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Family
Lines Newsletter, September 2,
2004
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**The City, State, Nation, and World For
Christ**
By David Chadwell
Colossians 1:13,14 "For He rescued us from the
domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in
whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Those who understand God's intent from early
scripture (Genesis 12:3) was to redeem the world through Christ share much in
common. God's means for achieving redemption in this rebellious world are
simple. Give the promise of world redemption to Abraham. Through
Abraham produce a nation. Through that nation bring the Messiah [Hebrew
word] or Christ [Greek word]. Through the Christ offer all people
redemption.
The areas of agreement are striking. As
evangelistic Christians, we all agree God produced redemption though
Christ. We all agree (1) on the need; (2) on the severity of the need; (3)
on the responsibility created by God and the need; (4) on the need being met
through Christian sacrifice; and (5) on the potential of that need being met by
sharing the gospel (the good news of what God did for the world through
Christ).
One significant question should be answered (1) by
listening to God explain His intent and (2) by better understanding the use of
Christ to meet world needs after Jesus died.
The question: What would a world redeemed by God
through Christ look like? Is it important to answer that question?
Yes! Why? If we are not careful, we substitute our expectations for
God's purposes. Does the question seek to evade our responsibility to
share the message of God's redemption with all people? No! It means
we allow God to determine His objectives. If the end result fits our
expectations instead of God's objectives, then God's redemption has not occurred
in people's lives.
Is the objective to challenge all Christians to
look like American Christians? No. Is the objective to fill the
world with church buildings as the most prominent buildings on any landscape?
No. Is the objective to have more people assembling in church buildings on Sunday
morning than assemble in any other religious context? No. (That may happen in
successful evangelism, but that is not God's objective.)
Then what is God's objective? The objective of
divine redemption is human transformation. The fact that a person (in any
culture) has become a part of the people possessed by God means he/she devotes
his/her life to glorifying God. Surely it is evident in worship's
praise. It is equally evident in the way he treats his wife or she treats
her husband. It is evident in the way they treat their children. It
is evident in the kind of neighbor he/she is; the kind of employee he/she is;
the kind of citizen he/she is; his/her attitudes, motives, values; the reasons
for his/her existence; and the way he/she lives a redeemed life. He/she
seeks to be a God-defined person, not a culture-defined person.
Jesus stressed that a God-produced human
transformation powerfully provides credibility to God's redemption.
Christ's disciples are salt and light in this distasteful, dark world because
their good works glorify God (Matthew 5:13-16). God's powerful
Christ-centered redemption is verified through transformed lives.
Conversions to Christ produce changed lives. This good, visible change
verifies God's redemption is real.
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Page
2 [Except for prayer updates, the deadline for information in the
newsletter is 3:00 p.m. on
Wednesdays.]
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**Kids for Christ**
KFC will kick off our fall
program for both KFC I and KFC II on Sunday, September 12th. We're looking
forward to a great year of singing, studying, and worship. Parents, if you
have any questions, see Gary Brown.
**LTC Information**
Registration deadline is
September 15th. There will be a coaches' meeting September 19th at 5:15 p.m. in
Room 100.
We are still looking for coaches for several
events. Here are some that are needed:
* Children's Book
* Service
Challenge (Elementary)
* Teaching Challenge
* Bible Bowl (Elementary)
*
Check the LTC table in the foyer for others.
Thank you for your participation
in these events!
~~Hank Watlington
**Widows/Widowers**
We will be hosted by Marvin
& Bobbie Hughes Saturday, September 4. We will leave the Annex at
11:30 a.m. Call Mary (646-6079), Bobbie (479-674-5814) or Janice (474-885) if
you need transportation to the annex.
**Car Clinic**
Car Clinic will be September 4 at
the Annex from 8 to 11 a.m., weather permitting.
**Tutoring Program**
We will be starting our
tutoring program on Sept. 14th just a week after Labor Day with some twenty
students enrolled in the program. We would like to help more children; however,
we are limited by the number of tutors, we have at present. If you can
spare just two hours of your time on Tuesday afternoons to help a child with his
school work, and make a difference in the future of America, and eternity
itself, contact the church office about after-school tutoring, or call 459-0168.
