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Family Lines
Newsletter, May 23, 2010
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**The Bargain
Route May Not Be A Bargain!**
By David
Chadwell
And behold,
they were bringing to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their
faith said to the paralytic, "Take courage, My son, your sins are
forgiven.” Matthew
9:2
In Matthew 9:1-8,
Matthew recorded Jesus saying to a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven.
The entire discussion that followed did not focus on the paralyzed man. It
focused on Jesus’ statement of forgiveness of sins. “How dare a mere
mortal say this! Only God can forgive! This declaration is nothing short of
blasphemy!”
Jesus, knowing the
scribes’ thoughts, asked a question. “Which is the most difficult--to grant
forgiveness or walking?” To show that he had the authority to forgive sins,
Jesus enabled this paralyzed man to walk.
The point was
emphatic and immediately visible: If Jesus could make the paralyzed walk, he had
the power to forgive. The multitudes, awe-filled, glorified God for enabling
Jesus to do what he did. They “got the point.” They recognized God as the source
of Jesus’ power. God, not Jesus, was actually at work. This was no mortal
act!
Consider two
“think about” questions.
Question one: Why
are humans so impressed with the visible? Forgiveness did not “Wow!” the
witnesses, but a paralyzed man walking “Wowed!” the witnesses. Lesson: No matter
what we say God does for us through Jesus Christ (forgiveness, redemption,
sanctification, etc.), nothing “Wows!” the witnesses as will the way Jesus
Christ changes us as people. How you treat your family, how you treat others,
your ethics in your work, expressing your servant mentality, etc., will “Wow!”
the witnesses.
Question two: Why
do humans often fail to see the greater gifts? Forgiveness of sins trumps
walking any day, under any circumstance, any time. If we had a choice between
walking and forgiveness, which would we choose? May I speak for most of us? For
many the answer would be, “We choose both!” We tend to be greedy, do we not?
Wonder which we would choose in judgment?
Cherish all
blessings! Never sell forgiveness! Selling forgiveness is never a
bargain!
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**Order of
Worship**
Worship Leader --
Brent Evans
Light The Fire (on
screen)
Welcome
That’s Why We
Praise Him! (on screen)
How Great Is Our
God (on screen)
In Christ Alone
(on screen)
Table of the
Lord
Offering
#446 – Hear, O
Israel (vs. 1, 2)
Coins for Christ
No Children’s
Worship Today
#432 – How Shall
The Young Secure Their Hearts? (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Message -- Chris
Benjamin
Blessing for
Seniors -- Rick Odell
Blessing for 7th
Graders
Song for
Responses
#683 – I Am Mine
No More (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Shepherd’s Prayer
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**In Our Thoughts
& Prayers**
• Donna Miller had
surgery on May 18. She is in Sparks Hospital, room
466.
• Ercie Gann is
now at Methodist Nursing Home, room 132.
• Ethan Scates
(grandson of Paul & Coleen Shirley) has a torn groin
muscle.
• Grace Peters is
in Sparks Hospital, room 576.
• Pearl Beam was
in the hospital with pneumonia, but has improved enough to go
home.
• Sara Newton is
still in ICU at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Michelle, her
granddaughter, says it has not been a good week. Sara is back on a
respirator, and is still having heart problems.
• Rusty and Tamara
Walker request prayers for Kendra (a nephew’s wife). Kendra was in a car
accident on May 19 and has bleeding in 3 different places inside her cranium,
one being in the core of her brain. She is in ICU in
Fayetteville.
**Sympathy &
Prayers**
• Our love and
sympathy is extended to Winston Turpin in the death of his mother, Dorotha
Turpin. Funeral service was May 19 at Fianna Hills Baptist
Church.
• Our love and
sympathy is also extended to Barbara Miller in the death of her mother, Jewell
King. Funeral service was May 20 at Edwards Funeral
Chapel.
**Continued
Prayers**
Anetta
Bridges
Anita &
Wendell Fenton
Anita
Peters
Aura Lee
Land
Bonnie
Ray
Brooks & Libby
McGill
Caidan
Dockery
Inez
Hatfield
John
Gardenhire
Lela
Neal
Margaret
Stone
Marlin
Edens
Mary
Wray
Phillip
White
Richard
Broyles
Richard &
Sandy Bandy
Wilma
Son
**Senior
Baskets**
Baskets for each
graduating Senior are in the foyer next to the youth group bulletin board. If
you would like to give a card or gift use these baskets to do so. The baskets
will be there through Sunday, May 23.
**New
Address**
Harold
Dickens
Innisfree
Independent Living
300 Innisfree
Circle
Box E2 (Apt
E2)
Rogers, AR
72758
Phone (479)
426-9601
**Heart to Heart
Pregnancy Support Center**
Christ-Centered •
Pro-Life
Heart to Heart is
dedicated to helping young girls, women and men, and families who are
experiencing a crisis pregnancy. By taking home a baby bottle and filling
it with spare change, you allow Heart to Heart to continue offering the
following Christian services in 2010:
• Free Pregnancy
Testing
• Pro-Life
Counseling
• Baby
Items
• Adoption
Referrals
• Post-Abortion
Trauma
• Parenting
Classes
• Maternity
Items
• Chastity
Programs
• Medical &
Housing Referrals
Did you know that
grandparents are also being helped by Heart to Heart? Many grandparents
now find themselves raising their own grandchildren. Heart to Heart helps
with diapers, clothing, and parenting classes. Parents/grandparents who
attend parenting classes can earn car seats, cribs, and
strollers.
