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Family Lines Newsletter, April 21, 2005
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**God's Quilt**
by David Chadwell

There was a time when quilt-making focused on survival. These were times when central heating did not exist, insulated houses were the exception and not the common experience, and when people desperately needed something to keep them warm on bitterly cold nights. At that time, quilts were made from any fabric available -- feed sacks, worn-out clothes, or scraps of material that were "left over" from other sewing projects. Making and having quilts was quite literally a matter of survival!

Times changed. Houses commonly were well insulated. Central heat became common experience in most homes. Thermostats kept an even, stabilized level of heat on most cold nights. While quilts still "felt good," they were no longer the key to surviving a bitter winter night.

As times changed, quilts went from a means of surviving a cold night to an art form. We have a quilt given to us as a gift from one of my aunts (now deceased) that came from her hobby. She bought and coordinated material to produce specific quilt top patterns. Then she hired someone to quilt the "top" she made. She had no specific purpose for making her quilt tops -- she merely enjoyed her hobby. She was not motivated by necessity, but by a good feeling from an art form.

God is a quilt maker. If He had His way, He would make a quilt that would cover every person in the whole world. Under His quilt would be eternal survival. This very special quilt is designed not only to preserve life but to give life. In its life-giving warmth all the covered live in joy, hope, and peace. All who enjoy the life and warmth granted through God's quilt know this quilt is an undeserved gift of love.

God's quilt is unique. No other quilt is like it. No other quilt can give what it gives. In the center of its top is a unique piece beyond duplication. We come to God's quilt for the warmth of life. Then we become a part of the quilt, sharing warmth and life with others.

The center piece is made from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By design, every other piece on that quilt top is connected to Jesus Christ (the connection is obvious!). The ragged and worn make the top. Ruined lives are its theme.

No one is "too far gone" to be in the quilt. Though it is made from the ordinary and worn, it is beautiful! It is both highly functional and incredibly beautiful!

God's quilt is "a work in progress." Time strengthens it rather than decaying it. As long as time continues, God adds pieces. God wants to include your life as a piece in His pattern -- if you let Him. Find warmth, life, and acceptance under God's quilt! Serve God as a piece in His quilt!

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**Remember in Prayer**

  • Paul Newhouse, father of Cathy Breedlove, will have a heart procedure in Little Rock on Tuesday. (Please read Cathy's note of thanks on page 3.)
  • Praise! Sharon Barker's nephew, Mac Murphy, woke up Monday morning and began to talk and ask questions. He is improving daily. The family asks for your continued prayers as he heals and also copes with the death of his girlfriend.
  • Sharon Barker's sister, Jan Murphy, is scheduled for cancer surgery today (4/21/05).
  • Natalie Nelson's father, Wendell Fenton, is doing better. He is in a two-week waiting period before returning to Little Rock to begin chemo treatments for multiple Myeloma. The Fentons plan to visit at West-Ark this Sunday! Read an update from Natalie in "Notes of Thanks."
  • Allie Whitaker is in Sparks Hospital, room 583.
  • Eugene Smith is in Sparks Hospital ICU and on a ventilator following surgery.
  • Pearl Shields is in Health South Rehab following a stroke.
  • Martha Gunter requests prayers for Frances Williams in Crawford County Hospital.
  • Theresa Wieser is in Sparks, room 557 and will probably be there for another 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Mary Vampola will have surgery April 27th at St. Edward Hospital for breast cancer.
  • Brother and Mindy Alexander request prayers for Richard "Dick" Lee, who became ill with a staph infection while doing mission work in Spain. He is on a respirator in critical condition.

