Bulletin, August 7, 2018

1. 4
Hugh Vol. 43 August 7, 2018 Number 31
CHRIST-LIKE on the INSIDE
Barry Kennedy
Have you checked the labels on your grocery items lately? You may be getting less
than you thought. According to U.S. News & World Report, some manufacturers are
selling us the same size packages we are accustomed to, but they are putting less of the
product in the box. For example, a box of well-known detergent that once held 61
ounces now contains only 55. Same size box, less soap.
How something is wrapped doesn't always show us what's on the inside. That's true
with people as well. We can wrap ourselves up in the same packaging every day (i.e.
nice clothes, big smile, friendly demeanor) yet still be less than what we appear to be.
Does this illustration describe us today?
It has been said that if we really want to know who we are, we need only to look at
ourselves (actions) when we are all alone. Many of us often fail to take a look at who we
are simply because we are afraid (or know) we will not like what we see. Jesus let the
Pharisees know assuredly that He understood the thoughts and intents of their heart (i.e.
the inside man). Do we tend to forget that God knows our hearts? David counseled his
son Solomon on this truth. “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy
father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD
searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek
him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever” (1
Chronicles 28:9). David could effectively instruct Solomon in this area because he
understood it for himself. “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou
knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off”
(Psalm 139:1, 2). Are we really becoming what we claim we believe?
Christianity is an inside out lifestyle. We “show forth the praises of Him who has
called out of darkness, into His marvelous light” (1Peter 2:9). The only way to
accomplish this is to be “converted.” Great numbers of people in this world are very
religious. The problem many often face is that whither or not their religion is based
upon biblical conversion, or upon physical persuasion. So, what do we mean by the
term converted? Jesus said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). The word which was
translated converted is defined by Thayer as: “1) to turn, turn around 2) to turn one’s
self (i.e. to turn the back to one) 2a) of one who no longer cares for another) 2b)
metaphorically to turn one’s self from one’s course of conduct, i.e. to change one’s
mind.” (Thayer). Does this define our conversion? Are we certain that we are converted,
or are we just following what we want? True conversion involves self-denial (Luke
9:23).
--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 .............844-9944
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—
We all need true conversion, whither we realize it
or not. God, the creator of all things, has offered
everyone a home with Him in Heaven. The problem is
that far too many fail to see the reality of this blessing.
We go through life making statements instead of
stands. Anyone can stand up and say, “I am a
Christian.” It takes much more to actually be a
Christian. Jesus made it very clear when He said, “Not
everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will
of My Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Conversion, like all other aspects of Christianity, is
based upon love. “Now abideth faith, hope, charity
(love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity
(love)” (1Corithians 13:13). How are we showing our
love to God today? “My little children, let us not love
in word, neither in tongue; but indeed and in truth”
(1John 3:18). Is our love in word alone? If so, can we
really say that is love? Would the wife believe that her
husband truly loved her, simply because he told her,
but never showed her? Of course not. Neither should
we expect God to accept our “love” in word alone. He
has exemplified love for us by the great sacrifice of
His Son (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1John 4:7-11).
Without a doubt, Jesus has shown the greatest love
imaginable (John 15:13). He laid down His life for
His friends. But who are His friends? How do we
know if we are the friend of God? Jesus said, “Ye are
My friends IF ye do whatsoever I command you”
(John 15:14). We can, and do, know if we are keeping
His commandments. The comforting aspect of this
obedience is that “His commandments are not
grievous” (1John 5:3).
It is not hard to see how one can be converted to
the God of Heaven, when he truly sees what He has
done for man and what He has in store for those who
serve Him faithfully (Matthew 10:22; 1John 14:1-6;
Revelation 2:10).
So, how about you? Are you truly Christ like on
the inside, or do you need to be converted? Are we a
nice package, but not a lot of soap?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ladies’ Fellowship
Our next ladies’ get
together is this Thursday,
Aug. 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the
multipurpose room. Please
bring your favorite salad, sandwich, dessert or drinks.
I know school has started back, so if you can't bring
anything please come anyway!
Summer Outreach Project
We were able to fill 100 backpacks
with school supplies for area schools!
Thanks so much to all who brought
school supplies, helped us get the
backpacks ready, and delivered them to
our local schools.
Visitation Team #2
Visitation Team #2, Ricky Lindsey’s team, will
meet briefly this Sunday at noon in the
multipurpose room. There will be no meal.
Area Youth Meeting
The Area Wide
Youth Meeting will be
held this Sunday, Aug.
12 at the Hillcrest
congregation in Bald-
wyn beginning at 6:30
p.m. The bus will leave
the building at 6:00
p.m.
Sr. Bible Bowl
The first Sr. Bible Bowl of
the 2018-19 season will be held
Sunday, Aug. 19 at 2:00 p.m. at
the Oak Ridge congregation in
Baldwyn. Please see Mark Hitt
for material if you wish to
participate. Senior Bible Bowl
is for those in 7th
grade through
age 20.
John Duke is stationed in Long Beach, MS.
Matt Duke is stationed in Ft. Carson, CO.
Gabe Hood is stationed in Fort Lenardwood, MO.
Caleb Williams is stationed in Jacksonville, NC.

