**LTC Bible Reading Participants**
Participants should be prepared for
the following verses to be read at convention.
3rd & 4th Grade, choose
one of the following passages:
* Deuteronomy 31:6-13
* Exodus
14:13-20
5th & 6th Grade, be prepared to read the two above as well as:
*
Exodus 3:7-15
* Exodus 32:7-14
7th & 8th Grade, be prepared to read the four passages above,
plus:
* Exodus 20:1-17
* Exodus 34:1-9
A brief introduction is required -- less than 20 seconds. The total reading
time should be between 1 and 2 minutes. Call Brian Perkins (996-2687) if you
have questions.
**Jail Ministry Update**
Two ladies and three men were baptized into
Christ on March 16th, and one man was baptized on March 23rd. This brings the
total number of 23 new brothers and sisters added to Christ's church since the
first of the year. We want to thank all those who work so hard in our Jail
Ministry. They are: Steve Breedlove, Rochelle Brown, David Burns, Joyce
Chadwell, Vicki Hardin, Milton Hendrix, Nikita Stinchcomb, Martha Walker, Mike
Williams, and Deborah Wilson. May God bless their efforts to share the gospel
with those lost souls who are in
jail.
~~Dan Cathey
**In the Library**
In light of last week's worship and sermon focus, you
might want to go deeper with these books.
1. The song service
focused on our salvation by grace and cross. If you had ONE "must read" book for
the year, give Way of Salvation (by KC Moser) a go. He relates everything to the
cross event (belief, baptism, life, worship, etc.)
2. The sermon focused on the Suffering of Christ and that God cares about
our suffering too! The following excellent books explore this
theme:
* What was God Doing on the Cross? A truly good, in-depth discussion of the
cross event. Don't miss this one!
* Why do People Suffer? (Jones)
* On
Asking God Why? (Elliot)
* When God Doesn't Make Any Sense (Dobson)
All
explore the topic with the intent to show that God DOES care and ACTS on our
behalf.
All these and many more books are available to help you "connect" with the
Sunday worship by "reading more about it!"
**Happy Birthday**
April 5
Michael Wear
April 6
Ron Orick
April 7
Gary James
Rachel Null
Jeff Pressley
April 9
Saige Blasdel
Jackie Hamilton
April 10
Clayton Amos
Michelle Boozer
Lisa Hollomon
Robbin
Murphy
**Sunday in Worship**
Morning: "Can One Man Bear the Sins of the Whole
World?" Chris Benjamin, Speaker
Evening: Report on recent trip to Ghana and
Nigeria by Jerry Canfield
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**Remember in Prayer**
* Don Gammill, son of Genneil Nye, is in St.
Edward Hospital, room 4303. He has improved but will probably be in the hospital
for a few days.
* Don Green (new member) would like to be on the prayer list.
He recently finished radiation treatments for cancer.
* Mary Bogner (mother
of Randy English, missionary in American Samoa) is critically ill at St. Edward
Hospital.
* Joe Jones (chemotherapy treatments)
* Gloria Jones (mother of
Derrick) was recently diagnosed with diabetes.
* Judi Green will begin the
first of four chemotherapy treatments on April 8th.
* Odessa Wright (mother
of Doyle) is very ill and under Hospice Care.
* Hesslen Family
* Maile
McDonald
**Sympathy**
Word has been received of the recent death of Ada
Roose. Ada was the sister of Enid Means. Graveside services are Friday,
April 2, 3:00 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery.
**Prayers for Missions**
Jim & Deborah Wilson in Ethiopia
**Prayers for Behailu**
Prayer has been requested for the health of
Behailu Abebe, an Ethiopian Minister who has discovered he has diabetes. Behailu
has been very dedicated in spreading the gospel in Ethiopia. Your prayers for
him that his health permits him to continue his work there are greatly
appreciated.
**Placing Membership**
Don and Carol Green
106 Azure Hills
Drive
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 474-4277
**Baptism**
We rejoice with Harold Binyon on his decision to be baptized
into Christ Wednesday evening. Harold was baptized by his son-in-law, David
Burns.
**Car Clinic**
Car Clinic will be at the Annex, Saturday, April 3rd,
from 8-11 a.m., weather
permitting.
**Widows/Widowers**
Saturday, April 3rd,
Noon
This is the day for our annual trip to Parks Brothers Nursery. We
will eat a quick lunch in the Annex then board the vans. Come eat lunch
with us even if you don't go to look at or purchase flowers. Call Bobbie,
Mary or Janice if you need transportation to the annex.
