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Family
Lines Newsletter, August 2,
2009
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**“Uh-Oh ... I wanted the Automatic Version!”**
By David Chadwell
I say this to your shame, Is it so that there is not among you one wise
man who will be able to decide between his brethren ... ?
1
Corinthians 6:5
“Decide????? You mean there are decisions involved in being a
Christian? I have to decide? I thought the only decision involved
was to say you believed!”
Me, I am an automatic man! I love machines that take the work out of
tasks. I do not enjoy the experience but the results! Automatic
cameras, automatic transmissions—automatics are my machines! I love good
decisions made without my having to choose!
It is so simple to become a Christian that we regard it to be a convenient
machine. We express a desire to be baptized. We are asked if we
believe that Jesus is the son of God. We are baptized for the remission of
sins. We make a congregation our church home. We attend that
congregation several times a month. We may or may not get involved in the
congregation’s activities. We say (when asked) that we attend “X”
congregation.
It is done! We are members! We are Christians! In fact,
we are insulted if anyone questions that we are Christians. After all, we
attend most of the time. We are on the congregation’s membership
list. Our contact information is on the database. Our picture is in
the directory. Why would anyone question our Christianity?
Please, do not mistake the point! We are a congregation of men and
women who were baptized for the remission of sins because of faith in Jesus as
God’s son. We seek to be a community of believers who wish to be known to
and contacted by our spiritual family.
However, there is more to being a Christian than baptism, declaring
membership, attendance, and involvement in church activities. It is a
spiritual growth commitment. Increasingly, it involves who we are, how we
behave, what kind of single person we are, what kind of spouse we are,
what kind of parent we are, how we interact with people, what kind of
employee/employer we are, what kind of neighbor we are, etc.
There is no automatic version of Christianity. Yes, faith involves
personal decision making! The more spiritually mature we become, the more
decisions we make!
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**Order of Worship**
Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
#851 -- I’ll Fly Away (vs. 1, 3)
Welcome -- Jeff Lovelace
#538 -- My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)
My Only Hope
Is You (on screen)
#346 -- He Lives (vs. 1, 2, 3)
In Christ Alone (on
screen)
Table of the Lord
Offering
There’s A Stirring (on screen)
Coins for Christ
Dismiss for Children’s Worship
Firm Foundation (on
screen)
Message -- Chris Benjamin
Song for Responses
#464 -- Because
He Lives (vs. 1, 3)
Elder's Prayer
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Andy Anthony (husband of John & Hazel Richard’s granddaughter, Kathy)
has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and is undergoing more tests.
• Donna
Miller is doing well following abdominal surgery. She is in Sparks Hospital,
room 472.
• Mary Wray (Vicki Anderson’s mother) was admitted to Sparks
Hospital, room 445 on Monday night with high blood pressure.
• Genevieve
Rhodes was admitted to St. Edward ICU on Friday. She is now in room 3404.
•
Kelly Smith (daughter-in-law of Ralph & Sally) has finished her treatment
for cancer and received the great news of “all clear.”
• Laverne Branum
(grandmother of Michaela Schaper) was in the hospital over the weekend, but is
better and may go home soon.
• Shelley McGehee requests prayers for her
brother, Jake Lyon and his family. Jake’s job has required the family to move
several times in the last four years, and now he has been laid off. The
family is also experiencing some health challenges. Please pray that he is able
to find work soon.
• Shirley Washburn (John & Hazel Richard’s
daughter) has a benign tumor on the cartilage of her knee. It is difficult
to bear weight on her knee. She is currently having tests to determine
treatment.
• Sue Jobe (Ralph Smith’s sister) had a lumpectomy on Monday and
is waiting on the pathology report.
**Continue to Pray for ...**
• Aura Lee Land (mother of Ann Selig)
•
Bobbie Bolinger (Rochelle Brown’s aunt)
• Inez Hatfield
• Greg Ables
(friend of Harold Davis)
• Harold Gouty
• John Hawkins
• Margaret
Stone
• Max & Maddie Reed
• Richard Branum
• Wilma Son
• Winnie
Brown (Gary’s mom)
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Prayers are requested for Amanda Chavez, a friend
of the Nelson family, whose mother died last week.
**Meals for New Moms**
If you would like to provide a meal for Van &
Amanda Basham, please go online to sign up at
www.mysignup.com/basham or visit with
Shelley McGehee.
**70th Birthday Celebration for Luis
Mendez!**
(SHHH ... it’s a
secret!)
Saturday, August 8, 2 PM
West-Ark Family Life Center
RSVP
479-226-2223 (Mikki)
479 459-7571 (Arianna)
**West-Ark Online Calendar!**
www.westark.org/calendar.htm•
Widows/Widowers Brunch, August 1, 10:30 AM in the Annex.
