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Family Lines Newsletter, June 14, 2007
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**Holy Manners: Healthy Speech**
By David Chadwell
 
"But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8)
 
"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:6)
 
The first noticeable change in the man or woman converted to Christ is seen in his or her speech. (Consider James 3:2-12.).  The person who belongs to God does not use words, tones, or expressions as people who do not belong to God.
 
Years ago, I listened to a man explain why for years he never attended nor gave serious consideration to anyone who attended a congregation of the Church of Christ.  He said a leader in the local congregation came into a place of business obviously upset.  He expressed his displeasure with language and tones a godly person does not use.  The man talking to me heard him, knew who he was, knew where he worshipped, and decided immediately he would never attend where a “member” spoke as the upset Christian did.
 
In the early 70’s in West Africa, I used an old story as I encouraged a group of local preachers.  The story: a dying man called his sons to his bedside.  He requested that they bring a small board, a nail, and a hammer.  He told his oldest son to drive the nail into the board.  He asked another son to pull the nail out of the board.  He asked another son to pull out the hole.  When the hole could not be removed, he gave this simple admonition: “Pay careful attention to your words.  You will never remove the holes they leave.”  Years later a man who heard the story that day said he never forgot the lesson.
 
All of us say things that cause us to shake our heads later (sometimes years later).  We can (if fortunate) ask for forgiveness, but we know we can never remove the hole.
 
God uses words carefully.  He speaks truth, but thankfully he always speaks with grace. God’s grace seasons the words God’s children use.  God seeks our good even when we fail.  God’s children seek the good of others.  They let God’s patience teach them how to be patient.  God’s patience affects what they say to anyone and how they say it.  Holy manners demand we watch what we say everywhere.  God always listens!
 
Jesus once said, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  (Matthew 12:34-37)
 
Godly hearts speak godly words.  Give attention to a godly heart!  Speak godly words!  We owe that to each other as fellow Christians—and to everyone else as we represent God.  May what we say give people a good impression of God and His people!
 
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**The Power of Prayer**
• Bob Williams (father of Debbie Belote) is scheduled for testing on 6/14/07.
• Bruce Davenport is recovering from surgery and doing well.
• David Allison (Barbara Smith’s son-in-law) is recovering from surgery to amputate both legs.
• Jim Selig received a good report regarding the spot on his lung.  It has not changed since March.  He will be retested in the fall.
• Luis Mendez is scheduled for back surgery June 19 at Sparks Hospital.
• Lyndell Foster’s test results were good.  He is scheduled for surgery to remove a tumor from his small intestine on July 10.
• Marilyn Wiles (Trish Carson’s sister) is at home but still needs prayers and a future corrective heart procedure.
• Mary Francis Jackson received a pacemaker on Tuesday and is doing well.
• Mary Wray (Vicki Anderson’s mother) is in St. Edward Hospital, room 5406. She will move to a nursing home in Van Buren for rehabilitation.
• Minnie Oakley (Blake Frost’s grandmother) is having a second surgical procedure on her colon today (6/14/07).
• Retta Rodin (Gretta Payne’s mother) is still in Sparks ICU in critical condition.
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise) will have 6 weeks of chemo and radiation, then wait 4 weeks to schedule surgery.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Tillman McClendon’s grand-mother
• Janice Ford (Nancy Dockery’s aunt)
 
**Prayers and Sympathy**
Our sympathy is extended to Louise Howard in the death of her uncle, Bobby Joe Atha. Funeral services were June 13 in Westville, Oklahoma.
 
**Missionaries in Prayer**
• Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France.
• Steve & Colleen DeLoach, Operation Guyana.
• Evangelists and their families with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Lyndell Foster, 441-1648
• Patty Kaiser,  441-2387
 
**VBS – It’s Not Too Late!!**
Register your children and their friends today at the VBS table in the foyer or online at http://www.westark.org/vbsregis.htm.
Kids! Sunday morning, you may see your family assignments posted outside the Auditorium – if you were pre-registered by Friday, June 15.
Volunteer assignments are posted on the VBS bulletin board.
We’re looking forward to another great year as we all see how we can “Catch Jesus in Action!” June 18-21!
 
**Prayers for Military**
Adam Morrissun
Brian Perkins
Brian Harris
Jeff Amos
Jonathan Smith
Kyle Evans
Michael Anderson
Ron Wheat
Stephen McElroy
Thomas Lara
Wes Roper
 
*Brian Perkins left for Kuwait on June 5th.
 
