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Family
Lines Newsletter, November 30,
2006
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**Just Perfect!**
By David
Chadwell
In the past, as a preacher, I
dreaded the arrival of the holiday season (the period between Thanksgiving Day
and January 2). The ads, the gifts, the stories of ideal family reunions,
and the multitude of sad stories where everything works out wonderfully surround
us in countless ways. Repeatedly we are told the perfect family not only
exists, but that it is commonplace. Repeatedly we are told the ideal
friend not only exists, but he/she is commonplace. Repeatedly we are told
the right gift makes the difference. Millions upon millions of dollars
challenge the American society to create and expect the ideal.
Why did I dread the holiday
season? I dreaded it because I seemed powerless as an onslaught of
depressed people surrounded me. For many, this is a depressing time of the
year. The millions of dollars spent in advertising to elevate expectations
create either a false hope or force people to deal with a painful reality.
Either they expect something unexplainable to happen that will not happen,
or they are painfully reminded of what they have lost. All I had to use to
console the depressed was the message (a) that there are no ideal families, (b)
there are no ideal friends, and (c) often personal desires are not fulfilled in
our physical world.
For a family who has experienced a
death, for a person living in inescapable poverty, for those victimized by
troubled relationships, and for those who have always wanted what many they
watch take for granted, this is not a time filled with joy. It is a time
filled with reminders of what they do not have and are powerless to
change.
To the depressed, overwhelming
questions crash upon them like the tidal wave that precedes a coastal
flood. Why me? What is so undesirable about me? Why do I
not have what everyone else has? Why can I not experience my
desires? Why have I experienced so much trouble and so little
joy? What did I do to deserve this?
May I make some suggestions about
making this a tolerable time of the year for most? First, be
grateful. When you take your eyes off of what you do not have and place
them on what you do have, it changes your priorities. Second, do not
minimize the agony of the troubled. I understood long ago that if I
changed places with the struggling, I most likely would be worse than
they. Third, encourage those you know who struggle. It is amazing
how awareness of the struggling, thoughtful statements, and kindness can change
perspectives. Fourth, realize we exist in an unjust world. You
cannot eliminate all injustice, but you can represent the God who cares and is
the source of hope.
Gods good news is not about
physical circumstances. It is about eternal realities.
Hebrews 2:17, 18 Therefore, He had to be made like His
brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the
people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is
able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
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**Pray Without Ceasing**
(Alphabetical order by first
name)
Agnes Ely (mother of Dave Cogswell) has inoperable lung cancer.
Her radiation treatments are coming to an end and the family requests your
prayers.
Joe and Peggy Pistole request your prayers for Andrew Brady, a
coach and teacher at Central Arkansas Christian School in Little Rock. Andrew is beginning
treatments for APL Leukemia.
Belle Wood prayers for
comfort
Betty Hatcher had surgery on her broken wrist Wednesday at St.
Edward Hospital.
Betty Porter is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4321.
Bob Williams (father of Debbie Belote) is at Washington Regional Hospital in
Fayetteville with pneumonia.
Grace Peters is recovering from surgery at
Sparks Hospital, room 492.
Prayers are requested for J. J. Fraley who is
recovering from a truck accident in St. Edward Hospital.
Kathy Rosalez has
some spots on her liver that concern her doctors. She will be having more
tests.
Prayers are requested for Lee Anne (Lowe) Goins of the Dayton Church
of Christ. Lee Anne has a brain tumor that is causing swelling and
pressure, and her situation is very critical. She is currently at MD Anderson in
Houston. Her surgery is set for 12/01/06 at noon.
Marie Sutherland (mother
of Sedalia Douglas) is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4307.
Christy Puckett
has requested prayer for her friend, Melvin McCourt, an elder of the Western
Yell County Church of Christ. Melvin has had cancer surgery and chemo. He was
not responding this morning and was taken to the hospital.
Naomi Spears,
daughter of Pearl Beam, continues to recover at Sparks Hospital.
