bulletin 8-10-21

1. 4
Vol. 46 August 7, 2021 Number 30
BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
Barry Kennedy
“And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of
the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest
thou these things? and who gave thee this authority” (Matthew 21:23)? This
passage gives the account of Jesus (the Creator John 1:1-5) being
questioned by the chief priests and elders (the created Isaiah 29:16). How
many times will God have to deal with the wisdom of man?
People have always sought some level of higher knowledge. Satan
understood this about humanity and that is why he used pride against
Eve back in the garden (Genesis 3). Satan knew that appealing to man’s
strong desire to “know right from wrong” could be their downfall. The
authority had already spoken, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely
eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). The
serpent (Satan) came along promoting the authority of man over the
authority of the Creator God. Things have not changed throughout the
years. Notice some examples of people who need to be asked the question,
“By what authority?”
Abram and Sarai wanted desperately to fulfil the promise God gave
them of having a son (Genesis 16). Sarai came up with a plan of her own,
i.e., having Abram take her handmaid Hagar. Who gave her the authority
to do so? Culturally speaking, there had been many surrogate mothers
used in that day and age, but this was not God’s plan (Genesis 17:18-19).
King Saul, the first king of Israel, was given divine authority to
utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-3). However, Saul spared
the best of the flocks and of the herds as well as king Agag (1 Samuel
15:9). Saul boasted that he had “performed the commandment of the
LORD” (1 Samuel 15:13). This statement emphasizes the authority (i.e.,
commandment) of the Lord. Samuel was wondering where Saul got the
authority to spare anyone or anything. In fact, Saul rejected the authority
of God (1 Samuel 15:22-23). The end result, God rejected Saul from being
king.
--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 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—
Do we ever ask ourselves this question?
Does it really matter today? The apostle Paul
wrote these words to the church in Colossae:
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of (i.e., by the authority of) the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him”
(Colossians 3:17). Therefore, by what authority
do we adhere to when it comes to our
worship? What authority do we adhere to
when it comes to our words, and we can go on
and on with such illustrations. The fact is Jesus
has all authority in Heaven and earth
(Matthew 28:18). Are we listening?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sympathy
Our sympathy is extended Marlon Geno &
Shirley Lyons in the loss of their aunt, Veona
Harris, on Aug. 3. Funeral services were held
Aug. 5 at the Booneville Funeral Home. She
was 97.
Monthly Ladies’ Class
The monthly ladies’ class
will be held this Thursday,
Aug. 12 in the multipurpose
room beginning at 6:00 p.m.
There will be NO meal.
Bridal Shower
A bridal shower will be
held Sunday, Aug. 22 in
honor of Maggie Minor,
the bride-elect of Daniel
Morton, “come & go”
from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the
multipurpose room. Maggie & Daniel are
registered at Walmart, Amazon and Bed, Bath
& Beyond.
Thank You Note
Dear East Main family,
Especially over the last few weeks, Cassie and I
are so thankful for those that brought food, made
care packets, sent cards, called, and sent texts while
I was really sick. We are truly blessed to be part of
such a caring group of people. We love you!
The Blackwelders
The Story of Two Pots
A water bearer in India had two large pots, one
hung on each end of a pole that he carried across his
neck. One pot was cracked; the other delivered a full
portion of water at the end of the long walk from the
stream to the master’s house. The cracked pot arrived
only half full.
This went on daily for two years. The perfect pot
was proud of its accomplishments, but the cracked pot
was ashamed of its imperfection and sad it could
accomplish only half of what it was made to do.
It spoke to the water bearer one day. “I am
ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”
“Why?” asked the bearer.
“I have been able to deliver only half my load
because this crack causes water to leak out. Because
of my flaws, you have extra work,” the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old pot. He said,
“As we return to the master’s house, I want you to
notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
As they went up the hill, the cracked pot saw the
sun warming beautiful wildflowers on the side of the
path. This cheered it some, but it still felt bad.
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that
there were flowers only on your side, but not on the
other pot’s side? That’s because I took advantage of
your flaw. I planted flowers on your side, and every
day, you’ve watered them. For two years I have
picked beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s
table. Without you being as you are, he would not
have this beauty.”
Each of us has unique flaws. We are all cracked
pots, but it is cracks and flaws that make our lives
together so interesting and rewarding. We have to take
people for what they are and look for the good in
them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of
good in you. —From Glenn Hitchcock
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up
their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
--via Glad Tidings of Good Things (April 25, 2019)

