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Family Lines Newsletter,  November 15, 2007
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**God, What Do You Expect of Me?**
By David Chadwell
 
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (Corinthians 3:16, 17).
 
To me, there is a significant degree of assurance to realize Christians of the first century often struggled with problems similar to ours.  The Jews were quite geography-centered in their worship (Deuteronomy 12:5, 11, 13, 14; 16:16).  The Temple was the holiest place of all places!  They were quite ritualistic with priests, sacrifices, and correct procedures.  They wore tassels on their clothes (Numbers 15:37-41) [as did Jesus—Matthew 9:20; 14:36; Mark 6:56; Luke 8:44].  They were careful about what they ate (Leviticus 11) and observed special days (Exodus 12:15-20). To Jewish Christians it was unthinkable that God would call those who did none of this His people!
 
To me it is obvious why the New Testament acknowledges the enormous dispute between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians.  Jewish people and non-Jewish people were distinctively different in virtually every way.
 
The first four chapters of 1 Corinthians addressed (in various ways) the internal divisions in that congregation.  These are the divisions noted in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.  Their internal “quarrels” seemed to focus on the person responsible for their conversion—Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ.
 
Among his arguments against internal division is the one in the text.  There was more at stake than their group and its perspective.  God’s temple that houses His presence (read 2 Chronicles 7:11-16) is no longer a building at a place, but a people who belong to Him through a commitment to Jesus Christ (read 1 Peter 2: 5, 9, 10).
 
To those firmly committed to Jesus Christ, there is always something more significant than personal views and preferences.  It is the understanding of God’s purpose clearly declared in Genesis 12:3c.  God intended to bless everyone.  He would not do it in a place, but in a people.  He would do it in His people, devoted to His character, honoring His values, committed to His purpose.
 
Paul’s statement (above) is frightening.  The KJV translation correctly notes the “you” Paul used is plural.  Christians (plural—congregations) comprise God’s temple now—Jewish Christians, gentile Christians, agreeing Christians, disagreeing Christians, people from all backgrounds.  They must not use differences to discredit God’s work and purpose.  If a Christian does discredit God by harming what is now His temple, Paul said God would destroy that person (strong language for Paul) because God’s temple is holy.
 
To me, preserving unity is one of the more difficult tasks God gives us.  Nothing about it is simple.  We are not one because we are wonderful, or can justify our behavior, or God endorses our point of view, or because people agree with me, or because our culture endorses the best and most sensible way.  We are one because we are in Jesus Christ. 
 
May God’s purpose always be our purpose.  We belong to Him, not ourselves.
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Bill Beall is recovering from eyelid surgery.  Prayers for healing are appreciated.
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert) is scheduled for heart surgery at UAMS on 11/20/07.
• Dorothy Gouty (Harold's sister-in-law & Janice Lowry's aunt) will have surgery on Nov. 26th.
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law) went to the Mayo Clinic this week for a second opinion.
• Kaitlyn Priester (granddaughter of Jim Priester) will see a specialist in Kansas City in December.
• Lindsey Cunningham, Donna Beneux's niece, is having health problems.
• Praise God! Both Marcia  Fletcher (daughter of Harvey & Sue George) and her baby son, Kale, are responding to medication. Kale is now back at home with mom and dad.
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise) is doing well. He will find out about chemo treatments on December 4th.
• W. G. Hastings (Sue's father) is in Sparks Room 530.  He has a staph infection and gout in his legs and feet.
• Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson) is recovering from a stroke.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Betty Monk (Gene's mother)
• Bill Seiter (father-in-law of Ellen Seiter)
• Bob Williams (father of Debbie Belote)
• Bob Ziegler (Aubrey's father)
• Margaret Stone
• Mary “T” Kolb
• Ona Dickens (phone number correction, 479-595-9709)
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John & Nadine Hawkins and sister of Robin Murphy)
 
**Prayers for Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Eddie Harrell and family.  His niece, Jaime Helms, passed away in Big Cabin, OK. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
 
Funeral services for Mildred Lawman (former West-Ark member) were Wednesday (11/14) in Little Rock. If you would like to send a card to Rex (he and Mildred were married for 70 years), the address is 1804 Mill Creek Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116.
 
Reece Hogan (father of LaReeca Herndon, formerly of West-Ark) died Wednesday morning in Oklahoma City.  Funeral services are Friday, 10 a.m. at Mayfair Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, OK.  If you would like to send a card to LaReeca, her address is 2313 N. W. 57th, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
 
**Our Missions Contribution totaled $178,857. Thanks to all who participated!**                  
 
**Prayers for Missionary Families**
• Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
•  John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France and Belgium.
• Steve & Colleen DeLoach, Operation Guyana.
• Evangelists and their families with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs), 441-1792
• Donna Wheeler, 441-2378 (friend of Tammy Cypert)
• Greg, Dana & Katelyn Russell, 441-2387 (the family of Matthew Russell)
 
**Prayers for Our Military**
Brian Perkins
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
Stephen Christian
Thomas Lara
 
**Welcome, New Members!**
Bob & Betty Callicott
707 Ledanna Drive
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 474-0907
The Callicotts are the parents of Ann Combs!
 
**Church Office Hours & Newsletter **
The church office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, November 22 and 23rd. 
We will not publish a church newsletter on Thursday, November 22.
 
**Wednesday Night, November 21**
Thanksgiving Eve Assembly
AT 7:00 PM, everyone will assemble in the Auditorium for a devotional.  We will not have Bible classes on Nov. 21. 
 
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**Fellowship Meals & Family Meeting**
Due to the holidays, we will not have fellowship meals on November 25th or December 30th. Our next Family Meeting will be January 27, 2008.
 
