**A Personal Evaluation**
By David Chadwell

 

However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. (1 Corinthians 8:7-11)

 

And we think today’s church has problems!  Imagine seeking to combine into one fellowship people as diverse as a devout Jew who was converted to Jesus and a devout idol-worshipping Gentile converted to Jesus.  Each person followed entirely different religious rules prior to conversion, had entirely different moral values, lived entirely different lifestyles, worshipped different gods, had different concepts of divinity, and often despised each other.  Does that not sound like wonderful “church material”?

 

Even in matters held in common, they clashed.  Both ate part of the sacrifices they offered as worship (read 1 Samuel 1:1-11).  Both regarded that eating as an act of honoring the god (God) worshipped.

 

Irony: a Christian who understood could eat a pagan sacrifice in a pagan temple and not engage in worship.  Why?  (1) He knew the pagan god did not exist.  (2) He knew that what one ate or drank in a sacrificial ceremony was without religious significance in purity matters. That was (is) correct! Yet, for the sake of someone who did not understand, he would refuse to do what he correctly understood to avoid offending the conscience of someone who incorrectly understood.  In concern for a person for whom Christ died, the Christian would forego correct knowledge.  A heavy spiritual concept!

 

Christians are (and have been) big on rules and regulations concerning “right” and “wrong” purity concerns.  We tend to be more confrontational and less flexible than God is. God responds without concern to things that deeply concern us.

 

For example, as a personal test (not a “body/church” test) list your 5 favorite T.V. programs.
            1.
            2.
            3.
            4.
            5.

 

Honestly tell yourself why you enjoy these programs. Then tell yourself how they help you pursue a closer relationship with God.  In matters of personal purity, in all of life, can you see it is a personal situation involving an objective—far more than learning and keeping a set of “rules and regulations”?

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

**Remember in Prayer**
• Charles Edens (Tammy Cypert’s uncle) had surgery 10/7/08 in Little Rock for a head injury caused by a fall.  He is in critical condition.
• Donna Wheeler (friend of Tammy Cypert) is in Sparks Hospital, room 498.  She is not doing well.
• Dotty Saegert (Niketa Stinchcomb’s mother) is scheduled for tests.  She has prayer pager 441-2378.
• Inez Hatfield
• Prayers are needed for our brother, Jessie Moore, who is ill and in lots of pain.  Cards may be sent to Jessie c/o Capri Motel,  #26, 1833 Midland Blvd., Fort Smith, AR 72903.
• Joel Prigge (Louise Howard’s brother-in-law)
• Larry Treat
• Lloyd Priester (father of Jim; grandfather of John)
• Louise Cline
• Margaret Stone
• Taylor Vincion (Lisa Broom’s great-nephew) is greatly improved!  He has now moved to rehab for extensive therapy (speech, physical, and occupational).  He may be there for a month. Cards may be sent to Taylor at his home address, 2252 Nashville Hwy, Lewisburg, TN 37091.
• Vivian Flood -- prayers for healing in her feet and toes.

 

**Bereaved in Prayer**
Helen Needham died Tuesday in Hot Springs, AR. Our love and sympathy is extended to her family and the many friends she had at West-Ark. Helen and her husband, Wendell (also deceased) were active members in this church for many years.  Funeral service for Helen was today, 10 AM, at the Airport Road Church of Christ in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Graveside service will be this afternoon at 2:30 PM at the Union Cemetery in the Formosa community.

 

**Notes of Thanks**
Thank you for all of the prayers, encouraging cards and concerns during the time of Patty’s illness.  She appreciated so much the kindness of help and offers of help she received from so many.  The cards and flowers were uplifting gestures. A special appreciation is given to Kathy Rosalez, Ann Selig, and Deborah Wilson for all the time they spent with Patty, and all of the prayers lifted up on her behalf.  Without the body of the church, Patty’s life would have been over very quickly.  Thank you for helping her to live in peace during her final months.
 With God’s Blessings,
 Kathleen Taranto, Meg and Jerry Canfield Family

 

The family of Aline Graves Story thanks you for your donation in her memory to the West-Ark Church of Christ Library.
 Farrell Graves

 

**Prayer Pagers**
Ashton Stein,  784-7490
Dotty Saegert, 441-2378
Shirley Hughes, 441-2386
ALL Pagers, 441-2395

 

**Game Day for ALL!**
Thursday, October 16, 12 noon until ??
Room 106 in the main building.

 

**Joy Bunch **
October Fun!! Prizes will be awarded!!  Join us at 6:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center on October 18th.

