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Family Lines Newsletter, December 14, 2006
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**Admiring Jesus**
By David Chadwell
 
There are many reasons for admiring Jesus.  You likely—for very personal reasons—have a reason for admiring Jesus that touches your heart.  For me, that “personal reason” has to be his enormous compassion.  For us “flawed humans,” we begin with committed “good intentions” of being compassionate.  However, we usually “draw the line” and “throw up our hands” in the surrender of total disgust when the focus of our compassion does something incredibly stupid.  When the focus of our compassion causes us pain through his/her ignorant act, we feel thoroughly justified is distancing ourselves from this incredibly stupid person. 
 
“Can you believe he/she did that?  If anyone deserved the struggles he/she endures daily, he/she is that person!  Whatever he/she endures, he/she brought it on himself/herself!”
 
After the mockery of the trials, after a sham “conviction” that sought perjured testimony, after the beating, after the crown of thorns, after the ridicule, after the humiliation of attempting to carry the cross, after the pain of being nailed to the cross, after the agony of being suspended by means of the cross, after experiencing the screaming pain of execution, Jesus made this statement (recorded in Luke 23:34):
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
 
I wonder how many times when I do something really stupid and thoughtless, that Jesus as my mediator before God, makes the same request for me.  I wonder how often when in “good intentioned” ignorance, I am an obstacle rather than a help to God’s purposes, and Jesus asks for my forgiveness.
 
It has been said that the purpose of a good education is to reveal to us the realities of our ignorance.  May I suggest that one of life’s purposes is to reveal to us our incredible ignorance?  It is only when we see our ignorance that we know we need a Savior.
 
Wisdom is not the result of how much we know, but the result of being honest with self and others about how much we do not know.  No one is as much the victim of ignorance as the person who is convinced he/she knows everything about anything.
 
The objective of Christianity is NOT to make us dogmatic, but compassionate.  No one was ever in a situation to justly allow people to bear the consequences of their own ignorance as was Jesus in his crucifixion.  Yet, in full knowledge of what God was doing, Jesus asked for forgiveness of those who rejected him in the bravado of their genuine ignorance.
 
Thank you, Jesus, for coming to this earth.  Thank you for showing us compassion when we deserved (and continue to deserve) justice.  Though we continue causing you pain, you show us love.  May you never stop being our example of compassion’s meaning!
 
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**Say A Prayer For**
(Alphabetical order by first name)
• Agnes Ely (mother of Dave Cogswell) – prayers for comfort
• Belle Wood has moved to Sparks/Peachtree Hospice Care.
• Betty Hatcher had a second surgery on her wrist Wednesday – the pins did not stay in place.
• Betty Porter has been dismissed from the hospital and is in rehab at Methodist Village, room 196.
• Jess Huff has been dismissed from the hospital and will soon be under hospice care.
• Kathy Rosalez has gotten some test results back that indicate problems with her pancreas and gall bladder. Other test results are due soon.
• Malcomb Gordey (uncle of Donna Miller, Marilyn Selby and Laura Smith) is out of the hospital and back at Fianna Hills Nursing Home.
• Marie Cook is having surgery Friday morning (12/15/06) in St. Edward Hospital.
• Marie Sutherland has been dismissed from the hospital.
• Muriel Dunavin, Roy’s brother, has terminal cancer and is now under hospice care.
• Naomi Spears, daughter of Pearl Beam, continues to recover at Sparks Hospital, room 641.
• Randy English & Family (missionary to American Samoa)
• Sharon Barker is improving a little each day and is thankful for your prayers.
• Starr Pistole is recovering from her surgery. There was no involvement of lymph nodes.
 
**Prayers for Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Dave Barker in the death of his grandfather. Funeral services are Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to G. C. Stone in the death of his sister, Mary Lela Patterson of Whitesboro, Texas. Funeral services will be Friday at the Collinsville Church of Christ.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
Belle Wood 441-1792
Sharon Barker  441-2386
Starr Pistole 441-2384
Dial all pagers  441-2395
 
**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**
Betty Hatcher
Willow Brook Retirement Center
5501 Duncan Road #26
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 452-8554
 
**New Phone**
Darrell & Christi Lynn Peters
479 478-8385
 
**Sunday Night Speaker**
Kevin Roberts
 
**Note of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Quilters,
Thank you for the beautiful quilt! You have no idea what your thoughtfulness means to me. I will treasure this gift for years to come! God bless you all.
 Love,
 Laura Yielding
 
**Memorial Given**
The Douglas Care Group has presented a donation to The Hope Chest in loving memory of Carl Wade and Carl Nichols.
 
