Hebrews 12:1,2  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Someone always has to be the first! I remember driving out West and seeing a sign that read, “20 miles to the world’s tallest bridge.” We were driving on a very flat plain. In the distance to the right were some mountains. I thought the road would abruptly turn to the mountains--where else would a tall bridge be located? 

 

The road did not turn, and in a few minutes I saw a sign that said, “1 Mile to the world’s tallest bridge.”  Skeptically I said to myself, “Sure!  Out here in the middle of nowhere on a flat, flat plain!”  Suddenly, there the bridge was on the flat, flat plain.  How unimpressive the bridge looked as we approached it, but the bottom of a narrow canyon was hundreds of feet below it. 

 

The canyon was like a huge crack in the plain with that same level plain continuing on the other side of this short bridge.  Unbelievable!  It was the world’s tallest bridge [at least when it was built] simply because  ‘the bottom fell out’ of a level plain, not because the bridge was high in the mountains spanning some small, deep valley.

 

I wondered about the first person who saw this crack. I wondered if an adventurer going west happened upon it and said, “Oops! Where do we go now?” I wondered if some Indian guide said, “Do not travel what looks to be the easy way!” I wondered how many looked at the canyon from the west side and said, “Whew!  Thanks!”

 

We owe a special debt to those brave enough to blaze trails for us to follow.  The blazed trail for reasons says silently, “Go this way!  It may be difficult, but it avoids the dangers and disappointments of the other way.”  It also occurs to me that trail blazing always came at a price.

 

Thank you, Jesus, for trail blazing for us the way to God in the wilderness of an evil existence!  Thank you for knowing the dangers of futile ways, having the courage to pay the price, and showing us the safe and certain way to the Father.  Without your trail blazing, how lost we would be!  How wasted our efforts would be!  How quickly our dreams would become hopelessness!  How futile a wasted life would be!

 

John 14:6,10  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. ... Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.”
 

 

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**Prayers and Thanksgiving**
•Marceil Stevens (a member of West-Ark) has health problems and is now in Plano, Texas. She would love to hear from members here with notes or cards. Her address is:   Marceil Stevens, % Alice Anderson, 6407 Green Oak, Plano, Texas 75023
•Melinda Griffin will have additional surgery Thursday for the breaks in her foot. She will remain in Sparks several days for her recovery and physical therapy.
•Lola Harris, sister of Warren Gardenhire, has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Her condition is terminal. Prayer is requested for her and the family.
•Paige Wilson (wife of Bill Wilson and daughter-in-law of Jim & Deborah) is experiencing complications with her pregnancy. Prayers for the health and safety of Paige and  the baby are appreciated.
•Doyle and Judy Wright request prayers for Connie Tipton. Connie and Ken Tipton are former members of West-Ark. Connie has been diagnosed with cancer cells in the  colon.
•Louise Howard request prayers for Joel Prigge. He will be getting a cat scan Thursday and an evaluation will be made Monday.
• Frank Newby is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4421, recovering from a 4 wheel accident. The Newby family is a member of the Maple Wood Congregation in LA.

 

**Missionaries in Prayer**
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France
• Our missionaries in Laos in Vietnam.

 

**Military in Prayer**
Mike Russell, Lori Dotson, Mitchell Bryant, Shane Newton and Adam Morrissun. Sarah and Eugene Smith request that their son, Jonathan Smith, be added to our prayer list for persons in the service. Jonathan left July 5th for 3 months at Camp Shelby Mississippi. He will then go to Kuwait for 1 year.

 

**Address Changes**
Dave, Sharon, Zach, Spencer, Caleb, Christopher and Brooke Barker, 3500 Meandering Court
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone (479) 484-0333

 

Eugene Puckett
8201 Top Fork Road
Huntington, AR 72940
Phone (479) 928-4347

 

**Announcements**
Enough sponsors for Green Valley Bible Camp have been received. Thank you for your generous support.

 

As announced Sunday, donations are being taken for Lena Phomakay to help pay for expenses from her husband’s funeral.

 

**Joy Bunch Meets**
The July 15th, 6:00 pm meeting will be red, white and blue day. You are ask to wear red, white and blue to honor our service men. Also start making preparations to participate in a talent show in August.

 

**Note of Thanks**
West-Ark Church of Christ,
We want to say a special thank you to all our brothers and sisters in Christ at West-Ark for your prayers, calls, cards and visits during the time of Carl’s death. My family has been so comforted by you and the knowledge that Carl has a home with the Lord. Please keep us in your prayers.
In Christian Love,
Fran, John, Paul Wade and family

 

**Welcome Baby Carroll**
Young baby Micah Quinn Carroll was born July 4th, 2006. He weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces and has blue eyes, dark brown hair and is 21 inches long. Both baby and mother are doing just fine. Micah is the grandson of Jim and Deborah Wilson and the son of Heather and Chris Carroll.

