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Family Lines Newsletter, July 13, 2003
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**Vacation Bible School**
 
Ahhh summer ... days full of sunshine and relaxation with no deadlines to meet or schedules to keep. Sure, just keep on dreaming. There is baseball, softball, swim meets, soccer camp, band camp, football camp and math camps. We can almost spend more time hustling our young charges around this time of year than we do when school is in session. In the middle of all this is one event that matters more than all of the above activities combined and we want your child to be a part of it this year: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! That annual summer ritual that many of us participated in as children has vanished from numerous places in our brotherhood, and many times it has evolved into single day programs or nighttime schedules to accommodate busy parents. Here at West-Ark we are fortunate that Carolyn Harrell and Dena Jenkins (what a mother-daughter combo!) are committed to delivering a high quality, innovative Vacation Bible School program during the daytime to our children. It takes a good deal of work, but what it will provide our children can be eternal.
 
More than once the question arises, "Why even have VBS?" In a world that we consider very complex this is one answer that remains very simple. It creates another opportunity to teach our children the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus for them. There is no other reason we need to conduct VBS. In fact, we should be considering what else we can do to present the powerful message of the Bible to our children.
 
Now, to further answer the question, "Why VBS?" First, it teaches our teens the value of service. They are an instrumental part of VBS. In fact, it can honestly be said we could not pull it off without their help. Today's teens need to learn they are important and vital to the Church. Second, it places young people and adults together in a working environment. Given the structure of the modern church we spend more time separating people than pulling them together, but VBS puts old and young alike together working for a common cause. Working together allows respect, trust and love to develop between the generations. The list of whys could be much longer but suffice it to say the benefits of VBS to all of us are substantial.
 
Putting on VBS is a time-consuming task that requires quite a few people. The great thing is that much of the time has already been put in by a handful of people, so your commitment mostly would involve following their direction and being ready to enjoy a great volunteer job. Anyone can be involved in VBS and there is a spot for you to go to work. There is still time to get involved in this year's program. If you want to help, but don't know how you can contribute, then take a few minutes to visit with Carolyn or Dena. They will be glad to find a place where you can make a difference in a way you may have never imagined.
 
Oh, one more reason to have VBS. It is just plain fun for kids, teens and adults! Come and be a part this year!   
 
~Gary Brown
 
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**Spiritual Gifts -- Use for Unselfish Service -- Romans 12:3-8**
                 
Recently the following statement was made on a religious program that impressed me tremendously. "God has placed gifts in your hands. Will you invest them or spend them?" Although the statement was made in the context of financial giving, what an application it has to every aspect of a Christian's life.

Identifying one's gift calls for honest and impartial self-examination. Paul said "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. As Christians, we should not overvalue our own abilities or gifts, or our worth but make an accurate estimate of ourselves. However, sometimes a false modesty may be as detrimental to an individual as pride. Too many Christians say, "I don't have a gift for that particular work," without giving "sober judgment" to the abilities God has given him.

 
"In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Without an in-depth study of this verse, we can conclude that the main points are:  (1) each Christian has a gift; (2) these gifts are not the same; (3) each one's gift has been given to him by God (1 Corinthians. 4:7); and (4) one's gift is therefore no basis for feelings of superiority over others.
 
One lesson we can learn from verses 4-5 is that rather than separating us from one another, the variety of gifts only brings us close together when we see how much we depend on one another. Each member belongs to all the others says Paul. No matter how humble my gift may be; (1 Corinthians 12:22-24), every other member of the body depends on it; and no matter how honorable my gift may be, I am dependent upon and blessed by even the humblest contribution of every other member.

Do we not conclude from verses 4 and 5 that there is variety in unity. The unity of the one body is in Christ. The 600 plus members at West-Ark are one body because we have the same Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Yet like members of the human body, we do not all have the same "function." As Bruce says in his commentary, "Diversity, not uniformity, is the mark of God's handiwork, both in nature and in grace."

