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Family Lines Newsletter, February 9, 2006
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**Who Is Weak?**
By David Chadwell
 
“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions”  (Romans 14:1).
 
“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
 
Numerous forms of the old joke about the army who shoots its wounded soldiers exist.  The joke is funny only to those never wounded!  For those wounded, the joke is cruel!
 
Some people who have spiritual wounds say of the church, “It shoots its wounded.”  Who are the wounded?  They are the weak.  Who are the weak?  That is a fascinating question!
 
First, weakness is a comparative term.  If we compare two when one—in a specified consideration—is stronger than the other, one is weak and the other is strong.  Take the weak one and compare him or her to someone who is weaker than he or she.  Instantly he or she becomes strong and another becomes the weak person.
 
Second, none are always the strong.  Someone always is stronger then “me.” However, the “eternal comparison” is never between two humans.  It is always between Christ and us or God and us.  In that comparison, we all are weak.  If the church shoots its weak, we all will be shot.
 
Is it God’s objective to save or destroy us?  Jesus’ cross is about saving people, not destroying people.  Jesus’ resurrection is about hope, not about despair.  The testimony is astounding!  One in the Bible wrote, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16, 17). Another wrote, “For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died” (1 Corinthians 8:11). He also wrote, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy l:15).  Still another wrote, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
 
Arrogance arises from confidence in our strengths.  Wisdom arises from acknowledgement of our weakness.
 
All of us are weak.  Please do not shoot me when you see another weakness.  Help me!  Encourage me to move to greater strength!  Do not be concerned about “protecting the church.”  God capably does that.  Concern yourself with reflecting God’s character in helping the weak.  Invest as much in my salvation as God does!
 
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**Please Pray For**
• Miranda (Nonelacher) Graham (age 10), daughter of Chad and Kim Graham, is at Arkansas Children's Hospital and scheduled for heart valve replacement surgery today (Thursday, 2/9/06). Miranda’s prayer pager is 441-2591.
• Robert Beshears (Patti Anderson's father) is in St. Edward Hospital, Room 3321. He is scheduled for heart valve replacement surgery on Thursday (2/9/06).
• Adam Sowells, grandson of Richard and Shirley Bullard, will have surgery on his foot Monday morning.
• Irene Neumeier (grandmother of Terri Jones) fell and broke her hip Tuesday. She had surgery, and is in St. Edward Hospital
• Montie Ray (Karen Carter’s father) is in St. Edward, Room 3301. He had 1 stint put in and is doing well.
• Jacob Faries (son of Bob and Sharon) is recovering from eye surgery for a detached retina.
• Mark Trotter (brother of Jay Trotter, formerly of West-Ark) had emergency surgery for a brain tumor last weekend in Kansas City.
• Anita Maxwell’s cancer has returned. She is in Washington Regional Hospital, room 4308, in Fayetteville.
• Billie Neisler is home from the hospital following knee surgery.
• Ollie Amos is home from the hospital and improving.
• Slats Slaton (Brian Pistole’s father-in-law)
• Ruston Byrd (cousin of Kathy Rosalez)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the friends and family of Anna Ramsey. Funeral services for Anna were Wednesday at Lewis Funeral Home Chapel.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Mitch and Robin Harper have pager 441-1648. This is a difficult time for them as Jeremy would have been 25 years old on February 11th.
• Corey Johnson 784-7490
• Duane Walker 441-2593
• Jane McGowan 441-1734
• Miranda Graham 441-2591
 
**Military in Prayer**
Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, Bob Mason, Alan Todd, and Charlie Remaley.
 
**Missionaries in Prayer**
• Thomas Kweekul in Thailand.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France.
• Our missionaries in Laos and Vietnam
 
**A Note of Thanks**
To the Elders and members of my West-Ark Church of Christ Family,
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and sympathy as my family and I mourn the loss of my grandfather, Mr. Solomon Davis, Sr. We appreciate all the kind words and loving gestures. Thank you for sharing in our loss.
 The Henrys
 Cecil, Sonia, Xavier, & Deja
 
**SENIOR GAME DAY**
Thursday, February 16
12 noon in the FLC
Please bring snacks and join in the fun and games!
 
**In the FLOCK**
We Need Shoeboxes!
We still need shoeboxes with lids for a special project coming up.  If you can help, please leave them under the FLOCK Table right off of the foyer.
 
