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Family
Lines Newsletter, March 17,
2005
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**God, Jesus, and Peace**
By David
Chadwell
Romans 14:19 "So then let us pursue the things
which make for peace and the building up of one another."
An incredible bond exists between Jesus Christ, his
disciple, and peace. Pauls epistles emphasis coupling peace and
existence in Christ is astounding! There are far too many examples to note
all of them in this brief writing. Consider just a few
examples.
Paul commonly opened his letters with a greeting of
peacepeace and Christian existence belong together! (Romans 1:7;
1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians
1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1;
2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2;
Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3) He also frequently mentioned peace when he
closed a letter.
Romans 5:1 "Therefore, having been justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Romans 14:17
"
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Romans 14:19 "So then let us pursue the things
which make for peace and the building up of one another."
1 Corinthians 7:15
"
but God has called us to peace."
Galatians 5:22, 23 "But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no
law."
Ephesians 4:3 "
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses
all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be
thankful."
Existence in this physical world is filled with
anxiety! All of us experience the anxiety of failed promises, hostile
circumstances, and defeated expectations. Physically speaking, what we
want is forever out of alignment with what we have. Our world, our
circumstances, our possessions, our earthly ambitions, our education, our jobs,
our accomplishments, or our leisure are never an enduring source of peace.
Inwardly there is this unsettling sense of turmoil that seems to constantly
haunt us, constantly call attention to our emptiness, and constantly remind us
of why we should be afraid.
Being in Christ will not change the world, or
circumstances, or possessions, or ambitions, or educations, or jobs, or
accomplishments, or leisure. Being in Christ changes us. Even when
all about us rages in the winds, waves, and mists of uncertainty, God grants us
peace in Jesus Christ. In Christ there is a sense of calm when all else is
in turmoil. Why? In Christ we live for something bigger than the
moment of now called the eternal.
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
Fred Jackson
went back to St. Edward Hospital over the weekend with a blood clot in his leg.
He is home now.
Wayne Baileys mother, Mahala Bailey, is in St. Edward
Hospital room 3417. She has prayer pager 441-1648.
Dennis Anders (father
of Mark) is in a Monroe, LA hospital following a heart attack Tuesday morning.
He will have heart by-pass surgery (possibly quadruple) on Thursday, 3/17/05.
The Whites Ferry Road Church has supplied Mr. Anders with a prayer pager. The
number is 1-318-330-0248. (Long distance except for some cell phones.)
Kathleen Taranto is sick and her family asks for your prayers.
Irene Willis
fell last Friday and broke her knee cap.
Lynn Alexanders knee replacement
surgery went well.
Opal Hewitt Dexter has moved to Health South Rehab, room
218B.
Shirley Austin (mother of Sharon Barker) is doing well following a
heart cath on 3/11/05.
Theresa Wieser has been dismissed from the
hospital
Lucille Graves request prayers for Heather, the daughter of John
and Carroll Thornton. Heather had surgery for cancer on March 12th.
Palmer
Richardson (daughter of former members Scott & Lori Ann) is still at
Childrens Hospital in Little Rock. Keep updated on Palmer through her web
site: www.palmerrichardson.com
.
**Continued Prayers**
Aaron Canfield Logan
(infant son of Coby and Megan)
Adam Jenkins
Anita Maxwell
Chuck
Cunningham
Del Ingram
Don Green
Eddie Hamlett
Larry
Treat
Maile McDonald
Paul Flippo
Vicki Varvel (daughter of John
and Nadine Hawkins)
Frances Quenin
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Harvey George in the death of his brother, Chestene Harley George (age 81) on
Sunday. Funeral services were Thursday (3/17/05) at Hardwicke Funeral Home
Chapel in Clarksville, AR.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Howard
Hughes in the death of his mother, Odell Hughes, on March 14 in Murfreesboro,
AR. Funeral services were Thursday at the Delight, AR Church of
Christ.
**Welcome New Members**
Jennifer Collins
718
North 16th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: 782-6820
Al and Belle Wood
303 Maple Shade Road
P.O.
Box 1145
Alma, AR 72921
Phone: 479 632-6282
**Missionaries in Prayer**
__________ in Laos
Thomas & Kindy Kweekul in Thailand and Laos
__________ in Vietnam
John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley
in France
Roy and Joyce Dunavin in New Zealand
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Matthew Faries,
Shane L. Newton, Daniel Kweekul, Aaron Bailey, Philip Lux, Adam Morrissun,
Ronnie Wheat, and David Jennen.
(David Jennen is currently home from training
and will soon be going to Iraq.)
**60+ Supper & Songs**
Our next potluck
supper is Saturday, March 19, at 6:00 in the Family Life Center. Come and join
us for a wonderful evening of food and fellowship with entertainment by The
Teague Twins and Friends.
**Borrowed Items Need to be Returned**
Please
look around your home for anything you have borrowed from the church but not
returned: Books, tablecloths, dishes, keys, tables, chairs, etc.
**Senior & Handicap Parking**
The rear
parking lot is reserved during assembly times for our senior citizens and those
that need to park close to the door for health reasons. Please be mindful
of this when you arrive early or leave your personal vehicle while on a church
van trip.
**Planning Ahead**
March 27 (Easter
evening)
Well have a Fellowship Meal
after worship in the FLC.
All who
can, please bring desserts!
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**Notes of Thanks**
Dear Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
Thank you for the peace lily plant, the delicious food, calls, cards,
and prayers. Most of all, thank you for loving my daddy as you did.
In
Christian love,
Gary, Martha & Janet Gunter
(Family of
Aubrey Walden)
Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for the
cards, prayers, and food. God has answered those prayers. My doctor has told me
that no further treatment is needed.
