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Family Lines Newsletter, May 5, 2005
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**TIME**
By David Chadwell
 
James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
 
No matter how much we would like to stop time, we cannot!  We can change our routines, but we cannot stop time.  Some events seem to slow it down, but they do not.  Some events seem to speed it up, but they do not.  The passing of time steadily moves on—at an unhurried pace.  It is only faster or slower in our minds.
 
A few days ago I enjoyed looking at some Mayan ruins that pre-date Jesus’ birth.  To enter the restored area, a person walks through a very wide stone wall.  The wall is a marvel in itself.  As I walked through an archway in this rock wall about 10-12 feet wide, I was amazed at all the flat stones fitted together to make the wall and archway.  The stones were not enormous—maybe between 10 and 12 inches long.  Each stone fit precisely with every other stone.  No mortar held these flat stones together.  Each silently witnessed centuries of time as it touched the stones above it, the stones beneath it, and the stones on the sides of it.
 
I marveled at the number of stones it took to build this enormous, three-sided wall which started at a cliff by the sea and returned to another point on the same cliff.  I marveled at the engineering, the materials, and the time it took to construct this wall enclosing an enormous area that included enormous buildings.  I marveled at the eyes that looked at this wall in past centuries, and at the eyes from many continents then looking at the wall. 
 
All the eyes beholding that wall thousands of years ago are dead.  All the eyes looking at it now will die.  Morbid?  No!  Fact?  Yes!  The foolish person is not the one who lives with an awareness of his/her death.  The foolish person is one who lives his/her life as if time can be forgotten or ignored.
 
Time measures life.  When life ends, time ends.  To use life wisely, a person must use time wisely.  Perhaps we each spend a lifetime building a wall.  The question: does our wall exist to include or to exclude?
 
Thoughts:
• We do not have the time to wish our lives away.  Use “now” wisely—it’s all we have.
• Do not waste time regretting the past or longing for the future.  Utilize time by using “now”—it is all we have.
• Each experience has the potential to enrich life for us and all we influence.  Allow each experience [good or bad] to enrich “now.”  Why?  Because “now” is all we have.
• Killing time wastes one’s life.  The moment will come for each of us when we realize we never possessed enough time to kill or life to waste.  “Now” is all we have.
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Maile McDonald is having complications from a blocked IV port. Read her parents’ note in “Family Update.”
• John Hundley is in St. Edward ICU, room 3110.
• Wendell Fenton, father of Natalie Nelson, began his chemotherapy treatments and is having trouble sleeping. Read the note from Natalie in “Family Update.”
• Floyd Douthit, father of Anna Holley and Doris Stokes, is in Health South, room 218.
• Randy Hankins has prayer pager 784-7490 for his father, Lawrence Hankins, who is recovering from a heart attack.
• Paul Tucker is scheduled for surgery this afternoon (5/5/05) at Sparks Hospital for a hernia. He will probably be there for one night.
• Theresa Wieser is in Sparks, room 557. She has shown some improvement.
• Becky (Dunavin) Houlker’s husband, Bill, had cancer surgery Tuesday on his esophagus. He is in ICU at a New Zealand hospital.
• Robin Harper is scheduled for a 6-months recheck on May 15th at MD Anderson in Houston.
• Treva Hill’s grandfather, Charles Hill, remains in ICU at St. Edward Hospital.
• John Fowler was dismissed from the hospital.
• Praise! Sharon Barker’s nephew, Mac Murphy, was moved to Rehab and should go home soon. Sharon’s sister, Jan Murphy, is recovering at home from cancer surgery. No other treatment was required.
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Debra Lively in the death of her grandmother, Mary Welch. Funeral services were Saturday in Stigler, OK.

**Continued Prayers**
• Adam Jenkins
• Anita Maxwell
• Betty Pence, mother of Cyndi Glidewell
• Bill Moss
• Chuck Cunningham
• Don Green has prayer pager 441-2593
• Fred Jackson
• Gene Smith
• Jay Wood
• Kathleen Taranto
• Larry Treat
• Mary Vampola
• 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
 
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Please add to your list Jason Roper, nephew of Larry Roper. Continue to pray for Matthew Faries, Shane L. Newton, Daniel Kweekul, Aaron Bailey, Philip Lux, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, and David Jennen.
 
**Family Update**
Please add Maile to your prayer list.  She has been having problems with her port the doctors use for her weekly chemo and blood checks.  This is such a crucial part of her treatments because everything that has to be administered to her goes through this port. We have exhausted all efforts on the part of the nurses who care for her and nothing is working. We so badly need the hand of God to help take care of this. We know that prayers are the only way this is going to be resolved. Please, please pray especially for God to take the blockage from this port.  Please also pray for our doctor, Robert Saylors to have an open mind and heart for this situation.
 We have always felt God's love in Maile's situation and right now we need to put our faith and trust in Him.  Pray for our family to have strength and to realize it is now in God's hands.
 Thank you so much,
 Travis & Jeanie 5/3/05
 
