-----------------------------------------------------------------
Family Lines Newsletter, August 23, 2009
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

**Our Amazing God!**
By David Chadwell

 

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. ... 

Romans 3:21-24

 

We Americans are living through a major recession.  This is more than a nationwide reality; it is a worldwide experience.  This economic downturn offers amazing opportunities, but none of those are for the fainthearted.  One must be certain he (she) is addressing a genuine need and has the needed finances to bring the project to completion.

 

The foundation of the project must be built around an ideal product--addressing a universal need, worthy of sacrifice, and affordable to an enormous range of people.

 

God invested in a morally bankrupt humanity at a moment of enormous moral recession.  His investment utilized His every act, His every involvement with people for centuries.  Everything God did in the past bore witness to this amazing thing.  His investment was not limited—He did not hesitate to give His own son, and His son did not hesitate to be God’s gift.  The human need God addressed was universal!  Every person needed it.  The divine product also was attainable!  Incredibly, it was available to every person—every person literally could have access to God’s gift!  What God offered/made available could be found nowhere else—it was truly unique!

 

Amazingly, God not only addressed a universal need, not only used all His past acts to declare the uniqueness of what He offered, not only made His product accessible, but He also provided this product (a) as a gift and (b) verified His own character in providing it.

 

Whatever did God provide in such a harsh moral climate?  Redemption from personal moral failure!  To whom did He provide it?  Everyone!  How could all cultures, societies, and levels of humanity have access to what God did?  Through confidence in what God did in Jesus Christ!  Is God’s gift available to us?  Yes, if we trust what God did! What God does for us in Jesus Christ is beyond our imagination!  God works; we accept!  Through Jesus’ blood God redeems, and we gratefully accept through an obedient response.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

**Order of Worship**

 

Worship Leader -- Brent Evans

Mansion, Robe and Crown (on screen)

 

Welcome -- Shane Hughes

 

Great Are You Lord (3 times)
#47 -- Holy, Holy, Holy (vs. 1, 4)
#96 -- I Stand in Awe  (repeat)
#909 -- There’s a Fountain Free (vs. 1, 2, 3)
#374 -- There Is A Fountain (vs. 1, 3)

 

Table of the Lord -- John Carson
Offering

 

#253 -- Sweet Adoration (vs. 1, 2)

 

Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship
There’s A Stirring (on screen)

 

Message -- Chris Benjamin
Song for Responses
#943 -- Do You Know My Jesus? (vs. 1, 3)

 

Elder’s Prayer

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2 
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

**Remember in Prayer**
• Genevieve Rhodes is still at HealthSouth, room 235B, for a few more days.
• John Holley was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and went to see a surgeon this week.
• John Hawkins developed a high fever Wednesday evening and was admitted to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston.
• Lyndell Foster went to the doctor on Wednesday. His pain has stopped so no further testing will be done at this time. He will continue on an antibiotic for a few days. 
• Terry Davis (brother of Harold) had surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm on Tuesday.  He is doing well in a Hot Springs hospital.
• Patty (Boley) Galvez is experiencing pain in her back and legs. Her husband, Victor, requests prayers for healing and pain relief.

 

**Continue to Pray for ...**

• Aura Lee Land
• Bobbie Bolinger
• Inez Hatfield
• John Hawkins
• Janice Prater
• Jay Wood
• Margaret Stone
• Mary Wray
• Sydney Dortch
• Wilma Son
• Winnie Brown

 

**Missions at West-Ark**
 We need to be thankful and prayerful for members here at West-Ark who travel to places around the world to share the Gospel of Christ.
• The Guyana and Mexico mission teams have returned from summer trips.
• Jim Wilson organized and participated in a medical mission trip to East Africa and is currently working on another medical mission trip this fall.
• Larry and Donna Roper (former West-Ark members) have recently returned from two weeks in China working in the “Let’s Start Talking” evangelism program.
• Roy Dunavin and Jack and Glenda Lewis are currently serving in Ethiopia.
• Deborah Wilson is visiting with family in Laos.  (She will return home this weekend.)
• Russ and Jean McConnell are preparing to spend several weeks teaching and preaching in New England.

