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Family Lines Newsletter, August 16, 2009
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**Are You a “Good Person”?**
By David Chadwell

 

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  Romans 10:1-4

 

Are you a good person?  What a hard question!  As compared to whom?  The popular comparison is to someone we regard to be extremely wicked, selfish, and greedy.  In that comparison, we usually say, “I like to think I am a good person,” or, “I never do these things ...” or, “I always try to do these things ... .”   When “good” humans are compared to “bad” humans, we look pretty good.

 

What if the comparison is to God?  That is the comparison we never like!  Why?  No matter what acts or attitudes are compared, none of us look good. We are talking about the One who gave us Jesus, who gave us forgiveness, who gave us mercy, and who provides us salvation in our unworthiness.  How do you compare yourself to that?

 

Understand one thing, and impossible despair is replaced with the hope of expectation.  What one thing?  This realization:  God does not compare!  He gives us Jesus for two objectives: (a) to eliminate comparisons and (b) to provide us goals for transformation.  God looks at you, your personal potential for godliness, and your commitment to growth in Christ-likeness.  How much do you believe in what God did for you in Jesus’ death and resurrection?  Is your confidence in your deeds or in God’s achievements in Jesus Christ?  Do you obey God to place God in debt to you, or do you obey God to express your gratitude?  Do you serve God because you fear divine punishment, or because you genuinely desire to be like Jesus?  Do you do good to honor yourself or to honor the Lord?

 

God knows your background, weaknesses, struggles, and failures, and it is okay—if you place your confidence in Jesus.  Some of the most religious people Paul knew made a huge mistake: they placed their confidence in their deeds instead of what God did in Jesus Christ.  Never trust your deeds—they are never enough!  Trust what God did in Jesus—it is always enough!  The difference is the difference between that of failure and service, between a terror-filled life and a hope-filled life!  Trust Jesus, not you!

 

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**Order of Worship**

 

Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord (on screen)
Welcome

 

#902 -- Nothing But the Blood   (vs. 1, 3)
#903 --There is Power in the Blood (vs.1)
#453 -- Love Lifted Me (vs. 1, 2)
#915 -- Trust and Obey (vs.1)
#387 --Tell Me the Story of Jesus (vs. 1, 3)

 

Table of the Lord 
Offering
#113 -- His Grace Reaches Me (vs. 1)

 

Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship
#458 -- Redeemed (vs. 1, 2, 3)

 

Message -- Chris Benjamin
Song for Responses
#989 -- Soon and Very Soon (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Elder’s Prayer

 

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**The Prayers Go Up ... and the Blessings Come Down**
• Anetia Livesay had cataract surgery on her right eye Thursday morning.
• Dr. Bob Whittaker, Director of the Nigerian Christian Hospital, had surgery to repair his arm on Sunday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville and is doing well.
• Connie Hixson went to the ER last week with breathing difficulties, but is feeling better now.
• Remember to keep in prayer Roy Dunavin and Jack & Glenda Lewis as they travel and teach in Ethiopia.
• Genevieve Rhodes continues her stay at HealthSouth, room 235B.
• Jay Wood asks for prayers as he continues to make decisions and adjusts to life without Retha.
• John Hawkins had appointments earlier this week with his physicians at MD Anderson Hospital.  They are delighted that he is doing so well. His blood work is great, and John is continuing with his chemo and radiation treatments.
• Praise! Rochelle Brown’s aunt, Bobbie Bolinger, went to MD Anderson last week for follow-up and testing.  The cancerous tumors in her lungs have shrunken, the cancerous tumors in her brain have shrunken or disappeared, and she is able to take chemo again!
• Joe Morgan has given us an update on Devin, the 15-year-old son of a co-worker.  Devin finally received a diagnosis and had gallbladder surgery Wednesday at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
• Sydney Renee, Kevin & Jill Robert’s newborn granddaughter, has failed her 3rd hearing test.  She has an appointment on Friday for further evaluation.  Please remember Sydney and her parents, Katie & Brad Dortch, in your prayers.

