West-Ark Newsletter, 1 January 2004

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Family Lines Newsletter, January 1, 2004
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The holiday period from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day produces a fascinating conflict of emotions in most of us. We usually exit this period with fewer [not more] insights into ourselves. Most of us enter the period with great expectations. Most of us leave the period focusing on the things we would like to change, but with a resignation that admits changes either would be temporary or non-existent. We enter with excitement as we embraced it with "Hi!" and leave it with pretended reluctance as we say "Bye!"

Why? Why is there so much excitement as we enter the period and such relief when it is over? Why the same basic sense of excitement when we greet the period with an exuberant "Hi!" and leave it with the same exuberance in saying "Bye"?

It is reunion time-perhaps with family we have not seen in a long time, or perhaps with friends from some past era of life. As we anticipate these reunions, for a moment it seems we will step back into a time and world where nothing has changed.

"It will just be like old times again!" Yet, it is not. Times have changed. We have changed. They have changed. It takes maybe an hour to "catch up" with each other. Then we spend the rest of the time "remembering." We must spend a lot of time "remembering" because we are no longer a part of each other's "present." It is not that we do not love each other dearly nor have deep appreciation for old friends or family members' contributions to our lives "back when." It is just no longer "back when." It is "now," and "now" is undeniably different from "back when."

What in anticipation was to be a wonderful visit to the cherished past times becomes a powerful reminder that our past is gone and will not return. While reunions bring the joys of wonderful memories, the remembrances are just that-memories.

As we remember the wonderful times of past eras, we are woefully reminded about what we never did or how we need to change. Many "resolves" are stirred to life. For a brief time we are committed to doing what we always intended to do or changing what we always intended to change. However, it does not last long. We are not the same person we used to be "back when." Our resolve means that (a) we have to change [permanently] the person we have been a long time and/or (b) change the way we live. Even for the most flexible, vigorous people, those are huge demands requiring major commitment!

As you plunge ahead into life, take a powerful, wonderful lesson with you as you say "bye" to the holidays. The lesson? Realize and remember that you do not live in the past, no matter how wonderful [or awful] it was. Realize and remember that you live in the present, and it just takes one day to change the present for the better.

You may not know what the future holds, but you know where the future is. Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

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God certainly has a way of making good things come from bad! CURE is a perfect example of that. In 1996 a tornado damaged a great part of Van Buren. In response to the assistance our community received from the "Helping Hands" organization out of Nashville, TN, many in our brotherhood felt that we could provide the same assistance to others in need of disaster relief. To that end a board was formed; it included: Kevin Vaught, Mat Griffin, Chuck Combs, Jane Smith, and Bob Fisher. Later Jane Smith moved and Jim Selig came into the group. The main goal was to accumulate food and household supplies and be ready to distribute them when a natural disaster occurs.

Today CURE is involved in many more facets than just disaster relief, although disaster relief is still a great part of CURE's emphasis. CURE has a 5013C status through the IRS and is a licensed name with the state of Arkansas. Following a disaster, the usual plan is to find a local church that is willing to serve as the disaster relief center and deliver our products to them. Besides food and clothing, we also provide household cleaning equipment and agents, as well as condiments (mustard, catsup, salt, pepper, etc.) that are given to the relief workers with their food.

CURE also has accumulated a substantial amount of medical equipment and supplies, so a search began for places to donate these items. To date, CURE has delivered approximately 50 tons of hospital linens, 50 to 60 pallets of Pepsi products, along with large amounts of heavy equipment, to other agencies for shipping to various foreign countries. These countries include Romania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nicaragua, Guyana, and most recently, North Korea.

CURE presently has over 18,000 square feet of floor space in three locations and is making plans to move to a central location. This will better equip us for storage and processing of materials. CURE has been given a new 24 ft. box van with a lift gate and has acquired a 24 ft. trailer from which the "under the bridge" feeding is accomplished each month. A pickup truck to tow the trailer has also been donated. (Part 2 next week.)
~~Christy Hesslen

**Junior & Senior High Chorus**
Practices will be January 4th, 25th; and February 1st, 15th, and 29th:
* Sr. High Choir, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
* Jr. High Choir, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

**All Ages Christian Art**
Projects need to be completed & turned into Shanna Davis by March 28th. Please come see Shanna Davis in the foyer between 5-6 p.m., Jan 25th, to pick up category & guidelines/rules sheets.

**Gateway for Kids**
We are in need of several things for GATEWAY. If you have any of these items or wish to donate towards these items, please see Carolyn Harrell or call her at 646-3325.
* A small refrigerator
* 1 more computer (at least 266 MHz.); 1 has been donated!
* Microsoft Office (6 copies).

Our memory verse for this rotation is Matthew 4:19-20 (NIV) "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed Him.
Also name the 12 apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Matthew, Bartholomew, James-the less, Simon, Thaddaeus, Judas.

**Guyana Mission Trip**
The 14th annual Guyana Medical Mission trip is scheduled for June 5-13, 2004. The first meeting will be in Room 100 at 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 11. Deposit of $500 will be due soon thereafter. If you would like to spend a "vacation with a purpose," please join this mission team. See Michael or Jeannie Cole if you have questions.

