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Family
Lines Newsletter, May 1,
2008
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**Spring ... Again!**
By David
Chadwell
And there was a man in
Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking
for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been
revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the
parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are
releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my
eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all
peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people
Israel.” And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being
said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold,
this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign
to be opposed—and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that
thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:25-35).
This incident occurred at the
Jewish temple when Joseph and Mary took the infant Jesus for presentation.
They were being good Jews. Such presentation was the correct thing to do
with any Jewish child (see Leviticus 12:6-8). All firstborns were to
belong to God (see Exodus 13:1, 2).
This entire incident strikes us as
strange. First, there is Simeon. He is a very godly man with the
Holy Spirit on him. He has been informed by God that he will not die until
he has seen the “consolation of Israel.” His understanding of that godly
purpose for Israel was simply weird. It involved a salvation for all
peoples, a “light of revelation to the gentiles” (see Isaiah 49:6), and an
infant less than two months old!
Second, he said the strangest
things about the infant. The work of the child (as an adult) would result
in “the fall and rise of many in Israel.” He would be a sword that pierced
his parents. He would reveal the thoughts of many. For some he would
be alienation from God—for some he would be the avenue to God. To some he
would be enmity against God—to some he would be peace with God. To some he
would be death—to some he would be life.
Spring is here! Is that
wonderful, or is that horrible? Is Spring to you new life and hope for a
warmer tomorrow, or is Spring allergies and the misery of pollination? Is
it the rain that brings flowers, or the wind that brings leaky roofs? Is
it the prosperity of a better lifestyle, or the destruction of a tornado?
Is it the promise of fresh produce, or the devastation of a
hailstorm?
Is it not fascinating that things
that produce the blessing and hope of life to some also produce the certainty of
misery or death to others? Is it not thought-provoking to realize that
which has potential for good at the same time contains potential for
harm?
Whether Jesus is a blessing or
harm depends on the acceptance or rejection of the individual. Only you
determine if Jesus is your means of rising or falling.
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**Remember in Prayer**
• Louise
Cline was dismissed from rehab (in Oklahoma) on Tuesday and has returned to Fort
Smith!
• Patty Kaiser has been dismissed from the hospital. She is staying
with Kathleen Taranto (her aunt) for a while.
**Continued Prayers**
• Adina
Boatright got a good report from her tests and thanks everyone for their prayers
and concerns.
• Dahl Dunavant
• Clark Risley’s uncle, Dennis Risley,
is waiting for a liver transplant.
Clark’s grandparents have gone to
Omaha, Nebraska, to be with him.
• Gerald Jones (friend of Karen Carter)
• Joel Prigge (Louise
Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Kim Wilson (husband of Brenda Cantwell Wilson)
• Leo Atkins
• Lloyd Priester (father of Jim)
• Margaret Stone
•
Mary Vampola
• Norma Jean Breedlove
• Paul Quenin
• Randy Bridges
•
Travis & Jamie Balkman (friends of Chris & Carrie Burress)
• Wilma
Son
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love
and sympathy is extended to Marilyn Coffelt in the death of her grandfather,
Hershel Harriman. Funeral services were Saturday in Japton, AR.
Debbie Belote's uncle, Doyle
Williams, died Sunday morning. Funeral services were Wednesday in NW Arkansas.
**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
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Ryan Almond
Will Domer
Please
add to this list, John Lemley, son of Tom & Sheila.
**Welcome, Blessed
Baby**
Congratulations to Jason & Mandy Davidson on the birth of their
son, Jarek Michael Davidson, on March 31. Jarek was 6 weeks early and weighed 5
lbs., 7 ozs. but is doing fine! The happy grandparents are Rick & Kathy
Williams and Donna Davidson.
**Notes of Thanks**
We would
like to thank everyone for all the prayers, calls and concern for our grandson
Brady! He is at home and doing well. It’s wonderful to have a Christian family
to call on and know they will join you in prayer to our wonderful, loving God.
We love you all so much. We praise God for hearing our prayers and healing
Brady.
Thanks,
Ropers & Perkins Families
Dear Elders & West-Ark
Church,
I want you to know how much I appreciate the church at West-Ark. I
appreciate the good teaching by David Chadwell and Chris Benjamin. The class
taught by Kevin Roberts was very inspiring to me. During Belle’s sickness and
death a number of West-Ark members ministered to her. I fear I will omit some of
them, but I want to say “thanks” to Mat & Jo Griffin, Earl & Vivian
Flood, Russ & Jean McConnell and Lloyd and Betty Summers. I am enjoying
being with my children in Tennessee, but I will always have sweet memories of my
time spent with my Christian family at the West-Ark Church of Christ.
In
Christian love,
Al Wood
**Changes of Address**
Daniel
& Julie Tignor
1100 N. 37th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72904
Anthony & Jackie Sofio
1719
Twin Oaks Drive
Van Buren, AR 72956
**Help!**
I need at least one
or two ladies to watch the nursery on Wednesday nights from now until the
Wednesday night I get back from Guyana. You can see me on Sunday in the Nursery
or call or email me.
