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Family Lines
Newsletter, January 3, 2010
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**Good
Intentions, Temporary Resolve, or Commitment?**
By David
Chadwell
The season of
good intentions is here! It is a very short season—it only lasts a few
days. For most of us for less than a week we consider our “New
Year’s Resolutions,” then we celebrate our New Year, then we remember our
resolution about a week, then we “forget” to keep the resolution for a week,
then we resolve again, then we become irritated, and then we chunk the whole
idea in the garbage as “a bad idea.”
It is amazing
that there is once a year when “sensitive” subjects are magically, if briefly,
“good ideas.” Consider an example. A “meddling ole doctor”
suggests we need to seriously consider losing weight (what does that doctor
know, anyway?). A nosey spouse suggests it might be a good idea if “we
both stopped eating so much sugar” (something sweet tastes mighty good after a
meal!). A well-meaning nutritionist who never ate anything good in her
life suggests our family needs to cut down on our fat intake (she never once ate
good fried catfish and hush puppies!). Then, suddenly, losing weight is a
great idea from December 26 to 4 PM on December 31. For those few days
eating too much food, reducing sugar, and reducing fat are good ideas openly
discussed instead of sensitive subjects never to be mentioned. After all,
it is great to dream about weighing 20 to 50 pounds less—just imagine what I
could wear! However, “good-intention” dreaming and “determined commitment”
are entirely different subjects!
Consider a
much more serious matter than the problem of being overweight. Consider
spiritual existence. What God does for each of us in Jesus Christ defies
human imagination! That God could forgive all a person’s sins—from the
worst to the most common, that He could respond to our flaws with “closed
eyes”—from our most glaring to our “best kept secret,” that He could justify the
inexcusable—if those in Christ repent, and that He could sustain hope with mercy
and grace for a lifetime is beyond imagination.
And how shall
we repay Him? By never making another mistake? By pulling out our
wallet? By never being needy again? We must be kidding! We do
the “faith” thing! We say, “Thank you!” We show our genuine
gratitude by being responsible in who we become in Christ Jesus and by
refusing to stop spiritual growth. Who we are and where we go does not
matter, as long as it makes us more like Jesus.
With you, is
that a good intention or a firm commitment?
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship
Leader -- Andrew Todd
Welcome
#2 -- We
Praise Thee, O God (vs. 1, 5)
#3 --
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah(vs. 1, 2)
#4 --
To God Be the Glory (vs. 1, 3)
#144 --
O Worship The King(vs. 1, 2, 3)
#792 --
My Eyes Are Dry
Table of the
Lord
Offering
#694 --
Servant Song
Coins for
Christ and Dismiss for Children’s Worship
#42 -- How
Majestic Is Your Name
#652 -- We
Have Heard the Joyful Sound (vs. 1, 2, 4)
Message –
Chris Benjamin
Song for
Responses
#948 --
I Am Resolved (vs. 1, 4)
Elder’s
Prayer
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**Prayer
Requests & Blessings**
• Cile Staggs
(great-aunt of Chris Burress) has been having mini-strokes and is in hospice
care. She is 101 years old. Please pray for her comfort.
• Earl Flood
is recovering from abdominal surgery. He is in St. Edward Hospital,
room 4525.
• Geneva
Shepherd has been moved to Methodist Nursing Home, room 152. She would
really enjoy some visits!
• Grace
Peters is in Sparks Hospital, room 415. She will probably go to Methodist
Nursing Home soon.
• Jim Newton
is recovering from triple heart bypass surgery done on Dec. 22 in Oklahoma City,
OK.
• Mary Ann
Scholle, mother of Daveina Scholle and Sherissa Hubbs, had surgery Tuesday in
Little Rock. It was discovered that she has colon cancer. Further
treatment has not been determined at this time.
• Richard
Broyles is in St. Edward Hospital, room 4509, recovering from a
concussion.
• Roger
Mattox (brother-in-law of James Anderson) was recently diagnosed with a brain
tumor after a series of small strokes. He was released from the hospital
with medication to treat stroke activity. Doctors will look at the tumor
again in six months to determine if it is actively growing.
• Prayers are
requested for Russell Johnson (uncle of Chris Burress) who has
gastroparesis.
• Please
continue to pray for Wendi Murrell (friends of the Gouty and Lowry
family). Wendi is still in a coma and has a long recovery
ahead.
**Bereaved in
Prayer**
• Family and
friends of Jessie Moore, who died early Wednesday morning at St. Edward
Hospital. Jessie’s funeral will be Saturday, January 2, 2 PM at Lewis
Funeral Home in Fort Smith.
• Betty
Porter in the death of her son, Alan Fred Hile on December 27. Graveside
services were Dec. 30 at National Cemetery. Fred was a member of the
Dayton Church of Christ.
• Natalie
Nelson in the death of her aunt, Lynda Poe, on December
19.
**Continued
Prayers**
Continue to
pray for Alice Jean Rogers, Aura Lee Land, Bobbie Bollinger, Caidan Dockery,
Danyelle Lusby Lupkey, Inez Hatfield, Jewell House, Lela Neal, Margaret
Stone, Sharon Carroll, Van Humphrey, and Wilma Son.
**Prayer
Pagers**
Mary Ann
Scholle, 441-6639
Earl
Flood, 441-2381
Geneva
Shepherd, 441-2378
Dialing (479)
441-2395 will contact all West-Ark prayer pagers at once.
