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Family Lines Newsletter, November 29, 2007
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**God In Christ Can Make Us New!**
By David Chadwell
 
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.  (Colossians 3:5-11)
 
As we get older, life changes and takes on new qualities.  Whatever you used in the past to measure the significance of your life becomes less meaningful, less important.  You begin realizing that your life is coming to its close.  All the medicine, all the surgery, all the technical advances in our physical world cannot keep physical life from ending.
 
In the past you acknowledged the things God did and does.  He created, He can renew, and He sustains what He renews.  He created—He made physical existence possible.  He renews—He can make it possible for anyone to begin again in Christ.  He sustains—with His grace and mercy, He can make anyone His continually.
 
It is only as you get older that you are filled with a new sense of awe at the incredible things God does.  As we become increasingly powerless, we see from different perspectives the awesome things God does.  The “beginning again” of anyone—privileged or not, educated or not, free or not—is truly remarkable.  Regardless of what a mess you made of your past, regardless of how poor your focus was, regardless of how stupid your past choices were, in Jesus Christ you can begin again—incredible!
 
What God did and does in Christ is so “mind blowing” it is beyond our comprehension.  In Christ’s death, God paid the full price of our renewal.  In Christ’s resurrection, God assured us that He is more powerful than physical death, that the end of the physical is not “the end.”  The fact the He can take that which was created in His image, trashed and marred beyond recognition, and create again men and women who can reflect Him is beyond our imagination.  The fact that He can sustain them in all their human weakness really reveals what faith is all about.  (Do you trust God to do what He promised to do?)
 
And what does He want from us?  He wants us to become what He remade us to be.  Why?  So we can reflect Him.  The objective is to see us and glorify God because God made us what we are.  Read Matthew 9:1-8 and pay special attention to verse 8.  Then read Matthew 5:16.  Consider 2 Corinthians 9:13.
 
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Bill Seiter (father-in-law of Ellen Seiter) is healing well and was dismissed from rehab on Monday.
• Bill Dickey is scheduled to receive a pacemaker tomorrow (11/30/07) at Sparks Hospital. He will stay overnight.
• Bob & Norma Williams (parents of Debbie Belote) – for Bob’s health and Norma as she takes cares of him.
• Bob Ziegler (Aubrey's father)
• Clark Risley is scheduled for a lung biopsy early next week. He may have an infection or fungus.
• Dorothy Gouty (Harold's sister-in-law & Janice Lowry's aunt) is recovering from surgery. The doctor said no cancer was found in the lymph glands. She will not need chemo or radiation treatments.
• Guy Taranto (son of Kathleen and brother of Meg Canfield) was in a very serious car accident the week of Thanksgiving. He is recovering in a rehab hospital in Paris, TX. 
• Isaac Broom (who turned 1 year old on Nov. 25) will have an ultrasound of his heart on Dec. 4th. His family is very concerned and request your prayers.
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law)
• Kathy Rosalez requests prayers for her parents, Charlie & Trucilla Surratt, who are both ill.
• Margaret Stone
• Mary “T” Kolb
• Nadine Hawkins was admitted to the hospital last weekend and treated for pneumonia.  She got to go home yesterday.
• Ona Dickens
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise)
• Troy Risley (Clark’s father) is doing well. He will begin radiation treatments soon.
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John & Nadine Hawkins and sister of Robin Murphy)
• W. G. Hastings (Sue's father)
 
Prayer Pagers
• Donna Wheeler, friend of Tammy Cypert, 441-2378
• Greg, Dena & Caitlyn Russell, 441-2387
• Bob Callicott, 441-1792
 
**Welcome, Blessed Babies**
Rhett Masterson Moss was born November 18th to Randy & Stephanie Moss. He weighed 7 lbs. 7 ozs. and was 21 inches long. Congratulations to the happy grandparents, Bill & Margaret Moss and Julie Wilson!
 
Rhiannon Michelle Moses was born November 21st to Greg & Angelique (Cole) Moses in Dallas, TX. She weighed 5 lbs. 13.5 ozs. and was 19 ¾ inches long. Rhiannon is welcomed by big brother, Corbin. Congratulations to the delighted grandparents, Michael & Jeannie Cole and Darrell & Robertta Moses.
 
Elise Ann Jennemann was born November 23rd to Stephen & Suzi Jennemann. She weighed 8lbs. 4 ozs. and is 20" long.  Abigail is now a big sister!
 
**40th Birthday Celebration**
You're invited to celebrate Christy Hesslen's 40th birthday on Friday, December 7 at 7 PM in the FLC. Everyone is welcome; no gifts please.
 
**THE HOPE CHEST WORK NIGHT**
at 4th & H Sts. on Thursday, December 13
6:30 - 8:30 PM
There are 14 large containers of toys to be displayed in preparation for our Toy Giveaway on December 15!
If our work is not completed that night, then we will be working again on Friday during the day.  It will take lots of hands to accomplish this task.  Please plan to give some time to this project.  If you can't stay the entire work time, just give an hour, two hours, whatever - any time will be very helpful. We will also need volunteers to help with the giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 15th.
If you have further questions, please contact Linda Davis. Thanks to the great number of people who helped sort the toys last week at the C.U.R.E. warehouse.  You are appreciated!
 
