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Family Lines Newsletter, May 11, 2006
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**A MATTER OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY**
By David Chadwell
 
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  (Acts 2:37)
 
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.  (Ephesians 4:20-24)
 
Acts 2:37 is Luke’s record of the response of Jews who were not Christians realizing they abandoned the Messiah.  Ephesians 4:20-24 is Paul’s declaration to gentile Christians.  The first had not yet become Christians.  The second had been Christians for a while.
 
Those who were not Christians reacted in terror when they realized they abandoned God’s Messiah.  The Christians were to accept the responsibility of their privilege.
 
The fear of terror is not to be confused with the reverence of faith.  Both proceed from a profound sense of awe.  Yet, the first proceeds from an understanding.  The second proceeds from a sense of gratitude.  The immature are terrified.  The mature are grateful.  To oppose God is terrifying.  To be blessed by God fills the person with gratitude.
 
Terror in anticipation of punishment is insufficient to sustain a lifetime of devotion.  Even the finest people get weary of terror and eventually rebel.  Gratitude sustains a lifetime of devotion.  Time makes gratitude deeper, richer.  He or she who is grateful only becomes more grateful as the sense of privilege deepens.
 
It is one thing to stand helplessly in a sense of need generated by acknowledged failure.  It is quite another to accept the responsibility of privilege.  Being in Christ is being a new creature.  New creatures exist by God’s forgiveness through Christ Jesus.  Realizing what God did and does for us in Christ produces gratitude.  Gratitude produces responsibility.
 
It is grossly insufficient merely to say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord!”  It is only appropriate for new creatures to live and act like new creatures.  Knowing Jesus’ identity does not terrify you before God.  Knowing Jesus’ identity makes you willingly responsible to live and act like the forgiven person God made you.
 
Thus, new creatures do not deceive.  They get over anger quickly.  Instead of exploiting people, they help people.  They speak as godly people when they talk instead of speaking crudely as the ungodly.  People are encouraged by their words instead of being discouraged.  They are committed to encouraging the work of God’s Spirit within them instead of causing God’s Spirit grief.  They refuse to be ruled by negative, ungodly emotions.  Instead they want God’s forgiveness to make their hearts tender.
 
Do you serve God in failure’s terror or gratitude’s responsibility?  It’s a matter of spiritual maturity.
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Ada Light (mother of Ben Pearson) is in St. Edward, room 5112 with congestive heart problems.
• Celia Looney has moved to room 5110 in St. Edward Hospital.
• Dave Barker will get the results of his nuclear stress test on Friday.
• Joan Jenkins (Kerry’s mom) has decided to forego additional chemotherapy treatments. The family appreciates all the loving prayers and cards of encouragement from West-Ark. Please continue to pray for her. If you would like to send a card, her address is 706 Brighton, Paragould, AR 72450.
• Joel Prigge (brother-in-law of Louise Howard) has his final chemotherapy treatment next week.
• Mary Wells (mother of Joyce Chadwell) has improved and has moved to a nursing home. She may go home later.
• Elmore Johnson (father of Ken)
• Myra Flippo still has some pain from her surgery, but continues to heal.
• Sean Snell (brother-in-law of Randi Perkins) is out of ICU and making great improvement. He is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4518.
• Tom Meacham (father of Laura Lee Angus)
• Zana Gordon (aunt of Donna Miller) is in St. Edward, Room 3317 for a reaction to medication.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
A 441-1648  Amanda Daws
B 441-1734 Jane McGowan
E 441-2591 John & Melody Priester
I  441-1791 Shawn Snell
   441-2395 (group pager number)
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the following families.
• Lyndell Foster in the death of his brother, Guy. Funeral services were May 9th in Harrison, AR.
• Jack Lewis in the death of his mother, Anges Lewis. Graveside services are Thursday, 10 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Memorials may be directed to West-Ark’s Inner City Ministry.
• Will Ed & Mickey Warren in the unexpected death of their daughter, Karen on Tuesday. If you would like to send a card, the Warren’s address is 712 River Oaks Blvd., Searcy, AR 72143. Memorials should be directed to “His House” an outreach ministry of College Church of Christ, 712 E. Race Street, Searcy, AR 72143.
 
**Wedding Shower**
A shower honoring Jeffrey Nolasco and his fiancée is planned for Sunday afternoon, May 21, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the FLC.  Jeffrey is the son of Oscar and Alicia Nolasco.
 
**Joy Bunch**
Our next potluck is Saturday, May 20, 6:00 p.m. in the FLC.  Ladies, make a flower arrangement at home with either fresh or artificial flowers, bring it with you, and win 1st Prize!!
 