 

**Wedding Shower**
Congratulations to Ashley Campbell and Randy Scott who were joined in marriage on May 20th! A wedding shower is planned for them on Sunday, July 9, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Annex.  The Scotts are registered at Wal-Mart and Linens ‘N Things.

 

**Bridal Shower**
A shower honoring Jennifer Davidson, bride-elect of Brent Anderson is to be held in the home of Helen Pratt, 3705 May Branch Lane on Sunday, July 16, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Jennifer is registered at Dillards, Linens ‘N Things, and Target.

 

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**Order of Worship **
The communion servers and Children's Worship volunteers are prepared for a change in the order or worship through the summer, and we want you to be informed also.  From July 2 to Oct. 15 the sermon will precede the communion.  The sermons will not be "about" communion, but the themes of the sermon will anticipate our observance of the Lord's Supper.  Sometimes it just makes sense for the sermon to precede the communion because it enhances the whole of worship. This order of worship is not unusual and we have ordered the worship in this manner before.
 
If you have children that participate in Children's Worship, you can expect that children will be dismissed for the Children's Worship during the song before the sermon.  After the sermon, there will be an opportunity for parents to go to the Children's Worship area and bring their children back to the worship assembly in time for communion. 
 
Communion servers should continue to meet outside the auditorium before worship for preparation.  You are encouraged to be seated wherever you like during the first part of worship and then assemble on the front pews during the song before communion. 
 
All of us can look forward to a reverent and joyous focus on the Lord's Supper and reflection on the Word of God.  Though the order may be changed during this period, Jesus Christ remains the focus of worship and we always gather in worship to exalt him.

 

**3rd Quarter Sunday Morning Adult Bible Classes**

 

Location  Teacher(s) Subject

 

Auditorium * Chris Benjamin How We Got the Bible
* Roy Dunavin will resume the study of Hebrews on August 6th.

 

Room 100 Kevin Roberts The Living Sacrifice

 

Room 203 David Chadwell The Living Sacrifice

 

Room 206B Jim Wilson Minor Prophets

 

Room 211 Larry Roper
  Bob Fisher The Living Sacrifice

 

Room 215 Michael Cole
  Jeannie Cole Luke
    (for young married)

 

Annex Conf. Room Phillip Burns young adults class

 

Annex Fellowship Gary Brown James
    (college class)

 

Library  Bill Dickey Acts

 

Room 202 Thomas Kweekul Lao men's class

 

Room 206A Meg Canfield Lao ladies' class

 

**Happy Birthday**
July 10th
Martha Walker

 

July 11th
Seth Kleman
Rachel Robbins
Aline Story

 

July 12th
K.J. Speaks

 

July 14th
Jennifer Dotson
Kacey Frederick
Ruby Nichols

 

July 15th
Hadleigh Campbell
Fred Jackson
John Smith

 

July 17th
Tommy Bishop
Morgan Dunavin
Darold Wear

 

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**Family Life Ministry**
by Brad Pistole  

 

Want a GREAT EXCUSE to spend a Saturday on the golf course! Well, they don’t get any better than this…and you can even make it a family event!

 

There will be a 4 person Scramble Golf Tournament, hosted by the West-Ark Youth Group, on Saturday, July 15th.

 

This will be a great opportunity for fun and fellowship with your family and friends. The 4 person scramble will take place at the Ben Geren Golf Course beginning at 9 a.m. on July 15th.

 

The cost is $50 per player ($200 per team) and this includes your green fee, doughnuts, and lunch/drinks. 

 

There will be trophies for 1st - 3rd place and there will be some great prizes given to the winners of the closest to the pins and longest drives. All of the funds that are raised through this event will benefit the teenagers who will be attending Wilderness Trek Christian Camp later this summer.

 

The sign-up list and information sheets about the tournament are located in the foyer by the Teen/Parent's Information Table. Please sign-up by no later than Sunday morning, July 9th if you are going to participate. This will help us know how many teams to plan on.

 

**Nursery  Sunday, July 9th**
Morning
Trish Carson
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
Vicki Anderson

 

Evening
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**

 

Morning Worship 640
Morning Bible Class 425
Evening Worship 214
Contribution $17,206
Wednesday Evening 320
Children’s Home $319

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 62
Contribution $214

 

Lao Church
Attendance 26
Contribution $196