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Family Lines Newsletter, December 13, 2007
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**When The Cost Exceeds God’s Intent**
By David Chadwell
 
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense (Romans 14:13-20).
 
In warfare, there is a modern term often heard—collateral damage.  My Webster’s New (though quite old) Collegiate Dictionary defines collateral as indirect or parallel (along with some other concepts).  In warfare, collateral damage concerns innocent [civilian] people who suffer fatal or destructive wounds as a result of the actions of military forces.  It is the common way to refer to civilians who are killed or maimed as the result of a military confrontation.
 
A man, woman, or child who dies or is maimed as a result of collateral damage is just as dead, suffers just as much pain, or causes just as much grief to his/her family as the man/woman in the military who dies or is maimed in the same hostile action.  Dead is dead.  Maimed is maimed.  Pain is pain.  Grief is grief.  The end result: the grieving survivors have zero confidence in the nation whose personnel caused the collateral damage.

Christians need to give great care to avoid collateral damage. At times Christians become so emotional about their personal cause that they ignore the effect of their actions on the souls and spirits of others.  How awful it would be to be surrounded in Judgment by a great cloud of witnesses who were the collateral damage of our words and deeds!  How wonderful it would be in Judgment to be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who came to or remained in Christ because our words and deeds prevented collateral damage!
 
With God, there is no collateral damage.  His people are committed to a “no collateral damage” policy.  Consider Matthew 5:43-48.  Godless people know how to be nice to those who are nice to them.  Godly people know how to be nice to enemies.
 
Christian Jews had a lot to tolerate in Christian gentiles, and vice versa.  The uncleanness, food (sacrifices), and kept days to which Paul referred involved spiritual acts.  Those two sets of Christians reached totally different conclusions about those acts.  Paul did not say, “Decide a winner, decide a loser, and become identical.”  He said that God’s kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, not winners and losers.
 
As we commit to a policy of no collateral damage, let’s invest as much in the salvation of others as God did.  May our actions and words never negate Jesus’ death in their lives!
 
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**The Wonder Working Power of Prayer**
• Bob Ziegler (Aubrey's dad) had surgery to remove a tumor Monday morning in Fayetteville.
• Becky Hargrove (daughter of Marjorie Blake) did not have surgery last week. Due to her complicated health issues, she is seeing a specialist in Indiana.
• Betty Monk (Gene's mother)
• Bob & Norma Williams (parents of Debbie Belote)
• Clark Risley’s test results indicated granuloma. He’ll see his doctor again in January.
• Denny Lundquist (son-in-law of Geneva Shepherd)
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert) has many continuing health problems.
• Karen Carter requests prayers for Gerald Jones (of the Dyer congregation) and his family. Gerald has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease (stage 3) and will be traveling to Baylor University for further testing and treatment options. 
• Praise the Lord! Little Isaac Broom’s test results were all normal!
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law) could not take chemo this week due to a low blood count.
• Melissa Meeker (Jeff Loftin's niece)
• Margaret Stone
• Mary “T” Kolb
• Ona Dickens has been placed under the care of Hospice.  She is sleeping most of the time, but still enjoys getting cards. 
Please send ONLY “thinking of you” or encouragement cards.  
    Harold & Ona Dickens
    672 Jones Road
    Culpepper Place Assisted Living
    Springdale, AR 72762
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise) continues to heal. Chemo treatments are not yet scheduled.
• Tamara Looney (daughter-in-law of Jerry & Donna) is recovering from back surgery on Dec. 6. She is doing well.
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John & Nadine Hawkins and sister of Robin Murphy)
• Danna Turpin requests your prayers for her cousin, Virginia Freeman, who has a rare form of cancer.
 
**Prayers for Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Sue Hastings in the death of her father, M. G. Hastings. Funeral services were Dec. 8 in Sallisaw, OK.  Mr. Hastings was an elder at Sallisaw Church of Christ for many years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sallisaw Church of Christ, 1104 E. Choctaw, Sallisaw, OK 74955, or Sequoyah Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 505, Sallisaw, OK 74955.
 
Our love and sympathy is also extended to the Hendrix family in the death of Linda Philpot (Milton's sister's mother-in-law).  Funeral services were Dec. 7th in Mena, AR.
 
