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Family Lines Newsletter,  January 24, 2008
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**Who Reflects Whom?**
By David Chadwell
 
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26, 27)
 
In a simple yet straightforward way, Genesis states our beginning.  While this could be a deeply theological discussion about the origin of humanity, I prefer here and now to direct your attention to other understandings. (1) Human origin is in God.  In our origin, we have great privilege and great responsibility.  (2) Our privilege: humanity has a unique ability to reflect God.  (3) Our responsibility: reflect Him accurately.
 
What a blessing for people to be able to reflect God!  God’s calling: be the best human we are capable of being.  We are not urged to look to our concerns, desires, or self-indulgence as we seek to be our best.  We are not even urged to look at the good things around us to determine “good.”  “Good” is found in reflecting the God who brought human life into existence.  That is the dedication that challenges us to be unselfishly dedicated to His character, filled with grace, and compassionate.  Those who first belonged to God failed miserably because they allowed greed, mistrust, and selfishness to conquer them.  By submitting to characteristics unworthy of God, they alienated themselves from God.  May those who belong to Him now not make Adam and Eve's mistake!  Our blessing is found in reflecting Him!
 
Our responsibility is seen in our willingness to reflect Him accurately.  Realizing He made us (not we Him), we seek to ask the proper question.  It is not, “What seems ‘good’ to me?”  It is, “What does the Holy God say is good?”  At times we are so consumed with self-interest as we seek to endure in an ungodly situation, we are severely tempted to define good for God instead of allowing Him to show us good (“this is surely what God would say and do”).  We claim to reflect Him when we actually reflect our own concerns.  The end result: as we seek to do good, evil results.  Perhaps the greater damage is done when we who are supposed to reflect God actually discredit God.  Those who do not know God look at us who are supposed to know God and say, “If that is the way Christians act, I want no part of it.”
 
The wonderful news is that God is patient if we are willing to learn and act on our new understanding.  He commonly is nicer to us than we are to others.  He shows us how to act by using Jesus, and patiently waits for us to learn.
 
The weighty news involves us.  We individually are responsible for our decisions and acts.  It is not an “anything goes” life.  It is a life devoted to learning (1) how to be responsible and (2) how appropriately to reflect God in our decisions and actions.
 
After 50 years of preaching, the principle thing I learned in my life and His word is this: the necessity of combining His patience with an understanding of Him.  “Lord, thank you for being so patient with us!  Help us learn compassion from You!”
 
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**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
• Marjorie Blake called Monday with good news about her daughter. Becky Hargrove’s complicated heart surgery went well. The tubes are out, and she is resting more comfortably. If you can encourage Becky with a card, the address is Methodist Hospital, 1701 N. Senate Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202.
• Bob Williams (father of Debbie Belote) is in Washington Regional Hospital, room 3117.  He had a recurrence of an intestinal infection, but is feeling better and getting a little stronger. He may go home today.
• Dorothy Green’s surgery went well.  She is recovering at home and will see the doctor Friday to discuss chemo treatments. Dorothy is Danna Turpin's sister-in-law.
• Layne Downs requests your prayers for Ericton Chitwood (age 3).  Ericton (the grandson of a co-worker at Wal-Mart) has a brain tumor and has been sent to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock for evaluation.
• Jim Priester requests prayers for his father, Lloyd, who is recovering from pneumonia.
• Helen Needham underwent surgery to repair a broken hip on Monday. She is in Murray Callaway Hospital in Murray, Kentucky.  Cards may be sent to:  312 Glendale Place, Murray, KY 42071.
• Lynn Dickey had out-patient eye surgery Tuesday for glaucoma. She is doing well and prayers for healing are appreciated.
• Patty Kaiser is in St. Edward Hospital, room 5511.  She can have visitors.
• Tanya Smith (sister of Angela Dunavant) will have out-patient back surgery in Fayetteville tomorrow (1/25/08) with Dr. Larry Armstrong doing the surgery.
• Virginia Mobley fell on ice and broke her ankle. She is in Sparks Hospital, room 520, and may have surgery later today.
• Wilma Son is in St. Edward Rehab, room 5418.  She is getting stronger and would welcome visits, especially in the afternoon (she has therapy in the mornings).
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Asher Grace Faries (granddaughter of Bob & Sharon)
• Betty Monk (Gene's mother)
• Bob Callicott
• Clarice Tisher (grandmother of Carrie Burress)
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert)
• Gerald Jones (friend of Karen Carter)
• Harry Smith (Barbara’s husband)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law)
• John Fowler
• 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)
• Virginia Freeman (Danna Turpin’s cousin)
 
