West-Ark Newsletter, 22 September 2005

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Family Lines Newsletter, September 22, 2005
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Many things occur in this world that do not make sense. When we try to make sense (by the human understanding of sense) of the senseless (by the human understanding of senseless), often all we accomplish is our despair. Rarely (if ever!) do we succeed in making sense of situations that are senseless to us.

Because this society provides a high standard of living for so many, people in this society often forget they live in a war zone. That is not the voice of paranoia. There is the war against poverty, the war against forces that threaten the physical environment, the war against self-serving political forces, the wars against addictions, the war against suffering, etc. There are as many wars as there are injustices!

Most of those wars directly involve only a segment of society. While the wars target real problems, those real problems are perceived by only a fragment of society. While proponents of those wars shout all society is at risk, all society does not feel at risk.

There is a war that is more massive in scope than all other forms of war. It is the war between good and evil (Ephesians 6:10-12). While this war shares some things in common with other wars (for example, not all society feels threatened), there are some distinct, unique qualities about this war. (1) Even though all society does not feel at risk, it often makes immediate casualties of the unsuspecting. (2) The consequences and carnage of this war surround us on a daily basis. (3) This war is much more complex than human greed, human arrogance, human selfishness, and the lust for human power. (4) Even the finest of human efforts and intents will not and cannot end this war.

It is not fun to live in a war zone! The first casualty of war is peace. War by nature brings conflict, death, insecurity, hardship, injustice, fear, and constant uncertainty. It is because wars by their nature are destructive that people always prefer to fight them in the other mans territory.

However, the war between good and evil is fought in human minds and motives. We are the battleground! When we try to make sense out of the senseless occurrences in our lives, how do we generate hope instead of despair?

(1) We accept as truth that we do indeed live in a war zone. (2) We prepare ourselves to survive the heat of war (Ephesians 6:13-18). (3) We understand Gods purposes in defending good are greater than our desires as the battleground. (4) We also realize that evil is not without its resources. (5) We understand that success is not determined by physical desire but by eternal destination.

There are some things we will never understand in this physical world. However, that is okay. Why? It is okay because we know the One who will defeat evil. When evil is defeated, the senseless will make senseas surely as Jesus death NOW makes sense!

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**Let's Remember to Pray For**
Anna Ramsey is in St. Edward Hospital, room 3516. She is scheduled for more surgery.
Irene Willis fell and broke her wrist.
Frances Strawhacker is in the Crawford County Hospital in ICU. Her husband, Henry, thinks she may have had a stroke. She will be sent to a room, and she would like to have visitors.
Geneva Shepherd is scheduled for surgery on her hand Thursday morning (9/22).
Loretta Loudermilk
Dave Moore, Missy Blasdels father
Lynette Purvis
Barbara Perkins (Janet Jacksons mother)
Brian Stone (grandson of G.C. & Margaret)
Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs)

**Sympathy and Prayers**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the following families in their bereavement.
Bruce Davenport in the death of his father, Ivy Davenport, on Monday. Funeral services are Thursday (9/22), 10 a.m. at the Harris Funeral Chapel in Morrilton, AR.
Beverly Evans and Brent Evans in the death of mother and grandmother, Grace Wilkins. Funeral services are Thursday (9/22) in Blackwell, OK.

**Prayers for Men in Service**
Please add Cecil Henry to this list. Cecil is currently at Fort Hood, TX. Matthew Faries, Shane L. Newton, Aaron Bailey, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, David Jennen, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, Joe Armstrong, Alan Todd, Michael Gooden, and Brian Perkins.

**Placing Membership**
Treva Hill
801 N. 49th, Apt. 425
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: (918) 721-3574
Treva is a UAFS student and active in Lions for Christ.

**Change of Address**
Charles & Nicole Wilson
107025 State Highway 64B
Muldrow, OK 74948
(Charles & Nicole have not moved. Their address changed for 911 purposes.)

