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Family Lines
Newsletter, March 14, 2010
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**Things That Do
And Do Not Burn**
By David
Chadwell
Since all these
things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in
holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of
God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the
elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are
looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness
dwells. (2 Peter
3:11-13)
Peter’s point is
fascinating! He is writing Christians (1:1) who faced and endured
struggles (1:10, 11; 2:1; 3:3-7). He did not say it would be easy to be a
Christian! He was honest about the hardships! Never did he say
Christianity is the “easy way to live.”
After assuring
them that God knew how to rescue the godly from temptation (2:9), and stressing
the importance of remembering the prophets’ words, the commandments, and Jesus’
words (3:2), he affirmed judgment’s certainty. However, he did not ask
them to live in the terror of punishment. He did not try to scare them to
heaven. It would have been the ideal set up for some type of message
about, “You are going to pay for godless living!” or “Do you not realize what
God can do to you?”
Peter acknowledged
(1) God keeps His promises. (2) God’s judgment is a certain reality.
(3) Judgment will be a surprise. (4) The judgment will be a devastating,
destructive event for the ungodly. However, for the godly it will be a
pleasant, victorious event. The godly will become part of an environment
where the righteous belong and the unrighteous do not—the exact opposite of this
existence!
With this reality,
Peter asked a question. The question was not associated with the “turn or
burn” philosophy which attempts to scare people away from hell and into
heaven. The question: “Should you invest life in things you know are
temporary, things you know will burn?” Or, is it wise to knowingly invest
yourself in something you thoroughly understand cannot and will not
last?
Heaven is not a
destination for a person who goes kicking and screaming because he/she fears
going elsewhere. It is a place for thoughtful, righteous people who trust
God. Make the journey with us—the destination of the righteous is worth
the price!
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Brent Evans
Days of Elijah (on
screen)
Welcome
#96 – I Stand In
Awe
How Great Is Our
God (on screen)
Worthy Is The Lamb
(on screen)
#364 – Come, Share
The Lord (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Table of the
Lord
Offering
Sanctuary (on
screen)
Coins for Christ
Children’s
Worship
Ancient Words (on
screen)
Message -- Randy
Harris
Song for
Responses
#683 – I Am Mine
No More
Shepherd’s Prayer
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**In Our Thoughts
and Prayers**
• Amanda Flippo
(Myra Flippo-Puckett’s granddaughter in Missouri) was hospitalized Tuesday night
for an asthma attack. She is on oxygen and feeling
better.
• Carolyn Harrell
is recovering at home after surgery on Thursday (3/4/10) for a broken
ankle.
• John Gardenhire
(son of Warren & Elizabeth) is out of the hospital and back at home.
He is taking chemotherapy treatments as an out-patient.
• Lance Haines has
pneumonia and is receiving treatment at home.
• Mary King has
pneumonia and is also receiving treatment at home.
• Van Foster
(Lyndell’s brother) is now home and doing well after
surgery.
**Sympathy**
Our love and
sympathy is extended to Jane Binyon and Annona, David & Race Burns in the
death of Harold on Monday. Funeral services were Thursday at West-Ark
Church with burial at the National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
**Special Mission
Prayer**
Jacob Achinefu, a
servant leader in the church in Nigeria, was kidnapped on Tuesday. Jacob has
visited with us in Fort Smith on several occasions and has assisted in
evangelistic efforts in Nigeria. Pray for Jacob, his family, and Nigeria.
**Continued
Prayers**
Aura Lee
Land
Betty
Williams
Caidan
Dockery
Dale
Lindsey
F. E.
Cook
Hunter
Hesslen
Inez
Hatfield
Jeanetta
Falls
Kathy
Rosalez
Lela
Neal
Leon
Medlock
Margaret
Stone
Mary
Wray
Phillip
White
Richard
Broyles
Tom Ed
Gooden
Wendi
Murrell
Wilma
Son
**Welcome, New
Members!**
Brooks & Amie
Coatney
Cruz
(son)
3300 Soaring
Heights
Alma, AR
72921
Phone: (501)
454-8873
**Our Kids Need
YOU!**
If you have a
heart for kids, please see Dena Jenkins for many ways in which you can make a
difference in our Children’s Ministry.
**Weekend With Randy Harris,
March 12-14**
THEME:
“Reaching Out To The People God Loves”
Friday, March
12
Randy meets with
the Lions for Christ and Young Adults
Saturday, March
13
2 PM -- Class for
all Members in the Auditorium
Sunday, March
14
9:30 AM --
Combined Adult Class in Auditorium
10:30 AM --
Worship
6:00 PM --
West-Ark hosts “Sunday Night Live” in the Gym
Theme: “I am the
resurrection and the life.” John 11:25
Note: Communion
will be served in Room 100 at 6 PM.
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**Wedding
Invitation**
Mr. and Mrs. Tom
Walton request
the pleasure of
your company
at the marriage of
their daughter
Sarah Castene to
Nathan Douglas Griffin
on Saturday, March
13, 2010
2:00 in the
afternoon
Reynolds
Room
Smith-Pendergraft
Campus Center
University of
Arkansas, Fort Smith
Reception to
follow
**Wedding Shower
for Wes Sawyer & Angela Peoples**
Sunday, March 14,
2-4 PM in the Annex
Wes and Angela are
registered at Wal-Mart and Bed Bath & Beyond.
