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Family Lines Newsletter,  December 6, 2007
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**“It Is Easy!” – Are You Sure?**
By David Chadwell
 
Matthew 5:1-10 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Jesus opened his longest recorded teaching (Matthew 5-7) with what most of us know as the Beatitudes.  In my opinion, the theme of the entire lesson focuses on how a righteous person looks and acts.  In my understanding, the Beatitudes are a composite view of a righteous person who looks to God to define what he/she is and how he/she acts. Jesus spoke of poverty of spirit, mourning, gentleness, hungering and thirsting to understand God’s ways, mercy, inner purity, making peace, and suffering.  For many, these are not the attitudes of righteousness.
 
In my opinion, because we realized the enormous consequences of rejecting Jesus as God’s promised Messiah, we tried to make it as easy as possible to respond to Jesus.  While there are many groups who used various concepts of grace to make it convenient to be Christians, we (the Churches of Christ) emphasized a lack of commitment.  The commitment to service after baptism did not parallel the importance of being baptized.  Thus baptism became the objective instead of the beginning.
 
We addressed two difficult problems: 1) sincere people who reach different conclusions, and 2) young children who understand basic facts but not long-term concepts (with a strong emphasis on “easy”).  Thus, a lot of people became Christians, not because they were committed to a Savior, but because, “It is easy to be saved, and I do not want to go to Hell.”  A personal observation: when serving God becomes demanding, many are not committed to the demands of being Jesus’ disciples.  Thus, they often wonder, “Where is the ‘easy’?”
 
Jesus did not teach being righteous was easy.  He taught that with God’s mercy and kindness it was possible.  He who emptied himself of equality with God the Father (Philippians 2:5-7), who endured rejection by people believing they understood God better than he did (Matthew 24), and who endured unjust trials and death on a cross, did not call people to a “convenient righteousness.”  It is not easy or simple to recognize personal insufficiency, be gentle, be learning constantly, be merciful, be internally pure, make peace, or be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.  Though exhausting, it is possible.
 
Do not be a Christian because you expect it to be easy.  Be a Christian because you are committed to a Savior.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9).  Do not get tired of doing good and being godly.
 
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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
• Becky Hargrove (daughter of Marjorie Blake) will have surgery this week to repair an aortic aneurysm and to replace a heart valve.
• Betty Monk (Gene's mother) has been placed in hospice care.  Please pray for her comfort and for the family as they care for her.
• Bill Dickey is recovering from pacemaker surgery on 11/30/07.
• Bob & Norma Williams (parents of Debbie Belote)
• Charlie & Trucilla Surratt (parents of Kathy Rosalez)
• Clark Risley’s lung biopsy on Tuesday went well. Test results will be available in a few days.
• Denny Lundquist (son-in-law of Geneva Shepherd) is in St. Edward ICU. He is seriously ill with cancer and has a broken hip. He can’t have visits at this time.
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert) returned to UAMS at Little Rock Thursday with complications due to cancer surgery. Donna has many continuing health problems. Cards may be sent to her in care of Tammy Cypert.
• Guy Taranto (son of Kathleen and brother of Meg Canfield)
• Isaac Broom had a heart ultrasound on Dec. 4 and the family is waiting on results.
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law)
• Luke Nelson (son of Rick & Natalie) broke his arm Wednesday night. Prayers for comfort and quick healing are appreciated.
• Melissa Meeker, Jeff Loftin's niece, is receiving radiation therapy for melanoma.
• Clayton Amos requests prayers for comfort and healing for his niece, Margaret Bates.
• Margaret Stone
• Mary “T” Kolb
• Ona Dickens
• Retha Wood is recovering from a car accident on Monday. She has some facial cuts, is bruised and very sore, but thankfully, not seriously injured.
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise)
• Troy Risley (Clark’s father)
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John & Nadine Hawkins and sister of Robin Murphy)
• Danna Turpin requests your prayers for her cousin, Virginia Freeman, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer last week.
 
**Prayer for Bereaved**
• Our love and sympathy is extended to Harold Davis in the unexpected death of his brother-in-law, Carmel Manning. Funeral services were 12/1/007 in Searcy. 
• Our love and sympathy is also extended to Jo Schmidt (a member of The Way) in the recent death of her nephew in a car accident in Oklahoma City.
 