 

**Continue to Pray for ...**
• Aura Lee Land
• Donna Miller
• Fred Carter
• Inez Hatfield
• Janice Prater (prayer pager 441-1648)
• Margaret Stone
• Mary Wray
• Max Reed
• Shirley Washburn
• Wilma Son
• Winnie Brown

 

**Posted to the Bulletin Board**
• Thank you note from Danny & Angela Collins (family of Lewis Livesay)
• Thank you note from Wanda Braker
• Thank you note from bicycling group, AC Overland
• Flyer for Clarksville Church of Christ Ladies’ Day, Sept. 19
• Flyer for Back to School Revival, August 20-23 at North 50th Street Church of Christ

 

**Back to School Blessing**
Make plans to be here and invite your friends for
Sunday, August 30, 10:30 a.m. in the Auditorium.
We’ll be praying for students of all ages, teachers and school workers!
Please give us the blessing of praying for you all year long!

 

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**King’s Kids Calendar**
• Kids For Christ is now meeting upstairs on Sunday nights (ages are 3 years - 4th grade).
• August 30, Back-to-School Blessing (no children’s worship). Invitations for friends & neighbors are on the King’s Kids’ Board.
• August 30, Back-to-School Bash (K-6th grade and families) after morning worship to 1:15 PM. PLEASE RSVP at www.westarkkids.org/btsbash or on the King’s Kids’ Board in the foyer.
• Grownups - please join our resource group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113898113271&ref=ts

 

**West-Ark Online Calendar**
www.westark.org/calendar.htm

Financial Peace University starts August 23, 5-7 PM in room 211. For enrollment contact Jeff & Michelle Lovelace at mmlovelace [at] sbcglobal.net

Bean & Bailey Comedy Show, August 29, 7 PM in the Auditorium (free admission for all)

 

**Women of Faith Conference**
October 30 & 31 in Oklahoma City, OK

The Women of Faith Conference is an exciting 2-day event that is a mix of laughter, music, and stories that will touch your heart.  A group of ladies from West-Ark is planning to attend the conference.  If you would like to attend, please join us Sunday morning, August 16, in room 106 after worship for information and a video preview. 

 

Natalie Hughes is coordinating the purchase of tickets and planning for the weekend.  The plan is to leave Thursday, the 29th of October around 5:30 PM.  The conference will begin Friday morning at 10 AM, lasting until Saturday at 4 PM. Because it is Halloween, some of you with children may want to return earlier, so we can send at least one vehicle back Saturday after lunch if needed--otherwise we will plan to leave after 4:00 PM on Saturday to return home.

 

Additional information on the Women of Faith Conference is available online at http://www.womenoffaith.com/okcity.

 

**Mission Trip for the McConnells**
We are leaving September 2 on a mission trip to New England.  Russ will preach and teach in Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, encouraging the small congregations there.  We will return to Fort Smith on October 8.  Thank you for helping us with this effort!
~~Russ & Jean McConnell

 

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**Youth Group News**

JUMP Start Youth Rally - August 14-16  /  Neosho, MO
The vans will be leaving at 4 PM sharp on Friday and returning around noon on Sunday.

 

 

 

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! Please 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. Admission is free.
The purpose of this event is to provide an opportunity to share Christ with friends. We expect everyone to bring a few friends with them! How great would it be if we had to pack 1,000 people into the auditorium? We want to use this event to connect people. Make sure you pick up some tickets in class and share them with your friends.

 

Church Family Meeting - Sunday, August 30  /  6 PM 
We will join in on the Family Meeting in the Auditorium.

 

Intersect Worship - Sunday, August 30  /  8-9:30 PM 
Location: TBD
For High School, Lions for Christ and 20-Somethings. Join us as we experience God together in praise and worship.

 

Youth Group Events At A Glance:
•  Crosswalk: September 25-27
•  MOVE Fall Advance: November 13-15
•  Winterfest: January 15-17

 

**Happy Birthday To...**

 

August 16
Cyndi Glidewell
Daphne Israel
Jack Lowry
Todd Martin
Brock Slater
Allison Thompson

 

August 17
Richard Branum
Beulah Ann Chronister
Tiffany Null
Linda Wear

 

August 18
Venoma Foster
Barbara Miller

 

August 19
Ruth Burns
Louise Howard
Benjamin Webber

 

August 20
Emily Kamp
Ben Pearson
Tanner Robbins

 

August 21
Nolan Marr
Grace Peters
Barry Reagan

 

August 22
Gary Nolasco
Deborah Wilson

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………....378   
Sunday AM Worship.…...611
Sunday PM Worship…...212
Wednesday Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$14,776
Children’s Homes……..$205
Coins For Christ.............$43

 

Lao Worship
Attendance……………......27
Contribution……………$150

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..57
Contribution……………$251