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Vol. 46 January 5, 2021 Number 1
21 Ways To Grow As A Christian in 2021
Alan Judd
I will not ask you to report your success or failure to keep the resolutions proposed in
January 2020. However, since our calendars now show the commencement of another trip
around the sun, I offer twenty-one suggestions to grow, deepen, and enhance your
relationship with God in the next 365 days. Feel free to add others and give me your feedback
on these I have provided.
This list is not given to provide “box checkers” another way to boast about their
superiority over others who are laxer. Instead, it is some practical items I will attempt to
incorporate into my life, and I welcome you to join me and even to keep each other
accountable if you wish to be that intense. So, give them a try and see if your faith grows.
Don’t be discouraged when life happens, and you miss or overlook one of these. Discard any
of these you may already excel in or determine you are unable to fulfill. However, it is my
hope these are feasible and functional for those of us interested in growing, which is
something the Bible teaches should interest all God’s children—Ephesians 4:15, 1
Thessalonians 3:12, Hebrews 6:1, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18.
1. Read the Bible EVERY DAY! To be brutally honest, it shocks and saddens me
more than I can express to know some Christians do not read from God’s Word daily. With
this point and all the others that follow, I know some of the excuses likely to be offered. “I’m
very busy with work, school, family, retirement, organizing my stamp collection, tending my
rock garden, so and so forth, blah, blah, blah!” If these or any other similar excuse has been
yours, please repeat out loud so you can hear it and invite someone else to listen as you say it
so you can get their reaction—‘I am too busy __________________ (you fill in the blank
with whatever you wish) to spend some time each day letting God speak to me by reading
His Word. He who created the universe and everything in it, including me, who provides for
my every need, and sent His son to die for me on the cross to save me from my sin, must
understand I don’t have time to read the Bible each day.’
Did you read that out loud? Did it sound outrageous? Did the other person think it
sounded preposterous? You should; they should, we all should! When we fail to take the time
God gave us to hear/listen to Him daily, we are much busier and preoccupied than the Lord
desires. Again, I know emergencies happen, sickness strikes, and life is chaotic. But could
you read one chapter each day? Reading one chapter of the New Testament each day would
mean you read it all the way through by September 17. Read two chapters daily, and you will
finish on May 10. Read three chapters and be done on March 28. If you keep that pace up,
you could read the entire New Testament through 4 days in 2021. 15, 30, or 45 minutes a
day; maybe a whole hour? Hopefully, seeing this in black and white will cause you to see the
urgency of reading the Bible daily!
2. Be Thankful EVERYDAY! We know the verses that direct us—Psalm 100:4,
Luke 17:16, Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and others. Research conducted by
behavioral scientists confirms that people who express gratitude daily are the happiest and
healthiest! THANK GOD!
--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
Early worship...............8:30 a.m.
Bible class................9:30 a.m.
Main worship.............10:00 a.m.
Bible class.............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—
3. Pray to God EVERYDAY! If 2020 taught
us anything, it should be this: WE NEED GOD! Yes, He
knows our needs before we ask—Matthew 6:8, but He
still wants us to pray because He knows the benefit it
brings to us when we pour out the cares and concerns of
our hearts and minds. PRAY! (One excellent way to
pray daily is to use the prayer list supplied weekly.)
4. Attend EVERY Assembly Time of Worship
and Study! Hebrews 10:25 is still in the Bible. Yes, I
understand what ‘Providentially Hindered’ might
include to “excuse” a Christian from meeting with other
Christians. But I know growth will never occur when we
allow temporary things to keep us participating in
occasions when we can focus and learn more about
eternal matters! BE HERE EVERY TIME!
{I will offer the remaining items on this list with
minimal explanation.}
5. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
one person who is sick weekly.
6. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
one person who is bereaved weekly. (May also
include those who have suffered other types
of losses.)
7. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
one person who is struggling spiritually. (May
include those who request prayers or others
you know.)
8. Write a card, send an email or text, or call an
elder weekly expressing your gratitude for
their leadership and watching for your soul.