Randy
English & Family (missionary to American Samoa)
Continue to pray for
Sharon Barker. She is on strong antibiotics which are upsetting her system.
Starr Pistoles breast cancer surgery is scheduled for Thursday, December
7 at Baptist Hospital. (Starr is the daughter-in-law of Joe and Peggy).
Tina Eudaly (Mary Burkett's mother) had hip replacement surgery Wednesday
morning.
Wendell Fenton, father of Natalie Nelson, is back in the hospital
in Little Rock. He is still in complete remission but the family is praying for
a much better quality of life.
**Sympathy**
Aline Phillips
(former West-Ark member) died November 25th in Newport, AR. Funeral services
were 11/29/06 in Batesville.
**Prayer Pagers**
Belle
Wood 441-1792
Kathy Rosalez 441-6639
Sharon Barker
441-2386
Starr Pistole 441-2384
Dial all pagers
441-2395
**Welcome, Blessed
Baby**
Congratulations to Jeff and Michelle Lovelace on the birth of a son,
Chandler Logan, on November 21st.
Lisa and Blake Broom, Samuel,
Amanda and Rebekah are proud to announce the arrival of their son and brother,
Isaac Zechariah Broom. Isaac was
born November 25th. He weighed 8 lbs 15 ozs.
**Military Prayer
List**
Mitchell Bryant, Adam Morrissun, Jeff Amos, Brian Harris, Kyle Evans,
Charles Hardy, Wes Roper, Michael Gooden, Michael Anderson and Jonathan
Smith.
Prayers for Missions
Thomas
and Kindy Kweekul are in Thailand.
Continue to pray for our missionary
families in Vietnam and Laos.
John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in
France.
**Change of Address**
Darrell
and Lyn Peters
2323 South 65th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone is
unchanged: 783-7006
**Notes of Thanks**
On behalf of the Missions
Committee, I would like to express our appreciation to everyone in the family of
God at West-Ark, who generously gave this past weekend to further the purpose of
God in this world the seeking and saving of the lost. Thank you so much. May
God bless the use of these funds to His glory.
In Christian
Love,
James Word
I want to thank my West-Ark family
for all the acts of kindness you have shown us during Carls illness and then
his death. The peace lily you sent was beautiful. All of the cards, phone calls,
visits and prayers I could not have made it without you. Thank you also
for the meal you fixed for my family. May God bless all of you.
Ruby
Nichols & Family
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**Pancakes and
Finals!**
December 11 through 15 is finals week for UAFS college students,
and the Lions for Christ plan to host a pancake breakfast each morning of that
week, but we need help! If you can come and help cook and encourage our
college students, please contact Colleen Frost at the church office or at home. We plan to serve food from 7 to 10
a.m. each morning, and we could use help for as little or as long as you can
stay. Thank you!
**Car Clinic**
Saturday,
December 2
8 to 11 a.m.
Annex Parking Lot
(Weather
permitting)
**Widows/Widowers**
We will be
hosted on Saturday, December 2, by the Gary Brown Family. Vans will leave the
Annex at 11:30 a.m. Call Bobbie, Mary or Janice if you need a ride to the
Annex.
**LTC
Announcements**
Registration fees of $30 per child are due by December 10.
They can be given to Clark Risley or Nancy Smith. If arrangements need to be
made, see Gary Brown or Clark Risley.
December 10, 5 p.m., Room
100
Meeting for all elementary students and parents participating in chorus,
drama, and puppets.
Chorus Practice
Junior &
Senior High, December 3, 4:30 p.m.
**Hope Chest Toy
Collection**
The Hope Chest is still collecting toys. It is our goal to
fill the big red container in the foyer at least one more time in order that we
will have as many toys as we had last year. Also, if you have
Christmas decorations or holiday items that you aren't using this year, please
consider donating those to the Hope Chest for distribution. Just place
them BESIDE the container.