**Special Potluck Dinner**
There will be a
special potluck dinner for all those involved in our Inner City Ministry or the
Jail Ministry on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 5:30 p.m. If you are involved in The Way,
bridge ministry, clothing ministry, or our tutoring program, or if you have an
interest in any of these programs, you are invited to bring your favorite dish
for a fellowship meal in the FLC. A discussion of our work will follow the
meal.
**Happy Birthday**
September 5
Janice Hatcher
Adrienne
Kaminshine
Jena Roberts
September 6
Patty Null
Andy Rye
September 7
Bruce Davenport
Kim
Goode
Hannah Hatcher
Geneva Shepherd
Brandon Yowell
September 8
Bobby Beam
Pearl Beam
Donna
Hite
Jordan Walker
September 9
Angela Dunavant
Shannon
Miller
September 11
Rozan Beaty
**Wings Classes Begin!**
Tuesday Morning Wings
Orientation/
Registration
September 7, 9:30 - 11:30
West-Ark Church of Christ
Family
Life Center
Fall Study:
Paul & His Teaching about Jesus
Wednesday Night Wings
September 8, at 7:00 in
Room 211. Please bring a check made
out for $7.42 for your book.
You will receive your book at that time. Refreshments will
be
served. We will be viewing the Lesson 1 video
"When Storms
Come."
**Ladies' Day**
Rena Road Church of
Christ
Saturday, September 18
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Theme: "First
Love"
Speaker: Lee Banks
Lunch will be served.
**10th Annual Golf Tournament **
at River Valley
Golf Course
Saturday, September 18
4-man Scramble
7:30 a.m.
registration,
8:00 tee time (shotgun start)
Mail or drop off the
$100
entry fee to
Randy Coleman Shelter Insurance
P.O. Box 2325
1044 Hiway
64 East
Alma, AR 72921
Phones: (479) 632-3912 (W)
(479) 632-4388
(H)
Tournament flyer is posted in the
Information Center of our
foyer.
**Sunday Morning**
Final Words of the Last
Words
2 Peter 3:14-18
Chris Benjamin, Speaker
**Sunday Evening**
"Why Concern
Ourselves
With Spiritual Insights?"
David Chadwell, Speaker
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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
* Anita
Maxwell is requesting prayers as her cancer has increased despite her
chemotherapy. She will begin a new and more aggressive chemotherapy
regimen in the next week. The prayers and thoughts of the church are
constantly appreciated.
* Donna Miller is having foot surgery on Friday at
the UAMS Center in Little Rock. She will be there for a couple of days and
return home with a wheel chair for the next 6 to 8 weeks.
* Cecil Knight has
had a pacemaker put in. He is in Sparks Hospital, room 400.
* Floyd Douthit
is in Sparks Hospital, room 593, following surgery on Wednesday. He is the
father of Anna Holly and Doris Stokes.
* Larry Treat was dismissed from the
hospital Tuesday. When his test results are back, he will re-enter the
hospital.
* Frances Gilley has been moved from Methodist Nursing Home and is
at home.
* Arista Lindgren will have a CT scan Thursday. She has chronic back
pain.
* Sally Miller, Barbara Miller's daughter-in-law, had surgery in
Little Rock Wednesday. The surgery was difficult, but Sally is doing well.
*
Gary Green is completing his week of chemotherapy at St. Edward Hospital and
will be dismissed Thursday. Gary and Judi appreciate the thoughts, prayers, and
cards from everyone.
* Clark Risley's biopsy results were normal. He is being
treated with antibiotics for an infection.
* Former West-Ark member, Chuck
Cunningham, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. Chuck's surgery is
scheduled for Friday, 1:00 p.m. at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs,
CO. If you would like to send Chuck and Karen a card, their address is
P.O. Box 6094, Woodland, CO 80866-6094.
* Pete Mendez has been
transferred to a hospital in Miami, Florida. Louis has gone to be with
him.
