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Family Lines Newsletter, March 22, 2007
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**A Sense of Privilege**
By David Chadwell
 
1 Peter 2:6, For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
 
When I think back to 1969 to my first trip out of the United States, it gives me “goose bumps” of embarrassment.  To now realize how arrogant and naive I was then is incredible now!  I actually thought everyone in the entire world was exactly alike in the ways they thought and reasoned, but they just spoke different languages.  (We are not even alike in this country—just listen to our political wrangling, look at our divided congregations, and consider our divorce rate!)
 
To presume to tell other people how they should think and feel is arrogance supreme!  To believe your way of reasoning is superior to other people’s ways of reasoning is horribly naïve!  Consequently, people look at us (not listen to us!), dismiss us with a wave of the hand or shake of the head, and mutter to their friends, “They are Americans.”  If you wish to observe this phenomena, look at everything we do—from wage war, to seek treaties, to conduct international business!
 
I distinctly remember re-entering American customs in New York after living with my family for two years in West Africa.  A huge American flag hung from the ceiling just past customs.  Tears filled my eyes just to think of what was ahead.  My first visit to a grocery store was an emotional experience. I had not seen that much food in two years—and it was so affordable!  My first worship upon return was a jolt!  A carpeted, air-conditioned room with padded pews after two years of split bamboo seats and dirt floors “in the bush”!  Never had I appreciated life in this country as then!  Never had I been filled with such a sense of privilege!
 
When we had guests from the population area in which we lived in West Africa, I was deeply concerned.  How would they react when they saw the prosperity of American congregations?  (At maximum strength, we had six families working together.)  The comment of my brothers: “You people left this to come live with us?”
 
Hopefully, something happened in your life to make you aware of your privileges.  Hopefully, something happened to make you realize that you enjoy what many never dream about (they have never seen it to dream of it!).
 
Do you realize the privilege of knowing Jesus Christ?  Is that sense of privilege bigger than money?  Bigger than possessions?  Bigger than lifestyle?  Bigger than social level?  Bigger than health?  Bigger than death?  No matter how you live or when you die, do you count it an enormous privilege to know Jesus Christ?
 
Is it obvious you consider it the privilege of privileges?  Is that privilege reflected in who you are and how you live?  Is it reflected in how you treat other people—including your family whom you live with and your fellow workers with whom you labor?
 
We will never correctly reflect our God and our Savior unless we see each of them through eyes that see privilege!  A sense of privilege must silence our complaints!
 
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**Our Prayer List**
 
Sparks Hospital
• Jim Selig is in room 426. He is feeling much better and may go home on Friday (3/23/07).
• Roger Dicks (son of Charles & Jean) is ICU.
• Teresa Beam (daughter-in-law of Pearl Beam) is in ICU.
 
• Donna Miller requests prayers for her friend, Bobbie Michael, in St. Edward Hospital, room 4506.  Bobbie does not feel well enough for visits, but appreciates prayers. She is awaiting brain surgery at UAMS in Little Rock.
• Jean McConnell is at home recovering from gall bladder surgery.
• John Holley is scheduled for surgery Friday (3/23/07) at UAMS for an abdominal aneurysm.
• Naomi Spears is out of the hospital and back at Legacy Health & Rehab Center.
• Ron Collar (formerly of West-Ark) will have surgery to remove a tumor from his lung on March 29th in Little Rock.
• Starr Pistole (chemotherapy)
• Vela Underwood (sister-in-law of Jewell House) -- complications after heart by-pass surgery.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
441-2387 – Patty Kaiser
784-7490 – Jim Selig
441-2395 – Will notify all that prayer has been offered.
 
**Prayers for Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the following members in the death of their loved one:
• Jack Yancey in the death of his mother, Lucille. Funeral services were Tuesday at Dayton Church of Christ.
• Fran Wade in the unexpected death of her son, Paul (age 43) in Bakersfield, CA on March 17th. Please remember Paul’s family in your prayers. He is survived by his wife and 6 children (some are grown).
• Wanda Wear in the recent death of her sister, Mona Jo Quiram, in Minnesota.
 
**Prayers for Mission Efforts**
• Continue to pray for our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France
• Steve & Coleen DeLoach, Operation Guyana
 
**Military in Our Prayers**
Adam Morrissun
Brian Harris
Charles Hardy
Jeff Amos
Jonathan Smith
Kyle Evans
Michael Anderson
Stephen McElroy
Wes Roper
 
**Fond Farewell**
Jane Newman is moving to Little Rock on Friday. Her new address will be 2006 Brooksford, Little Rock, AR 72211. We’ll miss you, Jane!
 
**LTC Practice for March 25**
• 4:00 Elementary Signing
• 4:00 High School Quiz Bowl
• 5:00 Elementary Drama
• 5:00 Secondary Chorus
 
**LTC Rehearsal for Friday Night, March 30**
• Elementary Drama
• Elementary Chorus
• Elementary Puppets
We’ll start at 6:00 and should end at 8:00 PM.  Dinner will not be provided.
 
