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Family Lines Newsletter, October 18, 2009
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**God Knows How To Take Care of Us**
By David Chadwell

 

Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?  Matthew 7:9-11

 

Our relationship with God is a faith relationship.  We relate because we trust each other.  Satan constantly tests and tries the quality of our trust.

 

“Wait a minute!  I understand that we must trust God, but God trusting us sounds strange!”  We generally refer to our trust as obedience (we do His will), though there are times when trusting God requires no specific act (such as believing God is there, God creates within us, God forgives an evil action, God keeps all His promises, etc.)

 

Yet, God also trust us!  He trusts us with His name, His reputation, His message, His will, etc.  Those are not small things!  Paul once wrote to some who claimed to represent God, “For THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written. (Romans 2:24, NASV)  It is an enormous matter to suggest God says when actually we say, or to suggest, “This is God’s way!” when actually it is our way.  To claim to represent God when we actually represent our desires is a huge mistake!  Beware of willfully harming God’s reputation!

 

One of many ways we declare confidence in God is to trust that God knows how to care for us in each situation.  That is not a simple confidence to have!  As long as God physically cares for us in the way we wish to be cared for, it is easy to trust God—like a child trusting a parent.  However, that is an extremely complex trust!  (1) Do I trust God to seek my highest good when I do not physically wish to go there?  (2)  Do I trust God to care for me when I suffer because of the consequences of others’ mistakes?  (3)  Do I really trust that spiritual realities are above physical realties?  (4) What if my trust in God results in physical suffering?  (5) What if I do not understand how what is happening is in my best interest?  (6) What if I see ungodly people physically better off than I am?

 

“Thank you, God, for Jesus!  No one at Jesus’ cross thought You were winning!  Yet, You took a death on a cross and made a Savior for us!  Help me look, reflect, and trust!”

 

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**Order of Worship**
Worship Leader -- Rick Odell

 

#390 -- Guide Me, O Thou, Great Jehovah
That’s Why We Praise Him
Welcome
Light The Fire
#287 -- There Is A Redeemer

 

Table of the Lord -- Mat Griffin
Offering

 

Coins for Christ
Dismiss to Children’s Worship
#376 -- He Paid A Debt
Wonderful, Merciful Savior

 

Message -- Chris Benjamin

Song for Responses
#552 -- Have Thine Own Way, Lord

 

Elder’s Prayer

#749 -- The Battle Belongs to the Lord

 

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In Our Thoughts & Prayers
• Please continue to pray for Bobbie Bollinger (Rochelle Brown’s aunt).  More brain tumors were found during her tests this week at MD Anderson hospital.
• Emily Glidewell was admitted to Sparks Hospital, room 345, on Wednesday (10/14/09) with an allergic reaction to a bee sting.  She is on IV antibiotics and is improving.
• F. E. Cook is scheduled for surgery on Nov. 6.
• Geneva Shepherd has been moved to hospice care, room 5116, at St. Edward Hospital.
• Kathy Rosalez had a lumpectomy on Tuesday. The surgery went well, and she is recovering at home.
• Pam Tennant (daughter of Wilburn & Louise Howard), is scheduled for a double mastectomy on Tuesday, October 20th, in Melbourne, FL.
• Sondra Hayes Roberts (a  friend of Jack & Janice Lowry) is scheduled for a high-risk back surgery Thursday (10/15/09) in Oklahoma City with two weeks of hospitalization followed by rehab.
• Rex Mason requests prayers for Tina Good (the wife of a business associate) who has a reoccurrence of cancer.
• Valoree Berlew (niece of Marvin Hughes) was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
• Virgie Ingram (Cami Stancil’s grandmother) fell and broke her pelvis and wrist last week. She is in St. Edward Hospital, room 3203.

 

**Continued Prayers**
• Aura Lee Land
• Lela Neal
• Margaret Stone
• Wilma Son
• Winnie Brown

 

**Prayer Pager**
441-1734 Susan Wade
441-1722 Kathy Rosalez
441-2378 Geneva Shepherd

 

**Mission Focus: Healing**
* Guyana Medical Mission
* Dr. Bob Whittaker & Nigerian Christian Hospital
* CURE (Compassionate Utilization of REsources)
West-Ark's special contribution to fund missions for 2010 is November 8th!

 

**New Photo Added to the Directory**
Rick & Rennie Williams
P.O. Box 1211
Panama, OK 74951
Phone 918.963.2567

 

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**Thanksgiving Dinner**
For many years it has been a tradition at West-Ark to  have a Thanksgiving Day “turkey & potluck” dinner in the gym for any individuals or families who are unable to travel home for the holiday.  This year, a new host or host family is needed to coordinate the event. If you are interested, please call the office at 452-1240.  Past event coordinators have been the Pratts, the Bergers, and the Frosts!

 

**JOY Bunch!**
Come join in the fun on Saturday, October 17, at 6:00 PM in the FLC (gym). Seasonal decor, contest, and prizes!!

