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Family
Lines Newsletter, January 30, 2011
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**HOW DO I SEEK PURITY?**
By David Chadwell
And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them,
“Hear, and understand. Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but
what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Matthew 15:10,
11 (NASB)
The Jewish approach to purity in the first century (and
before) focused on the acts of the body. Thus, one was pure if the person
did the right acts in the right way at the right time. For example, one
person could actually hate another person, and remain pure if the hater treated
the person he hated properly. Or, one person could deceive another and
still be pure if the deceitful person deceived in the proper way.
In this concept of purity, what was inside a person did not
matter if the person acted appropriately. What he actually felt, his
motives, his reasoning behind his behavior, etc. were unimportant if he acted
appropriately. As examples, his feelings for another man’s wife were not
important if he acted properly toward the woman. Or, he may be
greed-filled over another’s possessions, but it did not matter if the greed did
not control his actions. Only one’s actions affected his religious
purity.
Jesus’ teachings focused on what was within the person.
That affected the person’s purity. Thus, Jesus emphasized one was not made
pure by what he ate, but by his internal motives and emotions. The true
origin of an evil act is an evil heart. A cup washed only on the outside
is still dirty. A tomb looked outwardly beautiful, but it was inwardly
vile. Purity involved the person’s inward thoughts as well as outward
acts.
Peter had heard for so long the “outward” emphasis that he
did not understand Jesus’ point. As an explanation, Jesus said this: “Are you
still lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that everything
that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But
the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile
the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which
defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”
Matthew 15:16-20 (NASB)
“To be pure, should I focus on the inside or the
outside?” Both! May your actions always reflect your actual
person! Righteousness results from righteous acts and
motives!
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**Order of Worship**
Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
#167 – Hosanna (vs. 1, 2)
#171 – Above All Else
Welcome
Prayer -- Mat Griffin
How Great Is Our God
(on screen)
#76 – How Great Thou Art
(vs. 1, 3, 4)
#83 – God Is So Good
(vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)
#484 – You Are My All In All
(vs. 1, 2)
Table of the Lord -- Bill Kamp
Offering
#766 – Open Our Eyes, Lord
(vs. 1, 2)
Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship
#611 – Heavenly Sunlight
(vs. 1, 2, 3)
Bible Reading -- Shane Hughes
Message -- Chris Benjamin
Song for Responses
#792 – My Eyes Are Dry
Shepherd’s Prayer
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Allen Mobley (Christy Puckett’s cousin) is not doing
well. Continue to pray for Allen and his family.
• Betsy Schad, John Priester’s mother, is recovering from
open-heart surgery on 1/24/11 in Oklahoma City.
• Debbie Belote’s muscle weakness appears to be a side effect
of medication which she has stopped taking. She is gradually improving and
will have physical therapy to help regain strength.
• Prayers are requested for Glen Williams, brother-in-law of
Barbara Aldridge.
• James & Mary Ann Scholle are in Little Rock for 3-4
weeks for James to receive treatments. Cards of encouragement may be sent
to:
Guesthouse Inn
ATTN: James & Mary Ann Scholle
301 South University
Little Rock, AR 72205
• Lyndell Foster went into Sparks Hospital with abdominal
pain on Jan. 26th.
• Wendal Hull has been dismissed from the hospital and is
continuing to recover with home health care. He requests no visitors at
this time.
• Zona Gordey, aunt to Donna Miller, Laura Smith, &
Marilyn Selby, fell Jan. 21 and broke a bone in her leg. She is in Room
229 of Health South and is receiving rehab in lieu of surgery.
She would appreciate cards.
**Continued Prayers**
Carolyn Harrell
Edith Embry
F. E. Cook
Genevieve Rhodes
Harold Gouty
Jewell House
Lela Neal
Margaret Stone
Mary Frances Jackson
Mary Hudson
Myra Flippo-Puckett
Phillip White
Ray Brisco
Richard Broyles
Russ McConnell
Wilma Son
Will Abernathy
**Sunday Night**
January 30, 6:00 PM Family Meeting and fellowship
meal
Everyone who can, please bring a dessert!
**Joy Bunch**
Attention Joy Bunch!! We will be celebrating a belated
Valentine’s Day, so we hope you will join us for an Enchanted Evening of Love.
We ask that you decorate a shoe box or paper bag (like we used to do in
elementary school). Use construction paper or paper doilies or whatever you
choose for decoration. Be sure and identify it by putting your name on it.
Bring signed Valentine cards for sharing (the cheaper ones in stores -- 25 to
box or similar). You might want to bring a few extra, and we will provide some
as well. Hope you can join us on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 PM in the FLC
(gym).
**February Widows/Widowers Lunch**
We will be hosted by Coleen & Paul Shirley. Vans
will leave the Annex at 11:30 AM on Saturday, February 5, and will return after
the festivities end.
**Car Clinic for Single Ladies &
60+**
Bring your car to the Annex parking lot for minor repair
& maintenance from 8 – 11 AM, Saturday, February 5. Since
the guys have to work outside, the Car Clinic is always “weather
permitting”—they don’t work in the snow or rain.
**CURE Linen Sorting**
Sunday January 30, 1:30 PM, at the Vicksburg
Warehouse.
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**Notes of Thanks**
Dear Church Family,
Thanks so much for my Christmas fruit basket and for the
visits, prayers, cards, and phone calls during my short stay in the
hospital. I also want to thank Jack Lewis for getting me home from the
hospital on that snowy day.
Genevieve Rhodes
To West-Ark Church of Christ,
Thank you for all your prayers, visits, cards, calls and
words of kindness during this very difficult time of our loss of Daniel.