9. Write a card, send an email or text, or call a
deacon weekly expressing your appreciation
for the ways they serve and minister.
10. Write a card, send an email or text, or call a
Bible class teacher weekly, thanking them for
their hard work in teaching your class, your
child, others.
11. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
weekly to a missionary. (This information can
be found by calling the office.)
12. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
weekly to one of the preaching schools we
support, encouraging both teachers and those
studying there.
13. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
one person weekly who is lost.
14. Write a card, send an email or text, or call
one person weekly who is erring.
15. Each week listen to a lesson PTP 365 or PTP
CDs on a subject of your choosing.
16. Pick a book from the church library to read.
(Monthly, quarterly, as time allows.)
17. Pick one Christian monthly (person/family)
and try to get to know them better.
18. Do one act of kindness daily—open a door,
compliment another, be nice to all!
19. Intentionally work on your anger, no matter
your level of struggle with it!
20. Think of one person or family to invite to
worship with you each month.
21. Discover the “One Thing” that keeps you
from growing—Mark 10:21.
Sympathy
The East Main family lost two very special ladies last
week. Our dear sister Evelyn Willis passed away on
Dec. 28. Graveside services were held on Dec. 29 at
Gilvo Cemetery in Mooreville. Please keep Kristie
Webb, Chad Willis, Rhonda Pennington & the rest of the
family in your prayers.
Our dear sister Linda Hand passed away on Dec. 30.
Graveside services were held on Jan. 2 at Gilvo
Cemetery in Mooreville. Please keep Perry Hand, Amy
Voyles, Heather DuBois & the rest of the family in your
prayers. These two faithful active Christian ladies will
be sorely missed here at East Main, but we know they
have both received their reward!
Our condolences also to Annie Martin in the loss of
her cousin, Valley Gallop, to Covid on Dec. 23. Please
keep Annie in your prayers.
Baptism and Response
Sister Barbara Wright was re-baptized Jan. 3, because
she was having some doubts and concerns about her
previous baptism. We are so happy for her.
On Jan. 4, Kassi Kingsley confessed things amiss in
her life and her desire to live pleasing to God. We also
commend Kassi in her desire to live the way God would
have her to live.
Thank You Notes
The family of Evelyn Willis would like to thank
everyone for the calls, texts, cards, the kind words,
flowers, food and most of all for the prayers. Please
continue to keep us in your prayers. In Christian love,
Chad, Renee, Rhonda, Kristie & our entire family
John Duke stationed in Gulfport, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Quantico, VA
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea
Ty Nichols stationed in Germany

3. Daily Bible Reading
January 6.................................................Genesis 19-20
January 7.................................................Genesis 21-23
January 8.................................................Genesis 24-25
January 9.................................................Genesis 26-28
January 10...............................................Genesis 29-30
January 11...............................................Genesis 31-32
January 12...............................................Genesis 33-35
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Mike Ratliff (Jan. 6), Malachi
Millard (Jan. 9), Barbara Bishop (Jan. 10),
Annie Dilworth (Jan. 10), Callie Bennett (Jan.
11), Judy Jones (Jan. 11), Meredith Hitt (Jan. 12).
Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
Ashley Davis underwent extensive surgery Jan. 4
for breast cancer. She is home now recuperating.
Ricky Johnson was to undergo knee surgery Jan. 5.
Jean Mounce will undergo surgery in Birmingham on
Jan. 6 to reverse her ileostomy. Betty Kingsley
continues in room 157 at the Gilmore Memorial Hosp.
in Amory undergoing therapy following Covid. Sean
Koehn has completed his radiation & chemo in TX
and is home. Emily Williams’ grandmother, Sarah
Kitchens, is in the Copiah Living Center undergoing
therapy following hip surgery. Several of our number
and their family members are fighting the coronavirus:
Diane Dickerson, Dennis & Debbie Hallmark,
Suzanne Long, Jason Dickinson’s parents (John Lee
& Joyce Ann—in NMMC), Hallie & Dundee Donald,
Tony Donald’s mother (Marie), Ethan Benefield,
Mike Ratliff’s brother (Phil), Susan Reed’s daughter
(Stephanie Fears), and Kim Johnson’s daughter (Lee
Ann Houpt).
