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Family
Lines Newsletter, May 25,
2003
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**An Attitude of Modern Idolatry**
By David
Chadwell
Recently I heard a study followed by numerous
interviews on the dangers of tanning our skin. The author of the study
discussed findings [admittedly not new] documenting that tanning [by any method]
was dangerous. Common consequences included wrinkling and skin
cancer. College aged persons tanning routinely could anticipate both
consequences. Of course, nothing is new in this verification. Such
information has been common knowledge for years. For years warnings have
been issued.
The emphasis on these findings was followed by
filmed interviews with college aged men and women. "Are you familiar with
the danger?" "Yes." "This is not new information to you?"
"No." "Do these findings affect your tanning habits?" "No."
"How can you know what you know and continue an intensive regiment of
tanning?"
The answers to the last question revealed two
common attitudes that captured my attention. Attitude one: "Wrinkling or
skin cancer are likely to occur twenty-five years from now. That is far
off. I will deal with those problems then. Right now what is
important is how I look today." Attitude two: "If my tanning results in
skin cancer later, I will have the cancer cut off -- no big deal!"
This is not about sun tanning, artificial tanning,
skin tones, skin firmness, physical exposure, "looking good," or "feeling good"
because others admire your body. It is about an attitude, an attitude
rooted in modern idolatry.
We saturate ourselves with "immediate
gratification" expectations. We focus life on "right now." I must
feel good about myself "right now." I must eat "right now." I want to get well
"right now." I want problems solved "right now." I want troubles
ended "right now." I want possession of my purchase "right now." I
want my family to fulfill my expectations "right now." Spiritual blessings
and protection must come "right now."
We laugh at the ignorance that prostrated itself
before carved stones or wood hundreds of years ago. How foolish! How
silly! How ignorant! How short sighted! As we ridicule their
ridiculous short sightedness, we prostrate ourselves before our god of "right
now."
Twenty years is not a long time. Ask
me. I thought it was when a young, foolish me too often bowed before the
altar of "right now." Now I know differently. Often eliminating
cancer is not simple. Ask a family member of someone whose life was
shortened by cancer. Surely, you will be different! Tell us about
it--in twenty years when your body does not have the regenerative powers it had
when you were twenty-two.
Next time you want your spiritual expectations met
"right now," ask yourself how you can serve the eternal God with an offering on
your altar of "right now." The god of "right now" specializes in robbing
life. The God who is Father of Jesus Christ specializes in giving
life. Does "right now" or God govern your life?
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**Shepherd's Corner**
A door has been opened for God's people in western
Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma for outreach at the University of Arkansas at Fort
Smith.
Beginning with the fall semester, campus housing
will be opened for several hundred students for the first time. What an
opportunity to reach out to resident students as well as those who still commute
to campus.
Thanks to Ron Orick and others, Western Arkansas
Christian Students (WACS) has already been chartered and recognized as a campus
program.
Area congregations have met twice and will meet
again on June 10 for additional planning.
Currently, two major objectives are being
pursued:
1. Finding a location to house the campus ministry.
2. Hiring a
campus minister to head up the work.
As of today, area congregations, including
West-Ark, have pledged one-half of the amount needed.
What can you do? Pray for this ministry, and if you
are able, support the WACS effort financially. Souls will be saved and our young
people will be spiritually strengthened from a campus ministry at UAFS.
**Gateway News**
Congratulations to all the
GATEWAY award winners for the Samson rotation. They were Shelby Armstrong,
Kathryn Willis, Jessica Frost, Elizabeth Harper, Allison Todd, Morgan Dunavin,
Kate Burkett, Chandler Harper, Logan Kleman, Olivia Kleman, Jacqueline Oliver,
and the GRAND PRIZE WINNER was AUTUMN PISTOLE!
We are so proud of all of you. Keep up the good
work. Some of you that didn't win were very close so try a little harder this
next time. Parents, we are putting the memory verses in the bulletin so that you
can encourage your children to commit them to memory. Also, please encourage
them to be on time and bring their Bible as well.
2nd & 3rd Grades: Then you will sing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your
hearts (Ephesians 5:19).
4th - 6th Grades add to the above: And you will
always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20).
"Katy, Bar the Doors!"
By David
Boozer
It won't be easy to do. Not only that, but it
may get me in a bit of trouble. It will certainly go against almost
everything I have ever learned about evangelism. In evangelism, you try to
reach as many people as possible, right? You never turn people away,
right?
Last Sunday, 66 people attended the Way's assembly;
39 of them were children under 14 years. That is slightly up from
the previous week, which was slightly up from the previous week, which was
slightly up from the previous week, etc. In the last 4 Sundays, the Way's
4 p.m. assembly has averaged 33 children. If you have ever been to the
Johnson Street building, then you know that you need a crowbar to get that many
kids in! (Anyone feel an opportunity/harvest or hear a "Macedonian Call"
or cry for help here?)
The Way has never been about numbers, but we are
having trouble ignoring these. Isn't this a good problem? Yes it is,
unless you are one of the four who spend each Sunday trying to teach them about
Christ. Donna Lindgren, Jennifer Dotson, Arista Lindgren and Michelle
Boozer are doing a wonderful job with them, but four people simply can't
minister to this many children effectively. They need help and until then,
we have no choice but to turn children away. So Katy, for now, bar those
doors!
