West-Ark Newsletter, 11 November 2004

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Family Lines Newsletter, November 11, 2004
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The election is over. However, anxiety is not subsiding. It merely shifted to a different segment of society. Prior to the election, anxiety rested in the hearts of those concerned about "moral values." After the election, anxiety rests on the minds of those who fear the meaning of "moral values," who define moral concern differently.

Before the election there was great concern for the direction of this nation. After the election there is great concern for the direction of this nation. The only change: the identifiable groups of "the concerned."

What is the great deceit? This conviction: spiritual goals are achieved through political means. Christianity began among a people with centuries of allegiance to God, but who failed to recognize God's Son or God's message. Christianity spread through a Mediterranean world and Roman empire that were thoroughly, visibly pagan. It was impossible to ignore the prestige of idolatry in any major city of the first century!

The first Christians did not have favorable laws or champions in high political places. Their lifestyle, faith, and commitment were misunderstood. They often were considered atheists because their God excluded other gods. They often were seen as a threat to the empire, to "peaceful" community life, and to businesses that had a patron god or goddess. Families in both Jewish and Gentile communities often disowned a family member who converted to Christ. Opposition was so severe in Asia Minor that Revelation indicates those Christians wondered if the Christian movement was doomed. In the first century Roman Empire, Christianity was an illegal, "undesirable" religion.

Yet, Christians endured and Christianity as a movement prevailed. Through a triumphant political plan of action? No. Then through what? Through faith in the God who raised Jesus from the tomb and made Him the Christ; through an unconquerable love for God, people, the Christian community, and enemies; through an enduring hope for resurrection.

It reasonably can be affirmed that a grave blow inflicted to the Christian movement was Emperor Constantine's legalization of Christianity in the early 300's A.D. Shortly after that, "church buildings" appeared. "The gods had their temples -- how can there be an official religion of the Roman Empire that does not have a building?" Oh, the woes, debates, and confrontations within the Christian movement because of buildings! In time, the movement became synonymous with its buildings instead of its people!

Interesting! Was the emperor's pronouncement of legalization a blessing? Spirituality is achieved when personal faith is nurtured to the level of absolute commitment. If we think spirituality is achieved through a political process, we are deceived. We are blinded to more fundamental moral problems. Surely we should seek the peace to follow God's purposes (1 Timothy 2:1,2), but we should never confuse God's eternal objectives with our physical desires and wishes.

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Last Friday, the children were out of school, and I was surprised at 7:00 a.m. to receive a call from one of our sixth graders who could have been out playing or setting in front of a TV or a computer. He asked, "Jack, need any help?" (He had helped me several times in the past.) I quickly thought, "Yes, I could use some help today." Then he added, "But I can't help you this morning because I have to go to the clinic this morning with my little brother, to translate for my mom." "Fine I'll pick you up at noon," I added.

At noon when I picked him up, he had a slip of paper with an address on it. He quickly asked if we had time to go by and visit a family he had just met at the clinic. "Sure," I said, "We will make time." We stopped by the family's house but no one was home, so we went to pick up some furniture and stopped back there later. This time they were home, and we had a good visit with them. They had no furniture and very little food as they had just moved here from Mexico. They didn't have a job yet.

We unloaded a couch and a chair, talked to them about other needs, and made arrangements to pick them up for worship on Sunday. They were at worship Sunday evening at our Hispanic congregation on Johnson Street.

**40 Years of Ministry**
A reception is planned for Montey and Bonnie Ray, parents of Karen Carter, at the Dyer Church of Christ on Sunday, November 28th, from 2 until 4 p.m. This reception will honor Monty's 40 years of service as minister for the Dyer congregation.

**Game Day**
Thursday, November 18th
1:00 p.m. in the Annex.
All ages are invited to come and join in the fun and games!

**CURE Work Night**
Monday, November 15
7:00 p.m.
2400 Vicksburg
We need both women and men workers. Women are needed to sort and pack miscellaneous medical supplies and men are needed to unload a truck. Questions? Call Kevin Vaught at 646-2945 or Bob Fisher at 452-2852.

