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Family
Lines Newsletter, July 20,
2003
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**What Human Act Does God Find
Impressive?**
David Chadwell
Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not
despise."
Suppose an insightful, devout Old Testament
Israelite was asked, "How can a person impress God?" He would not make these
replies: "Give a million dollars to the tabernacle or temple"; "Offer a
thousand sacrificial bulls"; "Observe every tabernacle or temple ritual
precisely, correctly"; "Make every Jerusalem pilgrimage on holy days"; or
"Attend synagogue services each week without fail."
First in his reply: "Give God your broken
heart." In more familiar words: "in your brokenness, repent." In
practical terms, nothing is accomplished in the God-human relationship when a
human gives God an enormous monetary gift if he does not first give God a broken
heart. Giving a thousand sacrificial bulls or keeping all rituals
correctly or making every Jerusalem pilgrimage or faithful synagogue
attendance meant nothing individually or collectively if the Israelite did not
first give God a broken, contrite heart.
Read Psalm 51. David, AFTER committing adultery
with Bathsheba, AFTER plotting Uriah's murder, was confronted by Nathan the
prophet (read 2 Samuel 11, 12). God obviously knew everything. Yet,
Nathan said, "The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die."
The Lord took away this adulterer and murderer's
sin? What happened to "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth"? Note
David's comment prior to Nathan's declaration: "I have sinned against the
Lord." David was broken before God. Were there consequences?
Certainly! Yet, when David realized what he had done, he bowed in penitent
brokenness.
Do you realize the arrogance, disrespect, and
presumptuousness if David said to God, "Lord, here's a million dollars (or a
thousand sacrifices or faithful rituals or leadership for holy day gatherings
or a pledge for synagogue attendance)." All David had to give God was a
broken heart that contritely bowed before the God he offended.
We urgently need to learn this lesson! Money,
sacrifice, rituals, attendance are meaningful only if they come from broken,
contrite hearts. The first offense of all evil deeds, words, and emotions
are offenses against our loving, forgiving God. Unthinkable!
Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:9,10: "I now rejoice, not
that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of
repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that
you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is
according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to
salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."
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**Vacation Bible School**
"Christ's
Chosen"
July 21-24 (Monday - Thursday)
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ages: 4
years old through those entering 6th grade
Parents, if you haven't already
done so,
please register your children at the table in the foyer or
online
at www.westark.org/vbsregis.htm
Workers are needed to set up the
"marketplace."
If you can only give a few hours - that's fine!
We'll be working in the FLC:
Friday, July 18, 9 a.m. until ??
Sunday,
July 20, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.
After Sunday evening worship, there will be a short
meeting
in room 100 for everyone involved in VBS.
This will be your
opportunity to ask questions!
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**Please Pray For**
* Kathy Monk is having tests
at the Mayo Clinic in Florida.
* Eileen Jones is in critical condition at
Medi Homes.
* Benjamin Green (son of Naomi McLinden) is in Crawford County
Hospital with pneumonia.
* Judy Embry (daughter-in-law of Edith Embry) has
been diagnosed with cancer.
* Anita Maxwell is in St. Edward, room 5527.
*
Norma Graf has been dismissed from the hospital.
* Lucila Lara (mother of
Mickey Mendez) is in Sparks MICU (room 212) following a heart attack.
* John
Hawkins
* Janet Jackson
* Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine
Hawkins)
* Sandy Thurman
* Elaine Jordan (sister of Larry Roper)
*
Floyd Huffmaster (friend of Ron and Debbie Belote)
* Odessa Wright (mother of
Doyle Wright)
* Joel Prigge (brother-in-law of Louise Howard)
* Helen
Epton (mother of Rebecca Holloway)
* Betty Pence (mother of Cyndi
Glidewell)
* Cara Hewett and unborn child (friend of Roxie
Benincosa)
**Change of Address**
Cheryl Hamilton
2100
Boston
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: 784-2781
**Looks Who's Having A Birthday**
July
22
Colleen Frost
Brynn Walker
July 23
Maile McDonald
Oscar Nolasco
Ian
Smith
July 25
Robert Fisher
Frances
Strawhacker
July 26
Joseph Rosalez
July 27
Jean Jackson
July 28
Miriam Gunn
Terri Parker
Retha
Wood
July 29
Caroll Robison
Jerry Selby
Deborah
Strong
Bill Yick
July 30
Cathy Harris
July 31
Jerry Aldridge
Adam Bailey
Anetia
Livesay
**LTC Signups**
We are continuing registration
through July 20. Scripture Challenge was accidentally left off the table, so add
your name to the event if you desire.
Children entering 3rd grade are
encouraged to participate.
Coaches are needed for several
events.
**David's Sermons**
Morning: "What Is Your Life
About?"
Evening: When God Listens To Prayer
**Youth and Family Trip, July 25-27**
A group of
50 teens and parents from West-Ark will travel to Arlington, Texas, for 3 days
of fun and fellowship as we begin to wrap up a great summer. The deadline for
signing up/paying is this Sunday, July 20th. If your plans have changed in any
way, please mark your name off the list upstairs on the youth board so final
arrangements can be made for the hotel, bus, and tickets.
We look forward to a great time together as a
family, and we look forward to worshipping with our friends in Arlington who
went with us to Mexico this past June.
*****
"As for man, his days are like grass ...
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those
who fear Him..." (Psalm 103:15, 17).
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**Family
Life Ministry**
Brad Pistole
"BLESSINGS"
What a blessing it is to work with
our young people! I've learned so much from our teens this summer, as I always
do. I've been blessed so far this summer to participate in a mission trip, a
welcome party for new group members, a family night, work camp week, an
afternoon of Bible Study and a fellowship meal with teens from West-Ark and
children from The Way, and a lot of preparation and hard work for
VBS.
Attitudes have been great. Hearts have been
willing. Emotions have been shared. Friendships have been made. And as a result,
spirits have been filled.
This past Sunday our teens hosted about 50 children
from The Way. We taught Bible class to two different age groups. We played
various games together which helped us get to know one another better. We sang
songs together. And we took part in a meal at the end.
It was so good to see our teens actively mentoring
and helping shape the lives of these younger children as they grow and develop
in Christ. There were no walls created by race, background, or financial status
present, for all are one in Christ Jesus. It was a great day.
I look forward to the next two weeks. It will be
great to see all of the kids from The Way here for VBS 2003. It will be good to
see our friends again from the Cedarville daycare and the surrounding area. I
also look forward to our end of the summer family trip to Dallas, Texas with 55
people from West-Ark.
May we all make plans to be a part of VBS 2003 this
coming week. It will take place from 9:30-12:30, July 21-24 and it will conclude
on Thursday night from 7:00-8:00 p.m. May we continue to count our blessings for
all God is doing to and through us! Amen!
**Nursery**
A.M. Infants
Gail Mason
Bo
Mason
Tracy Risley
Toddlers
Flora Johnson
Missy
Blasdel
Christy Abernathy
P.M. Nursery
Linda Wear
Terri
Jones
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship
(10:30).................575
Sunday Classes (9:30) .................
341
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................263
Small
Group.....................................18
The Way (4:00)
................................51
Wednesday Worship (7:00)............
291
Sunday Contribution ................$16,200
Laotian
Attendance.............................25
Hispanic
Attendance..........................45
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