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Family Lines Newsletter, July 26, 2009
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**Loving Others and Selfishness**
By David Chadwell

 

The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:39

 

This Jesus-statement was made about God’s greatest command.  The Jewish people were big into counting God’s commands and listing them in order of importance.  The question probably was an attempt to drive a wedge between Jesus and his popularity with many.

 

Jesus said God’s greatest command was to love Him with all one’s being, and the second—similar to that—was to love others as you love yourself.  Both of those are extremely challenging!

 

Love others as you love yourself?  Is this an urging to selfishness?  Is it an attempt to use selfishness as a measurement of love?

 

This statement is first found in Leviticus 19:18.  It is repeated by Paul in Romans 13:9, 10 and Galatians 5:14, and by James in James 2:8.  There seemed to be concern by some Jewish Christians that Christianity failed to keep God’s commands.  They were used to structure—temple, rituals, lists of dos and don’ts, centuries-old traditions, the ancient stances of their elders declared in oral laws, the customs of forefathers, and Jewish ways.   Christianity did not have a temple, rituals, lists of dos and don’ts, stances of the elders expressed in oral laws, customs of forefathers, or a Christian way of doing things.  After all, early Christians met in homes, not in a temple; they did good as did Jesus; they loved God and people.  Gentile and Jewish Christians often differed.  Christianity seemed much too encompassing and tolerant to be anything like Jewish former interpretation of religion or view of God.  Surely, if they were just Christian, they would miss something basic.

 

Paul said not so if they understood Jesus Christ.  If Christians loved God with all their being, and demonstrated their love for God in their kindness to people, nothing God wants of us will be ignored.  We will become the people God always wanted.

 

Read Leviticus 19:9-18.  It was about the way they would show kindness to people.  The person who belonged to Jesus Christ showed kindness to people.  That began by being kind to Christians.  Selfishness indulges self at others’ expense.  Christianity serves others.  Serve!  Godliness is shown in godly service to others!

 

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**Order of Worship**

 

Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
#63 -- I Will Call Upon the Lord
#23 -- Our God He is Alive (vs. 1, 2, 4)
#294 -- You’re the One (vs. 1, 2, chorus; 3, 4, chorus; 5, 6 chorus)
#448 -- Greatest Command
#364 -- Come, Share the Lord
(vs. 1, 2, 3)

 

Table of the Lord
Offering
#77 -- Glorify Thy Name (vs. 1, 2, 3)

 

Coins for Christ
Dismiss for Children’s Worship
#290 -- Shine, Jesus Shine (vs. 1, 2)

 

Message -- Chris Benjamin

Song for Responses
#828 -- Instruments of Your Peace

 

Elder’s Prayer

 

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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Bobbie Bolinger (Rochelle Brown’s aunt) had to stop chemo for the time being due to complications from side effects.  She will return to MD Anderson in a couple of weeks for further evaluation.
• Harold Davis requests prayers for his friend, Greg Ables, who has cancer.
• Harold Gouty had outpatient vertebroplasty surgery Wednesday morning to mend the compression fracture in his back. 
• John Hawkins is beginning treatment for cancer.  He will have six weeks of chemo and radiation (5 treatments per week).  He and Nadine will be staying in Houston while he has the treatments.  After the chemo and radiation are completed, John will wait for four weeks and then be evaluated for surgery.
• Richard Branum had ankle surgery on Tuesday. He is home now and will be in a cast for about three weeks.
• Winnie Brown (Gary’s mom) is continuing her chemo, and has experienced a loss of her voice for the last few weeks.  The reason for the voice loss is undetermined.

 

**Continue to Pray for ...**

• Aura Lee Land (mother of Ann Selig)
• Caidan Dockery (infant son of Greg & Nancy)
• Inez Hatfield
• Kelly Smith (daughter-in-law of Ralph & Sally Smith)
• Margaret Stone
• Max & Maddie Reed (infant twins in Louise Howard’s family)
• Sue Jobe (sister of Ralph Smith)
• Wilma Son

 

**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Vivian Flood in the death of her sister, Louise Stroup, who died Tuesday morning in Minnesota.  Burial will be in Michigan later this week. 

 

**Farewell & New Address**
After many, many years as a Windsor Drive and West-Ark church member, Virginia Mobley is moving.  We’ll miss you Virginia!  Her new address is the Gardens at Arkanshire, 5000 Arkanshire Circle, Apt. 225, Springdale, Arkansas, 72724.  She plans to keep her e-mail address!

 

**Baptism**
Ethan Benjamin (son of Chris & Karen) was baptized into Christ by his dad Wednesday night after classes in the presence of family and friends. We’re proud of you, Ethan!

 

**Widows/Widowers Brunch**
Saturday, August 1, 10:30 AM in the Annex
Call Mary, Bobbie or Janice for transportation to the annex.
 
**CAR CLINIC at Annex Parking Lot**
Saturday, August 1, 8 to 10 AM

 

**Invitation to Iglesia de Cristo’s 7th Anniversary Celebration!**
Friday & Saturday, July 31 - August 1, 7:00 PM Nightly

 

Sunday, August 2
9:00 to 10:15 AM Bible competitions (all ages)
10:30 AM Worship • 11:30 AM Fellowship!
Iglesia de Cristo is located at 3505 Johnson Street!

