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Family Lines Newsletter, January 12, 2006
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**Special Announcement: Men’s Bible Class**
 
Beginning on what date?  The class will begin February 7, and will be held each Tuesday morning thereafter until mid-May.
 
Where will it be held?  The men’s class will be conducted in the annex meeting room next to the offices.
 
What time will the class be conducted?  The class will begin at 10 am and last approximately one hour.
 
What will the class study?  The class will begin studying from the gospel of Luke and (in time) progress to the book of Acts.
 
What will be the format of the class?  The basic nature of the class will be casual and interactive.  You will be asked to (1) study the scripture and (2) think.  Questions seeking a growing understanding are encouraged.
 
Who is invited to be part of the class?  Any man of any age is welcome to be part of the study.
 
Who will be the teachers?  Russ McConnell and David Chadwell will rotate on a weekly basis as lead teachers.  These two men will work together as a team to provide leadership for the class.
 
Russ and David plan to conduct the class on each Tuesday from February 7 until mid-May.  The class will break for the summer months.  The plan is for the class to begin again in the fall.  It will again break for the holiday period.
 
The purpose of the class is simple: to encourage men to spiritually grow as they study the scripture.  We realize many cannot come because of their work commitments.  We also realize that many are (or can be) free to be part of the class.
 
What do we have to do to enroll in the class?  Come!  It would be helpful if you let one of the teachers or the office know that you plan to be part of the class.
 
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**Remember in Prayer**
• John Carson will have surgery Friday (1/13/06) to remove the rod from his leg.  
• Vivian Flood has been diagnosed with neurological problems that are affecting her balance and coordination. Please pray that her condition will stabilize.
• Bill Dickey will have an arteriogram in the next few days. Bill’s prayer pager is 441-2591.
• Angela Dunavant request prayers for Kaila Cartwright, a relative who will be having 3 surgeries for a hearing loss. 
• Praise!  All Maile McDonald’s tests are clear.
• Frances Strawhacker had a heart cath Wednesday afternoon at St. Edward Hospital.
• Anetia Livesay
• Barbara Miller
• Geneva Shepherd
• Jane Dunavin McGowan
• Jim McCartney (Peggy Pistole’s brother)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Rita Harriman
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Corey Johnson 784-7490
• Duane Walker 441-2593
• Maile McDonald 441-6639
• Bill Dickey 441-2591
• Anetia Livesay 441-1648
 
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, and Bob Mason.
 
**Prayer for Missionaries **
• Our missionaries in Laos and Vietnam.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in  France.
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the many friends of Josh Graham (age 14). Josh was a freshman at Pocola High School and worshipped with the Bonanza Church of Christ. Funeral services were January 11th here at West-Ark.
 
**Welcome New Members**
Chris & Dorian Belt
Christopher (age 6); Carson (age 4)
104 Country Lane Drive
Alma, AR 72921
Phone: (479) 651-1437
 
Bill & Frankie Jenkins
11916 Donahoe
Fort Smith, AR 72916
Phone: (479) 646-3859
 
Cecil & Betty Mathies
1525 Rockhurst Drive
Fort Smith, AR 72908
Phone: (479) 648-8618
 
**Notes of Thanks**
 
Some of our first thoughts of when we lost Jeremy was how were we going to go on without those big smiles and wonderful bear hugs he gave so freely. Later our thoughts were of heaven and the question of would there be those smiles and hugs there. We’re convinced heaven will be overflowing with both and more if the family at West-Ark is any indication of heaven and God’s glory. You hugged us, cried and laughed with us, and loved us in ways that gave us a glimpse of heaven and the wonderful promise of God’s love.
We are so proud to be Jeremy’s family, and we will miss him always. Thank you for loving him and being the great extended family that you were to him.
 We love you,
 The Harpers, Dunavins and  Klemans
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your love and generosity during this difficult time. The spray was beautiful. We ask for your continued prayers for us in the days to come.
 Our Love,
 Lucy Roberts
 Doug & Debbie Allison
 
Your kind expression of sympathy is gratefully acknowledged and deeply appreciated. Thank you for the flowers.
 Thelma Blackburn Family
 
**LTC Announcements**
LTC Coaches: all materials for Pre-Convention events must be turned in to Nancy Smith or Clark Risley by February 3, 2006.
 
