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Family
Lines Newsletter, October 14,
2004
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**How Do I Define Me?**
By David
Chadwell
Ephesians 2:19, "So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of
God's household ..."
How any person defines self depends on the
circumstances of his or her life. What is the person's life about?
Is it about surviving in inescapable poverty? Is it about excelling in
opportune circumstances? Is it about giving or receiving pleasure as a
person existing in a culture of personal pleasure? Is it about
self-indulgence and greed in a social group dedicated to self-indulgence and
greed? Is it about acquiring power in an environment that respects little
but power? Is it about escape? Typically, a person defines himself
or herself in ways that he or she sees as predominant in "my world" or in ways
exhibited by "important" people who surround him or her.
Self-definitions are relevant! Typically, "I"
seek to become "my" definition of what a person in "my" situation should
be. Many people dedicate extraordinary efforts toward becoming what they
think they should be as individuals. What is attractive? What is
feminine? What is masculine? What is "my" concept of a single?
Of a wife? Of a husband? Of a parent? Of an adolescent? Of
success? Of failure?
Who defines "me"? Family demands? Peer
pressure? Work environment? Social environment? Professional
expectations? Academic pursuits? Athletic expectations? Money?
Power? Lifestyle?
In most of our lives there are "major defining
factors" and "minor defining factors." A "major defining factor" is always
essential regardless of the situation, even when stressful circumstances are
full of potential consequences. "Minor defining factors" are essential if
the situation is a typical circumstance, but not a stressful
circumstance.
Question: which is God? A "major defining factor"
or "a minor defining factor"?
In some southern environments, a person is expected
to be intensely involved in a spiritual commitment. In other regions, such
involvement is looked upon as unhealthy. Religion should be a part of
life, but it should not be taken so seriously. In other regions, the
healthiest life is the non-religious life. A person should enjoy and
experience the moment of now. In other regions, religion is viewed as a
fanatical attempt either to cope with the undesirable in life or to escape
responsibility.
What role does God occupy in defining "who I
am"? How do I place God in that role? Is it simply a matter of
"going to church"? Of attending classes? Of performing expected
behaviors? Of reading my Bible and praying? Of helping a
ministry? Of allowing God to define "who I am" and "what life is
about"?
To seek self-definition apart from God is to walk
in the darkness of futility. To seek self-definition through God is to
walk in the light of self-discovery. Be a person who belongs to God's
household!
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**Church Van Drivers Needed!**
This is a
much-appreciated ministry that needs a few more good men (or women). The more
drivers we have - the better it is for all. There are no special licenses
required, but you must be age 25 or older. Contact the office (452-1240) or Rod
Jones (484-1162) if you can help.
**LFC Calendar**
(Lions for Christ)
* 10/21 -
Cookout at Sebastian Commons, 5 p.m.
* 10/29 - Hayride and meal, 6 p.m.
*
10/30 - Fall Festival 5:30 p.m. (We are working in the fishing
booth.)
**Wednesday Night Schedule in
Gateway**
Attention: 2nd - 6th Grade Parents
Students will meet at 7:00
p.m. in
Room 221 for memory verse work.
**Planning Commission Decision on Portable
Building**
In a 5-2 vote, the Fort Smith Planning Commission denied our
request for conditional use of the portable building previously used by River
Valley Christian School.
We appreciate the efforts of all the
West-Ark members who worked so hard to present our case to the Planning
Commission. Everyone who represented us did so very well.
We accept the decision of the city council and will not appeal it
to the Board of Directors. We do not bear any animosity toward our
neighbors. The focus of the neighbors' concerns and the basis of the
Planning Commission's majority ruling had to do with the presence of the
portable building itself and was not opposition to the campus ministry or any
other West-Ark ministries. In fact, many of them expressed support for the
work of our congregation and the campus ministry.
This decision
does not in any way diminish our dreams for and confidence in the growth of the
Lions for Christ campus ministry. Our mission and purpose as God's people
remains the same! We are confident that God will supply everything we need
for all of our ministries to grow. Let us all remain faithful, visionary,
prayerful, and hopeful.
To God Be the Glory! ~~Chris
Benjamin
**Fall Festival**
Saturday, October 30th
6 to
8 p.m. in the FLC
To make this year a success we need support from
our church family. Here's how you can help!
* Bring a dessert
We have posted sign-up sheets
in the foyer for those willing to volunteer to bring a desert for our
cakewalk.
* Work a booth
We posted descriptions of the
different booths -- so pick one and join in the fun and help in a booth.
Items for the booths are provided -- we just need help monitoring them during
the festival.
* Bring candy, small toys, or soft drinks
There
is a container in the foyer to collect candy, small toys, and 2 liters of soft
drinks.
If you have any questions or donations, please call
Kristin Smith (649-0210) or Tiffany Null (783-4510).
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Page
3 [Please e-mail newsletter information to Debbie@westarkchurchofchrist.org or call the
office at
452-1240.]
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**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
* Jean Dicks has a tumor on
her pituitary gland. She requests prayers for "what is best" as she waits to see
a neurologist.
* Eddie Hamlett (son of former members Oscar and Linda
Hamlett) is in ICU at UAMS in Little Rock. Prayers for comfort are
requested.
