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Hugh Vol. 43 October 9, 2018 Number 40
Too Blessed To Be Depressed
By Barry Kennedy
This statement is used often by a talk radio host in Knoxville. It started me
thinking, is this not the way that Christians should feel? How often do we forget that
we are blessed, or maybe it is the case that we are taking those blessings for
granted? We like the blessings but often forget the costs. We want the “good life”
but lack the drive it takes to obtain it. It is like the child who wants to make straight
A’s but will not study or do his homework. Maybe it is the “would be athlete” who
dreams of winning the game but does not want to put forth the effort to train and
practice. Finally, it may be like the person who wants to obtain the wealth of this
world but is not willing to work in order to be compensated. Why mention these
illustrations, when the title of this article is “Too Blessed To Be Depressed?” The
answer is that many people are “depressed” because they are not the star athlete,
academic scholar, or wealthy businessman. The idea is that happiness is bound in
the things of this world, such as wealth and accomplishments. Jesus came that we
might have life and that more abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus pointed out how that
thieves cause heartache and depression with many, but He offers life. Knowing this,
are we not too blessed to be depressed? Some may still not think they are blessed.
Consider some observations that should prove that we are (or can be) too blessed to
be depressed.
WE ARE TOO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE
REMISSION OF SINS. Abraham was offered the promise that though his lineage
all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Of course, this promise (covenant)
involved the coming of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ (Matthew 1:1ff). Jesus brought
about the hope and blessing of a life without the burden and pain brought about by
sin. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We can have that hope by being in Christ (John
3:16; Ephesians 1:3; Romans 6:3, 4). Therefore, if we are in Christ all the sins of our
past are taken away and the hope of eternal life is in our sight. If you and I have
been blessed with the remission of sins, then in fact we are too blessed to be
depressed.
WE ARE TOO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE VALUE
OF OUR SOULS. We have a system introduced to us at a very early age. This system is
called the “value system.” Think about how many times we make decisions based upon the
“value” we perceive an item to be worth. Sadly, many people are in a state of feeling
--article continued on 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
PREACHER
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
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 Classes............. 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.
EAST MAIN CHURCH OF CHRIST
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

Community Outreach
Item: Garbage bags
--article continued from page 1—
worthless. It would not take a lot of research to see
that far too many people do not understand the
value of their own lives. The ideas that convince us
that we are not of any worth brings about
depression. If we will listen to God’s Words on this
subject, it will produce a different viewpoint.
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they?” (Matthew 6:26). God cares for
the most “insignificant” things of this world, even
knowing when every bird falls to the ground. It was
in this context that He said, “the very hairs of our
head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:29, 30). This
God informs us that we have no need for fear
because, to Him, we “are of more value than many
sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). He also reminds us of
the value of our souls. “For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?” (Matthew 16:26). God has shown the value
of our souls by the price He paid for our lives. Jesus
said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
He commended His love toward us by dying “while
we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). Knowing all
this, and so much more the Bible says about our
blessings, could we not all clearly shout to the
world that we are in fact, “TOO BLESSED TO BE
DEPRESSED?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Area Youth Meeting
The monthly Area
Youth Meeting will be held
this Sunday, Oct. 14
beginning at 6:30 p.m. at
the Antioch congregation
in Blue Springs. Barry
Kennedy will be the
speaker. If you wish to
ride the bus, please let Tim
Davis know.
Thank You Note
There are no words from our family for the
overwhelming love felt from our church family—
the hugs showing your love, the beautiful singing
led by James was feeling my Grady with our girls,
your giggles as Buster & Seth brought back so
many Grady remembrances, the lovely flowers,
Barry’s sweet prayer, all the food before and after,
the cards in the mail—can keep going—just to say
you are the best people in the world and we both
were so happy to be back home for his resting. May
God bless each of you. Love,
Janie (a/k/a “Grady’s wife”)
Ladies’ Fellowship
The ladies’ monthly
fellowship will be
held this Thursday,
October 11 in the
multipurpose room
beginning at 6:00 p.m. Soup, sandwiches and
desserts will be provided. Please come and enjoy
this time of fellowship with your sisters in Christ!
Gospel Meetings
The Danville congregation in
Biggersville has been hosting a
Gospel Meeting with David Lipe
speaking at 7:00 p.m. each evening,
It will conclude Tuesday, Oct. 9.
The Tilden congregation in Fulton
will host a Gospel Meeting October
14-17 with Jeff Horton speaking on
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and Monday
through Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Mark Your Calendars:
Gospel Meeting
East Main Church of Christ
October 28th
- 31st
Speaker: Robby Eversole

