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Family Lines Newsletter, April 18, 2010

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**Could It Be That The Way To Become Something Is To Be Nothing?**

By David Chadwell

 

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

 

We are a very competitive society.  Most everything is based on competition.  We compete to get in schools.  We compete in schools.  We compete in athletics.  We compete to get jobs and in jobs to advance.  We even compete in lifestyles! 

 

We want to be the best!  If we are not the “best,” we want to have the best.  In some way our personal significance is tied up in being able to say that in some way we are the best.  If we cannot be the best in something, we feel that in some way we have failed   It seems essential for us to be able to say (or at least to think), “I am better than you!”

 

Being “better than you” in some way makes us important.  That attitude fuels significance and also fuels racism, classism, bullying others, oppressing people, and treating people as though they were things.  It is an expression of arrogance that can justify almost anything—from the slavery form of prostitution to genocide.  It says, “I have the right to treat you as I wish because I am better than you.  Therefore you exist to serve my desires!  I do not want to hear any complaints!  Just serve my purposes well!”

 

If you are a Christian, the greatest person you know (Jesus Christ) DID NOT become the great one through competition.  The eternal one at God’s right hand served people.  He emptied himself.  He became in form the created.  He obeyed.  He endured the shame and pain of a humiliating execution.  He did not raise himself.  He did not exalt himself.  He did not position himself on God’s right hand.  God highly exalted him!

 

He treated the lowly as important and God as superior.  Today, by God the Father’s acts, Jesus is Lord.  As Lord, he is our example.  Through humility, he shows us the power of humility and the curse of arrogance.

 

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10

  

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**Order of Worship**

 

Worship Leader -- Brent Evans

Here In This Place (on screen)

Welcome

 

#15 – Step By Step (vs. 1, 2)

#390 – Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (vs. 1, 2)

#718 – We Shall Assemble

 

Worthy Is The Lamb

(on screen)

Table of the Lord

Offering

 

Surround Us, Lord (on screen)

 

Coins for Christ

Children’s Worship

 

Blessed Be The Name of The Lord (on screen)

 

Message -- Chris Benjamin

Song for Responses

#111 – Grace Greater Than Our Sin (vs. 1, 3)

 

Shepherd’s Prayer

 

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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**

• Audra Bocksnick had surgery on April 13 at the Mayo Clinic (in Rochester, MN) and everything went well.  She will stay in the hospital for about five days.

• Bonnie Ray’s (Karen Carter’s mother) surgery went well on April 14.  She was in Sparks Hospital ICU overnight.

• Cheryl Craven requests prayers for her dear friend, Janet Sorrels, as she waits for test results.

• Jean Dicks is waiting for test results.

• Jewel King (Barbara Miller’s mother) fell Monday morning.  She is in Sparks Hospital, room 533.

• John Gardenhire has been dismissed from the hospital and will be receiving outpatient treatments.

• Netsy Lynn is in Sparks Hospital, ICU #263.

• Phillip White is waiting for the results of a bone marrow biopsy.

• Wilma Son has been placed under hospice care.  She is  alert and would enjoy short phone calls, cards, or e-mail.  A very special letter from Wilma has been posted on the bulletin board.

Phone: 918-688-2414

10107 S. Garnett Road, Broken Arrow, OK 74001

Email:  zstyling91 [at] gmail.com

 

**Continued Prayers**

Anita & Wendell Fenton

Aura Lee Land

Bennie Hedrick

Caidan Dockery

Carolyn Harrell

Eulonda Grist

Inez Hatfield

Lela Neal

Leon Medlock

Margaret Stone

Richard Broyles

Toka Beall

 

**Sympathy and Prayers**

Our love and sympathy is extended to the following families:

• Curtis McDonald in the death of his sister, Ruth Wilson.  Graveside service was April 14 in Roland, OK.

• Dorothy Harwell, Linda Shank, and Debra Willis in the death of David Harwell, son and brother, on April 13 in Little Rock.   Services will be under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.

• Mark Wilson in the death of his mother, Betty Wilson, on April 14 in California while in hospice care. She had been suffering with cancer for a long time.    

 

Our sister Pauline Alberty (age 94) died on April 8 in her home. A memorial service is planned for 1 PM, Saturday, April 17, at Ocker-Putnam Funeral Home.

 

**Baptism**

Orville Burrows was baptized into Christ by Jack Lewis on  April 4th.  We rejoice with you, Orville!

 

**Welcome, New Member**

Brenda Beckloff

Daughter, Nora Chapman

3801 Gary Street

Fort Smith, AR 72903

Phone: 479 806-4741

 

**Change of Address**

Maria Sutherland (mother of Sedalia Douglas) is now living at Greenhurst Nursing Home, 2816 E. Main #408, Charleston, AR 72933.

 

**New Arrival**

Aiden Michael Blasdel arrived safely on Saturday, April 10, weighing in at 5 lbs. 4 oz.  He is the son of Ashley  Blasdel and grandson of Michael & Missy.  Aiden is still in NICU at the Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City and will remain there for a few weeks to give time for his lungs to develop.  Ashley and Missy will be traveling back and forth to Oklahoma City.  Please remember Aiden’s health and the family’s travel safety in your prayers.

 

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**Divorce Care Support Group**

Shanna Davis will facilitate a support group on Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM starting April 28 in room 211. Come and be a part of a caring group of Christians who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences, whether it be separation or divorce.  You are welcome to join the group at any time.

