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Family Lines
Newsletter, May 2, 2010
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**To Change the
Way People Act, Values Must Change**
By David
Chadwell
Or do you not
know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you;
but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
(NASB)
The majority of
Christians want to change the daily behavior of all the living, but all the
living—including some Christians—have no desire to change daily actions.
Some love indulgence in evil. Some see no connection between our behavior
and who we are—because we deliberately do bad things at times does not make us
bad persons. Some do not believe evil exists—all behavior is explained by
personal conditioning, environment, and chemical reactions. Obviously,
people’s behavior is a complex consideration!
“Joining a church”
does not necessarily change behavior—there are “bad” people in all
congregations. Exerting power over people does not change people—when the
power which demands conformity is removed, most people revert to old
behaviors. Thus neither issuing threats nor offering incentives change
people. Neither scare tactics nor bribery endures. People cannot be
“tricked” or “forced” into being “good,” even if all could agree on a mutually
accepted definition of “good.”
People truly
change when their values change. People cease abusing and exploiting
people when they value people. People sacrificially serve when they
understand Someone bigger than themselves exists. People seek higher values when
they realize they can be deceived. People search for enduring values when
they realize life is about more than right now. What God did/does for us
in Christ changes our values!
The heart of God’s
“good news” is not about heaven, or having what you physically desire. It
is about what God did for us in Jesus Christ, and is willing to do for us.
In that is the reason for changing our values. If our values change, we
remain who we are even if the “church” is attacked or coercive power is
removed. Being Christian is more than what we believe; it is about who we
are, always. Do we belong to God through Christ?
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Brent Evans
Here I Am To
Worship (on screen)
Welcome
#238 – You Are the
Song That I Sing
#484 – You Are My
All In All (vs. 1, 2)
#294 – You’re the
One (vs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Prayer
#828 – Instruments
of Your Peace (vs. 1, 2)
How Deep the
Father’s Love (on screen)
Table of the
Lord
Offering
#781 – Thank You,
Lord!
Coins for Christ
Children’s
Worship
#611 – Heavenly
Sunlight (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Message -- Chris
Benjamin
Song for
Responses
#662 – All To
Jesus I Surrender (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Shepherd’s Prayer
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**In Our Thoughts
& Prayers**
• Baby Aiden
Blasdel is now home from the hospital. Since he is small, he will need to be
kept at home for a few months while he continues to gain
strength.
• Bonnie Ray
(Karen Carter’s mother) is in HealthSouth rehab, room 222, and doing better
every day!
• Casey Dotson
(David & Jennifer Dotson’s 2-year-old grandson) fell out of a 3-story window
in Arizona. He is being treated for a bruised liver and a punctured
lung.
• Jane Roller’s
knee surgery went well. She has moved to Ashton Place for six days of
therapy.
• John Davis
(Harold’s brother) is in St. Edward Hospital recovering from quadruple heart
bypass surgery on April 21.
• Phillip White’s
tests for cancer were negative. He will have further
testing.
• Shirley Dotson
(David’s mother) is recovering from surgery to repair a broken hip in Sulphur
Springs, TX.
• Mary Wray (Vicki
Anderson’s mother) fell Tuesday and hit the back of her head. She lives at
Methodist Village and is being closely monitored there.
• Pray for our
Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and for the country. Security
conditions continue to deteriorate in Nigeria and it is adversely impacting the
efforts of ministry there and the daily lives of its people.
**Continued
Prayers**
Anita &
Wendell Fenton
Aura Lee
Land
Bennie
Hedrick
Betty
Hancock
Caidan
Dockery
Carolyn
Harrell
Eulonda
Grist
Inez
Hatfield
Jean
Dicks
Jewel King
John
Gardenhire
Karen
Farris
Kimberly
Davis
Lela
Neal
Leon
Medlock
Margaret
Stone
Phillip
White
Richard
Broyles
Toka
Beall
Wilma
Son
**Faith Fusion
(VBS) Planning Session**
Sunday, May 2, in
Room 100 at 5 PM
This will be a
completely different event from in the past, so all are welcome to come and join
in the planning!
**Future Bible
Studies by David Chadwell**
• Proverbs and
Godly Wisdom (July - September)
• Some
Psalms (October - December)
These two Bible
studies will be published for adult classes in the 3rd & 4th quarters of
2010.
**Thank You Notes
on the Bulletin Board**
• Note to Car
Clinic workers -- from Linda Shank
• Note to those
who prepared food for the funeral of David Harwell -- from Dorothy Harwell,
Linda Shank and Debra Willis
• Note from Inez
Hatfield
• Notes from the
Family of Netsy Lynn
**JOY Bunch
**
We will not meet
during the month of May due to other church events and
conflicts.
**Scholarships for
Children of HCM City, Vietnam**
It’s time to renew
the West-Ark congregation’s scholarships for public education of desperately
poor children in Vietnam. These children, who live in the slums of Ho Chi
Minh City, are provided an opportunity to attend public school -- which they
would not otherwise be able to afford. The children and their families
represent a fertile field for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The cost is $12
per month for 12 months or $144 per scholarship. We need to fund 30
scholarships. Your scholarship money can be given to Jerry Canfield or Lynn
Dickey in the office.