In Christian love,
Ava
& Kaitlin Jones
I want to thank the West-Ark Church of Christ for
all their help and prayers during my stay in the hospital. My cancer is in
remission now. I hope it stays that way. I am proud to be a member of West-Ark
a truly Christian church.
Thanks again,
John Hundley &
Family
I want to thank all the ladies that fixed food for
me while I was recuperating from my pacemaker surgery. They were so gracious. I
dont know what I would have done without them. Thanks for the phone calls,
cards, and especially the prayers.
Pearl Beam
To our Family at West-Ark,
Thank you so much for
the prayers for my mom, Shirley Austin. She had 1 stint put in last Friday, and
seems to be recovering well at home now. Thank you all so much for the prayers
offered up for mom and for my family. I truly felt a sense of peace all day
Friday, and I know that our Father graciously gave that to me. Thanks to all who
called the prayer pager, it has been such a tremendous blessing to her. Even the
children would exclaim each time the pager would go off, Someone is praying for
Grandma, Someone is praying for Grandma." What a blessing our family at
West-Ark is to us. Big hugs to all of you. We love you,
Dave and
Sharon Barker
Zach, Spencer, Caleb, Chris,
Brooke and
Mrs. Shirley Austin
I wanted to let everyone know I arrived safely at
home last night! Our trip was wonderful. I will be continuing Bible
studies with 3 students in the Ukraine that were in my group (6 total). I
will share more information as I get pictures sorted and myself re-oriented to
home! Thank you all so much for your prayers and support during this
trip. It was an amazing experience!
Roxanne (Roxie)
Benincosa
Dear Friends,
We have received good news! The
doctor who diagnosed and biopsied Eddie's cancer from the beginning, did another
biopsy yesterday and from what she could see and feel, the tongue and uvula
doesn't have a tumor now. The clinical results will be back in 2 weeks but she
believes it will be a good report. PRAISE GOD!!!!! For the past 7
months we lived with a great fear, but you know what, God has answered all
prayers and we MUST give Him the glory. Please, remember to give thanks to
God as you pray. Please, pray for the spiritual part of Eddie's life to be
directed by God and to God, as Eddie continues to fight for a healthier life
style. Thank you our wonderful, Christian friends. You are what kept me going in
my hours of weakness and trials --knowing there are Christians who feel your
pain is a comfort. That God will bless each of you for your steadfastness
and love is my prayer daily. Thank you for being there for us. We love you
all.
Linda for the Hamlett Family
[edited for length]
**Lions for Christ**
March 21-25 LFC Spring
Break Campaign (The LFC's are doing local service projects during their Spring
Break week.)
April 8-10 Don't forget about our Spring Retreat to Devil's
Den. Remember; if you can only make one "extra" event this semester make it the
Spring Retreat!
**LFC Shirts**
The LFC shirts are now in!
The cost is only $10. See John if you are interested in purchasing one of
these fine looking shirts.
**Preschool Teachers Needed**
We have the
following teaching/helping opportunities for our preschool
department:
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 1ST GRADE (ASAP)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT,
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (ASAP)
We also need 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.
**Happy Birthday**
March 27
Landry Dockery
Helen Pratt
Hannah
Pressley
March 28
Glenda Lewis
Melissa
Myers
March 30
Taylor Anders
Alyssia
Beneux
March 31
Chuck Combs
Harold Gouty
Lauren
Hankins
Ken Hollomon
April 1
Kelli Coggins
**Ladies Spring Renewal Day**
Robinson Ave.
Church of Christ Springdale, AR
Saturday, April 2, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00
p.m.
Brunch provided.
Theme: Here Comes the Bride
Your Love story
with Christ.
Call (479) 751-4887 to register.
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
As we say goodbye to the last week of Winter, we
say hello to SPRING BREAK. Fort Smith and surrounding schools will be on Spring
Break the week of March 21-25.
This year, Spring Break represents a lot of great
choices for our families at West-Ark. First of all, take a break and spend some
time with your family this week. There are few things in life as important as
creating memories with your family.
In addition to this, there are several events
taking place this week that could be a wonderful blessing to you. Just in case
you are looking for ideas for this week, here is whats going on in our
surrounding area:
1. Tulsa Soul Winning Workshop (Tulsa Fair Grounds)
If you have never been to Tulsa for the workshop, you simply do not know what
you are missing
great classes and speakers, worship with more than 5,000
brothers and sisters in Christ, fellowship, etc. For more details, go to the web
and check it out.
2. Leadership Training for Christ (LTC Tulsa
Convention Center) We have been participating in LTC for 5 years now. What a
great weekend for families as our teens learn to preach, teach, sing, make
bulletin boards, banners, sign for the deaf, work with puppets and drama, etc.
There will be approximately 100 teens and parents from West-Ark at LTC.
3. Harding Spring Sing (Searcy) A great weekend
to go to the Harding campus. Classes and chapel are open to visitors. Tours of
campus are given every hour. And there is a great Spring Sing show given each
night. Many of our former West-Ark teens are there as students and will be
involved with events throughout the weekend.
Whatever you do this Spring Break, do it with your
family. Youll be glad you did! (My family and I will be gone to the Tulsa
workshop Wed-Fri and then we will join our LTC group in Tulsa on Friday
afternoon.)
**Third Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Gail Mason
Bo Mason
Flora
Johnson
Kristy
Abernathy
P.M. Nursery
Sheila Vaught
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM
Worship 692
Bible Classes 407
Sunday Evening 285
Wednesday
PM 347
Contribution $16,034
Childrens Home
$223
Hispanic Contribution $241
AM Hispanic Attendance 50
PM
Hispanic Attendance 15
Laotian Contribution $241
Laotian Attendance
29
The Way Contribution $40
The Way Attendance 40
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve
others."
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