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Family Lines Newsletter, November 3, 2005
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**Our Special Contribution and Pledges for West-Ark Missions is Sunday Morning, November 6**
Please see page 3 for the list of Missions Weekend Events!
 
**HELP WANTED**
At our Family Meeting on Oct. 30, we announced the following needs for help.  Please contact the individuals listed below and get involved as a disciple of Jesus eager to serve others.
 
Family Life Center
Contact David Berger (785-1921)
• Need: Setting up tables and chairs for fellowship meals on Sunday PM. 
• 32 people are needed to make four teams of 8. 
• Each team will set up the FLC three times (once per month).
 
Connections Ministry
Contact Gary Brown (646-4105 or 784-1263)
• Need: Nine people to visit guests to our worship.
• Need: Ten people to visit new members.
• Need: 16 people to help with the welcome center in foyer (8 at the center and 8 guides).
• Need: People who will  invite a family to a meal once a month (Connection Dinners).
 
Clothing Ministry
Contact Kathy Rosalez (452-2157)
• Need: People to sort and distribute clothing at the new Service Center at North 4th and H Street
 
Furniture Ministry
Contact Jack Lewis (459-0168)
• Need: People to help repair and deliver donated furniture to families in need.
 
Communion Preparation
Contact Milton Hendrix (479 361-4821)
• Need: People who can prepare the communion bread and juice for Sunday morning.
 
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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
• Maile McDonald’s IV port is blocked for the second week. This makes her trips to the doctor even more upsetting for her. Travis and Jeannie ask that we pray for the medications to dissolve the blockage.
• Oleta Morris (sister of Lorene Yates) is in St. Edward Hospital for pacemaker surgery.
• Anna Ramsey remains in St. Edward Hospital.
• Marie Lyle is in HealthSouth Rehab.
• Jess Huff and Wanda Wooten both have shingles and need prayers for comfort and healing.
 
**Sympathy**
Our love and sympathy is extended to friends of Bonnie Cox, a former member of West-Ark. Funeral services for Bonnie are Thursday, 1 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel.
 
**Dismissed from the Hospital**
Cyndi Glidewell, Olivia Kleman, and Bonnie Ray (mother of Karen Carter).
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Chuck Cunningham underwent an experimental “gamma knife” treatment on his brain tumor the week of October 12. Everything went well, and he is now on follow-up chemo treatments. Chuck goes November 10 for an MRI and treatment results.
• Barbara Perkins (Janet Jackson’s mother)
• Brian Stone (grandson of G.C. & Margaret)
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
• Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs)
• Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson)
• Joan Jenkins (mother of Kerry)
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Maile McDonald 441-6639
• Mickey Mendez 441-1648
• Duane Walker 441-2593
• Cyndi Glidewell 784-7490
 
**How Do You ‘See’ God?**
By David Chadwell
 
This is a personal conviction I have held for a couple of decades:  “If a person’s life is to be changed, his/her view of God must be changed.”  Conversion is about a dramatic shift in the focus of the core of one’s being.   Conversion is NOT about a few minor changes in surface considerations. Too often we have transformed the concept of conversion to cosmetic changes affecting superficial appearances while being unconcerned that the “convert” doggedly clings to a godless focus in his or her life.  Often he or she has not seen God for Who He is.  From “non-convert” to “convert,” his or her view of God remains unchanged.  He or she just made the necessary superficial changes to acquire some insurance against catastrophe after death.
 
Consider your view of God.  Compare what you think God is like with some of the declarations of scripture.
 
One time Moses asked God to show Himself to him.  God explained Moses’ request was impossible because if human Moses looked upon the holy God, he would die.  God did allow Moses to view His glory.  In that episode, God gave this self-description: Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations" (Exodus 34:6, 7).
 
Near the end of his life, Moses made this statement to Israel: "For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them" (Deuteronomy 4:31).
 
Centuries later Nehemiah encouraged a renewal of faith in God among returning Israelites.  Nehemiah 9 is an “honesty session” that assumes human responsibility and declares God’s greatness.  As a part of the renewal, the people confessed their sins and acknowledged the iniquities of their ancestors.  In speaking of their ancestors and their God, Nehemiah 9:17 states, "They refused to listen, and did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; so they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; and You did not forsake them."
 
Paraphrased:  "Our ancestors who left Egypt forgot what You did for them.  In their stubbornness and arrogance, they thought they could solve their discontentment by returning.  They were utter spiritual failures.  In Your compassion and graciousness, You forgave.  You were slow to anger and filled with mercy.  They failed You, but You refused to forsake them."
 
Interestingly, in our view of God we stress His vengeful, exacting nature when He who is “slow to anger” was angered.  We see His vengeance.   In the same instances they saw His mercy and forgiveness.  Who sees God the most accurately?
 