**Thanksgiving Lunch**
November 22, Noon in the FLC
If you plan to come and join us, please sign the list in the foyer. Contact Rachelle Pratt as soon as possible if you can provide a ham or turkey.  Bread and drinks will be provided.
 
**Appreciation Dinner**
Hope Chest Volunteers and their spouses are invited to dinner on November 19, 2007, 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center.  Please sign the list in the foyer if you can attend. 

**Hope Chest Work Night**
Monday, November 26
6:30 p.m. at the CURE Warehouse 24th and South Vicksburg (just north of  Zero Street Wal-Mart). We need many volunteers to help sort toys in preparation for our huge toy giveaway.  Please join us - any amount of time you can give to this effort will be greatly appreciated. 
 
**LFC Pancake Breakfast**
Dec. 10-14
7-10 AM in the Annex
If you would like to serve at the LFC Pancake Breakfast, please e-mail Colleen Frost at colleen@westarkchurchofchrist.org.
 
**JOY Bunch Fish Fry**
Saturday, November 17th
6:00 PM in the FLC
Fish will be provided. Bring dishes that complement fried fish.
 
**LFC Service Project for West-Ark Members**
Good news--our weekly Lions for Christ noon meal is now serving about 70 people each Thursday!  These meals are a great opportunity to give UAFS students an informal introduction to the Lions for Christ and our church family, to visit with our students who already attend West-Ark, and to serve lots of appreciative, hungry people a meal!  We could use some help providing these meals; please consider this as a service project for your Care Group, LIFE Group, family, Sunday school class, etc.  If you can help, contact Colleen Frost.  Thank you!
 
**Note of Thanks**
Thank you to all our wonderful church family who supported me and Sandy during the illness and death of my mother, Ada Pearson Light. The visits, cards, calls, food, offers of help, and prayers helped us get through this difficult time. Special thanks to Wilburn, Louise, Margaret, Jack, Glenda, Bob, Bill, Earl, Ron, Mat, Gary, and Kathy Monk.
 We love you all!
 Ben & Sandy Pearson
 
**Important LTC Information**
The LTC deadline has been extended until Sunday, December 2.  There will be absolutely no sign-ups after this date.  Keep in mind that LTC will be in Rogers this year and does coincide with spring break.  Several adults have volunteered to help out in areas where needed, so if you haven’t signed up, do it immediately.  We must have definite numbers as we continue to plan.
 
**“Come & Go” Reception**
Honoring Brad & Yvonne Pistole’s
16 Years of Ministry at West-Ark!
Sunday, December 2
2:00 – 4:00 PM in the FLC
 
A basket will be provided for notes and cards. 
A money tree will also be available.
Come celebrate and reminisce with Brad & Yvonne their years of ministry at West-Ark – since January, 1991!
 
**Attention teens and families from Youth Ministry -- 1991 to present!**
If you have a few photos you would like to share (we especially need groups from the 1990’s), please send them in a .jpg format SOON to Debbie@westarkchurchofchrist.org.  Thanks!
 
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**Youth News**
 
Thank you to all parents and teens for coming to the spring planning session last Sunday.  We appreciate your interest, your concerns, your vision, and your passion.  If you weren't able to make it, please know that there is always opportunity to share your ideas.  Just contact Chris Benjamin (chris@westarkchurchofchrist.org) or Jackie Sofio (jackie@westarkchurchofchrist.org ).
 
We are in the process of  working your suggestions into a calendar for the spring.  Some events will be very basic and are essentially "planned already" by their very nature.  There are other events that  we want to do, but need sponsors. We need parents/teens or teams of parents/teens to own the leadership for these events. You will get all the support you need from the office, but we need sponsors and providers.  We will send out a list of those events and ideas soon.  All you will need to do is choose a date for the event and call or email us and we will put it on the calendar.
 
The youth directory is being updated.  If you have not signed the list passed around on Wednesday or Sunday, please contact Jackie.  Also, parents and teens, if you have not been receiving our emails that give event information please contact Jackie to have your name added to the list.
 
Just a reminder that there will be no teen classes on Wednesday, November 21st.  All classes will be combined for a Thanksgiving Devotional.
 
**Library Memorials**
In memory of Darold Wear by Jay & Retha Wood
Barnabas Factory by Johnson
Glimpse Into God’s Heart by Brothers
Spiritual Patriots by Johnson
 
In memory of Gordon Wray (brother of Vicki Anderson) by Rick & Trish Carson
Galatians Commentary by Cousar
 
**Happy Birthday**
November 18
Meagan Logan
 
November 19
Jim Hall
Paul Shirley
Bill Walker
 
November 20
Dan Cathey
 
November 21
Donna Beneux
Chandler Lovelace
James Word
 
November 22
Elizabeth Gardenhire
Philmore Lynn
Kitty Nincehelser
Ouida Pillstrom
Jeff Tucker
 
November 23
Nathan Allen
Layne Downs
Olivia Kleman
 
November 24
Emma Adams
Carson Belt
Christi Lyn Peters
 
November 25
Isaac Broom
Bobbye Ferrell
 
November 27
Ana Evans
Sue George
John Priester
Rebecca Risley
Steve Williams
 
November 29
Kay Cole
Marvin Hughes
 
November 30
Lyndon Blackman
Charlie Dye
Anna Roberts
 
December 1
Lynn Dickey
Carolyn Griffin
Savannah Logan
Robert Loudermilk
 
**Morning Nursery**
Elaine Hill
Flora Johnson
 
**Evening Nursery**
Tiffany Blake
Sheila Vaught
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship  672
Bible Classes  455
Sunday PM Worship  237
Life Groups 13
Contribution   $18,177
Children’s Homes $248
Wednesday Classes 326
 
Lao Worship
(attended combined assembly
for Missions Sunday)
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance  67
Contribution  $254
 
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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