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Family
Lines Newsletter, May 24,
2009
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**A Changeless God in a Changeable World**
By David Chadwell
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting
shadow [literally, “shadow of turning”]. In the exercise of His will He
brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the
first fruits among His creatures. James 1:17, 18
On Monday of this week, Brian Perkins forwarded me a story sent to him by
one of his Iraqi interpreters who served with him. My immediate thought
was how much our world has shrunk since my family and I were in West Africa
(1970-74). Then the best we could do was send an aerogram (an air mail
letter of one sheet limited to a page and a quarter of writing). If
someone in our group was going to the airport (80 miles away, over 4 hours of
driving time one way), the letter would reach the USA in three weeks. If
the recipient replied immediately, we could hear from the USA recipient in 6
weeks. There were two telephones in our population area of 50,000
people. However, we would not dare call—the connection (routed through
Europe) broke too often.
Now with a hand-carried computer and an e-mail address, one can be in
contact anywhere in the world (with color pictures and sound as well as
dialogue) in a matter of seconds. What a change in much less than 50
years!
Things can be communicated so fast today that it is a challenge for most
older people to cope, and a challenge for most young people to imagine how
things were. That which is “current” is out-of-date in a finger’s
snap. Most everything that “was” has been made ancient by what “is.”
Often the challenge is to know what changed this week!
God does not change! The more we try to outdate His values, the
bigger the mess we make of individual existence, human relationships, and the
value of human life. For examples, depression constantly grows, commitment
in marriage dwindles, and people are destructively used to satisfy someone’s
sense of convenience. Perhaps the biggest shock of all is found in the
fact that many people do not understand why such things happen.
James focused on three things: (1) God is the source of good; (2) God
does not change (He does not need to change); and (3) God wants to bless
us. Consider three questions: (1) Do you understand God will work
with you to make life meaningful? (2) Do you understand God does not
change His values? (3) Is your hope in God?
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**Order of Worship**
Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
#791 – On Bended Knee (vs. 1, 2)
Welcome
#23 – Our God, He Is Alive
(vs. 1, 2, 4)
#72 –
Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
(on
screen)
#364 – Come, Share the Lord
(vs. 1, 2, 3)
Lord’s Supper
Offering
#273 – More Precious Than Silver (repeat)
#274 – Lord, I Want to Love
You More (repeat)
Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship
#647 -- Soldiers of Christ, Arise
(vs. 1, 2, 4, 5)
Sermon -- Chris Benjamin
Song for Responses
#792 – My Eyes Are Dry
Elder’s Prayer
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**Lord, Hear Our Prayers**
• Amelia Bramlett’s eye surgery on Monday was
more extensive than her family hoped it would be. The lens from her right eye
was removed. Please continue to pray for 4-month-old baby Amelia and her
parents.
• Anita Cook will see a hematologist for tests next Wednesday, May
27.
• Bennie Hedrick (mother of Nancy James) has improved enough to go
home.
• Bill Wilson family update: We are so very thankful for our church
family. Your prayers have bolstered us during this time of great trial.
Bill spent a night in the hospital in Batesville, AR, and will enter residential
treatment this morning [Thursday] for a lengthy period of time. We all
continue to need your prayers, especially as Paige and the children make
adjustments. Also please pray that Bill will be successful in overcoming
this powerful tool of Satan’s. In Christian love, Jim & Deborah
Wilson
• Eleanor Casey is still suffering from a severe case of shingles
on the right side of her face and in/around her eye. She is in a great
deal of pain and discomfort.
• Fay Green (Danna Turpin’s mother) has been
released from the hospital and is now recuperating at home. Thank you for
the many prayers, and please continue to remember her as the doctors study and
evaluate her tests for a diagnosis.
• Georgia Burns (James Anderson’s
mother) is scheduled for hip replacement surgery Tuesday, May 26th.
• Gerald
Benjamin (Chris’s father) is scheduled for eye surgery May 26th in
Fayetteville.
• Hawkins Family update: daughter Vicki Varvel has improved;
daughter Robin Murphy has gotten a smaller cast on her arm; John is still not
feeling well.
• Inez Hatfield fell at home Tuesday morning. Nothing is
broken, but she is in a lot of pain and finds it difficult to walk.
• Mary
King was taken to St. Edward ER Saturday morning due to a fall at her
home. She has a contusion over her left eye, cuts & bruises on both
arms and cracked ribs. Mary is suffering with a lot of pain from the
broken ribs. She is recovering at home.
• Baby Max Reed’s reverse
colostomy surgery went well on Tuesday. Pray for his continued healing!
•
Therese Wieser is in Sparks Hospital, room 527 with pneumonia.
• Thomas
Kweekul spent Monday night in the hospital due to kidney stones.
