West-Ark Newsletter, 19 January 2006

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Family Lines Newsletter, January 19, 2006
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Once as Moses led Israel through the wilderness, he asked God for an opportunity to see Him (Exodus 33:18). God explained his request was impossible because if Moses looked on Gods face he would die. Later God said this of Himself in Exodus 34:6: The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; ...

This is a significant self-disclosure of Gods character often cited (Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 4:31; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Romans 2:4).

Note all that flows from Gods character because He primarily is a compassionate [merciful] God filled with graciousness. Because He is full of mercy and grace, He angers slowly and is filled with patience and truth [absolutely trustworthy, not deceitful].

That is quite in contrast to many peoples concept of Gods character. They often declare that the primary quality of Gods character is justice. Thus, expressions of Gods mercy and grace are out of character. He is constantly angry, barely holding His anger in check because of Jesus cross. He is impatient. He prefers condemnation to salvation. While He is truthful, He quickly remembers our flaws and failuresand cannot wait to punish them!

While there is no desire to diminish our rightful responsibility that makes us accountable for our choices (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10), Gods character declares His desire to save rather than condemn (1 Timothy 2:3, 4; 2 Peter 3:9). The good news is this: God wants to save you and will do all in His power to secure your salvation. He is on our side. The cornerstone of His character is composed of grace arising from His mercy. He rejoices in human repentance. He patiently awaits the redirection of our lives. He never lets us down. He keeps His promises.

At some point [hopefully early in our relationship with God], the Christian must stop running from hell and start running to God. The Christian is not driven by judgments terror, but by love for God. Rather than fleeing consequences, Gods people are attracted to His character. They find Gods character admirable in every way. They want Gods character to become their character. That is what they prefer!

Thus their goal as Gods people in an evil world is to be a people of compassion whose grace arises from mercy. In their patience they want to anger slowly. In every way they want to be trustworthy and dependable. Why? That is the nature of their Father, and they are honored to show the world their Father in their character (Matthew 5:43-48).

Would you prefer to own a heart or control a body? God prefers to own hearts. God prefers love to terror. Terror breeds resentment. Love breeds loyalty. Those who know God are committed to loves loyalty. Feel your responsibility, but also feel Gods love!

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**Prayers and Thanksgiving**
Barbara Miller
Praise! Bill Dickeys arteriogram showed one blockage that can be treated with medication.
Carl Choate (Jane Choates brother-in-law) is in St. Edward, Room 3314, with pneumonia. He may go home soon.
Chuck Vanderpool collapsed and has been in the hospital. He is home now, but they dont have a diagnosis of his illness.
Dean Garrett (former West-Ark member) is in St. Edward, Room 3201, following heart surgery.
Frances Strawhacker
Jane Dunavin McGowan
Jim McCartney (Peggy Pistoles brother)
Joel Prigge (Louise Howards brother-in-law)
John Carson
Kaila Cartwright, a relative of Angela Dunavant
Rita Harriman
Shannon McRay asked for your prayers. She has recently been diagnosed with serious health problems.
Vivian Flood

**Military in Prayer**
Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, Bob Mason, Alan Todd, and Charlie Remaley (friend of Laurie Roberts).

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended Cecil Henry in the death of his grandfather, Solomon Davis, Sr. of Mobile, AL. Funeral services were 1/14/06 in Alabama.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Joyce Parker in the death of her mother, Alberta Miley. Funeral services were 11/19/06 at Ocker Funeral Home Chapel in Van Buren.

**Notes of Thanks**
West-Ark Church of Christ:
Thanks to all of you for your love and support during my surgery; especially for your prayers, cards, home and hospital visits, telephone calls and food. The prayer pager was so comforting. May God be glorified in all your efforts.
In Christian love for you,
Anetia Livesay

Dear West-Ark members who prepared food:
Thank you for the food that was brought to our home. The service was nice. My mother would have been pleased.
The Thelma Blackburn Family

Friends at West-Ark,
We greatly appreciated your kindness, love and food given during our time of need. The thoughtful words spoken by David Chadwell at the service gave us much comfort. God let us have her for 94 years and the love she gave us stays in our hearts. Thank you for letting us know how much you cared.
The Thelma Blackburn Family

**Deacons/Ministry Leaders Meeting with Elders**
Sunday afternoon at 4:00 upstairs in the FLC.
We plan to pray together and discuss matters that relate to budget and finances, visitation, church growth, membership involvement, and other issues. Please help us prepare for our next Family Meeting on the fifth Sunday of this month.