 

**Attention JOY Bunch! **

We have missed you and hope to see you this month on April 17th. Please join us at 6:00 PM in the Annex for entertainment and more.

 

**King’s Kids Calendar**

April 25 - Hayden Basham Baby Blessing

May 23 -- Promotion Sunday (for all but Nursery and 2-year-olds) Keep watching for more details!

 

**On the Bulletin Board**

• Thank you note from Nancy James

• Letter from Wilma Son

 

**Baby Bottle Campaign**

The Campaign begins on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9.

Proceeds go to the Heart to Heart Pregnancy Support Center.

 

**Lions for Christ Appreciation Dinner**

You are invited to a casual dinner in West-Ark’s FLC (gym) on Thursday, April 22 at 7 PM!

Please join us for dinner -- our turn to serve you! Your family is welcomed!

Please let Mary know if you’ll be here! RSVP by April 19:

Phone (479) 452-1240  or e-mail mary@westarkchurchofchrist.org

 

**Senior Girl’s Tea/Brunch**

Saturday, April 24 at 10:00 AM in the Family Life Center

You are cordially invited to a Potluck Tea/Brunch to honor our Senior girls.

Senior girls, please give Linda Davis a senior picture or recent photo.

She will make a copy and return your original.

For more information call:

Church office 452-1240 or Glenda Lewis or Linda Davis

 

**Attention New 7th Graders and Graduating Seniors!**

Our 7th Grade / Senior Sunday will be May 23. We want to make sure we are aware of all of the upcoming 7th graders and graduating seniors. If you are going to be in 7th grade next year or are about to graduate and your name isn’t on this list, please contact Jackie in the church office (479-452-1240) as soon as possible. Information about 7th Grade / Senior Sunday will be sent out soon.

 

7th Graders:

Alex Beneux

Audra Beneux

Saige Blasdel

Haleigh Evans   

Logan Hill

Breckin Horton

Rachel James   

Abbey Jenkins   

David Luna   

Ashleigh Miller   

Catherine Owen           

Maddie Pressley   

Sarah Robbins

Tyler Souvandy

Thad Stancil

Braden Walker 

 

Seniors:

Azia Blasdel

Morgan Dunavin

AnaAlicia Evans

Emily Glidewell

Lacy Layman

Carl Neumeier

Trenton Schien

Rachel Seiter

Dalton Stancil

Alex Tomlin

Julie Vongdara

 

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**Youth Group News**

Congratulations - Congratulations to Emily Glidewell for receiving a PASS Academic Scholarship and Davenport Biblical Studies scholarship to Oklahoma Christian University.

 

Parent Meeting / Family Devo - Sunday, April 18

Join us at 6:00 p.m. in the gym to go over the youth group calendar for the summer. Parents: Bring your own personal family calendar and be prepared to sign up to help sponsor youth events. Please bring either a snack or dessert to share. We want everyone to be there! This is very important!

 

Youth Group - Wednesday, April 21

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, April 25

Two of our SLAM Team (Student Leadership Action Ministry) are finalizing plans... stay tuned for more information.

 

Interns Begin! - Sunday, May 9

Welcome our four interns for this summer that will be working for Rick and helping out with our Youth Group!  They are, Noland Higginbottom (LCU from Weatherford, TX), Abby Hill (ACU from Garland, TX), Hailey Siebold (York from Littleton, CO) and Matt Curran (OC from Del City, OK).  If you haven’t added them on Facebook already, do so and welcome them today!

 

Sunday Night Live @ Mt. Comfort - Sunday, May 9

Look for details in the near future about the last of our SNLs for the year... make sure you don’t miss it!

 

7th Grade / Senior Sunday - Sunday, May 23 (Note: This is a date change.) Seniors and upcoming 7th graders, please check the inside of the bulletin to make sure we have your name on the list. You should be receiving letters from us in the next few days, so watch the mail!  More details to come.

 

Upcoming Events - Mark your calendar!

-Junior / Senior Trip: June 2-6 / Watch the mail for more details!

-Soul Quest: June 13-19  /  Applications are available in the hanging files next to the YG bulletin board.

-Bulgaria Mission Trip: June 23 - July 7  /  We have received nearly 2/3 of the money we need for this trip.  If you have not made your donation or would like to contribute, please see Rick.

-Colorado Mission Trip: July 25-31

-Faith Fusion: August 7

 

**Happy Birthday**

 

April 18

Mark Rucker

 

April 19

Juddson Bice

Kevin Hesslen

 

April 20

Jenny Atchison

Wyatt Benjamin

Robin Webber

Lauren Willis

 

April 21

Inez Hatfield

Jewell House

 

April 23

Mia Nelson

 

April 24

Cristy Pressley

 

**Nursery Workers**

Morning

Flora Johnson

Betty Callicott

Linda Wilson

Amanda Basham

 

Evening

Sheila Vaught

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**

Bible Classes...………....379   

Sunday AM Attendance..572

Sunday PM Attendance..N/A

Wednesday Classes…...N/A

Contribution………..$18,417

Children’s Homes……..$467

Coins For Christ.............$26

 

Lao Worship

Attendance……………......34

Contribution……………$201

 

Iglesia de Cristo

Attendance………………..56

Contribution……………$192

 

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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