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Are we confident that our light is bright
Vol. 46 October 12, 2021 Number 39
Are We Looking Forward or Behind?
Barry Kennedy
Inscribed across an old map of Jamaica is the title, “Land of Look Behind.”
The map goes back to the days when there were slaves in Jamaica. When the
slaves escaped, they headed for the mountains. The government would send troops
after them. So, they frequently looked fearfully over their shoulders. This gave the
mountainous area the name, “Land of Look Behind.”1
How often do we find
ourselves looking back? I cannot imagine, and hope we never experience, this kind
of fear from our government. However, the Lord’s church in the first century were
subjected to similar fears (Acts 8:1-4). Saul made it his life’s mission to stamp out
any allegiances to Jesus the Christ (Acts 26:9). He was consenting to the
martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54-8:1). He sought warrants to incarcerate men and
women who were of “the way” (Acts 9:1). The result of such intense persecution
brought much fear upon the early Christians and forced them to scatter (Acts 8:4).
As we continue reading it becomes apparent that Saul was converted and became
the man we know as Paul the apostle of Jesus the Christ (Acts 9; 26). This
transformation had a lot to do with Paul’s willingness to get out of “The Land of
Looking Back.”
Paul never completely forgot from whence he came (Philippians 3:2-11).
He knew his ancestry, being from “the tribe of Benjamin” (Phil. 3:5). He knew his
religion, “concerning the law, a Pharisee” (Phil. 3:5). He knew his convictions,
“concerning zeal, persecuting the church” (Phil. 3:6). His past was nothing for
which any Jew would have been ashamed “blameless” (Phil. 3:6). Paul
exemplified not dwelling in the past with his next words: “But what things were
gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. 3:7). Paul’s words to the brethren
at Philippi stand as a great reminder of how to look forward and not behind (Phil.
3:12-15).
First, look back to see that we have not arrived on our own (Phil 3:12-
13). Paul made it clear that he was not boasting that he had obtained perfection,
nor that he had laid hold on all God had intended for him. He understood that
Christ was his hope and director of his life. He chose a path of “forgetting those
things which are behind.” His looking back was just to see how far he had come,
not to glory, in or long for his former life.
______________________
1
Tan, Paul Lee. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland,
TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996. Print.
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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—
Second, look forward to the path of our
higher calling (Phil. 3:13-14). Paul used his past as
a reminder of how blessed he was to be in Christ.
Sin enslaves us to a destiny of darkness and despair
(Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 6:23). Paul looked to that “high
calling” (KJV); “upward call” (NASB) which is a
spiritual blessing reserved for those in Christ (Phil
3:14; cf Eph. 1:3). If we are honest, which direction
does our gaze lead us?
Third, look forward to a more mature
faith in Christ (Phil. 3:15). Paul emphasized the
importance of our mindset as it pertains to maturity.
Remember Solomon wrote, “For as he thinketh in
his heart, so is he” (Pro. 23:7). Also, “Keep thy
heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues
of life” (Pro. 4:23). Maturity looks to God’s Word
for our direction, devotion, and most importantly
destination.
Are We Looking Forward or Behind? Are
we looking behind to the past lives of sin? Are we
looking forward to the eternal life awaiting God’s
redeemed? Remember, there is a difference in a
glance and a gaze! Let’s all strive to keep our eyes
upon Jesus and get out of the “Land of Look
Behind!”
~~~~~~~~~
Trunk or Treat/Fall
Festival
Everyone in the congregation is
invited to building on Sunday, Oct.
31 at 5:00 p.m. for “trunk or treat”
in the parking lot. Please come and
decorate your trunk and hand out
candy to the children as they come
by in their Halloween costumes.
Following that we will have a
chili/hotdog supper in the multi-
purpose room. Also, several will
have games set up to play and a
costume contest following supper.
Please come and enjoy this period
of fellowship with our church
family.
Sympathy
Our deepest sympathy is extended to the family
of James Simmons who passed from this life on
Monday, Oct. 11 after a brief illness. Funeral
arrangements had not been made at this writing.
Brother James will be sorely missed at East Main.
He was an excellent song leader and a faithful
servant of Christ. Please keep Sandra, Eddie, Alicia,
Amanda & the rest of the family in your prayers.
