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Family Lines Newsletter, December 1, 2005
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**Knowing God Changes Me**
By David Chadwell
 
In Leviticus 19:18 Moses in God’s voice made this statement to Israel: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”
 
Centuries later Jesus declared in Mark 12:31, “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  This response was given to a question from a scribe about God’s most important commandment.
 
Still later Paul cited the same statement in Romans 13:9 as the summation of all the Ten Commandments that targeted humans’ treatment of humans.
 
Christians are likely more familiar with the concept in the statement Jesus made in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 7:12:  “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  This concept is related to the same lesson in Matthew 5:47: “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles (people who do not believe in the living God) do the same?”
 
As a philosophical concept, most Christians would say this concept has great merit.  “It would be wonderful if all people treated other people that way!”  Yet, many Christians would say, “That simply is not the way our world works!”
 
Perhaps the irony is in this: As a concept, “love your neighbor as you love yourself,” is wonderful!  As a practical way to live, the concept “just does not work.”
 
Speaking practically, what is the application of the concept?  (1) Do you treat people who cause you hurt or whom you do not like with compassion, mercy, grace, and forgiveness?  Or do you reserve those attitudes only for those you love?  (2) Do you respond to people with criticism and judgment?  (3) Are you quick to condemn without understanding situations and circumstances?  (4)  Are you thankful for insights that often deliver you from deplorable consequences and use those insights helpfully to rescue and encourage others?  (5) Do you help someone who has made a mistake, or do you see that he/she pays the full price for their folly?
 
“Wait a minute!  Wait a minute!  Don’t you realize that is just not the way that people who do not belong to God act!”  How true!  BUT ... that is the way people who know God should act!  Therein always has been the contrast between the person who knows God and the person who does not know God.
 
The question IS NOT, “Does that kind of behavior work in a world that does not know God?”  The question IS: “Do I have the courage produced by faith in God to be different—even when I am neither respected nor understood by those who do not know God?”  Do you have the kind of faith in God that produces that kind of courage?
 
Truly, the knowledge of God makes people different.  Someday those who know God will be part of a place and world where they belong because they “fit.”  May your knowledge of God make you that kind of person!
 
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**Remember in Prayer**
(Alphabetical by first name)
• Adam Jenkins
• Anna Ramsey
• Bill Owens (brother-in-law of F. E. Cook)
• Bill Yick
• Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs)
• Brian Stone (grandson of G.C. & Margaret)
• Chuck Cunningham
• Duane Walker
• George Thompson is in the hospital with double pneumonia.
• Guy Foster (brother of Lyndell Foster)
• Jack & Janice Lowry requests prayers for two little girls (Emily and Lauren) injured in a car accident in Florida.
• Jess Huff
• Jim McCartney (Peggy Pistole’s brother)
• Joan Jenkins (Kerry’s mother)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law) will start chemo treatments for pancreatic cancer after Christmas.
• Kathi (Carlon) Reed (Louise Howard’s sister-in-law) is home from the hospital and doing well.
• Ken Primm (friend of our members who work at OK Foods)
• Maile McDonald
• Staci James
• Terri Jones is recovering from thyroid surgery.
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
• Wanda Wooster
• Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson)
 
**Bereaved**
There have been many who were bereaved in the last few weeks. Please remember the following members in your prayers.
• Janet Jackson in the death of her mother, Barbara Perkins. Funeral services were November 28 in Fayetteville.
• Maxine Yates and Glenda Lewis in the death of their mother, Lorene Yates (age 92). Funeral services for Lorene were November 28 at Lewis Chapel in Fort Smith.
• Friends of Opal Hewitt Dexter, who was buried on Monday in Fort Smith.
• Margie Mason in the death of her husband, James (Jim) Mason. Funeral services for Dr. Mason were November 30th in Fort Smith.
• Pearl Beam had two deaths in her family this week. Her great-grandson, Jimmy Don Coatney, died in an auto accident November 23. Her son-in-law, Charles Taylor, died November 30th.
• Ann Holland’s sister-in-law, Ann Thomas, died November 30th.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Staci James 441-1648
• Duane Walker 441-2593
• Maile McDonald 441-6639
 
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Praise! David Jennen is safely home from Iraq. Jennifer is very grateful for your prayers. 
Continue to pray for Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, Joe Armstrong, Alan Todd, Michael Gooden, Brian Perkins, Cecil Henry and Bob Mason.
 
