West-Ark Newsletter, 23 February 2006

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Family Lines Newsletter, February 23, 2006
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Matthew 6:22, 23 The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (NAS)

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (NIV)

If I had to make a list of the order that physical abilities were taken from me, I think sight would be the last thing I would want to lose. We live in the time of the incredible. Need cataract surgery with a high probability of success? That is common! Need eye surgery that eliminates the need for glasses? That is common! Need a cornea transplant? That is certainly possible! Need eye glasses? That is super common!

What is common for us did not exist in Jesus society! Eye glasses? Forget it! Eye disease, cataract surgery, cornea transplantdo not mention those things! Do you realize how many of us would be legally blind in Jesus lifetime?

The only window to admit light into this body is the eye. If the eye has a cataract, vision slowly decreases. When the condition was bad enough, blindness came. Once a person was blind, the situation was irreversible. The body went from light, to dim, to total darkness. When total blindness came, total dependence also came. What a complete blackout! It was the darkest form of darkness! Remember Jesus healing the blind? Remember the gratitude?

Jesus declared he was the light of the world by being lifes light and making life in darkness unnecessary (John 8:13). John made numerous associations between light and Jesus. Jesus life was the light of people (John 1:4), the true light who could enlighten every person (John 1:9). He was Gods light to the world, but some preferred darkness (John 3:19). The evil hate the light because they do not wish to see their lifestyles reality (John 3:20). Only they who base their lifestyles on truth are not fearful of the light (John 3:21).

Some exist in darkness yearning for light, but will never see light unless we dare reflect Jesus light (Matthew 5:14). In Jesus day light did not exist to be hidden but to dispel darkness (Matthew 5:15). God does not intend for us to hide Jesus influence in our behavior, but for us to share his light with others (Matthew 5:16). As you live your life, radiate Jesus influence in the way you live and the way you treat others!

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**Remember in Prayer**
(In alphabetical order by first name.)
Carl Choate is in St. Edward Hospital, Room 3125.
Chuck Cunningham has decided to explore treatment options at a wellness center in Oklahoma.
Darold Wear has returned to the Methodist Nursing Home and seems to be doing better.
Fred Jackson is home from the hospital, but is being treated for blood clots.
Hunter Hesslen had a seizure Monday morning and spent the night in St. Edward Hospital. He is home now, and scheduled for more tests later.
Louise Howards brother-in-law, Joel Prigge, will start his 3rd round of chemotherapy on Monday.
Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson) is back in the hospital in Little Rock.

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to James & Patti Anderson, and Todd & Adriane Anderson Martin, in the death of Robert Beshears, Pattis father. Visitation will be Thursday night (2/23/06) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lewis Funeral Home. Funeral services are Friday, 10 a.m. at Lewis Chapel. Burial will follow at National Cemetery, 11 a.m.

Our love and sympathy is also extended to Lewis Livesay in the death of his sister, Mary Ann White. Services were Tuesday in Willis Point, Texas.

**More Prayer Pagers Added**
We now have 10 pagers available!
A   441-1648
B   441-1734
C   441-2290
D   441-2344
E   441-2591
F 441-2593
G 441-6639
H 784-7490
I 441-1791
J 441-1792

An alphabetical letter has been assigned to each pager. Both letter and number will be included in newsletters and e-mails. Hopefully, this will allow members to program pagers into home and cell phones easily.

**Prayer Pagers**
Anita Maxwell G 441-6639
Duane Walker F 441-2593
Fred Jackson H 784-7490
Harper Family A 441-1648
Jane McGowan B 441-1734
Jeana Belote I 441-1791
Miranda Graham E 441-2591
Sharon Barker D 441-2344

**Military in Prayer**
Shane L. Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jackie Luong, Alan Todd, and Charlie Remaley. Good news! Jacob Roper is home from Iraq. Larry Roper shares this message: I thank everyone for their prayers and concern for Jake while he was in harms way serving our country and helping the Iraqis experience freedom and democracy. I ask that you continue to remember the soldiers and their families that remain in harms way, the families of those who lost loved ones in this war, and yes, the terrorists, that they will realize that love is the way to win the world.

To Church Staff and Members of West-Ark Church of Christ,
First, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for all your kindness, support, and your loving friendship as Christians.
Second, since I have been coming to West-Ark not only has my faith become stronger, so has my feelings and love toward people.
Once a Christian really receives the love of Jesus in his or her heart, there is no stopping the Christian. I am happy and proud to be a member of West-Ark, and I am blessed and honored to have wonderful Christian friends as I have at West-Ark.
Robert Randolph

**Baby Shower**
A shower for Isaac Payton Davis, son of Aaron & Amanda Davis and grandson of Tim and Donna Davis, is planned for Sunday, February 26, from 2:00 3:30 p.m. in the Annex. See Yvonne Pistole or Carlene Payne if you would like to help.

**LTC Sunday, February 26**
3:00 Sr. High Chorus
4:00 Sr. High Bible Bowl
5:00 Jr. and Sr. Puppets
5:00 Elementary Drama and
6:00 Elementary Drama

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Families of the West-Ark congregation have contributed in excess of $47,000 to the budget ($82,500) for the construction of a new medical clinic in Owutu, Nigeria, to be operated by International Health Care Foundation (IHCF).

In the name of Jesus Christ, the clinic will provide basic health care and education to the people, especially the children, of the Mbaise area where we are currently engaged in an evangelistic outreach.

Based on the contributions, IHCF will identify the clinic facilities as a memorial to Jeremy Harper and in honor of the 40 plus years of evangelistic ministry of Jeremys grandparents, Roy & Joyce Dunavin.

Anyone wishing to participate may deliver a contribution or pledge to Lynn Dickey in the office by February 26, 2006. Additional information is available from Gary Brown or Jerry Canfield.

**Missions Committee Meeting**
Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in the Church Library
Anyone in the congregation interested is invited to come and participate!

**Faith Comes by Hearing **
Week 6; Days 36-42
The complete 40, 60, 90-day schedules are online at http://www.westark.org/library/schedule.htm .

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Join Us for Bible Class!

In case you didnt know, our Jr. High and Sr. High students have recently started new Bible classes on Sunday morning.

It is a time of transition for the youth group. The Jr. High is moving into a new classroom. We are welcoming several new students into our group. The Sr. High has a new teacher, and we have new class material.

Chris Benjamin will be teaching our 10th-12th graders for the next 12 weeks. We are thankful for his willingness to get involved with our teens and develop relationships with them. They have really enjoyed his first two weeks of class. The Sr. High meets each week in the large youth room in the FLC.

The Jr. High group is really growing right now and we have moved to room 210 in the main building. There are about 30 in this group and we are thankful for our new room. It will allow for even more growth.

We are also excited about the addition of the Laotian teens to our Jr. High and Sr. High classes. They have joined us for our new classes and we look forward to getting to know them better.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 479
Bible Classes 322
Sunday Evening NC
Wednesday Evening 320
Contribution $16,607
Childrens Home $189
Laotian Attendance 26
Laotian Contribution $124
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 42
Contribution $205

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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