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Family Lines Newsletter, December 15, 2005
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**Faith … In What?**
By David Chadwell
 
We declare faith in a lot of things. “I have faith in my family’s past generations.”  Or, “faith in my rearing.”  Or, “faith in my education.”  Or, “faith in my career.”  Or , “faith in my future.”  Or, “faith in my potential.”
 
Religiously we declare faith in many things.  “I have faith in our movement.”  Or, “my congregation.”  Or, “the leaders of my congregation.”  Or, “the teachers in my congregation.”  Or, “our preacher.”  Or, “What I always have been taught.”
 
To me, one of the simplest statements regarding faith is found in Hebrews 11.
 
Hebrews 11:1-3, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  ... (verse 6) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
 
Speaking of the resurrection and all that follows that event, faith is the assurance the resurrection will occur.  Faith is the conviction that though I did not see Jesus’ resurrection and have not seen mine, I live in confidence that Jesus was raised from the dead, and so will I be.  The Christian sacrificially lives his or her life for the unseen that is not yet a part of his or her experience.
 
Faith even enables a Christian to understand how the world came to existence.
 
Faith in what?  God the Father!  There can be no hope of pleasing God unless I have faith in God.  Two things must be believed: (1) I must believe God exists!  (2) I must believe God rewards those who seek Him.
 
Regardless of how much you believe in “our religious movement,” that confidence is not enough.  Regardless of how much you believe in “my congregation,”  in the “leadership” of “my congregation,” in preachers past or present, in teachers past or present, in obedient acts past or present, or in issues past or present, such confidence is not enough.
 
One cannot come to God unless he or she has confidence in God’s existence and confidence in God’s ability to reward.  There is no substitute for faith in God!  Faith in God is not optional!  We obey because we believe in God!  We serve because we believe in God!  We live our chosen lifestyle because we believe in God!
 
How sad it would be to approach God in judgment and say, “I placed my confidence in the Restoration Movement!”  Or, “I believed in my congregation.” Or, “I trusted the men who led or taught me!”  And have God respond, “That is true!  However, you never placed confidence in Me.”  Your faith is not questioned.  However, the question is, “In what do you have faith?”
 
Let Jesus show you the Father and lead you to life!  (John 14:6)
 
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**Christmas Morning Service**
All children and youth classes, ages 3 to 12th grade, will combine in FLC for Sunday morning class.
Adult classes should make their own arrangements to meet or not meet.
Children 2-7 will remain in worship assembly for Sunday morning.
 
**Sunday Evening**
Assembly at 6:00 p.m.
 
**Remember in Prayer**
• Thelma Blackburn is in Sparks Hospital, room 689.
• Stella Foster (sister-in-law of Lyndell Foster) is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4414.
• Jane (Dunavin) McGowan has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. If you want to send a card, Jane’s address is 2806 Lakehill Drive, Lavaca, AR 72941.
• Sara Newton’s shoulder surgery was Dec. 9th. She is now home from the hospital.
• Brady Burress (son of Chris and Carrie) had a seizure Saturday morning. He was taken to ER again last night (12/14) with headaches and nausea. He is scheduled for an EEG on Monday. 
• Layne Downs is scheduled for surgery December 21st.
 
**Continued Prayers**
(Alphabetical by first name)
• Adam Jenkins
• Bob Klee (father of Georgia Gilley)
• Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs)
• Brian Stone (grandson of G.C. & Margaret)
• Chuck Cunningham
• Corey Johnson
• Courtney Williams (Esther Gunn’s cousin is improved.)
• Duane Walker
• Glen Gilley
• George Thompson
• Guy Foster (brother of Lyndell Foster)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Jim McCartney (Peggy Pistole’s brother)
• Joan Jenkins (Kerry’s mother)
• Luther "Odell" Bryan (father of Karan Tygart)
• Maile McDonald
• Mary Ann White (sister of Lewis Livesay)
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
• Wanda Wooster
• Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson)
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Judy Wright in the death of her mother, Zoe Sidler. Funeral services were Thursday in Fort Smith.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Corey Johnson 784-7490
• Staci James 441-1648
• Duane Walker 441-2593
• Maile McDonald 441-6639
 
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, 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 are home for a visit from France!
 
**New Arrival**
Congratulations to the Karr Family! Adam Jared Karr was born on December 12 to Jeff and Rochelle Karr at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA. Adam weighed 7 lbs., 11 ozs. and was 19 ½ inches long. The proud grandparents are Charles and Suzanne Karr; the great-grandmother, Doris Karr; and the happy cousin, Hayley Sanchez.
 
**Women's Retreat**
Our Women’s Retreat is Feb. 3rd and 4th at Mt. Sequoyah in Fayetteville!  Our theme this year is “Relationships of Women” (Romans 1:12). 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 online at www.westark.org/retreat.htm or at the Information Center. Christy Anders, Jeanie McDonald, and Jennifer Jennen will be collecting the money. 
 
**Joy Bunch Ladies**
If you are interested in modeling one of the “fashions” for January’s Fashion Show, please contact Danna Turpin. Approximately 12 ladies are needed. Each fashion requires a minimal amount of preparation. Leave message if no answer.
 
**New Curriculum**
David Chadwell’s new Bible study, “Obedience, God’s Diamond” will be available Dec. 25 in rooms 100, 203, 211 and the foyer. The study begins January 1st.
 