 

**Tutoring Program**
We  need 3 more tutors, additional substitute tutors, snack-providers, and an additional van driver.  Call Sheila Vaught if you can help (646-2945).

 

**New on the Bulletin Board**
Thank you note from Doris Robertson.
Thank you note from Nadine Hawkins and family.

 

**Lions for Christ Garage Sale**
October 24, 8 AM until 2 PM
Location: LFC Campus House next to gym
Make plans to attend and support our LFCs!

 

**King's Kids Calendar**
October 18, Sunday PM
NO KFC II (2nd - 4th grade)

 

October 25, Sunday AM  (after morning services until 2 PM)
Pizza Lunch (bring $2) and Fall Fest set-up

 

October 25, Sunday PM 6:30 to 8:00
Family Fall Fest in the Gym

 

**Fall Fest  - Fun for all!**
Sunday, October 25 - 6:30 to 8 PM - West-Ark Gym

 

There truly is something for everyone! 
  Enter the Pie-Making Contest (sign-up at King’s Kids Board)
  Enter the Pumpkin Decorating Contest (decorate at home)
  Enjoy the Benefit Chili Supper
  Bring your grandkids, neighbors, friends’ kids
     (invitations are at the Guest Center and King’s Kids Board)

 

Bring any/all of the following items:
  Cupcakes for Cupcake Walk (sign-up at King’s Kids Board)
  Desserts and/or drinks
  Individually wrapped candies (drop in the tub at King’s Kids Board)
  “Fast-Food” prizes (drop in the tub at King’s Kids Board)

 

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**Youth Group News**

 

Family Small Group - Sunday, October 18 / 6-8 PM
Don’t miss out on this first of its kind event!  All West-Ark families with youth group students will gather together in groups at a host home located near you geographically.  Your group will share some thoughts from God’s Word, share in some snacks/food and get to know each other better. We hope to have one of our Shepherds attend each of these Cluster meetings.  This is a FREE event and will help us as we grow to be more like the family of God that He calls us to be.  Please Note:  If you are in the Van Buren cluster, you should have received an email asking for one of you to be the host home for this event. As of now, no one has replied.  PLEASE volunteer! (let Rick or Jackie know) Thanks!

 

YOUTH GROUP - Wed., October 21 / 7 PM /  Youth Room
Music! Videos! Worship! Challenging message!  Fellowship!  Don’t miss out as we begin a brand new series this Wednesday... and bring a friend!

 

Family Fall Fest - Sunday, October 25  /  Family Life Center  /  6:30-8:00 PM  /   More details to come

 

Calendar change - Intersect Worship (for high school, LfCs and 20 somethings) on October 25 and FCA Gameday on October 31 have been cancelled.

 

Home Devo - Sunday, November 1  /  6-8 PM 
We still need someone to volunteer to host this event! Please contact Rick or Jackie if you are able to host this home devo. We don’t want to have to cancel it!

 

MOVE 2009 Advance - Friday, November 13 - Sunday, November 15 / West-Ark Church of Christ
In our Youth Group, we want to ADVANCE!  And Advancing means we MOVE. MOVE 2009 Advance (our annual “retreat”) is an event that focuses strictly on development of discipleship, regardless of “where” a student is spiritually.  This event is open to any student from 7th-12th grades that is interested in a “MOVE” (growing) as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  We’ll be gathering at the church building throughout the weekend and staying at the homes of a number of kind and hospitable members from our own church family.  (You will NOT be staying at your own home.)  The speaker will be Andy Spell (yes, from Soul Quest), from the West Houston Church in Houston, TX and the worship leader will be Evan Simmons, from the Hillcrest Church in Abilene, TX.  Get your application from the hanging files near the Youth Group bulletin board in the foyer and turn it in TODAY!

 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! -  A successful youth and family ministry cannot happen without lots of volunteers and we need more! Please see Rick or Jackie or sign up on the Youth Group bulletin board if you can help as a van driver, host a home devo, host home or meal coordinator for our MOVE 2009 Advance, host homes for our Christmas progressive dinner and a few other slots.  Thanks.

 

**Happy Birthday To...**

 

October 18
Shelly Robbins

 

October 19
Janice Prater
Alisha Wewers 
Mark Willis

 

October 20
Kathryn Willis

 

October 21
Karen Benjamin

 

October 23
Adam Dizer
Paul Quenin

 

October 24
Sherissa Hubbs
Alyxander Logan

 

**Morning Nursery**
Flora Johnson
Betty Callicott
Linda Wilson

 

**Evening Nursery**
Sheila Vaught

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………....396   
Sunday AM Worship.…...665
Sunday PM Worship…...189
Wednesday Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$17,890
Children’s Homes……..$178
Coins For Christ.............$46

 

Lao Worship
Attendance……………......22
Contribution……………$133

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..44
Contribution……………$201