1. 4
Vol. 44 August 20, 2019 Number 32
“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL. . .”
Barry Kennedy
It is assumed that most all Bible students can complete this phrase of
scripture. These are the words of Joshua 24:15. Joshua was informing God’s
people of the need to make a choice to stand on the side of the Lord and not on
the side of the idols their fathers once served. Joshua said, “Choose whom you will
SERVE.” With that in mind, consider where we stand in this present society. We
still need to make a choice as to whom we will serve (Matthew 7:13, 14). Sadly,
when many hear the word CHOICE the thought of abortion comes to mind. There
is a great divide in this country between those who profess to be “pro-choice” and
those who are “pro-life.” Where are Christians supposed to stand in this great
divide? Is it acceptable for the child of God to be “pro-choice?”
Mankind has chosen death from the beginning of time. The first family
on this earth found themselves having to deal with death. God informed Adam and
Eve that if they chose to eat of the tree of knowledge that they would die (Genesis
2:17). Genesis chapter three records how that Eve was tempted and chose to eat. She
then gave the fruit to her husband who chose to eat as well; therefore, they both
knowingly chose death (Genesis 3:1-6). The next chapter of the first book records
how Cain also chose death. Cain found himself so enraged at the fact that God
respected Abel’s offering of a lamb over his offering of the fruits of the field. Of
course, God had respect for Abel’s offering because it was of faith (Hebrews
11:4; cf Romans 10:17). Cain could have easily made this right and worshipped
God acceptably, but no, Cain chose death and murdered his own brother. Oh, but
these were not the only ones to choose death. Lamech, the fourth great, grandson
of Cain boasted to his two wives Adah and Zillah, “Hear my voice; Ye wives of
Lamech,hearken unto my speech: For I have slain a man for wounding me, And a
young man for bruising me: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech
seventy and sevenfold” (Genesis 4:23, 24). Lamech chose death not once but twice.
Genesis chapter six lets us know that things only got worse.
And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved
him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created
from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and
birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them (Genesis
6:4-7 ASV).
The truth is that when man chooses death things only get worse. “I call heaven and
earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the
--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
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)
2. --article continued from page 1--
blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that
thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;”
(Deuteronomy 30:19).
Many are trying to choose a policy of
pro-death. How sad it is that we are “educating”
ourselves to the point that we are not “bothered”
to hear that there are approximately 42 million
abortions per year worldwide and approximately
115,000 every day. Here in the US we averaged
about 1.3 million in 1996, approximately 3,700 a
day according to the Center for Bio-Ethical
Reform. Yet some like to point out how that the
abortion rate is on the decline. According to
Sharon Jayson of USA TODAY, “The abortion
rate in the USA fell to its lowest point in more
than 30 years, and the actual number of abortions
also continues a steady decline, according to the
first new comprehensive data in five years,
released today” (www.usatoday.com/news/health/
2008-01-16-abortion-rates_N.htm). Not to say that
this is not good news, but if the numbers were to
reach only one child aborted this year, it would
be one too many. God is the source of life, and
we are not given authority over the death of the
innocent (Job 12:9, 10). Why are we not learning
from the past that when we choose death, things
only get worse?
Many people like to say that the times are
changing and we must embrace change. Friends,
choosing death is not change, or something new
to be embraced. Solomon wrote long ago, “That
which hath been is that which shall be; and that
which hath been done is that which shall be
done: and there is no new thing under the sun”
(Ecclesiastes 1:9). If we do not learn from history,
we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. It is time to
pray that people will make the right choices in life
and stop the idea of, “CHOOSE YOU THIS
DAY WHOM YE WILL DESTROY.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Fall Gospel Meeting
with Scott Cain is
September 22-25!
Make plans now to attend every service.
AGES 20s AND 30s
The 20s and 30s age group are
invited to Hugh & Rachel Scribner’s
home this Saturday, Aug. 24 at 6:00
p.m. for kickball & pizza. Please see
Hugh or Rachel if you need more
information.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Dale Dulaney
in the birth of his grandson, Theo
Davis Dulaney, on Aug. 19. He
weighed 5 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19
inches long. Zach & Cara Dulaney
are the proud parents. Mother and
baby are doing well.
Thank You Note
To my East Main family,
Thank all of you so much for the calls, cards,
visits and especially the prayers. I love and
appreciate each of you so much. I especially loved
reading the sweet notes. In Christian love,
Evelyn Willis
Sr. Adult Rally
The Booneville congregation is hosting a Senior
Adult Rally this Saturday, Aug. 24 from 9:30 a.m.
until 1:00 p.m. with David Lipe speaking on the
topic “More About Jesus.” Lunch will be provided.
