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Family
Lines Newsletter, September 14,
2006
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**Shock and Amazement**
By
David Chadwell
This morning it is 9/11.
Five years ago today, the World Trade Center Towers were reduced to ash and too
many families experienced the agony of grief. Many people who woke up to
enter normal routines that morning no longer physically lived by sunset.
The lives of many were forever altered that day.
I suspect most, if not all of us
adults, clearly remember where we were that morning as those events
unfolded. I am sure that many of us easily remember the shock and
amazement of that day. After all, we are the benevolent, kind-hearted good
guyshow could anyone anywhere hate us that much? What did any of those
people do to deserve a horrific end? How could anyone think those families
deserved such horrible suffering?
We were suddenly and horribly
introduced to some harsh realities about the views of some people toward
Americans. (May I quickly add not everyone hates us! We need to
constantly remember that! It is just as unjust to stereotype others as it
is for others to stereotype us!) Yet, we must ask, Why do some find it
easy to hate us?
1. People who have nothing,
who live in unimaginable poverty without any hope of escaping it, often resent
us for having so much.
2. People who have little
opportunity often resent the too common American mindset that thinks the rest of
the world exists to support the American lifestyle.
3. Many people do not like
the moral values of our culture, and see American values as a threat to their
values. (Do we not fear some of those values?)
4. Often other peoples
perception of Americans is shaped more by movie exploits and TV images than real
life in this nation.
Perhaps that day what naivety
remained in the American people became a fearful skepticism. There was a
time when we as a people were more likely to think good of others rather than
bad. No longer. Now naïve innocence has transformed into a hardened
cynicism. Instead of thinking the best of people as our first thought, we
too commonly think the worst of people as our first thought.
In this tragedy there is also
enormous opportunity. If ever there was a time when we could demonstrate
the beauty of Christian peace in Gods family, now is the time. However,
we must understand the importance of living at peace among ourselves before we
can project the image of peace to a fragmented world. That requires both
courage and understanding. Is not faith in Jesus Christ the essence of
courage and understanding? The issue is quite personal for all of
us: Do I seek that courage and understanding?
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**The Wonder Working Power of
Prayer** (in alphabetical order)
Aline Phillips (former West-Ark member) is
in White River Medical Center in Batesville. She is recovering from a heart
attack.
Belle Wood is home from the hospital. Continue to pray for her as
she is treated for lung cancer.
Carl Nichols is in Sparks Hospital, room
693. The cancer in his back causes lots of pain. He does not need visitors at
this time.
Don Abernathy was in a car wreck last week that broke his leg in several places.
He had surgery at Sparks Hospital and continues to recover at home.
John
Fowler had gall bladder surgery Monday afternoon. He was dismissed from
the hospital Wednesday.
Lois Jester fell and hit her head. She is in St.
Edward Hospital, room 4405, and her condition is very critical.
Praise!
Maile McDonald went for a checkup at Arkansas Childrens Hospital on Monday. All
reports were clear!
Mary Broyles has a badly cramped disk in her back. She
will have a scan at St. Edward Hospital on September 18.
Shirley Austin
(mother of Sharon Barker) is still recuperating at HealthSouth, room 206B.
Tammy Flippo (Myras daughter-in-law) is having her second back surgery on
September 19 in Kansas City, MO.
Trucilla Suratt (mother of Kathy Rosalez)
is in the hospital at Dardanelle, AR with complications from
diabetes.
**Prayers for Bereaved**
Please
remember these families in your prayers:
Barbara Abernathy in the death of
her mother, Marge Miller, on September 5th. Funeral services were in Dallas,
Texas.
Karan Tygart in the death of her father, Luther Odell Bryan, on
Monday. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Thursday (9/14/06) at South College Church
of Christ in Tahlequah, OK.
Melinda Yowell in the death of her uncle, Lee
Brody, on Tuesday evening.
F. E. Cook in the death of his brother-in-law,
Bill Owens, of Russellville on Wednesday.
The extended Trotter Family in the death of Jays
brother, Mark Trotter, on Saturday. Jay asks that we especially pray
for his brother's family -- Mark is survived by
his wife and 6 children at home between the ages of 7 to 17. Jay and Shelley Trotter are former West-Ark
members. If you want to send a card, their address is 409 River
Oaks Blvd., Searcy, AR 72143. (We will try to have an address
for Mark Trotter's family in the next newsletter.)
David and
Annona Burns request prayers for a bereaved friend, Brenda Oliver, of Greenwood.
Brendas son, Brandon Metheny, age 28, died on Sunday.
**Military Prayer List**
Please
add Charles Hardy, the fiancé of Anna Sipathoum to this list. Charles is currently in
Iraq. Continue to pray for Wes Roper, Lori Dotson, Mitchell Bryant, Shane
Newton, Adam Morrissun, Jeff Amos, Jonathan Smith, Brian Harris, and Kyle
Evans.
**Baptisms**
Meredith &
Bethany Brown (daughters of Gary & Rochelle) were baptized Wednesday night
(9/6/06) after classes in the presence of an auditorium full of friends.
Congratulations, Brown Family!
**Welcome, New Members!**
Eric,
Shannon & Audrey Saunders
806A South Franklin
Lavaca AR
72941
Phone: 479-719-4797
**Money Baby Shower for Missionary
Family**
Meg Canfield would like to thank everyone for the great response to
send a money gift to our missionary family in Vietnam for their new baby girl.
Over $1,000 was given and sent by wire at the beginning of the
month!
**Baby Shower**
A shower
honoring Amanda Daws is planned for Sunday, September 17, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
in the Annex (this is a change in location). Lillie Eden is expected to
arrive in late September! Amanda is registered at Toys R Us and
Wal-Mart.