**Missionaries in Prayer**
• Our missionaries in Laos and Vietnam.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France.
• Roy & Joyce Dunavin in New Zealand
 
**Welcome New Member**
Robert Randolph
196 Judy Circle
Fort Smith, AR 72904
 
**LTC Announcements**
• LTC sign-up fees of $30 per participating child are due on Sunday, December 4. You may pay your sign-up fees at the table set up in the foyer.
• LTC Meeting, Sunday, December 18 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 100. This meeting is for all participants going to LTC in April.
• December 4th, 5:00 p.m. -- Junior & Senior High Chorus practice in Sr. High classroom.
 
**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, call Coleen. If you would like to ride the church van out to the Shirley home, please call the office.
 
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**Guyana 2006**
We want you to be a part of West-Ark's 16th annual Medical Mission Team to Guyana, South America, June 3-11, 2006.  We need Christian doctors, nurses, and Bible teachers who want to save souls. Your first deposit of $500 will be due on January 15. Contact Michael or Jeannie Cole for a sample fund-raising letter. Please join us in obedience to Matthew 28:19-20.
 
**Widows/Widowers **
We will have a luncheon on Saturday, December 3rd. We’ll be meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Annex to go to the home of Mitch & Robin Harper.
 
**There is no Car Clinic this month.**
 
**New Arrival**
Congratulations to Earl and Vivian Flood on the birth of another grandchild. Benjamin Kabeya Flood was born to their son and daughter-in-law, John and Midoria, on November 20th in Rockville, Maryland. Benjamin weighed 9 lbs., 7 ozs. and was 23 inches long. John has left the Air Force and is now employed by a law firm in Washington, DC.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
May God bless each of you as you continue to serve Him. The prayer pager was such a blessing and lifted me up through many trying times.
 In Him,
 Reba Shaddox
 
Thank you for your prayers and concern during our recent car accident. We know the Lord was with us.
 In Him,
 Don & Billie & Lisa Neisler
 
Thanks so much for remembering us this year with the delicious holiday bread. We are beginning to look forward to its arrival each year.
 Hugs to you,
 Billie and Bill
 (Neighbors to the West-Ark  Church building)
 
West-Ark Quilters,
We want to extend our sincere thanks for your donation of blankets, throws, and bags to the Children’s Emergency Shelter.
 Clay Roper
 Executive Director
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
December 4
Ashley Blasdel
Azia Blasdel
Esther Gunn
 
December 6
Thomas Kweekul
Charles Wilson
 
December 7
Emily Glidewell
Christy Hesslen
Kathy Monk
 
December 8
Jacqueline Oliver
Bob Rye
 
December 10
Josh Kimbrow
Brent Perkins
 
December 11
Lacy Layman
Doris Robertson
 
**Pancake Breakfast**
Lions for Christ will host their
FREE FINALS PANCAKE BREAKFAST!
December 12 – 16 (Monday – Friday)
6:30 – 10:00 A.M. in the Annex.
 
**Clothing & Volunteers**
Clothing donations can be taken to our building at 717 4th & H Street
Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 12 noon.
Volunteers are needed to work at 4th & H Street.
A sign-up list is in the Information Center.
See Kathy Rosalez if you have questions.
 
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**Coming Events**
By Brad Pistole
 
December is full of great events for our teens and their families. Please make plans now to take part in what you can.
Your family will be blessed for serving, fellowshipping, and making spiritual memories together.
 
Friday – Sunday, December 2nd – 4th
Retreat at Camp Caudle for 7th-12th graders
 
Sunday, December 11th
Youth and Family Day from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Matinee (Chronicles of Narnia)
Chuckee Cheese Pizza
 
Youth Worship
Saturday, December 17th 
Teens host the annual 60+/JOY group Holiday Dinner
Teens will need to arrive at 4 p.m. (Dinner from 5:30-7:00)
 
Sunday, December 18th – Christmas Party for 7th – 12th, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
 
Friday – Saturday,  December 30th-31st – New Year’s Eve Lock-in
 
Mom and Dad, if you would like to help with any of the December events, just talk to Brad and he will plug you in.
 
**A.M. Nursery**
Melissa Walker
Dena Jenkins
 
**P.M. Nursery**
Dixie Burkhart
Gina Williams
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 662
Bible Classes  438
Life Group 82
Sunday Evening 290
Thanksgiving Eve 134
Contribution   $14,047
Children’s Home $259
Laotian Attendance 28
Laotian Contribution $189
Hispanic Contribution $147
Hispanic Attendance 52
 
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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