West-Ark Newsletter, 29 May 2008

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Family Lines Newsletter, May 29, 2008
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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God (John 3:16-21).

I never met a person who enjoyed the experience of changing diapers. I met many who gladly changed diapers because they loved. On a cold night, my father-in-law told Joyce he had never seen it cold enough to make dishwater feel good. Yet, I saw my father-in-law wash dishes because he loved his ailing wife. Take your pickironing white shirts, canning, unstopping a commode, splitting a rick of gnarled hickory, digging a septic line, cleaning up vomit, dressing bad wounds, etc.there are many tasks performed because of love that otherwise would be neglected. It is not love of the task! It is love of the person who benefits from the task!

Never think it is easy for God to forgive! Sin is everything God is not. Never think it was easy for God to surrender Jesus to death! Jesus was the only adult who never rebelled. Never decide it is easy for God to sustain fellowship with us when we continue to sin and need forgiveness. Were I to attribute human characteristics to God, I would see God heaving, gushing each time we make a mess. It is amazing God tolerates us!

Consider a fascinating question: Why does God put up with us? The simple answer: He loves us. Because He loves, He forgives. Because He loves, He endures. Because He loves, He tolerates the objectionable to bless the person.

I wonder when weeach of uswill get it. When will we understand it is not correctness that covers a multitude of sins, or justification, or history. It is love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). It is a fervent love for each other that responds to the messes we make.

Why? Because such love is characteristic of Godand enduring friendships, and enduring marriages, and quality parenting, andabove allan enduring fellowship among those who have entered Christ. May I be spiritually mature enough to love the God who forgives you when I have difficulty loving you. Why? Because God in creation and Christ gave you that kind of worth. Andthat same God forgives me.

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**Prayer Requests**
Barbara Miller continues to recover from knee replacement surgery. She has moved to room 215 in Ashton Place in Barling.
Harry Smiths last PET and CT scans were the same -- no change. He has gained some weight. Barbaras tests are good so far. She is thankful for the prayers and concern expressed by many.
Ed & Becky Grists brother-in-law, Joe Ragsdale, is having tests on his upper GI and an ultrasound on his gallbladder. His stress test came out okay.
Sue Marsh (friend of Jerry & Donna Looney) had colon cancer surgery on Wednesday and requests prayers for healing.
Tom Drane has moved to Legacy Health & Rehab, #23, 3310 North 50th, Fort Smith, AR 72904.

**Continued Prayers**
Ashley Johnson Beauchamp
Bill Beall
Brian Cogswell (Daves brother)
Elaine Harcourt (friend of Jim Priesters)
Gerald Jones (Karen Carters friend)
Inez Hatfield
Joel Prigge (Louise Howards brother-in-law)
Lance Haines
Lloyd Priester (Jims father)
Margaret Stone
Patty Kaiser
Wilma Son

**Bereaved**
Please remember Clark Risleys extended family in your prayers. Clarks uncle, Dennis Risley, died on Sunday. Clarks grandparents, Troy and Pat Risley, have buried a son and a grandson within the past month.

Memorial service for Polly King, Barbara Millers sister-in-law, will be Saturday, May 31, 11 AM at Grenadas Chapel Church on Highway 352 north of Ozark. The family will visit with friends after the service.

**Missionaries in Prayer**
Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France and Belgium.
The Wilson & Lewis families in Ethiopia.

**Guyana Medical Mission**
These 17 West-Ark members are on the 23-member 2008 medical mission team to Guyana, South America: Sandra Anderson, Michael & Missy Blasdel, Michael & Jeannie Cole, Roy & Joyce Dunavin, Colleen & Jessica Frost, Connie Hixson, Nancy James, Seth Kleman, Brian & Ty Robbins, Ashley Scott, Daniel & Julie Tignor.