Nancy James
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**Vacation Bible
School**
Theme: “Where Jesus Walked to the Cross”
Sunday - Wednesday, June
15-18
Evenings from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
There is a place for everyone in
VBS 2008!
We want to make this a true family experience – for each
individual family as well as our church family.
Go to www.westark.org/vbs.htm and click on
the VBS link to:
• Register a child
• Learn about volunteer opportunities
-- and
• Register as a volunteer (job descriptions are included!)
For more information, contact
Staci James or Dena Jenkins.
To Him be all the glory and
praise!
**Senior Girls’ Tea (and
Brunch!)**
Saturday, May 3,
10 a.m. until noon in the FLC
Guest
Speaker: Daisy Powell
Musical Guests: United Ladies of Tulsa
All West-Ark
ladies are cordially invited to attend a Tea (and brunch) honoring the Senior
girls of the class of 2008. Come be a part of this special day and let our
seniors know how proud we are of them!
Ladies, please bring food
according to your last name.
A-H, breakfast casseroles
I-P,
fruit juices
Q-Z muffins, donuts, or sweet breads
**Baby Bottle Campaign for
2008!**
Once again this year, we will participate in the Heart to Heart
Pregnancy Support Center’s Baby Bottle Campaign during the months of May and
June. West-Ark Church of Christ was the #1 contributor during this event
in 2007! Baby Bottles will be distributed on Mother’s Day, May 11th. Please take
home a bottle and fill it with bills and coins (or write a check and put it in
the bottle). All funds are kept in the River Valley area and are used to help
women, men, and babies with maternity and baby needs, counseling, medical and
adoption referrals, and chastity/parenting programs. Filled bottles will be
returned on Father’s Day, June 15th.
**LFC Pancake Breakfast, May
5-9**
In his sermon a couple of weeks ago, Chris encouraged us to support our
campus ministry’s outreach to UAFS students. A convenient, fun opportunity to do
that is coming soon: On May 5-9, we plan to host a pancake breakfast for
the students during their finals week. If you can help serve and/or visit with
the students anytime from 7 to 10 a.m. on those days, please let Colleen Frost
know at colleen@westarkchurchofchrist.org
or 452-1240. Thank you!
**Widows Luncheon**
Due to the
tea honoring the senior girls, the Widows/Widowers luncheon for May has been
cancelled. Please take this opportunity to celebrate our young ladies’
accomplishments and attend the tea.
The Car Clinic for May is also
cancelled.
**Missing from FLC
Kitchen**
There are some pans missing from the FLC kitchen. If you have
any pans at home, please return them soon, or let Curtis McDonald know that you
have them.
**Items Needed**
Dena Jenkins
is collecting paper towel and toilet paper tubes. Donations can be left by
the elevator (in the FLOCK area).
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**Youth Group //
News**
Senior Tea Brunch
// Saturday, May 3 at 10:00 AM
The ladies of West-Ark are invited
to attend a Senior Tea Brunch in the Family Life Center honoring the 2008
Graduating Senior Girls.
Youth Worship //
Youth Room // 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sundays, May 4, 18,
25
SNL at Mt. Comfort in
Fayetteville // Sunday, May 11
We need adult volunteers! We
will only be able to attend if we have adults volunteer by Sunday, May 4. Email
Jackie at Jackie@westarkchurchofchrist.org
if you are able to help!
Graduation Sunday
// Sunday, May 18
A special service honoring the graduating seniors
Welcome to the Youth Group
Party // Wednesday, May 28
A party celebrating the incoming
7th graders! Teens and adults of all ages are invited to
attend.
Have you signed up for Green
Valley Bible Camp?
Information sheets about camp are available on the
youth table. Sign up now!
**Library Memorials**
In loving memory of M. G.
Hastings from Mary Hudson
• How God Wants Us to Worship Him by
Morecraft
• Recovering Jesus by Neufeld
• Life Change Bible
Study (2 Peter, Jude) by NAV Press
In loving memory of Marceil
Stevens from Margaret Thompson
• Defending Your Faith by Ankerberg
& Dillon
**Happy Birthday**
May 4
Danna Turpin
Braden
Walker
May 6
Shay Dotson
John
Hawkins
May 8
Marjorie
Blake
May 9
Ronald Bartlett
Eddie
Harrell
Haley Hickey
May 10
Torrey Bishop
Adina
Boatright
Milton Hendrix
Tori Sweatman
**Morning Nursery**
Dena
Jenkins
Suzie Jennemann
Melissa Walker
**Evening Nursery**
Gina
Williams
Tammy Cypert
**Attendance and Contribution
Count**
Sunday AM Worship 627
Bible Classes 402
Sunday PM
Worship 249
Life Groups 36
Contribution
$16,231
Children’s Homes $258
Wednesday Classes 257
Lao Worship
Attendance
33
Contribution $280
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 62
Contribution $243
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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