**Campus Fellowship Opportunities**
* January 5th- Back to School Bash 7:00 p m. Ball Room (UA Fort Smith)
* January 7th - Burger Bash 11:00-1:00 Ball Room ( UA Fort Smith)
* January 8th - Block Party 11:00-1:00 Ball Room ( UA Fort Smith)
* January 15th - LFC Introduction 12:00-1:00 (UA Fort Smith)
* January 20th - Lions Feast 12:00-1:00 Campus Center (UA Fort Smith )
* January 25th - Derrick speaks at Dayton Church of Christ.

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**Remember in Prayer**
* Bill Dickey's mother, Beatrice Dickey (age 97), has been in the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She will probably return home soon under hospice care.
* Maile McDonald will have tests this week while at Children's Hospital in Little Rock.
* Levi and Landon Burkhart (newborn twin sons of Chris and Amy Burkhart) are in Sparks Hospital.
* Jabin Huff (5-week old son of Jon and Liz) will go to Children's Hospital in Little Rock on January 7th for further tests on his kidney problem.
* Mary Francis Williams (mother of Yolanda Gunn) has been in the hospital with congestive heart problems.

**Continued Prayers**
* Del Ingram
* Mary Smith (mother of Trish Carson)
* Elvis & Sandy Thurman
* Peggy King (mother of Karen Farris)

**Newborns**
Addyson Lee was born December 18th to Pierce and Amy Dorrough. Addyson weighed 6 lbs., 2 ozs. Her grandfather is Philip Burns and Ruth Burns is her great-grandmother. Congratulations to all the family!

Congratulations also to Chris and Amy Burkhart on the birth of twin sons, Levi and Landon, born December 26th. The twins' grandparents are Gary and Linda Allen; Carl & Ruby Nichols are great-grandparents.

**New Class for the Young Married**
A new Bible Class begins Sunday morning that will focus on the unique needs of young couples. This will be a great way to strengthen your relationship with each other and with other young couples. Michael and Jeannie Cole will host this discussion class in Room 200, beginning on January 4th at 9:30 a.m. Please come if you're married and under 30. Bring your friends.

**Marriage Enrichment Class**
"Keeping the Promise" taught by Brad Pistole begins January 4th. Anyone interested is welcome to attend Sunday Mornings from 9:30-10:15 in the Family Life Center. Why: To honor God by keeping our marriages and our families strong!

**New Adult Bible Study**
Extra copies of "Understanding the Church" - the new curriculum prepared by David Chadwell for Jan. - March, 2004, are available in the Information Center.

**From the Librarian**
Joann Davenport has donated two books for parents to help children affected by divorce. They are written and illustrated for children but read with a parent.

Gary Brown has donated a well-illustrated children's book called a "Parable About the King." It is aimed at helping kids see their importance to God.

We have been made aware that almost ALL of the "Veggie Tales" videos have been out for a LONG time. It is easy to forget what you've checked out, so please see if any of these are around your house.

PLEASE check out stuff by signing the card. You would be amazed at the amount of stuff that just "leaves the 'brary" and never returns! The library staff thanks everyone for the book donations and help in looking for missing materials. ~~John Lankford

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This time of year is always full of twists and turns. There's Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and for some of us there's even more. If you're fortunate enough to have a birthday or anniversary fall into that same time frame then things can really get confusing.

This time of year is always that way for me. Apart from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's there are also two other special events that I'm always reminded of during the holidays.

I started my ministry here at West-Ark on January 1, 1991. So the beginning of each year always reminds me of "the way this all started" years ago. I'm still amazed at how God tied together the loose ends of many unique circumstances in order for this ministry to begin. He continues to bless this church and this ministry and he continues to amaze me to this day.
Then one year later, something even better happened. On January 4th, 1992, I married my wife Yvonne here in the West-Ark auditorium.

There's no doubt about it, apart from Jesus Christ, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me. My ministry to young people would not take place successfully without such an understanding and supportive wife.

It's rather "ironic" that our new marriage enrichment class "Keeping the Promise" will begin this Sunday on our 12th wedding anniversary. That will make this class just that much more special to me.

If you're like me, you love the holidays but you also look forward to the new year and a fresh new start to many things. If so, then start the year off right and make a new commitment to your spouse and to your family.

We will meet each Sunday morning from 9:30-10:15 in the FLC for Keeping the Promise. This class is designed for people of any age who want to bless their marriage or their future marriage. Workbooks for the class are free and will be given out to everyone on January 4th. For more specific information about the class, go to www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/youth. May God bless you, your marriage, and your family in the coming year.

**Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Infants
Paula May
Melissa Walker
Sandi Pippin

Sunday AM   578
Bible Classes 365
Sunday P.M.   264
Small Groups 25
Tuesday Devotional 161
Contribution   $14,931
Children's Home   $195
The Way    71
Hispanic Attendance   40
Hispanic Contribution $126
Laotian Attendance   91
Laotian Contribution   $300

Prayer Leader: Gary Green
Servers:
        Bruce Davenport
        Harvey George
        Curt Jackson
        Randy Moss
        Greg Dockery
        John Berger
        Daniel Word
        Casey Benincosa
        Landon Abuzeide
        Wilburn Howard
        Rodney Jones
        Bob Davidson
        Tim Davis
        Lyndell Foster
        David Gates
        Gary Gunter

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