May God be praised
through the good works that He provides for us to do!
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**Wedding
Invitation**
Mr. and Mrs.
Mathew M. Griffin II
Request the honour
of your presence
At the marriage of
their daughter
Melinda Marie
Griffin
to
Gerald DeWayne
Venable
On Saturday, the
First of May
At One O’Clock in
the afternoon
West-Ark Church of
Christ
900 North Waldron
Road
Fort Smith,
Arkansas
**Baby
Shower**
Shower for Ashley
& baby Aiden Blasdel
Sunday, May 2,
2:30 – 4:30 PM in the Annex
Ashley is
registered at Target, Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R Us and Kohl’s.
**Motherly Love
Dinner**
There will be a
Motherly Love Dinner on Thursday, May 13, 6:30 PM in the home of Sheila
Vaught. A sign-up sheet is in the foyer. Please sign the list by May
9th.
**Wednesday Night
WINGS**
7:00 PM in the
Annex
Ladies are invited
to join the class as they begin a new study on the Book of
Ruth.
**Sign-Up for
Green Valley Bible Camp!**
We have day
camp sessions for those who have finished first grade to age 11 (transportation
from the church will be provided), and overnight camp for those age 11 by
October 1 through 2010 high school graduates.
West-Ark
usually attends Craig Frost’s week which is July 4-10. Campers can
register and pay their fees online at www.greenvalleybiblecamp.com or get
an application from Niketa Stinchcomb and send it in. If you have
questions or would like to sponsor a child’s week at camp, see
Niketa.
**King’s Kids
Upcoming Events**
MAY
• Rick meets with
6th Graders, Sunday, May 2 (Room across hall from B56
Room)
• Faith Fusion
(VBS) Planning Session, Sunday, May 2 (Room 100 - 5 PM). This will be a
completely different event from in the past, so all are welcome to come and join
in the planning!
• 6th Grade
“Graduation” Party at Nulls, Saturday, May 8 (time TBA)
• Mother’s
Day/Heart-to-Heart Baby Bottle Campaign Kick-off, Sunday, May 9 (Children’s
Worship will not meet)
• Reid Knight Baby
Blessing, Sunday, May 16
• Last KFC before
Summer Break, Sunday, May 16
•
Promotion/Graduation, Sunday, May 23 (Children’s Worship will not
meet.)
JUNE
• Family Day Trip
to Tulsa’s Incredible Pizza, Saturday, June 26 (check it out at
http://www.incrediblepizza.com/tulsa) NOTE: This date is different from the one
published last week.
JULY
• Silly Olympics,
Sunday, July 25, for 3-year-olds through those going into 1st grade AND
FAMILIES. Don’t miss out on this fun family event!
AUGUST
• Faith Fusion,
Saturday, August 7 (Kindergarten - 6th grade AND FAMILIES)
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4
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**Youth Group //
News**
Home Devo -
Sunday, May 2
Join us for a home
devo at the Frost’s home in Greenwood. If you need a ride, vans will leave the
church at 6 p.m. and return around 8 p.m. Please bring $3 to help cover the cost
of dinner.
SLAM Team
Meeting - Wednesday, May 5
Open to all
interested 7-12th graders. Youth room, 6 p.m.
Youth Group -
Wednesday, May 5
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.
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.
PST+ Meeting -
Wednesday, May 12
Open to all
interested adults and 7-12th grade parents. Youth room, 8
p.m.
Inner City
Lunch at Hope Park - Saturday, May 15
Join us as we help
serve lunch at Hope Park. Vans will leave the building at 10:30 a.m. and return
around 1:00 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to serve in your own
community!
Bulgaria
Mission Trip Meeting - Sunday, May 16
Make sure you
bring all your homework, paperwork and any money you have received to this
meeting at 5 p.m. in the Youth Room.
Youth Event
(SLAM) - Sunday, May 16
Stay tuned for
details for this event after our SLAM team meeting this next
Wednesday.
Upcoming Events
- Mark your calendar!
7th Grade / Senior
Sunday: Look for letters.
Junior / Senior
Trip: June 2-6 / Watch for details!
Soul Quest: June
13-19 / Pick up an application!
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
**Happy
Birthday**
May
2
Jon
Keller
Kent
Snider
Ed
Vampola
May
3
Missy
Blasdel
Kelsey
Spickes
May
4
Danna
Turpin
Braden
Walker
May
6
Shay
Dotson
May
8
Marjorie
Blake
**Nursery
Workers**
Morning
Melissa
Walker
Suzi
Jennemann
Dena
Jenkins
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....348
Sunday AM
Attendance..578
Sunday PM
Attendance..N/A
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$19,312
Children’s
Homes……..$254
Coins For
Christ.............$51
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......38
Contribution……………$345
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..71
Contribution……………$242
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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