 

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**School Supplies Needed**

Proverbs 14:1 tells us that God is honored when we help the needy.  For the third year, the Hope Chest will be distributing school supplies for children in our community.  The list of suggested supplies is printed below.  Please bring all or some of these with you to worship on Sunday, August 9.  All supplies will be collected on the stage in the auditorium.

 

• wide-ruled spiral one-subject notebooks
• wide-ruled notebook paper
• pencil pouch
• colored pencils
• glue sticks
• plastic pocket folders with prongs
• pronged folders
• pocket folders
• 1” ring binders with pockets
• red ink pens
• blue ink pens
• black ink pens
• highlighters
• erasers
• Fiskars pointed scissors
• Fiskars blunt scissors
• box of tissues

 

**Wedding Shower**
for Katherine Evans (daughter of Elizabeth Evans)
Sunday, August 9, 2:00 PM in the Annex
Katherine is registered at JC Penney, Wal-Mart and Target.

 

**Got Sleep?**
Financial worries keeping you up at night or putting stress on you and the family?  How about being curious on setting up goals to save for your children’s college, or your retirement?  Come visit our Financial Peace University (FPU) preview on Sunday morning, August 2, immediately following church services in room 106.  Watch Dave Ramsey as he relates to you and how you relate to your money.  Registration has opened, your family is encouraged to attend the course, and childcare is provided for smaller children. For more details contact Jeff & Michelle Lovelace.

 

**Baby Announcement**
Mary Helen Luna
Born July 21, 2009
8 lbs., 2 ozs.
Welcomed by Pedro & Norma
Uriel, Pedro, Jr., David  and Jesus!

 

**King’s Kids Announcements**

 

K-4th Graders!!
Saturday, July 25
Jesus Is My Hero Kids’ Night Out
5:00 - 8:00 PM in the Gym
Kids - pick up an invitation for your friends by the King’s Kids Board

 

Grownups - please fill out and return an RSVP card by the King’s Kids Board OR go online at www.westarkkids.org/hero
(ALL forms can be returned to the file box by the elevator.)

• Grownups - if you haven’t already, please complete and return a King’s Kids Registration Form.
• Kids For Christ will not be meeting during the month of July.

 

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**Youth Group News**
Mini-Golf - Sunday, July 26  /  5:30-10 PM 
Mini-golf tournament at Gator Golf and pizza. Cost is $7. Meet at the church building.

 

Youth Group - Wed., July 29  /  7 PM  / Youth Rm

 

3 on 3 Basketball Tourny - Thursday, July 30  /    3-6 PM  /  Gym

 

Youth Group Night Out - Sunday, August 2 
Meet in the church parking lot at 6 PM and we’ll leave from there. Bring $10 for dinner and money for games. We’ll be back to the church by 8:30 PM.

 

Mystery Trip 2009  - Monday, August 3  /  Location: Surprise!  /  8:30 AM - 9 PM
Don’t miss this first time event... It’s a daytrip that will be wild, full of adventure and just plain fun! You’ll need money for a fast food lunch ($10) and a sack dinner. Get a form from the hanging files next to the youth group bulletin board today!

 

Youth Group - Wed., August 5  /  7 PM  / Youth Rm

 

Youth Worship - Sun., August 9  /  6 PM  / Youth Rm

 

Youth Group - Wed., August 12  /  7 PM / Youth Rm

 

JUMP StarT Youth Rally - August 14-16  /  Neosho, MO
Pick up an application in the hanging files for this amazing event. Speakers include Jeff Walling and David Fraze. Deadline is Friday, July 31. Cost is $40.

 

Youth Worship - Sun., August 16  /  6 PM  / Youth Rm

 

Youth Group - Wed., August 19  /  7 PM / Youth Rm

 

Parent Meeting / Family Devo - Sun., August 23  /  6 PM  / Family Life Center
Bring your calendars and planners; we will be going over the Fall Calendar. Get ready to sign up to help with upcoming events! Bring desserts or snacks.

 

**Youth Group Events At A Glance**
• Jump Start Youth Rally: August 14-16
• Crosswalk: September 25-27
• MOVE Fall Advance: November 13-15
• Winterfest: January 15-17

**Happy Birthday To...**

 

July 26
Carol Evans
Joseph Rosalez

 

July 27
Lou Winchell

 

July 28
Miriam Gunn

 

July 29
Jerry Selby
Bill Yick

 

July 30
Cathy Harris

 

July 31
Jerry Aldridge
Anetia Livesay
Ashley Scott
Thad Stancil

 

August 1
Pat Beard
Ed Grist
Myra Puckett
Patricia Smith
Aaron Trent

 

**Morning Nursery**
Berniece Rogers
Sharon Faries
Wanda Braker

 

**Evening Nursery**
Denise Lusby

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count
Bible Classes...………....385   
Sunday AM Worship.…...590
Sunday PM Worship…...N/A
Wednesday Classes…...214
Contribution………..$18,396
Children’s Homes……..$182

 

Lao Worship
Attendance……………...N/A
Contribution……………$201

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..38
Contribution……………$188