Bulletin, 1-15-19

1. 4
Hugh Vol. 44 January 15, 2019 Number 2
“Being A Christian is Depressing”
Barry Kennedy
Many people, including Christians, struggle with clinical depression.
Studies show, “approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of
the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder.”
1
Mood disorders are categorized by the National Institute of Mental Health as: major
depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. One struggling with
this degree of depression needs to seek professional or medical help. It needs to be
understood that certain forms of depression are very hard, if not impossible, to “get
over.” With this in mind, can one honestly say, “Following God’s Word causes one
to suffer Bipolar disorder, Dysthymic disorder or Major depressive disorder?” Is it
conceivable that, “Being a Christian is depressing?”
How many times have people made this or similar statements? Such are
usually made after the decision to avoid an “enjoyable sin” (Hebrews 11:24, 25). It
is sad to admit yet, many Christians get caught up in the idea that Christianity is
holding them back. One may be going through life having the mindset that God
does not want him to have any fun. After all, it only takes one unrequited sin to
keep him out of eternal bliss and to cast him into the abyss of torment for all
eternity. Is this the case? Is Christianity depressing? If not, why are so many
Christians depressed?
Many Christians who are “depressed” are not clinically depressed (needing
medication) but are disheartened (needing to be fed 1 Peter 2:2). The problem
stems from a lack of confidence. When one first becomes a Christian there is a
level of confidence surpassed by none (2 Corinthians 5:17). This confidence comes
from knowing all the sins one committed in his past, are put in the past never to be
remembered (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). The new Christian has begun his walk with
God being cleansed (1 John 1:7). There is a zeal for God and His way (Titus 2:14).
There is a calm sleep when one pillows his head at night. What could ever diminish
the joy and peace experienced at the conversion of one soul? When does one loose
this confidence and why?
Perhaps the main reason one becomes disheartened resonates from an
abrupt halt in his study habits. Hosea wrote it this way, “My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Man tends to get too comfortable in life. Think
about starting a new job; it may be the “perfect” place to work. One might go
months being passionate about every day they have the opportunity to work at this
--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 .............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--
job. Then gradually, almost unexpectedly, the job
turns into “WORK.” The attitude, not the job,
changed. No longer does the employee say, “I get to
go to work!” He now says, “I have to go to work.”
He has lost his passion for the job and starts looking
for “greener pastures.” The root of the problem is
that he has left behind the KNOWLEDGE of how
much he loved his job. The apostle John wrote
about a group of Christians who did this very same
thing (Revelation 2:4). Ephesus left their first love
and sadly many Christians today are following suit.
How can one return to his first love, reclaim his
confidence in salvation and climb out of the pit of
the disheartened? Study God’s Word daily and
realize how hungry Christians should be for the
sincere milk of the word (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter
2:2). If we as Christians will take the time to see
what God has planned for our lives, we will find it
very difficult to become disheartened. Consider the
extent to which God has gone to make life great for
mankind (John 3:16; 10:10-18; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
Look for the peace and comfort that comes from
knowing God’s promises (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews
13:5; Revelation 2:10). Study the Old Testament
and see the deliverance God offered His people
(Romans 15:4; Exodus; Joshua; Judges; etc.).
Remember the hope one has as an obedient child of
God (Romans 5:2; 8:24; 1 Peter 1:3) and prepare for
the hard times that all Christians will encounter (2
Timothy 3:12; Matthew 10:22).
God did not put man on the earth to be
depressed or disheartened. Take heart in knowing
there is a place, prepared on high, where there will
be no more sickness, pain, death, temptation or
depression (Revelation 21:4). Can anyone stand
before the Lord and honestly say, “Christianity is
depressing?” It may be that many Christians, who
find themselves disheartened, need to pray as
David, “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation”
(Psalm 51:12).
1
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm
Girls’ Joyful Rebellion
The girls’ Joyful
Rebellion group will
meet this Wednesday,
Jan. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at
the building. All girls
fifth grade through
college are invited. See Savannah Tucker if you
need more information.
Community Outreach
Program
The Community Outreach Program will meet
this Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the
multipurpose room to assemble the “Blessing Bags”
and discuss the reorganizing of some activities.
Sr. Youth Activity
The Senior
youth will be
going to Bir-
mingham this
Saturday, Jan.
19 for a hockey
game. We will
leave the build-
ing at 12:30 p.m. Please bring money for a meal and
snacks at the game.
Jr. Youth & Early
Seekers’ Devotional
The Junior Youth & Early
Seekers’ Devotional will be
held this Sunday, Jan. 20
immediately following wor-
ship services at noon in the
multipurpose room. Parents,
a food list is posted beside the tract rack in the
foyer.
Community Outreach Item:
Lotion
John Duke is stationed in Long Beach, MS.
Caleb Williams is stationed in Norway.
Dylan Kelly, Steve Kelly’s grandson, is in Kuwait.
Ty Nichols, Patsy Nichols’ grandson, is in Oklahoma