    **Continued Prayers**

  • Adam Jenkins
  • Anita Maxwell
  • Betty Pence, mother of Cyndi Glidewell
  • Chuck Cunningham
  • Don Green
  • Fred Jackson
  • Jay Arnold
  • Jay Wood
  • Kathleen Taranto
  • Larry Treat
  • Maile McDonald
  • Paul Flippo
  • Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)

    **Missionaries in Prayer**

  • __________ in Laos
  • Thomas & Kindy Kweekul in Thailand and Laos
  • __________ in Vietnam
  • John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France
  • Jerry Canfield in Nigeria

    **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**
    Jack & Arinda Yancey
    3915 Newlon Road
    Fort Smith, AR 72904
    Phone: 783-2200

    **New Phone Numbers**
    Kevin & Christy Hesslen
    Phone: 996-3003

    Warren & Elizabeth Gardenhire
    Phone: 494-0390

    **Wednesday Ladies' Class**
    The mid-week ladies Bible class will have their last class and a potluck luncheon on April 27.

    **Bridal Shower**
    A bridal shower honoring Julie Smith, daughter of Laura and Jimmie Smith, is planned for Sunday, May 1st, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the home of Helen Pratt, 3705 May Branch Lane, Fort Smith. Julie is registered at Dillards and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

    **Notes of Thanks**
    Dear West-Ark Family: Thank you so much for the prayers, calls, cards, and concern during the illness and passing of my Dad, Clarence Reed. A sincere thank you for placing a book in the church library in memory of my Dad.
    In Christian love,
    Louise & Wilburn Howard

    Thank you for the prayers, cards, visits, calls, and flowers while I was in the hospital. It is very appreciated. God has helped me heal quickly.
    With Christian love,
    Irene Willis

    Thank you for the contribution of $7,685 for the school fund of the children of Emanuel Nwosu (Nigerian evangelist). It is a very generous gift.
    Jerry Canfield

    First and foremost, let me begin by saying "THANK YOU." Thank you for all of the calls, emails, cards, and very mostly all of your prayers. We were all overjoyed with the amount of prayer pages dad received every single day....we literally lost count after the first day. Words cannot describe how uplifting it was to dad and mom (and the rest of our family.including other patients who were asking about the pager). Dad took the pager off while we were sitting in the waiting area after his bone marrow biopsies and sat it on the receptionist's desktop so that others could be part of the prayer pages (it would bounce around on the desk as it was paged). Everyone in the area was so moved....one even to tears.....all to goose bumps! It kept going off and they would say, "SOMEONE ELSE IS PRAYING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW!" We felt so incredibly loved and cared for by so many people. Again, thank you for all of your prayers. We appreciate everything each of you do.
    In Him,
    Natalie Nelson (4/16/05)
    [edited for length]

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    To the family at West-Ark Church of Christ, Thank you for your prayers and support during the recent loss of Charlie Spurlock, Jennifer Collins' father. The family deeply appreciates everything you have done. Thank you very much for your prayers and sympathy.
    The Spurlock Family

    I want to thank everyone for remembering my Dad in their prayers. We are driving to Little Rock on Sunday so he can check into the hospital by 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning. The doctors plan to run a stress test on him on Monday and then put a defibrillator in him on Tuesday. If all goes well, I will take he and my Mom back home on Wednesday. Please pray that all goes well with Daddy's test and surgery and that our travels are safe. Thank you so much. It is so comforting knowing we have such a wonderful church family.
    Cathy Breedlove

    **Under-the-Bridge Workers Needed**
    We have a fifth Saturday this month and it is West-Ark's turn to do the under-the-bridge meal. We are a little short-handed this time because of conflicts for several of our regular workers. We could use some additional help in serving the meal. If you would like a real rewarding experience of helping provide a meal for the inter-city poor, contact Jack Lewis at 459-0168. We also could use help in bagging groceries at the Vicksburg warehouse at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 30.

    **Financial Workshop **
    There will be a financial responsibility workshop held on May 7, 2005 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the church annex. Babysitting will be provided.
    Paul Shirley, Ralph Harmon and Jordan Walker will be the class leaders. Please RSVP to Jordan Walker at 479 785-5923.

    **Guyana Needs**
    We need sunglasses and children's vitamins. Please add your donations to the boxes in the foyer.

    **Clinton Library Trip**
    Thursday, April 28
    A sign-up sheet and details are posted on the "coming events" board in the Information Center (foyer). All ages are welcome.

