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Family Lines
Newsletter, October 2, 2008
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**Danger and
Benefits**
By David
Chadwell
“For every
species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and
has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a
restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the
same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not
to be this way.” James 3:7-10
The tongue is
an amazing organ. Some of the things we find most enjoyable and beneficial in
life are the result of the tongue’s acts. I love to eat. In fact, I
enjoy it too much. I never consciously think about the contribution my
tongue makes to my eating. Day after day, year after year, probably
hundreds if not thousands of times daily, it darts in and out of danger.
It keeps my unchewed food in place to be torn or crushed by my teeth, and much
of the time it has less than a second to do its job. When I enjoy an
especially tasty meal, I never say, “Good job, tongue! You kept that wonderful
food right where it needed to be for me to enjoy every bite!”
I never think
of my tongue until I bite it. Then, if I am not careful, I say to myself,
“Stupid tongue! Why didn’t you get out of the way? Do you realize
how much the rest of my body will be inconvenienced because you did not get out
of the way?”
I never
remember the tongue replying, “Sorry! I must confess I got in the way on
purpose. I just felt like getting bit, suffering intense pain, and adding
additional difficulty to my job.” Though it is difficult to remember, the
tongue only does what it is told to do. It does not function
independently. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills
the heart.” (Matthew 12:34)
True, the
tongue gets all of us in all kinds of trouble because it says what we
think. However, the thought existed in us before we said it. If the
idea was not in our hearts, the tongue would not have turned loose the “wrong”
words.
The problem
is deeper than learning to control what we say—though such control is worthy of
great effort. The deeper problem is deciding what is allowed to be in the
heart. The truth is that the tongue will not say what we do not think and
feel. The combination of a heart dedicated to God and a tongue that is
controlled is a wonderful combination!
Do you speak
before you think about the way your words will affect others—maybe even those
you love the most? It could be suggested that you “bite your
tongue.” Perhaps it could be better suggested that you (a) examine your
heart and (b) focus on ways you can give your emotions and thoughts more
completely to God. Then when your heart overflows, the tongue is more
likely to encourage than wound.
“God, help us
be more like You. Then our mouths will be more likely to praise You than
express our human frustrations. In Your ways, not our desires, is
life. We seek life!”
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**Remember in
Prayer**
• Dotty
Saegert (Niketa Stinchcomb’s mother) has moved to
• Inez
Hatfield
• Joel Prigge
(Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Lance
Haines
• Larry
Treat
• Lloyd
Priester
• Louise
Cline
• Margaret
Stone
• Marie
Lile
• Randy
Bridges
• Taylor
Vincion, age 14 (great-nephew of Lisa Broom)
**Bereaved in
Prayer**
Our love and
sympathy is extended to the following families:
• Judy Foley
in the unexpected death of her mother, Hazel George. Services were 9/23/08
in
• Mary Huff
and family in the death of our brother and former elder, Jess Huff, on Monday
night. The funeral service will be Friday, October 3, 12 noon, at West-Ark
Church of Christ, with graveside service to follow at 1:00 PM at the
• Carrie
Burress in the death of her grandmother, Clarice Tisher, on Monday. Funeral
services will be Friday, 10/3/08 in
• Rebecca
Holloway in the death of her aunt, Maxine McGraw, on Wednesday in
**Prayer
Pagers**
Ashton Stein,
784-7490
Shirley
Hughes, 441-2386
ALL Pagers,
441-2395
**Placing
Membership**
Michael
Webster
Phone: 479
353-8302
**Baby Boy
Shower**
A baby shower
honoring Denise & Travis Hill is planned for Sunday, October 5, from 2:00 to
3:30 PM at the home of Helen Pratt, 3705 May Branch Lane. Baby Hill is
registered at Toys ‘R Us, Wal-Mart and JCPenney.
**Note of
Thanks**
I have wanted
to write this for as long as we have been riding the church bus. We have
five of the best and most caring brothers you could ever want to know: Rod
Jones, Wilburn Howard, Lloyd Summers, David Thompson, and Roger
Cunningham. John and I want to thank them and tell them how proud we are
of you all. I think all the riders of the bus would say
likewise.
God bless you!
John & Hazel Richards
**Brunch for
Widows & Widowers**
We’ll meet in
the Annex on Saturday, October 4, at 11 AM. (Notice the time change.) Call
Bobbie or Mary if you need
transportation.
**Car
Clinic**
Saturday,
October 4
Annex parking
lot
8 - 10:30
AM
(Weather
permitting)
**Fall Family
Fest is Coming -- Sunday Night, Oct. 26th!**
Let’s all
work together to make this a fun event for our church family, friends,
neighbors, grandkids, etc.
The following
are needed for this fun time:
•
individually packaged candy
• fast foods
toys and other goodies left over from birthday parties, etc.
• cash
donations
You may leave
toys/goodies in the tub near the elevator. Cash donations may be
given to Dena Jenkins or Tiffany Null.
