-----------------------------------------------------------------
Family Lines
Newsletter, March 21, 2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------
**Our “Safe
Place”**
By David
Chadwell
... “Let it be
known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead--by this name this
man stands here before you in good health. “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED
by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone. And there is
salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been
given among men, by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12
(NASB)
Among the things
Randy Harris discussed Sunday night with the youth was the American Christian’s
preoccupation with finding our “safe place.”
What is the “safe
place?” In this culture it would (a) protect us from physical death [that
is the foremost concern]; (b) provide us maximum opportunity to experience our
dreams; and (c) protect us from want and disaster. We want no bad
surprises!
In this material
existence, does this place exist? No! Can Christians die early
and unexpectedly? Yes! Can Christians fail to achieve and
experience material dreams? Yes! Can Christians die in man-caused or
unexpected disasters? Yes!
In this world,
there are no people-made “safe places.” When I consider the miles we log
collectively by roadway vehicles, those who run red lights or stop signs, those
who break the speed limit, those who drive with a suspended license, those who
drive under the influence of medication, alcohol, or pleasure drugs, those who
text-telephone-eat-“get ready”-etc. while driving, and those who “aim rather
than drive,” I marvel that more of us are not “road kill.” We are rather
irresponsibly confident that we can prevent death and maximize desired
opportunities. We are just beginning to learn neither is
true!
There is a “safe
place” Christians should know well. God’s care for all people wants (a)
for everyone to know about this “safe place,” (b) for this “safe place” to
determine our behavior, (c) for Christians to live in danger now because of what
God did in Jesus for everyone, and (d) for Christians to understand only
internal values control external acts.
Where is your
“safe place?” Is it God-designed or your “this world” creation?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Ken Hollomon
Welcome
#238--You Are the
Song That I Sing (twice)
#3--Hallelujah,
Praise Jehovah (vs. 1, 3)
Hosanna, You’re My
King (on screen)
#287 -- There Is A
Redeemer (all verses)
#176 -- Lamb of
God
Table of the
Lord
Offering
Coins for Christ
Children’s
Worship
#587 -- Sing and
Be Happy (vs. 1 & 3)
Message -- Chris
Benjamin
Song for
Responses
#902 -- Nothing
But the Blood (vs. 1 & 3)
Shepherd’s Prayer
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
**In Our Thoughts
& Prayers**
• Carolyn Harrell
continues to recover at home from a broken ankle.
• Frances Quenin
fell last Thursday. X-rays revealed she had a cracked rib, and she is
resting at home.
• Richard Broyles
is doing well at Covington Court rehab. He expects to go home Thursday
(3/18/10)!
**Continued
Prayers**
Amanda
Flippo
Aura Lee
Land
Caidan
Dockery
Inez
Hatfield
Jeanetta
Falls
John
Gardenhire
Kathy
Rosalez
Lance
Haines
Lela
Neal
Leon
Medlock
Margaret
Stone
Mary
King
Mary
Wray
Phillip
White
Tom Ed
Gooden
Wendi
Murrell
Wilma
Son
**Military Prayer
List**
Randall Smith,
Marjorie Blake’s grandson, will be deployed to Afghanistan soon. This is his
second tour of duty; the first was in Iraq.
Continue to pray
for:
Alex
Adams
Jacky
Luong
Jeremy
Grist
John
Clark
John
Lemley
Johny
Lindgren
Josh
McLaughlin
Lance Hurst
Michael
Anderson
Michael
Priester
Mitchell
Bryant
**Welcome, Blessed
Baby!**
Reid Jameson
Knight was born to Chris and Jamilyn on March 11. He weighed 8 lbs.
2 ozs. and was 21 inches long. Ted & Sharon Knight are the proud
grandparents.
Shelley McGehee is
collecting meals that are already frozen or can be frozen for the Knights.
If you would like to help, please send an e-mail to
shelleymcgehee [at] att.net. She will be collecting the food on Sunday morning,
3/21/10.
**Due Date or
Adoption Date Requested**
Do you have a
precious little one on the way or will you be adopting soon? Please send your
due date or expected adoption date to
dena@westarkkids.org.
**Prayers for
Nigeria**
Our Nigerian
brethren request that we pray for their country.
