Bulletin 2-4-20

1. 4
Vol. 45 February 4, 2020 Number 5
THINK BEFORE YOU LEAP
Barry Kennedy
Some may be wondering, “Did he mess up that statement?” Those would be
the ones who remember the classic proverb “look before you leap.” It is true that
one should view his surroundings before he jumps, and though that principle could
be advantageous to the Christian life, this article will address an even deeper need.
Today’s lifestyle is so fast paced that often thinking is a luxury one cannot afford.
The truth is, “thinking” is arguably the greatest need of modern man. Our words are
a product of our thoughts. “. . .For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Any Bible student readily understands that the “heart”
is not the muscle in one’s chest that pumps blood, but the mind of man.
Just consider how many times people (including me) have said, “I wasn’t
thinking when I said that.” The real issue is not that one said it, but that he thought
it. The secret things may be hidden from the world, but God is fully aware of our
thoughts. “Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both
will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels
of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are
naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).
What is on the inside will eventually be made known. The challenge before man is
to make the inside good, so that the outside world will know God’s people. “Either
make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit
corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit” (Matthew 12:33). Trees are only as strong
as their roots. It does not matter how tall a tree may be nor how big around its trunk
may grow, if the roots are not healthy the tree will fail. Actions speak louder than
words. It is not enough to simply say that one is a Christian. Many claim to follow
Jesus. Many profess that He is the Lord of their lives. What a sobering thought it
should be that Jesus Himself 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). James clearly stated how that “. . . faith if it
hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). Actions are therefore important,
but blind actions can be deadly. “For which of you, intending to build a tower,
sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
(Luke 14:28). Clearly, Jesus was teaching the principle of thinking before you leap.
This is not the only time Jesus made a point with the idea of preparation. Consider
--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--
the scribe who boldly said, “Master, I will follow
thee whithersoever thou goest” (Matthew 8:19).
Jesus responded, “The foxes have holes, and the
birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath
not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Is this
not the same idea as “think before you leap?”
Jesus wanted the scribe (as well as all of mankind)
to truly understand that with which he was about to
involve himself. Christianity is, by far, the best life
anyone could live (John 10:10), but that does not
mean Christians are immune to the difficulties of
life. In fact, Paul explained how temptations (or
trials) are common, but God has made a way of
escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Therefore, thinking
before leaping is a simple reminder of the dangers
in life as well as the blessings.
Many people are very efficient in looking
before they leap into most every situation. There is
a more profitable exercise that each person should
try. That is the exercise of “thinking before we
leap.” Each of us should ask these questions. “Is
this action going to promote spiritual growth in my
life?” “Will this course of action be pleasing to
God?” “Will this course of action bring me closer to
God, or pull me further away?” The choice is ours.
May God help us all to “think before we leap,”
especially into eternity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sr. Adult Fellowship
The Senior Adult
Fellowship this month
will be held on
Thursday, Feb. 6 at The
Pickle Barrel in Amory
beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The bus will leave the
building at 5:15 p.m.
Sympathy
We extend our sympathy to the family of Paul
Franks who passed away on Jan. 31. Funeral
services were held Feb. 3 at the South Huntington
St. Church of Christ in Kosciusko. Paul was the son
of Al and June Franks and the cousin of Ken
Pearson & Suzanne Long.
Thank You Notes
Thank you all so much for the thoughts, prayers,
cards, calls, visits and beautiful flowers following
the loss of our Dad, Travis Burney. Love,
James & Joyce Burney
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear East Main Brethren,
Thank you for the cards, calls, visits and prayers
in the passing of my sister-in-law, Judy Marks, and
also during her illness. We are blessed to be
members of such a loving and thoughtful
congregation. In Christian love,
Linda & Robert Parker
Hearing Devices
If you are having trouble
hearing the services in the
auditorium, we have hearing
devices available that
connect to our sound system
for your convenience.
Please see William Harris or
James Simmons if you need
one.
Area Youth Meeting
The Area
Youth Meeting
will be held this
Sunday, Feb. 9
at 5:00 p.m. at
the Church St.
congregation in Pontotoc with David Paden
speaking. The bus will leave the building at 4:15
p.m. See Tim Davis or Alex Blackwelder if you will
be riding.
John Duke stationed in Gulfport, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Iraq
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea

3. Daily Bible Reading
February 5........................................ Leviticus 14-15
February 6........................................ Leviticus 16-17
February 7........................................ Leviticus 18-20
February 8........................................ Leviticus 21-23
February 9........................................ Leviticus 24-27
February 10...........................................Numbers 1-2
February 11...........................................Numbers 3-4
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: David Ramseyer (Feb. 5), Harold
Roby (Feb. 6), Jackson Voyles (Feb. 6),
William Harris (Feb. 7), Jacie Dickinson (Feb.
9), Janie McCaskill (Feb. 9), Debbie Duke (Feb.
11). Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
Billie McNutt continues to have a lot of pain
with bursitis. Jean Mounce had a check-up in
Birmingham last week. Annie Martin is sick at
home. Kelly Thompson is having tests this week
and Evelyn Thompson is having outpatient
treatments at the hospital for her kidneys. Ricky
Johnson’s mother, Merlene, is home following
surgery. She has bladder cancer. Brad Dillard, a
friend of Chad Willis, has stage 4 cancer.
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
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy
Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona
Harris
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Creation...................................................Genesis 1-2
Noah and the flood................................Genesis 6-10
Birth of Jesus.................................................. Luke 2
Birth of the church .......................................... Acts 2
Lord’s Supper..................................1 Corinthians 11
Quote 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 Verses:
❖ What has Jesus done for me?
❖ Romans 5:8 “But God commandeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.”
❖ Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace.”
Put the following Bible characters in
chronological order:
❖ Nebuchadnezzar
❖ Caleb
❖ Enoch
❖ Abraham
❖ Simeon
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
Outreach Item for February
Toothpaste

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020 a.m.
Announcements..........................................Mark Hitt
Bible Reading...........................................Will Davis
Opening Prayer ..................................... Wade Bryan
Lord’s Supper
Dennis Hallmark & Mike Childers
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Robert Parker, Eddie Simmons, Chet Wilson
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Joe Minor, Shawn Mounce Britton Smith
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer...........................................Tim Davis
Ushers .................Jason Dickinson & Ricky Lindsey
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ...........................Bobby Joe Lindley
Closing Prayer...................................... Greg Hughes
Lead Singing......................................... Wade Bryan
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Prayer..........................................Hunter Underwood
Lead Singing....................................Michael Wilson
Contact Jimmy Spearman (840-8957) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ....................................Perry & Linda Hand
...................................Jeff & Natalie Mansel
Prepare Lord’s Supper—February................... Wade
& Karen Bryan
Nursery (1st
worship)...... Missy Nichols & Ashley Davis
(2nd
worship).. Anna Claire McMillen/Ainsley Millard
Pantry............................................... Instant potatoes
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 1-29-20..............................................169
Sunday 1st
Worship, 2-2-20 .................................208
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................209
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................190
Contribution (budget $7,900)........................$10,579
Spiritual energy and enthusiasm are contagious!!
We would like to express thanks to all of you for
making all our assemblies spiritually vibrant!
The elders
“Therefore encourage one another and build one
another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11).