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Family Lines
Newsletter, April 25, 2010
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**When You Follow
Jesus, Something Dies**
By David
Chadwell
If then you
have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on
the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with
Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also
will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
(NASB)
There are many
common mistakes when it comes to the concept of being a Christian. Some
think it is nothing more than an affirmation. For some, it is a matter of
adopting a vocabulary. For some, adopting a set of “dos and don’ts.”
For some, adopting a personal routine. For some, adopting a specific
cause. For some, adopting a specific church. For some, adopting a
view of God.
The problem: all
those fail to fulfill the New Testament concept of Christian. They all are
important, but they all are partial. Those things, or any combination of
them, are only a partial concept of the New Testament view of the meaning of
being Christian.
Being Christian
means something important dies. Paul, who wrote Colossians, said in Galatians
5:24 that death was a crucifixion. That means it was deliberate, as was
Jesus’ death. It also means it was relatively slow. This death was
not an accident that “just happened,” but was a deliberate act that the person
knew was happening. He/she understood that the life of Jesus’ resurrection
could not infuse the person unless this death occurred.
What death?
The death to self—the death to the way one lived, acted, thought, and was
motivated prior to meeting Jesus. Jesus literally would define who he/she
was, how he/she thought, how he/she saw others, how he/she acted, how he/she
used life, his/her involvements, his/her use of abilities, his/her motives, and
how he/she defined and viewed right and wrong.
That is quite a
death! It is a total remake job! It continues from birth into Jesus
Christ until physical death in Jesus Christ! It obviously is a serious,
life-changing commitment that is not for sissies! This death is evident in
a person’s trust and behavior!
Do you have the
courage, with the help of God’s grace, to be a Christian?
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Brent Evans
Mansion, Robe
& Crown
Welcome
#869 – We’re
Marching to Zion (vs. 1, 2, 4)
Surround Us, Lord
(on screen)
#218 – Blessed
Jesus
You Are My King
(on screen)
Table of the
Lord
Offering
#18 – Faithful
Love (vs. 1, 2)
Coins for Christ
Children’s
Worship
Fellowship
Medley
#703 -- I Love You
With the Love of the Lord
#704 -- Bind Us
Together
#705 -- A Common
Love
Message -- Chris
Benjamin
Song for
Responses
#448 – The
Greatest Commands
Shepherd’s Prayer
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Page 2
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**In Our Thoughts
& Prayers**
• Baby Aiden
Blasdel is in a step-down ICU at Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma
City. If he continues to improve, Ashley may bring him home this
weekend!
• Audra Bocksnick
is back home after having surgery at the Mayo Clinic last week. She is
doing well.
• Chris Burress
requests prayers for his great-aunt, Betty Hancock, who was hospitalized after
falling on April 17.
• Bonnie Ray
(Karen Carter’s mother) is in Sparks Hospital, room 506. The carotid artery
surgery last week went well, but Bonnie was terribly ill from the meds. She is
also on medicine to heal her esophagus. As it gets better, she is able to eat
more. She is very weak now, but stable.
• John Davis
(Harold’s brother) is in St. Edward Hospital, ICU room 3133, recovering from
quadruple bypass surgery on April 21. He is on a respirator (which is
normal for a few days) and is otherwise doing well.
• Karen Farris
went to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for a few days this week. She had
some tests and surgery to remove her gallbladder. She is doing well
and returned home on April 22.
• Kimberly Davis
had knee surgery on April 22.
**Sympathy and
Prayers**
Our love and
sympathy is extended to Regina Thompson in the death of her mother, Beverly
Roloff on April 17.
Our love and
sympathy is also extended to the family of Netsy Lynn who died April 16.
Our love and
sympathy is extended to Harold Davis in the death of his brother, Keith, on
April 21 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. A memorial service will
be announced later.
**Continued
Prayers**
Anita &
Wendell Fenton
Aura Lee
Land
Bennie
Hedrick
Caidan
Dockery
Carolyn
Harrell
Eulonda
Grist
Inez
Hatfield
Jean
Dicks
Jewel
King
John
Gardenhire
Lela
Neal
Leon
Medlock
Margaret
Stone
Phillip
White
Richard
Broyles
Toka
Beall
Wilma Son
**Changes of
Address**
Ruth Bearden
(mother of Pat Yick)
Willowbrook
Retirement Center
5501 Duncan
Road
Fort Smith, AR
72903
Phone (479)
478-6884
Margaret
Gillian
Butterfield
Place
8420 Phoenix -
#306
Fort Smith, AR
72903
Phone (479)
452-2608
**Words of
Encouragement**
Bill Wilson is
greatly encouraged by those who are sending letters and cards. Thank you!
William Wilson
#657151
SWACCC
506 Walnut
Street
Texarkana,
AR 71854
**Baby Blessing
Sunday Morning**
For Hayden, son of
Van & Amanda and brother of Emily and Hannah
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**New
Arrival!**
Michael and
Shelley McGehee welcomed their new son, Michael Chase McGehee, on April 15th. He
weighed 8 lbs. 11 ozs., and was 21 inches long. Mallory and Mason are the
proud big sister and brother. Welcome, baby Chase!
**Meals for New
Moms**
Ashley Blasdel’s
son, Aiden Michael Blasdel, will hopefully be home this weekend. Meals for New
Moms Ministry would like to start providing frozen meals for Ashley on Wednesday
night, April 28. Ashley will be home with the baby during the day and the family
requested meals for Ashley while the rest of the family is at school or working.
