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Family Lines Newsletter, August 21, 2008
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**Running From or Running Toward**
By David Chadwell
 
But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.’ “ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:17-24)
 
At times the conditions produced by our situations have a sobering, chilling effect on us.  Like the believers at Pentecost (Acts 2:37), we realize we made horrible mistakes, we wish to flee our circumstances, but we have no idea of what to do.  Or, like the young man above, we know what we have done, we know what we deserve, and we have no idea of the reception we should anticipate.  In fear, we look for answers, or we decide to redirect our lives by heading in the correct direction.
 
Fearfully fleeing from the consequences of bad choices is a legitimate reason for redirecting our lives toward God.  We can get ourselves into some horrible messes by doing what we consider to be wise.  I have yet to meet an older person who does not shake his head in disbelief at the stupid things he did as a younger person!  Is it not amazing to consider the stupid things we did then that we were convinced were wonderful things to do?  Often we thought acts of rebellion against God were a good idea!  When we realized what we did, it was gut-wrenching to realize how stupid we were!
 
At some point the Christian must stop running from hell in fear and start running toward God in appreciation.  The epistles (written to individual Christians and congregations) contain many charges based on “this is what you were, this is who you are, and this is what God has done for you.”  Consider Ephesians 2:1-10.
 
At some point the person must understand what God of Himself achieved in Jesus’ willing death and trusting resurrection.  At some point the words forgiveness, sanctification, redemption, and righteousness in Christ through the working of God must become more than mere words.  Consider amazing scriptures such as Romans 3:21-30, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, and 1 Peter 2:21-25.
 
When we begin to grasp the magnitude of God’s love for us, we begin running toward God which involves much more than running away from hell.  We flee from hell by “not doing.”  We run toward God by “being.”  Running from hell over a long period of time typically results in a void.  Running to God over a long period of time typically results in a fullness, a meaning, a joy, and a peace that places faith in God’s goodness, not the goodness of self.  Are you running away from hell or toward God?
 
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Homecoming & 25th Anniversary Celebration at West-Ark! October 12, 2008
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*Remember in Prayer**
• Chase Turpin (son of Winston and Danna) is scheduled for a needle biopsy of his lymph nodes and an additional CT scan.  There is encouraging news -- the enlarged nodes are probably not malignant.
• Daphna Curtis ( Wilburn Howard’s sister, age 87) is in Springdale Hospital Acute Care after suffering a stroke.
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law) is having more problems and is waiting on test results.
• Larry Treat began chemotherapy treatments on Monday that will last for 10-12 weeks. Prayers for Larry’s comfort and the success of the treatments are appreciated.
• Marcella Martin (Ruby Lee Hundley’s aunt) continues to improve. She is in room 5 of the Advanced Care Center on the 4th floor of St. Edward Hospital.
• Myra Flippo-Puckett is scheduled for gall bladder surgery (probably as an out-patient) at Sparks Hospital today, August 21.
• Paula May has developed a large blood clot in her leg.  She is on medication and bedrest.  You can encourage Paula with a card. Her address is Covington Court, Room 115, 4500 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, AR 72903.
• Stephen Jennemann is recuperating from a back injury.
 
**Prayer Pagers**
Ashton Stein,  784-7490
Paula May, 441-6639
Shirley Hughes, 441-2386
ALL Pagers, 441-2395
**Continued Prayers**
Cheryl Craven (surgery Sept. 10)
Harry Smith
Inez Hatfield
Jerry Aldridge
Kathy Rosalez
Lance Haines
Lloyd Priester (Jim’s father)
Louise Cline
Margaret Stone
Mary Frances Jackson
Paula May
Ralph Barnett (uncle of Debbie Hendrix)
Randy Bridges (minister at Washburn and area educator)
Shirley Hughes is home now.  She is thankful for the prayer pager and knowing that so many people are praying for her.
 
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Please remember the Hankins/Capers family in your thoughts and prayers.  Carolyn’s father, Carl, died  Monday morning while in hopsice care. Funeral services were August 20 in McAlester, Oklahoma.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are also with the family of Patty Kaiser.  Patty died Saturday evening while in hospice care.  Visitation with the family (Gattis, Canfield, Taranto, and Logan) will be Friday (8/22/08) from 5-7 PM at Lewis Funeral Home.  The funeral service is Saturday, 10 AM, here at West-Ark.
 
**Military Prayer List**
James & Megan Johnson
Jered Goddard
Jeremy Grist
John Clark
John Lemley
Lance Hurst
Michael Priester
Mitchell Bryant
Nathan Davis
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.
 
**Welcome, New Member**
Marjorie Harp
4123 Gary
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 649-0463
Marjorie is the sister of Janet Cathey and Ava Jones.
 