**LTC Art Work**
Please get you artwork to Shanna Davis by this Sunday. If you have questions or need help, please call Shanna.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
 
Dear Family,
We arrived safely in France and had the smoothest trip ever. We slept all the way. Thanks to all for the encouragement and spiritual uplifting. We will plough into new outreach when we recover from jet lag.
 John Paul & Ruby Lee
 
[Editor’s note: Liz Huff requested prayers last week for her friends, John and Wendy Malsby of Georgia.  Wendy had pre-eclampsia and was 33 weeks pregnant. Liz sends this prayer update.] 
Wendy delivered Catherine Lynn on Monday morning (3/19/07) at 1:15 a.m. She was 3 lbs., 6 ozs. and will have to stay in the hospital 2-4 weeks, depending on how she progresses. Wendy is doing well, but still battling some high blood pressure. I thank everyone for praying for the Malsby Family. God is so very good, all the time!
  In Him,
 Liz Huff
 
Your kind expression of sympathy is deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.
The Family of Paul Galloway
 
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**Sermons Also on CD’s!**
Don’t forget – in addition to cassette tape, Chris’s Sunday AM & PM sermons are also available on CD (2 sermons on one CD).  In addition, each week an audio link is posted with Chris’s sermon notes on the church’s web site at http://www.westark.org. If you would like a CD, please call the office.
 
**Items for the Hope Chest**
We especially need kitchen items of all kinds:
• Dishes
• Pans
• Utensils
• Small appliances, etc. 
Just place your items in the LARGE container in the church foyer and they will be delivered to the Hope Chest. 
 
**Hope Chest Work Opportunities**
We will be closed to the public this week in order to restock with spring and summer clothing.  However, there will be workers on site 9:30 to 2:30 on regular work days. Any amount of time you can give to this will be greatly appreciated.  Leaders are:
Genneil Nye, Tuesday
Betty Moreton, Wednesday
Kathy Rosalez,  Thursday
 
**Golf Tournament**
Our Annual Church of Christ Spring Golf Tournament has been scheduled for:
Saturday, May 5th
Ben Geren Golf Course, Fort Smith, AR
4-man Scramble, Draw for teams
Tee time: 1:30 p.m.
Teams will need to be drawn at 1:00 p.m., so please check into the pro shop between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. This has always been a great time of fun and fellowship.  I encourage those who are interested in playing to contact me to sign up. The deadline to sign up is Friday, May 4th. If you have any questions about the tournament, please contact me.
Niketa Stinchcomb
 
**The FLOCK STILL Needs You!**
Teachers are needed in the FLOCK.
All materials and supplies are provided. We have an immediate need for a Wednesday Night Teacher (3 years old through 1st grade). Contact Staci James, Dena Jenkins or Melody Priester if you can help.
 
**Leading in Worship Sunday Morning**
Shane Hughes, Speaker
Brad Pistole, Songs
 
**Looking Ahead to Sunday Night!**
6:00 LTC Feature: Elementary Chorus and Signing
Afterwards, we’ll have a Fellowship Meal in the FLC. 
All who can, please bring desserts!
 
Next Sunday Night, April 1
LTC Feature – Puppets
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
*Are You Listening?*
Have you ever been frustrated when your prayer wasn’t answered within SECONDS of the request? If you are like most people, the answer is yes!
 
Do you ever wonder why God seems so selective in His responses to these prayers? Perhaps the following thoughts from Charles Stanley’s "How to Listen to God" will help you…
“The psalmist said, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10).   If we are to listen to God, we must be quiet and let Him do the talking.  Too many of us, when we pray, simply read off a list of requests, get up and walk off.
 
Instead of listening to God, we only report our requests to Him.  How can God speak to us if we don’t take the time to listen?
 
Quietness is essential to listening.  If we are too busy to listen, we won’t hear.  If we spend night after night watching television, and then try to listen, we will find our minds jammed with carnal interference.  It takes time and quietness to prepare to listen to God.
 
'My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.' (Psalm 62:5)
 
That is why so many people through the centuries have sought seclusion in the deserts, mountains or monasteries.  There the noise of civilization vanishes and the Voice of God doesn’t have quite so much competition.
 
Such silence however, can be found in the quiet of a living room sofa late at night or at the kitchen table early in the morning.  The place isn’t important.  The decibel scale is.”
 
Remember the story found in I Kings 19:12?  God’s voice is still and quiet, and He is still speaking today in many different ways.  The question is: are you listening?
 

**Happy Birthday**
March 25
Deja Henry
Wilma Son
Larry Treat
 
March 26
Mike Burk
Larry Prater
 
March 27
Landry Dockery
Helen Pratt
Hannah Pressley
 
March 28
Tammy Keller
Glenda Lewis
Melissa Myers
 
March 29
Hope Evans
Forrest Hickey
 
March 30
Taylor Anders
Alyssia Beneux
Daniel Tignor
 
March 31
Chuck Combs
Harold Gouty
Lauren Hankins
Ken Hollomon
 
**Morning Nursery**
Sharon Faries
Bernice Rogers
Kristin Smith
 
**Evening Nursery**
Angela Dunavant
Denise Lusby
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
 
Sunday AM Worship 575
Sunday PM Worship 173
Bible Classes  362
 Life Groups 41
Contribution   $16135
Children’s Home $316
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 36
Contribution $209
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 60
Contribution $212
 
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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