Brain Freeze
Don’t forget that this
Wednesday, Oct. 13
following Bible class we will
have Brain Freeze in the
multipurpose room for
anyone who would like to
enjoy an extra time of fellowship and ice cream.
Community Outreach
Program
The Community Outreach
Program will be collecting $10 gift
cards until October 17 to help
further our edification program.
Restaurant or Wal-Mart cards
preferred. Thanks so much for your help.
Bridal Shower
A bridal shower will be held
in honor of Olivia Blansett, bride-
elect of Frankie Puente, on
Sunday, Oct. 24 “come and go”
from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the
multipurpose room. Olivia & Frankie are registered
at Amazon and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Ladies’ Fellowship
The ladies’ monthly fellowship will be held this
Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the multipurpose
room. Judy Bates will be the speaker. There will be
NO meal. All the ladies of the congregation are
welcome to come.

3. Daily Bible Reading
October 13...................................................Mark 1-3
October 14...................................................Mark 4-5
October 15...................................................Mark 6-7
October 16...................................................Mark 8-9
October 17...............................................Mark 10-11
October 18...............................................Mark 12-13
October 19...............................................Mark 14-16
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Ian Reed (Oct. 14), Nancy
Haywood (Oct. 16), Mary Ann Wallace (Oct.
17), Brenda Spearman (Oct. 18), Chad Willis
(Oct. 19). Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
Perry Hand suffered a heart attack and had 2
stents. He will go home Tuesday. Nancy Haywood
is in NMMC with pneumonia. Twinette Wallace is
in NMMC with pain from Trigeminal neuralgia.
Susan Reed will undergo a renal ultrasound
Tuesday. Willie Topp’s brother-in-law, Willie Bob
Gates, is in NMMC. J.J. Reed and Wanda & Scotty
Bishop are home with Covid. Donny McKay’s
mother, Blanche Chamblee, has been moved to The
Meadows in Fulton. Lori Blansett’s father, Larry
Cobb, is on home hospice. Gail Geno is home with
a broken shoulder. Maggie Simineau will undergo
surgery Thursday on her broken arm. Brian
Carver’s cancer has returned. Gary Colley is home
with Covid.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Evelyn Thompson, Steve
Kelly, Bettye Davis, Frankie Estes, Shirley Lyons,
Caroline Willis, Carol Hood, Bill Goff, Donny
Dulaney, Adam McCurley, James Goddard, Mitch
Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Steve
Higginbotham, Shauna McMickin, Stella Pittman,
April & Olivia Pounders, Glenda Barnette, Barbara
Bishop, Debbie McCoy, Larry Kennedy
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
EMYG News
Howdy, Folks!
I hope you’re having a great week. Don’t forget
this Wednesday is Brain Freeze after Bible class
and this Sunday evening, the Childers will be
hosting our senior youth monthly devo at
5:00pm at their house. Guys bring drinks and
chips for nachos; girls bring desserts. The Six
Flags trip has been rescheduled for the spring.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t Be An Example!
Throughout my childhood, I have
been told, “be an example so people can see
Jesus in you.” Being an example was easy
when I was around church going people or
people who knew that I was a Christian. But
when it came to people who I knew didn’t
know or even care that I was a Christian, I
would let my guard down. Those times were
the times that I started to sink spiritually.
Now understand that I’m not saying, “don’t
be a good example.” What I am saying is, we
must strive to be authentic Christians.
Christians who don’t sway depending on
who is around.
Once we are comfortable with
ourselves and confident in our faith, being
the example we need to be will come quite
naturally. Jesus says, “You are the light of the
world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under
a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to
all in the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see
your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
In every conversation or action, may
our God be glorified.
If I can do anything for you, please let me
know! I love you. Alex

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 a.m.
Announcements.......................................Jeff Mansel
Bible Reading.................................... Stuart Childers
Opening Prayer .........................................Tim Davis
Lord’s Supper
Wade Bryan
Lead Singing......................................Donny McKay
Closing Prayer......................................... Larry Long
Ushers ..................... Dale Dulaney & Mike Childers
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ..........................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer................................... William Harris
Lead Singing........................................ Kent Nichols
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Opening Prayer ..............................Dennis Hallmark
Lead Singing.....................................Barry Kennedy
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Jimmy Spearman (840-8957) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 10-6-21 .................................................... 151
Sunday 1st
Worship, 10-10-21 .................................. 128*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 126
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 102
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $7,862
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter