Peter said Christians cannot "come up short!" We will not be like
the family who went "to close" on a house they wished to buy, but were $10,000
short! We will not be like the person who wanted to purchase a new
vehicle, but was $1,000 short! We will not be like the person who went
grocery shopping, but was $10.00 short! We will not be like the person who
went to the doctor, but could not afford the prescription! Peter said that
could not happen to the person who comes to our glorious God through Jesus
Christ.
Many conclude the letter we call 2 Peter was written by Peter late in his
life. That suggests it was written prior to 70 A.D. Jesus' was
killed and resurrected about 30 years earlier. We humans are an impatient,
restless group. We always have been and always will be. [Fortunately
for us, God does not have our impatience problem.]
We impatient humans constantly conclude that something is inadequate, "not
enough." The probability: some suggested "since Jesus died and was raised
so long ago," he, by himself, was not enough to come to God. They were
insistent that Jesus was "inadequate past history." People needed Jesus
plus something else to find and belong to God.
Peter said, "Not so!" The patient, glorious God, through His own
power, "granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness..." (2 Peter
1:3). What God's divine power achieved through Jesus' life, death, and
resurrection was (is) fully adequate for every spiritual need humans have.
God sent His son, God sustained His son, God offered His son, God resurrected
His son, and God seated His son as the Christ by His side to be our mediator and
intercessor-continually! There was no inadequacy in what God did for
us!
We do not need "something plus Jesus" to be saved, forgiven, redeemed,
spiritually clothed, live in divine mercy, or exist in divine grace. Jesus
Christ is enough!
Enough for what? It is enough to partake of the divine nature and
escape the physical forces and pleasures that seek to destroy us. It is
enough to move us to a diligent pursuit of faith, moral excellence, knowledge,
self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. It is
enough to replace the uselessness of evil with fruitfulness in Jesus
Christ. It is enough to replace spiritual blindness with the spiritual
sight God's power gives in Christ. It is enough to make us certain
about God's spiritual call. It is enough to allow us to stand in God's
presence. It is enough to let us enter the eternal kingdom.
Following Jesus as his disciple is enough to make us everything God wants
us to be! The man or woman with the courage to live in Jesus has total
spiritual adequacy! What wonderful news! Take the "guess work" out
of belonging to God! Live for Jesus!
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**Spotlight on: Widows/Widowers Program**
Contacts: Jack and Janice
Lowry; Marvin and Bobbie Hughes;
Mike and Mary Burkett
Needs: Dedicated
workers willing to build relationships with precious souls!
Approximately fifteen years ago the Widows/Widowers Ministry began. In
talking with Jack and Janice, they commented that the activities of this
ministry could fill an entire page! Every first Saturday of the month
(except for July and January) busy servants prepare a meal for the
widows/widowers in our fellowship. (The monthly Car Clinic corresponds with many
of the activities of this group, but that will be the focus of the next
"Spotlight.") This meal ranges from simple sandwiches to a hearty meal of
beans, cornbread, and homemade peach cobbler. Much effort is put into
festive decorations to fit the holiday or time of the year. Everyone
enjoys the fellowship and the meals. Special events are planned in December when
the group tours the city lights, and in the spring when they tour the Parks
Brothers' Nursery in Van Buren. Another special event has been the "auction" of
various goodies (garage sale-type things collected throughout the year) with
play money. Dale and Rita Brown conduct this wonderfully fun event.
Building relationships with these precious souls and serving them in their
need is the focus of this ministry. Recently, a renewed effort is being made to
visit and call on each person in this group outside of the regularly scheduled
monthly meetings. The countless blessings that stem from service in this
ministry are a part of the successes. Mary Burkett states, "Our family
knows so many lovely ladies and kind gentlemen. They are like grandparents
to our children. We have so many ladies who can advise us on what grows in the
shade or sun; the best way to make the bread dough rise; we get seeds for our
gardens, swap recipes, and most of all, we get to see that service to the Lord
and to others is a life-long blessing and joy!"
