West-Ark Newsletter, 8 January 2004

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Family Lines Newsletter, January 8, 2004
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I hope every person who considers himself or herself a Christian quickly has a ready answer. I hope the answer is a shared answer: "The Lord owns me!"

I grew up in a rural congregation on the western edge of east Tennessee. Several songs frequently were part of our worship. They were sung at least once a month. One (written by Fanny J. Crosby) was, "I am Thine, O Lord." In my mind, I still can hear us sing the chorus: "Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious bleeding side."

It is an affirmation, intent, and awareness. The singer affirms he/she wants the Lord to bring him/her closer. The singer wants to come closer and closer to the Lord. The singer is aware that the crucified, bleeding Jesus is the means of closeness to God.

That is a wonderful affirmation, intent, and awareness. If it is only an inner conviction, it is simple to voice. If it is an inner conviction expressed as the daily focus of one's life, it is sobering and costly to voice this song.

Perhaps the greater our conviction, the more difficult is our challenge. Jesus draws us nearer through his sacrificial suffering and bleeding. By coming closer to Jesus, we come closer to God. Why does Jesus attract us? He bled for us! How do we come closer to God? The same way Jesus did! As he, we come closer through self surrender by sacrifice and suffering. That is a hard, serious decision, not a simple, casual decision.

That decision involves many things! It involves different things for different people! For some, it involves rethinking "whom I allow to be my Lord." For some, it involves a major commitment to repentance, a genuine redirecting of life. For some, it involves allowing "my theology to affect my daily behavior." For some, it involves relationship issues. For some, it involves letting faith in God be bigger than fear of the past. For some, it involves the determination to endure pain for God.

For all it involves an enormously difficult challenge: the challenge to grow. To grow in what? Understanding, wisdom, purpose, faith, realization of what is eternal. Never will come the moment when we do not seek greater understanding, wisdom, purpose, faith, and realization of the eternal. The issue is not, "Am I comfortable where I am?" The issue is, "Is God pleased with where I am?" Are we constantly willing to grow, to be drawn nearer to the cross and the precious bleeding side?

Matthew 26:39, 42 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will..." He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done."

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The goal of CURE is to sit in the background and be available to support a broad spectrum of works that require food and supplies. In addition to the many works of CURE already mentioned, it also delivers food to several community relief agencies such as: The Battered Woman's Shelter, The Mission, Woman's Crisis Center, Juvenile Hall, The Way, and the Food Pantry in the church annex.

There is always something to be done in CURE. We need people to repair wheelchairs and bicycles. Help is frequently needed to load and unload the trucks and move hospital beds. People are needed to identify the equipment and deem if it is functional or not. Money is needed for insurance, utilities, and food purchases. Drivers are needed to move items from place to place.

Equipment for testing eyes (purchased and collected by CURE) has been relocated to the Good Samaritan Eye Clinic in Fort Smith. It is almost ready to open with Kathy Monk, R.N., and various local ophthalmologists. (See related article in next column.) Tommy Savage of the Optical Shop on Rogers has agreed to make the glasses that are prescribed using the equipment we purchased. Our plan is to provide eye glasses to Fort Smith school children after they have been screened by their school nurses. The Good Samaritan Clinic will use the equipment in concert with other providers to give similar services to other populations.

God has done amazing things with the ministry of CURE. Thank you to all of those who volunteer and donate their time, money, and energies to this ministry. May God continue to bless you and make disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others! ~~Christy Hesslen

**Spread the News**
The Good Samaritan Eye Clinic, 615 North B in Fort Smith, will open Tuesday, January 13, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. It is designed for the working low-income uninsured. As of now, we can fit single vision lens only - no bifocals. We will only screen for glasses. This is not a check for the health of the eye at any age. Those interested may call 783-0233.

**LTC Practice Schedules**
LTC Pre-Convention Coaches
Reminder of Deadline of February 9. Give your packets to Pam or Hank Watlington one (1) week prior to deadline if you want us to mail it. Call if you have any questions as to whom to mail your packet.

Junior & Senior High Chorus
Practices will be January 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 Celebration Sunday!**
Sunday, January 11, all 2nd through 6th graders will meet in the Family Life Center for our Celebration. This will begin the "Sermon on the Mount" rotation.

