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Family Lines Newsletter, July 7, 2005
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**Choices**
By David Chadwell
 
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.”  (James 4:13-15)
 
It has been a difficult week for this congregation.  What has happened has not been good.  The fact that we as a congregation experience grief together is good.  Why? Because we increasingly are a family who care about each other!
 
This week Helen Branum fell, suffered a brain hemorrhage, and died just under 24 hours later.  Larry Schluterman lost a nephew, Ben Schluterman, who was only 21 years old.  Ben lost his battle with cancer.  Larry and Ben were quite close.  Eleanor Casey lost a brother-in-law, Joe Kincy.  John Keller lost his grandfather.
 
With all our sorrows this week, a thought repeatedly came to me.  The thought: none of us choose our parents, and few of us choose when or how we leave this life.  The thought is not in the context of “us poor helpless victims.”  It is in this context: though we do not choose how we enter or exit this life, we exercise an amazing number of choices.
 
We decide who we are.  Regardless of our past circumstances or our present conditions, we choose to be the person we are.  We choose what will be the dominant influences in life. We choose what will be the insignificant influences in life.  We choose the influences we will add to our lives.
 
We decide how we will use our lives.  We choose our life focus.  We choose what to hold to as valuable.  We choose our causes—are we an “inwardly turned” person or an “outwardly turned” person.  We choose selfishness or unselfishness.  We choose anger or compassion.  We choose to be hate-centered or love-centered.
 
Even if we allow a victim mentality to enslave us, that is our choice.  Bad things cannot be prevented from happening to any of us, but it is our choices that determine if bad things are allowed to make us bad people.
 
The great hope in this life in Jesus Christ is found in the power of transformation (Romans 12:1-2).  Through God’s forgiveness there is opportunity to begin again and be a different person.  Through God’s strength there is the opportunity to be resurrected to escape the seemingly inescapable struggles and hardships of physical life.
 
What “I am” can end.  What “I can be” is the unending opportunity and hope God provides us in Jesus Christ.  Incredibly, each of us can choose to end what we are and become what God can make us.  Investment in God is life’s most wonderful investment!
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Jimmy McCartney (brother of Peggy Pistole) is in Sparks Hospital, ICU, following surgery on Tuesday to remove a tumor from his abdomen.  He will probably be hospitalized for 2 more weeks.
• Ann Selig is scheduled for thyroid surgery on July 14th, 7 a.m. at St. Edward Hospital. She will be in the hospital for 2-3 days.
• Janice Hatcher will have surgery on July 13th. She will be in St. Edward Hospital for one or two days.
• Richard Broyles is recovering at home from pneumonia.
• Mia Nelson (daughter of Rick and Natalie) will have hernia surgery July 8th at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
• Paula Bean, Ron Galloway’s sister, had heart by-pass surgery July 6th at Sparks Hospital.
• Deborah Wilson’s mother, Fairy Brown, is newly diagnosed with lung cancer and is scheduled for surgery August 17th. Surgery will be followed by chemotherapy.
• Marveil Smith (sister of Anetia Livesay and Marceil Stevens) is in Sparks Hospital, room 545.
• Jimmy Duncan, Sr. will go to Tulsa for surgery on July 8th.
• Bill Houlker, Roy & Joyce Dunavin’s son-in-law in New Zealand is slowly improving.
• Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs) continues to receive treatments twice a day for cancer in his vertebrae.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson) has prayer pager 784-7490.
• The Jenkins Family has prayer pager 441-2591 for Adam.
• The McDonald Family has prayer pager 441-6639 for Maile. 
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Anita Maxwell
• Chuck Cunningham
• Elnora Nichols (sister of Betty Summers)
• Gene Smith
• Larry Treat
• Mary Vampola
• Paul Flippo
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the following families:
• Richard, Richard Dale, & Missy Branum and Louise Cline in the sudden death of wife, mother, and sister, Helen Branum on July 5th. Funeral services for Helen will be Friday, 1:00 p.m. here at the West-Ark Church building.
• Eleanor Casey in the death of her brother-in-law, Joe Kincy, on July 5th. Funeral services are Friday, 10 a.m. at Lewis Funeral Home.
• John Keller and Family in the death of John’s grandfather, James Keller (age 90).  Funeral services were July 2 in Alabama.
• Larry Schluterman in the death of his nephew, Ben Schluterman (age 21) from cancer.
 
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Matthew Faries, Shane L. Newton, Aaron Bailey, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, David Jennen,  Jacob Roper, and Jackie Luong.
 
**Missionaries in Prayer**
• __________ in Laos
• Thomas Kweekul in Laos
• __________ in Vietnam 
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France
 
**Change of Address**
Chris & Carrie Burress
Taylor, Christopher & William
141 Horizon Road
Alma, AR 72921
Phone: (479) 997-8066
 
**Prayer & Membership Response**
Rozan Oliver
4010 South P Street
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 782-6471
Rozan asked for prayers on 6/26/05 and to be added to the membership here at West-Ark.
 
**Welcome New Members**
Eddie & Nicole King
511 A North 22nd
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: 522-0678
Eddie & Nicole have a daughter, Starlett, about 1/1/2 years old.
 
**Wedding Shower**
A shower honoring Eddie and Nicole (Riggs) King is planned for Sunday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center.  A gift registry is posted in the Information Center.
 