 

**Family Fall Fest**
Sunday, October 26, 6:00 - 7:45 PM in the Family Life Center
This event is for the entire family!
Everyone is invited!
6:00 - 6:30  Devotional
6:30 - 7:45  Family Fall Fest
• Fun games and prizes
• Food and fellowship
• Trick-or-Treating
• Costume parade
Bring your friends!
Grab the grandkids!
http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/temp/fallfestposter.pdf

 

**More on Family Fall Fest**
Check out our bulletin board in the foyer to see ALL the ways you can make our Family Fall Fest fabulous!
• 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.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

**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 Fort Smith on that weekend.  In addition to the formal interview with the search team, there will be a special event on SATURDAY NIGHT with the youth group and parents, and a special combined class on Sunday morning with grades 7 thru 12.  More details to come soon!!

 

**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.” 

 

**Financial Peace**
Tired of the gloom and doom that we hear constantly on the TV and radio when it comes to the economy?  Gas prices eating up your money?  Would you like some spiritual guidance when it comes to how we should handle our finances?  West-Ark now has a new Financial Ministry.  Jeff and Michelle Lovelace are Certified Financial Counselors who are ready to help you control your spending, get out of debt, create a new outlook on life, and get Financial Peace!  Contact the church office at 452-1240 or call 479-883-5542. All sessions are 100% confidential.

 

**Shoes4Africa**
Imagine walking barefoot down the street stepping on broken pieces of glass and hookworms entering your body through your feet.  92% of Kenyan children tested had hookworm, which enter the body through exposed bare feet.  This affects everything from a child’s intellectual development to a woman’s ability to carry a baby to term. This is reality for the people of Africa.

 

If you donate sneakers to people in Africa, it can cut the chances of getting intestinal worms.  West-Ark’s “Girls Making An Impact” are collecting used tennis shoes for this effort.  Add your contribution to the large container outside the Library.

 

**Calendar of Coming Events**
October 19 – Elders lead the morning service
October 25-26 – West-Ark hosts a candidate for the Youth and Family Minister position
October 26 PM -- Family Fall Fest
November 8-9 – Missions Weekend with Dr. Bob Lawrence
November 16 – Missions 2009 collection
December 13 – The Hope Chest’s Annual Toy Giveaway  

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

**youth group // news**

 

Surveys
Don't forget to return the surveys (parents and teens)!!  They can be returned to the white box on the youth table in the foyer.

 

Home Devotionals  // Sunday, October 19
JR High – Jerry and Meg Canfield
SR High – Mitch and Robin Harper
Vans will leave the church at 5:30 PM and will return around 7:30 PM for those who need a ride. 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!

 

Hayride // Saturday, October 25
A youth minister candidate will be at the hayride for you to meet. You don’t want to miss it! If you can’t to go on Saturday, he will be teaching class on Sunday morning.
- Vans will leave the church at 5:00 PM and will return around 10:00 PM.
- We will cook out then go on a hayride.
- Make sure you take time to get to know the candidate and his wife. He will be giving the devotional that evening.
- This event is hosted by the Olivers.
- Please plan to come; we want everyone to be there!

 

**PRAY FOR OUR SOLDIERS**
• James & Megan Johnson
• Jered Goddard
• Jeremy Grist
• John Clark
• John Lemley
• Lance Hurst
• Michael Priester
• Mitchell Bryant
• Ryan Almond
• Shawn Curtis
• Will Domer

 

**OUR MISSIONARIES**
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley
• In France & Belgium
• Evangelists & families with whom we work in Ethiopia & Nigeria
• Missionary families in Vietnam and Laos

**Happy Birthday**
October 12
Berniece Rogers

 

October 13
Taylor Hankins
Hannah Watlington

 

October 15
Andy Cruz
Robert Willett

 

October 16
Richard Adams
Ann Combs
Jerry Glidewell

 

October 17
Becky Grist

 

October 18
Shelly Robbins

 

**Morning Nursery**
Vicki Anderson
Trish Carson
Dwonne Cogswell

 

**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………...…..374  
Sunday AM Worship.…..….585
Sunday PM Worship…..…..253
Life Groups…………………..25
Contribution……….…...$22,377
Children’s Homes…..….…$221
Wednesday Classes……….242

 

Lao Worship
Attendance…………….…….30
Contribution…….…………$148
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance…………………..61
Contribution……………….$302