**Prayer Pagers**
• Tanya Smith (sister of Angela Dunavant), 441-2386
• Bob Callicott, 441-1792
• Donna Wheeler, 441-2378
• Greg, Dena & Caitlyn Russell, 441-2387
 
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Eulonda Grist (Ed’s mother), has lost four siblings in four months’ time: three brothers, and now a sister on January 13. Please remember her in your prayers.
 
**Note of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Family:
Rusty [Howard] is doing very well; no further treatment is scheduled at this time.
Joel [Prigge] is to have a cat-scan tomorrow then will find out Tuesday if the chemo is shrinking the tumors; if not then will have decisions to make about further chemo.
Thank you so much for all your concern and prayers for the past several months for both Rusty and Joel.  Prayers have been answered for Rusty!  Please continue to pray for Joel! 
Again, thank you for your love and support.
In Him,
Wilburn and Louise Howard
 
**Pray for Our Military **
Brian Perkins
John Clark
Michael Priester
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
 
**Pray for Our Missionaries**
• 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.
 
**New Phone**
Harold Dickens, 650-3234
 
**New Address**
Larry & Donna Roper
2614 Westwind Drive
Corinth, TX 76210
Phone 940-497-1413
E-mail: jolleygamma [at] yahoo.com
 
**Sunday, January 27**
• Dynamic Marriage “Sneak Peek” in room 106 after morning worship! 
• 6:00 PM Family Meeting followed by a Fellowship Meal in the FLC. Please bring desserts!
 
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**West-Ark Youth and Family Ministry Update**
 
Search Team Members
Bill Kamp
Colleen Frost
Dave Cogswell
Bruce Davenport
Lisa Grace
Mary Burkett
Chris Benjamin
Jackie Sofio – Ex officio providing administrative support
 
Youth and Family Ministry Survey
Last week we announced to the congregation that we would launch a survey focusing on our youth and family ministry.  That survey is now ready and is available online from now until Sunday, Feb. 3. 
 
All members of the West-Ark Church Family are encouraged to participate in the Youth and Family Ministry Survey.  Even if you do not have teens in the Youth and Family Ministry, we welcome your input. We especially encourage our teens (7th – 12th) to take the survey.  We want to hear from you.
 
For convenience, there is a portal to the survey website at the following webpage - http://www.westark.org/survey.  This webpage will redirect you to the Zoomerang site, which is independent of West-Ark's website. The survey will ask for general demographic data, but it is anonymous.  All data collected by the survey is managed by Robert Oglesby, Jr. and his team at the Center for Youth and Family Ministry in Abilene, Texas. Only aggregate data will be reported to the West-Ark elders and search team.
 
Your input will help the Search Team and West-Ark Church of Christ fulfill its mission to make disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others.
 
Note:  If you know someone without Internet access who wishes to take the survey, please have them contact the church office to make arrangements to take the survey.
 
**LTC for Sunday, January 27**
3:00  Elem. Signing
         Jr./Sr. High Puppets
4:00 Elem. Drama
         Jr./Sr. High Drama
5:00 Elem. Chorus
         Jr./Sr. High Chorus
6:00 Elem. Puppets
         Jr./Sr. High Signing
 
**West-Ark Ladies Retreat**
February 8-9, 2008
“Pajamas & Pearls”
The cost is $65 per person for rooms with two or more individuals. For those wanting to room alone, the cost is $100. If attending Saturday only, the cost is $25.  You may register online at http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/retreat.htm or in the Information Center in the church foyer. Please sign up and pay by January 27th. SPACE IS LIMITED. If you have questions, call Coleen Shirley. Dena Jenkins, Staci James, and Esther Gunn will be collecting the money.
 