We are thankful
that after just over 7 days in captivity, Jacob Achinefu was released Wednesday
morning (3/17/10) from his kidnappers. He was badly battered and bruised. Pray
for his recovery and the family’s healing. Jacob is the father of former
West-Ark member Bonnie Akoma.
**New Book for
David Chadwell**
David has written
and published a new book online. The title is Becoming God’s Spiritual
Person. This book challenges the reader to realize there is a difference
between being religious and being spiritual. It affirms the continuing
involvement of the activity of the divine in our salvation. It challenges
all in Christ to seek spirituality.
The book is
available at:
www.davidchadwell.com/Spiritual
www.westark.org/chadwell/spiritual
**New
Photos**
Kyle &
Brittanie Stinchcomb
Kevin &
Jennifer Gann, Connor, Dillon, Rylee
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
**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.
**Attention Joy
Bunch!! **
Come join the fun
(entertainment and more) on Saturday, March 20, at 6 PM in the
FLC.
**Car
Clinic**
Calling all 60+
and single women: the CAR CLINIC will be open April 3 in the Annex parking lot
from 8 – 11 AM, unless of course an April shower occurs.
**Widows/Widowers**
April is the month
for our annual trip to Parks Brothers’ Greenhouse. We will eat a sandwich
lunch at noon before loading on the van for the trip to Van Buren.
If you do not plan to purchase, you might enjoy going to just look at the
beautiful flowers, but please do join us for the meal. Call Bobbie
or Mary if you need transportation to the building.
**Notes On Our
Bulletin Board**
Thank you from
Rochelle Brown
Thank you from
Sarah Sawyer & Trevor
**King's Kids
Calendar**
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.
**2009-2010 Budget
vs. Actual**
as of 2/28/2010
YTD
Budgeted
Contributions $396,000
Actual
Contributions
$423,513
Actual
Expenses
$354,389
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Page
4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
**Youth Group
News**
Thanks to everyone
who helped make SNL possible. We had about 420 people attend! We couldn’t have
done it without you!
Congratulations to
Rose Davis for winning the 4-H State Horse Award based on her work with her
projects, community service, leadership and public speaking interviews.
Houston Impact
Mission Trip - March 20 - 26
The group leaves
for Houston on Saturday at 8 a.m. They will arrive back in Fort Smith, late next
Friday evening.
Youth Event -
Sunday, March 21
Our SLAM Team has
organized a bowling adventure! We’ll leave at 5:30 p.m. to get to Bowling
World, get shoes, etc. The cost of bowling will be $6.75 per person, which buys
one game, and you get one free. After bowling at about 7:30 we will go to CiCi’s
(about $6 for food) to eat and then head back to the church by 8:30. WE NEED
DRIVERS OF PERSONAL VEHICLES... all of the vans will be in Houston, so we need
some of the adults to volunteer to drive. Please contact Jackie to let her know
you can do so.
Youth Group -
Wednesday, March 24
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.
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 one 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.
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! Youth room, 5 p.m.
Family Clusters
- Sunday, April 4
We realize this is
Easter Sunday, but we are still planning on having this event so mark your
calendars! It will be from 6-8 p.m. We still need host homes for the Van Buren
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 vans will
leave the building at 3:45 p.m. and return after midnight. The basketball game
starts at 7:00 p.m. in Oklahoma City. Bring money to get food at the game. If
you haven’t given your $16 to Rick do so as soon as
possible!
**Happy
Birthday**
March
21
Courtney
Griffin
March
22
Linda
Allen
Debra
Hatfield
Greg
Wewers
March
23
Diane
Arnold
Garrett
Keller
Kimberly
Layman
March
25
Wilma
Son
March
26
Mike
Burk
Larry
Prater
March
27
Landry
Dockery
Helen
Pratt
Hannah
Pressley
**Nursery
Helpers**
Morning
Flora
Johnson
Betty
Callicott
Linda
Wilson
Evening
Sheila
Vaught
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....351
Sunday AM
Attendance..558
Sunday PM
Attendance..420
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$14,260
Children’s
Homes……..$421
Coins For
Christ.............$36
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......32
Contribution……………$200
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..67
Contribution……………$256
Office Phone (479)
452-1240
Fax (479)
452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Making disciples
for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
-----------------------------------------------------------------