**Change of Address**
Barry and Charlotte Reagan
3301 Soaring Heights
Alma, AR  72921
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark friends,
I am so thankful for your kind words, the hugs at church, the beautiful peace lily, and the mountain of cards that have arrived in the mail the past few days.  I appreciate all of you who have taken the time to encourage and comfort us as we adjust to the loss of my father, Bob Williams.  He was a wonderful Christian man -- a devoted husband, father and “Papaw.” Please keep my mom, sisters, and the grandchildren in your prayers.
 In Christian love,
 Debbie Belote
 
West-Ark Church of Christ,
Thank you for the basket plant.  It was so nice of you to remember us. Also, we need you to keep us in your prayers.
 Smith Family
 Edna, Phil, and Greg
 
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**Wednesday Night WINGS Bible Study**
"Adventurous Prayer"
The deadline to register is Friday, August 22nd!
• September 3rd at 7 PM -- Fellowship & books distributed
• September 10 at 7 PM  -- first class.  Room assignments will be announced later.
To register, please e-mail Debbie@westarkchurchofchrist.org or call the office at 452-1240. 
The books are $10 each.
 
**Ice Cream Supper/Fellowship**
Sunday, August 31, 6 PM
Jerry & Meg Canfield’s Home
The whole church is invited!
Bring a freezer of your favorite homemade ice cream, or toppings, cookies, brownies, soft drinks or water. 
Lawn chairs and/or old quilts will also be needed.
 
**Hope Chest**
Items currently needed are household goods.
 
**Last Chance for Photos**
The deadline is Wednesday, August 27!
 We will be printing a  NEW DIRECTORY, not just a supplement, and the time is growing short!   Wednesday evening, August 27th, will be the cut-off date for taking pictures. 
 
**Let’s Reach Out with Boxes of Cookies!**
Would you like to reach out to UAFS students and have fun too?  We have a great opportunity for you to do that:  Decorate a shoe box in any style you’d like and with as many people as you’d like.  Have a box-decorating party and do several.  Let the kids help.  Make this a service project for your Bible class.  After you’ve finished your boxes, put two dozen homemade or nice store-bought cookies (in a Ziploc) in each box, and bring them to the church office by noon on Tuesday, August 26.  We will then put a 4 x 6 sticker on top of each box with the Lions for Christ logo and a short message on it. 
 
The Lions for Christ plan to hand these cookie boxes out on campus during the first week of school as a way to welcome students and get to know them better.  We are excited to see the great boxes you’ll come up with and the interaction we’ll have from handing them out (the more boxes, the more interaction!)  Have fun, and thank you for helping us with our outreach.  Call Colleen Frost if you have any questions.
 
 
**Come to Men’s Bible Class in September!**
The men’s Bible class will begin September 16 at 10 AM in the Annex with David Chadwell as the teacher. The class will begin in Acts 16. Russ McConnell will enter a teaching rotation with David when he returns. Please come! Questions: see David.
 
**Couples/Singles Cruise -- January 26-31, 2009**
We’ll be departing from Mobile, AL and the ports of call are Cozumel and Calica, Mexico.  An oceanside cabin is $481.93 and an inside cabin is $451.93 (port fees, taxes, gratuities & fuel surcharge are included in this price).  A $200 deposit is due by September 13, so HURRY!  To book call Beverly at 1-800-625-5139.  For more information, contact Carlene Payne.
 
**Golf Tournament, September 6**
River Valley Golf Course near Alma
• 7:30 AM Registration; 8 AM tee time
• Entry fee is $100 per 4-man team (scramble format)
• Contact Randy Coleman to register at 632-3912 (office) or 632-3538 (home).  A flyer with details is posted in the information Center.
 
**Service Opportunity**
Brookfield Assisted Living at Fianna Oaks is looking for volunteers (adults or youth) to:
• Conduct church services or Bible studies
• Sing, play games, plant flowers
• Do scrapbooking, quilting, sewing, etc.
Contact Scherri Shaw at 649-7100 if you can volunteer.
 
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**youth group // news**
 
**Thanks!**
Thank you to the Browns and the Bergers for hosting the split devotional last Sunday. We appreciate your hospitality!
 
**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.
(There will not be class at the building.)
 
As school is starting up again we want you to remember the things that you have learned this summer. Be a servant to those around you, encourage each other in any way that you can and be a light in this world. Be Jesus’ hands and feet!
 
Note: Keep checking the bulletin board, e-mails and the newsletter for information about upcoming events.
 
**Library Memorials**
In memory of Isaac Mobley from West-Ark Church of Christ
• Bound and Loosed by Hester
• A Theological Debate on Calvinism by Hester
• Church Cooperation and Orphan Homes Defended by Hester
 
In memory of Rose Mixon (Betty Summers’ sister) from West-Ark Church of Christ
• What’s So Great About Christianity? by D’Souza
• Let Those Who Have Ears by Smith
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
August 24
Emily Combs
Robin Harper
Betty Summers
 
August 25
Jack Ferrell
Nicole Wilson
 
August 27
Greg Dockery
Melissa Walker
 
August 28
Sandra Anderson
Jackson Keller
 
August 29
Randy Hankins
Flora Johnson
Donna Looney
 
August 30
Stan Burkhart
Eli Hartley
Jackie Sofio
 
**Morning Nursery**
Sharon Faries
Berniece Rogers
Kristin Smith
 
**Evening Nursery**
Denise Lusby
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship.…..….636
Sunday PM Worship…..…..130
Bible Classes...………...…..447  
Contribution……….…..$15,988
Children’s Homes…..….…$215
Wednesday Classes……….285
 
Lao Worship
Attendance…………….…….38
Contribution…….…………$220
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance…………………..52
Contribution……………….$240
 
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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