West-Ark Newsletter, 17 November 2005

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Family Lines Newsletter, November 17, 2005
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One of Joyce and my favorite stories involves Ira North, a well known preacher when we were young marrieds. We heard him speak about strong marriages at a seminar, and he told this story on himself.

When he turned 40, he bought a motorcycle and all the personal gear that went with cycling. His wife decided she was not going to let him ride alone while he was having a mid-life crisis, so she bought herself the personal gear to ride with him. When we heard him speak, he was way past 40, past his crisis, and past riding a motorcycle.

As he told that story (and it was hilariouswhen Ira told it, it was always hilarious), he stressed this point. Whoever you intend to be as a person (personality, attitudes, outlook, etc.), work on it seriously before you are 40. Because, Whoever you is at 40, you will only get isier! (Do not expect something to come along and change you against your will.)

I do not know that 40 years of age is a lock in age. I do know: (a) change becomes harder to handle after 40 than before 40. Before 40 we thrive on change as we seriously wonder how the world could be so stupid as not to see the value of change. (b) After 40, we are more prone to defend than to discover. What we think should be is obviously good. Things differing from our perspective are bad. Do you know what that will lead to is a good destination prior to 40, but a bad destination after 40.

My point is this: there is never a time in life when you do not need to give careful attention to (a) who you are and (b) what you intend to become. If you are a grouch the first 50 years of your life, you likely will be a grouch till you die. If you are kind the first 60 years of your life, you likely will die as an unselfish, thoughtful person. You cannot live the lifestyle of a selfish person, or a complaining person, or a contentious person for years and years and suddenly, without effort, be transformed into a different person overnight.

Yes, repentance is possible. Yes, sobering awareness is possible. Yes, conversion is possible. Yes, redirection is possible. However, those things occur because you choose for them to occur. Such things do not happen without you, but because of you with Gods strength. Ultimately, it is true of all of uswe are who we choose to be. That choice was made slowly with years of personal focus and behavior. However, in the majority of instances we make that decision (or excuse ourselves from making it).

God provides the strength. We each make the choice. If you do not like yourself, talk to yourself. If you like who you are, thank God for the strength and guidance. Avoid the temptation to judge (every persons circumstances are different). Choose to encourage!

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**Remember in Prayer**
Lorene Yates suffered a heart attack Wednesday night. She is in Sparks Hospital, room 215 in a coma. Please remember Lorene, Maxine, Glenda & Jack Lewis in your prayers.
Staci James is in Sparks Hospital, room 525. Staci is being seen by a specialist to determine the cause of her pain. Visitors are welcomed for short visits. Staci has prayer pager 441-1648.
Jim McCartney (Peggy Pistoles brother) had a CAT scan on 11/17/05 and will see his cancer doctor on Tuesday.
Adam Jenkins and his family will travel to Dallas on 11/18/05. Adam will have an MRI and visit his neurosurgeon.
Joan Jenkins (Kerrys mother) had another chemo treatment on 11/14/05. The weeks following treatments are hard, so the family requests your prayers for the side effects to be minimal or absent.
Anna Ramsey remains in St. Edward Hospital.
Deede Rowan requests prayers for her niece, Sunnie Rushing.
Joel Prigge (Louise Howards brother-in-law) will have cancer surgery on 11/22/05.

**Continued Prayers **
Penny Path (a former West-Ark member)
Jess Huff & Wanda Wooster (both recovering from shingles)
Maile McDonald
Chuck Cunningham has received encouraging news! His brain tumor is dormant and slightly smaller. Hell continue on an experimental medication for 11 months and be monitored closely. Chuck and Karen are very grateful for your prayers.
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)
Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson)

**Prayers for Men in Service**
Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, David Jennen, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, Joe Armstrong, Alan Todd, Michael Gooden, Brian Perkins, Cecil Henry and Bob Mason.

**Missionary Baby Shower Update**
Many thanks to everyone who participated in the baby shower for our missionaries in Southeast Asia. A few weeks ago they had a one-month old baby dropped off at their front door with a note attached that asked them to raise the baby to know Jesus. $760 has been donated so far. God be praised. Contributions are still accepted -- see Sandy Berger or Meg Canfield.

**LTC Announcements**
LTC coaches will meet in Room 100 at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 20.
LTC sign-up fees of $30 per participating child are due on Sunday, December 4. Please give your fees to Clark Risley, Nancy Smith, or Gary Brown. See Gary if special arrangements are needed.

**Furnishings Needed**
We need household goods for a single mother. This can be furniture, kitchen or bath items, towels, sheets, lamps, decorative pieces, etc. Please contact Jack Lewis if you can help.

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**Note of Thanks**
On behalf of the mission committee I would like to thank every member of West-Ark who contributed to making Missions Sunday a success. Also, thank each of you for supporting each good work being done overseas and at home during the past year. The families we support depend on God, but they also depend on our gifts of love. I pray that each of us will truly appreciate the blessings we have received from God, and that each of us will know the joy of giving money and ourselves to the good works created by God for us to participate in.
In Christian Love,
James Word

**Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve**
All ages (including FLOCK & Gateway classes) will assemble in the Auditorium for a devotional at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, November 23. Bible classes will not meet.

**Motherly Love Dinner**
Thursday, December 8, 6:30 p.m. in the home of Paul & Coleen Shirley
This invitation is extended to young single women as well as women with children at home. A sign-up sheet is posted in the Information Center. If you have questions, contact Coleen. If you would like to ride the church van out to the Shirley home, please call the office.

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**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 649
Bible Classes 429
Life Group 86
Sunday Evening 264
Wednesday PM 349
Contribution $14,594
Childrens Home $202
Laotian Attendance 30
Laotian Contribution $168
Hispanic Contribution $186
Hispanic Attendance 53

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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