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Family
Lines Newsletter, May 25,
2006
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**The Challenges of Difficult Commitments**
By
David Chadwell
Acts 11:23, 24 Then when he arrived and witnessed
the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute
heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy
Spirit and of faith.
The above words were written of the Christian
Barnabas. While not a perfect man (Galatians 2:13), he was an
exceptionally good man. He was one of the few Jews in his age that could
see God at work among people who were not Jews. Not only could he see
Gods grace at work, but he could be delighted that Gods work was obviously
being done among people who were not proselytes!
His exceptional commitment was obvious in four
ways. (1) He was an encourager. He helped people come even closer to
the Lord Jesus. (2) He was a good man. Knowing the Lord only
magnified his commitment to being a good man. (3) He was full of the
Holy Spirit. He encouraged Gods influence in his life. [See 1
Thessalonians 5:19.] (4) He was full of faith in Gods work in
Jesus. Perhaps the reasons for his being a good man were found in these
facts: (a) he did not resist Gods influence in his life, and (b) he encouraged
within himself faith in Gods purposes in Jesus Christ.
Some commitments are fairly easy, and some
commitments are extremely difficult. May I make five observations about
hard commitments. [Commonly, hard commitments are commitments which are
unpopular.] If a person is to make a hard commitment, there are five
stages when he or she may encounter difficulty.
(1) Simply getting started, actually
beginning.
(2) Continuing in the face of discouragement.
(3) Continuing in
the reality of opposition.
(4) Knowing when to pass the torch to
another.
(5) Knowing when you have achieved your goal.
The last two may not seem to belong in the
list. However, hard commitments are usually commitments to something
bigger than yourself. If that is true of your difficult commitment,
inevitably it means you must know when to step aside. I always admired
John because he knew someone greater than he would fulfill a greater purpose
(Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 3:27-30). Fulfilling a personal goal to be
useful to Gods purposes does not preclude passing the torch. We must
never forget that Gods purposes do not begin and end with us! For us,
thankfully, Gods purposes did not end in the first century. It is enough
to aid Gods purpose without being Gods purpose! Never be deceived by
your own arrogance! Lowliness blesses, but arrogance curses!
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**In Our Prayers**
Larry Roper's back surgery
went well. He is recovering at home.
Celia Looney has moved to St.
Edward rehab, room 5217. She is much improved!
Dave Barker is scheduled for
a heart cath Friday morning at St. Edward Hospital. Please pray that his heart
is healthy and strong and that no blockages are found.
Linda Davis
requests prayers for Connie Koenig who is going to Tulsa next Tuesday seeking
treatment for a reoccurrence of lung cancer. Linda gives Connies address for
those who want to encourage her with a card:
Connie Koenig, 3315 Mockingbird Hill Road, Greenwood, AR 72936.
Carrie
Burress request prayers for her cousins twin babies, Caleb & Hailey
Clayton, born May 18. The baby girl will be facing multiple surgeries and will
be in Childrens Hospital for several months. Cards may be sent to Todd and
Amber Clayton, 4967 Hemp 2, Fulton, AR 71838.
Joel Prigge (brother-in-law
of Louise Howard) has pneumonia following his last/final chemotherapy
treatment.
Praise! All Robin Harpers tests came back clear!
Please
pray for John Berger as he works this summer with the Church of Christ in
Leominster, Massachusetts.
**Continue in Prayer**
Joan Jenkins (Kerrys
mom)
LeRoy Null
Mary Wells (mother of Joyce Chadwell)
Myra
Flippo
Sylvia Hendrixs (mother of Milton)
**Prayer Pagers**
A 441-1648 Amanda
Daws
B 441-1734 Jane McGowan
F 441-2593 Dave Barker
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Danny Denton in the death of his sister, Betty Daily. Funeral services were
May 21 in Arkadelphia.
**Military in Prayer**
Lori Dotson, Mitchell
Bryant, Shane L. Newton, and Adam Morrissun.
**Baby Shower**
A baby shower for Tyler Dale,
son of Katherine Evans is planned for Sunday, May 28, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the
FLC. Katherine and the baby are registered at Wal-Mart Super Center and
Toys R Us.
**No Fellowship Meal**
Since it is Memorial Day
weekend, we will not have a Fellowship Meal Sunday night. Many of our number
will be traveling.
**Notes of Thanks
We would like to thank our
West-Ark family for all the cards, calls, and prayers as we move into this new
chapter of our lives. You all are the best!
John and Melody Priester
We would like to thank everyone for all the
prayers, cards, and expressions of sympathy during the illness and death of my
brother Guy. Your concerns during hard times like these are very comforting and
appreciated.
Lyndell & Venoma Foster
**Blood Drive**
Wednesday, May 31
5:00 to
8:30 p.m.
in the Family Life Center.
**FLOCK Graduation**
The very first FLOCK
Graduation will take place THIS SUNDAY, May 28th in the FLC during class
time. Grownups of all SHINING STARS are welcome to attend the ceremony,
followed by a tour of GATEWAY to which they will be promoted the following
week.
