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Family
Lines Newsletter, March 12,
2009
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**The Precious Gift of Commitment**
By David Chadwell
The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and
they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace
of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to
remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and
of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. (Acts
11:22-24)
The above passage is about the Jewish Christian Barnabas. Before Acts
10, evangelistic work concerning Jesus Christ was done among Jewish
people. The Jerusalem congregation was the first congregation of
Christians, so it, with its leadership, was considered the “source”
congregation. When new developments occurred, the first question was,
“What does the church in Jerusalem think about this?”
In Acts 11 the first gentile congregations were formed (that we of today
know about). Not all Jewish Christians approved of Peter’s work with
Cornelius and his friends in Acts 10. The hot issue: was Christianity a
Jewish reform movement only for Jews and proselytes, or was Christianity a
movement that included non-proselyte gentiles as well? To recognize that
this decision was a pivotal moment in Christianity is an understatement!
A truly special Jewish Christian must be sent to the gentile congregation
in Antioch. He must observe and encourage. He must not alienate or
judge; he must not be hostile; and he must not say the wrong things. There
were more Jewish Christians NOT equipped for this delicate task than Jewish
Christians equipped for this challenge.
Who was sent? Barnabas. Why? He was capable of rejoicing
when he witnessed God’s grace working among the gentiles—he did not feel
threatened for Judaism or question gentile commitment. He could encourage
gentile Christians to remain committed to the Lord—he understood the difference
between faith in a Savior and faith in a system. How could he have this
understanding? He was a good man who was full of the Holy Spirit and faith
in Jesus. He could be committed to Christ instead of defensive for
Judaism.
Because Barnabas was committed to Jesus when many Jewish Christians were
hostile, in a few years there were more gentile Christians than Jewish
Christians. A problem became opportunity. The majority of the Roman
Empire had opportunity to respond to Jesus because a Jewish Christian was
committed to the Lord rather than his heritage.
Can God use you fully in delicate situations because of your commitment to
Jesus Christ? Are you better as a spouse, a parent, a child, a worker, a
citizen, and in a congregation because you grasp God’s meaning of Christian
commitment?
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**Order of Worship**
Sunday, March 12
Worship Leader - Brent Evans
#171 -- Above All Else
Welcome
#533 – I Am A Sheep (vs. 1, 2)
#415 – Each Step I Take (vs. 1,
3)
#218 – Blessed Jesus (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Above All (on screen)
Lord’s Supper
Offering
My Only Hope Is You (on screen)
Dismiss for Children’s Worship
#410 -- He Leadeth Me (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Sermon – Chris Benjamin
Song for Responses
#417 -- Where He Leads I’ll Follow (vs. 1, 3)
Elder’s Prayer
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**Remember in Prayer**
• Wendell McFarland requests prayers for his
mother, Bernice.
• Dan Cathey’s sister, Beverly Allen of Pasadena,
California, has learned she has cancer in her lung and brain.
• Cara Hickey’s
sister, Jackie Marshall (age 54) has been diagnosed with liver and pancreatic
cancer. She lives in Paragould, AR.
• Jessie Moore was admitted to ICU
at Summit Medical Center in Van Buren last Thursday night. He is improving
and will move to a room soon.
• Joe Landram, Coleen Shirley’s father, is
having additional tests this week.
• Nettie Shirley, Paul’s mother, is
recovering from a mini-stroke she suffered last weekend.
• Terry
Robertson requests prayers for his friend, R. B. Farnam, as he undergoes a liver
transplant.
• Ronnie Treadway (Kathy Glidewell’s brother) received some good
news. The mass in his colon tested as pre-cancerous. He is scheduled for
surgery Friday, March 13th in Fayetteville.
• Rick Odell’s mother had wrist
surgery on Tuesday and is doing well.
• Retha Wood had surgery today in
Little Rock. Everything went well. She will be at UAMS for a few more
days.
• Jennifer Dotson’s sister, Sue Grantham, is being treated for an
infection. If it clears, she can resume chemo treatments on Monday.
•
Good news! Toni Benefield (Donna Roper’s sister & aunt of Wes) had surgery
Monday to remove a small melanoma. No other treatment will be required.
•
Winnie Brown (Gary’s mother) is waiting for more tests to determine a treatment
for cancer of the lung and rib.
**Continue to Pray for . . .**
•
Bill Decker (father of Carrie Burress)
• Inez Hatfield
• Jewell
House
• Kathleen Taranto
• Larry Treat
• Lloyd Priester (Jim’s father)
• Louise Cline
• Margaret Stone
• Wilma Son
**Prayer Pagers**
• Jessie Moore,
441-2378
• Retha Wood, 441-1648
**Sympathy & Prayers**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the
families who lost a loved one this week:
• Charlotte Reagan’s mother, Joyce
Hickson, died Monday night. Funeral services for Mrs. Hickson are Friday, 2 PM
at Hoggards and Sons Funeral Home in Piggott, AR.
• Ruby Lessley, the sister
of Clayton Amos, died last week in California.
• Joel Prigge, Louise Howard’s
brother-in-law, died this morning (3/12/09) after a long illness with cancer.
The funeral service will be Sunday in Isanti, Minnesota.
**JOY Bunch**
Please join us on March 21, at 6:00 p.m. in the Family
Life Center. We are still seeking new members for JOY Bunch (Just Older
Youth!)