3. Daily Bible Reading
August 11..........................................Jeremiah 37-39
August 12..........................................Jeremiah 40-45
August 13..........................................Jeremiah 46-49
August 14..........................................Jeremiah 50-52
August 15.............................................Lamentations
August 16................................................ Ezekiel 1-6
August 17.............................................. Ezekiel 7-11
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Pat Putt (Aug. 11), Sky Ray (Aug.
13), Hannah Bland (Aug. 17). Anniversaries:
None this week.
Our Sick
Will & Eden Davis, Lee & Easton DuBois and
David Bates have tested positive for Covid. They
have mild symptoms. Susan Reed will undergo tests
at UAB Oct. 30. Evelyn Thompson is home with a
fractured back. Hattie Sheffield fractured her ankle
Saturday. Missy Nichols’ mother, Clara McClure,
continues hospice. Cecil Johnson, a good friend of
Danny Wright, is in the hospital very sick with
Covid. Randy Pearce, Chad Willis, Kristie Webb &
Rhonda Pennington’s cousin, continues in the
Oxford hospital. Karen Bryan’s cousin, April
Pounders, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and
her daughter, Olivia Pounders, has juvenile
dementia.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Steve Kelly, Bettye Davis,
Frankie Estes, Shirley Lyons, Caroline Willis, Sean
Koehn, Carol Hood, Bill Goff, Donny Dulaney,
Adam McCurley, James Goddard, Mitch Maclean,
Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Steve Higginbotham,
Shauna McMickin, Stella Pittman
Nursing Homes
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Shirley
McCarthy, Bob McClure, Brenda Dawson
EMYG News
Good morning!!
I hope you have had a great start to
your week! Just a reminder that we have Brain
Freeze again this Wednesday night for all who
have a sweet tooth. For our Senior youth, we
will have a T.G.I.F. this Friday! Be sure to bring
your thinking caps and patience as we have a
night full of adventures! At the end of this
month (28th), we will be taking a trip to Top
Golf in Birmingham, AL. Feel free to pack the
family up for the day and meet us at Top Golf
or hop on the Bus for those that want to ride on
it. We will leave the building at 11:00am.
Please be sure to sign up on the youth
board and pay for top golf by August 25th so I
know how many to plan for. We will attempt
to do a burgers and bikes for the Junior Youth
on August 31st. There will be a sign-up sheet
also on the youth board if you plan on coming
to that. As always, if we can help you in
anyway, please let me know! On a different
note, here’s a thought that I want to leave you
with this week.
Every path you take leads you
somewhere. Either a place where you belong
or a place where you don’t belong. Sadly, not
all paths lead to Heaven. As we walk this road
of life, we must evaluate every step. My path
might “seem” right to me, but understand this,
I shouldn’t be the leader or standard of my
own path. God’s word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path. Ultimately, God’s
word should direct my steps closer to Him. I
encourage us to let Him direct our steps to
where He wants us to go! I love you all! Alex
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forbidden fruits
create many
jams.

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021 a.m.
Announcements.............................Alex Blackwelder
Bible Reading.................................... Drew Baldwyn
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Lord’s Supper
Mike Childers
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Closing Prayer................................Jimmy Spearman
Ushers .........................Will Davis & Mark Gilliland
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ..................................... Wade Bryan
Closing Prayer......................................... Larry Long
Lead Singing.......................................... Nic Nichols
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Opening Prayer ............................ Rommie Dilworth
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact the Wade Bryan (419-5552) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 8-4-21 ...................................................... 131
Sunday 1st
Worship, 8-8-21 ...................................... 159*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 167
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 144
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $8,660
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
Our Gospel Meeting scheduled
Aug. 29th
-Sept. 1st
with Neal
Pollard has been postponed.