**Bridal Shower**
A shower honoring Amy Mason is planned for Sunday,
April 18th, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the home of Diane Arnold. Amy is registered
at Dillard's, Linens & Things, and Amazon.com .
**Note of Thanks**
Our family is so very appreciative of all that the
church has done for us at this time of such loss. We thank you for the beautiful
flowers, for the wonderful dinner the ladies prepared for us, and for all the
cards and visits. Aunt Ada loved her church and all the wonderful people there.
I love you, too.
Anna Scott
For Bill and all the other
nieces and nephews
greats and great-greats
**"Peak of the Week"**
Wednesday, April 7
"The Lord Our
Maker"
7:00 p.m. in the FLC.
**Marriage**
When Jesus was asked about controversies which swirled
around marriage in his day, he answered with basic truths about the nature of
relationship. These principles need to be fixed in our minds as we grapple with
questions about marriage today.
The first is that the concept of marriage is rooted in the creation of God.
The "therefore shall a man leave his father and mother" which begins the key
Bible statement on marriage grows out of the fact that "he who created them from
the beginning made them male and female" (Matthew 19:4-5). The relationship is
possible because God made man and woman to correspond to each other, to
complement one another physically, emotionally and socially.
A second truth is that marriage involves a covenant between a man and a
woman. They "leave" other relationships, "hold fast" to each other, and
consequently "become one flesh." The commitment is to be exclusive and
permanent. The relationship is to be characterized by honor, trust and loyalty.
The Lord explained, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man
separate" (Matthew 19:5-6).
The third principle is that marriage is to be guided by the commandment of
the Lord. Holding marriage in honor involves allowing Him to define what loving
behavior is, and respect his right to hold any who defile it accountable
(Hebrews 13:4). It is a relationship of responsibility. Jesus said, "And I say
to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries
another, commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9).
These principles were set forth by the most loving Man who ever lived.
Keeping the divine ideal before us can only serve to bless us all.
--Bill McFarland
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**Landmark Moments**
By Brad Pistole
We all have landmark moments in our lives. Some of us pay more attention to
them than others, depending on our personalities. I am one of those people who
tends to "downplay" certain events like birthdays and other special days. I
guess that's my "maleness" shining through.
However, it would be really foolish of me to not recognize the significance
of April 2, 2004. This year marks the 5 year anniversary of the day I had a
seizure in my sleep and then later discovered that I had a large tumor in my
brain.
At the age of 27 in 1999, with a 3-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son,
this isn't at all what I expected to hear. As a matter of fact, I was too busy
and I was too involved in "spiritual things" to expect something like this. I
was "knee deep" in Youth Ministry and I was dealing with some situations with
our teens and families that I thought "couldn't wait." I soon found out they
could.
Just 14 days later, I found myself in an operating room in Little Rock,
Arkansas, where doctors preceded to remove a 3-inch circle of bone from my skull
in order to remove the abnormally large tumor.
I'll never forget the way I felt physically after surgery. It's hard to
describe to others what it feels like to have part of your skull "cut out" and
"screwed back into place." The pictures of the 65 staples in my scalp basically
sum it up.
But more importantly, I'll never forget the lessons I began to learn
"spiritually" as a result of these experiences. The lessons have been painful,
insightful and I will be forever grateful to my God for them.
Do you have any spiritual landmark moments in your life? Have you thanked
God for them lately?
For a reminder of my spiritual journey, go to
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/youth
and scroll down to "Learn about Brad's brain tumor." May we all give God glory
on a daily basis for all He continues to do in our midst!
**First Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Paula May
Sandi Pippin
Melissa Walker
Dena
Jenkins
Irene Willis
P.M. Nursery
Dixie Burkhart
Gina Williams
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday A. M.
708
Bible Classes 473
Sunday P.M. 295
Small
Groups 14
Wednesday P.M. 339
Contribution
$15,035
Children's Home $235
The Way 47
Hispanic
Attendance 57
Hispanic Contribution $179
Laotian Attendance
37
Laotian Contribution $174
**Serving on the Lord's Table**
Prayer Leader: Bill
Walker
Servers
Darrell
Moses
James
Anderson
Burnie
Morris
Sam
Lively
Ron
Morton
Jim
Newton
Patrick
Pruitt
Mark
Carpenter
Billy
Yowell
Tom
Beard
Mike
Williams
Barney
Puckett
John
Berger
Casey
Benincosa
Landon
Abuzeide
Daniel Word
Ushers/Nursery Communion
Steve Breedlove
Tim Davis
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