    **Happy Birthday**

    May 1
    Evan Foley

    May 2
    Lisa Broom
    Ed Vampola

    May 3
    Melissa Blasdel

    May 4
    Danna Turpin
    Braden Walker

    May 5
    Sarah Sawyer

    May 6
    Shay Dotson
    Don Green
    John Hawkins

    **Sunday Morning**
    "Earning, Income, and Credit"
    Chris Benjamin, Speaker

    **Sunday Evening**
    Worship at 6:00 p.m.
    followed by a fellowship meal
    in the Family Life Center
    Please bring desserts!

    **Congratulations **
    and
    Happy Anniversary to
    G. C. & Margaret Stone
    Who celebrated
    65 years of marriage
    on April 12, 2005.

    ** "Written Without Ink"**
    Chris Benjamin's web journal.
    http://www.westark.org/benjamin/blog.htm

    **"Christian Evidences"**
    Guest Speaker: Dr. Patrick Mead
    Ohio State University
    Rochester Hills, Michigan
    Church of Christ
    Presented by Poteau Church of Christ
    April 27, 28 & 29 at 7:00 p.m.
    Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m. to noon

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    **"Thank You Simply Isn't Enough"**
    ~ Brad Pistole**

    What an amazing God we serve! Even though our best isn't good enough to equal the price that has been paid for us, He accepts us anyway! That will never make sense to me, but I am grateful for His grace.

    This past Friday, April 15th, marks the 6-year point in my recovery from brain surgery. (For those of you who may be new to West-Ark who don't know my story, I was diagnosed on April 2, 1999 with a tangerine-sized tumor in my brain. It was successfully removed on April 15th, 1999.)

    Those who see me today would have no idea that I have been through anything. Many of the teenagers in the youth group can't even remember it taking place. After all, the 7th graders were 1st graders when it happened.

    You simply cannot tell by looking that I've had a major portion of my skull removed and replaced in order to perform the surgery I've been through. You would have to put your hand on my head to feel the screws and cracks and crevices in order to be convinced.

    Just this week I was given a reminder of my journey, as my head was sore most of the week. These experiences and these "anniversary dates" remind me of what has been done for me. It reminds me that "thank you" simply isn't enough. Just like the people who were healed by Christ, I should be leaping and dancing and running to tell everyone I see about the Christ that has set me free.

    What about you? Do you have a similar story? Has Christ set you free from some type of physical or spiritual darkness? Have you told anyone recently? The best thank you we can give is with our life! Find the time to tell your story to someone today!

    (This Sunday Night in Youth Worship, we will continue our study of Daniel. I will tell part of my personal story as it connects to the story in Daniel Chapter. 2-3. Come join us!)

    **Fourth Sunday Nursery**

    A.M. Nursery
    Berniece Rogers
    Sharon Faries
    Tracy Risley
    Donna Roper

    P.M. Nursery
    Angela Dunavant
    Denise Lusby

    **Attendance and Contribution Count**
    Sunday AM Worship 664
    Bible Classes 434
    Sunday Evening 255
    Wednesday PM 363
    Contribution $18,507
    Children's Home $247
    Hispanic Contribution $155
    AM Hispanic Attendance 58
    Laotian Contribution $252
    Laotian Attendance 28
    the Way Contribution $62
    the Way Attendance 43

    **Schedule of Services**
    Sunday Morning Worship, 10:30
    Sunday Bible Classes, 9:30
    Sunday Evening, 6:00

    **Weekly Classes**
    Tuesday Morning Wings 9:30
    Wednesday Morning Bible 10:00
    Wednesday Evening 7:00

    **Elders**
    Michael Cole, Bill Dickey,
    Roy Dunavin, Earl Flood,
    Bob Null, Joe Pistole

    **Ministers**
    Chris Benjamin
    David Chadwell
    Roy Dunavin
    Brad Pistole
    Oscar Nolasco
    Thomas Kweekul
    Jack Lewis
    John Priester

    Office Phone (479) 452-1240
    Fax (479) 452-5767
    office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
    www.westark.org

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