**Quilters Need Fabric
Our Quilters are "busy as bees" and in need of more fabric. Fabrics needed are cotton or cotton blends (solids preferred, but will take prints). Give your fabric to one of the quilters or drop it by the office.

Each year our quilters make:
* quilts for brides, new members, and those in need;
* bags for clothing for the Children's Home;
* lap robes for nursing homes.

**Game Day for Seniors**
Games, Fun, and Fellowship!
Bring your favorite game.
Thursday, January 22, 1:00 p.m. until ??? in the Annex.
For more information call:
Paula May (646-2197)
Meg Canfield (452-7682) or
Laurie Armstrong (646-8854).

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**Remember in Prayer**
* Bill Dickey's mother, Beatrice Dickey (age 97), is now at home under hospice care.
* Maile McDonald and her family.
* Levi and Landon Burkhart (newborn twin sons of Chris and Amy Burkhart) are in Sparks Hospital and should be released soon.
* Jabin Huff (infant son of John & Liz) had tests at Children's Hospital this week. His kidney condition will probably require surgery when he is a little older.
* Sue George's mother, Loar Mae Moody had a lung biopsy on Monday.
* Peter Michael (from Valley View C of C) is very ill with cancer.

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Elvis Thurman in the death of his wife, Sandy. Visitation is Thursday, January 8, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home. The funeral is Friday, 11:00 a.m. at Edward's Chapel with burial at National Cemetery.

Our love and sympathy is also extended to Dixie Burkhart in the death of her mother on Saturday night. Funeral services for Mrs. Crosslin were Wednesday in Sallisaw, OK.

**Change of Classroom Venue**
"Keeping the Promise" will meet upstairs in the Youth Room this Sunday, January 11, and also on February 22. This is to allow our elementary students to have the FLC for Celebration Sunday.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you so much for the many cards and the lovely plant. Your love, prayers and encouragement for us during the loss of my mother provided great comfort and strength. Our love and prayers are always with you.
Philip Abuzeide and Family

**Baby Shower**
A shower honoring Paige Kimbrow is planned for Sunday, January 25th, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the home of Diane Arnold, 5004 South Cliff Drive in Fort Smith. Paige is registered at Toys 'R Us and Blessed Baby. It's a boy!

**Lady Razorback Trip Planned**
A trip is planned to watch the Lady Razorbacks play on Tuesday, January 27. Details are posted under "Coming Events" in the Information Center.

**Ladies' Retreat Reminder**
Our second annual Ladies' Retreat is coming up quick. It will be January 23rd and 24th. If you are planning on going, please turn in your payment of $67.00 to Cathy Breedlove before January 23rd.

**New Adult Class**
A new class on the Minor Prophets has begun in Room 206A. Kevin Roberts and Steve Breedlove are the teachers. Everyone is welcome!

**Sermons on Sunday**
Morning - Submerged in Christ by Chris Benjamin
Evening - Worship Illustrated: Lesson 2 by David Chadwell

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Who: 7th-12th graders from 6 churches in NW Arkansas/MO
(Fort Smith, Van Buren, Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville, and Joplin)
What: 14th Annual Winter Retreat
When: January 30th - February 1st
Where: Siloam Springs, AR
Why: To slow down and listen to what God wants to say to us.

How much: The cost for Winter Retreat is $40 and includes everything-
Lodging, 4 meals, snacks, drinks, and a long sleeve retreat T-shirt.

**Sunday Night Live Series Begins this week**
We will leave for Rogers, AR this Sunday, January 11th, at 4:15 p.m. to attend the first of 8 Sunday Night Live Youth Services in NW Arkansas. There is no cost and supper will be provided. We will return to the annex by 9:30 p.m.

Sunday Worship (10:30).................697
Sunday Classes (9:30) .................. 545
Sunday Evening (6:00)....................317
Small Group......................................34
The Way (4:00) ..............................N.C.
Wednesday Worship (7:00)........... N.C.
Sunday Contribution .................$17,847
Laotian Attendance............................27
Laotian Contribution ......................$174
Hispanic Attendance..........................38
Hispanic Attendance last week..........45
Hispanic Contribution......................$170

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