West-Ark Newsletter, 18 September 2008

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Family Lines Newsletter, September 18, 2008
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Answer me quickly, O LORD; Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:7-10, NASV)

Monday morning as I shaved, I was thinking of this article. (Monday morning is when I typically write the bulletin article.) As I focused on the article, I sprayed shaving cream in my left hand. I am a right handed person. I am also a practical person. Obviously, I do a terrible job of focusing on two matters at the same time.

Fortunately, immediately I realized my mistake. Being practical, I said to myself, There is no reason I cannot smear a little soap on my face with my left hand. I am delighted my ears cannot talk and my mouth promised to say nothing! What a mess! I got more foam in my ears than on my jaws! I shaved my whiskers while they laughedthey did not even see the razor coming!

Why did my left hand find a simple task so difficult? My right hand does it daily. Training! I gave all the training from teen years until now to my right hand. So what my right hand does easily without thought, my left hand makes a terrible mess of even when I am deliberate, thoughtful, and concentrate.

So much that seems to come natural to a person is a matter of training, not a unique ability. People who conduct themselves righteously do not do so because they have some special ability. They were trained in righteous thought and behavior for a long time. Lengthy training makes their first impulse to think or to act in a righteous manner.

The same thing is true of ungodly thinking or behavior. The person has thought or behaved unrighteously for so long that the first impulse is to think or behave in an unrighteous manner.

So, what is the foundation of the way I think and behave? The key question is, Who do I wish to be? Once I decide it is worth the price to change who I am, I begin training. I train myself so my first reaction is to think righteously or behave righteously. I have never met a righteous person who did not consent to righteous training. Who you are is who you are willing to be. It, to you, is worth the price to train.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears the words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it felland great was its fall. (Jesus words, Matthew 7:24-27, NASV)

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**Remember in Prayer**
Niketa Stinchcombs mother, Dotty Saegert had a stroke on Sunday and is in the Siloam Springs hospital. She has been having several mini-strokes and each one gets worse. Please pray for Dotty and her family as they deal with this difficult situation.
Marie Lile had emergency surgery Monday night to remove a polyp on her colon. She is in the Sparks ICU and has requested no visitors at this time.
Ethel Johnson from Waldron was in an auto accident and is in St. Edwards with a broken hip and arm. She is ninety years old and is a member of the church. Her driver, a younger man was also injured.

**Continued Prayers**
Chase Turpin
Daphna Curtis
Gary Waggerman
Inez Hatfield
Jimmy Eddy
Joel Prigge
Lance Haines
Larry Treat
Lloyd Priester
Louise Cline
Margaret Stone
Matt Dill
Palmer Richardson
Randy Bridges

**Pray for Our Soldiers**
James & Megan Johnson
Jered Goddard
Jeremy Grist
John Clark
John Lemley
Lance Hurst
Michael Priester
Mitchell Bryant
Nathan Davis
Ryan Almond
Shawn Curtis
Will Domer

**Notes of Thanks**
Dear Christians,
Thank you so very much for your prayers, the past three weeks I feel better than I have in a long time. I know its because of your prayers, so thank you God, and all of you.
-Inez Hatfield

I want to thank you for the words of concern, cards and prayers during my recent problems. Having brothers and sisters in the Lord means so much.
In Christian Love,
-Vivian Flood

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous donations you have made to our Homeless Education Program. The children we serve have benefitted greatly from your wonderful contribution.
Sincerly,
-Jeanne Carroll, FSPS Homeless Liaison

Dear Friends,
Once again, your congregation has truly gone above and beyond in their support of students experiencing homelessness! Thanks to your benevolence and generosity, many homeless students received backpacks filled with necessary school supplies and personal hygiene items. These students will have a greater opportunity to learn due to your contributions and donations. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.
-Kathryn OBrien

Thank you for the prayers, cards, and comforting words during my fathers illness and after he passed away. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated!
-Carolyn Hankins

Thank you for being so thoughtful during my extended recovery by your calls, cards and taking time to visit me.
In Christian Love,
-Norma Jean Breedlove

**Attention -- JOY Bunch Members!!**
We will celebrate September with a trip down memory lane. Please help us celebrate back to school by sharing a favorite or funny memory from your school days. Come join the fun! September 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center.