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Steve Kelly, Bettye Davis,
Frankie Estes, Stella Pittman, Donny Dulaney, Adam
McCurley, James Goddard, Bill Goff, Tommy Goff,
Mitch Mac-lean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Steve
Higginbotham
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Veona
Harris, Shirley McCarthy, Bob & Clara McClure
EMYG News
One of the worst feelings I have experienced in life
is the feeling of getting caught. Often times, it was
because I was doing something I knew I shouldn’t have
been doing. As a child, it would have been far better for
me to have gone to my parents when I did something
wrong, rather than waiting, hoping, I wouldn’t get
caught. Fortunately, my mother was intuitive and could
tell when I was doing something that I shouldn’t have
been doing and could help steer me back on the right
course. Sometimes, I was sadder that I got caught, than
the actual act I was involved with. As children of God,
when we fail Him, do we feel remorse, or do we truly
seek forgiveness? Today, we are going to look at two
men who had the same opportunity to make things
right.
In Matthew 26, after Jesus meets with His disciples
to institute the Passover Supper, Judas, one of the
twelve, went to the chief priests and said, “What will
you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they
paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment
he sought an opportunity to betray him (v.18). In John
18:3, we read that Judas found that opportunity. After
some words were exchanged and an ear was cut off
and reattached, the band of soldiers arrested and bound
up Jesus. In Matthew 27, Judas changed his mind and
brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief
priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood” (v.3). And after severe
emotion and throwing down the pieces of silver into
the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged
himself (v.5).
In Matthew 26, after Jesus meets with his disciples
to institute the Passover Supper, He tells His disciples
that they will fall away because of Him (v.30). Bold
Peter makes his confession, “Though they all fall away
because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus replies,
“Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster
crows, you will deny me three times.” After Jesus was
arrested by the band of soldiers and taken away, Peter
was in the courtyard and was bombarded by three
individuals that questioned Peter’s relationship to this
man named, Jesus. As Peter denies Jesus for the third
time, he remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the
rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he
went out and wept bitterly (v.75).
Judas and Peter had the same opportunity to make
right what was made wrong. Judas’s remorse led him to
a tree to be killed. Peter also had a gnawing distress
arising from a sense of guilt from denying Christ, but
it did not consume Peter to the point of death. In fact,
I believe that the denial incident taught and fueled
Peter to be a better advocate for the cause of Christ.
You and I are also guilty of sin and I fear we forget
the pain it cases Christ. I challenge us to be people
that when we fall short of His standard, we will pick
ourselves up and resolve to make right what we have
made wrong. God loves you and we love you. Have a
great week. Alex

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 a.m.
Announcements..................................... Wade Bryan
Bible Reading....................................... Kent Nichols
Opening Prayer .............................Alex Blackwelder
Lord’s Supper
Mike Childers
Lead Singing...............................Bobby Joe Lindley
Closing Prayer................................... Terry Kingsley
Ushers ....................Dale Dulaney & Andy Baldwyn
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact the church office (842-6116) if unable to
serve.
Bible Classes (streamed each week)
Adult class................Jeff Mansel (Facebook/YouTube)
Adult class.......... Barry Kennedy (Facebook/YouTube)
College class.....Roger Sanderson/Tim Davis (Facebook)
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 12-30-20 ...................................................... *
Sunday 1st
Worship, 1-3-21 ..............................................
Sunday Bible Class......................................................... *
Sunday 2nd
Worship........................................................ *
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $7,075
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item...............................Macaroni and cheese
Services will be livestreamed this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. if you
do not feel comfortable attending in person.
However, if you do feel comfortable meeting in person, we will
have our 8:30 a.m. worship, our 10:00 a.m. worship and our
11:15 a.m. Bible class this Sunday, Jan. 10.