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Vol. 46 July 6, 2021 Number 25
TELL ME, “NOT TO GIVE UP!”
Barry Kennedy
Life can be very tough sometimes. It may seem to some reading this
that their life follows the “one step forward and two steps back” routine.
Satan, our great adversary (1 Peter 5:8), would love to have all Christians
to give up, throw in the towel, sit down, and just stop striving to live
faithfully. If we simply give up, he wins. After all, the only thing one must
do to be lost is nothing. We must not allow Satan the satisfaction of our
compliance, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:7). Sometimes we need to say to
those dear to us, “Tell me, not to give up!”
Tell me not to give up on Christ. Jesus gave His life as a ransom
payment for the transgressions of man “Even as the Son of man came not
to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many” (Matthew 20:28). Minister (διακονέω) means to be a servant, attendant,
domestic, to serve, wait upon” (Thayer). Jesus’ sacrifice was proceeded by
a life that continually placed the betterment of others before Himself. He
did not give up on us, therefore, we must not give up on Christ.
Tell me not to give up on my family. Of the three institutions God
ordained, family was the first (Genesis 1-3). The third institution God
created was the church. God likened the church to a family. We have a
loving Father who loves us enough to provide and protect (Psalm 103:13;
Matthew 6:33). We have a plethora of brothers and sisters to help us to stay
on track as well (Matthew 12:46-49). However, just like a physical family,
the church family has the potential to let us down. After all, family, be it
the church or blood, is made up of people just like us. Just think, when was
the last time we let someone down? Surely, we are not ready to have our
family to give up on us. Hopefully not, therefore, we should not give up
on our families.
Tell me not to give up on myself. This is the most difficult area for
many people. Love for Christ’s sacrifice compels us to follow Him. The
care and compassion displayed by family makes us want to do for them as
well. Self, now that’s a different story. Satan has his sights set on getting us
--article continued page 2--
ELDERS
Mike Childers ............. 397-6453
Dennis Hallmark......... 255-5557
Mark Hitt .................... 322-0917
Bobby Lindley ............ 260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan ................ 419-5552
William Harris ............ 416-8149
Ricky Lindsey............. 255-8136
Jeff Mansel.................. 871-0357
Jimmy Spearman ........ 840-8957
Michael Wilson........... 891-0891
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy....(931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder (731)879-9196
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office.......................... 842-6116
Fax .............................. 842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship........................9:00 a.m.
Bible class..................10:15 a.m.
Worship......................11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes......7:00 p.m.
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)
2. --article continued from page 1--
to surrender. However, if one thinks he is
staying true to God and family but is giving up
on himself, Satan has won a victory. Consider
the charge given the church in Smyrna, “Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer:
behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life”
(Revelation 2:10). Satan’s snares are all around
us, but we determine the outcome. Never let
Satan tell you that you can’t (Philippians 4:13).
Sometimes we all need someone to say,
“Don’t give up!” So, I just did, God bless!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Community Outreach
Program
The Community Outreach
Program needs your help
with “Packing Backpacks”
for area schools this
upcoming year. Please
check the table in the foyer
and grab a supply tab of
what you would be willing
to purchase. Please return
the supplies by Sunday, July 18. Thank you for
your help!
Ladies’ Monthly
Fellowship
The ladies’ monthly
fellowship will be held this
Thursday, July 8 at 6:00
p.m. in the multipurpose
room at the church
building. All the ladies are
invited! There will be NO
meal.
Our Sympathy
Our sympathy is extended to Ricky Johnson
in the loss of his mother, Merlene Johnson, on
July 5. Arrangements were incomplete at this
time.
Also, our condolences to Barry Kennedy in
the loss of his aunt, Betty Joe Kennedy, on July
1. Funeral services were held July 6 in
Baldwyn.
We were asked to announce that Larry &
Loretta Graves of the West Main congregation
lost their daughter, Regina Ann Graves, on
June 23. There were no formal funeral services
per her request.
Our Week at Maywood
Christian Camp
East Main’s week
(July 18th-24th) at
Maywood Christian
Camp is filling up
quickly! If your
child plans to attend, you should register
online ASAP. Also, if you are an adult and
plan on attending the week, please let Tim
Davis know immediately.
www.maywoodchristiancamp.com
New Locking System for
the Building
A new electronic locking system has been
installed on the doors of the church building.
Please do not use your keys anymore but a key
card or fob. If you would like one, please let
Renee know and she will get you one. Scan the
card or fob on the black pad beside the door, it
will beep, and then you can pull the door open.
