit the City of Children Mission
Team
April 6th - New class for teens and their parents
begins, "Parenting Teenagers for Positive Results." Sunday Mornings in the
FLC.
April 13th - Sunday Night Live in Bentonville from
4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
April 18th -19th - Leadership Training for Christ
in Tulsa, OK
May 4th - Final Sunday Night Live in Fayetteville,
AR
We will obviously need the help and support of many
volunteers to make all of these events take place. We will need van drivers,
adult chaperones, support teams, etc. Please take the opportunity to take part
in your child's spiritual life. You will be blessed long into the future.
**Nursery Schedule**
A.M. Infants
Berniece
Rogers
Sharon Faries
Joann Davenport
Toddlers
Sue George
Kristin
Smith
P.M. Nursery
Marjorie Blake
Bennie
Hedrick
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship
(10:30).................669
Sunday Classes (9:30) ..................
448
Sunday Evening (6:00)....................272
The Way (4:00)
................................50
Wednesday Worship (7:00)............
N.C.
Sunday Contribution .................$14,160
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