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**Tutoring
Program -- Ministering to Children in Our
Community**
Urgent Need:
Someone to pick up a student from Howard Elementary at 3:00 PM on Tuesdays and
bring him to the church building.
We are also
in need of more tutors for this school year. Substitute tutors and snack
providers are also needed. Nutritious snacks are very important as some of
the children may not have supper at home. This is such a great opportunity to
help children who are in need -- and give to our community. The children
are abundantly blessed by this endeavor, but the tutors receive rich blessings
too! If you can help as a tutor, substitute tutor, or provide snacks,
please call Karen Farris.
**CURE Work
Day -- Folding Linens**
Sunday,
October 5 at 1:30 PM
CURE
Warehouse, 2400
We can use
anyone -- adult men, women, and teens. We are folding linens to ship to orphans
homes in
**Jail
Baptism**
Earl Barton
studied with Mike Williams and was baptized into Christ on Saturday, September
27. Pray for Earl and his continued walk with Christ. ~~Dan
Cathey
**Update from
Youth & Family Ministry Search Team**
Mark your
calendars for October 25-26!
The Youth and
Family Ministry Search Team has invited a candidate to visit with us in
**LTC
Announcement**
Hey Moms,
Dads and 3-12 graders. It’s time to sign up for LTC! The cost is $30
per child. Money can be given to Shelly Robbins or Kristin
Smith. Pick up your forms in the foyer next to the LTC bulletin
board. Fill them out, and put them in the slot that says, “Place completed
forms here by October 31st.” If you have any questions, please don’t
hesitate to contact Shelly Robbins. Moms and Dads: if you
can help in any way with LTC, please contact
Shelly.
**
Sunday,
October 12, 2008
9:30 AM --
Combined Adult Bible Class
10:30 Worship
-- Guest Speaker, Jack Harriman
(Jack began
working as minister for College Terrace Church of Christ in 1975 and continued
as pulpit minister at West-Ark Church of Christ until
mid-1987.)
Everyone is
invited for lunch in the
In 1981, two
local churches, College Terrace and
A new
building with a 2000 seat auditorium and classroom facility was started soon and
was completed on the old College Terrace property at 900 North Waldron in Fall
of 1983. The first service was held on October 9th, 1983 with 1122 in
attendance. On October 12th we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of that
event.
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4
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**youth group
// news**
Girls Making
an IMPACT! // Saturday, Oct. 4 // 3:00-10:00
PM
This service
project is Saturday! 9-12th grade girls, meet at the church at 3 PM and you will
return around 10 PM. You will be ushers, go-fers and whatever they need at the
"Bringin' it Home" concert benefitting the Community Service Clearinghouse. For
more information, contact Natalie Hughes.
Home
Devotionals // Sunday, October 19
JR High –
Jerry and Meg Canfield
SR High –
Mitch and Robin Harper
If you need a
ride, vans will leave the church at 5:30 PM and will return around 7:30 PM.
There will not be class in the youth room.
Girls – Bring
a dessert Guys – Bring a 2-Liter
drink
Sign-up on
the youth bulletin board!
Check your
Mail!
You should
have received a packet in the mail containing parent and teen surveys, a parent
volunteer form and an updated youth directory. If you haven’t already, fill out
the survey and drop it in the white box on the youth table in the foyer. (This
is very important; please take the time to complete it.) Please return the
parent volunteer form to the tray next to the white box.
Congratulations!
Congratulations
to Forrest Hickey who placed second at the Fort Smith City Doubles Tennis
Tournament. Forrest is a member of the
**Library
Memorials**
In memory of
Bob Douglas from West-
•
Encountering the Old Testament by Baker
• ESV
Study Bible
• When God
Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers by Sites
**Happy
Birthday**
October
5
Sharon
Faries
Leslie
Holland
Dena
Jenkins
Abigail
Jenneman
Margaret
Moss
Sam
Oliver
Kinzey
Rogers
October
6
Lillie
Daws
October
7
Andrew
Heras
Migdalia
Mendez
Carl
Wood
October
8
Gertrude
Mize
Kevin
Roberts
Neil
Roberts
October
9
Gene
Puckett
Billy
Yowell
October
10
Harold
Binyon
Jimmie
Cantrell
Kevin
Vaught
October
11
Ellen
Seiter
**Morning
Nursery**
Dena
Jenkins
Suzie
Jennemann
Melissa
Walker
**Evening
Nursery**
Gina
Williams
**Attendance
and Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes…..351
Sunday AM
Worship…..585
Sunday PM
Worship…..243
Life
Groups…...22
Contribution…..$15,651
Children’s
Homes…..238
Wednesday
Classes…..278
Lao
Worship
Attendance…………….…….59
Contribution…….…………$272
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………59
Contribution……………$338
Office Phone
(479) 452-1240
Fax (479)
452-5767
www.westark.org
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"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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