West-Ark Newsletter, 14 December 2003

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Lines Newsletter, December 14, 2003
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

A question that should be on the minds of all who belong to God: "When you look at me, what do you see?" Everyone who looks at any Christian sees something. The question: What does he or she see?

Do they see only a body, but not a person? Or greed? Or arrogance? Or selfishness? Or a lover of money? Or a lover of things? Or someone deeply impressed with "me"? Do they see someone who looks like all ungodly people? Do they see a sensual existence? A pleasure-centered life? A self-indulgent existence? An addictive life? A self-centered person? A shallow person? A "take but never give" person? A fanatic? An angry person? A bitter person? A hate-filled person? An unreasonable person? A "hard-to-get-along-with" person?

Let's be quite honest. Do they see things characteristic of Satan or things characteristic of God? What are the obvious influences on our lives? Things characterizing those unconcerned with God? Or, things centered in God?

When others examine our relationships, do they see godlessness or godliness? What do they see when they examine our values [the things that thrill and fulfill us]? Our priorities [matters we consider important]? Our standards [the means we use to determine right and wrong, good and bad]? Our purposes [the concepts that determine why we live life]?

Is God's influence on us obvious? Is it obviously a good influence? Are society, family, friendships, occupations, and neighborhoods better because God influences us? Are our "works" good? Based on others' observations, why should they want God to influence them as He does us?

The Christian's objective may be explained in these ways. (1) Those with empty but open lives are impressed with God's influence. (2) Those with empty but closed lives find it necessary to explain the godly. Be the kind of Christian that attracts the open to the God who gave us Jesus, and who must be explained by the closed! May our strength to live come from the God who gave us Jesus!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the past several years you may have heard some talk around West-Ark concerning LTC. You may have wondered exactly what LTC is and what do those letters stand for? LTC stands for "Leadership Training for Christ," and right now there are 57 kids and 43 adults from West-Ark involved in this ministry. The program promotes exactly what it says: Training our youth to serve in a future leadership capacity for Christ. Other goals of this ministry are to glorify God and to directly develop and foster the spirituality of those involved. It is our hope that in years to come when an announcement is made that some help is needed somewhere in a congregation, more than enough people will volunteer to help fill that need because they have been trained from an early age to be leaders for Christ. They will be self-confident in using the gift that God has given them to serve His body.

This program is available to children in third through twelfth grades. They are given the opportunity to participate in one or several events that prepare them for future leadership in serving the church. Some of the choices include: Daily Bible Reading, Teaching, Christian Art, Chorus, Puppets, Drama, Bible Bowl, Internet, Writing Children's Books, Scrapbook, Service Challenge, etc. The children work independently and as a group toward the competition that takes place Easter weekend in Tulsa, OK.

Of course, there are many challenges and needs that come from such a large undertaking involving this many people. Some of the many challenges come simply from the magnitude of children participating. This program has shown huge growth every year. This year there are 20 more children involved than last year. Hopefully, this trend will continue to be true for the coming years. However, because of this, there is always a need for adult involvement. If we want our children to learn how to be leaders for Christ, what better way to model that for them by stepping up to the plate and being a leader or coach in LTC? Adults, you do NOT have to have children to participate in this wonderful program (Hint, hint). Other challenges include having the children at all practices when at all possible. Others suffer as well when someone is not there to learn or practice their part. A firm commitment from the parents and participant is recommended in order to participate in LTC.

Thank you Pam, Hank, the children, and coaches who help make disciples for Christ who are eager to serve others now and in the future! May God be glorified and bless your efforts as you serve Him.

**LTC Announcement**
Required Meeting
There will be a very important meeting for those involved in elementary chorus, elementary and secondary puppets, and elementary and secondary drama on Sunday, December 14 at 5:00 in room 100. Parents need to attend as well as the students.
Practices begin in January, and we must get some details out of the way before then. Please mark your calendars and make plans to be in attendance. Questions? Contact Rochelle Brown.

**LTC Internet**
LTC Internet group will meet Sunday afternoon (Dec. 14th) from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

**Peak of the Week in December**
Theme: "The Return of the King"
Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the FLC

**Mark your calendars for January 31, 2004**
Community Outreach Day In the Family Life Center
We are collecting clean, used clothing, furniture and household items.
Contact Kathy Rosalez (452-2157) if you have items to donate.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
* Pauline Alberty is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4312.
* Maile McDonald and her family.
* Melinda Yowell requests prayers for her uncle, Kenneth Daniel. He had complications following open heart surgery Monday at UAMS in Little Rock.
* Donna Miller requests prayer for Peter Michael of the Valley View congregation. He will have brain surgery later this week.
* Janelle Graves Price is having surgery December 12th in Wichita, KS.

**Continued Prayers**
* Joan & Sam Jenkins (parents of Kerry)
* Mary Smith (mother of Trish Carson)
* Elvis & Sandy Thurman
* Peggy King (mother of Karen Farris)
* Lloyd Summers
* Janice Prater
* Trish Robbins (mother of Brian)

**Report from Oscar Nolasco**
We have had 29 baptisms since the Hispanic ministry began in August 2002. With those new members, we have a total of 52 people with their families. We have 3 families that are members, with 14 people from the Van Buren Hispanic Church of Christ. They wanted to meet with us because they live in Fort Smith. We have approximately 10 visitors every Sunday morning for worship. Every Wednesday that I drive the van, I pick up 14 children; 7 of those are friends of the children we pick up.

I am having 10 new Bible studies every week, and I am visiting each member, too. I am meeting more people every day and giving out information about Iglesia de Cristo (Church of Christ).

My plan for next year is to:
* Begin a youth meeting every Sunday morning, and John Cuellar would teach them.
* Train some men to make visits every Sunday afternoon.
* Make an evangelistic campaign in the summer.

**Marriage Enrichment Class to Begin January 4th**
Who: Anyone interested
What: "Keeping the Promise" taught by Brad Pistole
When: Sunday Mornings from 9:30-10:15
Where: Family Life Center
Why: To honor God by keeping our marriages and our families strong!

**Two Great Sunday Events for Families**
Sunday Night, December 14th
Glen Metheny, a rep from Harding University, will be here to speak to our teens and their parents during our 6-7 p.m. worship hour. He will lead our devotional and will answer any questions you may have regarding Harding University. We encourage any interested parents to meet with us. We will meet in the Youth Room in the FLC from 6-7 p.m. A meal will be provided after the service which will allow time for further questions and comments regarding Harding.

Sunday, December 21st Parent/Teen Christmas Party
A variety of activities are being planned that will begin around 2 p.m. and go until 10 p.m. Parents and teens are encouraged to participate together. It will be a great day of food, fun, fellowship, and worship together. For more details, go to www.westark.org/youth/calendar.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Are You Thankful For? (Part 3)
*May I always understand that all grace and all power rests in God alone
and He will always use them as He sees fit...
Whenever, whereever and however He wants...
Whether it makes sense to me or not!

At this season of thanksgiving, may our thankfulness shift away from all of our perishable "things and possessions" onto imperishable things like grace and mercy. Thank you, God, for the things that I cannot explain, understand, or even begin to comprehend!

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9
(to be continued ...)

Sunday AM   676
Bible Classes   451
Sunday P.M.   332
Small Groups 34
Wednesday P.M. 314
Contribution   $18,186
Childrens Home   $259
The Way    60
Hispanic Attendance   37
Hispanic Contribution $110
Laotian Attendance   28
Laotian Contribution   $155

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------