This "problem" should tell us many things, one
being that there are countless kids in Fort Smith who are looking for that one
thing that they don't have, and yet need: Jesus Christ. The task of
connecting them with Him is bigger than we thought. We are finding out just how
weak and not-up-to-task we are. But, our God is not weak; he is
strong. And He is not only up to the task, He created the task and knows
of a time when it will be completed! On second thought, Katy, don't bar
those doors just yet!
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**Remember In Prayer**
* Marilyn Ogletree, Jane
Choate's daughter, has a very serious heart condition. She had a pace maker put
in Thursday and is a candidate for heart transplant.
* Beth Frederick's
mother had a heart attack on Monday. She is in a Tulsa hospital.
* Waymon
Wilma Griffin, mother of Mat Griffin, is in Sparks Hospital, room 547.
*
Robin Harper had her 6 months check up at M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston. So
far, all her tests are negative.
* Frances Quenin will have ankle surgery
Friday in Little Rock.
* Mary Huff had surgery Monday at Vanderbilt Hospital
in Nashville, TN. If you would like to send Mary a card, you may do so in
care of: Jerry W. Flowers, P.O. Box 3727, Brentwood, TN 37024-3727.
* Janie
Wyatt had surgery Tuesday and hopes to go home soon.
* Katherine Evans broke
her ankle last Sunday.
* Continue to pray for Sandy Berger, Vicki Varvel,
Sandy Thurman, and Elaine Jordan.
**Notes of Thanks**
Thank you all for the
prayers, email, and calls. The Lord has answered our prayers! The
doctor in Little Rock said that everything looks fine and there was no irregular
heartbeat. So, whatever our son was doing Wednesday he isn't doing
now. His heart, as well as his other organs/body parts, are all in tact
and doing well. We even got to see him practice breathing; it was a
wonderful sight to see! Again thank you all for your prayers.
Jason and Sara Dockery
Dear West-Ark Quilters,
Thank you so much for
the gorgeous handmade quilt!! We will treasure it for many years to come and
remember your kindness.
With much love,
Louise &
Steven
West-Ark Quilting Ladies,
We really love the
quilt you made for us. It is beautiful. Every time we look at it we will think
of the godly love and hard work that went into making it.
Kendy Jones
and
Adam Brown
**"Mother of the Year"**
What an honor! In a
surprise announcement Sunday morning, Mayor Ray Baker named Mary Broyles as
"Fort Smith's Mother of the Year." Mary, we are so proud of you and
your ministry of caring for others -- in our church and our
community.
**New Arrivals**
Congratulations to Milton and Debbie
Hendrix on the birth of a grandson, Isaac Lee Hendrix, born May 16th to Bill and
Alexa. The baby weighed 8 lbs., 4 ozs.
Congratulations also to Dale and Rita Brown on the
birth of a grandson, Tyson Marshall Brown, born May 21st to Marshall and
Christy. Tyson weighed 7 lbs., 8 ozs.
**KFC 2 Reward Day**
bowling and pizza
May
31st from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
**Sunglasses Needed**
The Guyana mission team is
collecting new or old sunglasses and unopened 4 ounce bottles of cough syrup.
Please place them in the special boxes in the foyer.
**Change of Address**
Ken, Janice and Hannah
Hatcher
10100 Andover Place
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone:
478-6147
**Sunday in Worship**
Morning: The Holy God and
the Unholy Us; David Chadwell, Speaker
4th Sunday Night Singing: Included in our singing
will be learning a new song #111 - "Grace That Is Greater Than All Our
Sins." After singing, we'll have a Fellowship Meal in the FLC. Menu: soft
tacos, refried beans, rice. Please bring desserts!
**Wedding Invitation**
Mr. and Mrs. Eldon
Franklin Coffman and
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Steven Cole
request the honour
of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Ann Louise
Coffman
to Michael Steven Cole II
on Saturday, the thirty-first of
May
at one o'clock in the afternoon
East Side Baptist Church
2710
Massard Road
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Reception following at The Oaks
5500
Massard Road
**Happy Birthday**
May 28
Norma Graf
Ethan Heras
Carl
Nichols
Greg Null
Hannah Null
Lenora Word
May 29
Jerry Canfield
Billy
Hines
May 31
Elizabeth Harper
Cole
Wakefield
Bailey Williams
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**Youth and Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
"What a Great Morning!"
This past Sunday morning was such an encouragement
to me. From what I've heard from many of you in response, it was a blessing to
you as well.
What a way to begin a service by recognizing such a
wonderful example of servanthood and dedication to the Word of God. Thank you
Mary Broyles for being so much more than "Mother of the Year."
Mary, you get my vote for Servant of the Year,
Inspirer of the Year, Friend of the Year, etc. And there are so many more like
you in this congregation.
I thank all of you for your attitudes and for your
willingness to express your gratitude and emotions in worship. You helped lift
the spirits of those around you and you helped lead us into the throne room of
Almighty God. What a great day!
This week as I thought about the servants we have
in this congregation, I was reminded of how Paul mentioned the faithful service
of the Macedonians for their gracious giving.
I thought of you and your willingness to serve as I
read these words:
"I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in
His kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia...for I can testify that
they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their
own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of
sharing in their gifts for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went
beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to
the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them...since you excel
in so many ways, you have so much faith...such enthusiasm and such love for us.
Now I want you to excel in this gracious ministry of
giving." II Corinthians 8:1-7
**4th Sunday Nursery**
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)................689
Sunday Classes (9:30) .................
478
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................374
The Way (4:00)
...............................66
Wednesday Worship (7:00)...........
314
Sunday Contribution ...............$15,034
Laotian
Attendance..........................23
Hispanic
Attendance........................34
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