* Prayers are requested for Paul Flippo for a heart problem.
*
Dale Ingram is in Sparks Hospital, room 533.
* Cecil Knight is in Sparks
Hospital, room 409.
* Lois Lancaster is in Health South Rehab.
* Melvin
Burge is recovering from a broken foot.
* Carl Wade recovering at home
following leg surgery.
* Harold Davis requests prayers for his friend, John
Azdell of Tampa, Florida, who has a reoccurrence of cancer.
* Taylor
Anders
* Adam Jenkins
* Larry Treat
* Chuck Cunningham
* Don Green
* Clarence Reed (father of Louise Howard) has been moved to Transitions
health and rehab in Fayetteville.
**Prayers for Military**
Continue to remember in prayer
Daniel Kweekul, Phillip Lux, Johnny Lindgren, Jeff Amos, Brandon Daws, Matthew
Faries, Aaron Bailey, Michael Gooden, and Shane Newton.
**New Baby!**
Congratulations to Arianna and Carlos Heras
on the birth of their second son, Andrew Evan. Andrew was born Thursday
morning (10/7/04) and weighed 6 lbs., 6 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Older
brother, Ethan, is delighted with his new playmate. Luis and Mickey Mendez are
the happy grandparents.
**We're Moving**
Jon and I will be moving to Phoenix,
Arizona, by the end of November. He has taken a job with a new company, and it
requires us to go there. Pray that all will go smoothly, we'll sell our house
quickly, and safe travel for Jon. He will go to Germany 11/6 and return 11/22.
He'll be home for 1 week (Thanksgiving), and then we'll be moving that weekend.
We will miss everyone. God has blessed us with such a loving church family.
Jon & Liz Huff
**Note of Thanks**
I want to thank everyone who helped us host Sunday Night Live
this past October 10th for area teens. We had over 300 teens and parents visit
from 4 different states. There were reps here from Oklahoma Christian and
Harding University. I am especially thankful to Gary and Rochelle Brown, Chuck
Combs, Kevin Vaught and Curtis McDonald for organizing the food details. There
were also several parents and adults who helped set up, cook, serve and clean
up. I truly believe many lives were touched by the worship service and the
messages of hope that were shared by Andy Wilson and Theatron from Harding.
Thank you for supporting the young people in this area and helping make them
disciples who are eager to serve others.
Sincerely,
Brad
Pistole
**60+ Potluck**
The next potluck supper is Saturday,
October 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Annex. Come and join us for good food and
fellowship.
**Sunday Morning**
Proclaiming a Biblical Worldview, Part
2
Chris Benjamin, Speaker
**Sunday Evening**
Seeing This World As God Does, Part
2
David Chadwell, Speaker
**Happy Birthday**
October 17
Nora Lou Miller
October 18
Laurie Armstrong
Shelly Robbins
October 19
Janice Prater
Alisha Wewers
Mark
Willis
October 20
Kathryn Willis
October 21
Karen Benjamin
Amanda Broom
October 22
Sandi Pippin
October 23
Kevin Davis
Paul Quenin
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**What Will Your Legacy Be?
By Brad Pistole
For the past 10 years, I have always tried to take a week of
vacation during the third week of October. It hasn't always worked that
way, but when I do get the chance, I spend this week enjoying what is usually
one of the first cool weeks of the fall.
Some of the best memories of my life have been made during
this week. Yet, as strange as it may sound, some of these memories are difficult
ones.
You see, it was exactly 5 years ago this week, that I loaded
my truck and left for vacation and only hours after leaving I received a phone
call from Myra Flippo. She was calling to tell me that my good friend, Bill
Flippo, had lost his battle with cancer.
I drove back home that night and spent the next few days
grieving and preparing for his funeral. It was a very difficult thing for me and
for his family and friends.
Each year when I leave for vacation, I always think of those
events. And as difficult as they (and others like them) were to deal with at the
time, they have provided me with some very rich blessings on down the road.
When I remember the lives of Bill Flippo, Ada Ferguson, Cliff
Casey and people like them, I am reminded of the hope we all have in Jesus
Christ ... the hope of eternity in Heaven.
I think of people like my grandfathers, Opal Pistole and Paul
McCartney, who made such powerful, spiritual impacts on my life. I think of
people like my dad, Mary Broyles, JT Smith and Andy Wilson, who continue to
influence my life in very powerful ways.
Do you have memories of people who have made an eternal impact
on your life? What about you? Will your life impact the people that you love in
eternal ways? Live your life in such a way that people will be eternally blessed
because they knew you. If you do, you will continue to make disciples for Jesus
even after you are gone.
**Third Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Gail Mason
Bo
Mason
Flora Johnson
Missy Blasdel
Kristy Abernathy
P.M. Nursery
Linda Wear
Terri Jones
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship
659
Bible Classes 483
Sunday PM 586
Small Group 5
Wednesday
P.M. 304
Contribution $14,472
Children's
Home $178
The Way NC
Hispanic Attendance 44
Hispanic
Contribution $125
Laotians Attendance 27
Laotian Contribution
$211
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"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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