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Family Lines Newsletter, June 14, 2009
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**Do You Dare Imagine?**
By David Chadwell

 

1 John 4:9, 10

 

Numerous things are beyond my imagination. My life would change profoundly without Joyce (my wife), my children, or my extended family.  I cannot imagine the change if my friends or this country disappeared!  If the lifestyle and opportunities of many people I knew in other countries were mine, I would be dead.  This is not all my unimaginable!

 

While many unimaginable circumstances exist for me, number one is forever the same.  I cannot imagine living in a world untouched by Jesus Christ.  Do you ever consider how radically our world would change if there was zero influence of Jesus on it?

 

If there was no Jesus influence, the unimaginable would be commonplace!  The concepts of freedom, of rights, of morality, of justice, and of people exploitation would change—at the conceptual level, not merely the application level.  Evil would become good, wrong would become right, and we would exist to be used and discarded.

 

“David, why would you think that?” Consider this in the context of our world: As God’s influence through Jesus decreases anywhere, the evil treatment of people increases.  When good departs, there is no vacuum!  Evil behavior quickly fills the hole!

 

Is the situation perfect?  Far from it!  Is Jesus’ influence exploited or abused?  Certainly!  Are many disillusioned by the behavior of some who claim to be Christians?  Absolutely!  Must the situation be improved?  Surely!

 

The understandings of what God does through Jesus Christ, the commitment of faith in God, the abundant life, the trustworthiness of human promises, the God-given value of people, behavior transformation, and the proper measurements of life’s purpose are more valuable than most realize. Understanding Jesus changes people—for the better!

 

Will Christian influence exist without my commitment and support?  It’s our choice!

 

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**Order of Worship**

 

Worship Leader -- Andrew Todd
Welcome

 

#4 -- To God Be the Glory
#144 -- O Worship the King
#429 -- O To Be Like Thee

 

Prayer
#662 -- All to Jesus I Surrender
#382 -- Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?

 

Lord’s Supper
Offering

 

Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship
#474 -- Thank You, Lord

 

#602 -- Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus

 

Sermon -- Chris Benjamin

 

Song for Responses
#683 -- I Am Mine No More

 

Elder’s Prayer

 

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**In Our Prayers**
• Betty Porter will have a vertebroplasty procedure Friday on two of her five damaged lower back disks. The remaining injured disks will be corrected in a few weeks.  Tom asks for prayers for her recovery and comfort.
• Brice Carroll (Chris’s father) is getting additional blood work and seeing a neurologist. His doctor thought the brain tumor might have grown some, but not enough to be causing his problems.
• Caidan Dockery (infant son of Greg & Nancy) continues to improve, but they request no visitors at this time to reduce the risk of his becoming ill again.  Please continue to pray for his complete healing.
• Fay Green (Danna Turpin’s mother) is still not feeling well.
• Guyana Medical Mission Team (June 6-14)
• Jeana Belote had an out-patient test Thursday morning at Sparks Hospital.
• Johnny Hendrix (son of Milton & Debbie) is recovering from a work-related injury he received last week. 
• Lance Haines will have neck surgery in Texas June 16.  He will remain there for six weeks to recover.
• Larry Treat has entered hospice care at home and is no longer taking chemo treatments.  He welcomes visits, but requests that he be called first.
• Louise Cline is in Sparks Hospital, room 672 due to a fall.
• Marie Lile has not been feeling well and would appreciate prayers. She is at Methodist Village, 1915 S. 74th Street, #136, Fort Smith, AR 72903.
• Remember Mark & Kristi Wilson in your prayers. Kristi is having health problems, and Mark has discomfort and pain in his leg and shoulder.
• Norma Williams (Debbie Belote’s mother and Don Neal’s sister) is doing well after surgery and will be in Washington Regional Hospital until Friday.  Please continue to pray for a uncomplicated and speedy recovery. 
• Russell Wieser has been dismissed from HealthSouth. His granddaughter took him to Fayetteville VA Hospital for some additional tests on Wednesday.
• Sam Jenkins (Kerry’s Dad) made it through his colon surgery okay on Wednesday. Please pray for his complete and quick recovery.
• Teresa Wieser is still recovering from pneumonia. She is in Sparks Hospital, room 408.
• Lewis Livesey is in Sparks Hospital, room 424 with a severe case of bronchitis. He also has mitral valve prolapse and will be having surgery in the near future to replace the valve.

 

**Continued Prayers**
•Bill Wilson, Bobbie Bolinger, Inez Hatfield, Jessie Moore, Jane McGowan, John Hawkins, Kathleen Taranto, Lloyd Priester, Margaret Stone, Baby Max Reed, Phil Chavis, Tom Ed Gooden and Wilma Son.

 

**Change of Address**
Sandra Anderson, 2617 South 56 Street, Apt. 1,
Fort Smith, AR 72903.

 

**Baby Shower**
A shower honoring Amanda Basham is planned for Sunday, June 28, from 2:00 - 3:30 PM in the Annex.  Amanda is registered at Wal-Mart & JC Penney.  It’s a boy!!

 

**Joy Bunch!**
Saturday, June 20
at 6 PM in the Family Life Center

 

**Guyana Team Returns Home Sunday Night!**
Our team is scheduled to return on Sunday night, 14 June, on American Airlines flight 3653 arriving in Fort Smith at 9:45 p.m. They would LOVE to have lots of our church family there to welcome them home!

