West-Ark Newsletter, 3 Apr 2008

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Family Lines Newsletter, April 3, 2008
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This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: The Lord said to my Lord Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christthis Jesus whom you crucified (Acts 2:32-36).

Healthy congregations understand that Jesus is the way people approach God (John 14:6; Hebrews 1:1, 2; 4:14-16). The Christians in such congregations understand one of Gods intents in Jesus (resurrected to be Lord and Christ) was to provide all people access to God. He is Lord because it was Gods intent that he conquer everything opposing God (1 Corinthians 15:25-28). God placed all divine authority in the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23).

Jesus is the Christ by Gods intent. Jesus is the fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8, 16). (Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew Messiah.) Jesus is the anointed by God to bring Gods gift to our physical world (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:31-33; John 3:16; Romans 5:8). He gives us immediate access to God (Hebrews 6:19, 20; 10:19-21) by allowing us to go where no one before us went. The resurrected Jesus is seated (mission accomplished!) at Gods right hand (the place of prominence) to intercede for us (Romans 8:33, 34). As Christians, we have a quality of representation with God that is unequaled and cannot be surpassed (Hebrews 8:1, 2).

Our confidence is in a Savior--not an institution, not a building, not a person or group of persons (humans), not a prominent historical figure, not an apostle, nor in a human perspective. We trust the One who died for us, who was raised for us, who intercedes for us, and who (by Gods appointment) is the Lord given to lead us to God.

Healthy congregations listen to Jesus, learn from Jesus, follow Jesus, and let Jesus show them Gods purposes and intents. Instead of being defensive of human ideas and desires, we are willing to learn. Instead of concluding we know everything to be known about Gods will, we are open to Gods guidance in Jesus Christ. Instead of turning people away from God, we encourage those who seek God. We never stop seeking Gods wisdom placed in Jesus.

We call ourselves Christians because we want to be like Jesus. We shine as lights in a dark world to attract people to Jesus and to glorify God (Matthew 5:16). Such people make healthy congregations. Lives and behavior are determined by Jesus, not people.

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**Let's Say A Prayer For**
Louise Cline is in OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK. She had gallbladder and pancreas surgery on Tuesday and is currently in ICU (but doing well).
Trish Drummond (a friend of Nancy Dockery), was badly burned in a grease fire in her home on March 31st. She was airlifted to Tulsa and faces several surgeries. Prayers for comfort and healing are appreciated.

**Continued Prayers**
Betty Monk (mother of Gene)
Billy Sue Atkins (a friend of Norma Jean Breedlove)
Bob & Norma Williams (parents of Debbie Belote)
Brandi (granddaughter of Marvin & Bobbie Hughes)
Donna Lindgren
Gerald Jones (friend of Karen Carter)
Georgia Burns (James Andersons mother) is now home.
Isaac Mobley
Joel Prigge (Louise Howard's brother-in-law) is taking chemotherapy in the morning and radiation in the afternoon. He will receive this treatment 5 days per week for 5 weeks.
Leo Atkins
Margaret Stone
Patty Kaiser
Rhonda Burgess
Wilma Son

**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love and sympathy is extended to:
Mary Broyles in the recent death of her sister-in-law, Martha Tillery, of Hartman, AR.
Anetia Livesay in the death of her sister, Betty Crouch. The funeral service was in Hartford, AR on March 31st.
Lynn Dickey in the death of her cousin, Terry Ford. The funeral service is planned for Friday (4/4/08) in Fort Worth, TX.
Glynn Parker in the death of his mother, Freda Parker (age 89), a former member of Midland Blvd., College Terrace, and West-Ark. Freda was also the grandmother of Laura Parker (member of the LFCs). The funeral service was this morning (4/3/08) at Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren, AR.
Jack & Bobbye Ferrell in the death of their daughter-in-law, Sherri, on Sunday (3/30/08).

**Welcome to West-Ark!**
Lerene Haines
7811 Euper Lane, A-12
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 452-2089

**Pray for Our Missionaries**
Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France and Belgium.
Evangelists and their families with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.