**Wedding Shower**
A shower
honoring Samantha Lemley Rogers, daughter of Tom and Sheila Lemley, is planned
for Sunday, September 17, from 2:00 4:00 p.m. in the home of Robin Owen, 3201
Old Excelsior Road in Greenwood. Samantha is registered at Kohls, Wal-Mart, and
Linens N Things. For directions, call Joann Davenport or the
Lemleys.
**Congratulations**
Tom &
Mary King are the proud great-grandparents of Joshua Ryan Greer, born to their
grandson Jake & his wife Tasha on 9/11/06. Jake's parents are Suzie
& Mark Greer. Jake is a student at Harding University & a member
of the Bison football team.
**Note of Thanks**
To all the
wonderful Family of West-Ark,
The beauty of your kindness is a treasure I
will always celebrate in my heart. Thank you for your kind thoughts and cards at
the death of my sister.
Warren Gardenhire
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**Sunday Night**
Kevin Roberts
is our Speaker.
**LTC 2007 Registration**
There
are paper copies by the LTC bulletin board in the foyer and a link at www.westark.org if you wish to register
on-line.
**Tutoring Program**
We need a
van driver!
Tutors and substitutes please pick
up information sheets from the Tutoring table in the foyer. Tutoring will begin
September 26 (this is a date change) at 3:15 p.m. in the FLC. After our student
induction party, please stay for a short meeting for Leslie to teach us about
the secrets in the Resource Closet of Room 210. If you have any questions,
please call Sheila Vaught.
**FLOCK Talk**
We are still in
need of a Sunday morning teacher for our new rotation which begins this Sunday
(9/17). This is a four week commitment with the lesson & supplies
provided. If you can help, please contact Dena Jenkins.
**Member Involvement Lessons for
Adult Classes**
The special series of lessons written by David Chadwell for
our adult Bible classes begin Sunday morning. The 4-lesson series highlights our
need to be involved in serving others. Extra Student copies are available in the
Information Center. All adult Bible classes are requested to use the
lessons.
~~~~~ Countdown to More Coming
Events ~~~~~
**Joy Bunch
Barn-Warming**
Saturday, September 16, 6:00 p.m. in the FLC
Come, wear
denim and red and have fun!
**Senior Game Day**
Thursday,
September 21
Noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Annex.
**Deer Hunters, Wanna Bes or
come just for the fellowship!**
Cornbread and Bean Supper, September 21, at
6:30 p.m. in the FLC.
Bring your favorite hunting pictures and/or stories to
share with the rest of us. If youre coming, please contact Paul Shirley or
Patrick Pruitt.
**Care Group Potluck
Dinner**
Family Life Center, September 22, 6:00 p.m.
We welcome to this
meeting all group members and their leader and all who would like to become a
part of the Care Group Ministry we need you!
**West-Ark's
Ministry Fair, October 8th**
**New & Improved Fall
Festival!**
Mark your calendars for October 28 from 6:30 8 pm. We are
changing things up this year by having all of our fun-filled booths Bible-based.
The kids can have fun while remembering some of their favorite Bible
stories! This will be a wonderful time of fun, food, and fellowship for
our entire church family & friends, but we need your help with the
following:
Booth Operators -- all supplies
and instructions will be provided. We need YOU!
Small Toys -- from fast
food, birthday party leftovers, etc.
Cash $$ -- we can purchase some things
in bulk!
There is truly a place for
everyone at Fall Fest.
Sign up today on the bulletin board in
the foyer and join the fun!
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**Family Life Ministry**
By
Brad Pistole
PARENTS OF 7th-12th GRADERS -
heres one more reminder about our Fall Planning Meeting for this coming Sunday,
September 17th. We will meet at 4:30 p.m. in the Youth Room in the FLC.
We will spend our time discussing
our goals and plans for the next 3 months for our 7th-12th grade youth program,
and we want your input. So please plan to be with us on Sunday from 4:30-5:30 in
the FLC youth room.
**Coming Event -- Crosswalk Youth
Rally**
Hey Guys! Good news! CROSSWALK
Youth Rally almost got cancelled this year due to some complications with
speakers and scheduling, but it is officially back on. I know this is one of
your favorite events of the year, so here are the details:
September 30 - October 1:
Crosswalk Youth Rally
Crosswalk Youth Rally will take place at the Southside
Church of Christ in Rogers, AR, on Saturday and Sunday, September 30th - October
1st. We will leave Saturday morning, Sept 30th at 7:15 a.m. We will return on
Sunday by 1 p.m.
The cost is $15 and you will need
money for 3 meals. We will be spending the night in homes with families from
Southside. Mitch Wilburn, pulpit minister from Tulsa, OK will be the keynote
speaker and ACAPELLA will be leading
worship and singing throughout the day.
There will be youth groups present
from several area congregations in AR, OK, and MO.
**Nursery**
AM: Flora
Johnson, Elaine Hill
PM: Shelia Vaught, Carolyn Hankins
**Happy Birthday**
September 18th
Madelyn Willis
September 19th
David Harwell
Andrew Todd
September 20th
Virginia Mobley
Callie Walker
Wanda Wear
September 21st
Pamela Watlington
Russell Wieser
September 22nd
Jamey Burkhart
Jordan Haworth
Bea
McDonald
Tiffany Morphew
September 23rd
Sean Doyle
Catherine Owen
Molly
Walker
Shirley Webb
September 24th
Chris Barker
Laura Beckham
Annona
Burns
Ashlee Johnson
September 25th
Melinda Griffin
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 694
Bible Classes 500
Sunday Evening
257
Wednesday Evening 361
Contribution $17,609
Childrens
Home $258
Lao Church
Attendance 38
Contribution $258
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 60
Contribution $198
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"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve
others."
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