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**MISSIONS WEEKEND EVENTS**
 
Saturday, November 5
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE EVENTS BELOW.
• 8:00 a.m. Mission Prayer Breakfast in the home of Jim & Deborah Wilson, 8524 S. 30th Terrace in Fort Smith, AR. Please call the Wilsons if you plan to attend.
• 4:00 p.m.  Hamburger Cookout at the Canfield home, 2 Chestnut Court in Fort Smith.
• 5:20 p.m. Devotional
• 6:00 p.m. Gathering around the campfire with roasted marshmallows, singing, and sharing of mission stories & blessings. This event will be led by West-Ark teens and college students.
 
Sunday Morning, November 6
• 9:30 a.m. Bible classes
• 10:30 a.m. Worship
 Steve DeLoach, Guest Song Leader
 Chris Benjamin, Speaker
• Special Missions Contribution and Pledges
 
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**Pray for Missions**
• Our missionaries in Laos and Vietnam.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France
 
**Prayers for Military**
Dr. Bob Mason (son of Jim & Margie Mason) is serving a 3-month tour of duty in Iraq.  Continue to pray for Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, David Jennen, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, Joe Armstrong, Alan Todd, Michael Gooden, Brian Perkins, and Cecil Henry.
 
**Wednesday Morning Ladies’ Bible Class has changed their starting time from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.**
 
**Widows/Widowers**
Jim & Helen Pratt will be hosting you for BREAKFAST, Saturday, November 5.  The vans will leave the annex at 9 a.m.  Call Mary, Bobbie, or Janice if you need a ride to the annex. 
 
**Car Clinic**
We will not have a car clinic in November.
 
**Attention All LTC Bible Reading**
Participants please come to the Library after Sunday morning worship, November 6, and pick up your paperwork. This should only take a minute or two. If you are not going to be present on Sunday, please contact her.
 
**Thanksgiving at the FLC**
Thursday, November 24 at Noon
Please sign your family name, how many are coming, and what food you can bring. Please e-mail Sandy Berger or call her as soon as possible if you can provide a ham or turkey.
 
**Missionary Money Tree Shower**
We are planning a “money tree” shower for our missionary and his wife in Vietnam.  The “P” Family had a month old baby dropped at their door and were asked to raise it to know Jesus. The P’s are in the mission field on a fixed budget and taking this child will require extra money. If you can help out monetarily, please give your donation to Sandy Berger or Meg Canfield. They will pass it on to the Mission Committee for the P Family.
 
**Note of Thanks**
Thank you so much to all of the booth operators; cookie, cupcake, candy & cash donators; and set-up and clean-up crews who made this year’s Fall Fest a fun, family event for us all!  You are appreciated!  We look forward to another great time next year!
 Dena Jenkins
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
November 6
Jacob Burkhart
Warren Gardenhire
Donna Miller
Amber Robison
 
November 7
Ron Belote
Betty Hatcher
Bill Miller
Margaret Stone
 
November 8
Dana Pruitt
 
November 9
Jordan Wear
 
November 10
Angie Hines
Sarah Smith
 
November 12
Sara Neal
 
Correction: Michael Jennen’s birthday is November 23 (not November 1).
 
**Happy Anniversary Needhams!**
Former members, Wendell & Helen Needham are celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary on 11/3/05. If you would like to send them a card, their address is 312 Glendale Place, Murray, KY 42071.
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
What a blessing it was to listen to Dr. Farrar this past Sunday! Now there is someone who knows what True Life is all about, and he’s not afraid to share the recipe!
 
If you were not here this past Sunday morning, please do yourself a favor and get a copy of his class and his sermon on tape. You will be blessed by it!
 
He did a great job of helping us prepare our minds and our hearts for our annual Missions contribution that will take place this coming Sunday, November 6th. The stories he shared about his experiences of sharing the gospel in Africa helped inspire us and remind us of how effective evangelism can be.
 
I look forward to the meal and fellowship time this Saturday at Meg and Jerry Canfield’s home that will help keep us focused on our missions program. EVERYONE is invited to come eat burgers with us from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
 
We will take a short break and then we will gather out back from 6:00-7:30 p.m. for a bonfire and devotional. This time of singing and sharing will also inspire us as we share personal stories from our various mission experiences.
 
I will be driving a van from the building at 4:00 p.m. for all of the teens who need a ride. Please join us for a great night of fellowship this coming Saturday!
 
**A.M. Nursery**
Melissa Walker
Dena Jenkins
 
**P.M. Nursery**
Dixie Burkhart
Gina Williams
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 613
Bible Classes  476
Sunday Evening NC
Wednesday PM  343
Contribution   $15,198
Children’s Home $314
Laotian Contribution $176
Laotian Attendance 29
Hispanic Contribution $131
Hispanic Attendance 39
 
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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