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Family
Lines Newsletter, October 4,
2007
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**It Is Difficult to Mature in
Godliness**
By David Chadwell
1 Peter 4:12-19, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery
ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange
thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of
Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may
rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are
blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that
none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome
meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is
to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the
household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for
those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the
righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust
their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Suffering is suffering; pain is
pain. Neither are desirable. Yet, commitment to God means the person
will escape neither. The enormous war in which Satan attacks God will
continuously rage throughout your earthly lifetime. Each time temptation
assaults you, you are the battlefield. Committing to Gods values
guarantees you Satan will cause you suffering and pain at every
opportunity.
He or she who dares to give life
to God lives in the tension. The tension pulls us between the
attractions, the pleasures, or the promises of physical well-being and the
investment of physical existence in Gods values. Understanding the
tension is relatively simple. Do we invest in physical existence, or do
we invest in eternal existence?
Through suffering and pain God
created our Savior. Through suffering and pain God saves us. It should not
be surprising that the things which cause Gods rejoicing cause Satans
rage. The person daring to live for Gods values dares to enrage
Satan.
We should be comforted by
understanding this always has been true among Gods people. The first
Christians knew the tension. Peter told them three things. (1)
Rejoice when you suffer for Gods values. (2) Never have reason to suffer
for Satans values. (3) Never be ashamed to suffer for Gods
values.
The issue is never, Will I
suffer? Our choice is not this: to suffer or not to suffer. As a
Christian, our choice is this: With what attitude will I suffer?
The most common statement I hear
from Christian sufferers is, It is just not fair! Belonging to God has
never been about what is fair. It always has been about grace.
Grace saves us, and we are saved to reflect grace.
Hebrews 11:13-16, All these
died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having
welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and
exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are
seeking a country of their own.
But as it is, they desire a better
country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
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**In Our Thoughts and
Prayers**
Dolores (sister of Donna Hannah) had surgery last Friday and is
not doing well.
Eleanor Casey continues to improve with therapy at Ashton
Place.
John T. Smith, Sr. (JTs father) is scheduled for lung cancer
surgery on October 6th.
Rusty Howards surgery went well. He will remain
in the hospital about a week, and then in a month have a series of 4 chemo
treatments. Rusty is the son of Wilburn and Louise Howard.
Troy Risley
(Clarks father) was dismissed from the hospital on Tuesday. Continue to pray
for his recovery.
Sue Goodson (Karen Benjamin's great-aunt) had double
bypass heart surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock on
Wednesday.
**Continued Prayers**
Aline Story (mother of
Farrell Graves)
Betty Monk (Genes mother)
Bob Williams (father of
Debbie Belote)
Casey Oliver
Chuck Combs (prayer pager 441-1648)
Connie Hixson
Ona Dickens
Palmer Richardson (daughter of Scott
& LoriAnn, former West-Ark members)
Patty Kaiser
Ryan Dockery
Tom Mitchell (former member and cousin of Donna Miller, Marilyn Selby, and
Laura Smith)
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love and sympathy is
extended to Ed Grist in the death of his uncle, Jesse Swafford, on Wednesday
morning. Please pray for comfort and travel safety for the family during this
time.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Jeanetta Falls in
the death of her great-granddaughter, Jaylie Walters, on Tuesday.
Graveside services will be Friday at 1:00 PM at Barling
Cemetery.
**Baptism**
Dalton Stancil was baptized into Christ
on 9/26/07 by Brad Pistole. Were proud of you, Dalton!
**Hope Chest News**
On
reopening day, Wednesday, October 3, your generosity made it possible for the
Hope Chest to serve approximately 90 households, with the combined total of
family members being more than 300.
A special thank you to everyone who
helped with the restocking for fall/winter. The "housewares" room is in
need of useable items. If you have used it in your house, we can distribute it
to someone else. Just place those items in the container in the
foyer. PLEASE HOLD THE PLASTIC BAGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
**Wednesday Night Mens Class,
Room 206B**
Were beginning a new study, "The Measure of a Man." This is a
practical life study in helping men walk and grow in godly maturity as they live
in today's world.
**Baby Shower**
A baby
shower for Stephanie and Randy Moss is planned for Sunday, October 14, from 2:00
to 4:00 PM in the home of Richard Branum, 2623 South Waldron Road. The
Mosses are registered at Penney's and Wal-Mart. Men are invited to attend. Its
a boy!
**Adoption Shower**
Rick and Natalie Nelson are adopting
a little boy from Vietnam! Natalie estimates Jakes clothing size will be 24
months to 2T. A shower for the Nelsons is planned on October 14, 2:00 to 3:30 PM
in the Annex. Natalie has registered at Toys R Us.