**Changes of Address**
Wanda Wooster
Nelson Hall Homes #50
Fort Smith, AR 72904
 
Barry & Connye Neal
2917 Jackson Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
 
**Note of Thanks**
Dear Friends,
Thank you all so much for "showering" our family with diapers.  We are so blessed to have such a thoughtful and loving church family. 
Love, Josh and Kim Bice
 
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**Wedding Shower**
A shower honoring Jessica & Stanta Cotner is planned for Sunday, June 24, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in the Annex. The Cotners are registered at Wal-Mart. Jessica is the daughter of Ken & Lisa Hollomon. Couples are invited to attend.
 
**Wedding Announcements**
 
Because you have shared  in our lives
by your friendship and love, we
Kathryn Leigh Stewart and Kevin Allen Davis
together with our parents
invite you to share the beginning of our new life together
when we exchange marriage vows on
Saturday, the sixteenth of June at three o’clock in the afternoon
Cone Chapel, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas
Reception to follow
 
For everything there is a season a time and a purpose
because you have shared in their lives through your friendship and love
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Edwards request the honor of your presence
at the marriage uniting their daughter
Rayna Rochelle Edwards and Joseph Ray Howard
son of  Mr. and Mrs. Wilfrid Mirville
Saturday, the twenty-third of June at two o’clock in the afternoon
Sylvan Hills Church of Christ, 117 West Maryland Avenue, Sherwood, Arkansas
Reception following ceremony
 
**Wedding News**
Tiffany Morphew (daughter of Tammy Cypert and sister of Amanda Daws and Jaythan Johnson) became Mrs. Josh Blake on June 2nd. The family would like to give thanks for all your thoughts and prayers as they begin their life together. If you would like to send them a note or card, their address is:
Josh & Tiffany Blake
Trevor Morphew
3920 Wellington Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phones: 561-2455 or 462-4008
 
**Green Valley Meeting on Sunday**
There will be a short meeting at the front of the auditorium Sunday morning after worship concerning transportation for Green Valley Bible Camp and Day Camp.
The sign-up deadline for day campers who need transportation to Green Valley is June 24.  Contact Beth Frederick for more information.
Drivers are needed for Day Camp transportation.
 
**Jesse on Jeopardy!**
Jesse Berry, son of Jerry & Meg Canfield, will be on Jeopardy! starting Tuesday, June 19, at 4:30 p.m. on KFSM (Channel 5).  We can’t say just how well Jesse did, but set your VCR or DVR for multiple days! A newspaper article on Jesse’s experience will appear in the Southwest Times Record today (6/14/07).
 
**Medical Mission to Guyana**
Stewartville
June 2-10, 2007
Twenty-five Americans (nineteen West-Ark members) worked in Guyana, South America, under the direction of Partners In Progress, conducting a medical clinic for 4 days at Stewartville with the assistance of members of the local Church of Christ. Eight hundred fifty-two patients were examined and treated. Most patients were taught the Gospel and given religious literature, including many Bibles. The maximum attendance at the nightly preaching and teaching service was 162. Twenty-three people became new Christians.  To God be all the glory! See Michael Cole’s detailed report at http://www.theColeFamily.com/guyana/guyana07.htm .
 
**Camp Caudle Donations**
Several weeks ago, Nathan George spoke to us on Sunday night about future plans for Camp Caudle. If you would like to contribute to their efforts, you may send donations to:
Camp Caudle
857 SR 164 N.
Hector, AR 72843
 
**Cancelled Events**
• JOY Bunch, June 16
• Senior Game Day, June 21
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
Vacation Bible School is HERE!
June 18th – 21st
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monday – Thursday and Thursday Night
Come join us for a great week!
 
Teens need to arrive by 9 a.m. each day. They need to bring $5 with them if they are going to go with us to eat lunch after VBS. We will go to lunch Monday, Wednesday and Thursday after VBS and will return to the building by 1:30 p.m. Teens need to arrange for their own transportation to and from VBS each day. Please be picked up promptly at the appropriate times. Play practice will take place each day from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for those who are involved in the daily plays.
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
June 17
Louise Hamilton
Marquetta Walker
 
June 18
Susan Wade
 
June 19
Kaitlin Jones
 
June 20
Vivian Beneux
Jeannie Cole
Ronnie Galloway
Kerry Jenkins
J T Smith
Kent Smith
 
June 21
Leslie Frederick
 
June 22
Hayden Evans
Shelly Perkins
 
June 23
Nash Burkett
Doris Karr
Rebecca Myers
 
**Nursery Helpers**
Morning
Elaine Hill
Flora Johnson
 
Evening
Tiffany Blake
Sheila Vaught
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 582
Sunday PM Worship 221
Bible Classes 385
Life Groups 10
Contribution   $17,079
Children’s Home $327
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 35
Contribution $220
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 50
Contribution $149
 
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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