**Prayers for Nelson Family**
Rick & Natalie Nelson have received great news! Their adopted son, Jake, is ready to come home. Remember them in prayer as they prepare for the journey (starting Dec. 10) and for safe travel. For more information, Natalie has a web log posted at:
www.bringingjakehome.blogspot.com.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Donna Wheeler, friend of Tammy Cypert, 441-2378
• Greg, Dena & Caitlyn Russell, 441-2387
• Bob Callicott, 441-1792
 
**Prayers for Our Military**
Brian Perkins
John Clark
Michael Priester
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
 
**Our Newest Members**
Tom Drane
5800 Grand Avenue, #217
Fort Smith, AR 72904
Phone: 561-2546
 
Leona Petchnik
309 S. 3rd Street, Apt. 2
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 461-7051
Leona was baptized October 28th by Jack Lewis.
 
Jim Priester
1620 Dallas Street, Apt. 121
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: 783-0669
Cell: (479) 322-1394
Jim was baptized by his son, John, on Wednesday night (12/5/07).
 
**Change of Address**
Barry & Connye Neal
2917 Jackson
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: 646-0737
 
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**Work Night at The Hope Chest**
Thursday, Dec. 13, 6:30 - 8:30 PM at 4th & H Streets!
 
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!
 
**LTC Meeting on Sunday!**
Please mark your calendars for a CRITICAL meeting this Sunday at 5 PM in room 100 for all parents of participants & coaches.
 
**LFC Volunteers Needed**
Dec. 10-14, 7-10 AM., Annex
Could you give the gift of your time next week? We have no volunteers (yet!) to help on Wednesday through Friday (7 to 10 a.m.) of our LFC finals week pancake breakfasts, and we would appreciate it if you could come for any of that time to visit with the students, flip pancakes, etc.  To show the UAFS students that you care for them is an easy, valuable ministry, and you will be blessed by meeting new people and getting to know some of our Lions for Christ better.  If you can help, please call or e-mail me.
Thank you, 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.
 
**Note of Thanks**
Dear Teens/West-Ark families:
We sincerely appreciate the reception you held for our family this past Sunday afternoon. It was great to see over 200 friends and family members. We have enjoyed reading all of the 100+ cards we received, and we can't thank you enough for the money tree. That blew us away! This time of transition has been very exciting for us! We are thankful for all that God continues to do! He is simply amazing!
Sincerely,
Brad and Yvonne Pistole
 
**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.
 
**Jail Ministry Update**
We had 3 baptisms in November: Ceasar Herrera, Clifton Freeman, and Lionel Haynes. The men studied with David Burns and Mike Williams.  ~~Dan Cathey
 
**60+/JOY Bunch Dinner**
You are invited to a dinner hosted by the youth group on Saturday, Dec. 15th.  Details are on page 4.
 
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**Youth Group News**
 
*Teens Host Dinner for 60+ and JOY Bunch*
Saturday, December 15th
Family Life Center, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
 
Our 7th – 12th graders will be hosting our annual 60+ Christmas Dinner. All of our 60+ members, JOY Bunch, elders and their wives, are invited to attend. We are looking forward to this event. We hope you can make plans to attend.
 
The sign-up list for the dinner is located on the bulletin board outside Room 100 in the foyer. Please sign up soon, so we can make appropriate arrangements for food.
Our teenagers and adult volunteers will need to arrive earlier to help setup, decorate and cook.
 
Teens, please sign up on the youth board upstairs to bring either salad or desserts.
 
Attention JOY Bunch members: please bring a wrapped, white elephant gift to exchange.
 
*Christmas Party - Saturday, December 15th*
The Junior and Senior High will be having their Christmas Party immediately following the 60+ Dinner.
Please sign-up on the youth board upstairs if attending.
 
*Congrats! - Trevor Branham, Leslie Frederick and Tori Sweatman recently participated in Southside’s production of South Pacific. Good job guys, we are proud of you.
 
**Library Memorials**
In memory of John Parker by West-Ark Church of Christ
Studies in Philippians and Colossians
Studies in Revelations
 
In memory of Mona Jo Quiram by West-Ark Church of Christ
At Calvary: A Comprehensive Survey
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
December 10
Brent Perkins
 
December 11
Lacy Layman
Doris Robertson
 
December 12
Bill Beall
David Boozer
Taylor Burress
Breck Cogswell
Earl Flood
Nadine Hawkins
Stephen Tomlin
 
December 13
Brian Hite
 
December 14
Brooke Barker
James Roughley
 
December 15
Tucker Anders
Michael Jones
 
**Morning Nursery**
Vicki Anderson
Trish Carson
Dwonne Cogswell
 
**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 620
Bible Classes  440
Sunday PM Worship 215  
Life Groups 11
Contribution   $18,589
Children’s Homes $159
Wednesday Classes 271
 
**Lao Worship**
Attendance 33
Contribution $184
 
**Iglesia de Cristo**
Attendance  56
Contribution  $230
 
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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