Anyone is welcome to come and join service in this ministry. All one
needs is a willing heart to serve others and develop relationships with these
wonderful Christians. As Mary noted, "It even seems that we are the ones
who receive the ministering!" Thanks to all of you who serve in this
ministry and for being disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others!
~~Christy Hesslen
**Gateway News**
Memory Verse:
The Lord does not look at
the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord
looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b).
**Paragould Children's Home**
A representative from the Children's Home in Paragould, Arkansas, will be
our speaker Sunday evening, July 13. We help support this home and want to
encourage everyone to be present and hear of the work they are doing as they
serve and provide for about 125 children each year.
**West-Ark's VBS**
Dates: July 21-24
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Theme: Christ's
Chosen
VBS pre-registration is very important! Parents, you may register your
children online at
www.westark.org/vbsregis.htmor
at the VBS table in the foyer.
People and Items Needed
* Pre-school family leaders are urgently needed
* Family and shop
helpers
* Nursery workers
* Bakers (instructions on the table in the
foyer)
* Baskets
* Greenery/trees
* Old bed sheets (no
florals)
* Rugs
* Pottery (borrowed)
* Fabric (stripes, no florals,
please)
* Old bookshelves or armoire (donated)
Contact Carolyn Harrell or Dena Jenkins if you can help.
**Depressed Anonymous
of Fort Smith, Arkansas**
Place: Sparks Hospital in the
55 Plus Meeting Room
Time: Monday
evenings, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (including holidays)
Contact Judie at (479)
996-5929
or Davanna at (479) 420-3405
This is a FREE program which seems to work best for those persons who have
found sadness to be part of their lives for as long as they can remember - that
is, people who are chronically depressed.
**Rena Road VBS**
July 7-11, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
2's through 12th grade
What A Friend We
Have In Jesus!
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**Remember In Prayer**
* Kathy Monk was in the hospital and is now home. She is having more
tests.
* John Hawkins has been diagnosed with lymphoma. He is in Sparks
Hospital.
* Dottie Hughes will be having back surgery on Monday, July 6th at
8:30 a.m. at St. Edward Hospital.
* Jason and Sara Dockery are preparing for
the birth of their son. If the baby does not arrive by July 3rd, Sara will enter
the hospital and have labor induced.
* Thelma Manzano (daughter of Lorene
Yates and sister of Maxine and Glenda) had hip replacement surgery Tuesday in
Puerto Rico. She is also fighting breast cancer.
* John and Donna Lindgren's
son and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Pam, are home from Germany. Pam's father is
very ill.
* Debbie Belote's mother, Norma Williams, was bitten by a brown
recluse spider on the cheek. The family appreciates prayers for her
recovery.
* Shirley Bullard's co-worker, Jeremy Yandell, requests prayers for
his mother who is ill.
* Continue to pray for Vicki Varvel, Sandy Thurman,
Elaine Jordan, Gordon Wilson, Joel Prigge (brother-in-law of Louise Howard),
Floyd Huffmaster (family friend of the Belotes).
**Dismissed from the Hospital**
Odessa Wright (mother of Doyle); Lucila
Lara (mother of Mickey Mendez); and Doris Hammack (mother of Sheila
Bailey).
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Michael Blasdel in the
recent death of his brother-in-law, Terry Skelton, in a train accident.
A week ago, James Young asked us to pray for Debbie Irwin's mother (Shirley
Foster) who was critically ill. Shirley died late last week. Thank you for
praying for her.
**Changes of Address**
Kenneth & Connie Tipton
1752 Sarah Ann Drive West
Southaven, MS
38671
Phone: (622) 536-4858
E-mail:
tipt3379@bellsouth.net
Darrell and Christi Peters
315 Lecta Avenue
Fort Smith, AR
72901
Phone: 783-7006
**Welcome Grandbaby**
Congratulations to Paul and Coleen Shirley on the birth of a granddaughter.
