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Family
Lines Newsletter, March 3,
2005
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**Exciting Challenges Become Exhausting
Demands**
By David Chadwell
Life has a definite irony just in living! As
time passes, we find ourselves becoming what we never intended to be! When
I was young, I never, never considered the possibility some day I would be young
no longer. Now, youth seems a dream, not a reality!
Recently I had specific reasons for recalling past
times when I was (or I did)
Often when occasions for recalling come,
it seems like a dream about times that never existeddid I ever do that?
Now I marvel I ever had the energy for "tireless devotion." My mind feels
young, but my body talks to me. You plan to do what? Oh no, you are
not! Unfortunately, with increased frequency, my body "has the last
word."
Why is this happening? There was a time when
I changed as fast as my world changed. Yet, the world never stops
changing. We do, but the world does not! In our youth "keeping up"
was natural. Then came the day when "keeping up" required conscious
effort. Then came the day when we realized we were not "keeping up."
At first we were only "a little" behind. Inevitably the day comes when we
know we are much behind!
For the wise, experience replaces exuberance with
patience. When I was a young adult I wanted everything to happen
now. With age, I realized a startling difference between "changes for
the better" and "growth that produces development."
Increasingly I marvel at Gods patience:
About 2000 years between promising Abraham, In you all nations of the
earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:3) and sending Jesus to be the Christ?
A century after Jesus resurrection to convince believers that God loves
all peopleregardless of their past or background?
Delaying the
return of Jesus Christ to provide more opportunity for people to repent (2 Peter
3:9)?
Somewhere there is a balance between the youths
exuberance and the fears of the older. As Gods people, we neither wish to
discourage youths exuberance nor be controlled by the fears of advancing
age. God uses youths exuberance! As we grow older, it is not our
fears God wantsit is our patience. Even in aging, patience as surely
reflects Gods purposes as does exuberance in our youth!
May we never confuse exuberance with good or
patience with discouragement! Dare have the faith and courage to be
exuberant! Dare have the faith and courage to be patient! Let God
Himself teach us both! He was both in providing us a Savior! May we
be both in being His people!
1 Timothy 4:7, 8 But have nothing to do with
worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself
for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit,
but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the
present life and also for the life to come.
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
Pearl Beam
is scheduled to have a pacemaker put in Thursday morning (3/3/05) at Sparks
Hospital. She will be there overnight.
Sarah Newton is home from the
hospital and recuperating. She is scheduled for knee surgery later on. Sarahs
prayer pager is 441-1648.
Frances Quenin had spinal surgery Wednesday. She
is in Sparks Hospital, room 491. Her prayer pager is 441-2593.
Aaron
Canfield Logan (infant son of Coby and Megan) will go to Childrens Hospital on
April 1st for tests on a heart murmur.
Chris and Carrie Burress request
prayers for their 4-year old daughter, Taylor. Test results will be in next
week.
Marjorie Blake asks for prayers for a friend, Billie Bolin, whose
daughter was killed by violence.
Opal Hewitt Dexter is in Sparks Hospital,
room 419.
Palmer Richardson (daughter of Scott and LoriAnn Richardson)
Kerry and Dena Jenkins trip with Adam to see specialists in Dallas was very
encouraging. Adam has a follow-up visit there in three months.
Fred Jackson
is recovering at home. His 4th surgery at UAMS is not scheduled yet.
Vicki
Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
Paul Flippo
Maile
McDonald
Eddie Hamlett
John Hundley
Anita Maxwell
Don
Green
Larry Treat
Chuck Cunningham
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Jo Griffin in the death of her half-sister, Betty Brewer, of Pryor, OK on
Tuesday. Funeral services are incomplete at this time.
**Dismissed from the Hospital**
Maggie Allen
(Kevin and Reyndas daughter)
Del Ingram
Jim Boatright
Helen
Epton (Rebecca Holloways mother)
**Missionaries in Prayer**
__________ in Laos
Thomas & Kindy Kweekul in Thailand and Laos
__________ in Vietnam
John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley
in France
**Mission Prayer Request**
Roxie Benincosa
(formerly of West-Ark) requests prayers for a mission team she is traveling with
from Harding Universitys College of Business to Donetsk, Ukraine. The seminar
teaches how faith in God factors into our business decisions. They will also
visit two orphanages while there. The group leaves 3/3/05.
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Matthew Faries,
Shane L. Newton, Daniel Kweekul, Aaron Bailey, Philip Lux, Adam Morrissun,
Ronnie Wheat, and David Jennen.
**Welcome New Members**
Michael & Shelley
McGehee
Malory and Mason
103 Beam Lane
Pocola, OK 74902
Phone:
(918) 436-7770
(See Shelleys note under Meals for New Moms page
3.)
**Note of Thanks**
To West-Ark Church
Family,
Thank you so much for your kindness during this difficult time.
The cards, calls, thoughts and prayers were very much appreciated. Thanks
also for the peace lily. I will enjoy it and think of your kindness and also my
sweet Daddy each time I see it.
In Christian love,
Kay
Pressley and Family
Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for
all of the thoughts and prayers regarding our doctors visit this past
Friday. We could definitely feel the presence of our Almighty God through
all of you lifting us up.
The information we received from the
doctor was that he also did not feel that the Chiari Malformation was the cause
of Adams symptoms but did want to continue to watch any progression of it with
an additional MRI to be done in about a month. (We dont have an actual
date yet.) He also informed us that Adam has 2 small infarcts
or spots deep within his brain that may be the cause of his developmental
delays. He thinks there is a real possibility that Adam will grow out of
most if not all of his symptoms. Praise God! Only time will
tell.