**Donate to the Hope Chest**
The Hope Chest is in need of mens casual shoes and baseball caps. Donations can be placed in the box in the foyer.

**Adoption Celebration**
Join Uriel Lindgren and his family at a fellowship meal as they celebrate his adoption, Sunday night, September 28.

**Wedding Shower**
You're invited to a Wedding Shower honoring Laurie Roberts and Justin Sexton
Sunday, September 21, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Meg Canfields Home, 2 Chestnut Court (off of North 66th Street)
Laurie and Justin are registered at Dillards, JCPenney, and Linens N Things.

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Who is Garry Bortz?
Garry has been an innovator in childrens ministry since 1975, serving full time with churches in Texas and California. He currently serves as the Childrens minister with the Campbell Church of Christ in the San Francisco Bay area. The Campbell Church in the heart of Silicon Valley, with over 20 different nationalities, provides Garry with a wide range of experiences in ministry to children and families. His vision for childrens ministry is to help families help their kids develop a walk that rattles. Simply put, a walk that rattles is a relationship walk with Jesus that makes noise. Its a one that makes a difference in the life of the child and those around them.

His work includes divorce recovery for kids, communication classes for kids and parents, parent/child relationship clubs and more. He leads more than 100 volunteers in a dynamic, weekly ministry to kids. Garry has directed childrens camps, childrens musicals, and has led mission trips to work with street kids in Africa. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Made-in-the-Streets Ministrya ministry to street kids in Nairobi, Kenya.

Garry has led training seminars for teachers and childrens ministry leaders across the nation. Among his favorite topics are vision for childrens ministry, developing creativity and storytelling.

Garry and his wife Gini have been married for 33 years and have 2 adult sons, Brennon of Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ryan of Los Angeles, California.

Saturday, September 27
Sessions during the day -- more details soon.
Saturday evening we will host an Appreciation Dinner honoring teachers and workers in childrens ministries. Michaela Schaper is organizing this banquet. We will need an RSVP to plan for the banquet.

**25th Anniversary & Homecoming **
October 12, 2008
9:30 AM Bible Classes for all ages.
10:30 Worship -- Guest Speaker, Jack Harriman
Everyone is invited for lunch in the Family Life Center.

**Sharing Photos & Blessings From the Past**
We are gathering photos of events in the West-Ark building from the past 25 years! If you have photos to share, pick out the best 2 or 3 and give them to Ron or Debbie Belote, Myra Flippo-Puckett, or one of the staff. Better yet, scan your photos and e-mail them to Debbie@westarkchurchofchrist.org. Please include names, if possible, of the people in your photo, the event with an approximate year, and how it blessed you or your family. There are some great stories out there -- please share them!

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Crosswalk // Saturday, September 27
*Please pick up the Crosswalk flyers on the youth table for more information!
- Vans will leave at 7:35 PM - Be on time please!
- Vans will return around 10:15 PM.
- Bring extra money for lunch and dinner.
- Cost = $25 ($35 if you ordered a shirt) Please turn in your money to Jackie Sofio by Wednesday, September 24.
Parents: If you can help chaperone this event please let Jackie know!

Girls Making an IMPACT! // Saturday, Oct. 4 // 3:00 PM -10:00 PM
We will meet at the church at 3 PM and get to Chester around 4 PM. We will be ushers, go-fers, and whatever they need at the "Bringin' it Home" concert starring singer/songwriter Royal Wade Kimes.
This concert supports the "Meals for Kids" program in conjunction with the Community Service Clearinghouse. The concert will end about 9:30, so we should be back about 10 PM. For more information contact Natalie Hughes.
(Dont forget to join our Facebook Group: Girls Making an Impact, if you havent already.)

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes........327
Sunday AM Worship....621
Sunday PM Worship....243
Life Groups..33
Contribution...$17,879
Childrens Homes...$253
Wednesday Classes.271