• Car Clinic, August
1, 8 to 10 AM, at the Annex parking lot.
• J
OY Bunch! On August 15, we will have a “back to
school” celebration. Please submit 1st grade pictures (or other early elementary
photos) to one of the sponsors-- Turpins, Hankins, Arnolds. We will return
your original picture.
• J
OY Bunch! On
September 19, we will be traveling to the Amish Farm in Oklahoma for dinner.
Please sign the list in the foyer or a sponsor’s list, and pay in advance.
Thanks for blessing our lives!!
**King's Kids Calendar**
• August
2 - Kids for Christ resumes (ages 3 to 4th grade - upstairs)
• August 9 -
School Supply Sunday (See flyer for details.)
• August 30 - Back-to-School
Blessing (Morning Worship)
• August 30 - Back-to-School Bash (K-6th Grade
& Families) after Morning Worship - 1:30 PM
Check out the Hero Night Photos on the King’s Kids’ Board!
**Jail Ministry Baptism -- Jimmy Lytle, July 25**
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**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 & Target.
**Wedding Invitation**
Katherine Evans & Matthew Montgomery
will
be joined in marriage on
Saturday, August 15, 2 PM at
Pleasant Valley
Church of Christ
Van Buren, AR
**Need A Change?**
Financial Peace University (FPU) is not just for
those struggling with debt; it is for those that are in need of a lifestyle
change that helps establish better money management and financial
awareness. Want to eliminate debt, save for college, invest wisely in
retirement or even learn to save money on major purchases? This class is
for you!
Come visit our Financial Peace University (FPU) preview on Sunday, August
2, immediately following church services in room 106. Registration has
opened, your family is encouraged to attend the course, and childcare is
provided for smaller children.
Class begins August 23rd on Sunday evenings from 5 - 7 PM upstairs in room
211. For more details contact Jeff & Michelle Lovelace at mmlovelace [at] sbcglobal.net
**Baptism**
James Mackey was baptized Wednesday night after classes.
James is the son of Joe and Lora Mackey. Welcome to the family,
James!
**School Supply Sunday, August 9**
Proverbs 14:31 tells us that God is honored when we help the
needy. For the third year, the Hope Chest is providing an opportunity for
us to be blessed by giving 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.
Whatever you can bring will be appreciated and useful! All supplies
will be collected on the stage in the auditorium. This is a great opportunity to
teach sharing and giving to others. May we all work together to share
God’s love in this very tangible way. To Him be all the glory!
• 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
• wide-ruled spiral one-subject
notebooks
• wide-ruled notebook paper
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**Youth Group // News**
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
We’ll be leaving at 8:30 AM sharp.
Don’t forget money for a fast food lunch ($10) and bring a sack dinner and a
modest swimsuit.
Youth Group - Wed., August 5 / 7 PM / Youth Rm
Girls Day! - Thursday, August 6 / Cost: $5
Junior High Girls
- Meet in the Youth Room at 11 AM.
High School Girls - Meet at the church at
6 PM.
You should have received an invitation in the mail. RSVP to Denise or
Tyler as soon as possible.
Interns’ Last Day - Sunday, August 9
Be sure to say goodbye and thank
you to our wonderful interns before they head back to college.
Youth Worship - Sun., August 9 / 6 PM / Youth Rm
(This
will be the interns’ last class.)
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.
Parent Meeting / Family Devo - Sunday, August 23
/ 6 PM / Family Life
Center
Bring your calendars and planners; we will be going over the Fall
Calendar. Parents: get ready to sign up to help with upcoming events! Bring
desserts or snacks.
Bean and Bailey - Saturday, August 29 / 7 PM
Come and
join the fun as Bean and Bailey perform their hilarious comedy routine in
West-Ark’s Auditorium. Be sure to bring a friend. Admission is free.
**Happy Birthday To...**
August 2
Cara Hickey
Paul Tucker
August 3
Jay Glidewell
Charles Karr
Jerry Looney
August 4
Jim Arnold
Winston Turpin
August 5
Eric Berger
Luis Mendez
Ben Neal
Sarah Robbins
August 6
Jim Pratt
Barbara Smith
**Morning Nursery**
Melissa Walker
Suzi Jennemann
Dena
Jenkins
Julie Orick
**Evening Nursery**
Gina Williams
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....365
Sunday AM Worship.…...600
Sunday
PM Worship…...N/A
Wednesday
Classes…...203
Contribution………..$15,173
Children’s Homes……..$251
Coins
for Christ..............$29
Lao Worship
Attendance…………….....26
Contribution……………$255
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..56
Contribution……………$249
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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