West-Ark Newsletter, 15 April 2004

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Family Lines Newsletter, April 15, 2004
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Matthew 9:2-8 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

This is a fascinating incident in Jesus' ministry! Both the paralyzed man and his friends had enormous faith just to come to Jesus. I have no question but that they came anticipating a healing of the paralysis. Jesus gave them more than expected which they likely regarded as less than expected. He assured the man he was forgiven. Forgiveness of sins is eternal. Ending paralysis is as temporary as life in this physical world.

The healing occurred as a result of the reaction of critics instead of the man's need. The critics said among themselves that Jesus had no right to forgive sins. How dare this human assume to do something only God did!

Jesus responded by asking which was easier: to forgive the man's sins or to heal his paralysis? To demonstrate he could do both, he healed the paralysis. Those who witnessed the event gave God the glory for giving such authority to men.

Ironically, we are more unlikely to question Jesus' power to forgive but question his power to do the incredible and unexpected. Ask a person if Jesus can forgive him/her, and the person likely will respond, "Certainly!" Ask the same person if Jesus has the power to change him as a person or her as a person, and the likely response will be, "I doubt it!" Thus Christians likely rely heavily on forgiveness and little on transformation. We desperately want forgiveness, but are hesitant to want change.

There is never a moment we do not need Jesus' forgiveness, but the objective of forgiveness is internal transformation (change) that ends external disobedience. Remember the sinful lady Jesus rescued (John 8:11)? "Go. From now on sin no more."

Colossians 3:1-4 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

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Students will need to be picked up at the church building Saturday night, April 24, and brought back to services on Sunday, April 25. If you can be a host family, please call the church office.

**Some Classroom Locations Changed**
Due to the sale of the Windsor Drive property, the Laotian congregation begins meeting at our facility for worship services this Sunday, April 18th. They will be meeting for class and worship in the Annex. Please make sure you contact the office to schedule and receive approval for all future uses of the Annex. Please do your best to welcome our Laotian brothers, sisters and families into our midst.

The college class will now meet in the River Valley Christian School portable building in the back parking lot.

**In the Library**
The Resurrection is the bedrock of our faith. Can you defend it? Maybe these books in our library can help organize your thoughts and enrich your own faith:

1. Jesus and the Logic of History (PW Barnet). Using cause-and-effect he shows that the resurrection is the most reasonable explanation for the early existence of Jewish churches and their exaltation of Jesus as Lord.

2. The Resurrection Report (Wm. Proctor). An award-winning , hard-nosed journalist investigates the resurrection of Jesus claims of Christianity. Very readable. Very interesting! Very convincing!

3. The Resurrection: Fact or Figment (Wm. Craig). In this debate with a skeptic you will see the weakness of the arguments that one of the best skeptics of today has to offer. A faith-building read.

4. Why Do Churches of Christ Take the Lord's Supper Each Sunday? The author makes the point that the reason for the practice is because the salient facts of the gospel are both the death of Christ and His resurrection. As such, this resulted in the observance of the Lord's Supper being tied to the resurrection day (Acts 20:7 etc.). This points back to two real events and not mythical ones.

Browse the West-Ark Library for more books on this topic! People are asking questions and they are going to ask why we believe that Jesus rose from the dead. We need to be able to give good answers!

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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
* Sanh Luongvan is in St. Edward, room 5214.
* Doyle Wilkins (father of Nancy Dockery) had heart stent surgery on Wednesday morning. He is in St. Edward, room 3120.
* Missy Blasdel's father, Dave Moore, remains in St. Edward, room 3315. He was diagnosed with stage IV colon and liver cancer.
* Genneil Nye's granddaughter, Toby (Taylor) Jones has learned that one of her unborn twins has died. They are working now for the health of the surviving baby that is due in 2 months. Please pray for Toby and her baby that the baby will be born healthy.
* Kathy Rosalez requests your prayers for her friends who were in an automobile accident. Wanda Wright is now home, Jackue Beyler and Ralph McClarty are hospitalized.
* Judi Green
* Hesslen Family
* Maile McDonald
* Don Green
* Joe Jones

**Bridal Showers**
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 .

A shower is planned for Stephanie Gueck, bride-elect of Brandon Pistole, on Sunday, May 2, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the home of Danna Turpin, 2405 Rannoch Lane. Stephanie and Brandon are registered at Dillards, Linens & Things and Wal-Mart.

**Placing Membership**
Tammy Cypert
1907 North 28th Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 474-4117
(Tammy is the mother of Tiffany Morphew, Amanda Daws and Jaythan Johnson -- all listed below.)

Amanda Daws
1907 North 28th Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 474-4117
Amanda requests prayers for her husband, Brandon. Brandon is in Iraq outside Fallujah.
Bombs hit his camp daily. He has poor health in a very difficult time.

**Wedding Invitation**
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Dwayne Lusby
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Danyelle Denise Lusby
to Brandon Ray Lupkey
son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Alan Stitch
Saturday, the twenty-fourth of April
at one o'clock in the afternoon
West-Ark Church of Christ
Fort Smith, Arkansas
*Reception to follow in the Family Life Center

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On a weekly basis, I try to listen to and help people in all types of situations. The following article, written by Edward Fudge, is full of insights. I hope it will help you or someone you know who is struggling with addiction.

Most men tend to be visually oriented and pictorial pornography strongly tempts men from puberty onward. It appeals to one of the most basic human appetites and it is ever-present in our society. Pornography is particularly pernicious because, like all addictive substances, it increases the appetite without quenching the thirst. It is also progressive, requiring "doses" ever-increasing in quantity, frequency and intensity.

Pornography entices us with a cluster of subtle lies. In its fictional world, full-bosomed women sport tiny waists and hips, sex has no connection with emotional intimacy, and all females eagerly wait to jump into bed with the nearest male. When believed, these illusions destroy intimacy that is genuine and meaningful. Real women cannot compete with pornography's photographically-enhanced and surgically-altered models. Such unrealistic comparisons hinder efforts by unmarried men to develop genuine relationships and often lead married men to resent their faithful, normal, wives.

The devil lies when he promises that imaginary immorality will not affect real life. Regular fantasizing about illicit sexual behavior gradually programs the mind to anticipate similar activity in the world of reality. This unreal expectation often prompts a man to initiate improper remarks or conduct toward good women, who do not welcome either. Constant immorality in his thought-world weakens a man's resolve to resist temptation when he encounters a woman willing to engage in immoral sex.

Jesus' blood cleanses from every sin, including lust, and his resurrection power frees us from sin's power and control. Victory over pornography does not come through self-will or sheer determination, but through surrender of the mind and will to God moment by moment. The man who, at the moment of temptation, truly wishes to follow God's will more than he wishes to satisfy his evil craving, discovers an ability to resist the temptation by a power clearly not his own. The greatest hazard to success is not one's inability to say "No" to temptation. It is rather one's conscious determination at a given moment not to say "Yes" to God's control.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday A. M.   842
Bible Classes 430
Sunday Night 353
Wednesday P.M. 373
Contribution   $20,519
Children's Home   $211
The Way 62
Hispanic Attendance 42
Hispanic Contribution $196
Laotian Attendance 46
Laotian Contribution   $244

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