**Note of Thanks**
Thank you for the prayers, cards, and food in the
loss of our son, Charles. We appreciate so much the placing of a book in the
library in Charles’ name. You are a loving, caring group, and we appreciate all
of you.
Love,
John & Nelda Fowler
**Vacation Bible School, June 21 - June 24**
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**CURE Work Day**
Brothers and Sisters,
This Saturday, March 14,
at 9:00 AM, we will be sorting medical and surgical supplies at the CURE
warehouse on Vicksburg. This is for a June trip to Malindi, Kenya,
sponsored by the Caris Foundation. We will have 4 surgeons, 2
anesthesiologists, 2 family doctors, and a cadre of nurses to operate on many
patients at the District Hospital and an Islamic Hospital in Malindi. We
have 4 pallets of medical supplies that we pulled from 20 pallets about 10 days
ago. We need to further sort these to cull out supplies that definitely
will go to Kenya. It would be very helpful to have as many folks with a
medical background as possible so we can sort and “manifest” these items as
expeditiously as possible. If you know any medical people who would be
willing to come, please invite them!
If you are at all able to be at the
Vicksburg warehouse [corner of 24th & Vicksburg] at 9:00 AM Saturday, it
would be very helpful.
In Him,
Jim Wilson
**Bridal Shower and Brunch**
A drop-in bridal shower and brunch honoring
Callie Walker, fiancee of Josh Loewen, is planned for Saturday, March 28, 2009,
from 10 AM to 12 noon at the home of Danna Turpin. Danna lives at 2405 Rannoch
Lane in Fianna Hills -- right on Ramsgate, left on Rannoch Lane. Callie is
registered at Target, Wal-Mart, Dillard’s, and Now and Then Shoppe.
**Children's Ministry -- Workers Needed**
• Nursery - Wednesday night
•
Children’s Worship (4 and 5 year olds)
• Kids For Christ (all
ages)
Contact Dena Jenkins if you have a heart for teaching children.
**Filling Our Calendar!**
We are developing an online calendar for
West-Ark. The last Sunday of each month, we will print a calendar of events for
the upcoming month. It will be available for pickup on Sunday morning. The
deadline for the April calendar is March 25th. Call 452-1240 and let us know of
your event, or you may e-mail Janice or Debbie.
Janice@westarkchurchofchrist.org
Debbie@westarkchurchofchrist.org
**LTC Practice for March 15**
No senior puppets this week.
2:00 Jr./Sr. High
Chorus
Elementary Drama
3:00 Jr. High
Puppets
Elementary Chorus
4:00 Bible Quiz
5:00
Elementary
Puppets
Jr./Sr. High Drama
6:00 All signing
On March 22nd, there will be no practices.
We start
back up on March 29th.
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**Youth Group // News**
SOUL QUEST
APPLICATIONS ARE READY!
June 14-20 //
Applications for this new camp are out. The first 25 turned in will receive a
$25 discount. Turn yours in today!
YOUTH GROUP FAMILY DEVO // Sunday, March 15
6-7 PM, Family
Life Center
We’re getting our families together to spend time praising God in
song, praying, sharing and playing games. Don’t miss it!
Girls - Bring snacks
or desserts
Guys - Bring drinks
YOUTH WORSHIP // Sunday, March 22 // Youth Rm, 6
PM
SPRING BREAK MEXICO MISSION TRIP // March 21-28
Please pray
for the safety and success of this Exploratory Mission Crew in Mexico!
Mexico
Preparation Class: (Mandatory)
Sunday, March 15 // 5-6 PM,
Youth Room
CHURCH FAMILY MEETING // Sunday, March 29
We will join in on
the Family Meeting instead of having Youth Worship. Meet in the Auditorium at 6
PM.
LTC PREPARATION PRESENTATIONS
Sunday, April 5 // Family Life
Center // 5-7 PM
We will meet in the Family Life Center to watch
the LTC participants rehearse what they have worked hard to prepare for LTC. (No
Youth Worship)
LTC // Friday - Saturday, April 10-11
YOUTH WORSHIP
// Sunday, April 12 // Youth Room, 6 PM
SKILLET / DISCIPLE CONCERT // Tuesday, April 14 Alma
Performing Arts Center // 7 PM
More details to come!
[Check out the new look of the youth room!]
Starting this week, the
Junior High will have class on Sunday mornings in the former “TV Room.”
Sunday AM: John
JR High - “TV Room”
SR High - Youth Room
Wednesday PM:
Christian Community
JR & SR - Youth Room
Sunday PM: Promises
JR & SR - Youth Room
*New classes start April 5
**Happy Birthday**
March 15
Matthew Hines
Hayley Elise Sanchez
Janie
Wyatt
March 16
Trey Greer
March 17
Marie Lile
March 18
Caitlin Kleman
Linda Shank
Suzette Todd
Brad
Walker
March 19
David Berger
Shirley Bullard
Meg
Canfield
Wendal Hull
March 20
Blake Frost
March 21
Courtney Griffin
**Nursery Volunteers**
Morning: Flora Johnson, Betty Callicott, Amanda
Basham, Carol Schaper
Evening: Sheila Vaught
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………...…..360
Sunday AM Worship.……….NC
Sunday
PM Worship……….229
Wednesday
Classes……….234
Contribution……….…...$15,290
Children’s
Homes……..….$210
Lao
Worship
Attendance…………………...40
Contribution…………….....$178
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance……………….…..64
Contribution……………….$228
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"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve
others."
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