If you would like
to provide individual frozen dinners for Ashley, please contact me at shelleymcgehee [at] att.net .
Do you want to
provide a meal or two but don’t have the time? A monetary donation is welcome. I
don’t mind shopping for what she needs.
Missy, Aiden’s
grandmother, will pick the meals up after class on Wednesday night, April 28. We
can store the food in the icebox in the back of the
auditorium.
~~Shelley McGehee
**Divorce Care
Support Group**
Shanna Davis,
Facilitator
Wednesdays,
starting April 28
6:30 to 8:00 PM in
Room 211
Come and be a part
of a caring group 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. If needed, childcare is provided at
no charge.
**Widows/Widowers
Luncheon & Car Clinic **
May 1 events have
been canceled so that we can attend the wedding of Melinda and
Gerald!
**New Bible
Study**
Jerry Canfield’s
9:30 Sunday morning Bible class in room 106 is beginning a discussion of The
Cultural Church, a book by F. LaGard Smith.
**King's
Kids**
Sunday, April 25 -
Hayden Basham Baby Blessing
Sunday, May 2 -
Rick will speak to 6th graders about Youth Group (during morning
class)
Sunday, May 2 -
Faith Fusion Planning Session - ALL are welcome (Room 100, 5
PM)
Saturday, May 8 --
6th Grade Party (more details later)
Sunday, May
23 - Promotion Sunday (all but Nursery and 2 year
olds)
Saturday, July 10
- Family Day Trip to Incredible Pizza in Tulsa (for those going into
Kindergarten - 6th grade and families)
Sunday, July 25 -
Family Silly Olympics (ages 3 through those going into 1st
grade)
**2009-2010 Budget
vs. Actual**
as of 03/31/2010,
YTD
Budgeted
Contributions -- $468,000
Actual YTD
Contributions -- $503,718
Actual Expenses --
$460,015
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4
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**Youth Group
News**
Note from
Rick
With the end of
school fast approaching, we want to encourage you to do everything you can to
make sure you mark off time for the incredibly important spiritual events you
(or your student) can participate in this summer ... Jr./Sr. trip, Soul Quest,
mission trips to Bulgaria and Colorado, and many other things of eternal
importance that have the ability to change your life. Unfortunately, the things
of this world can persuade us that they are more important... Please think
through the long-term impact of participation (or lack thereof) in our Youth
& Family Ministry program. We are committed to providing many
opportunities for TRUE growth for everyone in our
ministry.
Movie Night -
Sunday, April 25
We’ll leave from
the church building at 6:30 PM and head to the Mall to see (hopefully it will be
showing!) Percy Jackson & The Olympians (rated PG). Cost is $2.50 (cash
only). We’ll return around 9:15 pm. This is an event organized by our Student
Leadership Action Ministry (SLAM Team).
Youth Group at
CURE - Wednesday, April 28
Again, we’ll be
meeting down at the CURE Warehouse to assist with the organization and shipping
of medical supplies to locations around the world. 7-8
p.m.
Home Devo -
Sunday, May 2
We do not have a
host home yet - please contact Rick or Jackie if you can host this home
devo!
SLAM Team
Meeting - Wednesday, May 5
Open to all
interested 7-12th graders. Youth room, 6 p.m.
Interns Begin!
- Sunday, May 9
Welcome our four
interns this summer:
- Noland
Higginbottom, LCU from Weatherford, TX
- Abby Hill, ACU
from Garland, TX
- Hailey Siebold,
York from Littleton, CO
- Matt Curran, OC
from Del City, OK
Sunday Night
Live @ Mt. Comfort - Sun., May 9
Theme: “I am the
true vine.” - John 15:1. The vans will leave at 4:45 p.m. and return
around 9 p.m.
Upcoming Events
- Mark your calendar!
7th Grade / Senior
Sunday: Look for letters in your mailbox.
Junior / Senior
Trip: June 2-6 / Watch for more details!
Soul Quest: June
13-19 / Applications are available.
Bulgaria Mission
Trip: June 23 - July 7 / We have received nearly 2/3 of the money we need for
this trip. If you would like to contribute, please see
Rick.
Colorado Mission
Trip: July 25-31
Faith Fusion:
August 7
Congratulations
Congratulations to
Graham Coffelt who won First Place at Northwestern State University Media Day
for his personal opinion writing column. He also won First Place at the Arkansas
Scholastic Press Association competition for newspaper sports writing. Also,
Hannah Hesslen made 8th grade cheerleader at Greenwood Junior High.
Additionally, Hope Hesslen was one of three sophomores chosen to be on the year
book staff at Greenwood High School next year.
**Happy Birthday
To...**
April
25
Karen
Carter
Adriane
Martin
April
27
Clark
Risley
April
28
Michael
Cole
Genneil
Nye
April
29
Jim
Selig
Anthony
Sofio
May
1
Evan
Foley
Brooklyn
Howard
**Nursery
Workers**
Morning
Berniece
Rogers
Sharon
Faries
Kelsey
Spickes
Evening
Denise
Lusby
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....378
Sunday AM
Attendance..567
Sunday PM
Attendance..N/A
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$14,589
Children’s
Homes……..$331
Coins For
Christ.............$31
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......32
Contribution……………$203
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..47
Contribution……………$178
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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