**Note of Thanks**
I just wanted to say a big thank you to the West-Ark family for the wonderful encouragement you have shown to my family and me during the loss of my grandmother. My family was very touched by the plant the elders sent and talked about how wonderful a place West-Ark must be. I could not agree more. We are truly blessed to be here among God's wonderful people.
John & Melody Priester
and the entire Priester Family

Dear West-Ark Family,
A special thanks to the West-Ark family for your cards, prayers, and calls in the death of my sister, Jean Graham. A special word of thanks to all in the GriefShare Group for the card and words of kindness and comfort to me.
In Christian love,
Lyn Peters

September 30
Richard Broyles
Jenna Dickey
Luke Nelson
Hazel Richards
Brian Robbins

**Fall Festival**
Fall Fest will be October 29th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. There are many opportunities to help with this wonderful family event from manning and setting up booths to donating items and cash. This is a great activity for grandparents, college, singles, teens anyone who loves children! Sign up today on the bulletin board in the foyer! See Tiffany Null or Dena Jenkins with any questions.

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**Photos for Church Directory**
Photographs for the new picture directory are being taken.
Pictures by appointment will be taken daily through October 1, 2005.
Friday - Sunday, 2:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

As of Wednesday, only one-half (50%) of the West-Ark family have made appointments to have pictures taken.
Our goal is 100%. In Christ, we who are many form one body; each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5).
Please make your appointments.
Lets make this directory one that all can use and be proud of.

**Special Sunday Morning Opportunity**
A special opportunity will be provided on Sunday, October 2, for those who do not have appointments and/or need to have their picture taken immediately after Sunday morning worship service. Come to classroom 100 after worship, and we will take your picture at that time. This should not take more than 2-3 minutes per picture. We will stay as long as it takes.

**Lions for Christ (LFC)**
LFC small group Bible studies kick off this week. If you are interested in joining one or would like more information, call John at the office or check out the LFC web site, www.Lionsforchrist.org .

**News from the FLOCK**
NOAH IS COMING - and we need teachers to tell our little lambs about him!! This is a 4 week commitment (although, well definitely take longer ones). To reserve your spot in the pasture, please contact Dena Jenkins.

**Tutors' Meeting**
There is a meeting for after-to-school tutors Sunday (9/25) afternoon at 5:15 in room 210. About 5 substitute tutors are still needed. Call Sheila Vaught if you can help.

**Golf Tournament**
River Valley Golf (at Dyer, AR)
Saturday, October 1st; 4-man scramble; $100 per team
Proceeds to go Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
To register, contact Randy Coleman at 632-3912 (office) or 632-4388 (home).

**ATU Homecoming Weekend**
The Church of Christ Student Center at Arkansas Tech is hosting a 25th Anniversary celebration and alumni reunion the weekend of October 1 & 2, which is ATUs football homecoming weekend. Contact the CCSC office at (479) 968-2626 for information.

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Crosswalk is finally here. This youth rally that started over a decade ago is still blessing the lives of teens and families from AR, OK, and MO. We will leave for Rogers, AR this Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. and we will be gone until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The theme for this year is Burn: Igniting Your Spiritual Passion and its taken from Isaiah 6:8 which says, Then I heard the Lord asking, Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us? And I said, Lord, Ill go! Send me.

In addition to the keynote sessions, worship times, and presentations by Theatron and Watershed Worship, our teens will be able to attend two of the following classes during the day:

Spiritual Disciplines Lance Bolay, Fayetteville, AR
Dating Relationships Karl & Shannon Wendt, Joplin, MO
Grace / Forgiveness Brad Pistole, Ft. Smith, AR
Spiritual Gifts / Areas of Ministry Trent Arnold, Springdale, AR
Evangelism / Sharing Your Faith David Scott, Joplin, MO
Re-igniting the Flame / Renewing the Passion for Jesus Theatron/H.U.
Barriers to Igniting Your Spiritual Passion Marshall Brown, Rogers, AR
Worship Watershed Worship, Tennessee
Adult class Andy Wilson, Joplin, MO

I look forward to another great weekend with our teens and families. I pray that our times of worship, study and fellowship will bless the lives of all who participate long into the future. Remember, weekends like this build up deposits in your spiritual bank account and you will be blessed by it for years to come. Big thanks to God and to everyone who helps make this event happen each year!

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 655
Bible Classes 486
Sunday Evening 304
Life Groups 88
Wednesday PM 349
Contribution $16,389
Childrens Home $256
Laotian Contribution $188
Laotian Attendance 32
Hispanic Contribution $177
Hispanic Attendance 54
Hispanic Evening 6

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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