Bilingual
(English/Spanish) volunteers are especially needed. Call 452-2260 or
e-mail hearttoheart@mynewroads.com if you can help.
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**King’s Kids
Calendar**
MAY
Promotion/Graduation Sunday - Sunday, May
23
Children’s Worship
will not meet.
JUNE
Reid Knight Baby
Blessing - Sunday, June 6
Family Day Trip to
Tulsa’s Incredible Pizza - Saturday, June 26
Get more info and
sign up on King’s Kids Board or at
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118069578221511&ref=ts
Chase McGehee Baby
Blessing - Sunday, June 27
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)
**Scholarships for
Children of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam**
Thanks and
appreciation are extended to the congregation for the usual, generous response
to our annual renewal of school scholarships for Vietnamese students who
otherwise would not be able to attend public school. The request for
thirty (30) scholarships at $144 each was well exceeded, and $5,442 (38
scholarships at $144 each) has been contributed. Your generosity will
allow leaders in Vietnam to continue the outreach of the
gospel into slum areas of HMC. ~~Jerry
Canfield
** West-Ark’s
Online Calendar**
• Elders, Deacons,
and Ministry Leaders’ Meeting -- May 23, 4:00 PM in room
203.
• Family Meeting
-- June 6, 6 PM with fellowship meal in the FLC.
• Reception for
David & Joyce Chadwell (Celebrating 56 Years of Ministry) -- June 27, 4:00 -
6:00 PM in the Family Life Center.
**Harding Academy
Chorus**
Sunday, May 30, 6
PM in the Auditorium
**Posted on the
Bulletin Board**
• Thank you from
Audra Bocksnick
• Thank you to
CURE from Heart to Heart Pregnancy Support Center
**GVBC
Reminder**
www.greenvalleybiblecamp.com
Sign up for Green
Valley Bible Camp for July 4-10 as soon as possible. Space is
limited! Go to the link above to sign up. You may also call Niketa
for more information.
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4
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**Youth Group
News**
Give A Goat Now
Project - Congrats to our Youth Group members... they sold 800 bracelets in less
than a week and raised $2400 so we can buy SEVERAL goats for poor families in
the Phillippines! Way to go, WAYG!
Sunday AM &
Wednesday PM Classes - Make sure you are part of our Sunday morning classes at
9:30 a.m. as Noland and Abby lead the High School in a study of Spiritual
Disciplines, and Matt and Hailey lead the Jr High in a study on the book of
James. Wednesdays at 7 PM, we continue our study on Identity in Christ. Bring
your Bible and a friend!
7th Grade / Senior
Sunday - Sunday, May 23
Today, we honor
our Seniors and incoming 7th graders during morning worship. (Seniors: Gift
baskets have been set out, please pick up the contents by May 23.) Also, Seniors
and families are invited to a party in their honor in the High School Youth
Group room from 5-7 PM that evening. All other youth group members are invited.
We’ll view a slide show, have snacks and share a word of encouragement,
too!
Party for Incoming
7th Graders - Wednesday, May 26
The Seniors of
2011 are hosting a party to honor and welcome our incoming 7th graders in the
High School Youth Group room from 7-8:30 PM. Simultaneously, Rick will hold an
orientation for Parents of incoming 7th graders and any other families that are
new to our youth ministry in the Jr. High Youth Group room.
Junior/Senior Trip
- Wed., June 2 - Sunday, June 6
We are finalizing
details for this amazing trip... if you are a current Jr. or Sr., make plans to
attend!
Service Camp
- Don’t miss out on this new variation of Service Camp. The Interns are
finalizing details of who we’ll serve and where. Mark it on your
calendar!
Church-wide Family
Meeting - Sunday, June 6
We will join in on
the Family Meeting in the auditorium at 6:00 p.m.
Girls Night Out -
Monday, June 7
Hailey and Abby
are making BIG plans for a fun night out for all of the girls in the Youth
Group... stay tuned for more information!
SLAM Team Meeting
- Wednesday, June 9
Open to all
interested 7-12th graders. Youth room, 6 p.m.
Bulgaria Mission
Trip Prep Meeting - Wednesday, June 9
This is an
additional meeting for our preparation... please be here at 8 p.m. in the Youth
Group room, bring all completed homework, assignments, donations,
etc.
Soul Quest 2010 -
June 13 - 19
Soul Quest will be
here before you know it! Make sure you turn in your application and money
ASAP... DEADLINE FOR APPS IS JUNE 1!!! Copies are available in the hanging
files in the foyer. The vans will be leaving from the building at 7 a.m. SHARP
on Sunday, June 13 and returning around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.
Upcoming Events -
Mark your calendar!
Bulgaria Mission
Trip: June 23 - July 7 / If you would like to contribute funds for this
trip, please see Rick or Jackie.
Colorado Mission
Trip: July 25-31 / Applications will be coming soon!
Faith Fusion:
August 7
**Happy
Birthday**
May
25
Alexander
Keller
May
26
Bonnie
Marrs
Brad
Moore
Rachelle
Pratt
Moorea
Wade
May
28
Greg
Null
Hannah
Null
Lenora
Word
May
29
Jerry
Canfield
Billy
Hines
**Nursery
Workers**
Morning
Berniece
Rogers
Sharon
Faries
Kelsey
Spickes
Evening
Denise
Lusby
**Attendance and
Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....366
Sunday AM
Attendance..530
Sunday PM
Attendance..154
Wednesday
Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$16,056
Children’s
Homes……..$216
Coins For
Christ.............$40
Lao
Worship
Attendance……………......24
Contribution……………$201
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..56
Contribution……………$226
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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