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Family Lines
Newsletter, April 4, 2010
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**God, Because You
Are!**
By David
Chadwell
Let your light
shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
(NASB)
Life is full of
questions. From the moment we wake up until we go back to sleep, often it
seems there is nothing but questions. Some are small, and some are
huge. Some look small, but they just keep getting bigger. Some are
routine—the answer is more reflex than thought—(kids say parents say “NO!” so
often that they cannot say “Yes!”) Some questions seem to be answered
“once and for all time” only to keep appearing again and again
later.
Your attention is
called to a BIG one that is never answered once and for all time. Life
asks it over and over again—new situations arise only to ask us the same old
question. The question: “Why belong to and serve God?” Someone you
care about dies, and you prayed to God earnestly to let him/her live . . . here
comes the question! Someone you care about is sick, and you pray earnestly
for recovery. The person does not and cannot get well . . . here it comes
again! Problems descend unexpectedly . . . you are crushed! Your
present is crushed! Your future seems crushed! All is immediately
complicated! Dazed and bewildered, you are stunned as you watch the
question coming at you again.
Yes, you have
heard all the “correct” religious answers. “God sacrificed so much to
provide you salvation.” “Jesus sacrificed so much for us on the
cross!” “People hurt God so much for so long!” “Satan is enraged at
God!” “Satan is determined to destroy us and will stop at nothing to bring
the righteous misery!” Still, the question comes.
What were your
expectations? A spiritual insurance policy? Special physical
protection against evil “here and now”? Physical eternal life that ends
disease and prevents accidents and aging? Honestly, does the question or
the expectation cause our struggle?
God’s finest often
suffered extensively and died horribly! Read Hebrews 11 recently?
The righteous have never had a “special package for the physical here and
now.”
Why do we belong
to and serve God? Bottom line answer: because He is and always will
be. Because He is, we shall meet him. Because He is bigger than
physical life and death, we choose to serve Him. The answer to why: “because He
is even when we will not be.”
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Brent Evans
Surround Us, Lord
(on screen)
Welcome
#171 -- Above All
Else
#155 -- The
Highest Place
#266 --
Majesty
#334 -- ‘Tis
Midnight
(vs. 1, 2,
3)
Table of the
Lord
Offering
#180 Jesus Is Lord
(vs. 1, 2, 3)
Coins for Christ
Children’s
Worship
#464 -- Because He
Lives (vs. 1, 2)
#346 -- He Lives
(vs. 1, 2, 3)
Message -- Chris
Benjamin
Song for
Responses
When the Night Is
Falling (on screen)
Shepherd’s Prayer
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**In Our Thoughts
& Prayers**
• Ashley Blasdel
has been placed on bed rest due to borderline toxemia and blood pressure
problems.
• Bennie Hedrick,
mother of Nancy James, is in ICU in a Texas hospital. Nancy has gone to be with
her family.
• Bonnie Ray,
Karen Carter’s mother, is improving and has been moved to HealthSouth rehab,
room 221.
• Deanna White
requests prayers for her grandmother, Liz Parks.
• Eulonda Grist,
Ed’s mother, was moved to rehab on Wednesday. Please pray for her
continued recovery.
• John Gardenhire
is in Sparks Hospital, room 415.
• Netsy Lynn is in
Sparks Hospital, ICU #263.
• Phillip White
had a second back surgery on Wednesday and is in Sparks Hospital, room 489.
Please pray for his complete healing in what will be a long
recovery.
• Toka Beall will
have lumbar laminectomy surgery at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock on Monday,
April 5th.
• Rod & Terri
Jones request prayers for J. H. Carter of Paris, AR, who had quadruple heart
bypass surgery on March 27. Please pray for a quick
recovery.
**Continued
Prayers**
• Aura Lee
Land
• Caidan
Dockery
• Carolyn
Griffin
• Carolyn
Harrell
• Layne Downs’
daughter, Cheryl
• Frances
Quenin
• Inez
Hatfield
• Keith
Davis
• Lela
Neal
• Leon
Medlock
• Margaret
Stone
• Marlin
Edens
• Mary
Wray
• Wendi
Murrell
• Wilma
Son
**Bereaved in
Prayer**
Our love and
sympathy is extended to Glenn Gilley in the loss of Frances on Sunday. The
funeral service was April 1 at West-Ark Church of Christ.
Our love and
sympathy is also extended to Pat Yick and Ruth Bearden in the death of aunt and
sister, Betty Buchanan Pack, last week.
**Baptism**
Hope Frost
(daughter of Blake & Colleen Frost) was baptized into Christ Sunday morning,
March 28, by her Dad. We rejoice with you and your family,
Hope!
