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Family Lines Newsletter, April 10, 2008
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**Healthy Congregations, Part 3**
Respect for Each Other
By David Chadwell
 
“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.  One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.  Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God” (Romans 14:1-6).
 
The apostle to the gentiles who wrote this held the clothes of those who killed Stephen (Acts 7:58), confronted the apostle Peter face-to-face (Galatians 2:11), and sharply disagreed with his mentor, Barnabas (Acts 15:39).  My point is not that Paul’s belief and actions were inconsistent.  My point is that respect is difficult to maintain.
 
When Paul [Saul] held the clothing of those who killed Stephen, Paul was not a Christian—killing Stephen was “right” (Acts 8:1).  When, as a Christian, he confronted Peter, Peter’s behavior was inconsistent with God’s revelation to Peter.  When Paul and Barnabas disagreed sharply, they had an extreme difference of opinion about John Mark.  In Romans 14, Paul wrote about the enormous gulf between Jewish and gentile Christians—a major problem in first-century congregations (see Acts 15:1-5).
 
Yet, the Christian who confronted could redirect.  Years later as an imprisoned Paul neared death, he asked Timothy to bring Mark to him.  Nearing death, he asked for the man who had been at the center of his controversy with his best friend and work companion! 
 
Regarding the enormous controversy in the first congregations, this man who had been the “Jews’ Jew” (Galatians 1:14) understood God could save anyone (including gentiles) on the basis of faith that Jesus was the resurrected Christ.  A Jew did not need to cease to be culturally a Jew to accept Jesus was God’s Christ.  A gentile did not need to cease to be culturally a gentile to accept that the living God resurrected the dead Jesus to be the living Christ.
 
That was extremely difficult for Jews, including Jewish Christians, to accept!  The teaching that gentiles could be saved without circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14) or the Jewish dietary restrictions (Leviticus 11) were just plain offensive to Jewish converts!  They felt so strongly about this that they made the apostle Peter afraid of them (see Galatians 2:11-13).  Paul understood when he wrote Romans 14 that God’s acts were not hostage to human logic, human desires, and human opinions.  God could and would save Christians who, in God, did contrasting things.  Why?  God knows motives, the whys.
 
A healthy congregation is a growing organism composed of every level of spiritual maturity.  Only with respect for each other can we become what God intended.
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Bill Beall had carotid artery surgery on Tuesday at Sparks Hospital. Everything went well, and he hopes to go home in 2-3 days.
• Dan Cathey has requested prayer for his sister-in-law, Carolyn Cathey.
• Don Todd (father of Larry Todd and Linda Davis) was transferred today to the Heart Hospital in Little Rock for cardiac tests and possible heart cath. Prayers for strength for Bennie (their mom) are also requested. The Todds are members of the West Side church in Russellville.
• Dorothy Gouty (Harold’s sister-in-law) had a mastectomy today in Springfield, Missouri.
• Michelle Lovelace requests prayers for her friend Lori White, who had an aneurysm & underwent surgery this morning in Springfield, MO (she is from Fort Smith but was airlifted there).  Lori is recovering in ICU and needs prayers.
• Louise Cline is better, but still recovering from surgery at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK. She hopes to move to a regular room once her blood pressure is regulated. Cards may be mailed to:
  Louise Cline
  OU Medical Center
  Presbyterian Tower
  700 NE 13th
  Oklahoma City, OK 73104
• Patty Kaiser is beginning a second round of chemo.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Bob & Norma Williams (parents of Debbie Belote)
• Gerald Jones (friend of Karen Carter)
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Leo Atkins
• Lloyd Priester (father of Jim) is recuperating from heart problems)
• Margaret Stone
• Wilma Son
 
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love and sympathy is extended to:
• Gene Monk in the death of his mother, Betty Monk, last Thursday (4/3/08) in Pennsylvania.  Betty had cancer and was under hospice care.
• Shirley Hughes, one of our fellow volunteers at the Hope Chest, was bereaved this week by the death of her father. Cards may be sent to her at 2223 N. 30th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72904.
 
**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.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
Brothers and sisters of Ashton Stein, 784-7490
Donna Wheeler, 441-2378
 
**Pray for Our Military**
James & Megan Johnson
Jered Goddard
John Clark
Michael Priester
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Ryan Almond
Will Domer
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Isaac came home Wednesday (4/2/08) & is gaining strength & walking.  We both hope to be better soon.  Keep us in your prayers. 
 Virginia  Mobley
 
Dear Church Family,
Kathy and I would like to thank you for your prayers and concerns during my mother’s illness. Thank you for your love and sympathy when she passed away. It is truly a privilege to be a part of such a fine group of godly people.
 Sincerely,
 Gene & Kathy Monk and Family
 
**Inner City Ministry -- Serving Those in Need**
April 19th will be the 3rd Saturday and our turn to serve a hot meal to those in need in our community.  All regular workers, and anyone who would like to help in this ministry, please meet at 11:30 a.m. at Hope Pavilion (Clayton Expressway at H Street).   
 