Claire Lane Shirley was born June 27 to Ben and Laci Shirley in Denver,
Colorado. Claire weighed 10 lbs., 10 ozs.!
**Notes of Thanks**
Thank you for the many wonderful gifts and the kindness shown to me at my
housewarming shower. I loved everything and everyone was so warm and welcoming -
I feel like I've found my family.
In Christian love,
Sandy Land
Thank you for your prayers, cards, and thoughtfulness. I really appreciate
it all very much. They helped me not to become discouraged. Thanks for the
visits. I am proud and thankful to have friends like you and with God's help how
can I fail to get better?
Margaret Stone
We want to thank everyone for all the cards sent to us while we were away.
We are home now and recuperating. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We
are doing well; and will be back in church as soon as possible.
Jess and Mary
Huff
West-Ark Quilters,
Thank you very much for the thoughtful gift. My wife
and I truly love it. We will cherish it for years to come.
Marcus and Aki
Gooden
To our Church Family:
Thank you so very much for the kindness shown to
our mother during the past 18 months. She cherished the visits, the cards, the
prayers, and the young people who sang to her and sent her little gifts. She
said just the joy of knowing she was loved by all of you made her feel a part of
a family who cares.
Thanks again,
Family of Mona Albertson and
Mat Griffin
**Sunday in Worship**
Morning
"And God Said To Us,
'And Your
Reasoning Was???'"
Evening
Guyana Mission Report
**Happy Birthday**
July 6
Michelle Morgan
July 7
Kristy
Abernathy
Amanda Robison
July 9
Brett Cooper
July 10
Martha
Walker
July 11
Seth Kleman
Rachel Robbins
Aline Story
July
12
Vicki Abuzeide
**Very Important VBS Meeting**
If you plan on working in VBS or even
think you will, please come to a very important meeting, Sunday, July 6, at 4:00
p.m. in Room 100.
If you cannot atte
nd this meeting, please get in touch
with Dena Jenkins or Carolyn Harrell.
**Mayor's Prayer Breakfast**
Friday, July 18, 6:15 a.m.
Tickets
available at the Fort Smith
Chamber of Commerce
Price: $10.00
Speaker:
Millard Fuller, Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity
International
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**"Taking Some Good Advice"**
**Brad Pistole**
Sometimes it's hard to
"take" advice when it's your job to "give" advice on a daily basis. However,
this week I'm going to do just that.
I often hear from many of you, "Brad, you can't do everything." And more
commonly I hear, "Brad, you better take care of your own family." Well, that's
great advice for anyone and this week I'll be doing just that.
If you read last week's article which gave a short description of all the
youth group has done so far this summer, you know we've been going 100 miles an
hour for about 6 straight weeks.
Beginning the second week of May, my ministry plate has been filled with
graduation ceremonies, special services, mission trips, youth nights and devos,
work camp, VBS prep, etc.
I've found the first week of July is a great time for my family to take a
break. This week not only involves my son's birthday and the 4th of July
holiday, but it's also the halfway point of the summer. It's a great time to
take a few days off and refuel for summer events that remain.
This week I'll be taking three days of vacation, Tuesday-Thursday (July
1-3). Combined with the 4th of July holiday, I should be able to take a short
break and be ready to jump right into VBS 2003 and our end of the summer Youth
and Family trip to Arlington, Texas.
Thanks for the advice and thanks for the reminder to "practice what I
preach." I look forward to this time with my family. What a blessing they are to
me!
**Nursery**
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).................564
Sunday Classes (9:30)
................. 397
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................277
Small
Group....................................N.C.
The Way (4:00)
................................63
Wednesday Worship (7:00)...........
314
Sunday Contribution ................$13,222
Laotian
Atendance.............................25
Hispanic
Attendance..........................52
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