We were very encouraged by this visit and appreciate so
very much your continued prayers and encouragement regarding our Little
Bud!
Love in Him,
Kerry & Dena Jenkins
**Ministry Updates**
Deacon for K-6 Education
-- Kerry Jenkins
Deacon for Visitation and Involvement Gary Brown
60+ Ministry Leaders Winston & Danna Turpin; Jim & Diane Arnold
Meals for New Moms Shelley McGehee
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**********RESCHEDULED***********
The Heart of
Worship week has been rescheduled due to Tom Chapin's illness. Please notice
the date changes IN ALL CAPS.
Teachers: Be prepared to follow a normal class
schedule this week (3/6/05 and 3/9/05).
**Heart of Worship**
*SUNDAY, MARCH 13*
Tom
Chapin (Guest song leader and speaker)
9:30 a.m. Bible class
10:30 a.m.
Worship
6:00 p.m. Worship
*WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16*
Tom will return for 7:00
p.m. Teaching & Worship
The youth and college groups will join us in the
auditorium at all these times.
Childrens Worship services will not be held
the morning of 3/13/05.
The elders request that all adult classes and LIFE
Groups join in Sunday, MARCH 13 at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, MARCH 16.
**LTC Practices**
Sunday, March 6
2:00
Junior High Chorus
3:00 Senior High
Chorus
4:00 Junior High Bible Bowl
5:00 Drama
5:00 PARENT
MEETING in Room 100 for parents of participants who plan to attend the Tulsa
Convention.
6:00 All Puppets
Friday, March 11
5:30 -- Rehearsals for
Elementary Chorus, Elementary Drama, and all Puppets.
We will serve
pizza to the kids and show the movie The Book of Luke during the break for
pizza.
**Preschool Teachers Needed**
We have the
following teaching/helping opportunities for our preschool
department:
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 1ST GRADE (ASAP)
WEDNESDAY
NIGHT, 2 YEAR OLDS (JUNE, JULY AUGUST)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
(ASAP)
We also need several people to be on a substitute
list for all of the preschool classes (2 year old 1st grade). If you can help
with any of these, please call Dena Jenkins at 478-6486 or email her at denaj@swbell.net .
**Gateway Announcement**
All Gateway kids (2nd
6th grade) should meet in Room 100 at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday
evenings.
**60+ Gathering**
Our next potluck supper is
Saturday, March 19, at 6:00 in the Family Life Center
**Car Clinic**
Saturday, March 5
Annex
parking lot
8 to 11 a.m.
**Widows/Widowers**
Wear your green and come to
our "Green Luncheon" on Saturday, March 5, at noon in the Annex. If you
need transportation call Mary (64-6079), Bobbie (674-5814) or Janice
(474-8851).
**Meals for New Moms**
I am trying to
start a ministry that serves meals to all new mothers at West-Ark. My
former church home, (Duncan, OK) had this ministry which I benefited from when I
had my son, and I would like to continue this helpful ministry at West-Ark.
Please e-mail me if you would like to be a part of this ministry. Upon
signing, I will call to ask you to prepare either a meat and bread or veggie and
dessert, once mom and baby come home. Simple as that!
~~Shelley
McGehee
shelleymcgehee@sbcglobal.net
**Photos Needed**
The LTC Elementary Scrapbook
group needs photos of church-related grade-school events, such as KFC, VBS,
Gateway, etc. If you have photos to share, please see or call Karen
Benjamin (414-8166).
**Happy Birthday**
March 13
Carol Green
Sarah Miller
Richard
Nelson
John Richards
March 14
Vicki Anderson
John Berger
Maxine
Yates
March 15
Matthew Hines
Hayley Elise
Sanchez
Janie Wyatt
March 17
Marie Lile
March 18
Evan Dunavin
Meredith Dye
Caitlin
Kleman
Suzette Todd
Brad Walker
March 19
Marie Arnold
David Berger
Shirley
Bullard
Meg Canfield
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
*Special Series on Worship March 13th and
16th*
Just in case you missed it, our guest speaker and
worship leader for this week is sick. His name is Tom Chapin, and he is a
worship leader from Little Rock. We have rescheduled him for the following week,
March 13th and 16th.
He will be leading us through a special series on
worship during the Sunday morning class, Sunday morning worship service, Sunday
night assembly and Wednesday night class.
This series will be very good for the overall
benefit and growth of the West-Ark congregation. The elders and ministers
all believe this will be good for all of us to go through together.
Therefore, our 7th-12th graders will join all of
the classes mentioned above on Sunday, March 13th and Wednesday, March 16th. All
assemblies will take place in the auditorium. I really look forward to this time
together as we learn more about what God expects from us through our
worship.
As a result of these changes to this weekend, we
will have regular classes in the Youth Room on Sunday Morning, Sunday Night and
Wednesday night, March 6th and 9th.
*7th 12th graders will meet for class in the
auditorium during the Sunday a.m. class., Sunday p.m. worship and Wednesday p.m.
class on March 13th and March 16th.
**First Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Melissa Walker
Dena
Jenkins
Irene Willis
Annette Sharp
P.M. Nursery
Dixie Burkhart
Gina
Williams
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM
Worship 679
Bible Classes 460
Sunday Evening NC
Small Group
21
Wednesday PM 353
Contribution $17,308
Childrens
Home $224
Hispanic Contribution $269
AM Hispanic
Attendance 59
PM Hispanic Attendance 7
Laotian
Contribution $234
Laotian Attendance 30
The Way Contribution $61
The
Way Attendance 54
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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