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**Welcome to West-Ark!**
Gary & Carol Schaper
2007 Barrington Drive
Lavaca, AR 72941
Phone (479) 719-2848
 
**JOY Bunch Potluck**
Saturday, April 19
6:00 PM in the FLC
Come and help us “throw a fit.”
 
**New Wednesday Class**
Starting Wednesday night, April 16
Old Testament Survey in room 203
Teacher: Jerry Canfield
All age groups are invited.
 
Beginning April 20, Jerry’s Sunday morning class in room 106 will discuss and answer questions from the OT Survey class on the previous Wednesday.  You do not have attend the Wednesday class to be in the Sunday class -- or vice versa.  Please come and join the study in either class.
 
**Adult Bible Classes 2nd Quarter, April-June 2008**
 
*Sunday Morning, 9:30 a.m.*
Location / Teacher(s) / Subject
Auditorium / Roy Dunavin / I John
Room 100 / Kevin Roberts / Useful to God
Room 106 / Jerry Canfield / Discussion of OT Survey (starts 4/20/08)
Room 203 / David Chadwell / Useful to God
Room 211 / B. Fisher & C. Alexander / Useful to God
Room 215 / Michael & Jeannie Cole / Genesis (for young married)
Annex Conf. Rm / Phillip Burns / young adults class
Annex Fellowship / Shane Hughes / college class
Library / Bill Dickey / Revelation
Room 202 / Lao men  / Lao men’s class
Room 206A / Meg Canfield / Lao ladies’ class
 
*Wednesdays Nights at 7:00 PM*
Auditorium (moves to 106 on April 23) / Russ McConnell / The Bible Teaching of Love
Room 100 / David Chadwell / Matthew
Room 106 (move to 211 on April 23) / D. Moore and A. Dizer / 20-Something
Room 203 / Jerry Canfield / OT Survey (starts 4/16/08)
Room 206B /  Billy Yowell / Men’s Ministry: The Measure of a Man
Room 221 / R. Dunavin & M. Cole / Guyana prep. class
Annex / Shane Hughes / college class
Room 215 (Ladies’ class) / Donna Beneux / Patriarchs (Beth Moore video study)
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**Youth Group // News**
 
**Until next time!**
Trevor Branham will be moving to New Zealand with his family on April 14. Trevor has meant so much to this group! We love him and will miss him!
 
Youth Worship  //  Youth Room  //  6:00 – 7:00 PM
– This Sunday, April 13, we will not be going to SNL. We will be having a fun and exciting Youth Worship instead!
– April 20
– April 27, Combined worship with the LFC
 
Paintball with the LFCs  //  Saturday, April 19
– Vans will leave at Noon
– Eat lunch before you come!
– Pizza will be provided after we return to the building
– Parents can pick up teens at 7:00 PM
– Cost, $20  (give payment to Jackie)
– Last day to sign-up will be Wednesday, April 16 (If you sign up, it means you are committed to going!)
– At All American Paintball in Charleston  (www.AllAmericanField.com)
– You will need to sign All American’s official waiver of liability – Copies are on the youth table.
 
**Library Memorials**
In memory of Estelle Phillips
by West-Ark Church of Christ
1, 2, 3 John by Harris
 
In memory of F. E. Herrell
by Charlie & Marcia Dye
Trinity: An Essential for Faith in Our Time by Stirling
 
In memory of Jeremy Harper
by John & Beverly Lankford
God and Evolution by Wilcox
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
April 13
Rick Carson
Rachelle Robison
Sara Rye
Gina Williams
 
April 14
Tim Davis
Wilburn Howard
Don Neisler
 
April 15
Tom Beard
Staci James
David Young
 
April 16
Chandler Harper
Lila Hull
 
April 17
Dave Cogswell
Barry Neal
 
April 18
Ronnie Abernathy
 
April 19
Juddson Bice
Kevin Hesslen
 
**Morning Nursery**
Vicki Anderson
Trish Carson
Dwonne Cogswell
 
**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 668
Bible Classes  456
Sunday PM Worship 246  
Life Groups 33
Contribution   $18,901
Children’s Homes $179
Wednesday Classes 232
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 36
Contribution $168
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance  66
Contribution  $265
 
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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