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Family
Lines Newsletter, February 16,
2006
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**In Righteousness, Sorrow Often Accompanies
Joy**
By David Chadwell
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by
the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who
were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according
to the time which he had determined from the magi. (Matthew
2:16)
It is unlikely that any time of the year is more
associated with joy than the Christmas season. The Christmas trees,
lights, food, and gifts all declare joy. One of the most popular songs of
the season declares, There is no place like home for the
holidays.
Weeks are devoted to peace on earth, good will
toward men. Churches talk ceaselessly about the wonders of God sending
His son. Both talk and pageants include Mary, Joseph, the baby, the wise
men, the angels, the shepherds, and even the animalsall declaring the joy of
this wondrous event.
If one heard only what we say about Jesus birth,
he/she might conclude it was all joy. That would be concluded only if
he/she heard our version of the story and ignored all other sounds from
Bethlehem.
The rage of a godless man is immune to the sounds
of sorrow. Herod the Great was so insensitive, paranoid, and jealously
protective of his position that he killed babies. When this crafty man
angrily realized that the magi would not make it easy for him to pinpoint his
opponent, he killed male infants two years of age and under. He took no
chances!
He did not stop at Bethlehem! He also killed male
infants in the surrounding area! Because of the insecurity of one adult,
infants were killed! Do not talk to the grieving parents of Bethlehem
about the joys of Jesus birth!
The sorrow and grief created by the loss of a child
is unique! In that ancient worldwithout our modern medicines and
proceduresthe male infants survived nine months of pregnancy, birth, and
perhaps several months of life. For what? Only to be torn from the arms of
grieving parents to satisfy the cruelty of an insecure man!
Can you hear Bethlehems grief? Can you hear
the sorrow created by the flash of a sword or the thrust of a spear as a
familys next generation needlessly disappeared?
In the words from Jeremiah
31:15 the author quoted this poignant statement:
. . . she refused to be comforted, because they
were no more.
As often is the case, when God gives us a great
moment of joy, Satan gives us a great moment of sorrow. Yet, Satans
sorrow is never stronger than Gods joy! Never forget your joy is in the
Lordand keep your joy in the Lord!
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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
(In
alphabetical order by first name.)
Anita Maxwell is in Washington Regional
Hospital, room 4308 in Fayetteville.
Carl Choate, brother of Del Ingram and
brother-in-law of Jane Choate, is in St. Edward Hospital, Room 3125
(intermediate care).
Darold Wear is back in Sparks Senior Care Center.
Fred Jackson is in St. Edward Hospital, Room 4527. He has blood clots in
his lung and leg. Fred will be in the hospital for a while.
Irene Neumeier,
grandmother of Terri Jones, has been dismissed from the hospital.
Miranda
Graham continues to improve at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
Montie Ray,
Karen Carters father, has been dismissed from the hospital.
Robert
Beshears, father of Patti Anderson is in St. Edward Hospital, room 3205.
Sharon Barker was dismissed from the hospital 2/14/06 and will continue to
receive outpatient care. Her heart has enlarged since the last testing. She will
be treated with medication.
Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson) is
back in the hospital in Little Rock. Doctors identified a bacterial infection
that caused his extreme illness. He is responding well to the antibiotic
treatment. Doctors are going to delay his
consolidation phase treatments for a while -- until he is much stronger.
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Tammy Keller in the death of her grandmother, Sarah Crawford, early Thursday
morning (2/16/06). Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this
writing.
**Continued Prayers**
Adam Sowells, grandson
of Richard and Shirley Bullard
Jacob Faries (son of Bob and Sharon)
Mark Trotter (uncle of Morgan Trotter)
Slats Slaton (Brian Pistoles
father-in-law)
Joel Prigge (Louise Howards brother-in-law)
**Prayer Pagers**
Harper Family 441-1648
Corey Johnson 784-7490
Duane Walker 441-2593
Jane McGowan
441-1734
Miranda Graham 441-2591
Anita Maxwell 441-6639
Sharon
Barker 441-2344
**Military in Prayer**
Mitchell Bryant has
joined the US Marine Corp and is currently in basic training at Camp Pendleton,
California. Bob Mason has returned from Iraq. Continue to pray for Shane L.
Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jacob Roper, Jackie Luong, 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.
**Baby Shower**
A shower for Isaac Payton Davis,
son of Aaron & Amanda Davis and grandson of Tim and Donna Davis, is planned
for Saturday, February 26, from 2:00 3:30 p.m. in the Annex. See Yvonne
Pistole or Carlene Payne if you would like to help.
**A Note of Thanks**
To my Church
Family,
Many thanks for the cards, visits, telephone calls, and especially
the many prayers given on my behalf. I am happy to be home and hope to be back
in church soon.
I love you all,
Ollie Amos
**Opportunity to Help**
If anyone has a car they
are willing to donate, we have a member who is in need. Please call Don Neal,
Lyndell Foster, or the office.
**Our FLOCK Needs Teachers**
This is a 4-week
commitment and all supplies are provided and prepared for you! Please
contact Dena Jenkins if you can
help.
**FLOCK 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.
**LTC Announcements**
Sunday, February 19
3:00 Sr. High Chorus
4:00 Sr. High Bible Bowl
4:00 Signing
5:00
Jr. and Sr. Puppets
5:00 Elementary Drama and
6:00 Elementary Drama
(this is not a typo :~)
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**New chairs are now in many adult
classrooms!**
The new chairs are here. The old chairs have been
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.
**Happy Birthday**
February 20
Doris Hall
February 21
Jill Roberts
February 22
Meredith Brown
Gary
Hamilton
February 23
Rita Brown
February 24
Lynne Alexander
Lucille
Graves
February 25
Sarah Newton
Elmer
Nye
February 26
Linda Neal
**TREASURE IN CLAY JARS**
Take a look at the new Blog at this link ... http://ticj.blogspot.com/
This is a
community journal that will coincide with our preaching and LIFE Group studies,
and other activities. It is an opportunity for anyone to get involved in the
conversation about God's mission and Treasure in Clay Jars.
I will welcome your insights. In whatever ways you
have influence in our congregation - and I know you do! - I welcome you to
influence others to get involved in this "conversation" whether it is on-line,
in the hallway, or over the dinner table. We have been given this ministry
because of God's mercy! Even though we are cracked and crusty clay jars, we
carry a precious treasure! Hey! That's good news so don't lose heart! (2
Corinthians 4)
~~Chris Benjamin
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
Its hard to believe we have had our Family Life
Center for 6 years now, but its true. We opened the FLC in February of 2000,
and its hard to imagine how we ever survived as a congregation without
it.
The FLC has greatly enhanced our ability to
fellowship with one another. It has helped strengthen relationships in our
congregation. There have been dinners, weddings, small group meetings, worship
services, and all kinds of youth group activities over the years.
It also houses the second floor which has been
the home to the 7th-12th grade youth group for the past 6 years. What a blessing
this has been to our group! The large youth room has given us a place to meet on
Sunday nights for Youth Worship and it provides a classroom for our Sr.
High.
The smaller classroom has been our Jr. High
classroom for the past 6 years. Recently, we have outgrown the smaller
classroom. Our Jr. High group has grown to more than 30 in number and we simply
dont fit in the smaller room anymore.
So we have moved to room 210 in the main building
and we are turning the small classroom into a Youth Student Center. This will
give our 7th-12th graders a place to call their own and it will give them a
place to go when the FLC is reserved for various activities.
We spent this past weekend giving the room a much
needed make over with fresh paint. Now we are looking to add some furniture, a
tv, and a few other things. If you would like to help make a donation toward
this, it would be appreciated. Every little bit helps!
We are thankful for the many ways God is blessing
our youth group right now, numerically and spiritually. And we are thankful for
the facilities He has provided that help nurture this growth. Keep praying
for the teens at West-Ark!
**A.M. Nursery**
Jennifer Jennen
Flora
Johnson
Kristy Abernathy
**P.M. Nursery**
Sheila Vaught
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM
Worship 679
Bible Classes 446
Sunday Evening 282
Wednesday
Evening 304
Contribution $15,652
Childrens Home
$393
Laotian Attendance 36
Laotian Contribution $189
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 70
Contribution $321
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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