 
An EXAMPLE of using one's gift last Sunday that affected every person who attended services at Johnson Street. No air conditioning at the Johnson Street building at 9:30. Stan Burkhart was notified and within the hour Oscar was able to shut the doors and have a cool building. Thanks Stan for using your gift for the benefit of all members and guests who attended services at Johnson Street Sunday.
 
~Earl Flood  
 
**Jail Ministry Update**
Jesus Marquez was baptized into Christ on Saturday, June 28th. He had studied with David Lee Jones from the 9th Street Church of Christ.
If you would like to donate for large print paper back Bibles for the jail ministry, money can be given to the church office.
In Christ's Service,
~ Dan Cathey
 
**VBS Needs**
Fabric (all but florals)
Coffee Cans (lg. preferred)
Concrete Blocks
Scrap Lumber
Bricks
Baskets
Someone to pronounce our Hebrew  words.
 
**LTC**
Sign ups will continue until July 20. Scripture challenge was accidentally left off the table, so add your name for that event if you desire.
Children entering 3rd grade are encouraged to participate.
Coaches are still needed for several events.
 
**Medical Needs Benefit**
~ A benefit sale sponsored by Janet Jackson's coworkers will be held here under the portico, Saturday, July 12.
~ Donations will be accepted Friday, after 4 p.m., July 11, at the Family Life Center.
~ All proceeds will go for Janet's medical needs.
 

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**Sick**
Janet Jackson has an appointment with doctors in Little Rock Wednesday, July 16th, in preparation for gamma radiation treatments.
 
John Hawkins is in Sparks Hospital, room 678. His test results show type B lymphoma.
 
Norma Graf is in Sparks Hospital, room 603.
 
Dottie Hughes is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4511, and is doing well.
 
Lucila Lara, mother of Mickey Mendez, is back in the hospital at Sparks ICU.
 
Kathy Monk is home and has shown some improvement.
 
Helen Epton, Rebecca Holloway's mother, recently had a stroke and is receiving therapy at Covington Court. She would enjoy cards and short visits. Her address is: Helen Epton, Covington Court, 4500 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, AR 72901
 
Allison Todd had surgery Wednesday for removal of her tonsils and adenoids.
 
Aliza Boatright also had surgery Wednesday for removal of her tonsils and adenoids.
 
Betty Pence, mother of Cynthia Glidewell, has had knee replacement surgery and now has pneumonia. She is in Sparks Hospital.
 
Joel Prigge, Louise Howard's brother-in-law, will have high risk surgery next Monday. Prayer is requested for him.
 
Doyle Wright's mother, Odessa Wright, is back in an Oklahoma hospital due to congestive heart failure.
 
Roxie Benincosa has requested prayer for her friend, Cara Hewett, and Cara's unborn baby that has a diaphragmatic hernia.
 
Continue to pray for Vicki Varvel, Sandy Thurman, Elaine Jordan, Gordon Wilson, Floyd Huffmaster (family friend of the Belotes).
 
**Bereaved**
We extend our love and sympathy to Lois Lancaster and Aline Story in the death of loved ones.
 
Lois Lancaster's sister, Eunice Brooke, died Monday in a nursing home in Indiana. Lois was unable to attend her service and would appreciate your prayers.
 
Aline Story's granddaughter, Leigh Ann (Graves) Parker died Sunday. Funeral services were Tuesday in Prairie Grove Arkansas. Leigh Ann had been suffering from Lupus.
 
**Sixty (60) Plus**
Our next potluck meal is July 19th at 6:00 p.m. in the annex.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Church of Christ Quilters:
Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt. It is a very special gift that we will always treasure.
Love,
Josh and Kim Bice
(formerly Kim Lankford)
 
We would like to express sincere thanks to all the youth and adults that gave their time and energy to help make the new house a home.
Thank you for caring enough to Love.
Angela Franklin and children.
 