We appreciate the wonderful meal served to us after the services. Thanks to the
nice ladies who served it.
With love,
Aaron & Sherry Yarberro
Dorothy Caldwell
To West-Ark Church of Christ,
We thank you for your support and expressions to our
family at my mother’s funeral. A special thanks to Chris Benjamin for his
excellent words of comfort to our family and all in attendance. Also,
thanks to the women who served the meal after the funeral.
In Christian love,
Darrell & Christie Lynn Peters
Dear Church family,
Thank you for all the prayers, cards, food, flowers, and
kind words that helped ease the loss of my mother. A special thanks to Louise
Howard and Dale Mason who coordinated the effort to feed 28 of us -- what an
example of Christian love.
In Him,
Sandra Pearson
Melissa Wick
John Cobb
**Tutoring Need**
Two children are without tutors. Can you give one
afternoon a week from now to the end of April (Tuesdays, 3:30 to 4:45 PM) to
help a child? Contact Sheila Vaught by e-mail at
sheilavaught [@] aol.com.
**Congratulations!**
Dr. Robert Whittaker was presented the Dr. Henry and Grace
Farrar Award at the International Health Care Foundation Medical Missions
Seminar on January 21, 2011, for more than 25 years of service at Nigerian
Christian Hospital in Nigeria, West Africa.
**King's Kids News**
LAST CAll for KING’S KIDS T-SHIRTS!!
We will be ordering this week, so don’t miss out! These are
great for family outings, King’s Kids events/trips and to represent King’s Kids
(and more importantly, Jesus) in our community. Order forms are available
at the King’s Kids Board in the foyer.
Register Now for the Mystery Dinner!!
Sunday, February 13, 6 PM
Info and registration forms are available at
www.westarkkids.org/register.
Save the Date!
Sunday, March 6 is our Backwards Party!
Has your child made news recently??
We’d love to know so we can spread the word! Please email
your news to Dena at dena@westarkkids.org or Rachel at
rachel@westarkchurchofchrist.org.
Please complete a King’s Kids Registration form (available at
the King’s Kids Board in the foyer) for each of your children. This
information helps us to better serve your kids and your family. Thank
you!
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**Youth Group News**
WAYG Class – Sunday, January 30, 9:30-10:30
AM
We’ll have a combined Sunday AM class as we continue to
discuss what it means to be ALL IN! Come with an open heart, an open mind
and your Bible! Let’s make 2011 the year where everything changes in our
lives!
The Journey – Wednesday, February 2, 7-8
PM
Don’t miss out as we lift our praises to God and share a
message from His Word. Bring a Bible and bring a friend! We’ll continue our
study of Moses on his journey, in answering God’s call.
HONDURAS MISSION TRIP MEETING – Sunday, January 30, 2011,
5-6 PM
Mark your calendars as we kick off our preparations for the
Spring Break Honduras trip this Sunday! We’ll meet in the Youth Group
room. We will still make room if you still want to go on either of these
two life-changing trips! Contact Rick or Rachel
immediately!
Intersect Worship – Sunday, January 30, 2011, 7-8:15
PM
Join us in this NEW version of praise and worship.
While it is initiated by the WAYG and the LFC, it is open to anyone. We’ll
begin immediately (about 7:15 PM) after the all-church fellowship meal that
night upstairs in Room 211
WAYG Family Clusters – Sunday, February 6,
2011
You won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to fellowship
with other youth group families that live in your geographical area.
PLEASE make it a point to be a part of this phenomenal gathering… most groups
have great food, awesome relationship-building fellowship and a
devotional. Look for an email from your host home soon! (Oklahoma/Van
Buren/Alma/North cluster – Jim & Karen Harris, Central Fort Smith cluster –
WE NEED A HOST HOME!!!, East Fort Smith cluster – Dave & Dwonne Cogswell,
South Fort Smith cluster – Rick & Lorie Jones, Greenwood
Cluster – Kevin & Christy Hesslen)
Sweetheart Luncheon – Sunday, February 13,
2011
We need all WAYGers to help as we serve a great meal to honor
our 55+ members. If you are 55+, please sign up on the sheet on the Youth
Group bulletin board in the foyer so we can get an approximate head count.
We’ll meet in the gym, immediately following morning services. NOTE: We still
need a coordinator for this event. Please contact Rick or Rachel if you
are willing to help.
Christeens 2011 – Friday- Sunday, February 25-27,
2011
9th-12th graders! Don’t miss this amazing youth
conference with over 1000 other students from five states at the Westside church
in Russellville. Cost is $40 for students and $20 for sponsors before
February 9, 2011.
If you (or your Jr. High or High School student) has an
accomplishment to share with the church family, please email it to Rick at
rick.odell1@gmail.com or Rachel at
rachel@westarkchurchofchrist.org.
**Happy Birthday!**
January 30
Harold Davis
Abbey Jenkins
Drew Spickes
January 31
Phillip Burns
February 1
Ashley Haworth
February 2
Fran Wade
February 3
Jaxon Davidson
Jared Hollomon
February 4
Jaythan Johnson
**Nursery Helpers**
Morning
Louise Howard
Cami Stancil
Cristy Pressley
Kay Pressley
Maddie Pressley
Hannah Pressley
Evening
Denise Lusby
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes ………… 374
Sunday AM Attendance 601
Sunday PM …………… 150
Wednesday Classes … N/C
Contribution … $16,081.05
Children’s Homes .. $359.63
Coins For Christ …. $141.88
Lao Worship
Attendance ……………… 27
Contribution ………… $220
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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