 

**Update from the McConnells**
We have received all the funds we need for our mission trip to New England!  Thank you to everyone who helped us.  Please keep us in your prayers. 
~~Russ & Jean McConnell

 

**Change of Address**
Jay Wood 
7815 Euper Lane -- G67
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone (479) 478-6559

 

**Welcome**
Lora Mackey
James, Jonas
16817 Bailey Road
Winslow, AR 72959
Phone: (479) 839-4362

 

Drew & Kelsey Spickes
3415 S. 66th Street, Apt. 422
Fort Smith, AR 72903

 

Kimberly Shawver
Randall Martin, Alexandra Martin
26633 Fair Hill Road
Cameron, OK 74932
Phone (918) 657-3077

 

**West-Ark Online Calendar!**
www.westark.org/calendar.htm
• Meeting for Elders, Deacons & Ministry Leaders, Sunday, August 23, 4:00 PM in Room 203.
• Financial Peace University starts August 23, 5-7  PM in room 211.
• Bean & Bailey Comedy Show, August 29, 7 PM in the Auditorium (Free admission for all -- a back-to-school special event; invite your friends!)
• Family Meeting, 6 PM, August 30 (No fellowship meal this month)

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

**Back to School Blessing**
Make plans to be here and invite your friends for our... Back to School Blessing
Sunday, August 30 at 10:30 a.m.
We’ll be praying for students of all ages, teachers and school workers!

Sunday, August 23, you are welcomed to come by the table in the foyer and check the names on our list.

Give us the blessing of praying for you all year long!

 

**Join us for our Back to School Bash!**
Kids entering Kindergarten through 6th grade & their families on Sunday, August 30
Immediately following worship until 1:15 p.m. in the West-Ark Gym

Lunch, games, and ways to get us all focused on Jesus before the craziness of the year begins!

PLEASE RSVP at www.westarkkids.org/BTSbash or at the King’s Kids bulletin board in the foyer!

 

**It’s Time for Tutoring!**
By Sheila Vaught
Once again, it is time to sharpen pencils, polish apples and head back to school.  Our first tutoring session with the kids is Oct. 6th -- right around the corner!

 

Last year I took a sabbatical and Karen Farris stepped in and stepped up the tutoring program to its highest level yet. She used innovative ideas to begin reaching out to the families of our children and bringing them into our building. This outreach into the community is what this program has always been about and yet never fully achieved, but this year Karen and I, together with your help, are going to try.

 

To do this, we need 24 tutors, 12 substitute tutors, 2 van drivers, 1 substitute van driver and many, many people to provide snacks and birthday cupcakes.  Being a tutor doesn’t take a lot of time out of your week (3:10 - 4:45 PM every Tuesday school day until May), but it means a great deal to a child struggling in school or struggling to know what is right and what is wrong.  These children need you, but what you don’t know yet is how much you will need them.

 

Please look for the sign-up sheets in the foyer, and get ready to sharpen those pencils! 

 

If you have questions, please call me, Sheila Vaught.  You may call Karen, too, but she is busy planning our opening gala for the kids.  With your good works, it should be our best year ever! 

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

**Youth Group News**
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.

 

Crosswalk - Saturday, September 26  /  Rogers, AR
We will be leaving at 7:30 AM sharp on Saturday, September 26. We return that evening at about 11 PM. The cost is $35, which includes transportation, conference fees, and a t-shirt. Money and applications are due to Rick by Sunday, September 13. Applications are available in class and in the hanging files next to the youth group bulletin board in the foyer.

 

Youth Group Events At A Glance
• Crosswalk: September 26
• MOVE Fall Advance: November 13-15
• Winterfest: January 15-17

 

**Happy Birthday To...**

 

August 24
Emily Combs
Robin Harper
Betty Summers

 

August 25
Jack Ferrell
Nicole Wilson

 

August 27
Greg Dockery
Melissa Walker

 

August 28
Sandra Anderson
Jackson Keller

 

August 29
Randy Hankins
Derek Harris
Flora Johnson
Donna Looney

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………....350   
Sunday AM Worship.…...590
Sunday PM Worship…...194
Wednesday Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$16,562
Children’s Homes……..$150
Coins For Christ.............$47

 

Lao Worship
Attendance……………......29
Contribution……………$171

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..47
Contribution……………$170