**West-Ark’s
Online Calendar**
Visit our online
calendar to see the many events that are scheduled during the busy months of
April and May!
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**Baby Boy Shower
**
You are invited to
a baby shower honoring Shelley McGehee on Sunday, April 11, from 2:00 - 3:30 PM
in the Annex. Shelley is registered at Target and Wal-Mart. It’s a
boy!
**Green Valley
Bible Camp Sign-up!**
Mark your calendar
for Green Valley Bible Camp, July 4 - 10. You may register online at www.greenvalleybiblecamp.com or contact Niketa Stinchcomb for more info.
**The Hope
Chest**
The Hope Chest has
a great need for spring/summer clothing for children - both boys and girls, and
in all sizes. You may place them in the box in the foyer or bring them to
the Hope Chest on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
**On the Bulletin
Board**
• Thank you from
family of Olan Nincehelser
**Senior Girl’s
Tea/Brunch**
You are cordially
invited to a Senior Girls’ Tea/Brunch
to honor our
graduating Senior girls.
Saturday, April
24, 2010
10:00 AM in the
Family Life Center
• For more
information call: Glenda Lewis, Linda Davis, or the church office 452-1240.
**King’s Kids
Calendar**
Kids For Christ
and Bridge 56 will not meet this Sunday night, April 4. We’ll look forward to
seeing you next week!
Mark your
calendars for these upcoming events:
April
11
Liam Huffman Baby
Blessing
April 11
Bridge 56 Hosts
“Welcome Back Lunch” for Houston Impact Team. (B56 kids bring chips and
drinks)
May
23
7th Grade/Senior
Sunday
(This will also be
promotion Sunday for all ages except Nursery and 2-year-olds.)
PLEASE NOTE:
This is a date change from what was previously published.
August
7
Faith Fusion 2010
(Stay tuned for
more details!)
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**Youth Group
News**
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! We will also go over an update of funds raised to date. Youth room, 5
p.m.
Family Clusters
- Sunday, April 4
The clusters will
meet from 6-8 p.m. at the homes listed below. Your host home should be
contacting you with more information. This is a youth group family event, so
everyone in your family should attend! We still need a host home for the
Van Buren cluster. PLEASE contact Rick or Jackie if you can host. This
particular cluster has NOT met yet due to the lack of a host home. Don’t miss
out on this opportunity for fellowship and growth!
Central FS - Benjamins
East FS - Nulls
South FS - Oricks
Van Buren - ?
Greenwood - Odells
SLAM Team
Meeting - Wednesday, April 7
Student Leadership
Action Ministry meeting at 6 p.m. in the youth group room. Open to all WAYG
7-12th graders.
Youth Group -
Wednesday, April 7
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.
PST+ Team
Meeting - Wednesday, April 7
This is a meeting
for the Parent Support Team plus other interested adults at 8 p.m. in the youth
group room. Open to all WAYG parents.
OKC Thunder
Basketball Game TIme Change! - April 9
The vans will
leave the building at 3:00 p.m. (instead of 3:45) and return after midnight. We
are leaving earlier because if we get to the stadium by 6:15 the teens will be
able to high-five the Thunder players in the tunnel as they run out onto the
court. Bring money to get food at the game. If you haven’t given your $16 to
Rick do so as soon as possible!
SNL in
Bentonville - Sunday, April 11
Theme: “I am the
way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 Vans will leave at 4:30 p.m. and
return at 9:30 p.m. We’ve been having great attendance at all of our youth
events... don’t miss out on the time you can spend with YOUR youth group and
fellowship that is available at this Area Wide!
Mark Your
Calendars
- Parent Meeting /
Family Devo - Sunday, April 18
- 7th Grade /
Senior Sunday - Sunday, May 23 (Note: This is a date change from what was
previously published.)
**Happy
Birthday**
April
4
Helen
Blackman
Sandy
Chavis
Wade
Pressley
April
5
Michael
Wear
April
6
Chandler
Harper
Ron
Orick
Seth
Seiter
April
7
Gary
James
Rachel
Null
Jeff
Pressley
April
9
Saige
Blasdel
April
10
Clayton
Amos
Lisa
Hollomon
Robbin
Murphy
Rachel
Snider
**Nursery
Helpers**
Melissa
Walker
Suzi
Jennemann
Dena
Jenkins
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....366
Sunday AM
Attendance..561
Sunday PM
Attendance..133
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$16,129
Children’s
Homes……..$261
Coins For
Christ.............$26
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......44
Contribution……………$341
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..76
Contribution……………$234
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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