Family 1st
Fellowship
The next Family 1st
Fellowship will be held this
Sunday, Aug. 25 from 8:15-8:45 a.m. in the
multipurpose room. Everyone in the congregation
is invited to come and enjoy this period of
fellowship with our church family before worship
services begin.
John Duke stationed in Long Beach, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Quantico, VA
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea
3. Daily Bible Reading
August 21............................................ Ezekiel 22-23
August 22............................................ Ezekiel 24-28
August 23............................................ Ezekiel 29-32
August 24............................................ Ezekiel 33-36
August 25............................................ Ezekiel 37-39
August 26............................................ Ezekiel 40-43
August 27............................................ Ezekiel 44-48
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Howard Tindall (Aug. 21), Zac
Tucker (Aug. 26), Easton DuBois (Aug. 27),
J.J. Reed (Aug. 27). Anniversaries: Robert &
Linda Parker (Aug. 21).
Our Sick
Laverne Raper is in ICU at NMMC with
pneumonia. Evelyn Thompson will have her
pacemaker replaced soon. Hannon Ray will undergo
surgery in Memphis on the bulging discs in his neck
soon. Jean Mounce, Carol Cross, Annie Martin &
Harry Cowan are all home recuperating. Evelyn
Willis had to return to the Meadows on Monday. Jill
Rice, Debbie Vines’ mother, continues at Lakeview
Place in Mantachie. Tracy Lyle’s dad, James
Nichols, continues at the Baldwyn Nursing Facility.
Ann Letteri, Sandra Simmons’ sister, continues
home hospice. Tony Black, Glenda Barnette’s
uncle, is home from the hospital. Gail Geno is home
with a virus. Cindy Layman, Marla Harris’ sister, is
home following surgery to remove her cancer.
On-Going Illnesses
Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney, Adam
McCurley, Linda McCurley, Mary Jordan, Bretta
Robinson, James Goddard, Bill Goff, Tommy Goff,
Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Carol Nichols, Jerry
Smith, Mitch Maclean, Lee Graham, Penny Lane
Geno, Don Blackwell, Mary Starz, Chiquita Allen,
Heather Williams, Aspen White, Ezra Golman,
Sheba Tuggers
Nursing Homes
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Shirley
McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
(Let’s concentrate on Genesis)
Creation...................................................Genesis 1-2
The first sin ................................................Genesis 3
Cain, Abel and Seth ...................................Genesis 4
Enoch and Methuselah...............................Genesis 5
Noah and the flood................................Genesis 6-10
List the divisions of the Old Testament &
number of books in each:
❖ Law (5)
❖ History (12)
❖ Poetry (5)
❖ Major Prophets (5)
❖ Minor Prophets (12)
Memory Verses:
❖ Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance
God winked at; but now commandeth all
men every where to repent.”
❖ Matthew 10:32 “Whosoever therefore shall
confess me before men, him will I confess
also before my Father which is in heaven.”
Put the following Bible characters in
chronological order:
❖ Daniel
❖ Noah
❖ Jesus
❖ Seth
❖ Potiphar
❖ Peter
❖ Joseph and Mary
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
4. Summer Series
Our summer series class on Sunday mornings during the Bible class hour is nearing the end
with only 1 lesson remaining. All the adult classes and the 9th
-12th
grade class are meeting in the
auditorium through Sunday, August 25. This year’s topic is “What does the Bible say about
_____?” Below is a list of remaining topics. (The college class will continue to meet upstairs
during the summer.)
Date Topic Teacher
25-Aug-19 Trees Wesley Bass
Men to Serve Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 a.m.
Announcements................................. William Harris
Bible Reading............................... Rommie Dilworth
Opening Prayer .........................................Tim Davis
Lord’s Supper
Kent Nichols & Jimmy Spearman
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Ricky Lindsey, Harold Roby, Larry Presley
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Larry Bates, David Bates, Terry Kingsley
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer.....................................Mike Childers
Ushers ............ David Ramseyer & Clinton Kingsley
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ..................................... Wade Bryan
Closing Prayer................................... William Harris
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Prayer..........................................Bobby Joe Lindley
Lead Singing...................................... Crafton Laney
Contact Jeff Mansel (871-0357) 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
.....................................Chad & Susan Willis
Prepare Lord’s Supper—August................... Greg &
& Tammy Hughes
Nursery.............Diane Dickerson & Carmen Perkins
Pantry................................................... Peanut butter
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 8-14-19..............................................169
Sunday 1st
Worship, 8-18-19 ...............................175
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................150
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................162
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$7,385