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Family
Lines Newsletter, June 1,
2003
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**The Speed of Time**
By David
Chadwell
When I was a small boy, "good" things took forever
to arrive-birthdays, breaks from school, vacations, Christmas, etc. The
small boy saw time as an enemy. When I became a teen [thirteen] time still
crawled. The "really good things" were terribly slow to arrive-- sixteen,
driver's license, graduation from high school, etc. When high school
graduation occurred, time moved faster, but it was still slow--four years in
college were faster than the four years in high school, but they were still
slow.
As I grew older, time gained momentum. Thirty
came fast. Forty came faster. Fifty came too fast! Amazingly,
sixty came even faster! In fact, in our 60's we ask ourselves, "Did my
forties really have ten years?" From listening to those in their
seventies, eighties, and nineties, they ask about life what I ask about a
decade: "Where did it go? How can time move so quickly?"
To the joyfully married, after a year of marriage,
did it seem strange to think about ever being single? A happy marriage
makes happiness as a single seem strange! May I ask all who transitioned
from being a couple to being parents to remember. Remember how fast that
tiny infant grew? How much time did it take to go from seven pounds to
fifteen pounds? From fifteen pounds to a toddler? From a toddler to
four years old? From four to kindergarten? From kindergarten to
elementary school? From elementary school to junior high school?
From junior high school to high school? From high school to an "empty
nest"? During the "present," it seems to be a long time. When it
becomes the "past," it seems incredibly short.
Use time thoughtfully, carefully. Treat time
with respect. Regardless of how we use life, the truth is that death is
only one breath away. Do not live life in fear. Let the Lord teach
you how to live in faith. Please, do not "waste" time--when it is gone, it
cannot be recalled, changed, or redirected. The only moment we can
redirect is the "now" moment. Only the "now" moment is subject to our
decision.
Ephesians 5:15-17, "Therefore be careful how you
walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the
days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the
Lord is."
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**THE SHEPHERDS' CORNER**
*The Joy of
Serving Others*
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph.
2:10).
What a joy it is to be a part of a congregation
where "good works" abound all around us - in our community as well as worldwide.
Recently, a mission statement was agreed upon
during a meeting of elders, deacons, and ministry leaders. Our mission: "TO MAKE
DISCIPLES FOR JESUS WHO ARE EAGER TO SERVE OTHERS."
In the near future, our quilting ladies will
prepare four vertical banners for display in the auditorium that will emphasize
key words from Mark 16:15-16; Ephesians 2:10; 4:12; and Hebrews 10:24. The
mission statement will be placed on a horizontal banner in the
auditorium.
To better promote ministry and service to others,
we will feature a particular ministry in the "Shepherds' Corner" of the bulletin
twice a month. Christy Hesslen has agreed to interview ministry leaders
and write the spotlight articles.
We all are excited about the mission statement, the
upcoming "Spotlight" of each ministry, and all of our congregational efforts to
make disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others.
June spotlights will feature our jail and quilting
ministries, June 12 and 26.
*Children's Home*
As most of you know, our
Children's Home collection taken during class time each week is now being sent
to Southern Christian Home at Morrilton, Arkansas, and Children's Homes at
Paragould, Arkansas. Thanks to Jim Hardin who has assumed oversight of
this ministry. In addition to our sending funds to these homes, Jim is
exploring ways for many of us to become involved with one or both homes on a
personal basis.
*Business Management Team*
Our thanks to Dennis
Anderson who has agreed to serve on the BMT.
**GATEWAY NEWS**
Attention all kids going into
2nd through 6th grade.
Sunday is promotion day. All new 2nd
graders and
all 3rd through 6th graders should meet in the FLC
during
class time.
**LTC 2004**
All participants: sign-up is in the
month of June.
**Mission Needs**
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.
**KFC 2 Reward Day**
Bowling and pizza, May 31st
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
**COMMUNITY OUTREACH DAY**
If you know someone who needs clothing,
household items or furniture, please tell them about
this special
day.
WHEN?
Saturday, May 31st
9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
A hot meal is
provided!
WHERE?
West-Ark Church of Christ
Family Life Center
Attention West-Ark Members:
Household items and furniture may be brought
to the FLC Saturday morning.
Workers are needed Friday & Saturday.
(Saturday - especially after 4:00 p.m. for clean up).
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**Remember In Prayer**
* Waymon Wilma Griffin, mother of Mat Griffin, is
in Sparks Hospital, room 547.
* Mary and Jess Huff are still in Nashville,
TN. Mary returned to the doctor Wednesday for a post-surgery check-up. Jess was
admitted to the hospital with a blood sugar problem.
* Helen Branum is
in Sparks Hospital, room 517.
* Kathy Monk is going to Little Rock June 4th
for tests.
* Frances Quenin is recovering from surgery.
* Beth Frederick's
mother had heart valve replacement surgery on Friday.
* Juanita Carlon is in
Sparks Hospital, room 693.
* Landry Dockery burned his leg on Memorial
Day.