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**JOY BUNCH **
Costume Party on
Saturday, October 20!!! Prizes will be awarded for best male, female, and
couple costumes. Candid snapshots will be taken throughout the evening for the
scrapbook. Plan to join the fun at 6 p.m. in the FLC.
**Fall Festival Date Change!!
**
Due to a scheduling conflict, Fall Fest has been changed to Saturday,
October 27, 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
If we do not have more booth
volunteers, however, this event will have to be cancelled. Please sign the
list posted on the bulletin board in the foyer (opposite Library). There are
many ways to help: work a booth, bake/bring finger foods, bags of candy, donate
small toys, or donate cash so we can buy in bulk!
Lets all work together to make
this a wonderful event for our entire church family. To Him be all the
glory!
**Missing from the FLOCK**
Two
CD players and an
a cappella CD are missing from the FLOCK area. If you
borrowed them, please either return them to Dena Jenkins or let her know you
have them.
**Car Clinic**
Saturday,
October 6
8 to 11 AM at the Annex
Its time to get your car ready
for winter!
**Widows/Widowers**
We will be
hosted by the teens at noon, Saturday, October 6, in the Annex. They will be
serving BREAKFAST FOR LUNCH. Take advantage of this time to get to know
our teens. Call Bobbie or Mary if you need
transportation to the Annex.
**Tutoring Program**
We need
one more tutor by Tuesday, October 9. We also need more substitute tutors.
Contact Sheila Vaught if you can help.
**Note of Thanks**
To the
West-Ark Church Family:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my
heartfelt gratitude for the generous donations you have made to our Homeless
Education Program. The children we serve have benefited greatly from your
wonderful contribution.
Sincerely
Jeanne Carroll
FSPS Homeless
Liaison
**Prayers for Our
Military**
Brian Perkins
Brian Harris
Jeff Amos
Jonathan
Smith
Kyle Evans
Mike Gooden
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
Stephen
McElroy
Stephen Christian
Thomas Lara
Wes Roper
**Prayers
for Nigerian Trip**
Roy and Joyce Dunavin
Mitch, Robin, Elizabeth and
Chandler Harper
Bud and Jo Harper
Meg and Jerry Canfield
Please pray
for the safety of the families listed above during the next few weeks. The
purpose of their trip is to dedicate the completion of the medical clinic in
MBaise, Nigeria. The clinic is in memory of Jeremy Harper. Many church members
donated to the clinic building and supplies, a house and furnishings, and a
vehicle for the clinic use.
**Missionaries in Prayer**
Jim & Deborah Wilson are visiting in Laos.
Our missionary families in
Vietnam and Laos.
John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in Belgium & France.
Steve
& Colleen DeLoach, Operation Guyana.
Evangelists and their families
with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
**New FLC Codes**
New codes
have been installed for the Family Life Center. Call Lynn if you need an access
code.
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**COMING YOUTH
EVENTS**
October 6 Junior and Senior
High
Widows/Widowers Luncheon / Mike & Mary Burkett
Annex / 10
AM
Bring bag of individually wrapped
candies
October 14 Junior and Senior
High
Devotional / Gary & Rochelle Brown
October 20-21 Senior
High
Eureka Springs Passion Play / J T & Nancy Smith
October 27 Junior High
Fall
Festival (Work Booths)
Dena Jenkins & Tiffany Null
October 27 Senior
High
Hayride at Martins
Gary & Rochelle Brown
Scott & Kathy
Martin
**Serving at the Lord's Table in
October**
Tom Beard
Stan Burkhart
Charley Douglas
Farrell
Graves
Mark Hite
Sam Lively
Ron Moreton
Don Neisler
Brent
Perkins
John Priester
Patrick Pruitt
Barney Puckett
Larry
Roper
Daniel Tignor
Andrew Todd
Mike Williams
Billy
Yowell
**Happy Birthday**
October 7
Andrew
Heras
Migdalia Mendez
Dawson Urrutia
Carl Wood
October 8
Gertrude
Mize
Kevin Roberts
Neil Roberts
October 9
Jeanetta
Falls
Cecil Henry
Eugene Puckett
Billy Yowell
October 10
Harold
Binyon
Kevin Vaught
October 11
Ellen
Seiter
October 12
Berniece
Rogers
October 13
Sheila
Bailey
Taylor Hankins
Hannah Watlington
**Morning Nursery**
Dena
Jenkins
Suzie Jennemann
Melissa Walker
**Evening Nursery**
Gina
Williams
Tammy Cypert
**Attendance and Contribution
Count**
Sunday AM Worship 620
Bible Classes 442
Sunday PM Worship 274
Contribution $20,359
Childrens Home $174
**Lao Worship**
Attendance
44
Contribution $313
**Iglesia de Cristo
**
Attendance 60
Contribution $190
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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