**Holiday Open House at The Hope
Chest**
You are invited to Holiday Open House at The Hope Chest, 4th & H
Streets, on Sunday afternoon, December 3, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Join us for
refreshments and a tour of the building. This will be a perfect opportunity for
you to learn more about this ministry.
**Mission Report on Nigeria,
Kogi State**
As the rainy season ends in Nigeria, the brethren begin
evangelistic campaigns. West-Ark is involved in a special effort with our
brethren in Kogi during the week of November 27 through December 1.
Several talented evangelists from Abia, Imo, Anambra, and Benue States, together
with Dr. Robert Whittaker and a medical team from Nigerian Christian Hospital,
will work with the Kogi State brethren in a seminar to be held in the capital
city, Ankpa, followed by an evangelistic outreach to four villages in Kogi
State. The evangelism goal is to establish four new congregations.
On Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3, the efforts will move to Okpoga, Benue
State for two days of edification and evangelism with our brethren in a small
congregation established last year. Please pray that God will grant
increase from the sowing of the gospel seed.
FLOCK Talk**
The FLOCK is in
need of empty Kleenex boxes (cube shaped, please) for an upcoming project.
Please put them on the FLOCK table by the elevator.
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*Family Life Ministry**
By Brad
Pistole
*Senior Spotlight*
We are blessed to have a lot of
talented young people at West-Ark and recently, a couple of our seniors have
done some really great things. I wanted to take the time to share them with you.
I hope you are as proud of them as I am.
Senior Stephen Tomlin, son of Jeff
and Marcia Tomlin, and grandson of Richard and Emma Adams, has been a member of
the Quiz Bowl/Academic Bowl since his days in middle school. Stephen has always
scored well for the team but you would never know it, because he has a very
humble, low-key personality. This year, his team from Muldrow High School won
1st place in the regional competition, beating out some of the larger schools in
Oklahoma. That win got them an invitation to the state tournament at the OU
campus. The Muldrow team then went on to win the state title, and Stephen was
the high scorer for the team. Now they will compete for the national title in
Chicago in the Spring of 2007.
And just in case you missed it a
few weeks ago, Bailey Williams, daughter of Steve and Gina Williams and
granddaughter of Jerry and Barbara Aldridge, recently won the 7A Volleyball
Champion- ship for Southside High School. They did not lose a single game
throughout the entire State Championship and Bailey was a huge part of those
victories, playing almost every minute of every single game. We are so proud of
you!
**Happy Birthday**
December
1st
Lynn Dickey
Carolyn Griffin
Savannah Logan
Robert
Loudermilk
December 2nd
Kathy
Glidewell
Patrick Haworth
Adam Jenkins
Ralph Smith
Doyle
Wright
December 3rd
Kyle
Haworth
Tracy Risley
December 4th
Ashley
Blasdel
Azia Blasdel
Esther Gunn
December 6th
Thomas
Kweekul
Charles Wilson
December 7th
Emily
Glidewell
Christy Hesslen
Kathy Monk
December 8th
Bill
Coffelt
Jacqueline Oliver
Bob Rye
**Morning Nursery**
Melissa
Walker
Suzi Jennemann
Dena Jenkins
**Evening Nursery**
Gina
Williams
**December Communion
Workers**
Sam Lively
Ron Morton
Jim Newton
Patrick Pruitt
Billy
Yowell
Tom Beard
Mike Williams
Barney Puckett
Donald
Neisler
Farrell Graves
Stan Burkhart
Michael Wear
Dawson
Urrutia
John Carson
Brad Moore
Adam Davis
**Usher/Nursery
communion**
Larry Todd
Bill Kamp
**Attendance and Contribution
Count**
Sunday AM Worship 634
Bible
Classes 429
Sunday Evening 277
Wednesday Evening
162
Contribution $15,759
Childrens Home $233
Laotian
Attendance
27
Contribution $176
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance
57
Contribution $265
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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