**New Address**
Mike and Kathy Goings are now living in Hot Springs. Their address is: 116 Valley View
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone 501 624-4817
 
**Gospel Meeting**
Valley View church of Christ will have a Gospel Meeting July 20-27, 7:30 nightly. Deral McWhorter will be preaching.
 
**Welcome Baby Dockery**
Joseph William Dockery was born, July 3rd weighing 9 lb. and was 21 1/4 inches long. Proud parents are Jason and Sara Dockery. They are all doing well.
 
**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 Humanities
 
**Happy Birthday**
July 14
Jennifer Dotson
Kacey Frederick
Ruby Nichols
July 15
Fred Jackson
John Smith
July 17
Tommy Bishop
Morgan Dunavin
Darold Wear
July 18
Jack Alexander
Sherria Burk
July 19
Levi Green
Scott James
Brad Pistole
July 21
Karen Farris
 
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**VBS 2003 - "Christ's Chosen"**
July 21-24, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
 
~ Brad Pistole

Believe it or not, as I told the teens this past Sunday night during Youth Worship, the summer is half way over. I'm not sure what your schedule has been like so far, but if you're like everyone else you've been really busy and it probably feels like the summer just started. The summer has a way of slipping past you like that.
 
Since the summer is half way over, we know what that means at West-Ark: VBS will be here soon. Our teens have been involved in a lot of great things so far this summer, but none of those things excite them more than Vacation Bible School.
 
If you've been paying attention lately, you know that VBS will be totally different this year. Carolyn Harrell and Dena Jenkins have found a wonderful new program for us that will bless our children for years to come. So hang on to your hats, these changes will prove to be well worth the time, effort, and transition it will require to make them.

Here are some things that will be different this year:

 
VBS will take place from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day.
It will take place Monday - Thursday and will conclude with an open house on Thursday evening beginning at 7 p.m. Friday will be a clean-up day.
 
Our children will go through the marketplace each day, complete with 15 different learning stations and they will learn more about what life was like for a family in the first century.
 
Things that will stay the same:
VBS will be a lot of fun! Your children/grandchildren will learn a lot of great things about God's word.
 
Please remember to pre-register for VBS. This will help us out so much with all of the changes we will experience this year. Please sign up at the VBS table in the foyer this Sunday morning or register online at
 
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org
 
**Nursery Schedule for Sunday**
A.M. Infants
Trish Carson
Jane Dunavin
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
 
Toddlers
Retha Wood
Vicki Anderson
 
P.M.
Marquetta Walker
Sheila Vaught
 
**Schedule of Services**
 
Sunday Worship (10:30).................590
Sunday Classes (9:30) ................. 397
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................218
The Way (4:00) ................................62
Wednesday Worship (7:00)........... 279
Sunday Contribution ................$16,533
Laotian Atendance............................23
Hispanic Attendance.........................45
 
Watch Channel 40/29
(Channel 7 on Cox)
In Search of the Lord's Way
7:30 each Sunday Morning
 
**Elders**
 
Michael Cole
 Bill Dickey, Roy Dunavin
Earl Flood, Ron Lenderman
Bob Null, Joe Pistole
 
**Ministers**
 
David Chadwell, Pulpit
Roy  Dunavin, Evangelism
Brad Pistole, Youth
David Boozer, Community Outreach
Oscar Nolasco, Hispanic
Thomas Kweekul, Lao Minister
 
**Deacons*
 
Ron Belote
David Berger
Steve Breedlove
Gary Brown
Mike Burkett
Stan Burkhart
Rick Carson
Dan Cathey
Dave Cogswell
Chuck Combs
Robert Davidson
Charley Douglas
Bob Fisher
Lyndell Foster
Blake Frost
Mat Griffin
Kerry Jenkins
Kelvin Kleman
Jack Lowry
Gene Monk
Barry Neal
Brian Robbins
Larry Roper
J. T. Smith
Larry Todd
Jim Wilson
James Word
 
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax  (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org
 
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