3. Daily Bible Reading
January 16...........................................Genesis 45-47
January 17...........................................Genesis 48-50
January 18............................................... Exodus 1-3
January 19............................................... Exodus 4-6
January 20............................................... Exodus 7-9
January 21........................................... Exodus 10-12
January 22........................................... Exodus 13-15
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: McKenna Sanderson (Jan. 17),
Josh Kennedy (Jan. 20), Ashton Smith (Jan.
20), Sarah Minor (Jan. 22). Anniversaries:
James & Joyce Burney (Jan. 22).
Our Sick
Jean Mounce continues at UAB. Gail Geno and
Kristie Webb were both able to be here Sunday
following recent back surgeries. Lauren Lindley
continues her outpatient therapy. Jill Rice, Debbie
Vines’ mother, continues at the Sanctuary Hospice
House. Christina Lindley’s uncle, Lee Graham,
continues in the hospital in Dallas, TX, following a
stroke. Jacob Kennedy is home sick.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney,
Adam McCurley, Linda McCurley, Mary Jordan,
Bretta Robinson, James Goddard, Ray Scribner, Bill
Goff, Tommy Goff, Linda Bryan, Mitch Maclean,
James Nichols, Sheba Tuggers, Sherry Gregory,
Shir-ley Owens, Mickey Bailey, Sammy Carson,
Nathan Hale, Leroy Brown, Mike Stroup, Jadon
Parish, Mary Ann Wallace, Carol Nichols, Laura
Jenkins, Mike Scott
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Shirley
McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Nursing Home Singing
The monthly singing at the Tupelo
Nursing Facility will be held this
Sunday, Jan. 20 from 2-2:30 p.m.
Please bring a song book if you are
able to attend.
Mexico Mission Team
Home
Wade, Karen & Bethany
Bryan and the rest of the
Mission Team are home
safely after spending the week
in Palenque, Mexico working
with Domingo and the congregation there. Much
good for the cause of Christ was accomplished!
Thank You Notes
To My Beloved East Main Brothers & Sisters in
Christ,
Thank you so much for remembering me at
Christmas and my 99th
Birthday. I received 50+
cards and continue to enjoy them as well as your
phone calls and visits. I love to look back and
relive some of my fondest memories...the monthly
visitation meetings in the home, hosing progressive
suppers for the youth, keeping the visiting preachers
in our home for their Gospel Meeting week and
teaching the 2nd
grade upstairs long enough for the
2nd
generation to come thru. Please know that even
though I am absent from my pew seat…my heart is
there for every service. I continue to pray for our
work and for each of you. You are such a special
group of people and so dear to me. You are always
in my thoughts and prayers. Love,
Laverne Raper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for all the texts, cards, calls, food, and
prayers! Dean & I appreciate each of you!
In Christian love,
Kristie Webb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Community Outreach Program,
Thank you for the gifts and giving me a
Christmas I wouldn’t have gotten at home.
Jayden O. Mashaire

4. Pictures for New Directory
We are currently taking pictures for a new church
directory we are doing ourselves. We hope to have
everyone’s picture made by Sunday and begin
the printing of our directory. We are asking
EVERYONE to please have their picture made so
that everyone will know who you are. We are
taking pictures after services on Sunday mornings in
the multipurpose room. If you have NOT had your picture made yet, please
contact Renee Childers. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation!
Men to Serve Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 a.m.
Announcements..................................... Wade Bryan
Bible Reading.....................................Ricky Johnson
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Lord’s Supper
Mike Childers & Larry Presley
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Larry Bates, Dale Dulaney, Terry Kingsley
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Mark Gilliland, Chad Willis, Ricky Lindsey
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer........................................ Lee DuBois
Ushers ........................Joe Minor & Jason Dickinson
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ............................ Rommie Dilworth
Closing Prayer................................... William Harris
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Prayer ...................................................... Perry Hand
Lead Singing........................................John Mounce
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 ........................ Dennis & Debbie Hallmark
.....................................Mike & Hilda Ratliff
Prepare Lord’s Supper—January......................Terry
& Sherry Kingsley
Nursery...................Heather DuBois & Raleigh Bass
Pantry........................................................ Dry beans
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 1-9-19................................................158
Sunday 1st
Worship, 1-13-19 ...............................184
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................207
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................172
Contribution (budget $7,900)............................7,744