**Wedding Shower**
A shower honoring Ben Dye and his bride-elect, Tara Gurley, is planned for Saturday, April 5th, from 10 to 12 in the morning at the Davidson home, 1811 South 73rd Circle. Ben and Tara are registered at Dillards, Linens N Things, and Now and Then Shoppe.

**Note of Thanks**
To my dear friends and family:
I am currently engaged in getting things in order to finish teaching for this school term. Added to this, Im trying to clear all the red tape which government, on several levels, always requires when a person dies. So, it may be late summer before I can turn my attention to answering the many, many contributions of memorials, floral gifts, sympathy cards, telephone calls, and letters. I want each of you to know how much I appreciate the wonderful out-pouring of loving concern and prayers. Therefore, I hope you will accept this in lieu of a personal note. I beg each of you to continue to pray for me and my family, as well as Jacks family.
With Christian love,
Janice Dockery Glover Horton
[Editors note: Janice is a former West-Ark member. Her husband, Jack Horton, died recently.]

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**Widows/Widowers**
Saturday, April 5th, will be our annual trip to Parks Bros. Nursery. We will eat lunch at noon then hop on the vans to do our plant shopping. Please come and eat lunch with us even if you cannot go to Parks. Call Mary or Janice is you need transportation to the Annex.

**Tennis Shoes/Athletic Shoes Collected**
Some local Girl Scouts are collecting tennis shoes/athletic shoes in ANY CONDITION.
The shoes are for a troop project and will be sent to Africa.
A decorated collection box is in the church foyer.

**Application Packet**
The Search Team has finalized an information and application packet for Youth & Family Ministry candidates.
West-Ark members who know of potential candidates are encouraged to either:
1. Provide the Search Team contact information for those individuals.
2. Pick up an application packet from the youth table in the foyer and mail it to those individuals.
3. Provide the link to our website (www.westark.org), where the information is available online.

Search Team Members: Bill Kamp, Colleen Frost, Dave Cogswell, Bruce Davenport, Lisa Grace, Mary Burkett, Chris Benjamin, and Jackie Sofio Ex officio providing administrative support.

**Coming Events**
Ladies Day at Poteau Church of Christ, Saturday, April 5. Registration from 8 to 9 a.m. Guest Speaker is Pat Scott on When the Ways of the World Seem to Be Winning. Child care is provided.
Gospel Meeting at Valley View Church of Christ, Monday Wednesday (April 7-9) at 7 PM. Guest speaker is Brent Newton from Jefferson City, Missouri.

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*Congratulations!
Brent Perkins and Andrew Todd placed second in their events at the Arkansas State Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Little Rock last weekend. They will represent the state of Arkansas in their respective events in the National FBLA Conference in Atlanta this June.

*West-Ark Retreat at Camp Caudle
Thanks so much to all of those who helped make the retreat possible! We had a great time playing games, getting to know each other and studying the Bible. We had a blast with the Cupcake Fling, mop wars, listening to the enlightening answers of the Mighty Mentos and trying to make it through a maze to get past Satan blindfolded. We studied Joseph and how he reacted to the difficult situations in his life. We learned that no matter what we go through or how we feel, God is always a step ahead of us, helping us along the way.

We have extra retreat t-shirts available for $7. Also, pictures of the weekend have been posted on Facebook, Shutterfly and the .Mac Web Gallery. See Jackie if you would like a t-shirt or if you have questions about how to access these pictures.

*SNL in Bentonville // Sunday, April 13
We will participate in SNL if we have adult sponsors who will take the lead on this event and volunteer to drive. Contact Jackie if you are interested in helping with this event.

**Serving at the Lord's Table in April**
Andrew Todd
Barney Puckett
Benny Gooden
Bill Kamp
Brent Perkins
Charley Douglas
Chris Campbell
Dan Cathy
Don Neisler
Farrell Graves
John Kamp
Kenny Hollomon
Michael Wear
Mike Williams
Richard Bullard
Stan Burkhart
Stephen Jennemann
Ted Knight

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 588
Bible Classes 378
Sunday PM Worship NC
Life Groups NC
Contribution $14,423
Childrens Homes $229
Wednesday Classes 262

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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