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Family Lines Newsletter,  October 11, 2007
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**God Has More Than One Side**
By David Chadwell
 
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them (Romans 1:24).
 
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints (Hebrews 6:10).
 
One of many things that amazes me about people is this: People who should find comfort in God are scared to death of Him, and people who should be scared to death of Him ignore Him altogether.
 
Consider the two statements above.  The first, “God gave them over,” is repeated three times in Romans 1.  Paul said people must not place confidence in wrong things.   People easily placed confidence in “who they were” rather than “how they behaved.”  People placed confidence in their heritage instead of their behavior—“I am a Jew,” or “I am a Roman.”
 
Paul said no matter “who you are,” heritage does not guarantee relationship with God.  Many Romans resented the presence of “foreign gods” in Rome. They felt superior in their gods. They were confident that people who worshipped foreign gods worshipped things inferior to the Roman gods. 
 
Paul declared Romans could not vindicate themselves just by saying, “We are Romans.”  Comparing the Creator God to things that die or to things human in origin insult the Creator God.
 
To stress the seriousness of making God’s creation a god, Paul said God abandoned such people.  People belonging to the living God behave like people who belong to the living God.  The result of abandoning God, for a creature, is being abandoned by God.
 
However, in the second statement, the Hebrews statement, God does not abandon those in Christ who struggle.  God remembers godly behavior, even if His child is in the midst of difficult times. The issue in Christ always is our rejecting God, not God rejecting us.
 
The godless person living a godless lifestyle will be abandoned to himself or herself.  The struggling person in Christ will never be abandoned by God.  In one situation there is divine wrath.  In the other situation, there is comfort in the midst of struggle.
 
If you are in Christ, you will struggle.  Never take your struggles as evidence you are no longer in Christ.  Take them for what they are—the opposition of Satan.  Then take great comfort in the fact that you are in Christ.  Behave like a person who belongs to God.  Let the way you act reflect the fact that you belong to God. Take comfort in His compassion for you.  He who let His son die for you is not about to abandon you to His enemy.  God’s wrath is for those who defy Him, not for those who belong to Him.
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Ada Light (Ben Pearson's mother) is in St. Edwards with a collapsed lung.
• Chuck Combs is scheduled for outpatient surgery on Monday (10/15/07) to drain fluid that remains from his last hospital stay.  Please pray he has great results with no complications. Chuck’s prayer pager is 441-1648.
• Eleanor Casey continues to improve with therapy at Ashton Place.
• Joel Prigge (brother-in-law of Louise Howard) has had a recurrence of pancreatic cancer.  Treatment will begin in two weeks.
• John T. Smith, Sr. (JT’s father) -- PRAISE for the great news! All the lab results are back and showed that the cancer had not spread to any lymph nodes or surrounding lung tissue.  John, Sr. will see the doctor in about a month and most likely do a few "preventive" chemotherapy treatments.
• Luther Williams (father of Sonia Henry) has dislocated both knees. 
• Melissa Meeker (niece of Jeff Loftin) has been diagnosed with two brain tumors and is undergoing chemo and radiation therapy.
• Pete Mendez is in room 4420 at St. Edward Hospital.  He had a mass removed from his kidney and a hernia repaired.  He will be in the hospital probably until early next week.
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise) Rusty has returned home to Mountain View.  He will have four chemo treatments in about a month.  Thanks again for all your prayers and concern!
• Troy Risley (Clark’s father) was dismissed from the hospital on Tuesday. Continue to pray for his recovery.
• Sue Goodson (Karen Benjamin's great-aunt) is recovering from double bypass heart surgery on 10/3/07.
• Winston Turpin had eye surgery on Wednesday (10/10/07).
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Betty Monk (mother of Gene)
• Bob Williams (father of Debbie Belote)
• Jessie Moore -- prayers for encouragement are welcomed.
• Margaret Stone
• Ona Dickens -- Harold & Ona welcome your phone calls!
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Dana Turpin and her mother, Fay Green.  Fay's only sister passed away Wednesday.  Services were Sunday, October 7.
 