**Thanksgiving Dinner**
Thanksgiving Day, November 25
12:00 noon until ??
Please sign the list in the foyer to let us know what you plan to bring. Also, let us know how many of your family will be attending.
~~Sandy Berger

**Wedding Reception**
Mr. and Mrs. Billy W. Miller
request the pleasure
of your company at a
30th Wedding Anniversary
drop-in reception on
Sunday, December 5, 2004
from 2 to 4 o'clock
Fort Smith River Park, East Room
121 Clayton Expressway
Fort Smith, Arkansas
No gifts please

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**Remember in Prayer**
* Jaythan Johnson is very ill in St. Edward Hospital, room 4208. Jaythan is the son of Tammy Cypert and the brother of Amanda Daws.
* Beatrice Neighbors, grandmother of Mitch Harper, is in room 584 in Sparks Hospital.
* Penny Path (formerly of West-Ark) has requested prayers for her health. Penny has lupus and other health concerns.
* Denise Campbell asks for prayers for Katie Currin (a 9th grade student and friend of Leslie Campbell's) who has a severe eye infection.
* Barbara Smith asks for prayers for her sister, Frances, who had knee replacement surgery this week.
* Barbara Smith's son, Vernon, had a tumor removed from his hip.
* (Praise) Glenanna O'Mara (daughter of Larry and Janice Prater and sister of Shanna Davis) returned from the Mayo Clinic on Monday with a good report. She has ongoing health challenges, but is making improvements.

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the Prater and Davis families in the death of Janice Prater's mother, Inez Horner, in Amarillo, Texas, on Sunday. Funeral services were Wednesday. Prayers for a safe journey home are appreciated as snow is predicted for the Amarillo area.

Our love and sympathy is also extended to Judy Foley in the death of her grandfather, J. D. Miller (age 95) who died Wednesday night. Judy requests prayers for her grandmother, Lorene Miller.

**Baptism**
We rejoice with the Mendez Family on Pete Mendez's decision to be baptized Sunday morning. Pete is the brother of Luis Mendez. Some months ago, Pete was in a car accident in Puerto Rica that severely injured him and took the life of his wife. He plans on relocating to this area.

**Welcome Blessed Baby!**
Greg and Angelique Moses were blessed by the birth of a son, Corbin Daniel Moses, on November 9th in Dallas, Texas. The baby weighed 7 lbs., 10 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Michael & Jeannie Cole and Darrell & Robertta Moses are the proud grandparents!

**Notes of Thanks**
I wanted to thank everyone who helped with this year's Fall Festival. To all those that worked booths, brought snacks, donated items such as candy, drinks, cookies, ziplock bags, etc., I can't tell you how much we appreciate it. Each year our turnout gets a little better, and this year was no exception. We started the Fall Festival a few years ago so that our children would have a loving Christian alternative to going door-to-door. We have left it open to the community and there are always quite a few new faces. This year we realized that the joy and openness that we show the children and their parents at the Fall Festival may be our first and only chance to introduce them to the love of the West-Ark congregation. That wouldn't be possible without the support of everyone who chipped in this year. Thanks so much for helping us shine God's love on our community.
With much gratitude,
Kristin Smith
Tiffany Null
Dena Jenkins

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Just as we started to share in the Lord's Supper together, I looked across the auditorium and happened to make eye contact with my good friend Winston Turpin. He smiled at me and I smiled and winked back to him.

I began to think about the bonds we share in Jesus Christ. I thought about all the special times I shared with his children, Meagan and Chase during the years they were in the youth group. Then I remembered my need to continue to pray for his wife Danna every day.

You see, when Chris led us in the "back to school blessing" in August and had each of us select an apple magnet on our way out, I drew Danna's name. I put it on the upper right hand corner of my computer so I would see it every day. What a blessing it is to pray for a teacher, counselor, and friend who works with our young people on a daily basis!

Then it hit me...if it weren't for Jesus and his sacrifice for each of us on the cross, there is an extremely high chance that the Turpins and the Pistoles would have never even met! We definitely wouldn't have a relationship like we have now.

There are so many blessings we receive on a daily basis because of Christ! They are simply too numerous to count! Thank God for the weekly reminder of Christ's sacrifice and how it affects every single aspect of our lives. It truly unites us all!

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"Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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