I just got a call from mom, and she said my dad is not sleeping at all right now.  They have him on 7 different drugs on top of chemotherapy.  He has slept no more than 1 hour the past two nights.  He is not sick from the chemotherapy yet, but overall feels pretty down and out.  This is starting to affect his morale.  Please pray for my dad to get through this time.  Please pray for the ability to sleep.  Please pray for him to continue leaning on and trusting in the Lord.  Please pray for my mom to continue to stay strong and encouraging for my dad and to stay healthy and strong for herself. Rick and I and the kids will leave tomorrow evening to spend the weekend (through Sun) with them.  He says grandkids are the best medicine.
 We truly appreciate all your prayers and believe in their power to uplift dad.  Mom and Dad said they miss worshipping at West-Ark Church of Christ. They said they have never felt so loved and cared for as they did two weeks ago.  We thank you and love you for caring for mom and dad.  Keep praying. 
 Love, Natalie (5/4/05)
 Edited for length
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
May 16
Jeff Tomlin
 
May 17
Dottie Hughes
Robertta Moses
Alice Jean Rogers
 
May 18
Therese Wieser
Pat Yick
 
May 20
Virginia Oliver
Luke Roberts
 
May 21
John Fowler
Debra Willis
 
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**Tea Time**
You are cordially invited to attend a Ladies’ Tea
honoring the Senior girls of the class of 2005.
West Ark Church of Christ
Family Life Center
Saturday, May 7th, 11:00 a.m.
RSVP by e-mail to graduates_tea@yahoo.com
or call Beth Frederick at 452-0558.
 
Our theme this year is Hats Off to the Graduates so we are asking everyone to wear a hat to the tea.  We are thrilled that the United Ladies of Tulsa will be returning again this year to do our program for us.  We hope all the ladies of the congregation can attend to show our support for these fine young ladies.
 
All ladies with last names beginning with A-M, please bring a salad. 
All ladies with last names beginning with N-Z please bring a dessert. 
 
**Needed: Sunglasses for Guyana**
These can be purchased at the Dollar Tree for $1.00 a pair. If you would prefer, you can give your money to Kathy Monk or Glenda Lewis, and they will purchase the glasses.
 
**Car Clinic**
Saturday, May 7th
8 – 10 a.m. (note time change)
Annex parking lot.
 
**Widows/Widowers**
The vans will leave the Annex at 10:30 a.m. for the ride to Fin & Feather for lunch. The cost is $5.00. Call Mary at 646-6079, Bobbie at 674-5814 or Janice at 474-8851 if you need transportation to the Annex.
 
**Congratulations, Graduate!**
Meredith Dye will graduate from the University of Arkansas on May 14 with a degree in Communication. She will be employed by KNWA-TV in Fayetteville. Meredith is the daughter of Charlie and Marcia Dye.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Quilters,
Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt. It was a nice surprise when we received the package in the mail. It looks beautiful in our bedroom and is one of our most treasured wedding gifts. Thank you again for remembering our special day.
With love from both of us,
Melody & Don Abernathy
 
Dear West-Ark & Friends,
Thank you for your love, care, prayers, cards, and delicious food during the passing of our loved one William Howard Tillery. All these acts of kindness helped us through a difficult time and will continue to be a comfort as we adjust without one so dear. May God continue to bless you in His service.
 Dorothy Tillery & Family
 Richard & Mary Broyles
 
“Generosity is not so much the giving of things as it is the giving of one’s self.”
West-Ark Church of Christ Family,
Thank you so much for the cards, visits, and most of all for the prayers for Gene during his hospitalization and illness. Please continue the prayers as he is still experiencing pain and is very weak.
 In Christian love,
 Sarah & Eugene Smith
 
My Dad came through his surgery with flying colors and we have all returned home safely.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers.
 Cathy Breedlove (5/2/05)
 
Thank you for the visits, cards and calls after the death of my brother Horace. Also, thanks for the book donated to the Library in his name.
 John Holley & Family
 
**Sunday Morning**
Honoring families with babies born since June 6th, 2004.
Sunday, May 8th, beginning of church service.
"Family of God: Generations"
Chris Benjamin, Speaker
 
**Sunday Evening**
Disappointment or Something Better?
David Chadwell, Speaker
 
** “Written Without Ink” **
Chris Benjamin’s web log
http://www.westark.org/benjamin/blog.htm
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
Yeah! May is here and the end of another school year is in sight. I’m  sure your teen is beginning to get that restless feeling as they sense the beginning of summer break.
 
This time of year also means the beginning of many area graduations and special events for Seniors. This week will mark the “kick-off” for these special events.
 
On Saturday, May 7th, Beth Frederick and Donna Lindgren will help host the second annual “Senior Tea” in honor of the young ladies in this year’s senior class. The “United Ladies of Tulsa” will be here to sing, speak, and fellowship with us.
 
All of the ladies at West-Ark are invited to attend. The tea will take place in the FLC and will begin at 11 a.m. So come and support our senior girls.
 
**Special Meeting for May 15th**
 
There will be a meeting on Sunday, May 15th at 5 p.m. in the youth room for all of the new 7th graders and their parents. We will discuss plans for the coming summer events, our youth website, where to find the parent’s information table, etc. All teens and their parents are welcome to attend if they want more information about our coming summer events.
 
**Second Sunday Nursery**
 
A.M. Infants
Trish Carson
Morgan dunavin
Dwonne
Cogswell
Vicki Anderson
 
P.M. Nursery
Terri Jones
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 712
Bible Classes  472
Sunday Evening 241
Wednesday PM  308
Contribution   $20,017
Children’s Home   $532
Hispanic Contribution $151
Hispanic Attendance 53
Laotian Contribution $260
Laotian Attendance 32
The Way Attendance 46
The Way  Contribution $67
 
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax  (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
http://www.westark.org/
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                                         "Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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