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Family Lines Newsletter, August 28, 2008
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**Transitions**
By David Chadwell
 
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. . . Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.  And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  (Hebrews 13:8, 12-16)
 
“Water Tank Hill” no longer has a water tank.  The road that contained “Dead Man’s Curve” no longer exists.  Subdivisions are now where pastures were.  Fences that sectioned off places are gone.  The place where Dad bought many of our family cars is no longer a car dealership.  The high school of my graduation no longer exists.  Joyce’s high school building is now being “gutted” to become another facility.  The whole area was economically depressed when I grew up—now it is a resort and retirement area.
 
Things change.  Have not things always changed in all centuries?  Can you not hear elderly people saying as they looked at an area centuries ago, “I remember when ...”
 
Perhaps it is not so much that “things change,” but that we change.  We attended a reunion last weekend.  I tried to match my memories of 50 years ago with the white-haired people I saw who did not fit the physical descriptions I recalled.  As I looked, I wondered, “What do they see as they look at me?”  Maybe the “changed things” are merely mileposts that verify that we passed this way once some time ago.
 
Transitions occur slowly in most instances.  So do we transition slowly, slowly enough that we deceive ourselves.  I look in the mirror every day, and I do not see that many changes.  I see the image, and my mind says, “You have not changed that much!”  (My mind lies to me about some things!)  I can pretend I have not “changed that much” until I see things that have changed dramatically—only then am I forced to admit, “You have changed a lot, too!”
 
If we are honest with ourselves, we hunger deeply for something that does not change.  The older you get, the more wonderful the desire is to know someone, to be somewhere that never changes.  When you are young, change represents adventuresome opportunities.  However, that also will change.  As you get older, change represents frustrations.  I appreciate the kids helping me with electronic gadgets, but the electronic gadgets themselves frustrate me just by existing.
 
Jesus Christ is the changeless one.  The changeless One invites us to be part of an existence that knows no change and will never need to change.  We will be suitable for that existence, and it will be suitable for us.  In it there is stability and no frustration.  Now that is a place worth seeing—and staying!
 
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**Remember in Prayer**
• Anna Dickerson (Coleen Shirley’s sister) is home from the hospital after having tests.
• Clarice Tisher (grandmother of Carrie Burress) is in St. Edward Hospital, room 5506.   She is battling cancer, has developed many complications, and is extremely weak.
• Daphna Curtis ( Wilburn Howard’s sister) has moved to Maples Rehab in Springdale where she continues to improve.
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert) is very ill in Sparks Hospital, ICU.
• Genneil Nye had knee replacement surgery August 22. She is in rehab at Ashton Place, room 116.
• Lyndell Foster will have surgery Thursday morning at Sparks Hospital to correct a hernia.
• Brian Perkins requests prayer for his friends, Moreia & Fritz Gernandt. Moreia has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. 
• Patty Null had knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. She requests no visitors at this time, but prayers are greatly appreciated.  Cards may be sent to the Null home address.
• Paula May is now at home and continues to recuperate from foot surgery.
• Sharon Stubbs (niece of Alice Jean Rogers) is in a Little Rock Hospital.  She has cancer and multiple other problems.
• Timothy Burks (Donna Miller’s son)  had surgery on 8/22/08 in San Diego, California.
• Vivian Flood is confined to home for a few days with a stress fracture in her left foot.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Chase Turpin (son of Winston and Danna)
• Cheryl Craven (surgery Sept. 10)
• Inez Hatfield
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Lance Haines
• Margaret Stone
• Marcella Martin (Ruby Lee Hundley’s aunt)
• Myra Flippo-Puckett
• Randy Bridges (minister at Washburn and area educator)
• Stephen Jennemann
• Larry Treat
 
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the Robertson/Watlington family.  Funeral service for Bobby Douglas (brother of Doris Robertson, uncle of Pam Watlington and Terry Robertson) was Tuesday at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home in Van Buren. 
 
**Prayer Pagers**
Ashton Stein,  784-7490
Paula May, 441-6639
Patty Null, 441-2379
Shirley Hughes, 441-2386
ALL Pagers, 441-2395
 
**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
• Please add Wilburn Howard’s nephew, Shawn Curtis, to this list. He has been deployed to Baghdad, leaving behind his wife, Sonji, and three children.
 
**Widows/Widowers**
The “20-somethings” class will host our lunch September 6 at noon in the Annex.  Come meet this active group of young men and women.  Call Mary or Bobbie if you need transportation to the building.
 
**Car Clinic**
There will be NO Car Clinic for the month of September.  Clinics are scheduled for October and December.
 
**Baptisms**
Leslie and Caroline Campbell were baptized last week by their father! Congratulations to all the Campbell family.
 
**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.
 
**Note of Thanks**
To the West-Ark Family,
I greatly appreciate the prayers of all regarding my recent surgery. Thanks for all the cards and other expressions of concerns and best wishes. Please continue to pray for a good recovery as God wills.
 Love,
 Myra Flippo-Puckett
 
**The Hope Chest Dolls**
The collection of dolls being offered by the Hope Chest will be on display in the foyer on Sunday morning.    Each one has a number and a sheet is provided for you to make your charitable offer for your favorite doll.  The minimum offer is to be $15.00.  This charitable silent auction will be concluded at the Ice Cream Supper (Canfields’ home on Sunday night).  Check the offer sheet as often as you like and feel free to increase your offer.   If you do not plan to attend the Ice Cream Supper but are interested in the dolls, just leave your offer on the sheet provided and if it is the highest offer, a member of the Hope Chest board will deliver it to you next week. ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE USED TO BENEFIT THE HOPE CHEST.  If you have questions, please contact Hope Chest Board Members.
 
