1. 4
Vol. 45 March 3, 2020 Number 9
Somebody To Lean On
Barry Kennedy
No doubt, most all who read this article have heard Bill Withers’ hit song
entitled, “Lean on me.” Within the lyrics of this song he states how that “we all need
somebody to lean on.” In an interview with Songfacts, Mr. Withers tells about how
he came to write this classic song.
This was my second album, so I could afford to buy myself a little Wurlitzer
electric piano. So, I bought a little piano and I was sitting there just running
my fingers up and down the piano. In the course of doing the music, that
phrase crossed my mind, so then you go back and say, 'OK, I like the way
that phrase, Lean On Me, sounds with this song.' So, you go back and say,
'How do I arrive at this as a conclusion to a statement? What would I say that
would cause me to say Lean On Me?' At that point, it's between you and
your actual feelings, you and your morals and what you're really like. You
probably do more thinking about it after it's done
(www.songfacts.com/details.php?id=2989).
Mr. Withers was on target with his question. What kind of character does it take for
us to be “Somebody to Lean On?” It is sad that we often fail to see the real need
until it is too late. The old saying goes like this, “Hindsight is 20/20.”
The idea of leaning is equal to trusting, that is, to lean upon the Lord is to
trust in Him and His Word. Paul made this point very clear to the brethren at Corinth
when he said, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not
trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so
great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” (2
Corinthians 1:9, 10). Jesus is the very epitome of one upon whom we may lean. Just
stop and think about all that He has done for us (John 3:16; 15:13; Romans 5:8, 9).
Jesus was ridiculed for helping those whom the religious leaders found
unworthy (Matthew 9:9-13). While Jesus was “prepping” Matthew for his work as
an apostle, many “publicans and sinners” came and sat with Jesus and His disciples.
The Pharisees could not let this pass, Jesus is guilty they would say. Jesus delivered
a profound, yet elementary statement, “They that be whole need not a physician, but
they that are sick.” (Matthew 9:12). Jesus continued in the next verse to tie the idea
of sin to that of sickness. “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”
(Matthew 9:13). It must be understood that we are all diagnosed with the dreaded
disease called sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22; 1 John 1:8-10).
We all need “Somebody To Lean On.”
--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 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—
What about becoming somebody upon whom
one can lean? Again, remember what Mr. Withers
said: “.... it’s between you and your actual feelings,
you and your morals and what you're really like.” Far
too often, we are only putting up a front for the world
to see, and we fail to remember who we really are on
the inside. Many teens have given into the temptations
of peer pressure, simply because they forgot who they
truly are on the inside. Many, if not most, sins
committed are almost immediately regretted, unless
the heart has become hardened over a prolonged life
of sinning (Hebrews 3:13). The Psalmist pointed out
how sin progresses in the heart of one who will not
turn away (Psalm 1:1ff).
Remember, to be a Christian is to be “Christ-
like.” Christianity is designed to be a network of those
on which we should be able to lean (Romans 14:1;
15:1; 1 Corinthians 9:22; 12:22-24; Galatians 6:1, 2; 1
Thessalonians 5:14). If we are ever going to be
someone on whom others can lean, we must
remember how often we ourselves need a shoulder
(Matthew 7:12). May God help us all to become more
like Christ and be “Somebody To Lean On.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sympathy
Our sympathy is extended to Dale Dulaney in the
loss of his mother-in-law, Rachel Goza, on Feb. 26.
Funeral services were held Feb. 29 at the Liberty
Church of Christ in Belmont. She was also the
grandmother of Anna Claire McMillen. Keep them in
your prayers.
Placed Membership
Connie Kingsley responded after services last
Wednesday to confess things amiss in her life and to
be recognized as a member of the East Main
congregation and work under the oversight of our
elders: Mike Childers, Dennis Hallmark, Mark Hitt &
Bobby Joe Lindley. Connie is the daughter of Robert
& Betty Kingsley and is currently residing with them.
Sr. Adult Fellowship
The Sr. Adult
fellowship will be
held this Thurs-
day, Mar. 5 at 6
p.m. at Centerville
Fish & Steak
House. The bus
will leave the building at 5:30 if you wish to ride.
Thank You Note
To my dear family at East Main,
Words are inadequate to thank each and every one
of you for the outpouring of love and support you
have showered me with in the past few weeks. You
understood the heartbreak I was going through with
the sickness and loss of my brother. For those of you
who came to Holland Funeral Home, “Thank you.”