Daily Bible Reading
October 10............................................Matthew 23-24
October 11............................................Matthew 25-26
October 12............................................Matthew 27-28
October 13......................................................Mark 1-3
October 14......................................................Mark 4-5
October 15......................................................Mark 6-7
October 16......................................................Mark 8-9
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Tyler Barnette (Oct. 12), Beth
Reed (Oct. 12), Knox Politte (Oct. 14), Ian
Reed (Oct. 14), Clara Simmons (Oct. 15),
Brittany Webb (Oct. 15), Nancy Haywood
(Oct. 16). Anniversaries: Carester & Charlie Ruth
Hallmark (Oct. 10), Jon & Ainsley Millard (Oct. 10).
Our Sick
Jean Mounce has an appointment at UAB Oct. 15.
Rommie Dilworth underwent surgery Monday for
kidney stones. Little Jadon Parish, Glenda Barnette’s
nephew, will have his feeding tube put back in soon.
Scarlett Smith and Stella Pittman, Star Ray’s mother,
have been sick.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney,
Adam McCurley, Mary Jordan, Bretta Robinson,
James Goddard, Ray Scribner, Bill Goff, Linda Bryan,
Mitch Maclean, James Nichols, Sheba Tuggers,
Sherry Gregory, Shirley Owens, Mickey Bailey, Mike
Scott, Tracey Wilburn, Sammy Carson, Nathan Hale,
Leroy Brown, Mike Stroup, Shirley Lyons
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Clara Simmons, Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway,
Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Ascension of Christ......................................... Acts 1
Birth of the church .......................................... Acts 2
Ananias and Sapphira ..................................... Acts 5
Conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch............... Acts 8
Conversion of Saul.......................................... Acts 9
Recite the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13):
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it
is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, for ever. Amen.
Memory Verse:
❖ Who is Jesus? “And Simon Peter answered
and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Put the following Bible characters in
chronological order:
➢ Noah
➢ Abraham
➢ Benjamin
➢ Moses
➢ Joshua
➢ Methuselah
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
John Duke is stationed in Long Beach, MS.
Matt Duke is stationed in Ft. Carson, CO.
Caleb Williams is stationed in Jacksonville, NC.
Dylan Kelly, Steve Kelly’s grandson, is in Kuwait.
Home Devotional

Men to Serve Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 a.m.
Announcements................................Michael Wilson
Bible Reading..........................................Tanner Hitt
Opening Prayer ....................................Larry Presley
Lord’s Supper
Jeff Mansel & Mike Childers
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Jalon Mansel, Josh Kennedy, Jake Kennedy
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Stuart Childers, Scott Childers, Jacob Bradley
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer....................................Ricky Johnson
Ushers ...............Terry Kingsley & Clinton Kingsley
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Closing Prayer..........................................Will Davis
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Prayer ...................................................... Perry Hand
Lead Singing......................................... Wade Bryan
Contact Wade Bryan (419-5552) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ......................................Greg & Tracy Lyle
.........................Michael & Christine Wilson
Prepare Lord’s Supper—October .................Chad &
& Susan Willis
Nursery...................Kim Johnson & Felicia Stanford
Pantry.......................................... Canned vegetables
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 10-3-18..............................................167
Sunday 1st
Worship, 10-7-18 ...............................188
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................175
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................172
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$7,373
New Church
Directory
We are in the process of making a new church directory for East Main. We are going to be
doing it a little different this time! We are making the directories ourselves. We will be asking
a few families at a time to come to the multipurpose room after Sunday services to get a quick
snapshot of their family made in front of a blue backdrop and update their address, phone, etc.
Please help us in this effort to have a complete church directory.