**Dynamic Marriage**
8-Week Interactive Course Begins February 10!
You spend time and money maintaining your car, why wouldn’t something more valuable like your marriage deserve the same?  Could yours use a tune-up?  Dynamic Marriage is designed to take a good marriage and make it GREAT!  Your car is expensive, your marriage is PRICELESS. Contact Jeff or Michelle Lovelace at 479-648-1594 or by e-mail arkboxmic [at] sbcglobal.net.
 
**Widows and Widowers**
Please join us for a Valentine's Banquet hosted by the youth group on Wednesday, February 13. Dinner will be at 5:30 in the Family Life Center. If you would like to share a photo of your “Sweetheart” with us, please do so. You can give the pictures to either Mary Burkett or Jackie Sofio. Please RSVP to the church office (479-452-1240) if you are able to attend.  Please come and join us!
 
**Benevolent Need**
We have a need for a newborn infant car seat.  Please contact Lyndell Foster for more information.
 
**In Memory of Darold Wear**
By Floyd & Sylvia Avery
• Commentary on NT Use of OT / Beale & Carson
• There Is A God / Flew
• Surviving the Storms of Change / Waddey
• Interpreting the Bible & Instrumental Music / Lipe
• A Study of A.D. 70 Doctrine of Max King
 
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**Youth Group News**
Widows and Widowers please join us for a Valentine's Banquet hosted by the youth group on Wednesday, February 13.
Dinner will be at 5:30 in the Family Life Center.
If you would like to share a photo of your 'Sweetheart' with us, please do so. You can give the pictures to either Mary Burkett or Jackie Sofio.
Please RSVP to the church office (479-452-1240) if you are able to attend. Please come and join us!
 
**Congratulations!**
Youth group member Dawson Urrutia was selected as an Arkansas High School Heisman Finalist. He attends Union Christian Academy.
 
**Super Bowl Party**
A sign-up for the Super Bowl Party is posted on the bulletin board upstairs. Please sign-up so we will know how much food to prepare!
 
**Winter Retreat**
A sign-up is also posted upstairs for the Winter Retreat (Feb. 8-10) in Siloam Springs. The cost is $45/person - please give the money to Jackie Sofio on or before Wednesday, Feb. 6.
The adults sponsoring this trip are: Shanna Davis, Cyndi Glidewell, Brian Robbins
You will be getting more info about what to bring, etc. soon. Please note that if you sign up you are committing to going and paying the $45. We need to send in a head count by Friday, Feb. 1 so please sign-up soon!
 
**Directory Updates**
Teens, please make it a point to look over the directory that is floating around the youth room. We want to print you all a copy soon but we are missing a lot of information.
 
**Youth Survey**
Don’t forget to take the survey! You can access it through the website: www.westark.org/survey - Your input is very important!
 


**Happy Birthday**
 
January 27
Paul Beneux
Josephine Johnson
Larry Todd
Jeana Belote
 
January 28
Charles Dicks
Gene Monk
Barney Puckett
 
January 30
Harold Davis
Abbey Jenkins
 
January 31
Phillip Burns
David Moore
 
February 1
Brandon Combs
Carolyn Harrell
Ashley Haworth
 
February 2
Fran Wade
 
**Morning Nursery**
Sharon Faries
Berniece Rogers
Kristin Smith
 
**Evening Nursery**
Angela Dunavant
Denise Lusby
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship  646
Bible Classes  401
Sunday PM Worship  188 
Life Groups 30
Contribution  $$15,965
Children’s Homes  $164
Wednesday Classes  279
 
**Lao Worship**
Attendance  28
Contribution  $131
 
**Iglesia de Cristo **
Attendance  56
Contribution  $216
 
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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