NOTE: ALL FLOCK Classes will be attending the
graduation ceremony, and then attending their regularly schedules classes.
Therefore, drop-off will be in the FLC, and pick-up will be in their assigned
classroom for that week. (Just look for the heart, triangle or
diamond.)
**Moving Help Needed**
Jane Choate is moving and
needs help loading furniture on Saturday, June 3rd. Give Jane a call if you can
help.
**Wedding Invitation**
Because you have shared
in our lives
by your friendship and love, we
Sara Jean Word
and
Levi
Edward Sisemore
together with our families
invite you to share
the
beginning of our new life together
when we exchange marriage vows
on
Saturday, the third of June
in the year of our Lord two thousand six
at
two oclock in the afternoon
West-Ark Church of Christ
900 N. Waldron
Road
Fort Smith, Arkansas
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**VBS 2006 is right around the corner!**
We
appreciate so much the response for help! It is greatly appreciated! We still
have some openings that need to be filled. Please see the list below and
pray about where you might be able to help. Feel free to contact Dena
Jenkins or Carolyn Harrell with any questions or to let us know where you want to help. There is also a list
of items that are needed either loaned or donated. Lets all work
together to make this a fun, learning experience for our kids (and us) to learn
how to Make Room for the Savior!
*People Needed:
Bakers (for flat bread and
candy recipes are easy and will be available at the VBS table)
Registration Workers/Roamers
Preschool teachers (all lessons and materials
are supplied)
At least one more Family Leader (all lessons and materials
are supplied
Family Helpers
Marketplace Helpers
Enrichment Class
Leaders
Bible-Time Games (all information and materials are supplied)
Bundles of Love (service project making baby blankets for those in need all
info and materials supplied)
*Items Needed:
Empty paper towel and toilet
tissue rolls
Trees
Greenery
Pots
Rugs
**Potluck Dinner for VBS Workers**
There will be
a potluck dinner for all adults working in VBS on THURSDAY, JUNE 1st at 6:30
p.m. in the FLC. This will be a wonderful time to gather together in
fellowship as well as to gather any information you may still need to fulfill
your role in VBS. Simply sign up at the VBS table and bring your favorite
dish on JUNE 1st! (Drink will be provided.)
**Hey Kids!! Make Room For the Savior!**
VBS 2006 is coming
soon!!
West-Ark Church of Christ
900 North Waldron Road
Fort Smith, AR
72903
Monday Thursday, June 19-22
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon (ages 4 years
going into 6th grade)
Have fun with your Bible-time family
Visit the Temple
Listen to the Storytellers
Play Bible-time games
Visit and
participate in the Carpentry Shop
Candy Shop
Rope-Making
Shop
Pottery Shop
Metal-Working Shop
and other
interesting shops in the Marketplace!
**26th Annual Fish Fry**
Mulberry Church of Christ
Saturday, June
3, 6:30 p.m.
We supply all the fish, french fries and hushpuppies.
Please
bring drinks, salads, or desserts, and your LAWNCHAIRS.
We plan to meet rain
or shine. Join us for an evening of good food and fellowship!
John Callahan
Home
6620 Slate Hill Road
Mulberry, AR
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**Family Life Ministry**
by Brad Pistole
How quickly time flies! When August rolls around each year, students think
school will NEVER end
and before they know it, summer break is staring them in
the face.
And here it is again! Summer break is about to get underway. We had a great
Teen/Parent meeting this past Sunday to discuss plans for this June August.
Over 85 teens and parents were present.
This gave us a chance to welcome the new 7th graders, update our Teen Photo
Directory and update our release forms for our various trips. We also talked
about VBS and the other main events of this summer, like Splashdown Lock-in,
Green Valley Bible Camp, and Wilderness Trek.
If you were unable to attend the meeting, make sure you check things out at
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/youth.
We do our best to keep it up to date with the latest youth group
information.
Remember, Promotion Sunday for all 7th-12th Graders is Sunday, June
4th.
We look forward to welcoming our new 7th graders and to a great summer
together.
**May 28 Nursery**
Morning
Berniece Rogers
Sharon Faries
Kristin Smith
Donna
Roper
Evening
Angela Dunavant
Denise Lusby
**Happy Birthday**
May 28
Ethan Herras
Carl Nichols
Greg Null
Hannah
Null
Lenora Word
May 29
Mark Anders
Jerry Canfield
Billy Hines
May 31
Elizabeth Harper
Suzi Jennemann
Bailey Williams
June 1
Eleanor Casey
June 2
Adam Davis
Bob Faries
June 3
David Chadwell
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Morning Worship 702
Morning Bible class 429
Evening Worship
332
Contribution $16,283
Wednesday Night 324
Children's Home $149
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 61
Contribution $217
Lao Church
(worshiped in the Auditorium)
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve
others."
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