* Continue to pray for Vicki Varvel, Sandy Thurman, Elaine Jordan,
Marilyn Ogletree (Jane Choate's daughter).
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Brian Robbins in the
unexpected death of his father, Richard. Funeral services were Tuesday in
Missouri.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Bonnie Marrs in the recent death
of her brother, Edward Dine, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear family,
We will never be able to thank you
enough for all you've done for us these last nine months. We have been through a
trial and you all have helped us through. Thanks to all the families who brought
us food. Thank you for the cards and gifts that were sent to cheer me. I
received cards all year right up to the very end of my chemo. Especially, thank
you for your prayers and kind encouraging words. I know your prayers helped in
my healing. God is good.
We love you,
Sandy, David, John and Eric
Berger
**Changes of Address**
The Ruddicks
282 River Trace Drive
Marion, AR 72364
Phone: (870)
739-8570
Jenny & Jacqueline Oliver
9312 Bridgeford Circle
Fort Smith, AR
72908
Jim & Vicki Hardin
5514 Hedwig Way
Fort Smith, AR 72916
Phone:
649-5973
**Placing Membership**
David & Jenna Dickey
7812 S. 24th
Street
Fort Smith, AR 72908
Phone: 649-9137
Burnie & Daisy Morris
3017 S. 39th Street
Fort Smith, AR
72903
Phone: 648-8099
**Car Clinic**
Car Clinic will be at the Annex Saturday, June 7, from 8
to 11 a.m.
**Widows/Widowers **
We will leave June 7 at 11:30 p.m. from the Annex
to go to the Hughes residence for lunch. Call Bobbie Hughes, Mary Burkett
or Janice Lowry if you need transportation to the Annex.
**Baptisms**
Iglesia de Cristo continues to grow! Marco and Mary
Zacarias were baptized Thursday, May 22nd by Oscar Nolasco. The next day another
man named Victor (no last name yet) was baptized. Tuesday evening, May 27th,
Rigoberto Serrano was baptized.
**Snip & Clip**
Volunteers are needed to cut out costumes for VBS on
Monday, June 2, from 9 a.m. until noon. Call Yvonne Pistole at 452-5667 if you
can help.
**Wedding Announcement**
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
Fort Smith,
Arkansas
**Look Who's Having A Birthday!**
June 1
Eleanor Casey
John Hundley
Gordon Wilson
June 2
Adam Davis
Bob Faries
Larry Pillstrom
June 3
David Chadwell
June 4
Alize Boatright
Glenn Gilley
June 5
Jo Davidson
June 6
Rochelle Brown
Cathy Buchanan
Janet Jackson
Brian
Perkins
Barbara Binns Smith
June 7
Mary Burkett
Doris Pressley
**David's Sermons**
Morning: Substituting Hope for Despair
Evening:
Familiar Passages: 2 Tim. 3:16-17
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
"I've Got GIANT PROBLEMS"
As I write this article, we are making final preparations for our third
annual mission trip to the City of Children in Ensenada, Mexico. This year, we
will take 41 members from West-Ark and 15 members from the Pleasant Ridge Church
of Christ in Arlington, Texas for a team of 56.
In addition to the service projects, Bible lessons and VBS we will put on
for the children at the City, we will also send adults out to a nearby village
to study the Word of God with the lost each day.
The theme for this year is "I've Got GIANT PROBLEMS." We will focus on many
of the problems David faced from the time he was a youth through his reign as
king. Please keep the following team members in your prayers as we travel and
work in order to spread the gospel of our Lord.
Mexico 2003, May 31 - June 6
Landon Abuzeide
Amy Bailey
Sheila Bailey
Tom Benincosa
Roxie
Benincosa
Casey Benincosa
Nichole Benincosa
John Berger
Michael
Blasdel
Ashley Blasdel
Jessica Bryant
Mitchell Bryant
Shirley
Bullard
Kim Davis
Blake Frost
Nathan Griffin
Jim Hardin
Michael
Jones
Ellen Kamp
Emily Kamp
Seth Kleman
Ron Lenderman
Jennifer
Lemley
Arista Lindgren
Ben Neal
Brad Pistole
Joe Pistole
Peggy
Pistole
Christy Puckett
Larry Roper
Donna Roper
Ann Selig
Jeff
Tomlin
Stephen Tomlin
Dawson Urrutia
Callie Walker
Daniel
Word
Sara Word
Doyle Wright
Judy Wright
**Nursery Schedule**
Infants
Paula May
Sandi Pippin
Melissa
Walker
Toddlers
Dena Jenkins
Irene Willis
P.M. Nursery
Dixie Burkhart
Gina
Williams
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30)................652
Sunday Classes (9:30) ................. 445
Sunday Evening
(6:00)...................N.C.
The Way (4:00)
...............................80
Wednesday Worship (7:00)...........
315
Sunday Contribution ...............$13,220
Laotian
Attendance..........................32
Hispanic
Attendance........................39
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