West-Ark Newsletter, 17 August 2003

---------------------------------------------------------------
Family Lines Newsletter, August 17, 2003
---------------------------------------------------------------

Too often I get that "overwhelmed" feeling. I am certain you do, too. I feel it. I see others as they feel it. I watch our society glorify the choices and the forms of indulgence that guarantee the disasters of crumbling lives and empty existences. I see our world shutter as the majority is forced to drink the bitterness of hate and greed. Whether seen in persons, families, society, or the world, the effect is the same: we helplessly reel under the onslaught of so many forms of evil. We are overwhelmed!

Evil thoughts, deeds, and values are not without consequence. Even when we repent, we cannot and do not escape the consequences of evil. Without fail, God forgives us if we repent. Yet, even with God's forgiveness, the consequences of poor decisions, poorly used lives, or past ungodly character are not escaped.

Perhaps the tragedy created by evil results from plain, simple ignorance. How often we say or think, "I had no idea this would happen!" Or, "When I made that decision I was not bargaining for this!" Or, "I never thought that would lead me to this place (situation, condition, struggle, conflict)." Or, "I just wanted to have a good time." Or, "I was looking for fun--not making a forever decision!"

Temptation lies to us. It depends on deceit to make its lies effective. The devil does not possess the enormous, overwhelming power that forces us humans to fall to the father of lies. Satan deceived Eve. Satan deceived those responsible for Jesus' death. Satan deceives those who conclude "here and now" is all there is. Satan deceives us when he leads us to believe, if we can classify something as "desirable," it has no consequences. We are so foolish that we fail to grasp a truth: temptation's deception is effective because it gets us to work against ourselves! We are betrayed by our own desires!

Nothing has changed. People's evil desires betray them in every age. It is not the "evil out there" that is our greatest threat. It is the evil inside us that is our greatest threat. Hundreds of years ago Isaiah tried to awaken the deceived with this truth in Isaiah 5:20,21: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!"

The bottom line, "big cost item" in life has not changed in any generation. The question confronting each person always has been the same. All "glitter" and "advancements" aside, the fundamental question is (and always has been!) simply this: Who or what do we allow decide who we are? Or who do we allow to shape our values, determine our priorities, decide what is "good for us," form our character, and guide our integrity? What forces in your life do you allow to make you you?

Ephesians 4:23,24 "... be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Beginning September 4, West-Ark will enter its third school year of tutoring children from Tilles and Spradling Elementary schools. Those of us who have been involved in this have learned a few things. Here is a bit of what we've learned.

We have learned that now matters. We have learned that one child matters. We have learned that children want to learn. We have learned that children with hard outer shells have soft, tender hearts. We have learned that at-risk children are smarter than most give them credit for. We have learned that children crave attention. We have learned that children like to sing "The Hippo Song." We have learned that God can use simple moments to teach incredible lessons. We have learned that a child may throw rocks at us and tell us she hates us one day, while the next day she loves us and says she is sorry. We have learned that parents can be evangelized through their children.

We have learned a lot. But maybe one of the biggest lessons that we have learned is that while we thought we were teaching and changing these kids, they were actually teaching and changing us! I am closer to God as a result of spending time with these children on Thursdays.

A new school year is starting with new lessons to be learned. Due to a lack of space at the Johnson Street building, this year we will have only 22 children. Christians are needed to spend time with each one every Thursday of the school year from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. If you are interested, pick-up a copy of "Answers to Most Questions about Tutoring on Thursdays" in West-Ark's foyer this Sunday. Check out this space in next week's bulletin for more information.

**Tuesday Morning WINGS**
Orientation/Registration/Coffee
September 2, 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center.
We hope you can join us as we start our weekly study of Esther.
If you have questions, contact Judy Green (484-1438)
Shelly Robbins (996-2109) or Heather Curtis (452-3290).
Child care will be provided in the Church Nursery.

**Wednesday WINGS Fellowship**
August 20th at 7 p.m. in Room 211
Our study is "Paul: By the Grace of God." The book is approximately $13.25. Please bring your check with you to the fellowship. If you cannot be present for the fellowship, please give your check to one of the leaders before August 20th.

**Peter Donkor Update**
Peter Donkor, from the Christian School in Ghana, W. Africa, spoke to interested members last Sunday evening. If you like to make a donation to this effort, checks can be made payable to "Christian Educational Complex" and mailed to:
Christian Educational Complex
20060 Whitman Avenue #E
Shoreline, WA 98133

**Many Teachers Are Needed!!**
We need 11 people who are willing to teach, co-teach or just be the helper. There are openings for Sunday and Wednesday in all ages. Please contact Robin Pratt-Webber if you can help (783-8728).

**KFC Coming Back Soon!**
Kids, just a reminder that KFC on Sunday nights will begin again September 6th. Be watching for details in the next few weeks. Parents, if you have questions or input, see Gary Brown.

**Family Meeting Rescheduled**
Due to the Labor Day holiday, our Family Meeting and Fellowship Meal (normally the 5th Sunday of the month) have been rescheduled for Sunday evening, September 7th.

