**Anxiety: The Soul of Worry**
By David Chadwell

 

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Do not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?” For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  (Matthew 6:25, 31-34)

 

Anxiety is a strange human emotion.  It focuses on the future—negatively.  “What are we going to do when  or if ...?”  The implication:  “We will have no options.”  How often have you had no options?  Or, the dreaded feeling: “We will be boxed in with no choices.”  How many times have you been “boxed in” and had “no choices”?

 

Anxiety is a strange emotion because it is self-induced.  Who says there will be a “when” or an “if”? “I” do.  Who says there will be “no options”?  “I” do.  Who says that “I” will be “boxed in” and have “no choices”?  “I” do.

 

May I paraphrase Jesus’ statements in words we would use?  “Is not existence about more than physical needs?  Does not the reality of death limit physical needs?  Godless people place 100% of their trust in the physical.  They worry about the physical.  Godly people understand the real dimension to life that is not physical.  They see the folly of seeking only the physical.  No matter what you do or decide, you will not eliminate tomorrow’s trouble.  Focus your life on realities death cannot touch.  It is only by taking care of now that you will be in a position to take care of tomorrow.”

 

Consider a myth and a couple of questions.  Myth: there exists a lifestyle in which there are no anxieties.  The person who wastes life on chasing that myth only succeeds in inflicting wounds on self.  Questions: Who has avoided difficulty by wringing one’s hands in the panic of anxiety?  What is the use of believing God exists if you are going to live like a godless person?

 

Trusting God involves the way a person looks at life.  Perhaps that ranks in the top five ways that Christians fail our world.  Christians cannot trust God while living like godless people.  When people who are not Christians observe people who are Christians (1) floundering in the same problems (2) by dealing with them in the same ways and attitudes as people who do not trust God, they ask, “What is the use of being a Christian?”

 

Perhaps the greatest gift you can give to a world out of touch with God is Jesus’ way of looking at life.  The “Jesus look” includes understanding that death is not the end of life.  The physical is a bridge, not a destination.  God is honored by seeing past the physical.

 

 

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**Remember in Prayer**
• Carl Capers (father of Carolyn Hankins) is now under hospice care in McAlester, OK.
• Chase Turpin (son of Winston and Danna) consulted with a surgeon Wednesday in Rogers, AR.
• J. Hartfield is now at St. John’s Trauma Center in Tulsa where he had hip and leg surgery. The family has created a blog with updates on J’s recovery:   http://jhartfieldrecovery.blogspot.com
• Kathy Rosalez is at home recovering from an infected dog bite.
• Marcella Martin (Ruby Lee Hundley’s aunt) is awake and  showing improvement.  She has been moved to room 5 of the Advanced Care Center on the 4th floor of St. Edward Hospital.
• Myra Flippo-Puckett is scheduled for gall bladder surgery at Sparks Hospital on August 21.
• Patty Kaiser is in hospice care at St. Edward Hospital, room 5120. 
• Ralph Barnett (uncle of Debbie Hendrix) is in Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City witha blood infection due to heart surgery.
• Shirley Hughes (who has helped at The Hope Chest) is in room 115 of Summit Medical Center in Van Buren.  She is being treated for stomach problems and mini-strokes.

 

**Prayer Pagers**
Ashton Stein,  784-7490
Shirley Hughes, 441-2386
ALL Pagers, 441-2395

 

**Continued Prayers**
• Bob Redick (Coleen Shirley’s cousin)
• Belinda Weeks (niece of Marlene Tucker)
• Cheryl Craven (surgery September 10th.
• Donna Wheeler (Tammy Cypert’s friend)
• Harry Smith
• Inez Hatfield
• Jerry Aldridge
• Lance Haines
• Lloyd Priester (Jim’s father)
• Louise Cline
• Margaret Stone
• Mary Frances Jackson
• Paula May
• Randy Bridges (minister at Washburn and area educator)
• Ruby Nichols

 

**Bereaved in Prayer**
Please remember in prayer the family of J.T. Smith in the death of John T. Smith, Sr. last week. Funeral services were in El Dorado, AR.

 

We extend our love and sympathy to Farrell and Lucille Graves in the death of Farrell’s mother, Aline Story.  The funeral service is Thursday at 10 AM at Edwards Funeral Home with burial to follow at National Cemetery.

 

Bob Williams, Debbie Belote’s father, passed away Wednesday night.  Arrangements are incomplete at this time. We extend our love and sympathy to the Williams/Belote families.

 

**Military Prayer List**
• James & Megan Johnson
• Jered Goddard
• Jeremy Grist
• John Clark
• John Lemley
• Lance Hurst
• Michael Priester
• Mitchell Bryant
• Ryan Almond
• Will Domer

 

**Missionaries in Prayer**
• 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.

 

**Note of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark,
Thank you for remembering Dan with prayers, emails, cards and visits. He is feeling better and will continue with the cardiac rehab program.
~Dan and Connie Ogden

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ at West-Ark,
God has so richly blessed me through you. Thank you for all of the blessings you have bestowed on me, including but not limited to the prayers, phone calls, visits, flowers, food, the DVD’s, the stationery, the lounging wear set, all of the different types of cards, and best of all, treating me like family. Thank you for expressing God’s love in such thoughtful ways. 

With sincere appreciation,
~Inez Hatfield

 

Dear West-Ark Family,
I really miss you all.  I am sorry that I didn’t get a chance to say bye to some of you.  After the hearing things began to happen so fast.  Emotionally and financially it was better for me to go ahead and leave when I did.