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Geneva Shepherd in the death of her sister Edith Bell (age 90), who died
August 26th in Cohutta, Georgia.
**Keep in Your Prayers**
* Kathy Eichenberger
(mother of Scott James)
* Maile McDonald
* Judi Green
* Don Green
*
Lear Mae Moody (mother of Sue George)
**Prayers for Missions**
* Thomas Kweekul
*
John Paul and Ruby Lee Hundley
* Stefann Phomasone
* Roy Dunavin and Jack Harriman
**Prayers for Military**
Continue to remember
Daniel Kweekul, Phillip Lux, Johnny Lindgren, Jeff Amos, Lori Dotson, Brandon
Daws, Matthew Faries, and Aaron Bailey.
**Placing Membership**
Niketa Stinchcomb
2704
Cedar Valley Drive
Greenwood, AR 72936
Phone: 996-3001
**Welcome Baby English**
Randy and Sharon
English (full-time missionaries in the South Pacific) are the proud parents of a
baby girl, Cassie Leilani, born August 30th on Tutuila Island. Randy and Sharon
have four sons (Garrett, Aaron, Austin, and Noah). The whole family is delighted
with this new (girl) addition to the family. Cards may be sent to: Randy English
Family, P.O. Box 1268, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark
Family,
Thank you for the calls, the cards, the food, the visits and prayers!
Thanks for showing us how much you care.
Love,
Louise &
Wilburn Howard
We are so very blessed to have such loving brothers
and sisters in Christ! Thank you for all the cards, flowers, prayers,
hugs, and concern shown during our Grandmother's recent illness and death.
She lived a long, rich life surrounded by loving family. God is so good!
Thank you for sharing in our loss.
Dahl, Angie, and Seth
Dunavant
Dave, Dwonne, Breck,
and Grayson
Cogswell
Dear "Family,"
We appreciate all the calls,
cards, flowers, thoughts and prayers during Mom's illness and death. A special
thanks to you who prepared our meal following the service. The plant sent from
the church was beautiful. Thanks for your love and support.
The Beneuxs
and
Jerry Davis Family
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
Now that you've had a few weeks to rest and recover
from a full schedule of great summer events, you might be starting to get hungry
for spiritual fellowship again. If that is the case, then September is the month
for you. September is full of great youth events.
Sr. Retreat at
Green Valley Bible Camp will take place Friday - Sunday, September 10th-12th.
This is the only retreat of the fall and it is a good one. The theme for this
year is "Grace - A True Underdog Story."
Marshall Brown has
scheduled several speakers who will share their personal stories of struggle and
faith with our teens. They have all struggled with their spiritual walk in one
way or another and they have all made it through to the other side by keeping a
strong focus on the promises and hope that are found in Jesus
Christ.
This retreat is usually for 10th - 12th graders, but we
have special permission to bring our 9th graders this year. Once they get a
taste of this retreat, they will want to go back every year.
The
cost for the weekend is $25 and that includes everything. Checks need to be made
out to Green Valley Bible Camp. Since it is the first home football game for
many area teams, we will not be leaving the West-Ark parking lot until 10 p.m.
on Friday night. Please check the sign-up list upstairs on the youth board as
soon as possible if you plan to go.
Two weekends later, on
September 25th-26th, we will travel back to Rogers for the 11th annual Crosswalk
Youth Rally. This is always one of our teen's favorite events of the year. Mitch
Wilburn, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be the keynote speaker and worship will be
led by Watershed Worship from Tennessee.
Things will slow
down a bit in October as our students get more into school activities and
homework. All of our October events will be in Fort Smith. So make plans now to
take part in the great activities we have planned for September and let God
continue to mold you into the person he wants you to be.
**Second Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Infants
Trish
Carson
Jane Dunavin
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
Vicki
Anderson
P.M. Nursery
Marquetta Walker
Sheila Vaught
*Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM
Worship 714
Bible Classes 453
Sunday PM NC
Wednesday P.M.
3444
Contribution $12,855
Children's Home
$168
The Way
Hispanic Attendance 41
Hispanic Contribution
$137
Laotians Attendance 33
Laotian Contribution $182
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