Teachers Are Needed!
We also are still in need of teachers for the FLOCK.  This is a 4 week commitment and all supplies are provided and prepared for you!  Please contact Dena Jenkins if you can help.
 
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**LTC Announcements**
Sunday, February 12
• There will be a short meeting with Dave & Sharon Barker in the Library directly after morning worship for all that are signed up for Bulletin Board & Christian Art. 
• 3:00 Sr. High Chorus
• 4:00 Sr. High Bible Bowl
• 5:00 Sr. High Drama
• 5:00 Elementary Puppets
• 6:00 Elementary Chorus
 
**Men’s Bible Class**
Tuesday mornings, 10 a.m., in the Annex Meeting Room.  Teachers: Russ McConnell and David Chadwell. Please come as we draw closer to God and each other!
 
**Happy Birthday**
February 15
Alexis Alexander
Mary Hudson
Ron Smith
 
February 16
Arianna Heras
 
February 17
Aaron Logan
Bob Null
Allison Todd
 
February 18
Kaith Byrd
Kenneth Hatcher
Maddie Pressley
Daniel Word
 
February 19
Mitchell Bryant
Yolanda Gunn
Emily Hamilton
 
**New Chairs!!!**
New chairs are being bought for many of the adult classrooms.  The old chairs are being rotated out and re-used in various ways. Funds to purchase the new chairs came from monies we have set aside over the past few years for building and facility maintenance expenses.
 
We have purchased chairs in sufficient quantities to fully equip all of the classrooms, so it should no longer be necessary to move the chairs from one room to another. PLEASE leave the chairs in the classrooms they have been placed in. If you need additional chairs in any of the rooms, please contact the church office.
Thanks, Dave Cogswell
 
**Sparks Hospital Grief Support**
• 2/24/06 – Moving Through Grief
• 3/3/06 – Physical Side of Grief
• 3/10/06 – Six Helpful Things, Children & Grief
• 3/17/06 – Timetables, Holidays & Anniversaries
• 3/24/06 – Facing the Future
• 3/31/06 – Closure
For more information or to RSVP for classes, please call Sparks Pastoral Care, 441-5452. All Sessions are from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
 
**Area Wide Prayer Breakfast**
Valley View Church of Christ
Greenwood, Arkansas
Saturday, March 4th, 7:30 a.m. 
(This is a date correction.)
 
**Faith Comes by Hearing **
Week 4; Days 22-28
The complete 40, 60, 90-day schedules are online at http://www.westark.org/library/schedule.htm
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
Thank God for all of the spiritual memories that have been made during Winter Retreat over the past 15 years. This past weekend was our 15th Winter Retreat, the 10th one at the facility in Siloam Springs.
 
God has done some incredible things in the lives of our teens and adults during this weekend; perhaps more through this one event than any other thing we do as a youth group.
 
From time to time, I will pull out the videos and pictures from years past and look at them. It’s good to remember the different themes, classes, and people that were present. It’s also good to remember what God did during that specific retreat in the lives of our young people.
 
There have been some great classes, some unforgettable small group times, and life-changing lessons. And who can forget the relationships that have developed because of all of these experiences.
 
God has used our small groups, worship, communion experiences, and Saturday night group times to bond our group in unbreakable ways. It simply is one of the best things we do all year!
 
I praise God for all he continues to do through Winter Retreat. I am thankful for the 45 teens and adults from West-Ark who participated this year.
 
Remember the Chronicles of Faith that were shared from the lives of the Prophets, the Rabbi, and the Fisherman and continue to look for your story in their story. I pray that your life will never be the same.
 
**A.M. Infants**
Trish Carson
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
Vicki Anderson
 
**P.M. Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 649
Bible Classes  404
Sunday Evening 228
 Wednesday Evening 340
Contribution   $16,193
Children’s Home $265
Laotian Attendance 29
Laotian Contribution $179
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 65
Contribution $225
 
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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