**Military Address**
Several people have asked the Roper Family for Wesley’s address. We are happy to publish any military addresses that are given to us.  Just be sure to double check with your military relative or friend; some prefer their address be kept off of the internet.
Spec. Wesley Roper
B Battery 2/142 FA
APO AE 09366
dylansdaddy1101 [at] yahoo.com is his email address, and he is able to check it often.
 
**LTC Announcement**
We are greatly in need of a coach for the Junior and Senior High Drama groups in LTC. Please contact Nancy Smith if you can help.
 
**Ladies Retreat**
February 16-17
"Gifted by God"
 
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*****December Events******
 
**The Hope Chest Toy Giveaway**
Saturday, December 16
4th and H Streets
1:00 p.m. -- toys are gone!
Mayor Baker’s Proclamation – @1:15 p.m.
Anyone who wants to be a part of this is welcome!  We need all the volunteers possible to provide assistance, and there will be a variety of ways to help.  Plan to be at the Hope Chest about 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday if you want to participate.
 
**Iglesia de Cristo Groundbreaking Ceremony!**
Sunday, December 17, 2:00 p.m.
3505 Johnson Street, Fort Smith, AR
 
**Inner City Ministry -- Serving Those in Need**
• Saturday, December 16th
• Saturday, December 30th
December has five Saturdays, and it is West-Ark’s turn to serve the meal at Hope Park Pavilion on December 30th in addition to our regular 3rd Saturday on December 16th. If you can help serve, please call Jack Lewis at 459-0168, or if you are part of our regular 3rd Saturday crew, but can also serve on the 30th, please let Jack know.
 
**Worship Schedule**
 
Wednesday, December 20th
Normal schedule
 
Sunday, December 24th
Morning and evening worship at regular time.
Sunday evening, KFC and Youth Worship will not meet.
 
Wednesday, December 27th
Normal schedule
 
Sunday, December 31st
Morning and evening worship at regular time.
Sunday evening -- KFC will not meet.
Youth Worship will coincide with their New Year's Eve activities.
 
Church Office Schedule
The church office will be closed December 25, 26
and January 1.
 
We will not publish a newsletter on December 28th
(week of Christmas).
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
*Senior Spotlight*                                                        
This year’s senior class is one of the smallest classes we have ever had, but you know what they say, “Dynamite comes in small packages.”  These seniors have done some really amazing things! And this week’s spotlight on Nathan Davis will confirm that. Take a look!
 
This past Saturday night, Senior Nathan Davis, from Cedarville High School, was recognized with the 2007 Community Volunteer Award. He was chosen by people from the Uniontown, Cedarville, Natural Dam, Chester, Alma and Van Buren Communities.
 
Nathan has done things like: going to the grocery store for people when they couldn’t, taking wood to people in the winter when they were sick, clean or get down supplies from their attics, climbing ladders for the elderly ladies to help decorate, or helping put up the community Christmas lights for the past 10 years,  etc.
 
Thank you, Nathan, for reminding us to be "disciples of Jesus Christ who are eager to serve others.” And more importantly, thank you for SHOWING us!
 
**Happy Birthday**
December 18th
Jane Binyon
Nadia Nelson
Allie Whitaker
 
December 19th
Lloyd Summers
 
December 20th
Dorothy Harwell
Darrell Moses
Kathleen Taranto
 
December 21st
Jim Johnson
 
December 22nd
John Paul Hundley
Holland McClendon
Jim Wilson
 
December 24th
Claretta Bartlett
Debbie Belote
 
December 25th
Bill Moss
Laurie Roberts
Frances Tyler
Sheila Vaught
 
**Nursery Workers**
Morning
Flora Johnson
Elaine Hill
 
Evening
Shelia Vaught
Carolyn Hankins
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 701
Bible Classes  470
Sunday Evening 339
Wednesday Evening 309
Contribution   $16,239
Children’s Home $198
 
Laotian
Attendance 25
Contribution $161
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 60
Contribution $204
 
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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