I was so pleased when several family members and
others commented on the number of people from my
church family who came to pay their respects. It
spoke volumes for the church.
Thank you for the lovely flower arrangement that
was sent by East Main. I shall cherish it and all the
hugs, comments, and kisses so many of you gave me.
May God bless you all. In Christian love,
Gail Geno
CYC Trip
We had 58 youth
& adults from the
congregation
attend CYC this
weekend in Pigeon
Forge, TN. We
would like to thank all those who donated money,
drinks and snacks. It was a very spiritually uplifting
weekend and we all grew closer together as a church
family.
Gospel Meeting
The Verona congregation is hosting a Gospel
Meeting with students from the Northwest Florida
School of Biblical Preaching speaking March 8-11 at
9 a.m., 9:50 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday and at 7
p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
John Duke stationed in Gulfport, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Iraq
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea
3. Daily Bible Reading
March 4 ................................................ Joshua 14-16
March 5 ................................................ Joshua 17-21
March 6 ................................................ Joshua 22-24
March 7 .................................................... Judges 1-2
March 8.................................................... Judges 3-5
March 9.................................................... Judges 6-8
March 10................................................ Judges 9-12
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Star Ray (Mar. 5), Chevela
Underwood (Mar. 5), Christine Wilson (Mar.
6), Pete Barber (Mar. 7), Patsy Nichols (Mar.
9). Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
Jean Mounce will undergo surgery at UAB on
March 18. Katie Bates’ grandmother, Margaret
Miller, has been move to Pontotoc for therapy.
Jennie Cox continues therapy at the Tupelo Nursing
& Rehab Facility, Room A-9.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Pete Barber, Jean Mounce,
Steve Kelly, Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney, Adam
McCurley, Mary Jordan, James Goddard, Bill Goff,
Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Jerry Smith, Mitch
Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Homer
Smith, Jill Rice, Ann Letteri, Shirley Roberts, Brad
Dillard, Merlene Johnson
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy
Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona
Harris
Ladies’ Day
The Tilden congregation in Fulton will host a
Ladies’ Day this Saturday, Mar. 7 with Angela Bates
speaking on “It Is Will with My Soul.” Registration
begins at 9 a.m. and the service will begin at 9:45 a.m.
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Tower of Babel ........................................Genesis 11
Abraham’s promise.............................Genesis 12-15
Birth of Ishmael .......................................Genesis 16
Sodom & Gomorrah............................Genesis 18-19
Quote the Beatitudes:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs in the
kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be
comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth.
4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain
mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see
God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called the children of God.
8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
9. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake.
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
Outreach Item for March
Lotion
4. Men to Serve Sunday, March 8, 2020 a.m.
Announcements...................................Mike Childers
Bible Reading.......................................Britton Smith
Opening Prayer .............................Alex Blackwelder
Lord’s Supper
Wade Bryan & Jeff Mansel
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Larry Bates, Chet Wilson, Kent Nichols
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Terry Kingsley, Jimmy Spearman, Chase Stanford
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer..................................Michael Wilson
Ushers .........................Larry Long & Ricky Lindsey
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Closing Prayer..........................................Will Davis
Lead Singing........................................ Kent Nichols
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Prayer................................................... Kent Nichols
Lead Singing...............................Bobby Joe Lindley
Contact Michael Wilson (891-0891) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters .....................................Larry & Judy Bates
................................ Mike & Renee Childers
Prepare Lord’s Supper—March.......................Roger
& Lynn Sanderson
Nursery (1st
worship)................. Chevela U./Twinette W.
(2nd
worship)............................ Alicia & Ashton Smith
Pantry.......................................................... Crackers
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 2-26-20..............................................165
Sunday 1st
Worship, 3-1-20* ...............................152
Sunday Bible Class* ............................................139
Sunday 2nd
Worship*...........................................150
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$8,110
*58 were at CYC Sunday in Pigeon Forge, TN
Mark Your Calendars!!!
Ladies’ Day – April 25th
Personal Evangelism Workshop – May 29th-30th
Vacation Bible School – June 14th-17th
Maywood Christian Camp – July 12th-18th
Outward Camp – July 31st-August 1st
Gospel Meeting – September 13th-16th
Fall Family Retreat – November 13th-14th