**Chairs Missing**
The folks at GATEWAY are searching for missing theater (tent) chairs for our Heavenly Visions workshop. We have several that have disappeared. If you have borrowed them or know who has, please let us know so we don't have to buy more. You may contact Carolyn Harrell or the church office.

**LTC Announcements**
Boys Bible Reading Participants: Anyone who has missed any Bible readings must make them up by Sunday, January 29 so paperwork can be completed. Any questions? Call Brian and/or Shelly Perkins.

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**Womens Retreat at Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville, AR**
February 3 & 4
Relationships of Women Romans 1:12
The cost is $50 per person for rooms with two or more individuals. The registration deadline is this Sunday. You may register in the Information Center or online at http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/retreat.htm Christy Anders, Jeanie McDonald, and Jennifer Jennen are collecting the money.
For room assignments: please sign up this Sunday after worship at the table in the foyer!

**DYNAMIC MARRIAGE**
(Formerly His Needs Her Needs)
Dynamic Marriage is an eight-week interactive marriage class for couples who want deeper intimacy and commitment in their marriages.
Dynamic Marriage is designed to:
Fine Tune Good Marriages
Strengthen Weak Marriages
Heal Broken Marriages

Class will meet weekly for 2-2 1/2 hours on Sunday starting at 5:00 p.m. and will require 3-4 hours of homework each week. Child care will be provided.
Dynamic Marriage is based on two nationally acclaimed books by psychologist and marriage counselor Dr. Willard Harley, Jr. The class blends helpful, practical materials with powerful interactive tools to create new habits in marriage.

Couples Learn
How your Love Bank affects your relationship
What your most important Emotional Needs are
How to identify and meet each others most important needs
Why most marriages dont survive perpetual Love Busters
How affairs begin, how they can be stopped, and how love can be restored
Why people commit to or abandon a relationship
How to build compatibility
How to maintain a mutually fulfilling relationship

Dynamic Marriage (HNHN) interactive course teaches people how to have a healthy marriage. The goal is not just to educate, but also to change behavior and teach couples to actually apply what they learn.

Any two people, no matter where they are in their relationship, can learn to be in love again. About half of the people who attend Dynamic Marriage (HNHN) are trying to save their marriage, and the other half want to deepen their relationships.

**Faith Comes by Hearing**
The full plans for the 40, 60, 90 day schedules will be on the website soon!
Please go to http://www.westark.org/library/schedule.htm for the January 22-28 listening/reading schedule.

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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed for rain, and down it poured. The grass turned green, and the crops began to grow again. James 5:16-18 (N.L.T.)

If you were part of our worship service on Sunday morning, January 8th, you may remember a special prayer that was offered just before our contribution. One of our new members asked God for something special. He prayed about the drought in AR, OK, and TX. And then he asked God to open the heavens and send us the rain we so desperately needed.

I dont know about you, but I dont hear prayers like that very often. And I can tell you this, when the skies opened up and poured down rain three times over the next 8 days, I remembered that prayer and the words of James 5.

I remembered how much our God wants us to depend on Him. I remembered how much He wants to give us the things we need. I remembered how much I needed to learn from this gentle and simple example of faith from my brother in Christ.

Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart? Do you rely on him for everything?
I thank God for the valuable reminder he sent our way this past week through the faithful prayer of a wise and humble man.

May we listen to the words found in Isaiah 30:18 which says, But the Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 771
Bible Classes 467
Sunday Evening 333
Wednesday Evening 332
Contribution $18,831
Childrens Home $290
Laotian Attendance 35
Laotian Contribution $176
Hispanic Contribution $215
Hispanic Attendance 50

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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