**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. It’s a boy!
 
**Adoption Shower**
Rick and Natalie Nelson are adopting a little boy from Vietnam! Natalie estimates Jake’s 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.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Thank you so much for the wonderful luncheon you so graciously provided for us as newcomers. The food was delicious, and we really enjoyed the fellowship.
 Love in Christ,
 Ed & Becky Grist
 Eli Hartley
 
The family of Gail Partridge wishes to thank all of you for the prayers, cards, calls, and wonderful food that was prepared for us at the loss of our precious baby, Jaylie Ann Walter.
 Jeanetta Falls (Great-grandmother)
 
**Tutoring Program**
We need candy and toothpaste to give our children at Halloween. Please give your donations to Deborah Wilson.
 
**Candy & Children’s Home**
If you would be interested in something similar to a “candy of the month” program that benefits a children’s home, please see or call Sedalia Douglas.
 
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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!
 
Let’s all work together to make this a wonderful event for our entire church family.  To Him be all the glory!
 
**Gateway (Grades 2-6)**
A teacher and helper is needed for Wednesday night Game Workshop.  Contact Carolyn Harrell.
 
**Wedding Invitation**
Charles and Marcia Dye
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Meredith Anne to Nathan Brook Thomas
son of Dale and Patty Thomas
on Saturday, October 20th
at two o’clock in the afternoon.
Springdale Magnolia Gardens Inn
501 North Main Street
Springdale, Arkansas
 
Directions: I-540 to Springdale, Exit 73 – Elm Springs Road, go east, Elm Springs becomes Huntsville Road, approx. 2 ½ miles, cross 71B. Five blocks on left.
 
**2007 Missions Seminar at West-Ark Church of Christ**
Featuring Dr. Philip Slate
November 3, 8:30 a.m. — Noon
Everyone interested in evangelism and missions is encouraged to attend.
 
**Griffin/Lankford Art for Guyana**
• Watercolor 5 X 7 barn, custom framed.
• Reasonable donation -- minimum of $20. Please remember when making donation that the cost of supplies alone is more than $20.
• 100% of donation goes to Guyana Medical Mission Fund!
• Larger framed pieces available.
• Help Guyana! (3 John 8)
• Watch for our table on Missions Sunday (November 11).
 
**Prayers for Our Military**
Brian Perkins
Brian Harris
Jonathan Smith
Kyle Evans
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
Stephen McElroy
Stephen Christian
Thomas Lara
Wes Roper
 
Please add Mitchell Bryant (son of Lisa Hollomon) to this list. He will be deployed soon.
Praise! Jeff Amos has returned home safely.
 
**Prayers for Missionaries**
• 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.
     • Dunavins, Canfields, & Harpers -- Nigeria
     • Jim Wilson – Ethiopia
 
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**YOUTH EVENTS**
 
*October 14 – Devotional, Food & Fun – 5 to 8 PM*
7th & 8th graders
Kleman home / 21 Shady Lane
 
9th – 12th graders
Brown home / 9617 Painter Drive
 
Please sign the list on the bulletin board if you plan to attend.  Transportation will be provided from/to the building for those who need it.  We will leave at 4:45 PM and return a little after 8 PM.
 
*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
 
**Memorials**
 
In memory of Leroy Null by Jo & Bob Davidson:
The Jesus Way by Peterson
Total Truth by Pearcey
Complete Guide to Christian Denominations by Rhodes.
 
In memory of GeorgeThompson by John & Beverly Lankford:
Old Light on New Worship By Price.
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
October 14
Nancy Smith
 
October 15
Bob Willett
 
October 16
Richard Adams
Parker Bailey
Ann Combs
Jerry Glidewell
 
October 17
Becky Grist
 
October 18
Shelly Robbins
 
October 19
Janice Prater
Alisha Wewers
Mark Willis
 
October 20
Kathryn Willis
 
**Morning Nursery**
Vicki Anderson
Trish Carson
Dwonne Cogswell
 
**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 618
Bible Classes 393
Sunday PM Worship NC
Life Groups 11
Contribution $15,087
Children’s Home $247
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 45
Contribution $220
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 58
Contribution $229
 
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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