**This week, the Hope Chest needs**
• Clean, used underwear
 
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**Special Collection for Emergency Relief**
Our brothers and sisters in Southern Ethiopia are facing severe difficulties because of a lost crop due to drought from October to June of this year.  They have used up their stored grains and do not have money to purchase food which has increased in price dramatically this past year.  Pray that the rains that finally began in June will be sufficient to provide for a good harvest beginning in October so this does not continue to be a time of suffering for them.
 
Sunday, August 31 we will have a special collection at West-Ark for our brethren there.  The funds will be quickly transferred to Ethiopia to allow our leadership there to administer them to the most needful amongst our brothers and sisters in the country. 
Please prayerfully consider the needs of our brothers and sisters and their children in Ethiopia.  May God bless each of us to have the kind of heart that responds because of the love of Jesus.  ~~Jim Wilson
 
**KFC is Coming!**
KFC will return Sunday evening September 7. We will start off with a night of singing, study and games. Watch for details in next week’s bulletin and make sure you start planning to be with us on Sunday nights. 
 
**Attention Ladies!  **
We encourage you to join us for the Tuesday Morning Wings Bible Class.  The new study is “The King and I: A Study of the Gospel of Matthew.”  Orientation is at 9:30 AM on Sept 9.  Additional information is available in the Information Center.
 
**100th Birthday Celebration**
A reception in honor of
Pearl Beam’s 100th Birthday
is planned for Sunday, September 7
from 2-4 PM in the Family Life Center. 
 
**Attention, Grown-Ups of 2-Year-Olds Through 1st Graders!!**
It’s Promotion Time!!
This Sunday, August 31, will be our FLOCK Celebration and Promotion for all those who are 2-years-old through those who are going into the 1st grade.  Please see the list below to see into which group your child will be promoting.  All of the ages listed below will check in at the FLOCK Information Station in front of the elevators.  IF YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE PROMOTING AT THIS TIME, PLEASE LET US KNOW, so that we can make the appropriate adjustments.  We want to do everything we can to make this transition as smooth as possible for all concerned.  :-)  Please contact Dena Jenkins with any questions.  To Him be all the glory and praise!
 
Rainbow Kids (2 years old by September 1, 2008)
Happy Hearts (3 years old by September 1, 2008)
Terrific Triangles (4 years old by September 1, 2008)
Dandy Diamonds (Kindergarten 2008-2009)
Shining Stars (1st Grade 2008-2009)
 
**Ice Cream Supper & Fellowship**
Sunday, August 31, 6 PM
*On the lawn at Jerry & Meg Canfield’s Home
2 Chestnut Court, Fort Smith (map available Sunday morning)
 
The whole church is invited!  The evening will include a devotional, singing, [communion for those who desire it] and our ice cream fellowship!  Bring a freezer of your favorite ice cream!  If you don’t have a freezer, bring a container of your favorite brand of ice cream or toppings, brownies, cakes, cookies, water, or sodas on ice. Lawn chairs and blankets are also needed (and maybe insect repellant). Come and join in the fellowship! 
*In case of rain, we will meet in the Family Life Center.
 
**It’s time for LTC (Leadership Training for Christ)!**
This year’s theme is Light ... Life .... Word from the Gospel of John.  We will be having an informational meeting after church on September 14th for any parent of 3rd through 12th graders who are interested in participating in  LTC.  If you are already familiar with how LTC works you will not need to attend this meeting, but if anyone has questions, this would be a great time to get those questions answered.  ~~Shelly Robbins
 
**Wednesday Night WINGS**
We’ll meet Wednesday night, September 3rd, at 7 PM in the Annex fellowship room to distribute books, have fellowship, and get oriented for the semester.  The cost of the book is $10.  See you then.
 
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**Youth Group News**
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 church building.
 
Keep looking at the bulletin board, newsletter and your email for more information about upcoming events for the fall. If you are not on our email list and would like to be, please contact Jackie Sofio at Jackie@westarkchurchofchrist.org
 
**Library Memorials**
In loving memory of Erva Tillery
from West-Ark Church of Christ
• Reason For God by Keller
• Reasonable Doubt (DVD)
• DaVinci Code Deception (DVD)
 
In loving memory of Leroy Null
from Null/Risley Life Group
• Early Christians Speak. Vol. 2 by Ferguson
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
September 1
Mike Mason
Linda McRay
Brenda Wewers
 
September 2
Bobbie Hughes
Charlotte Pinedo
 
September 3
Norma J Breedlove
Dixie Burkhart
Brandon Miller
 
September 5
Brent Douglas
Janice Hatcher
Natalie Hughes
Jenna Roberts
 
September 6
Patty Null
 
**Morning Nursery**
Louise Howard
Cristy Pressley
Hannah Pressley
Kay Pressley
Maddie Pressley
Cami Stancil
 
**Evening Nursery**
Robertta Moses
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship.…..….677
Sunday PM Worship…..…..248
Bible Classes...………...…..449  
Contribution……….…..$15,759
Children’s Homes…..….…$395
Wednesday Classes……….267
 
Lao Worship
Attendance…………….…….42
Contribution…….…………$205
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance…………………..59
Contribution……………….$360
 
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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