This is West-Arks 18th annual trip to Guyana. Medical care and eyeglass fittings will be provided to hundreds of people at the Kitty Church of Christ building in the capital city. Personal workers will invite each person to sit and listen to the Gospel while waiting to see the medical workers. Roy Dunavin will preach each evening while children enjoy VBS.

The team is scheduled to depart from Fort Smith on American flight 3654 at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 31st. Lord willing, they plan to return to Fort Smith on American flight 3783 at 2:50 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, June 8th.

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**Register for Vacation Bible School Today!**
June 15 - 18, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Register online at www.westark.org/vbs.htm
Join us in the streets of our Jerusalem Marketplace! Theres something for the WHOLE family. Youll enjoy authentic Bible-times crafts, experience thrilling dramas, play traditional Bible-times games, sample tasty Middle Eastern snacks, and hear unforgettable music. Plus, youll meet lots of new friends!

**Baby Bottle Campaign**
Be sure and check out the What child is this? display in the foyer that our junior high girls have put together. Can you guess who some of these sweet babies and kids are?

**Counseling Available Soon**
West-Ark Church of Christ has been presented with an opportunity to offer counseling on a referral basis to members of our church family. The counselors are three interns completing their masters degrees in counseling and would work under the guidance of a certified counselor.

The trial period for the program would last six months and then would be reviewed to see if we should continue with counseling arrangement with the three counselors. The elders think that this is a good way to evaluate the need for counseling services. Feel free to provide input to any of the elders.

**Widows/Widowers**
Vans will leave the Annex at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7th to go to the home of Marvin & Bobbie Hughes for lunch. Call Bobbie, Mary, or Janice if you need transportation to the Annex.

**Green Valley Bible Camp**
There will be a meeting on June 1 immediately after morning services for anyone interested in attending Green Valley Bible Camp the week of June 29 July 6 and/or Day camp which is Monday Thursday of that week. We are particularly interested in securing drivers for the vans for day camp. If you will help us or if you have any questions concerning camp, please plan to be at this meeting.

**Notes of Thanks**
West-Ark Ladies,
Thank you so much for hosting the Senior Tea. It meant so much. I appreciate it, and I am so glad that I got to come.
Leslie Frederick

[For a long time Dorothy Harwell has wanted to encourage this congregation. Recently she wrote this note expressing her appreciation and encouragement. --DWC]
On May 16th I read an article in Family lines. Its subject:: The Goal: let Jesus teach me to love. This is it! It all comes together with love because Jesus loved us! All the problems and hurts are stepping stones so we might understand how to help others. It means so much to have the support of your church family, someone who cares and understands. With Jesus leading, God and Jesus love, and personal family support, you can move mountains. Love is not complete unless there is a balance between physical and spiritual love. . . . That is the way to turn loose of all the stress that hurts and follow in Jesus footsteps.
--Dorothy Harwell

**Sports News!**
*Change of Date for Golf Tournament*
Saturday, June 21 (instead of 7th)
Ben Geren Golf Course
Be there by 12:15 PM; tee off at 1:00 PM
Call Niketa Stinchcomb if you have any questions.

*Church League Basketball Teams Forming*
Ages 12 to 18
If interested, contact Michael Knauls at 522-4200 or email him at behministries [at] cox-internet.com.
Sign-up deadline is June 1st. There is a $50 registration fee.

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VBS Set Up // Wednesday, June 11 Friday, June 13
We will need your help setting up for Vacation Bible School! We cant do it without you! Please sign up on the bulletin board to let us know which days you will be able to help! We will be working from 9:30 3:30 each day, with a break for lunch. Its going to be fun! Please come out and help!

**Library Memorials**
In memory of Leroy Null by Jack & Arenda Yancey
Hope for the Journey by Ortega
Portrait of God by Chesser
Tampering with the Truth by Hester
The Great Omission by Blair
Troubling Questions for Calvinists by Smith

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 580
Bible Classes 423
Sunday PM Worship NC
Contribution $13,188
Childrens Homes $142
Wednesday Classes 257

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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