West-Ark Newsletter, 13 July 2006

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Family Lines Newsletter, July 13, 2006
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Romans 11:33-36 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

God is to be accepted and praised rather than measured by human values and understanding. When Paul wrote the letter to Christians in Rome [we know as the book of Romans in the New Testament], he wrote to Jewish Christians who questioned gentile Christian procedures, and gentile Christians who resented Jewish Christians. He wrote to a situation that harbored more brotherly resentment than brotherly love!

Gentile Christians resented the arrogance of Jewish Christians, and Jewish Christians questioned the legitimacy of the gentiles salvation. In the presence of all this ill will in the Christian community at Rome, Paul discussed some astounding principles in salvation. He discussed the fact that Abraham was justified by faith just as we are (4:1-5). He used David to prove there was a relationship with God in which God ignores sin (4:6-8). He declared the Christian can be at peace with God because of the trust he/she places in God (5:1). He said the Christian deliberately died to sin [rather than continuing to do sinful things] in order to be alive to God through Christ (6). He said the Christian chose to live in the release of Gods Spirit rather than the defeating slavery of legalistic human behavior (7, 8). He declared God could pursue His own purposes without being unjust even if humans did not grasp His choices (9:14-33). He affirmed that God was not trying to destroy the Jewish people in offering salvation to gentile people (11).

Jewish Christians could have easily reacted by saying, God would not pursue salvation in that manner! Gentile Christians could have easily reacted by saying, God loves us more than He loves you! Paul said to both groups, Do not go there! If you do, you miss the primary point of Gods salvation! As Paul explained in 12-15, appreciation of Gods salvation is to be seen in Christian behavior, not in a human evaluation of Gods actions.

Paul ended his inspired insights into Gods work in salvation with our opening scripture. In essence, Paul declared, When I consider all God did for us in our salvation through Jesus Christ, I am overwhelmed! I want to praise the God deserving of all glory! I want to declare He is beyond our understanding and worthy of our glorification! God is Godand we will never be His equal!

Does your life declare every day that God is God and we are not? Is your life a continuing worship of God? When you gather with others in Christ, are you filled with a desire to praise and glorify God in appreciation for all He has done in making forgiveness and relationship with Him possible? Does your faith depend on your understanding, or does your understanding depend on your faith?

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**Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!**
Joel Prigges test results show that he is free of cancer! Louise Howard would like to thank everyone for their prayers for her brother-in-law.
Ona Dickens is in Health South Rehab, room 236B recovering from knee replacement surgery. She expects to go home soon.
Melinda Griffin continues to recover from the severe injury to her foot and two surgeries. She is currently staying with her parents, Mat and Jo Griffin.
Geneva Shepherd awaits results from tests taken on Friday, July 7th.
Valerie Treece Elam has liver cancer. She is a family friend of Sharon Faries and a member of the Alma Church of Christ.

**Congratulations**
Gene and Kathy Monk are proud to announce the arrival of a new grandson! Their daughter, Suzanne Clark, gave birth to Harrison Bradley Clark on Thursday, July 6th. Harrison weighed 9 lbs., 3 ozs. and was 20 ½ inches long.

**Motherly Love Dinner**
Mark your calendars and sign the list for this event on Thursday, August 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the home of Margaret Thompson, 4316 Urbana, Fort Smith, 72904. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the Information Center.

**Joy Bunch!**
The July 15th, 6:00 p.m. potluck will be red, white, and blue day. Please wear these patriotic colors as we honor our service men. Also, start preparing to participate in a talent show in August!

**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.

**West-Ark's Ministry Fair**
Coming October 8, 2006
Here is your chance to discover up close Whats Happening at West-Ark? Our various ministries will have information available explaining what they do and how you can be a part of their work. Be looking for further details this fall and plan to be a part of this day. For more information, please see Gary Brown.

In preparation for our upcoming fifth Sunday Family meeting on July 30, the elders request the attendance of all deacons and ministry leaders for a time of prayer and discussion on Sunday, July 23. We will meet at 4:00 p.m. in the large upstairs classroom in the FLC.

Our purpose is Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others. We want this foundation to always be present in our family meetings. Your input and leadership are vital as we work together toward more effective ministry opportunities for our members.

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**Thank You**
Thank you so much for all the calls, cards, and visits during my stay at the hospital. The prayer pager has been a blessing just knowing that every time it would buzz someone was praying for me. What a wonderful blessing it is to be a part of such a loving family at West-Ark.
Melinda Griffin

**Answered Prayers**
In mid-March, we began praying for a newborn baby girl, Raegan Waid, the niece of Patrick and Dana Pruitt. Raegan was in the NICU at Childrens Hospital and had several surgeries on her heart. This week we received the following good news from her family and photos of Raegan, age 4 ½ months! [Photos of Raegan are posted in the Information Center.]

West-Ark Church:
There are not enough words to express our thank you for all the prayers that you all prayed for us and especially Raegan. They helped give us strength, comfort, and hope for each new day. They have also helped bring Raegan so far from where she started from. We have been home now for almost 3 months. She weighs 13 ½ lbs., and is really physically active for what she has been through. We have been so blessed to have people, family, friends, and congregations praying for us! You all are special people. It is our prayer that you are blessed greatly in life. Thank you!
Love,
Waid Family
John, Amy, McKinley & Raegan

**Last Call for Hawaiian Cruise**
Cabins on cruises are sold based on double occupancy. An additional Christian man is needed to share a cabin with a brother from the California church group. We leave March 24, 2007 out of Honolulu, Hawaii. For inquiries, call Carlene Payne.

**New in Library**
The Library space was recently expanded and the layout rearranged. In addition to the rocker/glider that was added in the Childrens area, we have purchased a 48 inch round table for Bible study groups. The Library volunteers are always adding great new books and/or videos. If you havent visited the library in a while, stop in and see all the good things that are happening.

**West-Ark Knitters & Crocheters!**
"Knitting for Noggins" -- Arkansas Childrens Hospital has a goal of 10,000 new hats for patients by November 27. The rules are simple:
1. All new material (not recycled).
2. Items free of odor or pet hair.
3. No personal information attached to needlework.
ACH says there are no set patterns and the brighter and more colorful the hats, the better! The smallest hat should be about the size of a grapefruit. Hats should be mailed or delivered to ACH in Little Rock.

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At this point, we still have about 10 spots remaining. There are several entire families who are going with us. I encourage all of you who can, to go with us. It provides a great opportunity to make new relationships.

The cost for this year is $75 and includes your ticket to Six Flags, two nights hotel, two breakfasts and charter bus transportation to and from Dallas. For more information, check out the teen website at www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/youth.

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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