West-Ark Newsletter, 24 August 2006

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Family Lines Newsletter, August 24, 2006
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2 Kings 18:5-8
He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

2 Kings 20:1-3
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, Thus says the Lord, Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Kings 18-20 records the rule of King Hezekiah of Judah. He was one of the few kings in Judah who led a spiritual reform to lead the people back to God. After some striking events in which he placed his trust in God, he became sick to the point of death. When the prophet Isaiah confirmed Hezekiah would die, Hezekiah prayed for an extended lifetime. God added fifteen years to his life and told him he would protect him and his kingdom throughout this period.

In these fifteen years, Hezekiah foolishly showed all his treasurers to some well-wishers from Babylon. The prophet Isaiah told him that the day would come when Babylon would take all those treasurers and some of his sons to Babylon. Hezekiah said to himself, Thats okayI will live and die in peace (2 Kings 20:20).

It is difficult to accept this truth: the significance of your life is not measured by how long you live but by how much faith in God you have. It is much too easy to use Gods blessings to curse ourselves.

If we are not careful, the older we get, the more important it becomes to declare our significance. As ability declines, the temptation to be arrogant increases. Wise is the person who is not intoxicated by a personal sense of his or her accomplishments! It is easy to get drunk on the memories of the past! It is challenging to leave the remembering to God as you use what ability you have to serve His purposes.

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**Remember in Prayer**
Carl Nichols is waiting on test results and appreciates your prayers.
Hunter Hesslen will continue on anti-seizure medication with the addition of some vitamins until sometime in February when his blood tests will be repeated.
Margie Mason has moved to HealthSouth Rehab, room 232.
Penny Path (former member of West-Ark) is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4501. Penney is on the waiting list for a liver transplant.
Shirley Austin's infection is gone, allowing her heart surgery to be rescheduled for Monday (8/28/06) at Sparks Hospital. The surgery is for valve replacement and one by-pass. Shirley and Sharon Barker (her daughter) are thankful for your prayers.
Wanda Wear requests prayer for her nieces newborn grandson, Sean Joshua Rosales. The baby weighs 2 lbs and is in Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.

**Prayers for Bereaved**
Terri Parker in the death of her mother, Georgia Cochran, last week. Funeral services were in Salem, AR.
Jackie Hamilton and Harold Stewart in the death of their step-father, Richard Cag Estes on Wednesday. Funeral services are Saturday (8/26/06), 1:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church with burial at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren.

**Military Prayer List**
Please add Brian Harris, son of Kathy Harris, to this list. He has re-enlisted and will be stationed in Mississippi until October 1st, when he will be sent to Kuwait. Continue to pray for Wes Roper, Lori Dotson, Mitchell Bryant, Shane Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jeff Amos, and Jonathan Smith.

**New Arrival**
Kylie Elizabeth Jones was born August 19 to Daniel & Brittany Jones. She weighed 6 lbs., 9 ozs. and has curly brown hair. Congratulations to Kim Layman, her grandmother and Linda McRay, her great-grandmother!

**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Church,
Thank you for the lily and the cards sent to me in memory of my parents, L.R. Jack and Georgia Cochran. They are appreciated.
Terri Parker & Family

Dear Church Family,
Thanks so much for all the cards, calls, and the beautiful peace lily. Thanks for the prayers for my sister, Minnie Ellen Mudie.
In Christian love,
Margaret Gillian

Thank you so very much for all the cards, prayers, and concern for me. I am home and able to stay by myself, with the help of a walker, of course. I can get help if I need anything here at the Village. I hope to be back in church in about a month -- since I dont have anymore hips to break. I hope this is the last.
In Christian love,
Norma Jean Breedlove

**Sunday AM Sermons on CD**
Chriss Sunday morning sermons are now available on CD (2 sermons on one CD). Please use the Tape Request forms (in the box outside the Library) and mark CD Request at the top. Each week an audio link is posted with Chriss sermon notes on the churchs web site at http://www.westark.org/benjamin/sermons.htm .

**Widows/Widowers Luncheon**
We will be hosted by Gina Williams Saturday, September 2. Vans will leave the Annex at 11:30 a.m. Call Mary, Bobbie or Janice if you need transportation to the Annex.

**Jail Ministry**
We had two baptisms last month (July). Heather R. and Warren P. were cleansed of their sins through faith and baptism into Christ. Pray for this new brother and sister that they continue to grow in Christ. Also, pray for our ladies and men who share the gospel with those lost souls who are incarcerated.
In Christs love,
Dan Cathey

**Annual Golf Tournament**
River Valley Golf near Alma, AR
Saturday, September 9
7:30 Registration; 8:00 Shotgun start
Entry fee is $100 (4 man scramble)
BBQ rib dinner included
* Cart ~not~ included with entry fee.
* For more information call Randy or Mike Coleman.
* Make checks payable to Randy Coleman Shelter Insurance, P.O. Box 2325, 1044 Hwy. 64E., Alma, AR 72921. Your payment holds a spot.

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Page 3 -- All the Events listed below are on Sunday, August 27
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**9:30 a.m. -- GATEWAY Kids and Parents
Sunday is our next celebration. We have a special treat for this rotation and hope all our kids can be there. Also, if possible, please bring a flashlight.

**10:30 a.m. -- Back to School Blessing & Worship
Join us as we pray for:
*All students, public, private, or home schooled
*Everyone who teaches or works in our schools in Western Arkansas or Eastern Oklahoma

**12 Noon -- Wilderness Trek 2006 Reunion Lunch
This is for all trekkers & their families in the home of Larry & Janice Prater. Call for directions 474-6246 or follow the caravan after morning worship. Girls bring chips; guys bring a 2 liter soft drink.

**3:00 to 5:30 p.m. -- Small Group Leader Training
We will have leadership training for Life Groups on Sunday afternoon in room 211. If you are interested in learning more about Life Groups, please make plans to participate. To enable preparation of sufficient training materials, please contact Larry Roper if you plan to attend. This training will also qualify you to be a group leader.

**ICE CREAM SUPPER**
Following evening worship on the lawn at Jerry & Meg Canfields Home
2 Chestnut Court, Fort Smith, AR
(Near Park Ave. intersection at 66th Street)
Well print a map on the back of Sunday mornings Order of Worship.

* Bring a freezer of your favorite ice cream!
* If you dont have a freezer, bring toppings, desserts, cookies, water, or sodas on ice.
* Lawn chairs and blankets are also needed.
* Come and join in the fellowship!

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**Family Life Ministry**
The Youth Group has been busy this summer with several different great events and now it's time to take a break for about 3 weeks to rest up and let school schedules get underway.

We learned this past week in Sunday school that our 7th-12th grade youth group has more than 20 schools represented in the Fort Smith and surrounding areas. This includes schools from Cedarville, Charleston, Lavaca, Alma, Van Buren, Greenwood, Muldrow, Pocola, Sallisaw, and almost all of the Ft. Smith Jr. High and High Schools.

We have been on quite a pace and it will be nice to take a break for a few weeks, however September is just around the corner and it is FULL of great events for our teens.

When you get the chance, go to the youth website at www.westark.org/youth and check out the plans for Sr. High Retreat which will take place at Green Valley Bible Camp in Rogers, AR on September 8-10th; and Crosswalk Youth Rally which will take place in Rogers, AR at the Southside Church of Christ on September 30th-October 1st.

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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