Once you are inside the door will lock back
automatically after a few seconds. We hope
this system will help keep the building more
secure! Thank you for your cooperation.
3. Daily Bible Reading
July 7 .............................................. Proverbs 25-27
July 8 .............................................. Proverbs 28-29
July 9 .............................................. Proverbs 30-31
July 10 ............................................Ecclesiastes 1-6
July 11 ..........................................Ecclesiastes 7-12
July 12 ..................................Song of Solomon 1-4
July 13 ..................................Song of Solomon 5-8
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Logan Lyle (July 7), Natalie
Mansel (July 10), Amy Voyles (July 10),
Barry Kennedy (July 11), Jennifer Ray
(July 11), Wade Bryan (July 13).
Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
James Simmons has been having
ministrokes. Susan Reed will be undergoing
gall bladder surgery soon. Her doctor thinks
this will regulate her liver. Kathryn McKee
continues to recuperate from hip surgery.
Shauna McMickin has one more round of
chemo. She’s having a few minor issues at this
time. Also, Scotty & Wanda Bishop’s great-
grandson, Preston Bishop, is in the hospital
sick and his twin brother Aiden is home sick.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Steve Kelly, Bettye Davis,
Frankie Estes, Shirley Lyons, Caroline Willis,
Sean Koehn, Carol Hood, Bill Goff, Donny
Dulaney, Adam McCurley, James Goddard,
Mitch Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers,
Steve Higginbotham, Lance Canerdy
Nursing Homes
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Veona
Harris, Shirley McCarthy, Bob/Clara McClure,
Brenda Dawson
EMYG News
Hello!
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
There are plenty of things to be involved in and I
hope you will make every effort to do so. It’s easy
during the summer to be so focused on the more
immediate things or activities and leave your
relationship with God on the back burner. With all
the sports, vacations, and camps, how do we keep
God where he is supposed to be in our lives? I
think it goes back to the word I used earlier,
“focused.” If you’re focused on something, you’re
going to be conscience of the fact that, that “thing”
requires time and attention.
Our relationship with God should be the
most important relationship we have on this earth,
yet so many times, because of our lack of focus on
Him, we tend to distance ourselves from him. In
Matthew 14, you remember that Peter gets called to
walk on the water and come closer to Jesus. God is
always near. Sometimes, it our responsibility to
walk to Him. During his walk towards Jesus, Peter
lost his focused and started to sink. If we keep God
on the back burner long enough, we will sink so
far, our eternal destination WILL BE in major
jeopardy. Thanks be to God who stands waiting to
save each of us when we call on Him. With
outstretched arms, Jesus saved Peter.
When our lives get too busy and we leave
Jesus at the church building and pick Him up only
two days a week, not much of a relationship is
going to be made. I encourage you as the Hebrews
writer encourages us to “look to Jesus, the founder
and perfecter of our faith…” When we do that and
make Him our immediate and our ultimate
priority, we can have the full assurance of faith.
God loves each of you and so do I. Have a great
week! Alex
➢ Sr. Youth Work Camp July 8th-9th.
➢ Sr. Youth Monthly Devotional July 11th
at 6:00 p.m. at Comer’s.
➢ Jr. Youth Burgers & Bikes July 13th at
6:00 p.m. here at the building.
➢ Sr. Youth deliver the Welcome Baskets
July 15th at 2:00 p.m.
➢ Maywood Christian Camp July 18th-24th.
➢ Congregational Wide Townies vs.
Counties at 5:00 p.m. here at the church
building.
4. Men to Serve Sunday, July 11, 2021 a.m.
Announcements..................................... Wade Bryan
Bible Reading........................................ Aaryn Vines
Opening Prayer ...................................Mike Childers
Lord’s Supper
Mark Hitt
Lead Singing......................................Donny McKay
Closing Prayer..................................Michael Wilson
Ushers .................... Kevin Pannell & Ricky Lindsey
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Closing Prayer..........................................Will Davis
Lead Singing....................................Michael Wilson
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Opening Prayer ...................................Josh Kennedy
Lead Singing........................................ Greg Hughes
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact the church office (842-6116) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 6-30-21 .................................................... 135
Sunday 1st
Worship, 7-4-21 ...................................... 164*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 173
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 140
Contribution (budget $7,900) .............................. $10,579
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................................ Tuna
Our Gospel Meeting is
Aug. 29th
-Sept. 1st
Neal Pollard, speaker
Mark your calendars!