• Tom Ed Gooden (brother of Benny) is scheduled for a stem cell transplant
on Monday, May 25.
**Continued Prayers**
Jay Wood, Jeana Belote, Jessie Moore, Kathleen
Taranto, Larry Treat, Lloyd Priester, Louise Cline, Margaret Stone, Terry
Davis, and Wilma Son.
**Bereaved in Prayer**
The funeral service for Trucilla Surratt, Kathy
Rosalez’s mother, will be 2 PM, Saturday, May 23, at Cornwell Funeral Home in
Dardanelle, Arkansas. Family & friends’ visitation will be Friday
evening, 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home chapel.
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**Gift Baskets for Seniors**
As a part of the tradition at
West-Ark, a basket for each Senior has been placed in the foyer for anyone to
fill with gifts, notes, etc. Please note that the baskets will ONLY be
available through this Sunday (May 24). God bless our graduates as we send
them out to become what God has planned for them to be!
**Hope Chest**
The Hope Chest is in desperate need of new or worn socks
for men.
Items can be placed in the large Hope Chest container in the
foyer.
**Wedding Shower **
A wedding shower for Kara Lankford is planned for
Sunday, June 7, 2-4 PM in the Annex.
Kara is registered at JCPenney,
Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target.
Hostesses are Bea McDonald, Mary Beth
Oliver, Marquetta Walker, Ellen Kamp, Karen Carter,
Kim Bice, and Jennifer
Sanchez.
**King's Kids Calendar**
For more details of these events as well as
photos, check out our new King’s Kids Board by the Youth Board in the Foyer!
May 24 - Promotion Sunday (PLEASE SEE DETAILED INFO for all age groups at
FLOCK Station)
May 24 -- Bridge 56 Parent Night (during class in B56
room)
June 7 -- Bridge 56 Party (more details soon)
June 21 - Vacation
Bible School Kick-Off (during morning worship; no children’s worship)
**Baby Bottle Campaign**
Be a blessing to our community! Fill your baby
bottle with spare change, dollars, or checks and return it on Father’s Day, June
21!
**Next Sunday, May 31 at West-Ark**
www.westark.org/calendar.htm4
PM -- Elders’, Deacons’, and Ministry Leaders’ Meeting in room 203.
6 PM
Family Meeting in the Auditorium. Fellowship meal afterwards in the Family Life
Center. Please bring desserts!
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**Have you turned in your Soul Quest application?**
June 14-20
// We have a huge group already signed up to go to this amazing new camp.
You do not want to miss being a part of this new WAYG tradition. Applications
are available in the foyer next to the youth group bulletin board.
Youth Worship // Sunday, May 24// 6-7 PM // Youth Rm
Youth Group // Wednesday, May 27// 7-8PM // Youth Rm
Intersect Worship // Sunday, May 31 // 8-9:30 PM // on the campus of UAFS
for High School students, College students and 20somethings
“First Is Third” Service Camp //Sunday, May 31 - Wednesday, June 3 //
Church Building
This will be a time of spiritual service work to help our
students gain a basic understanding of social issues such as poverty, hunger,
homelessness, and loneliness on a global and local basis. During each day, we’ll
be involved in service activities, along with small group time, personal
devotion and reflection. Each evening we will hear from various speakers
who have seen and experienced the mission field, take a midnight prayer walk and
will make and sleep in cardboard houses. We will also participate in a 30-hour
fast concluding in a family dinner. Don’t miss it!
Jr/Sr Trip // Friday, June 5-Wednesday, June 10 // On the Road
This is another new Youth Group
tradition. We’ll take all current Jrs and Srs on a road trip as we allow
our graduates to say “goodbye” and pass the torch of leadership to our new
Seniors. Additionally, we will visit 6 different Christian colleges for
campus tours and lots of freebies. And stay tuned ... we might even have a
surprise event DURING this trip. You do NOT want to miss it! See
Rick or the Interns for more details!
Mexico Mission Trip // Saturday, July 11-Saturday, July 18 // Monterrey,
Nuevo Leon, Mexico
We are again heading to work on the building that we
helped with last Spring Break. Applications have been emailed out, but are
also available in the hanging files near the Youth Group bulletin board. Don’t
miss it!
**Happy Birthday to...**
May 25
Alexander Keller
May 26
Bonnie Marrs
Brad Moore
Rachelle Pratt
Morea
Wade
May 28
Greg Null
Hannah Null
Jim Priester
Lenora
Word
May 29
Jerry Canfield
Billy Hines
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....445
Sunday AM Worship.…...645
Sunday
PM Worship…...246
Wednesday
Classes…...246
Contribution………..$20,663
Children’s Homes……..$301
Coins
for Christ..............$46
Lao Worship
Attendance…………….....21
Contribution……………$139
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..51
Contribution……………$202
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve
others."
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