 

I am in Ashland, MS now living with my parents. I am looking for work and a place to live.  I feel so much peace here, and I need that in my life right now.  I am attending my childhood church - South Ashland Church of Christ and have visited and plan to become a member of Goodman Oaks Church of Christ in Southaven, MS when things fall into place.
 
You know when we first received orders to come to Fort Chaffee, I thought “Why in the world there?” and after being there for three years I know exactly why.  I grew more with the West-Ark family than I have ever grown as a Christian.  Through attending services, and being a part of WINGS most of all, made me so much stronger as a Christian.  I feel that God knew I would need all of the strength that I received through WINGS and other members who called, visited, and sent cards to me through these hard times. 

 

Please continue to pray for us.  We have a ways to go. 
~Love, Sonia, Xavier and Deja Henry

 

**New Address**
Sonia Henry
385 Nail Road East, Apt. K124.
Southaven, MS 38671
Phone: 479-459-4946
E-mail: soniaspeace [at] yahoo.com

 

 

 

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**Back-to-School BASH 2008!**
Hey, kids! Grab your grown-ups and join us for this fun, family event.  
Who: Those going into Kindergarten – 6th grade and their families
When: Come to the FLC immediately after morning worship service for lunch and fun!  We will conclude at 2 PM.
Why:  To enjoy a wonderful lunch and have lots of fun getting the school year off to a great start – God’s way!

 

PLEASE RSVP by Friday, August 15 by:
• Calling the church office (452-1240)
• Signing up in the foyer, or
• Replying to emails 

 

We are also collecting school supplies for area children.  Please bring whatever supplies you would like to add to this service project.

 

**Back to School Blessing and Worship Service**
August 17, 10:30 a.m.
Join us as we pray for:
• All school children, public, private or homeschooled
• Everyone who teaches or works in our schools (in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma)

 

**Have You Had Your Photo Taken Yet?**
All those wishing to update their picture --especially those with growing children, see Mat or Jo Griffin for an appointment SOON.  Mat and Jo have an appointment table set up in the foyer.  We will be printing a  NEW DIRECTORY, not just a supplement, and the time is growing short!  Only TWO more weeks to have your new photo made.  Wednesday evening, August 27th, will be the cut-off date for taking pictures.

 

**Free Books from our Library**
Several books (history, reading classics, etc.) have been donated to the church library that we cannot use. There are 3 boxes in the library marked “Books for Home School Moms and Dads.”  Parents, feel free to take all that you can use. ~~The Library Staff

 

**Pew Bibles As Memorials**
If you would like to purchase a pew Bible for the auditorium in memory or honor of a loved one, give your check for $6.50 to one of the Library staff: John Lankford, Joyce Chadwell, Nicole Wilson, or Duane Walker.

 

**JOY Bunch Potluck**
Cooking with the Joy Bunch, 6 PM, August 16, in the Family Life Center. In addition to a covered dish, bring one or more of your favorite recipes.  We are thinking about putting together a small cookbook.

 

**Ice Cream Supper/Fellowship**
Sunday, August 31 at Jerry & Meg Canfield’s Home
The whole church is invited to the Canfields' at 6 p.m. on August 31.

 

**Wednesday Night WINGS Bible Study: Adventurous Prayer**
Fellowship & books distributed September 3rd at 7 PM

 

First Class:
September 10 at 7 PM 
Rooms will be announced later.

 

To register for class, please call the office at 452-1240.  The books are $10 each.

 

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**Youth Group // News**

 

Thanks!
We had a great time at Devil’s Den. Thanks to those who helped drive and set up for lunch. We explored the caves, hiked and paddled along in the paddle boats. We had to leave a few minutes early because of the rain, but otherwise it was a beautiful day!

 

Split Devo // Sunday, August 17
*GIRLS – Hosted by the Browns
Meet at the Brown home at 3:30 PM. We will swim and have fun! (Don’t forget a towel)
If you can’t make it at 3:30 PM, meet at the church at 5:30 PM and you will be given a ride to their house for the devo.

 

*GUYS – Hosted by the Bergers
Meet at the church at 5:30 PM and you will be given a ride to the Berger’s home for the devo.

 

Both groups will return to the church at 7:30 PM
*Dinner will be provided.

 

THERE WILL BE NO CLASS IN THE YOUTH ROOM

 

Ice Cream Social

Sunday, August 31 // 6:00 PM
The entire congregation is invited to eat ice cream at the home of Jerry and Meg Canfield. Bring things to play with outside.

 

**Library Memorials**
In loving memory of Leo Atkins from Mark Hite Family
• Undying Dedication by Boyd
• Biography / Marshall Keeble by Goodpasture
• Christian Scholar by Doran / Choate
• Work of the Holy Spirit in Redemption by Camp
• Porter-Tingley Debate

 

From West-Ark Church of Christ
• That They May All Be One by Weaver
• Two Ways by Huff

 

 

August 13
Mary Broyles

 

August 17
Richard Branum
Beulah A.Chronister
Tiffany Null
Linda Wear

 

August 18
Venoma Foster
Barbara Miller

 

August 19
Ruth Burns
Louise Howard
Ben Webber

 

August 20
Emily Kamp
Ben Pearson
Tanner Robbins

 

August 21
Nolan Marr
Grace Peters
Barry Reagan

 

August 22
Sydney Anders
Gary Nolasco
Deborah Wilson

 

**Morning Nursery**
Betty Callicott
Flora Johnson

 

**Evening Nursery**
Sheila Vaught

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship.…..….551
Sunday PM Worship…..…..195
Bible Classes...………...…..346   
Contribution……….…...$18,991
Children’s Homes…..….…$178
Wednesday Classes……….270

 

Lao Worship
Attendance…………….…….32
Contribution…….…………$170

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance…………………..46
Contribution……………….$232