**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
 
Danny Kweekul (son of Thomas and Kindy) will be deployed to Iraq in January.
 
**Missionaries in Prayer**
• Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley are back from France for the holidays at their Fort Smith home (17th & Grand Ave.). They have a new phone number: (479) 434-2356. Visitors are welcomed to come by and help them brush up on their English!
• Steve & Colleen DeLoach, Operation Guyana.
• Evangelists and their families with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
 
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Don't Forget Tonight!!
Work Night at The Hope Chest (4th & H Streets)
Thursday, Dec. 13, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
If our work is not completed tonight, we will work again tomorrow (Friday).
We need lots of willing volunteers -- there are 14 containers of toys to be displayed!
 
**The Hope Chest Toy Giveaway!**
Saturday, Dec. 15, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
It takes lots of volunteers to handle 200 excited children and adults. Please help if you can!
 
**60+/JOY Bunch Dinner**
Don’t forget your dinner hosted by the youth group on Saturday, Dec. 15th.  The starting time is 5:30 PM. More details are on page 4.
 
**Tuesday WINGS (Women in God's Service)
Spring into Tuesday WINGS starting in January!  Tuesday WINGS will be starting its spring semester on January 8th with a review lesson and pizza party. Fellowship is at 9:00 a.m. and our lesson begins at 10:00 a.m.  Childcare is provided.  If you would like to join WINGS this is a great opportunity.  If you have any questions please call Shelly Robbins.
 
**Parents of LTC Participants**
Please check the lists on the LTC bulletin board and make sure that your child is in the correct events.  Any corrections should be sent to Shelly Robbins before December 18th. 
 
The practice schedule is also posted on the bulletin board.  Please mark your calendars -- we have fewer practices this year in which to get everything done!   
 
**Office and Newsletter Schedule**
The office will be closed Monday & Tuesday (December 24 & 25) for Christmas.  A newsletter will be printed next week on December 20th.  There will not be a newsletter on December 27. 
 
**Note of Thanks at Christmas**
To the congregation at West-Ark Church of Christ:
Just wanted to say “thanks so much” for all the visits while I was in the St. Edward Hospital in Fort Smith this past summer. That meant so much to me and helped me more than you’ll ever know! I was supposed to come back to have surgery on my wrist, but I didn’t have the surgery. My wrist finally healed. I’m doing well now and have moved to Mena to be near my sister and my mother. God bless all of you, and I’ll never forget you!
 Happy Holidays to all!
 Love,
 Patricia Stewart
 
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Youth Group News
 
*Teens host dinner for 60+ and Joy Bunch*
Saturday, December 15th 
Our 7th – 12th graders will be hosting our annual 60+/Joy Bunch Christmas Dinner in the Family Life Center from 5:30 – 7:00 PM
All of our 60+ members, elders and their wives are invited to attend.
 
If you were unable to sign-up on the list, just email Jackie at jackie@westarkchurchofchrist.org or call her at the church office (452-1240) by Friday.
Our teenagers and adult volunteers will need to arrive by 4:30 PM to help set up and decorate.
Teens, don’t forget to bring your salad or dessert!
 
*Christmas Party*
Immediately following the dinner, 7:30 – 10:00 PM
We will have fun playing games and enjoying Sweet Bay.
Bring money for a quick trip to Sweet Bay!
 
*Class Schedules*
Junior and Senior High will have combined classes in the youth room on Wednesday the 19th and 26th and Sunday the 23rd. 
 
*New Year’s Eve Party, 8:00 PM to just after the New Year!*
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
December 17
Olan Nincehelser
 
December 18
Jane Binyon
Nadia Nelson
Allie Whitaker
 
December 19
Lloyd Summers
 
December 20
Dorothy Harwell
Tristen Hill
Darrell Moses
Kathleen Taranto
 
December 21
Jim Johnson
 
December 22
John Paul Hundley
Holland McClendon
Jim Wilson
 
**Morning Nursery**
Elaine Hill
Flora Johnson
 
**Evening Nursery**
Tiffany Blake
Sheila Vaught
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 601
Bible Classes  356
Sunday PM Worship 194  
Life Groups NC
Contribution   $24,291
Children’s Homes $248
Wednesday Classes 301
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 33
Contribution $174
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance  54
Contribution  $199
 
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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