West-Ark Newsletter, 8 December 2005

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Family Lines Newsletter, December 8, 2005
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*** www.westark.org *** Celebrating 10 Years Online December 2, 2005!
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By David Chadwell
Around 2000 years before Jesus was born, God promised Abraham: (Genesis 12:3) And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

Take a moment to note something in Gods ancient promise to Abraham. God said all families would receive a blessing because of Abrahams faith in God. Not just the nation of Israel, but all families. Not just a handful of elite people mysteriously selected by God, but all families. Not just the Jews of Jesus lifetime, but all families.

There was a moment when the Israelite foremen said to Moses, (my paraphrase) I hope you are satisfied! The Egyptians hate us now! Because of what you have done, the Egyptians will kill us Israelite slaves! (Read Exodus 5:21-23.) However, the patient God endured the faithlessness of the Israelite foremen.

There was a moment when escaping Israel was caught between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. They said at that moment in Exodus 14:12: Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. However, the patient God endured the contempt of a terrified people.

There was a moment when a faithless Israel was certain the Canaanites would defeat them and make their wives and children slaves. See Numbers 14:1-4. Yet, a patient God continued toward Christ in spite of the faithlessness of Israel.

The examples are numerous: Israels desire for a king; the division of Israel; the idolatry of both Judah and Israel; some of the horrendous situations the prophets wrote about; the rejection of Jesus. Yet, every time our patient God persevered.

To Christians John wrote these words in 1 John 1:5-10: This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

**Remember in Prayer**
Glen Gilleys surgery went well on Tuesday. They are waiting on test results to see if chemotherapy is needed. Glen is in Sparks Hospital, room 672.
Sarah Newton's shoulder surgery has been rescheduled for Friday morning (12/09/05) at Sparks Hospital.
Corey Johnson is recovering from his motorcycle accident. He will be dismissed from the hospital as soon as he can get around on crutches with some stability.
Luther "Odell" Bryan (father of Karan Tygart) is in Sparks Hospital, room 521. Please encourage him any way you can.
Bob Klee (father of Georgia Gilley) is in St. Edward Hospital with pancreatic cancer.
Mindy Swain's gall bladder surgery is rescheduled for 12/09/05. Mindy is Louise Howard's daughter-in-law.
Mary Winfrey of the Pleasant Valley congregation requests prayers. She will have surgery on a pituitary tumor December 15th.
Esther Gunns cousin, Courtney Williams, is in Bethesda Hospital following an accident with a skill saw.
Mary Ann White (sister of Lewis Livesay) is in a Dallas Hospital with an autoimmune disease.
Praise! George Thompson is home from the hospital.
Frances Strawhacker is home from the hospital.

**Continue in Prayer**
(Alphabetical by first name)
Adam Jenkins
Anna Ramsey
Bill Owens (brother-in-law of F. E. Cook)
Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs)
Brian Stone (grandson of G.C. & Margaret)
Chuck Cunningham
Duane Walker
Guy Foster (brother of Lyndell Foster)
Jim McCartney (Peggy Pistoles brother)
Joan Jenkins (Kerrys mother)
Joel Prigge (Louise Howards brother-in-law)
Maile McDonald
Staci James
Terri Jones
Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
Wanda Wooster
Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson)

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the following families. Please comfort and support them in the weeks ahead.
Thomas Kweekul in the death of his mother on December 6 in Thailand. Mrs. Thongkham Kweekul had suffered for several years from the effects of a major stroke. She was 82 years of age.
Isaac Mobley in the death of his sister, Hazel Nation, who died December 6th. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday morning at the Harris Funeral Home in Morrilton. Burial will be in Lamar, Arkansas.
Alicia Nolasco in the death of her mother from a heart attack in Honduras on December 7th.

**Notes of Thanks**
We appreciate all of the kindness and love shown toward us during our mothers hospitalization and her death. Thank you for being there for us with your visits, phone calls, cards, flowers and food. The potted plant from the congregation is beautiful. We love you!
Maxine, Glenda and Jack

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am writing you this letter to express my sincere appreciation for all your kind acts that were shown towards my son and me as we visited your congregation on Sunday, November 27. It is always a pleasure to know that you can go off from home and still feel like youre at home. We really enjoyed the sermons and the Bible study classes that we attended during our visit. I would really like to give a special thanks to James and Lenora Word for their kind hospitality and the warm fellowship that we enjoyed together. Also, I would like to thank Lynn & Bill Dickey for taking time out of their busy schedule to pick us up for worship service. I thank God for sending me in your direction. The West-Ark Church really demonstrates true Christian love.
Your brother in Christ,
Robert Daniels

**Classes and Worship on Sunday, December 25**
All children and youth classes, ages 3 to 12th grade, will combine in FLC for Sunday morning class.
Adult classes will make their own arrangements.
Children 2-7 will remain in worship assembly for Sunday morning.
Sunday evening assembly at 6:00.

**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.

The Hope Chest needs volunteer workers!
Workers to sort and size clothing.
Greet and meet with those visiting The Hope Chest.
Help fill call-in orders.
Have a Bible study with someone (when needed).
Help repair and maintain clothing.
If you can help in any way, go to the Information Center in the foyer and
fill out a Hope Chest volunteer card and leave it in the basket provided.

**Mark your calendars!**
The Womens Retreat is scheduled for February 3rd and 4th at Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville! Our theme this year is R.O.W. Relationships of Women. Rom. 1:12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. The cost will be $50 per person for rooms with two or more individuals, and for those wanting to room alone the cost will be $60. Register on-line or at the information center. Christy Anders, Jeanie McDonald, and Jennifer Jennen will be collecting the money.

A few weeks ago in our 7th-12th grade Sunday morning Bible class, we had several visitors. In an attempt to make them all feel welcome, and to help them realize they are not alone in feeling a bit out of place, I asked all of our teens to answer the following questions: What is your name, grade, and where do you go to school?

As we went around the room, we found that we had teens from 16 different area Jr. High and High Schools. I wanted to show our teens and our visitors how diverse our group is. We even pointed out at least 4 more schools that would be represented by those who were absent that day.

That's right, our teens at West-Ark attend approximately 20 different schools. Can you imagine what a challenge it is to get involved in a youth group and feel accepted when you spend most of your time away from everyone there.

But God has done an amazing job of helping our young people turn that into a blessing. They are really good at including everyone and doing their best to get to know each other. The retreat we experienced this past weekend at Camp Caudle with just our youth group really helped further develop these relationships.

And this coming weekend is another opportunity like that for our teens and their families. We are having a youth and family day on Sunday, Dec 11th. We will start by going to the afternoon matinee of "The Chronicles of Narnia." Then we will head next door to Chuckee Cheese Pizza for fun and fellowship. Finally, we will end up back in the youth room for worship from 6-7.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 657
Bible Classes 384
Life Group 82
Sunday Evening 306
Wednesday Evening 321
Contribution $17,948
Childrens Home $201
Laotian Attendance 28
Laotian Contribution $178
Hispanic Contribution $155
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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