LTC for Sunday, January 15
• 3:00 Sr. High Chorus
• 4:00 Sr. High Bible Bowl
• 5:00 Elementary Chorus &  Jr. /Sr. Puppets
• 6:00 Elementary Drama
 
**Senior Game Day**
Thursday, January 19
12 noon to 3 p.m.
Please bring finger foods!
 
**Joy Bunch!**
Join the Joy Bunch fun night and potluck on Saturday, January 21st at 6:00 p.m. The fashion show has been postponed to a later date.
 
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**Women’s Retreat**
Our Women’s Retreat is February 3rd and 4th at Mt. Sequoyah in Fayetteville!  Our theme this year is “Relationships of Women” (Rom. 1:12). The cost is $50 per person for rooms with two or more individuals. Please sign up and pay by January 22nd.
 
You may register in the Information Center or online.
 
Christy Anders, Jeanie McDonald, and Jennifer Jennen are collecting the money.  
 
**Faith Comes By Hearing**
You've got the time -- listen to your Bible!
* getting ready in the morning
* cooking
* driving to work
* on the job
* exercising
* working around the house
* family time
* bedtime
"... be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
January 16
Jay Arnold
Arista Lindgren
 
January 17
Ollie Amos
 
January 18
Tatum Thompson
Shirley Walker
 
January 19
Linda Davis
David Harwell
John Lindgren
 
January 20
Rose Davis
Jenna Frederick
Beverly Lankford
Kara Lankford
 
January 21
James Anderson
Janice Lowry
 
January 22
Lewis Livesay
 
January 23
Race Burns
Ellen Kamp
Margie Mason
Tom Porter
 
January 24
John Carson
Tom King
Julie Orick
 
January 25
Toka Beall
Carrie Burress
 
January 26
Haleigh Evans
 
January 27
Jeana Belote
Paul Beneux
Josephine Johnson
Larry Todd
 
January 28
Charles Dicks
Gene Monk
Barney Puckett
 
January 30
Harold Davis
Abbey Jenkins
 
January 31
Philip Burns
 
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**The Year in Review**
By Brad Pistole
 
What a difference a year makes!
Do you ever look back in time to the previous year and think about how much things have changed? The change could be in your family, your job, your attitude, or your spiritual life. But things definitely change over time.
 
It’s good for us to think about the changes that occur in our lives and how they affect us. I remember just over a year ago when I received the call telling me that John Carson had been severely injured during a football game. I remember how everything seemed to slow down for several days, and how perspectives changed as one of our teenagers faced a life-threatening situation.
 
This Friday, John will have surgery relating to his injuries from a year ago. I am thankful that God has been there to lead him through the various struggles that have come with this ongoing journey in his life.
 
There have been many other things we have faced as a youth group and as a church in the past few months, weeks, and days that have affected us. We will look back on these events one day and realize just how much they have changed us. It will be hard to remember what life was like before the changes occurred.
 
I pray that you will always let God use these struggles and blessings that come your way as things that lead you closer to Him! Satan has other plans for your struggles, but if you give them to God, He will do incredible things with them!
 
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
 
I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and he heard me. He sets me free from all my fears. For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him, and he rescues them” Psalm 34:1-7 (NLT).
 
**A.M. Nursery**
Jennifer Jennen
Flora Johnson
Kristy Abernathy
 
**P.M. Nursery**
Sheila Vaught
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 728
Bible Classes  480
Sunday Evening 286
Wednesday Evening 332
Contribution   $17,358
Children’s Home $355
Laotian Attendance 29
Laotian Contribution $172
Hispanic Contribution $189
Hispanic Attendance 55
 
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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