**Bridal Shower
for Melinda Griffin**
Sunday, March 28,
2:00 - 4:00 PM, in the home of Lucille Graves
Melinda is
registered at Target, Dillard’s, Now & Then Shoppe and Bed, Bath &
Beyond
**New on the
Bulletin Board**
• Thank you from
Bobbie Hughes
• Thank you from
Chase Turpin & Melissa Abney
**Attention Joy
Bunch!**
Come join the fun
(entertainment and more) on Saturday, March 20, at 6 PM in the
FLC.
**Notes of
Encouragement Welcomed**
We received a
letter from Bill after his transfer to the rehab unit of the AR penal
system. He would like to receive mail and encouragement from anyone so
moved. ~~Deborah Wilson
Address:
William Wilson
#657151
SWACCC
506 Walnut
Street
Texarkana,
AR 71854
**West-Ark’s
Shepherds**
Ron Belote
Dave
Cogswell
Michael
Cole
Bill
Dickey
Roy
Dunavin
Ted
Knight
Russ
McConnell
Barry
Neal
Bob
Null
Brian
Robbins
Paul
Shirley
Larry
Todd
Through our
elder/shepherd selection process, five additional men were identified and
called to serve as
shepherds at West-Ark, and our seven current shepherds were
reaffirmed!
March 7,
2010
John 13:12
**King's
Kids**
NOTE: Kids
For Christ will not meet so we can all join in worship together with the Youth
Group for Sunday Night Live in the Gym.
Mark your
calendars for the following upcoming events:
• April 11 -
Bridge 56 Hosts “Welcome Back Lunch” for Houston Mission
Team.
• May 16 - 7th
Grade/Senior Sunday (This will also be promotion Sunday for all ages except
Nursery and 2-year-olds.)
• August 7 - Faith
Fusion 2010 (Stay tuned for more details!)
Reminders....Join
King’s Kids on Facebook at www.westarkkids.org and get weekly updates by joining
our mailing list at dena@westarkkids.org.
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4
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**Youth Group
News**
SNL at
West-ARk! - Sunday, March 14 // 6-8 p.m.
We’re going to be
hosting all the area youth groups in our gym... hopefully over 300 students!
Mark this on your calendar so you’ll make sure and show up as we host our first
SNL in three years. Randy Harris from ACU will be speaking, Aaron Davis will be
leading worship and we’ll have free food! Trust me, you will NOT want to miss
this!
Youth Group -
Wednesday, March 17
We have been
having a ton of students show up... don’t miss out as we continue our new study
on “Identity in Christ” and fellowship together! Youth room, 7-8 p.m.
Houston Impact
Mission Trip - Saturday, March 20 - Friday, March 26
We’ll be sending
more information out those who are signed up to go. Be watching your
Facebook and email.
Youth Event -
Sunday, March 21
Our SLAM Team is
putting together an event for this evening. Stay tuned for more
details!
Youth Event -
Sunday, March 28
Two of our SLAM
Team members are putting together a great event for us. We will go to Ben Geren
Park to play outdoor games! Also, everyone will need to bring enough meat
to grill for themselves and one other person. We have on adult with a grill, but
we still need volunteers to grill as well as a couple of van drivers. (If you
can do this, contact Rick or Jackie.) We’ll leave from the church building at 6
p.m. and be back by 8 p.m. Don’t miss it!
Bulgaria
Mission Trip Meeting - Sunday, April 4
Make sure your
fundraising letters are sent, passports ordered, homework finished. We are
moving closer to the meat of our preparation classes, so start getting more
focused! Meet in the youth room at 5 p.m.
Family Clusters
- Sunday, April 4
Mark your
calendars for our next Family Cluster meeting. It will be from 6-8 p.m. We
still need host homes for the Van Buren, East Fort Smith and Central Fort Smith
clusters. PLEASE contact Rick or Jackie IMMEDIATELY if you can host. A couple of
groups did NOT meet last time due to the lack of a host home. Please consider
serving as a host.
OKC Thunder
Basketball Game! - Friday, April 9
The basketball
game starts at 7 p.m. The vans will leave the building at 3:45 and return after
midnight. Tickets are $16. There will be a sign-up list on the youth group
bulletin board only on Sunday, March 14. PARENTS: If you or your teen signs this
list, you are committed to buying a ticket. Please sign up - but only if you are
definitely coming! Give the money ($16) to Rick ASAP.
**Happy
Birthday**
March
14
Vicki
Anderson
John
Berger
Maxine
Yates
March
15
Hayley Elise
Sanchez
Janie
Wyatt
March
17
Marie
Lile
March
18
Caitlin
Kleman
Linda
Shank
Suzette
Todd
Brad
Walker
March
19
David
Berger
Shirley
Bullard
Meg
Canfield
Wendal
Hull
March
20
Blake
Frost
**Morning
Nursery**
Trish
Carson
Dwonne
Cogswell
Vicki
Anderson
**Evening
Nursery**
Terri
Jones
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....391
Sunday AM
Attendance..636
Sunday PM
Attendance..164
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$22,899
Children’s
Homes……..$345
Coins For
Christ.............$33
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......36
Contribution……………$185
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..62
Contribution……………$245
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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