**Housewarming/Wedding Shower**
Honoring Brandon & Amanda Daws
Saturday, December 8
3-5 PM in the Annex
This is the couple’s first shower due to Brandon’s military service in Iraq. They are registered at Wal-Mart.
 
**FLOCK Needs**
We need shoeboxes with detached lids.  Please leave them at the Flock Information Station.
 
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**Record Contribution Matched on Missions Sunday**
The members of the congregation who serve on the Missions Committee again express their appreciation to the congregation for the special missions contribution taken on November 11.  The giving essentially matched the November, 2006 historic high for the special contribution. The West-Ark congregation should be commended for continued generous support of evangelistic efforts in important areas of the world. The congregation is now twenty-plus years into planned efforts to encourage the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in areas additional to the Fort Smith area, and the sustaining of those efforts is possible only by God working through the Church here.  The committee especially appreciates the efforts of Melody & John Priester and Julie & Daniel Tignor in preparing missions week information and activities.
 
The Missions Committee looks forward to the administration of the budget programs during the 2008 year.  Although the contribution did not fully fund the work planned by Levi and Sarah Word Sisemore for Brenal, Siberia, Russia, all contributions made specifically for that work will be restricted for that use, and we will continue to seek means to encourage their planned 2009 departure for Siberia.
 
Please pray daily for the brethren around the world with whom we have fellowship.  Members of the committee have recently visited the congregation's areas of service in Guyana, Ethiopia, Laos, and Nigeria. Additional trips are planned in late January for Thailand and Vietnam. Your continued interest, prayers, and contributions are desired and appreciated.
 
**Prayers for Missionaries**
• 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.
 
**Prayers for Our Military**
Brian Perkins
John Clark
Michael Priester
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
Stephen Christian
•  Brian Perkins returned to Iraq on Wednesday (11/28/07).  Pray for his safety as he travels and serves in a foreign land.
•  Please add to our military prayer list two members of the Priester family: Michael Priester, serving in Iraq; and John Clark, Jim’s son-in-law, who will be deployed soon.
• Good news! Thomas Lara is home from Iraq. 
 
**LFC Pancake Breakfast**
Dec. 10-14, 7-10 AM., Annex
If you would like to serve at the LFC Pancake Breakfast, please contact Colleen Frost.
 
**LFC Noon Meals**
Our LFC Thursday noon meals are an important outreach to students on campus. If your Care Group, Life Group, Bible class or family can help with a meal for hungry students, please contact Colleen Frost.
 
**It’s LTC Time Again!**
• The sign-up deadline is this Sunday, Dec. 2!
• Please mark your calendars for a CRITICAL meeting on Dec. 9, 5 PM, in room 100 for all parents of participants & coaches.
• Remember -- LTC Convention is Easter weekend and also the week of Spring Break.
• LTC equips our young people with the skills that they will need to take their places in the future as the spiritual leaders of the church.  Some of the events are chorus, drama, bible reading, bible quiz, puppets, and many others. Practices for the group events will occur almost every Sunday after noon from January until Easter.  There is a cost of $30 per student. 
 
**Car Clinic**
At the Annex (weather permitting)
Saturday, December 1, 8 to 11 AM
This is a service to our single women and 60+ group.  The men will change your oil, check and rotate your tires, check your antifreeze, and do other small jobs.  There is no charge -- but please bring your own oil, filters, etc.
 
**Widows/Widowers Lunch**
Saturday, December 1st
The vans will leave the Annex at 11:30 AM. Don't miss this opportunity for fellowship and fun in the home of Paul and Coleen Shirley, who are our hosts for December. Call Bobbie or Mary if you need transportation to the Annex.
 
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**Youth News**
Don't forget to sign-up for LTC. The deadline is Sunday, December 2. Forms are available in the lobby.
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Mark your calendars for the following activities:
 
December 15 - Teens host 60+ Dinner
January 6 - Prayer Night
January 13 - SNL, Rogers
January 20 - Devotionals
Junior High – Home of David & Sandy Berger
Senior High – Home of Jerry & Cyndi Glidewell
 
**Serving Communion for December**
David Berger
David Burns
John Carson
Bob Davidson
Greg Dockery
Jerry Glidewell
John Glidewell
Mat Griffin
Wilburn Howard
Marvin Hughes
Kerry Jenkins
Rodney Jones
Charles Karr
Brad Moore
Randy Moss
Eugene Puckett
Paul Shirley
Mark Willis
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
December 2
Kathy Glidewell
Patrick Haworth
Adam Jenkins
Ralph Smith
Doyle Wright
 
December 3
Kyle Haworth
Tracy Risley
 
December 4
Ashley Blasdel
Azia Blasdel
Esther Gunn
December 6
Thomas Kweekul
Charles Wilson
 
December 7
Emily Glidewell
Christy Hesslen
Kathy Monk
 
December 8
Bill Coffelt
Jacqueline Oliver
Bob Rye
 
**Morning Nursery**
Dena Jenkins
Suzie Jennemann
Melissa Walker
 
**Evening Nursery**
Gina Williams
Tammy Cypert
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 529 
Bible Classes  418
Sunday PM Worship NC  
Life Groups 9
Contribution   $13,419
Children’s Homes $224
Wednesday Classes 95
 
**Lao Worship**
Attendance 33
Contribution $286
 
**Iglesia de Cristo **
Attendance  56
Contribution  $201
 
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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