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Family Lines Newsletter,  January 10, 2008
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**Why Would Anyone Be An Elder Today?**
By David Chadwell
 
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.  (1Timothy 5:17-22)
 
These were Paul’s instructions to Timothy—father to adopted son, preacher to preacher, mentor to trainee.  From the beginning, it was difficult to be a godly man who deeply cared about God, God’s people, and be an elder.  Elders were humans who made mistakes.  They, too, lived with temptation.  They, too, could be victims of bias.
 
Little has changed.  Members’ expectations often exceed an elder’s time or training.  Situations increasingly are complex.  Demands are relentless.  Critics rarely have the information elders have.  What appears to be simple is never simple.  In crisis moments, elders frequently are in “no win” situations they did not produce. While caring, they can be accused of not caring.  They protect confidences as if no confidences exist.  Also:
  1. They serve an all volunteer organization as if they were paid C.E.O.’s of a profitable company.
  2. Members appoint them for spiritual maturity, but treat them as immature if they “do not agree with my view.”
  3. They are expected to study, but keep quiet if what they learn conflicts with typical conclusions.
  4. They are expected to produce money to fund anyone’s passionate cause.
  5. They are expected to have and use people skills no one possesses.
  6. They are expected to understand those who misunderstand them.
  7. Their families silently endure grief and pay prices few know.
So why would any man agree to be an elder?  For the same reason a godly person agrees to be a deacon, a business management team participant, a leader of a program, a teacher, or an involved member.  (1) They love God.  (2) They love people.  (3) They understand God’s purposes are bigger than the physical realities of right now.  (4) They seek to use their gifts to serve God rather than themselves.
 
If Christians are to benefit from selfless, capable leadership, we consciously need to produce the joys of leading rather than the pain of discontentment.  Respond to godly leadership.  Get involved.  Have a servant heart rather than a controller’s mind.  May godly people never decline leadership because of unnecessary heartache.
 
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**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
• Brady Burress (son of Chris & Carrie) will have more tests at Children's Hospital on Monday (1/14/08) to try and find the source of his seizures.  He will have to be under anesthesia for the test.  Please keep Brady in your prayers. 
• Chuck Cunningham (former West-Ark member) was diagnosed with spinal meningitis last weekend and his condition is critical.  After lots of prayers and consultation with doctors, Chuck was moved Wednesday to Pike's Peak Hospice and Palliative Care Facility in Colorado Springs, CO.
• Chanthavy Chanhnouvong, a member of the LFC ski group, became very ill while in Colorado. He was taken to ER, diagnosed with pulmonary edema, and placed in ICU. He is in a regular room now and getting better. Shane & Natalie Hughes are staying in Colorado with Chanthavy while the rest of the group returned home Tuesday.
• Dorothy Green (Dana Turpin's sister-in-law) will have breast cancer surgery and chemo port implantation on January 17. Chemo will be followed by radiation treatments.
• Gerald Jones (friend of Karen Carter) will begin chemo soon. The family received the good news that his bone marrow test showed no cancer.
• John Fowler is in St. Edward Hospital, Room 4529, with pneumonia.
• John Wade is in St. Edward Hospital, room 3418, with pancreatitis.  He may be dismissed today (1/10/08).
• Willard Lewis (99-year-old aunt of Sandy Chavis) suffered a stroke and is in the hospital in Mountain Home.  Her daughter, Derrylene Miller, is with her and  both need prayers. 
• Sandy Chavis also requests prayers for her daughter, Lara, and for herself, while in Colorado helping her daughter.
• Virginia Freeman (Danna Turpin’s cousin) received her second chemo treatment on 1/9/08.
• Wilma Son is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4518. Her NG tube is out and she can enjoy visits better.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Betty Monk (Gene's mother)
• Bob & Norma Williams (parents of Debbie Belote)
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert)
• Eleanor Casey
• Harry Smith (Barbara’s husband)
• Helen Epton (mother of Rebecca Holloway)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law)
• Margaret Stone
• Mary “T” Kolb
• Palmer Richardson
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise)
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John & Nadine Hawkins and sister of Robin Murphy)
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Donna Wheeler, 441-2378
• Greg, Dena & Caitlyn Russell, 441-2387
• Bob Callicott, 441-1792
 
**Bereaved in Prayer**
• Our love and sympathy is extended to Terry Overbey in the death of her mother on Wednesday (1/9/08). Funeral services are not yet complete.
• Sharon Faries requests prayer for the family of Mikell McSpadden, an Arkansas Tech student from Alma, who died unexpectedly last Friday.
• Donna Hannah (former West-Ark member) sent word that her sister, Delores Rapp, died January 4. Funeral services were Tuesday in Sherman, Texas.  Our love and sympathy is extended to Donna in her loss.
 
**Prayers for Our Military**
Brian Perkins
Danny Kweekul
John Clark
Michael Priester
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
 
**Missionaries in Prayer**
• Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley are home for a visit from their work in France and Belgium.
• Evangelists and their families with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
 
**LTC for Sunday, January 13**
3:00  Elem. Signing
         Senior High Puppets 
         (NO Jr. High Puppets)
3:30  Jr./Sr. High Chorus
4:00  Elem. Drama
         Jr./Sr. High Drama
5:00  Elem. Chorus
6:00  Elem. Puppets
         Jr./Sr. High Signing
 
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**Baby Shower This Sunday!**
A Baby Shower for Isaac & Samantha Rogers is planned for Sunday, January 13, from 1:30 to 3:00 in the annex.  Samantha is registered at Wal-Mart and Blessed Baby.  It's a boy - Isaiah!!  Samantha is the daughter of Tom & Sheila Lemley.
 
**Address Changes**
Lisa Grace
5601 Heather Ridge St.
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone is unchanged.
 
John, Melody and Joshua Priester
1830 Whippoorwill Drive
Greenwood, AR 72936
Home phone: 996-0430
John & Melody moved to Greenwood last spring, but we missed publishing their new address :~)
 
**Guyana Medical Mission**
West-Ark's 18th annual medical mission trip to Guyana, South America, is scheduled for May 31 to June 8, 2008.  Deposit of $500 will be needed by January 15.  We need medical workers and Bible teachers. Talk to Michael or Jeannie Cole if you have questions.
 
**Attention West-Ark Ladies!**
Coming soon ...  “Pajamas & Pearls”
February 8-9, 2008
 
**ADMIT TWO**
Here’s your tickets to a great marriage! We have limited seating available for our upcoming Dynamic Marriage course beginning February 10th -- an 8-week interactive course designed to enhance your marriage.  Immediately after morning services on Jan 27th, a 9-minute “sneak peak” of the class will be given in Room 106.  For more information, contact Jeff and Michelle Lovelace. 
 
**January Calendar**
Sunday, January 13
1:30 PM Baby Shower for Samantha Rogers (Read the announcement in first column.)
 
Thursday, January 17
Game Day
12 Noon in the
Home of Meg Canfield
2 Chestnut Court in Fort Smith
 
Sunday, January 20
Elders, Deacons & Ministry Leaders’ Meeting, 4:00 PM in the upstairs room of the Family Life Center
 
Sunday, January 27
• After morning worship: Dynamic Marriage “Sneak Peek” in room 106.
• 6:00 PM Family Meeting and a Fellowship Meal in the FLC.  Please bring desserts!
 
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**Youth Group News**
 
Thanks Again!
Thank you to all of you who served our 60+ in December. You have shown that you believe it is important to treat others better than yourselves. Your service was much appreciated and showed our 60+ that they are important to you.
Thanks to: Brandon, David, Eric, Jared, Jacob, Austin, Shay, Jessica, Tyler, Uriel, Trenton, Kate, Kaley, Julie, Olivia, Casey, Meredith, Hannah, Allison, Lindsey, Emily, Katie, Liz, Ana, Dalton, Graham, John, Andrew and Trevor - and thanks to our cooks!
 
SNL in Rogers - This Sunday, January 13!
The vans are leaving at 4:30 PM and will be returning at 8:30 PM. You must fill out a medical release form before you go! The forms will be in the youth room Sunday morning. Please make sure you fill it out and bring it with you at 4:30. Don’t forget to sign-up on the youth board or in class.
 
*Singing practice will be at 3:30 PM to accommodate for SNL.
 
Home Devotionals - Sunday, January 20
Junior High - David & Sandy Berger’s home
Senior High - Jerry & Cyndi Glidewell’s home
Vans are leaving at 6:02 PM and will be returning at 7:45 PM
Don’t forget to sign-up on the youth board or in class.
 
**Library Memorials**
In memory of Mona Jo Quiram by West-Ark Church of Christ:
• This Little Church Stayed Home / Gilley
 
In memory of Gordan Wray by Dahl & Angela Dunavant:
• Show Them No Mercy / Gundry
• Openness of God / Pinnock
• What Has Christianity Ever Done / Hill
 
**Happy Birthday**
January 13
Reynda Allen
Florence Cotner
 
January 15
Seth Dunavant
Sandra Pearson
 
January 16
Jay Arnold
Arista Lindgren
 
January 17
Ollie Amos
 
January 18
Tatum Thompson
Shirley Walker
 
January 19
Linda Davis
John Lindgren
 
**Morning Nursery**
Vicki Anderson
Trish Carson
Dwonne Cogswell
 
**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
 
Sunday AM Worship  649 
Bible Classes  404
Sunday PM Worship  239 
Life Groups 35
Contribution  $21,698
Children’s Homes  $308
Wednesday Classes  206
 
Lao Worship
Attendance  33
Contribution  $200
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance  58
Contribution  $208
 
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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