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Family Lines Newsletter, March 29, 2007
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**Often, Our “Good Intentions” Destroy Us**
By David Chadwell
 
But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
 
I am often grieved as I observe ungodly acts and deeds come from good intentions.  That definitely includes my actions as well as others’!  When we act in fear or give responsibility for our acts to others, we often commit ungodly acts with the rationale that we are acting “for godly reasons in God’s behalf.”  When I think of things I did in “godly concern,” I shake my head in disbelief and thank God for His mercy.  I also conclude we can justify almost anything we do!
 
Godly people justified killing God’s own son!  When Jesus raised Lazarus, people who were “concerned for the nation of Israel” were deeply concerned!
 
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” (John 11:46-50)
 
Israel’s religious leaders were concerned about the nation’s future. Pilate was concerned about an extremely awkward situation. Rome was concerned about controlling the Jewish people at a volatile time.  The soldiers were just following orders.  Jewish mockers (Matthew 26:67, 68) reveled in seeing the miracle worker seemingly helpless.  The twelve were concerned about the movement’s future—if Jesus died, was there a movement?
 
Ask them if their concern was “right,” and they would have said, “Yes!”  Could God’s purposes be achieved if Israel ceased to exist?  Could anything good result from a Jewish revolt?  Would disobeying orders solve anything?  Was not Jewish society better off without this divisive man?  How could there be a movement if Jesus was dead?
 
The effect of seemingly legitimate concerns produced a single outcome—an innocent man’s death.  We are deeply indebted to Jesus and to God for that death. However, the suffering and injustice was incredible!  Only Jesus saw the true irony—they had no idea of what they did!  God used it—no thanks to humanity!
 
Wonder how frequently God must act in our failure?  Wonder how often the Christ still says, “They have not the least insight into what they do!”  Wonder how often God says of us, “How do they think godless motives promote a godly cause?”
 
For "the name of God is blasphemed among the [godless] Gentiles BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written (Romans 2:24).  Never deceive yourself: Godly results are never produced by ungodly motives.  Be honest with yourself about your motives and acts.
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Doris Robertson is scheduled for back surgery April 5th at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville.
• Kathleen Nelson is in St. Edward Hospital, room 3129 ICU. She is a member of an area Church of Christ and would welcome visits. She and her husband live in Boles, AR.
• Phillip Burns is in Sparks Hospital, room 492. He is scheduled for back surgery Thursday afternoon (3/29/07).
• Roger Dicks (son of Charles & Jean) is still in Sparks Hospital, ICU. 
• Teresa Beam (daughter-in-law of Pearl Beam) is also in Sparks Hospital, ICU.
• Tom Mitchell, former West-Ark member and cousin to Donna Miller, Laura Smith, and Marilyn Selby, is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery in the Veterans Hospital, Decatur, GA.
• Ron Collar (formerly of West-Ark) is scheduled for lung surgery today in Little Rock.  If you would like to send a card, Ron and Pam's address is 17410 Oak Forest Drive, Mabelvale, AR 72103.
 
**Prayers for Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy are extended to Cathy Harris and Marie Lile in the death of Oneta Love, mother and sister, on Wednesday (3/28/07). Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
 
Also, please remember Pearl Beam in the death of her daughter-in-law, Theresa Beam, on Wednesday evening (3/28/07). Graveside service is Monday, 2:30 p.m. at Blackjack Cemetery, north of Muldrow. Visitation will be Sunday, 1:00 to 2:30 at Lewis Funeral Chapel.
 
Landon Abuzeide requests prayers for Stephanie Chow’s family and church youth group in Bellevue, Washington. Stephanie (age 15) died March 26 of cancer.
 
**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
 
**Prayer Pagers**
Dialing (479) 441-2395 will contact all West-Ark prayer pagers at once.
• Family of Roger Dicks, 441-2386
• Jim Selig, 784-7490
• Patty Kaiser,  441-2387
 
**Prayers for Our Military **
Please add Ronnie Wheat, nephew of Retha Wood, to this prayer list.  Ronnie was recently deployed to Iraq. 
Praise! Charles Hardy recently returned home from Iraq! 
Continue to pray for the men on our list.
Adam Morrissun
Brian Harris
Jeff Amos
Jonathan Smith
Kyle Evans
Michael Anderson
Stephen McElroy
Wes Roper
 
**Welcome, New Members!**
Will Domer
9329 Sherman Creek Road
Mulberry, AR 72947
Phone: 479 221-5887
Will is a senior in the West-Ark Youth Group.
 
Aric & Megan Mitchell
704 Village Drive
Lavaca, AR 72941
Phone: 479 674-3139
 
**Widows/Widowers**
April 7th will be our annual trip to Parks Brothers Greenhouse. We will eat lunch in the Annex at noon and then travel to Van Buren. Come join us for lunch even if you do not wish to purchase or look at flowers. Call Janice at 452-1240 (church office) if you need transportation to the Annex.
 
**We will not have an April Car Clinic.**
 
**In the Construction Zone**
3505 Johnson Street
Check out the photos on the bulletin board in the foyer (across from Library). Oscar Nolasco and our Hispanic brethren are excited to see the building begin to take shape. The foundation work is complete and the steel frame is being erected.
 