**Retirement**
Sandy Berger’s father is retiring from full-time ministry.  If you would like to send Sandy’s parents a card, their address is Russ & Jean McConnell, 16 North 1st Street, Oakland, MD 21550.
 
**Wedding Announcement**
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wayne Freeland
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Paige Diane to William Cary Wilson
son of Dr. and Mrs. James Cary Wilson
on Saturday, the sixteenth of July
at six o’clock in the evening
Flowers Chapel
Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home
Monroe, Louisiana
Reception immediately following
 
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Page 3  (Between the Lines: This news just arrived and is not in the printed edition of the newsletter.)
 
**Blessed Baby**
Congratulations to Jim & Deborah Wilson on the birth of a granddaughter, Lilly Anne Dennis, born July 5th to Richard & Felicia Dennis in Texas. Lilly weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20” long.
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Frances Quenin in the death of her sister, Josephine Clark. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville, with private burial. No visitation scheduled. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of the Ozarks, 413 N. College, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
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**Notes of Thanks**
We would like to update you on our daughter, Vicki Varvel. Currently, her treatments are experimental, and she doesn’t know from week to week how she will feel; but she is holding her own, and not getting any worse. We appreciate your prayers so much, and also the card sent by “Peak of the Week.” 
 In Christian love,
 John & Nadine Hawkins
 Robin Murphy (sister)
 
On the 30th of June, I got a good report on my blood work. I will be checked every 3 months to see if things remain good. Thanks for all the prayers, cards, and words of love and concern I received during all my treatments. I love you all.
 Jay Wood
 
**LTC Announcement**
Coach sign-up sheets are posted in the foyer on the LTC bulletin board.
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
July 17
Tommy Bishop
Morgan Dunavin
Darold Wear
 
July 18
Jack Alexander
Sherria Burk
Jim Hardin
 
July 19
Scott James
Brad Pistole
 
July 21
Karen Farris
 
July 22
Colleen Frost
Brynn Walker
 
July 23
Maile McDonald
Oscar Nolasco
Ian Smith
 
**VBS is July 18-21
Monday – Thursday
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
(Ages 4 years – 6th Grade)
Parents, register your children online!
http://www.westark.org/vbsregis.htm
 
We are still in need of 2-4 people to ensure that we are able to have all of the Marketplace Activities that have been planned for this year’s VBS.  Please contact Karen Benjamin (414-8166), Dena Jenkins (478-6486) or Carolyn Harrell (646-3325) if you can help.  We have already had to cut back on the number of families that were planned due to lack of volunteers.  Please help so that we do not have to eliminate any more activities.  We are also in need of the following items to be loaned or donated -- any “Bible-time” looking items to help us decorate our Family Tents and Marketplace Booths.
• rugs
• baskets
• pottery
• bowls
• trees
• greenery
• solid color sheets
• embroidery hoops
 
If items are to be loaned and not donated, PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON EACH ITEM, so that we can get it back to you.  All items may be placed under the VBS table in the foyer.
 
**Marriage Matters Cancelled**
Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Marriage Matters Seminar has been postponed until further notice. We apologize for any inconveniences.
 Sincerely,
 Southside Church of Christ
 Rogers, Arkansas
 
**Senior Game Day**
Thursday, July 21
1:00 p.m. in the Annex
 
**Sunday Morning**
Mark 5
Chris Benjamin
 
**Sunday Evening**
Fences: Faith or Control?
Part III: Distinguishing Between Faith and Control
David Chadwell
 
**Area Wide Round Robin Meeting**
July 18-23
7:00 p.m. each evening.
Singing begins earlier!
Day              Place
Monday       Waldron
Tuesday      Washburn
Wednesday Valley View
Thursday      Branch
Friday          Dayton
Saturday      Charleston
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
July 18th is getting closer to us every day, and you know what that means: It’s almost time for Vacation Bible School. During the coming week, we will put all of the finishing touches on our preps for a week that will bless the lives of hundreds of area children.
 
Play practice for VBS will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12th-13th. We will meet in the gym from 10 a.m. – 12 noon, take a break for lunch, and then practice again from 1:00-2:30.  If you are in any of the plays for VBS this year, you will need to be present for play practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
 
We will spend Thursday and Friday, July 14th and 15th helping set up all of the marketplace shops and family tents in the FLC and auditorium. We will work from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day.
 
If you are a teen or a parent who would like to help with VBS and haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late. Just talk to Dena Jenkins, Carolyn Harrell or myself and we’ll put you to work.
 
Be sure to pre-register your children and grandchildren at the VBS table in the foyer during the next 10 days. That will help us plan accordingly. I look forward to a great week together, July 18-21. You may also register online.
 
**Sympathy**
The West-Ark Youth Group extends our love and prayers to the Richard and Helen Branum family at this time. We are thinking of you!
 
**Nursery**
A.M. Infants
Trish Carson
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
Vicki Anderson
 
P.M. Nursery
Terri Jones
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 652
Bible Classes  434
Sunday Evening 221
Wednesday PM  321
Contribution   $17,942
Children’s Home   $202
Hispanic Contribution $167
Laotian Contribution $272
Laotian Attendance 29
The Way Contribution $126
The Way Attendance 35
 
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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