 

**Don't Forget!**
Baby Bottles are due back on June 21st.  Fill your bottle with spare change, dollars, or checks! Proceeds benefit the Heart to Heart Pregnancy Crisis Center in Fort Smith.

 

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**Vacation Bible School is June 21-24, 6-8 PM Nightly**

 

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR CHILDREN!!
You can register 2 different ways - whatever is more convenient for you!
1.  Online at www.westark.org/vbs.htm
2.  At the VBS table in the foyer (by the nursery)

 

DID YOU KNOW ...?
VBS invitations are available on the VBS table in the foyer.  Be sure and pick some up for friends and family.

 

ATTENTION KIDS!
Be sure to look next Sunday morning (6/21) in the area behind the auditorium to see which of the following Roman Families will be yours!
Aurelius
Cassius
Galius
Lucretius
Marius
Maximus
Octavius
Pompeius
Servius
Silvanus
Tiberius
Vitellius

 

KIDS -- Grab a grownup and check out this fun website that will give you a sneak peak into some of what we will be learning about Rome! http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/

 

VBS SET UP -- WE'RE BUILDING ROME!
They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, but we’re going to try to do it in two!
* Thursday, June 18, 10 AM - ??
* Friday, June 19, 10 AM - ??
Everyone who can cut, sort, hang, tape, etc. etc., etc. is welcome!

 

VBS WORKERS
Please join us SUNDAY, JUNE 14 in Room 100 to receive your final itinerary and instructions before we head to Rome!
* Marketplace Shop Keepers/Helpers, 4:45 PM
* Family Leaders/Helpers - 5:15 PM

 

If you can help with any of the following, please contact Dena Jenkins (dena@westarkkids.org) OR sign up at www.westark.org/vbs.htm OR sign up on the board in the foyer by the nursery:
* Registration workers
* Bread makers (VERY easy recipe)
* Handy with scissors? We need folks to cut out VBS items.

 

We need the following items to be donated or loaned:  rugs and greenery

 

NEEDS FOR PRESCHOOL
* Beach-related items (party deco, palm trees, chairs, towels, balls, etc.)
* Treasure chest

 

**King's Kids Calendar**
June 21 - Vacation Bible School Kick-Off During Sunday Morning Worship (No Children’s Worship)
June 21 - 24 - Vacation Bible School Every Evening 6-8 pm
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! July 25 - Jesus is my Hero Kids’ Night Out, Kindergarten - 4th Grade (Watch for more details)

 

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**Youth Group // News**

 

Mexico Mission Trip Application & $100 Deposit Due - Sunday, June 21

 

No Youth Worship  //  Sunday, June 14, 21
Due to Soul Quest and VBS, we will not have this event on these dates.

 

Soul Quest  //  Sunday, June 14 - Saturday, June 20
We will be returning on Saturday, June 20 at about 4 PM.

 

Youth Group  //  Wednesday, June 17  //  7 PM  //  Youth Rm
 
Mexico Mission Trip Preparation Class #1  // 
Sunday, June 21  //  5 PM  //  Youth Room   (Application and $100 deposit due this day.)

 

Vacation Bible School  //  Sun., June 21 - Wed., June 24
Sign up to help out with VBS on the sheets on the bulletin board in the foyer.

 

NO Youth Group  //  Wednesday, June 24  //  7 PM
Due to VBS, we will not have this event on this date.

 

Friends Day at West-Ark  //  Sunday, June 28  //  9:30 AM  //  Auditorium
Join in with the whole church and invite a friend you want to share Christ with on this special Sunday.  We’ll combine our 9:30 AM class with the adults, meeting in the auditorium for a fantastic concert by New Reign, an a cappella singing group from Oklahoma Christian University.

 

Mexico Mission Trip Preparation Class #2  // 
Sunday, June 28  //  5 PM  //  Youth Room

 

Mexico Mission Trip Preparation Class #3  // 
Wednesday, July 8  //  8 PM  //  Youth Room

 

Mexico Mission Trip  //  Saturday, July 11 - Saturday, July 18  //  Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
We are heading to Monterrey, Mexico to continue work on the church building we worked on this past March.  This trip is open to ALL members of the West-Ark church family, so if you feel God is calling you to be a part of it, please do so!  Applications are available in the hanging files next to the Youth Group bulletin board in the foyer or you can see Rick.  This will truly be a life-changing event that you shouldn’t miss.  Make sure you read Rick’s perspective about safety issues in Mexico on his blog at http://rickmon.blogspot.com.

 

**Happy Birthday To...**

 

June 14
Dorian Belt
Marcia Dye
Tilman McClendon
Tillman McClendon II
Lynnette Purvis
John Wood

 

June 15
Brady Burress
Logan Burress
Beverly Maxwell
Jeffrey Nolasco

 

June 16
Kalen Griffin
Loretta Loudermilk

 

June 17
Caroline Beneux
Louise Hamilton
Marquetta Walker

 

June 18
Susan Wade

 

June 19
Kaitlin Jones

 

June 20
Vivian Beneux
Jeannie Cole
Ronnie Galloway
Kerry Jenkins

 

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

 

**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………....373   
Sunday AM Worship.…...570
Sunday PM Worship…...N/A
Wednesday Classes…...287
Contribution………..$19,030
Children’s Homes……..$237

 

Lao Worship
Attendance…………….....33
Contribution……………$180

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..54
Contribution……………$275