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**Congratulations Graduate!**
Jeffrey Nolasco has graduated from Harding University with a BA in Information Technology. Jeffrey is the son of Oscar and Alicia.
 
**LTC Meeting**
Sunday, December 18
5:00 p.m. in Room 100.
This meeting is for all participants going to LTC in April.
 
**Teen/60+ Christmas Dinner**
Saturday, December 17
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
in the Family Life Center.
 
**Community Toy Giveaway**
The Hope Chest Parking Lot 
(717 North 4th & H Street)
Saturday, December 17, 1:00 p.m.  Volunteers are needed!
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Family,
We are very thankful for the e-mails and cards that you sent us in the last hard days after we learned of the death of Alicia’s mother in Honduras.
 With Christian love,
 Oscar & Alicia Nolasco
 
**Church Photo Directories**
The printing is finally finished! Plan to stop and pick up your copy Sunday morning following worship!  Thanks to Mat Griffin and his great crew for their tremendous work!
 
**Church Office Schedule**
The office will be closed Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26 for Christmas holidays. There will not be a newsletter next week. The office will also be closed Monday, January 2nd for the New Year’s holiday.
 
**Happy Birthday**
December 18
Jane Binyon
Nadia Nelson
Allie Whitaker
 
December 19
Lloyd Summers
 
December 20
Darrell Moses
Kathleen Taranto
 
December 21
Jim Johnson
 
December 22
John Paul Hundley
Holland McClendon
Jim Wilson
 
December 24
Claretta Bartlett
Debbie Belote
 
Christmas Babies!
Bill Moss
Laurie Roberts
Frances Tyler
Sheila Vaught
Cyndi Yielding
 
December 26
Bill Brazelton
Ben Goode
Rodney Jones
Mary Beth Oliver
Kathy Rogers
 
December 27
Hope Frost
 
December 28
Hannah Hesslen
Natalie Nelson
 
December 29
Mack Farris
Patrick Pruitt
 
December 30
Lyndell Foster
 
December 31
Bob Davidson
Christy Puckett
Sara Word
 
**Christmas Poinsettias**

In Loving Memory of:     Donated by:
 
James Mason              Gene & Kathy Monk
 
Lorene Yates               Jack & Lynne Alexander
                                   Bob & Jane Fisher
                                   Wilma Son
 
Hazel Nayler                Donna Lindgren
 
Jim Carter                   Karen Carter
 
Harvis & Letha Davis
Sarah Todd                  Harold & Linda Davis
 
Margaret Hastings
Lois Selby                  Sue Hastings
 
Clarence Son              Wilma Son
 
Owen Yates
Thelma Manzano          Jack & Glenda Lewis
 
Jim Houston                Jamie, Tracy, Sara, Sam & Hannah Houston
 
Ivy Davenport
Hervis Henley              Bruce & Joann Davenport
 
Baby Dawes                Tammy Cypert
                                  Tiffany Morphew
 
Alicia Nolasco’s Mother David & Sandy Berger
                                   Bill & Lynn Dickey
 
Helen Branum              Richard Branum
                                   Charley & Sedelia Douglas
                                   John & Nadine Hawkins
                                   Troy & Linda Sweeten
                                   Louise Cline
 
Gabriel Hesslen            Kevin, Christy, Hope, Hannah & Hunter Hesslen
 
Floyd Douthit                Doris Stokes
 
Jack Remler                 Mary Broyles
 
Larry Niesler                 Don & Billie Niesler
 
Waymon Griffin             Melinda Griffin
 
Thelma Bowd                Matt & Jo Griffin
 
Kal Janson                   John & Nelda Fowler
  
Opal Hewett                 Martha & Bill Walker
 
Bill Flippo
Paul Flippo                  Myra Flippo
                                  Debbie & Ron Belote
Lou Porter
Bill Lusby                    Dale & Denise Lusby
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
There are two great events planned for our teens this coming weekend: the Teen/60+ Dinner and the Teen Christmas Party.
 
Our teens will host the annual Teen/60+ dinner this coming Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The teens need to show up at 4 p.m. to help set-up, decorate, and cook. We are also asking the teens to bring a home-made dessert with them to the dinner.
 
We are so thankful for our 60+ group for all they have done and for all they continue to do for the family of God at West-Ark. This is a very small way of saying thank you for the love and kindness you always show our young people! We appreciate you!
 
Then, on Sunday, our 7th-12th grade Teen Christmas Party will take place after Youth Worship from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Each teen will need to bring a wrapped gift (under $10 in value) with them.
 
A meal will be provided and there is NO COST to the teens. Everything will be provided!
 
I hope you all enjoy your Christmas break that begins this weekend, and I hope you will come join us for two great events this Saturday and Sunday.
 
**Third Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Jennifer Jennen
Flora Johnson
Kristy Abernathy
P.M. Nursery
Sheila Vaught
 
**Fourth Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Berniece Rogers
Sharon Faries
Kristin Smith
Donna Roper
P.M. Nursery
Angela Dunavant
Denise Lusby
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 689
Bible Classes  448
Sunday Evening 294
 Wednesday Evening 321
Contribution   $13,728
Children’s Home $415
Laotian Attendance 29
Laotian Contribution $152
Hispanic Contribution $164
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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