3. Community Outreach
Item: Bath Soap
Daily Bible Reading
August 8 ...............................................Jeremiah 30-31
August 9 ...............................................Jeremiah 32-33
August 10 .............................................Jeremiah 34-36
August 11 .............................................Jeremiah 37-39
August 12 .............................................Jeremiah 40-45
August 13 .............................................Jeremiah 46-49
August 14 .............................................Jeremiah 50-52
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Caleb Williams (Aug. 8), Norma
Deaton (Aug. 10), Pat Putt (Aug. 11), Olivia
Sanderson (Aug. 12), Sky Ray (Aug. 13).
Anniversaries: Crafton & Marla Laney (Aug.
8), Danny & Barbara Wright (Aug. 8), Mike & Renee
Childers (Aug. 10).
Our Sick
Susan Reed’s biopsy showed no cancer. Brodey
Houpt, Kim Johnson’s grandson, had a good checkup
at St. Jude. All his scans were clear. Audit Hitt, Mark
Hitt & Lori Sheffield’s grandfather, has been moved
to the Baptist Hospital in New Albany for physical
therapy. Barbara Roberts, Brenda Lindley’s sister, is
in CCU at NMMC.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Adam McCurley,
Bretta Robinson, Mary Jordan, Donny Dulaney,
James Goddard, Ray Scribner, Bill Goff, Linda Bryan,
Mitch Maclean, Jadon Parish, James Nichols, Sheba
Tuggers, Sherry Gregory, Shirley Owens, Mickey
Bailey, Mike Scott, Tracey Wilburn, Sammy Carson,
Nathan Hale, Leroy Brown, Mike Stroup
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Clara Simmons, Nancy Haywood, Hilda Roberts,
Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Congratulations
Congratulations to Aaron & Paige
Short in the birth of their son,
William James “Will”, on July 31.
He is welcomed by big brother Clark,
grandparents Greg & Keisha
Gholston, great-grandmother Kathryn
McKee, and aunts Kaley & Janna Gholston.
Sr. Adult Rally
The Booneville congregation
will be hosting a Sr. Adult
Rally on Saturday, Aug. 25
from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
on the topic “Our Retirement is
Out of this World.” Ted
Burleson will be the speaker. A flyer is posted on
the bulletin board across from the library.

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018 a.m.
Announcements................................Michael Wilson
Bible Reading......................................... Chad Willis
Opening Prayer ............................... Robert Kingsley
Lord’s Supper
William Harris & Bobby Joe Lindley
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Ricky Lindsey, Tim Davis, Will Davis
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Grady Vines, Harold Roby, Bryce Roby
Lead Singing....................................James Simmons
Closing Prayer...................................Shawn Mounce
Ushers ................... Eddie Simmons & John Mounce
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .......................................Jeff Mansel
Closing Prayer....................................... Chet Wilson
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Prayer ................................................Jacob Kennedy
Lead Singing........................................John Mounce
Contact Jimmy Spearman if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ..................................Dean & Kristie Webb
................................William & Marla Harris
Prepare Lord’s Supper—August...............Bobby Joe
& Brenda Lindley
Nursery......................... Amanda & Lexie Dickinson
Pantry................................................Spaghetti sauce
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 8-1-18................................................163
Sunday 1st
Worship, 8-5-18 .................................186
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................202
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................172
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$7,849
Summer Series
Our Summer Series entitled “Geography & the Bible” will be winding
down in a few short weeks! All Sunday morning adult classes & the high
school class are meeting in the auditorium for the summer quarter. Only 3
lessons remain!
Date Topic Person
12-Aug-18 Mount Sinai Wesley Bass
19-Aug-18 Mars Hill Shawn Mounce
26-Aug-18 Sea of Galilee Dennis Hallmark