West-Ark Newsletter, 13 January 2005

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Family Lines Newsletter, January 13, 2005
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Matthew 5:43-48, You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus made this statement to the 12 Jewish disciples who had likely spent their entire lives in a Jewish community in a Jewish household as members of Jewish families. He said this to men who knew Jewish tradition and Jewish customs in the heart of Jewish culture.

Perhaps you ask, David, why all this emphasis on Jewish, Jewish, Jewish? For this reason: it was too easy for them to place confidence in the fact that they were Jewish. We are the right people! We do the right things! That is what makes us Gods people!

Jesus said, Wrong! There is an artificial distinction, and there is a godly distinction. To place spiritual confidence in ancestry and procedures is artificial. Rightful confidence comes from allowing Gods nature and character to become our nature and character. When we allow Gods nature and character to determine our nature and character, we will be different. It will not be produced by isolation, ancestry, or unique customs!

Even the people you regard to be the height of wickedness (Jewish tax collectors collecting for Roman interests; idol worshippers)even they like people who like them and greet people who approve of them. If we are kind only to people who like us, how are we different from people we regard to be wicked?

Do we not realize that God is not that way? He lets the sun shine on and the rain water the crops of those who do not even acknowledge His existence. Let God be our guide and example! Let God determine how we act! Do not place confidence in human identity! Who we are is important, but what we are is even more important!

How is Jesus statement relevant to Christians today? It is scary to see how may of us place our confidence in "where my membership is." It is scary to see how often we allow the foundation of our faithfulness to stand on our preferences or on identity marks that are rooted in our past and not in scripture. It is scary to see how often we make scripture fit our convictions rather than allowing scripture to determine our convictions. It is scary to see how often we use only scriptures we are convinced support our convictions.

Jesus told the 12 not to do such things. Allow Gods nature and character to be your guide and example. That makes you radically different! Different enough to treat enemies with a kindness that rises from love! Thats hard! The objective of being Christian is to reflect God in whom and what we are. Thats hard! We praise God because He gives us this opportunity in Jesus Christ! Accepting that opportunity is demanding! It is easy to rest on the past! It is demanding to be a spiritual being!

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**Lord, Hear Our Prayers**
Maile McDonald is very sick and in a lot of pain from Mondays chemotherapy treatments. Please pray for her pain to ease.
Lana Howard is home following surgery on Tuesday at St. Edward Hospital. Her prayer pager number is 784-7490.
Thelma Blackburn is in St. Edward Hospital, room 5410.
Lloyd Summers was dismissed from the hospital on Monday.
Tina Eudaly (mother of Mary Burkett) had a heart cath/balloon procedure and is feeling much better. (See related note of thanks from Mary.)
Praise! Tim Williams (son-in-law of Bob and Jane Fisher) received wonderful news Tuesday. The brain tumor removed on December 27th was benign and no other treatment will be necessary.
Charles Rogers is in Sparks Hospital, room 492.
Ava Jones received a good report from her doctors and will be returning to Little Rock for surgery February 8th.
The Burns Family request prayers for a close friend, Cole Tuck, as he undergoes tests.
Odell Bryan, father of Karan Tygart, is in HealthSouth Rehab for a few weeks.

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Pat Yick and her mother, Ruth, in the death Lena Hall. (Lena is Pats aunt and Ruths sister. Ruth regularly attends our Wednesday morning ladies Bible class.) Graveside services for Lena are January 13th in Texarkana, Texas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Bayou Church of Christ in Nashville, AR.

Michael has returned from his most recent deployment at least for now and is at home working in the surgical department in the hospital on the post at Fort Bragg. He has received several cards and appreciates all the prayers on his behalf.
Martha Gooden

Wedding Shower
You are invited to a shower honoring Eric and Leona Holland, Sunday, January 23, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Davidson home, 1811 South 73rd Circle. Eric and Leona are registered at Linens N Things and Dillards.

**New Arrival**
Congratulations to Jason and Sara Dockery (formerly of West-Ark) on the birth of their daughter. Katelynn Abigail Dockery was born January 16th in Evansville, Indiana. She weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. and was 20 inches long.

**Notes of Thanks**
Thanks to you all for so many prayers and words of encouragement regarding my mother, Tina Eudaly, and her surgeries and heart problems. She is feeling well and may go home January 13, Lord willing! We are so blessed to have a caring family of Christians in many places who have prayed for her, and we thank God for you and for His blessings!
In Him
Mary Burkett

I am home from the hospital and doing very well now. I want to thank everyone for the prayers, visits, cards, and calls during my hip surgery and gallbladder surgery. I still need your prayers.
In Christian love,
Janelle Graves

Dear West-Ark Quilters,
This note is to let you know how much we appreciate the beautiful quilt you gave us as a wedding gift. It will warm our bodies as much as your kindness has warmed our hearts!
With many thanks
Eric and Leona Holland

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**People Need Your Talents**
Carry the Good News of Jesus as He leads our 15th Medical Mission Team to Guyana on June 4-12. Join us for the organizational meeting after Sunday evening service on January 16 in Room 100.

**Dynamic Marriage**
(Formerly His Needs Her Needs)
A new class is now forming. Current plans are to start the class either on January 23 or January 30, 2005. We will need commitment from at least 10 couples. Class will meet weekly for 2 to 2 1/2 hours and will require 3-4 hours of homework each week. The cost for everything needed is $130.00. For those returning couples who wish to repeat, the interactive course is $60.00. The first class facilitated at the West Ark church was in May, 1998. Since then 106 couples have completed the class!
If you are interested in taking the class, contact Paul Shirley (H) 474-5256 (O) 474-5100 or Mat Griffin (H) 452-1472 (M) 883-4906.

Cecil Knight, Medi-Homes Nursing Home, 4613 Rogers, Room D-10, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

Thelma Blackburn, 3901 North 50th, Fort Smith, AR 72904, Phone 782-2680.

Pearl Beam, 1114 North 5th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, Phone 782-8734.

Bobbye Ferrell, 3204 South 32nd, Fort Smith, AR 72903, Phone 646-9649.

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We will discuss plans for many of the 2005 Youth Events including our new Teen Mission Trip planned for June and all other Spring and Summer events. Calendars and other helpful information will be handed out at the meeting.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 742
Bible Classes 478
Sunday Evening 273
Small Groups 42
Sunday Evening total 315
Wednesday PM 274
Contribution $14,619
Childrens Home $222
Hispanic Contribution $100
Hispanic Attendance 40
Laotian Contribution $245
Laotian Attendance 34
The Way Contribution $73
The Way Count 64

Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org
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"Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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