**Senior Game Day!**
Thursday, May 18, 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. in the FLC!
 
**New Address**
Jim and Vicki Hardin are moving May 15th. Their new address will be 17029 Ridgewood Drive, Edmond, OK 73003.
 
**Teen/Parent Meeting **
For all 6th-12th graders and their parents on Sunday, May 21st at 5:00 p.m. in the large Youth Room in the FLC.  We will discuss plans for the ’06 Summer Youth Schedule.
 
**VBS 2006**
Make Room for the Savior!
VBS will be here before we know it, and your help is needed!  Since we’re having VBS earlier this year, we really need to know now who will be helping, so we can plan accordingly.  Please see the bulletin board in the foyer to sign up, or contact Carolyn Harrell or Dena Jenkins if you have any questions.  Even if you have already told us you want to help, please sign the board.  This is a wonderful family event with a place for everyone!  Be sure to Make Room for the Savior and get your summer off to the right start!
 
**20th Anniversary of West-Ark’s Missions**
By Jerry Canfield
West-Ark is approaching the twenty-year anniversary of its formal program of evangelism outreach (missions) to special groups in Fort Smith, to areas outside Fort Smith in the United States and to foreign countries.  In the past twenty years, more than $2.5 million has been spent in the congregation's budgeted efforts of training of evangelists and evangelism efforts around the world.  In addition to the budgeted sums, hundreds of thousands of unbudgeted funds have been contributed by members in support of the evangelistic efforts.  The approaching anniversary calls for a time of prayer as the congregation considers the doors God is opening for future evangelism efforts and the necessity for additional leadership.
 
The elders, ministers and missions committee will engage in a time of prayer (two hours from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) on Friday evening, May 19, 2006, at the building in Room 210.  While offered prayer will be directed to God's continued blessing of present evangelistic efforts, prayer also will focus on future efforts and leadership. All members of the congregation, especially young couples and individuals, are urged to participate.
 
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**Ethiopia Mission Report**
By Jim Wilson
 
God continues to work among and bless our brethren in Ethiopia.  Since 1995, the West-Ark congregation has been assisting with evangelism, preacher training, and the support of two schools for the deaf in the Southern Region of Ethiopia.  Jim and Deborah Wilson recently returned from a 2-week visit there and found the church active and growing.  Everywhere we traveled, the Christians would ask us to carry thanks from them home to the West-Ark congregation for the encouragement they have received over the years.  They are always so very gracious in their expressions of love and faith.  Though expressing their thankfulness for blessings to us, we are always ever more blessed ourselves by their kind, loving and faithful spirits.
 
God has truly blessed the church in the Southern Region with growth.  Every year we visit there are ever more new congregations and larger congregations among those that have been established for some time.  We were originally scheduled to visit 4 of the new congregations but were prevented from doing so by both weather and problems with banditry on the road to the far south.  The brethren in the Borena region have always been protective of us as we’ve come to visit.  If there are political problems or other issues that would put us at risk, they send word that such is the case and ask us not to come.  On this trip, Paulos, one of the preachers in the Borena region traveled north to Senteria where we stayed on the campus of the deaf school/preacher training school.  There had recently been several attacks on vehicles traveling in their area (particularly those carrying westerners) and he advised us not to come.  We were looking forward to visiting 3 new congregations established among the Oromo tribal group which is primarily Muslim.  Paulos and the other Oromo church leaders in that area have faced some great challenges through the years but have continued to be faithful in sharing the gospel in spite of the difficulties.  There are now about 600 Christians in 8 congregations in that area.
 
Another area we were not able to visit was about 80 miles directly south of Senteria.  A couple of congregations had been established in areas where water wells had been drilled about 2 years ago.  The brethren there are very diligent to send men to preach and teach in areas where water wells are drilled by our well drillers.  This has been a great evangelistic tool and a blessing both physically and spiritually to the people in the areas that receive new wells.  At the time we were there, the “short rains” had come early and it was the wettest time I had seen in my ten years of Southern Region travels.  In rural Ethiopia you drive either in large clouds of dust or slog through mud.  In this case, it was impossible to drive on the distant, hilly, muddy roads necessary to visit these new churches.  So, we modified our schedule and visited and encouraged some other congregations.  We still got stuck in mud a couple of times but were always able to get out with the helpful assistance of sometimes many locals who would stand in the mud and push.
 