**Golf Tournament in Dyer**
River Valley Golf Course
Saturday, September 20
4 person scramble
Includes a Bar-B-Que dinner
Cost is $100 per team (this does not include carts, which must be reserved before the tournament).
First come/first accepted with an 18 team limit. Call Jim Bullock at 474-5866 or 632-3097. Make checks payable to Jim Bullock and memo it "Golfers for Christ." Mail your entry to Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, 6020 Kibler Road, Van Buren, AR 72956.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
---------------------------------------------------------------
**Remember In Prayer**
* Ada Ferguson is in Sparks Hospital, room 418, and will probably go to a nursing home when she is dismissed.
* Eugene Smith remains in Sparks Hospital, room 434.
* Richard Bandy has been diagnosed with cancer and would appreciate your prayers.
* Bennie Hedrick is scheduled for out-patient shoulder surgery August 14th.
* Glenda Roberts had out-patient shoulder surgery on Monday.
* Janet Jackson's brain surgery is scheduled for August 22nd in Little Rock.
* Perry Putman, nephew of Marlene Tucker has been diagnosed with cancer.
* Continue to pray for Vicki Varvel, John Hawkins, Helen Epton, and Bill Dickey.

**Prayers for Mission Trips**
* Roy Dunavin and Jack Harriman leave August 18 for a 2½ week mission trip to Ethiopia.
* Jerry Canfield will travel to Laos August 30th. He will be gone for about 10 days.

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the Richard Adams Family in the death of Richard's father, Lawrence (age 94). Other family members are Marsha Tomlin (granddaughter), and Stephen and Alex Tomlin (great-grandchildren). Funeral services were Wednesday in Bangor, Michigan.

**Notes of Thanks**
West-Ark Church of Christ:
Thank you so much for the beautiful peace lily you sent to my mother's funeral. The flower was very much appreciated and was most appropriate on her behalf. Your thinking of us during this period of bereavement was most appreciated by me and my family.
Don Neal and Family

Dear Christian Friends,
I so deeply appreciate all of the cards, calls, food, offers of help, visits, and especially the prayers offered in my behalf during my illness. Thank you for the love shown to my family and me. We are deeply humbled by your concern. I still have a long way to go to regain my strength, but through your prayers and God's help, I know this will happen.
In Christian love,
Kathy Monk

**Bridal Shower**
A shower honoring Adriane Anderson, bride-elect of Todd Martin, is planned for Sunday, August 24, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the home of Helen Pratt. Adriane and Todd are registered at Dillards, Wal-Mart and Pier 1.

**Miscellaneous Church Shower**
The church is in need of some miscellaneous items for the baptistery, Annex kitchen, FLC kitchen and restrooms. Sharon Faries, Connye Neal, and Ann Selig have made a list of the needed items and registered for them at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Rogers.

Registration forms (with a bar code) are available in the foyer for you to pick up. Take this form to the Gift Registry at Wal-Mart (by the jewelry counter). After the code is scanned you will receive a printout of gifts to choose from. Unwrapped gifts can be returned to this same table in the church foyer. If you would like to donate $$ and have someone shop for you, see Sharon, Connye, or Ann.

**Jail Ministry Update**
Four men from Sebastian County Jail were baptized last Saturday, August 9. Ames Green, Robert White, Clifton Perry, and Billy Downey are our new brothers in Christ. These men were taught by Steve Breedlove.

To celebrate our study of the birth of Jesus, on August 31, we would like to have a "baby shower" for baby Jesus. We would appreciate it if the children in the 2nd through 6th grades would bring a baby gift which we will then give to the Way and to the church pantry. We have many requests for disposable diapers (all sizes). Any baby gift will be great. Used baby clothing would be very welcome as well.

Whether you are able to send a gift or not, we look forward to having your child with us to celebrate this most important event. It is our desire that by bringing gifts for the "Baby Jesus Shower" the children will also learn about giving to others. Thank you for your help in this and for the opportunity to teach your children.

There are many different people who bless this congregation through their service and outreach to others. Two of those people are David and Michelle Boozer. As a result of their willingness to pray and serve our Lord, a new body of believers has been meeting at Johnson Street for over a year now.

As it happens many times, the church there is growing through its young people. They have been flooded with kids who are eager to learn about God. They are starving for meaningful relationships with people who truly care about their souls. As a result, they have run out of room to teach class and many other needs have developed.

The teenagers at West-Ark have been blessed this summer to get to know many of these young people from the Way. They have worked together, served together, played together, camped together, and they have realized their common bond in Christ. It has been a truly beautiful thing to watch them learn from each other and realize they are all one in Christ Jesus.

With this newness comes change, transition and the opportunity for us to serve. In the coming weeks, the teenagers from The Way will begin to be mainstreamed into our youth program here at West-Ark. Four of their teens are already meeting with us on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.

They are eager to learn, and they are soaking up this new environment. As a matter of fact, they recently had the opportunity to join us on our trip to Arlington, Texas. It was their first time to go to Six Flags and stay in a hotel with a group. They had a blast.

They were able to participate because of the kindness of families like Gary and Judi Green, Jim and Helen Pratt, Mark and Debra Willis, and Jim and Ann Selig. They donated the needed funds above and beyond our budget to help these kids go on the trip. And needs like this will continue in the near future.

The coming months will bring exciting changes for our group. We welcome new faces, new personalities and new challenges to our youth group. We look forward to the ways we will grow as a result of these changes. If you would like to help get involved physically and/or financially, we could use your help. I look forward to all that God will continue to do as these two ministries work hand in hand.

**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30).................651
Sunday Classes (9:30) .................. 431
Sunday Evening (6:00)....................223
Small Group......................................22
The Way (4:00) .................................70
Wednesday Worship (7:00)............ 351
Sunday Contribution .................$14,775
Laotian Attendance............................26
Hispanic Attendance..........................86