**Attention Novel Readers!**
These new books are being added to the fiction section this week. Since they are some of your favorite authors we are sending out the word.
• The Unlikely Allies (1940) by Gilbert Morris (Winslow series #36)
• The High Calling (1940) by Gilbert Morris (Winslow series # 37)
• A Bright Tomorrow by Gilbert Morris
• Before I Wake by Dee Henderson
• Fireworks by Elizabeth White
 
If you enjoy light reading without having to wade through bad language and immorality, then come and look over our several hundred “Christian Fiction" books in the church's library. Donations of pre-read books to this section are always welcome. It's a joy to see our library used!
 
If you are interested in sewing, be watching for ~~LOTS~~ of VHS tapes on sewing that will be added to our Library soon. The tapes were donated by Jane Newman.  ~~The Library Staff
 
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**Tutoring Driver Needed**
Starting Tuesday, April 10
2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
This driver will be needed until the end of the school year.  Call Jack Lewis if you can help.
 
**Hope Chest News**
On March 14th, a lady who had attended the church in Eufaula, Oklahoma, brought her cousins, Gerald and Sarah, to the Hope Chest.  The trailer and everything this young couple owned was destroyed by fire in February.  The Hope Chest was able to provide them with clothing and, because of your generous response to the recent plea for household items, some household basics (sheets, towels, a blanket, and kitchen items). The Hope Chest workers also gave them church literature and invited them to worship. Sarah recalls having visited West-Ark as a child.  We plan to keep in touch with this couple.
 
Hope Chest will reopen Tuesday, April 3.  Please continue to remember the needs there as you do your spring cleaning. The container in the foyer is for your convenience. 
 
**Hope Chest Needs**
• Small toothpaste
• Small deodorant
• Disposable razors
 
**Notes of Thanks**
A couple (who wish to remain anonymous) were very helpful to me last Sunday night after church.  I had locked my keys in the car.  They took their time to take me home to get our extra keys and brought me back to the church parking lot and unlocked my car for me.  May God bless them!
 Love,
 Marjorie Blake
 
**Costa Rica Mission Opportunity**
On Wednesday night, April 4, at 8:15 p.m. in Room 100, Jerry Griffin, a brother from Rena Road in Van Buren, will be at West-Ark to speak to the Missions Committee about a mission trip that members of Rena Road Church of Christ are taking to Costa Rica this summer.  This is not a medical mission trip; the group plan to do some building.  Any member is invited to attend – as well as anyone who might be interested in going on the Costa Rica trip. The meeting will not take long; Jerry will speak for about 15 minutes.
 
If you have questions, see James Word or any other members of our Missions Committee.
 
**Sparks Grief Support**
“Living With Our Losses”
Tuesdays, April 3 – May 1
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
First Christian Church
3600 Free Ferry Road
Fort Smith, AR.
Conducted by Sparks Hospital Chaplains, these sessions will include educational information about grief, and will also give participants the opportunity to discuss and share their feelings in a supportive and confidential setting. Call 441-5452 to reserve a place.
 
****LTC Announcements****
Remember to pray for everyone traveling to Tulsa next weekend, April 6-7, for LTC competition!
 
Friday, March 30, 6 – 8 p.m. in the FLC!  Sorry, dinner is not provided.
• ALL Puppets
• Elementary Chorus
• Elementary Drama (Parents, please bring your folding chairs to Tulsa – the kind you use for camping or to watch soccer events.)
 
Sunday Night, April 1
• 5:00 meeting in the FLC for parents going to LTC in Tulsa.
• 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium, LTC Feature – Puppets
 
Our thanks to all the LTC Coaches!
 
*Elementary Events*
Chorus, Shelly Robbins
Drama, Clark Risley
 
*Senior High Events*
Bible Bowl, Deborah Wilson
Chorus, Shanna Davis
 
ALL Puppets, Rochelle Brown
ALL Signing: Lynn Dickey and Melody Priester
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
The following are some quotes from one of my favorite books. I hope they bless you and challenge you as much as they have me:
 
“We praise you with joy, loving God,
for your grace is better than life itself.
You have sustained us through the darkness,
and you have blessed us with life in this new day.”
 
“Lord, you have now set your servant free,
To go in peace as you have promised.
For my eyes have seen the Light
That you prepared for all the world to see,
A Light to enlighten the whole world,
And to bring glory to your people.”
 
“Deliver us from the service of self alone
That we may do the work you have given us to do,
In truth and beauty and for the common good.
For the sake of the One who came among us as one who serves.”
 
“Deliver us when we draw near to you
From coldness of heart and wanderings of mind,
So that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections
We may worship you in spirit and in truth.”
 
Taken from "Between the Dreaming and the Coming True – The Road Home to God"
by Robert Benson
 
**Happy Birthday**
April 1
Kelli Coggins
 
April 3
Sherrell Buchanan
 
April 4
Helen Blackman
Sandy Chavis
Carolyn Johnson
Wade Pressley
 
April 5
Michael Wear
 
April 6
Ron Orick
Seth Seiter
 
April 7
Gary James
Rachel Null
Jeff Pressley
 
**Morning Nursery**
Dena Jenkins
Suzi Jennemann
Melissa Walker
 
**Evening Nursery**
Gina Williams
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 625
Sunday PM Worship NC
Bible Classes  417
 Life Groups NC
Contribution   $16957
Children’s Home $283
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 50
Contribution $216
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 67
Contribution $233
 
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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