One congregational visit took us to Arbegona which is on a high (about 9,000 feet) mountain plateau north and east of Senteria.  Churches had been established in this area about 5 years ago and they have continued to grow.  My lesson of encouragement to these brethren dealt with confidence.  The emphasis was on the kind of faith that understood the incredible blessings that God provides even when our physical circumstances are less than ideal (which we all would agree is the case for these poor, rural Ethiopians).  Often after our lessons, the brethren will take time to allow different brothers to stand up and comment either on their circumstances, faith issues, or response to the lesson.  Several spoke and one older brother I had met years ago commented on how they had been growing in the past but now not as much as before.  He encouraged the brethren to renew their commitment to spreading the gospel in that area and beyond.  We actually discussed together a distant area (a 3-day hike for them) where some of them had friends.  This is further east in higher mountains in the Bale region.  God willing, we will travel there with them next year to share the gospel in that area.
 
As in most of Africa, the work in Ethiopia has been more successful in rural areas rather than in the cities.  Five years ago, we committed to help encourage the establishment of the church in the regional capital of Awassa.  God has blessed and there are now several congregations in Awassa, the largest of which numbers 80-100 in attendance on Sunday AM.  This is the site of the Middle School for the Deaf that was built several years ago through funds provided by West-Ark.  The school is doing very well and associated with it is a computer training program.  The computer training school trains 20 students at a time (10 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon).  These are residents from the community and deaf students who have graduated from the deaf school.  The students study basic computer skills for 3 months at a time.  Every session the gospel is shared with the students and there are generally 3-5 conversions among the students.  These are the more educated, “upwardly mobile” urban Ethiopians that we sought to reach through our efforts.  God is good and has blessed our brethren’s efforts in reaching into this urban community in Southern Ethiopia.
 
Please pray for the spread of the gospel.  Pray that each of us grow more effective day by day in sharing the good news with our friends and neighbors.  Pray that our brethren in Ethiopia continue to grow in their enthusiasm for sharing the word.  Pray for each of the works that this congregation encourages around the world.  Pray that we will be open to being used by God to encourage the spread of the gospel in greater ways both locally and globally.  Seek opportunities to be encouraged by those who have great passion for the message of the Gospel and the great love of God through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
As the end of another school year approaches, it’s natural to expect all kinds of special awards banquets and ceremonies to take place. But this year, I have been overly impressed with the accomplishments of so many of our young people.
 
I know most of you would never find out about what they’ve done unless someone tells you, so that is what I am going to do. I would like to share with you some of the amazing things our teens have recently accomplished so you can see what I get to see every day.
 
Ben Neal (SHS), Courtney Griffin (UCA), and Erika Beshears (Wells Jr. High, GW) all played leading roles in recent area drama productions. Morgan Dunavin and Erika, also took part in these plays through choir.
 
Hannah Watlington and Dawson Urrutia recently received various awards for outstanding achievements in track and field. They have qualified for state competition which will take place this next week.
 
One of our seniors, Brandon Coggins, who will graduate from Greenwood High School, just received the Governor’s Distinguished Scholar Award which awarded him a $40,000 scholarship over a 4-year period. Brandon has been awarded several other academic scholarships in addition to this because of his outstanding academic achievement. Way to go, Brandon!
 
Another senior, Zach Barker, was recently recognized at UCA as the winner of the senior class “Christ-like Spirit” Award and this will give him a $1,000 scholarship to UAFS.
 
Adam Davis was recognized as the “Most Improved Bible Student” of his senior class at UCA. He scored a 91 on his final exam. We’re proud of you, Adam!
 
Meredith Brown was recently recognized with the “Christian Service Award” for the attitude and example she displayed on her volleyball team. And Andrew Todd was recognized by 3 different coaches with the same award in football, basketball and track.
 
Union Christian Academy also recognizes two individuals from each class who display “Outstanding Christian Character” throughout the year in all they do. Meredith Brown and Andrew Todd were recognized as the recipients of this award for the 9th grade class.
 
If space would allow, I could go on and on about our teens and all they are doing. Let me just say that I am so proud of all of them for who they are and all they stand for. Keep up the great work!
 
**May 14 Nursery**
 
Morning
Trish Carson
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
Vicki Anderson
 
Evening
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker
 
**Happy Birthday**
May 14
Mat Griffin III
Linda Sweeten
 
May 16
Jeff Tomlin
 
May 17
Dottie Hughes
Robertta Moses
Alice Jean Rogers
 
May 18
Therese Wieser
 Pat Yick
 
May 20
Virginia Oliver
Luke Roberts

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Morning Worship 665
Morning Bible class 379
Evening Worship 245
Contribution $16,469
Wednesday Night 309
Children's Home $222
 
Iglesia de Cristo
 Attendance 68
Contribution $215
 
Lao Church
Attendance 33
Contribution $162
 
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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