**Home For A
Visit**
The Hundleys
will be in the USA through January :~)
John Paul
& Ruby Lee Hundley
710 North
17th
Fort Smith,
AR 72901
Phone: (479)
414-2194
**New
Arrival**
Congratulations
to Linda & Harold Davis on the birth of a grandson, Brosnam Callen Chilton,
on December 28 to Darren & Mandy (Russell) Chilton. He weighed 8 lbs.
10 oz. His big sister is Brooklyn.
**Sunday
Night at 6 PM**
Singing
Devotional for all ages in the Auditorium.
**King’s Kids
Calendar **
To see event
photos, faith@home activities and more, join King’s Kids on Facebook.
Sunday,
January 3 - Kids for
Christ will not meet.
Sunday,
January 10 - Kids for
Christ resumes.
Come upstairs
and join the fun!
KFC1 - 2 year
olds through 1st grade
KFC2 - 2nd
through 4th grades
Saturday,
January 16 - Family
Mystery Dinner
Don’t miss
this fun, family event!
More info at
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214932091026&index=1
RSVP at
www.westarkkids.org/mystery
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**York
College Concert Choir**
Thursday
Night, January 7th, 7:00 PM in the Auditorium
On Sunday
mornings, the York College Choir’s songs have been playing as we assemble for
worship. Come Thursday evening to hear them in concert. Your presence will be an
encouragement to them, and it will be an uplifting time of praise to God through
song!
Also on
Thursday evening, we will supply the evening meal for the choir. Please
contact Paula May or Sandra Anderson if you can help with their potluck
supper.
**CURE’s
Overview of 2009**
Printed
copies of the overview will be available Sunday. View the report online.
**Guyana
2010**
We will have
an organizational meeting after class on Wednesday, January 13, to begin putting
together our 20th medical mission team.
**FLC Codes
Are Changing!**
As of January
4, all Family Life Center (gym) codes for the keyless entry pad will
change. See Lynn Dickey for your new code.
**West-Ark
Year-to-Date Budget vs. Actual**
Budgeted
Contributions -- $162,000
Actual
Contributions -- $175,434
Actual
Expenses -- $149,833
**From YOUR
Financial Ministry -- Resolution OR Goals?**
Ever notice
that we all seem to set a New Year’s resolution and charge into the new year
with high expectations and energy. How often do we then loose that stamina
or even stumble a little only to let our good intention “resolutions” go to the
wayside? How about not making a resolution, but setting a goal. A
goal is a change in progress, one that does not demand instant results but a
slow change for long-lasting improvements.
This new
year, set a goal to get your mental, physical and financial health in
balance. Set realistic goals, take it slow and steady, and make a
permanent change. Jeff and Michelle Lovelace are available for any
confidential financial counseling to help you get on track to setting those
healthy goals.
On Saturday
March 13th, 2010 West-Ark will be hosting a LIVE Simulcast with Dave Ramsey that
will give you inspiration, insight, advice and encouragement to reach your goals
you have set. Be sure to take advantage of the many services being offered
through the financial ministry at West-Ark. Our God puts encouraging
people in your path, don’t hesitate, change is now.
Please
contact us for more information on the opportunities
available.
Dave Ramsey
Simulcast Event
Saturday,
March 13, 2010
West-Ark
Auditorium, 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Tickets on
Sale NOW! $9.00/ea
Call the
church office at 452-1240.
Confidential
Financial Counseling
Jeff &
Michelle Lovelace
Phone: (479)
883-5542
mmlovelace@sbcglobal.net
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4
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**Youth Group
// News**
SNL at
Southside in Rogers - Sunday, January 10
Theme: “I am
the door of the sheep.” John 10:7
Winterfest
2010! - January 15-17, 2010
We have an
even larger number going than last year! We don’t want ANYONE to be left out...
If money is an issue, please talk to Rick ... we want everyone to sign up and be
apart of Winterfest 2010! Turn in your application and money by January 4.
Pick up an application in class or by the bulletin board.
Mexico
Mission Trip Meeting - Sunday, January 24
If you are
interested in going on the mission trip to Mexico make sure to attend this
meeting at 4 PM in the youth room.
Bulgaria
Mission Trip meeting - Sunday, January 24
If you are
interested in going on the mission trip to Bulgaria this sumer make sure to
attend this meeting at 5 PM in the youth room.
UPCOMING
EVENTS!
Look for more
information, applications, etc. for the following events coming
soon.
- Mid-South
Girls Conference, January 29-30, 2010
- Christeens
(9-12th only), February 26-28, 2010
- Mexico
Mission Trip, March 20-27, 2010
**Happy
Birthday To...**
January
3
Dale
Mason
January
4
Casey
Oliver
January
5
Lane
Haworth
Trevor
Morphew
David
Orick
January
6
Coleen
Shirley
January
8
Patti
Anderson
Rex
Mason
January
9
Jessica
Frost
Suzy
Greer
Bill
Kamp
Marcia
Tomlin
**Attendance
and Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....319
Sunday AM
Attendance..525
Sunday PM
Attendance..140
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$14,702
Children’s
Homes……..$160
Coins For
Christ.............$28
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......31
Contribution……………$167
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..80
Contribution……………$179
Office Phone
(479) 452-1240
Fax
(479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org
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"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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